Background and purpose: Peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is mainly discovered in the ad-vanced cancer. Nonetheless, the clinical applicability of each tumor biomarker in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study investigated the diagnostic value and clinical significance of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 in gastric carcinoma patients with peritoneal metastases. Methods: A total of 108 gastric carcinoma patients with peritoneal metastases from Jan. 2008 to Dec. 2013 were studied. All patients were diagnosed by imaging, operations and pathological examination, and also received intravenous or intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Serum tumor markers such as CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were determined during diagnosis and before each chemotherapy. The diagnostic sensitivity of single marker and combined detection with 2 or 3 markers were analyzed. The correlations among the serum tumor markers and clinical pathological factors, chemotherapeutic effects and survival time were analyzed. Results: Positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were 20.4%, 46.3% and 45.4% in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases, respectively. For these patients, the positive rates of CEA/CA125, CEA/CA72-4, CA125/CA72-4 and CEA/CA125/CA72-4 were 54.7%, 52.8%, 69.5% and 79.6%, respectively. The combined detection of 3 tumor markers was much better than single marker detection (P<0.05). Positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were correlated with the ECOG scale (P<0.05). Positive rate of CA125 was associated with ascites (P<0.001), while positive rate of CA72-4 was associated with ovarian metastasis (P<0.05). Median survival time of patients with positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 was significantly lower than that of the patients with normal levels of these markers (P<0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the levels of all three tumor markers significantly declined after three cycles of chemo-therapy (P<0.05). The decline in CA125 level after chemotherapy was significantly correlated with decreased amount of ascites (P<0.05). The tumor markers turned negative after 3 cycles chemotherapy in patients with positive markers upon initial diagnosis, their survival was significantly prolonged (P<0.001). Conclusion: Combined detection of serum CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 can significantly promote diagnostic rate of gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis, and may be helpful in evaluating chemotherapeutic effects and predicting prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of upper lip atrophy resulted by previous therapy.

METHODSFrom Mar. 2008 to Mar. 2012, 4 cases with upper lip atrophy resulted by radiotherapy and sclerosing agent injection were treated with lower orbicularis oris muscle flap wrapped by acellular dermis. The thickness and height of upper lip were increased to improve the lip atrophy.

RESULTSPrimary wound healing was achieved in all the 4 cases. All the patients were followed up for 3 years with obvious improvement and inconspicuous scar.

CONCLUSIONThe volume of lower lip in children is not sufficient as donor site. The lower orbicularis oris muscle flap wrapped by acellular dermis can effectively improve the lip thickness and vermilion portion of upper lip.

Acellular Dermis ; Atrophy ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lip Diseases ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps

Objective To develop a new isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry method (ID/GC/MS) for the measurement of serum cholesterol.Methods Serum was mixed with an isotope labeled internal standard ([3,4-~(13)C]-cholesterol) and treated with alcoholic sodium hydroxide to hydrolyze cholesterol ester to cholesterol.Cholesterol and internal standard was extracted and derived by N, O-Bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide to trimethylsilyl ethers.The derivation products were analyzed by capillary column GC combined with electron impact MS using scan and selected ion monitor (SIM) modes. Signals of cholesterol internal standard were corrected for the contributions from cholesterol and the signal ratio of cholesterol to internal standard for the calibrators were linearly regressed against cholesterol concentrations.The resulted regression equation was used for the calculation of serum cholesterol concentrations.Results The new ID/GC/MS method showed a mean within-run coefficient variance (CV) of 0.04%-0.81%.Comparison with two levels of standard reference material (SRM1951a) of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) displayed a bias of 0.19% and 0.90% respectively.Conclusion A time-gaining ID/MS method has been established that is highly precise and accurate and can be used for the measurement of serum cholesterol.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the activation of RhoA and thrombin-induced neuron injury in the cortex of fetal rats. Methods The neurons from the fetal ratcortex were culturedin vitro for 8 d; and then,they were treated by thrombin at different concentrations (0,1,10,30 and 100 U/mL) for 3 h,and by 30 U/mL thrombm at different times (0,0.5,1,3 and 6 h);Western blotting was used to examine the effects of these different treatments on the activation of RhoA.The neurons were pretreated with Exoenzyme C3,the RhoA inhibitor,for 0.5 h,and incubated with 30 U/ml thrombin for 3 h; and then,Western blotting was employed to examine the activation of Rho A; besides that,the injuries of these neurons with the presence and absence of Exoenzyme C3 were observed by Hoechst33258 staining and CCK-8 assay.Results The activation of RhoA expressing in membrane with the treatment of 30 U/mL thrombin for 3 h was significantly increased as compared with that under the treatment of 0 U/mL (P＜0.05); and the total RhoA showed no significant changes with the treatment of all concentrations. The 3 h site with thrombin (30 U/mL) could more significantly induce R hoA expression as compared with other time sites (P＜0.05),and the total RhoA showed no significant changes under the treatment of all time sites. Pretreatrnent of neurons with Exoenzyme C3 could significantly down-regulate RhoA level as compared with those without pretreatment (P＜0.05); meanwhile,Hoechst33258 staining indicated that the number of brightly stained neurons in the Exoenzyme C3presence group was dramatically decreased as compared with that in the Exoenzyme C3 absence group (P＜0.05), and CCK-8 assay showed that the cell survival rate in Exoenzyme C3 absence group significantly decreased as compared with that in the Exoenzyme C3 presence group (P＜0.05).Conclusion RhoA in membrane is related to the thrombin-induced neuron injury in the cortex of fetal

Although gene therapy was regarded as a promising approach for glioma treatment, its therapeutic efficacy was often disappointing because of the lack of efficient drug delivery systems. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have been reported to have a tropism for brain tumors and thus could be used as delivery vehicles for glioma therapy. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to treat glioma by using MSCs as a vehicle for delivering replication-competent adenovirus. We firstly compared the infectivity of type 3, type 5, and type 35 fiber-modified adenoviruses in MSCs. We also determined suitable adenovirus titer in vitro and then used this titer to analyze the ability of MSCs to deliver replication-competent adenovirus into glioma in vivo. Our results indicated that type 35 fiber-modified adenovirus showed higher infectivity than did naked type 3 or type 5 fiber-modified adenovirus. MSCs carrying replication-competent adenovirus significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo compared with other control groups. In conclusion, MSCs are an effective vehicle that can successfully transport replication-competent adenovirus into glioma, making it a potential therapeutic strategy for treating malignant glioma.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Glioma ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Oncolytic Virotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Virus Replication ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; mortality ; Survival Analysis ; Tuberculosis ; complications ; mortality

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; epidemiology ; Tuberculosis ; complications ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the segmental monobloc osteotomy and bi-directional distraction for the treatment of Crouzon syndrome in an infant.

METHODSA 9-month-old female infant underwent monobloc osteotomy through combined intra- and extra-cranial way. The facial skull was divided into frontal, orbital and maxillary segments. The external distractor was used to move the frontal segment, orbital segment and midface forward. The internal distractor was used to move the maxilla downward. The consolidation lasted for 3 months after distraction.

RESULTSThe osteotomy and distraction were successfully completed. The distraction distance reached 18 mm, showing by distractor. The real distraction distance of facial bone was 12 mm, documented by 3-D image. The skull deformity and severe depression of midface improved a lot. The exophthalmos and underbite were corrected. The obstructive sleep apnea also improved markedly. However, the downward movement of maxilla was limited.

CONCLUSIONSMonobloc osteotomy with external distractor, as well as maxillary distraction, could be used for Crouzon syndrome in infant. It is safe and effective method which can be performed in an early age for Crouzon syndrome with obstructive sleep apnea.

Craniofacial Dysostosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Osteotomy ; methods

BACKGROUNDSystemic chemotherapy (SC) is the recommended treatment for gastric cancer with liver metastasis. However, the improvement in survival has been disappointing. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy of gastrectomy with transarterial chemoembolization plus SC (GTC) and SC alone for gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastasis.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2013, 107 gastric cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis attending the four participating centers were enrolled in this multicenter, ambispective, controlled cohort study. Patients who underwent GTC (n = 32) were compared with controls who were received SC alone (n = 75). The primary endpoints of the study were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were response rate to treatment and treatment-related adverse effects.

RESULTSThe median OS was 14.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI ]: 13.1-14.9 months) in the GTC treatment group and 8.0 months (95% CI : 6.6-9.4 months) in SC group, this difference being statistically significant (P < 0.001). The median PFS was significantly longer in the GTC than in the SC group (5 months, 95% CI : 2.2-7.8 months vs. 3 months, 95% CI : 2.3-3.4 months, respectively) (P < 0.001). The rate of response to treatment was significantly better in the GTC than the SC group (59.4% vs. 37.4%, respectively) (P = 0.035). According to multivariate analysis, OS in patients receiving combination treatment was significantly correlated with the size (P = 0.037) and extent of liver metastases (P < 0.001). PFS was also correlated with the extent of liver metastases (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSGTC is more effective than SC alone in patients with gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastasis. GTC therapy prolongs the survival of selected gastric cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Cohort Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) in the treatment of airway obstruction in Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS).

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2009, 8 newborns with PRS were treated with MDO. The mandibular distractors were fixed after bilateral oblique mandibular osteotomy. The distraction was started one day after operation, three times a day. The distraction distance was 1.2 mm per day until it reached about 12 -20 mm (mean 15 mm).

RESULTSThe distraction was successfully completed in 8 cases with no complication. The distraction distance reached 15 mm, as we expected. The discontinuity cyanosis, inspiratory dyspnea, dystithia were improved after distraction.

CONCLUSIONSMDO is feasible and safe for the treatment of airway obstruction in PRS.

Airway Obstruction ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Pierre Robin Syndrome ; surgery