Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofZhibai Dihuang Decoction combined with endocrine therapy for kidney-yin deficiency type of advanced prostate cancer and its influence on patient symptoms of hot flashes.Methods Totally 72 cases of advanced prostate cancer patients were randomly divided into the combined group (36 cases) and the control group (36 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with endocrine therapy, while patients in the combined group were additionally treated byZhibai Dihuang Decoction. After 12 weeks of treatment, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), the clinical symptoms score, the number of cases of hot flashes and safety index before and after treatment were observed. Results In the course of treatment, the control group and the combined group each had 1 case lost to follow up. PSA and I-PSS in the two groups significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.01). The total efficiency rate of TCM syndrome was 94.3% (33/35) in the combined group, while it was 57.1% (20/35) in the control group, with significant difference (P<0.01). After treatment, the incidence of hot flushes was reduced after treatment in the combined group, but the control group increased, with significant difference (P<0.01). No adverse reaction was found in the two groups.ConclusionZhibai Dihuang Decoction combined with endocrine therapy is more effective than endocrine therapy alone, which can reduce the symptoms of hot flashes.

To explore the expressional information of PIWIL4 in human ovarian cancer, semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(semi-qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression level of PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 in human ovarian clear cell carcinoma ES-2 cells.Meanwhile, in human ovarian cancer and adjacent normal tissues, the mRNA expression of PIWIL4 was determined.Then, PIWIL4-siRNA, which was designed to target PIWIL4 and chemical synthesized, was transfected into ES-2 cells with lipofectamine.MTT assay and clone formation assay were used to investigate the effects of PIWIL4-siRNA on the cell growth activity and proliferation capacity of ES-2 cells.Experimental results showed that the mRNA expression level of PIWIL4 was the highest compared to PIWIL1, PIWIL2 and PIWIL3 in ES-2 cells(P

Objective To assess the effect and safety of lanthanum carbonate vs conventional phosphate binders for hyperphosphatemia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.Methods According to the collaborative search strategy,MEDLINE (1996 to 2012.12),EBCO (1996 to 2012.12),the clinical control test database of Cochrane Library and Chinese Wanfang database (1996to 2012.12) were searched.Related literature,whether Published or not and meeting summary included,were searched by hand.Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two independent investigators.Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.0.The following outcomes were assessed:serum phosphorus levels,serum iPTH levels,serum calcium levels and adverse events.Results were expressed as OR with 95％ confidence interval for dichotomous outcomes and WMD with 95％ confidence interval for continuous outcomes.Results A total of 10 reports were identified which met the inclusion criteria.The meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of treating hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients was similar between lanthanum carbonate and conventional phosphate binders (WMD =-0.06,95％ CI-0.27 to 0.15,P =0.57) and the incidences of discontinuing due to adverse events were also similar.However,there were fewer hypercalcemic episodes and lower serum calcium levels in the lanthanum carbonate group compared to calcium-based phosphorus binders group.Conclusion Lanthanum carbonate is effective and well tolerated in treating hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients with fewer hypercalcemia and lower serum calcium levels compared to calciumbased phosphate binders.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between liver stiffness and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in chronic heptatitis B patients with negative α-fetoprotein (AFP) tests. MethodsFrom September 2012 to August 2014, this study enrolled a total of 82 HBV-relative native HCC patients as the case group. During the same period, a total of 253 chronic hepatitis B patients were also include in this study as the control group. These 253 patients were followed up for six months. All of the two groups were AFP-negative. Liver stiffness was measured in all patients by transient elastography device Fibroscan?. Logistic regression was applied to assess the risk of HCC incidence, and stratum-specific likelihood ratios (SSLR) was calculated.ResultsThe age, liver stiffness measurements and plasma albumin of patients in case group were 53 years old (44-61), 12.00 kPa (7.50-20.75), 43.14 g/L (39.50-46.75) respectively. The age, liver stiffness measurements and plasma albumin of patients in control group were 45 years old (38-56), 8.40 kPa (5.40-13.50), 46.40 g/L (43.75-48.50) respectively. The variables were compared between two groups with unpaired studentt test, and the results were statistically significant (t=4.33, 3.56,
-4.48,P=0.00, 0.00, 0.00). The patients in case group were older, and had higher liver stiffness measurements and lower plasma albumin than that of the patients in control group. Logistic regression analysis showed that HCC incidence was associated with age,male-gender and liver stiffness, and the odds ratios (OR) was 1.053, 2.432, 6.803 respectively. When liver stiffness was<10 kPa, 10.1-15 kPa, 15.1-25 kPa,>25 kPa, SSLR for HCC presence was 0.67, 1.02,1.44, 3.98 respectively.ConclusionsLiver stiffness measured by transient elastography is useful in predicting the risk of HCC incidence in AFP-negative chronic heptatitis B patients. Clinicians needed to carry out close follow-up and appropriate intervention for these patients.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanisms and related factors and preventive managements of the stress ulcer complicating with acute cervical spinal cord injury. MethodsThe clinical findings of eight cases of the acute cervical spinal cord injury with stress ulcer were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsFive cases were cured by conservative treatment, one case was cured after operations, two cases died of breath and circulation failure.ConclusionStress ulcer is a critical complication of acute cervical spinal cord injury. It should be prevented actively.

AIMTo isolate and purify the brain microvessels without intact neural cells used for cloning specific gene at the blood-brain-barrier.

METHODSMagnetic beads ranging from 200-500 nm were synthesized and infused into cerebral spheres through carotid arteries. The brain tissues were dissected by mechanic and enzymatic methods, and sieved to discharge tissues and large blood vessels. The brain microvessels labelled by magnetic beads were sorted in magnetic fields, and identified by morphology, molecular biology and biologic activity.

RESULTSScanning electric micrograph of the obtained brain microvessels showed the vessels grossly free of adjoining neural cells except an occasional nerve ending. RT-PCR products of microtube-associated protein 2a, glutamine synthetase and CD31 from brain tissue had positive lanes, but only CD31 had positive lanes from isolated microvessels. The endothelial cells from isolated microvessels had more fluorescence than that from cultured endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONHighly purified microvessels without intact neural cells can be obtained by this method.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; anatomy & histology ; Brain ; blood supply ; Microvessels ; anatomy & histology ; Rats

The PET tracer 5-([11C]methyloxy)-L-tryptophan (5-(11)CMTP) was prepared by nucleophilic fluorination and alkylation reaction via a two-step procedure in order to develop specific tumor probe. The biodistribution and microPET imaging of 5-(11)CMTP were executed. The results unveiled that the overall radiochemical yield with no decay correction was (14.6 ±7.2) %, the radiochemical purity was more than 95% and high uptake and long retention time of 5-(11)CMTP in liver, kidney and blood were observed but low uptake in brain and muscle were found, furthermore, high uptake of 5-(11)CMTP in tumor tissue was observed. It seems that 5-(11)CMTP will be a potential amino acid tracer for tumors imaging with PET.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radioactive Tracers ; Tissue Distribution ; Tryptophan ; analogs & derivatives

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluorescence ; G1 Phase ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the relationship between platelet maximum aggregation rate(MAR),platelet thrombocyt-ocrit(PCT),platelet count(PLT),platelet distribution width(PDW)and mean platelet volume(MPV)with the course of acute cere-bral infarction(ACI)to provide the basis for its clinical early diagnosis and treatment.Methods 107 patients with ACI in our hospi-tal were selected and divided into the great infarction group(infarction size >10 cm3 ),middle infarction group(infarction size 4-10 cm3 )and small infarction group(infarction size<4 cm3 )according to the infarction lesion size by head CT or MRI and the infarction volume calculated by the Pullicino formula(length×width×layer number/2),40 healthy individuals were selected as the healthy control group.MAR,PLT,PDW,MPV and PCT were detected before and after the induction by PLR-06.Results (1 )Compared with the control group,PLT,PCT,PDW and MPV before the induction by PLR-06 in the great infarction group were obviously in-creased(P <0.01);PLT,PCT,PDW and MPV in the middle and small infarction groups were increased(P <0.05).(2)Compared with the control group,MAR after the induction by PLR-06 in each infarction group was increased(P <0.05);PLT had no statisti-cal difference among the groups(P >0.05 );PCT,PDW and MPV in the great and middle infarction groups were increased(P <0.05);PCT,PDW and MPV in the small infarction group had no statistical differences(P >0.05).Conclusion The change of the platelet aggregation rate,number and volume is closely related with the occurrence and development of ACI,monitoring their change has important clinical significance to prevention and treat ACI.