Objective To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of the estrogen receptor(ER) gene and bone mineral density(BMD), and bone metabolism in Chinese postmenopausal healthy women. Methods In 246 postmenopausal healthy women, aged 44-78 years (average 61 years), BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck, Ward and trochanteric areas were measured by dual energy X ray absorptiometry. Biochemical indexes(serum Ca, P, ALP, PTH, CT)were measured and PvuⅡ and XbaⅠ restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) of ER were analysed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR RFLP). The relationship between polymorphism of the ER gene and BMD, and bone metabolism were evaluated. The RFLP was represented as Pp(PvuⅡ) and Xx(XbaI). Results In the PPxx genotype, Z score values of BMD were significantly lower than those in other genotypes. Conclusion RFLP of ER gene associated with BMD in postmenopausal healthy women and this might explain the cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Chinese women.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Neurotropin combined with oxycodone hydrochloride in moderating the severe pain in neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) patients. Methods: NCP patients who received drug therapy with a visual analog scale (VAS) score of>4 were randomly divided into the placebo combined oxycodone group (group A) and Neurotropin combined oxy-codone group (group B). The VAS score, pain relief rate, frequency of pain outbreaks, average dose of oxycodone per day, and adverse drug reactions between the two groups were compared. Results:The VAS scores in groups A and B both had significant reduction after treatment (P<0.05), whereas the VAS score in group B after 14 days of treatment decreased more significantly than that in group A (P=0.03). The pain relief rate in group B patients 14 days after treatment was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.001). The out-break pain in groups A and B 7 and 14 days after treatment significantly decreased, whereas the outbreak pain in group B was signifi-cantly lower than that in group A (P values were 0.07 and 0.07, respectively). The average dose of oxycodone per day in group B 14 days after treatment was lower than that in group A (P<0.001). Adverse reactions, such as nausea and vomiting, in group B were signifi-cantly less than those in group A (P<0.05). Conclusion:Neurotropin combined with oxycodone can effectively lower the NCP, average dose of oxycodone per day, and adverse reactions.

Objective To evaluate the curative effectiveness and safety of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) treatment on children with microphallic hypospadias.Methods A total of 48 consecutive children with microphalic hypospadias were enrolled in the study,and the children were randomized into the experiment group(HCG treatment) and the control group with the research randomizer.The patients in experiment group were treated with HCG prior to surgery,and the control group did not received any hormone therapy preoperatively.All children in the experiment group and the control group underwent hypospadias repair by using transverse preputial island flap (Duckett technique) urethroplasty.Penile length,diameter of glans penis,bone age,serum testosterone level,and secondary effects were recorded before and after therapy in the experiment group.Postoperative complications were assessed with respect to fistulas,urethral strictures,diverticula,meatal stenosis,and glanular dehiscence in both groups.Results (1)Mean penile length and diameter of the experiment group increased significantly by (1.08±0.47) cm (t=-5.196,P<0.05) and (0.31±0.06) cm and there was a significant difference between before and after treatment (t=-5.080,P<0.05).(2)Urethrocutaneous fistulas were observed in 8 patients in the control group compared to 2 patients in the experiment group with a statistically significant difference (χ2=4.547,P<0.05).There was a significant difference between the overall reoperation rates of control group (9 patients) and the experiment group (3 patients,χ2=4.000,P<0.05).The penile tissue of the patients in the experiment group was soft and able to be easily separated and released during the operation and the flap had more blood supply.Conclusions Pretreatment with HCG therapy prior to hypospadias repair is beneficial to children with microphallic hypospadias.Significant penile growth was seen in the children treated with HCG and there was no obvious side effect.Moreover,pretreatment with HCG is beneficial to decrease the complications and reoperation rates of hypospadias repair which proves to be effective and safe.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of 64 multidetector-row CT angiography for internal carotid artery(ICA)stenosis and the application in the follow-up of carotid endarterectomy and percutaneous transluminal stenting.Methods Forty transient ischemie attack(TIA)patients with interpretable CTA and DSA of the cervical carotid arteries were selected from May 2005 to December 2005. This yielded a total of 80 vessels.The CTA curved planar reformations(CPR)and DSA images referenced to the distal cervical internal carotid were graded by two senior neuroradiologists blindly,according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial(NASCET)guidelines.The paired-t test was used to verify the statistical significant difference between pre-operating and post-operating of carotid endarterectomy or percutaneous transluminal stenting in measuring the vascular diameter and area of cross section using CTA.Results When the 70% stenosis was used as the cut-off value,the seasitivity,specificity,negative predictive value,and the positive predicting value were 97%,95%,95%,and 98%,respectively.There was statistically significant difference in measuring the vascular diameter(P

Objective To study the dynamic CT features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in recovery phase, and to analyze the correlative remaining factors on CT images. Methods Total 50 patients with SARS were followed-up with chest spiral CT and HRCT in 3, 6, 9, 14, 24 months after onset. Results (1)The pulmonary lesions were completely absorbed in 24 cases in 3 months, 30 cases in 6 months and 37 cases in 24 months. Abnormal CT findings were showed in 13 patients later, which appeared ground-glass opacity 8,irregular lines 6, thickening of interlobular septa 4, subpleural lines 2 and bronchiectasis 2. (2)Reviewing the lesions on CT between the remained group in the third month and the absorption group, there was a difference in the extent and the progress of the lesions .(3) There was a difference of the appearance rate of remaining lesion in lungs in two groups (≥40 ages and

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to prepare uniform-sized silybin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in study of silybin with stainless steel membrane.

METHODSilybin PLGA microspheres were prepared by stainless steel membrane emulsification. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor test and orthogonal experiment, and evaluating the mean diameters, the particle size distribution, drug loading, entrapment efficiency and morphology of microsphere.

RESULTPrepared microspheres were round and surface was smooth. The mean diameter was (4.961 +/- 0.56) microm. The span was (1.75 +/- 0.18). The entrapment efficiency was (54.997 +/- 4.05)% and the average drug loading was (23.6 +/- 1.70)%.

CONCLUSIONThe stainless steel membrane emulsification can be used to prepare the silybin PLGA microspheres. The mean diameters of the silybin PLGA microspheres can be controlled in certain level. Stainless steel membrane emulsification has great potentiality exploitation and utilization.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

Recent collaborative, large-scale genomic profiling of the most common and aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme(GBM) has significantly advanced our understanding of this disease. The gene encoding platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha(PDGFRα) was identified as the third of the top 11 amplified genes in clinical GBM specimens. The important roles of PDGFRα signaling during normal brain development also implicate the possible pathologic consequences of PDGFRα over-activation in glioma. Although the initial clinical trials using PDGFR kinase inhibitors have been predominantly disappointing, diagnostic and treatment modalities involving genomic profiling and personalized medicine are expected to improve the therapy targeting PDGFRα signaling. In this review, we discuss the roles of PDGFRαsignaling during development of the normal central nervous system(CNS) and in pathologic conditions such as malignant glioma. We further compare various animal models of PDGF-induced gliomagenesis and their potential as a novel platform of pre-clinical drug testing. We then summarize our recent publication and how these findings will likely impact treatments for gliomas driven by PDGFRα overexpression. A better understanding of PDGFRα signaling in glioma and their microenvironment, through the use of human or mouse models, is necessary to design a more effective therapeutic strategy against gliomas harboring the aberrant PDGFRα signaling.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Autocrine Communication ; Brain Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Central Nervous System ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glioblastoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors were identified and purified decades ago. PDGFs are important during normal development and in human cancers. In particular, autocrine PDGF signaling has been implicated in various types of malignancies such as gliomas and leukemia. In contrast, paracrine signaling was found in cancers that originate from epithelial cells, where it may be involved in stromal cell recruitment, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This editorial briefly discusses autocrine and paracrine PDGF signaling and their roles in human cancers, and introduces a series of review articles in this issue that address the possible roles of PDGFs in various processes involved in different types of cancers.
Animals ; Autocrine Communication ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Paracrine Communication ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

Objective To investigate the conventional ultrasound characteristics of VX2 tumors in fatty liver and normal liver of rabbits,furthermore,to analysis the blood flow characteristics of them with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).Methods Rabbit model of fatty liver and normal liver with implanted VX2 tumors were established,and examined using conventional and CEUS.QontraXt quantitative software of CEUS was used.Results The fatty liver models with 20 VX2 tumors and normal liver models with 23 VX2 tumors were successfully developed in rabbits.In conventional ultrasonography,hyperechoic VX2 tumor lesions in fatty liver were far less than them in normal liver (P =0.008).No significant difference was found in iso-echoic and hypoechoic VX2 tumor lesions between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with normal liver parenchyma,arrival time of fatty liver parenchyma was later,peak intensity was lower (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in arrival time,peak intensity,sharpness,area under curve between the VX2 tumors of normal liver and fatty liver (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions There is a significant difference characteristic in conventional ultrasonography between VX2 tumors in fatty liver and normal liver.Fatty liver blood perfusion effects are lower than normal liver in CEUS.Quantitative parameters of CEUS are more objective and accurate for hemodynamic of VX2 tumors and fatty liver.

Objective To analyze hepatic inflammatory pseudoneoplasm with fatty liver and normal liver perfusion blood characteristics and quantitative parameters using real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and time intensity curve.Methods Twenty rabbits (including ten with fatty liver and ten with normal liver) with thirty-nine inflammatory pseudoneoplasm of the liver (IPL) were studied by low mechanical index CEUS with bolus injection of SonoVue via peripheral auricular vein and QontraXt quantitative analysis software.IPL contrast-enhanced ultrasound blood perfusion characteristics with two different liver background were analyzed.Results ①According to the different pathological elements,IPL showed four kinds of CEUS types:one lesion showed absent contrast enhancement pattern (type Ⅰ),nineteen lesions showed iso-enhancement pattern (type Ⅱ),six lesions showed hypo-enhancement pattern (type Ⅲ),thirteen lesions showed fast-in and fast-out pattern (type Ⅳ).②Compared with normal liver,arrival time of fatty liver was later and its peak intensity was lower.②Compared with peripheral parenchyma,arrival time of IPL was later,peak intensity was lower and its sharpness was sharper (P ＜0.05).④Between IPL lesions with two different liver background,there was no significant difference about parameters of the time-intensity curve (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Due to different pathological elements,IPL lesions have multiform perfusion patterns in CEUS.CEUS and time intensity curve could provide enough perfusion information for IPL and liver parenchyma more accurately.