OBJECTIVE To study the pharmacokinetics of heat shock protein 65-mucin 1 (HSP65-MUC1) recombinant fusion protein vaccine in Macaca mulatta monkeys and tumor-bearing mice. METHODS HSP65-MUC1 was labeled by radioactive isotope 125I. M. mulatta monkeys were randomly divided into sc and iv administration groups. Simultaneously, sc administration group was designed as a multiple dose group in which M. mulatta monkeys were sc given [ 125I] HSP65-MUC1 40 μg·g-1, once every 2 weeks for a total of 3 times. Size exclusion chromatography ( SEC) was used to determine concentrations of HSP65-MUC1 in serum samples. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 0.5, 1.5, 4, 8 and 24 h groups. Mice were sc given [125I] HSP65-MUC1 550 μg·kg-1, tissues were collected and tissue distribution of [125I] HSP65-MUC1 in tumor-bearing mice was studied using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation method. RESULTS The absolute bioavailability of [125I]HSP65-MUC1 was 38.33% after M. mulatta monkeys were sc given [125I]HSP65-MUC1. In multiple dose group, concentrations of [125I]HSP65-MUC1 after the third dose administration was compared to that of the first dose administration. The accumulation factor (AUC3/AUC1) was 1.17 ±0.25. Distribution of [ 125I]HSP65-MUC1 was significantly different compared with general polypeptide and protein drugs after sc in tumor-bearing mice. The concentration in lymph nodes was the highest. The concentration in other immune tissues, such as thymus and spleen, were not relatively high, but their declined tendency was slow after reaching the peak concentration (cmax ). However, the concentrations in the serum and some other tissues with a large blood volume, such as the heart, liver, and lung, were relatively low and declined quickly after reaching cmax. Its level in the tumor was not very high. [125 I] HSP65-MUC1 was excreted mainly by the kidneys. CONCLUSION The bioavailability of [125I]HSP65-MUC1 is 38.33% after sc administration in M. mulatta. After multiple-dose administration, the vaccine does not accumulate in the body, whose concentration is the highest in lymph nodes after [1251] HSP65-MUC1 was sc given in tumor-bearing mice, but is not very high in tumor. Besides, the vaccine declined tendency is slow after reaching cmax in immune tissues such as thymus and spleen compared with other tissues with a large blood volume.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility and application of enzyme-linked bridging assay(ELBA)method to the pharmacokinetic evaluation of antisense strand siRNA drug. METHODS Antisense strand RNAs were diluted in LNCap cell lysates from 5 to 50 000 pmol·L-1 to construct the quantification curves. We transfected the intact double-strand siRNA at a final concentration 100 nmol·L-1 targeting Polo-like kinase into the LNCap cells and investigated the specificity of ELBA quantitating the siRNA antisense strand in cell supernatant,cell lysates and RNA-induced silencing complex( RlSC). Quantification curves were constructed and validated in biological matrices such as plasma (5-25 000 pmol·L-1 )and multiple tissues(liver,heart,spleen,and kidneys)(3-6250 pmol·L-1 ). The prostate specific membrane antigen aptamer siRNA delivery system with the intact siRNA concentration of 15 nmol·kg-1 was prepared. The siRNAs were delivered into the LNCap xenogrant tumor model in C57 mice by tail vein injection. The concentration of siRNA antisense strand was determined in plasma and tissues 30 min post administration by ELBA. RESULTS The quantitative range of antisense strand siRNA in cell lysates was 5-50 000 pmol·L-1 ,and ELBA method could quantify the siRNA antisense strand concentration from cell lysates and RlSC in LNCap cells transfected with double-strand siRNA. ln addition,ELBA could specifically reflect the single antisense strand concentration instead of intact siRNA double strands in plasma. The quantification range of siRNA antisense strand using ELBA in plasma was 5-25 000 pmol·L-1 and 3-3125 pmol·L-1 in tissues. About 30 min post administration of PSMA aptamer-siRNA,the antisense strand of siRNA was distributed mainly to the tumor,liver,kidneys,blood and spleen in sequence. The distribution profile might be attributed to the target delivery and siRNA pharma-codynamics. CONCLUSION The ELBA method is successfully applied to the siRNA antisense strand pharmacokinetic evaluation,which provides an alternative for pharmacokinetic studies of siRNA-based drugs.

Objective To understand the characteristics of problem behaviors among junior middle school students in northern Guizhou rural areas to provide reference for formulating the intervention measures .Methods The Chinese middle school students mental health scale and the self-made externalizing behavior problem questionnaire were adopted to perform the questionnaire sur-vey on left-behind kids of 6 junior middle schools .Results In the implicit problem behavior ,the scores of girls in hostility ,interper-sonal ,depression factor ,anxiety and total score were higher than those of boys ,and the each factor score was increased with grade ;in the explicit behavioral problems ,the occurrence rates of smoking ,drinking and gambling in boys were higher ,the detection rates of smoking and gambling were higher than those in students ,the occurrence rates of suicidal idea and leaving from home idea in students were 13 .1% and 22 .2% respectively ,in which the occurance rates of girls were higher than those in boys .The detection rate of sex related behaviors in boys was higher than that in girls .Conclusion The problem behaviors appear the gender and grade differences among left-behind kids in northern Guizhou rural areas .The differential mental health education should be carried out according to different target behaviors .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the importance of the specific structure of L-4F, an apolipoprotein A-1 mimetic, in inhibiting atherosclerosis. The study was designed to compare the effect of L-4F and scramble-4F (SC-4F) in preventing low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced endothelial cell dysfunction. L-4F and SC-4F has the same amino acids but different nucleotide sequence.

METHODSBovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) were incubated with single L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml, or LDL 6.2 mmol/L in the absence or presence of L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml for 24 h and assayed for (1) changes of superoxide anion (O2-*) generation in BAEC by superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable ferricytochrome C reduction, and (2) the production of nitric oxide (NO) in BAEC by ozone chemiluminescence with VCL3.

RESULTS(1) L-4F and SC-4F themselves had no affect on BAEC O2-* generation. (2) LDL significantly increased O2-* generation in BAEC and LDL-induced O2-* generation was inhibited by pretreatment of LDL with L-4F. However, pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F had no effect on inhibition of LDL-induced O2-* generation. (3) LDL significantly inhibited NO generation in BAEC and pretreatment of LDL with L-4F could inhibit LDL-induced decrease of NO generation, but pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F still inhibited NO generation in BAEC.

CONCLUSIONL-4F can prevent LDL induced endothelial cell dysfunction by maintaining the balance of NO and O2-*, but SC-4F doesn't. It suggests that the specific structure of L-4F may play a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis and it may provide a new clue for searching a novel approach on prevention and therapeutics of atherosclerosis in the future.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Superoxides ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the rule of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma,and to study the proper radiation target. Methods From September 1986 to December 1997,549 patients with esophageal carcinoma who had undergone radical reseetion were divided into surgery alone group (S,275 patients) or surgery plus radiotherapy group( S + R,274 patients). Radiotherapy was begun 3 to 4 weeks after operation. The radiation target included beth supra-clavicular areas and the entire mediastinum. The total dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks for the supra-clavicular areas and 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks for the entire mediastinum. Results The 5-year overall survival of patients with lymph node metastasis in one anatomic site and two anatomic sites was 31.5% and 13.9% (P=0.013), respectively. For patients with > 2 positive nodes metastasis receiving surgery alone, the corresponding 5-year survival was 24.8% and 4.9% (P=0.046) ,respectively. The median number of dissected lymph nodes of the upper-,middle-and lower-segment esophageal carcinoma was 13,17 and 20, respectively. The rate of metastatic lymph node in the para-esophagus region was the highest(61.5%-64.9%) ,which was not different among the different primary sites(P=0.922). The anastomotic stoma recurrence rate of the upper-segment esophageal carcinoma was higher than that of the middle- or lower-segment carcinomas(16.7% ,3.1% ,and 7.7%, χ2=9.02,P<0.05). Conclusions For the thoracic esophageal carcinoma,the number of anatomic sites of lymph node metastasis is an important factor affecting the survival. The lower rate of lymph node metastasis of the upper segment esophageal carcinoma may be corrected with the less lymph node dissected. The rate of lymph node metastasis in para-esophageal region is not related with the lesion segment. The anastemotie stoma is an important radiotherapy target for upper segment esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of acupuncture on quality of life of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODSRandomized, controlled and single-blinded study method was used, 70 cases were divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), etc.; the control group was treated with acupuncture at non-meridian points (2 cm to the acupoints), thrice a week. The treatment was given for 14 times. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) scale was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe physiological field, individuals own perception of his health condition and total score were significantly improved after treatment in the observation group (all P<0.05); there were no obvious changes in the psychology, social relationships, environment and subjective feelings about the quality of life (all P>0.05). The score of the environmental field in the control group was significantly decreased compared to that before treatment (P<0.05), and there were no significant changes in the other scores. There were no adverse effects in patients.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve the quality of life of CFS patients, especially in physiological field and the individual perception to his well being. Acupuncture has high safety, and the acupoints has high specific degree than non-meridian points.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

[Objective]We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of DNA fragmentation index(DFI)and acrosin activi-ty in male infertility.[Methods]Nine hundred and two semen samples were collected from patients and assessed for the DNA fragmentation index by sperm chromatin dispersion test,acrosin activity,as well as standard sperm parameters according to the WHO criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS.[Results]Statistically significant differences were observed in age,sperm concentration,total motility,progressive rate and acrosin activity among different group of sperm DNA dam-age(≤10%,11~20%,21~30%,≥31%).Sperm acrosin activity also showed difference in sperm concentration,total num-ber,total motility,progressive rate,normal morphology rate,teratozoospermia index(TZI)and sperm DFI.The DNA frag-mentation rate and sperm concentration,sperm motility,forward motility rate,total sperm count and acrosin activity was neg-atively correlated,while it is negative correlatd with TZI. Acrosin activity and sperm concentration,sperm motility,forward motility rate,sperm count and normal morphology rate was positively correlated,while it is negative correlated with the ab-normal rate of head,sperm deformity index,DNA fragmentation rate.[Conclusion]Sperm DNA damage and acrosin activity could partly reflect the quality of sperm. Moreover,sperm DFI maypredict the sperm motility part while the acrosin activity more likely related to sperm morphology.

Objective:To provide more options for preoperative localization diagnosis in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), the diagnostic efficacy of parathyroid 4-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) in patients with PHPT was evaluated.Methods:This was a single-center retrospective study including 57 patients with surgical proved PHPT. All of the patients underwent 4D-CT, 99Tc m -sestamibi parathyroid imaging (MIBI), and ultrasonography (US) preoperatively. The reference standard for correct localization was based on operation reports and pathology confirmation. The patients were grouped according to the preoperative serum calcium levels, tumor diameter, or ectopic lesions (yes/no), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and area under the curve (AUC) of 4D-CT, MIBI and US, alone or in combination, were analyzed in total and each subgroup patients. Results:Fifty-seven patients (39 women, 18 men; mean age of 56.5 years) were evaluated, including four cases with multi-gland disease and thirteen cases with ectopic parathyroid lesions. In all the patients, similar diagnostic efficacy was found in 4D-CT (AUC: 0.943) and MIBI (AUC: 0.927), both of which were higher than that of US (AUC: 0.847) ( P = 0.01 for 4D-CT vs. US; P = 0.04 for MIBI vs. US). In a subset analysis for ectopic quadrants, the diagnostic efficacy of 4D-CT was significantly higher than that of MIBI ( P = 0.04) or US ( P = 0.01), with the sensitivity of 100%, 69.2%, and 61.5%, and AUC of 0.989, 0.846, and 0.808 for 4D-CT, MIBI and US, respectively. Conclusions:4D-CT has similar diagnostic efficacy for preoperative localization to MIBI in patients with PHPT, and it is superior to MIBI and US in identifying the ectopic parathyroid gland. 4D-CT can be recommended as an alternative preoperative localization method, especially when parathyroid lesions could not be precisely located by US and MIBI.

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the existence of SARS coronavirus (Co-V) and/or its RNA in sewage of hospitals administered SARS patients.

METHODSA novel electropositive filter was used to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals administered SARS patients in Beijing, including twelve 2,500 ml sewage samples from the hospitals before disinfection, and ten 25,000 ml samples after disinfection; as well as cell culture, RT-PCR and sequencing of gene to detect and identify the viruses from sewage.

RESULTSThere was no live SARS-CoV detected in the sewage in this study. The nucleic acid of SARS-CoV had been found in the 12 sewage samples before disinfection from both hospitals by semi-nested PCR. After disinfection, SARS-CoV RNA could only be detected from the samples from the 309th Hospital, and the others were negative.

CONCLUSIONIt provides evidence that there is no live SARS-Cov in the sewage from hospitals with SARS patients though SARS-CoV RNA can be detected.

Hospitals ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid ; analysis ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology ; Sewage ; virology

Previous studies suggested that smoking and passive smoking could increase the risk of breast cancer, but the results were inconsistent, especially for Chinese females. Thus, we systematically searched cohort and case-control studies investigating the associations of active and passive smoking with breast cancer risk among Chinese females in four English databases (PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Wiley) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP). Fifty-one articles (3 cohort studies and 48 case-control studies) covering 17 provinces of China were finally included in this systematic review. Among Chinese females, there was significant association between passive smoking and this risk of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR): 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39-1.85; I2 = 75.8%, P < 0.001; n = 26] but no significant association between active smoking and the risk of breast cancer (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.89-1.20; I2 = 13.9%, P = 0.248; n = 31). The OR of exposure to husband's smoking and to smoke in the workplace was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.07-1.50) and 1.66 (95% CI: 1.07-2.59), respectively. The OR of light and heavy passive smoking was 1.11 and 1.41, respectively, for women exposed to their husband's smoke (< 20 and ≥ 20 cigarettes per day), and 1.07 and 1.87, respectively, for those exposed to smoke in the workplace (< 300 and ≥ 300 min of exposure per day). These results imply that passive smoking is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and the risk seems to increase as the level of passive exposure to smoke increases among Chinese females. Women with passive exposure to smoke in the workplace have a higher risk of breast cancer than those exposed to their husband's smoking.
Breast Neoplasms ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution