Objective To discuss the X-knife radiosurgery (XKS) in the treatment of brain metastasis of lung carcinoma. Methods A total of 100 patients with similar prognostic factors were divided into two groups with 50 patients in each group, receiving either whole-brain radiotherapy alone (30~40 Gy/3~4 weeks) (Radiotherapy Group) or XKS combined with radiotherapy (Combination Group). In the Combination Group, 27 patients received XKS with single fraction of radiation, with a median prescription dose of 14.2 Gy, and the other 23 patients received multiple fractions of radiation (5~10 Gy/f, 3 times weekly), with a total dose of 15~30 Gy. Results In the Combination Group and the Radiotherapy Group, the median survival time was 16.4 and 10 months, respectively (P=0.0064), the 2-year local tumor control rate was 88% (44/50) and 44% (22/50), respectively (?2=21.569,P=0.000), and the effective rate under CT or MRI scanning at 1~3 months after treatment was 87.5% (35/40) and 52.2% (24/46), respectively (?2=16.497,P=0.001). An analysis on the cause of death showed that 11.9% of patients (5/42) in the Combination Group died from brain metastasis, which was significantly lower than that in the Radiotherapy Group (55.6%, 25/45) (?2=25.908,P=0.000). The incidence of complications was not significantly different between the Combination Group (8%, 4/50) and the Radiotherapy Group (4%, 2/50) (?2=0.709,P=0.400). Conclusions Combined use of X-knife radiosurgery and routine radiotherapy has better therapeutic effects than radiotherapy alone for treating brain metastatic tumor.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in rats.

METHODSSD rats MSCs were separated, cultivated, identified and labeled by the green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene virus and transplanted in vitro. Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal control group (NC group) and HPH group (eight rats respectively), HPH+ MSCs transplantation group and HPH+ VEGF+ MSCs transplantation group (twenty-four respectively). The test employed atmospheric intermittent low oxygen method to establish the rat model of pulmonary hypertension and stem cells were transferred and transplanted. The rats' mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was observed; right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated; the morphological change of lung small artery in various groups of rats was observed under the microscope; the distribution of lung small artery and adenovirus transfection fluorescently labeled MSCs was observed under a fluorescent microscope after 7, 14 and 28 days when stem cell was transplanted.

RESULTSFor NC group, the mPAP (mmHg) was 15.5 +/- 1.5 after twenty-eight days while the mPAPs for HPH , MSCs and MSCs+ VEGF were 26.1 +/- 1.9, 21.6 +/- 2.7 and 20.1 +/- 2.9 respectively which were apparently higher than that of NC group (P < 0.01) and compared with HPH group (P < 0.01), which declined clearly. There was no significant difference between MSCs and MSCs+ VEGF. After twenty-eight days, RVHI for NC group was 0.28 +/- 0.02 while the RVHI for HPH, MSCs and MSCs + VEGF were 0.43 +/- 0.07, 0.34 +/- 0.03 and 0.35 +/- 0.01 respectively which was apparently higher than that of NC group (P < 0.01) but which was clearly lower than that of MSCs and MSCs+ VEGF (P < 0.05) and there was no significant difference between MSCs and MSCs + VEGF. For HPH group, pulmonary arteriole wall became apparently thicker, the lumen became significantly narrow and nearly obstructed after twenty-eight days, the endothelial cells were incomplete; compared with HPH group, pulmonary arteriole wall of MSCs group became thin, the lumen was smooth and the completeness of endothelial cells was improved. Whereas for MSCs and MSCs + VEGF, these changes were not significantly clear.

CONCLUSIONAfter MSCs transplantation, mPAP and RVHI decline sharply and lung small artery remodeling is improved which partially reverses HPH process; there is no significant difference between VEGF together with MSCs transplantation group and pure MSCs.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; metabolism ; surgery ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

Chromosome Banding ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; standards ; DNA Probes ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; complications ; drug therapy

Fermentation conditions for the production of spores of Bacillus mucilaginosus mutant 021120 were optimized through the single factor and orthogonal experiments.The results showed that the biomass and formation of spores were obviously affected by carbonate,followed by nitrogen.Addition of CaCO3 and enhancing air flux notably promoted the formation of spores.The optimal culture medium was composed of 2% starch,0.4% Yeast,0.1% K2HPO4,0.1% MgSO4?7H20 and 0.5 %CaCO3,pH7.5.6% of the inoculum prepared with two-stage extensive culture was inoculated into a 70L fermentor.The fermentation was carried out with 2.0~2.5 vvm of air flux at 32℃ for 38~42h,and the spores of 9.80?108 cfu ml-1 was obtained.Under these optimal fermentation conditions,the capsule was successfully controled and the formation of the spores was effectively improved,thus the satisfying bacteial product was obtained.

Objective To evaluate the sleep characteristics of the Korean children,and explore the measurement of improving the sleep qua-lity of minority nationality children.Methods The sleep time of 1 183 from 3 to 12 years age Korean children were investigated with questionnaire The sleep time of korean children in different ages and cities were compared.Results The mean time of total sleep time in Korean children was(10.06?1.29) h,which was decreasing with the age′s increasing.The difference in different ages groups was remarkable(Pa

Objective To explore the roles and possible mechanism of calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) in cell cardiac hypertrophy model using angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ ).Methods The cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were treated with Ang Ⅱ as cell cardiac hypertrophy model.Hypertrophic neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with GdCl3(a specific agonist of CaSR) and/or with Ro318220(a specific inhibitor of PKC pathway).To evaluate the status of cardiac hypertrophy,cell diameter was observed by HE dyeing,and protein content was determined through coomassie brilliant blue protein kit.The intracellular calcium concentration( [ Ca2+]i) was determined by laser scanning confocal microscope.The protein expression of CaSR and PKC pathway were analyzed using Western blotting.Results ①Compared to the control group(0.1263 ± 0.0443),the protein expression of CaSR was increased in Ang Ⅱ group and in GdCl3 group(0.1963 ± 0.0375,0.2778 ± 0.0564,all P＜ 0.05).Moreover,compared with Ang Ⅱ alone,the increase was significant in GdCl3 group(P ＜ 0.05).②Compared to control group(222.70 ± 22.09),AngⅡ group(392.16 ± 36.85) remarkably increased [Ca2+]i(P＜ 0.05),and this increase of [Ca2+]i was further enhanced in GdCl3 group (502.60 ± 44.21) versus Ang Ⅱ group (P ＜ 0.05).③Compared to control group,Ang Ⅱ could induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,and GdCl3 enhanced the effect.Moreover,this enhancement was attenuated by Ro318220.④Compared to control group(0.27 ± 0.07,0.69 ± 0.06,0.87 ± 0.04),the protein expression of PKCα,PKCε and PKCδ was increased in Ang Ⅱ group(0.60 ± 0.16,1.02 ± 0.13,1.20 ± 0.18,all P＜ 0.05) and the protein expression of PKCα,PKCε was increased in GdCl3 group(0.82 ± 0.16,1.34 ± 0.12,all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,compared with Ang Ⅱ group,the protein expression of PKCα,PKCε was obviously increased in GdCl3 group (all P ＜ 0.05);compared with GdCl3 group,the protein expression of PKCα,PKCε(0.41 ± 0.10,0.85 ± 0.14) was obviously decreased in Ro318220 group(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CaSR is involved in cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang Ⅱ through PKC pathway in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Objective To explore the clinical manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis(TEN) and its rare pulmonary complications.Methods Clinical symptoms,treatment and prognosis of 1 child with TEN caused by carbamazepine were analyzed.Radiological images were reviewed to evaluate the manifestations and the outcome of chronic pulmonary complications associated with TEN.Results The patient had high fever shortly after a dosage increment of carbamazepine.A confluent erythematous exanthema developed rapidly into painful blistering with skin erosion,denudation and involvement of conjunctive and oropharyngeal mucosa.The diagnosis of TEN was made.The mucocutaneous damage was gradually recovered with steroid plus intravenous immunoglobulin for 3 weeks.However,the patient presented with respiratory failure in the recovery phase of TEN.The computer tomography revealed pulmonary bullae and pneumothorax in the right lung.Lung parenchyma was squeezed and pulmonary bullae ruptured with pneumothorax and atelectasis,which were absorbed gradually through thoracic drainages.The patient′s lung function and pulmonary bullae were partly improved during a 7-month follow-up.Conclusions TEN is a severe form of blistering skin di-sease which is characterized by an extensive loss of epidermis and mucous membrane.Chronic pulmonary complications may occur in recovery phase of TEN.Pulmonary bullae,which might be caused by mucous damage and respiratory obstruction,is a rare complication of TEN.

BackgroundLimbal stem cell deficiency usually leads to blindness, and traditional therapy is limited. Recent research demonstrated that bone mesenchymal stem cells ( BMSCs ) and human amniotic epithelial cells(AECs) could differentiate into many kinds of cells including corneal epithelial cells, but the outcome and effect of these cells on corneal stem cell deficiency are still unclear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to observe and compare the effects of rabbit BMSCs and human AECs transplantation for rabbit limbal stem cell deficiency. Methods Eighteen clean New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the amniotic stroma(AS) group, rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group with 6 rabbits for each group. Limbal stem cell deficiency models were established by putting a piece of filter paper that had been soaked in a NaOH solution at the corneal center. Rabbit BMSCs were isolated and purified by density gradient centrifugation combined with the attachment culture method, and human AECs were collected by a sequential trypsin digestion technique,and the third generation rabbit BMSCs and the first generation human AECs were identified with RT-PCR. After that,cells were inoculated onto the denuded AS and grafted to the corneal surface of the experimental animals. Twenty-eight days after cell transplantation, the therapeutic effects were evaluated based on the corneal neovascularization and opacity scores. Corneal histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness among AS,rabbit BMSCs and human AECs on corneal stem cell deficiency. The procedure complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. ResultsThe third generation of rabbit BMSCs grew well after 12 hours, and the first generation of human AECs formed a membrane-like monolayer after 48 hours of incubation on AS. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that, 28 days after transplantation, the surface cells of the cornea were positive for cytokeratin 3 in both the rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group.Compared with the AS group,the corneal neovascularization and opacity grades were significantly decreased in the rabbit BMSCs group( Z=-2. 983, P =0. 003 ; Z =-2. 844, P =0. 004 ) and human AECs group ( Z =-2. 817, P =0. 005 ; Z =-2.041, P =0. 041 ). Histopathological analysis exhibited that stratified corneal epithelial-like cells formed on the corneal stroms 28 days after grafting and no signs of goblet cells and neovascularization were found. Less inflammatory cells and regular collagen fiber could be seen in the rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group. In addition,clinical observation also revealed that the corneas were much clearer in the rabbit BMSCs group than the human A ECs group( Z =-2. 091 , P=0. 037 ), but the corneal neovascularization score was similar between them (Z = -0. 267,P=-0. 789). ConclusionsRabbit BMSCs and human AECs can differentiate into corneal epithelial-like cells onthedamagedcornealsurfaceandfurtherdemonstrateremarkableinhibitoryeffectsoncornealneovascularization and inflammatory cells. The more dominant and prominent effect is the role played by rabbit BMSCsin the improvement of corneal transparency.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley