Background Researches showed that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (MMP/TIMP) in cells,but the association of expression of MMP/TIMP in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the dose and active time of PDGF is unclear.Objective This study was to observe the effects of PDGF on the expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in cultured RPE cells in vitro.Methods RPE cell line,ARPE-19,was calculated in vitro,and the cells were divided into 5 groups when they reached 70％-80％ confluence.Different concentrations (0,0.1,1,10,50 mg/L) of PDGF was added into the medium respectively for 36 hours,and the expressing levels of mRNA and protein of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot assay.In addition,RPE cells in PDGF group were treated with 10 mg/L PDGF for 24,36,48 hours respectively to detect the expressions of mRNA and protein of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the cells and to compare with the control group without PDGF.Results PDGF stimulated proliferation of RPE cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.As the increase of the PDGF concentrations,the expression values of MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA in RPE cells were gradually elevated,with a statistically significant difference among various groups (MMP-2 mRNA:F=79.304,P=0.000;MMP-9 mRNA:F =8.465,P=0.003),and the expressions of MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were significantly higher in the 1,10,50 mg/L PDGF groups compared with 0 mg/L PDGF normal control group (all at P＜0.05).Also,the expression values of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in RPE cells were gradually elevated with the increase of PDGF concentrations,showing statistically differences among the groups (MMP-2:F=26.550,P=0.000;MMP-9:F=80.993,P=0.000).Compared with the 0 mg/L PDGF group,MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels in the 1,10,50 mg/L PDGF groups were significantly up-regulated (all at P＜ 0.05).However,the expression levels of TIMP-1 mRNA and protein group in the cells were not significantly different among various groups (mRNA:F =0.143,P =0.962 ; protein:F =1.955,P =0.178).The expression levels of M MP-2 mRNA,M MP-9 mRNA in the cells were increased in the PDGF group compared with the control group at different time points (MMP-2 mRNA:Ftime =83.250,P=0.002 ; MMP-9 mRNA:Ftime =6.785,P =0.019).Also,the expression values of MMP-2 and MMP-9proteins in RPE cells were increased in the PDGF group compared with the control group at different time points (MMP-2:Ftime =1 l.185,P =0.041 ; MMP-9:Ftime =968.413,P =0.000).The expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNAs and proteins were significant between the two groups at different time points (all at Pgroup =0.000;all at Ptime＜0.05).While the expression changes of TIMP-1 werc not significant between the two groups and among various time points (all at P＞0.05) Conclusions PDGF up-regulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in RPE cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.But,PDGF dose not alter the expression of TIMP-1.These results indicate that PDGF disrupt the balance of MMP/TIMP,which may damage the extracellular matrix and therefore facilitate the migration of RPE cells in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Objective To study the efficacy and security of postoperative radiotherapy alone and post-operative radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in patients with high-grade cerebral glioma.Methods Fifty-nine patients with high-grade cerebral glioma confirmed by pathology, including 35 with grade Ⅲ and 24 with grade Ⅳ, admitted to our hospital from June 2004 to June 2008, were chosen in our study; these patients were randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B and C). All the patients underwent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) with a dose of 54-66Gy/27-33f/5-7w by 6/10MV-X ray; and the median total dose was 60 Gy; group A (n=21, including 13 with grade Ⅲ and 8with grade Ⅳ) received chemotherapy with termozolomide (TMZ) at a dosage of 75 mg/m2·d during radiotherapy, following by 150-200 mg/ (m2·d) for 5 d, and enjoying 28 d per cycle for a total of 3-5cycles; group B (n=26, including 14 with grade Ⅲ and 12 with grade Ⅳ) received chemotherapy with the regimen of nimustine (ACNU) with a dosage of 90 mg/m2 on the 1st d and teniposide (VM-26) at a dosage of 60 mg/m2 on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd d, enjoying 6-8 weeks per cycle for a total of 4-6 cycles; group C (n=12,including 8 with grade Ⅲ and 4 with grade Ⅳ) received radiotherapy alone. Clinical evaluations of tumor response and adverse effects were performed periodically. The primary end points were disease progression-flee survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) Results The effective rate in the group A, B and C was 81.0％, 71.4％ and 33.3％, respectively, indicating that significant differences exited between group C and both group A and B (P＜0.05). The incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and toxic response in the group B was obviously higher than that in the group A (P＜0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates in group A were 66.7％, 19.0％ and 9.5％, respectively, which were the highest among the 3groups; those in group B were 53.8％, 15.4％ and 3.8％, respectively; those in group C were 25％, 8％ and 0％, respectively. The PFS in all the patients was 8 months and OS was 15 months; log-rank test indicated that significant differences of PFS and OS existed between patients received concomitant chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy (X2=10.710, P=0.005; X2=7.185, P=0.028); the incidence of PFS and OS in group A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (P＜0.05). Conclusion To post-operative patients with high-grade cerebral glioma, concomitant chemoradiotherapy can improve the effective rate and extend the PFS and OS. TMZ is recommended as the concomitant chemotherapy regimen, having similar therapy effect with ACNU plus VM-26, but enjoying less adverse effects.

OBJECTIVETo study the growth inhibition of Weikangfu recipe on S180 tumor and its apoptotic induction.

METHODS180-bearing mice were orally administrated with different dosages of Weikangfu recipe, and the growth inhibition was evaluated; apoptotic cells induced were detected by flow cytometry and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTWeikangfu recipe showed significant inhibition on the growth of S180 tumor in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the control group. From apoptotic analyses, Weikangfu recipe induced a dose-dependent apoptosis of S180 tumor cells and arrested the cell cycle distribution at G0-G1 phase. At the same time, the up-regulation of p53 and bax and down-regulation of bcl-2 were observed in S180 tumor cells of the treated groups.

CONCLUSIONOur findings demonstrate that Weikangfu recipe can significantly inhibit the growth of S180 tumor and induce apoptosis through expression alteration of p53, bax and bcl-2.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Sarcoma 180 ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

This study was aimed to explore the clinical features and prognosis outcome of childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The clinical data of 38 cases of newly diagnosed T-ALL from Jan 2005 to Aug 2010 were analyzed retrospectively, and 78 cases of B-ALL with intermediate and high risk were collected as control group, then the sensitive rate of patients to prednisone pretreatment, complete remission (CR) rate at day 33 after induction chemotherapy, relapse rate and 3-year event-free survival (EFS) were compared between T-ALL and B-ALL children. The results showed that no significant statistic difference were found in distribution of age, infiltration of liver, spleen and lymph nodes as well as central nervous system disease, chromosome abnormality, expression level of fusion gene and so on between T-ALL and B-ALL groups (p > 0.05), but there were significant differences in sex and number of cases with WBC count ≥ 50 × 10(9)/L between them (p < 0.05). The sensitive rate of T-ALL and B-ALL patients to prednisone pretreatment was 51.9% and 89.3% respectively (p < 0.05). The ratio failed to achieve CR at day 33 after induction chemotherapy was 15.4% and 8.1% in the two groups (p > 0.05). The relapse rate of T-ALL and B-ALL cases was 30.8% (8/26) and 14.9% (11/74) respectively (p > 0.05). The time from CR to relapse was (9.78 ± 3.48) month and (21.28 ± 14.32) month (p < 0.05). The 3 year EFS of T-ALL cases with intermediate and high risk was (37.5 ± 17.1)% and (22.2 ± 9.8)%, while 3 year EFS of B-ALL cases was (66.7 ± 7)% and (51.7 ± 9.3)% respectively (p < 0.05) according to Kaplan-Meier survival curve. It is concluded that as compared with B-ALL cases, the male ratio and initial WBC count are higher, moreover the early response to prednisone pretreatment and 3 year EFS are poor in T-ALL cases, the prognosis outcome is poor also.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; mortality ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; mortality ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Objective To investigate effects of different times and procedures of postoperative radiation and chemotherapy on treatment efficacy of high-grade gliomas.Methods A prospective clinical trial was conducted in 71 patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG); they were separated randomly into two groups:one group including 39 patients received chemo-radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy sequentially (RC+C) and the other group including 32 patients received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy sequentially (C+RC+C).The clinical benefit rate (CBP),progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were followed up after the treatment.Results No significant difference on CBP 5 months after treatment was noted between the two groups (P＞0.05),but the CBP in the C+RC+C group (87.5％) was significantly higher than that in the RC+C group (66.7％)8 months after treatment (P＜0.05).No significant difference on OS was noted between the two groups.The median PFS of patients in C+RC+C group was 11.5 months while that in the RC+C group was 8.6 months; the PFS of patients in C+RC+C group was significantly longer that in the RC+C group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Procedure of C+RC+C can prolong the PFS of patients with HGG.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of human fatty acid binding protein (h-FABP) in predicting myocardial ischemia and injury in the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, we observed the dynamic changes of h-FABP in perioperative period of patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and ventricular septal defects repairing surgery, and evaluated the relationship of h-FABP and ischemia modified albumin (IMA), CK-MB, cTnI.

METHODSPatients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (n=30) and ventricular septal defect repairing (n=30) surgery between February 2008 and December 2008 were included in this study. Venous blood sample was obtained at preoperative, aortic clamping, aortic unclamping of 10 min, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h for the measurements of h-FABP, IMA, cTnI and CK-MB.

RESULTSh-FABP and IMA changed in the same way at various examined time points, h-FABP changes also paralleled cTnI and CK-MB changes, h-FABP peaked early during myocardial ischemia and injury and returned to baseline level at 2 h post myocardial ischemia and injury. Linear correlation analysis showed that the peak value of h-FABP was positively correlated with IMA, CK-MB and cTnI in both CABG group (r = 0.948, 0.964 and 0.961, P < 0.05) and in the VSD group (r = 0.986, 0.978 and 0.957).

CONCLUSIONSh-FABP is an early diagnostic parameter reflecting perioperative myocardial ischemia and injury in cardiac surgery. Quantitative h-FABP monitoring could predict the severity of myocardial ischemia and injury early during cardiac surgery.

Aged ; Albumins ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; blood ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Perioperative Period ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Thoracic Surgery ; Troponin I ; blood

OBJECTIVETo estimate tone-pip auditory brainstem response (tone-pip ABR) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) thresholds to follow the development of hearing in four groups of normal babies through the first 6 month of life and to make a comparison between the tone-pip ABR and ASSR for 0.25 - 8 kHz frequency range at different groups.

METHODSThe tone-pip ABR and ASSR were recorded in four groups of normal hearing infants (160 ears) at the age of 2 - 4 day, 6 weeks, 3-month and 6-month. Tone-pip ABR and ASSR thresholds were established in 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 kHz stimuli.

RESULTSFor click ABR, the wave latency of I, III, V and inter-wave latency of I-III, III-V and I-V decreased as the age increase. The developmental changes were obvious in wave I and III before 6 weeks and 3 months respectively. Tone-pip ABR had the similar waveform as the click ABR. With the frequency increasing, their waveforms and wave latencies of I, III and V were getting better and shorter respectively. There was significant difference between the thresholds of tone-pip ABR and ASSR (all P < 0.05). The tone-pip ABR thresholds were significantly lower than those of ASSR from 0.5 to 8 kHz. Both ASSR and tone-pip ABR had similar audiograms for different age of infants with normal hearing.

CONCLUSIONSThe longitudinal findings presented in this study suggest that with the maturational development, the wave latency of I, III, V and inter-wave latency of I-III, III-V and I-V of tone-pip ABR decrease as the age increase, while the hearing sensitivity have no changes. Both tone-pip ABR and ASSR have stable frequency specificity. Compared to the ASSR, tone-pip ABR have lower response threshold and maybe nearer to the hearing level of the infant.

Auditory Threshold ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yishen Qingre Huashi Recipe (YQHR) in treating proteinuria of chronic glomerular disease patients with Pi-Shen deficiency complicated damp-heat syndrome (PSDCDHS).

METHODSTotally 121 stage 1 -2 primary chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS were randomly assigned to the treated group (85 cases) and the control group (36 cases) according to 2:1. All patients received conventional and symptomatic treatment. Patients in the treated group took YQHR additionally, while those in the control group took Losartan Potassium Tablet (50 mg each time, once per day) additionally. The therapeutic course for all was 6 months. Changes of 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(SCr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were observed at different time points. And the difference in therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group after 6 months of treatment, 24 h urine protein obviously decreased in the treated group (P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in SCr, BUN, or eGFR between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (P >0. 05). The total effective rate after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment in the treated group was 77. 6% (66/85 cases), 82. 4% (70/85 cases), and 89. 4% (76/85 cases), respectively. They were 47. 2% (17/36 cases), 55. 6% (20/36 cases), and 61. 1% (22/36 cases) in the control group, respectively. Compared with before treatment in the treated group, the total effective effect after 6 months of treatment was higher than that after 2 months of treatment (χ2=4. 28, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group at the same time points, the total effective rate in the treated group after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment was higher (χ2=10. 87, 9. 53, 13.16, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONYQHR could significantly lower proteinuria in chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS, improve the clinical effect, thereby providing clinical evidence for treating chronic glomerular disease proteinuria from resolving dampness and clearing heat.

Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; complications ; therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Losartan ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Tablets

BACKGROUNDPulmonary-vein isolation (PVI) is currently used for the treatment of chronic and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a major risk of PVI is thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to observe embolic event rate in patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergone PVI.

METHODSCircumferential PVI (CPVI) was performed in 64 consecutive patients with persistent AF (42 men, aged (60.0 +/- 9.1) years) and in 84 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF (53 men, aged (61.4 +/- 9.3) years). Warfarin was administrated in all patients before ablation for at least 3 weeks ((5.2 +/- 2.6) weeks) and continued for at least 3 months post ablation with international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 - 3.0. During CPVI, intravenous heparin was given at a dose of 5000 - 8000 U or 75 - 100 U/kg, followed by 1000 U or 12 U/kg per hour.

RESULTSIn patients with persistent AF, 1 patient developed embolic event during ablation and 3 patients developed embolic events after ablation. In contrast, no thromboembolic event was observed in patients with paroxysmal AF (4/64 vs 0/84, P = 0. 033).

CONCLUSIONThromboembolic event rate related to CPVI is significantly higher in patients with persistent AF than that in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Thromboembolism ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo identify and type three leptospires isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province by using three molecular techniques (PFGE, MLVA, and MLST), reveal the molecular characteristic of causative agents of local leptospirosis and evaluate these three molecular methods based on their detection resolution and efficiency.

METHODSThree Leptospira strains were isolated from the kidney of Rattus tanezumi and cultured with EMJH medium. PFGE, MLVA, and MLST assays were applied to type the three strains isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province.

RESULTSPFGE, MLVA, and MLST typing showed that the three leptospiral isolates matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai. The findings of the genotyping methods were consistent. MLVA and MLST defined genotypes, whereas PFGE allowed the recognition of additional subgroups within the genotypes, and the findings of molecular typing were also consistent with those of traditional techniques.

CONCLUSIONThree leptospiral isolates from Guizhou Province matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai, and PFGE, MLVA, and MLST, as reliable molecular techniques for identifying and typing of Leptospira interrogans, would contribute to the active surveillance, outbreak investigation and source tracking for leptospirosis in Guizhou Province.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; classification ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genotype ; Leptospira interrogans ; classification ; genetics ; Leptospirosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Rats