OBJECTIVE:To compare in vivo and in vitro permeation behaviors of the ethosome gels of testosterone,testoster-one propionate and testosterone undecanoate. METHODS:The ethosome gels of testosterone,testosterone propionate and testoster-one undecanoate were prepared. With cumulative permeating amount and permeation rate as the indexes,Franz diffusion cell and HPLC were employed to compare in vitro permeation behaviors of 3 kinds of ethosome gels in mouse skin. With testosterone patch as the positive control drug, electrochemistry method was adopted to detect the concentration of testosterone in plasma 0,3,6, 9,12,24,36 and 48 h after applying such 3 kinds of ethosome gels on the back of rats,and then pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS:24 h cumulative permeating amounts of the ethosome gels of testosterone,tes-tosterone propionate and testosterone undecanoate were(234.31±13.8),(175.63±41.1)and(72.60±15.3)μg/cm2,and the per-meation rates were(10.25±1.9),(7.64±1.4)and(2.96±0.8)μg/(cm2·h),respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the above-mentioned three kinds of ethosome gels and the positive control drug were respectively as follows as cmax of(20.19±2.57), (17.50±2.91),(0.23±0.04),(14.97±2.12)ng/ml,t1/2Ka of(2.80±0.45),(3.36±0.59),(4.02±0.62),(4.20±0.71)h,AUC0-48 h of(13.85±1.96),(13.93±2.13),(0.35±0.07),(11.76±2.31)ng·h/ml. CONCLUSIONS:in vivo and in vitro permeation behav-iors of the ethosome gels of testosterone and testosterone propionate are fairly good.

To study the immunopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma(AML).Methods:Thirty-six surgically resected hepatic AML were investigated clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically with 10 antibodies.Results:Hepatic AML occurred in 21 females and 15 males,with the mean age of 41.6 years(26-60 years old).The patients with AML often had no special symptoms even had large space-occupying lesions in the liver.The diameter of AML was 2.5 cm to 14 cm(mean 6.8 cm).Histologically,AML was composed of varying heterogeneous mixture of 3 tissue components:blood vessels,smooth muscle and adipose cells.Extramedullary hemopoiesis sometimes existed.According to tissue components,AML was subcategorized into mixed type(19.4%,n=7),lipomatous type(11.1%,n=4),myomatous type(66.7%,n=24),and angiomatous type(2.8%,n=1).The epithelioid smooth muscle cells were sensitive to HMB-45(100%),SMA(100%),and CD117(66.7%) staining.Conclusion:Hepatic AML often contains smooth muscle elements,which have varied morphological features and should be carefully differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma,mesenchymal hamartoma，and tumors with rich fat or blood vessels.Immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45 and SMA are the best available markers for the diagnosis of hepatic AML.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, CCR5 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, CXCR3 ; Receptors, Chemokine ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the features of micro satellite alterations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTen high-polymorphic micro satellite markers on chromosome 4 were selected to be detected for loss of heterozygosity (LOH), micro satellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance (AI) in 56 HCC using PCR-simple sequence length polymorphism (PCR-SSLP) analysis.

RESULTSLOH was found in 40 of 56 HCC (71.4%) on at least 1 locus, the top two loci were D4S426 (61%), D4S1534 (53.7%). LOH on D4S406 was significantly higher in cases with positive serum HBsAg than in those with negative HBsAg. Similarly, LOH on D4S1538 occurred more frequently in patients with HBsAg negative than those with HBsAg positive [76.9% (20/26) vs 12.5% (2/16), chi2=13.999, P<0.01]. LOH on D4S426, D4S1615 and D4S165 were more frequent in poorly or moderately differentiated HCC than in well-differentiated HCC [76.7%(23/30) vs 18.2%(2/11), chi2=9.242, P<0.01; 53.8% (14/26) vs 16.7% (2/12), P<0.05; 60.7% (17/28) vs 18.2% (2/11), P<0.01]. LOH on loci D4S2921 was more frequently detected in tumors with intrahepatic metastasis than in those without [63.6% (21/33) vs 18.2% (2/11), chi2=5.132, P<0.01]. MSI was found in 8.9% (5/56) cases. AI was found in 26.8% (15/56) of all cases examined.

CONCLUSIONFrequent micro satellite alterations on chromosome 4 were existed in HCC. LOH, which represents tumor suppressor gene pathway, plays a more important role in hepatocarcinogenesis of HCC; MSI, representing mismatch repair gene pathway, arranges as the next.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of water extracts of Wolfberry fruit (WB) and Epimedium (EM) on DNA synthesis of the aging-youth 2BS fusion cells.

METHODSHuman embryonic lung diploid fibroblasts 2BS national standard strain, were used as an aging model. Cell denucleation and cell fusion techniques were applied to observe the effect of WB and EM on DNA synthesis of 2BS fusion cells.

RESULTSIn the 0.025 (V/V) WB or EM water extract containing media, 2BS cells could be continuously cultured for 61.0 +/- 2.9 passages and 56.0 +/- 2.6 passages respectively, while in the control group it was only 49.0 +/- 2.6 passages (P < 0.01). After treatment with WB and EM separately for 2 hrs, the aging 2BS cells were denucleated and fused with young 2BS cells. The [3H]TdR incorporation percentage in these treated cells was significantly higher than that in the untreated control cells (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth WB and EM can accelerate the DNA synthesis rate of the aging youth 2BS fusion cells and prolong the life span of 2BS cells.

Cell Fusion ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Diploidy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Lycium

OBJECTIVETo study the features of microsatellite alterations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTen high-polymorphic microsatellite markers on chromosome 8 were selected to detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), microsatellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance (AI) in 56 HCCs using automatic capillary array electrophoresis DNA analysis system.

RESULTSLOH was found in 37 of 56 HCCs (66.1%) on at least 10 locus. The three most frequently altered loci were D8S261 (53.5%, 23/43), D8S1721 (52.5%, 21/40) and D8S1771 (52.5%, 21/40). LOH on D8S277 was significantly higher in cases with positive serum HBsAg than in those with negative HBsAg (P < 0.01). Similarly, LOH on D8S261, D8S298 and D8S1733 occurred more frequently in patients with negative HBsAg than those with positive HBsAg (P < 0.01). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequent in tumors larger than 3 cm in size (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). LOH frequencies of D8S1721 were significantly higher in cases with absent or partially encapsulated tumor than in those with intact tumor capsule (P < 0.05). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequently detected in tumors with intrahepatic metastasis than those without (P < 0.01). MSI was found in 12.5% (7/56) cases. AI was found in 19.6% (11/56) of all cases examined.

CONCLUSIONSMicrosatellite alterations on chromosome 8 were frequent in HCC. LOH, possibly representing alterations of the tumor suppressor pathway, may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. MSI, reflecting a dysfunction of the mismatch repair pathway, may also contribute to this process, but in a less significant way. LOH at some particular loci is associated with certain clinicopathological parameters of human HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Allelic Imbalance ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo analyze the cardiac manifestations of patients with primary and secondary Sjogren syndrome.

METHODSClinical data (clinical manifestations, serologic measurements, echocardiogram) of 396 patients with Sjogren syndrome who admitted to our hospital from 2004--2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with congenital, rheumatic and coronary heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes (n = 221) and patients with incomplete clinic data (n = 51) were excluded.

RESULTSA total of 124 cases were included in this analysis (mean age 47.4 years old; 5 males; average disease duration 85.5 months). Cardiac involvement in Sjogren syndrome is usually asymptomatic. Pericardial effusion (PE) were evidenced in 20.2%, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in 13.7%, pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in 12.9%, left atrium enlargement/in 7.3%, mitral insufficiency in 4.8%, aortic dilation in 5.6%, tricuspid insufficiency in 3.2%, left ventricular enlargement in 2.4% and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 0.8% patients by echocardiography examinations. Patients with PE had significantly lower CH50, C3, C4 levels and significantly higher C reactive protein level (CRP) and SSA positive rate than patients without PE (all P < 0.05). The serum level of CRP was significantly associated with PE (OR 0.976, 95% CI 0.956 - 0.997, P < 0.05). Age is positively correlated to LVDD (OR 0.884, 95% CI 0.811 - 0.964, P < 0.005). The gammaglobulin level is significantly higher in the PAH group than that in the non-PAH group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCardiac involvement is not rare in patients with Sjogren syndrome. PE, LVDD and PAH are usual cardiac manifestations in these patients. The serum level of CRP is positively related to PE in these patients with Sjogren syndrome.

Adult ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of postoperative transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and thymosin alpha(1) (T(alpha1)) treatment on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFrom Jan 2000 to Dec 2002, 57 patients with HCC were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 18) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and T(alpha1), group B (n = 23) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and group C (n = 16) received hepatectomy only. The recurrence rate, the time to tumor recurrence and the median survival for the three groups were investigated.

RESULTSFor group A, B and C, the 1 year recurrence rate was 83.3%, 87.0% and 87.5% (P = 0.926), respectively. The time to tumor recurrence was 7.0, 5.0 and 4.0 months (P = 0.039), respectively. The median survival was 10.0, 7.0 and 8.0 months (P = 0.002), respectively.

CONCLUSIONPostoperative TACE plus Talpha(1) treatment for HCC patients does not decrease the recurrence rate but may delay its occurrence and prolong surviving time.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Period ; Survival Rate ; Thymosin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in hepatocarcinogenesis, as well as their correlation with clinicopathologic features.

METHODSLOH in 6 TSG (APC, DCC, MCC, OGG1, p53 and RB1) was detected in 36 informative cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), among 92 surgically resected HCC. Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were also studied in 15 of these cases by microdissection-based PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing. The correlation between genetic alterations and clinicopathologic features was analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall incidence of LOH in HCC was 41.7% (15/36). There was no LOH in MCC gene. 46.2% (6/13) microsatellites showed LOH in 9 of the 15 cases of HCC (60%). Certain clinicopathologic differences were observed between cases (number = 7) with LOH in APC, OGG1 and DCC ("type I") and cases (number = 8) with LOH in p53 and RB1 ("type II"). The mean tumor size of these two types was 2.9 (+/- 1.7) cm and 7.2 (+/- 3.4) cm, respectively (P < 0.01); and the mean survival was 72.0 (+/- 38.6) months, and 51.0 (+/- 30.4) months, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with MSI pathway, LOH pathway plays a more important role in the development of HCC. A multistep hepatocarcinogenesis is likely, with LOH in APC, OGG1 and DCC ("type I") being an early event and LOH in p53 and RB1 ("type II") being a late event. On the other hand, MCC gene seems to play no role in the whole process.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, APC ; Genes, DCC ; Genes, MCC ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEHigh short-term successful rate was reported for catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), we analyzed the long-term outcome (success rate, anticoagulation therapy and embolism event, anti-arrhythmic therapy and death post procedure) of catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF in this study.

METHODSFrom January 2000 to December 2004, 106 consecutive patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal AF underwent catheter ablation and were followed-up for (60.7 + or - 11.8) months. Segmental pulmonary vein isolation (SPVI) was routinely performed by radiofrequency energy under the guidance of circular mapping catheter. The patients were followed up with 24 h-holter, ECG, telephone or letter. Data on recurrence of AF, the anticoagulation medication and the incidence of embolism, anti-arrhythmic therapy were obtained.

RESULTSThere were 9 patients lost to follow up. In the remaining 97 patients [65 males, (54.8 + or - 11.2) years old], 3 cases died from cancer, sinus rhythm was maintained in 68 patients (Group S, 72.3%) and AF recurrence evidenced in 26 patients (Group R, 27.7%). In Group S, 56 patients (82.4%) discontinued anticoagulation medication, and 12 patients continued to take aspirin. There was no embolism event in Group S during follow-up. In Group R, 1 patient continued to take warfarin; 11 patients continued to take aspirin and 2 patients suffered from cerebral embolism. Anticoagulation medication was discontinued in 14 patients (53.8%) and 1 patient suffered form cerebral embolism. The incidence of embolism event in Group R is significantly higher than in Group S (P < 0.01). More patients discontinued anti-arrhythmic medication in Group S than in Group R (80.9% vs. 56.0%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCatheter ablation is associated with satisfactory long-term success rate, reduced anti-arrhythmia medication, improved quality of life in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies