ObjectiveTo study the effects of dexamethasone local injection as an adjunctive therapy for Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Methods60 HT cases were equally divided into 2 groups at random. The patients in the control group were given euthyrpx while the patients in the treated group were injected dexamethasone in addition to the medicine used in the control group. The thyroid characters such as thickness, lymphocytic infiltration and changes of thyroid follicle were observed. The patients were followed up before treatment and 4, 12, 24weeks and 1 year after treatment. ResultsIn the treatment group, all thyroid glands turned significantly softer,and the mass became smaller compared with that in the control group. The pathology of thyroids indicated that lymphocytic infiltration decreased, local immune reaction was ameliorated, and no obvious hormone side effects were observed. ConclusionLocal use of dexamethasone can modify the structure and function of thyroid.

Background and purpose: DNA methylation is an important mechanism for regulating gene expression, and plays an important role in the tumorigenesis. Study shows that DNA methylation is a potentially promising biomarker in tumor diagnosis, prognosis as well as treatment selection. This study aimed to analyze the methylation status and assessed possible clinical value of 3 DNA repair genes BRCA1, GSTP1 and MGMT in breast cancer samples of Chinese women. Methods:Using methylation speciifc PCR (MSP), we analyzed the methylation status of 3 DNA repair genes BRCA1, GSTP1 and MGMT in 106 paired breast tumors and corresponding normal tissues. Results: The methylation rates of BRCA1, GSTP1 and MGMT were 24.5% (26/106), 29.2% (31/106) and 18.9%(20/106) in breast cancer tissues, which were higher than those (7.5%, 11.3%and 4.7%) in paired normal breast tissues, respectively (P<0.01). Methylation in at least one of the genes was found in 50.9%(54/106) of the breast cancer and 19.8%(21/106) in paired normal breast tissues. And the mean number of genes hypermethylated in each tumor and paired normal breast tissues were 0.73 and 0.24, respectively (P<0.000 1). The methylation status of BRCA1 was more frequent in the younger patients than in the older patients (P=0.007) and most BRCA1 methylated patients were ER negative (P=0.020). Methylation status of GSTP1 was signiifcantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis (P=0.028 and 0.033, respectively). MGMT methylation was significantly correlated with tumor stage, higher tumor grade and lymph node metastasis (P=0.016, 0.025 and 0.030, respectively). High frequency simultaneous methylation of these 3 genes was more often in those with higher tumor stage and lymph node metastasis (P=0.028 and 0.007, respectively). Conclusion:Hypermethylation of BRCA1, GSTP1 and MGMT genes may be linked to various known clinicopathological features of breast cancer in Chinese women, and the increasing multiple gene methylation in tumors may indicate an aggressive phenotype for breast cancer. Detection of the methylation status of these genes may be useful for identifying patients at high risk for breast cancer.

Objective To discuss the operational technique and clinical effect of metallic stent placement in treating malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.Methods Metallic stent placement under fluoroscopic monitoring and endoscopic direct vision was performed in 47 patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.A total of 54 metallic stents was used.Results The procedure was successfully completed in all 47 patients.During the follow-up period,all the patients could take liquid or ordinary diet and were markedly relived of vomiting.The living quality was much improved and no serious complications occurred.Conclusion Under fluoroscopic monitoring and endoscopic direct vision,stent placement is a safe,effective,technically-simple and time-saving procedure for the treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction with less sufferings to the patient.Therefore,it is definitely worth popularizing this technique in clinical practice.

Study found that in some human tumors such as breast cancer,SOX7 gene is highly likely to be a tumor suppressor gene.The tumor suppressor role of SOX7 may be accomplished by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway mediated the transcription process,and the abnormal Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is likely to play its role through the regulation of its downstream target gene Cyclin D1,etc,so that the ahnormal cell proliferation activity is unable to carry on,and thus plays the function of tumor suppressor.This review will summarize the research progress of the role of SOX7 geue and its closely related β-catenin,Cyclin D1 gene in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the reaction kinetics between the stone-dissolving solution and the urinary stone in a model simulating the condition of a kidney for further clinical administration. Methods An artificial upper urinary tract was made by silica gel. Lactic acid prepared in the preliminary study was used to react with artificial stone in the model. The concentration of reaction product in the effluent was measured to identify the reaction velocity. Relationships between the efficiency and dissolution rate or stone surface was investigated. Results The highest utilization rate of dissolution was 100 ~ 150 mL/h. Dissolution efficiency is in positive rela-tion with stone surface. The efficiency correlates with the stone surface and infusion speed in the range of 50~400 mL/h. Conclusions Before dissolution treatment ,the stone should be shattered as deeply as possible to in-crease the surface of reaction. If possible ,the irrigating speed should be as high as possible to eliminate the stone sooner.

Background and purpose:Aberrant DNA methylation that leads to the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes plays important roles in development and progression of breast cancer. Clinically, related gene methylation is considered to be a promising biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the methylation status ofSox17 gene in breast cancer tissue and its corresponding plasma circulating DNA, as well as to investigate its value in breast cancer early diagnosis and prognosis.Methods:TheSox17 gene promoter methylation status was detected by MSP in 86 cases of breast cancer, 36 normal breast tissues and its paired plasma DNA, the results were analyzed with corresponding clinical and pathological features.Results:The frequency ofSox17 gene methylation rate among 86 breast cancer tissues was 77.9%(67/86), and was 61.6%(53/86)in plasma circulating DNA, however, noSox17 gene methylation was found in normal breast tissues.Sox17 gene promoter methylation in plasma circulating DNA was signiifcantly associated with the methylation status in tumor tissues (r=0.502,P=0.000). In breast cancer tissue specimens,Sox17 methylation status was significantly correlated with tumor stage (χ2=6.18,P=0.041) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=13.54,P=0.001);Sox17 gene methylation rate was signiifcantly correlated with tumor stage (χ2=27.06,P=0.000), tumor size (χ2=9.65,P=0.007) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=20.80,P=0.000) in plasma samples, and there was no signiifcant difference ofSox17 gene methylation between patient age, histological grade and ER, PR, HER-2/neu status.Conclusion:Sox17 gene promoter methylation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of breast cancer, and may be associated with the prognosis of breast cancer. Furthermore, methylatedSox17 gene may be a useful tumor biomarker in plasma circulating DNA for breast cancer detection and disease monitoring.

In order to study effects of ginseng on the metabolism of drug belong to CYP3A4 substrate, screening of pregnane X receptor activation from ginsenosides was performed by reporter assay. Based on PXR-CYP3A stable translation cell lines, 13 ginsenosides were screened for pregnane X receptor activation by reporter assays, and RIF as the positive control. The effect of ginsenosides Rg1 onCYP3A4 mRNA expression was also investigated by RT-PCR. The PXR-CYP3A stable translation cell lines had good response to RIF, and the EC50 is 2.51 micro mol x L(-1). When the condition of final concentration was 10 micromol x L(-1), ginsenoside F2 and protopanaxatriol had moderate inductive effects on PXR. Panaxotriol, Rg2, pseudoginsenoside F11, Rg1, ginsenoside and Rb3 had inhibitory effects on PXR. Ginsenoside Rf1, Rg3, Rh2 and protopanaxdiol had no obvious effects on PXR. Rg1 down-regulated CYP3A4 mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Activation of pregnane X receptor by ginsenosides may influence the metabolism of drug belong to CYP3A4 substrate, and cause ginseng-drug interactions.

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of chemoablation for the treatment of lumbar disc herniations (LDH) to provide reference for its clinical treatment .Methods A total of 191 cases of LDH were divided into the group A and B . All cases were performed the CT-guided chemoablation for treating LDH .The group A conducted the intra-disc injection treatment , while the group B conducted the intra-disc and extra-disc combined injection .The cases were followed up by the modes of outpatient department or telephone on postoperative 30 ,90 ,180 d .The follow up and statistical analysis were conducted by referring to the Macnab effect evaluation criteria .Results The two groups conducted the outpatient department follow up or telephone follow up on postoperative 30 ,90 ,180 d .All cases did not appear the complications such as nerve damage ,spinal cord damage and intervertebral disc infection .In the intra-group comparison ,the VAS score had statistical difference between before and after treatment ( P<0 .05) .In the inter-group comparison ,the score after treatment in the group B was lower than that in the group A (P<0 .05) .The good effect rate on postoperative 30 d in the group A was 81 .1% (77/95) ,which on postoperative 90 d was 83 .2% (79/95) and which on postoperative 180 d was 85 .3% (81/95) .The good effect rate in the group B was 85 .4% (82/96) on 30 d ,88 .5% (85/96) on 90 d and 91 .7% (88/96) on 180 d .Conclusion CT-guided lumbar intervertebral disc minimally invasive interventional chemoab-lation has good and rapid analgesic effect ,and the intra-disc and inter-disc combined treatment has better curative effect .

OBJECTIVE：To discuss the mechanism of synovitis of knee osteoarthritis （KOA）relieved by “Sanse powder ” volatile oil based on the activation of Nod-like receptor family 3（NLRP3）inflammasome. METHODS ：“Sanse powder ”volatile oil was extracted by distillation- condensation process and the components of it were analyzed by GC-MS. Fibroblast-like synovial cells（FLS）were extracted from the knee joint of male SD rats. The effects of 10，25，50，100，250，500，1 000 μg/mL“Sanse powder”volatile oil on the viability of FLS were examined by CCK-8 assay. KOA inflammatory cell model was induced by lipopolysaccharide for 12 h. The effects of 10，250 μg/mL“Sanse powder ”volatile oil on the protein and mRNA expression of NLRP3，caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein （ASC）were detected. The levels of IL- 1β and IL-18 in supernatants of FLS were determined . RESULTS ：Totally 0.51-0.61 g volatile oil with yellow clear and unique aromatic odor were extracted from“Sanse powder ”，and the extraction rate was 0.33％-0.41％（n＝9）. A total of 41 chemical components were isolated ，and 30 of them were identified and their peak area accounted for 90.073 6％ of the total peak area. The components with high relative content were gingerol flavonoids （17.573 9％），δ-junionene（15.434 5％），gingerol（11.509 5％），etc. When the concentration of volatile oil was 10-250 μg/mL，there was no significant effect on survival rate of FLS （P＞0.05）. Compared with blank group ，the relative protein and mRNA expression of NLRP 3，caspase-1 and ASC and the levels of IL- 1β and IL-18 in supernatant were significantly increased in model group （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，relative expression or levels of above indexes were all decreased significantly in FLS and supernatant of “Sanse powder ”volatile oil 10 and 250 μg/mL groups（P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS：“Sanse powder ”volatile oil can inhibit NLRP 3 inflammasome activation in FLS and reduce the downstream inflammatory cascade response ，thus exerting its efficacy in ameliorating synovial inflammation of KOA.

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to analyze the efficacy of standardized house dust mite allergen vaccine to allergic rhinitis by subcutaneous injection and investigate the possible mechanism of specific immunotherapy (SIT).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to December 2011 a prospective study was performed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, involving 90 patients with perennial AR, of whom 60 patients received Der p - SIT + pharmacotherapy after their approval and 30 received only pharmacotherapy. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. Symptom and medication scores were recorded three times: before the treatment, at the middle of treatment and at the end of treatment. Over a period of 1 yr. prior to and at the end of treatment, CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ Treg cells and Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry. SPSS 21.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe symptom scores using VAS and medication scores in AR patients treated with SIT and medication were reduced, the differences were significant (14.25 ± 6.40, 1.00 ± 0.84 vs. 32.18 ± 7.78, 3.12 ± 1.54, t value was 19.65, 10.71, both P < 0.05). The symptom of VAS score in medication group was reduced after treatment (30.30 ± 5.97 vs. 20.30 ± 5.79, t = 10.09, P < 0.05), but the medication score had not significant difference (P > 0.05). The frequency of Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were decreased in patients treated with SIT, whereas the frequency of Treg cells were increased (χ² value was 2.81, 2.80, both P < 0.05), but not in medication group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth SIT and pharmacotherapy can improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis, but SIT can also reduce medication use. The effect of immunotherapy is better than drug treatment alone. The frequency of blood Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were decreased in patients treated with SIT, whereas the frequency of Treg cells were increased.

Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Prospective Studies ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology ; Vaccines ; therapeutic use