Objective To study the relationship between TGF-?signaling pathway and pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma.Methods The expression of TGF-?RⅠ,TGF-?RⅡand Smad4 protein was deter- mined by immunohistochemistry in normal gastric mucosa(26 cases),intestinal metaplasia(22 cases),dysplasia (20 cases)and gastric carcinoma(43 cases).Results The positive expression rate of TGF-?RⅠ,TGF-?RⅡand Smad4 decreased following the malignant degree in gastric tissues(P

Objective To find the changes of haemagglutination inhibition ( HI ) antibody level against A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) within one month after pandemic A/H1N1 influenza vaccine (A/H1N1InfV) vaccination, and to provide data for drawing up immunization protocols against novel influenza . Methods The HI antibodies against A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) in sera from the inoculated subjects were tested by HI test .The geometric mean titer ( GMT) , geometric mean increase ( GMI) , seroconversion (SC) rate, seroprotection (SP) rate of HI antibodies were compared among the sera collected on day 3, 7, 14, 30 post vaccination .Results 961 participants were injected with A/H1N1InfV.In subjects aged 3 to 11 years, the antibody level peaked on day 14 post vaccination, but neither on day 14 nor on day 30, the lower bound of the two -sided 95%CI for the SP rate could fulfill the criteria of the FDA for influenza vac-cine.In subjects aged 12 to 60 years, the antibody level peaked on day 14 post vaccination and the SC rate , SP rate and GMI fulfilled the criteria of the European Medicines Agency ( EMEA) and the FDA for influenza vaccine. In subjects aged more than 60 years, the antibody level peaked on day 30 post vaccination , and the SC rate, SP rate and GMI on day 30 fulfilled the criteria of the EMEA and the FDA .Conclusion One dose A/H1N1InfV vaccination was able to induce enough protection on day 14 for subjects aged 12 to 60 years, on day 30 for subjects aged more than 60 years;however , for subjects aged 3 to 11 years who were antibody-negative at baseline , the lower bound of the two-sided 95%CI for the SP rate on day 14 and day 30 couldn′t fulfill the criteria of the FDA for influenza vaccine .

OBJECTIVETo compare the curative effects of primary osteoporosis treated with heat-sensitive point moxibustion and Gaitianli (Oyster Shell and Calcium Carbonate Chewable) tablets for oral administration and explore the treatment mechanism.

METHODSSixty cases of primary osteoporosis were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive point moxibustion group (moxibustion group) and a Gaitianli tablets group (medication group), 30 cases in each group. In the moxibustion group, the heat sensitized points were searched around Zusanli (ST 36), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Mingmen (GV 4) and treated by heat-sensitive point moxibustion; in medication group, Gaitianli tablets were taken by oral administration, 3 pills for once and 3 times a day. The curative effects, bone mineral density (BMD), alkaline phosphatase (S-AKP) and urinary calcium to creatinine ratio (U-Ca/Cr) in both groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in moxibustion group, superior to that of 76.7% (23/30) in medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the BMD of lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) mean was improved (P < 0.05), and the S-AKP and U-Ca/Cr were reduced (all P < 0.05); in medi cation group, the indexes above were no obvious changes (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of primary osteoporosis treated with heat-sensitive point moxibustion is superior to that with Gaitianli tablets for oral administration. The mechanism is restraining bone resorption, increasing bone strength, keeping balance of bone metabolism, in order to increase bone mineral density and improve the clinical symptoms.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; urine ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective To explore the risk factors on cases regarding work-related acute pesticide poisoning among farmers of Jiangsu province.Methods A population-based,1 ∶ 2 matched case-control study was carried out,with 121 patients as case-group paired by 242 persons with same gender,district and age less then difference of 3 years,as controls.Cases were the ones who had suffered from work-related acute pesticide poisoning.A unified questionnaire was used.Data base was established by EpiData 3.1,and SPSS 16.0 was used for both data single factor and multi-conditional logistics regression analysis.Results Results from the single factor logistic regression analysis showed that the related risk factors were:lack of safety guidance,lack of readable labels befores praying pesticides,no regression during application,using hand to wipe sweat,using leaking knapsack,body contaminated during application and continuing to work when feeling ill after the contact of pesticides.Results from multi-conditional logistic regression analysis indicated that the lack of safety guidance (OR=2.25,95％ CI:1.35-3.74),no readable labels befores praying pesticides (OR=1.95,95％ CI:1.19-3.18),wiping the sweat by hand during application (OR=1.97,95％CI:1.20-3.24)and using leaking knapsack during application (OR=1.82,95％ CI:1.10-3.01) were risk factors for the occurrence of work-related acute pesticide poisoning.Conclusion The lack of safety guidance,no readable labels befores praying pesticides,wiping the sweat by hand or using leaking knapsack during application were correlated to the occurrence of work-related acute pesticide poisoning.

OBJECTIVETo present the treatment results and to identify the most effective therapeutic plan of different therapeutic modalities in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of hypopharynnx.

METHODSA retrospective review of 464 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated between 1958 and 1998 was accomplished. The clinical characteristics, results of different treatments were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 statistic software.

RESULTSOf 464 patients, the age ranged from 20 to 88 years (mean 56.3 years) and the male to female ratio was 5.5:1. The primary lesion of 383 were originated from the pyriform sinus, 40 from posterior pharyngeal wall and 41 from the postcricoid area. According to the UICC 1997 TNM staging system, 75% had T3 or T4 lesion or 92.2% stage III or IV on presentation. 65% had neck metastases. 202 patients were treated with preoperative radiation plus surgery (R + S), 22 with surgery plus postoperative radiation (S + R), 26 surgery alone (S), 40 patients with salvage surgery after radiotherapy failure (RF) and 174 patients with radiotherapy alone. The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.2%. The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was 46.3%, S + R group was 49.2%, S alone group 22.8%, RF group was 40.8%, radiotherapy alone group 18.0% (P < 0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was higher than that of S alone group (P = 0.046). The rate of larynx preservation in R + S group was 39.6% in contrast to that of S + R and S alone group of 16.7% (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONThe survival rate of patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated with combined therapy (R + S or S + R) is better than the other therapeutic modalities. R + S combined is able to offer an obviously higher rate of larynx preservation (39.6% vs 16.7%).

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

China ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo make an attempt at the multi-element speciation in the Chinese medicinal herbs by determining the concentrations of 25 elements in different extraction solutions.

METHODFirstly, five Chinese medicinal herbs (Buddleja officinalis, Dictamnus dasycarpus, Myristica fragrans, Albizia judibrissin and Inula japonica) from the same region of China were treated to obtain water-soluble phase, lipid-soluble phase and non-soluble phase by water extraction, organic solvent extraction and acid digestion, respectively. Secondly, Phytolacca acinosa, a Chinese medicinal herb collected from 9 regions of China, was extracted by 0% EtOH, 50% EtOH, 75% EtOH, 95% EtOH, respectively, referring the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Finally, the concentrations of 25 elements, such as Be, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ge, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Tl, Pb and REEs, in the above three phases were determined by ICP-MS.

RESULTUnder the optimal conditions, all the 25 elements could be determined with detection limits ranged from 0.003 to 0.71 ng x g(-1). The average recoveries of the elements in P. acinosa were 88% approximately 119%, with the relative standard deviations 1.7% approximately 13.3%. It was observed that the determined 25 elements distributed in all the water-soluble, lipid-soluble and non-soluble phases, indicating that the inorganic species, organicspecies, as well as the protein bound species were coexisted in the herbs. Big differences of the element extraction rates could be found by using different ethanol solutions.

CONCLUSIONWith the aid of the obtained results, we may increase the extraction of necessary elements while decrease that of the toxic elements from the herbs by choosing a suitable solvent during the drug production.

Buddleja ; chemistry ; Cadmium ; analysis ; Copper ; analysis ; Dictamnus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Lead ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Molybdenum ; analysis ; Myristica fragrans ; chemistry ; Phytolacca ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined reduction of central end-plate by end-plate expand clamp and vertebroplasty with calcium phosphate cement for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

METHODSThirty patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with posterior pedicle screw fixation combined reduction of central end-plate by end-plate expand clamp and vertebroplasty with calcium phosphate cement. There were 22 males and 8 females with an average of 47 years (range from 25 to 71 years). Segment of fracture had 1 case in T11, 5 in T12, 14 in L1, 8 in L2, 2 in L3, 1 in L4, 1 in L5. According to Denis typing, 4 cases were type A, 25 type B, 1 type C, 1 type D, 1 type E. The relative anterior height of vertebral body and the vertebral angle were measured before and after operation and during the follow-up period (8 months after operation) through X-ray, the failure of internal fixation and recurrent kyphosis were evaluated during the follow-up period. Vertebral intracorporeal gap was measured by CT images after operation and the central end-plate fracture and reduction were observed by the reconstructed CT images (sagittal and coronary) before and after operation.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 8 to 15 months with an average of 12 months. Relative anterior height of vertebral body and vertebral angle were well restored after operation, and there was no significant change between after operation and 8 months after operation. Preoperative,postoperative and 8 months after operation, relative anterior height of vertebral body respectively was 40.1%, 98.2%, 97.8%, vertebral angle respectively was 18.30, 2.70, 3.20. No failure of internal fixation and recurrent kyphosis were found during the follow-up period. The vertebral intracorporeal gap was about 3.1% and reduction of central endplate fracture was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONPosterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty with calcium phosphate cement can provide excellent reduction of post-traumatic segmental kyphosis and restore vertebral body height in the fracture level, prevent the failure of internal fixation which is an ideal method for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the cytotoxic effect of allogenetic natural killer (NK) cells in vitro on human CD34+ acute myelogenous leukemia cells.

METHODSCD34 expression on acute myelogenous leukemia KG1a cells was detected by flow cytometry. KG1a cells were co-cultured at different effector-to-target (E:T) ratios with NK cells isolated from 5 healthy individuals using magnetic cell sorting. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay was employed to examine the cytolysis of KG1a cells in the co-culture, and the inhibition rate of the KG1a cell colony formation in methylcellulose was determined with K562 cells sensitive to NK cells as the control.

RESULTSA expression rate as much as (98.0-/+1.1)% was detected for CD34 antigen on KG1a cells, and the isolated NK cells (CD3(-)CD16+CD56+ cells) had a purity of (93.2-/+3.7)% after magnetic cell sorting. Allogenetic NK cells exhibited obvious cytotoxicity and colony inhibition in vitro against KG1a cells at different E:T ratios, and the effects were significantly enhanced as the E:T ratios increased (P<0.05). At the same E:T ratio, the cytotoxicity and colony inhibition rate of allogenetic NK cells against KG1a cells was lower than those against K562 cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAllogenetic NK cells exhibit obvious cytotoxicity and colony formation against CD34+ acute myelogenous leukemia cells.

Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; immunology

Serum enzymes that play potential roles in tumor growth have recently been reported to have prognostic relevance in a diverse array of tumors. However, prognosis-related serum enzymes are rarely reported for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). To clarify whether the level of serum enzymes is linked to the prognosis of NPC, we reviewed the pretreatment data of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glutamyl transferase (GGT) in 533 newly diagnosed NPC patients who underwent radical radiotherapy between May 2002 and October 2003 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Patients were grouped according to the upper limit of normal values of LDH, ALP, and GGT. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for selecting prognostic factors from clinical characteristics and serum enzymes, and the chi-square test was applied to analyze the relationships of clinical characteristics and serum enzymes. Finally, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the independent prognostic factors. We found that increased levels of LDH had poor effects on both overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival (P = 0.009 and 0.035, respectively), and increased pretreatment level of serum ALP had poor effects on both overall survival and local recurrence-free survival (P = 0.037 and 0.039, respectively). In multivariate analysis, increased LDH level was identified as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Therefore, we conclude that increased pretreatment serum LDH and ALP levels are poor prognostic factors for NPC.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood