Objective:The immunodeficiency animals play more and more important role in oncology research.But researchers usually do not how to choose kinds of immunodeficiency rats and mice during experiments.In this paper, applications and characteristics of immunodeficiency animals were compared as well as some of the common problems were discussed in oncology study.Methods:Classification of the immunodeficiency animals, the characteristics and application of congenital immunodeficiency rats and mice, and common problem analysis in the study of oncology were explored.Results: The feature of various immunodeficiency rats and mice should be considered in the oncology experiments.Conclusion:The paper provide valuable reference for scientific researcher.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of acridine orange fluorescene(AO-F) in bladder cancers. Methods One thousand and sixteen bladder cancer patients were reviewed retro-spectively. The positive-rates of AO-F in different stages, grades, size, quantity, position of tumors, hematuria and treatment ways were evaluated. Results The total positive rate of AO-F was 78.05 % (793/1016). The positive-rate was 74.69% (611/818) in superficial stage and 91.92% (182/198) in invasive bladder cancer, 67.24% (351/522) in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ , 90. 37% (413/457) in grade Ⅲ. The percentage of positive AO-F was 80.30% (750/934) in patients with hematuria, 52.44% (43/82) in patients without hematuria. The percentage was 79.87% (710/889) when the tumor size was more than 2 cm, 65.35% (83/127) when size less than 2 cm. 83.07% (363/437) sample was positive in multiple tumors, 74.27% (430/579) in single tumor. The percentage was 77.21% (105/136) in tumors involving trigone or neck of bladder, 78.07% (687/880) in tumors without involving these re-gions. There was 69.68% (393/564) in treatment with TURBt, 87.87% (268/305) in partial resec-tion, 91.74% (100/109) in total resection. A good association was observed between stage, grade, hematuria appearance, tumor size, quantity of carcinoma, treatment way and AO-F positive-rate, and a linear correlation was present between grade, stage and positive cytology. There was no significant association between position of the tumor and AO-F positive-rate. Conclusions The function of AO-F is significant in diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Objective To develop whole breast irradiation with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT)-based hybrid intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after breast conserving surgery for breast cancer,and to evaluate its value in clinical application.Methods Ten patients with breast cancer undergoing breast conserving surgery were enrolled.Two radiotherapy plans were designed based on hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique and hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique,respectively.One group received whole breast irradiation with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions.The other group received whole breast irradiation with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions,as well as simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed with 60 Gy in 25 fractions.The dosimetric parameters and delivery efficiency were compared between the two plans using paired t test.Results For patients treated with whole breast irradiation alone,there were no significant differences in conformity index and homogeneity index of target volume between the two plans (P=0.866,0.056);however,compared with the hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique significantly increased the doses to organs at risk (OARs) and the number of monitor units (MUs) in the intensity-modulated field (P=0.000-0.050,P=0.002).For patients treated with whole breast irradiation with a simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed;however,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique significantly reduced the doses to the lung and spinal cord,number of MUs in intensity-modulated field,and delivery time compared with the hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique (P=0.004,0.001,0.000,0.000).Conclusions For patients treated with whole breast irradiation with a simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique is highly promising for clinical application due to better OAR sparing and higher delivery efficiency.

Objective To evaluate the effects of four types of variance reduction techniques ( ring counter grid, high electron cutoff energy, termination of electron tracking in some structures, and emission direction?biased sampling of source) on the efficiency and accuracy of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. Methods The single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife was modeled using Monte Carlo software MCNP . Four types of variance reduction techniques were used to simulate the dose distribution in the water?like phantom. The computation efficiency and simulation result were compared between the four techniques. Results All techniques substantially improved the computation efficiency and had little effect on the accuracy of the simulation ( relative error less than 2. 5%) . However, if the electron cutoff energy was above 50 keV, the simulation became quite inaccurate due to neglect of the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra. When the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra were ignored, the dose to the Profile platform was overestimated and the dose to the penumbra was underestimated. Conclusions Rational use of variance reduction techniques can substantially improve the efficiency of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. However, the impact of variance reduction techniques on the accuracy of the simulation should be carefully evaluated.

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the roles of Huoxueruanjian compound on liver fibrogenesis and its molecular mechanism, this paper has investigated the Influence of blood serum with such traditional Chinese medicine compound on the expression of Smad3, Smad7 and procollagen alpha2(I) gene in hepatic stellate cell (HSC).

METHODSHSC-T6 was deal with different Concentration of blood serum medicine with Heluoshugan which was made by routine way. Then expression change of Smad3, Smad7 and procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA among each groups were observed by RT-PCR. Furthermore, the expression change of Smad3 protein were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSExpression of Smad3 and procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA as well as Smad3 protein had been downregulated after treating with blood serum medicine of Heluoshugan (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). The expression of procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA changed at the same tendency as those of Smad3. The role of blood serum medicine was significant difference between different concentration, P<0.05. And the expression of procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA changed in concentration-dependent manner. Blood serum medicine has no effects on the Smad7 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-fibrosis roles of HuoXueruanjian Compound maybe influence the function of TGF-beta and Smad by nonspecific action, thereby inhibit the transcription of procollegan alpha2(I) mRNA and decrease the production of ECM. As regards Smad3, it may be facilitating the development of liver fibrosis when its expression increases. Otherwise, it manifest with anti-fibrosis role.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Smad3 Protein ; Smad7 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the major metabolites of antitumor lead compound T-OA (oleanolic acyl-3, 5, 6-trimethyl pyrazine-2-methyl ester) in rat urine, in order to preliminarily infer its metabolic mode in rats.

METHODRat urines of the blank group, the raw material group (ligustrazine TMP and oleanolic acid OA Moore equivalent) and the T-OA group were collected and freeze-dried; Solids were extracted by ethyl acetate; And then the extracts were re-dissolved with acetonitrile. HPLC-HRMS coupling technique was adopted to find the potential mass spectrum peak under ESI(+) (see symbol) ESI(-) modes. Metabolite-related information was obtained by comparing the three groups of spectra.

RESULTOne metabolite of OA and two metabolites of TMP were identified in the raw material group; none metabolite of T-OA but one phase II metabolite was detected in the T-OA group.

CONCLUSIONIt is the first time to identify one phase II metabolite of T-OA and one phase II metabolite of OA were identified in rat urine. On that basis, the researchers preliminarily inferred that T-OA does not show the efficacy in the form of raw material. The HPLC-HRMS method established could be used to identify metabolites of related derivative structures. This paper could also provide certain reference for designing pro-drugs based on oleanolic acid.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; metabolism ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDAs the only active component in final treatment phase of Tip-Edge Plus technique, the activation of nickel-titanium orthodontic archwires is one of the factors that affect the torque expression. It is necessary to evaluate the mechanical properties of the nickel-titanium wire used in the final treatment phase in simulated oral environments to forecast the treatment outcomes.

METHODSThe mechanical properties of 171 thermal nickel-titanium wires of 0.35 mm (0.014-in) in diameters with different deflection of 40 mm in length were investigated with three-point bending test. The samples were divided into 2 groups: as-received and bended groups. In the bended group, samples were divided into 7 subgroups according to the amounts of deflection and named by the canine angulations (-25°, -19°, -13°, -7°, -1°, +5°, +11°). The deflection of wires was made by inserting the wires into the deep tunnel of Tip-Edge Plus brackets positioned in plaster casts with different canine angulations to mimic the use of nickel-titanium wires in the final treatment phase. Immersed the bended group in artificial saliva (pH 6.8) and preserved at 37.0°C. Eight durations of incubation were tested: 1 to 8 weeks. Three analogous samples of each group and subgroups were tested per week. Stiffness (YS:E) and the load-deflection characteristics of unloading plateau section were obtained.

RESULTSSignificant changes in specific mechanical properties were observed in long-term immersed and large deflected wires compared with as-received groups. Both immersion time and deflection affected the mechanical properties of wires in the simulated oral environment, and the two factors had synergistic effect. In groups -25°, -19° and -13°, stiffness (YS:E) increased then decreased and average plateau force and ratio of variance decreased then increased correspondingly at specific time.

CONCLUSIONSIn the final treatment phase of Tip-Edge Plus technique, the mechanical properties of nickel-titanium wire are associated with the using time and amounts of deflection and it may affect treatment outcomes. As the main reason for wire deflection, canine crown angulation plays an important role in the wire performance. It may be wise to focus on the canine crown angulations and using time in clinic with Tip-Edge Plus technique and make proper adjustment to help to make sure the treatment outcomes.

Humans ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Nickel ; Orthodontic Wires ; Titanium ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; methods

Objective To investigate the effect of mangiferin on the apoptosis of rat primary cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia. Methods Rat primary cardiomyocytes were separated and cultured under aseptic condition. Cardiomyocytes were treated with hypoxia of 2, 4, 8 and 12 h, and then the time of hypoxia of cardiomyocyte apoptosis model was determined according to the apoptosis outcome.The cardiomyocytes were divided into normal group, hypoxia group and mangiferin intervention group, each group was subjected to 3 batches in parallel, and 3 holes were done in parallel with each batch. After the experiment, cardiomyocytes apoptosis was deteced by flow cytometry;apoptosis protease caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity in cell lysates was detected by spectrophotometry;the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. Results After treated with hypoxia for 12 h, the cardio-myocytes apoptosis rate was significantly increased (P < 0.05), the apoptosis protease caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity was increased markedly (P＜0.05), the protein expression of proapoptotic protease Bax was increased notablely (P＜ 0.05 ) , and the protein expression of anti apoptotic protease Bcl-2 was decrease memorably (P＜0.05) in hypoxia group as compared with those in the control group. After mangiferin intervention, above indexes in mangiferin group can be significantly relieved as compared with those in the hypoxia group. Conclusions Mangiferin can significantly inhibit the apoptosis of rat primary cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia.

To make clear of the absorbed components of Tianzhusan (TZS) and its possible mechanism in preventing vascular dementia (VD), the rats' models of VD were prepared by a permanent ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. After 60 days, rats were administrated with TZS for 0.1 g x kg(-1), and the volume is 0.02 mL x g(-1). After 3 days, the medicated serum was prepared and detected by UPLC, and then we predicted the possible chemical structure of the absorbed components of TZS. According to the absorbed components, the potential targets of TZS were found by ligand profiling of Discovery Studio 3.5. All of these target genes were submitted to DAVID onine for gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The 5 absorbed components of TZS have been predicted, and four of them have been identified as parishin B, parishin C, parishin, pennogenin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosy-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucoside. Through reverse finding targets, we got 861 pharmacophore models and 9 pathways from KEGG, BIOCARTA after document verification. These results showed that the efficacy mechanism of TZS on VD perhaps were be related with these absorbed components and pathways. If the traditional herbs could be proved effective by efficacy tests, the serum pharmacochemistry, computer-aided drug design, system biology and other technologies can be used in the next experiments, which will be beneficial to fast discovery of material basis and mechanisms of traditional medicine coming form ethnic minorities.
Animals ; Dementia, Vascular ; prevention & control ; Drug Discovery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Trillium ; chemistry

Objective: To obtain the high-resolution dose distribution for the single source channel of Leksell 4C gamma knife. Methods: A parallel computing platform based on the Message Passing Interface (MPI) and Monte Carlo Code MCNPX was established. The ring-shaped detector and two pre-validated variance reduction techniques (emission direction-biased sampling of source and termination of electron tracking in partial structures) were adopted to derive the high-resolution dose distribution for the single source channel of Leksell 4C gamma knife. The effect of cut-off energy for both photon and electron on the accuracy of simulation outcomes was evaluated and statistically compared. Results: Compared with previous findings, the spatial resolution of the dose distribution for the single source channel obtained in this study was higher (radial resolution=0.1 mm) with less statistical error (<1%). The calculation time was acceptable (approximately 24 h). For the 4-, 8-, 14-and 18-mm variable collimators, the penumbra and full width at the half maximum (FWHM) for single side were 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 mm and 2.2, 4.3, 7.3, 9.3 mm, respectively, which were consistent with previous studies. The difference of the simulation results was extremely small between different cut-off energy for photon (1 keV vs.10 keV). However, the simulation results significantly differ between 1 and 521 keV electronic cut-off energy. Conclusions The MCNPX parallel computing platform based on the MPI environment can be utilized to derive highly accurate dose distribution with high resolution in acceptable calculation time. The cut-off energy of the photon and electron should be cautiously set up during simulation.