OBJECTIVETo observe analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with target-controlled infusion (TCI) in general anesthesia and effects on cardiovascular system.

METHODSSixty selective breast operation patients were randomly divided into a combined group and a TCI group, 30 cases in each group. The combined group received anesthesic induction for 30 min with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation and then TCI into vein for general anesthesia, and the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was continued till the end of the operation. The TCI group only received TCI irito vein for general anesthesia. The target-controlled concentration of the general anesthesia drugs in plasma was monitored to evaluate the analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. Meanwhile, the effects of the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on cardiovascular system were investigated.

RESULTSThe mean Propofol and Fentany dosages needed were 226.67 mg and 0.11 mg in the combined group, and 272.22 mg and 0.14 mg in the TCI group during the operation, respectively, with significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The changes of heart rate and blood pressure in the combined group during skin-cutting were significantly less than those in the TCI group (P < 0.05). The awaking time in the combined group was significantly shortened.

CONCLUSIONThe transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation has a certain analgesic effect in the operation and can reduce 17% Propofol dosage and 14% Fentany dosage, and it can decrease the skin-cutting-induced stress reaction of the cardiovascular system and accelerate waking.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; methods ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; methods ; Blood Pressure ; Breast ; surgery ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Carbon-nitrogen lyases (E.C.4.3) are a group of enzymes that release ammonia, amidine or amino group etc, and also show ability to form double bond or ring structure. Specifically, enzymes forming amino group are called amine-lyases (E.C.4.3.3), which are critical in the industrial production of many medicine intermediates. In this review is a summary of four major amine-lyases in terms of their source, enzymatic characteristics and their applications in preparation of pharmaceutical intermediates.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of a patient diagnosed with Jacobsen syndrome (JBS) and Paris-Trousseau syndrome (PTS) using chromosomal microarray analysis. Method A retrospective analysis including the patients' clinical manifestations, laboratory examination and genetic analysis was carried out and related literature were reviewed. Results A 14 month-old girl with global development retardation was reported. The patient can sit but cannot walk independently. The patient also presented hypsicephaly, ocular hypertelorism, palpebral ptosis, flat nasal bridge, sparse eyebrows, and speech delay. Gesell development scale showed that the patient was global development retarded with a development level of 40 weeks. No o bvious abnormality was found in EEG but the MRI showed cerebral white matter abnormality. This patient was also diagnosed with neonatal thrombocytopenia in other hospital. Genomic CNVs were detected in this girl, and a 15.7Mb loss was found in the 11q23.3q25 region that covers JBS and PTS region. Conclusions Patient diagnosed with JBS and PTS often present with craniofacial abnormalities, cerebral white matter abnormality and neonatal thrombocytopenia. Chromosomal microarray analysis can help diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo study viruses infecting Pinellia ternata in China.

METHODSymptom observation, DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR detection were applied.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONDuring a survey in early spring, SMV and CMV were both commonly distributed as main viruses infecting P. ternata collected from different areas in China. But DsMV was the virus which infected P. ternate in natural condition. The infection ratio of cultivated P. ternate by SMV and CMV were 71.4% and 14.3% respectively for 21 samples collected from Ningbo, Zhejiang province; 100% and 44.4% for 18 samples from Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province; 61.9% and 33.3% for 21 samples from Hebei province; 50.0% and 41.7% for 12 samples from Anhui province; 16.7% and 16.7% for 12 samples from Sichuan province; 31.3% and none for 16 samples from Beijing. And the infection ratio of 25 wild samples from different areas of China infected by SMV and CMV were both 20.0%.

China ; Cluster Analysis ; Cucumovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Mosaic Viruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pinellia ; virology ; Plant Diseases ; virology ; Plants, Medicinal ; virology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To investigate the macular vascular density after successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) for one year using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA),and discuss the correlation between the macular vascular density and visual acuity.Methods Totally 42 patients of the RRD (42 eyes),their contralateral eyes (A group) and 42 patients of the normal eyes (B group) were recruited into this study.All participants underwent examination with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCTA.The difference in macular vascular density was compared and the correlation between BCVA and the vascular density was analyzed.Results The macular vascular density of superficial layer,deep layer and choroidal capillary layer was 0.422 4 ±0.089 3,0.4836 ±0.0748,0.527 1 ±0.039 0 in RRD group,respectively,0.469 3 ±0.112 5,0.550 0 ±0.074 0,0.546 2 ±0.034 3 in A group,respectively,0.5619 ±0.053 7,0.611 2 ±0.035 2,0.562 6 ±0.030 4 in B group,respectively.The macular vascular density was significantly decreased in RRD group when compared with A and B groups (all P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between BCVA and the macular vascular density in the deep layer and choroidal capillaries layer (r =0.629,0.654,both P =0.000).However,there's no correlation between the macular vascular density of superficial layer and BCVA (P =0.103).Conclusion All the macular vascular densities are decreased in patients of RRD after successful repair of retinal detachment one year later,which indicated that the blood flow does not completely recover.And there is a positive correlation between BCVA and macular vascular densities in deep layer and choroidal capillaries layer.And meanwhile,OCTA can objectively and effectively quantify the status of macular region blood flow.

Objective:To investigate the outcomes of the regimen with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF regimen) in chrono-chemotherapy, and evaluate the feasibility of reducing the toxicity and immunological damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with distant metastasis at preliminary diagnosis, then to compare the advantages and disadvantages between chrono-che-motherapy and traditional chemotherapy. Methods:A total of 46 NPC patients with distant metastasis at preliminary diagnosis (UICC 2010 stage IVc) were enrolled in this study. These NPC patients were randomly divided into chrono-chemotherapy and conventional chemotherapy groups, with 23 cases for each group. TPF neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was conducted in both groups for two cycles, with 21 days to 28 days for each cycle. The following regimen was used for the chrono-chemotherapy group:docetaxel 75 mg/m2, infu-sion, d1;cisplatin 75 mg/m2, 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., continuous infusion, d1-d5;and fluorouracil 750 mg/(m2 · d), 10:00 p.m.-10:00 a. m., continuous intravenous infusion, d1-d5. The following regimen was used for the conventional chemotherapy group:docetaxel 75 mg/m2, infusion, d1;cisplatin 75 mg/m2, infusion, d1;and fluorouracil 750 mg/(m2· d), continuous infusion, d1-d5, 120 h. Patients who obtained therapeutic efficacy via induction chemotherapy were provided with intensity-modulated radiotherapy as a concurrent radio-therapy and chemotherapy (DDP 100 mg/m2, infusion, d1-d2, with 21 days each cycle and a total of two courses). One month after con-current chemoradiation, an adjuvant chemotherapy with the same regimen as the induction chemotherapy was employed for a total of two courses. Acute and late toxicities were graded in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 scor-ing. Tumor response was evaluated using the 2000 Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The effective rates included complete and partial responses. Relevant data were analyzed by SPSS16.0 statistical software. Results:More emesis was observed at Grade 2 or above in the conventional chemotherapy group than in the chrono-chemotherapy group, with statistical significance between the two groups (P=0.035). After chemotherapy, the value of CD4/CD8 increased in the chrono-chemotherapy group and decreased in the con-ventional chemotherapy group, with statistical significance between the two groups (P=0.033). Conclusion:The proposed chrono-che-motherapy outperforms conventional chemotherapy in reducing the occurrence of severe vomiting. This chrono-chemotherapy may be advantageous in reducing severe bone marrow depression and may play a positive role in the immune function of NPC patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether or not NADPH oxidase (NOX) participates in leptin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSHSC-T6 cells (rat hepatic stellate cells line) were divided into nine groups: Group1: leptin (100 ng/ml) treated; Group2-6: leptin treated together with inhibitors that block different ROS-producing systems: diphenylene-iodonium (DPI) (20 micromol/L), Rotenone (20 micromol/L), Metyrapone (250 micromol/L), Allopurinol (100 micromol/L) and Indomethacin(100 micromol/L); Group7: leptin treated together with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor AG490 50 micromol/L; Group8: normal control group (treated DMEM with 0.1% DMSO); Group9: negative control group (untreated). Intracellular ROS levels were measured with dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) dye assay by Fluorescence microscope and/or flow cytometry. NOX activity was analyzed by using spectrophotometer to calculate the absorbance of NADPH. The mRNA levels of Rac1 and p22Phox were evaluated by RT-PCR.

RESULTS(1) Leptin increased significantly the ROS production as compared to normal control group (92.91+/-4.19 vs.27.56+/-6.27, P<0.01) in HSC-T6 cells. Both the NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI and AG490 (50 micromol/L) blocked the ROS production, inhibitors of other ROS producing systems had no significant effect on ROS production induced by lepin (P is more than 0.05). (2) Leptin treated HSC-T6 cells for 1 hour up-regulated the NOX activity significantly compared with that in normal control group [(1.90+/-0.22) pmol.min(-1).mg(-1) vs. (0.76+/-0.06) pmol.min(-1).mg(-1), P<0.05]. Furthermore, the NOX activity increased after being treated with leptin for 12 hours and 24 hours than being treated for 1 hour. Leptin-induced up-regulation of NOX activity was inhibited by pretreatment with DPI or AG490. (3) The RT-PCR results indicated that mRNA expressions of Rac1 and p22Phox in HSC-T6 cells with 12 hours of leptin stimulation increased significantly as compared with normal control group (0.41+/-0.13 vs 0.14+/-0.08, 0.45+/-0.12 vs 0.20+/-0.08, all P<0.05), while the DPI and AG490 had no effect on the mRNA expressions of Rac1 and p22Phox.

CONCLUSIONNOX is the main cellular source of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by HSCs in response to leptin stimulation. The mechanism is probably that leptin can directly activate NOX through JAK signal transduction and hence induce the expression of NOX subunit to promote the activity of NOX which generates considerable ROS in HSC.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression features of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione S transferase-pi (GST-pi) and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins like p53, survivin and bcl-2 in lymph node metastases of gastrointestinal carcinomas.

METHODSThe expression of P-gp, GST-pi, p53, survivin and bcl-2 were determined by using immunohistochemistry technique in surgical specimens of primary tumor (PT) and lymph node metastases (LNMs) from 54 gastrointestinal cancer patients with metastasis of lymph nodes. The expression difference of 5 multi-drug resistance (MDR)-related factors between LNMs and PT were compared.

RESULTSSignificant difference was found in the expression of P-gp and GST-pi between the two groups (both P < 0.05), and expression of p53 and bcl-2 showed positive correlation between LNMs and PT (r = 0.7248, 0.5524; both P < 0.05), respectively. In LNMs, P-gp expression was positively correlated with GST-pi (r = 0.4062, P < 0.05) and survivin (r = 0.6169, P < 0.05), and also GST-pi expression was related positively with survivin (r = 0.4027, P < 0.05). Statistically positive correlations were noted between bcl-2 and P-gp (r = 0.3986, P < 0.05), bcl-2 and survivin (r = 0.2937, P < 0.05), as well as GST-pi and survivin (r = 0.4481, P < 0.01) in PT. Only a positive correlation between GST-pi and survivin expression was simultaneously shown in both LNMs and PT.

CONCLUSIONSThere is significant heterogeneity of MDR-related factors expression in LNMs of gastrointestinal carcinomas. Effective adjuvant chemotherapy after operation should target on the metastatic loci of the disease.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects, toxic side effects and influence on the immune function in patients treated with TPF [docetaxel (DOC) + cisplatin (DDP) + 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)] induction chronochemotherapy and conventional chemotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal (NPC).

METHODSSeventy patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated in our department at their first visit from April 2013 to December 2013. They were divided randomly into two groups: the chronochemotherapy group (38 patients) and conventional chemotherapy group (32 patients). All of the patients were treated with TPF regimen with 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy in a 21-28-days/cycle. The chronochemotherapy group: DOC: 75 mg/m2, i. v. gtt, d1 (03: 30-04: 30); DDP: 75 mg/m2, 10 am-10 pm, c.i.v, d1-d5; 5-Fu: 750 mg·m(-2)·d(-1), 10 pm-10 am, c. i.v., d1-d5, both chemotherapies were administered by intravenous infusion using an automatic electric pump. The conventional chemotherapy group: Both DOC and DDP were administered intravenously at a dose of 75 mg/m2 on d1. 5-Fu was given at a dose of 750 mg/m2 for 24 hours from d1-d5 with continuous infusion in a total of 120 hours. In this procedure, prescribing the conventional intravenous infusion, intensity modulated radiation therapy was used after the induction chemotherapy. The prescribed nasopharyngeal lesion dose (GTVnx) was 69.96 Gy/33 fractions for the T1-T2 nasopharygeal cancer, while 73.92 Gy/33 fractions nasopharynx lesion dose (GTVnx) for the T3-T4 nasopharyngeal cancer. The planning target volume (PTV) of positive lymph node (PTVnd) dose was 69.96 Gy/33 fractions. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy: cisplatin 100 mg/m2, i. v. gtt. d1-d2, and there were two cycles in total and 21 days each cycle.

RESULTSSixty-six patients were evaluable for the response assessment. There were 36 patients in the chronochemotherapy group and 30 patients in the conventional chemotherapy group. After the induction chemotherapy, no CR case was found in both of the two groups. The PR was 80.6% in the chronochemotherapy group and 50.0% in the conventional chemotherapy group (P=0.009). After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the CR rate in the chronocheotherapy group was 45.5%, significantly higher than 20.7% in the conventional chemotherapy group (P=0.040). Secondly, the incidence rates of adverse reactions including bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, oral mucositis, fatigue, anorexia in the chrono-chemotherapy group were significantly lower than that in the conventional group (P<0.05 for all). Finally, compared the two groups, the CD4+ /CD8+ ratio was significantly lower in the chronochemotherapy group than that in the conventional chemotherapy group (P<0.05). The lymphocytes CD19+ and CD4+/CD8+ were decreased and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16++CD56+ were increased in the chronochemotherapy group, while only CD3+ and CD8+ were increased in the conventional chemotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the conventional chemotherapy, the chronochemotherapy may be more favorable in the treatment of NPC, with a better therapeutic effects and effectiveness than that of conventional chemotherapy after induction chemotherapy, with less side effects, and can improve the immune function in the patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Chronotherapy ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; methods ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

A boy aged 4 years and 2 months was found to have delayed language and motor development, instability of gait, poor eye contact, stereotyped behavior, and seizure at the age of 3 years. Physical examination showed special facial features, including plagiocephaly, blepharoptosis, wide nasal bridge, down-turned mouth corners at both sides, and low-set ears. There were only two knuckles at the little finger of the left hand. The anteroposterior and lateral films of the spine showed scoliosis; echocardiography showed ventricular septal defect; the Gesell Developmental Scale showed delayed language development and moderate intellectual disability; there were no abnormalities in the karyotype; genome-wide SNP arrays found a duplication in 12q24.21 region with a size of 1.03 Mb in chromosome 12, while this was not seen in his parents. The boy was diagnosed with MED13L syndrome. Point mutation, deletion, and duplication in the MED13L gene can lead to MED13L syndrome. The patients with different genotypes may have different phenotypes. Genome-wide SNP arrays may help with the diagnosis of this disease.
Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Deletion ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; Male ; Mediator Complex ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Syndrome