Objective: To investigate the effects of docetaxel and ADM (doxorubicin) on migration, invasion and filopodia formation of breast cancer cells. Methods: Triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into three groups: blank control group, docetaxel group and ADM group. CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8) assay was used to determine the IC10 (inhibitory concentration of 10%) values of docetaxel and ADM. Abilities of invasion and migration were detected by Transwell assay under IC10 of docetaxel and ADM. The effect of these concentrations on cellular proliferation was assayed by flow cytometry to detect the cell cycle. The rhodamine-phalloidin was used to stain cell cytoskeleton to observe filopodia formation after treatment with these two drugs. Results: The IC10 values of docetaxel and ADM in MDA-MB-231 cells were 1.0 ng/mL and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. These two concentrations had no effects on cellular proliferation and cell cycle (P > 0.05). Docetaxel (1.0 ng/mL) could inhibit migration and invasion of tumor cells more effectively than ADM (0.5 μg/mL). Docetaxel inhibited filopodia formation of triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively with a statistical significance. Conclusion: Docetaxel can obviously inhibit the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells as compared with ADM, which may be associated with suppression of filopodia formation by these agents. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

To study the chemical constituents of Periplocae Cortex, the separation and purification of 70% alcohol extract were carried out by column chromatographies on AB-8 macroporous resin, silica gel and preparative HPLC. The structure of the compounds were identified by NMR and TOF-MS. A new compound was isolated and identified as 21-O-methyl-Δ5-pregnene-3β, 14β, 17β, 21-tetraol-20-one-3-O-β-D-oleandropyranosyl(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl (1), named as periplocoside P.
Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Periploca ; chemistry ; Pregnenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective The detection of malignant lymphoma with invasion in liver and spleen using PET/CT has not been well documented in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of PET/CT in this regard and to compare it with plain CT. Methods Forty-one pathologically confirmed malignant lymphoma patients with liver and spleen invasion were recruited into this study. Among all patients, there were 38 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and 1 gastric mucosa associated lymphoma. PET/CT imaging was recorded 1h after injection of 296～444 MBq 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Results (1) There were 30(30/41) patients with liver invasion, including hepatic nodules, mass and portal nodes. The mass was large to invade surrounding liver parenchyma. (2) There were 23(23/41) patients with spleen invasion. The spleen was enlarged and demonstrated diffused hyper-metabolism. (3) Other invasion included: lung (n=13), cortical bone and marrow (n=12), stomach (n=9), pleural (n=6), and subcutaneous soft tissue (n=5) and so on. Conclusion PET/CT could accurately diagnose the invasion in liver and spleen of malignant lymphoma, which was of potential role on the diagnosis and staging of lymphoma.

The study was purposed to evaluate synergistic effect of beta-lactam antibiotics in drug-induced hemolysis. The general information, including primary diseases, therapeutic drugs, infection pathogens in 6 patients with pulmonary infection and unknown reason anemia were integrated and analyzed. The leukocyte and reticulocyte counts, total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), fasting blood glucose (Glu in peripheral blood) were all determined by conventional method. At the same time, the erythrocyte direct antiglobulin test (DAT), complement fixation test (CFT), cell culture and smear examination were carried out. The antibodies in plasma were also detected by indirect antiglobulin test (IAT). The result showed that levels of WBC, TB, DB, Glu and reticulocyte in six patients treated with beta-lactam antibiotics were raised remarkably. DAT was strongly positive, but no RBC antibodies were detected in the plasma by IAT. The binding of red cells by monocytes or lymphocytes was great, and the hemolysis of red cells by alexin not appeared. After stopping above-mentioned beta-lactam antibiotic administration, patient's WBC, TB, DB, and Glu levels returned to normal values. Furthermore, DAT test result turned to negative. It is concluded that beta-lactam antibiotics lead to drug-induced hemolysis by non-specific adsorption of some proteins onto RBC surface, and their proteins may be considered as direct cause for this hemolysis.
Aged ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; complications ; drug therapy ; beta-Lactams ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of solitary nodular-type bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC).

METHODSThe clinical and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively in 30 patients with pathologically confirmed solitary nodular-type BAC who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examinations between August, 2005 and December, 2006. The morphological and radioactive findings of the lesions were reviewed, and the maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) were measured. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT, and HRCT were analyzed.

RESULTSThe (18)F-FDG SUV was markedly lower in BAC than in other well differentiated adenocarcinoma. In 19 of the BAC cases, PET showed a SUVmax of no less than 2.5, demonstrating positive changes. Of the total of 30 cases, 5 had ground glass opacity (GGO) changes, 3 exhibited mixed nodules with GGO changes around the lesions, and 22 cases presented with solid nodules. HRCT showed that BAC located often in the superior lobes of the bilateral lungs, mostly below the pleura in the surrounding lung field; the lesions were patchy or nodular with irregular shapes, showing lobulation in 22 cases, spiculation in 15 cases, pleural indentation in 21 cases, and vacuolar changes in 4 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT and HRCT for solitary nodular-type BAC was 36.67%, 93.33%, and 93.33%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe SUVmax of BAC provides only limited value for defining the nature of the lesions, but can serve as a general reference for assessing the disease activity. PET/CT, which allows both functional and imaging assessment, can be a valuable modality to reduce the misdiagnosis rate of BAC.

Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of solitary nodular-type bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC).

METHODSThe clinical and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively in 30 patients with pathologically confirmed solitary nodular-type BAC who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examinations between August, 2005 and December, 2006. The morphological and radioactive findings of the lesions were reviewed, and the maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) were measured. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT, and HRCT were analyzed.

RESULTSThe (18)F-FDG SUV was markedly lower in BAC than in other well differentiated adenocarcinoma. In 19 of the BAC cases, PET showed a SUVmax of no less than 2.5, demonstrating positive changes. Of the total of 30 cases, 5 had ground glass opacity (GGO) changes, 3 exhibited mixed nodules with GGO changes around the lesions, and 22 cases presented with solid nodules. HRCT showed that BAC located often in the superior lobes of the bilateral lungs, mostly below the pleura in the surrounding lung field; the lesions were patchy or nodular with irregular shapes, showing lobulation in 22 cases, spiculation in 15 cases, pleural indentation in 21 cases, and vacuolar changes in 4 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of PET, PET/CT and HRCT for solitary nodular-type BAC was 36.67%, 93.33%, and 93.33%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe SUVmax of BAC provides only limited value for defining the nature of the lesions, but can serve as a general reference for assessing the disease activity. PET/CT, which allows both functional and imaging assessment, can be a valuable modality to reduce the misdiagnosis rate of BAC.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDThe NASG gene has been confirmed as a tumor-suppressor gene candidate related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by previous studies. We further investigated the expression and the role of NASG in the homogeneous tissue cells by microdissecting the samples of tissue from human NPC, and introduced a new way to study the expression of specific genes in tumor tissue.

METHODSThe RNAlater reagent was used to preserve the samples of tissue from the nasopharynx of NPC patients. The samples were microdissected to harvest the homogeneous tissue cells and then total RNA was isolated from them. The antisense RNA (aRNA) was amplified from the total RNA by "in vitro transcription (IVT)". We investigated NASG expression in the homogeneous tumor cells of NPC (22 samples) and compared it with that in the pure epithelial pillar cells of normal nasopharyngeal (10 samples) by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (sqRT-PCR).

RESULTSThe high quality total RNA could be harvested from the microdissected homogeneous tissue cells of the nasopharynx, then sufficient aRNA was derived from it. NASG gene expression was identified using aRNA by sqRT-PCR and showed that there was significant difference between the average value of case groups and that of control group (t = -5.275, df = 30, P < 0.001). The NASG gene in the subgroups WHOII tended to express lower levels than those in the subgroup WHOIII although this difference was not statistically significant (t = -1.584, df = 20, P = 0.129 > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMicrodissection was an effective method to obtain the homogeneous tissue cells of nasopharyngeal tissue (including the samples of NPC and non-NPC) in our study. Sufficient aRNA from amplifying total RNA could be used in sqRT-PCR to analyse the expression of NASG in the pure tissue cells. NASG should be a tumor-suppression gene candidate regarding to NPC.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Microdissection ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Nasopharynx ; metabolism ; RNA ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND:The use of normal hyaline cartilage to repair large areas of full-thickness knee cartilage defect has been a hot topic recently; however, a follow-up study with a relative large number of patients is required. OBJECTIVE:To make a preliminary study concerning the methods and therapeutic effects of tissue-engineered cartilage (TEC) implantation for treating large-area full-thickness knee cartilage defects. METHODS:Twenty-one patients (23 knees) diagnosed with cartilage defect of the knee joint (Outbridge III-IV) were enrolled. The area of the cartilage defect was 3.5-11.2 cm2. All of the patients were given TEC treatment. Postoperative functional exercise of the knee joint was carried out in these patients as planned. We regularly reviewed the knee MRI and calculated visual analog scale score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, and Lysholm score. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:All the patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months. Postoperatively knee pain relieved obviously, and the visual analog scale score was significantly declined compared with the preoperation (P<0.05). All the patients manifested painless 1 year after surgery. The 1-year postoperative MRI showed that the injured cartilage grew well. The thickness and MRI signal of the graft was the same as the normal cartilage, and the bone healed completely. The IKDC and Lysholm scores were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months after the surgery, and the difference was statistically significant before and after the surgery (P<0.05). Overall, TEC is an improved technique of chondrocyte implantation, which is an effective and safe method for cartilage defect repair.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of a Chinese medicinal herbal formula (Feitai Capsule, ) on the quality of life (QOL) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (31 cases) and the control group (31 cases). For the treatment group, 4 capsules (1.2 g/capsule) of Feitai Capsule were administered 3 times a day after meals for 3 weeks; then no drug was administered for 1 week. This schedule was continued for at least 3 more cycles (12 weeks totally). If there were no obvious toxic reactions, the treatment was extended. The patients were evaluated at least once every 8 weeks until progressive disease (PD). For the control group, the regular follow-up and evaluation were performed at least once every 8 weeks until PD. Clinical symptoms, objective response, physical constitution and energy, QOL, and PFS were evaluated regularly. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), a non-parametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and QOL. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the two-group PFS.

RESULTSSixty patients finished the final evaluation, with 30 patients in each group. Baseline characters between groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). The control group had a 36.7% improvement in clinical symptoms, while the treatment group had a 73.3% improvement. This difference was statistically significant (Z= -2.632, P=0.008). The control group had a 26.7% improvement in the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), while the treatment group had a 53.4% improvement. This was also significantly different (Z=-2.182, P=0.029). A comparative analysis indicated a positive correlation (r=0.917, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, QOL in the treatment group was significantly improved, except in the social/family condition and doctor-patient relationship indicators. The PFS of the treatment group and control group were 6.23 months and 4.67 months, respectively (P=0.048).

CONCLUSIONFeitai Capsule, a Chinese medicinal herbal treatment could improve the QOL and extend the PFS of the unresectable NSCLC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Capsules ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo investigate the post-operative complications of aortic endovascular grafting exclusion (EVGE) and its reasons and treatments.

METHODSClinical data of 82 cases received aortic endovascular grafting exclusion from January 2002 to October 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Seventy-one cases were male and 11 cases were female with the age of 33 to 78 years and the average age of 49.2 years. There were 66 cases of thoracic aortic dissecting aneurysms and 16 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The effect, post-operational complications and its treatment were investigated.

RESULTSThere were 90.1% patients had been followed up with the time of 3 to 78 months with technical success of 90.3%, clinical success of 94.1%, peri-operational mortality of 2.4%, total mortality of 6.1% and mortality associated with EVGE of 2.4%. Twenty-one cases underwent complications including type I endoleak (13 cases), abdominal aortoduodenal fistula (1 case), narrow true lumen (2 cases), reverse Stanford A dissection (2 cases), post EVGE syndrome (12 cases), delayed healing of inguinal incision (5 cases), constipation (3 cases), cerebral infarction (1 case). No paraplegia, left subclavian artery ischemia, contrast media associated nephrosis, ischemic colitis, ischemic neurologic injury, and artery embolism occurred. Post operation 4 cases had the second intervention including 2 type I endoleak and 2 narrow true lumen.

CONCLUSIONSThe technique-related complications still hinder the long-term effect of EVGE. It needs to be further investigated on technique improvement and treatment standardization.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies