Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Fluorocarbon Polymers ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the effects of castration treatment by luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone(LHRH)analog(goserelin)on bone loss and bone resorption in men with prostate cancer.Methods Serum sex hormones,bone mineral density(BMD),serum and urine concentrations of bone turnover markers were determined in men with prostate cancer(n=36) and in age-matched controls(n=13).BMD in the lumbar spine(L2-4),femoral neck,trochanter,Ward's triangle and total femoral was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA).Results After 12 months of LHTH analog therapy,the BMD of the femoral neck,total femoral and Ward's triangle decreased significantly in men with prostate cancer compared with the controls,all P＜0.05. No significant bone loss was observed in the control subjects.The concentrations of the serum markers of bone formation,i.e.bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP),and urine markers of bone resorption,i. e.DPD,Cros,Ca/Cr were significantly increased in patients treated with LHRH analog compared with control subjects,all P＜0.05,respectively.Conclusions These findings demonstrate that a significant increase of bone turnover and loss of bone mass in men with prostate cancer after receiving LHRH analog therapy were correlated with the decreased levels of serum androgen and estrogen,and suggest that measuring BMD by DEXA and assesing the bone turnover markers can early detect the bone loss and osteoporosit induced by goserelin castration treatment.

Objective To identify the expression of complement regulatory protein CD46, CD55, and CD59 on primary murine pallium astrocytes and the effect of inflammatory factors on it in order to lay the foundation for studying the complement system in AD. Methods The primary murine astrocytes were cultured and purified. The expression of CD46, CD55, and CD59 on the levels of mRNA and protein was assayed by immunofluorescence before and after the stimulation of LPS and IFN-?. Results The expression of CD59 mRNA was confirmed, but the expression of CD46 and CD55 was indefinite. There was no significant difference between stimulation and non-stimulation groups. Immunofluorescence results indicated that CD59 was positive, while CD46 and CD55 were weakly positive. Conclusion Protectin CD59 expresses copiously on primary murine astrocytes, which presumably protects astrocytes from the lysis of complement.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the TCM pattern classification and measurable diagnosis criterion of the protracted symptoms of heroin-addiction abstinence (PSHAA).

METHODSThrough literature review and clinical study, the concept of TCM patterns and diagnostic standard were established, and a TCM pattern scale for quantitatively analysis of PSHAA was formulated. The scale were used on the clinical investigation on the abuser for 5 times on day 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 after abstinence. Then the TCM patterns of PSHAA was classified using methods of DME and quantitative diagnosis, to create a corresponding scale of diagnostic indexes referring maximum likelihood method.

RESULTS(1) The TCM patterns of PSHAA commonly seen were Toxin-stasis accumulation (TSA) with Qi-blood insufficiency, TSA with Qi-yin deficiency, TSA with Yin-deficiency and Fire-excess and TSA with Yin-Yang deficiency. (2) The retrospective and prospective verification of the scale of diagnostic indexes showed it has high sensitivity and speciality, with low rates of misdiagnosis and of missed diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to develop measurable diagnosis on the TCM patterns of PASAA using DME method and measurable diagnostic methods. The scale of diagnostic indexes formulated with the maximum likelihood method of quantified diagnosis has a certain clinical practicability.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo create an integrated digital maxillodental model and to apply it in computer aided design (CAD) of individualized lingual brackets in order to align both crowns and roots without fenestration and dehiscence.

METHODSCone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT)-based maxillodental model and laser-scanned dental model were integrated by auto registration in 10 patients with malocclusions. The registration error was calculated automatically. Three observers tested the method independently. The inter-observer difference was investigated. An integrated model was selected randomly and the setup was created with roots and jaws in good relationship without fenestration and dehiscence. The individualized lingual brackets were designed by CAD on the setup.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in inter observers (P > 0.05). The registration errors of maxilla and mandible were (0.144 ± 0.020) mm and (0.141 ± 0.022) mm, respectively. The digital individualized lingual brackets based on the virtual treatment in integrated digital maxillodental model were produced.

CONCLUSIONSAn integrated digital maxillodental model was created in good accuracy. By applying the integrated model, individualized lingual brackets were designed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Computer-Aided Design ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Models ; Dentition ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Malocclusion ; therapy ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; Maxilla ; diagnostic imaging ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Young Adult

Data were collected in different successional stages using a simultaneous sampling method and analyzed through quantitative classification method. Three large groups and 12 classes were made to represent the community patterns of three succession stages and 12 succession communities. The succession series of plant community in the study area was as follows: saline bare land-->community Suaeda salsa-->community Tamarix chinensis-->grassland. Succession degree and succession process of 12 succession communities were calculated. Most of these communities were in the lower succession stage, however, community Phragmites communis+Glycine soja and community Imperata cylindrica+G. soja were close to the succession stage of grassland climax. Five species diversity indices were used to study the changes in species richness, species evenness and diversity during succession of community. Heterogeneity index and richness index increased gradually during the community succession process, but species evenness tended to decrease with succession development. The relation between succession and environment was studied by ordination technique, and the results showed that the soil salt content was an important factor to halarch succession of the modern Yellow River Delta. It affected community structure, species composition and succession process.
Animals ; China ; Ecosystem ; Plant Development ; Plants ; classification ; Rivers

The bioactivities, chemical composition and distribution of aerial parts of Panax species are different from the roots. The present paper summarized the phytochemical and analytical studies of aerial parts of Panax species, including P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. quinquefoliun and P. japonicus. This review aims so as to provide scientific evidences for further investigation of chemical profile, quality control and optimal utilization of these resources.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Saponins ; analysis ; chemistry

Objective To analyse the clinical effect and safety of Alimta (Pemetrexed) combined with cisplatin treatment (PP) on elderly patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 40 cases of NSCLC patients treated with Pemetrexed combined with cisplatin for first-line chemotherapy,and 24 cases of them continually received single Pemetrexed for maintenance treatment (PP + C).Then we compared the results with 35 patients in the non-Pemetrexed regimen (control group) and 26 patients with best supportive care (BSC) in the same period.The adverse reactions and short-term efficacy [response rate (RR),disease control rate (DCR)] were evaluated.Time to progression (TTP),median survival time (MST),one-year and three-year survival rates and follow-up overall survival (OS) were calculated.Results Among 40 patients with Pemetrexed regimen,2 patients had complete remission (CR),and the RR was 47.8％,which was better than 42.8％ (P =0.026) in the control group.The main adverse reactions of pemetrexed regimen were myelosuppression,fatigue,nausea and vomiting,but all were tolerated and no treatment-related death occurred.24 patients received single Pemetrexed maintenance therapy.The MST of the PP + C group was superior to the other groups (P =0.03,P ≤0.05);the median OS of the PP + C group,the control group,and the BSC group reached 13.2,10.4 months and 8.6 months,respectively (P ≤ 0.001).Conclusions For elderly patients with advanced NSCLC,especially adenocarcinoma,the combination of Pemetrexed and cisplatin is a better treatment option.It is convenient to administer and has less toxicity and adverse reactions related to chemotherapy.Patients with better PS score after first-line treatment can obtain longer survival period after maintenance treatment.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a receptor of tyrosine kinase that is constitutively activated in most of acute myeloid leukemia patients and seems to give an adverse prognosis. In order to explore the silencing effect of FLT3 targeted short hairpin RNA (FLT3-shRNA) on acute leukaemia cell line THP-1, three FLT3-shRNAs (shRNA1, shRNA2, shRNA3) were designed and synthesized by transcription system in vitro and then transfected into THP-1 cells. FLT3 mRNA was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, FLT3 protein was detected by Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The results indicated that FLT3 expression was downregulated by shRNA1 and shRNA3, and shRNA1 showed stronger inhibitory effect. At 48 hours following transfection, the inhibitory rate of 25 nmol/L shRNA1 was 72.95 +/- 2.07%, lasting 72 hours. The 5 nmol/L and more concentration of FLT3 shRNA1 could downregulate FLT3 mRNA level, which displayed a quantity-effect relation; the inhibitory rate of 15 nmol/L shRNA1 was 67.53 +/- 0.66%. FLT3 protein was located on THP-1 cell membrance, its expression was downregulated obviously by shRNA1, at 72 hours following transfection the inhibitory rate of shRNA1 was 79.67 +/- 0.66%. shRNA1 showed the best inhibitory effect on FLT3 protein, the optimal time of which was 72 hours with an inhibitory rate of 79.67%. It is concluded that FLT3-shRNA1 shows a desireable FLT3-targeted inhibitory effect, which can be used for further investigation of FLT3 mechanism or FLT3 targeting treatment.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics

AIMTo study the mechanism of absorption after oral administration of panaxnotoginseng saponins (PNS).

METHODSCaco-2 cells and rat models were applied to evaluate the degradation of both ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) and ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) in PNS in gastrointestinal lumen, and the transport mechanism of PNS across the intestinal mucosa, and the barrier function of stomach, intestine and liver involved in absorption process.

RESULTSRb1 and Rg1 proved to be readily eliminated in stomach, but stable in relatively neutral circumstance. Both Rb1 and Rg1 in PNS, especially for Rb1, degraded significantly in the contents of large intestine. However, both of them kept mainly intact in the contents of small intestine. Uptake of both Rb1 and Rg1 by Caco-2 cell monolayer was inhibited at low temperature, but not by cyclosporine A, and the change in the apical pH showed no pronounced effect. Uptake and transport were non-saturable and increased linearly with increasing of concentrations of Rb1 and Rg1 over the range of concentration tested, which indicated a passive transport. There was no significant difference of absorption characteristic between monomer (Rb1 and Rg1) and mixture (PNS). Uptake amount of Rg1 [(1.07 +/- 0.16) microg x mg(-1) (protein)] (C0 = 1 mg x mL(-1)) in Caco-2 cells was a little higher than that of Rb1 [(0.77 +/- 0.03) microg x mg(-1) (protein)] (C0 = 1 mg x mL(-1)). Meanwhile, apparent permeability coefficient of (5.9 +/- 1.0) x 10(-8) cm x s(-1) (C0 = 1 mg x mL(-1)) for Rb1 and (2.59 +/- 0.17) x 10(-7) cm x s(-1) (C0 = 1 mg x mL(-1)) for Rg1 from apical compartment to basolateral compartment predicted an incompletely absorption. Transports of both Rb1 and Rg1 were not influenced by cyclosporine A. The investigation on the pharmacokinetic behavior of Rb1 and Rg1 after different routes of administration to rats showed that the absolute bioavailability after peroral (po), intraduodenal (id), and portal venous (pv) administration is 0.71% , 2.75% and 65.77% respectively for Rb1, and 3.29%, 6.60% and 50.56% respectively for Rg1.

CONCLUSIONTransport across Caco-2 cell monolayer for PNS (include Rb1 and Rg1) is a simple passive diffusion process. No efflux transporters in Caco-2 cells and other components in PNS showed effects on it. The elimination in stomach, large intestine and liver contributed to the low bioavailability of PNS, but the low membrane permeability might be a more important factor dominating the extent of absorption.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Temperature