Objective To study the expression ot secreted proteins in aggregated dermal papilla cells (DPCs).Methods DPCs were isolated from human scalp tissue and subjected to primary culture and subculture.Aggregated and non-aggregated DPCs served as the subject of this study.Secreted proteins were prepared from these cells and subjected to two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Differentially expressed proteins were screened by the PDQuest image analysis software.Protein spots were digested and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry,and finally analyzed using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant (Nr) protein database.Results Two-dimensional electrophoresis maps with good repeatability and high resolution were established.Image analysis of 2-D gels revealed that the average number of detected protein spots was 1 134 ± 52 and 1 078 ± 36 in aggregated and nonaggregated DPCs respectively,and the majority of these protein spots were matched between aggregated and nonaggregated DPCs.Twenty-eight protein spots showed more than 5-fold difference between the two groups of cells,and 10 proteins were preliminarily identified as differentially expressed proteins by peptide-mass fingerprinting.Of these differentially expressed proteins,8 proteins including Rhogdi 1,filamin A,cystatin C,fibronectin,cyclophilin A,procollagen C proteinase enhancer 1,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 were up-regulated,and 2 proteins including neuropolypeptide h3 and matrix metalloproteinase-3/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 complex were down-regulated in aggregated DPCs compared with non-aggregated DPCs.Conclusions Differentially expressed proteins between aggregated and non-aggregated DPCs are mainly implicated in cell signaling pathway,cellular proliferation and differentiation,extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation,and so on.

Objective To evaluate the value of the specific quality of life scale in effect evaluation of T2～4 transection of sympathetic chain to treat hyperidrosis of hand and foot. Methods 125 patients with hyperidrosis of hand and foot who had accepted operation in our department were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were evaluated with the specific QOL scale. The degree of satisfaction, days of stay,time of operation and complications were also recorded. The difference of life quality score was also compared and underwent correlation analysis. Results An obvious improvement of QOL was observed after operation. The same tend could be observed in the degree of satisfaction with the operation. The operation had been proved to be safe and effective. Few serious complication were reported. The alleviation of QOL and compensatory hyperhidrosis dominated the result of degree of satisfaction. Conclusions Operation can improve quality of life of hyperhidrosis patients greatly. The specific QOL questionnaire of hyperhidrosis has a bright future in clinical practice.

Objective To study the effect of designing and application of portable thermometer transceiver and its application. Methods A portable thermometer transceiver was designed and used to measure the temperature of 31,386 patients. Meanwhile, the traditional temperature measurement method was used among 31,378 patients. The two groups were compared in view of time for assigning and collecting the meter. Results The time for assigning the portable thermometer transceiver and receiver was (0.08 ±0.03) min, while that for the traditional measurement method was (1.06 ±0.03) min. There was statistically significant difference between the groups (t=29.231, P<0.001). Conclusion The portable thermometers for temperature measurement can save time and improve the efficiency of nursing staff.

BACKGROUND: Nanosphere, an ideal nonviral gene delivery vector, is not excellence of immunogenicity and oncogenicity. Nanotechnology and gene interference are used to block hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissue and decrease tolerance of malignant cells to chemotherapeutics. Theoretically, they become effective methods to inhibit malignant cell growth of esophageal squamous carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effect of small interference RNA targeting HIF-1α (siRNA-HIF-1α) nanospheres on human esophageal squamous cancer TE-1 cell growth. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Based on in vitro cultured esophageal squamous cancer TE-1 cells, a completely randomized controlled study was performed at the Central Laboratory, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University from January 2007 to December 2008. MATERIALS: siRNA-HIF-1α was synthesized by Shanghai Bioengineering Company; siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres were prepared using solvent evaporation technique; human esophageal squamous cancer TE cell strain was provided by Shanghai Cell Bank of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. METHODS: TE-1 cells cultured in vitro were assigned into four groups: saline, gene-free nanospheres, siRNA-HIF-1α, and siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIF-1α mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR; HIF-1α protein expression was detected by Western blot; apoptosis of TE-1 cells was determined by flow cytometry; TE-1 cell growth was examined by MTT. RESULTS: At 72 hours after treatment, both HIF-1α mRNA expression and HIF-1α protein expression in the siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres group were significantly less than other three groups (P < 0.01), but apoptotic rate was significantly greater than other three groups (P < 0.01). TE-1 cell growth was remarkably inhibited in the siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres group, which was significantly different compared with other three groups (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: siRNA-HIF-1α nanospheres can specifically reduce both HIF-1α mRNA and HIF-1α protein expressions in esophageal squamous carcinoma TE-1 cells, significantly increase tumor cell apoptosis, and remarkably inhibit TE-1 cell growth.

Objective:To analyze the safety and effectiveness of superselective embolization of the uterine arteries in the treatment of uterine fibroids.Methods:The clinical data of 60 patients with uterine fibroids who were admitted to Zhejiang Veteran Hospital from February 2020 to February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into a control group and an observation group ( n = 30/group) according to different surgical methods. The control group underwent conventional surgery. The observation group underwent superselective embolization of the uterine arteries. Uterine size, uterine fibroid size, postoperative hormone level, and complications were compared between the two groups. Results:There was no significant difference in total response rate between the observation and control groups [93.33 (28/30) vs. 83.33 (25/30), χ2 = 1.46, P > 0.05]. After surgery, serum estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and progesterone levels in the observation group were (164.14 ± 19.97) ng/L, (2.43 ± 1.47) IU/L, (2.51 ± 1.14) IU/L, and (5.05 ± 0.43) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than (190.23 ± 21.62) ng/L, (3.78 ± 1.63) IU/L, (3.94 ± 1.23) IU/L, (8.22 ± 1.35) μg/L in the control group ( t = 4.86, 3.37, 4.67, 12.25, all P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [3.33% (1/30) vs. 20.00% (6/30), χ2 = 4.04, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Compared with conventional surgery, superselective embolization of the uterine arteries is more effective on uterine fibroids, better keep postoperative hormone level stable, and reduce or avoid short- and long-term complications. Therefore, superselective embolization of the uterine arteries for the treatment of uterine fibroids deserves the clinical promotion.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from seeds of Paeonia sufruticosa.

METHODVarious chromatographic techniques were used to isolate and purify the constituents, their physico-chemical properties and spectral data were employed to elucidate their structures.

RESULTThirteen compounds were isolated and identified as: paeoniflorin (1), oxypaeoniflorin (2), 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylalbiflorin (3), 8-debenzoylpaeoniflorin (4), 8-debenzoylpaeonidanin (5), 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylpaeonisuf-frone (6), 1-O-beta-D-ethyl-mannopyranoside (7), sucrose (8), luteolin (9), apigenin (10), benzoic acid (11) and 1-0-beta-D-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) glucose (12).

CONCLUSIONcompounds 2, 4-6 were isolated from this plant for the first time, compounds 7 and 12 were isolated from the family of Paeoniaceae for the first time.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and side effects of weekly administration of gemcitabine combined with docetaxel in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, with or without prior chemotherapy, were entered into this study. Gemcitabine and docetaxel were administrated weekly for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by 1 week rest. Gemcitabine was given as 800-1 200 mg/m² by intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, 15; while docetaxel was 35 mg/m² intravenously on the same days as gemcitabine. The efficacy including response rate and median survival duration and toxicity were observed.

RESULTSOf the 26 patients, one achieved complete response (CR), and 6 achieved partial response (PR), with an overall response rate of 27%. The median survival duration was 9.5 months and 1-year survival rate was 38% (10/26). The main toxicities were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. One patient died from allergic shock.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of docetaxel and gemcitabine is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate whether high-dose toremifene can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in non small cell lung cancer.

METHODSUntreated stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer patients were randomly devided into group A (high-dose toremifene combined with the platinum-based chemotherapy) or group B (the same platinum-based chemotherapy alone).

RESULTSA total of 30 eligible patients had been recruited. Hemotologic and nonhemotologic toxicities were similar with no statistic difference. The median survival for group A was 8 months, 95% CI (6.63-9.37) versus 7.5 months, 95% CI (4.75-10.25) for group B ( P =0.9). One year-survival rate was 31% for group A versus 28% for group B ( P =0.87). The response rate was 25% for group A versus 21% for group B ( P =0.99).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that high-dose toremifene does not enhance the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy for IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer but toxicities are well tolerated.