Objective:To evaluate the outcome and prognostic factors of conventional radiotherapy followed by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) as a boost combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of high-grade gliomas (HGG). Methods:From Nov. 2004 to Nov. 2006, 112 HGG patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy followed by IMRT as a boost combined with chemotherapy. The radiotherapy regimen included first-course conventional radiotherapy and latE-course IMRT as a boost with the total radiation dosage of 57.5- 62.5Gy (27-29 fractions in 37-45 days). All the patients received chemotherapy. Sixty-three patients received temozolomidE-based chemotherapy and 49 patients received semustine plus teniposide chemotherapy. The treatment reaction was recorded. The overall survival rate and local progression-free survival rate were calculated. The prognostic factors were analyzed by using multivariate COX regression model. Results:The acute treatment toxicity was the most at grade 1 to grade 2 and no grade 4 adverse reaction was observed. Three cases had late radiation-induced brain necrosis. The overall 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 78.9%, 54.7%, and 30.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor location (P=0.001) and KPS score (P=0.011) were independent prognostic factors. The 1-, 2-, 3-year local progression-free survival rates were 63.8%, 38.9%, and 10.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor location (P=0.001), KPS score (P=0.001), and histologic type (P=0.005) were independent prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis did not reveal the significant correlation of temozolomide chemotherapy with the prognosis of the patients. Conclusion:Postoperative conventional radiotherapy followed by IMRT as a boost combined with chemotherapy has better short-term efficacy in the treatment of HGG and the adverse reaction is tolerable. KPS score, tumor location, and histologic type are important prognostic factors. Temozolomide chemotherapy is not associated with the prognosis of patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of the diameter of the esophageal hiatus on multislice spiral CT(MSCT)and to present the MSCT manifestations of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH).Methods(1)The distance between diaphragmatic crura(DDC),which indicated the diameter of esophageal hiatus,was measured in 140 normal adult patients on their thoracic and/or abdomenal CT images.(2)The DDC of 56 patients with EHH diagnosed by barium examination was measured on MSCT, and the MSCT findings were analyzed retrospectively.Results(1)The DDC of 140 normal adult cases were(13.44?4.41)mm on average and increased with age.The mean DDCs of patients under the age of 59 year-old(80 cases)and over 60-year-old(60 cases)were 11.03?2.10 mm and 16.67?4.64 mm respective]y,there was a significant difference(t=8.762,P

OBJECTIVESTo probe into the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment way of diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED).

METHODSThe age, course, blood pressure, history of drink and smoke, relationship with DED were investigated in 126 DED patients of 320 diabetes mellitus.

RESULTSThe prevalence of DED in male diabetic patients was 39.4% (126/320). It was found by the analysis of Logistic regression that the values of OR rise to 1.8467, 1.2614, 1.4508, 1.3212, 1.2065, 5.3464 (P < 0.01), along with adding of 5 years in course, 10 years in ages, 2% in HbA1C, 4 kPa in systolic blood pressure, positive history of smoking and drinking respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDrinking is the most dangerous factor among all risk factors for occurrence of DED. It is very important to control blood pressure well, and to give up tobacco and drink in preventing occurrence of DED.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms linking intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to adult type 2 diabetes mellitus, the effect of IUGR on the hepatic post-receptor insulin-signaling pathway was investigated in the adult offspring.

METHODSThe IUGR model was prepared by maternal protein-malnutrition. Western blotting analysis was undertaken to assess hepatic expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS-2), phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), protein kinase B (PKB), phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3 in 8-week-old male IUGR rats.

RESULTSThe basal levels of PI-3K protein decreased in IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01), whereas GSK-3beta protein level significantly increased in IUGR rats (p<0.01). Both PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 protein levels significantly decreased in the liver of IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01)). After insulin administration, phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 significantly increased to 182% of basal level in control rats(p<0.01); However, phosphorylation of PKB which responded to insulin was markedly blunted in IUGR rats compared with controls and only increased to 123% of basal level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of PI-3K and PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 expression decreased in the liver of IUGR rats, whereas the levels of GSK-3beta protein increased. It may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the IUGR rats.

Animals ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; analysis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; analysis ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; analysis ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Viremia ; virology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease endangering human health seriously. Recent reports have revealed that beta-amyloid aggregates play a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, targeting the Abeta plaques benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized with the scaffold of the most promising imaging agent PIB ([11C]-6-OH-BTA-1, [11C]-2-(4-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole) and C = N as linker to study the binding characteristics with the target protein through surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. These derivatives were synthesized through simple yet effective method with high yields and characterized by 1H NMR and FTIR. The binding properties (K(D)) were determined with Biacore X-100 instrument according to the fitting-plot curve. Compounds 3a and 3f showed high binding affinity for Abeta1-40. The results suggest that benzothiazole derivatives could be served as a scaffold to develop novel beta-amyloid imaging agents for the diagnosis of AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; chemistry ; Aniline Compounds ; chemistry ; Benzothiazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Schiff Bases ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; Thiazoles ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect(VSD).Methods A total of 164 cases of VSD were recruited as candidates to receive transthoracic minimally invasive device closure between January 2007 and October 2010,including 138 perimembranous VSDs,3 muscular VSDs and 23 supracristal VSDs.Among these groups,85 male patients were included.Four-champer view,five-champer view,left ventricular long-axis view,short-axis view and right ventricular inflow view were detected to evaluate the availability of device closure.Results A total of 152 cases(92.7%)were successfully closed with a device.All the patients were followed up more than 3 months arranged with a standard protocol.No complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) or associated valvular complications were observed.Three of the five cases with traced residual shunt after device closure closed spontaneously.Conclusion TEE plays an important role in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect,which has been proved by the good follow-up results without CAVB and associated valvular complications.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate total drinking water intake of adults in the four cities of China in summer.

METHODSA total of 1483 adults aged 18 - 60 yrs from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou were selected using multiple-stage random sampling method. The information of amounts and types of daily drinking water was recorded by subjects for seven consecutive days using a quantitative measurement. The amounts and types of daily drinking water among different cities and between men and women or urban and rural was analyzed.

RESULTSThe median of daily total drinking water of subjects was 1488 ml, with significant difference among the four cities (1579, 1793, 1150, 1467 ml in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou city, respectively, χ(2) = 154.31, P = 0.000). The median of daily drinking water was significantly higher in men (1679 ml) than women (1370 ml) (Z = 8.34, P = 0.000), but no significant difference was found between urban (1514 ml) and rural (1466 ml) daily drinking water median (Z = -0.81, P = 0.420). The median of daily consumption of plain water, tea and beverages were 786, 109, 186 ml, respectively. Among four cities, the highest consumption of plain water was in subjects of Guangzhou (917 ml), while the highest tea consumption in Shanghai (257 ml) and the highest beverages consumption in Shanghai (323 ml) and Beijing (264 ml). Consumption of tea in men (229 ml) was significantly higher than that in women (57 ml) (Z = 7.52, P = 0.000). Subjects in urban (693 ml) had lower consumption of plain water than those in rural (914 ml). The proportion was 32.4% (480/1483) for subjects with water drinking less than 1200 ml per day.

CONCLUSIONThe daily consumption of total drinking water, including plain water, tea and beverages is different in adults among different cities and is different in gender and regions. It is nearly 1/3 of subjects with daily total drinking water less than current Chinese recommended water intake (1200 ml).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Beverages ; China ; Drinking ; physiology ; Drinking Water ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seasons ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal disorder associated with elevated plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels leading to premature coronary heart disease (CHD). As a result of long-term hyperlipemia, FH patients will present endarterium thickening and artherosclerosis. In the present study we scanned the related gene of a clinically diagnosed autosomal genetic hypercholesterolemia family for the possible mutations and established eukaryotic expression vector of mutation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene with gene recombination technique to investigate the contributions of the variation on low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) metabolism and function alternation.

METHODSMutation detection was conducted for LDL-R, apolipoprotein B(100) (apoB(100)) and PCSK9 gene with nucleotide sequencing in a Chinese FH family. The full-length cDNA of wild type PCSK9 gene (WT-PCSK9) was obtained from Bel-7402. Site mutagenesis was used to establish the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector carrying pathogenic type of PCSK9 gene and the inserted fragment was sequenced. With the blank vector as control, liposome transfection method was used to transfect the Bel-7402 cells with recombinant plasmid. The expression of LDL-R mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. PCSK9 and the expression of LDL-R protein were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe G-->T mutation at the 918 nucleotide of PCSK9 gene resulted in the substitution of the arginine by a serine at the codon 306 of exon 6. After sequencing, it was confirmed that the inserted fragment of established expression vector had correct size and sequence and the mutant was highly expressed in Bel-7402 cells. There was no significant variation in the levels of LDL-R mRNA. LDL-R mature protein was decreased by 57% after the cells were transfected by WT-PCSK9 plasmid. Mature LDL-R was significantly decreased by 12% after the cells were transfected by R306S mutant as evidenced by gray scale scanning, suggesting that the new mutant R306S can significantly decrease the expression of mature LDL-R protein.

CONCLUSIONSA novel missense mutation of PCSK9 gene, R306S, was found and the eukaryotic expression vectors of mutant and wild-type of PCSK9 gene were established. There was no significant variation in the levels of LDL-R mRNA. The R306S mutation could significantly lead to the decrease of LDL-R mature protein expression, which might be the pathogenic gene of the FH family.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; genetics ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Proprotein Convertase 9 ; Proprotein Convertases ; Serine Endopeptidases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential effect of EBB, a calmodulin antagonist, on invasion of human fibrosarcoma cells HT1080.

METHODSThe antitumor effect of EBB was assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured by Zymogrophy analysis. The mRNA levels, of MMP-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 were evaluated by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transwell chamber assay was applied to measure the effect of EBB on the invasion of HT1080 cells.

RESULTSCalmodulin antagonist EBB inhibited the proliferation of HT1080 cells with an IC50 of (8.2 +/- 1.2) microg/ml. EBB down-regulated the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and down-regulated the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9, while up-regulated the mRNA levels of TIMP-1. The invasive ability of HT1080 cells was decreased to (31.13 +/- 2.265)%, (59.91 +/- 2.566)%, and (71.58 +/- 0.5960)% after exposure of the cells with 2, 5, and 10 microg/ml EBB, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with calmodulin antagonist EBB is effective in suppressing tumor invasion. The possible mechanism is the down-regulation of MMPs.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Calmodulin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Fibrosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics