Objective The aim of this study was to assess the value of △Np63α in predicting tumor recurrence after curative resection in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.Methods We analyzed △Np63α protein cxpression in 304 clinicopathologically characterized ESCC cases by immunohistochemistry.Results We found △Np63α expression was positive in 122 (40％) of 304 cases.△Np63α expression was higher in the cancer tissue than in non-tumorous control tissue at protein level(P =0.034).There was a significant difference of △Np63α expression in patients categorized according to invasive depth (P =0.001),tumor position (P =0.001) and lymph nodes metastasis condition (P =0.001).Multivariate analyses showed that △Np63α was an independent prognostic marker for ESCC recurrence.Conclusion △Np63α is associated with outcome of ESCC and can be a novel predictor for poor prognosis of ESCC patients after curative resection.

Objective To investigate pulmonary infect flora distribution characteristics of stroke patients with tracheotomy in Intensive care unit (ICU) and analyze the risk factors.Methods A total of 792 cases of ICU stroke patients was selected,including 426 cases of tracheotomy patients,and 366 cases of non-tracheotomy patients.The incidence of lung infections was compared.Bacteriological examination was used for tracheotomy bacteriological studies for lung infected stroke patients with tracheotomy.Bacteria infection's characteristics was observed.The risk factors were analyzed.Results (1) The tracheotomy patient 's lung infection rate was 23.00％,higher than 9.56％ of the non-tracheotomy patients,the difference was statistically significant (X2 =19.125,P ＜0.05);(2) For lung infection-occurred patients with tracheotomy of ICU,gram-negative bacteria infection rate was 63.97％,significantly higher than 19.85％ of gram-positive bacteria and 16.18％ of fungi,the difference was statistically significant (x2 =18.255,17.042,P ＜ 0.01);(3) Lung infection rate of ICU stroke tracheotomy patients with unconscious,dysphagia,hospitalization time ＞ 14 d,blood glucose levels ≥≥7.8 mmol/L,and based diseases was significantly higher than that of patients with conscious,non-dysphagia,hospitalization time ≤＜14 d,blood sugar level ＜7.8 mmol/L,and no based diseases (P ＜ 0.05);(4) Consciousness,dysphagia,hospitalization,blood sugar levels,and the underlying disease were the independent risk factors of lung infection in ICU stroke tracheotomy patients (OR1 =11.528,OR2 =8.046,OR3 =15.174,OR4 =7.795,ORs =10.784,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria is the main reason for pulmonary infections in ICU stroke tracheotomypatients patients with stroke.State of consciousness,invasive treatment,hospitalization,blood sugar levels,and the underlying disease are the independent risk factors.

Objective:To explore the seizure recurrence and prognosis of epilepsy in relapse after anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) withdrawal, and the influencing factors for these conditions.Methods:From December 2009 to August 2018, patients from the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University who relapsed after AEDs withdrawal were collected and followed up for at least 18 months. The seizure recurrence and prognosis of these patients were prospectively observed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The associated risk factors of the second relapse in the enrolled patients were analyzed by multivariate Cox analysis. The included patients were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group according to whether they had achieved seizure freedom for at least one year after the first relapse. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting their prognosis.Results:A total of 56 patients with epilepsy in relapse after AEDS withdrawal were collected. The average follow-up period was 46.23 months (18-120 months) from the initial time of seizure recurrence, and 21 patients (37.5%) had the second seizure recurrence. The relapsing risk in patients who continued to be observed without adding AEDs was higher than those who were treated immediately with drugs [9/16 vs 30.0% (12/40)], but without statistically significant difference (χ2=2.220, P=0.071). The results of univariate analysis showed that focal seizures, seizure frequency more than once per month before remission and poly-drug therapy before AEDs withdrawal were associated with high risk of the second relapse. Poly-drug therapy was an independent risk factor for the second relapse by multivariate Cox analysis ( HR=3.383, 95% CI 1.257-9.105). Of the 56 patients with epilepsy in relapse after AEDs withdrawal, 47 patients (83.9%) had a good prognosis without seizure for at least one year, and of 33 patients who were followed up for three years or more, 26 (78.8%) had no seizure for at least two years. Between the group retreated immediately after the first recurrence and the group without immediate treatment [87.5% (35/40) vs 12/16],there were no statistically significant differences on the proportions of good prognosis (χ2=2.333, P=0.258). Univariate analysis showed that the course of epilepsy>6 months before initial treatment, the frequency of seizures>1/month before remission, symptomatic epilepsy and poly-drug therapy were associated with the poor prognosis. However, none of independent risk factors was found for the poor prognosis through the multivariate analysis. Conclusions:The prognosis of patients with epilepsy in relapse after AEDs withdrawal is well, and about 2/3 patients with epilepsy in relapse after AEDs withdrawal have no more seizure recurrences. The poly-drug therapy before AEDs withdrawal may be an independent risk factor for the second seizure relapse.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the quinoline derivative PQ1 combined with cisplatin on the proliferation and gap junction communication of prostate cancer PC3 cells.

METHODSWe cultured in vitro prostate cancer PC3 cells and divided them into DMSO blank control, cisplatin control, and cisplatin (10 mg/ml) plus PQ1 (1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 μmol/L) groups. We measured the proliferation of the prostate cancer PC3 cells, determined the expressions of the connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA and protein by RT-PCR and Western blot, and compared the indexes among different groups.

RESULTSCisplatin combined with PQl at 1 - 10 μmol/L significantly inhibited the proliferation of the PC3 cells and the inhibition rate rose in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, from (48.72 ± 0.98)% vs (50.33 ± 0.62)% at 0 μmol/L to (77.38 ± 1.12)% vs (83.50 ± 1.05)% at 15 μmol/L at 24 and 48 hours (P < 0.05). Compared with the cisplatin control, cisplatin combined with PQ1 at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 μmol/L increased the expression of Cx43 mRNA from 0.379 ± 0.113 to 0.669 ± 0.031, 0.831 ± 0. 127, 0.769 ± 0.100, 0.532 ± 0.086, and 0.475 ± 0.134, respectively (P < 0.05), and cisplatin combined with PQ1 at 1, 2, 5, and 10 μmol/L elevated that of Cx43 protein from 0.138 ± 0.146 to 0.263 ± 0.111, 0.306 ± 0.152, 0.415 ± 0.280, and 0.643 ± 0.310, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe quinoline derivative PQ1 can promote the gap junction communication of prostate cancer PC3 cells and enhance the killing effect of cisplatin on PC3 cells by upregulating the expressions of Cx43 mRNA and protein.

Aminoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Time Factors

Objective To explore and conclude the influence factors of long-term outcomes of mitral valve repair for moderate and severe mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous degeneration.Methods To review the in-patient data and followup outcomes of 261 patients after mitral valve repair for moderate and severe mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous degeneration from Jan 1993 to Jan 2008 in Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University.Results There were 7 perioperative deaths and 254 survivors who obtained satisfactory perioperative outcomes.During the follow-up,24 patients were lost and 230 patients were followed up from 36 months to 174 months (77.3 ±30.3) months and follow-up rate was 90.6％.Multivariate Cox regression shows age ≥ 60 years old,left ventricular ejection fraction ＜ 0.50,undergoing combined coronary artery bypass grafting were the independent risk factors for long-term death after operations and left ventricular ejection fraction ＜ 0.50,New York Heart Association functional classification Ⅲ-Ⅳ,anterior leaflet prolapse were the independent risk factors for long-term recurrent moderate or severe mitral regurgitation after operations and prosthetic ring or band annulopasty was a protective factor.Conclusion The age ≥60 years old,left ventricular ejection fraction ＜ 0.50,undergoing combined coronary artery bypass grafting,New York Heart Association functional classification Ⅲ - Ⅳ,anterior leaflet prolapse,and prosthetic ring or band annulopasty were closely related with long-term adverse events after operations.

Objective To undertake a survey on the prevalence, pathogenic factors and treatment needs of hearing impairment in children under 14 years old in Guizhou province. Methods Using the probability proportion to size (PPS) method, 2 068 children aged 0～14 years were included in the study and in 30 clusters in Guizhou province based on the WHO protocol. Results For children aged 0～14 years, the prevalence of hearing impairment was 3.48% and the prevalence of hearing disability was 1.84 %. There were statistically differences of the prevalence of hearing disability between children aged 7～ 14 years (2.66 %) and 0～ 6 years (0. 51%), and the differences also in hearing impairment between male children (4.22%) and female children (2.54%). The main causes of hearing impairment were ear diseases (50.00%), non-infective conditions (11.11%), genetic conditions (20.83 %) and unknown causes (27. 77%). 3. 58% of all subjects needed medical or surgical treatment and 2. 32% needed hearing aids. Conolusion The prevalence of hearing disability of children under 14 years old in Guizhou province was higher than that of other cities. The main cause of the hearing impairment of children was otitis media with hereditary deafness also ranked in top.

The technique of liquisolid compress is a new technique developed in 1990s, which was considered to be the most promising technique to improve the dissolution of water-insoluble drugs. In this article, tanshinone II(A) and the extracts of the ester-solubility fractions were chosen as the model drugs to evaluate the effects of the liquisolid technique for enhancement of dissolution properties of tanshinone II(A). Several liquisolid tablets (LS) formulations containing different dosage of drugs and various liquid vehicle were pre-pared and for all the formulations, microcrystalline cellulose and silica were chosen as the carrier and coating materials to evaluate their flow properties, such as angle of repose, Carr's compressibility index and Hausner's ratio. The interaction between drug and excipients in prepared LS compacts were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The dissolution curves of tanshinone II(A) from liquisolid compacts were investigated to determine the technique's effect in improving the dissolution of tanshinone II(A) and its impacting factors. According to the results, the dissolution increased with the rise in the dissolution of the liquid-phase solvent. The R-value and drug dosage can significantly affect the drug release, but with less impact on active fractions. This indicated that liquisolid technique is a promising alternative for improvement of dissolution property of water-soluble drugs, and can make a synergistic effect with other ester-soluble constituents and bettern improve the release of tanshinone II(A). Therefore, the technique of liquisolid compress will have a better development prospect in traditional Chinese medicines.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction

This article proposes the "Efficacy Theory" hypothesis of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs): TCMs take effects and weaken toxicities through the additive effects of numerous effective forms (including their constituents or/and metabolites) on a same target, the synergistic effects based on the overall action of the additive effects on individual targets and their toxicities scattering effects. A TCM may include approximately 1000 constituents and each constituent may produce about 100 metabolites in vivo after oral administration. Numerous effective forms of incalculable constituents and their metabolites could work like a "army group" together. When the quantity of a specific target molecule is larger than the pharmaceutical molecules, the molecules of different kinds of effective forms could combine with the target molecules successively, to exert the additive effects. When the target molecules are mostly occupied ("target most spaces occupied"), this TCM begins to work. The additive effects maybe exert not only in concentration but also in a time order way, which gives a sustained efficacy of TCM. The additive effects and the toxicities scattering effects are resulted from the same effective groups and not identical toxic groups among different effective form molecules. The "toxicities scattering effect" can be used to explain the non-toxic TCMs, but not fit for toxic TCMs. The efficacy theory showed that the variety of constituents and metabolites may participate in the process of pharmacodynamic actions, including the additive effects, synergy effects and toxicities scattering effects, which may be useful for explaining and developing the characteristic advantage of the TCMs. The questions we need to study or confirm are as follows: What are the TCMs' pharmacodynamic substance basis and mechanism made up of Why are toxicities of most TCMs' smaller How is the TCMs' "Efficacy Theory" which reflects characteristic advantage of TCMs applied in the research and development of new drugs.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; chemistry

Pseudomonas sp. M18, one of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, can produce secondary metabolites including phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (Plt). PA2572 gene coding protein is a probable two-component response regulator in Pseudomonas according to homologous speculations. In order to investigate its genetic function, PA2572 homologous gene, ppbR, was amplified from M18 genome, inactivated by inserting a Gm cassette. The resulting reconstruct was introduced into the M18 genome using homologous recombination technique, so as to obtain the null mutant M18P. The results showed that the M18P has less flagellar swimming and swarming motility, and yielded fewer PCA. The production of PCA was only 50% of the wild type. However, there was no remarkable difference between mutant and wild type in producing pyoluteorin in KMB medium.

Background A multitude of studies reported statins prevent the myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload,but the mechanism is unclear.Objective To study the protective effect of atorvastatin on the myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure overload and it's anti-inflammation effect.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized to untreated group(n=10),atorvastatin group(2 mg/kg?d,by gavage,n=10),sham op- eration group(n=10)and control group(n=10).Ventricular hypertrophy model was achieved by surgical con- stricting the abdominal aorta.All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after the operation and the heart weight to body ratio,left ventricular weight to body ratio,and the size of cardiomyocyte were determined.The expressions of interleukin 18(IL-18)and cardiotrophin 1(CT-1)in the cadiocyte were assessed by reverse transcription polymer- ase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with control group,SBP in myocardial hypertrophy group was significantly increased(174?9 vs control 112?15 mmHg,P