Objective To explore the mechanisms of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) induced apoptosis of cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats. Methods Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups. Cells in the control group were incubated in serum-free medium for 2, 6, 12, and 24 h. Cells in Ang Ⅱ group were incubated with Ang Ⅱ at the dose of 10 -7 mol/L for 2, 6, 12, and 24 h. Cells in Ang Ⅱ and Ang Ⅱ type 1 receptor antagonist group were incubated in medium containing 10 -7 mol/ L Ang Ⅱ plus 10 -5 mol/L irbesartan. The apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL assay. The Bcl-2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Caspase-3 activity was measured by a fluorescent assay kit. Results The number of apoptotic cells in Ang Ⅱ group increased significantly in a time-dependent manner, accompanied by decreased Bcl-2 protein expression but increased activity of caspase-3. Treatment with irbesartan resulted in decreased number of apoptotic cells and decreased activity of caspase-3. Conclusion Angiotensin Ⅱ could induce the apoptosis of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes through the caspase-dependent pathway, which might be mediated by Ang Ⅱ type 1 receptor. Bcl-2 may participate in the regulation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor-β(NGF-β) on the proliferation and cell cycle of human pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 cells. Methods: MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of NGF-β and K252a (inhibitor of NGF-β receptor TrKA) alone or in combination. Clone forming rate, proliferation, and cell cycle of MIA PaCa-2 cells treated with different strategies were examined by clone formation assay, MTT, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: NGF-β significantly increased the clone formation and proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 cells (P<0.05, P<0.01). K252a significantly inhibited the proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 cells (P<0.05), while NGF-β combined with K252a had no significant effect on the proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 cells. NGF-β arrested MIA PaCa-2 cell cycle in S phase, K252a arrested cell cycle in G_0/ G_1 phase, and NGF-β combined with K252a arrested cell cycle in S phase. Conclusion: NGF-β can enhance the proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma MIA PaCa-2 cells.

ObjectiveTo determine the peripheral serum expressions and clinical value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and a single sialic acid ganglioside (CA50) antigen in advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) combined with endogenous field hyperthermia.Methods60 patients inoperable,advanced pancreatic cancer were treated by 3D-CRT combined with endogenous field hyperthermia.Radiation dose (DT) was 46 ～ 66 GY/23 ～ 33 F.Hyperthermia temperature was 41 ～ 43 ℃ 2 times/week,lasted 60 min each time.The expressions of CEA,CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and CA50 in peripheral serum were detected by Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) every 2 weeks during treatment,and correlation were analyzed with tumor diameter,clinical stage,lymph node metastasis.Results From the 8th week,with 3D-CRT combined with endogenous field hyperthermia ongoing,CEA,CA19-9,CA50 andCA242 expression levels showed a gradual decline.CEA,CA19-9,CA50 and CA242 expression levels were (6.22 ± 2.71 ) μg/L,(43.44 ± 12.93 ) μg/L,(23.21 ± 7.71 )g/L and (24.26 ± 8.92) μg/L in 6 weeks,respectively.The difference was statistically significant among week 6 and week 0,week2,week 4 ( P ＜0.05),however there was no significant difference between week 6 and week 8 ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The CA724 expression did not change significantly ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There were positively correlation between CEA,CA199,CA50 and CA242 with pancreatic cancer tumor size,clinical stage and lymph node metastasis( respectively r =0.877,0.725,0.826,all P ＜ 0.01 ),however CA72-4 had no correlations ( P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionsCEA,CA19-9,CA50 and CA242 expressions in peripheral serum of pancreatic cancer patients were closely related to the treatment.Their joint detection can be served as independent objective evaluation reference information for the treatment efficacy and prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) combined with thermochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).Methods From June 2008 to June 2011,70 patients with LAPC were divided into radiotherapy group (30 patients) and combination group (40 patients).Radiotherapy used 3D-CRT with a 90％ to 95％ isodose curve,a single dose of 1.8 to 2.OGy,and total radiation dose 50 ～ 70 Gy.The combination group patients received simultaneous thermotherapy at 41.5 ～43.5 ℃ (1 h/fraction,twice a week for 6 times),and hyperthermia given simultaneously injected using arsenic trioxide 20 mg,recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor(rmhTNF) intravenous infusion of 10 million U,4 to 6 times,or 3D-CRT at the same time and the treatment given after gemcitabine(0.6 ～ 1.0 g/m2) on Days dl and 8 and cisplatin (DDP) (20 ～ 30 mg/m2) on Days d1-3 intravenous infusion,repeated every 28 days for 3 ～ 6 cycles.Results At 3 months after treatment,the total response (complete remission and partial remission) rate was 70.0％ (49/70),the efficiency of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy,and radiotherapy combined with thermo-chemotherapy were 56.5％ and 88.2％,and the radiotherapy alone group was 56.7％.There were significant difference in efficiency between radiotherapy combined with thermo-chemotherapy group compared to radiotherapy-chemotherapy group and radiotherapy group (x2 =4.68,4.98,P ＜ 0.05),the last two groups showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The 1-year and 2-year survival rate was 46.8％ and 20.3％,respectively.The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 52.4％ and 26.7％ in combination group,and 42.5％ and 16.2％ in radiotherapy group (x2 =14.17,P ＜ 0.05 ; x2 =9.74,P ＜ 0.05).No serious complications such as perforation,bleeding,and high fever were seen during treatment and follow-up.Conclusions 3D-CRT combined with thermochemotherapy is well tolerated and is relatively effective for the LAPC patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of three dimensional confoimal radiotherapy(3D-CRT)concurrent taxotere for patients with esophageal carcinoma.Methods Ninty-six patients with esophageal carcinoma were received 3D-CRT concurrent taxotere,the radiotherapy was carried out by 3D-CRT,to a total dose 95% PTV 66Gy/33f/6.6W.The trial results were evaluated by the clinical curative effect criterion.Results Complete response rate(CR)was 67.7%.Overall response rate(CR+PR)was 89.6%.The local control rates of 1 year and 3 years were 86.5% and 63% ,respectively.The survival rates of 1 year and 3 years were 76.1% and 50.0%,respectively.The main acute toxic effect was radioactive esophagitis.Conclusions 3D-CRT concurrent taxotere could improve the overall response rate and survival rate of esophageal carcinoma.Although it increased the acute toxic effect,the patients could accept the therapy.

Objective To investigate the role of the expression of prostate stem cell antigen(PSCA)in the development of perineural invasion in pancreatic carcinoma.Methods The histopathologic and immunohis-tochemical(SABC)studies were performed on 80 patients with pancreatic carcinoma.The overall incidence of PSCA expression,perineural,lymphatic and vascular vessel invasion were counted to investigate the relationships among them.Results Perineurel invasion was positively correlated with lymphatic and vascular vessel invasion (P<0.01).A positive corelation Was found between tumor PSCA expressioa(53 cases)and the perineurel in-vasion(66 cases).A definite correlation Was also found between cancer differentiation and PSCA tyxplres-sion.Conclusion PSCA is one of the most important molecules and may play a role as a "navigating" and " docking" molecule in the developmeat of perineural invasion.

pancreatic carcinoma by some signal transduction.

Objective To investigate nerve growth factor (β-NGF) and its receptors expression in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods Expression and distribution of β-NGF, tyrosine kinase A (TrKA) and P75NGFR were detected in operation tissue specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Relations of β-NGF and its receptors with clinicalpathological characters, especially nerve invasion were analyzed. Results β-NGF and TrKA expression are higher in pancreatic adenocarcinoma than normal pancreas, and the differences are significant (P < 0. 01). Β-NGF and TrKA expression are associated with the differentiation grades(DG), lymphatic node metastasis, nerve invasion and surgical pathological stages. Poorer of DG and later stages, more expression of β-NGF and TrKA. Β-NGF and TrKA expression have positive correlations. Β-NGF, TrKA and P75NGFR mRNA expression have significantly increased 3.84,4. 23 and 2. 41 times than normal tissues by real-time PCR, respectively. Conclusions β-NGF and TrKA might play potential rules in carcinogenesis for pancreatic cancer,have affinity with clinicopathological characters of pancreatic cancer. Β-NGF and TrKA may have mutual effect in signal transduction leading to perineural invasion of pancreatic carcinoma.

Objective To establish a novel experimental neural invasion model with human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-Ⅱand explore the biological characters. Methods The tumor mass which was formed by injecting human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-Ⅱsubcutaneously was orthotopically transplanted into pancreas of nude mice. Morphological and biological features, metastasis and nerve invasion of the transplanted tumor were studied after 4, 6 and 8 weeks. Expression and distribution of K-ras, C-erbB2, COX-2, PSCA, p53 and DPC4 were detected in MIA PaCa-Ⅱ cell, with SABC immunohistochemistry. Results The successful rate of pancreatic cancer orthotopic implantation was all 100 % after 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The rate of nerve invasion was 50 %, 80 % and 60 % after 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Expression of K-ras, C-erbB2, COX-2 and PSCA were higher in pancreatic cancer cells than in normal pancreas cells. However, p53 and DPC4 expression were lower than normal. Conclusion Neural invasion model with human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-Ⅱ orthotopic implantation tumor is successfully established in nude mice. The best time for exploring perinerval invasion is the sixth weeks. Every index studied may play important roles in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To explore the effects of quality control circle ( QCC ) on decreasing fraction defective of urine culture collecting. Methods QCC team was established. Followed the steps of QCC techniques, we analyzed the reasons of fraction defective of the urine culture, formulated countermeasures, and analyzed the results between before and after the implementation of countermeasures. Results The fraction defective of the urine culture declined from 10. 37% to 2. 46%, and objective achieved 111. 72% with the progress rate of 76. 28% after the implementation of countermeasures. Conclusions QCC program is a useful method to decrease fraction defective of the urine culture and regulate the standard of collecting. Meanwhile, the ability of the circle members was improved to resolve clinical problems.