Objective To study manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and observe its relation to metastatic potential. To investigate the diagnostic performance of manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) for detecting metastatic potential of CRC. Methods High and low metastatic potential CRC cell lines SW620, HCT116, LoVo and SW480, DLD-1, HCT15, Caco-2, as well as normal colon mucosal cell CCD841 CoN were cultured. MnSOD expression level in cells was detected by western blot and the measurement was repeated for three times. HCT15, DLD-1, LoVo and SW620 cells were selected to perform in vitro MEMRI and subcutaneous xenografts were developed for subsequent in vivo MEMRI. MnCl2·4H2O solution was utilized as the contrast agent and T1 shortening was calculated. The differences of MnSOD expression level in cells, average T1 value shortening of cells and xenografts were separately compared by one-way ANOVA.Results The difference of MnSOD expression level in CRC cells were significant (P<0.05). All CRC cells have shown higher level of MnSOD expression than normal cell, except for Caco-2. The highest expression were shown in low metastatic potential cells (HCT15 and DLD-1). Whereas relatively low MnSOD expression was found both in high and low metastatic potential cells (LoVo, SW620, HCT116 and SW480). In vitro MEMRI demonstrated that the average T1 value shortening was greatest in high metastatic potential cells SW620 and LoVo [(289.33±0.57) and (268.45 ± 6.87) ms)], was significantly lower in low metastatic potential cells DLD-1 and HCT15, was lowest in CCD841 CoN [(65.12 ± 0.12)ms] (P<0.05). Twenty nine xenografts were successfully developed, high metastatic potential SW620 and LoVo tumors of 5 and 10 mm group showed greater T1 shortening, low metastatic potential DLD-1 and HCT15 tumors showed significantly less T1 shortening (P<0.05). However no significant difference was found in similar metastatic potential tumors (P>0.05). Conclusions MEMRI has the potential to noninvasively distinguish different metastatic potential CRC by revealing greater T 1 value shortening in more aggressive one. However the MnSOD expression in CRC cells is not corresponding to malignant potential.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric differences between Utrecht applicator and ring applicator in three-dimensional (3D) conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods Twenty-five patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were treated with magnetic resonance imaging-guided 3D conformal brachytherapy.Utrecht applicator and ring applicator were used interchangeably for 96 cycles.Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of applicator.Each group received 48 cycles of treatment, in which ring applicator was first applied for 26 cycles and Utrecht applicator was first applied for 22 cycles.High-risk clinical target volume ( HR-CTV) , width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level, D2 cm3 of organs at risk (OARs), V7 Gy , W7 Gy,A, V7 Gy ,A, and W/T7 Gy were evaluated and analyzed using paired t-test.Results There were no significant differences in HR-CTV and the width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level between the Utrecht group and the ring group ( P=0.487;P=0.340;P=0.857;P=0.921);there were no significant differences in D2 cm3 values of bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and bowel between the two groups ( P=0.136;P=0.802;P=0.985;P=0.458);there were no significant differences in V7 Gy and T7 Gy,A between the two groups ( P=0.076;P=0.435) .The Utrecht group had a significantly larger W/T7 Gy,A than the ring group ( P=0.002 ) .Conclusions Utrecht applicator is appropriate for patients with relatively large width and width/thickness ratio of HR-CTV at the point A level.

Objective To investigate the correlation between ICRU reference point dose and dosevolume parameters of organs at risk (OARs) under different bladder and rectal filling status in threedimensional conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods A total of 31 patients who received magnetic resonance imaging-guided three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy for cervical cancer in 96 fractions were enrolled.The ICRU rectal and bladder reference points were determined in the treatment planning system,and the doses at these points were recorded and compared with the dose-volume parameters of the rectum and bladder.The paired t-test was used to analyze the differences between them.Results Bladder DICRU was lower than bladder D0.1cm3 and D1 cm3 (P=0.000 and 0.000),higher than bladder D5 cm3 and D10cm3 (P=0.000 and 0.000),and similar to bladder D2 cm3 (P=0.345).Under the bladder filling status,bladder DICRU was lower than D2cm3.Rectal DICRU was lower than rectal D0.1 cm3 and D1cm3 (P =0.000 and 0.002),higher than rectal D5 cm3 and D 10 cm3 (P =0.000 and 0.000),and similar to rectal D2cm3 (P=0.058).The ICRU bladder and rectal reference point doses were positively correlated with corresponding D2 cm3.In the case of bladder volume ≥ 200 cm3,the ICRU bladder reference point dose underestimated bladder D2 cm3.In the case of rectal volume ≥ 37 cm3,the ICRU rectal reference point dose overestimated rectal D2 cm3.Conclusions In three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy,it is generally safe to use D2 cm3 as an index to evaluate OARs,but when the bladder or rectum is in an empty status,the ICRU bladder or rectal reference point doses should be considered.

Objective To evaluate the academic status and influence of "Chinese Journal of Endemiology" in the preventive medicinal core periodicals to provide a scientific basis for further improving the quality of the journal. Methods Journal evaluation data of "Chinese Science and Technology Journal Citation Reports" (2005 -2009 periodicals) as a statistical source, twenty-eight core journals of preventive medicine as an evaluation object, a single evaluation index (such as impact factor, total cites and he cited rate) as a reference, integrated 15 journal evaluation indicators of 28 kinds of preventive medicinial core periodicals into 4 comprehensive evaluation indexes.Calculate the composite indicator score through principal component analysis method if the index's relevant eigenvalue was greater than 1 and their cumulative contribution rate was more than 80%. Then calculated the composite indicator scores of the 4 kinds of indexes, which were weighted into linear combination of the composition with its corresponding contribution. Assess the overall level and the academic quality of "Chinese Journal of Endemiology" among core journals of preventive medicine on the basis of the 4 composite score. Results Impact factors of Chinese Journal of Endemiology were 0.909, 1.237, 0.899, 0.832, 1.019 between 2005 and 2009, ranked number 4, 1, 4, 6 and 3 among the 28 core journals. Its total cited frequency respectively were 933, 1172,1101, 1267 and 1491, among the 28 kinds of core journals and ranked number 4, 4, 6, 5 and 6. Comprehensive score of "Chinese Journal of Endemiology" were 0.269, 0.371, 0.282, 0.247 and 0.602, and its rank were 7th, 5th,7th,5th and 4th in the 28 core journals. Conclusions The impact factor and citation frequency of "Chinese Journal of Endemiology" are ranked at the forefront of preventive medicinal core periodicals. More attention should be paid to academic exchanges of related areas, and to enhance the academic quality of the journal.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and investigate the relationship between SWI and clinical prognosis. MethodsTwenty patients (15 males and 5 females) with DAI were included in this study. Routine sequences (T1WI, T2WI and FLAIR) and SWI were performed on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. There were 8 cases whose Glasgow score scale (GCS) ranged from 3.0 to 5.0, 4 cases from 6.0 to 8.0 and 8 from 9.0 to 12.0. The interval time between injury and examination were from 3 hours to 20 days. The number and volume of lesions observed on SWI and routine sequence were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test and paired t-test. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the number and volume of all lesions and GCS. Results The lesions showed punctate, beaded, patchy and cord-like hypointense signal with various size on SWI (lesion diameter <2.0 cm). Distribution of lesions was multifocal with clear boundary. Routine MRI scan found a total of 78 lesions, while SWI sequence detected 424 lesions. The number of the lesions found on SWI was more than that on conventional MRI (U=-15.447,P＜0.01). The total volume of the lesions measured on routine MRI and SWI were 19 340 mm3 and 38 042 mm3, respectively. The total volume measured on SWI was more than that on routine MR (t=5.870,P＜0.01). The number and volume of all lesions were negatively correlated with GCS (r=-0.802, -0.767, P＜0.01). Conclusion SWI sequence could find more bleeding lesions than the routine MRI sequences. The number and the volume of the lesions were closely related to GCS. SWI showed high value in the diagnosis and prediction of the prognosis of DAI.

This study was aimed to investigate the chimerism and fusion gene expression in patients with CML after allo-HSCT, to analyse engraftment and minimal residual disease by using STR-PCR combined with RT-PCR qualitative and quantitative assays, and to evaluate their clinical value for predicting disease relapse. 4 relapsed patients with CML after allo-HSCT were dynamically investigated. Qualitative analysis of donor chimerism was performed by multiplex PCR amplification of STR markers and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection, qualitative detection of bcr/abl transcripts was performed by RT-PCR. The results showed that the 100% donor chimerism appeared in 4 patients on day 28 after transplantation and bcr/abl expression was negative, but the 4 patients were in status of unstable mixed chimerism (DC: 0% - 80.4%) at the different time points during the following up with bcr/abl gene positive. 2 patients of them were continuously mixed chimerism after relapse of CML, the other 2 changed from MC to CC by intervention of clinical treatment. Decreasing values of donor chimerism were detected prior to the occurrence of graft rejection and CML relapse, and bcr/abl gene expression was positive. It is concluded that the results of STR-PCR in the range of its sensitivity fully correspond with bcr/abl tests in patients. The combination of STR-PCR with RT-PCR will provide a highly sensitive and valuable tool for evaluating engraftment, graft rejection, and relapse and predicting GVHD. Furthermore, it can provide a basis for early intervention of clinical treatment, and can identify these high risk patients with molecular or cytogenetic relapse after allo-HSCT.
Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transplantation Chimera ; Transplantation, Homologous

The purpose of our present work was to study the discharge of bursting-firing neurons (BFNs) in ipsilateral or contralateral hippocampus (HPC), and its relations to the reestablishment of local epileptic networks. The experiments were performed on 140 Sprague Dawley male rats (150-250 g). Acute tetanization (60 Hz, 2 s, 0.4 -0.6 mA) of the right posterior dorsal hippocampus (ATPDH) was administered to establish rat epilepsy model. The single unit discharges and the depth electrographs were simultaneously recorded from ipsilateral or contralateral HPC. In other experimental rats, acute tetanization of the right anterior dorsal HPC (ATADH) was used. Extracellular unit discharges in the CA1 region were simultaneously recorded from bilateral anterior dorsal hippocampi. Analysis of hippocampal BFN firing patterns before or after administration of the tetanization was focused on according to their location in the HPC epileptic networks in vivo. Single unit discharges of 138 hippocampal neurons were recorded from ipsilateral and/or contralateral anterior dorsal HPC. Of the 138 neurons recorded, 19 were BFNs. 13 BFNs were tetanus-evoked and the remaining 6 were spontaneous ones. The evoked reactions of the single hippocampal neuron induced by the tetanization mainly included: (1) the firing patterns of the BFNs in ipsilateral anterior dorsal HPC were obviously modulated by the ATPDH from tonic firing into rhythmic bursting. The bursting interspike intervals (BISI) decreased. (2) There were mild modulations of the firing patterns of the BFNs in contralateral anterior dorsal HPC following post-inhibition of the firing rate of single neuron induced by the ATPDH. The interspike intervals (ISI) increased obviously. (3) Post-facilitation of rhythmic bursting-firing of the BFNs in contralateral anterior dorsal HPC was induced by ATADH; both the ISI and the IBI increased. (4) Synchronous or asynchronous rhythmic bursting-firing of the BFNs and the network epileptiform events ipsilateral or contralateral anterior dorsal HPC were elicited by the ATPDH. The results obtained suggest that bursting-firing of single BFNs is produced by the ATPDH in the anterior dorsal HPC along the longitudinal axis of the ipsilateral HPC or across the hemisphere to the opposite HPC. Rhythmic activities of the BFN may be implicated in the epileptic network reestablishment of the HPC. On the other hand, synaptic modulation of the BFN temporal series might be responsible for pathophysiological information transmission in the HPC-epileptic network.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrophysiology ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; physiopathology ; Evoked Potentials ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nerve Net ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synaptic Transmission

This paper describes natural products, semi-synthetic natural products and natural product-derived compounds used for treating antiparasitic, antiviral and neurological disease that were being evaluated in clinical trials or in registration from 1998 to the end of 2005.
Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiparasitic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biological Products ; therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy

Natural products have played an important role in drug discovery. Today, therapeutics from natural origin count for about 70% of the worldwide human therapeutic sales. For anti-infective treatment even higher figures are reported. This review describes antibacterial and antifungal natural products, semi-synthetic natural products and natural product derived compounds undergoing clinical evaluation or registration from 1998 to end of 2005. In addition, natural product derived drugs launched since 1998 are also discussed in this review.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Biological Products ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Drugs, Investigational ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Echinocandins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Polyenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology