Objective To retrospectively analyze the data of patients with T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who underwent radiotherapy (RT) alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and to investigate the relationship between therapeutic modality and prognosis. Methods From January 2004 to December 2004, 781 patients with biopsy-proven newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC were analyzed in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, who had MRI data of nasopharynx and neck. With restaged based on the Chinese 2008 staging system, 82 cases of T3N0-1M0 patients who were treated by RT alone or CCRT were enrolled. They were divided into group A (46 cases, RT) and group B (36 cases, CCRT). Results The clinical data was comparable between the two groups. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was 93.5 % (group A) and 100 % (group B)(P =0.046), while the 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 85.2 % (group A) and 91.7 % (group B) (P =0.498). N-Staging was the factor affecting the DFS. Stratified analysis showed that the 5-year OS of T3N0M0 patients was 94.7 % (group A) and 100 % (group B) (P =0.432), those of T3N1M0 patients were 92.6 %(group A) and 100 %(group B) (P =0.066), while the 5-year DFS was 73.7 % (group A) and 89.3 % (group B) (P =0.244). Multifactor analysis showed that CCRT was not the independent factor affecting the OS(HR =0.019; 95 % CI, 0 to 21.793), and N-stage was not the independent factor affecting the DFS (HR = 0.203; 95 % CI, 0.135 to 1.231×104). Conclusion For T3N0M0, NPC patients, CCRT is not superior to RT alone. Whether CCRT can improve survival of T3N1M0 NPC patients needs further study.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the overview of progress regarding seed cells and scaffolds for skin tissue engineering, to introduce the research of three dimensional nanofiber scaffolds prepared by electrospinning technique, and its application prospect in tissue engineered skin.DATA SOURCES: The databases of CNKI, Sciencedirect, and I.S.I were retrieved by the first author with key words of "tissue-engineering, skin, wound healing, seed cell, scaffold, electrospunning" in both Chinese and English from 1992 to 2009.DATA SELECTION: Major accomplishments of research on skin tissue engineering published in recent years.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Papers related to treating skin destruction using tissue engineered materials. ②Articles correlative to seed cells and scaffold materials. ③Papers regarding electrospinning technique.RESULTS: The preparation of artificial skins is the research direction of tissue-engineered skin, in particular, studies regarding epidermal stem cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, hair follicle stem cells, and adipose-derived stem cells are attracted more attention. As tissue engineering, it is a key problems to prepare a scaffold to meet the needs of mechanical property,physical composition and biocompatibility. Scaffold materials comprise micrometer porous scaffold and nano-fiber scaffolds. The electrospinning technique is newly developed method for preparing nano-fiber scaffolds with the advantage of fast and convenience, and the scaffolds possess greater porosity, which not only benefit for the blood circulation and oxygen exchange,but also prevent the loss of water content and protein from wound surface.CONCLUSIONS: Tissue engineered skin is an important ingredient of regenerative medicine, seed cells and scaffold matrixes are two core problems that call for long term investigation. With the incessant development and integration among life sciences,nanotechnology and computer technology, marvelous progress has been achieved in the perspective of comprehending the interaction between seed cells, the mutual regulation mechanism and how the architecture and properties of scaffold materials affecting the regenerative procedures.

Alcoholism ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR2 ; genetics ; metabolism

Alcoholism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; prevention & control ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Alcoholism ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Animals ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats

RNA interference (RNAi) has been proved as a novel approach for gene therapy. However, RNAi mono-therapy only aims at single gene, it therefore may ultimately fail to cure cancers caused by polygene variation. To overcome the deficiency of RNAi mono-therapy, "combinatorial RNA interference" (coRNAi) was put forward as a new strategy. By co-expressing the inducers of RNAi triggering single or multiple targets directly and other RNA- or protein-based silencers, coRNAi keeps target genes silent, prevents carcinogenic progression and induces apoptosis of tumor cells. This paper mainly reviews the major strategies of coRNAi and their applications in cancer gene therapy.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Oncogenes ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; RNA, Small Nuclear ; genetics

Objective To investigate the significance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods 151 in-patients of ACS during May 2006 to June 2008 were selected as the treatment group.Other 212 impatients with essential hypertension were selected as control group.Blood lipid,blood glucose,blood routine,renal function,high sensitive C-reaction protein (hs-CRP) and BNP were examined in all patients.Their blood pressure,heart rate,and history of smoking,hypertension,diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia 62.0±14.2,t = 5.043,P＜0.001 ),blood creatinine [ (95.0±67.4 ) vs.(72.8±29.0) μmol/L,t = 4.164,P ＜0.001 ),blood uric acid[ (360.2±104.4 ) vs.(300.8±92.7 ) μmol/L,t = 5.521,P ＜ 0.001 ],BNP (80.81 vs.352.38 ng/L,Z = - 7.295,P ＜ 0.001 ),hs-CRP (7.99 vs.17.08,Z = - 3.983,P ＜ 0.001 ),white blood cells (WBC) [ (7.843 +3.025)×109/L vs.(6.333±3.569)×109/L,t =4.209,P ＜0.001 ],monocytes [ (0.522±0.201)×109/L vs.(0.417±0.157)×109/L,t = 5.084,P ＜0.001 ] and blood glucose [ (6.518±2.303 ) vs.(5.691±2.085 ) mmol/L,t = 3.461,P = 0.001 ] had significant difference.Systolic blood pressure had difference between two groups [ (134.7±27.8 ) vs.(142.0±26.3 ) mm Hg,t = 2.536,P=0.012 ].However,the percentage of smoking[ 43.7% (66/151)vs.23.1% (49/212),X2 = 17.283,P ＜0.001 ] and male gender[ 74.8% ( 113/151 )vs.48.6% ( 103/212),X2 = 25.217,P ＜ 0.001 ) ] had significant difference between two groups ( P ＜0.001 ).Multivariable regression analysis showed that age (X2 = 10.369,P =0.001 ),gender (X2 = 12.836,P ＜ O.001 ),BNP (X2 =4.807,P =0.028) and WBC(X2= 10.788,P =0.001 ) were the main factors of difference between the two groups.Moreover,BNP was linearly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction(EF) in ACS patients (t =5.789,P ＜ 0.001 ).Conclusion Old age,male,WBC and BNP are closely related with ACS,of which BNP has certain predictive value for ACS.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leukosialin ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Cervicitis ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To study the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen at a high dosage, which will offer a theoretical support for an appropriate clinical use of the medicine in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Three qualified NSCLC patients are selected and given tamoxifen (TAM) 160 mg per Os. Blood samples were collected at different times and then analyzed by high-performance liguid chromatography. The PK-GRAPH program was used to obtain the parameters. Results The concentration-time courses of the TAM 160 mg were fitted to one-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated as follows: Tmax (6.35±1.24)h, Cmax (217.39±7.71)ng/Ml, AUC (12 127.39±636.16)ng·h/Ml and T1/2ke (34.13±2.97)h. Conclusion TAM 160mg one day per Os cannot reach the effective maintenance concentration in vivo required for reversing MDR in vitro. Loading-maintenance dose strategy is recommended to study the pharmacodynamics of tamoxifen at a high dosage in NSCLC patients.