Statins are a class of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, which are pervasively used to reduce blood cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic patients and prevent cardiovascular diseases in clinic, duo to excellent drug efficiency and good safety. In recent years, increasing evidences have demonstrated that statins have potential anti-tumor effect through inhibiting cancer cells growth, invasion, metastasis, preventing angiogenesis, promoting cancer cells apoptosis and synergetically enhancing the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, there are no domestic reports about statins' effect on endometrial carcinoma, additionally, conclusions of related foreign studies are inconsistent. This review summarized the effect of statins on endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the detection of volatile constituents from the leaves and fruits of Piper ni-grum. METHODS:HS-SPME-GC-MS was used. The chromatographic conditions:column was HP-5 MS quartz elastic capillaries, carrier gas was high purity helium(99.999%),flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,the inlet temperature was 250 ℃,initial temperature of column was 50 ℃(temperature programmed),split injection with split ratio of 10:1. MS conditions:ionization mode was electron impact ion source,ionization energy was 80 eV,ion source temperature was 230 ℃,quadrupole temperature was 150 ℃,trans-mission line temperature was 280 ℃,electron multiplier voltage was 1588 V,mass scanning range was m/z 30-400. The spectra were retrieved using RTLPEST3. L and NIST08. L,and the relative contents of the volatile constituents were determined by area normalization method. RESULTS:There were 28 volatile constituents in the leaves and 15 in the fruits,respectively accounting for 67.13% and 36.85%. The major volatile constituents of leaves were β-caryophyllene (15.72%),limonene (9.39%),3-carene (9.32%),β-pinene(6.80%),α-terpine(4.98%),etc.,the main volatile constituents of fruits were 1,7,7-trimethyl-2-vinylbicyclo [2.2.1]hept-2-ene(10.45%),espatulenol(8.28%),caryophyllene oxide(4.81%),etc. 5 constituents were owned in both. CON-CLUSIONS:The study basically clears the main volatile constituents from the leaves and fruits of P. nigrum,and verifies existing obvious differences.

OBJECTIVETo observe the acupoint distribution and clinical efficacy of lumbar disc herniationi (LDH) with different sensitive types.

METHODSEighty patients with LDH were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (group A), a heat-sensitive acupuncture group (group B), a force-sensitive acupuncture group (group C) and a force-sensitive moxibustion group (group D), 20 cases in each one. In the group A and the group B, moxibustion and acupuncture were applied at two or three heat-sensitive acupoints separately. In the group C and the group D,acupuncture and moxibustion were used at two or three force-sensitive acupoints respectively. The treatment was given once a day, totally 10 times. The distribution law of the heat-sensitive acupoints and the force-sensitive acupoints and the change of M-JOA before and after treatment were recorded in the four groups.

RESULTSThe frequent heat-sensitive acupoints areas of LDH were at Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Dachangshu (BL 25), Zhiyang(GV 9), Guanyuanshu(BL 26) and Weizhong(BL 40). The major force-sensitive acupoints areas were at Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Tianshu (ST 25), Guilai (ST 29) and Weizhong (BL 40). After treatment, the heat-sensitive acupoints in the group A and the group B were all reduced than those before treatment and the force-sensitive acupoints in the group C and the group D were declined as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The M-JOA scores were obviously lower than those before treatment in the four groups (all P < 0.01). The score in the group A was reduced more apparently than that in the group B (P < 0.05). The score in the group C was declined more markedly than that in the group D (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere are diverse acupoints for LDH patients due to different sensitive types. All forms of stimulation can change the functional state of acupoints. Moxibustion is more suitable for heat-sensitive acupoints and acupuncture is optimal for force-sensitive acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the value of vessel size index(VSI) in grading oligodendroglioma by vessel size imaging technique. Methods Twenty-four histologically confirmed oligodendroglioma cases were enrolled (13 gradeⅡand 11 gradeⅢ) . All patients underwent conventional MRI scanning, followed by multi gradient-echo spin-echo sequence from dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion to generate VSI maps. Region of interests were contoured on VSI color maps to obtain hot-spot value of mean VSI of microvasculature (VSImean) and maximum VSI of microvasculature (VSImax). Paraffin sections of each case was stained with CD34 to acquire microvascular caliber (VShis). Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between VSImean, VSImax and VShis respectively. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare VSImean, VSImax and VShis between grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas. ROC analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of VSImean, VSImax and VShis in grading oligodendrogliomas. Results Both VSImean and VSImax were strongly correlated with VShis (r=0.738, 0.705,P<0.05). For gradeⅡand Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas, VSImean were 38.93(17.96 to 81.18)μm and 91.49(36.94 to 144.68)μm, VSImax were 45.12(22.30 to 89.65)μm and 121.19(57.29 to 164.00)μm, VShis were 8.51(5.25 to 12.76)μm and 11.03(7.59 to 21.96)μm respectively. VSImean, VSImax, and VShis showed significant difference (Z=-3.505,-3.911, -2.729,P<0.05) between grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity and AUC of VSImean was 52.58 μm, 90.91%, 92.31%, 0.923 respectively, 81.18μm, 90.91%, 100.00%, 0.972 for VSImax, and 9.01μm, 90.00%, 84.62%, 0.838 for VShis respectively. Conclusions Vessel size imaging derived VSI correlated well with histopathology. It could provide valuable information in the pre-operative grading of oligodendroglioma.

In order to construct generally efficient cell immortalization vector, pTP-hTERT, we modified the traditional piggyBac (PB) transposon using artificial synthesis, PCR and enzyme digestion. The modified vector contained the necessary transposon elements, a PB transposase expression cassette, a co-expression selectable element and a human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression cassette. The co-expression selectable element had two markers, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene and puromycin-resistance (Puro) gene, linked by porcine teschovirus-1 2A peptide (P2A). To validate the functionality of vector elements, we transfected pTP-hTERT into HEK293 cell, selected the positive cell clones and then conducted RT-PCR, Western blotting (WB) and Tail-PCR, methylene blue staining and statistic analysis on selected cells. The results of sequencing and cell culture show that the pTP-hTERT was constructed successfully and the positive cell could be selected by puromycin. The WB results, P2A cutting EGFP and Puro fusion protein with high efficiency, reflected the selectable element worked. The sequencing result of Tail-PCR confirmed the vector integrated into the genome through transposition. The results of methylene blue staining and statistic analysis indicated the clone of positive cells triggered by pTP-hTERT significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared with control group. The construction of pTP-hTERT provides an efficient tool for establishing immortalized cell lines and a demonstration for building other eukaryotic plasmids.
Cell Line ; DNA Transposable Elements ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate long-term efficacy of microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods A total of 154 patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC ('92 staging system) were randomized into two groups:microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy (Group A, 76 cases) and chemoradiotherapy alone (Group B, 78 cases). Both of the two groups received 1 -2 cycles of chemotherapy of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by conventional radiotherapy of 70 - 78 Gy in 35 - 39 fraction to the nasopharynx and 68 -72 Gy in 34 - 36 fractions to the neck. Group A received microwave hyperthermia to the metastatic cervical nodes at the beginning of radiotherapy. The hyperthermia was given as 45 min every time, twice a week for 8 - 14 times totally. Results The 5-year complete response rates of cervical lymph nodes in group A and B were 97% and 77% (x2 = 14. 24,P<0. 01). The distant metastasis rates in the two groups were 37% and 44% (x2 = 0. 73, P > 0. 05). The disease-free survival rates were 51% and 21% (x2 = 15.91, P <0. 01). The 5-year overall survival rates were 59% and 41%, respectively (x2 = 5.09, P < 0. 05).Conclusions For patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC, microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy can improve the complete response, disease-free survival and overall survival.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the simultaneous determination of contents of 4 heavy metal elements in cultured Cordyceps militaris. METHODS:The samples were digested by nitric acid heating method and then determined by ICP-MS including radio-frequency power of 1.15 kW,sampling depth of 65 nm,auxiliary gas flow rate of 1.0 L/min,cooling gas flow of 13.0 L/min,temperature of 25 ℃,automatic plasma. RESULTS:The linear ranges of arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),mer-cury (Hg) and lead (Pb) were 0-20 μg/mL(r=0.9970),0-10 μg/mL(r=0.9995),0-5 μg/mL(r=0.9955),0-20 μg/mL(r=0.9960),respectively. Detectio limit were 0.128,0.003,0.002,0.004 mg. RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 6.5%. Recoveries of them were 90.4%-100.6%(RSD=3.45%,n=9),94.3%-101.3%(RSD=2.93%,n=9), 90.0%-102.3%(RSD=4.03%,n=9),92.3%-103.0%(RSD=3.53%,n=9),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is sim-ple,precise,stable,reproducible,and can be used for simultaneous determination of contents of 4 heavy metal elements in cul-tured C. militaris. The contents of As,Cd,Hg and Pb in 10 batches of sample are all in line with related national standards.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 5 nucleoside from different parts of cultured Cordyceps militaris. METHODS:HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on InertSustain C18 column with mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.02 mol/L monobasic potassium phosphate solution (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 254 nm,the column temperature was 30 ℃. RESULTS:The linear ranges of uridine, inosine,guanosine,adenosine and cordycepin were 0.568-3.408 μg(r=0.9999),0.284-1.704 μg(r=0.9999),0.264-1.584 μg(r=0.9999),0.232-1.392 μg(r=0.9999)and 1.672-10.032 μg(r=0.9998),respectively. RSDs of precision,stability and repeatabili-ty tests were all lower than 3.0%. The recoveries were 98.2%-103.9%(RSD=1.97%,n=9),96.2%-101.6%(RSD=1.76%,n=9),96.7%-102.0%(RSD=1.94%,n=9),95.1%-99.4%(RSD=1.43%,n=9) and 95.6%-101.3%(RSD=1.82%,n=9). CON-CLUSIONS:The method is simple,precise,stable and repeatable,and can be used for simultaneous determination of 5 nucleoside from cultured C. militaris,the content of nucleosides are different in different parts of C. militaris.

Objective:To study e ects of Saikosaponin a(SSa) on tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?) release and its receptor expression in cultured hippocampal astrocytes induced by pentylenetetrazol(PTZ).Methods:The in vitro cultured primary hippocampal astrocytes were randomly divided into control group(group A),PTZ-induced group(group B)PTZ10mmol/L+SSa groups(group C and group D,the SSa concentrations were 1.25mg/L and 0.625mg/L respectively).The extracellular uid TNF-? level and the expression of tumour necrosis factor receptor type 1(TNFR1) in hippocampal astrocytes were respectively detected by ELISA and Western-blot after PTZ-induced 2 hours.Results:the TNF-? level and TNFR1 expression of group B were signi cantly higher than that of group A,group C and group D(P

Objective To discuss the role of assistance of intraoperative uitrasonography in ret-roperitoneal laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for renal tumors. Methods The intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography was applied in retroperitoneal nephron-sparing surgery for 20 patients, of whom 11 were men and 9 were women. The average age was 53(range 33 to 73) years. There were 12 patients with renal cell carcinoma and the mean tumor size was 2.9(range 1.4 to 4.6)cm in diame-ter. All of them were staged as T1 N0 M0. Seven patients had angiomyolipoma and the mean tumor size was 4.5(range 1.8 to 8.0)cm in diameter and 1 patient had a 3.1 cm oncocytoma in diameter. The ul-trasonography was used to locate the tumor, observe the bloodstream and detect whether there were small satellite tumors. The surgical time, time of renal artery occlusion and operative effect were ob-served. Results Laparoscopic surgery was successful in all cases without conversion to open surger-y. Mean operative time was 115 (range 85 to 270) min, mean time of renal artery occlusion was 28 (range 22 to 50) min. During the mean followup of 16(range 4 to 30) months, no patients with renal cell carcinoma had local or port site recurrence or metastatic disease. Conclusion In retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery, the intraoperative uhrasonography is helpful to locate the tumor in the surgery, to estimate whether the renal artery is occluded completely and to excise the tumor pre-cisely.