Clinical trials have demonstrated that arsenic trioxide(As2O3) was effective in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL), based on this facts, studies have been carried out to study its role in the treatment of solid cancer at home and abroad. Primary in vitro study showed that As2O3 could treat the cancer of digestive system such as hepatoma, esophageal carcinoma, gastric cancer, and the cancer of urinary and reproductive system such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder transitional carcinoma,as well as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc. The mechanism of As2O3 actions may be the induction of apoptosis, the inhibition of growth and the promotion of differentiation of solid cancers. This article reviews on As2O3 in treatment of solid cancer.

Cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving radiotherapy were treated by Sisheng Decoction which yielded marked antagonistic actions against the decrease of WBC and platelets.Thus,97.4% of the cases were able to successfully receive the whole course of radiotherapy.Animal experiment showed that the ac-tions of the Decoction was realized by regulating thecontents of ?—endorphine in the blood.

Objective:To elucidate the gene mutation presents in hair follicle cells,just as blood cells,in the aminoglycoside antibiotics induced deaf patients (AAID). Method:Mitochondrial DNA of blood cells and/or hair follicle cells from 8 members of 3 aminoglycoside antibiotics induced deafness families were analysed using PCRSSCP and Alw 26 Ⅰ digestian. Result:Our result showed that a gene mutation at nuleotide 1555 in 12 S rRNA of mitochondrial DNA appeared in blood cells and/or hair follicle cells of 7 subjects among those 8 members. Only a father with normal hearing did＇t exhibit such a mutation. Conclusion:This indicated that hairs could be used as a sample instead of blood to perform gene examination for AAID.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an important component of complementary and alternative medicine, has evolved over thousands of years with its own unique system of theories, diagnostics and therapies. TCM has been increasingly used in the last decades and become well known for its significant role in preventing and treating cancer. We believe that TCM possesses advantages over Western medicine in specific aspects at a certain stage of cancer treatment. Here we summarize the advantages of TCM from three aspects: preventing tumorigenesis; attenuating toxicity and enhancing the treatment effect; and reducing tumor recurrence and metastasis.

To study the possible mechanism of Sisheng Decoction on spleen deficiency syndrome via the observation of general conditions, immunity and anti-stress function in Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei Palmati)-induced mice model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire in measuring the quality of life in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) in China. METHODS: FACT-Hep questionnaire was translated into Chinese and revised properly. From September 2005 to April 2006, one hundred and eighty patients with primary liver carcinoma were admitted and measured by using the Chinese version of FACT-Hep questionnaire, and the reliabilities, validities and responsibilities of the questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: Correlation coefficient was higher between items and dimension of their corresponding domain (0.5933+/-0.1652) than that between the items and other domains (0.2749+/-0.1922). Six principal constituents were extracted by factor analysis and represented all domains of the questionnaire. The combinations of components were consistent with what was expected. The correlation coefficient of criterion-related validity was 0.828. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficients of physical, social/family, emotion, function, symptom and total questionnaire were 0.731, 0.334, 0.953, 0.786, 0.785 and 0.801 respectively, and the values of Cronbach's alpha were 0.7397, 0.4193, 0.7914, 0.8250, 0.8399 and 0.9161, respectively. There were statistical differences in scores of FACT-Hep questionnaire in different PHC stages or in different Child-Pugh classes (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The FACT-Hep questionnaire can measure the quality of life in patients with PHC with good reliability, validity and responsiveness; it can be used in assessing the disease-specific health-related quality of life of patients with hepatobiliary cancers.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of norcantharidin poloxamer 407(NCTD P407) slow released preparation on advanced primary liver cancer by local intratumoral injection. Methods: Fifty six advanced primary liver cancer patients with maximum diameter from 6 to 12 cm were randomly divided into test and control groups. Patients in test group (29 case) were treated by NCTD 407 intratumoral injection under ultrasonic and patients in control group (27 case) by PEI (percutaneous intratumoral absolute ethanol injection). Clinical therapeutic effects were observed respectively and compared. Results: Twelve months survival rates of patients in 2 groups were significantly different, being 31.0% in test group and 22.2% in control group ( P 0.05) in 2 groups. No evident poisonous and side effects were found in either test or control group. Conclusion: NTCD P407 administration exhibits therapeutic effects in relatively big advanced liver cancer because of the high concentration and prolonged action in the tumor foci, its comprehensive therapeutic effect is better than that of absolute ethanol administration. [

Object To study the effect of melittin on growth and proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells. Methods Hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC7721 was treated by melittin. The growth and proliferation was observed by cell counting and MTT assay; necrosis was estimated by Trypan blue staining. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cycle phase were detected by flow cytometer. Results Melittin could significantly inhibit the growth of SMMC7721 and block up cells progress through G 2/M. The percentage of PCNA positive cell was decreased gradually when concentration of melittin was increased. Conclusion Melittin could inhibit the proliferative activity of hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC7721 and reduce of PCNA positive cell expression and arrest cells in S phase.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effects of Sisheng Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on a mouse model of yin deficiency syndrome induced by thyroid hormone, and to make the preliminary study on its mechanisms. METHODS: Simultaneous modeling and treatment were carried out. Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal group, yin deficiency model group, low-, medium- and high-dose Sisheng Decoction group and Shengmai oral liquid group. Normal group and yin deficiency model group were administered with double distilled water. Spontaneous activity and serum concentration of malondialdehyde in different groups were detected. RESULTS: The symptoms of yin deficiency syndrome such as xerostomia, dysphoria and fervescence were improved in the Sisheng Decoction groups. Compared with the yin deficiency model group, the spontaneous activity was increased and the serum concentration of malondialdehyde was decreased in the Sisheng Decoction groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the Sisheng Decoction groups and the Shengmai oral liquid group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Medium- or high-dose Sisheng Decoction is effective for nourishing yin, clearing heat, engendering liquid and allaying thirst. The above effects of Sisheng Decoction may be realised by improving the spontaneous activity and resisting oxidative damage.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of purging fu-organs traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)therapy for treatment of patients with severe pneumonia and sthenia-heat. Methods According to random number table method,71 patients with sthenia-heat of severe pneumonia were divided into a treatment group (35 cases)and a control group(36 cases). Conventional basic treatment was given to both groups,and additionally, small chengqi decoction was applied nasogastrically for the therapy in treatment group for 2 weeks. The clinical pulmonary infection score(CPIS),Marshall score,integration score of TCM syndromes and the mortalities in 28 days and 60 days were used to compare the clinical efficacy of the two groups. Results With the prolongation of treatment,the CPIS,Marshall score and integration score of syndromes in the two groups were gradually decreased. In treatment group,CPIS and Marshall scores were lower than those of control group on the 4th day ,and there were statistically significant differences(CPIS score:5.8±1.7 vs. 6.8±1.9,Marshall score:5.3±2.3 vs. 6.6±2.7,both P<0.05);the above 2 scores in treatment group were also lower than those of control group on the 7th and 14th day after treatment(7th day CPIS score:5.3±1.5 vs. 5.6±1.4,Marshall score:5.1±1.9 vs. 5.7±1.8;14th day CPIS score:3.9±1.7 vs. 4.4±2.3,Marshall score:4.2±1.9 vs. 4.9±2.5),but there were no statistically significant differences(all P>0.05). In addition,the integration scores of syndromes were significantly decreased on the 4th, 7th and 14th day in the treatment group significantly lower than those in the control group(4th day:7.6±2.3 vs. 10.6±2.7,7th day:7.4±2.5 vs. 9.2±2.1,14th day:6.1±1.9 vs. 8.3±2.4,all P<0.05). However,there were no statistically significant differences in mortality rates in 28 days and 60 days respectively between control group and treatment group(28 days:16.7% vs. 11.4%,60 days:25.0% vs. 20.3%,both P>0.05). Conclusion Purging fu-organs therapy not only can decrease the CPIS and Marshall scores of patients with sthenia-heat of severe pneumonia,but also can improve their syndromes.