Objective To examine the expression of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in esophageal organization and the impact of TAK1 expression on clinicopathologic data. Methods Specimens from 80 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma managed in our hospital were included in this study. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of TAK1 in 80 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and 80 cases of normal esophageal mucosal tissues. All the specimens were confirmed by pathology for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or esophageal normal tissues. Results The positive expression rate of TAK1 in esophageal cancer organizations and normal esophageal mucosal tissues were 80% and 11.25%, respectively. The positive expression rate of TAK1 in esophageal cancer were significantly higher than those in normal esophageal mucosal tissue (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of TAK1 in esophageal cancer organizations has nothing to do with the age, sex, tumor differentiation degree and size (P>0.05), but with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (P<0.05). Patients with positive TAK1 expression had significantly lower five-year survival rate than those with tumors having positive TAK1 expression Conclusion TAK1 played an important role in the pathology and development of squamous cell carcinoma , and could be an important therapeutic target in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Primary liver cancer is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system.Most patients are in the advanced stage when a con-firmed diagnosis has been made,and prognosis is often unfavorable.Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)has unique advantages in the pre-vention and treatment of primary liver cancer.This article briefly introduces the etiology and pathogenesis of primary liver cancer,as well as syndrome differentiation and treatment of liver cancer with TCM,and summarizes the advances in multimodality therapies including TCM combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,radical surgery for liver cancer,chemoradiotherapy,and molecular-targeted thera-py,in order to provide a reference for the clinical treatment and improvement in the prognosis of primary liver cancer.

As the actual clinical reflecting of transform Chinese medicine special curative effect, Chinese medicine preparation not only satisfies the need of hospital clinic, scientific research and teaching, but also plays an important role in deepening medical and health system reform, improving people's health level and contributing to the economic growth. However, some problems about administration and approval (tending to western medicine), contraction of the scale, lack of synchronization for clinic and scientific research, and the imbalance of regional development make Chinese medicine preparation move forwards slowly in contradiction. It has not only reduced the effectiveness of the Chinese medicine preparation in hospital clinic, but also brought bad effect on modernized development of Chinese medicine preparation. Research shows that main influencing factors of status quo of Chinese medicine preparation in medical institution include imperfect laws and regulations, high cost than income, and shortage of talents in preparation research. The analysis indicated that the necessary measures to break the contradiction, improve clinical effect of Chinese medicine, and promote the modernization development of Chinese drugs preparation were as follows: government and related departments should strengthen the supporting force in policy by adjusting the examination and approval policy, speeding up dispensing use, reforming pricing system, including into medicare reimbursement, integrating advantage resources and so on; medical institution should actively carry out research and development of traditional Chinese Medicine through drawing the traditional and modern essence, reserving professional talents, and developing characteristic preparation; companies cooperate with hospitals for complementary advantages, which can rapidly transform Chinese medicine preparation into clinical practice.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drug Discovery ; economics ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; economics ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; trends

By sorting out the action and the application of Astragalus in the main works about Chinese herb during the different historical period, the experience that the physician had applied Astragalus could be known, the whole process that Astragalus had been applied from begin has been understood. Based on that study, its beneficial to reasonably apply Astragalus in the clinical application, further to deeply find and succeed the potential and the loosed action and the applied experience of Astragalus. That study provides the theory foundation for further expanding the applied scope of Astragalus, also presents a kind of train of thought for the research and develop of new Chinese herbs.

Objective To evaluate the value of mini-thoracotomy for open heart surgery.Methods From December 1995 to January 2008,810 patients including 660 cases of congenital heart diseases,129 cases of valvular heart diseases and 21 cases of heart myxoma,underwent open heart surgery by mini-thoracotomy through cardiopulmonary bypass in our hospital.Among the cases,superior median sternotomy was performed on 36 patients,inferior median sternotomy was made on 59,right parasternal mini-thoracotomy was carried out in 3,right anterolateral thoracotomy was done on 658,and right axillary mini-thoracotomy was used in 54.A total of 382 patients received beating-heart surgery.Results The postoperative mortality in our patients was 1.5%(12 cases).In this series,the mean postoperative mechanical ventilation time,drainage volume,and hospital stay were(6.7?4.2) hours,(210?165) ml,and(7.4?4.9) days respectively.421 of the patients received no blood transfusion.None of the patients developed sternal dehiscence or mediastinal infection.Follow-up was available in 690(85%) of the patients up to a mean of(48.2?25.3) months,none of them died during the period.The cardiac function of the patients was significantly improved after the operation(preparation vs postoperation: 310 cases vs 478 cases for grade Ⅰ,438 vs 212 for grades Ⅱ-Ⅲ,and 62 vs 0 for grade Ⅳ,Z=-13.21,P=0.000).The mean cardiothoracic ratio was decreased significantly after the operation(0.51?0.11 vs 0.53?0.08,t=4.065,P=0.000),while the left ventricular ejection fraction was increased markedly(0.63?0.11 vs 0.57?0.11,t=-10.529,P=0.000).Conclusions The mini-thoracotomy is superior in cosmetic results and the postoperative morbidity rates of sternal malformation and infection.Proper selection of patients,good exposure of the surgical field,and skillful surgical procedures are crucial for the outcomes of the operation.

Objectives:To investigate the effects of amylin on bone minernal density and structure parameters of bone tissue in glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis rats. Methods:Four groups of female Wistar rats (3 months old) were treated for 12 weeks as follows: ⅠNormal Control, ⅡDXM, Ⅲ DXM+AMY;Ⅳ DXM+Vitamin Da 3. By intramuscular injection of dexamethasone(XM)1mg/kg twice a week during the first 8 weeks, the animal model of Glucocorticoid induced osteopoprosis was established. After 12 weeks, BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the femural bone were measured by DEXA. The bone morphology of the lumbar vertebrae was also determined. Results:①After the treatment with AMY, bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly increased at the lumbar spine and the femural bone. ( vs. DXM group, P

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Semen Strychni by chemometrics and the method of linear calibration using two reference substances (LCTRS). METHODS: The fingerprint of Semen Strychni was established by HPLC, using similarity analysis, 2-dimensional clustering analysis and principal component analysis for quality evaluation. LCTRS was used for identification of chromatographic peak. RESULTS: Fourteen chromatographic peaks were selected as common peaks in the fingerprints of 10 batches of Semen Strychni, and the chromatographic peaks of loganic acid, chlorogenic acid, strychnine and brucine were selected as characteristic peaks. By means of chemometrics evaluation, 10 batches of Semen Strychni were classified by their origins. The precision of predicting retention time by LCTRS was superior to the relative retention time method. CONCLUSION: LCTRS is more accurate for predicting retention time and suitable for more kinds of chromatographic columns than relative retention time method. In addition, the established fingerprint is specific, and can be used for the quality evaluation of Semen Strychni.

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) on the mouse with A375-GFP melanoma xenograft in vivo. In vivo fluorescence image analysis system was used in this study to evaluate the effects of nsPEFs on human melanoma A375 cell xenograft. On the Day 90 af ter pulse delivery, the skin that had contained A375 cell xenograft was surgically excised and pathologically evalua ted. The changes of scar were recorded by digital camera. The experiment revealed that significant changes in fluorescence value trend and amplitude were found in the treated group from those in the control group. The fluorescence of tumor in the treated group decreased mostly 48 h after the treatment and completely disappeared 10 d after the treatment, while that in control group was increased gradually. Surgical excision of the area confirmed a complete pathologic response. Within a few days after the nsPEFs treatment, a hard scab formed at the treatment region. The scab fell off by the end of the second week. As time went on, the scar gradually became faded and all xenograft tumors were disappeared without recurrence. From the experiment, we learn that nsPEFs can bring good therapeutic effect. It may provide a new approach for the clinical treatment of superficial tumors.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Melanoma ; therapy ; Mice ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Skin ; pathology

Objective To investigate the effect of PCIA with low-dose fentanyl on plasma endothelin (ET) after craniotomy. Methods 47 cases of selected craniotomy were divided randomly into two groups :experimental group (26cases) and control group (21cases) . Patients in experimental group were treated with PCIA (fentanyl 15ug/kg +ondansetron 8 mg+100 mL NS) but patients in control group were not given PCIA. Then HR,MBP, VAS, ET and side-effects were observed and compared between two groups before treatment and 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 h after treatment.Results In experimental group, HR was lower at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment than control group. MBP was lower at 0 and 2h after treatment in experimental group than control group. Plasma levels of ET were lower at 8, 24 and 48h after treatment in experimental group than control group. There were significant differences in VAS scores at 2,4,8,12,24 and 48 h after treatment between two groups. There was no significant differences in side reactions including consciousness, respiratory depression, vomiting and sedation between two groups. The incidence of nausea was higher in experimental group than control group. Conclusion PCIA with low-dose fentanyl after craniotomy has good analgesic effect and few side reactions, can reduce the formation of plasma endothelin, and then alleviate brain damage.

Objective To study the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes and viral load and clinical features of verruca vulgaris.Methods Tissue samples were collected from 48 outpatients with verruca vulgaris,and DNA was extracted from these tissue samples.To determine the genotype of HPV,PCR was performed to amplify the L1 fragment of HPV with universal primers followed by bidirectional sequencing and BLAST.The genotyping results were validated by PCR with type-specific primers.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was conducted to measure the viral load of HPV,and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining to observe histological changes in these tissue specimens.Results The L1 fragment of HPV was amplified from 35 out of the 48 tissue specimens.Of the 35 L1-positive specimens,32 harbored HPV 7,1 harbored HPV 57,and 2 harbored both HPV 2 and HPV 7.Multiple lesions were observed on extremities in the patient infected with HPV 57,but on the head,face and trunk in the patients coinfected with HPV 2 and HPV 7.There were no significant differences in HPV viral load or vacuolated cell number between patients with single lesions and those with multiple lesions,or between patients with a clinical course of ＜ 6 months and those with a clinical course of 6-12 months.However,HPV viral load tended to decrease one year after the onset,and there was pronounced hyperkeratosis and less vacuolated cells in lesions of long duration (more than 2 years) compared with those of short duration (less than 2 years).Conclusions HPV 7 appears to be the most common HPV genotype associated with verruca vulgaris,and HPV 7 infection usually occurs on the head and face.For verruca vulgaris of less than 1 year,neither HPV viral load nor vacuolated cell number is associated with the count or clinical course of warts.