Objective To study the concentrations of endocrine disrupting compounds in reclaimed water samples. Methods A solid-phase extraction (SPE)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) analytical method was used for the separation and determination of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) from water samples. The water samples were collected from each process of the reclaimed water plant of Tianjin, China. Important and contrasting EDCs including estrone (E1), 17?-estradiol (E2), 17?-ethynylestradiol (EE2), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were selected as the target compounds. C-18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique was used for the extraction recoveries of target compounds from water samples while ethyl acetate was efficient in eluting EDCs from SPE cartridges. After elution from the SPE column, the t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) derivatives of EDCs with N-methyl-N-(tertbutyldimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) were analyzed by GC-MS in the selected ion mode (SIM). Results Concentrations of steroid hormones, phenolic compounds and phthalate esters ranged from not detected to 7.01 ng/L, 4.85 ng/L, and 0.03 ?g/L to 23.82 ?g/L, respectively. Conclusion Environmental endocrine disrupting compounds are not completely removed in the process of reclaimed water treatment and will be carried over into the general aquatic environment as it will be reused.

Objective To investigate the effect of external beam irradiation re-stenosis in form of neointimal hyperplasia following carotid endarterectomy in rabbits. Methods 144 Japanese white rabbits were divided into 24 groups, with 6 rabbits in each. All animals underwent carotid endarterectomy and were fed on hypercholesterol diet. The vessels which underwent surgery were irradiated with 6 MV photon, to a dose of 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 Gy. The animals were sacrificed on D15, 30, 60 and 90 after irradiation. The irradiated vessels were examined with histopathology and immunohistochemical methods. Results The differences in the values of neointimal area/media area, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) stain, a-Acn'n stain and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stain were all significant (P

As the major member of serine/threonine protein ki-nases family, glycogen synthase kinase 3β ( GSK-3β) has well characterized roles in the development of a variety of diseases. However, it is noticed that modulation of GSK-3β in tumor pro-gress is two-faced. Once the activity of GSK-3βas a“pro-onco-genic factor” is inhibited, opposing role as a“tumor suppressor”can also be disrupted, which will trigger the consequent side effect on activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The is-sue has placed a major obstacle to anti-GSK-3β in cancer treat-ment. In fact, functional compartmentalization of a large number of intracellular signaling events cross-talked with GSK-3β can prevent their mutual interference and determine the cell fate. Therefore, understanding the specific mechanisms of GSK-3β in regulation of diverse signaling systems or refinement of a sub-strate competitive inhibitor may have great significance to exploit approaches selectively target GSK-3β in tumor treatment.

We have established a computer model of calculating the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in line with the current primary methods and have designed the relevant software. Consequently, the complex calculation becomes easy, thus facilitating the clinical use of NTCP and improving the model step by step.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Probability ; Radiation Injuries ; epidemiology ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Software Design

Aim To screen the potential inhibitors of post-transcriptional activity of pro-inflammatory media-tor TNF-α from the lipophilic constituents in Chinese Medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge ( Danshen) , we es-tablished dual luciferase reporter gene system pGL3-TNF-α3′UTR ( 3′untranslated region ) co-transfected with Renilla control gene. Methods Complementary DNA ( cDNA) template was obtained from human um-bilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs ) . The full length DNA of TNF-α 3′-UTR was amplified through PCR, and then connected the luciferase reporter vector pGL3-control after enzyme digestion. pGL3-TNF-α 3′UTR constructs were co-transfected with pSVRenilla into the mononuclear macrophages RAW264. 7 cells. The relative activity of reporter genes was measured by dual luciferase reporter ( DLR ) assay system after the stimulus of lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) in presence or absence of tanshinones compounds. Results The pGL3-TNF-α3′UTR luciferase reporter gene was suc-cessfully constructed. The cloning DNA fragment and sequence were both consistent with the GENBANK da-tabase. LPS significantly induced the relative reporter activityof RAW264 . 7 cells transfected with pGL3-TNF-α 3′UTR. Among four tanshinones compounds, we found only cryptotanshinone could significantly de-crease LPS-induced relative reporter activity. Conclu-sion The pGL3-TNF-α 3′UTR construct combined with DLR assay system was successfully established, which can be used to discover the agents such as cryp-totanshinone that regulate the post-transcription of TNF-α in treatment of inflammatory and malignant dis-eases.

Tumor metastasis is one of the most important biologi-cal characteristics of malignant tumor, and it is also the main factors that cause treatment failure and poor prognosis. Clinical studies have shown that the number of platelets in patients with malignant tumor increased more significantly than that in benign tumor patients and healthy people, which indicate that platelet might be involved in the development process of tumor. Further study found that in the process of cancer spreading to blood, platelet could interact with tumor cells to form tumor emboli, helped tumor cells escape from immune surveillance, thus pro-moted the tumor metastasis. In recent years, related mechanisms on platelets in promoting tumor metastasis were revealed gradual-ly, and several targeted therapies based on platelets were also carried out. This paper reviews the role of platelet in mediating tumor metastasis by hematogenous spread and its mechanisms and discusses the therapy strategies that target platelet, which may provide references for follow-up research and clinical treat-ment.

Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous infusion of methoxamine and phenylephrine on blood pressure and coronary artery blood flow in elderly patients with post volume treatment hypotension after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB ) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods Forty patients,physical status ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ,>65 years old,undergo-ing CABG,following CPB,with a mean arterial pressure (MAP)<70% of baseline,despite adequate volume replacement (based on achieving a normal CVP),were randomly assigned to me-thoxamine group (group M,n=20)or phenylephrine group (group P,n=20).The initial infusion rate was 3 μg·kg-1·min-1in group M and 0.24 μg·kg-1·min-1in group P,respectively.The rate was increased or decreased by one third of initial dose in order to maintain the MAP at the target level (±20% of baseline MAP).Coronary sinus (CS),systolic blood flow velocity time integral (SV-TI),diastolic velocity time integral (DVTI),CS blood flow (CSBF)were recorded before adminis-tration,at 3,5,10,15,30 min after administration.Results Compared with pre-administration,SV-TI,DVTI,CSBF were increased at each point in the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01).SVI was in-creased at 15 min and 30 min in group M (P<0.05).Compared with group P,DVTI and CSBF at 10,15 min and 30 min was higher in group M (P<0.05 or P<0.01).There were 2 cases of atrial fibrillation and 1 case of frequent ventricular premature beat after operation in group M;1 case of bradycardia and 1 case of frequent ventricular premature beats after operation in group P.Conclusion Intravenous infusion of methox-amine and phenylephrine both can correct post volume treatment hypotension after CPB in elderly patients undergoing CABG,but methoxamine increases coronary blood flow more significantly and may be more ben-eficial to patients with coronary heart disease.

Objective To compare the effects of dobutamine with those milrinone on myocardial strain in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.Methods Fifty-five patients udergoing valve replacement surgery, 27 males and 28 females, aged 40-75 years, falling into ASA physical statusⅡ orⅢ, New York Heart Association (NYHA) ⅡorⅢ, were included in this study.They were divided into 3 groups by using a random number table:intravenous infusion dobutamine group (group D, n=18), intravenous infusion milrinone group (group M, n=20) and intravenous infusion saline group (group C, n=17).All patients were used general anesthesia.In groups D, the patients received intravenous infusion dobutamine (4μg·kg-1·min-1) for an hour starting from 15 min after termination of CPB.In group M, the patients did intravenous infusion milrinone (0.4μg·kg-1·min-1) in the same way.In group C, the patients got intravenous infusion saline also.After induction of anesthesia, these patients were recorded for hemodynamic measurement at three points after induction of anesthesia and before splitting of sternum (T0), starting from 15 min after termination of CPB (T1), intravenous infusion medicine for 30 min (T2), intravenous infusion medicine for one hour (T3):HR, CVP, cardiac output (CO), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), cardiac index (CI) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and strained indicator:global longitudinal strain of left ventricle (S-LVL), global circumferential strain of the left ventricle (S-LVM), global longitudinal strain of right ventricle (S-RV).Results Compared with group M, HR in group D at T2 and T3 was higher (P<0.05).Compared with group C, HR in group D at T3 was higher (P<0.05).And CI in group D at T2 was higher than that in groups C and M (P<0.05).Compared with groups C, S-LVMin groups D and M at T2 and T3 were stronger, S-LVL, S-RV in group D and S-RV in group M at T3 were stronger (P<0.05).Conclusion Intravenous infusion dobutamine can improve S-LVM, S-LVLand S-RV;Intravenous infusion milrinone can improve S-LVMand S-RV.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dobutamine or milrinone on intraventricular syn-chronization in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass ( CPB). Methods Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes, aged 40-75 yr, of New York Heart AssociationⅡorⅢ, scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB, were divided into 3 groups (n＝20 each) using a random number table: control group ( group C), dobutamine group ( group D) and milrinone group ( group M). Dobutamine 4 μg·kg-1·min-1was intravenously infused for 60 min starting from 15 min after termination of CPB in group D. Milrinone 0. 4 μg·kg-1·min-1was intravenously infused for 60 min starting from 15 min after termination of CPB in group M. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. The parameters of heart function were monitored using transesophageal echocardiography. After induction of anesthesia and before splitting the sternum (T0), at 15 min after termination of CPB (T1), and at 30 and 60 min of dobutamine, milri-none or normal saline infusion (T2, average value at two time points), the parameters of intraventricular synchronization were calculated with QLAB software (9. 1 version): standard deviation of time to peak sys-tolic velocity of the left ventricular longitudinal strain 7 segments (LVSDt-L), standard deviation of time to peak systolic velocity of the right ventricular longitudinal strain 7 segments (RVSDt), standard deviation of time to peak systolic velocity of the left ventricular circumferential strain 6 segments (LVSDt-C). Results Compared with group C, LVSDt-C, LVSDt-L and RVSDt were significantly decreased at T2in group D (P＜0. 05), and no significant change was found in the indices mentioned above at each time point in group M (P＞0. 05). RVSDt was significantly higher at T2in group M than in group D ( P＜0. 05). Compared with the baseline at T0, LVSDt-L was significantly increased at T2in group C, and RVSDt was significantly in-creased at T2in group M ( P＜0. 05). Conclusion Intravenously infusing dobutamine after CPB can im-prove the ventricular synchronization, however, intravenously infusing milrinone may increase the right ventricular asynchronization in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement.

Objective:To evaluate the correlation between ultrasound parameters of internal carotid artery blood flow and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO 2) in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods:Sixty-four elderly patients undergoing elective CABG under CPB, aged 60-80 yr, regardless of gender, with body mass index of 18.1-28.9 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, with New York Heart Association class Ⅱ or Ⅲ, with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%, were selected. The rScO 2 and ultrasonic parameters of internal carotid artery including peak systolic velocity (PSV-ICA), end-diastolic velocity (EDV-ICA), diameter (D-ICA) and blood flow volume (Q-ICA) were recorded before anesthesia induction (T 0), at surgical skin incision (T 1), at 30 and 60 min of CPB (mean value was calculated, T 2), and at 30 and 60 min after termination of CPB (mean value was calculated, T 3). The ratio of unilateral internal carotid artery blood flow to cardiac output (Q/CO) was calculated. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the accuracy of ultrasound parameters of internal carotid artery blood flow in predicting rScO 2 < 60%. Results:PSV-ICA was positively correlated with rScO 2 at T 0, T 1 and T 3 ( P<0.05), but no correlation was found between PSV-ICA and rScO 2 at T 2 ( P>0.05). There was no correlation between EDV-ICA and rScO 2 at each time point ( P>0.05). Q-ICA was positively correlated with rScO 2 at each time point ( P<0.05). Q/CO was not correlated with rScO 2 at T 1 ( P>0.05), but Q/CO was positively correlated with rScO 2 at T 2 and T 3 ( P<0.05). During the non-CPB period (T 0, T 1, T 3), the cutoff values of PSV-ICA and Q-ICA in predicting rScO 2< 60% were 51.35 cm/s and 283.5 ml/min respectively, the sensitivity was 0.900 and 0.900 respectively, and the specificity was 0.610 and 0.857 respectively (AUC=0.761, P=0.006; AUC=0.903, P< 0.001). During the CPB period, the cutoff values of Q-ICA and Q/CO in predicting rScO 2<60% were 296.5 ml/min and 5.84% respectively, the sensitivity was 0.900 and 0.800, and the specificity was 0.545 and 0.659 (AUC=0.764, P=0.001; AUC=0.748, P=0.002), respectively. Conclusions:PSV-ICA and Q-ICA are positively correlated with rScO 2 during the non-CPB period, and Q-ICA and Q/CO are positively correlated with rScO 2 during the CPB period in elderly patients undergoing CABG. PSV-ICA, Q-ICA and Q/CO can accurately predict rScO 2<60%.