Objective To observe the serum VEGF/ES ratios before and after operation and at clinical relapse in patients with breast cancer, and to discuss the potential effect of tumor surgery and postoperative relapse on the angiogenesis balance. Methods The serum VEGF and ES levels of 59 cases of breast cancer before and after operation and at clinical relapse were determined using competitive enzyme immunoassays and ELISA, (respectively), and compared with the results of 30 cases of benign breast tumors and 59 cases of normal (controls). Results (1) Preoperatively, the serum ES and VEGF levels of breast cancer patients were (significantly) elevated, as compared to the other 2 groups, and the VEGF/ES ratio was 9.1. Postoperatively, at 3 weeks, VEGF level decreased significantly and ES remained at a high level. The VEGF/ES ratio was (3.3). (2)At the time of clinical relapse, serum VEGF level was followed by marked elevation, and the VEGF/ES ratio increased up to 14.2. Multivariate analyses showed that the postoperative VEGF/ES ratio was an independent factor related to the postoperative recurrence of breast cancer. Conclusions Breast cancer surgery may affect the balance between serum VEGF and ES, and the determination of VEGF/ES ratio can have auxiliary value in the assessment of prognosis of breast cancer patients.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of varicella attenuated live vaccine ( VarV) produced by A Co. Ltd. Methods We selected 3 provinces in China and enrolled 15 002 children aged 3-<11 in this random, multicenter study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the ex-perimental group and the control group. Every varicella case was collected and recorded to calculate the vac-cine efficacy. Vaccine safety was assessed by means of spontaneous report and regular follow-up visits. Re-sults During the observation period, the incidence of varicella was 0. 147% in the experimental group and 1. 155% in the control group (P<0. 001). The vaccine efficacy was 87. 27%. The adverse reaction rate af-ter vaccination was lower than the rates reported in other literatures. Conclusion The VarV produced by A Co. , Ltd. in China was effective and safe in preventing varicella.

Objective To evaluate concomitant anatomical hepatectomy and inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction for hepatic cancer. Methods Between Aug 2004 and Jul 2005, three patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma suspected to invade the wall of IVC underwent concomitant hepatectomy, IVC resection and reconstruction under portal triad clamping (PTC), total vascular exclusion(HVE) without venovenous bypass. The retrohepatic IVC was repaired by primary suture (n = 2), a Gore-Tex patch (n = 1), and a ringed ePTFE graft ( n = 1). Results Surgery was successful in all cases without operative death. The mean operative time was 345 min (range 300 ~ 450 min) ,and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1375 ml (range 1200 ~ 1800 ml). The cumulated mean PTC and HVE times were 19 min and 21.2 min respectively. Postoperative complications included pleural effusion in one needing thoracentesis, bile leakage and ascites in one each. During the follow-up, one patient died at 9 months due to recurrence, and the remaining 4 patients were alive at the follow-up of 4 to 15 months. Conclusions Concomitant hepatectomy with IVC resection offers hope for patients with hepatic tumors involving the IVC, who would otherwise have a dismal prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Internal heat-type acupuncture therapy is a new treatment technique that combines acupuncture therapy with hyperthermia.It has good clinical effects on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,but the mechanism of action is still not fully clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the possible mechanism of internal heat-type acupuncture therapy in treating steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits. METHODS:Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into blank group,model group,internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group using a random number table method,with 8 rabbits in each group.The model group,internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group were modeled using methylprednisolone sodium succinate combined with Escherichia coli endotoxin.The internal heat-type acupuncture group received an internal heat-type acupuncture intervention on the buttocks of rabbits,once a week,for 20 minutes each time.The shock wave group received shock wave intervention on the buttocks of rabbits,once a week,with 2 000 beats per session.The blank group and model group were not given any treatment.After 4 weeks of intervention,blood samples and bilateral femoral head samples were collected from experimental rabbits.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in serum were detected by ELISA;the histomorphology of the femoral head was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and the rate of empty lacunae was calculated;the protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2,matrix metalloproteinase 9,matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1,and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank group,the model rabbits showed reduced food intake,mental fatigue,and decreased activity;compared with the model group,the above performance of the experimental rabbits was significantly improved after internal heat-type acupuncture and shock wave treatment.Compared with the blank group,the histomorphology of the femoral head in the model group deteriorated significantly and the rate of empty bone lacuna increased(P<0.001),while the histomorphology of the femoral head in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group was significantly improved compared with the model group,and the rate of empty bone lacuna was reduced(P<0.001).The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group(P<0.05),while the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and the shock wave group were significantly lower than those in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the femoral head of the model group were significantly increased,while the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were significantly decreased(P<0.001);compared with the model group,the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were significantly decreased,while the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were significantly increased in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and the shock wave group(P<0.001).Overall,these findings indicate that internal heat-type acupuncture may promote the repair of the necrotic femoral head by regulating the levels of matrix metalloproteinases/matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitors and serum inflammatory factors,thus treating early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of concomitant administration of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in preschoolers. Methods: A total of 1 035 children aged 3-7 years were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into three groups, inoculated PPV23, TIV and both, respectively. A one-year follow-up study was conducted for immunogenicity and safety analysis. Results: A total of 1 035 serological specimens were collected, including 327 in PPV23 group, 348 in TIV group and 360 in concomitant vaccination group. No significant differences in geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of seven pneumococcal serotypes were observed between the PPV23 group and the concomitant vaccination group. Compared with the TIV group, the concomitant vaccination group showed higher serological conversion rate of H3 type (88.75% vs 84.20%, P=0.01), but lower serological conversion rate of B type (92.84% vs 98.56%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the primary adverse reactions between the three groups (P=0.197). The rate of secondary adverse reactions occurred in the concomitant vaccination group was 3.61%, which was higher than that of the other two groups (both P<0.001). All adverse reactions were mild or moderate, and cured after treatment. Conclusions Concomitant immunization with PPV23 and TIV is safe and have good immunogenicity, thus a viable immune strategy for susceptible children.