Objective: To investigate the relationship between peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods:We obtained clinical features and follow-up data of 102 patients with MM to analyze the prog-nostic value of peripheral blood ALC. Results:Patients with ALC>1.51×109/L were designated as group 1, whereas patients with ALC<1.51×109/L were designated as group 2. Group 1 had significantly lower age as well as concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) andβ2-MG than group 2 (P<0.05). The overall survival (OS) of group 1 was significantly higher than group 2 (P<0.05). Sex, ALB, Du-rie-Salmon stage, isotype, subgroup, and stage according to the International Staging System in group 1 were not significantly different compared with group 2 (P>0.05). Conclusion:Lower ALC is a poor prognosis factor. ALC may be an important prognostic factor of MM.

Objective To investigate the effects of inhalation of different concentrations of sevoflurane on pulmonary inflammatory response in rats. Methods One hundred and twenty adult Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: Ⅰ control group breathing room air (group C, n = 12);Ⅱ oxygen group breathing 40% O2(group O, n = 36);Ⅲ and Ⅳ sevoflurane groups breathing 1.5% and 3.0% sevoflurane in 40% O2 respectively (group S1, S2, n = 36). Group Ⅱ was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the duration of 40% O2 inhalation 4 h, 8 h and 10 h. Group Ⅲ and Ⅳ were further divided into 3 subgroups ( n = 12 each) breathing sevoflurane for 4 h, 8 h and 8 h followed by 2 h O2 (40%) inhalation. The animals were sacrificed at the end of O2 or/and sevoflurane inhalation. Broncho-alveolar lavage was performed in 6 animals in each subgroup. The TNF-α concentration in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was determined. The TNF-α mRNA expression and MPO activity in the lung tissue were measured in the other 6 animals in each subgroup. Results Inhalation of 1.5% or 3.0% sevoflurane for 4 or 8 h did not induce inflammatory response in the lung as compared with animals breathing room air or 40% O2 . Conclusion Exposure to sevoflurane does not induce pulmonary inflammatory response in rats breathing spontaneously.

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of intrasplenic injection of retroviral packaging cells encoding human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) and mouse interleukin-12 (mIL-12) fusion gene on the growth of chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. Methods The retroviral vector GCIL12EIL2PN encoding hIL-2 and mIL-12 fusion gene was constructed. The retroviral packaging cell line PA317 transfected with the vector was injected into the spleens of rats with established chemically induced hepatoma on on the 90th day (early-stage treatment) or the 105th day (late-stage treatment). The survival time and toxic effect were observed. The serum mIL-12 and hIL-2 levels were assayed with ELISA, and the cytotoxicity of the natural killer (NK) cells was measured by means of a 51Cr-release assay using YAC-1 tumor cells as the target. Results The average survival time (after chemical induction) in the early-stage treatment rats and the late-stage treatment rats were 188.1?14.2 days and 168.5?13.6 days, respectively, in IL-12+IL-2 combination gene treatment group, and it was longer than that of IL-12 gene treatment group (168.2?13.4 days and 149.1?13.8 days, respectively, P

Objective:To study the effect of corticotrophin-releasing hormone(CRH) on estrogen production in human trophoblasts and its mechanisms. Methods: Cytotrophoblasts were isolated from term human placentas and cultured for 72 h. The cultured cells were then treated with various concentrations of CRH and CRH receptor antagonist,?-Helical CRH9-41 for 24 h; estradiol was measured by radioimmunoassay in the culture media. Expression of aromatase(P450arom),the key enzyme for estrogen synthesis,was analyzed by Northern blot. Results: CRH significantly stimulated estradiol production and the expression of P450arom mRNA in placental cells. It was found that ?-Helical CRH9-41 blocked the effect of CRH and inhibited estradiol production and P450arom mRNA expression(P

The activation of the proto-oncogene STAT3 is strongly controlled under physiological conditions. However, obtained evi-dence revealed that STAT3 is persistently activated in cancer cells and contributes to cancer initiation and progression. Studies demon-strated the various functions of activated STAT3 in promoting cancer development and aggravation, including cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, drug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulation of the tumor microenvironment, and promo-tion of the self-renewal and differentiation of cancer stem cells. Canonically, STAT3 is regulated by signaling pathways mediated by cy-tokines and growth factors. Many studies determined that STAT3 was also regulated by G protein-coupled receptors, cadherin engage-ment, Toll-like receptors, microRNA, and acetylation. We summarized the recent developments in the research on the regulation of STAT3 activation.

As an important incentive for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases, obesity after cardiovascular disease and cancer has been listed as the third largest threat to human health by World Health Organization. Recent research has shown that obesity is associated with colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer, however, it has not been fully disclosed that the mechanism could lead to an increased risk of tumors. Leptin and adiponectin are a kind of hormone secreted by adipose tissue, which involve in the energy metabolism, and play an increasing significant role in the tumors' affecting factors.

Objective To study the expression and significance of bcl-2 protein in esophageal squamous cell cancer and the surrounding tissues.Methods EnVision method was used to analyze the expression of bcl-2 protein in tissues of esophageal squamous cell cancer and the surrounding tissues from 62 patients.Results Expressions rates of bcl-2 protein were 80.3 ％ (49/61),45.9 ％ (28/61) and 67.7 ％ (20/62) in simple hyperplasia,high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma tissues,respectively,but 3.3 ％ (1/30) in normal mucosa tissue.There were significant differences between normal esophageal mucosa group and other groups (x2 =54.437,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of bcl-2 had no differentiation in tissue differentiation grade and degree of invasion of carcinoma (x2 =0.219,x2 =5.878,P ＞ 0.05).But it had significant relationship between the expression of bcl-2 and lymph node metastasis (x2 =4.120,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion bcl-2 may predicting the occurrence of esophageal squamous cell cancer in early stage,and may be regarded as an useful index for prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Guardian for airway management in the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Sixty patients of both sexes,aged 26-64 yr,weighing 48-95 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,with Mallampati grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia,were divided into group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ (n =30 each) using a random number table.In group Ⅰ,the nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA Guardian.In group],the nasogastric tube was inserted through the nostril before operation,and after successful LMA Guardian placement,another nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA Guardian.The hemodynamic parameters,SpO2,end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide and peak airway pressure (Ppeak) were monitored during operation.The fiberoptic laryngoscopy scores were assessed after successful LMA placement,and the nasogastric tube displacement was recorded.The LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at first attempt,airway sealing pressure,occurrence of air leakage of LMA and nasogastric tube drainage were recorded.The bloodstains and gastroesophageal reflux were observed after removal of the LMA.The pH values were tested at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA using pH test papers.The development of adverse reactions in the oropharynx was recorded within 24 h after operation.Results The hemodynamics was stable,the SpO2 and Ppeak were within the normal range during operation,and Ppeak was lower than airway sealing pressure in the two groups (P＞0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups.There was no significant difference between the two groups in the LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at first attempt,airway sealing pressure,score for exposure of oropharynx,development of adverse reactions in the oropharynx,consumption of anesthetics,development of bloodstains within the body of LMA and gastroesophageal reflux,and pH values at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA (P＞0.05).Nasogastric tube drainage:the rate of nasogastric tube drainage through the LMA Guardian was 67％ in group Ⅰ;the rate of nasogastric tube drainage through the nostril was 40％,and the rate of nasogastric tube drainage though the LMA Guardian was 50％ in group Ⅱ.No nasogastric tube displacement was found after operation in group Ⅱ.Conclusion For the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy,insertion of LMA Guardian is easy,and LMA Guardian can assure good airway sealing and adequate ventilation and can be safely and effectively used for airway management in this type of patients.

Objective: To explore the effects of various concentrations IFN-? on human oral epidermic cancer cell line KB and its multidrug resistant counterpart KBv200.Methods: The toxicity of IFN-? and/or VCR was assayed by MTT method; intracellular rhodamin123 concentration and p-glycoprotein expression were measured by flow cytometry; mdr-1 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR. Results: High-dose IFN-?(10 000 IU/ml) had significant antiproliferative effects on KB/KBv200 cell lines. Low-dose IFN-? did not have any significant effect on growth of KB/KBv200 cells, but did increase the cytotoxic effect of VCR and the accumulation of Rhodamine123 in KBv200 cell line and had no effect on parent VCR-sensitive KB cell line. IFN-? down-regulated expression of P-gp and mdr-1mRNA . Conclusions: IFN-? has significant effect on the reversal of multidrug resistance of KBv200 cell line via a mechanism of P-gp and mdr1 mRNA down-regulation.

AIM: To observe the realgar induced the apoptosis of eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic guinea pigs and investigate the mechanism that realgar treated asthma.METHODS: The morphology of apoptosis of eosinophils was observed by Giemsa staining and electron microscope.The rate of apoptosis of eosinophils was assayed by the flow cytometry.RESULTS: The characteristic changes of the apoptosis in both light microscope and electron microscope were shown after 6 hours treatment of realgar.Flow cytometry showed that the rate of apoptosis of the eosinophils was increased with both increasing realgar concentration and prolonging realgar action time to the cells.CONCLUSION: Realgar promotes the apoptosis of eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic guinea pig.Realgar induced the apoptosis of eosinophils is one of the causeses for asthmatic treatment.