Objective To investigate the relation between serum homocysteine(HCY) and the development of atherosclerosis(AS).Methods Diet contained 1% methionine was fed to make models of hyperhomocysteinemia and atherosclerosis in 18 male New Zealand rabbits. Hyperlipemia group was as control group. Ultrasonographic image was performed in 0,4,8 weeks respectively with HP 8500 and recorded the stenosis and plaque of abdominal aorta compared with pathology.Results Stenosis and plaque of abdominal aorta were observed in 4 weeks in high fat diet group. Stenosis and plaque of abdominal aorta were observed in 8 weeks in high methionine diet group.This results were confirmed by pathology anatomy.Satistically,significant correlation was found between AS and hypercholesterolemia or hyperhomocysteinemia respectively.But there was no correlation between hypercholesterolemia and hyperhomocysteinemia. Conclusions Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent important risk factor of atherosclerosis.

Background and purpose:EGFR-TKI (EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors), represented by geiftinib and erlotinib, have exhibited signiifcant antiproliferative effects against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with low toxicity.EGFR gene mutation was discovered to be a predictive biomarker for EGFR-TKI treatment. Although the efifcacy of EGFR-TKI is limited toEGFR wild-type patients, it is still noticeable suggesting that some other mechanisms are responsible for it. The current study is aimed at evaluating the expression of phosphorylated EGFR in advanced NSCLC, investigating its relationship withEGFR mutations and EGFR-TKI efifcacy.Methods:EGFR gene mutations were detected by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in 205 stageⅢB-ⅣNSCLC patients. The expressions of phosphorylated tyrosine 1068 (pTyr1068) and 1173 (pTyr1173) were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:The positive expressions of pTyr1068 and pTyr1173 were 80.0% (164/205) and 57.6% (95/165) respectively. None of them were related to clinical pathological characteristics (age, gender, pathological type, smoking status, disease stage).EGFR gene mutation rate was 44.9% (92/205), which was only related to smoking status (P=0.024) compared to other clinical pathological characteristics.EGFR gene mutations were poorly related to pTyr1068 expression (P<0.001) and not related to pTyr1173 expression (P=0.297). The objective response rate (ORR),disease control rate (DCR), and progressive free survival (PFS) of EGFR-TKI treatment in patients withEGFR mutations were 48.3% (43/89), 80.9% (72/89) and 8 months (95%CI: 6.11-11.42) respectively, which were signiifcantly higher than that ofEGFR wild-type patients [ORR=16.2% (17/105,P<0.001); DCR=56.2%(59/105,P<0.001); Median PFS: 2.1 months, (95%CI: 0.89-3.24;P=0.001)]. Superior ORR: DCR and PFS appeared in patients with pTyr1068 positive expression compared to negative [ORR: 37.7% (58/154)vs 5.0% (2/40,P<0.001); DCR: 74.7% (115/154)vs 40.0% (16/40,P<0.001); Median PFS: 7.0 monthsvs 1.2 months,P<0.001)]. Inversely, the patients with pTyr1173 positive expression had lower ORR, DCR and shorter PFS [ORR: 27.8% (25/90)vs 37.9%(25/66,P=0.123); DCR: 64.4% (58/90)vs 83.3% (55/66,P=0.007); Median PFS: 4.8 monthsvs 7.7 months (P=0.016)]. In subgroup ofEGFR wild-type patients, positive expression of pTyr1068 was 69.0% (69/100).EGFR wild-type patients with pTyr1068 positive expression had a prolonged PFS and elevated ORR and DCR compared to negative [median PFS: 3.6 monthsvs 1.2 months (P<0.001); ORR: 23.2%vs 3.2% (P=0.010); DCR: 69.6%vs 35.5% (P=0.001)]. Sixteen patients with pTyr1068 positive expression who responded to EGFR-TKI treatment in this subgroup had a remarkable PFS [median PFS: 15.6 months (95%CI:7.28-23.9)]. Multiple factor analysis showed that the expression of pTyr1068 was an independence predictor factor for EGFR-TKI treatment (OR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.16~0.37,P<0.001). Conclusion:Phosphorylation at Tyr1068 of EGFR might be a potential predictive factor for clinical response and survival of EGFR-TKI treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC, especially inEGFR wild-type patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of transcatheter closure with Amplatzer duct occluder offers in infants with patent ductus arteriosus(PDA).Methods Thirty-seven PDA infants underwent transcatheter closure of PDA at(8.7 ? 3.3)months and weight of(8.6 ? 3.5)kg.A lateral view aortogram was made to determine the morphology and the narrowest diameter of the ductus and selected the size of the device.Occluder was implanted using the anterograde venous approach.Follow-up evaluations were made with chest X-ray and echocardiogram at 24 hours and 1,6 and 12 months after implantation.Results The narrowest diameter of the ducts measured by angiographically was(3.3 ? 1.5)mm.Ninteen patients(54.29%) achieved immediate complete occlusion.On color Doppler the closure rates at 1 month after implant were 34 cases(97.14%).No residual shunt exsisted in all implanted patients at 6 and 12 months follow-up.Procedure time at(57 ? 43)minutes and fluoroscopy time(23.0?14.9)minutes.Conclusions Percutaneous PDA closure with the Amplatzer duct occluder decice is an safety and effective method for the treatment of PDA in infants,but caution shall be exercised to the anatomic characteristics in the infant age group in solving clinical complications.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Antigens, CD20 ; analysis ; CD79 Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male

Objective To investigate the value of induction chemotherapy in the treatment of stage N2.3M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma with plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA＞4000 copies/ml.Methods A retrospective study was performed on clinical data from 210 patients with stage N2-3M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma and plasma EBV DNA＞4000 copies/ml who were admitted to our hospital from 2009 to 2013.In the 210 patients,101 received induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and 109 concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone (CCRT).The survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.The log-rank test was used for the analysis of survival rates and univariate analysis of the impacts of the changes in the plasma EBV DNA level after induction chemotherapy on the prognosis.Results The 3-year sample size was 154.The NCRT group had significantly higher 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates than the CCRT group (80.1％ vs.70.6％,P =0.029;87.1％ vs.76.0％,P=O.036),while there was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OS) rate between the two groups (88.0％ vs.80.4％,P =0.210).Patients with stage N2 disease in the NCRT group had significantly higher 3-year DFS and DMFS rates than those in the CCRT group (P=O.031,O.014).Patients with stage N3 disease in the NCRT group had significantly higher 3-year OS,DFS,and DMFS rates than those in the CCRT group (P=0.029,0.012,0.019).In all the patients,the 3-year OS and DMFS rates were improved with the increase in the cycle number of induction chemotherapy (P =0.020,0.021).In the NCRT group,patients treated with 2,3,and 4 cycles of induction chemotherapy before radiotherapy had plasma EBV-DNA clearance rates of 51.85％,76.92％,and 88.57％,respectively (P=0.004).Using the complete clearance of plasma EBV-DNA as a predictor of progression,the sensitivity for the above three groups was 62.50％,66.67％ and 75.00 (P=0.910),respectively,and the specificity was 57.89％,90.00％ and 96.77％ (P=0.000),respectively.Conclusions In the treatment of nasopharyngealcarcinoma with plasma EBV DNA ＞ 4 000 copies/m1,induction chemotherapy improves DFS and DMFS inpatients with stage N2-3 M0 disease and OS in patients with stage N3 disease;induction chemotherapy dose not improve recurrence-free survival rate.The prognosis and plasma EBV DNA clearance rate are improved with the increase in the cycle number of induction chemotherapy.Using the complete clearance of plasma EBV DNA as a predictor of progression,the sensitivity and specificity in patients treated with 4 cycles of chemotherapy are superior over those in patients treated with 2 or 3 cycles of chemotherapy.

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

Adult ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; complications

Objective To clone the transcriptional regulatory sequences (TRS) in human breast cancer related DF3 antigen, and to test the relationship between the activity of the TRS and the cell surface DF3 antigen. Methods Authors designed a pair of primers according to the registered 5′-flanking region of DF3 antigen. The 771 base pairs of DNA fragment were amplified from the genomic DNA of human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells by PCR, and cloned to the pMD18-T vector. The results were tested by restrictive enzyme analysis and DNA sequencing. The DF3 TRS was cut by double enzyme: Mlu I、Hind III,and cloned to the pGL3 vector . The activity of the DF3 TRS was expressed by analyzing the relative luciferase activities. Results Restrictive endonuclease identification and DNA sequencing proved that the sequence authors got, was correct. The luciferase activity in MDA-MB-231 was hardly detected, whereas in MCF-7 the luciferase activity was about 200 times than in MDA-MB-231. Conclusions The DF3 TRS was cloned successfully. The DF3 activity has a distinct relationship with DF3 antigen. The study shows that DF3 TRS can be used in the gene therapy of breast carcinoma.

AIM: To explore correlation,consistency and comfort between traditional tear film examination methods and Oculus Keratograph.METHODS: A retrospective study.Totally 101 cases (101 eyes) were diagnosed myopia and then accepted LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis).Non-invasive tear film break-up time(NIBUT),lower tear meniscus height(LTMH) were measured with Oculus Keratograph,fluorescein tear film break-up time(fl-BUT) and Schimer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) were performed on all cases.The correlations analysis between NIBUT and fl-BUT,LTMH and SⅠt were performed by Spearman rank correlation,consistency check between NIBUT and fl-BUT by Bland-Altman analysis.Visual analogue scale(VAS) was applied on evaluating the comfort of two kinds of examination methods.RESULTS: LTMH and SⅠt showed positive correlation (rs=0.346,P=0.001).NIBUT and fl-BUT showed positive correlation (rs=0.393,P=0.001),95% consistency limits range-9.62 to 14.18 in Bland-Altman Figure.There was significant difference between VAS of NIBUT and VAS of fl-BUT(z=-2.324,P=0.020).There was significant difference between VAS of LTMH and VAS of SⅠt (z=-8.845,P=0.001).CONCLUSION: Oculus Keratograph can objectively measure NIBUT and LTMH,and was more comfortable than traditional tear film examination methods.It can effectively assess tear film function before corneal refractive surgery.

OBJECTIVETo establish a mice model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, and to investigate the effect of cisplatin on apoptosis of spiral ganglion cell and expression of caspase-3 in mouse cochlea.

METHODSTerminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling method (TUNEL) was used to monitor the apoptosis of spiral ganglion cell. Envision method of immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of caspase-3 in cochlea. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured to observe the change of hearing.

RESULTSThe weight and hearing of mice in different dose of cisplatin groups were declined significantly as compared with those of control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the TUNEL positive cell number and expression of caspase-3 were greater remarkably with the more cisplatin injected.

CONCLUSIONA mouse model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity can be established. Cisplatin can lead to the apoptosis of spiral ganglion cells, and caspase-3 has participated in this apoptosis process, which approves further that apoptosis might be one of the mechanisms of cisplatin ototoxicity.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cochlea ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Spiral Ganglion ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism