ve To understand the impacts of industrial fluoride-induced pollution on environment and human health. Methods The contents of fluorides in environmental media, such as air, soil, vegetables, weeds, branches and leaves in area around a certain chemical factory (polluted area) were monitored. The prevalance of dental fluorosis, the contents of fluorides in hair and nail were investigated among 87 individuals without history of exposure to industrial fluorides, living in polluted area for more than 5 years, and 132 individuals in control area. Results Higher fluoride levels in environmental medias, higher prevalance rates of dental fluorosis, high contents of fluorides in hair and nails of population were found in polluted area compared with those in control area. Conclusion The in-dustrial fluoride-induced pollution from this chemical factory had resulted in the hazardous impacts on environmental quality and human health.

The extraction method and structure of exo-polysoccharide from schizophyllum commune by submerged cultivation were studied. Proteins were removed com p letely from the polysoccharide by the sevag method following the isoelectric poi nt precipitation method. The purified schizophyllan was proved to be homogeneou s with molecular weight 4?10 4D by sephadex G-200 column chromatography, PAGE and HPLC. Its monomer was determined by hydrolysis, PC, GC and its structure wa s analyzed by IR, enzymolysis, periodate oxidation, the results showed that schi zophyllan was only composed of glucose and it was the ?-glucan consisting of ?-(1-3) and ?-(1-6) glucosidic linkages.

Renal transplant (RT) recipients have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.However,the effects of renal transplantation on the development of arteriosclerosis have been controversial.The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and diameter (CD) are important indicators of vascular remodeling and arteriosclerosis.In this study,31 patients with hemodialysis (HD),31 RT recipients and 84 age-and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled.Their CIMT and CD were measured by ultrasonic radiofrequency tracking,and the linear regression models and Z test were used to identify the progression of arteriosclerosis and the risk factors.Compared with HD group,RT group had significantly lower CIMT and CD.CIMT was found to be associated with age,body weight,resistance index and diastolic velocity,while CD was associated significantly with age,body weight,pulsatility index,end diastolic velocity and diastolic blood pressure (DBP),respectively.The correlation curves between CIMT and age showed the slopes of curves were decreased successively in control,RT and HD groups,and the curves between CD and age showed the slopes were decreased in order of RT ＞ control ＞ HD groups.It was concluded that CIMT and CD were significantly correlated with age in RT and moderately with age in HD patients.RT could reduce the progress of arteriosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Objective To evaluate the clinical feasibility of laparoscopic cool-tip radiofrequency ablation (LCRFA)for renal cell carcinoma. Methods Twelve selected cases of primary renal, ceil carcinoma underwent LCRFA. Of them, 4 cases of left renal carcinomas, 7 cases had right renal carci-nomas and 1 case had bilateral renal carcinomas. The maximum diameter of the tumors was 2.1-8. 5 era. Eleven cases were T, No M0 and the other one was T2 N0 M0. Results The mean operation time was 92±24 min, and the mean blood loss was 50±29 ml. None of the cases need blood transfusion post-operation. No laparoscopic operative complications were observed. Six weeks after operation, complete ablation was achieved in 12 lesions and partial ablation in 1, with a complete ablation rate of 92.3%(12/13). There was no statistic change of Hb. ESR. SCr and GFR after operations (P>0.05). Ten cases underwent CT examination 3 months after the treatment ,9 cases showed complete necrosis of tumor,1 case showed partial necrosis. No recurrence was found. All of the 12 cases remained sur-vived during the follow-up for 1-16 months(median,7.8 months). Conelusions LCRFA for renal cell carcinoma is an accurate and effective intervention with a low incidence of complications, and is more accurate than ultrasound-guided pereutaneous radiofrequency ablation.

This paper introduced an experimental study of polylacticacid (PLA) nanoparticles of lipophilic anti-cancer herb drug using a precipitation method. Cucurbitacins (Cu) and Curcuminoids (Cur) were selected to be model drugs. They had similar solubility but their incorporation effects were significantly different: the average drug entrapment ratio, the average drug loading and the average drug recovery were 38.53%, 2.21% and 27.02% respectively; while those of Cur-PLA-NP were 94.36%, 14.35% and 91.23% respectively. To analyse the reason, drug incorporation process was investigated. By measuring solvent evaporation rate, ratio of drug PLA precipitates, drug distribution in system and entrapping ratio at different time of preparation, we found the difference of precipitation velocity of drug was the main reason. We also concluded that not all lipophilic drug can be well entrapped into PLA nanoparticle by nanoprecipitation method. The drug incorporation depended on the interations among drug, PLA and organic solvents, in addition to the solubility of the drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Cucurbitacins ; chemistry ; Curcumin ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; Particle Size ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal cryosurgical ablation(TRUSCSA) for localized prostate cancer. Methods The data of 26 patients who were diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer (T_(1a)N_0M_0 - T_(2x)N_0M_0) by biopsy were reviewed. The data of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical stage and Gleason score were collected. The Gleason score of all cases was ≤7; among them 6 cases were 2 - 4 and 20 cases were 5 - 7. The average pretreatment value of PSA was 11. 9 ng/ml (4. 7 - 19. 2 ng/ml). All the patients were treated with TRUSCSA, with a dual freeze-thaw cycle by using ultrathin 17-gauge cryoneedles. Immediate and delayed morbidities were evaluated. The PSA level was obtained every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months thereafter, and failure was defined as the inability to reach a nadir of 0. 5 ng/ml or less. All patients were strongly encouraged to undergo routine biopsies despite a stable PSA level. Results The operative time was (102±32)min. The postoperative hospital stay was (6±2)d. After withdrawal of the catheter, 22 cases had good continence) 4 had temporary incontinence for 3 - 7 d. Before operation 9 cases had normal sex life, and among them 5 cases had erectile dysfunction after operation. No one developed urinary retention or urethro-rectal fistula. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months (mean 22). The PSA level at the last follow up visit was less than 0. 5 ng/ml in 23 patients (88%) and 0. 5 ng/ml or more in 3(12%). Postoperative biopsies were taken in 20 cases and the results were negative at the 6th month. Conclusions Transrectal ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryosurgical ablation for clinically localized prostate cancer could be effective and safe. Additional studies with longer follow-up are necessary to determine the sustained efficacy of this procedure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) in detecting K-ras gene mutation.

METHODSSixty-one paraffin-embeded specimens of colorectal cancer were selected. MALDI-TOF-MS and regular sequencing were used to test the mutation of codon 12 and 13 in K-ras exon 2.

RESULTSOnly 47 specimens could be detected successfully in regular sequencing, while all the specimens were tested successfully in MALDI-TOF-MS. Fourteen specimens had K-ras mutation in regular sequencing (30.0%), while 22 specimens had mutation in MALDI-TOF-MS (36.1%). Six specimens with mutation were found in MALDI-TOF-MS but were wild-type in regular sequencing. Same mutation types from 14 specimens were confirmed by both regular sequencing and MALDI-TOF-MS. MALDI-TOF-MS was able to detect the mutation in 2 specimens that was not identified in regular sequencing.

CONCLUSIONSMALDI-TOF-MS is a feasible approach of K-ras gene mutation testing in colorectal cancer, which is less demanding in terms of specimen quality and is more sensitive as compared to regular sequencing.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Mutation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

This paper introduced an experimental study of the preparation of polylacticacid (PLA) nanoparticles of cucurbitacin (CuC) using a precipitation method. The residual acetone, ratio of CuC PLA precipitates, and the relationships between the ratios of two precipitates and drug incorporation rates were measured. It appeared that the nanoparticles with 60% of PLA incorporated with 5.5% of CuC were formed when acetone was injected into the aqueous phase. As the acetone gradually evaporated, drug incorporation/encapsulation continued, with most of CuC (about 70%) formed new crystalline cores and suspended in the form of microcrystals in the medium, resulting a suspension containing both nanoparticles and microcrystals. We also concluded that this system may not necessarily be suitable for all lipophilic drugs to be prepared to PLA nanoparticles with good incorporation rate. The drug incorporation depended on the interactions among drug, PLA, and organic solvents, in addition to the solubility of the drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; Chemical Precipitation ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Cucurbitacins ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Lactic Acid ; Microspheres ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; Triterpenes ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification

This study was purposed to investigate the correlation between the dose infused megakaryocytic precursors (CD34+, CD34+CD61+) and recovery time of platelet count following an allogeneic PBSCT and/or BMT through quantitative detection of CD34+ and its subpopulation in peripheral blood and BM mobilized by G-CSF. 24 patients with various hematologic malignancies received PBSCT/BMT from their HLA matched or unrelated donors and haploidentical siblings in April-December 2007. 20 evaluated patients were divided into 2 groups according to different transplant schemes. HLA matched group received PBSCT regime and haploidentical group received PBSCT combined with BMT. CD34+CD61+ subpopulations in sample from patients receiving PBSCT/BMT were measured by flow cytometry immediately or storage over night. The results showed that the median number of infused CD34+, CD34+CD61+ and CD34-CD61+ cells in haploidentical group were 6.24x10(6)/kg (1.53-20.48), 66.19x10(4)/kg (8.16-493.83), and 34.38x10(6)/kg (14.71-109.16) respectively, in HLA matched group those were 4.88x10(6)/kg (1.00-8.24), 14.16x10(4)/kg (11.63-96.87), and 13.50x10(6)/kg (1.74-35.61), respectively. Median days of ANCs>0.5x10(9)/L and platelets>20x10(9)/L were 18.5 (11.0-29.0) days and 16.5 (9.0-35.0) days in haploidentical group respectively; in HLA matched group those were 14.5 (9.0-24.0) and 10.5 (6.0-37.0) respectively. A significance difference of median days for ANC engraftment presented between two groups (p=0.048). There was no significant difference of time for platelet engraftment between 2 groups. For patients with CD34+ cell dose>2x10(6)/kg there was significant difference of time of platelet engraftment between HLA matched and haploidentical groups (p=0.006). The number of CD34+CD61+ cells infused in 12 haploidentical patients or in 8 HLA matched patients were much better correlated with the time of platelet recovery up to 20x10(9)/L than that of number of CD34+ cells infused in total 20 patients (r=-0.768 and p=0.004 for haploidentical CD34+CD61+ cells, r=-0.747 and p=0.033 for HLA matched CD34+ CD61+ cells, r=-0.449 and p=0.047 for CD34+ cells). There was an inverse correlation between the number of infused CD34+ CD61+ cells and time of platelet engraftment. Therefore, as the number of CD34+ CD61+ cells increased, duration of platelet engraftment (time to reach platelet count of 20x10(9)/L) shortened significantly. It is concluded that the determining the number of megakaryocytic precursor by flow cytometry may predict the platelet reconstitutive capacity of the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which is in haploidentical PBSCT and in BMT.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Survival ; Haploidy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Platelet Count ; Thrombopoiesis ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical, genetic and molecular features of two Chinese Han families with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

METHODSOphthalmologic examinations revealed variable severity and age-at-onset of visual loss among probands and other matrilineal relatives of both families. The families exhibited extremely low penetrance of visual impairment. The entire mitochondrial genome of two probands was amplified by PCR in 24 overlapping fragments using sets of oligonucleotide primers.

RESULTSSequence analysis of complete mitochondrial genome in the pedigrees excluded three common LHON associated mutations G11778A, G3460A and T14484C, but revealed the presence of a known homoplasmic tRNA(Thr) A15951G mutation. It also showed distinct sets of mtDNA polymorphisms belonging to Eastern Asian haplogroup D4b1. The A15951G mutation is located at the extremely conserved nucleotide (conventional position 71) of tRNA(Thr). Thus, this mutation may alter the structure and stability of mitochondrial tRNA(Thr), thereby leading to a failure in the tRNA metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction, causing visual impairment.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that the A15951G mutation might be involved in the pathogenesis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in the two families.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Mitochondria ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; genetics ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; genetics ; Pedigree ; RNA, Transfer, Thr ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment