Objective To study the sleep patterns in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to investigate gender difference in sleep and pain. Methods Fifty seven male and 23 female patients with AS (modified New York criteria) completed a sleep questionnaire. The results were analysed and compared with clinic material. Result Sleep disturbance was reported by 74% of the female and 46% of the male patients (P

Objective:To study the effects of andrographolide on the expression of IL-18 related cytokines by peripheral blood monocytes.Methods:After treatment of andrographolide in different concentrations on LPS stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and LPS+IFN-γ/IL-4 activated magnetic bead-sorted monocytes (PBM),the transcription level of IL-18,IL-18BP,IL-18Rα and IL-18Rβ was detected by real-time RT-PCR;and secreted IL-18,IL-18BP and IL-1β,IL-1Rα by PBM was detected with ELISA.Results:Andrographolide regulated the transcription of IL-18 and IL-18BP in a dose-and time-dependent effect.Andrographolide up-regulated the transcription of IL-18BP in LPS stimulated PBMC,and increased the ratio of IL-18BP/IL-18.The ratio of IL-18BP/IL-18 rose from 9.60 to 214 in LPS+IFNγ activated PBM,and IL-1Rα/IL-1β declined from 9 200 to 6 520 in IL-4 activated PBM by andrographolide treatment.Conclusion:Andrographolide can regulate IL-18 related gene transcription and expression in activated peripheral blood monocytes,and inhibit the excessive expression of IL-18 during inflammation.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of both aldose reductase (AR) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genes in chromosome 7q35 and the susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes of Han nationality in North China. Methods The C(-106)T in the promoter region of AR gene as well as the G894T in exon 7 and the 27 bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the eNOS gene were investigated in 85 healthy controls and 134 type 2 diabetics with or without DN. The C(-106)T as well as the G894T genotype were determined by PCR RFLP method and sequencing the PCR products. The 27 bp repeat polymorphism alleles were determined by PCR combined with agarose gel electrophoresis and sequencing the PCR products. Results The frequencies of the C allele and C/C genotype in AR gene as well as T allele and T/G genotype in exon 7 and the 4a allele and 4a/4b genotype in intron 4 of eNOS gene were significantly higher in DN+ group than those in DN-group (all P

Objective To investigate the expression of long non - coding RNA(lncRNA)in neonatal rats with hypoxic - ischemic brain damage(HIBD). Methods SD rats of 10 postnatal days were divided into the sham -operated control and the hypoxic - ischemic(HI)group. At 24 h after HI,the animals were sacrificed. HE staining was used to assess histopathological damage. Microarray was used to detect the expression of lncRNA and mRNA in hypoxic -ischemic and sham control brain. Real - time PCR was used to verify the microarray result. The differentially expressed mRNA was analyzed by gene ontology(GO),pathway and coding - noncoding RNA co - expression(CNC)network analysis. Results HE staining showed that cells in HI brains became swollen and disordered with ambiguous cell struc-ture. Microarray data demonstrated that 322 lncRNAs and 375 mRNAs were significantly altered in the neonatal brains following hypoxic - ischemic injury compared with sham control(P ﹤ 0. 05). The real - time PCR results agreed with those of the microarray. GO analysis showed that the most enriched biological process associated with the upregulated mRNA had response to wounding,whereas the biological process mostly enriched among the downregulated mRNA was so-matic stem cell division. Pathway analysis indicated that upregulated mRNA was primarily corresponded with cytokine -cytokine receptor interaction pathway and that downregulated mRNA mainly correlated to axon guidance pathway. CNC network analysis demonstrated that 177 lncRNAs were correlated to the expression of mRNA involved in inflammation and cell death(P ﹤0. 05). Conclusions HI injury significantly influences cerebral lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the neonatal rat brains. Deregulated lncRNAs might contribute to the pathogenesis of HIBD via interacting with mRNA.

To investigate the potential risk factors for parotid gland failure after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods The clinical data of 1096 NPC patients who underwent IMRT in our hospital from January 2005 to December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.Among these patients, 13 patients experienced parotid gland recurrence, and the recurrence in 12 patients was analyzed.A case-control study was performed with the side of the parotid gland with recurrence as the case group and the side of the parotid gland without recurrence as the control group.The association of parotid gland failure with the extent of tumor invasion, IMRT dose distribution, and local recurrence was analyzed.The differences between groups were analyzed with χ2 test or Fisher′s the exact probability test.Results Among the 12 patients, 11 had stage III-IV primary NPC;after definitive IMRT, 9 had local tumor residues.The median time of parotid gland recurrence was 16(8-43) months.Of all the patients who experienced recurrence, 8 had recurrence in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland, 1 in the deep lobe, and 3 in both superficial and deep lobes.Recurrence was in the same side of primary tumor (P<0.001).Compared with the controls, the side of the parotid gland with recurrence had higher rate of cervical puncture/surgery (P=0.025).Parotid gland recurrence was often complicated by ipsilateral lymph node recurrence (67% vs.8%, P=0.003), as well as the tendency of ipsilateral primary lesion recurrence (42%vs.8%;P=0.059).Conclusions For NPC patients, the recurrence rate in the parotid gland is very low. Parotid gland recurrence may be related to locally advanced NPC, residues after treatment, the history of cervical puncture/surgery, and locoregional recurrence.The low radiotherapy dose in the parotid gland caused by IMRT may be an important reason for parotid gland recurrence.

Objective To summarize the long term outcomes and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy.MethodsFrom Nov 2001to Dec 2009,totally 416 newly diagnosed NPC patients was treated in our hospital.The prescribed dose was 70-78 Gy to the gross tumor volume and 70 Gy to the positive neck nodes,60 Gy to the clinical target volume,and 50-56 Gy to the clinically negative neck.Among 333 stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ patients according to the 2010 UICC staging system,187 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy with a regimen of weekly cisplatin 30mg/m2.Local control rate (LC),overall survival (OS),disease-hree survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsThe follow up rate is 98.0％.158 patients was followed up more than 5 years.The 5 years LC,OS,DFS and DMFS of whole group were 87.7％,82.1％,71.8％ and 84.5％.Sex,Age,T stage and N stage were independent prognostic factors for OS (x2=4.59,11.20,19.40,18.00,P=0.03,0.00,0.00,0.00),T and N stage were independent prognostic factors for DFS (x2=33.50,21.20,P=0.00,0.00) and DMFS (x2=11.90,14.60,P=0.01,0.01).The 5 years LC,OS,DFS and DMFS for local-regional advanced disease with or without concurrent chemotherapy was 82.2％ and 90.7％ (x2=1.72,P=0.19),70.2％ and 83.4％ (x2=1.42,P=0.23),62.8％ and 73.2％ (x2=2.83,P=0.09),78.0％ and 83.2％ (x2=0.37,P=0.55)respectively.Conclusions The long term outcomes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by intensitymodulated radiotherapy was encouraged.The role of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy needs further investigated.

Objective To analyze the treatment outcomes of patients with primary sphenoid sinus malignancies. Methods Sixteen patients with primary sphenoid sinus malignancies admitted to our hospital from 2000 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. No patients were newly diagnosed with cervical lymph node metastasis. One patient had stageⅣA disease, while fifteen had stageⅣB disease. Eleven patients received surgery followed by radiotherapy, one surgery alone, three radiotherapy alone, and one chemotherapy alone. All surgeries were cytoreductive . The median dose of radiotherapy was 69. 96 Gy ( 56.00?80. 56 Gy ) . Results The 3?year local control ( LC) , distant metastasis?free survival ( DMFS) , disease?free survival ( DFS) , and disease?specific survival ( DSS) rates were 67%, 69%, 44%, and 58%, respectively, in all patients, and 67%, 55%, 30%, and 41%, respectively, in patients treated with cytoreductive surgery followed by radiotherapy. All orbital contents and skull base were preserved. In all patients, the local recurrence, distant metastasis, and lymph node recurrence rates were 25%, 37%, and 6%, respectively. There were no independent predictors for the LC and DSS rates based on the prognostic analysis. Conclusions With the orbital contents and skull base preserved, the cytoreductive surgery followed by radiotherapy yields satisfactory outcomes and a low lymph node recurrence rate in the treatment of sphenoid sinus malignancies. The prophylactic irradiation of cervical lymph nodes is not recommended in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the treatment outcome of primary mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of this disease .Methods The clinical data of 52 patients with primary mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses who were admitted to our hospital from 2001 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.Among these patients, 18 received surgery alone, 31 received surgery combined with radiotherapy ( 24 received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and 7 received preoperative radiotherapy and surgery ) , and 3 received radiotherapy alone.The surgery+radiotherapy group and the surgery group were matched using propensity score matching.Results The median follow-up was 59 months.The 5-year local control ( LC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) of all patients were 49%, 48%, 22%, and 45%, respectively.After matching, the surgery+radiotherapy group had a significantly higher LC than the surgery group (88%vs.43%, P=0.028), but the two groups had similar 5-year DMFS (67%vs.57%, P=0.955), 5-year DFS (58%vs.24%, P=0.131), and 5-year OS (67%vs. 67%, P=0.727 ) .The negative margin rates in the preoperative radiotherapy+surgery subgroup and the surgery+postoperative radiotherapy subgroup were 100%and 50%, respectively ( P=0.004) .Conclusions Surgery combined with radiotherapy can improve the LC rate in patients with primary mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and preoperative radiotherapy can increase the negative margin rate.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics,outcome and prognostic factom of adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Between Jan 1990 and Dec 2009,totally 148 pathological confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)patients with age≤20 years were treated in our hospital,including stage Ⅱ 8,stage Ⅲ 58,stage Ⅳ 81,and unknown 1 when restaged by TNM system(UICC 2002),ninty-four(63.5%)patients were treated with radiotherapy alone,54(36.5%)patients were treated with radiotherapy combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Results The median follow-up time for all patients was 44.5 months.The 5-year overall survival(OS),local-regional control(LRC)and distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS)rateswere 82.9%,85.1%and 78.6%.There were 42 patients(28.4%)failed with 16 regional recurrence and 29 distant metastasis,and 3 with both;bone metastasis was the most common site of distant metastasis(22/29).In univariate analysis,the adverse prognostic factors for OS were stage T4(X2=5.61,P=0.018),radiation dose<70 Gy(X2=5.30,P=0.021),for LRC was radiation dose<70 Gy and for distant metastasis-free survival was the disease history≥6month(X2=4.24,P=0.039).In multivariate analysis,radiation dose<70 Gy and stage T4 were the independent prognostic factors for OS(X2=5.73、5.56,P=0.017、0.018),for LRC was radiation dose<70 Gy(X2=5.81,P=0.016).Conclusions The outcome of the present series was excellent,total nagopharyngeal radiation dose less than 70 Gy is inappropriate.Reduce the distant metastasis and late toxicities were the future direction for the treatment of adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of chemoradiotherapy in the preoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MethodsFrom Sep. 2002 to Dec. 2008,totally 157 locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients was assigned to preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy group ( n =81 ) or preoperative radiotherapy alone group ( n =76 ) randomly. The chemotherapy regimen was consisted of cisplatin 30 mg/m2, weekly. The radiotherapy in both groups was identical. The primary lesion will continue concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy for those the tumor response was or nearly complete remission (CR) and those who refused surgery when evaluated at DT50 Gy, the others will receive surgery 1 month later if the tumor response was less than CR.For N3 patients, the planed neck dissection will be done. ResultsThe follow up rate was 98. 1％, 91patients followed up more than 5 years, there were 46 in concurrent chemoradiotherapy group and 45 in radiotherapy alone group. The rate of 5-year local control, overall survival, disease free survival and distant metastasis-free survival for preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy group and preoperative radiotherapy alone group were 63％ and 50％ ( x2 =0. 40,P =0. 528), 46％ and 38％ ( x2 =0. 48,P =0. 490) ,41％ and 35 ( x2 =0. 29, P =0. 593 ) ,76％ and 65％ ( x2 =3.38, P =0. 066 ) respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the 2-years distant metastasis-free survival of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy group and preoperative radiotherapy alone group were 88％ and 60％ ( x2 =5.99,P =0. 014). ConclusionsPreoper -ative concurrent chemoraidotherapy with the regimen of cisplatin 30 mg/m2 weekly did not improve the overall survival for locally advanced HNSCCwhen compared with preoperative radiotherapy alone.Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy improved the distant metastasis-free survival of locally advanced hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma.