Curcumin is a principal polyphenolic curcuminoid extracted from turmeric rhizome, which has been used for treating inflammation of joints, ulcers, jaundice and other disorders in Asian traditional medicine. In recent years, many studies have indicated that curcumin plays important roles in treatment of liver diseases. Curcumin attenuates liver injury and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by lowering the release of inflammation cytokines, minimizing oxidative stress, enhancing the sensitivity of insulin and altering lipid metabolism. Curcumin shows potent anti-fibrosis activity, contributing to inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells and reduce the deposition of extracellular matrix by its regulation of PPAR-γ, NF-ΚB and TGF-β signaling pathways. Moreover, curcumin exhibits anti-cancer effect by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several hepatoma cell lines. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin limit its clinical applications. To overcome its limited systemic bioavailability, many new approaches have been explored to deliver curcumin effectively. This article focuses on advances in the effects of curcumin and its derivatives for treatment of liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinoma.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

Objective To study the effect of interventional treatment on the expression of PgP and GST ? in different histopathological types of primary lung carcinoma. Methods One hundred and eighteen cases of histopathologically verified primary lung carcinoma were studied. SCLC was found in 26 cases and NSCLC in 92 cases. The non chemotherapy group had 50 cases, and the interventional treatment group had 68 cases. PgP and GST ? were examined in all specimens with 2 step immunohistochemistry. Results The positive expression rates of PgP and GST ? were 32.0% and 34.0% in non chemotherapy group, respectively, 75.0% and 78.6% in interventional treatment with non embolization group, respectively, and 50.0% and 52.5% in interventional treatment with embolization group, respectively. The positive expression rates of PgP and GST ? had significant difference between non chemotherapy group and interventional treatment with non embolization group( P 0.05). There was a tendency of positive correlation between differentiated degree of carcinoma and the expression of PgP and GST ? in NSCLC. Condusion To detect PgP and GST ? in carcinoma tissue is important and has the instructive significance for chemotherapy of lung carcinoma. The positive rate of multidrug resistant gene is obviously increased in the primary lung carcinoma with bronchial arterial chemotherapy. The inducement to multidrug resistance gene in bronchial arterial embolization with the emulsifying agent of oil anticarcinogen was lower.

Objective To investigate the role of human estrogen receptor-related receptor(ERR) ?,a submember of orphan receptors,in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer.Methods Plasmid of pSG-ERR? was transfected into endometrial cancer cell lines HEC-1A,HEC-1B,and Ishikawa.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of ERR? in endometrial cancer cell.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cellular growth.Results Expressions of the ERR? were significantly increased in the endometrial cancer cells transfected with pSG-ERR? plasmid; expression of the ERR? mRNA in HEC-1A cell was 9644.4 copies/ng,HEC-1B:9835.3 copies/ng,and Ishikawa:8008.6 copies/ng(P

This paper gives the statistical analysis on the examination of Computer-Based Case Simulation to test 350 undergraduate clinical medical students of 5th or 6th year students,and analyses the statistical items of examination,then gives some discussion and reasonable suggestions.Finally,the author makes a series of discussion and views in the application of the medical education evaluations in future.

Objective To find out a treatment with high remission rate,long living period,and a good quality of life for elderly patients with multiple myeloma.Methods All patients were recruited into a treatment group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy,and thalidomide)and a comparison group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine and routine chemotherapy).Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 71.4%,higher than the comparison group(38.5%),but showing 110 statistical difference(P=0.128＞0.05).Median survive time of two groups were 21.8 months and 12 months respectively,(P=0.001＜0.01).The survival rate of 3 years and 5 years were 28.6%,15.4%and 7.1%,0 in the two groups respectively,without significant difference(0.317,1.000,both P＞0.05).Conclusion The treatment group showed higher results in both complete remission rate(CR)and very good partial remission rate(VGPR)than the comparison group,demonstrating a better results in improving the patient's quality of life.The treatment group also had a higher value of the median survive time and the median progression-free surial time than the comparison group.The combined therapy of traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy and thalidomide is an ideal choice for both aged Patients or young MM patients who had no transplant conditions.

Objective To develop and apply the Oncomelania snail Information Management System based on GIS. Methods With calculating the path by some GPS points and snail information database, the visualized snail information profiles were drawn automatically. Results The Positioning Oncomelania snail Information Management System has been developed and running in Changsha, and it made snail information standardized, visualized and digital, not only supplied many precise queries, but also formed a link of snail information based on years. Conclusions The positioning Oncomelania snail Information Management System based on GIS raises the efficiency of information management and the veracity of information, it makes the snail information more integrated and systemic, which provides the basis for developing the Oncomelania snail Information Management System of Hunan Province.

Objective To assess the relationship of serum prealbumin level with the severity of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods The clinical data of 2522 AIS patients who were admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2000 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.The serum prealbumin and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were evaluated by immunoturbidimetric assay within 24 hours after admission.The AIS severity was evaluated at admission using modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Patients were divided into mild AIS group (mRS score ≤ 3 ) and severe AIS group (mRS score ＞ 3 ).The levels of serum prealbumin and hs-CRP were compared between these two groups,and the relationship between praalbumin and hs-CRP was also analyzed.Results There were 1697 patients in the mild group (average mRS score:1.67) and 825 patients in the severe group ( average mRS score:4.53 ).The severe group had significantly lower prealbumin level [ ( 191.20,82.00)versus (219.18,72.00) mg/L,P =0.000] and higher hs-CRP level [ (6.01,8.22) versus (4.15,6.93) mg/L,P =0.000 ] than the mild group,respectively.Partial regression analysis showed that the stroke severity was negatively correlated with serum prealbumin level (r =-0.115,P =0.000) and positively correlated with hs-CRP level (r =0.098,P =0.000).Serum prealbumin level was inversely correlated with hs-CRP level ( r =- 0.396,P =0.000).Conclusion The prealbumin level is relevant with the severity of AIS and inflammation.

Objective To examine the recurrent ischemic stroke(RIS)in hospitalized patients predicted by Essen Stroke Risk Score(ESRS)and investigate the effect of intensive antiplatelet therapy in patients with high risk of RIS. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients with acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke consecutively admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH)during 2001-2008. All 1008 patients were included in this study, 377 hospitalized in 2001-2002, 315 in 2005 and 316 in 2008. High risk of RIS was defined as ESRS ≥3. The average ESRS score in three groups and percentage of patients with high risk of RIS in each group were calculated. Risk of RIS was evaluated by comparing the average ESRS score in these three groups. Patients with high risk and taking clopidogrel treatment were also evaluated. Results Average ESRS score was 2. 67 ± 1.47,3.55 ± 1.40 and 3.93 ± 1.48(F= 150. 85,P=0.000)in groups of patients hospitalized in 2001-2002, 2005 and 2008 respectively. A significant difference was shown in percentage of high risk patients with ESRS ≥3 in three groups: as 51.64% in 2001-2002,77. 19% in 2005 and 85. 45% in 2008(X2=98.30,P=0. 000),showing a trend of increasing risk of RIS. Except for patients age, rates of having the risk factors in patients increased significantly, including hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, myocardial diseases, smoking,vascular disease and stroke history. Clopidogrel usage has been increasing to 25.63% in 2008, but was far behind high ratio of high risk RIS patients(85.45%). Conclusions This retrospective study showd an increasing trend in RIS risk during 2001-2008. Identifying high risk patients and applying intensified antiplatelet therapy might play an important role in reducing the risk of RIS.

Objective To evaluate the clinic value of five different ultrasonographic fetal parameters for prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary hypoplasia.Methods Two hundred and seventy-one normal singleton pregnancies with well-established dates between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation were studied to establish normal reference range of five different ultrasonographic fetal parameters.The five parameters,which could reflect fetal lung mass,were as follows:lung area/body weight ratio,lung area,thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference ratio,lung area/thoracic area ratio and lung area/head circumference.Thirty pregnancies with risk factors for pulmonary hyperplasia were studied for the usefulness of five parameters.Two or more standard deviations below the mean control group measurement were considered abnormal.The prenatal ultrasonic diagnoses of pulmonary hyperplasia were confirmed at neonatal follow-up examinations,on autopsy and by pathologic findings.Results Lung area and lung area/head circumference increased with gestational age,lung area/body weight ratio decreased with gestational age.The relationships among the two ratios(thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference ratio,lung area/thoracic area ratio)and gestational age were relatively constant. Abnormal lung area/body weight ratio had a higher diagnostic accuracy than other parameters.Sensitivity of the parameters,including lung area,lung area/body weight ratio,thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference ratio,lung area/thoracic area ratio and lung area/head circumference were 83%,97%,50%,70% and 87%,respectively.Sensitivity of the lung area/bedy weight ratio was 95%(20/21 fetuses);specificity,9/9 fetuses;positive predictive value,100% (20/20fetuses);negative predictive value,9/10;and accuracy 97% (29/30 fetuses).Conclusion Lung area/body weight ratio is a good predictor of pulmonary hypoplasia.

Objective To explore the Oneomehnia distribution on electronic map based on gridding orientation pattern of marshlands in Changsha along Xiangjiang River,in order to manage snail information in a visual and digital way.Methods The data of geographic information and snail information were collected by global positioning system(GPS)and database was established using systematic sampling,and then an information management system of electronic map about the distribution of Oncomelania was designed.The degree of Oncomelania was expressed in different colors,the Oncomelania information in the database on the digital map wag reflected accurately using the geographic information system(GIS)technology.Results The electronic map of the distribution information of 20 marshlands in Changsha along Xiangjiang River were drawn.At the same time,the information could be grasped compreheusively.Digit map contains geographic information and database of snail information,such as the row and rnum,the density of alive and infectious snails,the area and geographic information et al.A method of managing and analyzing snail information with higher efficiency was offerred in this article.Conclusion Conventional methods of managing and analyzing Oncomelania information are reformed into digitalization and visualization.