Current treatments for cancer and the central nervous system diseases are limited,partly due to the difficulties posed by the insolubility,poor distribution of drugs among cells and lack of selectivity of drugs,the inability of drugs to cross cellular barriers and blood brain barrier (BBB).Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess many distinct properties including good electronic properiies,remarkably penetrating capability on the cell membrane,high drug-loading and pH-dependent therapeutic unloading capacities,thermal properties,large surface area and easy modification with molecules,which render them as a suitable candidate to deliver drugs to cancer and brain.CNTs as a drug delivery could achieve a high efficacy,enhance specificity and diminish side effects.Whereas CNTs have been primarily employed in cancer treatment,a few studies have focused on the treatment and diagnosis of the central nervous system diseases using CNTs.Here,we review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to cancer involving CNTs-based tumor-targeted drug delivery systems (DDS),photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT).Meanwhile,we also review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to brain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the CT scan findings of primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PPNHL) and their relation to pathological features.

METHODSThe CT scan findings of 17 PPNHL cases confirmed pathologically from August 1992 to June 2007 were analyzed in relation to their pathological foundation.

RESULTIn 17 cases the CT findings showed: 1) Five were single mass or nodule, including 3 with air-bronchograms, 1 with straddling-lobe distribution and 3 with slight enhancement; 2) One was multi-nodules with air-bronchograms; 3) Six were consolidation with air bronchogram,including 3 with straddling-lobe distribution and 3 with slight enhancement; 4) Five were combined changes, including 5 with air-bronchograms, 2 with straddling-lobe distribution and 4 with slight enhancement. The CT features of PPNHL corresponded to their pathological process and pathological features.

CONCLUSIONPrimary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma should be considered when CT scan shows variety of images found in one patient, middle lobe of right lung involved, air-bronchograms and straddling-lobe distribution in consolidation with slight enhancement.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of intravesical Pirarubicin (THP) instillation on the prediction results of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables and to discuss the efficacy of EORTC risk tables in clinical application.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 389 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after TURBT treated with intravesical pirarubicin instillation. According to the EORTC Scoring System, all the cases were divided into low risk group, intermediate risk group and high risk group. The 1-year and 5-year recurrence and progression rates of each group were calculated and compared with the prediction results of the EORTC risk tables.

RESULTSThe 1-year recurrence and progression rates of the low risk group were 8.0% and 0, those of the intermediate risk group were 31.0% and 2.8%, and those of the high risk group were 52.5% and 18.6%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence and progression rates of low risk group were 16.0% and 5.3%, those of the intermediate risk group were 42.6% and 10.7%, and those of the high risk group were 63.9% and 41.9%, respectively. The prediction results of progression rate were similar to that of the EORTC risk tables while the overall recurrence rate was lower.

CONCLUSIONSThe EORTC risk tables can be effectively used to predict the recurrence rate and progression rate of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. However, the EORTC risk tables have a tendency to overestimate the recurrence rate. Intravesical pirarubicin instillation is helpful to reduce the recurrence rate, yet has no obvious influence on the tumor progression.

Administration, Intravesical ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Disease Progression ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

Pseudomonas sp. M18 is one of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria capable of producing two kinds of anti-fungal agents: phenazine-1-carboxilic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (Plt). The pqsR gene, which encodes a LysR family member PqsR, was amplified from chromosomal genome of strain M18. Using the homologous recombination technique, a chromosomal pqsR inactivated mutant strain M18PRG was constructed in Pseudomonas sp. M18. To study the effect of pqsR gene on Plt biosynthesis, the dynamic curves of Plt production by strains M18 and M18PRG was measured in KMB media. As a result, Plt production of the pqsR mutant was three to four folds higher than that of its parent strain M18. The Plt production was restored to the wild-type level when strain M18PRG was complemented with pqsR gene in trans. The regulation of pqsR gene on Plt production was further confirmed by the pltA′-′lacZ translational fusion analysis. These results indicate that pqsR gene negatively controls the Plt biosynthesis. Additionally, by analyzing the growth curves of wild type strain M18 and pqsR mutant, wecan readily find that PqsR has a negative influence on cell growth. It was also shown that the production of red pigments in strain M18 required the expression of pqsR gene. In conclusion, the data presented in this study clearly demonstrate that PqsR acts as a global regulator involved in many physiological activities in Pseudomonas sp. M18.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnoses and treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 16 IC patients were analyzed respectively. The patients with urinary frequency, urgency, suprapubic pain and chronic pelvic pain. They were misdiagnosed as chronic cystitis, pelvic inflammation, endometriosis, cystophthisis and urethral syndrome, and were diagnosed finally by the means of pathology or cystoscopy. Among the 16 patients, 4 cases had the operation of ileal reservoir, Two cases had sigmoid-cysto-plasty, and 10 cases had drug treatment. The methods of IC diagnosis and treatment were discussed with the review of literature.

RESULTSThe pelvic ache disappeared completely in 4 cases after the operation of ileal reservoir; Two cases after cystoplasty felt lightly discomfortable in perineum occasionally, and their bladder capacity was above 350 ml, no recurrence after operation having been found after follow-up for 24 months and 33 months; Ten cases treated with non-operative treatment improved obviously, with the O'Leary-Sant IC symptom index and IC problem index decreased from 15.4 +/- 4.1, 9.4 +/- 2.7 to 4.1 +/- 2.1 and 5.1 +/- 3.9, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSufficient attention should be paid to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of IC; Early diagnosis and therapeutic alliance with manifold measures can relieve the patients' symptom and improve the quality of life.

Adult ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Cystoscopy ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Diversion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of Coxsackie B virus (CBV) with habitual abortion.

METHODSCBV IgM antibody, viral RNA and virions were detected in 86 women with habitual abortion and 40 with induced abortion by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR and virus isolation, respectively.

RESULTSThe positivity rate of CBV IgM were 87.2% and 35% in the two groups, respectively, and the detection rate of the viral RNA was 53.5% and 17.5% in blood lymphocytes, and 59.3% and 17.5% in the placentas. The virions were found in the placentas in 41.9% and 6.9% of the women, respectively. The positivity rates of CBV IgM, viral DNA and virions showed significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONCBV might be one of the causes responsible for habitual abortion.

Abortion, Habitual ; blood ; etiology ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; complications ; virology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; blood ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; blood

BACKGROUNDBladder leiomyoma is an uncommon type of bladder neoplasms. Most publications are reports of isolated cases. The influence of tumor size on patients' early symptoms was seldom analyzed. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics of bladder leiomyoma and the influence of tumor size on patients'symptoms in Chinese population.

METHODSWe reviewed the medical records of eight patients diagnosed with bladder leiomyoma at our department, collected 53 cases from Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang data base, and Chinese Biological Medicine Disk, and performed a pooled analysis. The clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed and then classified into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. The association between tumor size and the occurrence of symptoms was evaluated. Furthermore, Logistic regression model was constructed to discriminate variables.

RESULTSWomen comprised the majority of the patients (49/61, 80.3%). The mean age and tumor size were (42.3 ± 14.0) years and (45.0 ± 25.7) mm, respectively. Among all the symptoms, irritative symptoms occurred most frequently (37.7%, 23/61), followed by obstructive urinary symptoms (31.1%, 19/61), hematuria (24.6%, 15/61), and abdominal bulge or pain (14.8%, 9/61). In our study, patients who were 45 years old or younger tended to be asymptomatic compared with elder ones (14/36 vs. 3/25, P = 0.021). The histological, as well as anatomical, location of tumor, did not show significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (P = 0.306 and 0.700). Tumors larger than 30 mm in the greatest diameter would cause clinical symptoms such as obstructive urinary symptoms (P = 0.048) and irritative symptoms (P = 0.037). Logistic regression confirmed the association between tumor size and the occurrence of symptoms, which was related with age.

CONCLUSIONSBladder leiomyoma occurs mainly in women and most frequently with irritative symptoms. The occurrence of symptoms is related to tumor size rather than the location. In this setting, patients with endovesical tumors smaller than 30 mm in the greatest diameter tended to be asymptomatic, which were usually treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To study the MRI appearance and clinical features of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) to improve accurate diagnosis of DNT. Methods The clinical data and MRI appearance of 12 patients with DNT confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. Routine MRI was performed in all of the 12 patients, and also dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 10 of them. Results Eight lesions resided in the temporal lobes, 2in the frontal lobe, and the other 2 in the parietal lobe. All of the 12 DNTs located in supratentorial hemisphere cortex, and 6 of them encroached the adjacent white matter. The lesions appeared as hypointense or iso-hypointense signal on T1WI of MRI, and hyperintense on T2WI and FLAIR of MRI.Cystic structure was shown in all the lesions or as its main part, and mesh-separated structure was also noted in some of the tumors. Five lesions appeared as a triangle in shape, 5 in gyrus-like shape and the remaining 2 in round shape. All the tumors had no significant mass effect with 1 having mild edema around the tumor. Enhanced MR imaging showed only 1 lesion having slight and heterogeneous enhancement. Conclusion DNT is accorded with general tumor's biological characteristics. MRI has great value on DNT's diagnosis. If a cystic lesion locates in the hemisphere cortex with a triangle in shape or gyrus-like shape, having no significant mass effect and peripheral edema, it has a great possibility of being DNT.

OBJECTIVETo observe the precise time of the recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to further explore the risk factors associated with postoperative recurrence.

METHODSTotally 94 patients who had undergone resection of HCC were divided into three groups based on the time of recurrence, which was indicated by the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination: recurrence between 1 to 6 months, recurrence between 7 to 12 months, and tumor-free after 12 months. Patients with intra-hepatic recurrence were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and confirmed by CT scans after embolization, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTSThe recurrence rates of 6 months and 1 year were 30.9% and 36.2%, respectively. No statistically significant difference between 6-month and 1-year recurrence rates was observed. Nine (26.5%) patients with recurrence and five (8.3%) patients free of tumor had previously presented as multifocal HCC, which showed a statistical significance (P = 0.032). The diagnostic accuracy of DSA was 87.2%, which was eventually confirmed by the other investigations.

CONCLUSIONSMost recurrences occure within the first six months postoperatively and multifocal carcinogenesis is one of the risk factors associated with early recurrence after liver resection for advanced HCC. DSA is an important surveillance for early detection of intra-hepatic recurrence after surgery; meanwhile, it also provides information for early management to control the disease progression and for future active therapies.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Postoperative Period ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo establish a three-dimentional liver function evaluation system using 99mTc-diethyl iminodiacetic acid (99mTc-EHIDA) scintigraphy based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

METHODSTotally 16 patients with liver lesions were divided into cirrhosis group and non-cirrhosis group. SPECT was performed 2 days before operation and 5 days after operation. Serum liver functions were examined on the same day of scintigraphy. SPECT images of areas of interest of heart and liver were aquired. Time of the peak of EHIDA density in liver (Tpeak), five-minutes heart liver index (HLI5), blood clearance index (HH15), receptor index (LHL15), and the predictive values were calculated.

RESULTSTpeak was not significantly different between two groups, while HLI5, HH15, and LHL15 were significantly different (P = 0.033, P = 0.001, and P = 0.005). HLI, and LHL15 were significantly correlated with preoperative total protein and prealbumin levels (P = 0.003, P = 0.015, P = 0.022, P = 0.038) and post-operative prealbumin (P = 0.037, P = 0.042). The predictive values of HLI5 and LHL15 correlated well with postoperative HLI5 and LHL15 (r = 0.675, P = 0.016; r = 0.629, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONThe three-dimentional liver function evaluation system using 99mTc-EHIDA based on liver SPECT may facilitate the further studies of risks of liver surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Period ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; administration & dosage ; Technetium Tc 99m Diethyl-iminodiacetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon