Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of shear wave elastography (SWE) combined with transition zone biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSA total of 489 patients with suspected PCa underwent transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and SWE-guided prostatic biopsy. We evaluated the role of SWE combined with transition zone biopsy in promoting the detection rate in comparison with the results of biopsy pathology.

RESULTSThe pathological results confirmed 221 malignant and 268 benign cases. Based on systematic biopsy, SWE combined with transition zone biopsy achieved a detection rate of 45. 19% , significantly higher than that of systematic biopsy alone (33.13%) (P < 0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SWE were significantly better than those of TRUS (P < 0.05). The mean elasticity (Emean) of SWE was remarkably higher for malignant than for benign lesions ([40.1 ± 9.5] vs [21.6 ± 8.3] kPa, P < 0.05). With 28.5 kPa as the threshold of the Emean value, the area under the ROC curve was 0. 899, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 88.71% and 86.23%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSWE combined with transition zone biopsy could significantly improve the detection rate of prostate cancer.

Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; methods ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; methods ; Male ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prognosis

Adolescent ; Brain Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial ; diagnostic imaging ; Hernia ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Caulis Sinomenii and sinomenine on conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by morphine and brain histamine level in mice.

METHODSSixty mice were randomized into 6 equal groups and morphine (Mor) was injected subcutaneously (9 mg/kg) for 6 consecutive days to induce CPP using a shuttle box. Since the 4th day of training, the mice in 5 of the groups were treated for 3 consecutive days with Caulis Sinomenii (10 g/kg), sinomenine (60 mg/kg), diphenhydramine (30 mg/kg), CP48/80 (5 mg/kg) and L-histidine (750 mg/kg) in addition to morphine (9 mg/kg) treatment, respectively, leaving the other group with exclusive morphine treatment. Another 10 mice received saline injection to serve as saline control group. The content of histamine (HA) in the mouse brain was measured by fluorospectrophotometry.

RESULTSIn morphine group, the mice showed significantly extended stay in morphine-paired compartment whose HA content in the brain was markedly increased (P<0.01). Treatment with Caulis Sinomenii and sinomenine resulted in significantly reduced time of stay in morphine-paired compartment and brain HA level (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCPP induced by morphine in mice is associated with increased HA level in the brain. Caulis Sinomenii and sinomenine can suppress the acquisition of place preference induced by morphine and modulate HA level in the central nervous system in morphine-dependent mice.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Conditioning, Operant ; drug effects ; physiology ; Diphenhydramine ; pharmacology ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Morphinans ; pharmacology ; Morphine ; toxicity ; Morphine Dependence ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Sinomenium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effect of acupuncture on early onset of selec- tive serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depressive disorder, and to study its effect on ser- um 5-HT and unbalanced inflammatory cytokines secreted by TH1/TH2.

METHODSTotally 90 patients with depressive disorder were randomly assigned to the drug control group (as the control group, 45 cases) and the acupuncture combined drug treatment group (as the treatment group, 45 cases). All patients were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. Another 45 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. The effect of acupuncture on early onset of SSRls in treating acute phase depressive disorder pa- tients was evaluated by HAMD score in the control group and the treatment group before treatment,and at weekends of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after treatment. Besides, their serum levels of 5-HT, IL-1β and IL-6 (secreted by TH1), and IL-4 and IL-10 (secreted by TH2) were detected before treatment and after treatment at the weekend of the 4th week.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group,serum lev- els of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 decreased in the two drug-treated groups before treatment (P < 0.01); serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 increased (P <0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, HAMD score decreased in the control group at weekends of the 2nd and the 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01); HAMD scores decreased in the treatment group at weekends of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,and 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01); serum levels of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 increased,serum levels of IL-1β and IL- 6 decreased in the two drug-treated groups after treatment (all P < 0.01). Compared with the control group at the same time point,HAMD scores decreased in the treatment group at weekends of the 1st, 2nd,3rd,and 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01),serum levels of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-6 decreased (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could accelerate early onset of SSRIs in treating acute phase depressive disorder, and effectively regulate serum 5-HT levels and inflammatory cytokines secreted by TH1/TH2.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cytokines ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy, toxicity and survival of intraoperative 125I brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODSThirty-six patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were randomized to two groups: brachy-chemotherapy group (n = 18) and control group (n = 18). For the combined group, intraoperative 125I implantation and gemcitabine, 5-Fu were given. For the control group, intratumoral injection of absolute alcohol was done.

RESULTSThe CR + PR rate of brachy-chemotherapy group was 38.9% with pain relief in 77.8%, while that of control group was 0 with pain relief in 22.2% (P < 0.05). Although there were some toxicity in brachy-chemotherapy group, treatment was well tolerated. The 6-, 12-month survival rates of brachy-chemotherapy group were 71.4% and 21.4% and those of control group were 38.5% and 7.7%, respectively. The median survival time was 10.6 months and 5.2 months for the two groups, between which the difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInteroperative 125I brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer can control tumor, relieve pain and improve quality of life. It is safe and effective.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the quality (understandability and actionability) of health education materials for Korean-Chinese (KC) female migrant workers, using Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P). METHODS: Educational needs assessment was conducted with 3 focus groups with 20 KC women and a focus group with 4 community stakeholders. The quality of the educational materials was evaluated by 3 experts and a community stakeholder, followed by a survey with 15 KC women using 17 items for understandability and 7 items for actionability by means of a Korean version PEMAT-P. RESULTS: The health educational calendar consists of 12 subjects out of 9 topics related to healthy lifestyles for preventing cardiovascular diseases. The overall mean understandability score was 98.8% and the overall mean actionability was 100%. CONCLUSION: Involvement of KC women and community stakeholders in the development of educational materials was found to be an effective strategy for increasing understandability and actionability of educational materials for KC female migrant workers. This study also demonstrates the PEMAT-P is a useful evaluation tool, emphasizing the actionability of educational materials.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Education* ; Female* ; Focus Groups ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic* ; Transients and Migrants

BACKGROUNDTissue factor (TF) is overexpressed in many malignant tumours and is linked to the pathogenesis and prognosis of such malignancies. In vitro studies have proved that reduced expression of TF has inhibitory effect on the angiogenesis and cell proliferation of the malignant tumour. Therefore, TF suppression has been raised as a possible treatment for malignant tumours. Here we investigated the effect of celecoxib on TF expression induced by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in PANC-1 cells and a possible molecular mechanism underlying the celecoxib effect.

METHODSVarious doses of celecoxib solution were added to standard cell numbers of PANC-1 cells mixed with equal dose of TNFalpha for 6 hours. The expression of tissue factor was detected quantitatively by Western blot, whilst the activation of nuclear factor kappaB was tested by electromobility shift assay.

RESULTSAs the doses of celecoxib increased, the tissue factor expression was decreased in PANC-1 cells and so was the activation of nuclear factor kappaB.

CONCLUSIONSCelecoxib can downregulate the expression of tissue factor induced by TNFalpha in PANC-1 cells. This antitumour effect of celecoxib can be explained indirectly via its suppressive role in activation of nuclear factor kappaB.

Celecoxib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo study in vitro anti-tumor activity of phaseoloideside E (PE) with human hepatoma HepG2 cells as the objective.

METHODMTT assay was adopted to detect the cytotoxic effect of PE of different concentrations on HepG2 cells after being processed for 48 h. Changes in morphology of PE-processed cells were observed under an optical microscope and fluorescence microscope. DNA agrose gel electrophoresis was used to detect the DNA ladder, an important characteristic of cell apoptosis. The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by western blot assay.

RESULTPE dramatically repressed the viability of HepG2 cells. Typical morphological changes of apoptosis had been detected by both direct microscopic observation and Hoechst 33,258 staining. Typical DNA Ladder was also observed by agarose gel electrophoresis in the administration group, but it did not exist in the control group. Western blot showed that the expression of Bax was up-regulated and Bcl-2 was down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONAbove data demonstrates that PE can induce apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and indicate that PE-induced expression level changes of Bax and Bcl2 may be related to the apoptosis-induction effect.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis