Obj ectiev The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of bone metastasis on survival in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),Which were treated with gefitinib for more than 6 months,and to identify the prognostic factors of patients with NSCLC presenting bone metastasis .Methods We compared the overall survival(OS), progression-free survival(PFS),1-year2,-year and 3-year survival rates between two cohorts based on bone metastasis ,as well as the prognostic factors in the patients with bone metastasis .Results In total, 76 patients were included in the study ,in which there are44 patients with no bone metastasis and32 patients with bone metastasis.The cohorts were similar in OS (19.000 ±3.317 months vs.26.000 ±2.121 months,P =0.625)as well as PFS (14.000 ±1.843 months vs.16.000 ±1.411 months,P=0.328).The 1-year survival rate was 63.6%in no bone metastasis cohort,but was increased to 96.9%in the other cohort.The survival rates at 2 years(34.1%vs.56.3%,P=0.054)and 3 years(18.2%vs.18.4%,P=0.950)were similar.The univa-riate analysis showed that a worse prognosis was more likely existed in elderly patients ( aged >60 years) and with pulmonary progression ,whereby factors including gender ,pathology s,moking index ,brain metastases ,bone related events and the application of radiotherapy ,bisphosphonates might not be independently associated with the surviv -al late.Analysis of multiple variables indicated a favorable prognosis for patients with no pulmonary progression . Conclusion This retrospective study shows that bone metastasis may not shorten the survival in patients whose pulmonary lesion was controlled by gefitinib .On the contrary ,pulmonary progression may be more likely the cause of death in patients with bone metastasis .Non suggestion is given to discontinue gefitinib when the bone metastasis appears.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; complications ; mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; mortality ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; B7-H1 Antigen ; CD28 Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,and to evaluate the relationship between brain reorganization and motor recovery.Methods Nine AIS patients and 9 healthy volunteers were assessed by fMR1 during passive finger clenching at a pace of 1 Hz.The fMRI results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Lateral indices (LIs) and activated regions were calculated,and the relationship between LI and muscle strength was examined.Results In the control group,activation was observed in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the bilateral supplementary area (SMA) during the passive movement.In the AIS group,similar results were recorded dur- ing unaffected hand movement,but the ipsilateral activation areas were greater than those on the eontralateral side during movement of the affected hand.LI results confirmed that movement of the affected hand mainly elici- ted activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere.Conclusion The different fMRI manifestations of patients and nor- mal subjects reflect brain compensation,and fMRI is valuable for studying the correlation between motor function and brain reorganization.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sodium alginate gels on marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice.

METHODSIn the present study, effects of different sterilization methods and concentrations of sodium alginate gels were examined. Marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) were isolated from mice and cultured. Cells were cultured with sodium alginate gels and MTT assay was applied to determine the cell viability. Mice spinal cord injury was induced by spinal cord transection. mMSCs were transplanted into the cavity of injured spinal cord with sodium alginate gels. The effects of sodium alginate gel were assessed by BMS scales and immunofluorescence staining for NF-200.

RESULTSCompared with liquid form, solid form sodium alginate gel prepared with high pressure vapor sterilization had a better effect on cell viability. SCI mice treated with 10 % sodium alginate gel and mMSCs achieved higher score in BMS scale as well as higher expression of NF-200 compared with the untreated SCI group.

CONCLUSIONSodium alginate gel prepared with solid form sterilization induces mMSCs proliferation and thus can be used as the carrier of stem cell in treatment of SCI.

Alginates ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gels ; Glucuronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hexuronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the factors for the conversion of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to open prostatectomy and to provide clinical evidence for surgical options.

METHODSFrom January 1997 to March 2005, we performed 1 086 TURP and made retrospective analyses of 11 risk factors concerning the demographics, clinical history, laboratory data, ultrasound results, and intraoperative complications of the patients. In addition, multivariate logistic regression was used to determine those variables predicting the conversion of TURP.

RESULTSThirty-nine (3.59%) of the TURP cases required conversion, mostly because of uncontrollable hemorrhage (71.79%). Multivariate analyses showed that a prostate volume > 85.2 ml (OR = 2.568, P < 0.01), intraoperative slit of capsula prostatic (OR = 1.916, P < 0.01) and a second midstream bladder specimen (VB2) white blood cell count of the urine > 13.5/HP (OR = 1.486, P < 0.01) predicted the conversion to open prostatectomy.

CONCLUSIONBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with a huge prostate and those with intraoperative slit of capsula prostatic undergoing TURP are more likely to be converted. And uncontrollable hemorrhage, huge prostate and poor endoscopic vision are the major reasons for the conversion.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the injury on micro-skin induced by a self designed micro-skin machine.

METHODSMicro-skin was produced either with the machine or by hand. Cells at the edge of micro-skin were observed by transmission electron microscope. succinic dehydrogenase activity in supernatant of cultivated cells was analyzed, and the cell proliferation of micro-skin was assessed by (3)H-TdR. Twenty patients were enrolled in the study for the observation of the wound healing time between the two groups of micro-skin after being grafted.

RESULTSTransmission electron microscope examination revealed that the cellular injury at the edge of the micro-skin in machine-made group was mild compared with that in man-made group. (3)H-TdR rate was elevated but the activity of succinic dehydrogenase in the supernatant of cultured cells decreased in supernatant of cultured cells of machine produced micro-skin. Wound healing time was shortened in machine made group. (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cellular injury at the edge of micro-skin in the machine made group was mild when compared with that in the man-made group with cell proliferation accelerated and wound healing time shortened.

Burns ; surgery ; Cell Division ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Skin ; ultrastructure ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological function of RIG-G gene by establishing a cell line stably expressing RIG-G protein.

METHODSEctopic RIG-G gene was transfected into U937 cells by using Tet-off expression system. Changes before and after RIG-G expression were detected for cell growth, cell morphology, cell surface antigen and cell cycle regulating proteins.

RESULTSRIG-G protein arrested the cells at G0/G1 phase and inhibited cell growth by increasing the cell cycle inhibitors P21 and P27. As compared to that in control group, the proportion of cells at G0/G1 phase in RIG-G-expressing cell group increased from (43.9 +/- 5.6)% to (63.9 +/- 2.3)% (P < 0.01). The rate of growth inhibition was (68.7 +/- 0.2)%. In addition, an increase in CD11C expression [(61.3 +/- 1.1)% vs. (18.0 +/- 0.4)% (P < 0.01)] and in cells with morphologic features of partial differentiation (smaller cell size, reduced nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, notched nucleus and coarse chromatin) was also observed in RIG-G-expressing cells.

CONCLUSIONSRIG-G has potential abilities to inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell differentiation.

Cell Cycle ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; U937 Cells

BACKGROUND:In recent years,the incidence of skeletal muscle injury becomes higher and higher,but the skeletal muscle repair ability is limited;therefore,studies on the molecular mechanism of skeletal muscle repair play a positive role in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury.OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of microRNA in skeletal muscle regeneration.METHODS:C2C12 myoblasts were cyclic stretched in vitro by the Flexercell-5000 flexible device,and the appropriate stretch condition which could induce myogenesis was selected.The microRNA expression alteration during mechanical stretch-induced myoblast myogenesis was explored using high-throughout sequencing,and the differentially expressed microRNAs were further studied by the bioinformatics analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:10％ deformation,0.125 Hz cyclic mechanical stretch could promote myoblast proliferation and increase MyoD and Myogenin expressions in C2C12 myoblasts.MicroRNA expression profile alteration,including the downregulated miR-500-3p/1934-5p/31-3p/378a-5p/3473b/331-3p/5097 and upregulated miR-340-5p/449c-Sp/1941-3p,were all involved in the stretch-mediated myoblast myogenesis,and the MAPK signal pathway seemed to participate in this process.These results suggest that the low frequency of the cyclic mechanical stretch can upregulate the expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors through the alteration of MicroRNA expression,further inducing myogenesis,which the MAPK signal pathway may be involved in.

Objective To report initial experience and the indications of retroperitoneal laparoscop- ic partial nephrectomy.Methods From December 2001 to October 2005,23 patients (including 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma,5 of hamartoma and 4 of duplex kidney) underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic par- tial nephrectomy.One of the patients had solitary kidney.Results All the operations were successful ex- cept for only 1 requiring conversion to laparoscopic nephrectomy because of bleeding resulting from blocking anterior branch of renal artery.The mean operative time was 121 min (60-240 min),and mean ischemic time was 32 min (20-55 min).The estimated bleeding volume ranged from 100 ml to 300 ml,and no pa- tient needed blood transfusion.Pathology showed negative surgical margins in 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma and confirmed the diagnosis of hamartoma in 5 cases.One patient with duplex kidney required open partial nephrectomy because of renal cystic mass resulting from incomplete resection.Conclusions Retroperito- neal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy offers a new effective and minimally invasive treatment for selected pa- tients with renal mass.The long-term effects of the procedure need further investigation.