Objective To identify the relationship between sorafenib's efficacy and its side effects in treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma patients. Methods Fifty-one patients having measurable diseases were diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Of whom, 26 patients were in stage T1Nx,0,1M1, 12 patients in stage T2Nx,0 M1, 8 patients in stage T3NxM1, 5 patients in stage T4NxM1. These 46 patients of T1 -T3 had their primary diseases removed, but the 5 T~ patients didn"t have their primary diseases removed. These 51 patients received oral sorafenib 400 mg Bid continual-ly and they had CT scan every two months to evaluate the progression. The dosage of sorafenib wasmodified according to efficacy and toxicity. Two patients changed the dosage to 200 mg Bid due to se-vere side effects. Sixteen patients increased the dosage to 600 mg Bid or 800 mg Bid. The response ofSorafenib and toxicities as well as their severity were recorded. The toxicity severity was graded ac-cording to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0. The efficacy was deter-mined by RECIST criteria. The efficacy and progression free survival (PFS) were recorded. The sta-tistics analysis was conducted between sorafenib's side effects and efficacy as well as their severity by multi-faetor Logistic regression. Results The rates of adverse events in the patients receiving oral sorafenib were hand-foot skin reaetion 68. 6% (35/51), diarrhea 39. 2% (20/51), rash 25. 5% (13/ 51), mucositis 23.5% (12/51), hypertension 17.6% (9/51), and myelosuppression 13. 7%(7/51). The response rate in the patients who had toxicity of grade 3-4 was 33.3%(12/36), and that in the patients who had slight toxicity was 12.0%(3/25). The rate of hand-foot skin reaction was higher than that of diarrhea, rash, mucositis, hypertension and bone marrow suppression (P<0.01). Sor-afenib's efficacy was eorrelated to rash and mueositis (P=0.048, 0.045 respectively). More grade 3 4 side effects occurred in the patients who would have better response to sorafenib (P=0.008). The median PFS was 15.0 months and PFS was not related to the toxicity and its severity. Conclusions It may help to predict the response for sorafenib's side effects and efficacy in the treatment of the patients with advaneed renal cell earcinoma.

Objective To analyze the effect and related factors of sorafenib in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma(MRCC), and identify the potential predictive factors of sorafenib re-sponse. Methods The data of 51 MRCC patients who received sorafenib therapy, with or without combination with interferon or chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. After two cycles of treat-ment, patients were evaluated for progression or response. Pearson Chi-square test and Logistic re-gression test were performed respectively as univariate and multivariate analyses of sorafenib response. Results The overall objective response rate was 29.4%(95% confidence interval 16.9% to 41.9%, with 1(2.0%) complete response and 14(27.4%) partial responses. Twenty-nine(56.9%) had stable disease, and 7 (13.7%) had progression disease (PD). Significant independent predictive factors asso-ciated with good response in multivariate analysis were lung metastasis only(P=0.021, HR=5.127). Conclusions Sorafenib is effective in MRCC patients. Lung metastasis only is predictive factor in mul-tivariate analysis for sorafenib response.

AIMTo explore the possible effect of the deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) copy cluster deletion on spermatogenesis in the Chinese population, the deletion of the azoospermia factor c (AZFc) region was analyzed in 346 normozoospermic men.

METHODSThree DAZ single nucleotide variant loci and seven AZFc-specific sequence-tagged sites were examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism and routine PCR.

RESULTSFive (1.4%) of the normozoospermic men were found to have deletion of gr/gr-DAZ1/DAZ2. None of the men were found to have b2/b4-entire DAZ deletion.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of gr/gr-DAZ1/DAZ2 deletion in five men with normozoospermia suggests that this deletion per se may not be sufficient for spermatogenic impairment in Chinese men.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Sequence Tagged Sites ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

METHODSTotally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONDOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Sounds ; Syndrome

BACKGROUNDMotor dysfunction is common in stroke patients. Clinical electrophysiological studies suggest that transsynaptic degeneration occurred in the lower motor neurons, while pathological evidence is lacked. This study aimed to combine the electrophysiological and pathological results to prove the existence of transsynaptic degeneration in the motor system after stroke.

METHODSModified neurologic severity score, electrophysiological, and pathological assessments were evaluated in rats before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and at 24 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after MCAO. Paired and independent-sample t-tests were applied to assess the changes of electrophysiological and pathological data.

RESULTSCompound motor action potential amplitude in the paretic side was significantly lower than the nonparetic side at both 24 hours (61.9 ± 10.4 vs. 66.6 ± 8.9, P < 0.05) and 7 days (60.9 ± 8.4 vs. 67.3 ± 9.6, P < 0.05) after MCAO. Motor unit number estimation of the paretic side was significantly less than the nonparetic side (379.0 ± 84.6 vs. 445.0 ± 89.5, P < 0.05) at 7 days after MCAO. Until 14 days after stroke, the pathological loss of motor neurons was detected. Motor neurons in 14-day MCAO group were significantly decreased, compared with control group (5.3 ± 0.7 vs. 7.3 ± 1.8, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth electrophysiological and pathological studies showed transsynaptic degeneration after stroke. This study identified the asynchronization in changes of electrophysiology and pathology. The abnormal physiological changes and function impairment can be detected in the early stage and recovered quickly, while the pathological loss of motor neuron can be detected only in a later stage.

Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe central immediate effect of acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) on passive movement of cerebral infarction paitents with hemiplegia by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide reference for clinical treatment.

METHODSWith 1. 5 T MRI scanner, six cases of right cerebral infarction paitents with left hemiplegia in recovery stage were scanned during passive fingers movement before and after acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34), which was controlled with sham-acupoint acupuncture to observe immediate activated part of the corresponding brain.

RESULTSThe activated areas of the passive movement in all the patients were mainly motor sensory cortex on the right side. Compared with sham-acupoint, in the left anterior insula, in ferior frontal gyrus, central gyrus, fusiform gyrus, cerebellum, acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) has better central effect. These areas were involved with several brain networks.

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture at Yan glingquan (GB 34) could promote recover of helmiplegia by regulating motor-related network.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Radiography ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of male infertility with abnormality of chromosomal quantity and construction and with the deletion of DAZ gene copy in the AZFc region of Y chromosome.

METHODSIncluded in the study were 247 azoospermic and 206 severe oligozoospermic patients, as well as 210 fertile men as controls. Multi-PCR and PCR-RFLP were used to analyze the deletion of DAZ gene copies in the AZFc region of Y chromosome. Chromosomal quantity and construction were detected by G-band in the 453 patients.

RESULTSIn the azoospermic and severe oligozoospermic patients, the incidences of chromosomal abnormality were 12.6% and 8.3%; the rates of complete DAZ deletion were 7.7% and 11.2%, and the rates of DAZ1/DAZ2 deletion were 7.3% and 4.9% respectively, but no deletion was detected in the controls.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high frequency of chromosomal abnormality and DAZ gene copy deletion in patients with azoospermia and oligospermia, which suggests that chromosomal abnormality and partial and complete deletion of DAZ gene copy might be important genetic causes of Chinese male infertility.

China ; epidemiology ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations

OBJECTIVETo investigate 2 polymorphism sites in exon 3 and intron 2 of FKBP6 in Chinese population, while screening the gene mutations and polymorphisms in exons 3, 4 of FKBP6, and the association of these polymorphisms with azoospermia.

METHODSPossible variations of exons 3, 4 and genotypes and frequencies of 2 polymorphic loci were examined by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) technique in 177 azoospermia patients and 231 control individuals.

RESULTSThe observed allele frequencies conformed well to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of 278A allele was significantly higher in controls than that in patients (P<0.05). C/T(s7797242) polymorphism was not found in either group and variations in exons 3, 4 were not detected.

CONCLUSION278A polymorphism of FKBP6 gene was associated with idiopathic azoospermia, while C/T, 370G/A, 430G/C, 467T/C, 468G/A polymorphisms might be very rare in Chinese population.

Azoospermia ; genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tacrolimus Binding Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVEUsing PCR-RDB to establish a new method for HBV genotyping, and to survey the distribution of HBV genotypes in the Foshan area.

METHODSBiotin-labeled primers for amplification of HBV region X (nt1550-1789) were used to amplify extracted HBV DNA. HBV was genotyped by hybridization of the PCR products with immobilized specific probes (genotype A to F) on C membrane. Color development was achieved by adding POD and TMB. A judgment was made according to color reactions. The reliability of this new method was verified by gene sequencing. 300 samples of HBV DNA-positive sera from the Foshan area were genotyped using this assay.

RESULTSOf the 300 sera genotyped by PCR-RBD, 147 (49.0%) cases were genotype B, 136 (45.3%) were genotype C, 1 (0.3%) genotype D, and 12 (4.0%) were mixtures of genotype B and C, and 4 (1.3%) were mixtures of genotype C and D. No genotype A, E or F were found. The results of PCR-RDB genotyping were consistent with the results obtained with sequence analysis.

CONCLUSIONThis newly established HBV genotyping system proved to be sensitive, specific, precise and economic, and should be suitable for clinical practice and epidemic study. The results of HBV genotyping show that genotype B and C are the predominant genotypes in the Foshan area.

DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods