The general characteristics, outcomes and risk factors of the patients with aortic dissection (AD) were evaluated in a single medical center. From January 2002 to December 2008, 284 patients with AD were treated and followed-up at our institution, including 105 cases of type A AD and 179 cases of type B AD. The patients in each type were divided into three groups according to management: medical treatment group (A or B), open surgery group (A or B), and stent-graft group (A or B). The characteristics and follow-up outcomes were compared between the groups or subgroups. The results showed that there was significant difference in the prognosis for type A AD between medical treatment group and open surgery group, but there was no significant difference in the prognosis for type B AD between medical treatment group and stent-graft group. Independent risk factors of follow-up mortality for patients with type A AD included a history of atherosclerosis (HR, 3.807; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.489 to 7.611; P=0.003), in-hospital hypotension/shock (HR, 4.687; 95% CI, 1.846 to 11.900; P=0.001), in-hospital myocardial ischemia or infarction (HR, 3.734; 95% CI, 1.613 to 8.643; P=0.002), pleural effusion (HR, 2.210; 95% CI, 1.080 to 4.521; P=0.030), branch vessel involvement (HR, 2.747; 95% CI, 1.202 to 6.278; P=0.016) and surgical treatment (HR, 0.177; 95% CI, 0.063 to 0.502; P=0.001). And there were insignificant independent predictors for mortality of the patients with type B AD. It was concluded that there were significant differences in characteristics and one year mortality between type A AD and type B AD, but after one year, there was no significant difference in the mortality and complications of them. There were several discordant risk factors of AD, such as female gender, age, thrombus, abrupt onset of pain that were considered as the risk factors in some papers. And there was no definite risk factor of mortality in this study in the patients with type B AD.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of intracaval venous tumors. Methods Clinical data of 6 cases were retrospectively analyzed, including signs and symptoms diagnostic means such as type-B ultrasound, CTA, MRA, surgical procedures and prognosis. Results All six cases received type-B ultrasonic examination, final definite diagnosis was achieved by CTA exam in 2 cases and through MRA in 4 cases. Heart involvement was found in 3 cases. All patients underwent a surgery. According to the extent of the tumor,3 cases had thoraco-abdominal incision,3 cases with extracorporeal circulation and right atrium opening. All of the tumors were completely resected. Pathological exam revealed that 4 cases were of leiomyomatosis and 2 cases were of leiomyosarcoma. One case with leiomyosarcoma died of liver disfunction postoperatively.The other 5 cases recovered without major complications. An average 51 months of follow-up found no recurrence. Conclusions CT and MRI are the mainstay for the diagnosis,and MRI can provide clear anatomy image to the surgeons, help choose the surgical procedures. The one-stage operation is effective. During the operation, the main branches of the vena cava system should be detected, and the attachment of the tumor should be found and removed thoroughly to prevent the recurrence of the tumor. When the attachment point is lower than the iliac vein level, ligation of the involved iliac vein should be mandatory.

Background: It remains controversial whether palliative primary tumor resection (PPTR) can provide survival benefits to the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have unresectable metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PPTR could improve the survival of patients with mCRC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on consecutive mCRC patients with unresectable metastases who were diagnosed at Sun Yat?sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, between January 2005 and December 2012. Overall survival (OS) and progression?free survival (PFS) after first?line chemotherapy failure were compared between the PPTR and non?PPTR patient groups. Results: A total of 387 patients were identified, including 254 who underwent PPTR and 133 who did not. The median OS of the PPTR and non?PPTR groups was 20.8 and 14.8 months (P < 0.001), respectively. The median PFS after first?line chemotherapy was 7.3 and 4.8 months (P < 0.001) in the PPTR and non?PPTR groups, respectively. A larger proportion of patients in the PPTR group (219 of 254, 86.2%) showed local progression compared with that of patients in the non?PPTR group (95 of 133, 71.4%; P < 0.001). Only patients with normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels <70 ng/mL benefited from PPTR (median OS, 22.2 months for the PPTR group and 16.2 months for the non?PPTR group; P < 0.001). Conclusions: For mCRC patients with unresectable metastases, PPTR can improve OS and PFS after first?line chemo?therapy and decrease the incidence of new organ involvement. However, PPTR should be recommended only for patients with normal LDH levels and with CEA levels <70 ng/mL.

Refractoriness of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells to chemotherapeutics represents a major clinical barrier. Suicide gene therapy for cancer has been attractive but with limited clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated the potential application of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) based system to inhibit chemoresistant AML cells. We first generated Ara-C resistant K562 cells and doxorubicin-resistant THP-1 cells. We found that the HSV-TK/GCV anticancer system suppressed drug resistant leukemic cells in culture. Chemoresistant AML cell lines displayed similar sensitivity to HSV-TK/GCV. Moreover, HSV-TK/GCV killing of leukemic cells was augmented to a mild but significant extent by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with concomitant upregulation of Connexin 43, a major component of gap junctions. Interestingly, HSV-TK/GCV killing was enhanced by expression of vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), a fusogenic membrane protein, which also increased leukemic cell fusion. Co-culture resistant cells expressing HSV-TK and cells stably transduced with VSV-G showed that expression of VSV-G could promote the bystander killing effect of HSV-TK/GCV. Furthermore, combination of HSV-TK/GCV with VSV-G plus ATRA produced more pronounced antileukemia effect. These results suggest that the HSV-TK/GCV system in combination with fusogenic membrane proteins and/or ATRA could provide a strategy to mitigate the chemoresistance of AML.
Cell Fusion ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Connexin 43 ; Cytarabine ; Gap Junctions ; Genetic Therapy ; Glycoproteins* ; Homicide* ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Membrane Proteins ; Simplexvirus* ; Suicide ; Thymidine* ; Tretinoin ; Up-Regulation ; Vesicular Stomatitis*

The general characteristics,outcomes and risk factors of the patients with aortic dissection (AD) were evaluated in a single medical center.From January 2002 to December 2008,284 patients with AD were treated and followed-up at our institution,including 105 cases of type A AD and 179 cases of type B AD.The patients in each type were divided into three groups according to management:medical treatment group (A or B),open surgery group (A or B),and stent-graft group (A or B).The characteristics and follow-up outcomes were compared between the groups or subgroups.The results showed that there was significant difference in the prognosis for type A AD between medical treatment group and open surgery group,but there was no significant difference in the prognosis for type B AD between medical treatment group and stent-graft group.Independent risk factors of follow-up mortality for patients with type A AD included a history of atherosclerosis (HR,3.807; 95％ confidence interval [CI],1.489 to 7.611; P=0.003),in-hospital hypotension/shock (HR,4.687; 95％ CI,1.846 to 11.900;P=0.001),in-hospital myocardial ischemia or infarction (HR,3.734; 95％ CI,1.613 to 8.643; P=0.002),pleural effusion (HR,2.210; 95％ CI,1.080 to 4.521; P=0.030),branch vessel involvement (HR,2.747;95％ CI,1.202 to 6.278; P=0.016) and surgical treatment (HR,0.177; 95％ CI,0.063 to 0.502; P=0.001).And there were insignificant independent predictors for mortality of the patients with type BAD.It was concluded that there were significant differences in characteristics and one year mortality between type A AD and type B AD,but after one year,there was no significant difference in the mortality and complications of them.There were several discordant risk factors of AD,such as female gender,age,thrombus,abrupt onset of pain that were considered as the risk factors in some papers.And there was no definite risk factor of mortality in this study in the patients with type B AD.

The linear quadratic (LQ) model and deduced biological equivalent dose (BED) model are widely applied in the radiobiological studies and the mathematic models of radiation oncology in clinical practice. However, the LQ model cannot accurately fit the experimental and clinical data in the high-dose region under the high-dose-per-fraction treatment mode. To resolve this issue, researchers have made modifications to the LQ models since 2008. In the paper, first, the theoretical basis and the application scope of LQ and BED models were introduced and the debate on whether LQ model is applicable to the high-dose-per-fraction radiotherapy was reviewed. Second, five modified models were introduced in two categories and their characteristics were summarized. Finally, current research situation and existing problems of radiotherapy using biological equivalent dose (BED) models were briefly summarized and the development trend of models was predicted.

Osteoporosis （OP） and osteoarthritis （OA） are common bone diseases in clinic. OP is a systemic skeletal disease， and OA is a chronic degenerative joint disease with high prevalence and disability rates. With the advent of the aging population， the incidence rate of OA and OP is increasing year by year， and they have become common diseases of the elderly. The quality of life and physical and mental health of patients are severely affected by the above two bone diseases. Chinese medicine has a long history of treating bone diseases， with a good clinical effect on preventing and treating OP， OA， and other bone diseases with few side effects. It is one of the commonly used methods to treat bone diseases. Polysaccharides， as one of the active substances of Chinese medicine， have various pharmacological activities and a wide range of sources with low toxicity， and their effect cannot be ignored. The role of polysaccharides in the treatment of bone diseases has been deeply studied. It has been found that the mechanism of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating OP and OA involves multiple levels， targets， and pathways. Through the analysis and summary of the relevant literature on the mechanism of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating OP and OA， it was found that Chinese medicine polysaccharides mainly treated OP by regulating the bone dynamic balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts and affecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone microstructure. The mechanism of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in the treatment of OA is related to the regulation of chondrocyte growth， the increase in the proteoglycan and collagen content in the cartilage matrix， and the reduction of oxygen free radical content and inflammatory mediator level. This study aimed to further explore the internal relationship among mechanisms of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in the treatment of bone diseases， to provide relevant ideas for the study of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in the treatment of bone diseases.

Objective To explore the relationship between the serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the pathogenesis,therapeutic intervention of schizophrenia. Methods One hundard twenty-five patients with schizophrenia (case group) with no medication for at least 4-week and 136 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scala (PANSS). Simultaneously blood tests were performed to detect serum NPY levels. In the case group, PANSS was evaluated and blood collected again after 4 weeks of treatment with olanzapine. Result At the baseline,the serum NPY concentration was significantly lower in the case group than in control group (t=-5.79, P<0.01). The scores of RBANS and its factors were significantly lower in the case group than in control group (all P<0.01). The concentration was positively correlated with the score of the attention factor for RBANS scale (r=0.20, P=0.04). After treatment with olanzapine for 4 weeks,the serum NPY level in the case group was significantly increased (t=-2.23,P=0.03).The scores of PANSS total scale and subscale were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).There was no significant correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and PANSS total or subscale scores from baseline to 4-week (all P>0.05). Conclusion The present study has revealed a significant decrease in serum NPY levels in patients with schizophrenia which can be attenuated by treatment of Olanzapine.The action of Olanzapine may be related to the mechanism of action of Olanzapine.However,there is no correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and the improvement in the patientˊs clinical symptoms.

Ovarian cancer is the third-most-common malignant reproductive tumor in women. According to the American Cancer Society, it has the highest mortality rate of gynecological tumors. The five-year survival rate was only 29% during the period from 1975 to 2008 (Reid et al., 2017). In recent decades, the five-year survival rate of ovarian cancer has remained around 30% despite continuous improvements in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other therapeutic methods. However, because of the particularity of the volume and location of ovarian tissue, the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are hidden, and there is a lack of highly sensitive and specific screening methods. Most patients have advanced metastasis, including abdominal metastasis, when they are diagnosed (Reid et al., 2017). Therefore, exploring the mechanism of ovarian cancer metastasis and finding early preventive measures are key to improving the survival rate and reducing mortality caused by ovarian cancer.
B7-H1 Antigen/biosynthesis* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Chemokines/biosynthesis* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology* ; Survival Rate ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE To establish population pharmacokinetic model of levetiracetam （Lev） for Chinese patients with post- stroke epilepsy （PSE）， and provide reference for formulating individualized dosing regimens for Lev therapy in this specific population. METHODS Blood concentration data and clinical diagnosis and treatment information of PSE patients meeting the inclusion criteria were retrospectively collected and divided into model group and validation group at an 8∶2 ratio using a random number method. Based on the model group data， a population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Internal evaluation was performed through goodness-of-fit tests and bootstrap analysis， while external validation was conducted using the validation group data. RESULTS A total of 75 blood concentration measurements from 70 PSE patients were collected， with 60 measurements from 55 patients used for model development and 15 measurements from 15 patients reserved for external validation. The final model estimated a population typical value of clearance at 2.98 L/h. Estimated glomerular filtration rate， daily dose， and homocysteine level significantly influenced clearance of Lev （P＜0.01）. The model demonstrated satisfactory predictive performance， as evidenced by goodness-of-fit tests， bootstrap analysis， and external validation results. CONCLUSIONS Daily dose， estimated glomerular filtration rate， and homocysteine level are identified as significant covariates influencing Lev clearance in Chinese PSE patients. When making clinical decisions， comprehensive consideration should be given to the patient’s treatment response， physiological and pathological conditions， and the occurrence of adverse reactions， etc. The dosage of Lev should be adjusted based on the results of population pharmacokinetic model.