Background and purpose:Pemetrexed is a multitargeted anti-metabolite. Pemetrexed has been approved as the second-line treatment in non-small cell lung cancer. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical effi ciency and toxicity of pemetrexed in treatment of advanced retreated non-small cell lung cancer. Methods:17 advanced retreated NSCLC patients received pemetrexed at a dose of 500 mg/m2, the chemotherapy was repeated every 21 days on two cycles until progressive disease or untolerant adverse effects. Results:Among 17 patients, the overall response rate was 11.8%, the clinical benefi t rate was 76.5%, and the main toxicity was hematological toxicties. Conclusions: Pemetrexed is effective in treatment of advanced retreated non-small lung cancer and the toxicity can be well tolerated.

Objective To observe the efficacy,toxic side effects, survival time and quality of life (QOL) of vinorelbine and vinorelbine plus carboplatin in elderly patients with stage Ⅲ b/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Eighty patients aged 65 years or over with stage Ⅲ b/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups.One group was treated with vinorelbine (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 iv d1,8, repeated every 21 days), the other group was treated with vinorelbine plus carboplatin(vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 iv at day 1 and 8 and earboplatin AUC5 iv at day 1, repeated every 21 days).Results The response rate(RR), median survival time(MST) and 1-year survival rate were 35.0%, 9.0 months and 35.0% in vinorelbine group and were 42.5%, 10.0 months and 37.5% in vinorelbine plus carboplatin group respectively.There was no significant difference between two groups(χ2 =0.296,P=0.586).The incidences of Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree granulocytopenia (χ2 =7.168,P=0.014), Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree thrombocytopenia (χ2 = 5.165,P=0.048)and Ⅲ-Ⅳ degree nausea and vomiting (χ2 =6.275, P =0.025) were significantly higher in the combined chemotherapy group than in the vinorelbine treatment group.The scores of lung cancer symptom scale (LCSS) of appetite loss(χ2 =2.600,P=0.011), fatigue(χ2 =3.169,P=0.002) and pain(χ2 =2.257,P=0.027) were more higher in the vinorelbine treatment group than in the combined chemotherapy group.Conclusions Vinorelbine regimen is effective, well tolerated and more favorable for the elderly NSCLC patients.

Objective： The authors used the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) method to analyze transcripts present in the immortalized BEP2D cells and the malignant transformed BEP2D cells. Methods： As a step toward understanding the complex gene expression differences between the immortalized BEP2D cells and the malignant transformed BEP2D cells induced by α  particle,SAGE method was introduced into this experiment. Technological methods included total RNA extraction, mRNA isolation, full length of dscDNA synthesis, PCR, transformation and sequencing. SAGE SoftWare was used to analyze tag sequences and compare the abundance of tags between two SAGE libraries. Results： Two independent SAGE libraries were constructed from the immortalized BEP2D cells and the malignant transformed BEP2D cells induced by 1.5 Gy α  particles. A total of 2 331 SAGE tags were identified for the sequences, representing 252 unique transcripts. Though up to now the obtained information is limited, comparison of the two SAGE libraries indicated a remarkable similarity in the expression profiles. Of the 252 transcripts detected, 12 transcripts (4.8％ ) matched no reliable known genes in UniGene library. Combination of Northern blot hybridization, the expression level of TGF β induced Smad7 gene in the malignant transformed cells was higher than that in the immortalized cells. Conversely, Chemokine receptor CCR11 gene was expressed at lower levels in the malignant transformation cells. Conclusion： (1) Out of results given by SAGE,the tendency of the abundance of gene expression and the gene expression differentiation between two cell lines were described. (2) The expression level of TGF β induced Smad7 gene in the malignant transformed BEP2D cells was higher than that in the immortalized cells and chemokine receptor CCR11 gene was expressed at lower levels in the malignant transformed BEP2D cells. (3)SAGE was a powerful method in a quantitative and simultaneous analysis of a large number of transcripts in any particular cell system, especially in defining functions of known genes.

Objective: To observe the safety and clinical efficacy of tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cell(DC) vaccine in treatment of advanced malignant tumor.Methods: Ninety-one patients with non-small cell lung cancer,colon and rectal cancer,melanoma,renal carcinoma,breast cancer and other malignant tumors were enrolled in this study.All patients met the selecting standard and signed informed consent.Human dendritic cells were obtained from peripheral blood monocytes by culturing them with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4.DC vaccine was prepared from tumor antigen pulsed immature dendritic cells in vitro.Patients received the vaccine therapy once every week and one cycle was defined as once every week for 3 weeks.Results: All the patients received 96 cycles of DC vaccine treatment.Symptoms of toxicity included fever,shivering,aching pain of muscle,asthenia,itching,stifle and transient fatigue;most of the symptoms automatically recovered.Clinical efficacy of the treatment was evaluated in 76 patients.Thirty-one of the 76 patients were stable after treatment and 45 were in progressive situation,with the clinical benefiting rate being 40.8%.Eighty-five patients were followed up.The median time for progression was 2.6 months;the overall survival time was 0.9-30.6 months;and the median survival period was 4.5 months,with the one year survival rate being 9.2%.Conclusion: The results suggest that the DC vaccine therapy is well tolerated in treating patients with advanced malignant tumors and has satisfactory clinical benefit;the clinical value of DC vaccine therapy needs to be further observed.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlations between increased spinal cord signal intensity on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and the clinical prognosis of compressive cervical myelopathy.

METHODSSixty-six patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgeries through the anterior approach. In all the patients, the diagnoses were established on the basis of both neurological examination and MRI findings that showed spinal cord compression. The patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative MRI, namely isointense MRI T1/T2 signal group and iso/hyperintense MRI T1/T2 group. The JOA scores of the patients were evaluated before and at 6 and 12 months after the operation.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months after the operation (mean 21 months), and no statistically significant difference were found in the pre- and postoperative JOA scores between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe peoperative hyperintense signals on T2 weighted MRI does not correlate to the prognosis of patients with compressive cervical myelopathy, who may also have favorable clinical outcomes after the operation.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord Compression ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

Aim To investigate the impact of Cinobu-facini on the proliferation,invasion,and apoptosis of HepG2 cells and the underlying mechanism.Methods The proliferation of HepG2 cells was assessed using the CCK-8 method following treatment with Cinobufaci-ni.The invasion capability of HepG2 cells was evalua-ted through Transwell assay after exposure to Cinobufa-cini.The apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells post Cinobufa-cini intervention were measured using flow cytometry,and the expression levels of VEGF in the culture medi-um of HepG2 cells were determined using enzyme-linked immunoassay.Furthermore,qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to assess the im-pact of Cinobufacini on mRNA and protein expression levels related to the CXCL5/FOXD1/VEGF pathway.The interaction between CXCL5 and FOXD1 was inves-tigated via co-immunoprecipitation.Results Cinobufa-cini treatment led to a gradual decrease in HepG2 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control group(P＜0.05).Moreover,Cinobufacini sig-nificantly suppressed HepG2 cell invasion(P＜0.05)while enhancing cell apoptosis(P＜0.05).Notably,Cinobufacini exhibited inhibitory effects on the CX-CL5/FOXD1/VEGF pathway,as evidenced by re-duced expression of related mRNA and proteins(P＜0.05).FOXD1 was identified as the binding site of CXCL5.Overexpression of CXCL5 resulted in in-creased proliferation and VEGF secretion by HepG2 cells(P＜0.05),and increased expression of FOXD1 and VEGF(P＜0.05).However,Cinobufacini inter-vention effectively inhibited liver cancer cell prolifera-tion and invasion(P＜0.05),promoted apoptosis(P＜0.05),reduced VEGF secretion by HepG2 cells(P＜0.05),and downregulated the expression of CXCL5 and FOXD1 in HepG2 cells(P＜0.05);but com-pared with the unexpressed group of Cinobufacini,its ability to inhibit cell activity was weakened(P＜0.05),and its ability to inhibit the expression of CX-CL5,FOXD1,and VEGF was weakened(P＜0.05).Conclusion Cinobufacini may inhibit HepG2 cell pro-liferation and invasion and promote HepG2 cell apopto-sis by regulating the CXCL5/FOXD1/VEGF pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic cause of a family with autosomal recessive neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL). METHODS: The proband was screened for mutations within the coding region of the candidate genes through high-throughput targeted sequencing. Potential causative mutations were verified by PCR and Sanger sequencing in the proband and his parents. RT-PCR and TA clone sequencing were performed to investigate whether the mRNAs were abnormally spliced. RESULTS: The sequencing results revealed compound heterozygous mutations of :c.486+2T>C and c.486+4A>T, which were respectively inherited from his parents. RT-PCR and TA cloning sequencing suggested that the mRNAs were abnormally spliced in two forms due to both mutations. CONCLUSIONS The compound heterozygous mutations of :c.486+2T>C and c.486+4A>T are possibly the genetic causes of the NCL family. Detection of the novel mutation has extended mutation spectrum of .
Alternative Splicing ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses ; genetics

Animals ; Autophagy ; Ischemia ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury

The recycling of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） wastes is an important research topic to be solved urgently in the industrialization of TCM resources. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is a bulk Chinese herb mainly derived from Rheum palmatum，R. tanguticum，and R. officinale. At present，these three medicinal plants have been cultivated on a large scale and widely used in the fields of medicine，health care，food，cosmetics，and veterinary medicine，with an annual demand of more than 5 500 tons（1 ton=1 000 kg）. However，a large number of wastes such as non-medicinal parts and residues produced in the production and deep processing are discarded because there is no effective way of utilization，resulting in serious waste of resources and environmental pollution. The non-medicinal parts contain not only the chemical components and pharmacological effects similar to those of roots and rhizomes but also a variety of amino acids，mineral elements，and conventional nutrients. They have a long history of use，and the content of some resource components is higher than that in roots and rhizomes. In particular，their stems and leaves exhibit great potential to be consumed as food and medicine due to high safety. Besides，the content of anthraquinones in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma residue is high and it possesses good antibacterial activity. It can be seen that the waste from the industrialization of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has high utilization value. Hence，based on the relevant literature and investigation on the application of producing areas in China and abroad，the paper summarized the utilization status of their medicinal and non-medicinal parts，the waste production in the industrialization，as well as the active substances and utilization ways and put forward the multi-level and multi-path utilization strategy of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma wastes，in order to provide reference for the rational development and application of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma resources and promote the effective utilization and green development of the corresponding wastes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the regulatory role of retinoid X receptor (RXR)-mediated oxidative stress pathway in rat pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury (PIRI) and the underlying mechanism. Seventy-seven male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 11): control group, sham group, sham+9-cis-retinoid acid (9-cRA, RXR agonist) group, sham+HX531 (RXR inhibitor) group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, I/R+9-cRA group, and I/R+HX531 group. The unilateral lung I/R model was established by obstruction of left lung hilus for 30 min and reperfusion for 180 min in vivo. The rats in I/R+9-cRA and I/R+HX531 groups were given intraperitoneal injection of 9-cRA and HX531 before thoracotomy. After reperfusion, the left lung tissue was taken to evaluate the lung tissue injury, and the oxidative stress-related indexes of the lung tissue were detected by the corresponding kits. The lung tissue morphology and the ultrastructure of the alveolar epithelial cells were observed by HE staining and transmission electron microscope, respectively. The protein expression of RXR in lung tissue was observed by immunofluorescence labeling method, and the expression level of nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) protein was detected by Western blot. The results showed that, compared with the sham group, the I/R group exhibited obviously injured lung tissue, decreased SOD activity, increased MDA content and MPO activity, and down-regulated expression level of Nrf2 protein. Compared with the I/R group, the I/R+9-cRA group showed alleviated lung tissue injury, increased activity of SOD, decreased MDA content and MPO activity, and up-regulated expression levels of RXR and Nrf2 protein. The above-mentioned improvement effects of 9-cRA were reversed by HX531 treatment. These results suggest that RXR activation can effectively protect the lung tissue against I/R injury, and the mechanism may involve the activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway, the enhancement of antioxidant level and the reduction of oxidative stress response.
Animals ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; Retinoid X Receptors ; physiology ; Signal Transduction