Adult ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Radio Waves ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether hyperthermia can enhance the killing effect of 5- fluorocytosine (5- FC) on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tissue- specific cytosine deaminase (CD) gene in vitro,and study its mechanism.

METHODSHuman colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with G1CEACDNa were cultured. The proliferated colonies were treated with the combined therapy of 5-FC and hyperthermia at a temperature of 43 degrees C for 30 min. After eight days, MTT was used to calculate the cellular survival rate,to analyze the killing effect of 5-FC combined with hyperthermia on SW480 cells transfected with CD gene. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the cellular cycle and transmission electron microscope was used to observe the morphologic changes of SW480 cells after thermochemotherapy.

RESULTSHyperthermia combined with 5-FC had an enhanced killing effect on SW480-CEACD cells than 5-FC alone (P< 0.05, t =2.403, n=9). Flow cytometry revealed that the proportion of S stage cell increased in the group treated with hyperthermia and 5- FC (P< 0.001, t =7.158, n=6). Transmission electron microscope showed apoptosis after thermo- chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSHyperthermia can improve the anti- tumor effect of 5- FC on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with CD gene, and the cells were blocked at S stage of cellular cycle and apoptosis was induced following thermochemotherapy.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Humans

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Banks ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Blood Donors ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of protein expression and gene amplification of HER2 in gastric cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) method were used to detect protein expression and gene amplification of HER2 in 80 specimens of gastric cancer patients.

RESULTSProtein expression of HER2 was negative in 51 cases, (+) in 12 cases, (++) in 12 cases, (+++) in 5 cases, and the positive expression rate was 21.3% (17/80). Seven (8.8%) cases had gene amplification of HER2, including gene critical amplification in 3 (3.8%) cases. The result of IHC was positively correlated with CISH (P<0.05), and the coincidence rate was 85.0% (68/80). HER2 positive expression rate was higher in the gastroesophageal junction carcinoma, poorly differentiated and stage III-IIII gastric cancer (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe gastric cancer tissue has high positive rate of protein expression and gene amplification of HER2, which is closely correlated to the development of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To compare the skin blood perfusion around Neiguan (PC 6)and sham acupoint needled by the different frequency and stimulation times of electro-acupuncture (EA),in healthy rats and myocardial ischemic rats.Methods According to random number table,altogether 100 male Wistar rats were divided into once treatment group and three times treatment group,which were both divided into control group,sham-operation group,model group,EA low-frequency group and EA high-frequency group (each n =10).After successful modeling,rats of EA groups were acupunctured at left Neiguan (PC 6)acupoint.60 minutes after last treatment of acupuncture,skin blood perfusion around bilateral Neiguan(PC 6)acapoints and sham acupoint were tested by laser speckle contrast imaging technology (LSCI) and analyzed,and the myocardial morphological changes were observed by HE staining. Results Compared with control group,the skin blood perfusion around PC 6 in model groups decreased significantly after three time treatment (P <0.01 ),and that around PC 6 or sham acupoint in model group of three times treatment group was much less than that of once treatment group (P <0.01).Com-pared with the model group,the skin blood perfusion around PC 6 both significantly increased after low-frequency EA or high-frequency EA after three times treatment (P <0.01).Conclusion The variation of skin blood perfusion around PC 6 should be useful for specific reflection of normal condition or ische-mic condition of rats myocardium,but that around sham acupoint didn’t.The effect of three-times-treat-ment against declination of skin blood perfusion due to myocardial ischemia was superior to that of once-treatment regardless of high frequency or low frequency,and EA of high frequency and three-times stimu-lation showed the significant effect.However,the mechanism remains to be further studied.

OBJECTIVETo objectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yimusake Tablet in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) through a multi-centered large-sample trial.

METHODSWe conducted a multi-centered, open, fixed-dose, and self-compared clinical trial among 300 patients with diagnosed PE. The trial lasted 12 weeks, including 4 weeks without any medication and 8 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, 2 pills (1 g) per night. We observed the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) before and after treatment, evaluated the safety of medication, and performed a questionnaire investigation on the patients' satisfaction.

RESULTSOf the 300 PE patients, 288 accomplished the clinical trial. The patients ranged in age from 22 to 60 years, averaging at 31.6 years. The mean IELT of the patient was 62.5 seconds at baseline, 168.9 seconds after 4 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, and 222.2 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. Among the 157 patients with normal erectile function (IIEF >21), the mean IELT was 71.4 seconds before treatment, 147.4 seconds after 4 weeks of medication, and 172.5 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. The patients' satisfaction was significantly increased after treatment. Those complicated by mild to moderate erectile dysfunction achieved different degrees of improvement in the IIEF-5 score, with a mean increase of 3.8. Only a few patients experienced mild adverse events, including constipation, dry mouth, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, and lumbosacral pain, which were all relieved without drug withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONYimusake Tablet is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of PE.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ejaculation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Erection ; Phytotherapy ; Premature Ejaculation ; drug therapy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tablets ; Time Factors

Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China has not been fully quantified. This study aimed to examine the medical expenditure of Chinese patients with esophageal cancer and the associated trends. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in 37 hospitals in 13 provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. For each esophageal cancer patient diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, clinical information and expense data were extracted by using structured questionnaires. All expense data were reported in Chinese Yuan (CNY; 1 CNY= 0.155 USD) based on the 2011 value and inflated using the year-specific health care consumer price index for China. Results: A total of 14,967 esophageal cancer patients were included in the analysis. It was estimated that the overall average expenditure per patient was 38,666 CNY, and an average annual increase of 6.27％ was observed from 2002 (25,111 CNY) to 2011 (46,124 CNY). The average expenditures were 34,460 CNY for stage Ⅰ, 39,302 CNY for stage Ⅱ, 40,353 CNY for stage Ⅲ, and 37,432 CNY for stage IV diseases (P < 0.01). The expenditure also differed by the therapy type, which was 38,492 CNY for surgery, 27,933 CNY for radiotherapy, and 27,805 CNY for chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Drugs contributed to 45.02％ of the overall expenditure. Conclusions: These conservative estimates suggested that medical expenditures for esophageal cancer in China substantially increased in the last 10 years, treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer costs less than that for advanced cases, and spending on drugs continued to account for a considerable proportion of the overall expenditure.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver with ≤3 cm of maximum diameter. Methods The image characteristics in 48 lesions of HCC with maximum diameter≤3 cm and 48 lesions of FNH with maximum diameter≤3 cm confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. The phase changes, enhancement patterns and enhancement characteristics of the lesions in the two groups were compared. Results All lesions in the two groups showed high-echo in the arterial phase. The contrast arrival time in HCC group and FNH group was 17(15, 19) s and 15(12, 18.75) s (P＝0.017); the peak time in the two groups was 21(17, 25) s and 22(19, 26) s (P＞0.05). The main enhancement patterns of HCC group and FNH group in arterial phase were homogeneous enhancement and centrifugal enhancement, respectively. All HCC lesions showed homogeneous enhancement, which was significantly higher than FNH (2.08%, P＜0.05); 97.91% of FHN lesions showed centrifugal enhancement, which was higher that of HCC lesions (0, P＜0.05). During the CEUS process, 87.5% of HCC lesions showed “rapid fill-in and rapid wash-out”, which was significantly higher than that of FNH lesions（8.33%，P＜0.05）; 91.67% of FNH lesions showed “rapid fill-in” and “synchronous/slow wash-out” which was significantly higher than that of HCC lesions （12.50%，P＜0.05）. Conclusion CEUS is helpful in the differential diagnosis of FNH and HCC with maximum diameter≤3 cm．

Background:The increasing prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China and the paucity of information about relevant expenditure highlight the necessity of better understanding the financial burden and effect of CRC diagnosis and treatment.We performed a survey to quantify the direct medical and non-medical expenditure as well as the resulting financial burden of CRC patients in China.Methods:We conducted a multicenter,cross-sectional survey in 37 tertiary hospitals in 13 provinces across China between 2012 and 2014.Each enrolled patient was interviewed using a structured questionnaire.All expenditure data were inflated to the 2014 Chinese Yuan (CNY;1 CNY =0.163 USD).We quantified the overall expenditure and financial burden and by subgroup (hospital type,age at diagnosis,sex,education,occupation,insurance type,household income,clinical stage,pathologic type,and therapeutic regimen).We then performed generalized linear modeling to determine the factors associated with overall expenditure.Results:A total of 2356 patients with a mean age of 57.4 years were included,57.1％ of whom were men;13.9％ of patients had stage Ⅰ cancer;and the average previous-year household income was 54,525 CNY.The overall average direct expenditure per patient was estimated to be 67,408 CNY,and the expenditures for stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲll,and Ⅳ disease were 56,099 CNY,59,952 CNY,67,292 CNY,and 82,729 CNY,respectively.Non-medical expenditure accounted for 8.3％ of the overall expenditure.The 1-year out-of-pocket expenditure of a newly diagnosed patient was 32,649 CNY,which accounted for 59.9％ of their previous-year household income and caused 75.0％ of families to suffer an unmanageable financial burden.Univariate analysis showed that financial burden and overall expenditure differed in almost all subgroups (P ＜ 0.05),except for sex.Multivariate analysis showed that patients who were treated in specialized hospitals and those who were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma or diagnosed at a later stage were likely to spend more,whereas those with a lower household income and those who underwent surgery spent less (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions:For patients in China,direct expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC seemed catastrophic,and non-medical expenditure was non-ignorable.The financial burden varied among subgroups,especially among patients with different clinical stages of disease,which suggests that,in China,CRC screening might be cost-effective.

BACKGROUNDA multi-center large scale study is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of domestic peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Some researchers believe that 6 L/d is enough for adequate dialysis, but there is no multi-center prospective study on Chinese population to confirm this. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of domestic PD solution (Changfu) and its difference between 6 L and 8 L dosage.

METHODSAdult PD patients who had taken PD therapy for at least one month were selected and divided into four groups according to two dialysis solution brands and two dialysis dosages, i.e., 6 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, 6 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution, 8 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, and 8 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution. After 48 weeks, the changes of primary and secondary efficacy indices were compared between different types and different dosages. We also analyzed the changes of safety indices.

RESULTSChanges of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of creatinine clearance rate (Ccr). Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of net ultrafiltration volume (nUF) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Changes of nPCR from baseline to 48 weeks between 6 L and 8 L showed no statistical differences; so did those of nUF and eGFR. The decline of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks in 6 L group was more than that in 8 L group. Change of Ccr was similar. During the 48-week period, the mean Kt/V was above 1.7/w, and mean Ccr was above 50 L×1.73 m(-2)×w(-1). More adverse events were found in Changfu group before Changfu Corporation commenced technology optimization, and the statistical differences disappeared after that.

CONCLUSIONSThe domestic PD solution (Changfu) was proven to be as effective as Baxter dialysis solution. During 48-week period, a dosage of 6 L/d was enough for these patients to reach adequate PD. Clinical study promotes technological optimization, further helps to improve the safety indices of the medical products.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dialysis Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Young Adult