Objective To estimate the effect of glycoprotein (transmembrane) nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) on the proliferation and migration of as well as melanogenesis in melanoma cells.Methods The expression of GPNMB was detected by immunofluorescence assay in two melanoma cell lines M14 and G-361,as well as in primary human melanocytes.Then,the three kinds of cells each were classified into three groups:experimental group treated with small interfering RNA targeting GPNMB (GPNMB-siRNA),negative control group treated with the negative control siRNA,blank control group remaining untreated.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay,transwell invasion assay and spectrophotometry were performed to evaluate cell proliferation activity,invasion potential and melanin levels,respectively.Statistical analysis was done using Student's t test.Results GPNMB was expressed in both melanoma cells and melanocytes.The transfection with GPNMB-siRNA down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of GPNMB in,and markedly suppressed the proliferation and migration of,melanoma cells.In detail,the proliferative activity (expressed as the absorbence value at 570 nm) of M14 and G361 cells was reduced by 35％ and 40％ respectively,the migration activity of M14 and G361 cells by 49％ and 51％ respectively,and the melanin levels in melanocytes,M14 cells and G361 cells by 73％,82％ and 69％ respectively,in the experiment group compared with those in the blank control group.Conclusions The siRNA-mediated silencing of GPNMB could effectively inhibit the proliferation of,invasion of and melanogenesis in melanoma cells,which suggests that GPNMB plays critical roles in the initiation and progression of melanoma.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term efficacy and long-term preventive effect on recurrence in prevention and treatment of children allergic rhinitis treated with the multiple therapy at Dazhui (GV 14) as the main acupoint and acupoint plaster therapy.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of children allergic rhinitis were randomized into a triple-strong stimulation therapy group and an acupoint plaster therapy group, 60 cases in each one. In the triple-strong stimulation therapy group, Dazhui (GV 14) was the main acupoint, combined with one of Feishu (BL 13), Zhiyang (GV 9) and Shenshu (BL 23) accordingly. The heavy needling technique was adopted with the three-edged needle, followed by heavy cupping and heavy moxibustion. The treatment was given once every 3 days, continuously for 10 times. In the acupoint plaster therapy group, the acupoints selected were same as the triple-strong stimulation therapy group. The self-prepared Chinese herbal plaster was used, 4 h to 8 h each one time, once every 3 days, continuously for 10 times. The changes in the symptom and physical sign scores were observed before treatment, after treatment and in 6 months follow-up visit after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment and in 6 months follow-up visit after treatment, the symptom scores, physical sign scores and symptom scores of each item were different signi ficantly as compared with those before treatment in the triple-strong stimulation therapy group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the results in the triple-strong stimulation therapy group were better than those in the acupoint plaster therapy group (all P<0.01). In 6 months follow-up visit, the total effective rate was 94.6% (53/56) in the triple-strong stimulation therapy group and was 25.9% (15/58) in the acupoint plaster therapy group, indicating the significant difference (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe triple-strong stimulation therapy at Dazhui (GV 14) achieves the superior effect on the prevention and treatment of children allergic rhinitis as compared with the acupoint plas ter therapy and has good long-term effect of the prevention from recurrence.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; prevention & control ; therapy

Objective To study whether post-operative radiotherapy is necessary for patients with early breast cancer after radical mastectomy. Methods In 1998, 270 early breast cancer patients with 0 -3 pathologically confirmed positive axillary lymph nodes after radical mastectomy were retrospectively ana-lyzed. There were 156 patients with negative lymph node and 114 with 1 -3 positive lymph nodes. The prog-nostic index (PI) was defined as the sum of scores of the tumor size, number of positive axillary lymph nodes, receptor status, surgical margin status, lymphatic thrombi status, pathological grading and age. The PI≥ 4 was considered as high-risk, and PI <4 as the low-risk. Numerical variables were compared using t test and categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calcu-late the survival rates, and the Log-rank test was used for the comparison of the survival curves between dif-ferent groups. Results Of the patients with lymph node negative and 1 - 3 positive, the survival rates were 75.0% and 63.2% (χ~2 = 4.40 ,P =0.036), respectively. The corresponding disease-free survival rate, lo-cal recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate were 71.2% and 9.6% (χ~2 = 3.90, P = 0.048), 7.7% and 16.7%(χ~2 =5.22,P=0.022),12.8% and 21.1%(χ~2=3.27,P=0.070), respectively. The mean dis-ease-free survival time of the two groups was 97.03 ± 2.53 months and 87.01 ± 3.80 months, respectively. In the high-risk group, the 10-year survival rates of patients with and without radiotherapy were 72% and 56% (χ~2 = 4.07, P = 0.044), the local recurrence rates were 5% and 24% (χ~2= 11.16, P = 0. 001), and the distant metastasis rates were 16% and 26% (χ~2= 2.18 ,P = 0. 140). In the low-risk group, the survival rate of patients with and without radiotherapy were 81% and 71% (χ~2 = 1.57 ,P = 0.210), the local recur-rence rates were both 11% (χ~2=0.01 ,P=0.975), and the distant metastasis rates were both 13% (χ~2 = 0.00,P = 1. 000). Conclusions Early breast cancer patients with 1 -3 positive axiilary lymph nodes should receive post-operative radiotherapy after radical mastectomy. The prognostic index may decrease the chance of unnecessary radiation by distinguishing the patients under low risk of recurrence from those under high risk.

Slowly growing mycobacteria (SGM ) are distributed in the environment ,for example in soil and dirty water . SGM can cause human infections ,especially lung diseases .In this article ,first and second line antituberculous agents were ex‐amined in order to identify the optimum drugs for the treatment of SGM disorders .The fewest SGM in our study (4/34) were susceptible to isoniazid .Rifampicin (13/34) and ethambutol (14/34) were effective against similar numbers of strains .Ofloxa‐cin (23/34) ,kanamycin (26/34 ) , tobramycin (26/34 ) and streptomycin (27/34 ) were active against most of the tested strains .Ciprofloxacin (31/34) ,levofloxacin (31/34) ,amikacin (33/34) and capreomycin (33/34) showed an excellent range of activity .Moxifloxacin (34/34) showed the widest range of activity against the SGM species .Among the tested SGM spe‐cies ,M .simiae and M .af ricanum were resistant to the highest number of drugs .M .szulgai and M .duvalii were susceptible to all the first and second line antituberculous agents tested .Overall ,the second‐line antituberculous agents were good candi‐dates for the treatment of infection by SGM species and can be widely used in the therapy of SGM diseases .

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for distant gastric cancer.Methods All 18 patients with distant gastric cancer receiving laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy were analyzed.Results Laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy was performed successfully in all patients.The mean operation time was(291.33?19.61) min.The mean blood loss was(151.32?71.78) ml.The mean numbers of harvested lymph node were 14.57?3.11.The mean time of gastrointestinal function recovery was(3.46?0.93) d,the mean out of bed activity time was(1.75?0.45) d.All patients were followed up for 1-24 months,mean 11 months.No local recurrence,trocar implant or distant metastasis happened.Conclusion Laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy is a feasible and safe surgical procedure combined with minimal trauma and fast recovery.

Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of not placing prophylactic drainage after colorectal anastomosis.Methods A total of 100 patients with colorectal cancer who were admitted to the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from July 2007 to March 2009 were randomly divided into drainage group (50 patients) and non-drainage group (50 patients) according to the random number table.A drainage tube was placed after colorectal anastomosis in the drainage group,while no drainage tube was placed in patients in the non-drainage group.The duration of postoperative hospital stay,mortality and morbidity of the 2 groups were compared.All data were analyzed by using the chi-square test or t test.Results Two patients(1 from each group) were excluded in the study,and no death or pulmonary infection were found in the remaining 98 patients.The numbers of patients whose course was complicated by anastomotic leakage and wound infection were 2 and 7 in the drainage group,and 1 and 5 in the non-drainage group.The duration of postoperative hospital stays were ( 11.5 ± 2.4)days in the drainage group and(10.6 ± 2.2)days in the non-drainage group.There were significant differences in the morbidity and duration of postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups(x2 =0.00,0.38,t =1.428,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion It is safe and feasible not to place a prophylactic peri-anastomotic drainage tube after colorectal anastomosis.

Objective: To explore influence of shift work in nursing on sleep and circadian blood pressure and rhythm. Methods: A total of 29 shift nurses, who worked in our hospital for a long period, were enrolled as shift nurse group. Another 32 day shift nurses were regarded as day shift nurse control group（control group）. Both groups received Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) assessment and 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: Compared with control group, PSQI assessment showed that most factor scores and PSQI total score [(8.67±2.16) scores vs. (11.98±3.30) scores] significantly increased in shift nurse group（P<0.05~0.01）; 24h ABPM showed that mean nighttime SBP [(106.51±12.94) mmHg vs. (115.74±13.72) mmHg] and nighttime DBP [(71.23±9.76) mmHg vs. (74.96±10.68) mmHg] significantly rose in shift nurse group, P<0.05; Mean SBP decreasing rate [(7.84±1.52)% vs. (3.66±1.47)%] and mean DBP decreasing rate [(6.55±1.39)% vs. (2.83±0.51)%], SBP dipper percentage (59.38% vs. 31.03%) and DBP dipper percentage (68.75% vs. 27.59%) significantly reduced, SBP non-dipper percentage (40.63% vs. 68.97%) and DBP non-dipper percentage (31.25% vs. 72.41%) significantly rose in shift nurses group, P<0.05~0.01.Conclusions: There exists definite somnipathy and significant change of circadian blood pressure and rhythm in shift nurses.

Nano magnetic microspheres prepared by chitosan and poly acylic acid were applied to purifying superoxide dismutase from blood erythrocyte. Chitosan-polyacyilc acid graft copolymer was synthesized by free radical graft copolymerization with potassium persulfate as inititator. To prepare Fe3O4 magnetic fluids with chemical coprecipitation, chitosan-polyacylic nano magnetic microspheres were prepared with glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. Structure of nano magnetic microspheres was detected by FT-IR spectrometer. Particle size and morphology were characterized by JEM-4000EX technology. Chitosan-polyacylic nanometer microspheres have good paticle cize distribution, magnetic responsiveness and protein adsoption. Activity, product yield and activity recovery of SOD after purification reached 6 727 U/mg, 21.1%, and 85.7% respectively. Purification of blood superoxide dismutase by chistosan-polyacylic acid microspheres has its renewable and feasible nature.
Chitosan ; chemistry ; Erythrocytes ; enzymology ; Glutaral ; chemistry ; Magnetics ; Microspheres ; Polymers ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Superoxide Dismutase ; isolation & purification

Objective: To discuss whether T_2 breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes after radical mastectomy need radiotherapy, and to determine the corresponding target region. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 breast cancer patients treated in our hospital between 1997 and 1998. All pa-tients underwent radical mastectomy. Of these patients, 44 did not receive irradiation, 59 received irradiation to the internal mammary chain and supraclavicular area. All patients had no intumescent axillary lymph nodes or distant metastasis before radical mastectomy. T-test was used to analyze quantitative data, and ANOVA was used to analyze numerical data. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were employed to calculate and compare the survival rate. Results: The 10-year survival rate was 56.8% in the non-irradiation group and 72.9% in the irradiation group (X~2=2.805, P=0.094). The 10-year disease free survival rate was 50.0% in the non-irradiation group and 64.4% in the irradiation group (X~2=4.063, P=0.044). The 10-year local recurrence rate was 27.3% in the non-irradiation and 10.2% in the irradiation group (X~2=5.112, P=0.035). The 10-year met-astatic rate was 43.2% in the non-irradiation group and 22.0% in the irradiation group (X~2=5.263, P=0.031).The 10-year chest wall recurrence rate in all patients was 7.8%. No patients had recurrence in the internal mammary chain area. Irradiation in the internal mammary chain area was useless and could not increase sur-vival rate and disease free survival rate. Irradiation in the internal mammary chain area was not helpful for re-ducing local recurrence rate or distant metastatic rate. Conclusion: Radiation therapy can reduce local recur-rence rate and metastatic rate in T_2 breast cancer patients with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes, and can increase survival rate and disease free survival rate. Recurrence in the internal mammary chain area is rare. Therefore, it is not necessary to irradiate the internal mammary chain area. We suggest that T_2 breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes after radical mastectomy should have irradiation to the chest wall and supraclavicular area.

Objective:To evaluate the radiotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of recurrent esophageal cancer after radical re-section and determine relevant prognostic factors. Methods:A total of 66 patients with esophageal carcinoma and exhibited recurrence after radical surgery were retrospectively reviewed from Jan 2007 to Jun 2010. The median interval of recurrence from the initial sur-gery was 10.6 months. Among the 66 patients, 50 suffered from loco-regional recurrences alone, and 16 developed distant metastases in addition to loco-regional recurrences. Among the 66 patients, 10 were treated with radiotherapy after recurrence, 23 were treated with chemotherapy alone, and 33 were treated with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Among the 33 patients, 22 were initially treat-ed with chemotherapy and 11 were initially treated with radiotherapy. The median total dose of the external radiotherapy was 60 Gy with 6 MV X-ray of a linear accelerator. Results:The median survival period after recurrence was 14.3 months (95%CI=12.4~16.2 months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 61.9%, 25.9%, and 16.5%, respectively. The median survival period after recurrence in the patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone, radiotherapy alone, and radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy were 11.4, 25.5, and 14.3 months, respectively. The patients who developed distant metastases treated with chemotherapy initially showed better survival outcome than those treated with radiotherapy (P=0.032). Univariate analysis results showed the following prognostic factors:tumor location before surgery;operation mode;whether or not recurrence was detected with distant metastases;and therapy af-ter recurrence. Multivariate analysis results showed that tumor location before surgery was an independent prognostic factor. Conclu-sion:Tumor location may indicate prognosis after recurrence. Patients with recurrent esophageal carcinoma and developed distant me-tastases treated with chemotherapy may initially benefit from a longer survival rate.