Objective To determine the toxicity, maximal dose and clinical practicality of VM26 (teniposide) plus radiotherapy for postoperative brain neurospongioma. Methods Twenty patients were alloted in phase Ⅰ trial. The total dose was 60 Gy for the field radiotherapy (30 fractions of 2 Gy over six weeks). Teniposide at three dose levels (50 mg/m2, 75 mg/m2 and 100 mg/m2) was given intravenously once a week, totally five weeks. Dose escalation was based on each level, with a minimum of five patients in cohort if severe toxicity was not observed until the maximum tolerance dose(MTD). Results The predominant form of toxicity was hematologic toxicity. Four patients developed grade 3, 4 leucopenia when a second level of MTD (75 mg/m2) was given. Conclusion Combined radiotherapy and teniposide for postoperative brain neurospongioma is well tolerated. The dose of 50 mg/m2 for phase Ⅱ clinical trial was recommended.

The measurement methods of respiration can be mainly divided into contact and non-contact.Contact detection methods include volumetric flowmeter,velocity flowmeter,temperature detection,displacement detection,impedance detection,wearable technology and sleep mattress,etc.Although these methods are noninvasive and mature,they all require electrodes or sensors to touch the body of human subjects,which limit the users’ freedom and are not suitable for severely bumed patients and newborns.In non-contact monitoring,the respiration is measured by using the media such as electromagnetic waves,optical media,etc,and without any electrodes or sensors to touch the body whiles the human subject keeping natural status.Non-contact detection method using infrared and biological radar has been a research focus both at home and abroad,which can be used for clinical,community and family care.

Objective To explore the feasibility of rapid and sutureless anastomosis of artificial vascular replacement of abdominal aorta in dog models using magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) technique. Methods Twelve healthy adult crossbred dogs were evenly divided into the MCA and hand suturing (HS) groups according to the anastomosis method between abdominal aorta and artificial blood vessels. The intraoperative duration of abdominal aorta occlusion, intraoperative condition of anastomotic stoma and postoperative imaging examination of anastomotic stoma were compared between two groups. Results The intraoperative duration of abdominal aorta occlusion in the MCA group was significantly shorter than that in the HS group [(5.2±2.3) min vs. (24.4±4.3) min, P < 0.001]. No anastomotic leakage of blood or anastomotic stenosis occurred in the MCA group during the operation. Intraoperative anastomotic leakage of blood occurred in all of the 6 dogs in the HS group. Among them, 1 dog died of excessive blood loss, and 2 dogs experienced mild anastomotic stenosis due to repeated repair. Postoperative color Doppler ultrasound and angiography showed smooth blood flow at the anastomotic stoma without stenosis or thrombosis in the MCA group. In the HS group, 4 dogs presented with anastomotic stenosis on angiography at postoperative 4 weeks. Conclusions MCA technique may achieve rapid and sutureless anastomosis of artificial vascular replacement of abdominal aorta in dog models, which reduces the incidence of anastomotic complications and accelerates postoperative recovery.

Objective:To analyze the site of vestibular nerve damaged in patients with acute vestibular neuritis. Methods:Fifty-seven patients with acute vestibular neuritis were recruited, and each patient underwent caloric irrigation test, video head impulse test（vHIT） and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials（VEMPs）. The results were further analyzed. Results:Analysis of abnormal rates of different vestibular function tests: the abnormal rate of caloric irrigation test, horizontal semicircular canal vHIT, anterior semicircular canal vHIT, and posterior semicircular canal vHIT were 92.98%, 92.98%, 92.98%, and 52.63%, respectively. The abnormal rate of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials（cVEMP） and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials（oVEMP） were 52.63% and 89.47%. The abnormal rate of caloric irrigation test, horizontal semicircular canal vHIT, anterior semicircular canal vHIT, and oVEMP were significantly higher than posterior semicircular canal vHIT and cVEMP（P<0.01）. Combination analysis of different vestibular function tests: there are twenty-six patients（45.61%, superior and inferior vestibular nerve） with abnormal caloric irrigation test, video head impulse test, and VEMPs. There are twenty-five patients（43.86%, superior vestibular nerve） with abnormal caloric irrigation test, horizontal semicircular canal vHIT, anterior semicircular canal vHIT, and oVEMP. There are 4 patients（7.02%, inferior vestibular nerve） with abnormal posterior semicircular canal vHIT and cVEMP. There are two patients（3.51%, ampullary vestibular nerve） with abnormal caloric irrigation test, horizontal semicircular canal vHIT, and anterior semicircular canal vHIT. The rate of superior and inferior vestibular neuritis and superior vestibular neuritis were significantly higher than inferior vestibular neuritis and ampullary vestibular neuritis（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Acute vestibular neuritis subtypes can be divided into four categories: superior and inferior vestibular neuritis, superior vestibular neuritis, inferior vestibular neuritis, and ampullary vestibular neuritis. Video head impulse test can accurately assess the site of vestibular nerve damage in patients with acute vestibular neuritis. In addition, vHIT combined with VEMPs can provide objective evidence for the diagnosis of ampullary vestibular neuritis.
Humans ; Vestibular Neuronitis/diagnosis* ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; Vestibular Nerve ; Semicircular Canals ; Head Impulse Test/methods*

To explore the mechanisms of suppression growth and induction apoptosis of curcumin on human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226, the suppressive effect of curcumin on RPMI8226 was examined by MTT assay; the induction apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of curcumin on RPMI8226 were determined by flow cytometry (FCM); the changes of survivin, Bcl-2, Bax mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that curcumin obviously suppressed the proliferation of RPMI8226 in both time- and dose-dependent manners, and the IC(50) were 12.15 micromol/L, 4.9 micromol/L for 24 and 48 hours respectively. FCM indicated that the apoptosis ratio rose from 10.6% of untreated cells up to 36.9% of treated cells (p < 0.05), and curcumin arrested cell cycle of RPMI8226 at G(2)/M phase. RT-PCR showed that RPMI8226 cells expressed survivin, Bcl-2 strongly and Bax slightly; while RPMI8226 cells were treated with curcumin 10 micromol/L for 24 hours, the expressions of survivin, Bcl-2 mRNA were apparently down-regulated, and the expression of Bax mRNA was markedly up-regulated. It is concluded that curcumin can suppress the proliferation of human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226, and induce their apoptosis. The mechanism of antitumous effect of curcumin may be related to down-regulation of survivin, Bcl-2 mRNA and up-regulation of Bax mRNA.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo induce autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (aMSC) into chondrocyte, and to confirm the effects of 3 dimensional (3D) dynamic inducing in vitro and their long-term animal model repairing in vivo.

METHODSaMSC were separated from rabbits bone marrow aspirates, then respectively experienced 3D dynamic inducing in alginate drops in modified rotating wall bioreactor culture or in two dimensional (2D) inducing (culture flask) for 10 d. The induced cells were harvest and then mixed with fibrin sealant (FS) to repair rabbit knee femoral trochlea cartilage defects model. After 8, 12, 24, 48 weeks animals were euthanized. Gross appearance, histological appearances were examined.

RESULTSFlask culture groups showed a little chondrocyte differentiation, 3D inducing group showed obviously chondrocyte differentiation, improved collagen II and proteoglycan production. For 3D inducing ones in vivo, the cartilage defects were smoothly repaired by white translucent hard tissue with obvious hyaline-like cartilage histological appearance after 8, 12 weeks, and the defects boundary were hard to be identified with hyaline like cartilage with sustained histological appearance and score after 24, 48 weeks. For 2D ones in vivo, the cartilage defects were smoothly repaired after 8 weeks by hyaline like cartilage which showed accelerated degeneration after 24 weeks and lose cartilage performance completely after 48 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS3D dynamic inducing may assist aMSC on differentiating into chondrocyte, improve its long-term in vivo repairing effects, and enlighten its further applications in tissue engineering cartilage.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Chondrogenesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVEThe goals of this work was to analyse the cost of Shenqi Fuzheng injection-an extraction of a Chinese traditional herbs on reducing adverse effects in lung cancer patients during chemotherapy.

METHODSIn a randomized cross-over trial, each patient completed two identical cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles, one with Shenqi Fuzheng injection, another without Shenqi Fuzheng injection. Adverse effects and change scores of quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy were compared in tow cycles. The direct cost dealing with adverse effect and cost-effectiveness analysis were taken.

RESULTSOne hundred and thirty were enrolled with 123 of whom were evaluable. The patient characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The chemotherapy cycles with Shenqi Fuzheng injection spent 220.5 more Chinese yuan, but the adverse effect of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and vomiting were slight different and the change of score of several QOL domains showed significant better as compared to those in another cycle.

CONCLUSIONShenqi Fuzheng injection could reduce the severity of toxicity related to chemotherapy and improve the QOL of patients and had some benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; economics ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

AIMTo explore the physiopathological mechanisms of airway injury and the effect on the airway responsiveness of rat by inhaled sulfur dioxide(SO2).

METHODSSixteen SD male rats were divided randomly into 2 groups (n = 8): the control group and SO2 group. The control group was exposed o pure air. SO2 group was exposed to SO2 of the content 1.0 mg/(m(3) x h) 6h daily for consecutive 3 d. At 4th day, we determined the airway responsiveness, collected the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), plasma and lung tissue. Then we counted the total cellular score in BALF, measured the plasma SP content and made the immunohistochemistry staining on the lung tissue (HE and SP methods).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the total cellular score in BALF and plasma SP content in SO2 group's increased significantly ( P < 0.01). HE staining showed there were a great deal of inflammatory cells infiltration under the tunica mucosa bronchiorum; and SP immunohistochemistry staining indicated there were significant changes in numbers of SP-IR positive fibers of SO2group.

CONCLUSIONExposure to low concentration of SO2 would injure healthy rat's airway, and induce airway hyperresponsiveness, neurogenic inflammation is one of its critical pathophysiological mechanisms.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; Bronchi ; drug effects ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Bronchitis ; chemically induced ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurogenic Inflammation ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P ; blood ; Sulfur Dioxide ; adverse effects

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin in combination with bortezomib on the proliferation and apoptosis of human MM cell line H929 in vitro, and to explore its mechanisms. MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effects of curcumin and bortezomib either alone or combined at different concentrations on H929 cells, and flow cytometry was employed to assay the apoptosis rate. In addition, RT-PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of gene BCL-2, BAX, cyclin D1. Immunofluorescence technique was performed to study the location changes of NF-κB P65 in different groups. The results showed that both curcumin and bortezomib inhibited the proliferation of MM cell line H929 in dose-dependent manner, and combination of these two drugs displayed synergistical effect. A much higher apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry in combinative groups than that in single or control group. And RT-PCR showed, as compared with curcumin or bortezomib group, there was mRNA expression decrease of BCL-2, cyclin D1 but increase of BAX in combined group. The expression of NF-κB P65 in nucleus was downregulated in either the curcumin or bortezomib group, however, distribution of NF-κB P65 in cytoplasm was observed in combined group. It is concluded that the combination of curcumin and bortezomib is much more effective for the inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of H929 cell line, which may function by inhibiting the transcription of NF-κB and apoptosis-related genes.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Boronic Acids ; pharmacology ; Bortezomib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the compositional variation of fibrous callus in the fracture site and the joint cavity and joint cartilage after being transplanted in the muscle pouch.

METHODSThirty 2 month old New Zealand white rabbits (weighing 1-1.5 kg) were randomly divided into two groups: a callus transplantation group (Group A, n=15) and a cartilage transplantation group (Group B, n=15). In Group A, closed radius fracture was made and the autologous fibrous callus was transplanted in the right knee joint cavity at 12 days postoperatively. In Group B, the right knee joint cartilage of the animals was transplanted in the autologous back muscle pouches under anesthesia. Then all the animals were killed by overdose anesthetic 3 weeks after transplantation. And the transplanted fibrous callus, the healed bones in the fracture sites and the transplanted joint cartilage were obtained for assessment of compositional variation.

RESULTSPure fibrous composition was found in the callus at the fracture sites in Group A at 12 days postoperatively. And for 11 out of the 15 animals, the fibrous callus was transformed into cartilaginous tissues after 3 weeks of transplantation, but the fibrous callus was absent in the other 4 animals. The fibrous calluses at the original site and the fracture locus were differentiated into bony tissues. Bony tissue transformation was found in the transplanted joint cartilages in the muscle pouch of all the animals in Group B.

CONCLUSIONSThe fracture sites or joint cavity may facilitate callus differentiation in different ways: the former is helpful for osteogenesis while the latter for the development and maintenance of cartilages, and the muscle pouch is inclined to induce the osteogenic phenotype for cartilages.

Animals ; Bony Callus ; cytology ; transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; transplantation ; Cell Differentiation ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Rabbits ; Radius Fractures ; physiopathology