Objective To retrospectively analyze the data of patients with T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who underwent radiotherapy (RT) alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and to investigate the relationship between therapeutic modality and prognosis. Methods From January 2004 to December 2004, 781 patients with biopsy-proven newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC were analyzed in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, who had MRI data of nasopharynx and neck. With restaged based on the Chinese 2008 staging system, 82 cases of T3N0-1M0 patients who were treated by RT alone or CCRT were enrolled. They were divided into group A (46 cases, RT) and group B (36 cases, CCRT). Results The clinical data was comparable between the two groups. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was 93.5 % (group A) and 100 % (group B)(P =0.046), while the 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 85.2 % (group A) and 91.7 % (group B) (P =0.498). N-Staging was the factor affecting the DFS. Stratified analysis showed that the 5-year OS of T3N0M0 patients was 94.7 % (group A) and 100 % (group B) (P =0.432), those of T3N1M0 patients were 92.6 %(group A) and 100 %(group B) (P =0.066), while the 5-year DFS was 73.7 % (group A) and 89.3 % (group B) (P =0.244). Multifactor analysis showed that CCRT was not the independent factor affecting the OS(HR =0.019; 95 % CI, 0 to 21.793), and N-stage was not the independent factor affecting the DFS (HR = 0.203; 95 % CI, 0.135 to 1.231×104). Conclusion For T3N0M0, NPC patients, CCRT is not superior to RT alone. Whether CCRT can improve survival of T3N1M0 NPC patients needs further study.

Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)injury to the spinal cord in rats. Methods Ninety-six healthy male SD rats weighing 220-280 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=32 each): Ⅰ group sham operation (group S); Ⅱ group I/R and Ⅲ group simvastatin pretreatment (group Si). The animals were anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate 0.4 ml/100g. I/R to the spinal cord was induced by cross-clamping the aorta below renal artery for 45 min followed by reperfusion according to Zivin in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ. In group Ⅲ simvastatin 20 mg/kg was administered via gastric tube in the morning for 3 days before operation. Neurological function was assessed and scored (0 = no spontaneous movement of the hindlimbs, 7 = normal gait) at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h (n = 8 at each time point). The animals were then sacrificed and the lumbar segment (L2-5) of the spinal cord was removed for microscopic examination and determination of expression of TLR4 mRNA, NF-κB protein activity and TNF-α and ICAM-1 contents in the spinal cord. Results I/R to the spinal cord significantly increased TLR4 mRNA expression, NF-κB protein activity and TNF-α and ICAM-1 content in the spinal cord and decreased neurological scores in group Ⅱ compared with group C. Simvastatin pretreatment significantly attenuated the I/R-induced increase in the above-mentioned variables and ameliorated I/R-induced neurological dificit and histopathological damage. Conclusion Simvastatin pretreatment has neuroprotective effects on the spinal cord against I/R injury by attenuating inflammatory response.

Chlorine ; Computer Simulation ; Computers, Analog ; Diffusion ; Software

Acetamides ; metabolism ; toxicity

Retrospective analyses were conducted for the clinical data of two cases with pseudoMeigs' syndrome at our hospital.Both had respiratory symptoms,such as cough and dyspnea.Radiological examinations revealed ascites,pleural effusion and pelvic mass.The definite pathological diagnosis was pelvic malignant tumor.After surgical tumor removal,ascites and pleural effusion disappeared without recurrence.Along with reviewed cases from PubMed in the last decade,a total of 49 cases had pseudoMeigs' syndrome.The age range was 11-73 years.Their clinical manifestations include dyspnea (78％),abdominal distension (69％),cough (14％),abdominal pain (12％),fatigue (10％),weight loss (6％) chest pain (4％),fever (4％),abdominal mass (4％),and oliguria (2％).CA125 was commonly elevated.The primary tumors in pelvic cavity accounted for 78％.And ovarian metastasis from colon cancer was one of the most common in metastatic tumor.

Objective To study the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist(exendin-4)on insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of mice with insulin resistance(IR). Methods Thirty male KM mice were divided into normal control group(NC group, n=10)and IR group(n=20). The mice in NC group and IR group were fed with routine diet and high-fat diet for 16 weeks, respectively. After IR models were successfully established, 10 mice in IR group were treated with exendin-4(Ex group, 3μg·kg-1·d-1)for 4 weeks. NC group and IR group were given the same dose of normal saline. Body weight, fasting blood glucose(FBG), and fasting insulin(FINS)were measured before and after the intervention, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR ) was calculated . The muscle glycogen content were measured by Periodic Acid-Schiff Stain ( PAS ) . The expressions of insulinreceptor(IRC), insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)in the skeletal muscle were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results Before intervention, the body weight, FBG, and HOMA-IR of IR group and Ex group were higher compared with NC group(all P<0. 05), but FINS did not rise significantly(P>0. 05). Compared with before intervention, the body weight of three groups after intervention were all increased, but increased more significantly in the IR group. After intervention, the FBG and HOMA-IR in Ex group decreased, compared with IR group and Ex group of non-intervention (all P<0. 05), but FINS did not decrease significantly(P>0. 05). The skeletal muscle cells in NC control were colored extensively and more colored granules, while IR group were less colored, and Ex group were between NC group and IR group. Compared with NC group, the expressions of IRC, IRS-1, and PI3K in the skeletal muscle of IR group were significantly decreased(P<0. 05), not in Ex group(P>0. 05). Compared with IR group, the expressions of IRC, IRS-1 and PI3K in Ex group were higher(P<0. 05). Conclusions Exendin-4 improves insulin resistance by up-regulating the expressions of IRC, IRS-1, and PI3K in the skeletal muscle and promoting the synthesis of muscle glycogen.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods The clinical data of 563 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) treated from January 2008 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 334 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP),and 198 patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP),and 31 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Risk factors associated with MAP and MSAP + SAP group,MSAP and SAP group were determined by univariate logistic regression,and multivariate analysis was used to determine the risk factors for severity of AP.Results Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age,WBC,serum glucose,calcium,urea nitrogen arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2),SIRS,pleural effusion,peripancreatic fluid collection were associated with severity of AP in MAP and MSAP + SAP patients;age,serum calcium,PaO2,SIRS,pleural effusion,peripancreatic fluid collection were associated with severity of AP in MSAP and SAP patients.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age,serum calcium,PaO2 and peripancreatic fluid collection were risk factor of MSAP and SAP;age,serum calcimm and SIRS were risk factors of SAP patients for persistent organ failure and pancreatic necrosis.Conclusions For elderly AP patients,measurement of arterial partial pressure of oxygen and serum calcium,peripancreatic fluid collection can help evaluate the severity of AP and early recognition.For SAP patients,the presence of SIRS,high serum urea nitrogen,and low serum calcium and peripancreatic fluid collection raise the concerns of persistent organ failure and pancreatic necrosis.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Dimethylformamide ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure

Objective To explore the roles of autoantibodies against ?1 adrenoceptor(?1-receptor)and M2 cholinergic receptor(M2-receptor)in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.Methods The epitopes of the second extracellular loop of ?1 receptor and M2 receptor were synthesized and used respectively to detect the sera autoantibodies against ?1 receptor and M2 receptor by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 76 patients with chronic renal insufficiency,60 cases with hypertension and 40 healthy controls.Results In patients with chronic renal insufficiency,the positive rates of the autoantibodies against ?1-receptor and M2-receptor were 56.7% and 38.1% respectively,which were much higher than those of patients with hypertension(18.3% and 11.7%) and higher than those of healthy controls(17.5% and 15.0%)(all P

Objective To investigate the methods of rectifying the excessive width of fold line and conglutination of the upper eyelid following blepharoplasty. Methods The width of double eyelid was redesigned, ranging from 6 mm to 8 mm. Then the scar of upper eyelid was excised about 1 mm to 2 mm, and the orbital septum fat flap, orbicularis oculi flap, infraorbicularis oculi fat flap and injection of lipochondria were utilized to fill the depression of upper eyelid. Results In our series, there were 20 eyelids of 16 cases receiving rectification. Orbital septum fat flap was used to correct 2 eye-lids, orbicularis oculi flap 4 eyelids, infraorbicularis oculi fat flap 10 eyelids and injection of lipochon-dria 4 cases. Among 12 eases of following-up, 10 of them were satisfied with the postoperative effects. The results were acceptable in other 2 cases. Conclusion It is a good approach to correct the excessive width of fold line and conglutination of the upper eyelid with local flaps, including the orbital septum fat flap, orbicularis oculi flap, infraorbicularis oculi fat flap and injection of lipochondria.