Urocortin,a novel peptide of the cortiotropin releasiong hormone(CRH)family,was discovered in 1995 in the rat brain and subsequently cloned and localized to human chromosome 2.It can bind to both CRH type 1 receptor and CRH type 2 receptor,as well as CRH binding protein.Especially to CRH type 2 receptor,urocortin binds to it with 40 times more potency than CRH does.Therefore,urocortin is thought to be an endogenous ligand for CRH type 2 receptor.Immunoreactive urocortin and urocortin mRNA were localized in many areas such as mammalian brain,cardiovascular system,placenta.It is believed that urocortinmay play important physiological roles as a neuropeptide not only in the central nervous system but also in peripheral tissues.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of first-line bevacizumab combined with standard chemotherapy regimen in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. This report presents the result of a preplanned subanalysis of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital's patients enrolled in SAiL study. Methods: Between July 2007 and March 2008, 44 patients with untreated locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer were recruited into this phase 4 study. Eligible patients had histologically or cytologically documented inoperable, locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent disease (stages ?B-?); an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0-1; and adequate haematological, hepatic, and renal functions. Patients received bevacizumab (15 mg/kg every 3 weeks) plus standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel-carboplatin) every 3 weeks for up to six cycles, followed by single-agent bevacizumab until disease progression. The primary endpoint was safety, and the secondary end points included time to disease progression and overall survival. Results: The rates of clinically significant adverse events (= grade 3) of special interest were relatively low in this population (13.6%); proteinuria (7%), hypertension (2%) and bleeding (2%) were the most common adverse events. One patient died because of hemoptysis. The partial remission and stable disease rates were 52.3% (23/44) and 45.5% (20/44), respectively. One patient had progressive disease. The disease control rate was 97.7%. The median time to progression was 8.13 months, and the median overall survival was 17.73 months. Conclusion: The safety and efficacy of first-line bevacizumab-based treatment in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital's patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer is satisfying with benefits in time to progression and overall survival. There were no new safety signals to be reported. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

Treating different diseases with the same method is a unique original thinking in Chinese medicine, which embodies the spirit of treatment based on syndrome differentiation. We briefly reviewed the origin and development of this concept. We also reviewed that thinking of combination of disease and syndrome is its premise and foundation. We put forward the conditionality of diseases in treating different diseases with the same method by cutting-in modern biological basic researches, that is to say, one kind specific diseases or disease of one specific system. We emphasized the importance of diseases conditionality in treating different diseases with the same method, which was of great significance in studies on combination of disease and syndrome, correspondence of prescription and syndrome, and modern biological basic researches of treating different diseases with the same method.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prescriptions ; Research

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; etiology ; therapy ; Male

China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; ultrastructure ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology

Objective To explore a three-dimensional examination method for retinal vessels. Design Experimental study. Participants Retinal vascular digest preparations of rat. Methods After deep anaesthesia, rats were sacrificed and perfused till eyeballs pale. Then 4% paraformaldehyde was perfused for vascular internal fixation. Eyeballs were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24hr, and the retinal vessels were isolated with collagenase digest technique. After immunofluorescence staining, the retinal vessels were observed with laser scanning confocal microscope. Main Outcome Measures The digest state of retinal vascular digest preparations and three-dimensional observation of the preparations. Results Ideal complete retinal vascular digest preparations were obtained after collagenase digestion. Three-dimensional characteristics of retinal vessels can be observed with laser scanning confocal microscope. Conclusions Modified retinal vascular digest preparations combined with laser scanning confocal microscope provided us a method for retinal vascular three-dimensional structure observation.(phthalmol CHN,2006,15:138-141)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of antibiotics in our hospital. METHODS: All the prescriptions in Jan., Apr., July and Oct. in 2006 in dispensary for western medicine were reviewed, from which, 6 605 (17.26%) antibiotic prescriptions were selected. The categories and kinds of antibiotics were investigated; meanwhile the administration and dosage, course of treatment and drug combination were analyzed based on diagnosis and patient's age. RESULTS: The antibiotics used in 6 605 prescriptions totaled 7 categories. 87.80% used antibacterial drugs accorded with diagnose; 56.46% of the antibacterial drugs were administered orally; in terms of dosage and administration, more than 95% were up to the standard; the course of treatment in 86.99% ranged from 3 to 7 days; 91.04% of the antibacterial drugs used in single kind, about 8.80% in two kinds, and only 0.17% in three kinds concomitantly. CONCLUSION: The use of antibacterial drugs in our hospital is rational on the whole, yet it is far from perfect. Measures should be taken to further improve the rational drug use level.

Objective: To explore the effect of cognitive therapy on obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: Forty-seven patients with OCDO were randomly assigned to cognitive therapy group and conventional treatment group, the later with paroxetine treatment only as control. The results were assessed with Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Yale-Brown Obsessional Compulsive Scale and social disability screening scale. Result: The cognitive therapy group had lower scores in HAMA and Y-BOCS than the control group after 8 weeks therapy, this difference remained in the follow-up after 6 months, when the cognitive group had also lower score in social disability. Conclusion: Cognitive therapy can benefit patients with OCD more than medication only.

Objective To evaluate the value of combined use of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of infertility. Methods Clinical data of 168 cases of infertility receiving examinations with laparoscopy and hysteroscopy from June 1999 to October 2003 were retrospectively reviewed.Results Hysteroscopic examinations found intrauterine diseases in 79 cases(79/168,47.0%),including 46 cases of endometrial hyperplasia or polyps(46/79,58.2%).Laparoscopic examinations showed organic pelvic diseases in 99 cases,including 85 cases of chronic pelvic inflammation,endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome(85/99,85.9%).Both laparoscopy and hysteroscopy gave normal findings in 15 cases and abnormal findings in 39 cases.Unilateral or bilateral tubal obstruction was found in 90 cases by tubal patency tests under hysteroscope(90/168,53.6%) and in 78 cases by laparoscopy(78/168,46.4%). Conclusions Combined use of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy offers accurate diagnostic evidences in examinations of infertility.

Objective To study the effects of advanced glycation end (AGEs) products induced by bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the survival and the morphology of bovine retinal endothelial cells (BREC) and pericytes (BRP). Methods BSA with the final concentration of 50 mg/ml was incubated in PBS, containing 500 mmol/L D-glucose, for 12 weeks under 37℃. AGEs-BSA was purified by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography and was confirmed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The concentration of AGEs-BSA was determined by the method of commassie protein assay. In order to detect the toxic effects of AGEs-BSA on cultured BREC and BRP, groups of AGEs-BSA and BSA with different concentration and untreated control were set up. Phase contrast microscope was used to observe the effect of AGEs-BSA and BSA (with the concentration of 500 ?g/ml and actuation duration of 48 hours) on morphology of BREC and BRP. Results[WTBZ] As the dosage of AGEs-BSA increased, the number of inhibited cells increased. When the concentration of AGEs-BSA was 500 ?g/ml, the inhibited BREC in AGEs-BSA group was (72.8?15.9)% of which in untreated control group, and the inhibited BRP was (64.8?9) % of which in untreated control group. AGEs-BSA with low concentration promoted the proliferation of endothelial cells, but there was no significant difference between AGEs-BSA and the control group (P=0.231). Inhibited proliferation and abnormal morphology were seen under the phase contrast microscope while the normal morphology of cells was found in BSA and control group. Conclusion AGEs-BSA with the high concentration may inhibit the growth of both BREC and BRP, which leads the loss of BRP and damage of vascular function. These results suggest that nonenzymatic glycosylation plays a major role in diabetic complications.