Purpose:To compare the therapeutic and adverse effects between continuous and intermittent infusion of fluorouracil(5-FU) in advanced colorectal cancer.Methods:17 patients of advanced colorectal cancer were treated with continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU 2.5g in 100 ml of 5% glucose in a continuous infusions pump,for 120 h (Group A).16 patients of similar severity were treated with 5-FU 500 mg in 500 ml of 5% glucose 2 h iv daily for 5 d (Group B). Total of 33 patients were treated with calcium folinate (CF) 200 mg in 100 ml of 5% glucose 1 h iv daily for 5 d and HCPT 10 mg in 250 ml of 5% glucose 2 h iv daily for 6d.The therapeutic and adverse effects were evaluated according to the cri- teria recommended by WHO.Results:Effectiveness was noted in 9 patients in Group A and 3 patients in group B.(x~2 test P

OBJECTIVETo study the curative effect of Zhiyang Pingfu Liquid (ZPL) in treating epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) associated adverse reactions of the skin.

METHODSAll 54 patients with pathologically confirmed malignant tumor had EGFRIs induced adverse reactions of the skin to various degrees. ZPL was externally applied for them all, once or twice per day, 14 days consisting of one therapeutic course. Changes of adverse skin reactions, time for symptoms relief, adverse skin reaction types suitable for ZPL were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSEGFRIs associated skin adverse reactions were improved to various degrees after they used ZPL. The shortest symptoms relief time was 1 day while the longest was 12 days, with an average of 6.93 days and the median time 7 days. Compared with before treatment, itching, rash/scaling, acne/acneform eruptions were obviously improved (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZPL could alleviate EGFRls associated adverse skin reactions, especially showed better effect on itching, rash/scaling, acne/acneform eruptions.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Biomedical Research ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Exanthema ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Pruritus ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Skin ; drug effects ; Skin Diseases ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extraction technique for Chinese Medicine.

METHODThe content of baicalin in Radix Scutellariae extracts and total flavones in Folium Ginkgo extracts were as indexes respectively and measured by high performance liquid chromatography. We investigated the hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extraction process for the extraction of Radix Scutellariae and Folium Ginkgo respectively, and compared with refluxing method, decoction and ultrasonic extraction. With the content of the extracts as indexes, Compound prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine were extracted by the hydrodynamic ultrasonic extraction and decoction extraction.

RESULTThe content of baicalin of hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extracts was significant higher than other extracts. The content of Ginkgo leaves flavones in hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extracts and ultrasonic extracts had no significant difference. Compared with decocting extracts, hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extracts of TCM compound prescriptions content was higher greatly.

CONCLUSIONThe hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extraction process showed higher extraction rate of baicalin of radix scutellariae than traditional extraction methods. And it was beneficial to the dissolution of water-soluble constituents in compound prescriptions of TCM. The content of Ginkgo leaves flavones in the hydrodynamic ultrasonic energy extracts and ultrasonic extracts had no obvious difference.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Reference Standards ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on expression of drug transporting molecules in APL MR2 cell line.

METHODSMR2 resistant to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and non-ATRA resistant APL cell line NB4 was used in this in vitro study. Expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), multidrug resistance protein (MRP) and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) was detected by immunocytochemical assay.

RESULTSThe expression of Pgp was significantly higher in MR2 (30%-40%) than in NB4 (10%-20%) (P < 0.001), and that of MRP was also higher in MR2 (56.9 +/- 3.4-21.2 +/- 1.1) than in NB4 (20.6 +/- 5.3-16.7 +/- 1.2) (P < 0.001). As2O3 at concentrations ranging from 0.5 approximately 2.0 micromol/L could significantly decrease the expression of Pgp and MRP, but not that of LRP. The decrease in the expression of Pgp and MRP in MR2 cell line was negatively correlated with the dose and duration of action of As2O3.

CONCLUSIONPgp and MRP, but not LRP, may be the sensitive targets of As2O3 to overcome drug-resistance. ATRA might be the substrates of Pgp and MRP.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEAnti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are serological diagnostic markers for certain types small vessel vasculitis including Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis, which are also termed ANCA associated systemic vasculitis (AASV). The majority of patients with primary AASV reported are adults and predominantly elderly. Data on pediatric patients with primary AASV in China are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and pathological features of primary AASV in children.

METHODSPatients with primary AASV, admitted to the hospital within the past 7 years, were retrospectively studied. The clinical and pathological features were compared between pediatric and adult patients. In pediatric group, there were 20 cases with an average age of (12.1 +/- 4.1) years (aged from 5 to 17 years); in adult group, there were 38 cases with an average age of (55.3 +/- 14.1) years (aged from 20 to 78 years).

RESULTSThe data of this study showed that pediatric patients accounted for 7.87% (20/254) of the whole primary AASV patients. Compared with 38 adult hospitalized patients, pediatric patients were predominantly female (80% vs 50%, P = 0.047). Patients from both groups were microscopic polyangiitis predominantly (95% vs 74%, P > 0.05) and the majority of the sera were P-ANCA/anti-MPO antibody positive in both groups (95% vs 74%, P > 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension in pediatric patients was significantly lower than that in adults (20% vs 61%, P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in clinical manifestations and clinical remission rates between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONPediatric patients with AASV were not rare in China. The clinical and pathological features of patients with AASV in childhood were similar to adult patients, but there was a female predominance in children.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; immunology ; Biopsy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vasculitis ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of RhoA down-regulation by RNA interference on the invasion of tongue carcinoma Tca8113 and SCC-4.

METHODSDetermination of the human RhoA sequence as well as the design and constructionof a short specific small interfering RNAs (siRNA) were performed. The siRNA of RhoA gene was transfected into humantongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells line by Lipofectamine 2000. Quantitative real-time polymerasechain reaction was used to examine the mRNA expressionlevels of RhoA. Protein expressions of mRNA, galectin-3,and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were evaluated byWestern blot. Transwell invasion assay was performed toassess the invasion ability of tongue carcinoma.

RESULTSRhoA expressions in Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells were reducedsignificantly after transfection of RhoA-siRNA. Protein levels f galectin-3 and MVP-9 were also down-regulated significantly. Invasion ability was inhibited as well.

CONCLUSIONRhoA-siRNA can effectively inhibit RhoA expression in Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells. The invasion ability of tongue carcinoma cells decreased with down-regulation of the protein expressions of galectin-3 and MMP-9, indicating that RhoA-siRNA can inhibit invasion of tongue carcinoma. Results show that RhoA may play an important role in the processes of invasion and metastasis of tongue carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Galectin 3 ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo analyze hepatotoxicity of Polygonum multiflorum and clinical character- istics of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 158 patients treated at 302 Military Hospital between January 2009 and January 2014. All of them had used Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations before the onset of DILI, and their clinical characteristics and prognoses were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 158 DILI patients who used Polygonum multiflorum or its preparations, 92 (58.2%) combined with Western medicine or Chinese herbal preparations without Polygonum multiflorum; 66 patients (41.8%) used Polygonum mult florum and its preparations alone. In 66 DILI patients induced by Polygonum multiflorum or its preparations alone, 51 cases (77.3%) were induced by Polygonum multiflorum compounds and 22.7% by single Po- lygonum multiflorum; 4 cases (6.1%) were caused by crude Polygonum multiflorum and 62 (93.9%) by processed Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations. Clinical injury patterns were hepatocellular 92.4% (61 cases), cholestatic 1.5% (1 case), and mixed 6.1% (4 cases). Pathological examination was per- formed by liver biopsy in 32 cases (48.15%), manifested as hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, fibroplasia, Kupffer cells with pigment granule, and a large number of eosinophil infiltration, were ob- served. Four patients were developed into liver failure, 4 into cirrhosis, and 1 died.

CONCLUSIONPolygo- num multiflorum and its preparations could induce DILI, but clinical diagnosis of Polygonum multiflorum induced hepatotoxicity should be cautious.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Cholestasis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Fallopia multiflora ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Failure ; Plant Preparations ; adverse effects ; Polygonum ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of siRNA targeting ADAM17 (ADAM17-siRNA) on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSAfter transfecting PC-3 cells with ADAM17-siRNA 1 and ADAM17-siRNA 2, we detected the expressions of ADAM17 mRNA and protein by RT- PCR and Western blotting, respectively. We measured the changes in the proliferation and DNA synthesis of PC-3 cells by MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, examined the cell cycle profile by flow cytometry, and determined the expressions of the genes associated with PC-3 cell proliferation by Western blotting.

RESULTSBoth ADAM17-siRNA 1 and 2 effectively reduced the expressions of ADAM17 mRNA and protein in the PC-3 cells. Knockdown of ADAM17 with the two siRNAs significantly inhibited cell proliferation as compared with the control group (0.43 +/- 0.57 and 0.44 +/- 0.64 vs 0.80 +/- 0.51, P < 0.05) and down-regulated DNA synthesis (0.48 +/- 0.43 and 0.54 +/- 0.59 vs 0.79 +/- 0.72, P < 0.05). The cell cycle profile showed that the cell population of the G1 phase was markedly higher in both the ADAM17-siRNA groups than in the control ([61.83 +/- 2.41]% and [59.78 +/- 1.92]% vs [41.38 +/- 1.53]%, P < 0.05), but that of the S phase remarkably lower in the former two than in the latter ([23.64 +/- 2.56]% and [25.24 +/- 1.86]% vs [33.51 +/- 1.47]%, P < 0.05), with a concomitant decrease in the expression of the cell cycle protein cyclin D1 and increase in the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21.

CONCLUSIONADAM17-siRNA can effectively inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells by up-regulating cyclin D1 and down-regulating p21 protein, and ADAM17 has a potential value in the gene therapy of prostate cancer.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; ADAM17 Protein ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to detect Down's syndrome through quantitative pyrosequencing of the heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the chromosome 21.

METHODSAn improved allele-specific-amplification was used to screen heterozygous SNPs on the chromosome 21 from 84 normal samples. Pyrosequencing was used to quantitatively determine the ratio between the two alleles of a heterozygote, and the diagnosis of Down's syndrome was thus carried out based on the ratio.

RESULTSBy genotyping 84 genomic DNA samples from normal Chinese population, 6 SNPs with a relatively high level of heterozygosity were screened out. Heterozygote coverage of 92.9% was achieved by using a panel of 6 SNPs on the chromosome 21. Ten clinical samples from Down's syndrome patients were quantitatively determined by pyrosequencing, and 9 samples were accurately diagnosed by comparing the ratio of the two alleles. The pyrosequencing results showed that the ratio of the two alleles were 2:1 or 1:2 for the Down's syndrome patients.

CONCLUSIONThe method has the advantage of a low cost, simple process, and time-saving operation and could be potentially applicable to the rapid diagnosis of Down's syndrome.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA ; analysis ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; economics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of different salt iodine concentration on urinary iodine excrition among the target population and to determine the appropriate level of salt iodization to the local people.

METHODSIn the 31-day random control trial, 1099 subjects from 399 families were randomly distributed into four groups and were supplied with iodized-salt with different iodine concentration of (6 +/- 2)mg/kg, (15 +/- 2)mg/kg, (24 +/- 2)mg/kg and (34 +/- 2)mg/kg, respectively. The original family salt was retrieved, whose iodine content was determined in those subjects' families with single-blind method. Baseline survey was conducted including salt and urinary iodine of the subjects. From the 27th day after the intervention, the urinary samples of the subjects were continuously collected for 5 days and urinary iodine was tesed respectively. Meanwhile, daily meal investigation was conducted to evaluate the influences originated from food.

RESULTSThe median of local water iodine content was 3.05 microg/L and the average salt iodine concentration was (36.4 +/- 5.4)mg/kg while 98.8% of the household consumed sufficient iodized-salt. The medians of baseline urinary iodine of the subjects were 293.6 microg/L in city, and 508.8 microg/L in the countryside. The urinary iodine medians of four groups in the day of 28th after intervention were 97.2 microg/L, 198.6 microg/L, 249.4 microg/L, and 330.7 microg/L respectively in the city group, while they were 100.5 microg/L, 193.0 microg/L, 246.3 microg/L and 308.3 microg/L seperately in the countryside group. There was no statistically significant differences among the medians of urine iodine in the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st day after intervention (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe target areas were with iodine deficiency which possessed high coverage of qualified iodized-salt at household level. The average urinary iodine level of the subjects was slightly higher than the standard level, according to the baseline survey. The intervetion trail showed that the salt iodine concentration of 15-24 mg/kg was sufficient to the local people.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Housing ; Humans ; Iodine ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; urine ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; pharmacology ; Time Factors