Phytoestrogens, which can bind with estrogen receptor and produce estrogen-like effects, are a kind of nonsteroidal compound in plant. Phytoestrogens chemically include isoflavones, coumarins, lignans and other compounds. Phytoestrogens are selective estrogen receptor modulator, and have therapeutical effects on breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and other disease, however, do not produce stimulatory hyperplasia effects on uterus, mammary glands and other tissues and organs with positive estrogen receptor. Long-term exposure or excessive use of phytoestrogens maybe affects male reproductive system and hematopoietic function of fetus. Some questions need to be further studied, such as evaluation criteria on biological activity, adverse effects, and action mechanism of phytoestrogen. This review covers plant sources, chemical structure, pharmacological activity and safety of phytoestrogens. It will provide a useful reference for intensive research and rational utilization the phytoestrogens.
Animals ; Humans ; Phytoestrogens ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after testis torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages.

METHODSSixteen healthy male SD rats aged 3, 6 and 12 weeks were equally randomized into an experimental group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus Shengmai injection) and a control group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus saline). The rat models of testicular torsion were killed 24 h after surgery for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testis.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the 3- and 6-week-old rats of the experimental group showed no significant changes in T-AOC, SOD activity and MDA content (P > 0.05), while the 12-week-old experimental rats exhibited a remarkable increase in SOD and T-AOC and an obvious decrease in MDA content (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShengmai injection has a protective effect against acute ischemia-reperfusion testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats, but the effect varies with the age, more obvious in older ones.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDFractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with fewer unfavorable events. However, the hemodynamic change in FFR after different stenting approaches for bifurcation lesions is still not fully studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the hemodynamic changes in FFR after double kissing (DK) crush and provisional side branch (SB) stenting (PS) for true coronary bifurcation lesions.

METHODSSeventy-five patients with true bifurcated lesions were randomly divided into DK (n = 38) and PS (n = 37) groups. Additional SB stenting in the PS group was required if there was any pinched SB ostium > 70% stenosis, or ≥ type B dissection, or TIMI flow < grade 3. FFR at hyperemia in the main vessel (MV) and SB was measured prior- and post-stenting, and at 8 months follow-up.

RESULTSBaseline clinical, angiographic and lesion characteristics were matched well between the two groups, with the exception of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI, 100.0% in the DK vs. 83.8% in the PS group, P < 0.001). Baseline FFR was comparable between the DK and the PS groups, however, the acute gain and late loss of SB FFR at 8-month follow-up in the DK group were 0.18 ± 0.15 and -0.06 ± 0.11, compared to 0.12 ± 0.18 (P = 0.044) and -0.002 ± 0.07 (P = 0.037) in the PS group, respectively. MV FFR post-stenting > 0.94 was seen in about 40% of patients. There was no significant difference in the clinical events at 1-year follow-up between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSDK crush was associated with improved acute gain and late loss of SB FFR. The lower rate of FFR > 0.94 after stenting underscored the further improvement of stenting quality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Coronary Stenosis ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

As an extension of the structure-based drug discovery, fragment-based drug discovery is matured increasingly, and plays an important role in drug development. Fragments in a small library, with lower molecular mass and high "ligand efficiency", are detected by SPR, MS, NMR, X-ray crystallography technologies and other biophysical methods. Then they are considered as starting points for chemical optimization with the guidance of structural biology methods to get good "drug-like" lead and candidate compounds. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of fragment-based drug discovery and detailed a number of examples to illustrate the novel strategies.
Computer-Aided Design ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Ligands ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Peptide Fragments ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Protein Conformation ; Small Molecule Libraries ; Surface Plasmon Resonance

OBJECTIVETo evaluate aberrant methylation of the p16 promoter as a useful biomarker of lung cancer.

METHODSA modified methylation-specific semi-nested PCR was performed to detect p16 hypermethylation in the matched samples of tumor tissue, blood plasma and sputum derived from 51 cases of lung cancer patients.

RESULTSHypermethylation of p16 promoter was demonstrated in 84.3% of the tumor tissues, 70.6% of the blood plasma and 76.5% of the sputum specimens, respectively. Only the patients whose tumor tissues had p16 hypermethylation exhibited aberrant methylation in their plasma and/or sputum specimens. Combining with cytological examination, 92.2% of the patients with lung cancer could be detected by p16 hypermethylation assay in both sputum and plasma samples.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that p16 hypermethylation in plasma and sputum identified by semi-nested PCR is a biomarker of lung cancer which can be useful as an auxillary diagnostic parameter.

DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of HAI regimen [(homoharringtonine 2.5 mg/(m(2)×d), days 1 - 7; cytarabine 150 mg/(m(2)×d), days 1 - 7; idarubicin 9 mg/(m(2)×d), days 1 - 7)] for induction treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (except acute promyelocytic leukemia). 31 patients with newly diagnosed AML, aged 39 (14 - 58) years, were enrolled in this clinical study. The complete remission (CR) rate, especially after one course, the overall survival (OS) rate and relapse free survival (RFS) rate were estimated. The outcomes were compared between different prognostic groups according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification, genetics and initial WBC count. Safety was evaluated using standard WHO criteria. The results showed that 26 patients (84%) achieved CR after 1 course of induction. The CR rate for the patients with favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetics was 90%, 88% and 60% respectively. All 7 patients with a high initial WBC count (≥ 100×10(9)/L) obtained CR, while 19 out of 24 without a high initial WBC count obtained CR. With a median follow-up of 15(range 2-56) months, the estimated 3-year OS rate for all patients and the patients with CR was 44% and 52% respectively. The 3-year RFS rate was 51%. The patients receiving induction chemotherapy died of the chemotherapy. Profound myelosuppression was seen in all patients after the HAI induction with the median duration of neutropenia (ANC < 0.2×10(9)/L) of 16 (6 - 24) days. As the most common toxicity, severe infections (grade III-IV) involved in all the patients and the duration of febris was 6 (1 - 36) days. The incidence of septemia and invasive fungus infection were 19.4% and 45.2% respectively. The incidence of non-infection fever, increased glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), diarrhea, increased bilirubin and oral cavity mucositis were 6.5%, 6.5%, 3.2%, 3.2%, 3.2% respectively, as the more frequent severe non-hematological toxicities. It is concluded that HAI regimen is a high efficient induction schedule for the newly diagnosed AML, and archive the higher CR rate after one course than DNR/Ara-C standard induction regimen. Side effects are acceptable, except severe infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Harringtonines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Idarubicin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDUse of neoadjuvant chemotherapy necessitates assessment of response to cytotoxic drugs. The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluating clinical responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

METHODSWe examined patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer between October 2007 and September 2008. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was used to examine breast tumors prior to and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The MRI examination assessed tumors using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The Miller-Payne grading system was used as a histopathological examination to assess the effect of the treatment. We examined the relationship between the results of RECIST and histopathological criteria. In addition, we used time-signal intensity curves (MRI T-SI) to further evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor response.

RESULTSMRI examination of patients completing four three-week anthracycline-taxanes chemotherapy treatment revealed that no patients had complete responses (CR), 58 patients had partial responses (PR), 29 patients had stable disease (SD), and four with progressive disease (PD). The effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CR + PR) was 63.7% (58/91). The postoperative histopathological evaluations revealed the following: seven G5 (pCR) cases (7.7%), 39 G4 cases (42.9%), 16 G3 cases (17.6%), 23 G2 cases (25.3%), and six G1 cases (6.6%). The effectiveness (G5 + G4 + G3) was 68.1% (62/91). MRI T-SI standards classified 53 responding cases, 29 stable cases, and nine progressing cases. These results indicated that the treatment was 58.2% effective (53/91) overall.

CONCLUSIONSDynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and histopathological standards were highly correlated. Importantly, MRI T-SI evaluation was found to be useful in assessing the clinical effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Anthracyclines ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Contrast Media ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDStenting strategies and clinical outcomes of bifurcation lesions in a chronic total occlusion (CTO) vessel after successful recanalization remain to be unknown.

METHODSBetween January 2001 and December 2009, 195 (41.1%) patients with 254 (47.0%) bifurcation lesions in CTO vessels from a pool of 564 patients with 659 CTO lesions were included and divided into proximal (n = 134) and distal (n = 120) groups, according to the location of the bifurcation lesions. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at the end of clinical follow-up, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization (TVR).

RESULTSCollaterals with Rentrop class 3 were seen more in distal group (100% and 68.3%), compared to proximal group (76.9% and 45.6%). Two-stent technique for proximal bifurcation lesions was used in 24.6%, significantly different from the distal group (6.7%, P < 0.001), without significant difference in composite MACE between proximal and distal groups, or between one- and two-stent subgroups in proximal group. The composite MACE after 1-year in complete revascularization subgroup was 17.9% relative to 29.6% in the incomplete revascularization group (P = 0.044). Stents in long false lumen in main vessel were mainly attributive to decreased TIMI grade flow, with resultant increased in-stent restenosis, total occlusion, TVR and coronary aneurysms. Imcomplete revasculzarization (HR 2.028, P = 0.049, 95%CI 1.002 - 4.105) and post-stenting TIMI flow (HR 6.122, P = 0.020, 95%CI 1.334 - 28.092) were two independent predictors of composite MACE at the 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSTwo-stent was more used for proximal bifurcation lesions. No significant difference was observed in MACE between proximal and distal, or between one- and two-stent subgroups in the proximal group. Placement of a safety wire was critical for proximal bifurcation lesions. Complete revascularization was mandatory to improve clinical outcomes.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Coronary Stenosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Registries ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the occupational stress factors associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among male policemen.

METHODSUsing cluster sampling method, we selected four Public Security Bureau within the jurisdiction of the station now in some city. All the male police were included as research objects, and finally 1490 persons were selected, health and occupational stress inventory-revised (OSI-R) questionnaire were used for epidemiological surveys, and anthropometric examination and chemical indicators were also measured at the same time. The analysis methods were chi-square test and unconditional logistical regression.

RESULTSAmong the 1490 of research objects, 1483 completed the questionnaire, and 1480 of the eligible questionnaires were available.237 cases were MS, and the prevalence rate was 16.0%(237/1480). The number of cases who were high, moderate and lack of occupational stress in MS group were 8, 39 and 23, that in non-MS were 14, 114 and 131, respectively. The odds of occupational stress with the highest and medium among policemen than who were lack were 4.82 (95%CI: 1.50 - 15.41) and 3.33 (95%CI: 1.62 - 6.79); the average score of role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility in the group of MS were (38.76 ± 6.83), (25.74 ± 7.22), (25.76 ± 6.27); and that in non-MS were (37.55 ± 6.85), (24.50 ± 6.58), (25.05 ± 5.95). The logistical regression analysis showed that: the likely three occupational risk stress factors which influencing the prevalence of MS were role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility, and the OR (95%CI) were 1.06 (1.02 - 1.10), 1.04 (1.02 - 1.07) and 1.03 (1.01 - 1.06), respectively.

CONCLUSIONRole ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility were the occupational risk stress factors associated with the prevalence of MS among male policemen.

Adult ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Police ; Prevalence ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workload

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic value of t(11; 18) (q21; q21) in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

METHODSA cohort of thirty-six gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma patients who were pathologically identify diagnosis from January 1994 to June 2004 were followed up retrospectively and studied using fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) technique to detect t(11; 18) (q21; q21) chromosomal translocation on preservative paraffin specimen.

RESULTSAmong thirty-six patients, fifteen (41.67%) were positive for t (11; 18) (q21; q21). All but one were followed up to March 2010, general median survival time (MST) was 87 months. The MST were 43 and 130 months for t(11; 18) positive and negative patients, respectively. The MST between these two groups was notably different (chi-square=29.57, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONt(11; 18) (q21; q21) is important prognostic factor for gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic