Actins ; metabolism ; Angiomyolipoma ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelioid Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome and the acute toxicity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with tomotherapy followed by the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody.Methods Between March 2008 and November 2009,34 newly diagnosed NPC patients were treated with helical tomotherapy combined with nimotuzumab or cetuximab.All the patients underwent tomotherapy at the dose of 70 Gy/33F for the gross tumor volume (pGTVns) and positive lymphnodes (GTVnd) ,and 60 Gy/33F for the high risk clinical target volume (PTV1),and 56 Gy/33 F for the low risk clinical target volume (PTV2),respectively.17 patients in group N were given weekly injection of 200 mg for 6-7 times and 17 patients in group C were given initial dosage 400 mg/m2 followed by subsequent weekly dosage of 250 mg/m2 for 6-7 times.Acute lesions were evaluated with the RTOG/EORTC criteria.Result The median follow-up time was 22 months.The effective rates (CR + PR) in 3,6 and 12 months were 14/17,12/17,12/17 in group N and 15/17,14/17,14/17 in group C.The 1 year survival rate was 15/17 in group Nand 17/17 in group C.Nimotuzumab had less acute mucositis reaction (u = 2.25,P < 0.05),weight loss(t=2.56,P=0.02) and rash (u=4.36,P＜0.01) compared with cetuximab.Conclusions Helical tomotherapy combined with nimotuzumab or cetuximab was effective and made no difference in the shortterm efficacy and 1 year survival rate for the patients with NPC.Nimotuzumab has less acute reaction than cetuximab.More studies should be done to prove long-term effects.

Objective To evaluate 99tcm-DTPA nuclear dynamic imaging in distinguishing the renal occupied disease.Methods A total of 164 in-patients with renal occupied disease who underwent surgery were included.According to the pathological diagnosis,119 patients had malignant tumors,and 45 patients had benign diseases.All patients’ imaging was retrospectively analyzed.Application of 99Tcm-DTPA nuclear dynamic imaging in renal occupied disease was compared with ultrasonography (US),computed tomography (CT),magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),intravenous pyelogram (IVP),and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT.Results The accuracy rates of different imaging methods in distinguishing between renal malignant and benign disease were 99Tcm-DTPA (84 ％,45 ％),US (72 ％,64 ％),CT ( 91％,92 ％),MRI (50 ％,67 ％),IVP (50 ％, 17 ％), respectively.The diagnostic accuracy rate of PET-CT for malignant tumors was 67 ％.The accuracy rates of 99Tcm-DTPA in distinguishing different phases of renal cell carcinoma were statistically significant (x 2 =83.4, P ＜ 0.01), while the accuracy rates in distinguishing renal cyst from renal angiomyolipoma were not statistically different.With the greater diameter, the diagnostic accordance rate is higher (x 2 =16.05,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 99Tcm-DTPA could be used not only to evaluate the renal function quantificationally,but also be helpful to distinguish renal malignant tumor from benign disease.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of PE_PGRS60 protein in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Methods:The cloned and purified PE_PGRS60 protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used to stimulate RAW264.7 cells. The expression of cyclooxygenase 2(COX2) mRNA and protein was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The signal pathways that may regulate the expression of COX2 were screened, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines induced by PE_PGRS60 was detected by ELISA. The level of cell death was measured by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release test and flow cytometry PI staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of COX2 in Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) from active tuberculosis patients. Results:PE_PGRS60 protein was found to promote the expression of COX2 in RAW264.7 cells and activate the three major members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) family: extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK), p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK). Interestingly, only JNK-IN-7, the inhibitor of JNK was observed to suppress the up-regulation expression of COX2 induced by PE_PGRS60. This up-regulated expression of COX2 was also found in PBMCs from active tuberculosis patients. The COX2 inhibitor celecoxib can effectively block the expression of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 induced by PE_PGRS60 and promote macrophage death.Conclusions:PE_PGRS60 can promote macrophages to release inflammatory factors by activating JNK/COX2 signal axis. Some macrophages still die under the protection of COX2.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of terazosin in the treatment of Chinese benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Methods A multicenter prospective postmarketing observational study was conducted from June 2007 to March 2008 in 32 urologic centers.Patients were given terazosin for 4 weeks according to the routine medical care procedures following instructions. Effectiveness evaluation included the primary endpoint focusing on the changes in IPSS total score at the end of 2nd and 4th week compared with the baseline. The secondary endpoints were the changes in Qmax and QOL at the end of 4th week, diastolic and systolic blood pressures at the end of 2nd and 4th week compared with the baseline and the discontinuation rate of terazosin within the four weeks. Safety was assessed by adverse events. Results There were 1006 patients included in this study (FAS) and 992 patients (PP) completed the study. Among them, there were 344 patients having hypertension. The total IPSS score reduced from 22.32±6. 13 at baseline to 16. 98±5.92 at the end of the 2nd week and to 14.00±5. 52 at the end of the 4th week in FAS population (P＜0. 01).The total IPSS score changed from 22.32±6.15 at baseline to 16. 96±5.93 at the end of the 2nd week and to 13. 95±5.52 at the end of the 4th week in the PP population (P＜0.01). The efficacy rate was 26.54% at the 2-week treatment and 60.64% at the 4-week treatment, which was defined as obtaining improvement by 30% compared with the baseline. Patient's IPSS in different age groups with different prostatic hyperplasia levels and patients combined with or without 5-α reductase inhibitors were all decreased significantly(P＜0.01). With 4-week treatment of terazosin, Qmax and QOL were improved significantly by 32% and 45% (P＜0.01). Terazosin decreased BPH patient blood pressure with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension (P＜0.05), but had little influence on normal blood pressure of those under control. The incidence of adverse reactions was low. The most common adverse event was dizziness (3.68%). At the end of the study, 960 subjects (95%) were taking drug continuously.Conclasions Terazosin can significantly improve the symptoms and quality of life in Chinese BPH patients with good safety and compliance.

BACKGROUNDHelical tomotherapy (HT) is a new image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the target volume and organs at risk (OARs) of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) during helical tomotherapy.

METHODSForty-three patients with NPC and treated via HT from March 2008 to January 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Repeated CT scanning and plan adaptation were conducted at the 20th fraction during radiotherapy. The volumetric differences between the two scans were evaluated for nasopharyngeal tumor and retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes (GTVnx), neck lymph nodes (GTVnd), and parotid glands, as well as the axial diameter of the head.

RESULTSThe median interval between the two scans was 25 days (23 - 28 days). The volumetric decrease in GTVnx was 30.1% (median, 29.8%) and in GTVnd 41.6% (median, 45.9%). The variation in the GTVnd volume was correlated with the weight loss of the patient. The volume of the left parotid gland decreased by 35.5% (median, 33.4%) and of the right parotid glands decreased by 36.8% (median, 33.5%). The axial diameter of the head decreased by 9.39% (median, 9.1%).

CONCLUSIONSThe target volume and OARs of patients with NPC varied considerably during HT. These changes may have potential dosimetric effects on the target volume and/or OARs and influence the clinical outcome. Repeated CT scanning and replanning during the HT for NPC patients with a large target volume or an obvious weight loss are recommended.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Organs at Risk ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the reversal effect of multidrug resistance of Curcuma Wenyujin (CW) and its possible mechanism by establishing Vincristine-resistant gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells (SGC-7901/VCR) induced subcutaneous transplanted tumor in nude mice.

METHODSFirst we identified the resistance of SGC-7901/VCR by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). The SGC-7901/VCR induced subcutaneous transplanted tumor model was established in 50 BALB/c nude mice by tissue block method. After 2 -3 weeks 36 mice with similar tumor size were selected and divided into 6 groups by random digit table, i.e., the model group, the Vincristine (VCR) group, the low dose CW group, the high dose CW group, the low dose CW combined VCR group, and the high dose CW combined VCR group, 6 in each group. Normal saline was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the model group at 10 mL/kg, once per 2 days. VCR was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the VCR group at 0.28 mg/kg once per 2 days. CW at 1.4 and 2.8 g/kg was administered to mice in the low and high dose CW groups by gastrogavage, 0.2 mL each time, once daily. CW at 1.4 and 2.8 g/kg was administered by gastrogavage and VCR was intraperitoneally injected at 0.28 mg/kg, once per 2 days to mice in the low dose CW combined VCR group and the high dose CW combined VCR group. All medication lasted for 14 days. The tumor growth was observed. The inhibition rate was calculated. Meanwhile, the positioning and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSSGC-7901/VCR had strong resistance to VCR, Adramycin (ADM), fluorouracil (5-FU), and Cisplatin (DDP), especially to VCR. Proliferation activities of SGC-7901/VCR were significantly enhanced after drug elution. The tumor volume gradually increased as time went by. The tumor volume was the minimum in the high dose CW combined VCR group. The tumor volume was obviously reduced in the high dose CW combined VCR group with obviously reduced with increased inhibition rate of 51.56%, when compared with that of the model group and the VCR group (P < 0.05). Western blot test showed that, when compared with the model group, the gray level of P-gp in the VCR group increased (P < 0.05), and the relative expression of P-gp in the high dose CW group, the low dose CW combined VCR group, and the high dose CW combined VCR group significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the VCR group, the gray level of the P-gp decreased in the low dose CW group, the high dose CW group, the low dose CW combined VCR group, and the high dose CW combined VCR group (P < 0.05). Results of immunohistochemistry showed that, when compared with the model group, expression scores of P-gp in the high dose CW group, the low dose CW combined VCR group, and the high dose CW combined VCR group decreased with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the VCR group, expression scores of P-gp were obviously lowered in the low dose CW group, the high dose CW group, the low dose CW combined VCR group, and the high dose CW combined VCR group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCW could reverse the drug resistance of SGC-7901/VCR subcutaneous transplanted tumor. And its mechanism might be related to down-regulating the expression of P-gp, suggesting that CW could be used as a kind of multidrug resistance reversal agent based on P-gp.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Curcuma ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on expression of gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in the proliferation process of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during the early stage of arteriosclerosis.

METHODSThirty-two adult male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. Rabbits in Group A were fed common diet while others in Groups B, C, and D were fed high-cholesterol diet. Losartan (10 mg/(kg.d)) and ramipril (0.5 mg/(kg.d)) were added in the diet of Groups C and D, respectively. The animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks and abdominal aortas were removed and dissected. The expression of Cx43 was assayed using RT-PCR and Western Blotting analysis.

RESULTSCx43 was increased markedly in both protein and mRNA level in Groups B, C, and D fed high-cholesterol diet compared with that in control group (P<0.01). Cx43 level in losartan or ramipril treated groups was higher than that in control group (P<0.01, P<0.05), but lower than that in high-cholesterol diet groups (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCx43 level was upregulated in VSMCs during early atherosclerosis. Losartan and ramipril can inhibit the expression of Cx43.

Angiotensin II ; physiology ; Animals ; Arteriosclerosis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Connexin 43 ; analysis ; genetics ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Ramipril ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEThe study was conducted to reveal the distribution of genetic polymorphism of four Y chromosome specific short tandem repeat (Y-specific STR) loci in Li ethnic groups in Hainan Island, China.

METHODSFour tetranucleotide STR loci were simultaneously amplified with fluorescently labeled primers, and genotypes were determined with an automated DNA sequencer.

RESULTSAmong 230 unrelated males, the alleles at the four Y-specific STR loci were composed of some complex repeat structure. 4,5,4,5 alleles were observed in loci DYS3891, DYS390, DYS391, DYS393 respectively. A set of human allele ladders for the typing of the four Y-specific STRs was obtained in Li ethnic population. Gene diversity index (D) and haplotype diversity data were estimated for the four Y-STRs.

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary study indicates a reference population for detecting male migration events and should be useful in population genetics and forensic applications.

China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), as well as the concentration of calcium in cardiomyocytes (Myo[Ca(2+)]) and activity of sarcoplosnic Ca(2+)-ATPase (SRCa(2+)-ATPase) in Adriamycin (ADR)-treated rats.

METHODSRats were intraperitoneally injected with ADR (2.5 mg/kg every other day for 6 times) and then with different dosages of FDP (every other day for twenty-one times). Bi-antibodies sandwich Enzyme linked immune absorption assay (ELISA) was performed to detect serum level of cTnI. CK-MB was detected by monoclonal antibody, Myo[Ca(2+)] was detected by fluorescent spectrophotometry and the activity of SRCa(2+)-ATPase was detected by inorganic phosphate method.

RESULTSFDP (300, 600, 1200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the serum levels of cTnI and CK-MB, while at the same time decreased calcium concentration and increased SRCa(2+)-ATPase activity in cardiomyocytes of ADR-treated rats (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFDP might alleviate the cardiotoxic effects induced by ADR through decreasing calcium level as well as increasing SRCa(2+)-ATPase activity in cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Interactions ; Enzyme Activation ; Fructosediphosphates ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Troponin I ; blood