Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a muhidomain calcium/calmodulin (CaM)-de- pendent Ser/Thr protein kinase with an important role in apoptosis regulation and tumor suppression. DAPK may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool to evaluate disease severity, progression, metastatic rate, and re- currence, and may serve as a target for therapeutic intervention.

Objective: Blue dye was one of the methods for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer, but the success rate was affected by multiple factors. This study was to determine the related factors contributing to the success of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer using blue dye method. Method:From Jan. 2007 to Aug.2008, sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed by periareolarly injecting 1% methylene blue in 141 breast cancer patients followed by axillary clearance. Pathological diagnosis was performed for all of the lymph nodes by conventional HE staining. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to make both univariate and multiva-riate analysis. Results:Sentinel lymph node was successfully detected in 126 patients. But the biopsy was failed in the 15 patients. The success rate was 89.4% and the false negative rate was 6.82%. Univariate analysis showed that success rate of biopsy was in association with patients' age, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, preoperative axillary node's status, pathological grade as well as ≥4 positive axillary lymph nodes involved. Multivariate analysis indicated that the patients'age (OR=4.587, P=0.024), BMI (OR=4.882, P=0.011) as well as 4 or more of the axillary nodes involved (OR=3.143, P=0.013) were independent predicting factors for the success of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Conclusions:Methylene blue dyeing is a reliable method for sentinel lymph node biopsy. The rate of success is associated with patients' age, BMI as well as the number of metastases in axillary lymph nodes.

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of the product, quantitative fingerprint was used to evaluate the composition of the amino acids in the Xingnao Tongluo injection.

METHODThe method of the quantitative fingerprint to the amino acids composition was established through AccQ Tag precolumn derivatization. The quality was evaluated by the quantitative test of the amino acids and the similarity in ten batches.

RESULTThe Xingnao Tongluo injection contained 12 amino acids and the contents of these amino acids were stable. All the ten batches of the samples had similarity of more than 0.90.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, feasible and could be a simple and effective way to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Compound Tongtu Granule (CTG) on intestinal permeability in elderly sepsis patients.

METHODSEighty elderly sepsis patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group by randomized double blinded method, 40 in each group. On the basis of conventional antiseptic treatment program, patients in the experimental group took CTG, while those in the control group took placebos. The dosage for CTG or placebos was 14.3 g each package, one package each time, twice daily for 14 successive days. Patients' abdominal symptoms and signs, levels of serum inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), levels of plasma endotoxin, and the intestinal permeability (IP, represented by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion rate) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 14-day treatment, patients in the experimental group had improved abdominal symptoms, increased frequency of defecation, significantly decreased levels of plasma endotoxin and IP, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTG could improve the intestinal barrier function in elderly sepsis patients.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Defecation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Permeability ; Protein Precursors ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Puerarin on L-type calcium channel in isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

METHODThe cardiac ventricular myocytes were isolated enzymatically by Langendorff perfusion techniques at constant flow rate. Whole-cell recording of patch-clamp techniques was used to observe the current of L-type calcium channel.

RESULTPuerarin 2.4 mmol x L(-1) could inhibit the current of L-type calcium channel of rat ventricular myocytes and this inhibition was time-dependent. Purerarin elevated the current-voltage (I-V) curve of calcium current.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can inhibit L-type calcium current of rat ventricular myocytes. Which implies that puerarin takes part in anti-myocardial ischemia and anti-arrhythmics partly due to the inhibition of L-type calcium channel.

Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of oral intake of glucose solution before surgery on the pH at the lower esophagus, perioperative blood glucose level, and plasmic protein in patients undergoing radical resection for colorectal cancer.

METHODSBetween January 2008 and December 2008, 60 patients undergoing radical surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled and randomized into three groups using the table of random digits. Four patients were withdrawn from the study. Patients in group A (n=19) were given 800 ml of 12.5% glucose solution for oral intake the night before surgery, and 200 ml two hours before surgery. Patients in group B (n=19) were given distilled water instead of glucose. Patients in group C (n=18) were asked to fast for 8-12 hours before operation. Combined general and epidural anesthesia was used. pH at the lower esophagus was monitored during intubation and extubation. Albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose were measured before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, and 7.

RESULTSpH at the lower esophagus was 8.05±0.43 in group A, 7.98±0.41 in group B, and 7.94±0.41 in group C. There were no perioperative acid regurgitations (P>0.05). Serum insulin in group A at postoperative day 1 was (16.32±16.11) μU/L, which was significantly lower than that in group B (30.65±41.74) μU/L and group C (34.01±52.91) μU/L. Log HOMA-IR in group A at postoperative day 1 was significantly lower than that in group B and group C (0.49±0.35 vs. 0.59±0.56 and 0.60±0.63, P<0.05). Transferrin in group C at postoperative day 3 and 7 was significantly lower than that in the other two groups, as was albumin at postoperative day 3 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOral liquid intake 2 hours before surgery is not associated with increased risk of regurgitation or aspiration during intubation and extubation, and may glucose solution intake reduce insulin resistance and protein degradation after colorectal surgery.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; surgery ; Female ; Glucose ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; drug effects ; Insulin Resistance ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Preoperative Care ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo detect the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sI- CAM-1) in the seminal plasma of infertile men and explore the role of inflammatory cytokines in male immune infertility.

METHODSBased on the results of the sperm-bound antibody immunobead test, 123 males with clinically suspected infertility were divided into an immune infertility group (n = 41), other infertility group A (n = 37), and other infertility group B (n = 45). The immune infertility patients were further subdivided into a leukocyte-positive and a leukocyte-negative group according to the results of leukocyte peroxidase staining. The control group included 31 males confirmed to be fertilein the clinic. Statistical analyses were conducted on the differences in inflammatory cytokines expressions and main parameters in the seminal plasma among different groups. The seminal liquefaction time was measured by visual and microscopic observation, sperm concentration and motility detected using the computer-assisted sperm analysis system, sperm viability determined by hypotonic swelling assay, and the expression levels of IL-6 and sICAM-1 meas- ured by ELISA.

RESULTSThe infertility groups showed significantly lowers perm viability (P < 0.05) and progressive motility (P < 0.01) than the fertile control, but no remarkable differences from the latter in sperm concentration (P > 0.05) and semen liquefaction time (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in seminal parameters between the immune infertility group and other infertility groups (P > 0.05). The IL-6 and sICAM-1 levels in the seminal plasma were extremely significantly higher in the im- mune infertility group ([37.92 ± 17.01] ng/L and [89.15 ± 41.82] ng/ml), other infertility group A ([22.23 ± 13.77] ng/L and [67.81 ± 33.24] ng/ml), and other infertility group B ([18.75 ± 14.32] ng/L and [53.25 ± 27.09] ng/ml) than in the normal control group ([9.47 ± 5.76] ng/L and [19.46 ± 9.77] ng/ml) (P <0.01) , with remarkable differences between the immune infertility group and the other two infertility groups (P < 0.05). The leukocyte-positive patients showed significantly increased levels of IL-6 ([49.25 ± 21.46] ng/L) and sICAM-1 ([104.36 ± 46.41] ng/ml) as compared with the leukocyte-negative ones ([31.38 ± 15.54] ng/Land [80.38 ± 35.52] ng/ml) (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-6 and sICAM-1 in the seminalplasma are involved in male immune infertility.

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; classification ; immunology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; immunology ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo study the MRI manifestation of testicular tumor and the value of MRI in the diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 23 cases of pathologically confirmed testicular tumor, and observed the morphological characteristics, signals and surrounding conditions of the tumor using plain and enhanced MRI scanning.

RESULTSOf the 23 cases, seminoma was identified in 7, mixed germinoma in 3, teratoma in 3, endodermal sinus tumor in 2, epidermoid in 1, Leydig cell tumor in 1, leucoma in 1, nonspecific inflammatory mass in 3, and tuberculosis in 2. MRI revealed the precise locations and specific characteristics of

CONCLUSIONBased on MRI findings and clinical manifestation, most testicular tumors can be diagnosed correctly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; diagnosis ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminoma ; diagnosis ; Teratoma ; diagnosis ; Testicular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe pathological abnormalities of the AIDS patients lie in the subcortical regions of the brain, specifically the deep white matter and basal ganglia, while the extent of pathology generally correlates with the severity of cognitive impairments in the white matter and basal ganglia. Brain metabolite changes of these lesions can reflect the pathological abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in AIDS patients.

METHODS3.0T MR was used to measure N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (MI) and creatinine (Cr) in the frontal white matter, basal ganglia and parietal cortex of 21 AIDS patients with dementia complex (ADC), 19 AIDS patients with neuroasymptomatic (NAS) and 20 seronegative (SN) controls. Then we compared the difference of metabolic rate between AIDS patients and SN groups.

RESULTSNAA/Cr (mean = 1.2502, SD = 0.1600) was significantly decreased and Cho/Cr (mean = 1.2028, SD = 1.1655) was increased in the frontal white matter in ADC group, while NAA/Cr (mean = 1.5334, SD = 0.0513) was reduced in NAS group when compared with SN group. NAA/Cr in the basal ganglia was decreased in both ADC and NAS groups (mean = 1.2625, SD = 0.1615 and mean = 1.5278, SD = 0.0380, respectively). Cho/Cr (mean = 1.1631, SD = 0.0981) was markedly increased in ADC group. Although NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and MI/Cr in the parietal cortex had a certain change in both ADC and NAS groups compared with SN group, the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSThe brain metabolite changes of AIDS patients are correlated with cognitive impairments. MRS can be used as a valuable inspection method to assess cognitive impairments in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cognition Disorders ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Young Adult