Brachytherapy ; methods ; Brain Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Glioma ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Mouth Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Survival Rate

ObjectiveTo study the impact of high chromium yeast on type 2 diabetic mice.MethodsA total of 60 Balb/C mice were used in this study.Fifty mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes,while the ten mice without injection were in the normal group.The type 2 diabetic mice were divided into 5groups according to their fasting blood sugar levels,including 3 groups receiving high chromium yeast at low [250μg/ (kg· d)],medium [500 μg/ (kg,d)],and high [1000 μg/ (kg· d)] doses,1 group receiving metformin ( positive control),and 1 group receiving normal yeast ( negative control).The yeast or metformin were given through by gastric lavage daily for 15 weeks.Body mass and blood biochemical indexes (fasting blood glucose,glucose tolerance,etc) were determined,and the pathological examination of pancreas was conducted.Results Compared with negative control group,medium dose high chromium yeast group had significantly lower triglyceride ( P =0.043 ),low and medium dose groups had lower total cholesterol ( P =0.006,P =0.003 ),low and high dose groups had higher insulin levels (P =0.011,P =0.002),and high dose group had significantly reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (P =0.027).Pathological examination of pancreatic islets revealed that medium and high dose groups did not develop infiltration of inflammatory cells.ConclusionsHigh chromium yeast may improve type 2 diabetes mellitus.Further studies are needed to confirm the conclusion of this study with an organic chromium control group.

Objective To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on cell apoptosis during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =25 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,and remifentanil group (group R).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in groups I/R and R.Remifentanil was infused at 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 via the caudal vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of remifentanil in groups S and I/R.At 15 min before ischemia (T0) and 3,6,12,24 h of reperfusion (T1-4),5rats were anesthetized and sacrificed,and renal specimens were obtained to detect the apoptotic rate and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein (by flow cytometry) and mRNA (by RT-PCR).The ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were calculated.The pathological changes of renal tubules were scored.Results Compared with group S,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly increased at T1-4,and ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜0.01).Compared with group I/R,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly decreased at T1-4,while the ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased in group R (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Compared with the baseline value at T0,the pathological scores and apoptotic rates were significantly increased at T1 4,and the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression and inhibition of cell apoptosis in renal tissues are involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil reduces renal I/R injury in rats.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 125I radioactive seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy as a treatment option for thoracic advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). Methods A prospective cohort study was carried out between 2000and 2005. According to preoperative CT staging criteria,298 patients in phase Ⅱ-Ⅲ of ESCC, who had were admitted to Oncology Center Surgery of Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and Thoracic Surgery of YanCheng Oncology Hospital, were randomly divided into three groups: intraoperative 125I seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy (group A, 98cases), postoperative chemoradiotherapy (group B, 100 cases) and surgery alone (group C, 100cases). All patients received radical resection of esophageal cancer. According to pTNM staging criteria after operation, 233 patients in phase Ⅱb-Ⅲ of ESCC were finally enrolled in the study (78 in group A, 75 in group B, and 80 in group C). With 0. 5 m Ci of single seed, total activity of 5-11 mCi and matched peripheral dose in 60-70 Gy, 10-22 125I seeds were implanted into the target of patients in group A under direct vision in accordance with treatment planning system. The validation and quality assessment of radioactive seeds were demonstrated according to CT scan or X-ray imaging. The postoperative complications were observed. The local recurrence of the cancer was demonstrated using CT scan. The survival rate of patients was followed up for 1-,3-,5- and 10 years. Results The satisfied quality assessment of 125I seeds was observed. There was no displacement or loss of seed. The local recurrence in group A, B and C was 11. 5%, 13. 3% and 38. 8%, respectively, with statistical significance (P ＜ 0. 05). There was no significant difference among three groups with respect to complications and 1-year survival (P＞0. 05). However, the overall survival rate 3-, 5- and 10-years was 64.8%,37. 7% and 25. 1% in group A respectively; 63.3%, 36.9% and 24.9% in group Brespectively; 43. 6i%, 25.0%, and 12.6% in group C, respectively (all P＜0. 05). The 3-,5- and 10-year progression free survival rates were 63.5 %, 37.4 % and 15.1% in group A respectively; 62.5 %,36.6% and 14. 4% in group B respectively; 42.5%, 25.6% and 6.2% in group C respectively (all P＜0. 05). Conclusions It is a safe, effective and simple method for intraoperative 125I seeds implantation combined with postoperative chemotherapy in treatment of advanced ESCC, which may reduce the local recurrence and improve survival rates in patients with ESCC.

Aged ; Female ; Giant Cell Arteritis ; complications ; Humans ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; complications

Objective To investigate the effect of remifentanil on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1) mRNA expression in rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =20 each):sham operation group (S group),I/R group and remifentanil group (R group).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by 24 h reperfusion in groups I/R and R.Remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 was infused until 30 min of reperfusion starting from 15 min before ischemia in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and I/R groups.The animals were sacrificed at 15 min before ischemia and at 3,6,24 h of reperfusion and the kidneys were removed for microscopic examination and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count and for measurement of NOD1 mRNA expression (by RT-PCR).The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry double staining method.Results Compared with group S,NOD1 mRNA expression was up-regulated,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly increased at each time point during reperfusion in group I/R,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly increased at each time point during reperfusion,and NOD1 mRNA expression was up-regulated at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in group R (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with I/R group,NOD1 mRNA expression was down-regulated,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly decreased at each time point during reperfusion (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group R.Conclusion Remifentanil can reduce the renal I/R injury by down-regulating the expression of NOD1 mRNA and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Serum ; metabolism ; Silicosis ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of esomeprazole in long-term or intermittent treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods Twenty-eight patients with GERD who accepted esomeprazole 20 mg bid for 2 weeks were further divided into long-term treatment group and intermittent treatment group according to the protocol of therapy. Patients in long-term treatment group were received minimum dose that was needed to relief the symptoms for more than 6 months, whereas those in intermittent treatment group were received esomeprazole 20 mg qd until the symptoms completely disappeared, if symptoms relapsed the patients were treated again.The dosage, recurrence of symptoms and the side effects were compared between two groups. ResultsThirteen patients in long-term treatment group were treated for 7-44 months (20 mg daily in 7,twice daily in 5 and every other day in 1). While 15 patients in intermittent treatment group had a good relief of the symptoms. No adverse reactions was found in two groups. The follow-up study of 10-57 months in intermittent treatment group revcaled that the longer the treatment maintained,the longer the symptoms relieved (r=0. 447, P= 0. 008). Conclusion It is safe for esomeprazole in relieving symptoms of patients with GERD by long time or intermittent use.

The aim of this paper is to report the synthesis of the mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers as small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vector, and exploration of the siRNA delivery potential of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI in vitro. The diblock copolymers mPEG-PCL-OH was prepared through the ring-opening polymerization. Then, the hydroxyl terminal (-OH) of mPEG-PCL-OH was chemically converted into the carboxy (-COOH) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in turn to prepare mPEG-PCL-NHS. The branched PEI was reacted with mPEG-PCL-NHS to synthesize the ternary copolymers mPEG-PCL-g-PEI. The structure of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were prepared by complex coacervation, and the nanoparticles size and zeta potential were determined, separately. The cytotoxicities of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles and PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were compared through cells MTT assays in vitro. The inhibition efficiencies of firefly luciferase gene expression by mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/ siRNA nanoparticle at various N/P ratios were investigated through cell transfection in vitro. The experimental results suggested that the ternary (mPEG5k-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) copolymers were successfully synthesized. (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) could condense siRNA into nanoparticles (50-200 nm) with positive zeta potential. MTT assay results showed that the cytotoxicity of (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles (P < 0.05). The expression of firefly luciferase gene could be significantly down-regulated at a range of N/P ratio from 50 to 150 (P < 0.01), and maximally inhibited at the N/P ratio of 125. The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI polymers could delivery siRNA into cells to inhibit the expression of target gene with very low cytotoxicity, which suggested that mPEG-PCL-g-PEI could serve as a new type of siRNA delivery vector.

Objective To investigate the relationship between standard CD44(CD44s)expression and tumor stage and prognosis in colorectal cancer.Methods CD44s expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues and normal mucosa specimens from 74 cases of primary colorectal cancer.Results Of 74 cases,the expression of CD44s in colorectal cancer tissue and normal mucosa specimens was documented in 42% and 16%,respectively.The expression of CD44s in primary tumors significantly increased in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ than in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ(39% vs.6%,x~2=8.46,P＜0.01).A statistically significant correlation was observed between the overall survival and CD44s expression(x~2=17.82,P＜0.01).Furthermore,a poor prognosis of CD44s-positive tumors was observed in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer(x~2=16.23,P＜0.01),but not in patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ colorectal cancer(x~2=1.34,P＞0.05).Multivariate analysis indicated that TNM stage and CD44s expression were independent predictors of overall survival in colorectal cancer.Conclusion CD44s overexpression is involved in the progress of colorectal cancer and predicting the prognosis.