Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

Coptis chinensis is widely used as Chinese medicine herbs and serious soil problems occur after continual cultivation of this medicinal plant. In the preset experiment, fibrous root extract of C. chinensis (REC) was added into soil to study the effect of REC on microbes and enzyme activity in soil. The results showed that both bacteria and actinomycetes decreased by about 2 times in contrast to fungi, which increased by about 3 folds. Phosphorus bacteria, potassium bacteria, azotobacter, ammonia bacteria, and nitrifying bacteria were also reduced significantly by REC, suggesting the inhibition of nitrogen biofixation and supply, mobilization of phosphorus and potassium, ad plant growth promotion as REC added into soil. There were multiple influences of REC on soil enzyme activities. Invertase activity was stimulated, while urease was inhibited and dehydrogenase unchanged by REC, indicating the interference of biochemical reactions in soil. In addition, type and total content of phosphorus lipid fatty acids (PLFAs) , the signature of microbes, decreased while the ratio of bacterium to fungus PLFAs increased as REC increased in soil, which suggested that fungi increased relatively with bacteria decreased thereby leading to easy occurrence of crop fungus diseases following cultivation of C. chinensis. The decrease in diversity and evenness indexes of microbial community in soil by REC indicated soil ecosystem deterioration and reduction of microbial groups and densities in soil. Therefore, allelopathic chemicals released from the roots of C. chinensis could change microbial community structure and resulted in serious soil problems by continual cropping of this medicinal plant.
Coptis ; Ecosystem ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; chemistry ; Soil Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo study the function of radiosurgery on malignant glioma by analyzing prognostic factors affecting malignant gliomas treated with linac radiosurgery.

METHODFifty-eight patients with deep situated malignant gliomas, aged 7 to 70 years, 28 anaplastic astrocytomas and 30 glioblastomas multiforme were analyzed. The median volume of tumor was 10.67 cm3, and median prescription dose for linac radiosurgery was 20 Gy. Results were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression.

RESULTIn follow-up 44.8 percent tumors (26 patients) decreased in size. Median tumor local control interval was 10 months, 15 months for anaplastic astrocytomas, and 9 months for glioblastoma multiforme. Tumor local control probability was 37.9 percent for 1 year and 10.3 percent for 2 years. Median survival was 22.5 months for anaplastic astrocytoma, 13 months for glioblastoma multiforme, and 15 months for all patients. The survival probability was 79.3 percent at 1 year and 20.6 percent at 2 years. Isocenter numbers and tumor volume were the prognostic factors for tumor control, but conformity index was the prognostic factor for survival by Cox regression analysis. Considering pathology, only isocenter number and target volume significantly affected tumor control interval. Complications appeared in 44.8 percent patients and the median interval of complication onset was 8 months. Symptomatic cerebral edema was observed in 31.0 percent patients.

CONCLUSIONLinac radiosurgery can effectively improve tumor local control and prolong survival for deep situated malignant gliomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioblastoma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Radiosurgery ; Survival Rate

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the ideal adult stem cells in cell/gene therapy and tissue engineering for their features of easily-handling, highly proliferative capacity in vitro, low immunogenicity and immunomodulatory ability. MSC, as a kind of cellular drug, have been utilized in a phase III clinical trial to treat refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the essences of MSC in culture remain elusive so far. Whether the cells expanded in vitro are stem cells per se, and if not, why expanded MSC maintain their multiple differentiation ability? And are the MSC cultivated in vitro homogeneous and if not, what the heterogeneity stands for? Focusing on the heterogeneity of MSC in culture in vitro, the above questions are briefly discussed in this review.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology

Objective To explore the distribution of water with high level arsenic and prevalence of arsenism along Huai'he River and the surrounding area of Hong'ze lake in Huai'an of Jiangsu. Methods Wate rsamples were collected and tested in 2008 from 18 villages of 6 towns according to history data in 3 counties like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze. Samples having arsenic level higher than 0.05 mg/L were investigated by epidemiological method and the patients were diagnosed by Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsenism. Results All 5199 water samples were determined,and 260 water samples were exceeding the national drinking water quality level (0.05 mg/L) in 3 counties,the rates of exceeding diagnosis were 5.6%(247/4454),0.7%(4/597),6.0%(9/148) respectively. Total detected rate of endemic arsenic disease was 5.94%(128/2155). The detected rates of age group of 0 ～ ,20 ～,30 ～ ,40 ～ ,50 ～ ,60 ～ ,70 ～ ,80 ～ were 2.86%(1/35),2.11%(2/95),1.26%(3/239),3.10%(16/516),5.53% (32/579),10.07%(41/407),11.84%(27/228),10.71%(6/56) respectively. The detected rate of male (9.10%,78/857) was higher than that of female(3.85%,50/1298,χ~2 = 25.46,P < 0.01). Conclusions Huai'he River and the surrounding areas of Hong'ze lake like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze are identified existing endemic arsenic disease area. The prevention of arsenism should be strengthened in these areas.

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of a second primary malignant tumor induced by previous radiotherapy.

METHODSFrom March 1970 to March 1997, 108 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients who developed a second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy were treated. There were squamous carcinoma 43 (39.8%), sarcoma 26 (24.1%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma 14 (13.0%), adenoid cystic carcinoma 12 (11.1%), thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma 8 (7.4%) and malignant melanoma 5 (4.6%). Fifty patients underwent operation, 32 received radiotherapy, 18 received chemotherapy and 8 received operation combined with chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe 3- and 5-year tumor-free survival rates were 64.0% and 36.0% in the operation group. They were 34.4% and 18.8% in the radiotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSurgery, if not contra-indicated, is the first choice for the second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy. Aggressive treatment for these patients is, hence, indicated clinically.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Survival Rate

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based cell therapy has shifted into clinical trials to repair the damage of various tissues. In this setting, the survival of the transplanted cells contributes critically to the therapeutic effectiveness. To investigate the in vivo tracing of MSCs, a recombinant retroviral vector carrying firefly-luciferase reporter gene [pL (FLUC) SN] was constructed and several GPE+86 cell clones that stably expressed fluc were selected. The retroviral supernatants were collected and used to transfect MSC derived from C57 mice. The cells were then screened with G418 and the expression of the exogenous gene was identified by luciferase enzyme activity analysis. Labeled mouse MSCs (2x10(6)) were injected into skeletal muscles, and the in situ expression was noninvasively tracked by in vivo bioluminescence imaging for 1, 3 and 6 days after transplantation. The results showed that the survival rates of the grafted cells dropped sharply with time, they were 57.2+/-11.7%, 8.6+/-2.5% and 5.4+/-3.1% on day 1, 3 and 6 after transplantation, and no fluorescent signals above background were detected on day 10. It is concluded that the method described above could be used for in vivo tracing of grafted cells. Furthermore, MSCs could not survive even transplanted into the none-ischemic skeletal muscles.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Cell Survival ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Luminescent Measurements ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical results of the treatment of severe infantile hemangioma with high-dose propranolol in Chinese.

METHODS56 cases with severe infantile hemangioma were treated with propranolol. Clinical evaluation, electrocardiography, and experimental examination of liver function and heart function were performed before treatment. The daily dose of propranolol was increased from 1 mg/kg at the first day to 1.5 mg/kg at the second day, and to 2 mg/kg at the third day. The propranolol was given twice a day. The treatment was lasted for six months. The patients were visited every month.

RESULTSThe lesion color was changed after 2-4 days of treatment in all the cases. All the lesions were dramatically improved after one month of treatment. The ulceration were healed, except one case. Until now, complete regression was achieved in 10 cases and marked improvement in 46 cases. Side effects were happened in 3 cases, including one case of abnormal liver function, one case of CK-MB increase and one case of continuous increase of CK-MB, LDH, ALT, GGT.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-dose Propranolol is very effective in the treatment of infantile hemangioma with minor side effects and short disease period. It might he used as the first-line treatment for infantile hemangioma.

China ; Female ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Propranolol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to explore the optimal management option for cervical metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clinically N0 neck in order to avoid excessive or inadequate treatment in clinical practice.

METHODSClinical data of 327 cases of tongue SCC with cN0 neck were retrospectively analyzed. Neck control rates affected by different pathoclinical parameters were compared. Prognosis analysis and death analysis were also performed.

RESULTSOverall 3-year survival was 69.7% (228/327), 3-year survival of neck recurrent group and non-recurrent group was 39.1% (25/64) and 77.2% (203/263), and 51.5% (51/99) of the death related to neck failure. Overall neck control rate was 80.4% (263/327); neck control rate of wait and watch group, level I neck dissection, level I + II neck dissection, supraomohyoid neck dissection, radical neck dissection, functional neck dissection, was 67.5% (27/40), 72.7% (24/33), 60.0% (15/25), 84.9% (45/55), 86.8% (131/151), 84.0% (21/25), respectively. Treatment modality and cervical lymph node involvement were independent factors for neck control.

CONCLUSIONSNeck control is a key for prognosis of tongue SCC with cN0 neck. Supraomohyoid neck dissection is the first choice in management of cervical metastases in tongue SCC with cN0 neck, during which the suspected involved lymph nodes should be sent for frozen section to determine whether comprehensive neck dissection required. Multimodal metastasis and/or capsular spread are the indications for postoperative irradiation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the potential role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) autograft for the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSBone marrow (100 ml) was aspirated from a severe silicosis patient. BMSCs isolated, purified and cultured in vitro. When BMSC came to 70% confluence at passage 3, the culture medium was added liposomes (lipo2000) and plasmid-HGF (p-HGF) and cultured for 2 d. HGF-MSCSs (5 × 10(7) cells) were resuspended in 50 ml 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) and infused Intravenous drip at 3 consecutive times (once a week). Clinical follow-up were performed before and after treatment: (1) pulmonary high-kV X-ray, chest CT examination; (2) pulmonary function test; (3) determination of serum ceruloplasmin.

RESULTSThe symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness disappeared at 12 months after treatment. Pulmonary function tests showed significant changes after treatment: forced vital capacity (FVC) increased from 64.6% to 81.0%, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1.0)) increased from 68.7% to 90.1%, 1 second rate (FEV(1.0)/FVC%) reduced from 111.6% to 107.1%, the maximum mid-expiratory flow (FEF(25%∼75%) decreased from 100.2% to 94.6%, forced expiratory vital capacity 75% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(75%)) increased from 99.2% to 113.5%, forced expiratory vital capacity 50% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(50%)) increased from 125.3% to 130.2%, forced expiratory vital capacity 25% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(25%)) reduced from 86.9% to 71.7%; serum ceruloplasmin levels decreased from 690 mg/L to 180.6 mg/L; lung high-kV X-ray at 1st review showed that diffuse lung nodules had been absorbed and getting smaller than before treatment; chest CT showed that the distribution and number of small nodules at double lung fields decreased than before treatment.

CONCLUSIONHGF combined with BMSC transplantation may have some potential role for the treatment of silicosis patients.

Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Silicosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome