Purpose:To evaluate the curative effects and side effects of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in the treatment of liver carcinoma.Methods:56 patients with liver carcinoma (Forty three patients were primary hepatic carcinoma and 13 liver metastatic tumors) with 62 lesions were treated with 3DCRT for 30～45 Gy/5～10 f/1～2 weeks with fractionated doses ranging from 4Gy to 8Gy.Results:In the 1～3 months after 3DCRT the results examined by CT or MRI showed that the 62 lesions(56 patients) had CR 24% (15/62),PR 50%(31/62),NC 16% (10/62) and PD 10% (6/62).The overall response rate (CR+PR) was 74%.Conclusions:3DCRT is an effective and safe treatment for hepatic malignant tumor and it can be tolerated by most of the patients.The immediate response of tumor is encouraging. The survival rate and late complications remain to be observed.

Autopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Reye Syndrome ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC) on the postoperative metastatic rate and survival rate of advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODSIn HIIC group, patients received HIIC (mitomycin C 30 mg and cisplatin 100 mg were added into 2000 ml distilled water, heated to 42 approximately 45 degrees C, perfused to abdominal cavity for 30 min and then sucked) and intravenous chemotherapy after operation (5- FU 10 approximately 15 mg/kg, mitomycin C 0.1 approximately 0.15 mg/kg, adriamycin 0.5 approximately 1 mg/kg i.v drip, once a week for 2 approximately 3 weeks). In control group, patients received intravenous chemotherapy only. The postoperative metastatic rate and survival rate (1- , 3- and 5- year) of patients were compared between 92 cases of AGC undergone HIIC and 120 cases of AGC without HIIC (control group).

RESULTSThe peritoneal recurrence rates after operations occurred within two years were 14.1% and 37.5% in HIIC group and control group respectively (P < 0.01). The 1- , 3- , and 5- year survival rates in HIIC group were 98.9%, 68.5%, and 52.2% and in control group 95.0%, 56.7% and 37.5% respectively. The 3- , and 5- year survival rates were significantly different between the two the groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHIIC can kill isolated intraperitoneal cancer cells, reduce peritoneal recurrence rate after operations, raise significantly survival rate of patient, and improve the prognosis of AGC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Oxonic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the therapeutic effects of the atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation in treatment of atlantoaxial instability.

METHODSFrom June 2003 to March 2010, 32 patients with atlantoaxial instability were treated by atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation, included 21 males and 11 females wiht an average age of 42.5 years old ranging from 28 to 66 years. Among them, 18 cases were odontoid process fractures, 7 were congenital dissociate odontoid process, 4 were Jefferson fracture combined with odontoid fracture, 3 were rheumatic arthritis causing atlantoaxial instability. All patients suffered from the atlantoaxial subluxation and atlantoaxial instability. The JOA score ranged from 4 to 14 (means 9.1 +/- 0.3) before operation. The patients had some image examination including the X-ray of cervical vertebrae (include of dynamic position film), spiral CT 3D reconstruction and/or MRI. The position of pedicle screw system implantation,the angle of pedicle screw system implantation and screw length were measured. Operating skull traction. Operation undewent general anesthesia, implanted the pedicle screw, reduction and bone fusion under direct vision. The bone was fixated between posterior arch of atlas and lamina of axis by the lateral combination bended to posterior.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-eight atlantoaxial pedicle screws were implanted in 32 patients. No patient had the injure of spinal cord, nerve root and vertebral artery. All patients were followed-up from 6 to 48 months (averaged 16 months). After operation, the JOA score ranged from 11 to 17 (averaged 15.9 +/- 0.2), improvement rate was 86.1%. The fracture of odontoid process were healing completely. All fusion bone were combinated. The internal fixation wasn't loosening and breaking.

CONCLUSIONThe atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation was effective method to treat atlantoaxial instability. The method had many advantages, such as provide rigid and short segment fixation, safe and simple, high fusion rate. The method was worth in clinical application.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of JAK/STAT signaling pathway activation on the transdifferentiation and secretion of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induced by high glucose in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

METHODSHuman kidney cells (HKC) were cultured and then divided into four groups: low glucose (LG) group, high glucose (HG) group, high mannitol (LG + M) group, and HG + AG490 group. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of tryosine phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 ( p-JAK2). The protein expressions of STAT1, STAT3, p-STAT1, and p-STAT3 and the expressions of alpha-SMA and E-Cadherin were observed by Western blot. The contents of TGF-B1, fibronectin and type I collagen in the supernatants of the cultured HKC were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with LG group, the expressions of JAK2, p-STAT1, p-STAT3, and TGF-beta1, mRNA were significantly increased in HG group from 6 to 72 hours. Meanwhile, the contents of TGF-beta1 and collagen I in the supernatants and the expression of alpha-SMA increased and the expression of E-Cadherin decreased. The expressions of JAK2, p-STAT1, p-STAT3, and TGF-beta mRNA as well as the levels of TGF-beta1 and collagen I in the supernatant s in HG + AG490 group were significantly lower than in the HG group. The expressions of alpha-SMA and E-Cadherin were also decreased in HG + AG490 group.

CONCLUSIONActivation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway may be involved in the high glucose-induced transdifferentiation and overproduction of TGF-beta1, and ECM proteins in HKCs.

Cell Line ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinases ; physiology ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; metabolism ; STAT Transcription Factors ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; secretion ; Urothelium ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an efflux pump inhibitor screening model with the out-membrane protein OprM in Pseudomonas aeruginosa efflux pump system as the target point.

METHODSEfflux pump out-membrane protein gene oprM was obtained from standard Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 strain. Expression of OprM protein was induced in E. coli strain HS151 with T-easy vector as the cloning vector, and pMMB67EH as the expression vector. In order to evaluate the function of OprM protein, we measured intracellular tetracycline concentrations with liquid scintillation counter, measured the diameters of bacteriostatic circles with paper disc, and then established a screening model accordingly.

RESULTSOprM protein was highly expressed. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the main detecting bacteria, we established a drug screening model acting on OprM. A total of 1 600 microbial fermentation samples were screened with this model, among which 56 positive strains were found, with a positive rate of 3.5%.

CONCLUSIONOprM plays an important role in drug efflux. The established model has good specificity and maneuverability.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; genetics

BACKGROUNDSentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a common procedure for early breast cancer patients. The GeneSearch(TM) Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay is a real-time RT-PCR assay for the detecting nodal metastases larger than 0.2 mm. China Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group (CBCSG)-001a is a prospective multi-center clinical trial that was conducted to validate the GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay in China.

METHODSThe SLNs from 90 consecutive patients were identified and dissected, and then sectioned along the short axis into multiple blocks. Intra-operatively, the odd blocks were tested by BLN assay and the even ones were used for frozen section, while all the blocks were evaluated by touch imprint cytology. Post-operatively, the remaining tissues were assessed by histological evaluation.

RESULTSA total of 189 SLNs was tested by BLN assay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 88.9%, 97.4%, 88.9% and 97.4%, respectively, for BLN assay, 75.0%, 100%, 100% and 94.4%, respectively, for frozen section, and 63.9%, 100%, 100% and 92.2%, respectively, for touch imprint cytology. The sensitivity of BLN assay was higher than that of touch imprint cytology (P = 0.01) and frozen section (P = 0.13). When assessing the nodes with micro-metastases, BLN assay had a significant higher sensitivity than frozen section (P = 0.023) and touch imprint cytology (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay is an accurate and rapid intra-operative assay for breast SLNs and it is suitable for application in general medical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of beta-protein 1 (BP(1)) gene, a novel member of DLX homeobox gene family, in lung cancer tissue and its relationship with clinical features of lung cancer.

METHODSRT-PCR was employed for detecting BP(1) gene expression in the lung cancer tissues, adjacent tissues, non-cancer lung tissues of 46 lung cancer patients.

RESULTSThirty-six lung cancer tissues and 6 adjacent tissues but none of the normal tissues were found to have BP(1) gene overexpression, showing significant difference in BP(1) expression between the tissues (P<0.01). Significant difference in BP1 gene overexpression was noted between well differentiated cancers (13 of out 21) and poorly differentiated cancers (22 of the 25), but not between cancers of different stages or between squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONBP(1) gene expression is up-regulated in human lung cancer in related to the differentiation level of lung cancer but not to the clinical stage.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

【Objective】 To study the mutation characteristics of Tyrosine hydroxyls（TH） gene in a pedigree with dopa-responsive dystonia（DRD）. 【Methods】 Extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood of a proband and his parents and two sisters using high- throughput sequencing （NGS） method were detected on 256 known pathogenicity genes associated with dystonia and dyskinesia.【Results】Mutations on tyrosine hydroxylase（TH）gene in the exon 14 and exon 9 were detected in the proband and his eldest sister in this pedigree. They had a complex heterozygosity of c.1481C > T（p.Thr494Met）and c.943G >A（p.Gly315Ser），and one heterozygous mutation was carried by parents respectively. The mutation was not detected in his second sister and 50 people with normal phenotype controls. 【Conclusion】 The mutations of TH gene c. 1481C > T（p.Thr494Met）and c. 943G > A（p.Gly315Ser）led to the gene abnormality in DRD family，and a new mutation of TH gene was found，which expanded the relationship between DRD genotype and clinical phenotype. It is vital that early accurate diagnosis and treatment of DRD is the key to improve prognosis.

BACKGROUNDThe adenovirus-based HIV-1 vaccine developed by Merck Company suffered from an unexpected failure in September 2007. This generated a big shift in the strategy of HIV vaccine development with renewed focus on the induction of neutralizing antibodies. A major challenge in developing an HIV-1 vaccine is to identify immunogens and adopt delivery methods that can elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against primary isolates of different genetic subtypes.

METHODSMost circulating HIV-1 isolates in China are composed of clades Thai-B, CRF_BC and CRF01_AE. In order to construct DNA vaccines against these 3 HIV-1 subtypes, DNA vaccines carrying the gp120 regions from HIV-1 isolates of GX48(AE), GX79(AE), NX22(BC), GS22(BC), HN24(Thai-B) were constructed. Expression of gp120 from these DNA vaccines was detected by Western blotting in transiently transfected 293T cells. Pilot immunizations of New Zealand white rabbits were performed using the strategy of "DNA prime plus protein boost" and the neutralizing antibody response was detected in a Tzm-bl cell based assay against different HIV-1 strains.

RESULTSResponse of gp120-specific antibody was relatively low after DNA primes (mean titer = 10(4.72)); however, the titer of gp120-specific antibody went up with 2 protein boosts (mean titer = 10(6.81)). Above all, neutralizing antibody (Nab) titers induced by this combined approach were much better than those elicited by DNA or protein used alone (P < 0.01). Neutralizing activities of immunized rabbit sera against several pseudoviruses and laboratorial strains were evaluated, most rabbit sera primed with monovalent vaccine were capable of neutralizing only 1 of 5 viruses, however, sera primed with the polyvalent DNA vaccines were able to neutralize at least 2 of 5 viruses.

CONCLUSIONPolyvalent DNA prime plus protein boost is an effective immunization strategy to broaden the neutralization breadth and further research should be performed on the basis of this pilot study.

AIDS Vaccines ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; blood ; Female ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Phylogeny ; Rabbits ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology