Objective To detect the hidden leprosy cases and strengthen the leprosy control through carrying out Leprosy Elimination Campaigns in local areas. Methods Clue surveys and mobile medical team services were carried out using a small amount of budget to detect early leprosy cases. Results A total of 298 leprosy- suspected individuals were reported by paramedical workers during the Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (LEC) for a period of 2.5 months in 2 counties. Among them, 32 were confirmed as patients with leprosy. The number of cases was 2 times of that detected in the previous year in the same areas. Conclusion It is important to mobilize the local personnel resource, integrate the leprosy control into general health services, and obtain the financial support in order to detect and treat leprosy patients as early as possible.

Aim To compare the cytotoxicity of geni-poside (GS)and its metabolite genipin (GP)on hu-man hepatocelluar HepG2 cells and explore the sub-stance and mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by Fructus Gardeniae.Methods The cytotoxic effect of GS and GP was analyzed by MTT method;the antioxi-dant enzyme activities of manganese superoxide dis-mutase (Mn-SOD),catalase (CAT)and levels of glu-tathione (GSH)were detected by respective kits;the change of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS ) was measured by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA)staining method;multiparameter cytotox-icity analysis (cell loss,nuclear size and morphologi-cal changes,DNA content,cell membrane permeabili-ty,mitochondrial membrane potential changes,cyto-chrome C release ) were measured simultaneously by high content screening (HCS)assays.Results No cytotoxicity was found in GS (20~1 000 μmol·L-1 ) groups (P>0.05 ),but GP was found to exert obvi-ous cytotoxic effect,and 50μmol·L-1 GP could obvi-ously inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation (P<0.05 ),and the IC50 value was (450.00 ±26.15)μmol·L-1;GS showed no obvious effects on Mn-SOD, CAT, GSH ,ROS (P >0. 0 5 ),GP could significantly decrease the activity of Mn-SOD,CAT and the level of GSH,and obviously increase the content of ROS (P<0.05 or P <0.01 );treatment with 50,500,1 000μmol·L-1 GP resulted in loss of mitochondrial mem-brane potential,cytochrome C release and increased cell permeability (P<0.05 or P<0.01),500,1 000μmol· L-1 GP could also show abvious nuclear con-densation,increased total nuclear intensity and cell loss (P<0.0 1 ).Opposed with GP,GS had no signif-icant effect on the cytotoxic parameters (P>0.05 ). Conclusion GP is the direct substance of hepatotox-icity induced by Fructus Gardeniae,and the mecha-nism might be associated with oxidative stress,mito-chondria injury and apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the influences of survivin down-regulation on cell G2/M phase arrest,apeptosis and sensitivity to carbon ion irradiation. Methods Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting survivin mRNA was designed, in vitro chemo-synthesized and transfected into SMMC-7721 cells. Survivin mRNA expression in SMMC-7721 cells was measured by real-time PCR, and the apeptotic rates by Annexin-FTTC at 24 and 48 h after transfection. Cell G2/M phase arrest after transfection was assessed with flow eytometry as well. Cellular sensitivity to high-LET carbon ions was determined by means of colony-forming assay. Results The expressions of survivin at mRNA level were down-regulated to be 59% and 39% in relation to the non-treated cells at 24 and 48 h after siRNA transfeetion, respectively. G2/M phase arrest in SMMC-7721 cells at 24 h after transfection was observed while much more obvious at 48 h. The apeptotic rate of SMMC-7721 cells was 21.41 % at48 h after survivin siRNA transfection, which was significantly higher than that of the cells transfected with negative siRNA. Moreover, a decreased clonogenic survival in siRNA treated group was shown. Conclusion Down-regulation of survivin gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells by siRNA could effectively induce cell apeptosis and G2/M phase arrest, and enhance the cellular radiosensitivity to high-LET heavy ions.

Objective CD4 +IL-17 +cells are a group of newly discovered effector CD4 +T cells, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer.This study aims to investigate the expres-sion of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the dis-ease as well as the clinical significance of the cells in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected tumor tis-sue and tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples from 51 pancreatic cancer patients.We determined the expressions of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and measured the proportion of IL-17 +cells in the cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry and the fluorescence activated cell sorter, respectively, followed by analysis of their correlation with tumor angiogenesis, clinicopathological pa-rameters, and survival time of the patients. Results The percentage of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in tumor tissue was positively correlated with microvessel density (r =0.534, P<0.05) and the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissue (r=0.356, P<0.05).IL-17 +cells were expressed more highly in the tumorous than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05), and the expression level was correla-ted with the stage of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with the patients′gender or age, tumor size, tumor location, histological grade, or local invasion (P>0.05).Fifty (98.0%) of the patients were successfully followed up for 2-67 months, which revealed a median survival time of 16.6 ±4.8 months, significantly longer in those with a higher expression of intratumoral IL-17 +cells (P<0.05).Univariate analysis showed an association of the survival rate with the tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and level of intratumoral IL-17 +cells, while multivariate analysis showed the TNM stage to be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of the pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusion The expression of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in the tumor tissue is positively correlated with tumor angiogenesis, while that of IL-17 +cells with the clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients and therefore may serve as an important immune indicator for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To observe the effects of different energy of extracorporeal shock waves (ECSWs) on diabetic neuralgia in rats.Methods Fifty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 8 weeks,weighing 180-200 g,were divided into 5 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),diabetic neuralgia group (group DN),low-energy ECSW group (group L + DN),medium-energy ECSW group (group M + DN),and high-energy ECSW group (group H+DN).Diabetic neuralgia models were established by intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) in DN,L+DN,M+DN and H+DN groups.ECSWs at 1,2 and 3 bar were applied during 4 consecutive weeks after successful establishment of the model once a week (T1-T4) in L+DN,M+DN and H+ DN groups,respectively.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT),thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were measured at T1-T4.Animals were sacrificed after the last measurement,and the sciatic nerve samples were obtained for determination of the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interluekin-6 (IL-6) (by Western blot) and expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group C,MWT,TWL and MNCV were significantly decreased at T1-T4,and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in the other groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group DN,MWT at T2-4 and TWL and MNCV at T3,4 were significantly increased,and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 protein and mRNA was down-regulated in L+DN,M+DN and H+DN groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group H+ DN,MWT at T2-4 and TWL and MNCV at T3,4 were significantly increased,and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 protein and mRNA was down-regulated in L+DN and M+DN groups,and the expression of IL-6 mRNA was significantly down-regulated in group L+DN (P＜0.05).Conclusion ECSWs can mitigate diabetic neuralgia in rats,and the low-and medium-energy ECSWs produce better efficacy,and the mechanism is related to inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Objective:To validate the feasibility of the gamma analysis method in the study of prescription dose conversion between logistic nanodosimetry model (LNDM) and microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) basing on the Chinese self-developed model LNDM by applying clinical experiences of National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS).Methods:Physical dose distributions derived from the MKM- and LNDM-based carbon ion treatment plans were compared via the method of gamma analysis under the open-source treatment planning platform matRad. In this way, the prescribed dose conversion factor between the MKM- and LNDM-based treatment plans was obtained. Using water phantoms, the influence of geometric shape, size, depth of target volume (TV), prescribed dose and field setting on the conversion factor was investigated comprehensively. Moreover, preliminary verification of the acquired conversion factor was conducted on the C-shape model and a case of liver cancer patient.Results:The conversion factor depended on the field setting rather than the TV shape. Under the condition of single field, the conversion factor was positively correlated with the size and depth of TV, and the prescribed dose. Moreover, the conversion factor was successfully verified using the C-shape model and the patient with liver cancer, where the gamma passing rates (2%/2 mm) of the physical dose distribution generated by the MKM and LNDM treatment plans were 92.79% and 91.19%, respectively.Conclusions:The conversion factors (f=D LNDM/D MKM) obtained in this study might provide guidance for the prescribed dose setting during the carbon ion treatment planning based on the LNDM. Besides, the gamma analysis method could be used for the study of the prescribed dose conversion between different models.