OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the curative efficacy of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GM-CSF in the treatment of AML were retrieved from PubMed,EMBase,Cochrane Library,CBMdisc and CNKI database by computer as well as from the leukemia-related journals manually for a quality evaluation of the methodology and Meta analysis using RevMan5.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs were included,of which,3 RCTs were graded as A,5 as B and 2 as C. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences of indexes among groups as complete remission (CR) rate,relapse rate,infection rate and length of hospital stay,etc. CONCLUSION: The available clinical research results showed that GM-CSF adjunctive therapy could neither increase CR rate,nor decrease the relapse rate,infection rate or length of hospital stay.

According to the sequence of P450 cDNA of Eleutherococcus senticosus, specific primers were designed. Frokaryotic ex pression vector pET30a-P450 was constructed and the prokaryotic expression conditions were optimized. Results showed that the BL21 after being transformed with the recombinant expression vector accumulated the high amount of recombinant protein. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the recombinant protein was about 53 kDa. The recombinant accumulated the highest amount of recombinant protein af ter IPTG (1 mmol x L(-1)) at 27-37 degrees C for 24 h. Consequently P450 gene of E. senticosus could be expressed successfully by prokaryotic expression vector pET30a-P450. Induction temperature, IPTG concentration, medium type and amount of induction time could all influence the expression of target protein, but the impact strength was different.
Cloning, Molecular ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Eleutherococcus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the value of 64-slice spiral CT angiography in diagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas(PAVF).Methods 12 patients with suspect PAVF were performed by enhanced scan with 64-SliceCT.Two-dimensional and three-dimensional reformation were performed in all cases including coronal multiplanar reconstruction(MPR),maximum intensity projection(MIP),volume rendering(VR).Resnlts 12 cases were diagnosed as PAVF by 64-SliceCT angiography.Single PAVF in 7 cases,Multi-PAVF in 5cases.We found 20 lesions in 12 patients,Except direct multi-pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in the area of near the heart in one case.Conclusion 64-slice spiral CT angiography is a useful and noninvasive means to identify PAVF and is also useful for therapeutic planning and postoperative follow-up.

Objective To observe the CT findings of hypoplasia of cochlear nerve foramen. Methods CT findings of cochlear nerve foramen were observed in 50 volunteers (100 ears)and in 9 cases with hypoplasia of cochlear nerve foramen.The width of the bony canal for the cochlear nerve were measured in both groups.Results The fissure in the cribriform area were seen in every volunteers.The width of the bony canal for the cochlear nerve was (2.32?0.25)mm in normal group.The stenosis of cochlear nerve foramen were shown in 9 cases (10 ears),the lacking of fissure in the cribriform area were seen in 8 ears, while the fissure were shown in 2 cases.The stenosis of internal auditory canal was shown in 4 cases. Abnormality of vestibule and horizontal semicircular canal was shown in one case.The maximum value of the width of the bony canal for the cochlear nerve was 1.5mm,the minimum value was 0.9 mm.Conclusions The typical CT findings of hypoplasia of cochlear nerve foramen were stenosis of cochlear nerve foramen,the lacking of fissure in the cribriform area and cochlear nerve foramen without helix shape.The hypoplasia of cochlear nerve foramen may be a subtype of cochlear dysplasia.

Objective To evaluate the value of 64-slice spiral CT angiography based on pre- contrasted raw data in diagnosing pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.Methods 64-slice spiral CT plain scan and enhanced scan was performed in 16 patients with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula,pulmonary angiography based on pre-contrast and post-contrast raw data was performed respectively,including maximum intensity projection(MIP),shaded-surface display(SSD),and volume rendering(VR).According to the results of angiocardiography and surgical findings,comparson of the three methods was made in the display of PAVF in pre-contrast and post-contrast phase images.Results 8 of the 16 PAVF cases were single lesion,8 cases were multi-lesions.30 PAVF lesions were found in all the patients.MIP,SSD and VR based on pre-contrast raw data displayed PAVF lesions in 20,14,and 22,respectively.The combination of the 3 methods based on pre-contrast raw data could show 26 PAVF lesions.MIP,SSD,and VR based on post-contrast raw data displayed PAVF lesions in 24,18,and 30,respectively.The combination of the 3 methods based on post- contrast raw data could show 30 PAVF lesions.Conclusion 64-slice spiral CT angiography based on pre- contrasted raw data can clearly show the position,number,and shape of PAVF lesions,which is of great value in diagnosing PAVF.

OBJECTIVETo explore the functional brain localization with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after acupuncturing the Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (ST).

METHODSThe study was performed in 30 healthy volunteers who underwent acupuncture at Yuan-Source acupoint (Chongyang, ST42) and He-Sea acupoint (Zusanli, ST36) (ST group). Ten of these were also underwent acupuncture at the non-acupoints as the control group. Blood oxygenation level dependent functional MRI was performed.

RESULTSIn the ST group, signal increasing areas were demonstrated in bilateral superior temporal gyri (Broadmann 22), bilateral supramarginal gyri (Broadmann 40), bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, bilateral cingulate gyri and isthmus of cingulate gyri (Broadmann 32, 30), bilateral superior parietal lobules (Broadmann 7); signal decreasing areas were shown in bilateral orbital gyri (Broadmann 11), bilateral temporal pole (Broadmann 38), right inferior frontal gyrus (Broadmann 47) and right medial occipitotemporal gyrus (Broadmann 36). In the control group, signal increases areas were demonstrated in superior temporal gyri, precentral gyri, cingulate gyri, thalamus, insula and cerebellum. The size, signal intensity and number of increasing areas in control group are less than in ST group.

CONCLUSIONCombined acupuncture of Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of ST can activate and decrease the multiple brain regions of "splanchnic brain" and thus reach a new functional balance to relieve pain.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; physiology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meridians ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of 64-slice spiral CT for spinal structure assessment in elderly patients with osteoporosis.

METHODSThe computed radiography (CR) films and 64-slice spiral CT isotropic scanning images of 40 patients who had been diagnosed as osteoporosis by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to their T-scores by DXA: group A (T-score was -1.0 - (-2.5)); and B group (T-score was below -2.5).

RESULTSThe diagnostic results of axial CT images combined with multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) was negatively correlated with the measurement results of DXA in the diagnosis of spinal osteoporosis, and such correlation was higher in group B than in group A. Compared with CR films, axial CT images combining with MPR showed superior effectiveness in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS64-slice spiral CT is better than CR in diagnosis of osteoporosis. CT-MPR and 3D reconstruction not only can be used to diagnose osteoporosis early, but also to observe the changes of skeleton's shape and overall structure.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo generalize the clinical use of transsphincteric operation (Mason operation) for rectal lesions.

METHODSClinical data of 120 patients with middle and lower rectal lesions who underwent Mason operation from Aug. 1990 to Aug. 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThere were 61 cases with villous adenoma including 26 with cancerization, 25 cases with rectal cancer including 16 cases with early rectal cancer, and 17 with submucosal tumor. Of the 103 patients with rectal tumor, 98 underwent partial rectectomy, 5 segmental rectectomy. The postoperative complications included incision infection in two cases (1.6%), fistula in 4 cases (3.3%). Three patients (3.0%) had postoperative local recurrence. 90.2% of the rectal cancer patients (46/51) survived more than five years after Mason operation.

CONCLUSIONMason operation is satisfactory because of good exposure and simple access to the rectum, which is suitable for those lesions that could be locally resected on the mid and low rectum.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Neurofibromatoses ; etiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy and/or vasovasostomy in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSThis study included 76 patients with obstructive azoospermia, 53 treated by bilateral vasoepididymostomy (8 involving the epididymal head, 18 involving the epididymal body, 5 involving the epididymal tail, and 22 involving the epididymal head, body and tail), 14 by unilateral vasoepididymostomy, and the other 9 by unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy (including cross anastomosis). We followed up the patients for 2 to 16 months for the patency rate, routine semen parameters, and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTSThe success rate of bilateral vasoepididymostomy, unilateral vasoepididymostomy, and unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy (including cross anastomosis) were 62.26% (33/53), 35.71% (5/14), and 77.78% (7/9), respectively. The average sperm concentrations in the three groups of patients were (27.9 +/- 5.74), (11.8 +/- 8.33), and (19.9 +/- 7.53) x 10(6)/ml, the average total sperm counts were (65.6 +/- 13.71), (28.0 +/- 15.86), and (69.2 +/- 28.59) x 10(6), and the mean rates of progressively motile sperm were (22.3 +/- 3.18), (11.0 +/- 9.77), and (15.8 +/- 5.05)%, respectively. The success rates of bilateral vasoepididymostomy that involved the epididymal head, body, tail, and all the three parts were 62.5, 72.22, 60, and 54.55%, respectively. Natural pregnancy was achieved in 8 (10.53%) of the total number of cases.

CONCLUSIONMicrosurgery is effective for the treatment obstructive azoospermia. Unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy is superior to the other procedures, followed by bilateral vasoepididymostomy. Bilateral vasoepididymostomy involving the epididymal body may achieve a slightly better effect than that involving the other epididymal parts.

Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Count ; Treatment Outcome ; Vas Deferens ; surgery ; Vasovasostomy ; methods