Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy, the toxicity and side reactions of interventional chemoembolization with FOLFOX4 regimen through both hepatic artery and superior mesenteric artery, i.e. dual access technique, in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Between November 2010 and March 2013 at authors’ hospital, a total of 21 patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma (the study group) were treated with FOLFOX4 regimen by using dual access interventional technique. FOLFOX4 regimen included hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, hepatic arterial chemoembolization with iodipin and oxaliplatin 85 mg/m 2, intravenous administration of calcium folinate 200 mg/m2 IV on the first and second day, trans-superior mesenteric artery continuous infusion (lasting for 22 hours) of 5 -Fuorouracil 600 mg/m2 on the first and second day. During the same period other 21 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were selected (used as the control group) to receive conventional hepatic arterial chemoembolization. In both groups, the treatment was repeated after 4-6 weeks. The therapeutic effect and the toxicity and side reactions were evaluated after the second treatment. Results The effective rate for the study group and the control group was 61.9% and 28.6% respectively, and the median survival time for the study group and the control group was 14.7 months and 9.4 months respectively. The differences in the effective rate and the median survival time between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.030 and P = 0.034). The occurrence of toxicity and side reactions, such as digestive tract reactions and the damage of liver function, in the study group were strikingly lower than those in the control group. Conclusion Through dual approach of hepatic artery and superior mesenteric artery catheterization, interventional chemoembolization with FOLFOX4 regimen is outstandingly effective for primary hepatocellular carcinoma, meanwhile, the side effects are very slight.

Objective To assess and optimize the dosage regimens of nor-vancomycin in patients with different renal functions.Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC ) distribution was determined by agar dilution method with the target value of AUC 0-24/MIC≥638.Ten thousand cases in virtue of Monte Carlo simulation were performed in dif-ferent doses to obtain probabilities of target attainment ( PTA) and cumu-lative fractions of response ( CFR ) in patients with different renal func-tions.Results For the patients with normal renal function , when En-terococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were treated with recommen-ded dose , from 0.8 to 1.6 g· d-1 , the CFR were lower than 59.77%.The CFR could reach to 83.95%and 73.10%when the dose was adjus-ted to 2.5 g· d -1.For the patients with moderate renal function insuffi-ciency , the CFR could reach to 82.81% at the dose of 0.8 g · d -1 against Enterococcus faecalis.The CFR could reach from 73.10% to 86.84%at the dose from 0.8 to 2.5 g · d-1 in the process of treating Enterococcus faecium.For the patients with severe renal function insuffi-ciency , the CFR could reach to 97.77% and 85.90% respectively a-gainst Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium.Conclusion Monte Carlo simulation provides dosage regimens and the norvancomycin regimen is complemented and optimized.

BACKGROUNDRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Many methods have been used to observe the progress of RA. The purpose of this study was to observe the progress of RA in rats with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arthritis score, and analyze the relationships among different methods in evaluation of RA.

METHODSSixteen healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats about 8-week old were randomly assigned to a RA group and a control group. Bovine type II emulsified incomplete Freud's adjuvant was used to induce arthritis in the RA group. Arthritis score of the rats in two groups were recorded, and (18)F-FDG PET/CT, MR imaging were performed both on the corresponding rats every 3 days. All the rats were sacrificed at week 5, and histopathological examination was performed on rat knees stained with haematoxylin and eosin.

RESULTSThe arthritis score and the standard uptake value (SUV) of knee joints in RA rats increased with the progression of arthritis gradually. Both peaks of arthritis score and SUV appeared at 21 days after the first immune injection, then the arthritis score and SUV of knee joints decreased slowly. The arthritis scores of knee joints in RA rats were positively correlated with their SUV changes. The MR images were confirmed by the histopathological studies.

CONCLUSIONPET/CT can detect the earliest molecular metabolism changes of RA, and MR imaging can follow up the dynamical anatomical changes of RA, all of which indicated that PET/CT and MR imaging may be applied as useful tools to monitor the progress of RA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective: To compare the effects of various interventions on the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) . Methods: The clinical data of 218 patients with central venous catheterization were retrospectively analyzed. Infected patients were treated as CLABSI group and non-infected patients as control group. Results: Of the 218 patients, 24 patients were developed CLABSI. There was no significant difference in sex, age, primary infection status and puncture site between CLABSI group and control group. Univariate analysis showed that axillary vein puncture could significantly reduce the incidence of CLABSI (P=0.028), and the infection rate of axillary vein puncture per 1000 days under B-ultrasound was significantly reduced by 0.93‰. The average indwelling days of deep venous catheter in patients with pulse puncture were significantly longer than those in other groups (47.32 days vs 19.90 days). The average indwelling days in patients with axillary vein puncture positioned by B ultrasound were longer than those in patients with other parts of vein puncture positioned by B ultrasound (P < 0.05). Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that the main risk factors for CLABSI were anatomically located puncture (P = 0.031) and non-axillary venous catheterization (P = 0.068). Conclusions Choosing axillary vein as the position of deep venous catheterization and using ultrasound-guided central venous puncture can reduce the incidence of CLABSI and prolong the average catheterization time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G) mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV).

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), RT-PCR product was cloned into the EcoR I/Hind III restriction sites of the CMV-driven expression vector fused with a hemagglutinin fusion epitope tag at its carboxyl terminal. Replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV was constructed with full-length HBV of ayw subtype. The mammalian hepatoma cell HepG2 was cotransfected with the replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV and various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA. Levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the media of the transfected cells were determined by ELISA, HBV DNA. RNA from intracellular core particles was examined using Northern and Southern blot analyses. Chicken hepatoma cell LMH was cotransfected with head-to-tail dimer of an EcoR I monomer of DHBV and various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA. DHBV DNA from intracellular core particles was examined using Southern blot analysis.

RESULTSCMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA and replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV were constructed. There was a dose dependent decrease in the levels of intracellular core-associated viral (HBV and DHBV) DNA and extracellular production of HBsAg and HBeAg. Levels of intracellular core-associated viral RNA were also decreased, but the expression of HBcAg remained almost unchanged.

CONCLUSIONAPOBEC3G suppresses HBV and DHBV replication and also suppresses HBsAg and HBeAg expression.

APOBEC-3G Deaminase ; Cytidine Deaminase ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Virus, Duck ; physiology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC1) on human hepatocyte carcinoma cell line HepG2.

METHODSA full length of TSLC1 cDNA was amplified from RNA of normal human liver cells by RT-PCR, and it was cloned into a pCI-neo expression vector and transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The HepG2 cells transfected with this plasmid (experimental group) and those treated with pCI-neo vector (control group) and without any treatment (blank group) were compared. Cell morphology was studied microscopically and cell growth was analyzed with MTT assay. FACSort flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.

RESULTSA stable cell line expressing TSLC1 protein was successfully established. Morphologically, cells of the experimental group were tightly aggregated when compared with those of the control and blank groups. The growth of TSLC1-transfected cells was significantly suppressed in vitro compared with those of the control and blank groups. The amount of G0-G1 cells was 63.66%+/-3.83% (P less than 0.01) in the experimental group, while those of the control and blank groups were 47.45%+/-0.91% and 54.47%+/-0.96% respectively. The amount of S phase cells in the experimental group, 22.90%+/-6.04%, was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of the control group (36.58%+/-0.61%) and the blank group (33.61%+/-2.99%), which suggested a G0-G1 cell cycle arresting. The number of cells in early and late phase apoptosis (17.09%+/-0.20% and 16.11%+/-0.40% respectively) were significantly higher than those of the control and blank groups (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTSLC1 strongly inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro and induces apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that TSLC1 may have a tumor suppressor function in HCC.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cell Proliferation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Column chromatographies over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, reverse phase C18, and MCI, and semi-preparative HPLC were used for separation and purification of constituents from Inula cappa. The 22 compounds were obtained and their strutures were determined by NMR and MS spectra data as nine flavonoids: luteolin (1), apigenin (2), chrysoeriol (3), artemetin (4), 2', 5-di- hydroxy-3, 6, 7, 4', 5'-pentamethoxyflavone (5), chrysosplenol C (6), apigenin-5-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), luteolin-3-methyl, luteolin-3-methylether-4'-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), luteolin-4'-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (9); four triterpenes: darma-20, 24-dien- 3β-0-acetate (10), darma-20, 24-dien-3β-ol (11), epirfiedelanol (12), friedelin (13); three coumarins: scopoletin (14) , isosco- poletin (15) , scopolin(16) , and other types of compounds stigmasta-5, 22-dien-3β-0-7-one (17), stigmasterol (18), palmitic acid (19), linoleic acid (20), linoleic acid methyl ester (21), (E) -9, 12, 13-trihydroxyoetadee-10-enoie acid (22). Compound 5 is a new natural product. Compounds 3-9, 15, 17, 21, and 22 were isolated from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Inula ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To analyze the factors which may affect postoperative patency of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy (VE).Methods Ninety-four patients underwent VEs from September 2014 to June 2016 in the Department of Urology,Peking University Third Hospital,with average age of (30.7 ± 4.8) years,and body mass index (BMI) of (25.1 ± 3.0) kg/m2.Semen analyses were performed 1 month,3 months and 5 to 6 months after the operation.The following semen analyses were performed every 3-6 months thereafter.Patency was defined by finding sperms in twice or more analyses during the followup until August 2017.Patients were followed up by face-to-face or telephone interview.Seven factors (age,BMI,bilateral or unilateral anastomosis,anastomosis sites,the adjustment of anastomosis sites,motility and quantity of sperms found in epididymal fluid) were analyzed by Chi-square analysis and multifactor logistic regression analysis.Results Eighty-two patients were followed up (87.2％,82/94) while 12 patients were lost of follow-up.The mean follow-up time was 19 months.Sperms were found in the ejaculate in 59 patients postoperatively.The overall patency rate was 72.0％ (59/82),and natural paternity rate was 32.8％ (19/58).Patients ≤28 years old and those ＞28 years old had patency rates of 89.3％ (25/28) and 63.0％ (34/54,P =0.012),respectively.Patients with BMI ＜26.0 kg/m2 and BMI≥26.0 kg/m2 had patency rates of 80.4％ (41/51) and 58.1％ (18/31,P =0.029),respectively.Patency rate of bilateral surgery was 72.1％ (44/61) and of unilateral surgery was 71.4％ (44/62,P =0.727).Patency rate of caput anastomosis achieved 75.0％ (15/20) and of corpus/caudal anastomosis was 71.0％ (44/62,P =0.727).Patency rates of patients with and without adjustment of anastomosis sites were 77.8％ (7/9) and 71.2％ (52/73,P =0.680),respectively.Patency rates of a lot,a few,motile and seldom-motile sperms in epididymal fluid were 74.3％ (55/74) vs.50.0％ (4/8,P =0.146) and 70.0％ (28/40) vs.73.8％ (31/42,P =0.701),respectively.Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that age was well associated with patency rate (OR=4.705,95％CI 1.181-18.742,P=0.028).Conclusions Age ≤28 years is an independent factor leading to higher patency rates.Patients with lower BMIs and younger could have higher patency rates.Factors of anastomosis sides,anastomosis sites,the adjustment of anastomosis sites,motility and quantity of sperms found in epididymal fluid showed no statistical difference in patency rates.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) shows a high proportion of lymph node metastasis, and treatment guidelines have been developed for positive nodes. However, no irradiation guidelines have been proposed for patients with enlarged neck lymph nodes (ENLNs) that do not meet the radiological criteria of 10 mm in diameter for positive lymph nodes. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value and radiation dose for ENLNs in N0-cate-gory NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods: We reviewed the medical data of 251 patients with non-metastatic, N0-category NPC treated with IMRT. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to calculate the cut-off value of the ENLN diameter for the prediction of disease failure.The biological equivalent dose (BED) for ENLNs was calculated. Patient survival was compared between the smal and large ENLN groups. Independent prognostic factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The estimated 4-year regional relapse-free survival rate was higher in patients with ENLNs ≥5.5 mm thanin those with ENLNs <5.5 mm (100% vs. 98.8%, P= 0.049), whereas disease-free, overall, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were similar between the two groups. After adjusting for various factors, ENLN diameter was not identi-fied as an independent prognostic factor (P > 0.05 for all survival rates). In the subgroup analysis, patients receiving BED ≥72 Gy had a similar prognosis as patients receiving BED <72 Gy in both the small and large ENLN groups. Themultivariate analysis also confirmed that BED≥72 Gy was not associated with significantly improved prognosis in patients with N0-category NPC. Conclusions: A BED of 72 Gy to ENLNs is considerably sufficient to provide a clinical benefit to patients with N0-cate-gory NPC. Prospective studies are warranted to validate the findings in the present study.

Background: Little is known about the nature of metastasis to small cervical lymph nodes (SCLNs) in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) examined by using 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of PET/CT in identifying metastasis in SCLNs in NPC patients. Methods: Magnetic resonance images (MRI) and PET/CT scans for 470 patients with newly diagnosed, non-distant metastatic NPC were analyzed. Metastatic rates of SCLNs were defined by the positive number of SCLNs on PET/CT scans and total number of SCLNs on MRI scans. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to compare PET/CT-determined stage with MRI-determined stage. Results: In total, 2082 SCLNs were identified, with 808 (38.8%) ≥ 5 and < 6 mm in diameter (group A), 526 (25.3%)≥ 6 and < 7 mm in diameter (group B), 374 (18.0%) ≥ 7 and < 8 mm in diameter (group C), 237 (11.4%) ≥ 8 and< 9 mm in diameter (group D), and 137 (6.5%) ≥ 9 and < 10 mm in diameter (group E). The overall metastatic rates examined by using PET/CT for groups A, B, C, D, and E were 3.5%, 8.0%, 31.3%, 60.0%, and 83.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). In level IV/Vb, the metastatic rate for nodes ≥ 8 mm was 84.6%. PET/CT examination resulted in modifica-tion of N category and overall stage for 135 (28.7%) and 46 (9.8%) patients, respectively. The areas under curve of MRI-determined and PET/CT-determined overall stage were 0.659 and 0.704 for predicting overall survival, 0.661 and 0.711 for predicting distant metastasis-free survival, and 0.636 and 0.663 for predicting disease-free survival. Conclusions: PET/CT was more effective than MRI in identifying metastatic SCLNs, and the radiologic diagnostic criteria for metastatic lymph nodes in level IV/Vb should be re-defined.