Amphotericin B ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Adult ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Ear Canal ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To compare and analyze the effect of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.Methods 102 such patients were treated with prophylactic radiotherapy after radical resection,to a total dose of 50-60 Gy.The extensive portal included supraclavicular region on both sides,entire mediastinum,the site of anastomosis and left gastric lymph node region in 43 patients.The re- gional portal range was different according to the different location of primary lesion in 59 patients.Results The 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate was 76%,51% and 43% respectively,with a median survival of 30 months.The 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate was 77%,52% and 41% in the extensive portal and 76%, 49% and 45% in the regional portal,respectively(P=0.884).According to multivariate analysis,N stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor length were independent prognostic factors.Conclusions Regional portal does not lower the survival rate when prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy is used in e- sophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in the Kupffer cells production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta in severely burns rats.

METHODSMale health adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: sham burn rats given vehicle, sham burn rats given the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, rats given a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness burn and fluid resuscitation plus vehicle, and burn rats given injury and fluid resuscitation plus SB203580. Rats from each group were killed at 24 h after burn or sham burn and Kupffer cells (KCs) were isolated. After 18 h incubation, KCs next were stimulated with 50 ng/ml of LPS for 18 h. After stimulation, supernatants were removed for analysis of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels by ELISA. The TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA expressions (by quantitative real-time RT-PCR) and the activities of p38 MAPK and JNK (by Western blot analysis) in KCs were examined.

RESULTSEighteen hours after 50 ng/ml LPS stimulation, KCs from burn rats released significantly higher levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta than did shams. The mRNA levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in KCs increased significantly postburn. Western blot analysis suggested that expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK and JNK were increased in KCs harvested from burn group after stimulation with LPS compared with those from sham group. In vivo administration of SB203580 markedly suppressed both the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in KCs from both sham and burn rats. p38 MAPK activity in KCs was abolished by administration with SB203580, whereas JNK was not.

CONCLUSIONSp38 MAPK signal transduction pathway mediates KCs production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in severely burned rats.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kupffer Cells ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in the acute lung injury of severely burned rats.

METHODSForty-eight adult healthy rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, burn control group, and burn + SB203580 group. A third-degree burns over 30% total body surface area rat model was used and pulmonary capillary permeability, lung water content, pulmonary histology and p38 MAPK activity were measured at 24 hours postburn.

RESULTSBurn trauma resulted in increased pulmonary capillary leakage permeability (42.5 +/- 4.7 vs. 12.1 +/- 1.4, P < 0.01), elevated lung water content (P < 0.05), and worsen histologic condition. There was a significant activation of p38 MAPK at 24 hours postburn compared with control. SB203580 inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK, reduced the pulmonary capillary leakage permeability (24.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 42.5 +/- 4.7, P < 0.01), decreased lung water content, and prevented burn-mediated lung injury.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of p38 MAPK is one important aspect of the signaling event that contributes to burn-induced lung injury.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Lung ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; physiology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction between p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/IkappaB system on the proinflammatory cytokines release after burn trauma.

METHODSHuman monocyte line THP-1 were incubated with serum from eight healthy controls, burn sera, burn sera pretreatment with SB203580, and burn sera pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). After 24 hours incubation with serum, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels in THP-1 culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The activities of p38 MAPK and expressions of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 were measured by Western blot analysis. The EMSA method was used to characterize the binding activities of NF-kappaB and activating protein (AP)-1 in THP-1.

RESULTSIn comparison with normal controls, burn sera resulted in a significant higher level release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in THP-1 [(7.30 +/- 0.84) ng/ml vs (2.20 +/- 0.28) ng/ml, P < 0.05; (2.88 +/- 0.38) ng/ml vs (0.81 +/- 0.14) ng/ml, P < 0.05], which were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with SB203580 or PDTC. Burn sera showed increased activities of p38 MAPK and AP-1 in THP-1 (4728 +/- 582 vs 1291 +/- 163, P < 0.05; 946 +/- 137 vs 361 +/- 40, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with SB203580 but not PDTC. The expression of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 incubated with burn sera was significantly decreased than those incubated with control sera (1211 +/- 115 vs 2658 +/- 318, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580. Burn sera also leaded to an increased activity of NF-kappaB in THP-1 (1636 +/- 170 vs 317 +/- 32, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580.

CONCLUSIONSThere are no direct interaction between p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway and NF-kappaB/IkappaB pathway. These two pathways, which regulate the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in monocyte following burn trauma, are parallel and independent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; physiology ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in pancreatic cancer and its influence on the proliferation and migration of cancer cells.

METHODSThe expression of CTGF in pancreatic cell line PANC-1 cells was analyzed by real-time PCR and in pancreatic carcinoma (50 cases) tissues by immunohistochemistry. The ability of proliferation and migration in vitro of PANC-1 cells was tested by MTT assay, scratch test and Boyden chamber test after the CTGF gene was overexpressed by Ad5-CTGF or silenced with Ad5-siCTGF transfection.

RESULTSCTGF was overexpressed in both pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. Overxpression of CTGF leads to increased proliferation and migration of PANC-1 cells. The CTGF-transfected PANC-1 cells showed apparent stronger proliferation ability and scratch-repair ability than that of empty vector controls. The results of Boyden chamber test showed that there were 34 cells/field (200× magnificantion) of the CTGF-transfected overexpressing cells, much more than the 11 cells/field of the empty vector control cells; and 6 cells/microscopic field of the Ad5-siCTGF-transfected silenced cells, much less than the 15 cells/field of the control cells.

CONCLUSIONSCTGF is overexpressed in both pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating that it may play an important role in the cell proliferation and migration in pancreatic cancer.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of Nontuberculous mycobacteria in the environment of Shenzhen city and its related sensitivity to drugs.

METHODS145 samples in the environment of Shenzhen city were collected and the samples were isolated, identified and its drug sensitivity were detected according to the "Procedure of Bacteriological Determination Regulation for Tuberculous Diagnosis", issued in 1995 by the Antituberculosis Association of China.

RESULTSAll together, 53 strains of Mycobacteria were detected from the 145 sample, including 6 of them isolated from the polluted water in the hospital before disinfected, 4 from the polluted water in the hospital after disinfected, 4 from the dirt of air condition in the hospital, 34 from the polluted water in the residential area, 3 from the ocean water and 2 from the fountain. M. nonchromogenicum, M. avium, M. fortuitum, M. gordonae, M. genavense, M. chelonae and M. intracellulare were identified.

CONCLUSIONNontuberculous mycobacteria seemed to widely exist in the environment of Shenzhen city and the ratio of drug-resistant was high. Attention should be paid to the influence of Nontuberculous mycobacteria on humans in order to formulate effective control measure.

Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo identify and analyse the different species, same species in different regions and confusion species.

METHODNear-infrared diffuse reflectance spectrometry was used.

RESULTClustering analysis showed that clustering relations were far among different Gryllotalpa species and close among the same species from different regions, and there were close relations among the same species from near regions and between Teleogryllus emmus and G. orientalis.

CONCLUSIONNear-infrared diffuse reflectance spectrometry method can be used in classification and identification of Gryllotalpa.

Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Gryllidae ; chemistry ; classification ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmacognosy ; Species Specificity ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared