Adult ; Heavy Metal Poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Poisoning ; Thallium ; poisoning

Objective To identify the expression of a fusion gene GCA formed from GM-CSF gene and LMP2A gene of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a recombinant BCG (rBCG) and to study its immunoge-nicity.Methods The rBCG was constructed to express the fusion gene GCA and the expressed products were detected by Western blot assay .ELISA was performed to measure specific antibody titers in serum sam-ples from mice immunized with rBCG .Lactate dehydrogenase assay was used to analyze the cellular immuni-ty of mice.A mouse model of EBV-positive gastric carcinoma was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of rBCG.Results The target proteins of GM-CSF and LMP2A were successfully expressed in rBCG . The specific antibodies were detected in rBCG immunized mice as indicated by ELISA .The maximum anti-body titer reached 1 ∶27 900 [(326.5±7.8) pg/ml] as injection with rBCG 5×108/mouse.The rBCG in-duced cytotoxicity of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) to EBV-positive gastric carcinoma cells (GT39) (with a killing rate of 89.6%±6.8%) was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05) The sizes of tumor in PBS control group [(1964.0±548.7) mm3] and BCG group [(1268.65±72.4) mm3] were big-ger than those in rBCG group [(168.64±78.80) mm3].Conclusion The rBCG expressing GM-CSF and LMP2A fusion gene was successfully constructed .The rBCG could induce humoral and cellular immune re-sponses in mice and inhibit the growth of tumor .

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; therapy

BACKGROUND: It has been thought that posterior cervical decompression increases the risk of cervical instability and the stress on posterior longitudinal ligament may change growth factor expression in vivo. However, the association between BMP-4 expression and heterotopic bone formation has not been confirmed. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) is one of factors that can lead to heterotopic bone formation alone.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of posterior cervical decompression on BMP-4 mRNA expression in the posterior longitudinal ligament.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized controlled animal experiment was performed in Taishan Medical College between January 2005 and December 2006.MATERIALS: A total of 48 adult Sprague Dawley rats of either gender and of clean grade, weighing 270-350 g, were included in this study.METHODS: All rats were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups: experimental, sham-operated, and blank control. In the experimental group, C36 laminectomy for decompression was performed.In the sham-operated group: only skin incision was made. Rats in the blank control group received no any treatment. Four rats were allocated for each time point (1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-surgery) for harvesting posterior longitudinal ligament.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detection of BMP-4 mRNA expression in the cervical posterior longitudinal ligament by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: In the experimental group, obvious BMP-4 mRNA expression was found at 1-8 weeks post-surgery. While no BMP-4 mRNA expression was found at all times in the sham-operated and blank control groups.CONCLUSION: Posterior cervical decompression can increase BMP-4 mRNA expression in the posterior longitudinal ligament.Endogenous BMP-4 may contribute to ligamentous ossification and development post-surgery.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of icotinib as first-line therapy in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sensitive mutations.Methods Patients with stage ⅢB/Ⅳ NSCLC who had EGFR sensitive mutation and had no previous treatment were enrolled into this study.The response rates , progress free survival ( PFS) , overall survival ( OS ) , and the safety were analyzed.Results Ninety advanced adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled in this study , 44 patients had partial response ( PR ) , 42 patients had stable disease ( SD ) , 4 patients had progressive disease (PD), with an overall response rate (ORR) of 48.9%, and a disease control rate (DCR) of 95.6%.The median PFS was 14.9 months (95%CI 13.5-16.3) and the OS was 37.0 weeks ( 95%CI 27.9 -46.1 ).Patients with brain metastases showed higher ORR ( P =0.049 ).Patients with stage ⅢB had longer PFS than those with stage Ⅳ( P=0.007 ).The most common adverse events were grade 1 -2 skin rash (38 patients, 40.9%).Other adverse events included dry skin , oral mucositis, diarrhea and liver function injury.Three patients withdrew because of severe liver injury or skin rash.No treatment related mortality occurred .Conclusions Icotinib is effective and safe as first-line treatment for Chinese advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitive mutation.

Objective To investigate the effect of different endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal variceal bleed-ing caused by rupture. Methods 66 cases of liver cirrhosis with esophageal variceal bleeding were randomly divided into treatment group A, endoscopic lauromacrogol sclerotherapy group B and endoscopic aethoxysklerol 1% German agents in treatment of group C, then observe the successful hemostasis, the curative effect and follow-up of patients with varices, bleeding, fever and other adverse conditions. Results Group B and group C with success rate of hemostasis has obvious advantages compared with group A, <0.05, the difference was statistically significant;total effective rate of group B was significantly higher than that in group A, < 0.05, the difference was statistically sig-nificant; early period of rebleeding, delayed again bleeding in group B was occurred less than that of group C, >0.05, the difference was not statistically significant; adverse conditions such as fever, ulcers, pain in group B was less than that in group C, <0.05, the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion Endoscopic lauromacrogol injection sclerotherapy for esophageal variceal bleeding is a safe, fast speed, timely, effective and repeatable treat-ment, it is worthy of promoting clinical application.

Objective To compare the effect of electro-acupuncture(EA) and warm-needle moxibustion(WNM) on the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis. Methods A total of 61 patients were randomly divided into EA group (N=30) and WNM group(N=31). Both groups were given post-stroke conventional treatment, and additionally EA group received EA while WNM group was given WNM. Before treatment and after 2 treatment courses, we detected the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of pace race, stance phase, swing phase, bilateral stance phase, and step length, and surface electromyography parameters of root mean square(RMS), integrated electromyogram (iEMG) and co-contraction ratio(CR) of tibialis anterior muscle and gastrocnemius at the state of maximal isometric voluntary contraction(MIVC). Results(1) After treatment, the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of the two groups were improved in various degrees (P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group (P < 0.05). (2) After treatment, the RMS and iEMG of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle as well as CR of dorsal extensor at MIVC state were improved in various degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusion WNM exerts better effect on improving the parameters of three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis than EA.

Objective To explore the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in combination with interferon-α-2b for Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Methods Seventeen pa-tients with unreseetable metastatic renal cell carcinoma were enrolled and received sorafenib in combi-nation with interferon-α-2b. Sorafenib was continuously given at the dose of 400 mg twice per day, in-terferon-α-2b 300 MIU subscutaneously once per day for 5 d each week, until disease progression or intolerable toxieities occurred. Tumor responses were evaluated every two months by response evalua-tion criteria in solid tumor. Results The median treatment duration was 120(51-442)d. All 17 pa-tients were evaluable for efficacy and safety. Five patients achieved partial responses (PR), 1 uncon-firmed PR,9 stable diseases. Two patients had progressed diseases. The overall response rate was 29%(5/17)with the disease control rate of 88%(15/17). Due to short-time follow up, the median progression free and overall survival time were not yet available. The common side effects included: fever 82%(14/17), diarrhea 82%(14/17), hand-foot syndrome 71%(12/17), asthenia 65%(11/17), rash 53%(9/17), alopecia 41% (7/17), mucosities 41% (7/17), hypertension 29% (5/17), anorexia 24% (4/17), hoarseness 24% (4/17), myalgia 24 % (4/17), nausea/vomiting 12 % (2/17) and headach/ dizzle 12%(2/17). Eleven (65%) out of 17 patients developed neutropenia, 5(29%) thrombocytope-nia and 5 (29%)anemia. Four(24%) out of 17 patients had abnormally elevated ALT/AST. Conclu-sion Sorafenib in combination with interferon-α-2b for metastatic renal cell carcinoma improves re-sponse rate with manageable toxicity.

·Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are common outer retinal degenerative problems, which are also the predominant causes of most blinding retinal diseases. Retinal prosthesis is a promising solution for such photoreceptor degeneration diseases.Most of current concepts for a retinal prosthesis are based on neuronal electrical stimulation. In the past twenty years, retinal prosthesis has been developed in two different directions: epiretinal prosthesis and subretinal prosthesis. Each prosthesis technique has its advantages and disadvantages. For epiretinal prosthesis, it is easier to be implanted and has the advantage of keeping most of the electronics in the vitreous cavity, off the retinal surface, which greatly helps in dissipating the heat generated by the implant device. In this paper, a brief overview of retinal prostheses concepts is introduced. After that, several important aspects of epiretinal electrical stimulation will be discussed. Moreover, some practical epiretinal prosthesis devices developed by researchers in United States, Germany and Japan in the past have been reviewed. We hope that the devices will be used widely in the near future.

The relationship of interleukin-4 (IL-4) C-33T and C-590T (C-589T) gene polymorphisms with allergic rhinitis was analyzed. Data about the case control studies of IL-4 gene promoter polymorphisms [C-33T and C-590T (C-589T)] and their association with allergic diseases and correlation between serum IL-4 levels and allergic rhinitis were retrieved. The Stata 12.0 statistical software was applied to analyze the correlation between IL-4 gene polymorphisms and allergic rhinitis. The meta-analysis result of TT/CC genotype of -590 (-589) polymorphism showed a significant association with allergic diseases [OR=1.93, 95% CI (1.61-2.31), P=0.00]. Meta-analysis of the TT+TC versus CC genotype of IL-4 C-33/T polymorphism revealed significant associations with allergic diseases [OR=3.23, 95% CI (1.13-9.25), P=0.03]. Meanwhile, there was a significant correlation between serum IL-4 levels and allergic rhinitis [OR=2.52, 95% CI=(1.80-3.23), P=0.00]. IL-4 gene -590 TT genotype may increase the risk of allergic rhinitis and the T allele mutation of -33 might be correlated with allergic rhinitis.