Objective To study the curative effect of praziquantel against juveniles of Paragonimus westermani and the dynamic changes of T lymphocytes and their subpopulations in infected mice after treatment. Methods Mice infected with metacercariae of P. westermani were treated with praziquantel 10 days after infection for examining the curative effect. Results Mice infected orally each with 30 metacereariae of F. westermani were treated with praziquantel at doses of 400,500 and 600 mg/(kg?d) respectively for 3 d, the juvenile reduction rates were 71.01 % ? 10.38% ,82.29% ? 7.92% and 95.83% ? 3.24% respectively; when the mice were infected with 80 metacercariae and treated with a dose of praziquantel 600 mg/(kg?d) for 3 d, the worm reduction rate was 84.49% ?10.91%. T lymphocytes and their subpopulations began to increase at 1 wk and returned to normal at 8 wk after praziquantel treatment. Conclusion The efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile P. westermani was poorer than that against adult worms ; the efficacy was relevant to the drug dosage and the number of metacercariae infected. The T lymphocytes and their subpopulations may be regarded as an index for curative effect.

AIM:To investigate the levels and clinical significance of microRNA-133a/b (miR-133a/b) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 ( MRP1 ) in peripheral blood of the patients with drug-refractory epilepsy. METHODS:Prediction of the miRNAs targeting transcriptional regulation of MRP1 was conducted by bioinformatics analy-sis.The plasmids containing wild type and mutant 3’UTR of MRP1 reporter gene were constructed.Dual luciferase report-er gene assay was used to verify this prediction.In addition, the peripheral blood samples of the epilepsy patients (37 cases were drug-refractory, the other 58 cases were nonresistant) were collected.The levels of miR-133a/b and MRP1 were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA.RESULTS:Through TargetScan database, it was predicted that miR-133a/b tran-scriptionally regulated MRP1.The results of dual luciferase report gene assay suggested that luciferase activity in experi-mental group with miR-133a/b mimics, pMIR-MRP1 and pRLTK plasmids were down-regulated by 76.9% and 64.1%compared with that in control group with scramble mimic, pMIR-MRP1 and pRLTK plasmids.The luciferase activity was up-regulated by 3.62 times and 2.04 times in mutation group with miR-133a/b mimics, pMIR-mut-MRP1 and pRLTK plasmids compared with experimental group.Before administration, the serum levels of miR-133a/b in the epilepsy patients without drug resistance was 2.18 times and 1.74 times higher than than in the epilepsy patients with drug resistance ( P<0.05), respectively, while MRP1 expression level was 3.72 times higher in the epilepsy patients with drug resistance than those in the epilepsy patients without drug resistance.After administration, the levels of miR-133a/b in the epilepsy pa-tients without drug resistance were 2.76 times and 2.95 times higher than those in the epilepsy patients with drug resistance (P<0.05), respectively, while the serum level of MRP1 in the epilepsy patients with drug resistance was 4.99 times higher than that in the epileptic patients without drug resistance (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:miR-133a/b transcriptio-nally regulates MRP1.There are lower expression levels of miR-133a/b and higher expression level of MRP1 in the epilep-sy patients with drug resistance compared with those in the epilepsy patients without drug resistance.miR-133a/b and MRP1 may be a diagnostic indicator for determining refractory epilepsy.

Objective To identify clinicopathologic factors which predict survival following hepatectomy in HBV-related cirrhotic patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A database was used to identify patients with histologically confirmed early HCC (≤5 cm,no nodal involvement,metastases,or major vascular invasion) who underwent surgical resection (excluding ablation or transplantation).Among 20 700 patients with HCC who were diagnosed at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital from April 2005 to November 2010,537 (2.6％) patients with early HCC were studied retrospectively.Prognostic factors were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier curves,Cox proportional hazards models and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results The study included 537 patients.The median tumor size was 2.9 cm,and 33％ of patients had tumors ≤2 cm.Most HCC lesions were solitary (63％) and had no evidence of vascular invasion (64％).Following surgery,the overall median and 5-year survival were 45 months and 33％ respectively.After adjusting for demographic factors and histological grade,tumor size ＞2 cm (hazard ratio [HR]:1.56),multifocal tumors (HR:1.34),and vascular invasion (HR:2.03) remained independent predictors of poor survival (all P ＜ 0.05).Based on these findings,a prognostic scoring system was developed that allotted 1 point each for these factors.Patients with early HCC could be stratified into 4 distinct prognostic groups (median and 5-year survival,respectively):0 points (97 months,96％),1 point (85 months,76％),2 points (76 months,54％),3 points (56 months,39％) (P ＜0.01).Conclusions The present study emphasized the importance of pathologic staging even in patients with small HCC.Anatomical resection of HCC should be the preferred surgical procedure in cirrhotic patients.

Objective To investigate the appropriate cutoff point of CA19-9 in prognosis and to determine other potential prognostic factors which may affect survival of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) after radical surgery.Methods 168 patients who had undergone radical surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma with R0 and R1 resection were selected for the study.Categorized versions were used in univariate model to determine the appropriate cutoff point of CA19-9.CA19-9 and other clinicopathologic factors were analyzed for their influence on survival using multivariate methods.Results The strongest univariate predictor among the categorized preoperative CA19-9 measures was CA19-9 of less than 150 IU/L (P ＜0.001).On univariate analysis,age,differentiation,tumor size,Bismuth-Corlette classification,portal vein invasion,lymph node metastasis,hepatic artery invasion,liver invasion,preoperative biliary drainage,resection margin and preoperative CA19-9 levels were identified as significant prognostic factors.On multivariable analysis,lymph node metastasis,resection margin and preoperative CA19-9 levels were independent prognostic factors of survival.Conclusions A raised preoperative CA19-9 level was an independent prognostic factor of survival for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The most discriminative cutoff point of CA19-9 for prognosis was at 150 kU/L.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of spontaneous rupture of BCLC stage A and stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and to review the surgical outcomes.Methods From April 2002 to November 2006,89 patients who suffered from spontaneous rupture of HCC of BCLC stage A and stage B were included into this study.A control group of 171 patients was selected by matching the sex,age and BCLC stage.Clinical data and survivals were collected and analysed.Results On multivariate analysis,hypertension (HR 7.38,95％CI:1.91 ～28.58,P＜0.05),cirrhosis (HR6.04,95％ CI:2.83 ～12.88,P ＜ 0.05) and tumor location in segments Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅵ (HR 5.03,95％ CI:2.70 ～ 6.37,P ＜ 0.05) were predictive factors of spontaneous rupture of HCC.In the study group,the median survival and median disease-free survival were 12 months (range,1 ～ 78 months) and 4 months (range,0 ～ 78 months) respectively.The overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates at 1-,3-and 5-year were 66.3％,23.4％,10.1％ and 57.0％,16.8％,4.5％,respectively.Only radical resection remained predictive of overall survival (HR 0.32,95％ CI:0.08 ～ 0.61,P ＜ 0.05) and disease-free survival (HR 0.12,95％ CI:0.01 ～ 0.73,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Tumor location,as well as hypertension and cirrhosis were associated with spontaneous rupture of HCC.One-stage hepatic resection should be recommended to patients with ruptured HCC of BCLC stage A and stage B.

Objective To investigate the natural history and growth pattern of hepatic hemangioma in adults.Methods From April 2010 to March 2013, adult patients with hepatic hemangioma who had no prior treatment were enrolled.A routine follow-up was performed to observe the natural history and complications of these lesions.Results 236 patients were enrolled in the study.The median size of the hemangiomas was 4.5 cm (range 0.6 ～ 19.2 cm).During a median follow-up of 48 months (range 3 ～ 266 months), the hemangiomas increased in size in 61.0％ of patients, remained stable in size in 23.7％, decreased in size in 8.5％.The peak growth period was in patients ＜ 30 years age (0.46 ± 0.41 cm/year) and the growth rate decreased significantly after 50 years of age (0.21 ±0.40 cm/year).Hemangiomas with a size ＜2.0 cm had the lowest growth rate (0.16 ± 0.42 cm/year).The peak growth rate was in hemangiomas 8.0 ～ 10.0 cm (0.80 ± 0.62 cm/year) , but for hemangiomas ＞ 10.0 cm, the growth rate was only (0.47 ±0.91)cm per year.Only 9 patients had severe symptoms caused by the hemangioma.No patients presented with hemangioma-related complications.Conclusions The majority of hepatic hemangiomas have the tendency to increase in size but they rarely caused complications.All the hemangiomas could be safely managed by observation, and surgery should only be considered in patients with complications.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of Weifuchun tablet combined with chemotherapy on patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Sixty-eight patients with advanced NSCLC was randomly divided into control group (n =34) treated with cisplatin + gemcitabine and treatment group (n =34) treated with Weifuchun tablet (1.436g × 2/d) and cisplatin + gemcitabine.After two treatment cycles,the clinical effect in both groups were evaluated.Results The clinical efficacy in the treatment group was 52.94％ (18/34),which in the control group was 41.18％ (14/34),there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups(x2 =0.94,P ＞ 0.05).The quality of life and the level of T lymphocytes were markedly improved,and the reduction of hemoglobin,leucocyte,and platelet,and nausea reaction were all significantly inhibited in treatment group compared with that in control group after two treatment cycles (x2 =4.12,4.66,5.96,4.12,5.90,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Weifuchun tablet combined with chemotherapy effectively ameliorates the clinical symptoms of the patient with advanced NSCLC,reduces the toxic and side effects caused by chemotherapy,and improves the quality of life,which is worthy in the clinic.

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Aim To investigate the effect of transduct-ed-hemeoxygenase-1 ( HO-1 ) protein on brain ischemi-a-reperfusion ( I/R ) rat hippocampal neurons injury. Methods 11 R ( arginine residues )-fused HO-1 pro-tein was established and 50 male Mongolian gerbils were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n=10 ):I/R ( control group ) , I/R + 5 mg · kg-1 saline group ( group S ) , I/R + 5 mg · kg-1 11 R group ( group R), I/R + 5mg·kg-1 11R-HO-1 group (group H1) and I/R + 25 mg · kg-1 11 R-HO-1 group ( group H2). For I/R experiments, ischemia was induced for 5 min by occluding the common carotid arteries bilater-ally with aneurysm clips under Ketamine anesthesia. The experiment was conducted after the neurons were intraperitoneally injected with 5mg·kg-1 saline,11R , 11R-HO-1,or 25mg · kg-1 11R-HO-1 for 3 h. The rats were killed after 24h of reperfusion. Hippocampus was removed immediately for determination of cAMP level, neuronal apoptotic rate, and expression of HO-1 and Caspase-3 protein, mitochondria was observed un-der electron microscope. Results Among group C, group S and group R,there were no differences in the expressions of HO-1, Caspase-3 protein, cAMP level , neuronal apoptotic rate and mitochondria damage ( P>0. 05). Compared with group C, group S and group R, the expression of HO-1 protein was up-regulated, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was down-regula-ted, cAMP level increased, the apoptotic rate was sig-nificantly decreased and mitochondria damage de-creased in group H1 ( P < 0. 01 ) . Compared with group H1 , the expression of HO-1 protein was up-regu-lated, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was down-regulated, cAMP level increased, the apoptotic rate was significantly decreased and mitochondria damage decreased in group H2 ( P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Transducted-HO-1 protein can attenuate brain ischemi-a-reperfusion rat hippocampal neurons injury.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of bayberry polyphenol(BPP) on thrombopenia induced by cytotoxic drug and radiation in mice and rats.METHODS:The mice and rats were treated with cyclophosphamide and 60Co-? radiation to establish the animal thrombopenia models.RESULTS:Platelet counts were increased in BPP treated animals with a significant difference compared with the controls(P