In order to explore the possibility of Xihuangwan (XHW)'s application in assistant therapy in patients with breast cancer, short- and long-term clinical efficacy were assessed in this study. Eighty and four patients with advanced breast cancer were selected in this study. They were divided into control group and treatment group randomly and evenly. All patients received surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy regimen composed of PTX + EPI + CTX (TEC regimen). Treatment group received additional assistant treatment of XHW. Short-term clinical efficacy was assessed by KPS, lesion stabilizing rate and side effects in 3-month follow-up study. Long-term clinical efficacy was assessed by overall survival (OS) and free-progression survival (FPS). KPS increased significantly after treatment in all patients (P < 0.05), more significantly in treatment group than in control group after treatment (P < 0.05); lesion stabilizing rate in treatment group increased significantly in treatment group than in control group (92.86% vs. 85.71%, P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between control group and treatment group in occurrence of side effects. Compared with control group, OS and FPS increased significantly in treatment group. Data in this study showed that XHW was suitable in treatment of advanced breast cancer due to its satisfactory short-term and long-term therapeutic effects.
Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of curcumin in inducing the apoptosis of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231.

METHODCurcumin of different concentrations at 0, 10 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 micromol x L(-1) were used to intervene breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 for 24 hours. MTT was used to observe its effect on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The flow cytometry was used to detect its effect on the cell apoptosis. The real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot was used to assess the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

RESULTCurcumin could inhibit the proliferative ability of breast cancer cells by inducing them in a concentration-dependent manner. Curcumin could significantly increase the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Female ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To detect neuroendocrinal factor,and explore whether neurohormonal activation exists in children with conge-nital heart disease(CHD).Methods Concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),angiotensionⅡ(AngⅡ),aldosterone(ALD),endothelin-1(ET-1),and norepinephrine(NE)were determined in 100 children with CHD and were assayed at 24 hours,1 month,3 months and 6 months after interventional therapy in 70 cases with CHD.Results Children with CHD heart disease had elevated levels of ANP(25.6?7.5) pmol/L,BNP(15.7?7.4) pmol/L,ET-1(1.12?0.31) pmol/L(all P=0.0001),(AngⅡ)(90.3?11.5) ng/L,NE(1.07?0.08) nmol/L and ALD(246.1?42.3) pmol/L(all P=0.001).There was a highly significant stepwise increase in ANP,BNP,ET-1,AngⅡ,ALD and NE according to New York Heart Association class,with even asymptomatic patients having evidence of significant neurohormonal activation.The neurohormonal function gradually returned to normal after interven-(tional) therapy.Conclusions Neurohormonal activation in children CHD bears the hallmarks of chronic heart failure,relating to symptom severity and ventricular dysfunction.

6.66 kPa),30 cases of light degree pulmonary artery hypertension group (3.99 kPa

Objective To investigate the microsurgical treatment of subdural extramedullary tumors in ventral spinal.Methods Retrospectively analyzed 16 cases of subdural extramedullary tumors in ventral spinal which resected by microsurgical technique from January 2000 to December 2013.By summarized the tumor character,location,extent of resection and rehef of symptoms.Results All of 16 cases were successfully resected,in which 14 cases completely resected,2 cases mostly resected.A higher response rate of local symptoms and neurological symptoms obtained postoperatively,2 patients got worse sensory disorders,movement disorder compared with preoperative,cerebrospinal fluid leakage occured in 1 patient.Conclusion Resection of the subdural extramedullary tumors in ventral spinal with microsurgical technique has the advantage of more clearly anatomical level,minimal tissue injury of spinal cord and surrounding tissue,higher tumor removal rate.

reression of M 2 receptor mRNA of rat myocardium intoxicated by soman under high altitude hypoxia. Methods The expressions of M 2 receptor mRNA under hypoxia, soman intoxication and soman intoxication under hypoxia were detected by semi quantitative RT PCR, respectively. Results The expression of M 2 receptor mRNA increased in the high altitude hypoxia group. Both simple soman intoxication and combined soman intoxication and hypoxia decreased the expression of M 2 receptor rapidly. But under hypoxia, the expression increased significantly at 12 h and 24 h. Conclusion M 2 receptor was sensitive to nerve agents. Compared to simple soman intoxication group, the expression of M 2 receptor increased in combined soman intoxication and hypoxia group. This may be one of the major factors leading to aggravation of the injury of heart function by nerve agents in high altitude area.

Objective To study prognosis of patients with fulminant hepatitis after plasma ex- change treatment using model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scoring system.Methods 160 pa- tients were randomly divided into plasma exchange group and control group,and MELD score was calculated according to the original formula for each patient.The efficacy of plasma exchange was as- sessed by mortality and improvement in biochemical parameters and MELD score.Results The levels of total bilirubin(TBIL),INR and MELD score of patients whose MELD scores were between 30 and 40[TBIL,(379.4?40.4)?mol/L; INR,2.5?0.2; MELD,30.8?3.8]were lower than before PE treatment[TBIL,(509.7?64.6)?mol/L;INR,3.5?0.3;MELD,37.3?3.5].The levels of TBIL and INR and MELD score of patients whose MELD scores were higher than 40 [TBIL,(595.6?61.5)?mol/L;INR,3.8?0.4;MELD,39.8?3.5]were lower than before PE treatmem [TBIL, (650.4?66.3)?mol/L;INR,4.4?0.6;MELD,45.2?4.2].The mortality of patients in PE group with MELD score from 30 and 40 was 50.0%,while it was 86.7% in control group,showing significant differ- ence between PE group and control group(P＜0.01).The mortality of patients with MELD scores higher than 40 was 91.2% in PE group and 100% in control group,showing no significant difference between these two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Plasma exchange treatment can decrease the serum TBIL level, INR and MELD score of patients with fulminant hepatitis and improve liver function.Compared with the control group,plasma exchange can significantly decrease the mortality of patients in PE group with MELD score from 30 to 40,but no effect on patients with MELD score higher than 40.

Objective To study the value of lung window and soft tissue window in measuring colon diseases with experimental CTVC examination.Methods Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases were placed with glue in a thoroughly cleaned porcine colon(overall length,150 era)that was distented with air and submerged in a water phantom and scanned 10 times on a 64-MSCT(GE Light speed)with identical scanning parameters.The data were reconstructed every 0.625 mm and reviewed using 2D images, navigation,MPR and 3D volume-rendered images on a GE AW 4.2 workstation.The maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured by two radiologists with more than 10 years working experience in lung window(W = 1000,L =-700)and soft tissue window(W =400,L =40),respectively.The average value of maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured for 10 times and were compared with the actual diameter.Results Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases and their shape,size,loeation and relation of diseases with bowel wall were all showed excellently.The maximum diameter measured was close to the actual diameter.The average value was mostly less than actual diameter and a few of them more than the actual diameter.The maximum diameter measured in lung window was close to the actual diameter,and there was no difference between the two data sets(t =0.431,P =0.669).There was difference between the maximum diameter measured in soft tissue window and the virtual diameter(t = 2.691,P = 0.010). Conclusion In screening the colon diseases,CTVC is a good method of choice with no insult or less insult, and higher repeatability.The lung window should be chosen in measuring colon diseases in CTVC examination.

Objective To evaluate the safety,biocompatibility and efficacy of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(ASD)with no stainless-steel-screw occluder in canine model.Methods The device was constructed from superelastic Nitinol wires tightly woven into two flat disks and sewed with polyester fibers inside,with a pliable loop on the right-atrial-disk of the device,connecting to the delivery cable.ASD was created by transcatheter puncture and balloon dilatation and then closed by occluder under fluoroscopy in the catheterization laboratory.The location and the influence of the implanted device on function of tricuspid valve and mitral valve were evaluated by echocardiography.At 1,2,3 and 6 months after the operation,the animals were killed and autopsy was conducted.Results Eight dogs with puncture-produced ASD underwent ASD closing procedure successfully.The occluder showed no influence on the function of MV and AV demonstrated by echocardiogram.The two disks of the implanted device were covered with a smooth intact neogenesis layer in all dogs.Endocardial cells fully covered the surface of the two disk without inflammating reaction 3 months later. There was no evidence of corrosion on the surface of the nitinol wire removed from the dog after 6 months.Light microscopic examination of the liver,kidney,lung and spleen showed no evidence of embolization and inflammation.Conclusion Transcatheter ASD occlusion with new-type occluder is safe,feasible,effective and good biocompatibility with a good prospective clinical application.

Objective To study CT and MRI appearance of transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAI)) .to reveal the cause of THAD),and to avoid false positive and misdiagnosis.Methods 10 cases appearing THAD in CT and 5 cases appearing THAI) in MRI were reviewed and all were processed with plain scan and dy- namic contrast with CT or MRI.Results 7 cases appeared transienl hypertransfusion of CT,4 cases appeared tran- sient hypertransfusion of MRI;3 cases appeared transient Hypoperfusion of CT,1 case appeared transient hypoperfu- sion of MRI.Conclusion The appearance of THAD in CT and MRI,was related to the quick-scan with CT and MRI only sufficient comprehension of the characteristics of blood supply in normal physiology and pathology of liver, combined with plain scan,could make correct decision possible in the final diagnosis when it occurred regional perfu- sion difference in liver.