Objective To investigate the indication, preoperative evaluation, technical tip, prevention and treatment of complications, effect, and clinical use of the embolization of intracranial aneurysms by using GDCs. Methods From July 1998 to February 2000,93 patients with 118 intracranial aneurysms were embolized using GDCs, including 84 ruptured aneurysms (Hunt-Hess grade, Ⅰ 18 cases, Ⅱ 29 cases, Ⅲ 25 cases, Ⅳ 10 cases, Ⅴ 2 cases). 72 patients were treated at emergency, and 48 patients had CTA examination preoperatively. The operations were completed under the DSA monitoring. Continuous lumbar subarachnoid drainage was instituted and standard 3H treatment was given postoperatively. Results Total occlusion was achieved in 104 aneurysms(88 14%), over 90% in 11aneurysms(9.32%), less than 90% in 3 aneurysms(2 54%), with 3 patients (3/93, 3 23%) died in the cohort. One case rebleeded after 1.5 months and was cured by surgical clipping, 2 patients experienced enlargement of the aneurysmal neck and were reembolized. Following-up was performed from 2 to 22 months, 1 had severe disability, 7 had mild neurological deficit symptoms. Conclusion The results of short-term follow-up suggested that embolization of intracranial aneurysms with GDCs be microtraumatic, safe, effective, and reliable. Partial packing may result in continuous enlargement, rupture, and bleeding, while tight coil packing in aneurysms was reliable. The ruptured aneurysms need emergency embolization, and postoperative continuous lumbar subarachnoid drainage can enhance curative effect significantly.

Objective To summarize experiences in diagnosis and interventional management for intracranial vertebral arterial dissection. Methods Clinical symptoms and imaging results were analysed in 23 cases of intracranial vertebral dissection, and corresponding interventional managements were reviewed. Results Clinical symptoms consisted of spontaneous SAH and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. DSA usually showed "pearl and string" sign. Interventional management included stent assisted coiling of the dissection, embolization of the affected artery with GDC and to learn the details of the stenotic ICA and draw up and appropriate operation plan.Conclusions Direct energetic intervention should be undertaken promptly for intracranial dissection.

Objective To study the medicinal plants of Dioscorea nipponica, the physicochemical pro-perties of starch in D. nipponica were investigated by means of various analytical methods. Methods D. nipponica starch was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction, granule size analysis, DSC, and Brabender Viscograph system. Results Compared with tapioca and potato starch, the morphology of D. nipponica starch showed smaller particles, oval shaped, and dissimilar granules in size. The crystal type of D. nipponica starch was C-type pattern. The amylose content in D. nipponica starch was 26.3%. The starch separated from D. nipponica showed the highest transition temperature and intermediate enthalpy of gelatinization between potato and tapioca. According to the viscosity measurement with Brabender viscograph, D. nipponica starch exhibited lower peak viscosity, higher setback and lower breakdown viscosity. Conclusion D. nipponica starch is obtained from D. nipponica. Significant differences from D. nipponica and other tuber starches in physicochemical properties are obtained due to their geographical origin.

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Objective To identify the role of survivin and VEGF in angiogenesis of colorectal tumor by investigating tissue expression of survivin, VEGF and CD34 in human colorectal tumors. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for the paraffin sections by using the polyclonal antibodies of survivin, monoclonal antibodies of VEGF and CD34, was performed by the standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. The percentage of positive cell and quantitative analysis were made by image analysis system, which also helped to calculate the amount of MVD. Results The immunoreactivity of survivin significantly increased in the transition from adenoma with low dysplasia to adenoma with high dysplasia (P <0.01). Similar changes in protein expression were observed for VEGF and MVD. The expression of survivin was closely related with that of VEGF. Both were positively correlated with MVD. Conclusion Survivin promotes angiogenesis of colorectal tumor together with VEGF. VEGF may be the potential causes of reexpression of survivin during colorectal tumorigenesis.

One major problem to successful treatment of cancer is the development of resistance by tumor cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, a phenomenon named multidrug resistance (MDR). Searching for the novel chemotherapeutical agents is one of the important strategies for overcoming MDR. By using a cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry analysis, Western-blotting and RT-PCR, a drug (Taxol, TAX) resistant human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KB cell line (KB/TAX) was established by addition of the drug to the cell cultures gradually, then a novel N-sugar substituted thalidomide analogue (STA-35) was investigated for its reversal effect on MDR of KB/TAX cells and possible mechanism. The results showed that KB/TAX cells were resistant to several chemotherapeutical agents, and the relative resistance to TAX was 73.1. Compared with parental KB cells, the function and protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as well as mdr1 gene in the KB/TAX cells were remarkable reduced. Moreover, both KB and KB/TAX cells were sensitive to STA-35, the relative resistance to TAX on KB/TAX cells was decreased by the addition of STA-35. Furthermore, STA-35 (5 ～20 ?mol/L)was capable to reduced the activity of P-gp by increasing the accumulation of rhodamine 123, decreasing P-gp expression in KB/TAX cells in a dose dependent manner , but had no effect on the mdr1 gene expression. These results suggest a potential action of STA-35 as MDR reversing agent, and one of the possible mechanisms could be the suppression of P-gp function and protein expression.

Objective To evaluate the value of electrospun polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers with different topological structures as scaffolds for growth of Schwann cells (SCs).Methods Electrospun PMMA nanofibers with random or aligned topological structures were fabricated and measured with biocompatibility.Lentivirus-transfected green fluorescent protein was used as the reporting gene to monitor form and growth manner of SCs on different substrates and dependency of cell body and process with fiber structure,with PMMA thin films served as the control.Results Electrospun PMMA nanofibers revealed good biocompatibility and could exert contact guidance to the growth of SCs.Topological structures of the electrospun nanofibers influenced cell morphology.SCs were aligned with the orientation of substrate fibers and form longer cell process when growing on aligned nanofibers (P ＜0.01).Primary SCs preferred to follow the cue of aligned nanofibers compared to random fibers.Conclusion Aligned electrospun PMMA nanofibers have the potentiality as transplantable scaffolds for loading SCs after neural injury.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations of early cerebral ischemic lesions after stenting with WingSpan system for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis, and to evaluate the early effects and safety of the stenting therapy. Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) before and after stenting (within 72 hours). The clinical data, including patients' general condition, stenting procedures and newly-developed cerebral ischemic lesions, were recorded. Neurological defect was estimated with NIHSS, the safety and early outcome of stenting were evaluated. Results The degree of stenosis was reduced from a mean baseline of (72.3 ± 10.7)% to (31.9 ± 13.6)% immediately after stenting. The technical success rate was 100%. The total eomplicatiom nate was 17.2%. And among them, z were symptomatic (6.9%). Sixty-three ischemic lesions were demonstrated on DWI in 13 patients (44.8%). Among them, 11 (84.6%) were asymptomatic. Fifty-five newly-developed lesions on DWI (87.3%) were located in the region of stented vessels and 3.2% were situated in the region of branch vessels of stented artery. Conclusion DWI is of great value in assessing the safety of intracranial stenting procedures. The treatment of symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis by using WingSpan system is safe and effective. Newly-developed ischemic lesions can be well detected on DWI and should receive physician's attention, although most ischemic lesions are asymptomatic. Long-term outcome of this treatment needs to be further observed.

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects and complications of concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and chemotherapy in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LSCLC).Methods From June 2000 to August 2005, 93 histologically proved LSCLC patients were randomized into two groups:3DCRT group (n =46) and conventional group (n =47).In both groups, patients received one cycle chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and then received consolidate chemotherapy.Chemotherapy was four to six cycles of PE regimen.Conventional irradiation field was setup in conventional group, while in 3 DCRT group clinical target volume (CTV) only involved visible tumor and adjacent lymphatic region.Radiotherapy was delivered at 2 Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week to a median total dose of 60 -64 Gy.Those who achieved a complete response were treated with prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) with 30 Gy in 10 fractions.Results The follow-up rate was 100% in both groups.The number of patients completed 1-, 2-and 3-year follow-up were 36, 34 and 16 in 3DCRT group, 14, 7 and 8 in conventional group, respectively.The complete and overall response rate were 52% and 89% in 3DCRT group, while 47% and 85% in conventional group, respectively.The 1-, 2-and 3-year survival rates were 78%, 35% and 15% in 3DCRT group, 72%, 30% and 17% in conventional group, respectively.The median survival time was 23.2 and 22.8 months, respectively.There was no statistical difference in short-term (Χ~2 = 0.34 ,P = O.759) and long-term outcomes (Χ~2 = 0.18 ,P = 0.92).In 3DCRT group, the incidence of grade 1 +2 acute radiation pneumonitis and esophagitis, grade 1 +2 and grade 3 chronic radiation pneumonitis were lower than those in conventional group.There was no grade 3 or 4 acute radiation pneumonitis or esophagitis, or grade 4 chronic radiation pneumonitis in both groups.There was no difference in grade 1 + 2, grade 3 or grade 4 acute myelo-suppression between the two groups.Conclusions In the treatment of LSCLC, concurrent 3DCRT and chemotherapy can achieve satisfactory short-term and long-term outcomes with acceptable complications.

Objective To evaluate endovascular treatment for distal intracranial wide necked aneurysms with microwire assisted coiling technique. Methods Twenty five patients with ruptured small wide necked aneurysms were treated with this procedure including 12 aneurysms located in anterior communicating artery, 12 in bifurcation of middle cerebral artery and 1 in PICA. Microcatheters were firstly introduced into the aneurismal sacs. We remodelled the microwire in line with parent artery and advanced it across the aneurismal neck. The aneurysms were then packed with guglielmi detachable coil through microcatheter. Results Technical success was achieved in all cases with no associated complications. The aneurysms were totally occluded with patency of parent artery and the patients recovered uneventfully. The follow up of 16 cases, showed no recanalization of aneurysms. Conclusions Microwire assisted coiling is a novel alternative for endovascular treatment of distal, small wide necked aneurysm with satisfactory safety and economical efficacy.