OBJECTIVETo compare the gene expression profiles of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line 5-8F-EGFP and the liver metastatic 5-8F-H3B-EGFP cells.

METHODSThe fluorescence-labeled cDNA were prepared separately from the total RNA extracted from the two cell lines and hybridized with Human_U133A2.0 Genechip (Affymetrix, USA) containing approximately 18 400 known gene. The gene expression profiles were analyzed with special software and cluster analysis.

RESULTSA total of 3767 genes were identified to have significant differential expressions between these two cell lines (P<0.05), among which 281 genes showed twofold or higher differential expressions. Using MILANO software, we found 16 genes with probable close relation with liver metastasis of NPC.

CONCLUSIONThe 16 genes differentially expressed between the two cell lines can be of importance in the investigation of the molecular mechanism of NPC liver metastasis and identification of molecular markers for prognostic evaluation.

Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; secondary ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVEThe NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ (NSG) mouse strain is the most widely used immunodeficient strain for xenograft transplantation. However, the existing SCID mutation is a spontaneous mutation of the Prkdc gene, which leads to leaky T cell developmental block and difficulty in genotyping. It is therefore important to develop a new strain of NSG mice with targeted disruption of Prkdc and IL2Rγ genes.

METHODSTargeted disruption of Prkdc and IL2Rγ genes was achieved using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. By intercrossing the knockout and NOD mice, we obtained a novel strain of NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ(NSG) mice, denoted as cNSG (Chinese NSG) mice.

RESULTSIn addition to the NOD mutation, cNSG mice exhibited a complete absence of T cells, B cells and NK cells. cNSG mice allowed more efficient engraftment of human cancer cells than the commonly used immunodeficient nude mice.

CONCLUSIONcNSG mice will provide an important xenotransplantation model for biomedical research.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is currently the only curative option for patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). In this study, patient 1 aged 4 years who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) from HLA-mismatched unrelated donor; patient 2 aged 24 years (childhood onset) with primary cutaneous acral CD8 T cell lymphoma who underwent allo-PBSCT from haploidentical relative donor. Both were treated by reduced toxicity myeloablative conditioning with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), methotrexate (MTX) and cyclosporine (CsA) for graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. In patient 1, neutrophil and platelet engraftment were observed on day 11 post-transplantation; the donor chimerism dropped on day 90 post-transplantation, and recovered on day 150 with donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). In patient 2, neutrophil and platelet engraftment were observed on days 20 and 87 post-transplantation respectively, with complete donor chimerism on day 30 post-transplantation. The serum levels of IgG, IgM and IgA and the percentage of CD19 B cells in peripheral blood of patients 1 and 2 returned to normal within 2 months and more than 1 year after transplantation respectively. There was no evidence of acute GVHD for the two patients. Patient 1 developed a limited type of skin chronic GVHD after DLI, which disappeared after anti-GVHD treatment. This is the first report of successful treatment for two XLA patients using PTCy with allo-PBSCT from HLA-mismatched unrelated donor or haploidentical donor, combining with improved conditioning, which expands the pool of eligible donors for patients with XLA.
Agammaglobulinemia ; therapy ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; therapy ; Graft vs Host Disease ; HLA Antigens ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Unrelated Donors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and toxicity of capecitabine-based chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

METHODSThree hundred and seventy-six patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with capecitabine-based chemotherapy regimens in our department from Sep 2002 to Sep 2009. They were divided into 3 groups. The group 1 was treated with capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) orally twice daily on d1-d14, repeated every 3 weeks. The group 2 was treated with capecitabine as group 1, and combined with docetaxel 60 - 75 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion on d1, repeated every 3 weeks. The group 3 was treated with capecitabine as group 1, and combined with vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion on d1 and d8, repeated every 3 weeks. The median treatment period of treatment was 3 cycles.

RESULTSAmong the 376 patients, 218 patients were evaluable for response. In the group 1 the objective response rate (ORR) was 12.8% and the clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 21.6%. The CBR but not ORR of first line therapy with capecitabine was 35.2%, significantly higher than that of more than first line therapy (17.1%, P < 0.01). The ORRs for group 2 and group 3 were 53.8% and 36.4%, respectively. In the group 2 there was no significant difference in the ORR between the first line therapy and more than first line therapy. In the group 3 the ORR of first line therapy of NX regimen was 36.4%, significantly higher than that of more than first line therapy (16.7%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe capecitabine-based chemotherapy is effective and tolerable, and can be used not only in first line but also more than first line therapy. The single agent maintenance chemotherapy after response to combined chemotherapy can prolonge the duration of treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Adult ; Agranulocytosis ; chemically induced ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Capecitabine ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; etiology ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Maintenance Chemotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of γδ T cells in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and its potential significance in pathogenesis.

METHODSγδ T cell expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (Envision method). From polyps (25 CRS patients with nasal polyps, CRSwNP), inferior turbinate mucosa (13 CRS patients without nasal polyps, CRSsNP), and 16 inferior turbinate mucosa from patients with deviation of nasal septum served as control. The infiltration of eosinophils in eosinophilic CRSwNP was observed by HE staining. The differences of expression of γδ T cells between each groups were compared, meanwhile the relationship between γδ T cells and eosinophils were analyzed. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe positive range of γδ T cells in CRSwNP group and CRSsNP group was 88.0% and 84.6%, respectively, both higher than 37.5% in control group (χ(2) = 13.413, P < 0.01, χ(2) = 6.564, P < 0.05, respectively), CRSwNP group had no statistical significance compared with CRSsNP group (χ(2) = 0.086, P > 0.05). The expression of γδ T cells in CRSwNP group was stronger than CRSsNP group and control group (U = 596, P < 0.01, U = 296, P < 0.01, respectively); CRSsNP group was stronger than control group (U = 216, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between γδ T cells and eosinophils (r = 0.579, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of γδ T cells was increased in nasal mucosa of CRS. γδ T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRS.

Chronic Disease ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; cytology ; Rhinitis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Sinusitis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology

BACKGROUNDMore and more Chinese drink hot water from water dispensers while many children were scalded due to this change. The present study aimed to propose a feasible strategy for prevention.

METHODSA retrospective study was conducted for all water dispensers related pediatric burns admitted to Changhai Hospital from January 2005 to December 2009.

RESULTSThe number of new cases and incidences of pediatric burns due to hot water from water dispensers was significantly increasing year after year. In the total 238 involved cases, 175 cases happened on males and 78.9% were at the age of 1 - 4 years. The burn areas were mainly located in upper extremities. All water dispensers in the surveyed families had no isolate protection devices and 85.2% of their locations were easy for children to reach. Nearly half of the children were in the same room with their guardians when injured. Total 196 burned children were playing the taps of water dispensers before injured, unfortunately, 80.6% of them have not been stopped until burned.

CONCLUSIONAs the kind of burns is quite serious and with bad outcome, some recommendations should be followed, such as buying water dispensers with protection devices, keeping children from touching them and so on.

Accidents, Home ; Adolescent ; Burns ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Water

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficiency of response evaluation by clinical examination, ultrasonograghy and mammography in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data of 141 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Response evaluation was performed by clinical palpation, ultrasound and mammography.

RESULTSOnly 12 (8.5%) among the 141 patients presented with a stage I tumor. The tumor size determined by palpation was often larger than that by ultrasound before therapy (P < 0.01). Among patients with suspicions axillary nodes checked by ultrasound, 88.3% (53/60) of them had positive nodes by pathology before NAC, and 34.5% (10/29) of patients with negative nodes determined by ultrasound had positive nodes by pathology. In all the 141 patients, 21(14.9%) showed pathological complete remission in both the primary tumor and lymph node. For response evaluation, the false complete remission rate judged by clinical examination was 46.8% (22/47), and the false tumor residual rate by ultrasound was 84.0% (21/25). In 53.5% (23/43) of patients the response could not be assessed by mammography due to that the tumors were undistinguishable in size. The range of microcalcification was not reduced in 5 patients with a partial response of the tumor. 25 patients experienced needle puncture during therapy. Among them, in the 9 pathologically negative patients, only 3 achieved pCR, and the other 16 positive patients didn't achieve pCR.

CONCLUSIONUsing the puncture or sentinel lymph node biopsy, clinicians should pay enough emphasis on the pathological determination of the node status before chemotherapy. Clinicians will make a quite of false judgment of the tumor by clinical examination, ultrasound or mammography. They may use needle puncture during therapy to evaluate the response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the result should be analyzed synthetically.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDUnplanned extubation is associated with adverse outcomes in intensive care unit. The massive burn patient differs from other critically ill patients in many ways. However, little is known about the unplanned decannulation (UD) in Burn Intensive Care Unit. This paper describes the special features of the circumstances and outcome of UD of tracheotomy tube in massive burn patients.

METHODSA case series study was performed between January 1999 and December 2008 and UD of tracheotomy tube was analyzed retrospectively. A total of 21 patients with 29 UD events were identified. Demographic data, diagnosis, intervention, UD events and outcome of UD patients were collected. Differences in proportions were compared using the chi-square (χ(2)) or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTSPatients with UD were often burned with head and neck (67%) and combined with inhalation injury (62%). The majority of them (76%) were transferred patients, occurred early (55%) and were accidental UD (79%). UD events tended to happen in day shift (90%) and to be associated with the medical procedure that was performing by caregivers at besides (79%). Loose of the stabilizing rope, medical procedure and tracheotomy malposition were the main causes of UD. Early UD and reintubation failure were associated with patients' death.

CONCLUSIONSUD happened to massive burn patients can lead to patient death. Careful management of respiratory tract was essential for massive burn patients.

Adult ; Burns ; mortality ; surgery ; Device Removal ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheotomy ; adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are derived from internal cellular compartments, and have potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in degenerative disease associated with aging. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising tool for functional EVs production. This study investigated the efficacy of EVs and its effect on differentiation capacity. METHODS: The characteristics of MSCs were evaluated by flow cytometry and stem cell differentiation analysis, and a production mode of functional EVs was scaled from MSCs. The concentration and size of EVs were quantitated by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Western blot analysis was used to assess the protein expression of exosomespecific markers. The effects of MSC-derived EVs were assessed by chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation analyses and histological observation. RESULTS The range of the particle size of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)- and Wharton’s jelly -MSCs-derived EVs were from 130 to 150 nm as measured by NTA, which showed positive expression of exosomal markers. The chondrogenic induction ability was weakened in the absence of EVs in vitro. Interestingly, after EV administration, type II collagen, a major component in the cartilage extracellular matrix, was upregulated compared to the EV-free condition.Moreover, EVs decreased the lipid accumulation rate during adipogenic induction.

The concept of theranostics, where individual patient-level biological information is used to choose the optimal therapy for that individual, has become more popular in the modern era of ‘personalised’ medicine. With the growth of theranostics, nuclear medicine as a specialty is uniquely poised to grow along with the ever-increasing number of concepts combining imaging and therapy. This special report summarises the status and growth of Theranostic Nuclear Medicine in Singapore.We will cover our experience with the use of radioiodine, radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, prostate specific membrane antigen radioligand therapy, radium-223 and yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy.We also include a section on our radiopharmacy laboratory, crucial to our implementation of theranostic principles. Radionuclide theranostics has seen tremendous growth and we hope to be able to grow alongside to continue to serve the patients in Singapore and in the region.
Hope ; Humans ; Lutetium ; Membranes ; Nuclear Medicine ; Prostate ; Radium ; Receptors, Peptide ; Singapore ; Theranostic Nanomedicine ; Yttrium