Objective: To compare the diagnostic values of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enhanced computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) in detecting skull base invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and provide the evidence for differentiated diagnosis of the skull base invasion of NPC. Methods: The fifty seven patients were scanned by MRI, enhanced CT, and PET-CT. The three imaging examinations were finished within 20 days. The diagnosis standards were based on histopathologic findings or clinical and imaging follow-up results within 6 months. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the three scanning technologies were compared. Results: For detecting skull base invasion of NPC, the sensitivity of enhanced CT, MRI, and PET-CT were 68.18%, 84.09%, and 97.67%, respectively; the specificity were 76.92%, 69.23%, and 57.14%, respectively; the accuracy were 70.18%, 80.70%, and 87.72%, respectively; PPV were 90.90%, 90.24%, and 87.50%, respectively; NPV were 41.67%, 56.25%, and 88.89%, respectively. PET-CT was better than enhanced CT in sensitivity, accuracy, and NPV (P <0.05). It was also better than MRI in sensitivity and NPV (P <0.05). Conclusion: Among three imaging technologies,PET-CT has obvious advantage in detecting skull base invasion of NPC patients, especially for new patients.

Objective To observe the effect of pulmonary surfactant(PS) on lung function and ventilator parameters of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS) in the advanced stage.Methods Twenty-eight infants with NRDS were given PS in one dose by endotracheal intubation on the left side,right side,feet high with head low,and level decub respectively.The dose of PS was 100-150 mg/kg each time,each posture slow note of the drug were required 1/4,out of the straw,hand-controlled ventilation,to reduce fluid loss,with the exception of a clear airway obstruction,within 6 hours after the administration not to shoot back suction,to give mechanical ventilation after the injection.Lung function parameters were also measured:pressure of oxygen in artery[p_a(O_2)],carbon dioxide partial pressure[p_a(CO_2)],the ratio of pressure of oxygen in artery and alveolar oxygen partial pressure[a/Ap(O_2)] and oxygenation index(OI) were determined.Ventilator parameters were determined:oxygen concentration(FiO_2),oxygen peak(PIP),end-expiratory positive pressure(PEEP) and mean airway pressure(MAP) were determined.These numerical data were analyzed and compared before and after treatment with PS.Clinical manifestations,thoracic X-ray changes,survival rate and incidence rate of complications were also analyzed and compared before and after PS therapy.Results p_a(O_2),a/Ap(O_2) showed significant upgrade and OI had a decrease after PS administration in comparison with those before PS therapy.The ventilator parameters(except for PEEP) acquired were also lower after drug administration than those in before drug therapy.There were significant differences in both stages(P_a90%,respiratory sound in 24 cases enhanced,the observation of chest film after 24 h indicated that,lesions in 21 cases improved significantly,5 cases took a favorable turn.The survival rate was 85.7%.The incidence rate of complication was as follows:pneumonia was 25%,patent ductus arteriosus was 10.7%,pneumorrhagia was 7.1% and intraventricular hemorrhage was 3.6%,respectively.Conclusion Respiratory function of NRDS is significantly improved by using PS in the advanced stage,and therapeutic effect is apparent.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of silencing heparanase (HPA) on growth, angiogenesis and metastasis of human gastric carcinoma transplanted in nude mice.

METHODSHuman gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells and those cells with silenced HPA (gastric carcinoma SGC-7901-HPA(-)) were separately transplanted subcutaneously in 6 nude mice. The time, size and speed of tumor growth were recorded. RT-PCR and Western-blot were used to detect the expression of HPA mRNA and protein in the subcutaneous tumors of the two groups. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect microvessel density (MVD) in the subcutaneous tumors of the two groups. Cells of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors of the two groups were separately injected into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, 6 mice each. The growth of metastatic tumors in nude mice was observed.

RESULTSHuman gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells and SGC-7901-HPA(-) cells were subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice, and tumors appeared at 4 days and 7 days after inoculation, respectively. The MVD was (20.69 ± 1.20)/HP and (11.35 ± 1.94)/HP, respectively (P < 0.05). The expressions of HPA mRNA and protein of the subcutaneously transplanted SGC-7901-HPA(-) tumor were decreased. Four voluminous metastatic tumors caused by SGC-7901 cells occurred in 3 mice in the liver, right kidney, omentum and intestine. Two smaller abdominal metastatic tumors of SGC-7901-HPA(-) cells were found in the liver and right kidney.

CONCLUSIONSilencing HPA can inhibit the tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis of human gastric cancer in nude mice. It suggests that HPA might become a new target for prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood supply ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; secondary ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Glucuronidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; secondary ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology

Adult ; Exons ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo research serum level of interleukin-17 (IL-17) associated with the progression of hepatic injury in the chronic patients with hepatitis B.

METHODSThe serum level of IL-17 was measured by ELISA and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 were measured by RIA in patient groups and healthy group, the patient groups including 42 mild patients, 37 moderate patients and 38 severe patients.

RESULTSIL-17,IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patient patients were significantly higher than those in healthy people (P < 0.01). There is no significant difference among mild patients and moderate patients. Compared with mild patients and moderate patients,the cytokines lever were significantly higher in severe patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIL-17 as a new cytokine probably play a multiple role as immune factor and inflammation element in the progression of the chronic hepatitis B disease. Maybe, it can provide a new approach to the therapy of the chronic hepatitis B.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

To develop a sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of mosapride in human plasma, mosapride and internal standard tamsulosin were extracted from plasma with liquid-liquid extraction, then separated on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm ID) with gradient elution at flow-rate of 0.25 mL x min(-1). The mobile phase was water (containing 0.3% formic acid) and acetonitrile under gradient conditions. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in the positive ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the transitions of m/z 422 --> m/z 198 and m/z 409 --> m/z 228 were used to quantify mosapride and the internal standard, respectively. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 0.17 - 68.00 ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 0.17 ng x mL(-1). The inter- and intra-day precision (RSD) was less than 13%, and the accuracy (RE) was within +/- 6.3% calculated from QC samples. The method was used to determine the concentration of mosapride in plasma after a single oral dose of 5 mg mosapride citrate to 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The method has been proved to be selective, sensitive, rapid and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of mosapride.
Administration, Oral ; Area Under Curve ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Male ; Morpholines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication.

METHODSSixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Qi ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the occurrence of important foodborne pathogens in shellstock Pacific oysters in the food markets in South China.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to June 2008, retail oysters were collected in different seasons from South China and analyzed for the prevalence and levels of Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

RESULTSNone of L. monocytogenes could be detected in any of the 202 oyster samples tested, while E vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus could be detected in 67 (54.9%) and 109 (89.3%) of the 122 oyster samples analyzed, respectively, with an MPN (most probable number) value greater than or equal to 3. V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus with a more than 102 MPN/g were found in 36 (29.5%) and 59 (48.4%) of the 122 oyster samples, respectively. The tdh and trh genes were detected in 4 (0.3%) and 8 (0.6%) of the 1 349 V parahaemolyticus isolates, respectively. Of the 122 samples, 4 (3.3%) was positive for either tdh or trh. The levels of V. vulnificus and total V. parahaemolyticus in oysters in South China varied in different seasons.

CONCLUSIONV. vulnificus and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus are frequently found in oysters in south China, which may pose a potential threat to public health. Data presented here will be useful for the microbiological risk assessment in oysters in China.

Animals ; China ; Commerce ; Food Microbiology ; Listeria monocytogenes ; isolation & purification ; Ostreidae ; microbiology ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; isolation & purification ; Vibrio vulnificus ; isolation & purification

Objective · To explore the prognostic factors for postoperative radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the effects of lymph nodes metastasis status on the survival of patients and failure modes of treatment. Methods · Data of 121 patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent radical resection and postoperative radiotherapy from 2006 to 2013 were collected. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate prognostic factors with the log-rank test and the Cox regression model. The differences in OS and recurrence patterns between patients with different lymph node metastasis status were compared. Results · The median DFS of all patients was 22.57 months and median OS was 32.90 months.Multivariate analysis showed that KPS score, length of lesion, and positive lymph nodes ratio (pLNR) were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. For patients with positive lymph nodes, the median DFS of patients with pLNR ≤ 0.15 and pLNR>0.15 were 33.43 and 19.20 months (P=0.04).Patients without nodal skip metastasis (NSM) had better median OS than patients with NSM, but the difference was not statistically significant. OS was significantly worse in patients with pLNR>0.15 and NSM than in other patients with positive lymph nodes (median OS of 14.33 vs 32.50 months, P=0.02).pLNR had a better prognostic value for OS than the number of positive lymph nodes (AUC=0.673, P=0.04). Analysis of the failure patterns showed that more distant metastases were observed in patients with pLNR>0.15, while more local and regional recurrences were observed in patients with pLNR ≤ 0. 15. Conclusion · The status of lymph nodes metastasis is associated with the prognosis of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced ESCC. pLNR has a better prognostic value for OS for patients with positive lymph nodes. The recurrence pattern varies in patients with different pLNR after postoperative radiotherapy. The patients with high pLNR and NSM have poor prognosis.

BACKGROUNDEsophageal variceal bleeding is a frequent and severe complication in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors of esophageal variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic inpatients.

METHODSConsecutive cirrhotic patients who were admitted to Changhai Hospital because of esophageal variceal bleeding were retrospectively analyzed. To assess the independent factors for recurrent hemorrhage after esophageal variceal bleeding, medical assessment was completed at the time of their initial hospital admission, including documentation of clinical, biochemical, and treatment methods that might contribute to variceal rebleeding. Univariate and multivariate analyses were retrospectively performed.

RESULTSTotally 186 patients (35.8%) were assigned to a rebleeding group and the other 334 patients (64.2%) to a non-rebleeding group. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that four variables were positively correlated with rebleeding: Child-pugh grade B (OR = 2.664, 95%CI 1.680 - 4.223) (compared with Child-pugh grade A), total bilirubin (Tbil) (OR = 1.0006, 95%CI 1.002 - 1.0107), creatinine (OR = 1.008, 95%CI 1.002 - 1.015) and the cumulative volume of blood transfusion (OR = 1.519, 95%CI 1.345 - 1.716). The presence of ascites (OR = 0.270, 95%CI 0.136 - 0.536) and prophylactic antibiotics (OR = 0.504, 95%CI 0.325 - 0.780) were negatively correlated with rebleeding of the cirrhotic inpatients. According to standardized coefficient, the importance of rebleeding predictors ranked from the most to the least was as follows: the cumulative volume of blood transfusion, Child-pugh grade B, Tbil and creatinine.

CONCLUSIONRebleeding in cirrhotic inpatients was associated with more blood transfusions, Child-pugh grade B, higher Tbil and creatinine.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies