The gold standard evaluation criteria of radiotherapeutic effect at the present time is the three-level classification of X-ray barium meal.However,this method has certain limitations.Morphological changes in esophagus wall and metastases after radiotherapy can be observed on computed tomography scanning.A positron emission tomography scan is a sensitive imaging test to observe the metabolic activity in pathologic cells and tissues.And diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging could provide the esophageal tumor necrosis information after radiotherapy by observing the changes of water molecular diffusion.With the development of medical imaging techniques,using various means in a comprehensive way to evaluate radiotherapeutic effect for esophageal carcinoma patients may become a trend.

Aim To evaluate the effect of expression inhibition of spermine oxidase(SMO)on the actitumor activity of polyamine analogue CPENSpm (N~1-cyclopropylmethyl-N~(11)-ethylnorspermine).Methods siRNA technique was used to inhibit expression of SMO in human lung cancer line A549.QT-RT-PCR and enzyme activity assay was performed to determine the expression level of SMO.The cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of A549 cells were evaluated by DNA degradation and Sub-G_1/flow cytometry assay.Results The A549 cell line with silenced SMO expression was successfully obtained.Basic SMO mRNA and enzyme activity levels in the SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells were 0.53% and 14% lower than that in the control cells respectively. Treating A549 control cells by 10 μmol·L~(-1) CPENSpm for 24 hours resulted in a 10-folds up-regulation of SMO in mRNA level and 20-fold increase in enzyme activity,but this drug-induced SMO expression was obviously prevented in SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells.MTT assay demonstrated that SMO expression inhibition decreased the sensitivity of A549 cells to CPENSpm exposure(0～20 μmol·L~(-1)).DNA degradation and sub-G_1 assay proved a deceased ability of CPENSpm to induce apoptosis in SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells.Conclusion Up-regulation of SMO by CPENSpm is possibly one of the molecular basics for its antitumor activity.

Objective To evaluate the agreement between contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and histopathology in rabbit model of abdominal aortic atherosclerosis (AS)in early and development period.Methods Twenty-four healthy Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups:control group,hypercholesterolemic diet group for 8 weeks and 16 weeks (each for 8 rabbits).Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for abdominal aorta was performed using sonicated perfluorocarbon albumin contrast agent.Imaging characteristics of abdominal aorta plaque of rabbits were monitored by two-dimensional mode,ultrasound visual grades were analyzed quantitatively before and after injection of contrast agent.Histopathologic changes were observed by HE staining.Results Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging allowed early detection of AS and showed gradual progression of atherosclerosis over time.After contrast agent injected,intimal indentification and plaques checking-out ratio were improved.The ultrasound visual grades were increased after contrast imaging in hypercholesterolemic diet group for 8 weeks [(2.26± 0.27)vs.(1.79 ±0.25)] and 16 weeks [(3.54 ±0.43) vs.(3.20 ±0.25)] (all P＜0.05).The plaque detection rate was improved after contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging than before angiography in hypercholesterolemic diet group for 8 weeks [77.8％ (7/9) vs.55.6％ (5/9)] and 16 weeks [88.2％ (15/17) vs.70.6％ (12/17)](P ＞ 0.05).The imaging of ultrasound agreed well with pathological examination results.Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can effectively improve intimal and plaque imaging,and increase the detection accuracy of early and progressive pathology.

No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M*

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of mental disorder that usually occurs after life-threatening and strong mental traumas .Clinical studies showed that the PTSD patients are 3 times more likely to have can-nabis as compared with the healthy people .The use of cannabinoids has a close relationship with the occurrence and clini-cal manifestations of PTSD .Experimental studies revealed that endocannabinoid ( eCB) signal alterations in animal models of PTSD influenced fear memory of the animals , suggesting a close correlation between the eCB system and the pathogenesis of PTSD.Given that the eCB system was reported to regulate affective states and participate in memory consolidation , re-trieval and extinction , targeting the eCB system may improve the emotional and cognitive features of PTSD , thereby holding out great promise for the development of novel approaches for clinical treatment of PTSD .

BACKGROUND:As meniscectomy may result in various adverse reactions, tissue-engineered meniscus is expected to be used for meniscus repair. Seed cel selection and optimal physicochemical stimuli are crucial for the construction of tissue-engineered meniscus.
OBJECTIVE:To overview the seed cel s for the tissue-engineered meniscus construction and the research progress of physicochemical factors.
METHODS:The first author retrieved the CNKI and Medline databases using the keywords of“meniscus, tissue engineering, seed cel s, physical and chemical factors”in English and Chinese, respectively, to retrieve articles related to the seed cel s and physicochemical factors of the tissue-engineered meniscus construction. Irrelative and repetitive articles were excluded, and 49 eligible articles were enrol ed for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The seed cel s must maintain their phenotype and synthetic ability after physicochemical stimulation in combination with scaffolds, to achieve the reproducibility of tissue-engineered meniscus. Most of cytokines can be used for promoting the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, but the underlying mechanisms were little known. Their application in the meniscus tissue engineering needs to be studied in depth. Currently it is urgent to improve physicochemical stimuli in order to construct the tissue-engineered meniscus. The shear force does harm to chondrocyte phenotype, and dynamic compression loading has been proved to enhance Ca+and glycosaminoglycan release. The fibrous cartilage stimulated by shear force and other factors may be helpful for constructing the tissue-engineered meniscus. An elaborated randomized control ed trial and the long-term quantitative analysis are of importance to assess the research results.

Objective To observe the protective effect to Ulinastatin combined with Xingnaojing Injection (XI) for acute cerebral hemorrhage. Methods One hundred and eight cases of acute cerebral hemorrhage were randomly divided into treatment group ( N=56) and control group ( N=52) . All of the patients were given conventional western medical treatment including relieving cerebral edema, regulating blood pressure, maintaining electrolyte balance, anti-inflammation, preventing epilepsy. Additionally, the control group was given intravenous drip of Ulinstatin, and the treatment group was given intravenous drip of Ulinstatin and XI. The clearance of intracranial hematoma in the two groups was observed on treatment day 3, 7, 14, the absorption of cerebral edema was observed after treatment for one treatment course of 14 days, neurological deficit scores ( NDS) were compared on treatment day 14, 30, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results ( 1) After treatment, hematoma area was reduced in the two groups ( P<0.05 compared with that before treatment); on treatment day 3, the difference of hematoma area was insignificant between the two groups (P>0.05); on treatment day 7 and 14, hematoma area in the treatment group was less than that of the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.05) . (2) On treatment day 14, the total effective rate for absorption of cerebral edema was 89.3% in the treatment group, and was 65.4% in the control group, the difference being significnat ( P<0.05) . ( 3) After treatment, NDS of the treatment group was less than that of the control group, and the total effective rate on NDS was 89.3% in the treatment, higher than 71.2% in the control group, the difference being significant ( P<0.05) . ( 4) In the treatment group, 3 cases had slight increase of aminotransferase. Eight cases of the control group had increased aminotransferase, and then the aminotransferase level recovered to normal after suspension. In the treatment group, 2 cases were dropped out for receiving emergency operation due to rehaemorrhagia during the treatment, and 3 cases were death for illness deterioration. In the control group, 7 cases gave up the treatment for illness deterioration and then were dead during the follow-up. Conclusion Ulinastatin combined with XI shows certain protective effect in treating acute cerebral hemorrhage.

Progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP) gene mainly expresses in the secretory phase endometrium and decidua in early trimester of pregnancy.In recent years,it is reported that PAEP is abnormally expressed in many kinds of tumors,such as breast cancer,endometrial carcinoma,ovary cancer,stomach cancer and melanoma.PAEP gene plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor development.The application of PAEP gene as an indicator for clinical diagnosis,prognostic and therapy needs further studies on the influence of PAEP gene on tumor biological behaviour.

Objective To explore the differences of intelligence ，ability of social adaptation and behavior problems between patients of benign epilepsy childhood and those of normal controls .Methods Sixty children of benign epilepsy were investigated. Results The intelligence of children showed no significant differences between two groups ( P＞0.05), while the rate of ability of social adaptation among the children of benign epilepsy patients was less than that of nomal controls （P<0.01) . There were no significant differences in the total rate of behavior problems between two groups except that some factors were different . Conclusions We should create methods to enhance the ability of social adaptation in order to avoid the abnormal behavior when the children patients of benign epilepsy are treated by drugs.

BACKGROUND:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has been reported to hold a self-recovery potential, which may be related to certain cytokines and biological factors, such as stem cells or progenitor cells.OBJECTIVE: To review the literatures about the relationship between mesenchymal stem cells and ACL injuries, and understand the potential of stem cells or progenitor cells differentiating into ACL, thus providing a basis for the clinical use of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of ACL injury. METHODS:A computer-based online research of PubMed databases was performed to collect articles including reviews, clinical trials and basic studies using the English keywords of ACL regeneration, stem/progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells. Forty-five eligible articles were included finally. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In recent years, there are a lot of studies addressing the treatment of ACL injuries and muscle/bone regeneration, but the use of stem cells is still far from the clinical requirements. The source of stem cells suitable for the ACL regeneration and their most suitable injection points are under discussion. Although the mesenchymal stem cells have been reported to successfully repair ACL injury in animal models, either trophic factors of stem cells or these cells themselves improving the regeneration remains unclear.