Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of emergency neoplasty on corneal penetrating injury. Methods A total of 102 cases of corneal penetrating injury were investigated.The patients underwent micro-trauma technique suture,optical iridectomy,extraction of anterior segment foreign bodies,nepheloid lens removal,and artificial lens implantation.The vision of pre-and post-surgery was compared and relationship between injury location and recovery was analyzed. Results The injury of cornea repaired completely 1 month after surgery.Cross infection was not found in the patients with one-year long follow-up(80% of all patients).The vision of all patients raised.The injury in center and nasal side affected vision significantly. Conclusion Timely surgery to corneal penetrating injury may be considered in order to improve the recovery of the traumatic eyes.

OBJECTIVETo observe the supplementary effect of moxibustion and Guben Yiliu III (GBYL), a Chinese herbal compound preparation, in combination with chemotherapy.

METHODSEighty-one patients of mid-late stage malignant tumor were randomly divided into 3 groups: 16 in Group A treated with chemotherapy and placebo; 35 in Group B treated with chemotherapy and GBYL and 30 in Group C treated with chemotherapy and GBYL plus moxibustion. The short-term effect of treatment, changes of blood picture, cell mediated immune function and blood coagulation in patients were observed.

RESULTSAfter chemotherapy, the lymphocyte count was significantly lowered in Group A and B (P < 0.01), but not in Group C (P > 0.05); lymphocyte subset T3 raised significantly in Group B; the average level of T-lymphocyte subsets was reduced in Group A while it increased in the other two groups; and a bi-directional regulation on plasma fibrinogen concentration was shown in Group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion prevented dropping of lymphocyte count caused by chemotherapy. Combination of GBYL and moxibustion could prevent the lowering of T-lymphocyte subsets caused by chemotherapy, and moxibustion could regulate bi-directionally the patients' abnormality in part of blood coagulation mechanism.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Blood Coagulation ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Moxibustion ; Phytotherapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

OBJECTIVETo examine the absence of the third molar germs in orthodontic patients and to evaluate the relationship between third molar germs and malocclusion.

METHODSThe subjects comprised 234 patients (male 92, female 142) from the orthodontic clinic whose ages were 14-18. The assessments of the third molar germs were made from panoramic radiographs, and the assessments of ANB angle were made from lateral cephalograms. All the data were analyzed by statistic chi2 test.

RESULTSThe percentage of male who missed one or more third molar gems (37.0%) was higher than that of female (24.6%). There was no significant difference between the absent frequencies of third molar germs on left and right sides in either maxilla or mandible. The absent percentage of third molar germs in skeletal III subjects was higher than those in both skeletal class I and II subjects. The absent difference of third molar germs was in upper arches (P < 0.05), but not in lower arches (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in absent percentage of third molar germs between skeletal class I and II subjects.

CONCLUSIONMale patients have higher absent frequencies of third molar germs than female ones. Skeletal class III patients have higher absence of third molar germs in upper jaws than skeletal class I and II patients.

Adolescent ; Anodontia ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar, Third ; abnormalities ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Tooth Germ ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (MLR) for patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSData collected from 1247 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical surgery (pT4 cases were excluded) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between 2005 and 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. MLR was compared to pathological N staging (pN) in terms of prognostic accuracy, homogenicity, and applicability.

RESULTSMLR and pN were both positively correlated with the number of retrieved lymph nodes(both P<0.01). Significant differences were found in 5-year cumulative survival rate (5-YCSR) among different pN stages and MLR classification(all P<0.01). Multivariable analysis showed that both pN and MLR were independent prognostic factors(both P<0.01). The area under ROC curve(AUC) of MLR was larger than pN, however the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). There were significant differences in 5-YCSR among different MLR stages within the same pN stages(P<0.05), but not among different pN stages within the same MLR stage(P>0.05). Significant differences in 5-YCSR were also found among different retrieved-node groups within the same pN stage (P<0.05), but not within the same MLR stages (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMLR is an independent prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. The prognostic homogenicity and applicability of MLR are better than those of pN, however the prediction accuracy is not favorable.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo prepare a biodegradable drug-eluting stent in myocardium channel and evaluate its effect on myocardium channel after transmyocardial revascularization (TMR).

METHODSA biodegradable drug-eluting stent was prepared using poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) as material of stent, model protein drug, and drug carrier respectively. The amount of BSA in stent and in vitro released BSA of stent were determined by the Coomassie brilliant blue assay. The mechanical strength of stent was tested by universal material testing machines. The material and structure of stent was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effect of stent on myocardium channel after TMR was evaluated in vivo by a standard animal model of chronic myocardial ischemia in miniswine.

RESULTSThe stent could carry 13.1 microg BSA per mg of stent and the stent could release about 95% of BSA after 30 days. The stent diminished 80% of initial scale under the stress of 1.7 Mpa. It also kept the myocardium channel patency after TMR.

CONCLUSIONSA biodegradable drug-eluting stent in myocardium channel was successfully prepared. It can sustain the pressure from the heart and achieve the controlled release of drug. The stent can ensure the myocardium channel patency after TMR.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Caproates ; chemistry ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lactones ; chemistry ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Myocardial Revascularization ; instrumentation ; Random Allocation ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of skeletal Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition on speech articulation and to look for which factors lead to the speech errors.

METHODSThirty-eight children with skeletal Angle Ill malocclusion in mixed dentition were selected as a sample group and 40 children with normal occlusion in mixed dentition as a control group. Two phoneticians evaluated their articulations and wrote down error phonemes respectively. The correlation analysis was undertaken between the number of errors and the measurements of patients' cephalometry.

RESULTSThe number of errors were correlated significantly with overbite, UI-LI, OBJ (OB+OJ) and TD-PW.

CONCLUSIONThere is articulatory malfunction in the majority of skeletal Angle III malocclusion patients in mixed dentition. Articulatory malfunction is related to the position of incisors and the tongue.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Dental Occlusion ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor, on transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), early after depolarization (EAD) and torsade de pointes (TdP) induction after administration of d-sotalol in isolated rabbit heart.

METHODSTdP was induced by d-sotalol (30 micromol/L), bradycardia, and hypokalemic (1.5 mmol/L)/hypomagnesaemic (0.35 mmol/L) solution in isolated female rabbit hearts. Thirty six rabbit hearts were divided into 4 groups (n = 9 each): d-sotalol alone, d-sotalol + W-7 (20 micromol/L), d-sotalol + W-7 (50 micromol/L), and d-sotalol + W-7 (100 micromol/L). Monophasic action potentials (MAPs) of the left ventricular epimyocardium (Epi), midmyocardium (M), and endomyocardium (Endo) were recorded simultaneously with ECG. The incidence of EAD and TdP were observed as well.

RESULTSTreatment with d-sotalol alone prolonged ventricular MAP duration and QT interval, increased TDR, and evoked high incidence of EAD (9/9) and spontaneous TdP (7/9) in hypokalemic/hypomagnesaemic solution in female rabbit heart. W-7 concentration-dependently decreased incidence of TdP (4/9 in 20 micromol/L; 2/9 in 50 micromol/L; 1/9 in 100 micromol/L). This effect of W-7 coincided with the decreased incidence of EAD (5/9 in 20 micromol/L; 4/9 in 50 micromol/L; 1/9 in 100 micromol/L). However, the d-sotalol-induced prolongation of QT interval and TDR was not significantly altered by W-7 at the three concentration used.

CONCLUSIONSIn isolated female rabbit hearts, calmodulin antagonist W-7 suppresses d-sotalol-induced TdP without altering TDR but does suppress EAD. The effects observed with W-7 also suggest a possible important role for calmodulin-activated enzymes in the induction of TdP.

Animals ; Calmodulin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Rabbits ; Sotalol ; adverse effects ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Torsades de Pointes ; chemically induced ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy and risk of long-term administration for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who cannot tolerate the standard treatment.

METHODSForty-six CHC patients who had proven intolerant to standard treatments were treated with low-dose IFN (non-pegylated IFN: 60 to 300MIU QOD, or pegylated IFN: 50 to 90 mug/w) plus ribavirin (RBV; 0.6g to 0.9 g/d) for 72 weeks.

RESULTSForty-three (93.5%) of the patients were able to tolerate the long-term treatment with low-dose IFN plus RBV. Only three patients experienced severe side effects (low white blood cell and platelet counts) that required treatment withdrawal. The virology response rates over treatment time were: rapid virologic response (RVR): 10.9%; early virus response (EVR): 30.4%; 24 week virologic response: 45.7%; and, 48 week virologic response: 47.8%. B-sonographic imaging revealed that three patients experienced improved liver morphology through the treatment course. The patients who achieved RVR, EVR, or 24 weeks virologic response also attained higher 48 week virologic response. The 24 week virologic response had the strongest predictive value of good prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrated that long-term treatment with low-dose interferon plus ribavirin is effective for patients who are otherwise intolerant to standard treatment. In these patients, low-dose IFN plus RBV can obtain a high virologic response rate at 48 week. Furthermore, the 24 week virologic response is sufficiently predictive of treatment success. As with any treatment regimen, it is important for healthcare workers to monitor the disease status and potential side effects throughout the course of therapy.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pre- and post-chemotherapy expression levels of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines in peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes, the changes of Th1/Th2 ratio and their clinical significance in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSThe levels of specific cytokines in 60 gastric cancer patients were detected by flow cytometry before and after chemotherapy with FOLFOX4.

RESULTSThe level of IFN-gamma from peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes after chemotherapy in the whole group of gastric cancer patients was 11.4% +/- 5.0%, significantly higher than that (9.5% +/- 3.4%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The level of IL-10 after chemotherapy was 3.6% +/- 1.2%, significantly lower than that (4.2% +/- 1.8%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 3.4 +/- 1.0 versus 3.4 +/- 1.6 before chemotherapy, without significant difference (P > 0.05). Interestingly, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha of peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes in 15 gastric cancer patients who achieved partial response (PR) after chemotherapy were 14.8% +/- 8.0% and 5.9% +/- 2.0%, respectively, both were higher than that (6.9% +/- 2.5% and 4.2% +/- 1.3%) before chemotherapy (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 4.0 +/- 1.5, significantly higher than 2.5 +/- 1.2 before chemotherapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEffective chemotherapy may reduce the tumor burden and relieve the shift of Th1/Th2 ratio. Improvement in immune function may be a very important therapeutic measure due to poor response of chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Leucovorin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment of far advanced prostate cancer without clinically detectable bone metastasis.

METHODSCancer metastatic lesions were found in the liver and lungs respectively of two patients on routine medical examination, and only an abnormally elevated level of the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) was observed in the following system examinations. The patients were diagnosed as having prostate cancer by prostate biopsy. MRI showed a discontinued prostate capsule, and ECT revealed no bone metastasis. Diagnostic treatment was conducted by giving LHRHa combined with antiandrogens. One of the patients underwent surgical castration at 12 months, and both received intensity modulated radiation therapy (80 Gy) at 15 and 18 months, respectively.

RESULTSThe metastatic lesions in the liver and lungs of the patients were either absent or significantly reduced after treated by maximal androgen blockade for 3 months, and all disappeared after 6 months'treatment, with the PSA level stabilized at less than 0.02 microg/L in one patient, and around 0.5 microg/L in the other. Antiandrogen treatment was suspended after radiotherapy. The results of liver, lung and bone scanning were normal during the 12-month follow-up, and the PSA level was below 1.0 microg/L.

CONCLUSIONRemote metastasis of prostate cancer may occur in ectosteal organs first, which deserves special attention. A combination of different treatment methods promises satisfactory results.

Aged ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy