Objective:To investigate the predictive value of tumor regression rate after induction chemotherapy for survival of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:A total of 161 patients with stage Ⅲ-ⅣA nasopharyngeal carcinoma newly diagnosed at the Daping Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2009 to December 2012 were selected as the research subjects. The relationships between tumor size changes before and after induction chemotherapy and survival time were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve accompanied with log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the tumor regression rate of primary lesions between N 1and N 2-3( Z=2.177, P=0.029), T 1-2and T 3-4( Z=-4.501, P<0.001)patients after induction chemotherapy. In N 1stage patients, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of patients with primary lesions achieving objective response ( n=18) and those without objective response ( n=19) after induction chemotherapy were 88.89% and 57.45%, and patients with cervical lymph node metastatic lesions achieving objective response ( n=19) and those without objective response ( n=18) were 86.72% and 49.10% respectively, with statistically significant differences ( χ2=6.023, P=0.014; χ2=7.441, P=0.006). In N 2-3stage patients, the 5-year OS rates of patients with primary lesions achieving objective response ( n=81) and those without objective response ( n=43) after induction chemotherapy were 77.56% and 50.70%, and patients with cervical lymph node metastatic lesions achieving objective response ( n=85) and those without objective response ( n=39) were 75.11% and 52.04% respectively, with significant differences ( χ2=8.037, P=0.005; χ2=7.268, P=0.007). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that in patients with stage N 1, the tumor regression rate of primary lesions ( HR=0.048, 95% CI: 0.004-0.644, P=0.022), the efficacy of primary lesions ( HR=0.174, 95% CI: 0.037-0.830, P=0.028), the efficacy of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions ( HR=0.154, 95% CI: 0.033-0.725, P=0.017) after induction chemotherapy were significantly associated with OS; in N 2-3stage patients, the tumor regression rate of primary lesions ( HR=0.178, 95% CI: 0.056-0.564, P=0.003), the tumor regression rate of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions ( HR=0.081, 95% CI: 0.020-0.324, P<0.001), the efficacy of primary lesions ( HR=0.422, 95% CI: 0.228-0.781, P=0.006), the efficacy of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions ( HR=0.439, 95% CI: 0.238-0.813, P=0.009) after induction chemotherapy were significantly associated with OS. In multivariate Cox regression including N stage and tumor regression rate, N stage and efficacy, the interaction items were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In T 1-2stage patients, the 5-year OS rates of patients with primary lesions achieving objective response ( n=45) and those without objective response ( n=13) after induction chemotherapy were 77.55% and 84.62%, and patients with cervical lymph node metastatic lesions achieving objective response ( n=43) and those without objective response ( n=15) were 78.89% and 80.00% respectively, with no significant differences ( χ2=0.239, P=0.625; χ2=0.005, P=0.943); in T 3-4stage patients, the 5-year OS rates of patients with primary lesions achieving objective response ( n=54) and those without objective response ( n=49) after induction chemotherapy were 78.90% and 45.00%, and patients with cervical lymph node metastatic lesions achieving objective response ( n=61) and those without objective response ( n=42) were 75.10% and 42.89% respectively, with significant differences ( χ2=13.615, P<0.001; χ2=12.752, P<0.001). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that in patients with stage T 1-2, the tumor regression rate, the efficacy of primary lesions and cervical lymph node metastatic lesions after induction chemotherapy were not related to OS (all P>0.05); in T 3-4stage patients, the tumor regression rate of primary lesions ( HR=0.121, 95% CI: 0.033-0.444, P=0.001), the tumor regression rate of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions ( HR=0.126, 95% CI: 0.036-0.442, P=0.001), the efficacy of primary lesions ( HR=0.297, 95% CI: 0.150-0.588, P<0.001), the efficacy of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions ( HR=0.329, 95% CI: 0.173-0.625, P=0.001) after induction chemotherapy were significantly associated with OS. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the interaction test of T stage and the efficacy of primary lesion trended to be statistically significant ( P=0.062). Conclusion:In patients with stage Ⅲ-ⅣA nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the responsiveness to induction chemotherapy in stage T 3-4patients has important value in predicting survival prognosis.

Objective To study the biological changes and the collagen synthesis of the primary cultured skin fibroblast treated with Cigarette Smoke Extract (CSE). Methods The morphological changes of fibroblasts after 24 hours' treatment with CSE were observed with invert microscope. The inhibitory effect at different concentrations of CSE on fibroblast activities was determined by the tetrazolium dye colorimetric test (MTT Test). The growth curves of fibroblasts treated with CSE were drawn with MTT method. Cell aging was observed with β-galactosidase, which was the biological marker of senescence. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to estimate cell cycle phases after the fibroblasts were treated at different concentrations of CSE and different time. The mRNA expression of type Ⅰ procollagen was detected by RT-PCR. Results After the treatment, the fibroblasts displayed morphological changes and the growth of fibroblasts was apparently slowed down by CSE. The positive β-galactosidase staining was observed in the treated fibroblasts, which were affected by CSE for 5 passages. FCM analysis demonstrated that CSE decreased the cells in S phase and increased the cells in G1 and G2 phase. The result of RT-PCR showed that type Ⅰ procollagen was decreased after the treatment with CSE. Conclusion CSE can not only inhibit the growth and proliferation of the skin fibroblasts, but also decrease collagen synthesis of dermal fibroblast which is very important to the skin health.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the fruit of Aristolochia contorta.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by chromatographic techniques and crystalization, the structures were elucidated by spectrum analysis.

RESULTFifteen compounds were isolated from the dry fruit of A. contorta, which were six aristolochic acids: aristolochic acid I, aristolochic acid III a, aristolochic acid IVa, aristolochic acid II, aristolochic acid III and aristolochic acid VIIa. Three aristolactams: aristololactam I, aristololactam II and aristololactam IIIa. Three phenolic acids syringic acid, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid. Three other type compounds: pentacosane acid, beta-sitosterol and daucossterol.

CONCLUSIONAristolochic acid III, aristolochic acid VIIa, aristololactam IIIa, and penfacosane acid were isolated from A. contorta for the first time, and compounds 4-13 were isolated from the furit of A. contorta for the first time.

Aristolochia ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the relation between intrauterine growth and the development of carotid atherosclerosis in later life. Methods The intima-media thickness of carotid was measured with ultrasonography in 2036 people aged above fifty who had complete birth records, and divided into normal and abnormal group. They were asked to fill in the cardio-cerebrovascular questionnaire, and venous blood samples were taken and analysed for various biochemical parameters. The relation between carotid atherosclerosis and various parameters at birth and in adult life was assessed. Results The birthweight and head circumference in abnormal group were less than those in normal. The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was greatest in those weighed 2500g or less, whose risk of carotid atherosclerosis was greater than those weighed between 3000g and 3500g, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions Increased atherogenesis may be one independent mechanism mediating the epidemiological link between impaired fetal growth and vascular disease.

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for the determination of harpagide and harpagoside in Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) by HPLC-UV under double wavelength, and to study the changes of these two constituents during processing, and to set the limitation of harpagide and harpagoside contents in crude drug and sliced pieces of Xuanshen.

METHODThe analyses were performed on an Agilent Technologies ZORBAX SB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile-water (containing 0.03% phosphoric acid) in gradient model. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) . The column temperature was 25 degrees C. The UV detector wavelength was set at 210 nm before 13 min and then changed to 280 nm.

RESULTHarpagide and harpagoside were separated well. The linear calibration curves were obtained over of 0.0549 - 1.46 microg for harpagide (r = 0.9999, n =7) ,0.0225 - 0.900 microg for harpagoside (r = 0.9998, n = 9). The recoveries ( +/- RSD)% were 98.1 (+/- 2.4)% for harpagide and 98.8 (+/- 4.3)% for harpagoside. The contents of harpagide were 0. 277% - 0.620%, harpagoside were 0.078% - 0.362% in Xuanshen, and harpagide were 0.276% - 1.059%, harpagoside were 0. 059% - 0.183% in sliced Xuanshen, respectively. After the processing of Scrophulariae Radix, the content of harpagide increases 13.7% - 96.0%, while harpagoside decreases 11.0%-73.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, accurate, and can be used for the quality control of Scrophulariae Radix. We propose that the total content of harpagide and harpagoside in either crude drug or sliced pieces of Scrophulariae Radix should not be less than 0.45%.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Iridoid Glycosides ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Pyrans ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; methods