Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of serial 18F-fluorodeexyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Thirty-seven NPC patients who had 18F-FDG PET/CT scan before and after external beam intensity-modulated radiotherapy, were studied retrospectively.All patients were followed for five years.Correlation analysis between metabolic tumor volume (MTV)/uptake volume index (UVI) and survival was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, Log-rank test and multivariate Cox model.Results The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 70.3% (26/37) and 62.2% ( 23/37 ), respectively.Patients with a lower MTV (MTV＜30 cm3) had significantly higher 5-year OS ( 82.6% ( 19/23 ) ) and DFS (73.9% ( 17/23 )) rates than those with a higher MTV (OS:50.0% (7/14),x2 =5.28, P＜0.05; DFS:42.9% (6/14),x2 =4.84, P＜0.05).Patients with a lower UV1 (UVI＜150) had significantly higher 5-year OS( 87.5%( 21/24 )) and DFS (79.2% (19/24)) rates than those with a higher UVI (OS:38.5% (5/13),x2 =10.72, P＜0.01;DFS:30.8% (4/13), x2 =11.04, P＜0.01).Multivariate analysis showed that UVI and metabolic response (MR) were independent predictors of DFS.Conclusions Tumor volume parameters, UVI and MR, are independent prognostic factors for patients with NPC.Patients with a high UVI may benefit from more aggressive treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the complement component 3 gene (C3) and adult asthma of Hans in southern China.

METHODSA case-control study was performed. Four hundred and eighty-four adult asthma patients diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital and Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, and 553 healthy subjects were collected from 2006 to 2010 for the study. MassARRAY-IPLEX and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) techniques was used to determine the genotypes of the rs10402876 and rs366510 loci of C3 gene.

RESULTSGenotypes GG, GT and TT in the rs366510 locus, and genotypes GG, GT and TT in the rs10402876 locus were detected. A total of 98.94 percent of samples were genotyped. There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies (chi-square =0.346,P=0.841) and allele frequencies (chi-square =0.101,P=0.751) of rs10402876 between the two groups. However, genotype and allele frequencies of the rs366510 locus were significantly different (chi-square =9.759, P=0.008, Bonferroni correction, P=0.016; chi-square =5.294,P=0.021, Bonferroni correction, P=0.042, respectively). Compared with genotypes GG+GT, genotype TT of rs366510 significantly increased the risk of asthma, with the odds ratio of 1.471 (95% confidence interval 1.125-1.923).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that C3 gene could be associated with adult asthma of Han population in southern China.

Adult ; Asthma ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Complement C3 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to establish and evaluate the methodology of isolated rabbit eye (IRE) test.

METHODSIRE test was performed according to modifications of the in vitro toxicology (INVITTOX) Protocol No.85: Rabbit enucleated eye test by European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), and then 26 chemicals and 26 cosmetic products were tested in both in vitro IRE and in vivo Draize tests. A statistical analysis was conducted to determine the relevance of the IRE test to the data generated in the Draize test.

RESULTSIRE test was established successfully in our laboratory. It was shown that ranking correlation and class concordance were fairly well between the IRE test and the Draize test for 26 reference chemicals (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=51.314, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.261; Gamma=0.960, P<0.001; Kappa=0.843, P<0.001) and 26 cosmetic products (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=15.522, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.311; Gamma=0.967, P<0.001; Kappa=0.611, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIRE test was established successfully for in vitro testing of eye irritation as an alternative to Draize test.

Animal Testing Alternatives ; Animals ; Cosmetics ; toxicity ; Eye ; drug effects ; Irritants ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

Iron-doped titanium dioxide nanosheets was prepared by hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate (C16H36O4Ti) and iron trifluoride (FeF3) and modified on ITO electrode.ITO/Fe : TiO2/CdS photoelectrochemical sensor was fabricated by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction(SILAR) method for determination of copper ion.The band gap of electode material was narrowed by iron doped TiO2 nanosheets,which made its absorption red-shifted and its response range of light was magnified.Based on the sensitization effect of CdS,the absorption and utilization of visible light of sensor was significantly enhanced and the photoelectric signal was amplified via reducing the recombination of electrons and holes.The sensor displayed excellent analytical performance for detection of copper ion with linear range of 0.2-4.0 μmol/L and 4.0-80.0 μmol/L and with the detection limit of 85 nmol/L.The sensor was used to detect copper ion in tap water,drinking water and Yongjiang river water with recoveries ranging from 94% to 111%.

Abstract　　The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene encoded PML protein as a tumor suppressor protein, plays important roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers including acute promyelocytic leukemia. Recent studies have indicated that there are a variety of post-translational modifications of the PML protein, such as SUMOylation, ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and acetylation in cells. These modifications of the PML protein can directly affect the formation of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), repair DNA damage, and modulate cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the abnormal modifications of PML not only result in the occurrence of hematopoietic tumors, but also are closely related to the drug-resistance of cancer. Therefore, investigating the post-translational modifications of PML is significant to uncover the mechanism of formation and functions of PML-NBs, thus contributing to the prevention and treatment of related hematopoietic tumors. In this review, the characteristics of the post-translational modifications of PML protein and the relationship between these modifications and functions of PML-NBs are summarized so as to provide the potential targets for the treatment of related cancers.
Humans ; Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Nuclear Proteins ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational

OBJECTIVEMahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.

METHODSThe antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.

RESULTSThe Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antipyretics ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Calcium Sulfate ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Fever ; drug therapy ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Ovalbumin ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar