Purpose: To study the clinical application of intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: From May 2000 to June 2001, 14 patients with prostate carcinoma were treated . 12 patients underwent orchiectomy before IMRT. All patients were treated by IMRT with PEACOCK-MIMiC system ( CORVUS 3. 0 NOMOS CORPORATION) and VARIAN 6MV-photons. The prescription dose-time- fraction was 2.5 to 3. 0 Gy per fraction, 5 times per week , the total was 25 to 30 fractions, the total IMRT dose was 72 to 77 Gy, 5 to 6 weeks. Results: 3 months after IMRT , PR: 10(71.4%), NC: 4 cases and 6 month after IMRT CR: 6,PR: 8 cases. The overall response( CR + PR) rate were 100% . No Grade Ⅲ ,Ⅳ gastrointestinal ( GI) and genitourinary ( GU) toxicity occurred in any of the patients. Conclusions: IMRT is an effective approach for patients with prostate carcinoma. The dose of 72 to 77 Gy was safe.

AIM:To investigate the effects of estrogen on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2(MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2(TIMP-2) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in cultured human corneal stromal cells.METHODS: Inflammatory environments of human corneal stromal cells were simulated by using 1.5ng/mL IL-1β.The cells were then treated with or without different concentrations of estrogen(0, 1×10-4, 1×10-6, 1×10-8, 1×10-10mol/L estradiol)in vitro.Cell viability was evaluated by MTT.Expression levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and TGF-β1 proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RESULTS:Estrogen did not affect the viability of human corneal stromal cells.Compared with the control group, expression levels of MMP-2 and TGF-β1 proteins in E2 treatment group significantly decreased after being treated with estrogen, while the expression level of TIMP-2 significantly increased.CONCLUSION: Estrogen could, to some extent, down-regulate the expression of MMP-2 and TGF-β1 and up-regulate the expression of TIMP-2, which might contribute to protecting human cornea.

AIM: To evaluate the changes in central corneal thickness (CCF) caused by mydriasis with Mydrin-P.METHODS: A total of 106 eyes of 53 patients with refractive errors were studied. Each eye had instillation of Mydrin-P to obtain mydriasis. CCT was examined before and after mydriasis using ultrasonic pachymeter.RESULTS: CCT increased significantly after mydriasis with Mydrin-P.CONCLUSION: Mydrin-P can affect the measurement of CCT.

Objective To study the mRNA expression of HS1-associated protein X-1(Hax-1),an an- ti-apoptosis genc,in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of patients with systemic lupus erythe- matosus(SLE),and further investigate the roles and significance of Hax-1 in the pathogenesis of SLE.Meth- ods Generation of longer cDNA fragments from serial analysis of gene expression(SAGE)tags for gene identi- fication(GLGI)was applied to identify the gene Hax-1 according to the Long SAGE tag.Then reverse tran- scription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)technique was used to semiquantitatively analyze mRNA ex- pressions of Hax-1 in PBMC from 34 active SLE patients and 25 healthy subjects.Results Compared with healthy controls,there was significant difference between SLE patients in the active stage and the normal controls(Z=-4.556,P＜0.01).The average level of mRNA expression in active SLE group was higher than that in healthy controls.Significant difference was found between the group with mild SLE and either the moderate or the severe one(P＜0.01).Conclusion The mRNA expression level of Hax-1 in active SLE group increase markedly,and to some extent,it is related to the activity of SLE.This provides a valuable basis for the further study on the role of apoptosis in SLE.

Objective To investigate the effect of low frequency electric deep brain stimulation on amygdale kindling in rats.Methods The amygdale kinkling model of rats was established by operation on the brain.The effects of low frequency deep brain electric stimulation used alone or in combination with anti-epilepsy drugs were ob- served in terms of severity of seizure attack reflected by Racine's scale and afterdischarge duration recorded in electro- encephalogram.Results Fifteen minutes of low frequency electric stimulation at 1 Hz and 100 to 350?A effective- ly inhibited amygdale kindling as demonstrated by a significant decrease of afterdischarge duration,and decreased the severity of seizure attack (P

Objective To explore the effects of rosiglitazone on pancreatic β cells in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(SO group),SAP group,and rosiglitazone pretreatment group(ROSI group).SAP model was induced by retrograde infusion of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct.SO and SAP group were injected 10％ dimethyl sulfoxide partes aequales(DMSO) (0.2 ml/100 g)by femoral vein 30 mins piror to the surgery.ROSI group were injected rosiglitazone (6 mg/kg)instead of 10％ DMSO.Rats were killed 12 h after surgery and the level of serum amylase was detected.Pancreas tissues were taken for pathological examination under light microscope and insulin in situ staining was done.The ultrastructure of β cells was observed with transmission electron microscope.Results Amylase level and pathologic score were increased significantly in SAP group than in SO group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with SAP group,amylase level and pathologic score reduced significantly for rats in ROSI group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with SAP group,the morphological structure of β cells in ROSI group was more completed and insulin in situ staining was darker observed by electronic microscopy.Conclusion ROSI exerts protective effect on morphology and endocrine function of pancreatic β cells in rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) on the intestinal mucosal and functional cells of rats after irinotecan (CPT-11) chemotherapy.

METHODSTotally 24 healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into three groups, the normal control group, the CPT-11 group, the SXD combined CPT-11 group according to random digit table, 8 in each group. CPT-11 was injected at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg to rats in the CPT-11 group and the SXD combined CPT-11 group from the caudal vein on the 4th day, once daily for 2 successive days to duplicate delayed diarrhea model. Equal volume of normal saline was injected to rats in the normal control group from the caudal vein. SXD at 2 g/mL (10 g/kg body weight) was administered to rats in the SXD combined CPT-11 group by gastrogavage for 9 successive days. Deionized water was administered to rats in the CPT-11 group and the normal control group. Diarrhea was observed at 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h to calculate the incidence rate of diarrhea. Meanwhile, scoring for diarrhea was performed by referring methods of Akinobu Kurita. Rats were killed on day 10, ileum, cecum, and colon tissues were collected and fixed in 10% formalin solution. HE staining was performed. Intestinal mucosa injuries were graded under light microscope according to the criterion of Chiu's score. The expressions of goblet cells and Paneth cells were observed by PAS stain. Enteroendocrine cells were observed by immunohistochemical CgA staining. Positive cells were counted and cumulative optical density (IOD) analyzed by Image-Pro-Plus 6.0.

RESULTSNo diarrhea occurred in rats of the normal control group at each time point. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 75.0% (6/8) at 48 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 60 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 72 h, 87.5% (7/8) at 84 h, 75.0% (6/8) at 96 h, and 75.0% (6/8) at 108 h in the CPT-11 group. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 25.0% (2/8) at 48 h, 50.0% (4/8) at 60 h, 12.5% (1/8) at 72 h, 0.0% (0/8) at 84 h in the SXD combined CPT-11 group. Compared with the same group at 60 h, scores for diarrhea at 48, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group, and scores for diarrhea at 48, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the SXD combined CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at 72 h, scores for diarrhea at 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, scores for diarrhea increased in the CPT-11 group at each time point (P < 0.01); grading of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal tissues increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously decreased (P < 0.05); the number and expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.01). Expressions of ilium endocrine cells increased, while those of cecum and colon endocrine cells decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CPT-11 group, scores for diarrhea were obviously lowered (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), grading of ileum, and cecum mucosal tissues decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the number and expressions of ileum cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.05); expressions of cecum and colon endocrine cells increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the SXD combined CPT-11 group.

CONCLUSIONSXD played roles in preventing and treating CPT-11 induced delayed diarrhea by improving CPT-11 chemotherapy induced apoptosis and necrosis of intestinal mucosal and functional cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ileum ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

Objective The aim of this study is to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF genes among different age groups of healthy Chinese Han individuals,and to analyze the correlation between the mRNA and protein expression levels andthe age of individuals in order to find new molecular markers for forensic age estimation.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 150 unrelated healthy Chinese Han individuals.The plasma was centrifuged from the whole blood by gradient centrifugation,and the totalRNA was extractedwithTrizol fromperipheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to quantitatively analyze the mRNA relative expression levels of ERCC1and XPF in PBMCs.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantitatively analyze the protein expression levels of ERCC1and XPF in plasma.Results There were no significant differences in the mRNA relative expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF in PBMCs between males and females(P＞0.05).Significant differences were found in the mRNA relative expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF between different age groups (P＜0.05).Regression analysis showed thatthe mRNA relative expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF were both negatively correlated with age.The correlation coefficients(r) were-0.578 and-0.844,respectively.When the age was used as independent variable(x) and the mRNA expression relative level as dependent variable (y),the fitting curveswere Y=3.3E-5X2-0.0261X+1.9175 (R2=0.3244,P＜0.01),Y=0.0003X2-0.0459X+2.0439 R2=0.729,P＜0.01),respectively.There were no significant differences inthe protein expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF in plasma between different age groups or genders (P＞0.05).Conclusion The mRNA relative expression levels of ERCC1 and XPF in PBMCsdeclined with the increase of age,however,the protein expression levels in plasma were unrelated to age.ERCC 1 and XPF genes can be used asnew molecular markers for forensic age estimation,so as to providetheoretical basis for establishing the mathematical model of ERCC1/XPF genesin concern ofindividual ages.

Objective To evaluate the early and mid-term results of endovascular repair for acute and chronic type B aortic dissection, and to compare the clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. Methods From May 2002 to December 2006, 50 patients with type B aortic dissection were treated by endovascular stent-graft. There were 23 patients in the acute aortic dissection (AAD) group and 27 patients in the chronic aortic dissection (CAD) group. All patients were followed up from 1 to 54 months (average, 17±16 months).The immediate and follow-up clinical outcomes were documented and compared between the 2 groups. Results Placement of endovascular stent-grafts across the primary entry tears was technically successful in all 50 patients. Compared to the CAD group, the AAD group had a higher percentage of pleural effusion (17.4% vs. 0%,P=0.04) and visceral /leg ischemia (26.1% vs 3.7%, P=0.04). Procedure related complications, including endoleak and post-implantation syndrome, occurred more frequently in the AAD group than in the CAD group (21.7% vs 3.7% and 30.4% vs 11.1%, respectively; P=0.08 and P=0.04). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference in the survival rate at 4 years between the 2 groups (86.4% vs 92.3%, P=0.42 by log-rank test). However, the event-free survival rate was higher in patients with chronic dissection than in patients with acute aortic dissection (96.2% vs 73.9%; P=0.02 by log-rank test). Conclusions Endovascular repair with stent-graft was safe and effective for the treatment of both acute and chronic type B aortic dissection. However, both immediate and long term major complications occurred more frequently in patients with acute dissection than in those with chronic dissection.

Objective To invesgate the effect of P-glycoprotein(PGP)inhibitor,verapamil,on electrobiological activity and seizure behavior in phenytoin-carbamazepine(PHT-CBZ)resistant rats.Methods The model of medically intractable epilepsy was established by kindling of amygdale. Verapamil was applied to PHT-CBZ resistant rats,followed by the observation on after discharge threshold (ADT),after discharge duration(ADD)and seizure activity.Results Compared with the control group, the ADT was higher in PHT-CBZ resistant rats peritoneally injected with verapamil((238.0?32.2)?A vs (177.0?23.3)?A,P