Objective The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of taxol plus fluorouracil(TF)chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods 55 patients with ad- vanced gastric cancer were treated with TF schedule.A treatment cycle lasted 21 days.The efficacy was eval- uated after 2～3 cycles of the chemotherapy.Results These 55 patients were evaluated the efficacy and the toxicity.The total efficiency rate of TF schedule was 45.45 %.Clinical Benefit Response(CBR)were evaluated in 35 patients.Ache remission rate was 86.6 %.The main side effect of toxicity was neutropenia.The total re- sponse neutropenia is 56.4 %.The aboveⅢstage was 10.9 %.The rate of nausea and vomiting was 43.6 %. Conclusion The combination of taxol and fluorouracil is a high response protocol with mild toxicity.TF schedule has high efficiency for advanced gastric cancer,especially for the patients who had had chemothera- py with fluorouracil.

Objective To investigate the correlation between uric acid level and increase of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in the elderly.Methods Clinical data of elderly and middleaged people who took health physical examination from Jan.2013 to Dec.2014 in a 3A-level hospital in Beijing were collected.The elderly people were divided into IMT normal group and plaque group.Logistic regression and linear regression were used to analyze the related factors for IMT thickening and uric acid level.Results The occurrence rate of hyperuricemia had a significant difference between the elderly group and the middle-aged group (P＜0.01).There were significant differences in uric acid level [(350.6±89.6) μmol/L vs.(359.6±86.6) μmol/L, t=5.19, P＜0.05].Body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood urea,cholesterol, high density lipoprotein levels between the IMT normal group and plaque group were [(25.3±3.6)kg/m2 vs.(25.8±3.5) kg/m2, (115.9±13.8) mmHg vs.(126.8±16.9) mmHg, (74.6±11.3) mmHg vs.(77.8±12.1) mmHg, (4.9±0.9) mmol/L vs.(5.0±1.0) mmol/L,(1.2±0.3) mmol/L vs.(1.2±0.3) mmol/L, all P＜0.01].Multi factor correlation analysis showed that the IMT thickening was correlated with gender, SBP, low density lipoprotein, blood glucose,while had no correlation with uric acid level.Blood uric acid level was related with gender, smoking, BMI, triglycerides, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein.Conclusions Blood uric acid level, BMI, blood pressure and lipids are increased in the plaque group as compared with the IMT normal group.However, blood uric acid level can not be used as an independent risk factor for IMT lesions.

The ralationship between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and intestinal microecology is increasingly being given more and more attention. Combined with the devolopment of intestinal microecology disciplines, effects of TCM on regulation of intestinal microecology have been gradually explained. Both clinical studies and animal experiments have confirmed that TCM can maintain the balance of intestinal microecology and regulate the intestinal flora. The author arrangemented the documents related to Chinese herbal compound adjusting intestinal flora in the recent ten years, summarized that the Chinese herbal compound which can strength spleen and replenish Qi, relax bowels and regulate Qi, dissipate dampness and check diarrhea, clear away heat and toxic materials, promote digestion and relieve stasis had certain regulation effects on intestinal microecology, providing basis for revealing the TCM essence of intestinal microecology.
Animals ; Digestion ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; microbiology ; physiology ; Spleen ; drug effects ; physiology

Hydrogen is an ideal energy due to its high conversion efficiency, recyclability and nonpolluting nature. Compared with conventional methods, biological hydrogen production process is found to be less energy intensive and more environmental friendly, and nowadays more and more attentions are being paid on its fermentative way. A survey of fermentative bio-hydrogen production process was provided, followed by its new approaches in the future development.

Objective To estimate the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk and prevention in critically ill patients admitted to ICU and discuss the appropriate strategy for prevention.Methods A total of 276 critically ill patients staying longer than 48 hours in ICU were enrolled for a retrospective single-center study.VTE risk assessment,methods for mechanical and pharmacological prophylaxis and demographic data were recorded.Simplified Caprini scores for VTE risk were counted in the first day and 7th day after admission to ICU,and were compared among internal medicine,surgery and trauma subgroups.Relationship between VTE risk and the clinic index was analyzed by Pearson test and Spearman test with SPSS 17.0 software.The prophylaxis strategy applied to patients without low risk of VTE was explored.Results Simplified Caprini scores were (8.71 ± 4.90) and (9.24-± 5.30) on the first day and the 7th day after admission respectively.Simplified Caprini score was significantly related to APACHE Ⅱ score (r =0.397,P =0.027).Meanwhile,simplified Caprini score in surgical and traumatic patients was higher than that in medical ill patients (14.02 ±2.01),(14.5 ± 1.29) vs.(6.55 ±3.98),P ＜0.01.The total rate of early prophylaxis measures used with mechanical prevention (13.43％) and pharmacological prophylaxis (5.22％) was only 18.28％ within 48 hours after admissioin of patients with highest riskof VTE.Even on the 7th day after admission to ICU,the total rate of prophylaxis measure employed with mechanical prevention (11.92％) and pharmacological prophylaxis (11.56％) for VTE was 25.83％.Conclusions Critically ill patients in ICU were subjected to extremely high risk of VTE.The VTE risk related closely to the severity of critically illness existed throughout the whole period of the ICU stay.Constant assessment for VTE risk and bleeding risk should be made with frequent assessment for critically ill patients.

Objective To discuss perioperative features, operative approach and surgical effects of spinal tuberculosis in older patients. Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 45 patients with spinal tuberculosis ranging in age from 61 to 78 years (average, 67 years). The lesion was located in thoracic vertebrae in 9 patients, thoracolumbar vertebrae in 14, lumbar in 16, and lumbosacral in 6. Preoperative Frankel grades were B in 7 cases, C in 21, D in 11 and E in 6. Among them, 21 had cardio-cerebrovascular disease, 10 had diabetes mellitus. With preoperative medicine and chemotherapy for 2-3 weeks, all patients were treated surgically. The surgical procedures included: 1) Posterior focus debridement, bone grafting and one-stage posterior transpedicular screw system fixation in thoracic vertebrae (T2-T7). 2) Anterior debridement, bone grafting and one-stage posterior transpedicular instrumental fixation in lumbosacral vertebrae (L5-S1). 3) Anterior focus elimination, bone grafting and one-stage anterior plate fixation in the other vertebrae. Results Forty-five patients were followed up for 24 to 40 months, with the average of 28.5 months. No severe complication occurred during and after operation. Forty-four cases had recovered and 1 recurred. Spinal fusion occurred 12-18 months after operation. Frankel neurological grades improved significantly. Conclusion With the effective management of comorbidities in perioperative period,the elderly could tolerate surgical treatment. The appropriate approaches, thorough debridement and reasonable bone grafting with internal fixation are key to therapeutic success.

AIM: To evaluate the potential acylation stimulating protein (ASP) resistance in both adipocytes and preadipocytes under the conditions by which insulin resistance is produced by the stimulation of free fatty acids (FFA), and to explore the mechanism of ASP resistance on post-receptor level. METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiate. Then the cells were treated with oleate or palmitate at concentration of 0 mmol/L (FFA-free DMEM/F12), 0.125 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L or 1.0 mmol/L overnight. Glucose transport was assessed by [~3H] 2-deoxyglucose uptake to evaluate insulin resistance and ASP resistance. Both non-FFA treated and FFA treated 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with ASP at concentration of 5.0 μmol/L for 4 h, then the cell proteins were extracted, and the expressions of guanine nucleotide binding protein beta (Gβ), guanine nucleotide-binding protein alpha-q/11(Gαq/11), phosphorylated-protein kinase Cα (p-PKCα) and phosphorylated-protein kinase Cζ (p-PKCζ) were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Both adipocytes and preadipocytes were responsive to ASP. ASP stimulation increased glucose transport by 198% in adipocytes and by 287% in preadipocytes (P<0.01 vs PBS). FFA at concentration of 0.125 mmol/L did not change ASP-stimulated glucose transport significantly, but high dose of oleate or palmitate effectively reduced the ASP response with a significant reduction by 47% (P<0.05 for oleate) and 34% (P<0.05 for palmitate) at 1 mmol/L FFA in adipocytes. Similarly in preadipocytes, glucose uptake rates were decreased by 43% (P<0.05 for oleate) and 62% (P<0.01 for palmitate) at 1 mmol/L FFA. Effects were comparable to those obtained with insulin. After overnight incubation with oleate or palmitate in adipocytes and preadipocytes, Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ were downregulated both in the absence of ASP treatment and in the presence of ASP treatment in adipocytes. At concentration of 1.0 mmol/L, oleate inhibited the expressions of ASP-induced Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ in adipocytes by 47%, 44%, 39% (P<0.05, P<0.01) and 20% (P>0.05), respectively. Palmitate also effectively blocked the expressions of ASP (at concentration of 1.0 mmol/L)-induced Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ by 50%, 43%, 44% and 43% (P<0.05, P<0.01) in adipocytes. In preadipocytes, oleate only inhibited ASP-induced p-PKCα and p-PKCζ significantly by 39% and 19%, respectively (P<0.05). However, overnight exposure of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to 1 mmol/L palmitate leaded to 45%, 50%, 52% and 21% (P<0.05, P<0.01) inhibition of ASP-induced expressions of Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ, respectively. CONCLUSION: Oleate and palmitate inhibit ASP-mediated stimulation of glucose transport both in adipocytes and preadipocytes. The study provides direct evidence of ASP resistance under the condition of insulin resistance induced by FFA in a cellular model. The mechanism of action involves both changes in expression of C5L2 as well as signaling parameters. Fatty acid-induced ASP resistance may contribute to the physiological abnormalities associated with insulin resistance and obesity phenotype.

Computer-aided detection (CAD) of pulmonary nodule technology can effectively assist the radiologist to enhance lung nodule detection efficiency and accuracy rate, so it can lay the foundation for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. In order to provide reference for the scholars and to develop the CAD technology, we in this paper review the technology research and development of CAD of the pulmonary nodules which is based on CT image in recent years both home and abroad. At the same time, we also analyse the advantages and shortcomings of different methods. Then we present the improvement direction for reference. According to the literature in recent years, there still has been large development space in CAD technology for pulmonary nodules. The establishment and improvement of the CAD system in each step would be of great scientific value.
Computer Systems ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of zinc on airway inflammation in asthmatic rats.Methods Animal model of asthma was established by OVA challenging,zinc-deficient and zinc-supplementary diet were given accordingly.Thirty-two SD rats were divided into four groups according to weight: zinc-deficient diet with OVA challenge group(group A),zinc-supplementary diet with OVA challenge group(group B),zinc-normal diet with OVA challenge group(group C) and zinc-normal diet with saline challenge group(group D).Twenty-four hours later asthma was induced,right side lungs were harvested for HE staining to observe histomorphological changes and the respective numbers of eosinophirs,neutrophils and macrophage in the bronchial mucus were counted.The contents of interferon-?(IFN-?),interleukin-4(IL-4),superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione peroxidase(GPX) in lung homogenate were detected.Results Compared with group C,the number of eosinophils,neutrophils and macrophage,and the contents of SOD increased in group A,but significantly decreased in group B(P