Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of iASPP for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods One hundred and thirty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were initially diagnosed and treated between January and December 2012 in Department of Radiation Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.The clinical staging was classified according to the cancer staging criteria 2009 AJCC/UICC.All patients were treated by IMRT.Cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy was given to patients with stages Ⅲ-ⅣB disease.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of iASPP in the carcinoma tissues,and the clinicopathological features were compared among the patients with different expressions of iASPP.Furthermore,the relationship between the expression of iASPP and the efficacy in patients was explored.Results Of 130 patients,positive expression of iASPP was observed in 86 patients (66.2％),and negative expression in 44 patients (33.8％).There was significant difference in the positive expression rate of iASPP among the patients with different N-stage and clinical stages(x2 =7.565,4.947,P ＜ 0.01).At three months after treatment,no significant difference was found in the response rate of tumor with different expression of iASPP.In univariate analysis,the expression of iASPP was significant predictor of 3 year-DMFS (x2 =4.335,P =0.037) and PFS (x2 =6.640,P =0.01).Furthermore,N-stage was significant predictor of 3y-DMFS (x2 =8.058,P =0.005),PFS (x2 =9.554,P =0.002) and OS (x2 =6.987,P =0.008),respectively.By using multivariate Cox analysis,the expression of iASPP and N-stage was independent prognostic factors for PFS (x2 =4.336,5.228,P ＜ 0.05),respectively.Conclusions Positive expression of iASPP may be a poor prognostic factor for NPC patients.

In recent years, the study of autophagy in spinal cord injury (SCI) gradually becomes the hot spot. However, the function of autophagy in the injured spinal cord is still controversial. In order to further understand the role of autophagy after SCI, we summarized the activation of autophagy, autophagic cell death, the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis, the function of autophagy in promoting the molecular metabolism and the role of autophagy after spinal cord injury. We concluded that the role of autophagy after SCI is a double-edged sword. Upregulating the level of autophagy appropriately can promote damaged proteins metabolism and inhibit apoptosis. However, excessive activation of antophagy may induce autophagic cell dealth. So we consider that the proper regulation of autophagy will be a new target in the treatment of SCI.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; physiology ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; etiology ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the expression of endostatin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum in patients with lung cancer, and to analysis the relationship between endostatin expression and clinical prognosis as well as pathophysiological characteristics. Methods The samples of serum and BALF were obtained from 57 patients with untreated primary lung cancer ( lung cancer group) and 27 patients with benign pulmonary diseases (control group). The levels of endostatin were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The expression of endostatin in serum and BALF in lung cancer group was significantly higher than that in control group ( P ＜0. 01 ). The levels of endostatin in serum and BALF in late-stage ( stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ ) lung cancer patients were significantly higher than that in early-stage ( stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ , P ＜ 0. 01 ).The expression of endostatin both in serum and BALF were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma patients than that in squamous cell carcinoma or SCLC patients. Endostatin concentrations in BALF and serum were significantly greater in patients with lymph node and distant metastasis than those patients without. the expressions of endostatin in serum were closely related to that in BALF in patients with lung cancer ( P = 0. 000). Conclusion The expression of endostatin in serum and in BALF is higher in lung cancer than benign pulmonary diseases and it was associated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and clinicopatholgical variables. The level of endostatin in BALF is higher than that in serum and may be used as a significant marker to direct clinic therapy and estimation of prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of Skp2 in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and tissues, and explore its influence on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway and development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

METHODSThe expression levels of Skp2 and AR in different PCa cell lines were detected by Western blot. After knockdown of Skp2 in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells transfected with shRNA, the expressions of AR and P27 were determined and the activity of ARR3-Luc measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay following treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The expressions of AR and Skp2 in human naïve PCa or CRPC specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining followed by analysis of their differences and correlation.

RESULTSThe Skp2 protein expression level was significantly higher in the C4-2 or 22RV1 cells than in the LNCaP cells. DHT treatment increased the expression of Skp2 in the C4-2 cells, but knock-down of Skp2 significantly up-regulated the expression of the well-known downstream protein P27 and down-regulated that of AR. Consistently, DHT treatment increased the activity of ARR3-Luc, while knockdown of Skp2 remarkably decreased it in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher expressions of Skp2 and AR were observed in the CRPC than in the naïve specimens (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation between the two proteins (r = 0.658 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSkp2 can enhance the expression and transcription activity of the AR protein in CRPC cells or tissues and is promising to be a critical molecular therapeutic target.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dihydrotestosterone ; pharmacology ; Disease Progression ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; metabolism ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; physiology ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

Objective To examine the neural basis of item memory and source memory with fMRI approach.Methods Eight male and eight female healthy fight-handed native Chinese speakers were involved in this study.The item memory and source memory task were conducted with 504 highly frequent Chinese double-character words in the Block-designed experiment.Participants underwent such a double- round procedure as fMRI scanning following study.The fMRI data collected from a GE 1.5T MRI system were analyzed to generate corresponding activation maps for females and males respectively(P20)using statistical parametric mapping software(SPM).Results For females,item memory task activated the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6,the number of activated voxel clusters was 62 or 11 in the left and the right,respectively),source memory more activated the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46,the number was 59).For males,item memory activated the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46,the number was 64),source memory activated the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6,9 and 40 in the left and the right).Conclusion On the neural basis of item or source memory,there exists dissociation,which is that right dorsolateral prefrontal areas are more activated by item memory while left dorsolateral prefrontal areas by source memory.For the difference of gender,it is suggested that left dorsolateral prefrontal areas(BA6/46)are more activated in females while right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46)more in males.

AIM: To study the renoprotective and synergistic effects of sesamin in combination with vitamin E on nephropathy in rats with the metabolic syndrome.METHODS: Nephropathy of metabolic syndrome in rats was induced by high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet.Sesamin(30 mg?kg-1?d-1),sesamin +vitamin E [(15+20) mg?kg-1?d-1),sesamin +vitamin E(30+20) mg?kg-1?d-1] and vitamin E(20 mg?kg-1?d-1) were given to rats with metabolic syndrome at 9th week and lasted for 16 weeks.After 24 weeks,the body weight,left kidney humid weight,blood glucose(BG),blood lipids(BL),systolic blood pressure(SBP), renal function,and indexes of oxygenation and antioxygenation for renal cortex were measured.Pathological changes,collagen deposition and iNOS protein and nitrotyrosine expression of kidney were observed by HE-stain,Masson-stain and immunohistochemical method,respectively.RESULTS:(1)In high-fat and refined-sugar diet group(HFS): the levels of BG,BL,SBP,and MDA,OH and NO2-/NO3-in renal cortex were increased;the activities of T-SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in renal cortex were decreased;the expressions of iNOS protein and nitrotyrosine in kidney were up-regulated;the inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in renal glomerulus and renal interstitium were severe;the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis were obvious;the renal function was deteriorated.(2)In sesamin +vitamin E [(30+20) mg?kg-1?d-1] group: the decreases in BG,BL,SBP,MDA,OH-and NO2/NO3-in renal cortex were obviously observed;the activities of T-SOD,CAT and GSH-Px in renal cortex were increased;the expressions of iNOS protein and nitrotyrosine in kidney were down-regulated;the inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in renal glomerulus and renal interstitium were improved;the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis were reversed;the renal function was ameliorated.The therapeutic effect of sesamin +vitamin E[ (30+20) mg?kg-1?d-1] surpassed that of using sesamin or vitamin E alone(P

OBJECTIVE: To compare the symptoms and lower airway inflammatory factors of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and to observe the effect of nasal irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Sixty-one cases diagnosed as AR after skin prick test (SPT)were selected and randomly divided into three groups: 17 patients in group A used nasal steroid spray; 21 cases in group B used nasal irrigation; 23 patients in group C combined ir rigation with nasal steroid. Before and after 3 months treatment, nasal visual analogue scale (VAS) score, rhino conjunctivtis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) values were observed and compared in each group. RESULT: Before treatment, there is no statistically difference between three groups (P > 0.05). After 3 months of treatment, VAS, RQLQ, FENO of all patients was significantly decreased (P < 0.05); VAS, RQLQ score was not significantly different among the three groups (P > 0.05), FENO value has no statistically significant difference between group A and group B (P > 0.05), but were less than that in group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Nasal irrigation can ameliorate nasal symptoms, improve quality of life, decrease lower airway inflammation of allergic rhinitis patients. Nasal irrigation is an effective treatment of allergic rhinitis. Nasal irrigation combined with nasal steroid can achieve more significant efficacy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Lavage ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the physiologic indexes, yield and the contents of alkaloids of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don under different temperature.

METHODThe growth temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 degrees C) of F. cirrhosa were controlled by using artificial climate, the growth was observed, the contents of chlorophyll a and b, soluble sugar, MAD, proline of the leaves of F. cirrhosa were tested, and the yield and the alkaloids content of the bulbs were analyzed.

RESULTThe growth period of F. cirrhosa under 15, 20 degrees C were appropriately extended. The difference of the content of leaves chlorophyll b under four temperatures and the contents of total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a under 15, 20, 30 degrees C were not significant. The contents of soluble sugar, MAD and proline of leaves and the growth ratio, dry weight and content of alkaloids of bulb increased with the temperature decrease.

CONCLUSIONHigher temperature is not suitable for the growth of F. cirrhosa. Under the relatively lower temperature, the growth period of F. cirrhosa extended, the bulb can grow properly, and the content of alkaloid increased. F. cirrhosa can improve its cold tolerance by increasing the content of proline and soluble sugar, and it also can maintain the normal content of chlorophyll under the lower temperature.

Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Fritillaria ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Temperature

Objective To evaluate the treatment efficacy,toxicities and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC ) treated with intensity modulated radiation oncology ( IMRT ).Methods Between January 2006 and August 2008,300 patients with pathologically diagnosed NPC from 6 center received IMRT.The number of patients with stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease (UICC/AJCC 2002 staging system) were 6,45,141 and 108,respectively.The prescription doses were as follows:70-74 Gy/30f toplanning target volume of primary nasopharynx tumor ( PTVRλ),68-70 Gy/30f to planning target volume of positive lymphnode (ptvnd),60-64 Gy/30f to higher risk region (PTV1),50-54 Gy/30f to lower risk region (PTV2).Patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease also received cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Cox method was used for Multivariate analysis.ResultsThe follow-up rate was 99.7％.The 4-year rate of local control,regional control,metastasis-free survival (DMFS),disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was 94.0％,95.5％,87.4％,80.8％,86.1％,respectively.Mucositis was the most severe acute toxicity,with 18.0％grade 1,48.7％grade 2,33.3％grade 3.No patient suffered from grade 4mucositis.Xerostomia was the most common late toxicity,with 12.0％ grade 0,75.7％ grade 1,12.3％grade 2.No grade 3-4 xerostomia was observed.There were 18,15 and 42 patients failed in local,regional and distant metastasis,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that N stage was the only prognostic factor for OS (x2 =5.17,P=0.023),DMFS (x2 =6.91,P=0.009) and DFS (x2 =8.15,P=0.004) in these patients.ConclusionsIMRT can improve the treatment efficacy of NPC.The acute and late toxicities were tolerated.Distant metastasis becomes the main treatment failure.N stage is a significant prognostic factors.