Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in patients with axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer treated with breast conservation surgery and to establish the candidates for PMRT based on different pN stages and lymph node ratios (LNR). Methods:A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of the patients was conducted. The pa-tients had positive lymph nodes (n=152) between 1998 and 2007 and underwent breast conservation surgery. A comparison of the dis-ease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates was conducted based on LNR and pN staging and with PMRT as a prognostic factor. Results:A total of 152 cases were studied, of which 114 were pN1, 23 were pN2, and 15 were pN3. Among these cases, 114 had an LNR ranging from 0.01 to 0.20, 26 had an LNR from 0.21 to 0.65, and 12 had an LNR>0.65. Univariate analysis showed that the number of dissected lymph nodes, LNR, pN stage, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and radiotherapy were the prognostic fac-tors for DFS and OS rates (P<0.05). Age and chemotherapy were prognostic factors only for OS rate (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis in-dicated that PMRT and LNR were independent prognostic factors of DFS and OS (P<0.05). The pN staging had no significant effect on DFS or OS (P>0.05). In the subgroup analysis, PMRT had significant effect on DFS and OS (P<0.05) in patients with pN1 and LNR<0.21. Conclusion:LNR is an independent prognostic factor in axillary lymph node-positive breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation surgery, and a candidate for PMRT should be established based on different LNR risks.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Transients and Migrants ; Young Adult

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; complications ; Neck ; Peritonsillar Abscess ; complications

Otolaryngology ; Periodicals as Topic ; Quality of Life ; Sickness Impact Profile

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.
Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Environment ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Vascular System Injuries

As the preparation process from Salvia miltiorrhiz herbs to S. miltiorrhiz injection involves complicated technology and has relatively more factors impacting quality safety, the overall quality control is required for its effectiveness and safety. On the basis of the component structure theory, and according to the material basis of S. miltiorrhiz injection, we discussed the multi-dimensional structure and process dynamic quality control technology system of the preparation, in order to achieve the quality control over the material basis with safety and effectiveness of S. miltiorrhiz injection, and provide new ideas and methods for production quality standardization of S. miltiorrhis injection.
Drug Compounding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Injections ; Quality Control ; Safety ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection in immune tolerant phase.Methods Ninety-eight chronic HBV carriers in immune tolerant phase were enrolled in this study.The age,gender,serum HBV DNA level,hepatic inflammatory activity and fibrosis,hepatic HBsAg and HBcAg expressions were analyzed.The grade of inflammatory activity and stage of fibrosis were also compared in patients with different levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT).Data analysis was done by chi-square test. Results In 98 patients,83(84.7%)were＜30 years old and 15(15.3%)were≥30.Patients whose mother was HBsAg positive were 48.0%.High levels of serum HBV DNA were found in all patients, with 78.5% were＞1×107 copy/mL.Only 5 cases(5.1%)were G0 of the inflammatory grade;whereas,64 cases(65.3%)were G1,29(29.6%)were G2.There were 56 patients(57.1%)had no significant liver fibrosis;and 23 cases(23.5%)were S1,14(14.3%)were S2,5(5.1%)were S3;none of patients had cirrhosis.The HBsAg and HBcAg in liver tissues were positive in 79(80.6%)and 80(81.6%)cases,respectively.The fibrosis stages of patients with higher ALT levels were significantly greater than patients with lower ALT levels(X2=8.112 3,P=0.043 7).Conclusions Most of patients with chronic HBV infection in immune tolerant phase present mild inflammation in liver,some of them have already developed fibrosis.Therefore,liver pathology is recommended for these patients to help understand the patients' conditions and make correct therapeutic decisions.

Objective:To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic risk factors of T1-2 stage breast cancer patients with one to three positive node(s) and their effects on the benefits of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 457 breast cancer patients with T1-2 stage and one to three positive axillary lymph nodes treated in our hospital between 2000 and 2002. The independent prognostic factors of the patients were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model. The patients were fur-ther classified into high-risk and low-risk subgroups according to the risk factors to explore the benefit of PMRT on the prognosis of dif-ferent subgroups using survival analysis. Results:PMRT was not an independent beneficial factor of overall survival (OS) (HR=0.949;CI:0.435-2.074;P=0.896) or loco-regional recurrent free survival (LRRFS) (HR=0.611;CI:0.231-1.614;P=0.320) in all patients. Ex-tracapsular extension (ECE) and pathological grades were independent prognostic risk factors, and the benefits of PMRT were signifi-cantly different on the prognosis of high-risk subgroup patients (group ECE+OS:P=0.020, LRRFS:P=0.014;group GradeⅢOS:P=0.002, LRRFS:P<0.001). Meanwhile, PMRT failed to prolong the OS and LRRFS of low-risk subgroup patients (group ECE+OS:P=0.353, LRRFS:P=0.796;group GradeⅠtoⅡOS:P=0.267, LRRFS:P=0.589). Conclusion:ECE and gradeⅢwere the independent risk factors of death and loco-regional recurrence in the T1-2 breast cancer patients with one to three positive lymph node(s). PMRT was an effective adjuvant therapy to improve the prognosis of patients with high-risk factors. However, the benefit of PMRT had no sig-nificance in patients with ECE-or gradeⅠ-Ⅱ.

Objective: To observe the effect of oxidative-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) injured human leukemia mononuclear cells (THP-1) adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)in vitrowith the intervening function of dredging collateral drug, tongxinluo (TXL) and ginsenoside (Rb1). Methods: Cell injury was induced by ox-LDL treatment. The cells were divided into 4 groups:①Normal control group,②Injury model group, the cells were cultured by ox-LDL,③TXL group, the cells were cultured with both ox-LDL and TXL,④Rb1 group. HUVEC viability was measured by MTS assay, adherence rate of THP-1 cells to HUVECs was tested by vital cell staining. The contents of monocyte chemoat-tractant protein (MCP-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), soluble inter vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and E-selectin in HUVEC conditioned medium were detected by ELISA; protein expressions of CCR2, VLA4 and Mac-1 in THP-1 cells were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: Compared with Control group, HUVEC viability was decreased in Injury model group (100 ±1.31) % vs(75.57 ± 1.02) %, while increased in both TXL and Rb1 groups (99.25 ± 1.40) % and (99.48 ± 2.15) %; Injury model group showed elevated adherence rate of THP-1 cells to HUVECs, while the adherence rates were reduced in both TXL and Rb1 groups. Compared with Injury model group, TXL group and Rb1 group showed decreased levels of MCP-1, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVEC conditioned medium; decreased protein expressions of CCR2, VLA4 and Mac-1 in THP-1 cells. Conclusion: TXL and Rb1 could protect HUVECs, reduce ox-LDL injury induced vascular endothelial cell adhesion and decrease relevant receptor expression in monocytes; therefore, inhibit injured monocytes adherence to vascular endothelial cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of acupoint therapy on inflammatory factors and its clini-cal efficacy in relieving bronchial asthma. Methods Selected patients with bronchial asthma which was in remis-sion were randomly divided into a treatment group that was treated with acupoint therapy and a control group that was given Seretide. Each group had 30 cases. The treatment period was 4 weeks. Both groups were evaluated in terms of Asthma Control Test ( ACT) scores and the serum content of interleukin-5 ( IL-5) and interleukin-10 ( IL-10) before and at one month ( short-term) , as well as three months after the end of the treatment ( long-term) . The asthma control situation ( fully controlled, partially controlled or uncontrolled) was evaluated. Results Before treatment the average ACT scores of the two groups were not significantly different. After the treatment both the short-term and long-term average ACT scores of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the con-trol group. The total effectiveness rate of asthma control in the treatment group in the short term ( 93%) was signifi-cantly higher than that in the control group ( 70%) . After the treatment the IL-5 and IL-10 levels in the treatment group were improved to a significantly greater extent than those in the control group. Conclusion Acupoint thera-py can reduce airway inflammation, control bronchial asthma symptoms and show good clinical efficacy, probably by regulating IL-5 and IL-10 levels.