Objective To investigate expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nm23 proteins and microvessel density in HCC,simultaneously,their relation with metastasis was also studied.Methods The expression of VEGF and nm23 and CD34 protein in 56 HCCs were detected by immunohistochemical technique.Results Of 56 HCCs, the intensity of VEGF expression in HCCs with metastasis was significantly higher than that in HCCs without metastasis (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the neuro-protective effect and mechanism of qingkailing injection (QKL) against cerebral injury caused by E. coli-meningitis (CM).

METHODSThe CM model rabbits were treated by ampicillin with QKL as adjuvant. The leukocyte count and protein content in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), the contents of water, sodium, potassium and calcium in cerebral tissues were measured before, 16 h and 26 h after Bacillus coli injection respectively. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was determined at the same time.

RESULTSAdjunctive treatment with QKL can not only inhibit the increase of leukocyte cells, protein content in CSF, and water, sodium, calcium content in cerebral tissues, but also the decrease of potassium content revealed during simple antibiotic treatment. It also can decrease the expression of MMP-9 in cerebral tissues of rabbits with CM.

CONCLUSIONAs an adjunctive treatment, QKL can prevent transient inflammatory reaction and aggravation of brain injury in CM induced by simple antibiotic treatment, its mechanisms might relate with calcium antagonism and attenuation of MMP-9 expression in brain tissues.

Ampicillin ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Injections ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Meningitis, Escherichia coli ; drug therapy ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits

BACKGROUNDTo construct a DC-Ad-Ki-ras(V12) vaccine and investigate the anti-tumor activities of lung cancer dendritic cell vaccine modified by mutant Ki-ras gene in vitro.

METHODSKi-ras(V12) cDNA was transfected into cultured bone marrow-derived DC with the recombinant adenovirus [(Ad-Ki-ras(V12)] containing human mutant Ki-ras gene. Anti-tumor activity of the vaccine was studied in vitro by flow cytometry, PCR, MLR and cytotoxicity assay.

RESULTS(1) The DC vaccine was confirmed not only to express Ki-ras(V12) gene, but also to remarkably stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and improve CTL activity. (2) The DC vaccine modified by mutant Ki-ras gene could induce specifical CTL activity of immunized mice against Lewis lung carcinoma that could express Ki-ras(V12) gene, but not to B16.

CONCLUSIONSThe DC vaccine modified by mutant Ki-ras gene can induce obvious anti-tumor activities against Lewis lung carcinoma that can express Ki-ras(V12) gene.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate and compare the effects and toxicity of the domestic product of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF) combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTwo hundred patients with NSCLC in multicenter were randomly devided into trial group (150 cases) and control group (50 cases). Chemotherapy with CAP regimen was given to the patients. Meanwhile, rmhTNF injection of 4×10⁶U/m² was also given from the 1st to 7th days, the 11th to 17th days on the chemotherapy cycle in the trial group. The control patients received chemotherapy alone. Twenty-one days were as a cycle, 2 cycles were given to each patient. The chemotherapeutic effects and toxicity were observed and compared between the two groups after the therapy.

RESULTSof the 200 patients, 5 cases in the trial group and 3 cases in the control group were out of the trial because of economy. The other 192 cases (145 cases in the trial group and 47 cases in the control group) could be analyzed and evaluated the clinical effects and toxicity. The response rate of chemotherapy was 46.90% (68/145) in the trial group and 17.02% (8/47) in the control group respectively ( P =0.001). The KPS scores was 86.02±9.74 in the trial group, and 80.14±9.10 in the control group ( P =0.025). No significant difference of degree III+IV toxicity was observed between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The side effects related to rmhTNF included slight fever, cold-like symptoms, pain and red and swelling in the injection site. All of them were mild and didn't need any treatment and disappeared after the therapy. There were no severe abnormality of liver and kidney function and ECG in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that the effects of domestic rmhTNF combined with chemotherapy are remarkably higher than that of chemotherapy alone in the treatment of NSCLC. rmhTNF can increase the sensitivity to chemotherapy and improve the quality of life of the patients with slight toxicity. Hence rmhTNF is worth expanding clinical use.