AIM: To establish a method of simultaneously determining effective components in Ciwujia Naoling Oral Liquid by RP-HPLC. METHODS: Stationary phase: Alltech C_(18) column,the mobile phase was methanol(A)-0.4% HAC-water(B) with linear gradient elution.Detection was performed at wavelength of 344 nm,254 nm respectively for isofraxidin and schisandrin. RESULTS: The two effective components could be detected by this method,and their contents could be determined.A good linearity of isofraxidin and schisandrin was in the range of 0.88-17.6 ?g/mL,0.76-15.2 ?g/mL respectively.The average recoveries were 100.64%,100.33% respectively,RSD were 1.07%,0.65% respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,feasible and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of Ciwujia Naoling Oral Liquid.

Objective To re-evaluate the prognostic value of the 6th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-medulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Methods From February 2001 to March 2007, Clinical data of 570 NPC patients initially treated with IMRT in Cancer Center of Sun yat-sen University were reviewed and the long-term survival was analyzed according to T, N and overall stages. Results The median follow-up was 42 months. 184 patients were followed up to 5 years. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) of the whole group were 93. 0%, 85.4% and 83. 3% ,respectively. No statistically significant difference of LRFS was detected between the either two of stage T_1, T_(2a) and T_(2b)(100%, 100% and 94. 5% ;T_1 vs. T_(2b), χ~2 = 1.92, P =0. 166 ;T_(2a) vs. T_(2b), χ~2= 0. 35, P =0. 555), stage T_(2b) and T_3 (94. 5% and 91.3% ;χ~2 = 2. 62, P = 0. 106), or stage T_3 and T_4 (91.3% and 89. 5% ; χ~2 = 1.55, P =0. 214). The 5-year DMFS of stage N_2 was similar with stage N_1 or stage N_3(80. 2%, 86. 2% and 61. 4% ; N_2 vs. N_1, χ~2=2.22, P=0.136;N_2 vs. N_3, χ~2= 1.92, P=0.165). No statistically significant difference of 5-year OS was observed among stage Ⅰ , Ⅱ_a and Ⅱ_b(91.7%, 100% and 95. 3% ; Ⅰ vs. Ⅱ_b χ~2 =0.32, P=0.574;Ⅱ_a vs. Ⅱ_b,χ~2-0.25, P=0.617), or between Ⅳ. And Ⅳ_b(67.9% and 75. 0% ;χ~2 = 0.25, P = 0. 616). Conclusions The 6th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system shows poor predictive value for the long-term survival of NPC patients treated with IMRT.

Objective To evaluate the influence of respiration on the radiation dose distribution within target volume in radiotherapy with film dosimetry. Methods Radiation of 50 MU was delivered by a square, round, ellipse, dumb bell, or female shaped filed to the films within a moving or motionless Respiration Motion Phantom respectively, the dose distributions for the two motion status were measured and compared. In order to further verify the impact of respiration, a plank phantom was used on different shifting value: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm, respectively. A square, round, or eUipse-shaped filed was used for irradiation and the distributions in different status were measured and compared with film dosimetry. Iso-dose line comparison, NAT(Normalized Agreement Tests) and γ comparison were used for the comparison of dose distributions. Fs can be an index to reflect the variability of the areas that surrounded by iso-dose lines. (FS90, FS50, FS25 delegates the ratio of the areas that surrounded by 90 %,50 %,25 % iso-dose hne in different situation respectively). Results (1) Compared with motionless situation, the FS90 in horizontal movement situation became small and the FS25 became large. As the displacement became larger, the FS90 became larger and the FS25 became smaller. FS in vertical movement situation, square and dumb bell fields changed while the others didn't have a change. (2)γ and NAT comparison: In the horizontal movement situation, compared with the static phantom, Pγ < 60 % and PNAT < 75 %. Under vertical movement situation, Pγ were less than 85 % for the square, round, dumb bell and female shaped fileds. In the plank phantom verification, Pγ and PNAT became smaller as the movement became larger. Conclusions The respiration can impact on the dose distribution within the target volume in radiotherapy, leading to a smaller area of higher dose level and an expanded area of lower dose level. The influence will become more significant with larger movement of the target.

Carotenoids play an important role in regulating the hydrogen production of hydrogen-producing Rhodobacter sp. The carotenoids of hydrogen-producing Rhodobacter sp. grown in acetate medium were extracted by using acetone-methanol (7∶2,V/V) solvent and were separated by using thin-layer chromatography on silica-gel plate. The qualitative and quantitative of the carotenoids were analyzed by spectrometry. The results showed that the carotenoids were completely extracted three times with acetone-methanol (7∶2,V/V) in two hours. The ultrasonication had little effect on yield of carotenoids. The yield of carotenoids was 2.81mg/g wet cell. There were 4 spots on the silica-gel plate in the order of yellow, red, light red and light yellow. Yellow spot and red spot were the dominant composition of carotenoid in Rhodobacter sp. The spectrometry data showed that the yellow and red component might be the spheroidene and spirilloanthin respectively.

OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between variation of IL-2, IL-4, IL-18 and IP10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood and the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), and investigate whether some cytokines combined expression profiles could improve the diagnostic accuracy of aGVHD.

METHODSA total of 58 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were enrolled for the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected at different time points after transplantation. The mRNA expression levels of 4 kinds of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-18, IP10) were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). The relationship between mRNA expression level and the occurrence of aGVHD was analyzed with clinical features.

RESULTSThe expression levels of IL-2 and IL-18 at the onset of aGVHD were much higher than those after engraftment, being 2.69-fold and 3.12-fold increase, respectively (P = 0.000 & P = 0.000). The expressions of IL-2 and IL-18 mRNAs were slightly increased in patients with infection, but not statistically significant (P = 0.208 & P = 0.123). There was a slight but not statistically significant decrease of IL-4 and IP10 mRNA expressions at the onset of aGVHD (P = 0.230 & P = 0.325). Either IL-2 or IL-18 expression level could diagnose aGVHD as an independent factor (P = 0.000 & P = 0.000). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the main factors related to aGVHD were IL-2, IL-18 and IL-4 (β = 1.13, P = 0.068 & β = 1.339, P = 0.047 & β = -0.600, P = 0.008 respectively). A composite panel of these three cytokines produced a better model for the diagnosis of aGVHD (AUC: 0.862, 95%CI: 0.768 - 0.957, P = 0.000), and the sensitivity and specificity were 75.0% & 83.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe diagnosis of aGVHD can be optimized with a composite cytokines panel.

OBJECTIVE: To seek a exact method of age determination. METHODS: This sample consists of 73 male Chinese han individuals whose ages have been known. Eight positions were selected from their radiograms which have been divided into three or six grade and then set up a mathematical model to deduce age by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The standard deviation of male thyroid cartilage is 1.854 and the multiple correctation coefficient is 0.9971. CONCLUSION The observation proved that age determination by radiographic feature of thyroid cartiage may be suitable for male Chinese han population from 13 to 67 years old.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Aged ; Asian People ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Cartilage/diagnostic imaging*

A device for promoting normal locomotor activity recuperation was made, which was composed by frame, elastic bolt and normal gait mark carpet. The device has the effects of weight relieving, abnormal gait preventing, and safeguards providing. The patient could do gait training by he/her self or assistant self training under the weight reducing and protecting of the device in order to improve the walking ability and the normal gait formation. It is effective for preventing drop foot and leg adduction, and also helpful for the recovery of normal gait ability and the prevention of abnormal gait formation. It is applicable for the patient who can not be trained with ordinary weight relief walking training, such as severe cerebral palsy and severe spasmodic lower extremity and foot drop after brain injury. The results demonstrated that the device is effective in protecting, correcting, preventing abnormal gait as well as forming normal gait.

Objective To develop one kind of device that can not only reduce the body weight,but also provide a good condition for training lower extremity potentialities.Methods The body weight bearing support and protection system,body weight reducing system and scaled footboard were made respectively.The lower extremity potentialities,nervous conduction speed and leg motion coordination ability training were done under protection and body weight reducing.Results The potential training device could exactly protect the patient and reduce body weight,and make the training step by step.Under the effects of protecting and body weight reducing of the potential training device,the training could be performed together with the Chinese traditional medicine rehabilitation method;that was physical and breathing exercises.The lower extremity potentialities were developed nicely.Conclusion The lower extremity potentialities training device is a useful training device which can bear body weight,have protective effect,develop lower extremity potentialities and improve coordination ability of lower extremities.

Objective To compare the Chinese'92 and 2008 staging systems of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on the long term survival of the patients. Methods Clinical data of 498 NPC patients treated with definitive IMRT were retrospectively analyzed. The distributions of patients in the two staging systems were compared. The long term outcomes according to T, N and overall stages in each system were evaluated. Kappa value and Pearson coefficient were used to evaluate the agreement and correlation of the two systems. Results The distributions of both T and N stage between'92 and 2008 stage systems were different. In both staging systems, the local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) curves of T_1, T_2 andT_3 were close up (even overlaped), though they were apart from T_4. The distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) curves overlaped of N_1 and N_2 in the'92 staging system, while separated of N_1, N_2 and N_3 in the 2008 staging system. Significant difference of DMFS was not found between N, and N_2 in'92 staging system, while did exist among N_0, N_1, N_2 and N_3 stages in 2008 staging system. In the both staging systems, the disease-specific survival (DSS) of stage Ⅰ did not significantly differ from that of stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ. The statistical analysis showed the conformality of DSS curves in the two system was 89% (Kappa =0. 833 ,P <0.01), with agood relative rate (r=0. 919,P<0. 01). Conclusions The difference between'92 and 2008 staging system is mainly in N stage. The 2008 N stage seems more reasonable compared with'92 N stage, which is able to better forecast the DMFS. There are some agreements and correlations between the two staging systems.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes and toxicities of early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)alone. Methods From February 2001 to January 2008, 198 early stage NPC patients according to AJCC/UICC 2002 staging system were treated by radical radiotherapy with IMRT technique in our institute, the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Results The 5-year disease-specific survival, local recurrence-free survival(LRFS)and distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS)were 97.3%, 97.7% and 97. 8% respectively. The 5-year LRFS for T1, T2 patients were 100%, 96. 7%(x2 = 2. 24 ,P = 0. 135)respectively. The 5-year DMFS for T1 N0,T2N0, T1N1, and T2N1 patients were 100%, 98. 8%, 100% and 93. 8%(x2= 2. 35, P= 0. 125)respectively. Grade 1 and 2 mucositis and pharyngitis were most common acute toxicities. Radiation encephalopathy and cranial nerve injury were not observed in all patients. Conclusions IMRT alone for early stage NPC patients can produce satisfactory results and acceptable treatment-relative toxicities. Patients with T2b and T2bN1 had a relatively higher incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis, which suggested that combination of IMRT and chemotherapy may improve clinical results in those patients.