BACKGROUND: Models concerning tumor external environment mainly concentrated on laboratory two-dimensional culture and in vitro animal experiment, which lack of three-dimensional stereo.OBJECTIVE: To establish in vitro bone metastasis stereo models of human prostate carcinoma, and to investigate the effect of stem cells on proliferation rate and clustering size of prostate carcinoma cells. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) were extracted from 2 clean grade SD rats. Alginate was used to simulate medullary microenvironment, where prostate carcinoma cells and BMMSCs were co-culturedd. Growth of the cells in the three-dimensional model was observed through microscope and histological sections. The carcinoma cells were transfected with green fluorescent protein. The proliferation of monoclonal cells clustering was observed under light microscope and fluorescence microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the co-culture group, the clustering speed, clustering amount and tumor formation rate were greater that those of the control group. The monoclonal cells clustering was formed at 7.75 days and 6.00 days in the control and co-culture groups, respectively, with cell counts of (95.13±11.63) and (112.53±14.67) after 10 days. The formation rate of fluorescent cell clones was (77.10±6.85)% in the control group and (64.55±6.21)% in the co-culture group, the difference had significance. The results suggested that: the alginate microenvironment is conductive to proliferation and clustering of prostate carcinoma cells and BMMSCs.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the species distribution and the antifungal susceptibility of fungi originating from positive blood cultures in Guangdong, so as to provide a basis for the rational use of antifungal drugs in clinical fungal bloodstream infections. Methods All data were collected for retrospective study from monitoring units of the Guangdong Fungal Disease Surveillance Network between 2019-2021, including clinical characteristics, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility. Results A total of 3 589 fungi strains were isolated, most of which were Candida spp. (86.5%, 3 105/3 589). The most common species was Candida albicans (36.6%, 1 315/3 589), followed by Candida tropicalis (17.4%, 1 626/3 589) and Candida parapsilosis (14.5%, 520/3 589). There were 42.1%(1 512/3 589) of strains isolated from ICU. The proportions of Candida albicans strains were 40.0%-50.0% among ICU, general surgery, organ transplantation and emergency department. Candida tropicalis (60.0%, 144/240) was the most common species in hematology department. Both Cryptococcus neoformans (35.4%, 69/195) and Talaromyces marneffei (35.9%,70/195) were common in infection department. All of the Candida isolates were of wild-type (WT) phenotype to amphotericin B. Resistance rates of caspofungin and micafungin for Candida spp. ranged from 0.0% to 4.2%. The resistance rates of Candida tropicalis to fluconazole and voriconazole were 42.3% and 38.9%, which were significantly higher than other common Candida spp. The cryptococcus neoformans strains were totally of WT phenotype to fluconazole and voriconazole. Conclusions Candida albicans is the most common species originating from positive blood cultures in Guangdong Province. Common Candida strains are highly sensitive to echinocandins and amphotericin B. Candida tropicalis has a high resistance rate to triazole drugs.

With the content of gallic acid, loganin, paeoniflorin and paeonol as the indexes, to screen out dissolution determination conditions, establish the dissolution determination method for multi-index components in Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills, calculate and map the accumulative dissolution curve, and then compare the dissolution of products from different pharmaceutical factories through the similarity factor (f2). According to the results, the optimum dissolution determination conditions were the paddle method, with 250 mL 0.1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid as the dissolution medium, and a rotation rate of 100 r x min(-1). The similarity factor values (f2) of the dissolution curves of the four main components of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories were mostly less than 50. This demonstrated a significant difference in the dissolution of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories, and provided scientific basis for improving the equality evaluation of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Solvents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the imaging diagnosis of pelvic eosinophilic granuloma and improve diagnosis accuracy.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of the plain film, CT and MRI was conducted in 24 cases of pathologically confirmed eosinophilic granuloma. All the patients received radiography, CT scan was performed in 17 cases and MRI was done 9 cases.

RESULTSIn the 24 cases of eosinophilic granuloma, 6 lesions were located in the pubis, 5 in the ischium and 13 in the iliac region. The lesion showed bony destruction or irregular bony destruction, with periosteal reaction and soft tissue mass.

CONCLUSIONPelvic eosinophilic granuloma has characteristic imaging features, and combination of the imaging findings can improve the diagnosing accuracy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Errors ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify whether Radix Bupleuri (Bupleurum chinense) was fumed with sulfur.

METHODA static headspace GC-MS method was used to detect sulfur in the fumatory Radix Bupleuri, the authentic samples free of sulfur was detected as reference.

RESULTSulfur was detected in six samples from nine samples collected in different locations.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be used to detect sulfur rapidly in the fumatory Radix Bupleuri with sulfur.

Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Drug Contamination ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sulfur ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEStudies showed that osteopontin (OPN) regulates cell migration and invasion in a variety of cancers, which associates with the activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. This study was to investigate the role of OPN in the proliferation and invasion of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells and the possible functions of IgammaB kinase (IKK) in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)-mediated signaling pathways.

METHODSOPN short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) recombinant plasmids were transfected into PC-3 cells and different concentrations of IKK inhibitors were used to inhibit the activities of IKKalpha and IKKbeta. The mRNA and protein expression levers of OPN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, cell proliferation by MTT assay, and cell invasion by Transwell chamber assay.

RESULTSCompared with untreated cells, the protein levers of OPN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in OPN shRNA-transfected PC-3 cells were reduced by 55.22%, 51.71%, and 28.35%, respectively, and the ability of cell migration and invasion were decreased by 45.48% and 51.96%, respectively (P<0.05). Moreover, the inhibition of IKKbeta inhibited the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONA shRNA expression vector-mediated OPN gene silencing can inhibit the malignant biological behaviors of PC-3 cells. IKKbeta may play a crucial role in the OPN-induced activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via NF-kappaB-mediated IkappaB/IKKbeta pathways.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEAccording to the characteristics of digital medicine and the demands of digitalized management in hospitals, we established a storage system that is affordable, highly expandable, and reliable.

METHODSThe multi personal computer storage system (MPCSS) was constructed using hardware and software. The image data were archived from major servers to storage personal computers (PCs) by using Neusoft-picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and backed up on storage PCs. We simulated data loss on storage PCs and then restored the data. We also expanded the storage system to enlarge its capacity.

RESULTSThe average transfer rate from MPCSS was 27.7 MB/s, and the average cost for this system was yen 74/GB. In the testing stage, only 6 of 187 instances of data retrieval (from 100 patients) failed.

CONCLUSIONThe MPCSS is much less expensive than other high capacity systems or devices. It is feasible and suitable for digital image storage.

Computer Storage Devices ; utilization ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Microcomputers ; economics ; Radiology Information Systems ; economics

Due to good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, tissue engineering scaffolds have become the vital method for repairing and regenerating articular cartilage defects. With the continuous development of tissue engineering technology, many scaffolds preparation and formation methods have been developed and tested in the past decade, however, the preparation of ideal regenerative scaffolds remain controversial. As load-bearing tissue inside the body joints, the matrix structure and cell composition of articular cartilage are hierarchical, and there are several smooth natural gradients from the cartilage surface to the subchondral bone layer, including cell phenotype and number, specific growth factors, matrix composition, fiber arrangement, mechanical properties, nutrient and oxygen consumption. Therefore, in the design of regenerative scaffolds, it is necessary to achieve these gradients to regenerate articular cartilage in situ. In recent studies, many new biomimetic gradient scaffolds have been used to simulate the natural gradient of articular cartilage. These scaffolds show different mechanical, physicochemical or biological gradients in the structure, and have achieved good repair effects. The related articles on tissue engineering for the treatment of articular cartilage defects were retrieved by searching databases with key wordsarticular cartilage injury, cartilage repair and gradient scaffolds. In this work,the structural, biochemical, biomechanical and nutrient metabolism gradients of natural articular cartilage were studied and summarized firstly. Then, the latest design and construction of articular cartilage gradient scaffolds were classified. Besides that, the material composition (such as hydrogels, nanomaterials, etc.) and the preparation process (such as electrospinning, 3D printing, etc.) of grandient scaffolds were further enhanced. Finally, the prospect and challenge of biomimetic gradient scaffolds in cartilage engineering are discussed, which provides a theoretical basis for the successful application of gradient scaffolds in clinical transformation.

Objective: To study the changes of TGFβ/Smad signaling expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) after hyperthermia. Methods: The expression of TGFβ, Smad2, 3, 4 and 7 in OSCC of tumor bearing nude mice were examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results: The mRNA expression of TGFβ, Smad2 and 3 was decreased significantly, and the mRNA levels of Smad7 was elevated in hyperthermia (HT) group (n = 10) (P ＜ 0. 05), but the mRNA expression of Smad4 did not change significantly compared with that of control group (n = 10) . The changes of protein expression of TGFβ, Smad7 and 4 were consistent with that of mRNA, the expression of Smad2 and 3 was not significantly different between the groups, but the expression of p Smad2 and p Smad3 decreased dramatically in HT group (P ＜ 0. 05) . Conclusion: TGFβ/Smad signaling exhibits important role in the antitumor effects of hyperthermia, and the inhibition of Smad7 on R-Smad phosphorylation may play a key role.

Background: The increasing incidence of radiation?induced osteosarcoma of the maxilla and mandible (RIOSM) has become a signiifcant problem that can limit long?term survival. The purpose of this study was to analyze the associa?tion of clinicopathologic characteristics with treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of patients who developed RIOSM after undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 53,760 NPC patients admitted to Sun Yat?sen University Cancer Center during the period August 1964 to August 2012. Of these patients, 47 who developed RISOM and met inclusion criteria were included in this study. Two of these 47 patients refused treatment and were then excluded. Results: For all patients treated for NPC at Sun Yat?sen University Cancer Center during the study period, the total incidence of RIOSM after radiotherapy was 0.084% (47/53,760). Two patients (4.4%) had metastases at the diagnosis of RIOSM. Thirty?nine of the 45 (86.7%) patients underwent surgery for RIOSM; most patients (24/39; 61.5%) who under?went resection had gross clear margins, with 15 patients (38.5%) having either a gross or microscopic positive margin. All patients died. The 1?, 2?, and 3?year overall survival (OS) rates for the entire cohort of 45 patients were 53.3%, 35.6% and 13.5%, respectively. The independent prognostic factors associated with high OS rate were tumor size and treat?ment type. Conclusions: RISOM after radiotherapy for NPC is aggressive and often eludes early detection and timely inter?vention. Surgery combined with postoperative chemotherapy might be an effective treatment to improve patient survival.