Objective To explore the clinial value of airbronchogram in diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer (diameter≤3). Methods Comparing study between thin section CT and pathology was done on 174 nodules (129malignant and 45 benigin) in 150 patients. Results Thin section CT showed 30 cases (23%) of airbronehogram in nodules,only seen in bronchioalveolocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (significance difference). Conclusion Airbronchogram in peripheral small nodules was a certain sign of malignant nodule. The sign suggested diagnosis of histologic types in lung center.

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression. In this study, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone. The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring [(3)H] L-arginine converses to [(3)H] L-citrulline, and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot. It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls (P<0.01). Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs (P<0.05), which could be blocked by SB203580 (P<0.01), but not by actinomycin D (P>0.05). It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women, the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms (P<0.01). Moreover, the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progesterone. With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways, which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.

Objective To investigate the effects of 3 kinds of broth media,including tryptose soya broth(TSB),LB and M-H,on the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S.epidermidis).Methods The effects of TSB,LB and M-H broth media on the biofilm formation of S.epidermidis were investigated by the construction of bacterial biofilm in 96-well and 6-well microplates and the crystal violet straining for the semi-quantitative analysis and microscopic observation of the bacterial biofilm.The effects of TSB,LB and M-H broth media on the expression of adhesion-related genes in S.epidermidis were determined by the extraction of bacterial total RNA,reverse transcription and real-time PCR.Results Compared with LB (0.149 ± 0.047) and M-H (0.323 ± 0.003) media,TSB medium (2.954 ± 0.287) could significantly promote the biofilm formation of S.epidermidis (TSB vs LB,t =16.706,P ＜ 0.01;TSB vs M-H,t =15.877,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with LB medium,TSB medium could significantly enhance the expression of icaA gene (t =9.667,P＜0.01) but inhibit icaR gene (t =13.283,P＜0.01).Conclusion Compared with LB and M-H broth media,TSB medium may significantly improve the biofilm formation and the expression of adhesion-related gene icaA of S.epidermidis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of 153Sm-EDTMP in the treatment of bone metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) by comparison with zoledronic acid.

METHODSWe assigned 55 PCa patients with bone metastasis to receive 153Sm-EDTMP (n = 31) and zoledronic acid (n = 24), the former injected intravenously at the dose of 37.0 MBq/kg body weight, and the latter administered by slow intravenous drip at 4 mg in 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride. We performed 99mTc-MDP bone scan before and 1 -2 months after the treatment.

RESULTSThe rate of pain relief was 83.9% in the 153Sm-EDTMP group and 58.3% in the zoledronic acid group (P = 0.035), and that of bone metabolism change was 64.5% in the former and 33.3% in the latter (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION153Sm-EDTMP is an ideal agent for the treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastasis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Diphosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; drug therapy ; Organometallic Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between XAGE-1b gene expression and the clinical characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTumor tissue and adjacent normal lung tissue specimens were obtained surgically from 30 patients with resectable NSCLC, from which the total RNA was extracted for RT-PCR to amplify full-length XAGE-1b gene. The products of RT-PCR were identified by electrophoresis and sequencing. The expression of XAGE-1b gene and its association with the clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the 30 tumor tissue specimens, the expression rate of XAGE-1b gene was 40%, but none of the normal lung tissues expressed this gene. The gene expression was not related to the patients' age, gender, tumor differentiation or clinical stages, but showed significant correlation to their pathological classification. The expression rate of XAGE-1b gene in adenocarcinoma was much higher than that in tumors of other pathological types (61.1% vs 8.3%, P=0.015). XAGE-1b gene expression tended to increase with the TNM stages, which, however, failed to find statistical data support (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXAGE-1b gene is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma, and can be an ideal target for tumor immunotherapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK)pathways.This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression.In this study,polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNs)challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone.The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring[3H]L-arginine converses to[3H]L-citruiline,and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot.It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls(P<0.01).Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs(P<0.05),which could be blocked by SB203580(P<0.01),but not by actinomycin D(P>0.05).It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women,the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms(P<0.01).Moreover,the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progester-one.With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways,which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.

Objective To study the course setting of the core competencies training for obstetrics nurse specialists (OBNS).Methods A total of 40 nursing experts were selected by Delphi method for two turns of questionnaires.Results Two turns of questionnaires had a 92％ and 97％ valid return.The Coordination coefficient was 0.423 (P ＜ 0.001).The CR,Cs and Ca was 0.858,0.900,and 0.817.The overall scale reliability had a Cronbach' sα of 0.802 and a overall interrater agreementof 0.782.The final course setting for OBNS was confirmed,consisting of 4 items (basic nursing of obstetrics,core nursing technique and knowledge,obstetrics nursing administration,Legal/ethical practice) in the first dimension and 20 items in the second dimension.Conclusions It is necessary and feasible to provide professional training for obstetrics nurses.The course setting for OBNS will underlie core competencies training and continuing education.

Objective To explore the effects of glycyrrhizic acid(GA)on neurons injury in traumatic brain injury(TBI)rats and the possible mechanism.Methods The rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group,control group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups,with 20 rats each group.The sham-operation group was only treated with craniotomy;the other 5 groups were used to establish TBI models by extracorporeal shock method.At 0,24 and 48 h after modeling,the experimental-L,-M,-H groups were intraperitoneally injected with 10,50 and 100 mg·kg-1 GA solution,respectively;control group was intraperitoneally injected with 2 mg·kg-1 nimodipine;sham-operation and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with the equal volume of phosphate buffered solution.The degree of neurological dysfunction was evaluated by cerebral edema and modified neurological severity score(mNSS).The apoptosis rates of neurons in rat brain tissue was evaluated by apoptosis staining.Western blot was used to analyze the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and aquaporin 4(AQP4)protein.Results The mNSS scores of experimental-M,-H groups,control group,model group,sham-operation group were(6.98±0.82),(5.28±0.37),(5.91±0.52),(13.28±1.59)and(0.36±0.01)points;the degrees of brain edema were(63.27±10.33)％,(60.09±9.38)％,(66.86±9.91)％,(85.92±11.93)％and(52.17±8.53)％;the apoptosis rates of neurons were(6.81±0.73)％,(5.39±0.25)％,(5.87±0.62)％,(15.13±3.29)％and(2.56±0.03)％;the relative expression levels of B cell lymphoma 2(Bel-2)protein were 0.49±0.06,0.68±0.15,0.62±0.03,0.13±0.03 and 0.95±0.13;the relative expression levels of Bel-2 associated X protein were 0.61±0.08,0.55±0.17,0.39±0.09,0.92±0.19 and 0.16±0.02;the relative expression levels of AQP4 protein were 0.69±0.15,0.38±0.03,0.47±0.09,0.86±0.13 and 0.13±0.09,respectively.There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the model group and the experimental-M,-H groups and control group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion GA is able to reduce the brain edema degree and neurological dysfunction in TBI rats,and inhibit neuronal damage and apoptosis,and the mechanism of action may be associated with the inhibition of AQP 4 expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sodium selenite on telomerase activity and expression of hTERT mRNA in cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells.

METHODSTelomerase activity and expression of genes were measured after cultured cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells were exposed to sodium selenite at different doses (0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00 micromol/L) for 24 hours.

RESULTSSelenium decreased telomerase activity in cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells. There existed an obvious dose-effect relationship between the selenium concentration and these changes. The expression of hTERT and c-myc mRNA also decreased but the expression of mad1 mRNA increased after exposure to selenium for 24 hours. No difference was found in expression of hTRF1 and hTRF2 mRNA after incubated with sodium selenite for 24 hours, compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONSelenium inhibits telomerase activity by decreasing hTERT and c-myc mRNA expression and increasing mad1 mRNA expression in cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells and selenium concentration is significantly correlated with these changes.

Base Sequence ; Cadmium ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Transformed ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

As molecular targets continue to be identified and more targeted inhibitors are developed for personalized treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), multigene mutation determination will be needed for routine oncology practice and for clinical trials. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of multigene mutation testing by using the Snapshot assay in NSCLC. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 110 consecutive NSCLC specimens for which epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing was performed between November 2011 and December 2011 using Sanger sequencing. Using the Snapshot assay, mutation statuses were detected for EGFR, Kirsten rate sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA), v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF), v-ras neuroblastoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS), dual specificity mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patient specimens and cell line DNA. Snapshot data were compared to Sanger sequencing data. Of the 110 samples, 51 (46.4%) harbored at least one mutation. The mutation frequency in adenocarcinoma specimens was 55.6%, and the frequencies of EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, PTEN, and MEK1 mutations were 35.5%, 9.1%, 3.6%, 0.9%, and 0.9%, respectively. No mutation was found in the HER2, NRAS, or BRAF genes. Three of the 51 mutant samples harbored double mutations: two PIK3CA mutations coexisted with KRAS or EGFR mutations, and another KRAS mutation coexisted with a PTEN mutation. Among the 110 samples, 47 were surgical specimens, 60 were biopsy specimens, and 3 were cytological specimens; the corresponding mutation frequencies were 51.1%, 41.7%, and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.532). Compared to Sanger sequencing, Snapshot specificity was 98.4% and sensitivity was 100% (positive predictive value, 97.9%; negative predictive value, 100%). The Snapshot assay is a sensitive and easily customized assay for multigene mutation testing in clinical practice.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Mutation ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; Retrospective Studies ; ras Proteins