Objective To study on ERCP findings correlating with tumor size and staging of pancre- atic cancer(PC).Methods We selected 35 patients with PC who were identified by surgery and/or pathol- ogy and had undergone ERCP with clear imaging findings.The lengths of pancreatic duct and common bile duct stricture as well as the diameter of upstream dilated pancreatic or bile duct were measured on ERCP films.The ralationship among ERCP findings and tumor size and JPS T-stage of PC were analysed by correla- tion analysis.Results Of the 35 patients with PC,ERCP showed the pancreatic duct stricture in 25 and cut- off of pancreatic duct in 10(7 of them,the lesion lengths were revealed after a guide wire advanced beyond the obstructive site)and common bile duct stricture in 31.The correlation coefficients between tumor size and lengths of pancreatic duct or common bile duct stricture were 0.709(P=0.0001)and 0.540(P=0.0053) respectively.The correlation coefficient between JPS T-stage and lengths of pancreatic duct stricture was 0.514(P=0.0052).Conclusion The length of pancreatic duct stricture in ERCP was positively correlated with the tumor size and staging of PC.But it is not consistent when the length of stricture is rather short.The lengths of bile duct stricture also have some effects on predicting the tumor size of pancreatic head cancer.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Reproduction ; physiology ; Social Behavior ; Tupaiidae ; physiology

In order to find a method suitable for purifying large amount of CD34(+) cells, from 5 cases who accepted autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, CD34(+) cells were collected and enriched by using Isolex 300i (Nexell). Phenotypes were detected by flow cytometry and the biological viability were assayed by the colony-forming experiments and cell expansion experiment in vitro. The results showed that the number of mononuclear cells first collected was about (3.5 - 6.0) x 10(10) and (0.55 - 1.2)% of cells were CD34 positive. The number of positive production was about (2.0 - 3.0) x 10(8); the CD34(+) cells purity was (75 - 85)% and the yield was (40 - 65)%. The CD34(+) cells of positive production could expand up to 2 - 3 times when cultured with SCF + IL3 + FL + TPO + EPO in vitro. The results of colony-forming experiments demonstrated that the CD34(+) cells collected has enough colony-forming ability. All results showed the enriched CD34(+) cells with biological viability. In conclusion, the CD34(+) immunomagnetic isolation apparatus Isolex300i is suitable to clinical application for a large amount of CD34(+) cell enrichment.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunomagnetic Separation ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Neoplasms ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of catecholamine hormone on the blood and brain of heroin addicts.

METHODSRats were divided into three groups and treated with the glucose (control group), the heroin (im) (heroin group), and the combination of the intramuscular injection of reserpine and heroin (reserpine group). Changes in the levels of the dopamine (DA), cAMP, and cGMP were detected by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method in the blood and brain tissue.

RESULTSNo significant withdrawal symptoms were observed in the reserpine group. Compared with the control and heroin groups, the blood cAMP levels were increased by 35.36% and 15.53% in the reserpine group, respectively; the cAMP levels in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus (Hipp) were increased by 24.08% & 8.53%, 15.66% & 8.13%, and 21.95% & 8.40%, respectively. While compared to the control and heroin groups, the DA levels of the PFC, Hipp, striatum, and nucleus accumbens (NAc) were significantly reduced in the reserpine group, decreasing by 74.09% & 82.86%, 81.06% & 82.23%, 91.62% & 86.55% and 84.35% & 90.63%, respectively. The concentrations of cGMP of the brain tissues in the reserpine group were lower than those in the control group. In addition, the neural electrophysiological testing showed that the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and muscle spindle discharge diagram of rats in both the reserpine and heroin groups were apparently changed.

CONCLUSIONCatecholamine hormone plays an important role in heroin addiction.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Catecholamines ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP ; blood ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; blood ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; blood ; metabolism ; Heroin Dependence ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM To study the influence and action mechanism of effective components in compatible solution of Sparganii Rhizoma-Curcumae Rhizoma on pelvic adhesions of model rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.METHODS Laboratory rats were randomly assigned into six groups,a sham-operated group,a model group,a positive Fukeqianjin tablets group,compatible solution groups (40 g/kg high-dose group,20 g/kg medi um-dose group,and 10 g/kg low-dose group).Except rats of the sham-operated group,those in the other groups were induced into models of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease by mechanical bacterial strain implantation,after which a 20 d corresponding drug administration by oral gavage for each group was initiated.After completion of the last drug administration,Verco criterion was taken as the reference to evaluate pelvic adhesions,HE staining was performed on uterine tissues for pathological scoring,ELASA method was applied to measuring serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels,and Western blot method was used to detect the expression levels of proteins FGF-2 and IGF-1 in uterine tissues.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the high-dose compatible solution group had a much sharper fall in Verco scores (P ＜ 0.05),and remarkably decreased serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels (P ＜ 0.01);both high-dose and medium-dose groups manifested with notably alleviated degenerative necrosis and lowered scores of chronic inflammation infiltration and epithelial hyperproliferation (P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05),and a distinct reduction in the expression of proteins FGF-2 and IGF-1 (P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION The significant improvement of the chronic pelvic inflammatory disease in model rats due to the effective components in the compatibile solution of Sparganii Rhizoma-Curcumae Rhizoma may be associated with inhibited release of inflammatory mediators IL-1β and TNF-α,and the reduced expression of proteins FGF-2 and IGF-1 as well.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tb cell line.

METHODSCell counting method was used to examine the inhibitory effect of TGF-β₁ on Tb cell and flow cytometry (FCM) assay performed to measure the changes of cell cycle. Superarray was used to screen the changing expression of genes in TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway.RT-PCR method was used to detect the results of Superarray.

RESULTSTGF-β₁ showed significant inhibiting effect on OSCC Tb cell line. TGF-β₁ blocked the cell cycle at G₁ phase. The expression level of activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ACVRL-1), anti-mullerian hirmine (AMH), cyclim-dependent kinase inhibitor-2B (CDKN-2B) and transforming growth factor-beta-indnced factor (TGIF) was higer in the cells treated with TGF-β₁ than in control, while TDGF-1 expression was down-regulated. ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B gene expression was consistent with the results of Superarray.

CONCLUSIONSTGF-β₁ can inhibit the growth of OSCC Tb cell line. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cell cycle and the expression of ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B in TGF-β₁-Smads signaling pathway.

Activin Receptors, Type II ; metabolism ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its signaling pathway molecules in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the association between these factors and genesis and metastasis of OSCC.

METHODSThe express of TGF-beta1, TbetaRI, TbetaRII and Smad4, a pivotal downstream molecule of its signaling, in 10 normal oral mucosa tissues and 108 OSCC was detected by SP immunohistochemistry, and thier correlation with genesis and metastasis of OSCC were assessed.

RESULTSThe expressions of TbetaRII and Smad4 were lower in the tumors (34.3%, 38.9%) than those in the normal oral epithelium (80.0%, 100.0%, P < 0.05). The positive expression rates of TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI in the normal oral epithelium and OSCC were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between TGF-beta1, Smad4, TbetaRII, TbetaRI expression and clinical stages (P < 0.01). The expression of TGF-beta1 was related with histological differentiation and tumor localization (P < 0.05). There was a relationship beteween Smad4 expression and histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of TbetaRII in the samples with lymph node metastasis was less than that in the ones without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), although there was no association between expression of TbetaRII and lymph node metastasis status.

CONCLUSIONThere is an important relationship between the abnormal TGF-beta1/Smad4 signal pathway and genesis and development of OSCC, while the low expressed Smad4 and TbetaRII may promote the metastasis of OSCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of combined laser on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.

METHODSForty-one cases with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type were randomly divided into a combined laser group (n = 22) and a red light group (n = 19), with combined laser and red light irradiation on Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), respectively. They were treated for 6 weeks. The scores of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities' Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC VA3. 1) were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAfter treatment for 2 weeks and 6 weeks, the WOMAC scores significantly decreased in the two groups as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). The mean improvement rate of WOMAC scores in the combined laser group was better than those in the red light group.

CONCLUSIONCombined laser irradiation can improve the pain, stiffness and functional limitation of patients with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Phototherapy ; Yang Deficiency ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides on testicular injury induced by exposure to high power microwave (HPM) in rats.

METHODSA total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the microwave radiation model group, the treatment group, the new microwave radiation model group, and the prevention group, 6 in each group. All rats, except those in the normal control group, were exposed to microwave at an average power density of 200 mW/cm2 for 6 min. Rats in the control group and the model group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once a day. Rats in the treatment group and the prevention group were given with Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides by gastrogavage, 2 mL each time (400 mg/kg body weight), once a day. All rats were sacrificed on the 11th day.The sperm density and the rate of sperm deformity were determined. Pathological changes of testis were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSShort-term HPM irradiation could significantly reduce the sperm density and increase the sperm deformity rate (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, obvious pathological changes of testes occurred. Compared with the two model groups, the sperm density increased and the sperm deformity rate decreased in the treatment group and the prevention group (P < 0.05). Under the light microscope, injuries of spermatogenic cells and stromal cells, as well as vascular dilatation and congestion were obviously alleviated in the treatment group and the prevention group. Mitochondrial swelling and endoplasmic reticulum expansion shown by ultrastructural observation were also significantly alleviated. Of them, injuries of spermatogenic cells and inflammation response were milder in the treatment group than in the prevention group.

CONCLUSIONSInonotus obliquus polysaccharides had significant protective effect on microwave radiation induced testicular injury. Better effect was obtained by therapeutic medication than preventive medication.

Animals ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects

This study was aimed to investigate the feasibility of low dose of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide combined with donor derived alloreactive NK cells as a new nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen in the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haploidentical HSCT). F1 derived-NK cells were enriched with MACS magnetic separation system, in which the proportions of the Ly49C+ and Ly49A+ cells were detected by flow cytometry and the alloreactivity was measured by LDH method. The haploidentical HSCT models were constructed, and the myeloablativity in vivo, donor engraftment and the intensity of GVHD were compared between different myeloablative and nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens, including 9 Gy TBI, 6.5 Gy TBI, flu + cy, and flu + cy + allo-NK. The results showed that the flu + cy + allo-NK conditioning was nonmyeloablative, but the rate of donor chimerism after haploidentical HSCT was significantly higher as compared with other nonmyeloablative methods, which were (28.70 +/- 5.90)% in bone marrow and (46.40 +/- 5.00)% in spleen at day 21 post-transplantation. When compared with the flu + cy conditioning, the intensity of GVHD was slight in the flu + cy + allo-NK group, in which only a half of C57BL/6 recipients experienced weight loss, and no distinct pathological damages observed in the liver, intestine, kidney and skin samples. It is concluded donor derived-alloreactive NK cells can facilitate engraftment of the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells and mitigate GVHD. The flu + cy + allo-NK conditioning provides a new method for those elder patients with high-risk solid tumor undergoing haploidentical-HSCT.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Haplotypes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Killer Cells, Natural ; transplantation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Models, Animal ; Transplantation Chimera ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Whole-Body Irradiation