Objective To discuss the role of leukocyte activation and inflammatory processes in the disease of chronic venous insufficiency(CVI).Methods The relevant literatures about the role of leukocyte activation and in- flammatory reaction in CVI were reviewed.Results The role of inflammatory reaction in occurrence and develop- ment of venous diseases has been studied a lot in recent years.It was found that the leukocyte activation and inflam- matory reaction are involved in the structural remodeling of venous valves and walls,leading to valvular incompe- tence and formation of varicose veins.Conclusion Leukocyte activation and inflammatory processes take important roles in the occurrence and progression of CVI.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; Pharyngitis ; microbiology ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal schwannoma.Methods Clinical data of 11 cases of primary retroperitoneal schwannomas were analyzed retrospectively from February 1990 to September 2014.There were 6 males and 5 females,with a median age of 46 years,and the median tumor size was 9.6 cm (4.5-12.3 cm).Seven cases were revealled due to physical examination,3 cases were revealled due to ipsilateral lower back pain or discomfort,and 1 case was revealled due to right lower extremity numbness.There were no clinical manifestations of hypertension or appearance shape change,and there were no abnormal findings in routine laboratory and endocrine examinations.Radiological examination showed a retroperitoneal mass.There were 3 cases in the left adrenal gland,1 case in the right adrenal gland,3 cases in the lower pole of left kidney and 4 cases in the lower pole of right kidney.Four patients were initially diagnosed as adrenal tumors,and 7 patients were diagnosed as kidney tumors.Results All the 11 cases underwent surgical resection,with 7 cases of complete resection,1 case of capsule resection,2 cases of partial resection and 1 case of biopsy.The pathology of immunohistochemical staining showed S-100 positive in 10 cases of benign retroperitoneal schwannomas.During the follow-up period for 1.5-24 years (median 14 years),no recurrence and malignance was observed.One case of malignant retroperitoneal schwannoma died of multiple metastases in 17 months after opreation.Conclusions Primary retroperitoneal schwannoma is rare and preoperative diagnosis is difficult.Clinical manifestations and radiological findings are usually nondiagnostic,and histopathology is the only way for final diagnosis.Complete surgical resection is proved to be the best choice.

Objective To investigate the value of the three-dimensional endorectal ultrasonography (3D-ERUS) in the tumor staging before transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM).Methods The clinical data of 30 patients with rectal cancer who underwent 3D-ERUS before TEM at the Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2012 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of the 3D-ERUS were evaluated according to the results of the postoperative pathological examination.The consistency of the results of the 3D-ERUS and postoperative pathological examination were compared by Kappa consistency test.Results Of 30 patients,25 patients in stage T0,3 in stage T1 and 2 in stage T2 were diagnosed by preoperative 3D-ERUS.There were 2 patients (stage pT0) with inflammatory polyp by postoperative pathological diagnosis,6 patients (stage pT0) with tubular adenoma,16 patients (stage pT0) with villioustublar adenoma,2 patients (stage pTis) with carcinoma in situ,2 patients (stage pT1) with tectal adenoma and 2 patients (stage pT2) with rectal adenoma.There were 2 patients with excessive tumor staging by 3D-ERUS,1 patient in stage pT0 was misdiagnosed in stage T1,1 in stage pT1 was misdiagnosed in stage T2 and 1 in stage pT2 was misdiagnosed in stage T1 with insufficient tumor staging.The accuracy of 3D-ERUS in the preoperative tumors staging of TEM was 90.0％ compared with the resuls of postoperative pathological examination.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of 3D-ERUS in stage pT0,pTl,and pT2 of TEM were 96.7％,90.0％,93.3％ and 96.2％,50.0％,50.0％ and 100.0％,92.8％,96.4％,respectively.There was a significant difference in the consistency between preoperative 3D-ERUS and postoperative pathological examination (κ =0.685,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 3D-ERUS is an accurate clinical method in the preoperative tumors staging of TEM,and can be used as the preoperative assessment for TEM.

OBJECTIVETo really realize quality control of Chinese herb purifying process, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used not only for fast monitoring quality-control index of the process, but also for fast judgment of absorption endpoint.

METHODThe purification process of Carthamus tinctorius extracts with nonionic macroreticular resin was selected as an example. HPLC was used as the reference method to determine the content of HSYA. Quantitative and qualitative detection modes of purification were developed by NIRS combined with partial least squares (PLS) and moving block of standard deviation (MBSD).

RESULTThe correlation coefficient of the calibration model was 0.999, and the RPD for calibration and validation were above 5, of 5.54 and 5.22, respectively. Based on acquisition spectra, absorption endpoint calculated by MBSD was close to that by HPLC, Only 1 min deviation.

CONCLUSIONThe method mentioned above is proved to be convenient, rapid and nondestructive, and is applicable for fast monitoring the content of HSYA and fast judgment of absorption endpoint in purifying process of C. tinctorius extracts.

Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

To ensure the quality and safety of Panax notoginseng, a method for the simultaneous determination of 10 mycotoxins in Panax notoginseng was developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and purified by HLB multifunction cleanup column. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex XB-C18 column by gradient elution using methanol and 5 mmol·L(-1) ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The targeted compounds were detected in MRM mode by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in both positive and negative ionization modes. The linear relationships of the 10 mycotoxins were good in their respective linear ranges. The correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.9981 to 1.0000. The LOQs of the 10 mycotoxins were between 0.15 and 8.6 μg·kg(-1). The average recoveries ranged from 73.8% to 107.0% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.10%-10.9%. The results demonstrated that the proposed method was sensitive and accurate, and suitable for the mycotoxins quantification in Panax notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Mycotoxins ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objectives To study the value of CT and MRI in diagnosing focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).Methods The CT and MRI findings of 16 patients with FNH confirmed histopathologically were analyzed retrospectively.Both plain and dynamic enhanced CT scannings were performed in all the patients.Plain and dynamic enhanced MRI were carried out in 9 patients.Results (1) There were 16 patients with 19 lesions,and 8 lesions were in the left lobe,5 lesions in the right lobe,4 lesions between the left/right lobes and 2 lesions in the caudate lobe.The morphology of the lesions showed 15 lesions to have clear boundaries and 4 lesions to have fuzzy boundaries.The tumor diameters varied from 2.2 to 9.6 cm,(average 4.3 cm).(2) Sixteen patients underwent CT examination.On plain CT,the lesions were isotonic (n＝ 5),or slightly low-density (n=11).In 7 lesions,there was a slit-like,stellate-shaped low density central scar.Nine patients underwent MRI examination.On T2WI,6 lesions showed slightly higher signal while the remaining 3 lesions showed iso-signal.On T1WI,4 lesions showed slightly lower signal,3 lesions showed iso-signal and 2 lesions showed slightly higher signal while in 1 lesion the local signal showed reduction in anti-phase 1.A central scar was seen in 6 lesions which showed high signal on T2WI,and low signal on T1WI.(3) Enhanced CT: 15 lesions were significantly enhanced and 1 lesion showed mild enhancement at the arterial phase.For the patients with mild enhancement,the scar in the center of the lesion showed no enhancement.In all lesions,the central scar did not enhance.In 5 lesions,enhancements of thickened and torturous arteries were seen.In all the lesions with enhancement,the enhancement was reduced at the portal venous phase,with 12 lesions showing slightly higher density,3 lesions isodensity and 1 lesion low-density.Three lesions showed mild enhancement of the central scar.All the substantial parts of the lesions with enhancement declined at the delay phase,with 3 lesions showing slightly higher density,9 lesions of isodensity and 4 lesions slightly low density.In 7 lesions with central scar delayed enhancement,they showed slightly higher density.Nine patients underwent MRI enhancement and the enhancement characteristics were similar to CT,but the arterial phase magnitude was higher than that of CT.In 4 lesions,the central scar began to enhance at the portal venous phase,while 6 lesions continued to enhance,thus showing slightly higher signal at the delay phase.In a large lesion,there was persistent delayed enhancement in the capsule.(4) On DWI,6 lesions showed inhomogeneous,slightly hyperintensity with the center showing a slit-like low signal area.Three lesions showed iso-signal.The ADC values of the lesions were (1.31±0.08)× 10-3 mm2/s,and the normal liver parenchyma were (1.22± 0.14)× 10-3 mm2/s,(difference not statistically significant).Conclusions CT and MRI using plain and dynamic enhanced scans could show fully and accurately the pathological features and the characteristics of blood supply of FNH.The characteristic signs on both CT and MRI make an accurate diagnosis of FNH.MRI when compared with CT was slightly better.A combined use of both CT and MRI has an important value in the diagnosis of FNH.

In this paper, NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy)-based total quality control system for the Tanreqing injection was introduced briefly. By analyzing and summing up the significance and difficulties, several important problems of the practical applications which need urgent solutions are proposed. And also the applicationprospect of NIRS is fully discussed and put forward in the end.
Drug Compounding ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; standards ; Injections ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

BACKGROUNDBreast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Due to its high tumour selectivity, 3-bromopyruvic acid (3-BrPA), a well-known inhibitor of energy metabolism has been proposed as a specific anticancer agent. The present study determined the effect of 3-BrPA on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line and other antitumour mechanisms.

METHODSMCF-7 cells were treated with various concentrations of 3-BrPA for 1 - 4 days, and cell growth was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Marked morphological changes in MCF-7 cells after treatment with 3-BrPA were observed using transmission electron microscopy. The distributions of the cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was used to indicate the changes in the expression of Bcl-2, c-Myc, and mutant p53.

RESULTS3-BrPA (25 microg/ml) significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a time-dependent manner. The MCF-7 cells exposed to 3-BrPA showed the typical morphological characteristics of apoptosis, including karyopycnosis, nuclear condensation and oversize cytoplasmic particles. In addition, flow cytometric assay also showed more apoptotic cells after 3-BrPA stimulation. The cells at the G0 and G1 phases were dramatically decreased while cells at the S and G2/M phases were increased in response to 3-BrPA treatment after 48 hours. Furthermore, 3-BrPA stimulation decreased the expressions of Bcl-2, c-Myc and mutant p53, which were strongly associated with the programmed cell death signal transduction pathway.

CONCLUSION3-BrPA inhibits proliferation, induces S phase and G2/M phase arrest, and promotes apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which processes might be mediated by the downregulation of the expressions of Bcl-2, c-Myc and mutant p53.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Pyruvates ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; S Phase ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), C-fos and Bax proteins in human embryonic tongue tissue of different developmental stages.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of PCNA, C-fos and Bax proteins in embryonic tongue tissues of fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age (n=16). One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the number of positive expression cells in tongue tissues of fetuses with different gestational age.

RESULTSIn the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the numbers of PCNA-positive cells in tongue epithelial tissues were 20.20 ± 7.13, 39.10 ± 13.44 and 26.00 ± 9.02, respectively; those in tongue muscle and fiber tissues were 17.20 ± 8.99, 22.30 ± 6.57 and 32.40 ± 14.72, respectively. In fetuses at 2 month of gestation, no C-fos-positive cells were found in tongue tissues; while at 3 and 4 months of gestation, the numbers of C-fos-positive cells in the tongue epithelial layers were 25.10 ± 7.91, 17.40 ± 2.80; those in tongue muscle and fiber tissues were 24.50 ± 4.67 and 28.00 ± 7.75, respectively. Only weak positive expression of Bax protein was observed in the third month of gestation in embryonic tongue tissues. A significant difference was noted in PCNA expression in tongue epithelial layers, the muscle and fiber tissues (P<0.01 and P<0.05) among 3 embryonic periods. A significant difference was found in C-fos expression in tongue epithelial layers (P<0.01), but not in tongue muscle and fiber tissues (P>0.05) among 3 periods.

CONCLUSIONDynamic changes were seen in PCNA and C-fos expressions in embryonic tongue tissues in different gestational ages of fetus, indicating these two proteins may participate in regulation of the development and differentiation of tongue tissues in human embryos and fetuses.

Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Fetus ; metabolism ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Tongue ; embryology ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism