AIM To study the effects of cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the pharmacokinetics of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)in Walker 256 tumor bearing rats. METHODS Walker 256 tumor bearing rats were treated ip for 4 days with saline or CTX in saline (20 mg?kg -1 ), then received iv BSO 200 mg?kg -1 . BSO concentration in rat plasma was determined by a reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detection after precolumn derivatization with o phthaldialdehyde. Compartment model and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by 3P87 software processed on a computer. RESULTS A single intravenous dose of BSO 200 mg?kg -1 was eliminated from plasma in a two compartment manner in tumor bearing rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of BSO were as follows: In tumor bearing control rats, T 1/2? =(11 1?2 4) min, T 1/2? =(65?14) min, CLs=(12 8?1 3) ml?min -1 ?kg -1 , AUC=(262?26) mg?L -1 ?h; in tumor bearing CTX treated rats, T 1/2? =(8 2?1 8) min, T 1/2? =(42?3) min, CLs=(13 4?1 9) ml?min -1 ?kg -1 ,AUC=(252?35) mg ?L -1 ?h. CONCLUSION There is no significant difference between the parameters of tumor bearing control and CTX treated rats except T 1/2? .

Buthionine salfoximine (BSO) is a chemotherapeutic sensitizor under clinical trial. BSO can reverse multidrug resistance in vitro and in vivo. The author reviewed the mechanism, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and the progress in clinical research of BSO. BSO is a selective inhibitor of 7-glutamylcysteine synthetase, the rate-limiting enzyme in gluthionine synthesis. Depletion of intracellular gluthionine by BSO can reverse tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic a-gents such as platinating and alkylating agents. In tumor-bearing animals BSO enhanced the therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic agents. Animals treated with BSO had a longer life span. Pharmacokinetics of BSO was a two-compartment manner in mice, dogs and huamn beings. The efficacy of BSO in cancer patients is being investigated in clinical trial.

To explore the role of Human papillomavirus (HPV) in mammary carcinogenesis, the expression of the HPV-16, iNOS, P53 and hTERT proteins in breast carcinomas and their relationships were investigated. 52 samples of breast cancer and 16 samples of benign breast tumors were assayed using the immunohistochemical SP method for detection of protein expression levels. The expression of HPV-16, iNOS, P53 and hTERT proteins in a mammary carcinoma was 44.2%, 57.7%, 63.5% and 59.6% respectively, which was significantly greater than the corresponding levels in the benign group. The expression of iNOS, P53 and hTERT was correlated with the presence of an HPV-16 infection in a mammary carcinoma (P<0.05). The connection between these events might also involve the iNOS, mutated type P53 and the hTERT protein.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro has been studied in great detail in the world. However, much of what is currently known about cardiomyocyte differentiation from ES cells has been learned from studies on mouse in China, few studies are on human ES cells.OB JECTIVE: To investigate the differentiation effcacy of human ES cells into functional cardiomycytes with the human H14 ES cell line.DESIGN: Suspending method was used to form pseudo-embryo proper of human ES cells so as to observe ratio of pseudo-embryo proper with rhythmic contraction and expression of specific gene of myocardium in various differentiated phases.SETTING: Molecular Biology Laboratory of Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.MATERIALS: Human ES cell line H14 was obtained from WiCell Research Institute (Wisconsin, USA) with a license agreement.METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong from August to December of 2006.The H14 ES cell colony was used to form embryoid bodies (EBs) by using suspending method. Four days later,pseudo-embryo proper was cultured in gelatin-coating 6-well culture plate (5-10 embryo proper/well) and spontaneously differentiated into moving pseudo-embryo proper. Rhythmic contraction was observed under microscope and RT-PCR was used to detect expression of special genes of myocardium.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ratio of pseudo-embryo proper with rhythmic contraction and expression of specific gene of myocardium in various differentiated phasesRESULTS: Spontaneously contracting cells appeared as cluster and were identified in approximately 2% of EBs at differentiation day 8 and increased to as many as 10% of the EBs by day 16. The beating rate of contracting cells arranged at 70-100 beats per minute. RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that cells isolated from spontaneous beating areas within the EB expressed the cardiac transcription factors GATA-4 and Nkx2.5, cardiac progenitor gene Isl-1 and cardiomyocyte marker gene α-MHC.CONCLUSION: This is the first time to report human ES cells can effectively differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes in China.

Background and purpose: Recent literature has high lighted an important role of inflammation in promoting cancer. CRP (C reactive protein) is a way of building the bridge between inflammation and cancer. We aimed to explore correlations between CRP levels and clinical stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). Methods: We analyzed 108 cases, among which 68 cases were NPC, 20 cases were benign inflammatory diseases of nasopharynx, and another 20 were healthy volunteers as control. We detected the level of CRP using immunoturbidimetry (ITM), q test was calculated by SPSS. Results: The mean concentrations of CRP in NPC[(19.8±4.7) mg/L] were significantly increased compared to those in the control group[(6.2±1.8) mg/L], while they were significantly lower than those in benign inflammatory group[(45.6±7.9) mg/L]. In NPC, The mean concentrations of CRP in T4[(25.6±3.9) mg/L] were higher than those in T1[(17.4±5.8) mg/L], T2[(18.6±8.5) mg/L] and T3[(15.6±1.8) mg/L] respectively. The mean concentrations of CRP in N3[(28.0±7.1) mg/L] were higher than those in N0[(17.6±6.8) mg/L], N1[(21.3±5.1) mg/L] and N2[(18.6±5.6) mg/L] respectively. The mean concentrations of CRP in 1V[(25.7±5.5) mg/L] were higher than those in Ⅰ[(14.2±1.9) mg/L], Ⅱ[(16.1±3.9) mg/L] and Ⅲ[(23.0±7.7) mg/L] respectively (P<0.05). There were no statistic differences between the other groups. Conclusion: The serum CRP level is associated with the occurrence of NPC and benign inflammatory disease of nasopharynx. In NPC, the higher the CRP level is, the more advanced the TNM stage will be.

Objective To observe the effect of different stimulative ways of scalp penetration acupuncture on acute stroke. Methods 90 inpatients with acute stroke from July, 2011 to July, 2014 were randomly divided into manual acupuncture group (n=30), electroacupuncture group (n=30) and simple acupuncture group (n=30). All the groups accepted scalp penetration acupuncture from Baihui (GV20) to Taiyang (EX-HN5) and stimulated manually, electrically and simply maintained, respectively. They were assessed with Neurological Deficit Score (NDS), measured with neuron-specific enolase (NSE) before and 14 days after treatment. The incidence of improvement was observed. Re-sults The NDS was the least in the manual acupuncture group (P<0.05), as well as the serumal level of NSE (P<0.05). The incidence of im-provement was the most in the manual acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusion The manual stimulation of scalp penetration acupuncture is more effective on the acute stroke.

Objective To report a new surgical approach (modified anconeus flap approach) in which the anconeus and part of triceps are reflected in the treatment of distal intercondylar humerus fracture (AO type C).Methods To design the modified anconeus flap approach,the anatomy of the distal tendon of the triceps brachii and the anconeus was studied using 15 cadaveric adult specimens (30 sides).The new surgical approach was compared with the triceps-reflecting anconeus pedicle (TRAP) approach in terms of the area of exposure at the distal humeral articular surface.Furthermore,the new surgical approach was applied in 16 patients who had been treated for intercondylar humerus fracture (AO type C) from May 2005 to May 2013.The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and Broberg-Morrey scoring systems.Results The blood supply and innervation of the anconeus was interrupted minimally during incision along the radical edge of triceps tendon.The area of exposure at the distal humeral articular surface provided by the part triceps and anconeus reflecting approach and the medial humerus approach was 42.66％ ± 0.03％ at the elbow flexion from 0° to 50°.This was significantly smnaller than that provided by the TRAP approach (46.11％ ±0.03％) (P ＜0.05).Of the 16 patients,15 obtained complete follow-ups from 6 months to 4 years(average,16.5 months).The mean MEPS at the last follow-up was 90.5 points (range,from 82 to 93 points),with 10 excellent and 4 good cases and one poor case.The Broberg & Morrey score system showed 11 patients with no articular cartilage degeneration (level-0),3 patients with level-1 degeneration,and 2 patients with level-2 degeneration.Conclusion The modified anconeus flap approach proposed in the present study provides clear surgical vision and needs no olecranon osteotomy or olecranon dissection or ablation of the major triceps brachii tendon for intercondylar humerus fractures,thereby leading to early active motion and satisfactory clinical outcomes.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the structure-activity relationship of anti-tumor activity of diosgenin derivatives in vitro. Study has found that diosgenin can inhibit the reproduction of tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and the main target spot of this effect is Bcl-2. Based on the characteristics of pharmacophoric points' of the three-dimensional pharmacophore for Bcl-2 inhibitors, we have docked lots of diosgenin derivatives with Bcl-2, then synthesized 31 compounds of them, finally assessed the anti-tumor activity of the diosgenin derivatives in vitro against A375, A549, HepG-2 and K562. Preliminary studies of SAR have indicated that the aliphatic esters, and aromatic esters of diosgenin without F ring have no anti-tumor activity in vitro. The triazole bromides of diosgenin all achieve fairly good anti-tumor activity in vitro, and those with larger hydrophobic group have the better activity. The stronger is the hydrogen bonding interaction and dipole-dipole interaction of the heterocyclic of diosgenin and diosgenin without F ring and the acid ester of diosgenin without F ring, the better is the activity of derivatives.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of parametric imaging of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) on recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.Methods CEUS images of 41 recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation was analyzed by Sonoliver CAP software.The color code image,curve image and quantitative parameter of DVP of each recurrence lesion was recorded,then typed and analyzed statistically.Results The DVP patterns were classified into 3 types,they were washed out types,non-washed out types and negative types.The washed out types,non-washed out types and negative types on color code image and curve image of DVP were 70.73％ (29/41),24.39％ (10/41),4.88％ (2/41) and 63.41％(26/41),34.15％ (14/41) and 2.44％ (1/41) respectively.The maximum intensity,rise time,time to peak of the recurrence lesion and the surrounding liver parenchyma were (149.98± 65.29) ％,(12.32 ± 5.83)s,(13.01 ±6.07)s and (100±0.00)％,(26.10± 10.81)s,(29.69± 11.60)s respectively,and showed statistical differences (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The difference of blood perfusion between the recurrence lesion and the surrounding liver parenchyma can be displayed by DVP's dynamic,direct and quantitative imaging,which can be used to provide valuable information about the detection of intrahepatic lesion of recurrence after liver transplantation.

Objective To compare the clinical application of Da Vinci robot surgical system (RSS) with traditional open surgery (TOS).Methods From Feb 2015 to Jul 2016,48 cases of upper abdominal surgical disease patients were divided into RSS group (23 cases) and TOS group (25 patients) randomly.Results The anesthesia time [(194 ±16)min vs.(181 ±11)min,t=3.262,P=0.002] and operation time [(167 ± 14) min vs.(158 ± 14) min,t =2.292,P =0.027] were much longer in the RSS,while the blood loss during operation significantly less than the TOS [(128 ± 62) ml vs.(190 ± 86) ml,t =-2.886,P =0.006].The RSS has obvious advantages in 24 h-drainage [(69 ± 27) ml vs.(114 ± 54) ml.t =-3.680,P =0.001],time to out-of-bed activity [(27.7 ± 8.0) h vs.(35.7 ± 9.9) h,t =-3.067,P =0.004],BPS,postoperative exhausting time[(27.2 ±5.9)h vs.(32.8 ±8.3)h,t =-2.690,P =0.01] and length of hospital stay [(10.4 ± 1.8) d vs.(11.8 ± 1.9) d,t =-2.600,P =0.013].But the total hospital cost was higher in RSS [(117 000 ± 10 000) yuan vs.(77 000 ± 8 000) yuan,t =15.087,P =0.000)].Conclusions The RSS is a much minimally invasive surgery,reducing blood loss and postoperative pain,promoting rapid recovery,shortening hospital stay.