Objective To observe the relationship between expression of retinoic acid receptor-β (RAR-β) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and chemotherapy response. Methods Fifty-two cases advanced ESCC patients treated by DDP and 5-FU, DDP 80 mg/m2, divided into 5 days;5-FU 375 mg/m2, dl-5. Immunohistochemistry was used to exmine the expression of RAR-β in ESCC. Fifty cases normal esophageal tissue were used as controls. Results RAR-β immunoreactivity was recognizd in both cytoplasm and nucleus, RAR-β positive rate was lower in ESCC compared with normal tissue (61.5%vs 92% ,P ＜0. 05 ). The 52 cases ESCC patients were treated 228 chemotherapy cycles, the overall response rate (OR) was 71.2%. The OR in RAR-β positive patients was 84. 4% (27/32), significant higher than RAR-β negative patients 50. 0% ( 10/20 ) ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The time-to-progression ( TTP ) for RAR-β positive patients was 5.9 months, the median survival period was 12. 1 months, 2 years survival rate was 56. 7%;whereas TTP for RAR-β negative patients was 2. 1 months, the median survival period was 5.8 months,2 years survival rate was 32. 9%. There was signifcant difference between the 2 groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 ) .Conclusion RAR-β protein expression by immunohistochemistry may be a useful indicator to predict the chemotherapy response and clinical outcome for ESCC, meanwhile it may be an avenue for target therapy.

Global Health ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; mortality ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells in transplanted livers and its impact on the long-term survival of rats with orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSTwenty-four female recipient rats with orthotopic liver transplantation were randomized into blank-control group, D-hanks solution group, bone marrow stem cells group with postoperative infusion of stem cells, and the pathological changes of the liver grafts and survival time of the rats were observed. The differentiation of the bone marrow stem cells were assessed 60 days after transplantation using in situ hybridization histochemistry for Sry gene and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn rats with postoperative infusion of bone marrow stem cells through the portal vein, the median long-term graft survival time exceeded 180 days, significantly longer than that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and no obvious evidence of acute rejection was observed with positive Sry expression and AFP expression.

CONCLUSIONInfusion of bone marrow stem cells through the portal vein following liver transplantation may alleviate acute graft rejection and promote long-term liver graft survival and AFP expression.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Transplantation ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Chinese medicine pair (CMP) was frequently applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic, and its significance was shown in long-term clinical practices and many accumulated experiences. It is the unique combination of two relatively fixed Chinese medicines in TCM clinic with the basic feature and principle of TCM compatibility, is the most fundamental and the simplest form of TCM formulae with certain theory basis and combinatory reason, which is proven effective. And the unique combination is frequently used for achieving mutual reinforcement or detoxication. CMP is an intermediate point between single herb and many TCM formulae, reflecting the regularity of TCM formulae compatibility and connotation of differential treatment. This paper analyzed and summarized the basic characteristics, development process and research significance of CMP, which aims to lead the modern basic and applied research on compatibility theory of CMP.
Drug Interactions ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of skeletal Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition on speech articulation and to look for which factors lead to the speech errors.

METHODSThirty-eight children with skeletal Angle Ill malocclusion in mixed dentition were selected as a sample group and 40 children with normal occlusion in mixed dentition as a control group. Two phoneticians evaluated their articulations and wrote down error phonemes respectively. The correlation analysis was undertaken between the number of errors and the measurements of patients' cephalometry.

RESULTSThe number of errors were correlated significantly with overbite, UI-LI, OBJ (OB+OJ) and TD-PW.

CONCLUSIONThere is articulatory malfunction in the majority of skeletal Angle III malocclusion patients in mixed dentition. Articulatory malfunction is related to the position of incisors and the tongue.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Dental Occlusion ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III

Objective To identify the prevalence and profile of psychological difficulties in a sample of women seeking the breast reconstruction, and to study the effect of the reconstructive surgery on their psychology. Methods Before and after the breast reconstruction, 50 breast-loss women were tested with the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the self-rating depression scale (SDS), the self-esteem scale (SES),the self- rating body dysmorphic disorder scale (SBDDS), and the Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ), respectively. The proportion of the abnormally psychological patients was counted, their personality characters were analyzed, and the postoperative psychological changes were obverved. Results It was found that the 64 percent of the breast-loss patients were in anxiety, 30 percent were in depression, and 18 percent were in body dysmorphic disorder. The characteristics of their personality were more extravert, sociable and easily emotional agitation. The scores in SES of the preoperative patients were 27.46±8.95, and those of the postoperative patients were 33.05±6.12 (P＜0.05). The scores in SBDDS of the preoperative patients were 25.74±13.23, and those of the postoperative patients were 18.22±8.08 (P＜0.05).Conclusion The proportion of the anxiety, depression and BDD is high in the breast-loss women, and the postoperative psychology of esteem and body dysmorphic disorder is improved effectively.

Objective To explore the prognosis and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with atrial septal defect(ASD) accompanied by AF after transcatheter closure of ASD. Methods During the period from July 2010 to May 2013, a total of 24 patients with ASD accompanied by AF were admitted to authors’ hospital to receive transcatheter closure of ASD. Electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray film and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were performed before and one day after the operation. Follow-up information was obtained through telephone or at out-patient clinic interview. Results Successful occlusion of ASD was obtained in all patients, and in no patient the AF rhythm turned to sinus rhythm after the procedure. In one patient preoperative AF turned to postoperative atrial flutter, and AF recurred in one case who had received transcatheter ablation of AF before the procedure. One female patient developed gastric bleeding during the course of orally taking warfarin, and she died of cerebral infarction at three days after ceasing the use of warfarin. Of the 24 patients, no anticoagulant drug was used in 5 (20.8%), oral administration of aspirin was given in 7 (29.2%), and oral medication of warfarin was employed only in 11 (45.8%). Conclusion The spontaneous conversion rate of AF is very low in patients with ASD complicated by AF after transcatheter closure of ASD. Postoperative medication of anticoagulation should be strictly standardized and carefully managed.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDIncreased levels of plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been found in obesity and diabetes patients. This study was to investigate the effect of LPS on pancreatic beta-cell viability and the involvement of caspase 3 in NIT-1 cell line.

METHODSMouse insulinoma NIT-1 cells were treated with LPS for the indicated time and dose. Cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 reagent. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 3 were detected by Western blotting. Insulin was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTSLPS promoted NIT-1 cell proliferation at 1 µg/ml, peaked at 72 hours of incubation. A reduction in cleavage of caspase 3 was observed upon LPS treatment. Bay11-7082, a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, blunted LPS-induced inhibition of caspase 3 cleavage. Reduction in chronic insulin secretion was observed after treatment with LPS at 1 µg/ml for 48 and 72 hours, not for 24 hours. TLR4 protein was upregulated when NIT-1 cells were treated with LPS at 1 µg/ml for 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONSLPS promotes early NIT-1 cell proliferation in association with NF-κB-mediated inhibition of caspase 3 cleavage. LPS exerts a time-dependent inhibitory effect on chronic insulin secretion from NIT-1 cells.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulinoma ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of continuous blood purification (CBP) on T-cell subsets and prognosis in children with severe sepsis.

METHODSA total of 42 children with severe sepsis were randomly divided into a control group (n=22) and a CBP group (n=20). The patients in the control group received conventional treatment, while those in the CBP group underwent continuous veno-venous hemofiltration daily 12-24 hours for 3 days besides conventional treatment. Changes in clinical variables and in peripheral blood regulatory T cell subsets were assessed 3 and 7 days after treatment.

RESULTSThe pediatric intensive care unit length of stay and duration of mechanical ventilation were significantly shortened and the 28-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the CPB treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). In the CBP treatment group, the percentage of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell populations and PCIS scores were significantly higher at 3 and 7 days after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). At 7 days after treatment, the percentage of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell populations, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and PCIS scores were significantly higher in the CBP group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe CBP treatment may counteract the suppression of immune function and thus improve prognosis in children with severe sepsis.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Male ; Sepsis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology