Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; adverse effects ; trends ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Genes, BRCA2 ; physiology ; Humans

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and influence factors of a new silver salt method for determination of arsenic in drinking water. Methods Arsenic was determined at different reaction temperature,acidity, specification and addition of zinc granular, fill weight of lead acetate cotton, and the effect of these factors on assay results was observed. Arsenic in drinking water was determined in accordance with standard test methods (GB/T 5750.6) of the new silver method. Results The recoveries of the arsenic were 75.3％ - 93.6％(F =9.21,P ＜ 0.01 ) with reaction temperature at 10 - 30 ℃, and the best reaction temperature was 25 ℃. The recoveries of the arsenic ranged from 80.3％ - 91.6％(F =4.67, P＜ 0.05) when sulfuric acid was 3.0 - 6.0 ml and the best value was 5.0 ml. The recoveries of the honeycomb structural zinc granular(diameter 0.2 - 0.3, 0.3 - 0.4 mm) and button zinc granular were 87.2％, 90.7％ and 83.0％, respectively; the best specification was 0.3 - 0.4 mm. The recoveries of zinc granular weight(3 - 5 g ) were 74.6％ - 91.7％, respectively; the best was 5 g. The recoveries ranged from 79.6％ - 91.3％ with fill weight of lead acetate cotton at 25 - 100 mg, the best fill weight was 50 mg.The recoveries of the arsenic were 90.7％, 92.5％, 81.5％ and 74.2％ with lead acetate cotton length at 0.5 - 2.0 cm,and the best loose-tight degree was 1.0 cm. The stability time of arsine solution was 5.0, 4.0, 2.5 h with corresponding temperature at 20, 25, 30 ℃, respectively. ConclusionsIn order to ensure precision and accuracy of the measurement, it is necessary to control reaction temperature, acidity, specification and addition of zinc granular free from arsenic, fill weight of lead acetate cotton and loose-tight degree in the reaction system.

Objective To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharides(APS)on the metabolism of collagen in hamsters with diabetes mellitus(DM) and explore the possible mechanism of APS on diabetic cardiomyopathy. Methods The levels of insulin,C-peptide,myocardial enzymes,glycosylated serum protein(GSP),plasma and myocardial angiotensin(AngⅡ) were tested in APS group(n=15) and DM control group(n=15).Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression levels of typeⅠand typeⅢ collagen,activities of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) were examined by using zymography,and TNF-? and TGF-? mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with DM control group,levels of GSP,myocardial enzymes and myocardial AngⅡ were much lower in APS group(P0.05).The level of expression of collagen Ⅰ,the ratio of collagen Ⅰ/collagen Ⅲ,and the activity of pro-MMP-2 and MMP-2 in APS group were significantly lower than those in the DM group(P

Objective:To investigate the relationship of the mRNA expression of BRCA1 andβ-tubulinⅢwith docetaxel-resistance in esophageal cancer. Methods:The genes BRCA1 andβ-tubulinⅢwere determined at the mRNA level using RT-qPCR in 36 esophageal carcinoma specimens. Results:The mRNA expression of BRCA1 andβ-tubulinⅢwas determined in the 36 tumor samples using RT-qPCR. The median BRCA1 mRNA expression level in relation to that ofβ-actin was 6.27. The medianβ-tubulinⅢmRNA expression level in relation to that ofβ-actin was 4.44. The patients were divided into two groups using these cutoff values. The BRCA1 mRNA expression level was not correlated with the sensitivity of esophageal cancer patients to docetaxel (P=0.733). The response rate of the tumors with highβ-tubulinⅢexpression was (38.9%), which is significantly lower than in patients with lowβ-tubulinⅢexpression (83.3%) (P=0.015). Conclusion:Theβ-tubulinⅢexpression levels in the tumor tissues were probably an important biomarker for the efficacy of docetaxel chemotherapy in esophageal cancer patients. Our study may provide new insights into taxane chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer patients.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF) levels in preeclampsia at second trimester. Methods Serum sFlt-1,VEGF concentrations were determined in 172 initial normal pregnant women at 26-28 gestation week.The outcomes of pregnancies were followed.In a cohort of 172 pregnant women, 16 cases of preeclampsia were developed (preeclampsia group),and 156 cases were with no complication (control group).Results The serum levels of sFlt-1 in preeclampsia group (11.4?6.2)?g/L were significantly higher than that in control group(4.5?2.1)?g/L(P＜0.01).The serum levels of sFlt-1 in precelampsia women with the onset before 32 gestation week and fetal growth retardation,(14.0?6.8)?g/L,(14.4?6.7)?g/L were significantly higher than that in women with the onset after 32 gestation week and with no fetal growth retardation (9.0?4.1)?g/L,(8.9?4.0)?g/L,respectively (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the serum levels of VEGF between preeclampsia group and control group.A sFlt-1 cutoff value of 8.75?g/L at 26-28 gestation week yielded a sensitivity of 87.5%,specificity of 97.4%,positive predictive value of 80.0%,negative predictive value of 88.5%,respectively,for subsequent onset of preeclampsia.Conclusion Maternal serum sFlt-1 concentration at second trimester can be used as an early predictive marker of preeclampsia.

Objective To study the relationship between tyrosine phosphorylation(TP)and protein expression of insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1)and insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Methods IRS-1 expression and TP in skeleton muscle tissue were determined by Western blot and immunoprecipitation in women with GDM(GDM group,n=22),normal pregnant women(normal pregnancy group,n=22)and normal nonpregnant women(normal nonpregnant group,n=13).Fasting plasma glucose(FPG)and fasting insulin(FINS)were measured by oxidase assay and immunoradioassay. Results(1)The levels of FPG,FINS,and insulin resistance index were calculated according to homeostasis model assessment [ HOMA-IR;(5.6?0.8)mmol/L,(15.4?5.1)mU/L,and 1.2?0.5 ] in GDM group were significantly higher than those in normal pregnancy group [(4.4+0.5)mmol/L,(10.6 ?3.1)mU/L,and 0.8?0.3;P

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treating the vertebral compression fractures and vertebral metastatic neoplasms, and to assess its clinical curative effects Methods Among 81 cases (47 men and 34 women; ages 35～84, mean age 61 2 years), 110 vertebrae with metastatic neoplasms (61 cases) or vertebral osteoporosis (20 cases) were infused with methacrylate guided by DSA Effect of the operations was observed closely after the procedures Results The procedures were successful in all the involved patients and no significant complications were noted clinically Among the 61 patients treated for malignancies, 58 showed marked pain relief and 3 moderate pain relief 20 patients with vertebral osteoporosis demonstrated complete pain relief The cement leakage observed on radiographs included slight leakage to the adjacent disc (6 of 110, 5 5%), the epidural fat (8 of 110, 7 3%), the perivertebral venous plexus (2 of 110, 1 8%), and the paravertebral soft tissues (2 of 110, 1 8%) Conclusion Percutaneous vertebroplasty can significantly relieve the pain in patients with osteoporotic fractures caused by the malignancies and the vertebral osteoporosis We suggest that slight PMM leaks, when not symptomatic, should not be considered as complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry