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.

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

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

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.

Objective: To observe the effects of follistatin (FST)on the skeletal muscle wasting of cancer cachexia mice and the expressions of Mstn, LncRNA-MALAT1 and Caspase-3, and to elucidate its associated molecular mechanisms.Methods:Thirty-two BALB/c mices were randomly assigned into:healthy control (HC) group,FST prevention (FP)group,FST treatment (FT)group and cancer cachexia (CC)group.The murine colon adenocarcinoma CT26 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mices in FP, FT and CC groups to establish the cancer cachexia models. The body weight, spontaneous activity and tumor growth were daily monitored.The mice in FP and FT groups were administrated with FST intraperitoneally on day 6 and 12 after inoculation.The samples were collected on day 20.The tumor and gastrocnemius weights of the mice were detected. The biochemical metabolism indexes and myofiber cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius tissue were detected.The mRNA expression levels of Mstn,Caspase-3 and LncRNA-MALAT1 were examined by Real-time PCR.The protein expression levels of Mstn and Caspase-3 were measured by Western blotting method. Results:Compared with CC group,the body weights,spontaneous activities,gastrocnemius weights and myofiber cross-sectional areas were increased (P <0.05);the serum levels of glucose,total protein and albumin of the mice in FP and FT groups were increased (P <0.05).The protein and mRNA expression levels of Mstn and Caspase-3 in gastrocnemius of the mice in CC group were significantly higher and the expression level of LncRNA-MALAT1 was significantly lower than those in HC group (P < 0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of Mstn and Caspase-3 in FP and FT groups were reduced and the expression level of LncRNA-MALAT1 was increased compared with CC group (P < 0.05).The prevention effect in FP group is better than FT group (P < 0.05). Conclusion:FST may alleviate the muscle wasting of the mice with cancer cachexia by inhibiting the expression of Mstn,thus upregulating the expression of LncRNA-MALAT1 which in turn to suppress the expression of Caspase-3.

Objective To investigate the endoscopic findings and treatment of gastrointestinal neu-roendocrine neoplasms.Methods Endoscopic manifestation and treatment were analyzed retrospectively in 72 patients who were diagnosed as having gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms by endoscopy and pathol-ogy from May 2011 to December 2014.Results In 72 patients of gastrointestinal NEN,rectum was most commonly involved (48 patients,66.7%),followed by the stomach (16 patients,22.2%),duodenum, esophagus and the ileocecal valve.There were certain features in rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms under endoscopy,mostly manifested by submucosal tumors.But gastric,esophageal,and small intestine NEN man-ifestations showed various forms,without specific typical features,and easy to be misdiagnosed.Some patients diagnosed as having NEN G1 or G2 underwent EMR,ESD or laparoscopy combined with endoscopy resection.Patients diagnosed as having NEN G2 or neuroendocrine carcinoma by pathology received surgical resection,chemotherapy or palliative treatment.All 50 patients underwent endoscopic treatment successful-ly.Perforation occurred in one duodenal bulbar G1 patient during ESD.No bleeding occurred during and after the operation.All patients after treatment were followed up for 15.6 +13.2 months on average with no recurrence or metastasis.Conclusion Manifestations of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms vary under endoscopy.Some tumors that locate in mucosa or submucosa with diameter less than 1cm can be resec-ted through EMR or ESD.