Radiotherapy is the principle method of non-surgical treatment for esophageal cancer.The 5-year survival rate ranges from 20％ to 40％.In recent years,the studies have found that anti-angiogenesis therapy can not only directly inhibit tumor nutritional intake,but also turn around tumor hypoxia by normalizing tumor vessels so as to enhance the radio-sensitivity of tumor ceils,which is expected to become an effective way to improve the curative effect of esophageal cancer radiotherapy.

Aerenchyrna formation has been described in depth in a number of species at a histological level. But large gaps remain in our understanding of its regulation as a developmental process. It is attempted to analyse essential mineral elements like K, Mg, Cu, Zn, Ca and P in the cell wall of aerenchyma cells in petioles ofS. trifolia at five different developmental stages by CSEM-EDX technique. At early stage, K and Cl concentrations in cell wall were high up to 36% and 4.3% of dry weight, respectively. It supported the hypotheses that aerenchyma spaces are filled with liquid at early developmental stages of aerenchyma in S. trifolia petiole. Mg concentration was high at stage 2, up to 0.86% of dry weight. Zinc and Cu were detected only at rapid expansion stages, during which the concentrations were up to 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively. Calcium was detected in the cell wall only at mature stages, the concentration was high up to 1.3% of dry weight at stages 4 and 5. These results confirmed that the element concentration of aerenehyma cell wall undergoes dynamic changes during different developmental stages, and a low Ca with high Zn and Cu concentration are needed for cell expansion. Copper and Zn deposition in the cell wall showed a significant positive linear correlation, suggesting that these two elements share same or similar uptake and transport mechanism in plants.

Objective: To determine the long-term prognostic value of ~(99m)Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) Gated myocardial perfusion imaging(G-MPI)in patients with coronary artery disease.Methods: A total of 1345 consecutive symptomatic coronary artery disease patients who underwent ~(99m)Tc-MIBI G-MPI were studied.1250 patients were followed-up by telephone interview, the median follow-up time was 26.7±13.6 months.Events were defined as cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and revascularization by coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary artery intervention.Results: Cox regression analysis indicated that summed stress score (3.8±6.1,χ~2=67.25), summed different score (1.1±3.0,χ~2=21.09) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (0.667±0.097,χ~2=42.26) were independent predictive factors of cardiac events (P<0.01).Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that cardiac event free survival was significantly lower in the patient with LVEF≤50%.Conclusion: In Patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease, the summed stress score, summed rest score, summed different score and LVEF had prognostic value, and low LVEF indicated worse prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of vaginal dilators by 567 adverse event reports, and to provide a reference for the reasonable use.

METHODSWith retrospective case study, analyzed 567 reports induced by vaginal dilators by National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Center in 2012.

RESULTSExpected treatment of disease might be relevant with severity of adverse events, while age was not the related factor; the influencing factor of consequences of grading was the classification of the cause of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONMonitoring should be strengthen in order to reduce or avoid the vaginal dilator adverse events.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; Dilatation ; adverse effects ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vagina ; pathology

Objective To investigate the influence of different carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents (Dr(a)gersorb 800 plus , Sodasorb,Sodasorb LF) on the production of compound A during low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia.Methods Twenty-seven ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 20-64 years were randomly assigned to three groups according to different CO2 absorbents: Dr(a)gersorb 800 plus' group (group D, n = 10), Sodasorb group (group S, n = 10) and Sodasorb LF group (group LF, n = 7). Anesthesia was maintained with low-flow (500 ml/min) sevoflurane inhalation (with the end-tidal sevoflurane concentration of approximately 2% ). At 2 h after low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia, gas samples were taken from the expiratory limb of the circuit. Compound A was detected by gas chromatography. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin (BR), urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) levels were measured before (T0 ) and 24 h after operation (T1).Results The three groups were comparable with respect to age, body weight and height. After 2 h of low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia, compound A concentrations in the expiratory limb of the circuit were 11.6 ± 5.8 (group D), 2.1 ± 1.9 (group S)and ＜ 0.1 ppm (group LF), respectively. There were no significant changes in the serum ALT, AST, BR, BUN and Cr levels at 24 h after operation as compared with the preoperative baseline values in the three groups.Conclusion After 2 h of low-flow (500 ml/min) sevoflurane anesthesia, compound A concentrations within the circuit with different CO2 absorbents ( Dr(a)gersorb 800 plus' , Sodasorb, Sodasorb LF) are less than 50 ppm, with the lowest in Sodasorb LF.However, they have no significant effects on hepatic or renal function.

BACKGROUND: Speech audiometry is decisive in selecting hearing aid,but it is seldom used in clinic in China.OBJECTIVE: To understand the differences in the speech resolution with speech audiometry between in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE)hearing aids.DESIGN: Paired controlled study.SETTING: Auditory Center of the 414 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Auditory Rehabilitation Center of Jiangsu Province.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 62 patients with auditory disability were selected from the Auditory Center of the 414 Hospital of Chinese PLA and Auditory Rehabilitation Center of Jiangsu Province. Among 32 ITE hearing aid users, average hearing loss at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz, was less than 85 dB, and the patients were aged from 16 to 60 years. Among 30 BTE hearing aid users, average hearing loss at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz, was also less than 85 dB, and the patients were aged from 16 to 60 years. All patients were consent.METHODS: Open and close methods were adopted for speech audiometry among ITE and BTE hearing aids users. Monosyllabic and disyllabic words were chosen as the type of speech and 20 words were given to one ear, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of speech resolution with monosyllabic and disyllabic words test between ITE and BTE hearing aid.RESULTS: In aspect of the effect of ITE and BTE hearing aids, there were no significant differences of both monosyllabic and disyllabic words no matter through open or close method (P ＞ 0.05). At the opening state, there were significant differences in resolution of monosyllabic and disyllabic words (P ＜ 0.05); while, there were no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05) at the closing state.CONCLUSION: Carrying out speech audiometry in the selection hearing aid is influenced by many factors.

BACKGROUND:Studies have found that vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor are involved in the development process of osteoarthritis, but their correlation is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression and correlation of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor in chondrocytes of articular cartilages in human osteoarthritis. METHODS: Articular cartilage specimens were colected from 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee joint replacement. According to the joint Kelgren-Lawrance (K-L) X-ray grouping classification standard, there were 18 cases of K-LIII level and 32 cases of K-LIV level. Besides, articular cartilage specimens from 10 patients undergoing amputation for legs tumor or traffic accident served as control group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Safranin O-Fast Green staining and Mankin scoring were performed to observe and evaluate the histological characteristics of articular cartilages of each group, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to detect the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor in chondrocytes of articular cartilages, and their correlations were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Mankin score of K-LIV group was significantly higher than those of K-LIII group and control group. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the number of chondrocytes with positive expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α or vascular endothelial growth factor in K-LIV group was significantly higher than that in K-LIII group and control group (P < 0.05). The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor increased in chondrocytes of articular cartilages of osteoarthritis patients, and to up-regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor may be the regulatory mechanism of hypoxia inducible factor-2αinthe pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of chrysotile exposure on ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number and DNA damage response, so as to provide insights into the mechanism of asbestos-induced carcinogenesis. Methods: Human pleural mesothelial MeT-5A cells were treated with chrysotile suspensions at doses of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/cm2 (low-, medium-, high-dose group), while PBS served as controls. MeT-5A cells were harvested 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment, and the rDNA copy numbers and the BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression were determined using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. The apoptosis of MeT-5A cells and DNA damage were detected using Muse cell analyzer. The rDNA copy numbers, DNA damage responses and BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression were compared in MeT-5A cells treated with different doses of chrysotile suspensions. Results: There were significant differences in 45S rDNA copy numbers among low-, medium-, high-dose groups and the control groups 6, 48 and 72 h post-treatment with chrysotile suspensions, and significantly lower 45S rDNA copy numbers were measured in low-, medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group 6 h post-treatment, while significantly higher 45S rDNA copy numbers were found in the high-dose group than in low- and medium-dose groups 48 and 72 h post-treatment (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in 5S rDNA copy numbers among low-, medium-, high-dose groups and the control groups 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment with chrysotile suspensions, and significantly lower 5S rDNA copy numbers were measured in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group 24 and 48 h post-treatment, while significantly lower 5S rDNA copy numbers were found in medium- and high-dose groups than in the low-dose group 24, 72 h post-treatment (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in the overall apoptotic rate of MeT-5A cells among groups at different time points, and the overall apoptotic rate of MeT-5A cells were significantly higher in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05), with late-stage apoptosis predominantly detected. There were significant differences in the rates of ATM activation and DNA double-strand break in MeT-5A cells among groups 72 h post-treatment, and higher rates of ATM activation and DNA double-strand break were measured in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the relative mRNA expression of BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 genes among groups 24 and 48 h post-treatment, and significantly lower BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression was quantified in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Exposure to chrysotile may induce rDNA copy number variations and altered expression of nucleolar proteins in human pleural mesothelial cells, which may be involved in the regulation of DNA damage responses.

Objective : To examine the effect of asbestos exposure on oxidative stress, so as to provide insights into the elucidation of pathogenesis and management of asbestos-related diseases. Methods : Totally 245 subjects were recruited from an asbestos manufacturing area in Zhejiang Province, and their gender, age and history of asbestos exposure were collected through a questionnaire survey. The serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine ( 8-OHdG ), glutathione ( GSH ), malondialdehyde ( MDA ), superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and total antioxidative capacity ( TAOC ) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ), and the levels of catalase ( CAT ), peroxiredoxin 2 ( PRX2 ), SOD1, SOD2 and thioredoxin-1 ( TRX1 ) were detected in peripheral white blood cells ( WBCs ) using a liquid-chip assay. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify the association between asbestos exposure and oxidative stress parameters. Results : There were 50 subjects without a history of asbestos exposure (unexposed group), 102 subjects with asbestos exposure for less than 10 years ( AE<10-year group ) and 93 subjects with asbestos exposure for 10 years and more ( AE≥10-year group ). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of age, gender, proportion of smokers or proportion of alcohol consumers ( P>0.05 ). Significantly higher 8-OHdG and MDA in serum, and higher PRX2 in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the unexposed group ( P<0.05 ); lower GSH and TAOC in serum, and lower CAT in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the unexposed group ( P<0.05 ); higher 8-OHdG and MDA in serum, and higher PRX2 in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the AE<10-year group ( P<0.05 ). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that asbestos exposure significantly correlated with 8-OHdG, MDA and TAOC in serum, and CAT and PRX2 in peripheral WBCs ( P<0.05 ). Conclusion Asbestos exposure may induce the oxidative stress damage, suggesting that oxidative stress may be involved in asbestos-related diseases.

BACKGROUND:In recent years, repair of articular cartilage injury has become an important field in basic medical research. Because injured articular cartilage is difficult to repair, the repair of articular cartilage injury has become a difficult hotspot.