Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fineneedle aspiration(EUS-FNA)for pancreatic occupying lesion,especially pancreatic cancer.Methods From year of 2005,37 patients with suspected pancreatic cancer by means of uhrasound,CT or MRI received EUS-FNA.Amylase and tumor markers(CEA,CA19-9 and CA125)in cyst fluid were analyzed if applicable.The patients were followed up till July 2008,and the results of EUS-FNA were compared with those confirmed during the follow-up.Results The EUS-FNA yielded diagnosis of 16 cases of pancreatic duetal adenocarcinoma,1 metastatic:renal cancer,5 suspicious malignancy,6 atypia,6 normal pancreatic tissue,and 3 normal non-pancreatic tissue.During the follow-up,25 cases of pancreatic cancer and 10 benigh lesions,including 4 chronic panereatitis,4 cyst-adenoma and 2 pseudocyst,were confirmed,and the other 2 cases still remained un-determined.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EUS-FNA were 80.0%(95% CI:59.0-93.0),100.0%(95% CI:60.0-100.0),100.0%(95% CI:80.0-100.0),and 55.6%(95% CI:27.0-79.0),respectively.No severe procedurerelated complication was observed.Conclusion EUS-FNA is a safe and effective medality for diagnosis of pancreatic occupying lesions,especially pancreatic cancer.

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for lesions at gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Methods A total of 51 lesions located at GEJ from 51 patients, with an average size of 10. 9±4. 0 mm (3-28 mm), were treated with EMR between November 2005 and March 2009, among which 39 were diagnosed as low grade dysplasia and 12 as high grade dysplasia pathologically after EMR. The histopathologic results were compared between biopsies and EMR samples. All patients were followed up endoscopically. Results Complete resection was achieved in 44 ( 86. 3% ). The histopathologic diagnosis of 25 cases (49. 9% ) was inconsistent between biopsy and EMR samples, with 24 exhibited higher grade dysplasia after EMR. Main complication during EMR was bleeding in 17 patients ( 33. 3% ), all of which were successfully managed. No perforation or postoperative stenesis occurred. Endoscopic follow-up was carried out in 8 patients for more than 3 years, in 17 for 2-3 years, in 12 for 1-2 years and in 14 for less than 1 year. No death occurred during follow-up. Conclusion EMR can be adquately adopted as an effective treatment for pre-cuncerous lesions at GEJ, which is important in blocking malignant progression of dysplastic lesions.

AIMTo study the NMR phenomena of cetirizine hydrochloride and assign all proton and carbon signals in NMR spectra.

METHODSTo record the 1D and 2D NMR spectra of cetirizine hydrochloride while changing the experimental temperature and adding D2O into the solution.

RESULTSMore than one NMR signal or broad peak resulting from piperazine and the attached groups with N atom were given in DMSO-d6 solution at room temperature. "Coalescence" or narrowing had occurred for the proton and carbon signals when the experimental temperature was increased or D2O was added into the solution.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the NMR "time scale", there are more than one conformation of cetirizine hydrochloride in DMSO-d6 solution at room temperature. The different conformation will be exchanged fast while temperature rise and the stable conformation will be existed while D2O was added into the solution.

Cetirizine ; chemistry ; Deuterium ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Protein Conformation ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with survivin gene, and to observe the effective and specific anti-tumor immunological effect induced by modified DC in vitro.

METHODSSurvivin gene was transfected to DCs with liposomes. Survivin expression could be detected both in DCs cells and in cell culture with method of Western blot. Cytokines as well as cellular surface molecule such as IL-12, TNF-alpha, CD1 alpha, CD83, MHCII, CD80 and CD86 were detected. The competence of inducing human specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs) was also detected with MTT.

RESULTSSurvivin expression could be detected both in DCs which were transfected with survivin cDNA and in cell culture superior. The IL-12 and TNF-alpha level was (265.2 +/- 32.7), (437.1 +/- 83.5) pg/ml, and much higher in transgened DC cells than blank DC cells (P < 0.05). CD1 alpha, CD83, MHCII, CD80 and CD86 was high expressed in survivin-DC cells, however, it was low expressed in blank DC cells. The lyse rate to gastric cancer cell, colon cancer cell and bile duct cancer cell was 65%, 77%, and 85% respectively, and these were much higher than those of blank DC cells.

CONCLUSIONSDCs transfected with survivin gene could induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and strikingly raised DC cell's antigen present function, and have specific CTL killing activity.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Active ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Interleukin-12 ; secretion ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of muscular needling combined with scarring moxibustion on active stage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSSixty cases of RA were randomly divided into a muscular needling group and a medication group, 30 cases in each group. The muscular needling group was treated by muscular needling on Quchi (LI 11), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. combined with scarring moxibustion on Dazhui (GV 14), Zusanli (ST 36) etc., while the medication group was treated by oral administration of Diclofenac sodium and intramuscular injection of Methotrexate. The therapeutic effects, main symptoms and signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and rheumatoid factor were observed in two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of muscular needling group was 76.7%, and that of medication group was 73.3%, there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The clinical symptoms, signs, and E8R of two groups were improved obviously compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), however there were no significant differences between the two groups after treatment (all P > 0.05). The adverse reactions of medication group were more eminent compared to the muscular needling group.

CONCLUSIONMuscular needling can obviously relieve the symptoms and signs of active stage rheumatoid arthritis and the effect is equivalent to oral administration of western medicine, the incidence of adverse reactions in the muscular needling group is obviously lower than that of western medication. Muscular needling is a safe and effective method for treatment of RA.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rheumatoid Factor ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical metastatic lymph node and the recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODSThe medical records of 74 OSCC patients with histologically confirmed cervical lymph node metastasis were reviewed. They were divided into 2 groups, ECS positive (ECS+) and ECS negative (ECS-). The treatment results were followed up. Statistical analysis, with chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression was conducted.

RESULTSThe overall recurrence rates for pN+/ECS- and pN+/ECS+ patients were 47.6% and 75.0%, respectively, and the cervical recurrence rates for pN+/ECS- and pN+/ECS+ patients were 9.5% and 46.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ECS was one of the independent prognosis factors for cervical recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSExtracapsular spread significantly increased both overall and cervical recurrence rates, and ESC may be a prognosis factor for OSCC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neck ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infection rate and subtypes of human papilloma virus(HPV) in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the clinicopathologic features of patients with or without HPV infection.

METHODSA total of 66 biopsy or surgical specimens of OSCC archived in the Pathology Department of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the generic amplification products were detected by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) and typed by reverse hybridization line probe assay.

RESULTSHPV-DNA was detected in 11 (16.7%) of all specimens. Among them, 7 were infected with HPV-16,and the remaining 4 patients were infected with HPV-16/11, HPV-35, HPV-58/52, and HPV-33/52/54, respectively. HPV-16 was detected in 72.7% of all positive specimens. There were more females in HPV-positive group than HPV-negative group (36.4% vs. 1.8%,P=0.002). Patients with HPV-positive tumors were more likely to be non-smokers (36.4% vs. 0,p=0.001) and non-drinkers (45.5% vs. 1.8%,p=0.001) than those with HPV-negative tumors. The proportion of moderately or poorly differentiated tumors was higher in HPV-positive patients than HPV-negative patients (81.8% vs. 63.7%), although without statistical significance (p=0.409). No difference was observed in T classification, N classification, and overall tumor stage.

CONCLUSIONSHPV infection rate was 16.7% in this cohort. HPV-positive OSCC has its unique etiologic and clinicopathological characteristics.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; virology ; Papillomaviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis effect of isothiocyanates (ITCS) on human liver cancer cells HepG-2, and its mechanism.

METHODHepG-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of ITCS. MTT assay was used to evaluate the influence of ITCS on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to test ROS levels, intracellular mitochondrial transmembrane potential (deltapsim) , and hypodiploid apoptosis peak in HepG-2 cells.

RESULTITCS obviously inhibited proliferation of HepG-2 cells. When treated with 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 microg x mL(-1) of ITCS for 24 h, ROS levels were (23.1+/-1. 8)%, (53.3+/-3.3)%, (57.9+/-2.0)%, (79.9+/-3.4)%, (93.4+/-2. 6)% respectively; and deltapsim were (94.8+/-5.5)%, (91.8+/-5.4)%, (66.0+/-5.6)%, (65. 5+/-6.6)% and (44.3+/-2.7)% respectively; when treated with 60, 120, 240 microg x mL(-1) of ITCS for 48 h, cell apoptotic rates were (16.6+/-2.8)%, (21.9+/-4.4) % and (70.2+/-5.3) % respectively.

CONCLUSIONITCS generates ROS in gastric cancer HepG-2 cells, which causes mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and deltapsim decrease, therefore, leads to apoptosis of HepG-2 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brassica ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mitochondria, Liver ; drug effects ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the role of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channel in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced apoptosis of primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

METHODSCultured rat hippocampal neurons were treated for 24 h with SNP, SNP+TRPC channel blockers, or SNP+TRPC channel activator. The viability of the neurons was determined by MTT assay, and the morphological changes of the cell nuclei were observed by Hoechst 33342 staining.

RESULTSThe survival rate of neurons treated with SNP for 24 h (67.4%) was significantly decreased as compared with the untreated neurons (P<0.01, n=8). TRPC channel blockers (2APB and SKF96365) significantly increased the survival rate of the SNP-treated neurons (102% and 92.7%, respectively, P<0.01), while TRPC channel activator (OAG) significantly lowered the survival rate of the SNP-treated neurons (56.9%, P<0.05). Treatment of the cultured rat hippocampal neurons with the TRPC channel blocker or activator alone did not obviously affect the survival of the cells. Under fluorescence microscope, the nuclei of the cultured rat hippocampal neurons were uniformly blue-stained. The neurons treated with SNP exhibited such apoptotic morphological features as cell shrinkage, condensation, aggregation of nuclear chromatin and presence of bright blue-stained apoptotic body. Treatment of the cells with both SNP and OAG resulted in increased number of apoptotic neurons.

CONCLUSIONTRPC channel is involved in SNP-induced apoptosis of cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; pharmacology ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; TRPC Cation Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

Objective To explore the incidence rate of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among the elderly which transferred to Alzheimer disease (AD) and to analyze the related influencing factors. Methods 10 urban communities were selected through stratified cluster sampling as the research sites where 361 patients with MCI were screened from 1 942 residents aged over 60 years old. Questionnaires and laboratory assays were used to collect data from subjects, including characteristics of demographic, life style, medical history, Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein,(AD7C-(NTP)), amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42) and amyloid β-protein 40(Aβ40), etc. Patients with MCI were followed up for three years to determine whether they progressed to AD. Results 121 of 361 patients of MCI converted to AD, and the incidence rate of MCI to AD was 9.49% person-years. According to the results of Logistic regression analysis model, elder (80-89 years) (OR=3.651,95% CI:1.295-10.297, P<0.001),female (OR=2.603,95% CI:1.136-5.966, P<0.001), heavy drinking(OR=1.479,95% CI:1.343-1.627, P<0.001), increased ADL score (OR=1.790, 95% CI:1.443-2.220, P=0.031) and smoking (OR=1.157,95% CI:1.091-1.224, P<0.001) were the risky factors of the transition of MCI to AD. The increase of Moca score (OR=0.766,95% CI:0.681-0.861, P<0.001) was the protective factor of the transition. Conclusions We should strengthen our monitor on elder female MCI patients, and promote healthy lifestyles among the elders, encouraging them to actively participate in physical exercises and reading, in order to delay patients' transition of MCI to AD.