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

BACKGROUND:Injection of isoproterenol is known to induce proliferation and hypertrophy of acinar cells in rodent salivary glands. However, the clonal proliferation ability of stem/progenitor cells of salivary glands by isoproterenol remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To study the proliferation and activation ability of stem/progenitor cells of submandibular gland with colony assay by intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol.
METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, isoproterenol and control groups, respectively intraperitonal y injected with isoproterenol and normal saline for 5 consecutive days. The gland tissues were harvested, and the stem/progenitor cells of submandibular gland were obtained by enzyme digestion in vitro. The number of clonal colonies of each group was analyzed. The larger colony cells were col ected for immunohistochemistry staining with CD90.1, laminin andα6β1.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The number of middle and low proliferative potential colony-forming cells was less but high proliferative potential colony forming cells were significantly more in isoproterenol group compared with control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the total number of the colonies between two groups (P>0.05). The high proliferative potential colony forming cells were positive for CD90.1, laminin andα6β1. Results showed that isoproterenol treatment model cannot increase the cellnumber, but enhance the proliferation ability of stem/progenitor cells from the submandibular gland.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of gefitinib as the first line treatment in elderly patients with lung adenocarcinoma.Methods 81 elderly patients of previously untreated advanced lung adenocarcinoma,who were non-smokers and unsuitable for chemotherapy,received gefitinib treatment until disease progression or intolerable toxicities occurred.The curative effect performance status of improvement and adverse effects were observed.Results All of the patients were evaluable.Partial response rate and stable disease rate of gefifinib were 25.9 ％ (21/81) and 48.1％ (39/81),respectively.55.5 ％ (45/81)of patients had performance status improved after treatment.Conclusion Gefitinib has curative effect and is well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with previously untreated advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective To explore the association of dietary behavior of children with Tourette syndrome (TS) and tic symptoms.Methods 207 TS children and their 264 corresponding controls,who visited our hospital during the period of November 2008 to October 2010,were investigated with children' s dietary behavior questionnaire,under the guidance of professional staff,and the TS tic symptom severity was also evaluated according to The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS).Kruskal-Wallis H rank-sum test was applied for univariate analysis and multinominal logistic regression for further multivariate analysis,with values of odds ratio (OR) and population attributable risk (PAR) obtained to demonstrate the relation strength between dietary behavior and tic symptom severity.Results Results of univariate analysis showed that western fast meal,barbecues,cream food,cold food,and spicy food were related to TS tic symptom severity (P＜0.05).Results of multivariate analysis demonstrated that western fast meal,fruits and vegetables,cream food and spicy food were risk factors for mild TS compared with control group,with OR and 95％ CI of 3.282 (1.922,5.064),2.239 (1.298,3.861),2.341 (1.355,4.046),2.118 (1.327,3.380) and their corresponding PAR of 0.306,0.464,0.169,0.250 respectively.As to moderate and severe TS,the risk factors included western fast meal,fruits and vegetables,and spicy food,with their respective OR and 95％ CI of 2.581 (1.322,5.038),2.364 (1.166,4.795),1.822 (1.014,2.272) and PAR of 0.234,0.487,0.197.Conclusion Dietary behavior,especially western fast meal,fruits and vegetables,cream food and spicy food,are considered to be associated with TS tic symptom severity.Therefore it' s obligatory to rectify undesirable dietary behaviors for TS children.

Objective To investigate the value of parametric imaging of CEUS in uterine fibroids with different signal intensity on T2WI by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU),and dynamic vascular pattern (DVP).Methods Totally 16 patients with single uterine fibroids were divided into high intensity group (n=6),isointensity group (n=4) and low intensity group (n=6) according the signal intensity on T2WI before HIFU treatment.CEUS were performed on each patient.SonoLive CAP software was used to analyze the CEUS images and DVP parametric images were reconstructed.Results The maximum intensity,rising time,time to peak and mean transit time were (235.40± 35.46)％,(22.80± 3.16)s,(25.09±2.44)s,(125.78 ± 27.63)s in high intensity group,(71.97± 2.43) ％,(24.85±3.22)s,(32.81±3.92)s,(66.52±3.48)s in isointensity group and (16.17±2.83) ％,(25.42±2.66)s,(32.82±3.76)s,(64.27±3.33)s in low intensity group.There were statistically significant differences among three groups (all P＜0.05).DVP curve was divided into two types:non-washout in high intensity group and cystic type in low intensity group.Conclusion CEUS and DVP imaging can directly quantitively display the difference of blood perfusion among the uterine fibroids with different signal intensity on T2WI which can provide important information for HIFU treatment in uterine fibroids.

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 determine sexual function in 612 male addicts with methadone maintenance therapy (MMT),analyze its cause and explore the treatment strategies.Methods Self-made questionnaire and International Index of Erectile Function-5 ( IIEF-5 ) were used in 612male addicts receiving MMT.ResultsThe number of addicts who felt worse sexual function was significantly more than those who felt better sexual function (P ＜0.01 ).About 88.6％ addicts were dissatisfied with their current sexual function,90.7％ of whom were willing to continuously receive MMT.The number of addicts suffering from hyposexuality and erectile dysfunction (ED) was significantly increased at post-MMT than at pre-MMT ( P ＜ 0.01 ),while the number of addicts with normal sexuality and inhibitive ejaculation decreased significantly (P ＜0.01 ).Both the dose of methadone and the age of subjects were negatively correlated with IIEF-5 scores.Correlation between the duration of MMT and IIEF-5 scores was not found.ConclusionMMT might deteriorate sexual function in male addicts.To improve the compliance of MMT and sexual function in male addicts,the dose of methadone should be adjusted to minimally effective one.

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.