OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the protective effect of vitamin C on UV-induced photoaged skin structure in rats and provide a basis for clinical medicine and health care.Methods Photoaging skin models were set up by chronic ultraviolet radiation in 24 SPF female Sprague-Dawley rats, irradiated twice weekly for 4 weeks.The rat photoaged skin was induced by exposure to a total dose of 123 J/cm2 UVA and 5 J/cm2 UVB for 4 weeks.Vitamin C was administered by gastric gavage in a dose of 50 mg/kg once daily for 30 days during the model development.We compared the pathological changes in the irradiated skin using HE, Masson’ s trichrome and Victoria blue B staining, and compared the ultrastructural changes by electron microscopy.Results Rat models with photoaged skin were developed successfully.The vitamin C group showed significant reduction of pathological severity including erythema, ulcers, epidermal cell proliferation, epidermal thickness, dermis vasodilation, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization, elastic fibers degeneration and focal accumulation, collagen fibers swelling with uneven thickness,compared with the rats of model group at the irradiation site.Conclusions Vitamin C is effective in reducing the structural damage of UV-induced photoaged skin in rats.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride.Method Ninety-three patients with early Parkinson's disease were randomized into group A of 32 cases, group B of 30 cases, and group C of 31 cases. Group A was intervened by needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, group B by rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, while group C by taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride. UPDRSⅢ scores and Berg balance scale (BBS) scores were observed.Result After intervention, UPDRSⅢ scores and BBS scores were significantly changed in all groups (P<0.05). UPDRSⅢ scores of group A were markedly different form that of group B and C (P<0.05). BBS scores of group A and B were markedly different form that of group C (P<0.05).Conclusion Needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride can improve motor function and equilibrium function in the early Parkinson's disease patients.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of renal scintigraphy for the estimation of glomerular filtration rates (dGFR) in patients with diabetic nephropathy as compared to the conventional dual-plasma sample clearance method (pscGFR). Methods Forty-six patients with diabetic nephropathy underwent both dynamic renal scintigraphy and dual-plasma sample measurement after 99Tcm-DTPA injection. Paired student t-test and correlation analysis were performed to compare dGFR and pscGFR (normalized to body surface area,1.73 m-2). Results The mean dGFR was higher than mean pscGFR ((51.08±26.78)ml·min-1vs (44.06±29.43)ml·min-1,t=4.209,P=0.000). The dGFR correlated with pscGFR ( r=0.923,P=0.000) linearly (regression equation:pscGFR=1.015×dGFR-7.773,F=254. 656,P=0.000).Conclusions dGFR correlated well with pscGFR. Although it could not absolutely replace the latter in patients with diabetic nephropathy,dGFR could reasonably evaluate the filtration function for these patients.

Background and Objective: Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been found in multiple carcinoma tissues.MMP-26 is highly expressed in prostate and breast cancer tissues,and promotes the invasion of human prostate cancer cells not only through the cleavage of fibronectin and type Ⅳ collagen but also by the activation of pro-MMP-9,a powerful gelatinase. This study was to present a comprehensive protein expression profile of MMP-26 in multiple human cancer tissues. Methods: The protein expression pattern of MMP-26 was examined using immunohistochemistry and multiple-tissue microarray. MMP-26 mRNA expression in coronary artery smooth muscle cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results: The expression of MMP-26 in breast,colon,lung, brain, head and neck, prostate cancer, and melanoma tissues was significantly elevated when compared with parallel normal tissues (P＜0.05), while not significantly elevated in kidney cancer,ovarian cancer,and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P＞0.05).MMP-26 was also detected to express in gastric,rectal,thyroid, esophageal,and pancreatic cancers.MMP-26 protein was expressed in smooth muscle cells of the prostate and associated blood vessels. MMP-26 mRNA was also detected to express in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Conclusions: MMP-26 expression may be associated with multiple human carcinomas,and it may serve as a molecular marker for the early diagnosis of these carcinomas.MMP-26 may also contribute to smooth muscle function in the human prostate and cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVEThe exercise rehabilitation in patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) is standard clinical practice, but it is rare using CardioPulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) guide to prescribe exercise rehabilitation in China.

METHODSWe performed symptom limited maximal CPET in 10 patients with CHF, randomly divided into two groups: 5 patients as control without exercise and 5 exercise patients used Δ50%W intensity to exercise 30 min/d, 5 d/w, x12 w. Before and after 12 w rehabilitation, we evaluated functions.

RESULTSThere were no significant difference between two groups patients (P > 0.05). The exercise duration was increased from 8 min to 23 min after rehabilitation (P < 0.001); distance 6 minutes walking was increased from 394 m to 470 m (P < 0.05); score of Minnesota quality of life was decreased from 25 to 3 in exercise group (P < 0.01). However, there were nosignificant changes in control group (P>0.05) and their changes were smaller than those in exercise group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe CPET guiding exercise rehabilitation is safe and effective for patients with CHF.

China ; Chronic Disease ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Therapy ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Walking

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of expression of platelet membrane glycoprotein CD31, CD61 and CD62p in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into decompression sickness group and normal control group. The animals in decompression sickness group were exposed to 600 kPa compressed air for 60 minute, then they were rapidly decompressed to normal pressure in one minute. At 60th minute after reducing to normal pressure, the expression of CD31, CD61 and CD62p on platelet membrane in mice was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe mean fluorescence intensity of CD31, CD61 and positive percentage of CD62p on platelet membrane [(18.64 +/- 1.01), (271.06 +/- 24.25), (4.48% +/- 0.43%) respectively] in decompression sickness group were significantly increased compared with normal control group [(16.89 +/- 1.69), (234.09 +/- 15.96), (3.00% +/- 0.66%) respectively] (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONInadequately rapid decompression may induce up regulation of platelet membrane glycoprotein CD31, CD61 and CD62p expression in mice, which may lead to thrombosis.

Animals ; Blood Platelets ; chemistry ; Decompression Sickness ; blood ; Female ; Integrin beta3 ; blood ; Mice ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo introduce the application of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in the differential diagnosis between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, and to investigate the association of the results of PESA with testis volume and the level of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

METHODSA total of 118 patients with diagnosed azoospermia were included. Their testis volume was measured by model method, the serum gonadal hormone level examined by chemoluminescence assay, and the epididymal fluid obtained by puncturing the head of the epididymis with a size-7 butterfly needle.

RESULTSSperm was found in the epididymal fluid in 60 of the patients, 56 with normal and 4 with smaller testis volume, and 55 with normal and 5 with higher FSH level. No sperm was detected in the other 58 cases, 34 with normal and 24 with smaller testis volume, and 38 with normal and 20 with higher serum FSH level. The rate of successful PESA was significantly higher in patients with normal testis volume or normal serum FSH level than in those with smaller testis volume (P < 0.05) or higher serum FSH level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPESA is a quick, convenient and effective method for the differential diagnosis between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; Epididymis ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Punctures ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the clinical significance of PSA and ECT bone scans in the diagnosis of bone metastasis in prostate cancer patients.

METHODSSixty-seven cases of prostate cancer were reviewed, bone metastasis (BM) occurred in 44 cases, and 23 cases without BM (NBM). The relation between PSA, ECT and bone metastasis was analyzed.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of BM with bone scan of ECT was 91.67%. Single local density of radionuclide with bone scan was found in 6 cases, only 2 cases have BM. The value of PSA between BM and Non-BM group had significant difference (87.28 micrograms/L vs 25.37 micrograms/L, P < 0.01). PSA and the degree of bone metastasis was positively correlated. PSA < 10 micrograms/L, the morbidity of BM was 0; PSA 10-20 micrograms/L, 7.69%; PSA 20-60 micrograms/L, 53.33%; PSA 60-100 micrograms/L, 91.67%; and PSA > 100 micrograms/L, 100%.

CONCLUSIONSECT is a high sensitive method in diagnosis of bone metastasis of prostate cancer, but it is not specific in patients with single focus of BM. As for those patients of prostate cancer without any treatment, while PSA < 10 micrograms/L, the morbidity of BM is rare; while PSA > 100 micrograms/L, BM is in high suspect.

Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed

Receptors play a crucial role in determining the host specificity and tissue tropism of virus. Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV)has been showed to use four integrins, ?v?1, ?v?3, ?v?6 and ?v?8 as receptors to initiate infection and ?v?6 functions as the major receptor.The cDNA encoding bactrian camel integrin ?6 from the lung tissue was cloned and sequenced. The 2367bp cDNA of bactrian camel integrin ?6 encodes a polypeptide of 788 amino acids consisting of a 26-residue putative signal peptide, a 681-residue ectodomain with 8 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and 58 cysteine residues, a 29-residue transmembrane domain, and a 52-residue cytoplasmic domain with a NPLY motif and 1 potential N-linked glycosylation site. The nucleotide sequence similarity of integrin ?6 between bactrian camel and cattle, pig, sheep, human, mouse, Norway rat is 91.1%、91.8%、90.6%、90.5%、83.7%、84.1%, and the amino acid sequence similarity is 94.3%、93.4%、93.4%、93.7%、88.7%、88.6%, respectively. The bactrian camel ?6 gene exhibited the higher sequence homology with the ?6 gene of cattle, pig and sheep, indicating their close genetic relationships. It is possible that host tropism of FMDV may related to divergence in ?6 receptors among different species.