Objective To explore the effects of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on lung function in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ,analyze relationship between lung function indexes and radiation pneumonitis (RP) incidence rate ,dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters and incidence degree of RP .Methods 52 patients without operation first radiother‐apy patients were included ,all with Karnofsky score (KPS) ≥ 80 points .Detection of IMRT ,before the end of the end ,first months ,third months of forced vital capacity (FVC) ,forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 .0) and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) change were conducted .The incidence and degree of RP were measured ,and got the V20 and V30 value in DVH .By Spearman correlation analysis ,the relationship between pulmonary function index and the incidence of RP ,V20 ,V30 and RP was analyzed .Results Among the 52 patients ,49 patients were followed up ,the follow -up rate was 94 .2% .In the 49 pa‐tients ,two cases were excluded in the lung recurrence or lung metastasis patients ,thus a total of 47 patients were included in the fi‐nal study .There were 18 cases of RP ,the incidence of RP was 38 .30% .In the third month ,FEV1 .0 and DLCO were significantly decreased than that before radiotherapy (P<0 .05) ,FVC had no significant change (P>0 .05) .Correlation analysis showed that FVC ,FEV1 .0 and DLCO and RP were positively correlated (r=0 .451 ,0 .405 ,0 .635 ,P<0 .05);and V20 ,V30 and RP was posi‐tively correlated (r=0 .689 ,0 .725 ,P<0 .05) .Conclusion the larger the NSCLCV20 ,V30 value ,the more serious the RP would be ,thus they could be predictor of RP degree .

Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; metabolism ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; metabolism ; virology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and outcomes of 18 patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF).

METHODWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 18 RPF patients who received treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1988 to 2004.

RESULTSThe initial symptoms included abdominal pain, notalgia, abdominal distension, and pyrexia. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (35-120 mm/h), immunoglobumin, and gamma globulin levels were found in 12 patients (66.7%), 4 patients (22.2%), and 5 patients (27.8%), respectively. Mild positive antinuclear antibody (1:160-1:320) was found in 3 patients (16.7%). Urethral obstructions were found by ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography, and the existence of post-peritoneal soft tissue shadow was confirmed by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The final diagnosis included 15 primary RPF cases and 3 secondary RPF cases. Eleven patients only received drug therapy and 6 patients underwent surgery. The conditions improved in most patients, except that one patient died of tumor.

CONCLUSIONSThe initial symptoms of RPF are not specific. For patients with positive laboratory and radiological examination results, further imagings, surgeries, or interventional therapy may be considered.

Abdominal Pain ; complications ; Blood Sedimentation ; Fever ; complications ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urethral Obstruction ; diagnostic imaging ; gamma-Globulins ; metabolism

Background Serum cystatin C levels can be used to predict morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the clinical relevance of serum cystatin C levels in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has rarely been investigated. We designed the present study to investigate whether serum cystatin C levels are associated with cardiac structural and functional alterations in hypertensive patients. Methods We enrolled 823 hypertensive patients and classified them into two groups:those with LVH (n=287) and those without LVH (n=536). All patients underwent echocardiography and serum cystatin C testing. We analyzed the relationship be-tween serum cystatin C levels and LVH. Results Serum cystatin C levels were higher in hypertensive patients with LVH than in those without LVH (P＜0.05). Using linear correlation analysis, we found a positive correlation between serum cystatin C levels and interven-tricular septal thickness (r=0.247, P＜0.01), posterior wall thickness (r=0.216, P＜0.01), and left ventricular weight index (r=0.347, P＜0.01). When analyzed by multiple linear regression, the positive correlations remained between serum cystatin C and interventricular septal thickness (β=0.167, P＜0.05), posterior wall thickness (β=0.187, P＜0.05), and left ventricular weight index (β=0.245, P＜0.01). Con-clusion Serum cystatin C concentration is an independent marker for hypertensive LVH.

The stems and branches of Hypericum petiolulatum were extracted by alcohol and liquid-liquid extraction. Seven furofuran lignans were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of H. petiolulatum by using silica gelchromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by the spectroscopic methods as pinoresinol (1), medioresinol (2), 8-acetoxypinoresinol (3), epipinoresinol (4), (+)-syringaresinol (5), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol (6) and erythro-buddlenolE (7). All the isolates were firstly found in H. petiolulatum. In the bioassay, compound 7 showed remarkable antioxidative activity inhibiting Fe(+2)-cystine induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with inhibitory rate 38% at a concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol · L(-1) (positive control Vit E with the inhibitory rate of 35% at the same concentration).
Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rats

Objective To evaluate the effect of hypoxic-ischemic time on reduction of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury by sevoflurane postconditioning in neonatal rats.Methods Two hundred and ten 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats (105 male,105 female),weighing 13-17 g,were randomly divided into 7groups (n=30 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group Sham),hypoxia-ischemia group (group HI),and sevoflurane postconditioning at different hypoxic-ischemic time point groups (P0,P3,P6,P 12 and P24 groups).Immediately after ligation of the left common carotid artery,and at 3,6,12 and 24 h after ligation,the rats inhaled the mixed gas containing 2％ sevoflurane for 30 min in P0,P3,P6,P13 and P24 groups,respectively.The fatality was recorded within 7 days after establishment of the model.At 7 days after establishment of the model,the rats were sacrificed,the brains were removed,and the right and left cerebral hemispheres were weighed separately,and the left/right cerebral hemisphere weight ratio was calculated.The hippocampal CA1 region and posterior cingulate gyrus were isolated,and the ratio of density of normal neurons in the left to the right was calculated.Results Compared with group Sham,the left cerebral hemisphere weight,left/right cerebral hemisphere weight ratio,and ratio of density of normal neurons were significantly decreased,and the fatality rate was increased in the other six groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group HI,the left cerebral hemisphere weight,left/right cerebral hemisphere weight ratio,and ratio of density of normal ncurons were significantly increased in P0,P3 and P6 groups (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in P12 and P24 groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group P6,the left cerebral hemisphere weight,left/right cerebral hemisphere weight ratio,and ratio of density of normal neurons were significantly increased in P0 and P3 groups (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between group P0 and group P3 (P＞0.05).Conclusion Sevoflurane postconditioning performed within 6 h of hypoxia-ischemia can reduce hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,and it provides no cerebral protection if exceeding 12 h.

The feasibility and the clinical value of the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) monitoring of blood concentrations of cyclosporine A (CsA) in patients treated with CsA were investigated after kidney transplantation.The validation method was performed to the EMIT determination of CsA blood concentration,the CsA whole blood trough concentrations (Co) of patients in different time periods after renal transplantation were monitored,and combined with the clinical complications,the statistical results were analyzed and compared.EMIT was precise,accurate and stable,also with a high quality control.The mean postoperative blood concentration of CsA was as follows:＜1 month,(281.4± 57.9)ng/mL; 2 - 3 months,(264.5 ± 41.2)ng/mL; 4 - 5 months,(236.4 ± 38.9)ng/mL; 6 - 12 months,(206.5 ± 32.6)ng/mL; ＞12 months,(185.6 ± 28.1)ng/mL.The toxic reaction rate of CsA blood concentration within the recommended therapeutic concentration was 14.1％,significantly lower than that of the none-recommended dose group (37.2％) (P＜0.05); the transplantation rejection rate was 4.4％,significantly lower than that of the nonerecommended dose group (22.5％) (P＜0.05).Using EMIT to monitor the blood concentration of CsA as the routine laboratory method is feasible,and is able to reduce the CsA toxicity and rejection significantly,leading to achieving the desired therapeutic effect.

The feasibility and the clinical value of the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique （EMIT） monitoring of blood concentrations of cyclosporine A （CsA） in patients treated with CsA were investigated after kidney transplantation. The validation method was performed to the EMIT determination of CsA blood concentration, the CsA whole blood trough concentrations （Co） of patients in different time periods after renal transplantation were monitored, and combined with the clinical complications, the statistical results were analyzed and compared. EMIT was precise, accurate and stable, also with a high quality control. The mean postoperative blood concentration of CsA was as follows： 〈1 month, （281.4± 57.9）ng/mL; 2 - 3 months, （264.5 ± 41.2） ng/mL; 4 - 5 months, （236.4 ± 38.9） ng/mL; 6 - 12 months, （206.5± 32.6）ng/mL; 〉12 months, （185.6± 28.1）ng/mL. The toxic reaction rate of CsA blood concentration within the recommended therapeutic concentration was 14.1%, significantly lower than that of the none-recommended dose group （37.2%） （P〈0.05）; the transplantation rejection rate was 4.4%, significantly lower than that of the none- recommended dose group （22.5%） （P〈0.05）. Using EMIT to monitor the blood concentration of CsA as the routine laboratory method is feasible, and is able to reduce the CsA toxicity and rejection significantly, leading to achieving the desired therapeutic effect.

Objective To explore the relationship between adjustment of immunosuppressant and prognosis in renal transplantation recipients with pulmonary infection. Methods The clinical data of 98 patients with pulmonary infection following renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups: conventional group (n = 45) and immunosuppressant adjustment group (n = 53). The mortality, recovery time and rejection rate in two groups were analyzed under the statement of serious infection (SOFA≥12) and slight infection (SOFA＜ 12) by sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. Results When the SOFA scores ≥ 12, the mortality and recovery time in immunosuppressant adjustment group were significantly lower than in conventional group (P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference in the rejection rate between two groups (P＞0.05). When the SOFA scores ＜11, there was no significant difference in mortality and recovery time between the two groups (P＞0.05). The incidence of rejection in immunosuppressant adjustment group was significantly higher than in conventional group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Mortality could be decreased and course of anti-infection treatment could also be shortened by adjusting the immunosuppressant in renal transplantation recipients with serious pulmonary infection (SOFA≥12). Immunosuppressant agent was proposed to maintain the original treatment protocol when the infection was slight (SOFA＜12).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) on cellular lipid accumulation and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human mesangial cells.

METHODSAn established stable human mesangial cell line (HMCL) was used in all experiments. VLDL-induced cellular lipid deposition was visualized by Oil Red O staining and analyzed quantitatively by standard enzymatic procedures. MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in treated HMCLs were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. For adhesion study, HMCLs were treated with VLDL for 12 hours, followed by a one-hour incubation with THP-1 cells.

RESULTSVLDL induced cellular lipid accumulation in HMCLs in a time- (0-24 h) and dose- (0-200 microg/ml) dependent manner, and the principal component of accumulated lipid is triglyceride. In HMCLs, MCP-1 mRNA expression was promoted by VLDL in a time- (0-6 h) and dose- (0-100 microg/ml) dependent manner, and VLDL also enhanced MCP-1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Such an effect was accompanied by increased adhesion of monocytes to HMCLs.

CONCLUSIONSVLDL can induce cellular triglyceride accumulation and upregulate the expression of MCP-1 in human mesangial cells. Hence, VLDL may be involved in the pathogenesis of lipid-mediated renal injury.

Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, VLDL ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism