Toad venom as a Chinese traditional natural medicine with a kind of effective chemical components has been widely used for many disease.Recently more and more research was focused on its remarkable antitumor efforts, new studies have found that the mechanism was closely associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress,tumor-related inflammation, autophagy, mitochondria-induced apoptosis pathway, heat chock protein and immuneomodulatory.In this article we reviewed the antitumor research advances of toad venom and its active compounds from several aspects mentioned above.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and determine the difference of electrode impedance and neural response telemetry ( NRT) value with cochlear implants in children with malformed inner ear and normal inner ear. METHOD: Eighty-eight children with multi-channel cochlear implants participated in this study. Children were divided into malformed inner ear group and normal inner ear group. To test the electrode impedance values and NRT value. RESULT: The changes of electrode impedance showed the similar changing pattern in two groups. There was not different in electrode impedance values between the two groups (P > 0.05). The changes of electrode neural response telemetry values showed the similar changing pattern in two groups. There was significantly different in electrode impedance values between the two groups (P < 0.05). The NRT were going up higher from electrode 22 to electrode 1. CONCLUSION The values vary are different programming sessions and electrodes during the first 3 months of cochlear implant use. To acquire better hearing frequent programming sessions are necessary.
Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Cochlear Nerve ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Both microRNA and DNA methylation are the important contents of epigenetic modification.Lots of studies have confirmed that mutual regulation of microRNA and DNA methylation involve in tumorgenesis and development of cancer.The studies of their mechanisms bring some new ideas for investigating the pathogenesis of tumors,and provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment.

The electrochemical behaviors of parathion(PT) on nano-Al2O3 film modified electrode(nano-Al2O3/GCE/CME) were investigated. It was found that the redox peak currents of PT remarkably increased and the oxidation peak potential negatively shifted at the nano-Al2O3/GCE/CME. All the experimental parameters were optimized and a simple and sensitive electroanalytical method was developed for the determination of PT. The oxidation peak current was linear with the concentration of PT over the range from 2.5×10-9 to 1.0×10-7 mol/L and 1.0×10-7 to 1.0×10-5 mol/L. A low detection limit of 1.0×10-9 mol/L was obtained for 30 s accumulation at open circuit(S/N=3). The relative standard deviation(n=10) was 3.8% for 1×10-5 mol/L PT. The proposed method was used for the quantitative analysis of PT in some vegetables and the results were satisfactory.

Objective To explore the relationship between cholecystoadenomyomatosis and gallbladder cancer.Method The expression of p53,bcl-2,EGFR oncoproteins were examined by method of immunohistochemistry in benign lesions and carcinomas in gallbladder.Results The study revealed that overexpressions of p53,bcl-2,EGFR oncoproteins were detected in 0,4,3 cases of 21 patients with chronic cholecystitis;0,5,3 cases of 20 patients with cholecysto-adenomyomatosis and 16,14,11 cases of 25 patients with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder respectively.There were significantly differences in single or multiple oncogene expression rates among groups,but not in chronic cholecystitis to adenomyomatosis.Conclusions These results suggests that oncogenic changes of p53,bcl-2,EGFR expression may play a role in gallbladder oncogenesis,cholecystoadenomyomaltosis should not be considered as an important precancerous lesion of gallbladder.

Extracorporeal shock wave treatment is capable of providing a non-surgical and effective treatment modality for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. The major objective of current works is to investigate how the shock wave (SW) field would change if a bony structure exists in the path of the acoustic wave. Firstly, a model of finite element method (FEM) was developed based on Comsol software in the present study. Then, high-speed photography experiments were performed to record cavitation bubbles with the presence of mimic bone. On the basis of comparing experimental with simulated results, the effectiveness of FEM model could be verified. Finally, the energy distribution during extracorporeal shock wave treatment was predicted. The results showed that the shock wave field was deflected with the presence of bony structure and varying deflection angles could be observed as the bone shifted up in the z-direction relative to shock wave geometric focus. Combining MRI/CT scans to FEM modeling is helpful for better standardizing the treatment dosage and optimizing treatment protocols in the clinic.
Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Models, Theoretical ; Osteoarthritis ; therapy ; Photography ; Software ; Sound

The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between the countercurrent of portal vein and intrahepatic cancerometastasis in patients with hepatic carcinoma under color Doppler flow imaging.To display the situation of portal carcinomatous thrombosis and intrahepatic cancerometastasis, two dimensional ultrasound was carried out in patients with hepatitis hepatocarcinoma and non hepatitis hepatocarcinoma. Also, color Doppler flow imaging was employed to examine the incidence of the pylic countercurrent and the portal vein hepatic artery fistula in four groups: hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group, non-hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group, hepatocirrhosis group and control group. The results showed that the incidences of portal carcinomatous thrombosis,intrahepatic cancerometastasis and the incidences of the countercurrent in portal vein were higher in hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group than those in non hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group ( P

To explore the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technique in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms.Retrospective analysis of touch tissue quantification (VTQ) and general ultrasonic examination of interesting region were performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),hepatic hemangioma,focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and controls.Significant differences existed between HCC and hepatic hemangioma,hepatic FNH and controls (all P ＜0.01).No significant difference existed between primary and metastatic HCC (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference between hepatic hemangioma,FNH and controls (all P ＞ 0.05).With a cut-off VTQ value of 1.95 m/s,the sensitivity and accuracy rate in the differentiation of benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms was 90％ and 83％ respectively.The sensitivity and accuracy rate in general ultrasound examination of hepatic neoplasms was 88％ and 70％ respectively.Significant differences existed in accuracy rate between two methods (P ＜ 0.01).It was confirmed that ARFI could reflect the stiffness of liver neoplasm noninvasively.Compared with general ultrasonography,ARFI is better at differentiating benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms.

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with cerebral tuberculosis.MethodsTen SLE patients with cerebral tuberculosis admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) from January 1995 to October 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe median duration from onset of SLE to cerebral tuberculosis was 1.5 years(range from 0.6 to 30 years).All patients had received higher doses of steroid therapy (equal to prednisolone l mg· kg-1·d-1 ),and 3 of them had received methylprednisolone pulse therapy.Nine patients had taken immunosuppressant.When cerebral tuberculosis was diagnosed,the most common features were fever and headache,followed by nausea/vomiting and focal neurological signs.Nine patients were complicated with extra-cerebral infections.The cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) pressures was(247±66) cm H2O(range from 180 to 350 cm H2O),which was higher than normal.The mean CSF protein level was(1.4±0.7) g/L (0.15～0.45 g/L),which was normal or increased.Image examinations were helpful for the diagnosis of cerebral tuberculosis in SLE patients.Pointenhanced or ring-enhanced lesions were found in enhanced magnetic resonance imaging( MRI ) of brain in all patients who had donethis test (8 patients).After treated with targeted antibiotics and specific adjuvant therapies,the symptoms had relieved in 7 patients,however,I patient died,and 2 patients were lost during the follow-up.ConclusionWhen SLE patients with stable disease have unexplained fever,headache,and focal neurological signs,cerebral tuberculosis should be considered.Enhanced MRI of brain and chest X ray are helpful for the diagnosis of infectious cerebral lesions and should be performed promptly.Extracerebral tuberculosis infections can provide clues forthe identification of the causativeagents.Anti-tuberculosis treatment should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed,and early treatment can markedly improve the outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate and analyze the clinical and pathological features of surgical treatment for primary bronchogenic carcinoma in adolescent patients.MethodsA retrospective review is presented of patients less than 30 years with surgical treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma between 1969 and 2008.There were59 patients (36 male and 23 female).Mean age was 23 years ( range 8-29 ) .The ratio of men to women patients was 1.7∶1.Forty-nine cases ( 83.0% ) were symptomatic at presentation and 18 cases(30.5% )were misdiagnosed as other diseases.Surgical procedures included radical resection in 46 cases,palliative resection in 3 cases,thoracotomy only for unresectable disease in 7 cases and VATS biopsy in 3 cases.The histological types were 18 adenocarcinomas,13 carcinoids,9 mucoepidermoid carcinoma,5 squamous cell carcimomas,4 small cell lung cancer,3 adenosquamous carcinoma and 4 others.On TNM staging,8 cases in stage Ⅰa,3 cases in stage Ⅰb,9 cases in stage Ⅱ a,12 cases in stage Ⅱb,15 cases in stage Ⅲa,8 cases in stage Ⅲb,4 cases in stageⅣ.ResultsThere were no operative death in radical group.Post-operative atelectasis in 3 cases.One case died from postoperative respiratory failure in explosive group,the postoperative five year survival rate was 27.0%.radical resection group 5-year survival was 35%.Univariate analysis identified TNM stage and surgical procedures as predictors of survival( P <0.05).factors that had no significant effect on overall survival included gender,histologic sbutype and postoperative chemotherapy (P > 0.05).The 5 year survival in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,Ⅲb + Ⅳ were 75.0%,33.3%,14.3% and 0,respectively.The 5 year survival in lobectomy,pneumonectomy and exporsive were 43.0%,18.2% and O,respectively.On multivariate analysis,TNM stage of disease was the only independent predictor of survival ( P =0.000) .ConclusionWe should pay attention to adolescent lung cancer and improve the diagnosis rate avoiding of delaying surgical treatment.The five year survival rate of radical resection for adolescent lung cancer was good.They should be treated with aggressive multimodality therapy and surgical resection is the first-line treatment for them.