OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of RRM1 and ERCC1 genes in tumor tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTissue and peripheral blood samples were collected from 49 advanced NSCLC patients treated with gemcitabine plus carboplatin. The expressions of RRM1 and ERCC1 mRNA in tumor tissue and peripheral lymphocytes were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The relationship of gene expression with clinical characteristics,chemotherapy response and prognosis was analyzed.

RESULTSThe RRM1 expression in tumor tissues was positively correlated with that in peripheral blood lymphocytes,while no significant correlation was observed between ERCC1 expression in tumor tissues and that in peripheral blood (rs=0.332 and 0.258; P=0.020 and 0.073, respectively). The expression of RRM1 and ERCC1 in tumor tissues peripheral lymphocytes was synchronous (rs=0.634 and 0.351; P<0.001 and 0.013, respectively). There was no significant correlation of gene expression with gender, age, smoking status, performance status, clinical stages and histological types of patients (P>0.05). Significant difference was found in response rate to chemotherapy (P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.05),median survival time (P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.05) and 1-year survival rate (P<0.01,<0.05,P<0.05) between patients with low RRM1 and ERCC1 expression levels in tumor tissues or low RRM1 expression levels in peripheral blood and those with high RRM1 and ERCC1 expression levels. The patients with low ERCC1 expression levels in tumor tissues gained higher 2-year survival rate (P<0.05). There was no correlation of the expression of ERCC1 in peripheral blood with the response to chemotherapy and prognosis (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of RRMI and ERCC1 genes in tumor tissues and RRM1 in peripheral blood lymphocytes is closely correlated with the response to chemotherapy and prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with gemcitabine plus carboplatin.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Endonucleases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSimultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is the best treatment option for diabetic patients with advanced chronic renal failure. The current study aimed to analyze the surgical indications, treatments and prognosis of SPKT.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 40 cases of SPKT performed between December 1999 and January 2010 in our center, including the survival rate, complications and the reasons of reoperation.

RESULTSOf all the 40 SPKT cases, the one-year survival rates of the recipients, kidney and pancreas transplant graft were 97.6%, 97.6% and 92.7%, while 97.6%, 91.1%, 92.7% at 3 years and 83.6%, 78.0%, 79.4% at 5 years, respectively. After SPKT, 10 patients need reoperation because of surgical complications (14 operations). The reoperation rate was 25%, including 2 patients (4 operations) with hematuria, 4 patients with abdominal hemorrhage, 2 patients (3 operations) with abdominal infection, 1 patient with pancreatic venous thrombosis, 1 patient with anastomotic leakage, and 1 patient with fistula.

CONCLUSIONAlthough SPKT provides a successful and effective treatment for diabetics with end-stage renal disease, how to reduce the complications of this treatment still need further effort.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cephalosporins ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Metronidazole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies of human leuckocyte antigens (HLA) -A, B and DRB1 alleles in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, and to assess the correlation of HLA molecules with other clinical and laboratory profiles.

METHODSGenotyping of HLA-A, B, and DRB1 were performed in 65 well-characterized patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 431 healthy controls with PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP).

RESULTSThe frequency of DRB1*0701 was increased to 29.2% compared with 13.9% in the controls (PC < 0.05, OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.4 approximately 4.6). No association was found with HLA-DRB1*08 which had been constantly reported. The A*2 allele (53.8%) was more frequent in the PBC patient group but without a significant statistical difference. The frequencies for the other A, B and DRB1 alleles were similar between patients and healthy controls. There was no difference between patients with or without DRB1*0701 in some clinical and laboratory profiles.

CONCLUSIONSusceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis in Chinese is associated with DRB1*0701 allele and differs from people in North America, South America, North Europe and even in Japan, but the association is not restricted to any particular subgroup of patients. Valine at position 78 of HLA DRbeta1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic