Objective: To evaluate the impact of esophagectomy and palliative treatment on short term and long term quality of life (QL) in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: 88 consective patients treated with radical esophagectomy or palliative treatment were scored by European organization of cancer research and treatment (EORTC), QLQ C30 measurement of QL before treatment and at regular intervals until death or 3 years after operation. The cases were divided into 3 groups and mean scores were obtained from each group. Patients surviving more than 2 years were classified as group 1, with group 2 surviving less than 2 years, and group 3 undergoing palliative treatment. Results: Baseline functional and symptomatic QL scores were similar before treatment in the first and second group, which were higher than scores from the third group. Six weeks after esophagectomy, patients reported worse functional, symptom and global QL scores than before treatment. In the first group, QL scores returned to preoperative level within 9 months. However, improved symptom of dysphagia the second group never regained their former QL scores apart from dysphagia improved after surgery. QL scores of the third group were similar to those of the second group after treatment. Conclusion: Esophagectomy might have a negative impact on patients QL. This effect was found to be transient in the first group but inreversible in the second group. It might seem reasonable for patients in late stage to be treated palliatively.

AIM　To develop a sensitive, specific and reliable reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method(RP-HPLC) to determine the total and unbound(free) concentrations in human plasma of amitriptyline and its major metabolite, nortriptyline. METHODS The assay involved a simple extraction procedure. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and distilled water(30∶70, V/V), containing triethylamine(0.5%) and orthophosphoric acid(0.3%), pH 3.1. Separation was achieved on the C18 ODS column and the effluent was measured for UV absorption at 240 nm. RESULTS　The calibration curves were linear in the range of 4～400 μg*L-1 for total concentration, and in the range of 4～64 μg*L-1 for free concentration for both amitriptyline and nortriptyline. The lowest limits of detection were 4 μg*L-1 for both compounds. The absolute recovery rates were 102.0%±3.77% for amitriptyline and 99.3%±7.13% for nortriptyline. The precision values(RSD) of intra-day and inter-day for both amitriptyline and for nortriptyline were determined to be <5%, and <8%, respectively. The method was applied to determine the total and free concentrations in plasma of the healthy volunteers after a single oral dose of 50 mg amitriptyline. CONCLUSION　The assay was simple, repid, highly selective and sensitive. It is suitable for the routine analysis of total and free drug concentrations in plasma using readily available instruments with lower cost.

AIM To develop a sensitive, specific and reliable reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method(RP\|HPLC) to determine the total and unbound(free) concentrations in human plasma of amitriptyline and its major metabolite, nortriptyline. METHODS\ The assay involved a simple extraction procedure. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and distilled water(30∶70, V/V ), containing triethylamine(0 5%) and orthophosphoric acid(0 3%), pH 3 1. Separation was achieved on the C18 ODS column and the effluent was measured for UV absorption at 240 nm. RESULTS The calibration curves were linear in the range of 4～400 ?g?L -1 for total concentration, and in the range of 4～64 ?g?L -1 for free concentration for both amitriptyline and nortriptyline. The lowest limits of detection were 4 ?g?L -1 for both compounds. The absolute recovery rates were 102 0%?3 77% for amitriptyline and 99 3%?7 13% for nortriptyline. The precision values(RSD) of intra day and inter day for both amitriptyline and for nortriptyline were determined to be

The interferons(IFNs) are a family of the multifunctional cytokines, which are a kind of highly active and multifunctional glycoproteins.Studies in recent years have shown that IFNs exert a powerful antitumor effect by regulating the proliferation of tumor cells, suppressing tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, and activating antitumor immune response.Combined with other tumor treatment methods, it can inhibit the development of a variety of blood system tumors and solid tumors.In addition, the use of IFNs inducers or IFNs combined with emerging immunotherapy can significantly increase the effectiveness of tumor therapy.This review focuses on our understanding of antitumor mechanism and clinical application of IFNs, and provides some guidance for future research and clinical treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the immunomodulating effect of oyster peptide on immunosup-pressed mice.Methods:ICR mice injected with cyclophosphamide (CTX)were adopted as the module group,with mice without treatment as the control group,and different dosages of oyster peptide (0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg)were given to the low,middle,and high groups for 1 5 days.The body weight,spleen,and thymus weight of the mice,structures under the microscope of the immune organs, numbers of white blood cells,ratios of T lymphocyte subsets,immune cytokines and numbers of nuclear cells,and DNA content in bone marrow were all assessed.Results:Compared with the control group, the structures of thymus and spleen of the mice in the CTX group appeared obscure and shrunk when ob-served under microscope,the number of their white blood cells declined (P =0.04),the proportion of their CD3 +T cells in peripheral blood declined (P =0.003),the proportion of their CD8 +T cells in pe-ripheral blood declined (P =0.002),the concentration of their IL-5 in peripheral blood significantly in-creased (P <0.01 ),the concentration of their nucleated cells and DNA density in bone marrow de-creased (P =0.04,P <0.01 ).Oyster could improve the structures of thymus and spleen of the immuno-suppressed mice.Compared with the CTX group,the number of white blood cells in 2.0 g/kg group in-creased (P =0.003),the proportion of CD3 +T cells in peripheral blood in 1 .0 g/kg group (P =0.04) and 2.0 g/kg group (P =0.02)increased,the proportion of CD8 +T cells in peripheral blood in 2.0 g/kg group increased (P =0.002),the concentration of IL-5 in peripheral blood in all the oyster treated groups increased (P <0.01 in 0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg groups),the concentration of IL-1 7 in peripheral blood in 2.0 g/kg group decreased (P =0.03),the concentration of nucleated cells in bone marrow of all the oyster treated groups increased (0.5 g/kg vs.CTX,P =0.04;1 .0 g/kg vs. CTX,P =0.02;2.0 g/kg vs.CTX P =0.01 ),the DNA content in bone marrow of all the oyster treated groups increased (P <0.01 in the 0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg groups).Conclusion:Oyster peptide could improve the structures of immune organs of the CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice,re-cover the imbalances of T lymphocyte subsets,improve the immune cytokines and increase numbers of nucleated cells and DNA content in bone marrow,thus improving the immunologic function.

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a neuroimaging phenotype of cerebral small vessel disease, which is related to the tendency of intracranial hemorrhage. Studies have shown that the detection rate of CMBs in patients with atrial fibrillation is higher, and CMBs are also a risk factor for increasing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and death in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with stroke. This article reviews the predictive factors of CMBs in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective To investigate the changes of metamorphopsia between before and after surgery in the patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane and its influence factors.Methods A series cases observitional study included 39 eyes of 39 patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane.Follow-up was carried out at 1 week before surgery and 3,6 months after surgery respectively.M-chart was used to quantify the severity of metamorphopsia (M-score).EDTRS visual chart was used to quantify best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (converted to LogMAR).Central subfield thickness (CST),central foveal volumn (CV),cube average thickness (CAT),central foveal thichness (CFT),ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness,inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness,outer nuclear layer (ONL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL) thickness,the integrity of external limiting membrane,ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone were analyzed by using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (OCT).This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital (No.TRECKY-012).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before surgery.Results Mean M-score was significantly decreased from 0.8 (0.3,1.1) before surgery to 0.5 (0.2,0.8) at 3 months after surgery,with a significant difference between the two time points (Z=-2.013,P=0.044).Mean M-score was 0.6(0.2,0.8) at 6 months after surgery,which was not significantly different in comparison with before surgery and 3 months after surgery (Z =-1.873,P =0.061;Z =-0.288,P =0.773).Compared with before surgery,the horizontal M-score was significantly decreased 3 months and 6 months after surgery (Z =-2.329,P =0.020;Z =-2.858,P =0.004).No significant difference was found in vertical M-score among before surgery and 3,6 months after surgery (all at P＞0.05).The BCVA was improved from 0.40 (0.30,0.66) before surgery to 0.20 (0.06,0.42) 3 months after surgery and declined to 0.30 (0.10,0.52) at 6 months after surgery,and significant differences were obtained between 3 months after surgery and before surgery or 6 months after surgery (Z =-4.087,P＜0.001;Z =-2.235,P =0.025).Compared with before surgery,the BCVA in cataract combined with vitrectomy operative group was significantly improved in 3 months and 6 months after surgery (Z=-2.613,P=0.009;Z=-2.466,P=0.014) and the BCVA in only vitrectomy group was significantly improved at 3 months after surgery but decreased 6 months after surgery,showing significant differences between 3 months after surgery and before surgery or 6 months after surgery (Z =-3.104,P =0.002;Z =-3.464,P =0.001).Preoperative M-score was positively correlated with preoperative BCVA,preoperative CST or preoperative CFT (rs =0.384,P =0.016;rs =0.585,P＜0.001;rs =0.601,P＜0.001).No correlation was found between BCVA with GCL,INL or ONL + OPL thickness.Horizontal M-score was positively correlated with CST,postoperative CV and postoperative CAT (rs=0.322,P=0.045;rs=0.340,P=0.034;rs =0.336,P=0.036),and no correlation was found between horizontal M-score and BCVA,CFT,GCL thickness,INL thickness,ONL+OPL thickness in 6 months after surgery.The vertical M-score and mean M-score were not correlated with OCT parameters in 6 months after surgery.The mean M-score was positively correlated with preoperative mean M-score,preoperative CST,preoperative CV,preoperative CAT in 6 months after surgery (rs =0.589,P＜0.001;rs =0.330,P =0.040;rs =0.404,P =0.011;rs =0.410,P =0.009).In addition,and no significant correlation between mean M-score and preoperative BCVA,CFT,GCL thickness,INL thickness,ONL+OPL thickness.Multivariate stepwise linear regression showed that preoperative M-score was a predictor of postoperative M-values (adjusted R2 =0.211,P =0.002).Conclusions Most metamorphopsia can be alleviated after idiopathic epiretinal membrane surgery.The residue metamorphopsia after surgery probably is correlated with preoperative metamorphopsia and CFT.