Surgery remains an important therapeutic method for localized esophageal cancer, but the 5?year survival rate of patients undergoing surgical resection alone is only 20%?25%. Early studies show that postoperative radiotherapy reduced regional recurrence rate, but did not increase the survival rate. Most recent studies show that stage Ⅲ or lymph node?positive patients can obtain survival benefit from postoperative radiotherapy, and patients in pT2?3 N0 M0 stage may also benefit from postoperative radiotherapy. The recommended radiotherapy target volumes include bilateral supraclavicular areas, superior mediastinum, subcarinal area, and tumor bed. It is recommended in most studies that regional lymph nodes in the upper abdomen should be included in patients with lower?segment lesions. The locally advanced patients may benefit more from postoperative radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. The significance of postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, target volume design, and combined chemotherapy need individualized consideration and more clinical evidence.

Objective To evaluate the implementation of the national essential medicine system in Shaanxi Province.Methods Using a standardized methodology (2008 Edition) developed by the World Health Organization(WHO) and Health Action International(HAD,data on the prices and availability of 38 essential medicines were collected from 120 primary,secondary and tertiary public hospitals in ten cities of Shaanxi Province from March to May 2012.Results The availability of essential medicines is generally low at public hospitals in Shaanxi province,as the average availability of originator brands is but 5.9％,and that of generics of the lowest prices is but 23.9％,while this availability at tertiary hospitals is higher than hospitals of lower levels.The procurement prices of originator drugs within essential medicines are distinctly higher than the international reference prices for the originator brands,and slightly higher for the lowest priced generics.The procurement prices at primary care hospitals are slightly lower than that of other hospitals.Retail prices of essential medicine are not significantly different among regions of different income levels.Affordability of originator brands is poor,while that of their generic equivalents is good.Conclusion The government is recommended to adjust the national essential medicine list,expand the variety of essential medicine moderately,improve the medicine pricing mechanism,and deepen public hospitals reform.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associat-ed lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) for delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney transplan-tation. Methods Serial urine samples collected at 0, 12 and 24 h after operation from 86 kidney transplantation patients were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for NGAL, IL-18 and RBP. Results Fifteen patients developed DGF. At 12 h after transplantation, the level of urine NGAL elevated significantly (1712.75±474.6 vs. 863.1±199.8 without DGF, P<0. 001). The in-creases of urine IL-18 (29. 2±4.1 vs. 28.7±4.2 without DGF, P>0. 05) was not significant. At 24 h, both urine NGAL(2905.0±1108.1 vs. 911.8±221.0 without DGF,P<0. 001) and IL-18(211.3± 34.0 vs. 86.9±22.8 without DGF, P<0. 001) increased significantly, whereas the changes of urine RBP and serum creatinine (SCr) were not significant. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of NGAL and IL-18 were 0. 90 and 0.76 respectively, the cut-off values were 996.5 ng/mg and 148.5 ng/mg, the diagnostic sensitivities in DGF were 90.2% and 76.3%, specificities were 82.6% and 66.4% respectively. Conclusions Both urine NGAL and IL-18 could potentially be early predic-tive marker of DGF. The level of NGAL elevated earlier than IL-18, which may be more effective in predicting DGF.

Objective To observe the effects of Triptolide on the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods A renal I/R model was established. Rats were randomly separated into the following experimental groups. Group 1, shamoperated control (n = 15) : rats were subjected to surgical manipulation, without the induction of renal ischemia. Group 2, I/R (n = 18): rats were subjected to left renal ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion. Group 3, TRI + I/R (n = 18): Before the I/R procedure (as in group 2), rats were intraperitoneally injected with TRI (0.4 mg/kg), once every day, three times. Rats were killed at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day after I/R injury. The parameters of renal function were determined by autobiochemical analyzer. The expression of TLR4 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results As comparedwith the sham-operated control group, serum BUN and Cr levels were significantly increased in the rats undergoing I/R procedure at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day (P＜0. 01). After the treatment with TRI, the levels of BUN and Cr and the expression of TLR4 in the renal tissues were significantly decreased (P＜0. 05). Conclusion TRI could relieve renal I/R injury in rats by inhibiting the TLR4 expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of ozone oxidative preconditioning (OzoneOP) on apoptosis induced by acute renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods The right kidneys of rats in control group were excised.A rat I/R model was established in I/R group.In OzoneOP group,the renal OzoneOP was induced by rectal insufflation of 5.0～5.5 ml oxygen plus ozone (ozone 50 mg/L,1 mg· kg- 1 · d- 1,once every day).The parameters (blood urea nitrogen and creatine )of renal function were determined by auto-biochemical analyzer. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by using chromometry.Cytochrome c (CytC) was examined by using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in the renal tissue were detected by using RT-PCR.ResultsCompared with the control group,the blood urea nitrogen,creatine,MDA and the release of CytC were increased significantly in I/R group.After OzoneOP,the levels of blood urea nitrogen,creatine,MDA,CytC and the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1-β and IL-6were significantly decreased and SOD levels were significantly increased.ConclusionOzoneOP could relieve renal I/R injury of rats by improving antioxidation capability,cutting down cytokines contents and inhibiting the release of CytC from mitochondria.

Objective·To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of complement factor H (CFH) gene with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.Methods·The genotype,allele,and haplotype frequencies of 5 SNP loci (rs800292,rs 1061170,rs 10801555,rs 10922096 and rs2019727) in CFH gene were compared between 418 patients with schizophrenia (case group) and 655 normal people (control group) by SNaPshot technique.Results·All SNP loci were well genotyped in the subjects.Correlation analysis showed that rs1061170 locus allele frequency distribution difference between case group and control group was statistically significant (corrected P=0.045),while genotype and allele frequencies of other SNP loci were not significantly different (all corrected P＞0.05).The frequency of haplotype C-A-T-A-A (rs800292-rs1061170-rs10801555-rs10922096-rs2019727) in case group was different from that in control group (corrected P=0.013).Conclusion·The allele polymorphisms of rsl061170 and the haplotype C-A-T-A-A of rs800292-rs 1061170-rs 10801555-rs 10922096-rs2019727 may be associated with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.

Objective To explore the relationship between the serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the pathogenesis,therapeutic intervention of schizophrenia. Methods One hundard twenty-five patients with schizophrenia (case group) with no medication for at least 4-week and 136 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scala (PANSS). Simultaneously blood tests were performed to detect serum NPY levels. In the case group, PANSS was evaluated and blood collected again after 4 weeks of treatment with olanzapine. Result At the baseline,the serum NPY concentration was significantly lower in the case group than in control group (t=-5.79, P<0.01). The scores of RBANS and its factors were significantly lower in the case group than in control group (all P<0.01). The concentration was positively correlated with the score of the attention factor for RBANS scale (r=0.20, P=0.04). After treatment with olanzapine for 4 weeks,the serum NPY level in the case group was significantly increased (t=-2.23,P=0.03).The scores of PANSS total scale and subscale were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).There was no significant correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and PANSS total or subscale scores from baseline to 4-week (all P>0.05). Conclusion The present study has revealed a significant decrease in serum NPY levels in patients with schizophrenia which can be attenuated by treatment of Olanzapine.The action of Olanzapine may be related to the mechanism of action of Olanzapine.However,there is no correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and the improvement in the patientˊs clinical symptoms.