Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Thrombasthenia ; classification ; diagnosis

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

Objective To study the influence and dose effect of ultrasound on the contraction of uterine smooth muscle in rats.Methods Estradiol benzoate was injected into rats three days before conducting an in-vitro experiment.Their uteri were resected and irradiated with ultrasound(0.8 MHz,3 W/cm~2,0-40 rain).The contrac- tion frequency and amplitude were recorded using an MS-302 biological experiment system.Results It could be seen that the contraction frequency and amplitude,and general contractile activity were significantly increased during ultrasonic irradiation(P＜0.01).The increased contraction frequency and amplitude lasted for ten minutes,and then the normal contraction pattern resumed.The contraction frequency as well as the percentage change in eontraction fre- quency were highest during the first 15 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation;the contraction amplitude as well as the per- centage change in amplitude were highest during 40 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation.Contraction activity was at its highest for 30 minutes,but the percentage change in activity was highest for 20 minutes.Conclusions Ultrasound can induce uterine smooth muscle contraction in rats.This biological effect is related to the irradiation time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction between opioid receptor (OR) stimulation and adrenergic receptor (AR) stimulation in the isolated ischaemia/reperfusion (I-R) rat heart.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were used for Langendoff isolated heart perfusion. Myocardial ischemia for 20 min was followed by 30 min of reperfusion, during which the kappa-OR agonist U50488h and beta(1)-AR agonist norepinephrine (NE) were administered.

RESULTS(1) 50488h antagonized the effect of NE in rising left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) in the early phase of myocardial ischemia at 10, 20, 30 min of reperfusion. (2) Arrhythmia scores in the I-R+NE+U50488h group were markedly lower than those in the I-R group during the 10 - 20 min reperfusion period. No significant differences in arrhythmia scores were found in either I-R+U50488h or I-R+NE group when compared with I-R group. (3) Compared with the I-R group, U50488h alone or plus NE decreased reperfusion heart rates after myocardial ischemia while NE alone showed no effect.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that the interaction in the signaling pathway between kappa-OR and beta(1)-AR occurred during myocardial I-R of rat heart.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Norepinephrine ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; physiology ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the mutation patterns of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 18, 19 and 21 in Chinese non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

METHODSSomatic mutation in samples of 32 cases without Iressa-treatment were compared with that in 10 volunteers blood control. The mutations were identified for the forward and reverse sequence chains for the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene, followed by DNA template abstraction and Touchdown PCR.

RESULTSNine types of mutation were found in sequences of 7 cases among the 32 non-small cell lung carcinoma tissues, namely, five reported mutation within exon 19, and two new heterozygous mutations, L833V and H835L within exon 21, and two intron polymorphism. These results showed a mutation rate of 9/32 (28.1%) in Chinese with NSCLC, and of 31.6% in lung adenocarcinomas.

CONCLUSIONEGFR mutation rate in Chinese with NSCLC is consistent with those of Asian women reported in the literature but new mutation points in Chinese were presented as L833V and H835L. The mutation rate is in concordance with release rate of NSCLC obtained by Gefitinib treatment in Chinese.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSPatients with ACS underwent PCI in our hospital from December 2004 to September 2005 were included in this study. Plasma BNP (n = 189) and CRP (n = 141) were measured at a median of (34.2 +/- 16.3) hours from symptom onset, total mortality and the risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, recurrent MI, recurrent angina, heart failure, readmission for any reason) at 30 days and at 3 months was analyzed.

RESULTSPatients were divided into 4 groups according to their BNP levels (BNP 100 ng/L to 300 ng/L to 600 ng/L) and the 3-month mortality was 0%, 1.4%, 7.7%, 48.3% and 3-month incidence of MACE was 7.9%, 17.1%, 57.7%, 79.3% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the plasma BNP level predicted 30-day (r = 0.8515, P < 0.01) and 3-month (r = 0.9201, P < 0.01) mortality and 30-day (r = 0.7066, P < 0.01) and 3-month (r = 0.7090, P < 0.01) incidence of MACE independent of other known prognostic factors such as age, gender, family heredity, hypercholesterolemia diabetes, hypertension, smoking and LVEF. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CRP levels (CRP 8.0 mg/L to 32.0 mg/L) and 3-month mortality was 2.7%, 7.7% and 28.6% and 3-month incidence of MACE was 28.4%, 41.0% and 60.7% respectively. CRP predicted 30-day (r = 0.5882, P = 0.0044) and 3-month (r = 0.5235, P = 0.0038) mortality independent of traditional risk factors, and predicted 30-day (r = 0.2705, P = 0.0380) and 3-month (r = 0.2290, P = 0.0429) incidence of MACE after adjustment for patient age. CRP lost its predictive value after BNP was introduced into the model, while BNP was still an independent predictor for mortality and incidence of MACE at 30 days and 3 months in ACS patients underwent PCI.

CONCLUSIONBoth plasma BNP and CRP are good predictors for early mortality and MACE incidence in ACS patients underwent PCI.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo reduce the risk of infection during the induction therapy while to ensure remission rates, and to evaluate the protocol ALL-2005.

METHODSThe minimal residual disease (MRD) was detected by flow cytometry on day 35 and 55 of induction therapy. The efficacy of induction and the clinic grouping were evaluated by MRD level. From May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2007, 158 children with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled in this study. According to clinic grouping criteria of ALL-2005, patients were stratified into 3 groups: low-risk( LR), intermediate-risk (MR) and high-risk (HR). The remission rates, therapy related complication during induction, and the relationship between MRD level on day 35 and 55 of induction and prognosis were analyzed. The endpoints are disease-free survival (DFS), relapse and death of any cause. Patients lost to follow-up were censored at the time of their withdrawal.

RESULTSOf the 158 patients, 59 were LR, 93 MR and 6 HR. The CR rate on day 35 was 98.1%. There were detectable MRD in 139 (88.0%) patients. In 94 patients (68.6%) MRDs were < or = 0.01% on day 35 being 73.1% (49/67) for LR and 63.4% (45/71) for MR (P = 0.219). During induction therapy, 43 patients (27.2%) developed infection and among them 1.3% (2/158) suffered serious infection and 0.6% (1/158) died of complication. Four patients (2.5%) in CR were lost follow-up, 17 patients (10.8%) relapsed, including 4 patients (4.3%) with MRD < or = 0.01% and 10 (23.3%) >0.01% on day 35 (P = 0.003). One died of severe malnutrition and infection in CR. With a median follow-up of 20 (12-35) months, the estimated 30 month DFS for whole group was (81.6 +/- 4.5)% including (94.1 +/- 3.3)% for LR, (82.8 +/- 4.4)% for MR, and (91.0 +/- 5.4)% for MRD < or = 0.01%, (67.1 +/- 9.5)% for MRD >0.01% on day 35 and (89.1 +/- 5.3)% for MRD < or = 0.01% and (46.9 +/- 15.6)% for MRD >0.01% on day 55.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of infection and therapy related death during induction with protocol ALL-2005 are lower, while the remission rate and quality of the induction are better. Longer follow-up is needed to estimate the long-term result.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the histopathologic changes of primary brain stem injury and to investigate their significance in the diagnosis of primary brain stem injury.

METHODSSixty-five autopsy cases died of primary brain stem injury and other diseases were enrolled into this study. The cases were subdivided into brain stem injury group (n = 25) and control group (including 20 cases died of cardiovascular disease and 20 cases died of non-cardiovascular diseases). The brain stem tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and silver impregnation techniques. Immunohisto chemical study for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament, amyloid-beta and myelin basic protein was carried out. The widest cross diameters of 10 axons highlighted by immunostaining were measured in each low power field (x 100) through light miscroscopy in all the cases studied.

RESULTSIn comparing with that of the control group, there were differences in the degree of contusion lesion, reactive astrocytosis, edema and pathologic changes of neuronal cells present in the brain stem injury group and was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The axons locating in the brain stem injury group showed a distinctive histology by the appearance of significantly larger diameters (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPrimary brain stem injury demonstrates certain distinctive histopathologic changes and measurement of axonal diameters provides an additional quantitative index useful in autopsy diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Axons ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Stem ; injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelin Basic Protein ; metabolism ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe the incidence of elimination delay in high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) therapy, its side effects and influence to next course of chemotherapy and analyze the relationship between the dosage, the duration of MTX infusion and the morbidity of the elimination delay.

METHODSA total of 121 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (497 infusions of HDMTX) were analysed in this study. The elimination delay rate and the adverse effects in different dose groups (3 g/m2 vs 5 g/m2) and different infusion duration groups (7 h vs 24 h) were compared. The adverse effect evaluation was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Toxicity Grading Criteria. The rescue dosages of calcium folinate (CF) among these groups were compared through CF/MTX index.

RESULTSThe overall morbidity of elimination delay was 12.1% with a relative risk of 30.6% for the first time. The relative risk for the second time of occurrence was increased to 45.9% (P < 0.01) and it was not significantly increased for the third time (35.3%). Children with elimination delay had lower platelet count (P < 0.01) and higher CF rescue dosage (P < 0.01), while the damage of oral mucous membrane was more severe (P < 0.05) and the next course of chemotherapy would be postponed for a median of 4 days in 3 g group. There was no significant difference in elimination delay rates between 3 g and 5 g groups (12.1% vs 12.0%, P > 0.05), and between 7 h and 24 h MTX infusion groups (13.6% vs 11.9%, P > 0.05). The only side effect occurred in 5 g group was gastrointestinal morbidity. The CF/MTX index of 5 g group without elimination delay was less than that of 3 g group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElimination delay in HDMTX therapy accompanies the suppression of bone marrow and damage of oral mucous membrane, which need more CF rescues and will postpone the following course of chemotherapy. Elimination delay is not associated with the duration of the infusion and the dosage of MTX within the range of 3 approximately 5 g/m2 but there are individual differences.

Adolescent ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; Young Adult