Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Styrene

Purpose:To investigate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and two docetaxel plus cisplatin regimens in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:Patients with NSCLC were randomly assigned to receive single-agent docetaxel (AISU) every 3 weeks (A);docetaxel (AISU) 75 mg/m 2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks (B);docetaxel (Taxotere) 75 mg/m 2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks (C). Results:104 of 115 patients were evaluable for efficacy. Overall response rates of A,B and C were 8.10%,23.53% and 27.27%, respectively. Response with B was similar to C. The major toxicities were neutropenia,anemia,febrile neutropenia,fever,alopecia,nausea,vomiting and fatigue. Neutropenia was more common with C than with B ( P

Objective To observe the effects of serum containing the medicine of Tujian Mixture on phospho-Akt and phospho-PTEN of glomerular mesangial cell (MC) cultured in high concentrations of glucose. Method The glomerular mesangial cells from SD rat were divided into six groups:the normal control group, the group of MC cultured in high concentrations of glucose, and four other groups cultured in high concentrations of glucose + different concentrations of rat’s serum containing Tujian Mixture. After 72 hours, the content level of phospho-Akt (Thr308) and phospho-PTEN (Ser380) in MC was detected by using sandwich ELISA. Results The level of phospho-Akt (Thr308) in the group of MC cultured in high concentrations of glucose was significant higher than that in the normal control group (P

Aim To apply simple combined models to screen small molecule BDNF-like compounds for potential pharmacotherapy of central nerve degenerative diseases.Methods BDNF-like bioactivities were dentified with effects against apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal in turn in cultured human SH-SY5y cells,rat NIH3T3/trkB cells vs NIH3T3 cells,using MTT technique.Results More than 400 compounds were tested by using these methods.11 of them presented protective effects on apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal in SH-SY5y cells.2 of them also provided selective protection against apoptosis induced in NIH3T3/trkB cells versus in NIH3T3 cells,which were identified as BDNF-like compounds.Further study showed that these 2 compounds could withstand SH-SY5y cell injuries induced by 6-OHDA.Conclusion All the above studies provide a useful series of simple models for BDNF-like drug screen and some compound candidates for further study of neuroprotection.

Mutations and deletions of the tumour suppressor PTEN are frequently involved in the development of cancer.However, PTEN is also tightly controlled by various non-genomic mechanisms,such as the epigenetic silen-cing of PTEN, post-transcriptional regulation by non-coding RNAs and post-translational modification.

Twenty five serotypes of Bluetongue virus (BTV) have been identified worldwide. Rapid and reliable methods of virus universal detection are essential for fighting against bluetongue (BT). We have therefore developed and evaluated a pair of primers which can detect various serotypes of BTV by RT-PCR. Analysis of the viral protein 7 (VP7) and the non-structural protein (NS1) gene from different serotypes of BTV by DNAstar showed that the 5' end of the NS1 gene is the most conserved region. The primer pairs (P1 and P2) were designed based on the highly conserved region of NS1. The novel primers were evaluated by detecting BTV serotypes 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 21 and 22. The specificity of the primers was estimated by comparing to gene sequences of viruses published in GenBank, and further assessed by detecting BTV serotype 1-12 and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotype 1-4. The sensitivity and repeatability of PCR with the novel primers were evaluated by successfully detecting the recombinant plasmid pGEM-T121 containing the diagnosed nucleotide sequence. Our results suggest that these unique primers can be used in high throughout and universal detection of the NS1 gene from various BTV serotypes.

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of Tongxinluo Capsule (TC) on platelet activating factor (PAF), vascular endothelial function, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) blood flow, and heart function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients after delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSTotally 80 AMI inpatients were recruited at Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, from Jan. 2008 to Sep.2013. Those in line with inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to TC treatment group and the conventional treatment group by random digit table, 40 in each group. Besides, another 40 healthy subjects from examinees at Outpatient Department were recruited as a healthy control group. PCI was performed after 1-week treatment. Then blood samples were collected, and then blood contents of CD62P, CD63, GP II b/III a, ET-1, NO, and plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels were detected. Coronary TIMI blood flow and corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) were determined during PCI. Meanwhile, noninvasive blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and after PCI, and cardiac function measured. They were compared with the healty control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, blood contents of CD62p, CD63, GP II b/IIIa receptor compound, vWF, and ET-1 significantly increased, but NO significantly decreased in AMI patients (all P < 0.05). After 1-week intervention of TC, blood contents of CD62p, CD63, GP II b/IIIa receptor compound, vWF, NO, and ET-1 significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the conventional treatment group at the same time point, blood contents of CD62p, CD63, GP II b/IIIa receptor compound, vWF, and ET-1 decreased more significantly in the TC group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), increased NO levels were also more obviously seen (P < 0.01). The aforesaid parameters changed more obviously at day 30, as compared with those changes at week 1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The TIMI blood flow grade and CTFC were more obviously improved after PCI in the two treatment groups. Better TIMI blood flow was seen in the TC group. TIMI level 3 blood flow rate was higher in the TC group than in the conventional treatment group with statistical difference (P < 0.05). The left ventricular ejective factor (LVEF) after PCI was obviously elevated in the TC group and the conventional treatment group (P < 0.01), and the improvement was more obviously seen in the TC group (P < 0.05). There were 6 cases of recurrent angina, 3 cases of ventricular tachycardial (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF), 6 cases of heart failure (HF), 1 case of cardiac sudden death in the conventional treatment group, with the total incidence of cardiovascular events being 40% (16/40). There were 2 cases of recurrent angina, 2 cases of VT/VF, 2 cases of HF, no cardiac sudden death in the TC treatment group, with the total incidence of cardiovascular events being 15% (6/40). There was statistical difference in the recurrent rate of cardiovascular events between the two groups (χ² = 2.27, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTC not only could prevent coronary embolism of AMI patients after delayed PCI, attenuate vascular endothelial injury, but also could improve TIMI blood flow, and strengthen cardiac systolic function.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Blood Pressure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; drug effects ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Activating Factor ; metabolism ; Regional Blood Flow ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo evaluate biomechanical properties of transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate (TARP) prepared from magnesium alloy and titanium alloy for the atlantoaxial dislocation by using three-dimensional finite element analysis and to exam the feasibility of using magnesium alloy for preparation of TARP system so as to provide a theoretical basis for clinical surgery.MethodsA patient with typical atlantoaxial fracture dislocation was involved in the study,and received thin CT scan with clinically used titanium alloy TARP system for obtaining DICOM image data.Three-dimensional finite element analysis software was imported to simulate magnesium alloy and titanium alloy TARP systems for reduction and fixation.Then,stress changes of the atlas,axis,internal fixators and C2/3 zygapophysial joints were determined with three-dimensional finite element analysis and analyzed statistically.Results ( 1 ) The finite element model of atlantoaxial dislocation reduction and fixation had lifelike outline and good geometric similarity.There were 53 586 nodes and 180 784 units.(2) During the simulation of head in neutral position,the stress concentration region was C2/3 zygapophysial joints followed by the anterior arch,posterior arch and lateral mass of atlas respectively,and C2 vertebral arch again.( 3 )Magnesium alloy and titanium alloy TARP systems showed significant difference in stress distribution (P ＜0.05).Conclusions(1)The atlantoaxial model established according to its structure information on CT can be used for biomechanical experiments.(2) For the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation using the existing titanium TARP system,maintaining the integrity of anterior and posterior arch of atlas and confirming the bone fusion in lateral mass can better keep the stability of the atlantoaxis.After atlantoaxial fusion,the increased stress of the zygapophysial joints of the adjacent segments accelerates structural degeneration,which should be closely followed up.( 3 ) Magnesium alloy TARP system for fixation and reduction shows the fall in peak value of the stress concentration region,and improvement of the uniformity of stress distribution as compared with titanium alloy TARP.

Objective To explore the association between the 5-HTR2A (-1438A/G)promoter region gene polymorphisms and unipolar depression and effcacy of antidepressant drugs in northwest Chinese Han population.Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the distributive frequency of serotonin 2A receptor promoter region polymorphisms of 136 unipolar depression patients( patient group) and 160 normal people tween the patient group and the control group.The frequency of AG,GG genotypes; and G allele in patients was phisms of 5-HT2AR promoter region were correlated with SSRIs treatment response(F= 6.317, P= 0.013 ).There was significant difference of the effective power at the end of week 2 ( x2 = 5.878, P= 0.015 ).The effective power of AA, AG genotype was much higher than that of GG genotype and the effective power in the group with AA genotype was higher than that with AG genotype( each 87.8% ,57.6% ,53.7% ).Conclusion The frequency of GG genotype of 5-HTR2A( 1348A/G)may be associated with episode of unipolar depression in northwest Chinese Han population and A allele may be correlated with well response to paroxetine.

Objective To evaluate the protective effects elicited by ClpP fusion protein in animal protection tests. Methods Pneumococcal antigens were purified from recombinant Escherichia coli express-ing CIpP cloned gene. 6- to 8-week-old female BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with either ClpP or PBS plus alum. Every mouse received three doses of 20 μg antigen or PBS in 100 mg of alum adju-vant at 14 d intervals. Sera were collected from mice and analyzed by ELISA 1 week after the third immuni-zation, Intraperitoneal-challenge experiments with 12 different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae were carried out 2 weeks after the third immunization, and we compared their median survival times and survival rates respectively by Mann Whitney U test and Fisher exact test. Results ELISA analysis demonstrated high titer specific antibody responses to ClpP. The median survival times for mice immunized with ClpP pro-tein antigens in adjuvant were significantly longer than those for mice that received the adjuvants alone. Con-clusion A highly expressed recombinant ClpP protein has been successfully obtained and proved to exert the protection against invasive pneumococcal infection without relation of serotype, suggesting ClpP can be a promising candidate vaccine.