Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps. Methods The imaging data of 17 cases with hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. CT was performed in 14 cases, MRI in 16 cases, of which 15 also underwent contrast-enhanced MRI. Results All 17 lesions with well-circumscribed margin originated in the areas of maxillary sinus ostia and extended into adjacent nasal cavity and maxillary sinus. The lesions appeared as lobular shape in 16 cases and oval shape in 1 case. On non-enhanced CT, 14 lesions showed heterogenous soft tissue density masses, the hyperdense strip and nodule were detected on the periphery and in the center of 2 lesions respectively. All the involved bony walls were compressed and remodeled with focal defect,especially in the medial wall of maxillary sinus. On MRI, all 16 lesions revealed inhomogenous signal. The central region of the lesions appeared hypointense signal on T_1WI compared to gray matter and hyperintense signal on T_2WI with line-like hypointense signal septa in 14 cases, the irregular hypointense signal rims were also found on the periphery of 15 lesions on T_2WI, postcontrast MR imaging showed strongly inhomogenous enhancing masses with non-enhancing hypointense rim, the appearances of enhancement showed multiple nodules in 10 cases, patches in 4 cases and leaf-like in 1 case. The typical simple polyps were present in the ipsilateral nasal cavity of the lesions in 4 cases, extending into nasal vestibule anteriorly and choana posteriorly. On dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in 11 cases, the timeintensity curves (TIC) showed increasing enhancement type in 7 cases and rapid enhancement and slow wash-out type in 4 cases. Conclusion The inhomogenous hyperintensity surrounded by the peripheral hypointense rim on MR T_2WI and marked nodular and patchy enhancement appearance are typical features of hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps. CT is helpful to judge the nature of lesions, but difficultly confirms the diagnosis, while MRI should be the imaging modality of first choice for hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression level of class I integrase (intI 1) mRNA in Acinetobacter baumannii from biofilm cells and planktonic cultured cells ,and to analyze the drug-resistance of Class I integron positive strains. METHODS: Acinetobacter baumannii were collected from hospitals,and Class I integron strains were screened by gene amplification. Total RNA of Class I integron positive strains was extracted, and the intI1 mRNA expression in the bioflim cells and planktonic cultured cells was measured by RT-PCR. Susceptibilities to antibiotics of Class I integron positive strains were also examined. RESULTS: The intI1 gene mRNA was expressed under 2 conditions, and the mRNA expressed in the biofilm cells was about 4 times higher than that in the planktonic cultured cells. Among the 64 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, 46 strains were Class I integron positive strains. The antibiotic resistance of intI1 gene cassette-positive strains was higher than that of gene cassette-negative strains. CONCLUSION The intI1 gene mRNA can be up-regulated in Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm cells.Class I integron plays an important role in drug resistance. It is much easier to capture gene cassettes for bacteria under biofilm condition.
Acinetobacter Infections ; microbiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Biofilms ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Humans ; Integrases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of facial spasm patients with responsible blood vessels containing vertebral basilar artery and the effect of microvascular decompression therapy.Methods The clinical materials of 69 patients with facial spasm were analyzed retrospectively.According to the vertebral basilar artery containing in responsible blood vessels,the patients were divided into research group (n =16) and control group (n =53).All the patients were treated with microvascular decompression therapy,and postoperative short-term and long-term effects were compared between two groups.Results Compared with control group,the long-term effect in research group was worse (P ＜ 0.01),ratio of male patients was higher (P ＜ 0.01),and ratio of patients with diabetes was higher (P ＜0.01),but there were no significant differences in postoperative short-term effect and dysfunction between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Responsible blood vessels containing with vertebral basilar artery was the influencing factor of poor postoperative long-term effect.Conclusion Long-term effect of microvascular decompression therapy is poor in treatment of facial spasm patients with responsible blood vessels containing vertebral basilar artery,and the location of the disease is mainly in left.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of facial spasm patients with responsible blood vessels containing vertebral basilar artery and the effect of microvascular decompression therapy.Methods The clinical materials of 69 patients with facial spasm were analyzed retrospectively.According to the vertebral basilar artery containing in responsible blood vessels,the patients were divided into research group (n =16) and control group (n =53).All the patients were treated with microvascular decompression therapy,and postoperative short-term and long-term effects were compared between two groups.Results Compared with control group,the long-term effect in research group was worse (P ＜ 0.01),ratio of male patients was higher (P ＜ 0.01),and ratio of patients with diabetes was higher (P ＜0.01),but there were no significant differences in postoperative short-term effect and dysfunction between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Responsible blood vessels containing with vertebral basilar artery was the influencing factor of poor postoperative long-term effect.Conclusion Long-term effect of microvascular decompression therapy is poor in treatment of facial spasm patients with responsible blood vessels containing vertebral basilar artery,and the location of the disease is mainly in left.

Objective To explore the expression and clinical significance of CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα) in colon cancer tissues.Methods The expression level of C/EBPoα in colon cancer tissues and corresponding non-tumor normal tissues of 41 colon cancer patients was detected by Western blot.The correlation between the expression of C/EBPoα and clinicopathological parameters of colon cancer and survival rate of prognosis were statistically analyzed.Results In 41 cases of normal tissue adjacent to carcinoma,low expression of C/EBPeα appeared only 2 cases,high expression 39 cases,low expression rate was only 4.88％;and in 41 cases of colon cancer,C/EBP low expression appeared 32 cases,high expression only 9 cases,low expression rate was 78.05％.Compared with normal adjacent tissues,the expression of C/EBP in colon cancer was down regulated (P＜0.05).In 41 cases of colon cancer,independent of C/EBPα expression and colon cancer,cancer size,sex,age and histological classification of colon cancer clinical pathological parameters (P ＞ 0.05),but tumor node metastasis (TNM) and colon cancer staging was closely related (P ＜ 0.05).The median survival times in low expression and high expression groups were 31.5 and 54.2 months,with significant difference(P ＜0.05).Conclusion The low expression of C/EBPα in colon cancer has a close relationship with TMN staging and survival rate of prognosis,which has a great significance on early diagnosis and targeted therapy of colon cancer in the future.

OBJECTIVETo develop a colon-specific prodrug of Indomethacin microbially triggered, carry out in vitro/in vivo evaluation of drug release, and appraise its inhibitory effect on liver metastasis from colon cancer.

METHODSIndomethacin prodrugs were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and NMR, and dissolution test simulating gastrointestinal tract was employed to screen the colon-specific prodrug. Then, the pharmacokinetic profile of portal vein and peripheral blood in Sprague-Dawley rats was studied. Lastly, the inhibitory effect on liver metastasis from colon cancer in nude mice was observed.

RESULTSThe chemical structure characterized by FTIR and NMR demonstrated that six kinds of indomethacin-block-amylose with different drug loading (IDM-AM-1-6) were synthesized, among which IDM-AM-3 was degraded 1.3%, 9.3% and 95.3%, respectively, in simulated gastric fluid for 4 h, small intestine for 6 h, and colon for 36 h. The pharmacokinetic test of IDM-AM-3 showed that absorption was delayed significantly (P < 0.01), peak time [(11.35 + or - 2.45) h], elimination half-life [(16.74 + or - 4.04) h] and mean residence time [(22.27 + or - 0.52) h] were significantly prolonged (P < 0.01), as well as peak serum concentrations [(9.69 + or - 2.40) mg/L] and AUC(0-t) [(236.7 + or - 13.1) mg x L(-1) x h] were decreased markedly (P < 0.01) as compared with those of IDM regarding to portal vein. Additionally, its AUC(0-t) in peripheral blood was remarkably lower than that in Portal vein (P < 0.01). The tumor suppression observation showed that it could remarkably reduce the number of liver metastases in contrast to IDM (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONColon-specific IDM-AM-3 possesses advantage of sustained release in portal vein providing some experimental basis for colon-specific delivery system applied to sustained release in the portal vein.

Amylose ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Colon ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prodrugs ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate oxidative DNA damage in pharmacy technicians preparing antineoplastic drugs at the PIVAS (Pharmacy Intravenous Admixture Service) in two Chinese hospitals.

METHODSUrinary 8-OHdG served as a biomarker. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) concentrations in air, masks and gloves were determined. The spill exposure of each PIVAS technician to antineoplastic drugs was investigated. Eighty subjects were divided into exposed group I, II, and control group I, II.

RESULTS5-FU concentration ratios for gloves and masks in exposed group I were significantly higher than those in exposed group II (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The average urinary 8-OHdG concentrations in exposed group I, control group I, exposed group II, and control group II were 14.69±0.93, 10.68±1.07, 10.57±0.55, and 11.96±0.73 ng/mg Cr, respectively. Urinary 8-OHdG concentration in exposed group I was significantly higher than that in control group I or that in exposed group II (P<0.01). There was a significant correlation between urinary 8-OHdG concentrations and spill frequencies per technician (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere was detectable oxidative DNA damage in PIVAS technicians exposed to antineoplastic drugs. This oxidative DNA damage may be associated with their spill exposure experience and contamination of their personal protective equipment.

Adult ; Air ; analysis ; Antineoplastic Agents ; analysis ; toxicity ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; analysis ; toxicity ; Gloves, Protective ; Health Personnel ; statistics & numerical data ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Oxidative Stress ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDisease recurrence is a main challenge in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is no generally accepted method for preventing recurrence of HCC after resection.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of a traditional herbal medicine (THM) regimen and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in preventing recurrence in post-resection patients with small HCC.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSThis is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled study, which was undertaken in five centers of China. A total of 379 patients who met the eligibility criteria and underwent randomization were enrolled in this trial. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were assigned to the THM group and received Cinobufacini injection and Jiedu Granule, and the other 191 patients were assigned to the TACE group and received one single course of TACE.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESPrimary outcome measures were the annual recurrence rate and the time to recurrence. Incidence of adverse events was regarded as the secondary outcome measure.

RESULTSAmong the 364 patients who were included in the intention-to-treat analysis, 67 patients of the THM group and 87 of the TACE group had recurrence, with a hazard ratio of 0.695 (P = 0.048). Median recurrence-free survival of the patients in the THM and TACE groups was 46.89 and 34.49 months, respectively. Recurrence rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 17.7%, 33.0% and 43.5% for the THM group, and 28.8%, 42.5% and 54.0% for the TACE group, respectively (P = 0.026). Multivariate analysis indicated that the THM regimen had a big advantage for prolonging the recurrence-free survival. Adverse events were mild and abnormality of laboratory indices of the two groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONIn comparison with TACE therapy, the THM regimen was associated with diminished risk of recurrence of small-sized HCC after resection, with comparable adverse events. TRIAL REGISTRTION IDENTIFIER: This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifier ChiCTR-TRC-07000033.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Recent studies have shown that astrocytes play important roles in ATP degradation and adenosine (a well known analgesic molecule) generation, which are closely related to pain signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether morphine, a well known analgesic drug, could affect the speeds of ATP enzymolysis and adenosine generation in rat astrocytes. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) of astrocyte was measured by flow cytometry, and the time points that morphine exerted notable effects were determined for subsequent experiments. Cultured astrocytes were pre-incubated with morphine (1 μmol/L) and then were incubated with substrates, ATP and AMP, for 30 min. The speeds of ATP enzymolysis and adenosine generation were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that both 1.5 and 48 h of morphine pre-incubation induced maximal ATP enzymolysis speed in astrocytes among all the time points, and there was no statistical difference of ATP enzymolysis speed between morphine treatments for 1.5 and 48 h. As to adenosine, morphine pre-incubation for 1.5 h statistically increased adenosine generation, which was degraded from AMP, in cultured astrocytes compared with control group. However, no difference of adenosine generation was observed after 48 h of morphine pre-incubation. These results indicate that treatment of morphine in vitro dynamically changes the concentrations of ATP and adenosine in extracellular milieu of astrocytic cells. In addition, astrocyte can be regarded as at least one of the target cells of morphine to induce changes of ATP and adenosine levels in central nervous system.
Adenosine ; biosynthesis ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Analgesics, Opioid ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; analysis ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVESTo investigate role of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in the transcriptional activation of heat shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under hypoxic conditions.

METHODSHCC cells were exposed to reduced oxygen atmosphere (1% O2), or treated with YC-1 or HIF-1 alpha siRNA, the expression of HIF-1 alpha and HSP70-2 were detected by Western blot analysis. Serial deletions of the HSPA2 promoter were cloned in the reporter pGL3-Basic plasmid. These reporter plasmids were co-transfected with HIF-1 alpha siRNA, and the promoter activities were detected with the dual luciferase assay.

RESULTSWestern blot analysis showed that both HIF-1 alpha and HSP70-2 proteins were strongly increased after HCC cells were exposed to hypoxic conditions (1% O2) for 6 h, and the expression level of HSP70-2 was increased in a time-dependent manner. Treatment of HepG2 cells with YC-1 or HIF-1 alpha siRNA significantly inhibited the expression of HIF-1 alpha and HSP70-2. In silico analysis of the HSP70-2 promoter using the Gene2 Promoter software revealed the presence of two putative hypoxic response element (HRE) consensus at -446bp (HRE1) and -238bp (HRE2). Depletion of promoter sequence between -653 and -385 led to a dramatic reduction of promoter activity, whereas further deletion to position -201 did not reduce the activity further. These data suggested that HRE1 plays an important role in hypoxia-induced activation of the HSPA2 promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis further confirmed these results. Mutation of HRE1 but not of HRE2 abrogated the sensitivity of the HSP70-2 promoter to hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONSHSP70-2 expression is up-regulated in response to hypoxia and a HIF-1 binding site (HRE1) in the HSP70-2 promoter is involved in this response.

Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation