Purpose:To evaluate the effect of oxaliplation (L-OHP)+flurouracil/calcium folinate(5-FU/CF) in combination with concurrent radiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer and to find a more effective way of giving them.Meth- ods:Chemotherapy:L-OHP 130 mg/m~2,iv infusion for 2 hours D_1 combined with calcium folinate 200 mg/m~2 for 2 h ours followed by 5-fluorouracil 300 mg/m~2 for 4h D_1～D_5,repeated every 3 weeks.Radiotherapy:The whole pelvic irradiation DT 50～60Gy/25～30/F(5～6 weeks).Results:30 advanced rectal cancer patients entered the study.One patient reached complete response(CR),15 partial response,13 stable disease,and 1 with progression after treatment,The overall re- sponse rate(CR+PR) was 53.3%,the 1-year survival rate was 70% (21/30).The main adverse acute effects were gas- trointestinitis,anemia,neuro-sensory toxicity and irradiation rectitis,bone marrow suppression was mild.Conclusions: This approach of therapy could improve the therapeutic effect on advanced rectal cancer.

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is a pathological process correlated with multiple disease causes and actively regulated by cardiac valve cells. In this study, porcine aortic valve myofibroblasts cultured in vitro were treated with 50 μg z L(-1) of pathological factor tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Tanshinone II A (TSN) with the concentration of 50 mg x L(-1) and TNF-α were combined in incubating cells for 72 h (3 d) and 120 h (5 d). The Western blotting and Real-time PCR were adopted to detect the changes in smooth muscle α actin (α-SMA), bone morphogenetic protein 2 ( BMP2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in cells, and expressions of key effect proteins GSK-3β and β-catenin on Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. According to the findings, TNF-α can significantly increase the expression of myofibroblasts α-SMA and add the transformation activity to them, with nearly no expression of BMP2, ALP and mRNA in the control group and the TSN group but significant increase in their expressions in the TNF-α group (P < 0.01), which showed osteoblast-like phenotype. Moreover, TNF-α down-regulated the expression of up-streaming regulator GSK-3β and mRNA expression (P < 0. 01) , notably increased the expression of key effect protein β-catenin, but with no significant difference in mRNA with the control group and the TSN group. The result demonstrated that TSN showed a certain inhibitory effect on TNF-α's pathological impact (P < 0.05) in a time-dependent manner. Inflammatory factor TNF-α may promote the transformation of aortic valvular myofibroblasts to osteoblast-like phenotype by activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in aortic valvular myofibroblasts, so as to cause AVC. Tanshinone II A can have a preventive effect in AVC by activating GSK-3β proteins and regulating signal transduction of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.
Animals ; Aortic Valve ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Swine ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between the normal rehabilitation and combined with manipulative method after arthroscopic capsular release for the treatment of severe frozen shoulder, and to evaluate the application value of manipulationp.

METHODSFrom March 2007 to July 2010,arthroscopic capsular release was performed in 48 cases (48 shoulders, 23 left side, 25 right side). All the patients were divided into two groups: control group (11 males and 15 females) and manipulation group (9 males and 13 females). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional rehabilitation procedure, and the patients in the manipulation group were treated with additional manipulation procedure. From the 2nd day after operation, the manipulation was performed for 20 minutes every time, twice daily, and it continued for 10 days. All the cases were followed up and the scale of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Assessment Form (ASES self-report section) and the range of motion (ROM) were recorded.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up period was (12.54 +/- 5.78) months (ranging from 4 to 25 months). Both ASES scores and ROM in the manipulation group were better than those in the control group at the 1st month after operation, and the difference between the ASES scores and flexion of the shoulder were significant. However, there was no significan difference at the latest follow-up.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the conventional rehabilitative procedure, manipulation following arthroscopic capsular release could promote the process of joint rehabilitation and help the patient back to normal life earlier, but there is no evidence of long term advantage.

Arthroscopy ; Bursitis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Capsule Release ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To determine whether acellular porcine cornea stroma (APCS) could support the growth of the rabbit corneal cells in vitro.METHODS: APCS was prepared. The rabbit's corneal epithelium and stromal cells were cultured and seeded on, APCS in vitro.The observation of phase contrast photograph and histological examination were performed.RESULTS: Histological examination showed the epithe- lium grew on the scaffold of APCS in 2-3 layers at 10th day. The stromal cells adhered to the surface of the scaffold after 24 hours and invaded into the interlaminar of the material at 5th day.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that APCS can support the growth and proliferation of the corneal epithelium and stromal cells in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects of the circumcision stapler, circumcision cerclage, and traditional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSUsing the circumcision stapler (group A), foreskin cerclage (group B), and traditional circumcision (group C), we treated 276 patients with phimosis or redundant prepuce. We made comparisons among the three groups in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and 24-hour postoperative pain scores, and incidence of postoperative complications. Results: The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative pain score were (6.52 ± 2.45) min, (1.93 ± 0.82) ml, and 1.37 ± 0.68 in group A and (7.24 ± 1.86) min, (1.51 ± 0.72) ml, and 1.20 ± 0.79 in group B, all significantly lower than (28. 36 ± 4.22) min, (9.52 ± 3.29) ml, and 3.06 ± 0.75 in group C (P <0.05). The 24-hour postoperative pain score was remarkably higher in group B than in A and C (3. 18 ± 0. 82 vs 1. 85 ± 0. 63 and 1. 82 ± 0. 75, P <0. 05). The incidence rate of postoperative complications was markedly lower in group A than in B (5. 43% vs 14. 13%, P < 0.05), but with no significant differences between either A and C or B and C (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe circumcision stapler, with its advantages of simple operation, minimal invasiveness, fewer complications, and better cosmetic result, deserves a wider clinical application.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Foreskin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; diagnosis ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction between p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/IkappaB system on the proinflammatory cytokines release after burn trauma.

METHODSHuman monocyte line THP-1 were incubated with serum from eight healthy controls, burn sera, burn sera pretreatment with SB203580, and burn sera pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). After 24 hours incubation with serum, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels in THP-1 culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The activities of p38 MAPK and expressions of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 were measured by Western blot analysis. The EMSA method was used to characterize the binding activities of NF-kappaB and activating protein (AP)-1 in THP-1.

RESULTSIn comparison with normal controls, burn sera resulted in a significant higher level release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in THP-1 [(7.30 +/- 0.84) ng/ml vs (2.20 +/- 0.28) ng/ml, P < 0.05; (2.88 +/- 0.38) ng/ml vs (0.81 +/- 0.14) ng/ml, P < 0.05], which were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with SB203580 or PDTC. Burn sera showed increased activities of p38 MAPK and AP-1 in THP-1 (4728 +/- 582 vs 1291 +/- 163, P < 0.05; 946 +/- 137 vs 361 +/- 40, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with SB203580 but not PDTC. The expression of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 incubated with burn sera was significantly decreased than those incubated with control sera (1211 +/- 115 vs 2658 +/- 318, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580. Burn sera also leaded to an increased activity of NF-kappaB in THP-1 (1636 +/- 170 vs 317 +/- 32, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580.

CONCLUSIONSThere are no direct interaction between p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway and NF-kappaB/IkappaB pathway. These two pathways, which regulate the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in monocyte following burn trauma, are parallel and independent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; physiology ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of burn serum on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) andits signal transduction mechanism.

METHODSHUVECs cultured in vitro were employed for the experiment, and were divided into normal control (NC, with addition of normal serum), burn serum (BS, with addition of burn serum), SB203580 (with addition of 10 micromol/L SB203580 treatment 1 hour before burn serum treatment) and PDTC [with 10 mmol/L pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) 1 hour before burn serum treatment] groups. Protein and mRNA expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs was measured by flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after burn serum treatment. The expression of VCAM-1 on HUVEC surface and the soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) content in HUVECs culture supernatants were measured by ELISA at 24 hours after the serum stimulation. Adherence of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) adherence to HUVECs was also observed in vitro.

RESULTSThe expression of VCAM-1 mRNA increased obviously in BS group after the burn serum stimulation and reached peak level at 24 post stimulation hour (PSH), and it decreased thereafter. The above expression was significantly decreased in SB203580 and PDTC groups at 24 PSH, but there was no difference compared with normal control (P > 0.05). The VCAM-1 expression on the membrane of HUVEC was evidently higher in BS group (66.5 +/- 6.2) than that in NC group (19.1 +/- 1.9, P < 0.05) at 24 PSH, but it was decreased significantly in SB203580 (21.7 +/- 2.3) and PDTC (23.1 +/- 2.4) groups and there was no significant difference compared with NC group (P > 0.05), and which was evidently lower than that in BS group (P < 0.05). The VCAM-1 content in the supernatant of BS group (125 +/- 10 ng/L) was obviously higher than that in NC (23 +/- 3 ng/L), SB203580 (27 +/- 5 ng/L) and PDTC (29 +/- 5 ng/L) groups. (P < 0.05). The number of PBMCs adherent to HUVECs in BS group [(197 +/- 11)%] was much larger than that in NC group [(100 +/- 4)%], SB203580 group [(113 +/- 7)%] or PDTC group [(97 +/- 112)%] at 24 PSH (P < 0.05), but no difference between NC group and SB203580, PDTC groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBurn serum can enhance the expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs through p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the activation of NF-kappaB was also involved in this process.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Pyridines ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Serum ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate The modulating role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in hepatic cells and its role in hepatic injury in severely burned rats.

METHODSTwenty-four adult healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (8 rats in each group): sham group, burn group, and burn with SB203580 group. A rat model of full-thickness burn injury covering 30% total body surface area (TBSA) was reproduced. The specific inhibitor of p38MAPK (SB203580 in 10 mg/kg) was given to the rats in the burn with SB203580 group at 15 minutes and 12 hours after burn. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured at 24 postburn hours (PBHs). The TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the liver was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the expression levels of p38MAPK and phosphor-p38MAPK in the liver were determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe serum levels of AST and ALT, and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in liver cells were significantly higher in burn group than those in sham and SB203580 groups (P < 0.05 or 0.01), but there was no difference between the two latter groups. It was indicated by Western blot results that there was no difference of p38MAPK expression in rat liver among the three groups (P > 0.05). The phospho-p38MAPK expression ratio among sham, burn and burn with SB203580 groups was 1.00:3.90:1.10. The phospho-p38MAPK expression was significantly lower in burn with SB203580 group than that in burn group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference compared with that in sham group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe postburn activated p38MAPK in rat liver after severe burn injury enhances the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and participates in the development of postburn hepatic injury.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

To investigate the profile of gene expression in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) and discover its functional genes, for the first time, expressed sequence tags (EST) library of four-year-old American ginseng roots has been established. According to BLAST and Gene Ontology analysis, eleven genes, encoding cytochrome P450, glucosyltransferase, farnesyltransferase and cyclase family protein, are found to be associated with ginsenosides biosynthesis. Six other genes are obtained encoding auxin-regulated protein, auxin response factor 4 and auxin-repressed protein in the roots of American ginseng. In addition, thirteen expressed transcripts are stress-connected proteins and twelve expressed other transcripts are closely related to plant defense in four-year-old American ginseng roots. Furthermore, 62 genes no hit in BLAST and in Interproscan may be new genes. These results indicate EST is an useful tool for research on functional genomics of P. quinquefolium and it can be applied to the molecular modification of the ginsenosides biosynthetic pathway ultimately for improving the quality of American ginseng germplasm.
DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Library ; Genes, Plant ; Ginsenosides ; biosynthesis ; Panax ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics

Chinese medical syndrome efficacy, as a second efficacy indicator, has been widely used in clinical trials of treating dementia by Chinese herbal medicine. The syndrome assessment tool is a key point in assessing the efficacy of Chinese medical syndrome. The syndrome assessment tool for dementia used nowadays needs to be optimized in content, reliability, and validity. In this paper, the authors reviewed some problems correlated with the design of Chinese medical assessment questionnaire on the basis of Chinese medical theories by combining the common requirements for questionnaire development.
Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Dementia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome