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.

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

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

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 the theoretical origin, clinical application method, effect and practical significance of the treatment of ectopic pregnancy with blood stasis. [Method] From blood stasis on the treatment by promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, Yiqi Yangxue Huayu Shapei, expelling blood circulation, method to eliminate the disease, stage of treatment, a reasonable choice of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis drugs in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy. [Results] From blood stasis on the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, it can accelerate the beta HCG negative, and speed up the ectopic pregnancy mass absorption, clinical curative effect significantly, the greatest degree of protection of fallopian tube integrity, improve blood circulation, and tubal function recovery, increase after treatment the chances of conception. [Conclusion] Qi stagnation, blood stasis and Qi deficiency and blood stasis are ectopic pregnancy basic pathogenesis, less empirical abdominal blood stasis is the essence of its pathogenesis. The existence of blood stasis in ectopic pregnancy of each type and disease development of the whole process, in the occurrence of the disease, and occupies an important position in the development, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is the basic treatment, should be in clinical dialectical treatment of the whole process of fusion.

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 probe a selective cultural method for bovine retinal endothelial cells (BREC) and pericytes (BRP) in vitro. Methods With the isolation of active retinal blood vessels, BREC were cultured in a fibronectin coated substrate and Dulbecco′s Modified Eagle′s Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% human serum and 100 ?g/ml heparin, while homogeneous cultures of retinal pericytes were obtained when isolated microvessels were seeded to uncoated dishes and grown in DMEM supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum. BREC were identified by acetylated-low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL) incorporation and immunohistochemical method of Von Willebrand factor, while BRP were identified by immunohistochemical method of ?-isoform of smooth-muscle actin. Results The purity of selectively cultured BREC and BRP was more than 98%, being reproducible. BREC got together around the microvessel fragments with the small-cyprinoid-like configuration at first,and could phagocytize Dil-Ac-LDL with the expression of fluorescence in cytoplasm. The expressions of Von Wllebrand factor and ?-isoform of smooth-muscle actin were positive and negative respectively in BREC, while were negative and positive respectively in BRP. Conclusion BREC and BRP with high purity can be obtained by using selective culture and coated-dishes respectively which are simple and repeatable methods.

Objective To evaluate the effect of small dose ketamine on the efficacy of intravenous PCA (POA) with sufentanil after intra-abdominal surgery in aged patients.Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ orⅡpatienm aged 65-82 yr undergoing elective intra-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into 3 groups (n=20 each)according to the composition of PCIA solution:group I sufentanil 200 μg in 200 ml of noilnal saline (group S);group μ sufentanil 200μh+ketmine 100 mg in NS 200 ml(group K1)and group Ⅲ sufentannil 200 μg+ketmine 200 mg in NS 200 ml(group K2).A loading dose of 5 ml wag given at the end of operation.The PCIA setting was as follows:backgound infusion 1 ml/h,bolus dose 2 ml,lockout interval 5 min and 4-hour maximum dose 30 m1.If VAS score(0=no pain,10=womt pain)was≥7,pethidine 25 mg was given iv.The total amount of pethidine given within 48 h after operation and postoperative complications including nausea and vomiting and respiratory depression were recorded.Results Small dose ketamine added to the PCIA solution can significantly reduce the amount of pethidine administered after operation in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Small dose ketamine can improve the efficacy of PCIA with sufentanil after intra-abdominal surgery in aged patients with no significant adverse effect.

Objective To detect whether there is neurotropism following end-to-side neurorrhaphy by means of the neuron retrograde tracing technique. Methods Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: tracing main branch of musculcutaneous nerve(MC) of end-to-side group, tracing MC main branch of normal group, tracing MC motor branch of end-to-side group and tracing MC motor branch of normal group.In two end-to-side groups, the MC was transeeted, then an 1 mm epineukral window was created on the ulnar nerve. Distal end of MC nerve was sutured to the windowed ulnar nerve by means of end-to-side neurorrhaphy.In two normal control groups, MC and ulnar nerves were just exposed. Five months post operation, by means of retrograde Fluoro-Gold neuron tracing technique,the number of C5～ T1 anterior horn motoneurons and dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons of all groups were counted. Results In two tracing MC main branch groups: the motor neuron counts in end-to-side group was 245.2 ± 93.8, the motor neuron counts in normal group was 846.7 ± 264.8, and counts of end-to-side group was 30.0% of the normal control group (P＜ 0.01). The sensory neuron counts in end-to-side was 434.7 ± 160.4, the sensory neuron counts in normal group was 1545.2 ± 287.4, and counts of end-to-side group was 28.1% of the normal control group (P ＜ 0.01). The per-centage of motor neuron in end-to-side group was 0.36 ± 0.09, there was no difference between end-to-side group and normal control group(P＞ 0.05). In two tracing MC motor branch groups: the motor neuron counts in end-to-side group was 72.3 ± 35.3, the motor neuron counts in normal group was 189.7 ± 57.0, and counts of end-to-side group was 38.1% of the normal control group (P ＜ 0.01). The sensory neuron counts in end-to-side was 110.8 ± 52.5, the sensory neuron counts in normal group was 157.9 ± 50.0, and counts of end-to-side group was 70.2% of the normal control group (P ＞ 0.05). The percentage of motor neuron in end-to-side group was 0.40 ± 0.14, the difference between end-to-side group and normal control group was signifieant(P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Neurotropism in collateral spouting after end-to-side neurorrhaphy is not significant.