Brachytherapy ; methods ; Brain Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Glioma ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Mouth Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Survival Rate

ObjectiveTo study the impact of high chromium yeast on type 2 diabetic mice.MethodsA total of 60 Balb/C mice were used in this study.Fifty mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes,while the ten mice without injection were in the normal group.The type 2 diabetic mice were divided into 5groups according to their fasting blood sugar levels,including 3 groups receiving high chromium yeast at low [250μg/ (kg· d)],medium [500 μg/ (kg,d)],and high [1000 μg/ (kg· d)] doses,1 group receiving metformin ( positive control),and 1 group receiving normal yeast ( negative control).The yeast or metformin were given through by gastric lavage daily for 15 weeks.Body mass and blood biochemical indexes (fasting blood glucose,glucose tolerance,etc) were determined,and the pathological examination of pancreas was conducted.Results Compared with negative control group,medium dose high chromium yeast group had significantly lower triglyceride ( P =0.043 ),low and medium dose groups had lower total cholesterol ( P =0.006,P =0.003 ),low and high dose groups had higher insulin levels (P =0.011,P =0.002),and high dose group had significantly reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (P =0.027).Pathological examination of pancreatic islets revealed that medium and high dose groups did not develop infiltration of inflammatory cells.ConclusionsHigh chromium yeast may improve type 2 diabetes mellitus.Further studies are needed to confirm the conclusion of this study with an organic chromium control group.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 125I radioactive seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy as a treatment option for thoracic advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). Methods A prospective cohort study was carried out between 2000and 2005. According to preoperative CT staging criteria,298 patients in phase Ⅱ-Ⅲ of ESCC, who had were admitted to Oncology Center Surgery of Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and Thoracic Surgery of YanCheng Oncology Hospital, were randomly divided into three groups: intraoperative 125I seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy (group A, 98cases), postoperative chemoradiotherapy (group B, 100 cases) and surgery alone (group C, 100cases). All patients received radical resection of esophageal cancer. According to pTNM staging criteria after operation, 233 patients in phase Ⅱb-Ⅲ of ESCC were finally enrolled in the study (78 in group A, 75 in group B, and 80 in group C). With 0. 5 m Ci of single seed, total activity of 5-11 mCi and matched peripheral dose in 60-70 Gy, 10-22 125I seeds were implanted into the target of patients in group A under direct vision in accordance with treatment planning system. The validation and quality assessment of radioactive seeds were demonstrated according to CT scan or X-ray imaging. The postoperative complications were observed. The local recurrence of the cancer was demonstrated using CT scan. The survival rate of patients was followed up for 1-,3-,5- and 10 years. Results The satisfied quality assessment of 125I seeds was observed. There was no displacement or loss of seed. The local recurrence in group A, B and C was 11. 5%, 13. 3% and 38. 8%, respectively, with statistical significance (P ＜ 0. 05). There was no significant difference among three groups with respect to complications and 1-year survival (P＞0. 05). However, the overall survival rate 3-, 5- and 10-years was 64.8%,37. 7% and 25. 1% in group A respectively; 63.3%, 36.9% and 24.9% in group Brespectively; 43. 6i%, 25.0%, and 12.6% in group C, respectively (all P＜0. 05). The 3-,5- and 10-year progression free survival rates were 63.5 %, 37.4 % and 15.1% in group A respectively; 62.5 %,36.6% and 14. 4% in group B respectively; 42.5%, 25.6% and 6.2% in group C respectively (all P＜0. 05). Conclusions It is a safe, effective and simple method for intraoperative 125I seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy in treatment of advanced ESCC, which may reduce the local recurrence and improve survival rates in patients with ESCC.

Objective To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on cell apoptosis during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =25 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,and remifentanil group (group R).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in groups I/R and R.Remifentanil was infused at 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 via the caudal vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of remifentanil in groups S and I/R.At 15 min before ischemia (T0) and 3,6,12,24 h of reperfusion (T1-4),5rats were anesthetized and sacrificed,and renal specimens were obtained to detect the apoptotic rate and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein (by flow cytometry) and mRNA (by RT-PCR).The ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were calculated.The pathological changes of renal tubules were scored.Results Compared with group S,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly increased at T1-4,and ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜0.01).Compared with group I/R,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly decreased at T1-4,while the ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased in group R (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Compared with the baseline value at T0,the pathological scores and apoptotic rates were significantly increased at T1 4,and the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression and inhibition of cell apoptosis in renal tissues are involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil reduces renal I/R injury in rats.

The aim of this paper is to report the synthesis of the mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers as small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vector, and exploration of the siRNA delivery potential of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI in vitro. The diblock copolymers mPEG-PCL-OH was prepared through the ring-opening polymerization. Then, the hydroxyl terminal (-OH) of mPEG-PCL-OH was chemically converted into the carboxy (-COOH) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in turn to prepare mPEG-PCL-NHS. The branched PEI was reacted with mPEG-PCL-NHS to synthesize the ternary copolymers mPEG-PCL-g-PEI. The structure of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were prepared by complex coacervation, and the nanoparticles size and zeta potential were determined, separately. The cytotoxicities of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles and PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were compared through cells MTT assays in vitro. The inhibition efficiencies of firefly luciferase gene expression by mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/ siRNA nanoparticle at various N/P ratios were investigated through cell transfection in vitro. The experimental results suggested that the ternary (mPEG5k-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) copolymers were successfully synthesized. (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) could condense siRNA into nanoparticles (50-200 nm) with positive zeta potential. MTT assay results showed that the cytotoxicity of (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles (P < 0.05). The expression of firefly luciferase gene could be significantly down-regulated at a range of N/P ratio from 50 to 150 (P < 0.01), and maximally inhibited at the N/P ratio of 125. The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI polymers could delivery siRNA into cells to inhibit the expression of target gene with very low cytotoxicity, which suggested that mPEG-PCL-g-PEI could serve as a new type of siRNA delivery vector.

Aged ; Female ; Giant Cell Arteritis ; complications ; Humans ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; complications

Objective To isolate and cultivate mouse hepatic progenitor cells (mHPCs) from E14.5 mouse fetal liver in vitro and induce mHPCs differentiation into cholangiocytes.Methods Isolation of mHPCs from mouse fetal liver was based on the cell surface antigen delta-like protein 1/preadipocyte factor 1 (Dlk/Pref-1) by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS).Then mHPCs isolated were co-cultured with/without mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by using Transwell.The cell antigen alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (ALB) and cytokeratin19 (CK19) expression in freshly isolated DLK1+cells or co-cultured for 4 days and 6 days were observed with immunocytochemical method.Results When co-cultured with MEFs, the division and proliferation were observed in most of DLK1+ cells and grape-like aggregation was formed.Cells began to adhere to growth and began to become spindle-shaped on 4th day.The DLK1+cells isolated freshly by FACS were expressed AFP and low levels of ALB but not expressed CK19.But, these cells expressed CK 19 and weak expression of ALB on 4th day.In addition, the expression of CK19 increased and the expression of ALB almost not detected on 6th day.Conclusions Most of DLK1+ cells, isolated from E14.5 fetal livers by FACS, are proved to be mHPCs.Furthermore, these cells can proliferate quickly and differentiate into cholangiocytes by co-culture with MEFs.

BACKGROUND: The most commonly used rod-screw posterior spinal fixation system has some biomechanical drawbacks. The screw-plate system is more preferred for patients.OBJECTIVE: To prepare a new posterior spinal fixation system based on imaging results of distance between two pedicles,radian of spine flexion, extension and the height of intervertebral space of Chinese population.METHODS: The thoracolumbar data of 129 normal people were measured. According to the imaging measurements and relative documents, a device of gear-distraction plate (GDP) for spine reduction and fixation was designed. Eighteen fresh calf lumbar specimens were randomly divided into 3 groups, the test group was fixed by GDP and the other groups were fixed by CD and Steffee plate, respectively. The results of the displacement, strain, strength, stiffness and ultimate strength were measured under the states of vertical compression, flexion, extension and lateral bending respectively, and the results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GDP could meet the need of strength and stiffness of human bodies. It showed superior to the CD and Steffee plate groups in strength and stiffness (P ＜ 0.05), with 13% or 14% torsion intensity greater than that of the CD or Steffee plate groups. The ultimate mechanical performance test showed that, the load bearing of the GDP group was greater than that of the CD and Steffee plate groups (P ＜ 0.05). The findings demonstrated that GDP for Chinese human presented with good biomechanical stability, which can promote vertebrae fracture union and prevent kyphosis relapses or vertebral height loses.

Objective To investigate the relationship between standard CD44(CD44s)expression and tumor stage and prognosis in colorectal cancer.Methods CD44s expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues and normal mucosa specimens from 74 cases of primary colorectal cancer.Results Of 74 cases,the expression of CD44s in colorectal cancer tissue and normal mucosa specimens was documented in 42% and 16%,respectively.The expression of CD44s in primary tumors significantly increased in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ than in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ(39% vs.6%,x~2=8.46,P＜0.01).A statistically significant correlation was observed between the overall survival and CD44s expression(x~2=17.82,P＜0.01).Furthermore,a poor prognosis of CD44s-positive tumors was observed in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer(x~2=16.23,P＜0.01),but not in patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ colorectal cancer(x~2=1.34,P＞0.05).Multivariate analysis indicated that TNM stage and CD44s expression were independent predictors of overall survival in colorectal cancer.Conclusion CD44s overexpression is involved in the progress of colorectal cancer and predicting the prognosis.

Objective To develop a gut-brain interaction animal model of IBS which combines multiple factors including behavior, visceral sensation and motility. Methods Setting up a multifactor interactional animal model (chronic acute combining stress model, CACS) based on a chronic unpredictable mild stress model of depression (CUMS) while combined with wrap restraint stress (WRS) , changes of some indexes were recorded including motility (granules of defecating, time of defecating), visceral sensitivity ( spontaneous contraction of abdominal striated muscles ) and behavior/mind ( sucrose consumption, body weight). G protein subunits were measured by Western blot in both hippocampus and prefrontal cortex simultaneously. Results ( 1 ) Compared with the state before stress given, defecating granules increased, defecating time of glassie from rectum shorten, number of abdominal contraction increased, and sucrose consumption decreased in CACS, however, neither significant change was found on defecating behavior in CUMS nor on sucrose consumption in WRS; (2) Compared with the control group, some G protein submits expression decreased in both CACS and CUMS( P < 0. 05 ) , while no significant changes of any G protein subunits were found in WRS. Conclusion The CACS animal model was a new, brain-gut interaction model, which can mimic part of human symptoms of IBS very well.