AIM: To better reveal the changing process of macula area after photodynamic therapy (PDT), the changes of tomographic imaging on macular fovea optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) scan at different follow- up time points after treating age-related macular degeneration ( AMD) by PDT were investigated.
METHODS: This cohort study included 30 eyes of 26 patients diagnosed as AMD. The dosage of verteporfin was calculated according to manufacturer's instruction. All participants got FFA, ICG, OCT scan and best corrected visual acuity before and followed up for 2wk, 1, 2, 3mo after PDT. The standard five lines combined with 6 lines OCT scan covered key parts of lesion and the scan locations before and after were kept the same. The bilaminar foveal thickness (BFT), outer high reflectivity band thickness ( OHRBT ) , and the total area of intraretinal fluid ( IRF ) and subretinal fluid ( SRF ) were measured at different time points. The relationship between the changes and follow up time was analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS for windows version 13. 0.
RESULTS: There months after treatment, an improvement of 2 lines or better on the Snellen chart was achieved on 22 eyes, visual acuity of 3 eyes without significant change, 3 eyes got decreased, 2 cases lost follow up. The average macular thickness of improved 22 eyes before treatment was 722. 5±55. 6μm, 2wk after treatment, 708. 3±45. 3μm, 1mo, 584. 4±49. 3μm, 2mo, 430. 7±50. 2μm and 180. 6 ±36. 3μm at 3mo. The OHRBT before and after treatment respectively were 302. 3 ±50-2μm, 277. 5±42. 3μm, 202. 7±40. 1μm, 180. 6±35. 7μm, 100. 8±22. 9μm. The total area of both IRF and SRF was estimated as 0. 34±0. 12mm2 , 0. 25±0. 07mm2 , 0. 10±0-05mm2 , 0. 08±0. 04mm2 , 0. 05±0. 01mm2 .
CONCLUSION:SRF and retinal edema of patients with AMD were absorbed 1mo after PDT, and the BFT, OHRBT were significantly tend to be thin.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of suppression of CCL5 ligand gene on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells.

METHODSA lentiviral vector carrying a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CCL5 was transfected into human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The expression of CCL5 mRNA in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was assessed by MTT assay and FACS assay, and the colony formation ability of both cell lines were measured, respectively.

RESULTSReal time PCR showed a good knockdown effect of CCL5 in both cell-lines. Colony-forming assay showed that the ability of colony formation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA and MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA was decreased markedly. The colony number of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA group was (0.34 ± 0.08), significantly lower than 0.81 ± 0.12 in the MCF-7/CCL5-N group and 0.92 ± 0.12 in the MCF-7 group (P < 0.05). The colony number of MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA group was 0.33 ± 0.10, significantly lower than 0.97 ± 0.09 in the MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N group and 1.04 ± 0.07 in the MDA-MB-231 group (P < 0.05). However, MTT assay revealed that the proliferation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA cells was not significantly different from that of MCF-7/CCL5-N or MCF-7 cells, respectively (P > 0.05), and the same result was found in MDA-MB-231 cells. FACS assay showed that the proliferation index (PI) of groups MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA, MCF-7/CCL5-N and MCF-7 were 0.48 ± 0.03, 0.43 ± 0.01 and 0.45 ± 0.02. The PI of groups MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA, MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N and MDA-MB-231 cells were 0.48 ± 0.02, 0.44 ± 0.05 and 0.47 ± 0.02. There was no statistical difference among them (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe down-regulation of CCL5 gene in human breast cancer cells may significantly suppress their colony formation ability, rather than affecting their population doubling time to some extent.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of resveratrol on constrictions of isolated human intrapulmonary arteries and its mechanisms.

METHODSIntrapulmonary arteries (1-1.5 mm in diameter) were dissected and cut into rings (1.8-2.0 mm in length) under microscope, and were then mounted in a Multi Myograph system. The rings were stimulated with 100 nmol/L U46619, 30 nmol/L endothelin-1, or 60 mmol/L KCl to produce sustained contraction of the intrapulmonary arteries, after which resveratrol was applied cumulatively. Endothelium denudation, L-NAME and indomethecin were used to investigate the effect of resveratrol on constrictions of the isolated arteries, suing DMSO as the control.

RESULTSResveratrol induced concentration-dependent relaxations in endothelium-intact rings that contracted in response to stimulations with U46619, ET-1 and KCl, with pD2 of 3.82±0.20, 3.84±0.57, and 3.68±0.27, Emax of (99.58±0.83)%, 100%, and (99.65±0.98)%, respectively. Treatment of the arterial rings with the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME, but not with indomethecin or endothelium denudation, obviously affected the relaxant effects of resveratrol.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol can concentration-dependently produce relaxant effect on human intrapulmonary arteries independent of the endothelium possibly by promoting synthesis and release of NO.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

Objective: To study the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (ASCT) and maintenance therapy in Chinese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: 200 MM patients receiving integrated strategy of bortezomib--based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed from December 1. 2006 to April 30. 2018. Results: The complete remission rates (CR) and better than very good partial remission rates (VGPR) after induction therapy, transplantation and maintenance therapy were respectively 31% and 75.5%, 51.8% and 87.7%,73.6% and 93.4%. There was no difference between 4 cycles and more than 5 cycles induction chemotherapy. The negative rate of MRD detection by flow cytometry was 17.6% and 38.2% respectively after induction and 3 months after transplantation. The negative rate of MRD gradually increased during the maintenance therapy. The success rate of high dose CTX combined with G-CSF mobilization was 95.5% and transplantation related mortality (TRM) was zero. The median time to progress (TTP) was 75.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 99.5 months. TTP of patients obtaining CR and negative MRD after induction were longer that those of no CR and positive MRD. TTP and OS of patients receiving triple-drug induction and ASCT in early stage were longer than those of double-drug induction and ASCT in late stage. LDH≥240 U/L, high risk cytogenetics, ISS II+III stage and HBsAg positive were prognostic factors at diagnosis. However, only MRD and high risk cytogenetics were independent prognostic factors after transplantation and maintenance therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients of TTP ≥6 years were listed below: light-chain type M protein, ISS I stage, normal level of hemoglobin and platelet, normal LDH, HBsAg negative, chromosome 17p-negative, good response and sustained good response. Conclusions: Integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy can significantly improve the short-term and long-term efficacy. The prognostic factors of TTP in different disease stages were different. Response to treatment, especially MRD, played a more important role in prognostic factors.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome