Animals ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Quadriceps Muscle ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Hypercalcemia is a relatively common complication of cancer that is clinically important because, left unattended, it is associated with symptomatic deterioration and even death. So hypercalcemia can afflict the quality of life and complicate management of the cancer patients with anorexia, lethargic, stuporous mentality, and severely dehydrated. Nonetheless, most cancers are at an advanced stage by the time hyperclacemia develops, many clinicians share doubts about the role of antihypercalcemic therapy in this situation. Furthermore, because the symptoms of hypercalcemia may mimic that of progressive malignant disease or the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, this may not always be recognized. So concerns are needed for active management of patients with malignant hypercalcemia. The authors reviewed the morbidity and mortality in 20 patients with malignant hypercalcemia out of 219 patients with bone metastasis, who were treated at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Catholic University Medical College from January 1989 through December 1992. The results were as follows. 1. The overall incidence of malignant hypercalcemia was 8.6% of bone metastases (20 out of 219 cases).: lung cancer 11.2% (10 out of 89 cases), breast cancer 22.5% (7 out of 31 cases), stomach cancer 6.3% (3 out of 47 cases). 2. The underlying diseases associated with hyprecalcemia were 10 cases of lung cancer(50%), 7 cases of breast cancer(35%) and 3 cases of stomach cancer(15%). Out of lung cancers, 8 cases were squamous cell cancers, the other 2 cases were oat cell cancers. 3. Only 7 out of 20 patients were treated with hydration, diuretics, steroid, calcitonin and mithramycin. And the mean survival duration after recognition of hypercalcemia was 11.3 weeks independent of treatment. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that inspite of grave prognosis, when treated actively, calcium lowering therapy may allow patients to be discharged during terminal period of their illness.
Anorexia ; Avena ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Diuretics ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Plicamycin ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stupor

This study was aimed to explore the effects of STI571 alone or with As₂O₃ on proliferation, apoptosis and caspase 3, bcl-xL mRNA expression of K562 cells, and the molecular mechanism of As₂O₃ enhancing the anti-leukemia effect of STI571 so as to provide the scientific basis for clinical treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. The effect of drugs on proliferation of K562 cells was assayed by MTT method, the apoptosis rate of K562 cells was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining, the caspase 3, bcl-xL mRNA expressions of K562 cells were determined by real time quantitative PCR. The results showed that STI571 alone or with As₂O₃ both could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells. OD value in test groups reduced along with prolonging of action times, the OD values between different time points were significantly different (p < 0.05), furthermore the OD values at 72 hours in test groups were lowest, while as compared with control group, OD values at same time points in test groups all gradually decreased, among which decrease of OD value in test 5 group was most significant. The flow cytometric detection indicated that along with time prolonging, the apoptotic rate in control group not obviously changed, but the apoptotic rate in test groups gradually increased, the difference between time points was significant (p < 0.05), moreover apoptotic rate increased most obviously at 72 hours, while as compared with control group, apoptotic rate at same time points in test groups was gradually enhanced (p < 0.05), among which the apoptotic rate in test 5 group was highest. The real time qPCR assay revealed that as compared with control group, the bcl-xL mRNA expression in test groups reduced with decrease of 2-ΔΔCT value, furthermore the decrease of expression level in test 3 group was higher than that in test 2 group (p < 0.05), while the caspase 3 mRNA expression in test groups was enhanced with increase of 2-ΔΔCT value, moreover the increase of expression level in test 3 group was higher than that in test 2 group (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the STI571 can inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, accelerate the apoptosis of K562 cells. The STI571 combined with As₂O₃ can enhance these two effects, increase the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and decrease the expression of bcl-xL mRNA. Therefore, the effect of STI571 combined with As₂O₃ on expression of caspase 3 and bcl-xL mRNA may be one of molecular mechanisms underlying their synergic antileukemia efficacy.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; K562 Cells ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a high efficient human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) eukaryotic stable expression system using lentiviral vector, and determine its biosafety.

METHODSLentiviral transfer plasmid carrying human B-domain-deleted FVIII(BDDhFVIII)-IRES-GFP(BDDhFVIII/pXZ9)or IRES-GFP(pXZ9) was constructed. Lentivirus particles were produced by transiently co-transfected 3-plasmids into 293FT cells and further concentrated via ultracentrifugation. CHO cells were infected, 72h later, the FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) concentration in the medium was examined by ELISA, the activity was detected via one stage coagulation,and the transcription of FVIII in the infected CHO cells was determined by RT-PCR.Virus infection ability in the medium and the gag gene in CHO cells were determined to evaluate the model's biosafety.

RESULTSLentiviral transfer plasmid BDDhFVIII-IRES-GFP(BDDhFVIII/pXZ9)carrying human B-domain-deleted FVIII or IRES-GFP (pXZ9) was successfully constructed, and high titer lentiviruses has been prepared. The lentivirus could infect CHO cells efficiently, after an additional 72 h, the FVIII:Ag concentration had up to (1724.9±283.7) mU/ml, the FVIII:C level increased to (10.58±1.55)%, and transcripts of BDDhFVIII mRNA could be measured by RT-PCR. Neither the gag gene nor the virus in the supernatant was detected.

CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated human coagulation factor VIII could be expressed efficiently in CHO cells. The system couldn't produce offspring virus, proving a good biosafety.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of BSDW on the model of allergic rhinitis and the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking in guinea pigs.

METHODUsing the model of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs caused by 10% TDI, we observed the effect of BSDW on physiological and pathological symptoms of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, the effect of the levels of serum IgE and serum and nasal histamine. Using the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking, we observed the effect of BSDW on physiological symptoms in guinea pigs.

RESULTBSDW significantly relieved the pathological symptoms of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, alleviated the hyperplasia of columnar epithelium, decreased the number of monocyte and eosinocyte compared with the model group. It also reduced the levels of serum IgE, and decreased the release of serum and nasal histamine. BSDW significantly prolonged the occurent time of gasping, eclampsia and death caused by shock, reduced the times of gasping in the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking.

CONCLUSIONBSDW has significant effect against allergy. The mechanism relates to its effects of decreasing the levels of serum IgE and inhibiting the release of serum and nasal histamine.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; pharmacology ; Asarum ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine ; blood ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

An epidemiologic investigation was carried out to identify the source of infection of typhoid fever outbreak, which was occurred in Nam-Gu, Pusan city from April 20 to June 28, 1996. The distribution of 83 reported cases (55 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases) by sex and age group showed that this epidemic would be occurred by the exposure to a common source with low toxic pathogen because 55.4% of cases were under 20 years old and most of the adults cases were female. The epidemic curve showed a unimodel curve with a peak on about 15 May and tailed down to 23 June, suggesting that the exposure was constant. These results supposed that the contamination of a public water supply would be the source of infection. The analysis of reported cases and population survey conducted to household members and community contacts living in the epidemic area, led the conclusion that the source of infection was tap water supplied through the Dae Youn pumping station, based on the following findings: (1) There were singificant differences of incidence rate among regions (Tong) even though in the same Dong and the spot map of incident cases distributed in accord with the water supply by Dae-Youn pumping station. (2) Among reported cases, 21 cases, including 17 confirmed cases, stated they had used only tap water. (3) The analysis of tap water from the house which had seven typhoid cases, revealed the contamination of E coli and the dilution of residual chlorinated concentration. (4) The outbreak of typhoid fever was stopped after the replacement of The worn-out pipe line of tap water supply to the new one.
Adult ; Busan* ; Escherichia coli ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Typhoid Fever* ; Water ; Water Supply ; Young Adult

AIM To optimize the two-phase (ethanol-dipotassium phosphate) aqueous extraction for Astragali Radix by central composite design-response surface method.METHODS With ethanol concentration,dipotassium hydrogen phosphate solution concentration and Astragali Radix feed ratio as influencing factors,together with extraction rates of total flavonoids and total saponins as evaluation indices,the technology optimization was accomplished by central composite design-response surface method.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 27.97％ for ethanol concentration,22.03％ for dipotassium hydrogen phosphate solution concentration,and 1 ∶ 58.85 for Astragali Radix feed ratio.The extraction rate of total flavonoids reached 74.13％ (concentrated in the upper layer),while that of total saponins reached 81.34％ (concentrated in the lower layer).CONCLUSION With good predictability,this simple and accurate method can be used for the extraction of total flavonoids and total saponins in Astragali Radix.

OBJECTIVETo establish molecular typing of Listeria monocytogenes isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for studying the epidemiologic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from foodstuff in Guangdong province and to build up PFGE typing database of Listeria monocytogenes isolates for identifying the infectious resource of the outbreaks and other epidemiologic investigation.

METHODS"Standardized Protocol for Molecular Subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes by PFGE" was followed. BioNumerics software was applied on image analysis, database establishment, comparative and corresponding analysis.

RESULTS107 Listeria monocytogenes isolates were typed by PFGE, 41 PFGE types were observed among the isolates. The PFGE types were dispersive among these isolates. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were most frequently isolated in raw chicken while the most PFGE types were found in this type of food. The positive rate was relatively high in cold and iced foods. Only 1-2 DNA fragment difference occurred in 26 Listeria monocytogenes isolates by PFGE, so high degree of relatedness remained among these isolates. There were unique PFGE patterns in the regions of Shaoguan and Huizhou. From time to time, a number of isolates remained close relationship.

CONCLUSIONPFGE typing of the 107 Guangdong Listeria monocytogenes isolates demonstrated relative genetic diversity but a number of the isolates showed close relatedness.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Food Microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Genotype ; Listeria monocytogenes ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny

BACKGROUNDSpinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common subtype of SCA worldwide, and runs a slowly progressive and unremitting disease course. There is currently no curable treatment available. Growing evidence has suggested that nerve growth factor (NGF) may have therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative diseases, and possibly also in SCA3. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of NGF in SCA3 patients.

METHODSWe performed an open-label prospective study in genetically confirmed adult (>18 years old) SCA3 patients. NGF was administered by intramuscular injection (18 μg once daily) for 28 days consecutively. All the patients were evaluated at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment using the Chinese version of the scale for assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA).

RESULTSTwenty-one SCA3 patients (10 men and 11 women, mean age 39.14 ± 7.81 years, mean disease duration 4.14 ± 1.90 years, mean CAG repeats number 77.57 ± 2.27) were enrolled. After 28 days of NGF treatment, the mean total SARA score decreased significantly from a baseline of 8.48 ± 2.40 to 6.30 ± 1.87 (P < 0.001). Subsections SARA scores also showed significant improvements in stance (P = 0.003), speech (P = 0.023), finger chase (P = 0.015), fast alternating hand movements (P = 0.009), and heel-shin slide (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSOur preliminary data suggest that NGF may be effective in treating patients with SCA3.

Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Machado-Joseph Disease ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factor ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies

Background:Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offers a new approach for adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).The study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tACS treating MDD.Methods:This is an 8-week,double-blind,randomized,placebo-controlled study.Ninety-two drug-naive patients with MDD aged 18 to 65 years will receive 20 daily 40-min,77.5-Hz,15-mA sessions of active or sham tACS targeting the forehead and both mastoid areas on weekdays for 4 consecutive weeks (week 4),following a 4-week observation period (week 8).The primary outcome is the remission rate defined as the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS-17) score ≤7 at week 8.Secondary outcomes are the rates of response at weeks 4 and 8 and rate of remission at week 4 based on HDRS-17,the proportion of participants having improvement in the clinical global impression-improvement,the change in HDRS-17 score (range,0-52,with higher scores indicating more depression) over the study,and variations of brain imaging and neurocognition from baseline to week 4.Safety will be assessed by vital signs at weeks 4 and 8,and adverse events will be collected during the entire study.Discussion:The tACS applied in this trial may have treatment effects on MDD with minimal side effects.