Objective To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of prostate cancer with prostate specific antigen(PSA)4-10?g/L. Methods The data of prostate biopsies for the patients with PSA 4-10?g/L from May 1998 to February 2004 and the treatment and prognosis of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results In the 141 cases, 34 were diagnosed as prostate cancer, including 3 cT1, 21 cT2, 6 cT3 and 4 cT4. Mean Gleason score was 5.8, and the mean Gleason scores of cT1 and cT2 were significantly lower than those of cT3 and cT4. Twenty-four cases of cT1 and cT2 underwent radical prostatectomy. Four cases of cT3 recieved radical prostateetomy after 4 months of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. Two cases of cT3 and 4 cT4 received castration. Pathological section from radical surgeries showed that 21 cases were organ confined and 7 were locally invasive. The difference of mean Gleason score between these two groups was significant in statistics. After 18 to 69 months (mean 42 months)follow-up, 21 organ confined cases were free survived, 4 locally invasive cases had biochemical recurrence and 1 case had multifocal bone metastasis. No cancer-specific death happened. Two of 4 cT4 cases were still alive and 2 died of the tumor. Conclusions Routine needle biopsy is necessary for the cases with“grave area”PSA of 4～10 ?g/L. Prostate cancers with PSA 4～10/?g/L are not always early diseases. Gleason score is a very important index for determine the stage of pathology after surgery. Radical prostatectomy is an effective treatment for organ confined disease.

The primary processing is important links and closely related to the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and is not only cleaning of remove the non-officinal parts, drying for termination the physiological status of organisms, but also retaining the most active substances, decreasing the toxic components, and promoting the transformation among chemical ingredients through primary processing. So the traditional primary processing endows with characters, quality, specifications and properties of traditional Chinese medicine, and embodies some important science truth. The traditional primary processing method and technology systems are derived from the long-term practices and experiences, which are distinctive, colorful, diverse, and scientific, which are helpful to development and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine resources. This paper systemically expounds the research status of the Chinese medicine processing method, summarizes the problems in the primary processing of traditional Chinese medicinal materials research, and prospects its bright future.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective By using primary cultured mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) to develop an in vitro model of simulated ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.Methods The outer medulla of C57BL/6J mouse kidney was flushed and primary cultured after digestion in type Ⅰ collagenase,and then immunocytochemical staining was used to verify TECs.Primary cultured TECs were immersed in mineral oil to simulate the ischemic process,and 60 min later the whole culture medium was added to simulate reperfusion process.The cells were collected and RAN was extracted at indicated time points after medium replacement.The expression of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 was detected by using real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. The culture supernatants were collected at 24 h after medium replacement for detection of the expression of cytokine protein by using ELISA.Results Primary cultured TECs were identified by cobblestone-shaped morphology and then verified by cytokeratin 18 (CK18) staining.In TECs of IR group after medium replacement the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 was higher than in control group.The expression of TNF-α after medium replacement was increased to a peak level at 0.5 h,about (24.45 ±6.51) times (P＜0.01 ) higher than the control group,and gradually declined thereafter.The mRNA expression of IL-1β after medium replacement kept an increasing tendency,about ( 15.27 ± 4.29) times (P＜0.05) higher than the control group at 6 h,and that of IL-6 after medium replacement was increased to a peak level at 3 h,about ( 11.19 ±4.55) times (P＜0.01) higher than the control group. In the IR group at 24 h after medium replacement,the protein expression of NF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatants was significantly higher than in the control group.Conclusion High purity of primary cultured TECs was achieved from the outer medulla of mouse kidney by separation and digestion.The in vitro model of simulated IR in primary cultured mouse renal TECs was successfully created using paraffin oil.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and underling mechanism of water-soluble CO-releasing molecules (CORM-3)on the alleviation of allograft rejectionafter mouse kidney transplantation.Methods A mice kidney transplantation model was established using C.FVB-Tg (Itgax-DTR/GFP)57Lan/J or C57BL/6J (H-2Kb) mice as donors,and Balb/c (H-2Kd) mice as recipients.After donor nephrectomy,kidney was preserved in UW solution which contained CORM-3 or iCORM (inactive CO-releasing molecules) for 24 h in 4℃.Recipient survival after removal of both na? ve kidneys,serum creatinine as well as graft histology was observed.In the C.FVB-Tg(ItgaxDTR/GFP) 57Lan/J donors,rDCs were acquired in vitro and selected by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) after graft nephrectomy.The expression of activation markers,CD80 and CD86,on rDC was assessed by using flow cytometry.ResultsThe graft medium survival time was 40.5 days in the iCORM group and 70 days in the CORM-3 group respectively (P＜0.05).CORM-3 preserved the graft function as shown by significantly lower serum creatinine (P＜0.05; or P＜0.01) and alleviated graft pathology injury.Diffuse infiltration of mononuclear cells in the interstitial tissues,moderate tubulitis and partial glomerular sclerosis were found in the iCORM graft kidney,while the CORM-3 graft kidney displayed almost normal histology.Meanwhile,CORM-3 suppressed the expression of CD80 and CD86 in donor-derived rDC.ConclusionCORM-3 can alleviate allograft rejection,prolong the graft survival,and improve kidney function in mouse kidney transplantation,probably via inhibiting rDC activation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in the protection against tubular epithelial cells (TEC) ischemia/reperfusion (IR)injury induced by pretreatment with ethanol.Methods Mouse primary cultured TECs were pretreated with 50 mM ethanol 3 h before simulation of in vitro IR.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was assessed to evaluate the protection of ethanol pretreatment on IR injury.Thereafter,TECs were transfected with a negative control siRNA (NC) or an ALDH2-siRNA. The ALDH2 protein levels and ALDH enzymatic activities were assessed 48 h after transfection.Ethanol pretreatment and in vitro IR were performed on those transfected TECs.LDH release was assessed to evaluate the role of ALDH2 in the ethanol pretreatment-induced protection against IR injury.ResultsEthanol pretreatment significantly reduced the LDH release in TECs upon IR insult.As compared with NC group and INTERFERin group,the ALDH2 protein levels were decreased by 82.1％,ALDH enzymatic activities were decreased hy 67.3％,and the protective effect induced by ethanol pretreatment was almost completely abrogated in ALDH2-siRNA group.ConclusionEthanol pretreatment protects TECs against IR injury through ALDH2 dependent pathways.

Objective To explore the value of readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) in the differentiation of prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Seventy two consecutive patients with suspected prostate cancer were evaluated by 3.0 T MR examination (RESOLVE sequence included,b values=0 and 800 s/mm2) were included in our retrospective study.All the patients had ultrasound guided systemic biopsy with histopathological diagnosis.The patients were divided into group A (23 prostate cancer cases with total 43 malignant lesions) and group B (49 BPH cases with total 64 benign lesions).Two radiologists who were blinded to the clinical data quantitatively analyzed the ADC values of suspicious lesions independently.Inter-reader agreement for ADC values was assessed with Bland and Altman test,and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).Difference of ADC values in two groups was assessed by student's t test.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the best predictor and cutoff value.Results A total of 107 lesions (43 malignant and 64 benign) were identified in 72 patients.ICC was 0.976,P＜0.01.The mean ADC value of prostate cancer is lower than BPH (t=19.223,P＜0.01),(0.74±0.12) × 10 3 and (1.21±0.12) × 10-3mm2/s respectively.Diagnostic cut-off point was 0.946× 10-3mm2/s,diagnostic sensitivity 95.3 ％ (41/43),specificity 98.4％ (63/64),accuracy 97.2％ (104/107).Conclusion RESOLVE ADC value is valuable in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer and BPH.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic myelopathy results from liver disease, which lacks of effective cure method. Liver transplantation has attempted to cure this disease; however, the long-term therapeutic effect is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term therapeutic effect of liver transplantation in patients with hepatic myelopathy. METHODS: The clinical data of 2 patients with hepatic myelopathy, who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, in August 2002 and November 2004, at the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, were analyzed retrospectively. The time of follow-up was 18 and 43 months, respectively. The muscle strength of double lower limbs in 2 patients was assessed prior to and after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Two patients recovered well at 4 weeks after transplantation, the clinical symptom and physical signs of patients were improved obviously, the blood routine examination and other biochemical index were normal,and the function of transplanted kidney was normal. Two patients discharged at 6 weeks after transplantation. Patient 1 could stand for a long time at months 6 after transplantation, walked slowly with the supporter after 12 months and without the supporter at 43 months. The muscular strength of two lower limbs was grade 4. And the liver function was normal. Patients 2 could move his lower limbs in bed at months 6 after transplantation, walked with the supporter at 18 months. The muscular strength of two lower limbs was grade 3. The liver function was normal. It demonstrated that liver transplantation is beneficial to control hepatic myelopathy and recover muscular strength of two lower limbs. It is a newly developed, effective curing method for treating hepatic myelopathy. However, the numbers were small with short time observation, thus, the long-term therapeutic effect still need to be explored.

Compared to their linear counterparts, cyclic peptides show better biological activities, such as anti-bacterial, immunosuppressive, and anti-tumor activities, and pharmaceutical properties due to their conformational rigidity. However, cyclic peptides could form numerous putative metabolites from po-tential hydrolytic cleavages and their fragments are very difficult to interpret. These characteristics pose a great challenge when analyzing metabolites of cyclic peptides by mass spectrometry. This study was to assess and apply a software-aided analytical workflow for the detection and structural characterization of cyclic peptide metabolites. Insulin and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) as model cyclic peptides were incubated with trypsin/chymotrypsin and/or rat liver S9, followed by data acquisition using TripleTOF? 5600. Resultant full-scan MS and MS/MS datasets were automatically processed through a combination of targeted and untargeted peak finding strategies. MS/MS spectra of predicted metabolites were interrogated against putative metabolite sequences, in light of a, b, y and internal fragment series. The resulting fragment assignments led to the confirmation and ranking of the metabolite sequences and identification of metabolic modification. As a result, 29 metabolites with linear or cyclic structures were detected in the insulin incubation with the hydrolytic enzymes. Sequences of twenty insulin metabolites were further determined, which were consistent with the hydrolytic sites of these enzymes. In the same manner, multiple metabolites of insulin and ANP formed in rat liver S9 incubation were detected and structurally characterized, some of which have not been previously reported. The results demonstrated the utility of software-aided data processing tool in detection and identification of cyclic peptide metabolites.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to estimate the value of embryonal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (ENOTES) in treating severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The patients, who were randomized into an ENOTES group and an operative group, underwent ENOTES and laparotomy, respectively. The results and complications of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Enterocinesia was observed earlier in the ENOTES group than in the operative group. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score of patients in the ENOTES group was lower than that of the operative group on the 1st, 3rd and 5th post-operative day (P<0.05). The cure rate was 96.87％ in the ENOTES group, which was statistically different from 78.12％ in the operative group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in complications and mortality between the two groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Compared with surgical decompression, ENOTES associated with flexible endoscope therapy is an effective and minimal invasive procedure with less complications.

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood