Objetcive To analyze the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) of different size and to discuss the diagnostic value of CEUS in CCRCCs. Methods The contrast-enhanced and conventional US features of 80 CCRCCs confirmed pathologically were retrospectively analyzed. Samples were divided into three groups by diameters: small CCRCCs (≤30 mm), medium CCRCCs(＞30 mm) and large CCRCCs(＞50 mm). The tumoral vascularity, lesion homogeneity and presence of an anechoic rim were observed on conventional US. The enhancement of echogenicity, homogeneity and pseudocapsule were evaluated on CEUS. Results Among the 80 renal masses, 32 were small CCRCCs, 28 were medium CCRCCs while the large CCRCCs were 20. On conventional US, 18.8%(6/32) of small CCRCCs, 71.4%(20/28) of medium CCRCCs and 95%(19/20) of large CCRCCs demonstrated as heterogeneous and the differences were highly statistically significant, whereas there were no differences in the tumoral vascularity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign among the three groups. On CEUS, 28.1%(9/32) of small CCRCCs, 85.7%(24/28) of medium CCRCCs and 100%(20/20) of large CCRCCs showed a homogeneous enhancement. The incidence of pseudocapsule sign in medium tumors was higher than small and large groups(71.4%,50% and 25%,respectively). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. However, all the three groups revealed mainly isoechoic and hyperechoic and there were no differences among them. Compared with conventional US, CEUS depicted significantly the increased tumoral vascularity (51.3% vs. 87.5%) and pseudocapsule sign(22.5% vs. 51.3%). Eight lesions demonstrated heterogeneous contrast enhancement on CEUS while homogeneous on conventional US, but there were no differences in lesion homogeneity between conventional US and CEUS findings. Conclusions Different sizes of CCRCC showed distinct CEUS features in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. CEUS is more effective on improving the sonographic characteristics of tumoral visualization and may provide important information of US findings for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

AIM:To evaluate the percentage of cutting fluctuations of central corneal thickness (CCT) intraoperative used low concentration (0.02%) mitomycin C (MMC) after laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).METHODS:In this prospective study, low and medium myopia group(spherical equivalent≤6.0DS) has 138 patients (276 eyes).Low concentration MMC used topically in 69 patients(138 eyes)randomized after excimer laser ablation;the another traditional LASEK as control.High myopia group(6.0DS

Enhancing medical students' humane quality education is an urgent requirement for modem medical mode transformation for medical education.The pharmacology teachers of Chongqing Medical University follow the modem education concepts and fully search the human spirit materials hidden in pharmacology,then actively explore how to integrate the humanity spirit education into the pharmacology teaching to achieve the changes of from exam-oriented education to quality education.

OBJECTIVETo observe the pregnancy outcome among patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

METHODSData associated with pregnancy, delivery and neonate from the patients or patient's spouse who conceived while receiving TKIs were collected retrospectively.

RESULTSTwo young female patients (who had been on imatinib therapy for 90 and 91 months, respectively) and spouses of 10 male patients (involving 7 patients who had received imatinib for a median of 60 months and 3 who had received dasatinib for 2.5 months to 7 months, respectively) with median age of 33.5 years (range 26 - 46 years) conceived and gave birth to 12 babies. One woman took imatinib throughout her pregnancy except one month. The other one took imatinib throughout her pregnancy and had breast-fed while on imatinib therapy for nearly half a year postpartum. Among the 12 babies, one was born prematurely with low birth weight and hypospadias (surgical repair after birth), the others were all healthy with no congenital defects. The median age of the children at the date of this report is 17.5 months (range 3 to 101 months), and they all have a normal pattern of growth and development.

CONCLUSIONSConception among patients with CML while receiving TKIs may result in normal pregnancies. The possible effects of TKIs on birth abnormalities cannot be ruled out. It is recommended that childbearing female patients should be advised to practice adequate methods of contraception and should not breast-feed while on TKIs therapy. In cases of accidental pregnancy, risk/benefit evaluations must be carried out carefully on an individual basis. No special precautions apply for male patients being treated with imatinib.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Dasatinib ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Thiazoles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The latest findings of our laboratory showed that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) showed a definite effect in regulating the aging of hematopoietic stem cells. Leukemia is a type of malignant hematopoietic tumor in hematopoietic stem cells. There have been no relevant reports about ASP's effect in regulating the aging of leukemia cells. In this study, human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) KG1alpha cell lines in logarithmic growth phase were taken as the study object, and were divided into the ASP group, the cytarabine (Ara-C) group, the ASP + Ara-C group and the control group. The groups were respectively treated with different concentration of ASP, Ara-C and ASP + Ara-C for different periods, with the aim to study the effect of ASP combined with Ara-C in regulating the aging of human acute myeloid leukemia KG1alpha cell lines and its relevant mechanism. The results showed that ASP, Ara-C and ASP + Ara-C could obviously inhibit KG1alpha cell proliferation in vitro, block the cells in G0/G1 phase. The cells showed the aging morphological feature. The percentage of positive stained aging cells was dramatically increased, and could significantly up-regulate the expression of aging-related proteins P16 and RB, which were more obvious in the ASP + Ara-C group. In conclusion, the aging mechanism of KG1alpha cell induced by ASP and Ara-C may be related to the regulation of the expression of aging-related proteins, suggesting that the combined administration of ASP and anticancer drugs plays a better role in the treatment of leukemia .
Aging ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo establish the method for determination of the fingerprint of tablets of Ginkgo biloba L.

METHODSHPLC-DAD was used to determine the constituents in tablets. Diamonsil C18(200 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) was used as analysis column and acetonitrile/KH(2)PO(4) as mobile phase with gradient elution. The column temperature was at 24 degree. The profile of chemical constituents in control sample and tablets obtained from the chromatograms were analyzed by similarity software.

RESULTThe method developed for components analysis of the standard extracts was linear within certain concentration (r>0.999). There was no difference between the fingerprints of 3 batches of products. The fingerprints of tablets and the extract showed a good similarity(>0.965).

CONCLUSIONThis method is accurate simple and can be used for the quality control of Ginkgo biloba L. preparations.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions and significances of Survivin and Smac in ovarian mucinous tumors.

METHODSA total of 55 paraffin-embedded specimens of primary ovarian mucinous tumors were collected. SABC was used to detect protein expression of Survivin and Smac genes. Immunoelectron microscopy using colloidal gold labeling was performed to determine the subcellular localization and patterns of Smac protein expression.

RESULTS(1) The cytoplasmic expression rates of survivin in benign, borderline and malignant ovarian mucinous tumors were 2/20, 12/15 and 20/20 respectively, which presents an improving trend.There were significant differences of survivin expression between benign vs. borderline lesions (P < 0.01), and benign vs. malignant tumors (P < 0.01). The nuclear expression rates of survivin in benign, borderline and malignant ovarian mucinous tumors were 1/20, 6/15 and 5/20, respectively, which presents a.declining trend.There was significant difference of survivin expression between benign vs. borderline tumors (P < 0.05). The positive expression rates of Smac among the three groups were 19/20, 9/15 and 3/20, respectively. There was significant difference among the three groups (P < 0.01 or < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between Survivin and Smac (r = -0.153, P < 0.01). (2) Colloidal gold labeling study demonstrated that mitochondrion intramembranous storage of Smac granules in the three groups were 24.1 ± 7.2, 11.1 ± 1.9 and 5.2 ± 1.7, respectively, and there were significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01 or < 0.05). The extramemebranous Smac granules were 4.7 ± 3.0, 2.9 ± 1.0 and 1.7 ± 1.3, although without significant difference among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith the malignant development of ovarian mucinous tumors, the expressions of Survivin are up-regulated, and the expressions of Smac are down-regulated. Smac proteins exist mainly in an inactive intramembranous storage form inside of mitochondria.

Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paraffin Embedding

OBJECTIVETo evaluate colon targeting characteristic of Kuikang colon targeted pellets (KCP) with determination of residual baicalin and baicalein concentration in gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

METHODThe baicalin and baicalein were assayed by HPLC. The recovery differences of the drug between KCP and conventional pellets from GIT were investigated, three and six hours after administration.

RESULTThe baicalin recovery of KCP (70%) from rat GIT was higher than that of CP (about 20%). Most of KCP were intact at 3 h after oral administration, and distributed in lower ileum. It indicated that release site of KCP was in lower ileum and colon. Six hours later, a small amount of baicalin was recovered in intestime, which showed that the release of baicalin from KCP was complete.

CONCLUSIONThe determination of residual baicalin in rat GIT was feasibility for evaluating KCP. The result confirmed KCP of colon targeting property.

Animals ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Implants ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Logistic Models ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

ObjectiveTo compare the predictive value of anatomic scoring system, physiological scoring system, and the combination of two systems in death prediction of patients with severe trauma in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A retrospective analysis of patients with severe trauma admitted to department of critical care medicine of Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, and Zunyi Medical University from January 2011 to December 2014 was conducted. The patients meeting the following criteria were enrolled: over 16 years old, admitted to hospital shorter than 24 hours after trauma, length of ICU stay≥48 hours, and injury severity score (ISS)≥16. Patients were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. The data of anatomic scoring system, including ISS and new injury severity score (NISS), and physiological scoring system, including acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score were collected. The predictive power for death of the scoring system alone or combination in patients with severe trauma was evaluated.Results A total of 614 patients with severe trauma were enrolled, and there were 153 deaths with a mortality rate of 24.9%. ISS, NISS, APACHEⅡ, ISS+ APACHEⅡ, NISS+ APACHEⅡ of non-survivors were significantly higher than those of survivors (ISS: 29.15±7.75 vs. 24.31±6.50, NISS: 41.96±12.01 vs. 29.64±8.19, APACHEⅡ: 23.71±6.58 vs. 17.02±5.49, ISS+ APACHEⅡ: 52.86±10.00 vs. 41.33±8.70, NISS+ APACHEⅡ: 65.67±13.46 vs. 46.66±10.43, allP< 0.01). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ISS, NISS, APACHEⅡ, ISS+ APACHEⅡ, NISS+ APACHEⅡ was 0.687, 0.792, 0.782, 0.809, and 0.860, respectively. Both of ISS+ APACHEⅡ and NISS+ APACHEⅡ had higher AUC than that of ISS, NISS or APACHEⅡ alone; and the AUC of NISS+ APACHEⅡ was significantly larger than that of ISS+ APACHEⅡ(allP< 0.05). NISS+ APACHEⅡ showed the largest AUC in death prediction of severe trauma patients. The cut-off value, sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value (+PV), negative predict value (-PV), positive likelihood ratio (+LR), negative likelihood ratio (-LR), and Youden index of NISS+ APACHEⅡ, which had the greatest AUC, were 56, 75.2%, 82.0%, 58.1%, 90.9%, 4.17, 0.30, and 0.572, respectively.Conclusion The combination of anatomic scoring system and physiological scoring system is better than single scoring system for death prediction in patients with severe trauma in ICU, and it may be considered to be a new method for early identification of death risk in patients with severe trauma.