OBJECTIVETo study features of brain gray matter injury in cerebral infarction patients and intervention of scalp acupuncture by using voxel-based morphology.

METHODSA total of 16 cerebral infarction patients were recruited in this study, and assigned to the scalp acupuncture group and the control group, 8 in each group. Another 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal group. All patients received scanning of T1 structure. Images were managed using VBM8 Software package. Difference of the gray matter structure was compared among the scalp acupuncture group, the control group, and the healthy volunteers.

RESULTSCompared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients mainly occurred in 14 brain regions such as cingulate gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, anterior central gyrus, insular lobe, and so on. They were mainly distributed in affected side. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the scalp acupuncture group still existed in 8 brain regions such as bilateral lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, left cuneus, right precuneus, and so on. New gray matter injury occurred in lingual gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the control group existed in 23 brain regions: bilateral anterior cingulum, caudate nucleus, cuneate lobe, insular lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, paracentral lobule, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, precentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and so on. New gray matter injury still existed in 9 cerebral regions such as lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONSBrain gray matter structure is widely injured after cerebral infarction. Brain gray matter volume gradually decreased as time went by. Combined use of scalp acupuncture might inhibit the progression of gray matter injury more effectively.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Gray Matter ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Scalp ; Stroke ; therapy

Objective To investigate the impact of PET-CT on the target volume delineation and precise radiothera?py planning for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods PET-CT scanning was performed in 30 histologically proved NSCLC patients. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated, and radiotherapy planning was es?tablished with identical parameters based on the CT image and PET-CT fused image, respectively. The differences of doses between GTV, planning target volume (PTV) and organsat rise (OAR) were compared. Results PET-CT image results changed the target volume delineation in 30 patients with 8 increased and 22 decreased. There were no differences in GTV and PTV between the VGTV and VPTV statistically, although PET-CT image changed conventional CT image size sketch of GTV and PTV. The V20 of total lung decreased in the PlanPET-CT compared with that of PlanCT (P<0.05), but no differences were found in the V30 of total lung, mean lung dose (MLD), the data of spinal cord, esophagus and heart. Conclusion PET-CT may reduce the radiation injuries in the lung and improve the target dose.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECombined hypoxic cytotoxic drugs and chemoradiotherapy is an important mean of oncotherapy, and Tirapazamine (TPZ) is one of the most remarkable drugs. It has been shown that TPZ has a synergistic effect with radiotherapy on tumor cells, but whether TPZ would down-regulate the expression of the hypoxia-induced genes has not been reported. This study was to investigate the hypoxia-induced mRNA expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and osteopontin (OPN) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells and the radiosensitization of TPZ, a hypoxia-specific drug, on HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe IC50 values of TPZ for HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells were measured using MTT assay, and the mRNA expressions of HIF-1alpha and OPN in HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells was determined using RT-PCR under aerobic and hypoxic conditions, respectively. The survival rates of HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells treated with or without TPZ at IC10 in the presence or absence of oxygen for 6 h were determined using colony formation assay following exposure to 1-6 Gy of 60Co radiation. The dose-survival curves were plotted and the values of D0, Dq and SER were calculated as a single-hit multitarget model.

RESULTSThe IC50 values of TPZ were 34.81 μmol/L and 35.02 μmol/L in HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells under aerobic condition, and 30.20 μmol/L and 28.48 μmol/L under hypoxic condition, respectively. The expressions of HIF-1alpha and OPN mRNA were reduced by TPZ in HNE-1 cells, but not in CNE-1 cells under hypoxic condition. For the HNE-1 cells, the respective values of D0 and Dq were 0.89 Gy and 0.28 Gy following normoxic irradiation versus 1.47 Gy and 0.44 Gy following hypoxic irradiation. For the CNE-1 cells, the respective values of D0 and Dq were 0.72 Gy and 0.68 Gy following normoxic irradiation versus 0.95 Gy and 0.56 Gy following hypoxic irradiation. The values of D0 and Dq for HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells treated with TPZ under hypoxic condition following irradiation were 0.66 Gy, 0.21 Gy and 0.85 Gy, 0.79 Gy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTPZ can down-regulate hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and OPN mRNA of HNE-1 cells and radiosensitize the HNE-1 cells but not CNE-1 cells, and act as a hypoxia modifier.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Triazines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of chemotherapy on ovarian endocrine function and menstruation.

METHODSMenstruation and serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) levels were observed when the patients with ovarian cancer undergoing one side ovarectomy were followed by chemotherapy.

RESULTSAbnormal menstruation occurred in 86.7% cases, including 80% amenorrhea and 6.7% oligomenstruate. Menstruation resumed around 2 months after chemotherapy. Serum LH, FSH levels rose and E2 level declined during amenorrhea. No significant change was observed in progesterone or testosterone levels.

CONCLUSIONSOvary function impairment may occur in ovarian cancer patient treated by one side ovarectomy followed by chemotherapy. Serum LH, FSH, and E2 levels change and abnormal menstruation are two common manifestations. However, chemotherapy-related amenorrhea is reversible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Amenorrhea ; etiology ; Child ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Menstruation ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the flexibility of both the covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vasculature and the delivering system in passing through the bone tube and the physiological curves of the cranial internal carotid artery(CICA)to reach the targeted area,the performance (adherence)of the covered stents in occluding vascular wall diseases and the impact on the vascular branches of the covered segment.Methods The covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vaseulature were used to treat 13 patients with CICA diseases using endovascular techniques.There were 4 huge pseudoaneurysms,4 giant aneurysms,3 small wide-necked aneurysms,1 giant pseudoaneurysm with concurrent internal carotid cavernous fistula(CCF),and 1 CCF.Prior to the detachment of the covered stents,balloon occlusion test(BOT)of the internal carotid artery on the diseased side and whole-brain digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were performed in all the patients.Three to 16 months following procedure,DSA and clinical follow-ups were performed.Results Thirteen patients all tolerated the BOT well with the DSA demonstrating well-opened anterior and posterior communicating arteries.The covered stents and the delivering systems all successfully passed CICA to reach the targeted diseased area,with the diseased segments of the internal carotid artery including C3—C4 in 4 cases,C4—C5 in 4 and C6—C7 in 5.Immediately following the detachment of the covered stents,DSA demonstrated that 7 aneurysms were completely occluded,4 aneurysms had slight endoleak,and 1 CCF had markedly-decreased blood flow through the fistula.In the patient with concurrent pseudoaneurysm and CCF,the pseudoaneurysm disappeared and the blood flow through the fistula was markedly-reduced immediately following the stenting procedure.Apart from one patient with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who died due to extensive vascular spasm on the 9th day following the stenting procedure,all the other 12 patients had unobstructed stented vessels on the follow-up DSA images,with 2 demonstrating slight stenosis.In the 6 patients with post-procedure endoleak,DSA showed that the endoleak in 4 patients had disappeared,one endoleak disappeared following the second stenting,and one CCF remained low-flow fistula.There was no sequela related to the occlusion of branches in the covered arterial segment.Conclusion The covered stents specially designed for use in the intracranial vasculature and the delivering system are both flexible enough to pass the tortuous CICA to reach the intracranial diseased artery,and are effective in managing CICA diseases.Further follow-up is still needed to determine the long-term effect of the covered stents,and the adherence of the covered stents needs further investigation.

OBJECTIVETo clone and express the Rv3871 gene related to the virulent protein secretion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and analyze its molecular structure, function and homology using bioinformatic approach.

METHODSA pair of primers was designed to amplify the Rv3871 gene, which was subcloned into the prokaryotic plasmid pET32a(+). The recombinant plasmid was identified by sequence analysis and the expressed recombinant protein by SDS-PAGE. The structure, function and homology alignment of Rv3871 were analyzed comparatively against other mycobacteria.

RESULTSThe restriction fragments through molecular cloning matched perfectly in size with our prediction. The gene sequence was consistent with the corresponding sequence in GenBank. The expression protein was detected by SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 84 kD. Two FtsK/SpoE III domains were found by bioinformatic analysis. The homology results showed distinct differences between Rv3871 of the pathogenic M. tuberculosis and its counterparts in non-pathogenic mycobacteria.

CONCLUSIONMolecular cloning, expression and sequencing identify the structural and functional characteristics of Rv3871. The structural and functional differences of the gene between pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria identified by bioinformatics provide some evidence for the pathogenesis and drug targets of tuberculosis.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virulence ; genetics

Nine compounds were isolated from an ethanol extract of the roots of K. roxburghii by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, MCI gel, Sephadex LH-20, and reversed-phase HPLC. On the basis of physical-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analysis, their structures were identified as munjistin (1), 1-methoxy-3,6-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (2), 1,2,3-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (3), arjunolic acid (4), hyptatic acid-A (5), hyptatic acid-B (6), 2α,3β,24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (8), and daucosterol (9). Compounds 1-9 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long term effects of adjuvant radiotherapy for postoperative breast cancer.

METHODSFrom 1985 to 1986, 162 patients with operable breast cancer were randomly given adjuvant radiotherapy according to clinical stage and involving condition of axillary lymph nodes (LN). The radiotherapy group (RG) was irradiated in the supraclavicular area and/or internal mammary area to 50 Gy, while the control group (CG) was not.

RESULTSThe overall 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 72.0%, 56.1% and 54.3%, while they were 66.3%, 51.3% and 49.4% in the CG (P > 0.05). Clinical stage I-IIIa and positive or negative LN showed no significant difference in the two groups. But in patients with LN(+) > or = 4, the 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of the RG were 55.6%, 38.9% and 37.1%, which were higher than the CG of 29.0%, 16.1% and 16.1% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant radiotherapy can improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients with LN(+) > or = 4, but not for LN(-).

Breast Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Survival Rate

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for the treatment of young infants (≤ 6 months) with retinoblastoma (RB).Methods Together 21 (24 eyes) young infants (≤6 months) with RB who received IAC were included from January 2013 to February 2017 in this study and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.According to the international stages for intraocular retinoblastoma,stage B appeared in 4 eyes,stage D in 13 eyes,and stage E in 7 eyes.And there were two kinds of administration for chemotherapy,including perfusion chemotherapy of melphalan (≤ 0.5 mg · kg-1) combined carboplatin (20 mg) on the first and third IAC procedures,and melphalan (≤ 0.5 mg · kg-1) combined with topotecan (0.5-1.0 mg) on the second and fourth IAC procedures,and the dose of melphalan was appropriately adjusted according to the tumor changes and the response of the child after the previous IAC.Then main outcome measures include successful rate for procedures,ocular preservation rate,local and systemic complications and the time and dose of radiation exposure during IAC were evaluated.Results Of the 70 IAC procedures performed on 24 eyes,69 procedures (98.6％) were successful,and 1 was failed due to ophthalmic spasm.IAC ranged from 2 to 4 cycles with mean 3.3 cycles.After IAC procedures,17 eyes presented fish-like changes or calcification or scar formation,and the overall ocular preservation rate was 70.8％,and the other 7 eyes (29.2％) underwent enucleation of the eyeballs due to fundus hemorrhage in 3 eyes and extensive vitreous implantation in 4 eyes.Postoperative adverse reactions included eyelid oedema in 8 patients,fundus hemorrhage in 3 eyes,ocular arteriospasm in 1 patients and bone marrow suppression in 9 patients.The mean irradiation time was 3.2-32.4 (6.3 ± 1.2) min for one IAC procedure and the mean irradiation dose was 5-153 (51.9 ±9.2)mGy.The cumulative irradiation time was 6.6-53.1 (19.2 ±0.9)min for each patient of IAC cycles and the cumulative irradiation dose was 41-281 (157.3 ± 13.1) mGy.Conclusion IAC is safe and effective for the treatment of young infants (≤≤ 6 months) with RB,and the irradiation dose in IAC is lower than the threshold dose that can cruise lens tissue reactions.

BACKGROUNDThe primary ovarian sarcoma is a very rare malignancy. The objective of this study was to further investigate the clinicopathologic features and outcome in patients with primary sarcoma of the ovary.

METHODSBetween 1988 and 2007, 24 patients with primary ovarian sarcoma who underwent treatment at Peking Union Medical Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Response to treatment, progression and overall survival were analyzed.

RESULTSPatients with ovarian sarcoma had a mean age of (54.3 ± 10.3) years, and 16 of them were postmenopausal. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, present in 14 patients. Of the 24 patients, 16 patients were pathologically diagnosed as carcinosarcoma (known as malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (MMMT)), 2 as ovarian leiomyosarcoma (LS) and 6 patients as ovarian endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). The patients in optimal debulking group had a median survival period of 28 months and 1-year survival rate of 71%. The patients in suboptimal debulking group had a significantly lower median survival of 6 months (P = 0.02) and 1-year survival rate of 29%. Among the patients, 23 patients received chemotherapy and most of regimens were based on platinum, 3 patients received chemoradiation. The mean number of courses of combined chemotherapy was 6.6 ± 5.0, and the response was unsatisfactory. The median survival for the entire group was 18.7 months. The one-year survival rate was 58%, and two-year survival rate only 29%.

CONCLUSIONSOvarian primary sarcoma has a poor overall prognosis. Optimal debulking surgery appears to be of prognostic significance. There is a clear need for further study to explore the role and the regimen of platinum-based chemotherapy in primary ovarian sarcoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Survival Rate