Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Huikangling Tablet (HT, extracted from Scabrous Patrinia root) on peripheral blood micrometastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients.

METHODSTotally 87 DTC patients with positive micrometastasis were randomly assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (42 cases). DTC endocrine inhibition treatment standards were executed in all patients. They all took levothyroxine sodium (50 microg/tablet, from low dose, 25 microg each time, once per day, 0.5 h before breakfast), and its dosage was gradually added one week later. The dosage was adjusted according to tested results of TSH combined recurrence risk stratification and endocrine suppression induced adverse reactions risk stratification. Patients in the treatment group took HT (0.4 g per tablet, 3 tablets each time, three times per day for a total of 12 weeks) combined TSH suppression therapy, while those in the control group only received TSH suppression therapy. Peripheral micrometastatic cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and polymorphic epithelial mucin1 (MUC1) were detected by FCM at week 4 and 12. Meanwhile, distant metastasis and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSAfter 4-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 18 cases (40%) of the treatment group and 29 cases (69%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 5.68, P < 0.05). After 12-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 7 cases (15.6%) of the treatment group and 17 cases (44.7%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 8.49, P < 0.01). Pulmonary metastasis occurred in 2 cases and bone metastasis in 1 case of the control group at follow-ups. Cervical lymph node metastasis without accompanied recurrence of thyroid cancer occurred in one case of the treatment group. No obvious liver or renal abnormalities occurred.

CONCLUSIONHT inhibited peripheral blood micrometastasis of DTC patients and its mechanism needed to be further studied.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Tablets ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; drug therapy

[Objective] To investigate associations between the functional polymorphisms of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) gene and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and between STAT4 protein expression and the genotypes of rs 10181656 locus.[Methods] PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to genotype rs 1 0181656 locus polymorphism in 332 URSA cases and 260 normal controls,in 86 URSA cases and 77 normal controls of which immunohistochemical technique was used to detect STAT4 protein expression.[Results] The frequencies of rs10181656 C/G were 36.45 ％,46.54％ in genotype C/C,46.99％,45.38％ in genotype C/G and 16.57％,8.08％ in genotype G/G between URSA patients and normal controls.They reached statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05).The carriers of rs 10181656 G allele increased the risk of URSA (OR =1.50,P ＜ 0.05).STAT4 protein expression in decidual tissues:①There was statistical difference in the STAT4 protein expression in decidual tissues between cases and controls (P ＜ 0.05).In URSA patients there was statistical difference in the STAT4 protein expression among genotype CC,CG and GG of rs10181656 locus (P ＜ 0.05).So was in normal controls (P ＜ 0.05).In genotype CC there was no difference in the STAT4 protein expression between cases and controls (P ＞ 0.05).Neither was In genotype CG and GG respectively (P all ＞ 0.05).[Conclusion] Functional polymorphisms of the rs10181656 locus could probably associate with the susceptibility of URSA via STAT4 protein expression increased by genotype G/G in maternal decidual tissue.

Objective: To investigate the compliance of smoking cessation and the effect of smoking status on long-term clinical prognosis in male patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after drug-eluting stent (DES) therapy. Methods: A total of 656 ACS patients after DES therapy were studied, according to the post-operative smoking status, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Non-smoking group,n=226, Quit smoking group,n=283 and Persistent smoking group, n=147. The patients were followed-up for the average of 27 months, the major adverse cardio-/cerebral-vascular events (MACCE) were recorded in detail, and the effect of smoking status for MACCE occurrence were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: The pre-operative smoking rate was 65.5% (430/656) of patients and post-operative smoking rate was 22.4% (147/656). Compared with Non-smoking group and Quit smoking group, the patients in Persistent smoking group had the younger age (P<0.001), more patients with abnormal blood lipids (P=0.005) and having lower level of education (P<0.001). The all cause death rates in Non-smoking group, Quit smoking group and Persistent smoking group were at 1.8%, 1.1% and 6.1% respectively,P=0.004; the MACCE occurrence rates were at 7.1%, 5.3% and 15.0% respectively,P=0.002. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that post-operative smoking was the independent risk factor for MACCE occurrence, HR =1.404, 95% CI (1.206-1.793),P=0.008. Conclusion: Smoking is the independent risk factor for MACCE occurrence in male ACS patients after DES therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on the alloxan-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, ursolic acid group (UA, 35 mg/kg, p.o.) and benazepril group (5 mg/kg, p. o.), and continuous administrated for 8 weeks. The blood glucose was measured 24 hours after the last administration. Detected the specific biochemical of myocardial tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline(HYP). Using masson staining to observe the morphology of the myocardial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-beta1.

RESULTSCompared to normal group, the blood glucose, heart index, myocardial tissue MDA, HYP level were increased, and SOD activities were decreased in the diabetic mice, Masson stain showed that myocardial cells disarranged, myocardial collagen fibrosis hyperplasia. Meanwhile, the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was increased in model group. The UA group improved all the above significantly.

CONCLUSIONUA improves the myocardial collagen fibrosis in diabetic mice induced by alloxan, its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and antioxidation.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the second to the fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index (BMI) in infertile men of the Han ethnic group in Ningxia.

METHODSUsing anthropometry, we calculated the mean ratio of 2D:4D and BMI of 197 infertile men and 148 normal healthy male controls, followed by analysis of their relationship.

RESULTSThe BMI was correlated positively with the 2D:4D ratio of the left hand in the infertile men (P < 0.05) and in the patients with a higher 2D:4D ratio of the left hand (P < 0.05), but negatively with the 2D:4D ratio of the righ/left (Dr-1) (left: P < 0.01; Dr-l: P < 0.05). The mean 2D: 4D ratio and BMI were both lower in the normal control than in the infertile men, with statistically significant differences in BMI (P < 0.05) and the 2D:4D ratio of the left hand (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a correlation between the 2D:4D ratio and BMI in infertile men.

Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Fingers ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; Male

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Staging ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; methods ; trends

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of total flavonoids of epimedium (TFE) on the streptozocin (STZ)-induced kidney injury in diabetic rats and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of streptozocin (40 mg/kg, iv) in male SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, ig). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later. The level of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) as well as the renal index were determined. Detect the specific biochemical of renal tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Use masson staining to observe the morphology of the renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

RESULTSCompared to control group, the enhancement of blood glucose, renal index, BUN and Cr was found in model group, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with TFE. Meanwhile, elevated MDA level in renal tissue as well as decreased SOD activities in renal tissue were significantly remitted by TFE. Furthermore, TFE decreased the expression of TGF-beta1.

CONCLUSIONTFE can evidently relieve renal damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ, which might be related to antioxidation and modulating the expression of TGF-beta1 protein.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the incidence and relation to primary diseases of the nonbronchial systemic arteries (NBSA) supply to the pulmonary lesions, and to evaluate the clinical value of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the responsible NBSA for hemoptysis. Methods The aortography and subclavian artery angiography were performed in 139 patients with hemoptysis, including pulmonary tuberculosis in 66 cases (2 cases with post-thoracoplasty, 1 case with post-lobectomy, and 1 case with ventricular septal defect), bronchiectnsis in 41 ( 1 ease with post-lobectomy and 1 case with post- ligation of patent ductus arteriosus), bronchiogenic carcinoma in 15, unknown hemoptysis in 7, silicosis in 3, broncholithiasis in 3, bronchial cysts in 1, empyema in 1, postoperative lung cancer in 1, and chronic pulmonary embolism in 1, respectively. TAE was performed in patients with the discoverable responsible NBSA. The frequency, distribution and relation to primary diseases of the responsible NBSA were evaluated and the clinical results and complications were observed. Follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 5 years. Results Seventy-three patients (52. 5% ) had nonbronchial systemic contributions, including 5 cases of post-thoracotomy with pulmonary lesions, 1 case complicating with ventricular septal defect, 1 ease with post-ligation of patent ductus arterinsns, and 1 case of chronic pulmonary embolism. The total number of NBSA were 181 including posterior intercostal arteries (n = 88), internal thoracic arteries (n = 27 ), inferior phrenic arteries ( n = 21 ), proper esophageal arteries ( n = 20 ), lateral thoracic arteries ( n = 9 ), subscapular arteries ( n = 7 ), eostocervical trunks ( n = 5 ) and thyrocervical trunks ( n = 4 ) . Main responsible NBSA were posterior intercostal arteries (n = 75 ) and branches of subclavian and axillary artery (n =44) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and proper esophageal arteries (n = 16 ) and inferior phrenic arteries (n = 17 ) in bronchiectasis. The clinical result was satisfactory and the bleeding ceased immediately in 69 eases including 19 cases of failed or repeated bronchial artery embolization (the arteries had been obstructive) and 4 cases of the normal bronchial arteries. No severe complications occurred except ipsilateral cerebellar infarction after subclavian artery angiography in 1 case and respiratory failure after internal thoracic artery embolization in another case. Sixty patients were followed up for more than 6 months. The result demonstrated episodic bloody sputum in 16 patients, re-bleeding in 11 and non-bleeding in another after TAE. Eight patients had non-bleeding and 2 patients had episodic bloody sputum who were re- bleeding and underwent repeated TAE. Conclusions The stimulation of adjacent lesions and the cardiovascular diseases with weakened or defected pulmonary perfusion can lead to the responsible NBSA supply to the lung in hemoptysis. During TAE for hemoptysis, the integrity angiograpby and TAE can improve the curative effect.

Objective To design a device for the patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who are disable to speak and move, to call for the nurses independently when necessary. Methods The electroencephalographic signals were collected and processed with TGAM, and the extracted attention characteristic values were transmitted to a computer with Bluetooth. The loudspeaker would call the nurses when the attention characteristic value exceeds the normal range. Results In the testing process of 20 participants in 10 tests, the success rate was 81.5%, and the average misjudged frequence was 0.2 within 20 min. Conclusion The device can be used in the nursing of the patients with ALS to meet the needs of daily nursing work.