Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis.Due to advances in preoperative imaging and enhanced comprehension of tumor biological behavior,surgical management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has evolved since its original description.Currently,it has been accepted that complete surgical resection provides the only possibility for cure or long-term survival,however,the surgical management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is extremely challenging because of its anatomical location and vascular proximity.In order to achieve complete resection, several surgical approaches have been investigated and evaluated regarding major hepatic resection,lymph node dissection,vascular resection,extended resection and liver transplantation,however,there are still many disputations. Furthermore,many surgical technical difficulties exist in biliary reconstruction after resection owing to anatomical problems.Focusing on the disputes and problems mentioned above,we herein review and discuss surgical strategies in managing hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

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

Good medicinal herbs, good drugs. Good evaluation method and indices are the prerequisite of good medicinal herbs. However, there exist numerous indices for quality evaluation and control in Chinese medicinal materials. However, most of these indices are non-interrelated each other, as well as having little relationship with efficiency and safety. The results of different evaluatior methods may not be consistent, even contradictory. Considering the complex material properties of Chinese medicinal materials, single method and index is difficult to objectively and comprehensively reflect the quality. Therefore, it is essential to explore the integrated evaluation methods. In this paper, oriented by the integrated evaluation strategies for traditional Chinese medicine quality, a new method called integrated quality index (IQI) by the integration of empirical evaluation, chemical evaluation, and biological evaluation was proposed. In addition, a study case of hypertoxic herb Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. was provided to explain this method in detail. The results suggested that in the view of specifications, the average weight of Jiangyou aconite was the greatest, followed by Weishan aconite, Butuo aconite, Hanzhong aconite, and Anxian aconite; from the point of chemical components, Jiangyou aconite had the characteristic with strong efficacy and weak toxicity, next was Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite; taking toxicity price as the index, Hanzhong aconite and Jiangyou aconite have the lower toxicity, while Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite have the relatively higher one. After the normalization and integration of evaluation results, we calculated the IQI value of Jiangyou aconite, Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite were 0.842 +/- 0.091, 0.597 +/- 0.047, 0.442 +/- 0.033, 0.454 +/- 0.038, 0.170 +/- 0.021, respectively. The quality of Jiangyou aconite is significantly better than the others (P < 0.05) followed by Hanzhong aconite, which is consistent with the traditional understanding of genuineness. It can be concluded that IQI achieves the integrated control and evaluation for the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, and it is an exploration for building the good medicinal herbs standards. In addition, IQI provides technical supports for the geoherbalism evaluation, selective breeding, the development of precision decoction pieces, high quality and favourable price in market circulation, and rational drug use.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards

Quality control is one of the key scientific tissues in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). In order to overcome the deficiencies of assessment indexes, including little systematization and quantification, as well as loose association with clinical efficacy and dosage, a new integrated method named controllability pyramid ( CP) is first proposed in this paper. In addition, some study cases are used to explain how this model is constructed. We hope the establishment of CP could promote the clinical-orien- ted integrated innovation research of TCM, and provide control strategy and technology examples for improving the quality of Chinese medicines and clinical efficacy.
China ; Drug Evaluation ; methods ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

The specification of decoction pieces and quality uniformity are the important factors to influence the efficacy of clinical medicine. Considering the deficiency of diversity, poor quality uniformity and confusion of decoction pieces specifications, we first propose a new idea of precision decoction pieces (PDP) based on clinical demands and fresh-processed technology. In order to explain the idea, a study case of aconite SUP is provided, including the optimized specification design, processing technology, extraction effects, quality uniformity, and toxic and efficacy variation and so on. The results showed that preparing 5 mm PDP by fresh-cutting is rather simple and practicable, with high efficiency and large yield; then, this technology could significantly decrease the ingredients loss and increase the efficacy components; moreover, it was helpful for achieving the quality uniformity and best extraction effects. This work revealed the quality superiority of PDP, and provided a good strategy and example for the standard of decoction pieces specification and modernization of processing technology.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Quality Control

425 halophilic bacteria strains were isolated by using six different media from thirty salt-soil samples collected from Heijing ancient salt mine,Yunnan. By the growth on NaCl grandient concentration and other screening methods,79 strains of extremely halophilic microorganisms were chosen for further research. Based on colonies color,shape and size,15 stains were selected to be sequenced. The sequencing results revealed that 11 of them were haloarchaea. According to the phylogenetic analysis,they belong to four genera of the family Halobacteriaceae. The blast results showed that the similarities of six sequences were higher than 97 % with the validly described species of the following four genera: Halorubrum,Natronococcus,Natrialba,Halalkalicoccus. The similarities of other five sequences with any validly described species were less than 97 %,therefore,the taxonomic positions of the following five strains YIM-ARC 0032,YIM-ARC 0036,YIM-ARC 0037,and YIM-ARC 0050 could be determined according to further polyphasic taxonomy data.The results indicated that there was a considerable diversity of haloarcheaea in salt-mine environment of Heijing ancient salt mine,Yunnan and it was worth continuing to research on this area.

Malignant meningiomas are uncommon intracranial tumors. The metastasis of malignant meningiomas to distant extracranial sites are well known. However, dissemination of the tumours in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is rare and few cases have been reported. We present a case of histologically proven malignant meningioma with CSF dissemination at the remote intracranial area and into the spinal canal detected with magnetic resonance imaging.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Meningioma ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; Young Adult

To investigate cytotoxic secondary metabolites of Micrococcus sp. R21, an actinomycete isolated from a deep-sea sediment (-6 310 m; 142 degrees 19. 9' E, 10 degrees 54. 6' N) of the Western Pacific Ocean, column chromatography was introduced over silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20. As a result, eight compounds were obtained. By mainly detailed analysis of the NMR data, their structures were elucidated as cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-leu) (1), cyclo(L-Pro-L-Gly) (2), cyclo( L-Pro-L-Ala) (3), cyclo( D-Pro-L-Leu) (4), N-β-acetyltryptamine (5), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), and phenylacetic acid (7). Compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against RAW264. 7 cells with IC50 value of 9.1 μmol x L(-1).
Animals ; Biological Factors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Micrococcus ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Seawater ; microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism

Objective We aimed to investigate the expression of IRF4 and apoptosis of the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 against MM cells in vitro,and study the mechanism of apoptosis when LBH589 alone or/and combined with lenalidomide in RPMI8226 cell so as to provide a new strategy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.Methods The cell viability on the growth of RPMI8226 cell were assessed by CCK8 assay.Apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry,The Grandpad software analyzes the statistical significance and evaluates the synergistic effect of the drug.The expression level of the related transcription factor and apoptotic gene protein were determined by western blot.The cell viability on the growth of RPMI8226-R cell were assessed by CCK8.Results LBH589 combined with lenalidomide have significant effect on inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.Apoptosis induced by LBH589/lenalidomide alone or combination was shown to involved PARP activation,decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expression.significantly down regulated transcriptional related factors of IRF4 and c-MYC expression compared with either agent alone.Conclusion LBH589 and lenalidomide alone or combination decrease the expression of transcription factor IRF4 and c-MYC,and have a significant synergistic effect,and highly expression of IRF in RPMI8226-R reduce proliferation inhibition.

OBJECTIVETo determine the safety and efficacy of local administration of lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in murine air pouch model.

METHODSFrom May 2007 to April 2008 a siRNA targeting TNF-alpha and a missense siRNA were designed, and recombine lentivirus which coexpressed the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker gene was constructed. Air pouches were established and stimulated by Ti-6Al-4V particles. Pouches were divided into 3 groups randomly. Lentivirus-mediated siRNA targeting TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha group) or lentivirus-mediated missense siRNA (MS group), or virus-free saline (control group) were injected into pouches respectively. Pouch membrane, peripheral blood, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, lung and brain were harvested at 28 d after transfection, and assayed for markers of inflammation using histological, molecular, immunological techniques and Xenogen in vivo imaging system (IVIS) 50 vivo bioluminescent assay system.

RESULTSXenogen IVIS 50 vivo image revealed strong expression of GFP localized in pouch areas and no expression in other parts of mice both in TNF-alpha group and MS group at 4 weeks after transfection, while no expression of GFP was found in control group. By RT-PCR and ELISA, the mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha in TNF-alpha group decreased by 81.6% and 82.6% respectively compared to control group (P < 0.01), and decreased by 78.9% and 84.0% respectively compared to MS group (P < 0.01), whereas TNF-alpha level in peripheral blood, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, lung and brain remained invariant (P > 0.05). Less inflammatory responses (thinner pouch membrane and decreased cellular infiltration) were observed in TNF-alpha group.

CONCLUSIONEfficient local delivery of lentivirus-mediated siRNA targeting TNF-alpha into modified murine air pouch can inhibit debris-induced inflammation effectively, with no systemic adverse effects.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Inflammation ; therapy ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics