Objective To explore the short- term efficacy of argon- helium knife cryotherapy followed by chemotherapy in treating advanced non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to investigate its effect on the long- term survival. Methods During the period from March 2005 to March 2008, a total of 61 patients withⅢb or Ⅳ stage NSCLC received argon- helium knife cryotherapy followed by chemotherapy (study group), and other 52 patients with Ⅲb or Ⅳ stage NSCLC were treated with chemotherapy only (control group). The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The pain was evaluated by numeric rating scale (NRS) and the quality of life (QOL) was assessed by functional assessment of cancer therapy- general (FACT- G) scale. The clinical effect was evaluated according to RECIST criteria for solid tumor, and the patient’s survival time was recorded. Results (1) Twenty- six patients had local pain before the treatment, and the pain was relieved in different degrees after cryotherapy. The QOL, including all respects of FACT - G, was significantly improved after cryotherapy in all 61 patients. (2) The remission rate of the study group and the control group was 34.4% and 15.4% respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). (3) The median survival time of the study group and the control group was 12.9 months and 9.5 months respectively, and the one- year survival rate of the study group and the control group was 53.6% and 35.4% respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion Argon- helium knife cryotherapy is a safe and effective local treatment for advanced NSCLC, which can quickly reduce the tumor load, relieve the pain and improve patient’s quality of life. Cryotherapy with subsequent chemotherapy is superior to simple chemotherapy in improving the patient’s survival rate.

OBJECTIVEIn order to accurately reconstruct the acoustic source image, the application of transducer's receiving characteristics in magneto-acoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI) is studied.

METHODSThe conductivity phantom model is built, and the magnetic acoustic signals are simulated and the acoustic sources are reconstructed according to the transducer's receiving characteristics.

RESULTSThe reconstructed image of acoustic source is consistent with the topographic shape and size of the phantom model.

CONCLUSIONMAT-MI based on the transducer's characteristics lays the foundation for further study.

Acoustics ; Magnetic Phenomena ; Magnetics ; Tomography ; Transducers

G,the noval insertion mutation of c.2298_2299insC is identified in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of the DNA repair gene ERCC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 on male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, China.

METHODSUsing MassArray, we conducted a case-control study and genotyped three ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 for 351 males (aged 31.0 +/- 4.2 years) with idiopathic infertility and another 327 normal fertile men (aged 33.0 +/- 5.9 years) as controls.

RESULTSThe ERCC2 AnyG-anyA-anyA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of idiopathic infertility (OR 0.414, 95% CI 0.176 - 0.970), while the three single ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 showed no significant differences between the cases and controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 play a role of interaction in male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, contributing to the risk of the disease.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Repair ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein ; genetics

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through a meta-analysis.Methods CBM, CNKI, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase were searched for the articles on comparison between induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy and concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with locally advanced NSCLC.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the data on short-term outcome and survival were collected.A Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical effect of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent radiochemotherapy.Results A total of 5 articles were included, which involved 845 patients.The results showed that the short-term outcome and the 2-and 3-year survival rates were similar between patients receiving induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy and those receiving concurrent radiochemotherapy ( OR=0.875, 95% CI 0.507-1.510, P=0.631;HR=0.770, 95% CI 0.515-1.151, P=0.203;HR=0.809, 95% CI 0.559-1.172, P=0.262), but the patients receiving induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy showed a significantly higher incidence rate of grade ≥ 3 leukopenia than those receiving concurrent radiochemotherapy alone ( OR=0.637, 95% CI 0.435-0.931, P=0.020).Conclusions Induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy shows no significant advantages over concurrent radiochemotherapy alone in the short-term outcome and 2-and 3-year survival rates, but it significantly increases myelosuppression.Since there are few studies involving a limited number of cases included in this analysis, more multicenter randomized trials are needed to provide more detailed data and further clarify the clinical value of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy.

Objective To examine the effects of different pre-treatment nutritional status and inflammatory markers on acute adverse reactions in esophageal cancer patients during concurrent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and chemotherapy.Methods The acute adverse reactions of 338 eligible esophageal cancer patients who received concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy in our hospital from 2006 to 2014 were reviewed.The effects of different pre-treatment nutritional status, such as body mass index level (BMI), albumin level (ALB), total lymphocyte count (TLC), the presence or absence of anemia, and inflammatory indicators including neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), on acute adverse reactions in the patients were examined.Data were analyzed using the chi-square test with continuity correction and logistic regression analysis.Results The incidence rate of malnutrition in the patients based on their nutritional status was 5.62%-54.14%.The incidence rate of grade≥2 acute radiation esophagitis (RE) was significantly higher in the low ALB group than in the normal ALB group (P=0.000).The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the hematologic system increased as TLC decreased (P=0.006), but the incidence rate of acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) was reduced as TLC decreased (P=0.001).In addition, the incidence rate of grade ≥2 acute RE was significantly higher in the anemia group than in the non-anemia group.Inflammatory marker analysis demonstrated that the incidence rate of acute RE was significantly higher in the high NLR group and high PLR group than in the low NLR group and low PLR group (P=0.000 and P=0.024, respectively).Logistic regression analysis of nutritional status and inflammatory markers showed that TLC was an independent risk factor for acute adverse reactions in the hematologic system (P=0.001), and ALB and PLR were independent risk factors for acute RE (P=0.017 and P=0.011,respectively).Conclusions Nutritional status and inflammatory markers are associated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy-induced acute adverse reactions in esophageal carcinoma patients, and hence may be valuable indicators of acute adverse reactions during treatment.In addition, nutritional treatment and support care should be actively provided to the patients to prevent the development of acute adverse reactions during treatment.

Humans ; Siblings ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Genetics

OBJECTIVEN-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) and cytochrome P450 2EI (CYP2E1) play a crucial role in the drug metabolic process. The aim of this study was to understand the genotype and phenotype polymorphisms of NAT2 and CYP2E1 in the Han Chinese pediatric population in order to provide a theoretical basis for individualized drug treatment.

METHODSA total of 341 (211 males and 130 females) randomly sampled Han Chinese children, aged from 2 months to 14 years, were enrolled in this study. Genotyping was carried out by PCR method, and metabolic phenotypes were identified.

RESULTSIn this study population, wild genotype was found as a major genotype in seven SNPs of NAT2, rs1801279, rs1041983, rs1801280, rs1799929, rs1799930, rs1208 and rs1799931. The frequency of NAT2 fast metabolism was highest (61.3%), followed by middle to slow metabolism (34.1%). Wild genotype also predominated in the four SNPs of CYP2E1 (rs2031920, rs3813867, rs6413432 and rs72559720) named as CYP2E1*5, *6 and *2, with a frequency of 61.3%, 60.1% and 99.4% respectively. As the relationship between CYP2E1 genotype and phenotype was unknown, phenotyping of CYP2E1 was not done.

CONCLUSIONSThe important SNPs of NAT2 and CYP2E1 are predominantly wild genotype in the Han Chinese pediatric population. Fast metabolic phenotype predominates in important SNPs of NAT2.

Adolescent ; Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; ethnology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To investigate the regulating effect and mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) on extracellular matrix (ECM) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by vascular remodeling of hypertension. Methods By narrowing the abdominal aorta in rats, the hypertension models were established and divided into 2-week hypertension group and 4-week hypertension group, and sham-operated group was also established as control. VSMCs from the rat aorta were subjected to 0% (static), 5% (normal) and 15%（hypertensive）elongation strain at a constant frequency of 1.25 Hz and duration of 12 hours, respectively. The expressions of Smad 7 and ECM were detected by Western blotting, and the expression of miR-21 was examined by Real-time RT-PCR. Finally, miR-21 siRNA was used to study the role of miR-21 in the mechanical strain-induced expression of ECM, miR-21 and Smad 7. Results Compared with the sham-operated group, ECM and miR-21 in thoracic aorta of 2-week hypertension group were significantly elevated. Collagen I, collagen III and miR-21 in thoracic aorta of 4-week hypertension group were significantly elevated. Compared with the static and 5% strain groups, the protein expression of collagen I in VSMCs did not show significant change, but the protein expression of collagen III was significantly elevated and Smad 7 expression was significantly decreased in 15% strain group. The cyclic strain also enhanced miR-21 expression in VSMCs. miR-21 inhibitor effectively decreased the expression of miR-21 in VSMCs and protein level of collagen III, while enhanced Smad 7 expression under the static and 15% strain. Conclusions The vascular remodeling of hypertension causes the high expressions of ECM and miR-21. The cyclic strain induces the high expression of miR-21, which via Smad 7 results in enhancing the expression of ECM, collagen III especially, in VSMCs under vascular remodeling of hypertension.

OBJECTIVEIn order to analyze multiple statistic tables more efficiently Excel Visual Basic for Application (VBA) was introduced through the use of an example of calculating standardized mortality rates (SMRs).

METHODSMortality data of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, by sex and age, have been collected from 1991 to 2003 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shanghai Huangpu District. Standard population composition was defined as Chinese census statistics in 2000. The male's SMRs were calculated, using Excel VBA for each year and classification of cancers.

RESULTSThe male's SMRs were obtained by year and different cancers. At the same time, the results were listed in the cancer's SMRs table for male.

CONCLUSIONSExcel is more flexible than general database on the combination of data and annotation. Excel VBA is better than the basic Excel in operating multiple tables simultaneously and man-machine conversation. Statistic analysis can be efficiently completed by using Excel VBA.

Age Factors ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Database Management Systems ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms ; mortality ; Sex Factors