Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare soft tissue sarcomas, this sarcoma occurs rarely in the larynx. Herein, we describe an unusual case of ASPS occurring in the larynx. The patient was a 46-year-old woman who presented with a more than 2-year history of right pyriform fossa mass and progressive hoarseness for three months. The endoscopic examination of the larynx revealed a mass in the right pyriform fossa with smooth surface and well-defined margin. Computed tomography demonstrated a heterogeneous tumor in the right pyriform fossa, and involving the paralaryngeal space, measuring approximately 2.1 cm x 1.7 cm x 2.6 cm, which was resected via lateral neck approach. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed an ASPS. To ours knowledge, this is the first reported case of ASPS arising in pyriform fossa.
Female ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Larynx ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Benzene ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced

Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Silicosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Peitu Shengjin Recipe (PSR) on nutritional states and immune functions of stable phase chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

METHODSTotally 62 stable phase COPD patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (30 cases) and the control group (32 cases). All patients inhaled Seretide (50/500 µg), twice per day. Besides, patients in the treatment group additionally received PSR, one dose per day. After three months of treatment, the COPD assessment test (CAT) score, the index of nutritional states [including body mass index (BMI) , thickness of skin fold (TSF), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), serum albumin, serum prealbumin], and immune functions (including IgA, IgM, and IgG) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSBy the end of the treatment, the CAT score decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement of BMI, TSF, MAMC, serum albumin, and serum prealbumin was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). IgM and IgG also increased more in the treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in IgA between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAdditionally use of PSR could improve nutritional states and immune functions of stable phase COPD patients to some extent. Meanwhile, it also could improve their health related quality of life.

Body Mass Index ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Quality of Life ; Serum Albumin

OBJECTIVEIn our study, the function of the third-order branches of the mesentenc artery was measured by microvascular ring technique, which can be used to detect microvascular function in some disease related to microvascular dysfunction.

METHODSIsolated, fixed, standardized and then activated the third-order branches of rat mesenteric artery. Microvascular tone was measured by systolic and diastolic drags respectively, with the help of DMT tension apparatus and PowerLab data acquisition system.

RESULTSThe third-order branches of rat mesenteric artery showed excellent response to vasoactive drugs. The contraction effect of norepinephrine (NE) reached 19 in mN. When acetylcholine (Ach) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) of 10(9)-10(5)mol/L was added, vascular tones showed gradient drop: 80% of maximal relaxation when adding ACh, while 95% of maximal relaxation when adding SNP.

CONCLUSIONThe third-order branches of the mesenteric artery function was successfully detected by using microvascular ring technique.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; physiology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective: To investigate the effect of black currant extract on human esophageal squamous cancer cell Eca109 line to reveal its probable mechanism. Methods: The survival cells and protein synthesis of tumor cell lines treated with 10-1, 10 -2,10-3 g/ml of the water extracts of black currant for 24 h were determined by MTT and Bradford assays, and the cell-DNA ploidy distribution and apoptotic rate were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and morphological observation. Results: There was significant inhibition of the cell survival and protein synthesis of cancer cells at dose of 10-1 g/ml of the extracts. In the normal rat liver cells, the cell survival was not affected. An apoptosis peak appeared before diploid peak in FCM and apoptotic rate was 49.6%, and morphological change of apoptosis was observed. Conclusion: Black currant could significantly inhibit growth of human esophageal squamous cancer cell Eca109 line through inducing apoptosis.

To establish a method for the determination of cucurbitacin in plasma samples, in order to study the in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of cucurbitacin in rats. Rats were intravenously injected with cucurbitacin. With diphenhydramine as the internal standard (IS), the plasma concentrations of cucurbitacin in rat plasma at different time points were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). With electrospray ionization source, the positive ion detection in the multiple reaction monitoring mode was conducted to determine the ion-pairs for target compound and IS were m/z 503.2/113.1 and m/z 256.0/167.2, respectively. Agilent ZOBAX SB-C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 microm) was adopted and eluted with methanol and 0.1% formic acid (55:45), and the flow rate was 0.2 mL x min(-1). DAS 2.0 software was applied to fit the blood concentration and calculate corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters. The rats were intravenously injected with cucurbitacin at the concentration of 3.0 mg x kg(-1). The target blood quality concentration show good linear relations within the range of 10.5-3 150 microg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.996), the lower limit of the standard curve was 10.5 microg x L(-1), and the signal to noise ratio S/N = 12. Intra- and inter-day precisions RSD was less than 6.9% and 14%, respectively; The accuracy RE ranged between 0.20% and 3.7%; The extraction recoveries ranged between 92.7% and 97.1%. Regarding the pharmacokinetic parameters of tail intravenous injection of cucurbitacin, AUC (0-t) was (811.615 +/- 111.578) microg x h x L(-1), (t1/2) was (1.285 +/- 1.390) h, CL was (3.627 +/- 0.487) L x h x kg(-1), and V(d) was (6.721 +/- 7.429) L x kg(-1). In this study, researchers established a simple, accurate, sensitive and highly specific method for determining the blood concentration of cucurbitacin, and reported the in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of cucurbitacin in rats for the first time.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Cucurbitacins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

To compare the pharmacokinetics of syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin after intravenous administration of each monomer and Ciwujia injection. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and intravenously administrated with syringin, eleutheroside E, isofraxidin, and Ciwujia injection, respectively. The concentrations of the three components in rat plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters while the SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between each monomer and the injection on the main pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, CL and t1,/2. Compared with the injection, the group treated with the syringin has obvious decrease in AUC, and increase in CL while the group treated with eleutheroside E has obvious increase in AUC, and decrease in CL The t1/2 of isofraxidin was prolonged in Ciwujia injection. Pharmacokinetic characters of the ingredients in the injection varied greatly from the monomer. Other constituents in the injection may have an impact on the pharmacokinetic profiles of these three components.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Phenylpropionates ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the prevalence of voice disorder and voice fatigue mental state in the pri-mary school teachers in a district of Chengdu.Methods A random sampling survey included 389 teachers from a dis-trict of Chengdu after they filled out the throat symptoms questionnaire,carried out voice fatigue tests,and strobo-scopic laryngoscopy.Results The most common voice of discomfort symptoms was hoarseness,followed by sore throat,dry throat and vocal fatigue.There were 189 teachers,48.5%,with voice disorders as the voice disorder group)and 200 teachers without throat and voice disorders as the control group.The failure rate was significantly higher at 80 dB than 75 dB,and for the study group,the failure rate was higher than that of the control group.The difference was statistically significant in 1,2 and 10 minutes between the two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion Voice fatigue is very common in the primary school teachers and when high volumes are required,the voice fatigue is more serious.To reduce voice fatigue and the incidence of primary school teachers'voice disease,we should strengthen the teacher's voice health care.

Background Hyaluronic acid is a mucopolysaccharide existing in extracellular matrix and having good biocompatibility.Using chemical crosslinking method can improve the physical properties of the material,so cross-linked hyaluronic has potential clinical application value.Objective The present study was to evaluate the histocompatibility and biological security of cross-linked hyaluronic acid as ophthalmic implant material.Methods Cross-linked hyaluronic acid implant material was prepared according to the criteria of Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices (GB/T16886.5-2003).Eighteen 8-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into the experimental group and the control group.Cross-linked hyaluronic acid material with 5.0 mm diameter was implanted into corneal stroma interlaminationally in the experimental group,and only corneal stromal interlaminational pocket was made without any implanting material in the control group.Biological response of cornea was assessed in vivo from 1 week through 3 months after operation by slit lamp microscope.The corneas were obtained 2 weeks,1 month and 3 months respectively for histopathological examination.Mouse embryonic fibroblasts were cultured in cross-linked hyaluronic acid film plate,medical silicone material culture plate and regular culture plate respectively for 24 hours,and the cell growth state and morphology were observed under the inverted microscope and scan electron microscope.MTT assay was used to test the relative growth rate of the cultured cells 48 hours after cultured using extracted liquid of hyaluronic acid implant material.Results Cross-linked hyaluronic acid implant material showed a well healing to the corneas of rabbits during the observation duration,without obvious inflammatory response and neovascularization.The arrangement of stromal fibers was uniform in order,and no infiltration of inflammatory cells was seen under the light microscope.The cells grew well after cultured with cross-linked hyaluronic acid film and regular medium for 24 hours,but in the silicone culture group,fewer of adherent cells and more floating cells were found.The relative growth rate of the cells was 87.50％ 48 hours after cultured with extracted liquid of hyaluronic acid implant material.Conclusions The cross-linked hyaluronic acid material has good histocompatibility and biological security in rabbit cornea tissue.