Objective The localization of pulmonary nodules in surgery remains a clinical challenge .In this study we dis-cussed the diagnostic and treatment value of CT-guided coil localization followed by real-time digital subtraction angiography ( DSA)-guided accurate resection of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) with video-assisted thracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods This study involved 82 cases of SPN treated in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Jinling Hospital from September 2011 to May 2014 .The SPNs were preoperatively positioned by placing a metal coil close to the lesion under CT guidance on the same day of surger -y.Then VATS wedge resection of the SPNs was performed under the guidance of real -time DSA and further procedures followed in ac-cordance with the results of intraoperative pathology . Results The success rate of coil localization was 100%, the mean time of po-sitioning was (15.3 ±3.2) min, and the mean time of VATS wedge resection was (24.2 ±12.1) min.Pathological results revealed 45 cases of malignancy and 37 cases of benign lesions . Conclusion Preoperative CT-guided coil localization of SPNs showed a high accuracy and no serious complications , and by real-time DSA-guided VATS that immediately followed , the nodules could be precisely removed with the cutting edge 2 cm above the lesion , which achieved both the purposes of diagnosis and treatment of SPNs .

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the presence of structured CagA proteins in Western- and Eastern-type Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces different incidences of gastric diseases.

METHODSCagA and phosphorylated CagA were expressed in AGS gastric epithelial cells infected with wild type and mutant strains. The ability of individual CagA was determined by immunoprecipitation and Western blot assay. Morphological changes of these cells were observed under microscope to evaluate the appearance of elongation hummingbird phenotype.

RESULTSThe sizes of CagA proteins in different strains were different, and no phosphorylated CagA proteins were detected in wild-type strains. Meanwhile, the kinetics of CagA status in AGS infected with H. pylori was detected. The molecular weight of phosphorylated CagA with the same size of CagA proteins in H. pylori was different in infections with different wild-type strains. CagA and phosphorylated CagA increased in a time-dependent manner after the infection. The hummingbird phenotype with H. pylori for time-course was observed under microscope. Instead of HPK5 strain, the wild-type 26695 strain induced hummingbird phenotype in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONTranslocation and phosphorylation of CagA are necessary, but not sufficient, for the induction of hummingbird phenotype in AGS cells.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Bacterial ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Helicobacter Infections ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Transport

Objective To investigate the effects of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) gene on cell growth and invasion of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Recombinant lentivirus vector for shRNA delivery of EZH2 was constructed and transfected into 293FT cells. After collecting the viral particles, the NPC cell line 5-8F cells were transfected. The effects of EZH2 silence on cell proliferation and cell cycle were detected using MTT assay,plate colony formation assay and flow cytometry.The migration and invasion of 5-8F cells were determined by wound healing assay and matrigel invasion assay,respectively.The expressions of EZH2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related markers at mRNA and protein levels were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.Results The expressions of EZH2 mRNA and protein in the transfected 5-8F cells were obviously reduced. MTT assay showed that EZH2 downregulation significantly inhibited the growth of 5-8F/shEZH2 cells( P ＜ 0.001 ).Colony formation rate (84.44％ ) of 5-8F/shEZH2 cells was lower than control (31.56％,P =0.001 ).Cell cycle analysis showed that most 5-8F/shEZH2 cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase,with a very low ratio of cells in S phase.Wound healing assay indicated that the migration ability of cells silencing EZH2 decreased significantly,and the 48-hour relative migration distance of 5-SF/ShEZH2 cells and control cells was 0.58 ± 0.05,and 0.81 ± 0.02,respecptively(P ＜ 0.000).Matrigel invasion assay,showed the invasive capacity of cells silencing EZH2 was significantly inhibited,with less penetrating cells (72.23 ± 4.08 ) compared to control( 150.95 ± 16.27),P ＜ 0.000.The mRNA expressions of epithelial markers E-cadherin and Keratin 18 in the cells silencing EZH2 increased by 177％ and 158％ respectively,and the mRNA expressions of mesenchymal markers β-catenin and N-cadherin decreased by 18.04％ and 41.18％ respectively. Similar results also were obtained with Western blot analysis. Conclusion EZH2 significantly enhanced the proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro,which might be mediated by inducing EMT.

This study was purposed to investigate the biological effect of vinblastine (VLS), usually known as inductor of mitotic arrest, on MOLT-4 of ALL cells and to evaluate its significance. The cell arrest in M phase and/or cell apoptosis were induced by treatment of MOLT-4 cells with 0.05 microg/ml VLS for 0 - 12 hours; the DNA histogram was detected by flow cytometry; the morphological changes of cells were observed by confocal microscopy; the cell cycle distribution, cell apoptosis and morphological changes of cells before and after arrest were analyzed by using arrest increasing rate (AIR), arrest efficiency (AE), apoptosis rate (AR) and morphologic parameters respectively. The results indicated that the cell arrest did not accompanied by significant increase of apoptosis rate; the DNA histogram of cell arrest showed dynamic change of cell cycle in time-dependent manner; the arrest efficiency could be quantified. The cell arrest at M phase was accompanied by cell stack in S phase, the cell proliferation rate dropped after cell arrest occurred. The cells arrested at M phase possessed of characteristic morphologic features in cell mitosis. It is concluded that the vinblastine can solely induce arrest of MOLT-4 cells at M phase. This study provides experimental basis for further investigating the relation of cell cycle arrest to apoptosis, mechanism of checkpoint and development of new anticancer drugs.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Vinblastine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the short-term efficacy and safety of Shenqi mixture (SQM) combined with microwave coagulation in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSSeventy-two patients with primary HCC of stage II-III, Karnofsky scoring > or = 50 scores and predicted survival period > or = 3 months were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, the treated group and the control group, 36 in each. Microwave therapy was applied to both groups by double leads, 60 W, 800 sec once a week for two weeks. To the treated group, SQM was given additionally through oral intake of 20 ml, three times a day for 1 month. The changes in tumor size, main symptoms, serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), immune function and adverse reaction were observed after treatment and the immune parameters of the patients were compared with 30 healthy persons in the normal control group.

RESULTS(1) In the SQM treated group, after treatment 3 patients got completely remitted (CR), 24 partial remitted (PR), 4 unchanged (NC) and 5 progressively deteriorated (PD), the effective rate being 75.00%; while in the control group, 1 got CR, 19 PR, 9 NC and 7 PD, the effective rate being 55.56%. Comparison of the effective rate between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05). (2) AFP level decreased after treatment in both groups, but the decrement in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). (3) After treatment, in the treated group, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and NK activity were improved, Karnofsky scores increased and liver function bettered, with these improvements significantly superior to those in the control group (P < 0.01). (4) The improvement in symptoms such as hepatic region pain, fever, weakness, poor appetite and jaundice in the treated group after treatment was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). (5) The 12-month, 18-month and 24-month survival rates were higher and the recurrence rate was lower in the treated group than those in the control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined therapy with SQM and microwave coagulation could not only kill the tumor and residue tumor cells to prevent recurrence, but also enhance the cellular immunity of organism. It is one of the effective therapies for patients with middle-advanced hepatocarcinoma, who have lost the chance of surgical operation. It could improve clinical symptoms, elevate the quality of life, prolong the survival period of patients, but shows no evident adverse reaction.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; pathology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Survival Rate ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic palonosetron hydrochlo-ride injection on its prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Methods A multi-centered,ran-domized,double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out.A total of 281 patients were enrolled,with 141 of patients in study group and 140 of patients in control group respectively. 0.075 mg of intravenous palonosetron hydrochloride injection was delivered in the study group before anesthesia induction.The drug was substituted by 1.5 ml of NS in the control group.All anesthesia inductions were conducted by the intravenous injection of propofol,fentanyl and rocuronium,and were maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl.Complete remission rate and treatment failure cut-off time of vomiting were evaluated at 0-6 h,6-72 h,0-72 h postoperatively.Results In the study group CR% 0-6 h,6-72 h and 0-72 h were 107 (75.89%),104 (73.76%)and 92 (65.25%),the control group was 81 (57.86%),70 (50%)and 62 (42.86%),CR% of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P <0.01).Insignificant statistical difference but significant clin-ical difference exists in their treatment failure cut-off time,386.5 min and 300.0 min,respectively be-tween the groups.Conclusion Domestic palonosetron hydrochloride injection is safe and effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

This study was purposed to evaluate a method to discriminate the action loci of anticancer agents in G(2) and M phases of cell cycle. The meta-amsacrine (m-AMSA) and vinblastine (VBL), already known as G(2) and M phase arrest agent respectively, were used to induce the arrest of MOLT-4 cells at G(2) and M phases, the change of DNA content was detected by flow cytometry, the morphology of arrested cells was observed by confocal microscopy so as to find the arrest efficacy difference of 2 anticancer agents. As a result, the flow cytometric detection showed that the arrested MOLT-4 cells displayed the raise of peaks in G(2) and M phases, but flow cytometric detection alone can not discriminate the difference between them. The observation with confocal microscopy showed that the MOLT-4 cells arrested by m-AMSA displayed the morphologic features in G(2) phase, while the MOLT-4 cells arrested by VBL displayed the morphologic features in M phase. This observation with confocal microscopy is helpful to discriminate the difference between them. In conclusion, the combination of flow cytometry with confocal microscopy is one of the effective methods to discriminate the kind of G(2) or M phase arresting agent of anticancer drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Despite Salvia miltiorrhiza being one of the most important medicine plants in China, there is a limited availability of genomic resources, especially of the expressed sequence tag-based markers. In this study, we selected and characterized functional markers in S. miltiorrhiza, which consisted of 4,192 non-redundant expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from 10,288 identified S. miltiorrhiza ESTs in dbEST data bank. Among them, 159 simple sequence repeats (SSR) were detected, which amounted to 3.79% of the non-redundant starting sequence population. This incidence was equivalent to one EST-SSR in every 12.74 kb of S. miltiorrhiza ESTs. Among the different motifs ranging from 1 bp to 6 bp, di-nucleotide repeat motif was the most abundant (77, 48.43%), followed by tri-nucleotide (41, 25.79%), hexa-nucleotide (23, 14.47%), penta-nucleotide (12, 7.55%) and tetra-nucleotide (6, 3.77%). In 47 identified motif types, the detected frequency above 5% were GA/CT (16.35%), AG/TC (15.09%), TCA/AGT (10.69%), AT/TA (6.29%), GAAAAG/CAAAAC (6.29%) and TA/AT (5.03%). Based on flank sequence of detected SSR, a total of 83 EST-SSR primer pairs were designed and tested for the amplification efficiency, polymorphism and transferability in thirteen S. mihiorrhiza samples and other ten species from the genus Salvia. The results showed that 72 primer pairs were successfully amplified in S. miltiorrhiza samples to yield and 279 loci with an average of 3.88 loci per primer pair. The cross-transferability of S. miltiorrhiza EST-SSR markers to other ten Salvia plants was very high, ranging from 60% to 100% with an average of 85%. Further analysis of the genetic similarity based on the polymorphic bands showed the EST-SSR could detect the genetic diversity on different levels among the whole test samples and distinguish the S. miltiorrhiza from other Salvia plants effectively. It is expected that the potential markers described here would add to the repertoire of DNA markers needed for genetic analysis, linkage mapping and comparative genomics studies in S. miltiorrhiza and related Salvia genus plants.
DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

This paper reviewed the worldwide research progresses of the genus Laggera both on phytochemical and pharmacological work in the past few decades. The main secondary metabolites of this genus are proved to be sesquitepenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Phamacological investigations revealed that the certain extracts of some Laggera species possess significant bioactivities on anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and anti-viral infection. This review afforded the comprehensive description of the active components as to provide useful references to elucidate their historical clinical application on upper respiratory infection, influenza, parotitis, and recurrent herpes viral infection.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Molecular Structure ; Parotitis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; drug therapy ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of transrectal 125 I seeds implantation brachytherapy (BT) combined with intermittent hormonal therapy (IHT) in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer.

METHODSWe treated 27 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer by transrectal 125I seeds implantation BT combined with IHT, and dynamically observed the changes in the PSA level, prostate volume, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS).

RESULTSAll the implantation procedures were completed smoothly, lasting 20 to 35 minutes, with 40 to 58 seeds implanted. At 6 months after implantation, the PSA level was < 0.2 microg/L in all the patients (< 0.1 microg/L in 19 cases), the prostate volume was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and Qmax and IPSS remarkably improved (P < 0.05). At 3 years after implantation, 19 cases were in the first cycle and the other 8 in the third cycle of IHT, of which 2 progressed to androgen-independent prostate cancer, and another 2 developed early bone metastasis. The rates of 3-year biochemically and clinically progression-free survival were 70.3% and 85.2%, respectively, and the rate of therapeutic effectiveness was 92.6%. No severe complications occurred in any of the cases.

CONCLUSIONTransrectal 125I seeds implantation BT combined with IHT is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for locally advanced prostate cancer, which can effectively retard its clinical progression with no such complications as severe urethral, rectal or erectile dysfunction.

Aged ; Brachytherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome