Objective To evaluate and compare the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabin(GEM) plus cisplantin and GEM on the chemotherapy of elderly patients advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods 85 elderly patients with stage 3 to 4 NSCLC were randomized into gemcitabine plus cisplatin (group GP) and GEM (group GEM).In group GP,patients received GEM on day 1 and day 8 at dose 1.0 g/m2,add cisplatin on day 2 to day 4 at dose 75 mg/m2. In group GEM, patients would received single GEM at dose 1.25 g/m2.The the therapy circle was 3 weeks and undertaken least 2 circles before the treatment efficacy and survival would be evaluated according RECIST. Results In GP group the response rate was 48.84 ％(21/43),In GEM group the response rate was 35.71％(15/42),the difference of response rate between two groups was not statistically significant(x2=1.708,P=0.424).The median survival were 11 months to Gp group and 9 months to GEM group. The 1 year survival rates of GP group were 39.53 ％ and of GEM group were 26.19 ％. The survival time between two groups was not statistically significant(t=1.377,P=0.172).The same toxicity in both groups was defected, Nausea and vomiting occurred were more serious in GP group than that in GEM group (x2=9.796, P=0.002). Conclusion GP and GEM are both effective for treatment of elderly advanced NSCLC.There are no significantly differences on efficacy and toxicity in 2 groups. Side effects on alimentary system are obviously less in GEM group than that in GP group.

Purpose Liver fibrosis is the common pathological process of cirrhosis developed by chronic liver disease.This study aims to explore the application of microvascular change in assessing the liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation based on X-ray phasecontrast computed tomography (PCCT).Materials and Methods Ten rats were equally divided into the group of bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis and the control group at random.Then ten excised liver tissues were imaged at beamline BL13W1 of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility in China.After the imaging studies,the liver samples were stained with Sirius red and immunostained with antibodies against cytokeratin 19 (CK19).The microvasculature in livers was reconstructed via PCCT,and the correlation analysis on microvascular density and the proportion of fibrosis area was performed.Results The microvasculature including blood vessels,dilated bile ducts and ductular proliferation were clearly revealed by PCCT technology.Moreover,the 3D microvascular density and proportion of fibrosis area in the liver fibrosis group increased significantly compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01),and the correlation between them was obvious (r=0.812,P＜0.01).Conclusion Microvascular 3D characteristics of liver fibrosis are well demonstrated by PCCT,and 3D microvascular density is significantly correlated with the proportion of fibrosis area.Those findings indicate that microvascular change is closely related to the degree of liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation,and thus it provides a novel means to assess the severity of liver fibrosis through microvascular change.

BACKGROUND:An amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation in the brain can induce nerve cel apoptosis, loss of synapses and functional damage. However, there is stil no effective intervention. Improving the synaptic plasticity provides an important direction for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. OBJECTIVE: To screen the best model of Alzheimer’s disease and to explore the expression of synapse-associated proteins in Aβ25-35-injured PC12 neurons. METHODS:PC12 cels were induced by 50 μg/L nerve growth factor to differentiate into neuronal-like cels. Then, these cels were treated with Aβ25-35 at different concentrations. Consequently, cel survival rate was detected using cel counting kit-8; neurogranin and neuregulin immunofluorescence stainings were used to observe morphological changes of model cels; western blot used to detect the expression level of neurogranin, calmodulin kinase II, postsynaptic density-95 proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Over time, the survival rate of PC12 neurons induced by Aβ25-35 was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Shortened synaptic length, neuronal atrophy and sparsely interconnected neurons were visible. Expression levels of neurogranin, calmodulin kinase II and postsynaptic density-95 proteins were al down-regulated. These findings indicate that to screen the cel model of Alzheimer’s disease, the optimal concentration and interventional time of Aβ25-35are 10 μmol/L and 48 hours, respectively.

Sunscreen products have been widely used with the increase in public awareness of sun protection. As sunscreens are structurally stable and resistant to degradation, the concern for their biotoxicity and impact on marine environment has been heightened increasingly, and several countries and regions have successively issued bans on relevant sunscreen products. However, these bans have not yet affected the key international rules and regulations related to sunscreen products. The risks of different sunscreens to marine ecosystems and potential risks to human themselves still need to be evaluated through further multidisciplinary researches.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of adrenomedullin (AM) on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell in rats induced by renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, IRI group, empty plasmid group and AM group. One week after removing the right kidney, eukaryotic expression vector encoding rat AM gene was transfected into the left kidney using an ultrasound-microbubble mediated system. After 1 week the transfer efficiency was detected by immunohistochemical method . Renal IRI model induced by clamping left renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Tubular cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Bcl-2, Bax and Fas expressions were examined by RT-PCR. The expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 were determined by Western bolt analysis. Results The expression of AM in the AM group was significantly higher than the empty plasmid group (0.51±0.09 vs 0.23±0.05; P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate of renal tubular cell in the IRI group was significantly higher [(38.79±7.52)% vs (2.89±0.52)%; P<0.05]. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 were also significantly increased (0.72±0.18 vs 0.23±0.04, 0.80±0.12 vs 0.38±0.06, 1.24±0.25 vs 0.39±0.09, 0.76±0.13 vs 0.38±0.08, 0.92±0.14 vs 0.32±0.06, 0.89±0.12 vs 0.42±0.09; P<0.05). Bax/Bcl-2 was also significantly increased (0.91±0.18 vs 0.61±0.08; P<0.05). Compared with the IRI group, AM pretreatment significantly decreased the apoptosis rate of renal tubular cells [(19.36±6.78)% vs (38.79±7.52)%; P<0.05]. AM inhibited the up-regulation of Bax, Fas, caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, while promoting the up-regulation of Bcl-2 (0.48±0.11 vs 0.72±0.18, 0.62±0.07 vs 1.24±0.25, 0.53±0.08 vs 0.76±0.13, 0.46±0.08 vs 0.92±0.14, 0.51±0.12 vs 0.89±0.12, 1.23±0.25 vs 0.80±0.12; P<0.05). Bax/Bcl-2 significantly decreased (0.44±0.12 vs 0.91±0.18; P<0.05). The above parameters had no significant diffe-rence between the empty plasmid group and the IRI group (P>0.05). Conclusion AM can reduce apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell induced by renal IRI, the mechanism of which might be achieved by inhibiting caspase-dependent intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

Objective To investigate the effect of intermedin (IMD) on the expressions of angiogenesis-related genes induced by renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group,IRI group,empty plasmid group and IMD plasmid group.One week after removing the right kidney,eukaryotic expression vector encoding rat IMD gene was transfected into the left kidney using an ultrasound-microbubble mediated system.Renal IRI model was induced by clamping left renal arteries for 45 minutes followed by reperfusion for 1 d,2 d,3 d,4 d,7 d and 14 d.The expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1o),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 were examined by RT-PCR and Western boltting.Results Compared with control group,an increase in HIF-1α,VEGF and Tie-2 was observed in the IRI group at d 1,d 2 and d 3 (allP＜0.05).The expression of HIF-1o peaked at d 1 d(P＜0.05),while VEGF and Tie-2 at d 2 (P＜0.05),followed by a decrease that was similar to the control levels at d 4(P＞0.05).Compared with the IRI group,the expressions of HIF-1α,VEGF and Tie-2 of IMD group were much higher and all reached the peak at d 1 (P＜0.05),maintained at d 2-4 (P＜0.05),followed by a decrease at d 7(P＞0.05).The above indexes had no differences between empty plasmid group and IRI group(P＞0.05).Conclusions IMD pretreatment may play an important role in the process of repair and regeneration after renal ischemia reperfusion injury byimproving the expressions of angiogenesis-related genes(HIF-1α,VEGF and Tie-2) induced by renal ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the effects of intermedin (IMD) pretreatment on associated repairing genes of the rats with injured kidneys by ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI)during the repair and regeneration process.Methods A total of 144 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 gourps:sham opration group,IRI group,empty plasmid group (EP)and IMD group.After resection of right kidneys of the rats,plasmid was transfected into the left kidneys by using ultrasonic microbubble technology.After one week,the renal IRI models were programmed.The samples of renal tissues after 1 d,2 d,3 d,4 d,7 d and 14 d of reperfusion were harvested respectively,then the mRNA expressions of the Pax-2,ZO-1,Ncam,Wt-1 and vimentin in renal tissues were detected by RT-PCR; the protein expressions of Pax-2,Wt-1 and vimentin were analyzed by Western blotting and the protein expressions of ZO-1 and Ncam were measured by ELISIA.Results (1) Compared with the sham group,the mRNA and protein expression of Pax-2,ZO-1,Ncam,Wt-1 and vimentin of the rats in IRI group increased significantly from day 1 to day 3 (P＜0.05),which peaked at day 2.After day 4,the above expressions in IRI group returned to normal level.(2) In IMD group,the mRNA and protein expressions of Pax-2,Zo-1,Ncam,Wt-1 and vimentin were significantly higher than those in other 3 groups (P＜0.05) at the same time after IRI day 1 to day 4,with a maximum in day 2.(3) The above expressions in IRI group,EP group,IMD group had no significant differences compared with sham group after day 7 or day 14 respectively (P＞0.05),and either between IRI group and EP group,though the expressions of the genes in IRI group and EP group increased compared with sham group after day 4.(4) The above expressions between IRI group and EP group also had no significant difference (P＞0.05).(5) Changes of ZO-1 and Ncam protein expression detected by ELISA were similar to those abore mRNA and protein expression by RT-PCR and Western blotting.Conclusion IMD pretreatment plays an important role in up-regulation of the expressions of associated repair genes during the process of repair and regeneration after renal ischemia reperfusion injury.

Biopsy, Needle ; Genetic Variation ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Specimen Handling

Objective To evaluate the concordance of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and intelligent spatiotemporal image correlation (iSTIC) in measuring fetal aortic and aortic arch diameters during the second and third trimesters.Methods Data were collected by a prospective cross-sectional study of 140 normal singleton fetuses with the gestational age from 22 to 32 weeks.A total of 6 dimensions of the fetal aortic and aortic arch,including aortic annular diameter (AO),ascending aorta diameter (AAO),aortic arch diameter [AO Arch (INA to LCCA)],aortic arch diameter [AO Arch (LCCA to LSA)],aortic isthmus diameter and descending aorta diameter (DAO),were measured by two different methods.Concordance was assessed by comparing the measurements acquired by iSTIC with those determined by 2DE and depicted by Bland-Altman plots.Inter-and intra-observer variability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test.Results A total of 137 iSTIC volumes in 140 cases were found to be suitable for further analysis.Good correlation was observed in the measurements that determined by 2D or iSTIC (Pearson's R2 =0.977-0.983).There was no significant difference in the mean values of all the parameters that measured by two methods.Bland-Altman plot showed that the 95％ limits of agreement (LOA) in AO,AAO,AO Arch (INA to LCCA),AO Arch (LCCA to LSA),aortic isthmus diameter and DAO were (-0.1260/+ 0.2299),(-0.1707/+ 0.2241),(-0.1547/+ 0.2190),(-0.1736/+ 0.2024),(-0.1514/+ 0.2039) and (-0.1485/+ 0.2228),respectively.The points in the outside of LOA were 5.11％ (7/137),4.38％ (6/137),5.11％ (7/137),5.84％ (8/137),4.38％ (6/137)and 4.38％ (6/137),respectively.Conclusions iSTIC has a good agreement with 2DE in measuring fetal aortic and aortic arch dimensions during the second and third trimesters.

Objective To evaluate the left atrial(LA) and right atrial(RA) volumes and functions of fetuses in second and late trimester by using atrial volume tracking (AVT).Methods One hundred and seventy-six fetuses were enrolled in this study.Using AVT,the maximal and minimal volumes of RA and LA were measured from time-atrial volume tracking curves.RA and LA ejection fraction (RAEF and LAEF) derived from the value of atrial maximal volumes(LAVmax,RAVmax) subtracted atrial minimal volumes (LAVmin,RAVmin) and divided by LAVmax or RAVmax.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between LAVmax,RAVmax,LAVmin,RAVmin,LAEF,RAEF and gestational ages.Results For all normal cases,the volumes of LA and RA were closely correlated with gestational weeks(r =0.80,0.85,0.83,0.82,P ＜0.001).The volume of LA was significantly smaller than that of RA (P ＜0.01).The RAEF and LAEF remained stable with advancing gestational age and there was no significantly difference between RAEF and LAEF (P ＞0.05).Conclusions This study establishes normal reference values for fetal RA and LA volumes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.The volumes of RA and LA are correlated with gestational weeks,and the volume of RA is bigger than that of LA.RAEF and LAEF are uncorrelated with gestational weeks,and there's no difference between RVEF and LAEF.