Cancer metastasis is composed of a complex cascade that involves a variety of critical steps beginning with detachment from the primary tumor and ending with growth of tumor at a distant site, such as bone. The "seed-and-soil hypothesis" predicts that the bone microenvironment expresses factors through which attract a variety of cancer cells and promote the tumor development. The ending point of tumor development in bone is achieved through the bidirectional and dynamic interaction between tumor cells and the cells in their growth microenvironment. A variety of factors produced by the bone microenvironment, contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer skeletal metastasis. In this review, using prostate cancer (CaP) as an example, some of general mechanisms of cancer metastasis will be summarized. In addition, the current understanding of the interaction between tumor cells and the bone microenvironment will be addressed. Finally, the research directions in the near future will be suggested.

Glioma is the most common form of brain cancer. Despite recent advances in the treatment of solid tumors, there are few effective treatments for malignant gliomas due to its infiltrative nature. It has important significance to improve the treatment of glioma through in-depth understanding the intracerebral metabolic characteristics and pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutics. Brain microdialysis (B-MD), an effective method to monitor central nervous system anticancer drug disposition, conditions of drugs through the blood-brain barrier, basic pathophysiologic metabolism, bioactive compounds and the changes of neurotransmitter in brain, provides the unique opportunity to allow the simultaneous determination of unbound concentrations of drugs in several tissues, and directly measure gliomas biochemistry continuously. B-MD has been able to monitor the change of brain drugs, metabolites and neurotransmitters, dynamic analysis of the drug concentration and pharmacological effect after administration, pharmacodynamic interaction between drugs, receptor mechanism of drug transport, as well as feedback information of internal environment. B-MD is expected to provide reference for clinical individual chemotherapy of glioma, but also provide powerful tools for the evaluation of new anticancer drugs in vivo. In this review, a comprehensive overview of B-MD for studies on glioma is elucidated with special emphasis on its application to neurochemistry and pharmacokinetic studies.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Glioma ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; metabolism ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Objective To evaluate the effect of nutrition support on nutritional status and clinical outcome of patients at nutritional risk in internal medical departments.Methods 148 patients at nutritional risk as identified by Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 were numbered according to the order of admission and divided into standard care group (control group,odd numbers,n =75) and individualised nutrition support group (intervention group,even numbers,n =73).Intervention consisted of encouraging food intake,designing food plan,and assuring implementation of food prescription.Energy and protein intake,body weight,length of hospital stay,hospitalization expenses and complications were compared between the two groups.Results In the interventions group,protein intake was significantly higher than that in the control group [(45.1 ± 2.2) g/d vs.(54.8±2.5) g/d,P=0.004],and energyintake higher than that in the control group [(4 180.0± 227.4) kJ/d vs.(4 589.6 ± 150.5) kJ/d,P =0.135] but without statistical significance.Intervention led to an intake of ≥75％ of requirements in 46.6％ patients in the intervention group,significantly higher than the proportion in the control group (30.7％) (P =0.047).The change of body weight was significantly smaller in the intervention group than in the control group [(-0.4 ± 0.2) kg vs.(-1.1 ± 0.2) kg,P =0.025].The length of hospital stay,hospitalization expenses,and incidence of complications showed no significant differences between the control group and the intervention group [(13.5 ±0.9) d vs.(12.4 ±0.6) d,P=0.310;(17834±1824) yuanvs.(16099±1243) yuan,P=0.435;12.8％ vs.8.1％,P=0.184].Conclusions Patients at nutritional risk in internal medical departments could benefit from nutrition support in terms of protein intake and body weight maintenance.A large-scale randomized controlled trial is necessary to confirm the effect of nutrition support on clinical outcomes of patients at nutritional risk.

OBJECTIVE To investigate influence of compound gentamicin-fluorometholone(GentaFluoro) and tobramycin dexamethasone(TobraDex) eyedrops for treating ocular inflammation after cataract phacoemulsification.METHODS Sixty eyes in 60 patients after cataract phacoemulsification were equally randomized into two groups,such as GentaFluoro group and TobraDex group according to order of operation.Two groups were used respectively the two sort of eyedrops: GentaFluoro and TobraDex were used 6 times per day during first three days after the operation,later four days were four times per day.RESULTS GentaFluoro group and TobraDex group had identical results in controlling inflammation of anterior chamber. CONCLUSIONS The effects of GentaFluoro and TobraDex eyedrops for treating ocular inflammation after phacoemulsification are reliable.

Background Long-term administration of glucocorticoid drugs induces ocular hypertension in susceptible individuals probably.It has been verified that 1 1β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1),glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) can affect the generating of aqueous humor,but how they play the role in glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the relationship of expressions of 11β-HSD1 and steroids receptors in ciliary body and steroid-induced ocular hypertension.Methods Thirteen 12-16 week-old New Zealand albino rabbits were randomized to control group (5 rabbits) and experimental group (8 rabbits).Steroid-induced glaucoma models were induced by administration of subconjunctival injection of 5 mg dexamethasone solution(1 ml) and 0.5％ dexamethasone eye drops on alternate days in the left eyes for consecutive two months in the experimental group,and the equal volume of sterile normal saline solution was used in the same way in the control group.The successful criteria of model eyes was defined as rising of intraocular pressure (IOP) to ≥ 18 mmHg for over one week.Then,the animals were sacrificed by excessive anesthesia and the ciliary tissues were isolated for the assay of expressions of 1 1β-HSD1 protein by immunochemistry,and the expressions of 11β-HSD1 mRNA,GR mRNA and MR mRNA in ciliary body were semi-quantitatively detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).The experimental results were compared between the two groups.Results The IOP was normal in the first two weeks after administration of drugs,and no significant difference was found in IOP between the first week and the second week in the experimental group (q =0.469,P ＞0.05).From 3 through 5 weeks after injection,the IOP was gradually elevated,with the highest value of (18.87±0.77) mmHg in the fifth week.Significant differences were seen between the two groups at mentioned-above time points (q =10.535,20.353,28.681,all at P ＜ 0.01).11β-HSD1 protein was positively expressed in nonpigmented epithelial cells of ciliary tissue of rabbits in both groups,however,the expression intensity was weaker in the experimental group compared with the control group.The relative expressional values of MR mRNA,GR mRNA and 11β-HSD1 mRNA in the ciliary tissue were 2.22±0.78,0.64±0.11 and 0.47±0.16 in the experimental group,and those in the control group were 0.94±0.27,1.88±0.74 and 2.68±1.28,with significant differences between the two groups (t =6.070,P =0.004 ; t =5.170,P =0.007 ; t =5.540,P =0.005).Conclusions Corticosteroidinduced glaucoma probably is associated with the up-regulation of MR level and down-regulations of GR and 11β-HSD1 in ciliary body.

A novel biosensor for aflatoxin B1 detecting has been reported. The biosensor electrode for AFB1 detecting was assembled by immobilized aflatoxin-oxidoreductase using open-ended multi-walled carbon nanotubes as matrix. Its linear range was between 0.16μM and 3.2μM. And if the specific anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody and aflatoxin oxidoreductase were both immobilized on the electrode with Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes, the detection limit of the modified electrode could be 16 nM with a 10 times improved sensitivity. The aflatoxin enzyme biosensor assembled this way strode one step forward its practical application.

Objective To introduce a puncture-drainage system for intracranial hematoma, which can be used in both peacetime and wartime. Methods The inserting-style connections were taken to design the catheter needle and driller. In the design of the combined T-piece, silica membrane was used to be the main sealing end. The fixed division between the main sealing end and the catheter needle took thread connections. The angle between the side-tube of the T-piece and the catheter needle was 120 degree; the side-tube of the T-piece and the Y-tube also took thread connections. The another two sides of Y-tube linked to different drainage bag and syringe, and all of the hoses got the individual and portable switches. Results This system was more efficient, rapid, safe and convenient. What's more, the injury was minimal when doctor performed an intracranial hematoma puncture surgery by using the puncture-drainage system. Conclusion It is very easy to operate and suitable to puncture drainage for intracranial hematoma surgery in both peacetime and wartime.

Objective:To investigate the psychological state of the patients from Wenchuan Earthquake treated in some local and military hospitals.Methods:We consulted the general data and pathogenetic condition of 116 patients from the earthquake-stricken area of Sichuan,studied their mental health using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA) and investigated their psychological changes during the rescue and treatment with self-designed questionnaires.Results:The earthquake patients manifested obvious anxiety in the initial stage and their mental health was gradually improved towards the end of the rescue process.Conclusion:Wenchuan Earthquake caused great psychological trauma in the earthquake patients,for whom timely psychological intervention is of utmost importance.

Objective To explore the mechanisms responsible for different coronary artery lesions with involvement of nitric oxide(NO),endothelin-1(ET-1),matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9) and the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1(TIMP-1).Methods The cases undergone coronary anography were collected and divided into three groups:group A,30 patients with the coronary artery ectasia(7 cases of simple coronary artery ectasia;18 cases of the coronary artery ectasia coexisting a small amount of plaque);group B,38 patients with coronary atherosclerosis;group C,32 patients with with normal angiograph(14 cases of coronary artery completely normal;18 cases with a small amount of coronary plaque only).Plasma NO,ET-1,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 level were measured by ELISA method.Results There are significant differences among three groups on NO level,MMP-9 levels,NO/ET-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1(P

Objective To investigate the fibrosis-associated genes, especially those transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) associated, expression in the tissue of extensive fibrotic kidney resulting from severe by-dronephrosis. Methods Compared 12 extensive fibrotic kidneys resulting from severe hydronephrosis with 6 normal renal tissues using PCR array. All samples were collected from our hospital from Aug. 2005 to Dec. 2006. The data were treated with △△Ct method. When 2△△Ct≤<0.5 or≥2, the difference was considered sig-nificant. Results A total of 49 differential genes expressed in the fibrotic renal tissues were screened out, of which, 25 were up-regulated and 24 were down-regulated. The differential genes included members and receptors of TGF-β super family and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) family, target molecule of TGF-β or BMP signal pathway and several regulators. Conclusions Through investigating with PCR array, we certifi-cated the positive effect of Nodal, GSC and IGFI to renal fibrosis. And we suppose that TGF-β play a sec-ondary role in renal fibrosis, while BMP family and Leftyl work in a functional genome in the regulating of renal fibrosis.