Objective A retrospective study was carried out to investigate the survival rate of nasopharyngeal cancer patients after the combined treatment of chemoradiotherapy and Chinese herbal medicine. Methods Based on the will of the patients, 230 cases were divided into treatment group (N=107) and control group (N=123). Both groups received chemoradiotherapy, and the treatment group was additionally given oral use of Chinese herbal medicine over 180 doses per year, and the treatment lasted over 2 years. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier estimator, and the Kaplan-Meier plot for the two groups was compared. Results (1) In the treatment group, the one-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 99.1%, 86.4%, 72.5%, and was 95.9%, 73.5%, 58.3% respectively in the control group. The Kaplan-Meier plot showed that significant difference of patient survival was presented in the two groups ( P<0.01) . ( 2) The results of hierarchical group analysis of 230 nasopharyngeal cancer patients showed higher survival rate can be achieved in the T3-4 and N0 poorly-differentiated squamous carcinoma patients aged 50 years or more at the stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ in the treatment group than that in the control group, and the statistical differences were significant ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Chemoradiotherapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine can increase the survival rate, and prolong life span of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma patinets, in particular for the T3-4 and N0 poorly-differentiated squamous carcinoma patients aged 50 years or more at the stageⅢ-Ⅳ.

Aim To investigate the combined pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic(PK-PD) model of irbesartan in healthy Chinese male volunteers. Methods Eighteen healthy male volunteers received 300 mg irbesartan tablet orally. The plasma drug concentration (C_p) was determined by HPLC and pharmacologic effects, including SBP, DBP and HR, were measured simultaneously. The pharmakinetic and PK-PD model parameters were calculated. Results The pharmacokinetic profiles were best fitted a two-compartment open model. There was a hysteresis loop between effects and plasma concentrations. The relationship between effects and effect compartment concentrations of drugs could be represented by the Sigmoid-E_ max model. Conclusion We successfully eatablished the PK-PD model of irbesartan in healthy male volunteers. These findings may provide a more rational basis for patient-specific dosage individualization.

Objective To compare the effects of ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL), minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( MPCNL) , retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy ( RLU) and open ureterolithotomy (UL) for the treatment of complex upper ureteral calculi. Methods The data of 281 patients with complex upper ureteral calculi from January 2005 to January 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. 48 patients of them received treatment of URL, 113 patients received MPCNL, 67 patients received RLU and other 53 patients received UL. Results Success rates of treatment at the first time were:URL 62.5% (30/48), MPCNL 92.9%(105/113),RLU 100%(67/67) and UL 100%(53/53) . The mean blood losses during the operation were:URL (9.2 ± 1.4) mL,MPCNL (72.5 ± 5.8) mL,RLU (43.1 ± 8.5) mL and UL (100.5 ± 9.2) mL. The average operation time of URL group was shorter than three other groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05) . The average hospital stay of URL group was also shorter than three other groups ( < 0.05) . The difference was not statistically significant in complications among four groups after operation ( >0.05) . Conclusion Clinical characteristics of patients and individual require ment should be considered comprehensively before an individual treatment choice is made for the treatment of complex upper ureteral calculi.

To study the chemical constituents of Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr., various chromatographic methods were used, including D101 macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS and preparative HPLC chromatographic techniques. A new labdane diterpenoid glycoside named as nervilifordoside A was isolated from 60% EtOH extract of Nerviliafordii. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated as 12, 17-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methoxy-labdan-13-en-16, 15-olide 3-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-beta-glucopyranoside on the basis of HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as chemical methods.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of IL-6 on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition of human pancreatic cancer cells.Methods IL-6 was added into the culture media of human pancreatic cancer cells Capan-2,SW1990,and STAT3-siRNA-SW1990.Cell growth was measured by MTT assays.STAT3,p-STAT3,Snail,Twist,and E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression were examined using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and Western blot,respectively.The invasion abilities of SW1990 and Capan-2 cells were determined by a cell invasion assay in vitro.Results Our results showed that 100 μg/L of IL-6 significantly promoted the growth and invasion abilities of Capan-2 and SW1990 cells (P＜0.05).The use of IL-6 not only markedly increased the protein expression of P-STAT3 and Snail,but also greatly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin.The use of IL-6 can not change the mRNA and protein expression of Snail and E-cadherin.Conclusion Activation of the STAT3 signal transducer pathway with IL-6 can promote the epithelial to mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro through up-regulation of Snail and down-regulation of E-cadherin expression.Therefore the STAT3 signal transducer may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To evaluate the effect of long-term glucocorticoid administration on nondepolarizing muscle relaxants-induced neuromuscular blockade in rat diaphragma in vitro.Methods Forty adult male SpragueDawley rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 180-220 g,were randomized into 2 groups (n =20 each):control group (group C) and dexamethasone group (group D).In group D,dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 14 consecutive days,while the equal volume of normal saline was injected instead of dexamethasone in group C.The left phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm was removed at 24 h after the last injection to evaluate the effect of d-tubocurarine.Different concentrations (0-10 μmol/L) of d-tubocurarine were added.The d-tubocurarine concentration-effect curve was drawn.The half inhibitory concentration and 95 ％ confidence interval of d-tubocurarine were calculated.Right diaphragma was removed for determination of the expression of embryonic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRγ) mRNA and adult nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRε) mRNA by RTPCR.Results Compared with group C,the concentration-effect curve was shifted to the right,the half inhibitory concentration was significantly increased,and the expression of nAChRγ mRNA and nAChRε mRNA was up-regulated in group D (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Long-term glucocorticoid administration can weaken nondepolarizing muscle relaxants-induced neuromuscular blockade in rat diaphragma in vitro,and up-regulation of nAChR mRNA expression may be involved in the mechanism.

Child ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Nephritis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Purpura ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Mycoses ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the impact of applying patient-centered care concept on easing the negative moods among the parents of the neonates hospitalized in NICU.Methods The parents of neonates (76 people) hospitalized in NICU from March to May in 2012 were selected as the control group,they conducted normal nursing.The parents of neonates hospitalized in NICU during June and August in 2012 were named as the observation group (81 people).In addition to the normal nursing,they were given nursing intervention according to patient-centered care concept.The anxiety and depression moods of the two groups was analyzed.Results Before the patient-centered care concept intervention,there was no statistical difference of SAS,SDS scores for both groups.For the observation group,the SAS,SDS scores after intervention were significantly lower than those before the intervention.While for the control group,there was no statistical difference of SAS,SDS scores.After intervention,the SAS、SDS scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusions The negative moods of the parents of hospitalized neonates can be eased significantly by applying patient-centered care concept intervention.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors for orthostatic hypotension(OH)in elderly patients with hypertension.Methods:This was a case-control study.A total of 224 patients with hypertension aged over 65 years were included.After resting for more than 5 minutes, subjects had their blood pressures measured in the supine and standing position at 0 min, 1 min, 2 min and 3 min.OH was defined as a fall in systolic BP of more 20 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)and/or diastolic BP below 10 mmHg of baseline within 3 min in the upright position.Subjects were divided into the OH group( n=34)and the non-OH group( n=190). Baseline data, comorbidities and differences in medications were compare between the OH group and the non-OH group, and the influencing factors for OH were analyzed. Results:The proportion of drinkers was higher in the OH group than in the non-OH group(29.4% or 10/34 vs.7.4% or 14/190, χ2=14.649, P<0.01). Both systolic pressure(139.0±22.1 mmHg vs.124.5±16.3 mmHg, t=-3.661, P<0.01)and diastolic pressure(77.6±6.3 mmHg vs.69.2±9.0 mmHg, t=-6.696, P<0.01)in the supine position were higher in the OH group than in the non-OH group.The proportions of patients with diabetes(47.1% or 16/34 vs.25.3% or 48/190, χ2=6.731, P<0.05)and stroke(41.2% or 14/34 vs.24.2% or 46/190, χ2=4.233, P<0.05)were higher in the OH group than in the non-OH group.The proportion of patients receiving α receptor blockers was higher in the OH group than in the non-OH group(23.5% or 8/34 vs.4.2% or 8/190, χ2=16.228, P<0.01). After adjusting for factors such as alcohol consumption, diabetes, stroke and other differences between the OH and non-OH group, logistic regression found patients with alcohol intake( OR=5.274, 95% CI: 1.990~13.982, P<0.01), diabetes( OR=2.744, 95% CI: 1.213~6.208, P<0.05)and using α receptor blockers( OR=8.812, 95% CI: 2.835~27.383, P<0.01)had a higher risk of OH. Conclusions:OH is very common in elderly patients with hypertension.Alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus and the application of α receptor blockers can increase the risk of OH.