Objective To discuss the clinical value of 99Tcm-sestamibi(99Tcm-MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging on detecting myocardial ischemia in children with Kawasaki disease(KD) at convalescence period.Methods Twenty-one children wih KD at convalescence period were divided into 2 groups according to results of echocardiography.Four cases with coronary artery dilation,17 cases without coronary artery dilation.All cases accepted dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion imaging.These patients who had positive results were given rest myocardial perfusion imaging again next day.Results Among 21 cases,9 cases(42.8%) were positive in perfusion imaging.Four cases with coronary artery dilation showed myocardial ischemia in different degree detected by myocardial perfusion imaging.Among 17 cases without coronary artery dilation,5 cases(29.4%) were positive.Conclusions Compared to echocardiography,99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging can objectively evaluate the location,extent and degree of myocardial ischemia of children with KD.It will be a routine test in observing its phase development.

Objective: The effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoctio n (LW) on the function of splenic T helper cells (Th) was studied and compared w ith those of the immune inhibitors such as cyclophosphamide (Cy) and cyclosporin A (CsA) in AA rats. Methods: The expression of mRNA for IFN- γ,IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 in splenic T-Lymphocytes of adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats was evaluated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PC R) technique. Results: mRNA expression level of IL-2 had a te ndency to elevate, but the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 we re significantly decreased in AA rats in comparison with control groups. LW trea tment significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-2 and promoted the expr ession of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 in splenocytes of AA rats, with an obvious ch aracteristic as compared with that of Cy or CsA. Conclusion: L W can correct the imdifferent balance of the functions of splenocyte Th1/Th2 in AA rats.

Objective To evaluate the influence and significance of preoperative design of surgical approach on stem cell transplantation via stereotactic surgery. Methods Six patients with stroke in the basal ganglia region were selected. The transplantation target and transcranial approach point were designed by magnetic resonance examination before stem cell transplantation via stereotacfic surgery to guarantee that the line connecting the transplantation target and transcranial approach point could avoid the important functional areas, the ventricular system and the softening focus. Postoperative magnetic resonance examination was performed to observe whether the practical target and surgical approach coincided with the preoperative design or not. Results The practical transplantation target was coincided with the designed transplantation target, distributed around the softening focus without implanted cells in the softening focus. Surgical approach was coincided with the preoperative design and it successfully avoided the important brain functional area, ventricular system and softening focus.Conelnsion The preoperative design of surgical approach can not only ensure the cells being exactly transplanted into the reservation target and guarantee the curative effect, but also promise the surgical approach successfully avoiding the important brain functional area, ventricular system and softening focus and reduce the operative injury.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antitumor efficacy, time to tumor progression (TTP) and toxicity of Iressa (ZD1839)-a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have failed to respond previous chemotherapy.

METHODSFifty-two patients with grade IV NSCLC previously treated with chemotherapy (77.0% of patients after second line therapy) received 250 mg of Iressa orally once daily until disease progression or development of intolerable toxic reaction. They were required to receive tumor-evaluation before the treatment, one month after Iressa administration and every other month thereafter.

RESULTSWithout complete regression being observed, partial response (PR) rate was 21.2% (11/52), stable disease (SD) 32.7% (17/52), disease control rate (PR + SD) 53.8%, progression of disease (PD) 46.2% (24/52); median time to tumor progression (TTP) was 3.5 month. Among them, 22 patients were followed up over one year and the 1-year survival rate was 31.8%. Symptomatic improvement rate was 52.9%. The most common adverse effects were skin reactions and diarrhea which were generally mild (grade 1 or 2). Only one patient withdrew from the trial because of grade III hepatic toxicity with increase in ALT and AST.

CONCLUSIONIressa has significant antitumor activity in advanced NSCLC patients who have previously failed in second or third line chemotherapy. It greatly alleviates tumor related symptoms. Adverse effects are generally tolerable. IRESSA is suitable for patients with poor performance status (ECOG > 2).

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Quinazolines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Remission Induction

AIMTo study the protective effects of hydroxyethylpuerarin against the injury of astrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

METHODSExperiments were performed with cells from passage 4. Plasma membrane integrity was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The occurrence of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The glutamate uptake of astrocytes was studied with [3H]-glutamate incorporation. Intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were assessed by automatic biochemistry analyzer.

RESULTSCompared with H2O2 injured group, the occurrence of apoptosis, levels of LDH release and intracellular MDA of astrocytes reduced in hydroxyethylpuerarin pre-treated groups, but the glutamate uptake and intracellular SOD activity of astrocytes increased.

CONCLUSIONHydroxyethylpuerarin could reduce the occurrence of apoptosis and improve neurotrophic function of astrocytes, which may be related with its antioxidant effects during oxidative stress.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor efficacy, time to tumor progression (TTP) and toxicity of gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839)--a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the treatment of male patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Fifty-nine male patients with stage IV NSCLC orally took Iressa 250 mg once daily until disease progression or intolerable toxicity ocurred. They were required to conduct tumor-evaluation before the treatment, one month after Iressa administration and then every other month.

RESULTSOf these 59 patients, no complete regression was observed, 23.7% had partial response (PR), and 16.9% stable disease (SD) with a disease control (PR + SD) rate of 40.7%, while 59.3% had progress of disease (PD). The median time to tumor progression (TTP) was 1.8 months, and the median survival was 8.5 months. Fifty-nine patients were followed up over one year, 35 over two year and 15 over three year, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 42.4%, 17.1% and 13.3%. The most common adverse effects were grade 1 or 2 skin reaction and diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONIressa is effective in antitumor for the male patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, and can improve the survival for those responsing to gefitinib. The adverse effects are usually tolerable.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease Progression ; Exanthema ; chemically induced ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Quinazolines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

Objective - To investigate the effect of lung flora dysbiosis on the process of pulmonary fibrosis and lung epithelial （ ） Methods - mesenchymal transition EMT in mice with silicosis. Male C57BL/6 mice of specific pathogen free grade were ， ， ， （ ） randomly divided into the blank control group silicosis model group solvent control group vancomycin VM + ampicillin （ ） ， （ ） （ ） ， AMP group metronidazole MNZ + neomycin NEO group and mixed treatment group 12 mice in each group. Except for ， ， the blank control group which was given 20.0 µL of 0.9% NaCl solution the other five groups of mice were dosed with 20.0 µL of silica dust suspension at a mass concentration of 250.0 g/L using a single tracheal drip to establish the silicosis mouse model. ： The intranasal drip method was used to treat silicosis mice in each group as following mice in the solvent control group were - ； ； given double distilled water mice in the VM+AMP group were given VM at a mass concentration of 0.5 g/L and AMP at 1.0 g/L ； mice in the MNZ+NEO group were given MNZ at a mass concentration of 1.0 g/L and NEO at 1.0 g/L mice in the mixed ， treatment group were given the same doses of the four antibiotics mentioned above all in a drip volume of 50.0 µL. Silicosis ， ， mice were treated seven days and half an hour before silica dusting and 7 14 and 21 days after silica dusting. Mouse lungtissue was collected aseptically 28 days after silica dusting. Hematoxylin eosin and Masson trichrome staining methods were - used to observe the pathological changes. Western blotting was used to detect the relative protein expression of α smooth muscle （ - ）， - （ - ） （ ） actin α SMA E cadherin E CAD and vimentin VIM . Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the relative expression of - - E CAD and VIM. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression levels of （Col1a2） Results collagen type Ⅰ alpha 2 mRNA in lung tissues. The histopathological results showed that the alveoli of the ， blank control group were thin and structurally intact with few surrounding infiltrating inflammatory cells and no abnormal ， distribution of collagen fibers. The alveoli of the silicosis model group were structurally disorganized with a large number of ， ， infiltrating inflammatory cells thickened alveolar walls and cellular fibrous nodules with abundant blue collagen deposit. In the ， ， VM+AMP group MNZ+NEO group and the mixed treatment group the inflammation and fibrosis were reduced with diferent degrees in the lung tissues compared to the silicosis model group and the solvent control group. The relative expression levels of - ， Col1a2 α SMA VIM protein and mRNA in lung tissues of mice in the silicosis model group were higher than those in the blank （ P ）， -CAD control group all <0.05 and the relative expression levels of E protein were lower than those in the blank control （P ） - ， Col1a2 group <0.05 . The relative expression levels of α SMA VIM protein and mRNA in lung tissues of mice in the MNZ+ （ P ）， -CAD NEO group and the mixed treatment group were lower all <0.05 and the relative expression levels of E protein were （P ）， Conclusion higher <0.05 when compared with the silicosis model group and the solvent control group. Pulmonary fibrosis ， - was reduced in silicosis mice with interventions in lung flora where anaerobic and gram negative bacteria affected pulmonary fibrosis and dysbiosis of the lung flora affected pulmonary EMT.

AIMTo record funny currents (If) of ventricular myocytes and to analysize hyperpolarization-activated cation channel(HCN) expression in the rats of different ages.

METHODSFresh ventricular myocytes were isolated from 3 days rats and adult rats.HCN expressions were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR). It was recorded through whole-cell patch clamp.

RESULTSHCN1, HCN2, HCN3, HCN4 mRNA represented 0.23% +/- 0.01%, 83.58% +/- 0.04%, 0.79% +/- 0.01%, 15.44% +/- 0.01% of total HCN mRNA in the neonatal rats, respectively. If was recorded and the threshold for activation was -75 mV. In the adult rat, HCN1, HCN2, HCN3, HCN4 mRNA represented 0.72% +/- 0.02%, 91.58% +/- 0.08%, 0.27% +/- 0.02%, 7.12% +/- 0.02% of total HCN mRNA. The ratio of HCN2 to HCN4 was approximately (13.06 +/- 0.21):1. The threshold for activation of If was approximately -115 mV in the adult rats.

CONCLUSIONWith the development of rats, the value of If is smaller. The threshold for activation of If is more negative. The ratio of HCN2 to HCN4 is bigger.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels ; metabolism ; physiology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative serum albumin in patients with gastric cancer undergoing radical resection.

METHODSA total of 146 patients with gastric cancer underwent radical resection from January 2001 to December 2003. Clinicopathological data were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups, including patients with a normal preoperative serum albumin level(>35 g/L, n=115) and patients with hypoalbuminemia (≤35 g/L, n=31).

RESULTSPatients with a low albumin level were associated with a higher postoperative recurrence rate(90.3% vs. 43.5%, P<0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate in patients with a normal serum albumin level was significantly higher than that in patients with a low serum level(57.4% vs. 9.7%, P<0.01). On multivariate analysis, preoperative serum albumin level was an independent factor associated with survival(P<0.01). When stratified by nodal metastasis, normal serum albumin level was still associated with higher survival rate(P<0.05). Prognostic significance was found in patients with lower stomach cancer(P<0.01), but not in patients with cancer in the upper and middle stomach(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONHypoalbuminemia is associated with worse survival in patients with cancer in the lower stomach and adjuvant therapy should be considered.

Adult ; Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of polymorphisms of metabolizing enzyme genes with chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) comprehensively by case-control design.

METHODS152 CBP patients and 152 workers occupationally exposed to benzene without poisoning manifestations were investigated. 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 13 genes such as CYP2E1 were tested by PCR-RFLP, sequencing approaches. Logistic regression model was used to detect main effects and 2-order interaction effects of gene and/or environment. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was used to detect high-order gene-gene or gene-environment interactions.

RESULTSBased on logistic regression, the main effects of GSTP1 rs947894, EPHX1 rs1051740, CYP1A1 rs4646903, CYP2D6 rs1065852 and rs1135840 were found to be significant (P < 0.05) while the confounding factors of sex, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and the intensity of benzene exposure were controlled. EPHX1 rs1051740 might be associated with CBP (P = 0.06). There existed 3 types of interactions were as followed: interactions of GSTP1 rs947894 with alcohol consumption, CYP2E1 rs3813867 with EPHX1 rs3738047, EPHX1 rs3738047 with alcohol consumption(P < 0.05), while the main effects of CYP2E1 rs3813867 and EPHX1 rs3738047 were not significant (P > 0.05). The other SNPs did not show any significant associations with CBP. According to MDR, a 3-order interaction with the strongest combined effect was found, i.e. the 3-factor combination of CYP1A1 rs4646903, CYP2D6 rs1065852 and CYP2D6 rs1135840.

CONCLUSIONGene-gene, gene-environment interactions are important mechanism to genetic susceptibility of CBP.

Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; genetics ; Female ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult