OBJECTIVE: To synthesize folic acid-modified dextran-5-fluorouracil (FA-DEX-5-Fu) conjugates and investigate its cytotoxicity on cells with folate receptors. METHODS: Dextran (DEX) was selected as the macromolecular carrier and the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) was selected as a model drug to synthesize 5-Fu-DEX, and then folic acid (FA) was linked into 5-Fu-DEX as the targeting ligand to obtain the conjugate, FA-DEX-5-Fu. UV spectra, IR and ESI-MS were used to identify the structure. UV spectrophotometry was used to determine the contents of FA and 5-Fu in the conjugate. MTT assay was applied to examine the cytotoxicity of free 5-Fu, 5-Fu-DEX and FA-DEX-5-Fu on the Human cervical carcinoma cell line Hela (overexpressing folate receptors) and human lung carcinoma cell line A549 (folate receptor deficient, as negative group). RESULTS: 5-Fu and FA were successfully linked with 5-Fu-DEX as confirmed by UV, IR and ESI-MS spectra.The molar ratio of 5-Fu and FA in the conjutate was 2.7:1 as determined by UV spectrophotometry. MTT assay results showed the inhibition rate of FA-DEX-5-Fu on Hela cells was much higher than that on A549 cells. And the inhibition rate of FA-DEX-5-Fu on Hela cells was much higher than those of 5-Fu-DEX and free 5-Fu at the same concentration. CONCLUSION: FA-DEX-5-Fu is successfully synthesized and the conjugate shows significant targeting effect against tumor cells overexpressing folate receptors.

Objective To investigate the Ring Artifact Location Algorithm based on edge detection to eliminate the ring artifact.Methods The Sobel operator was used to extract the ring edge,and then an algorithm,which combined scan line searching with line fitting,was applied to determining the ring center and its size.Finally the linear interpolation algorithm was used to get rid of the ring artifact.Results This method was very effective to eliminate the ring artifact of both phantom and clinical images.Conclusion This algorithm is faster and more effective than the usual one and its speed and accuracy are improved.

Objective To study the effect of amelogenin (AML)on the migration,adhesion and proliferation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs).Methods STRO-1 +PDLSCs were selected by Flow cytometer.The transwell system was used to detect the effect of AML on migration of PDLSCs.Cells attachment assay was used to detect the effect of AML on adhesion of PDLSCs.MTT was used to detect the effect of AML on the proliferation of PDLSCs.Results The results of transwell showed that AML could induce the migration of PDLSCs with positive correlation.Cells attachment assay showed that the adhesion of PDLSCs was effected by AML as well,and the effect was in-creased with the extension of incubation time.Results of MTT showed that AML could promote the proliferation of PDLSCs in a dose depend-ent manner.Conclusion AML could increase the proliferation,adhesion and migration potential of PDLSCs.

Objective To explore the factors that affect the prognosis of extensive small cell lung cancer by analyzing the association between lab-oratory indicators before treatment of extensive small cell lung cancer patients and the initial evaluation results with disease progression and overall survival. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 96 cases of hospitalized patients in the medical oncology department of The First Hospital of China Medical University from March 2008 to September 2014. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were adopted to ana-lyze the relevant factors affecting the prognosis of extensive small cell lung cancer. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There was no obvious correlation between HB level before treatment with PFS of patients(P=0.179),but there was obvious significant correlation be-tween HB level and OS of patients(P=0.041). Our results showed that the TBIL level of patients before chemotherapy was significantly associated with the PFS(P=0.039)and OS(P=0.026)of patients. Conclusion HB and TBIL levels are the influencing factors that affect the prognosis and survival of patients with extensive small cell lung cancer.

Objective To determine whether neuron?specific enolase(NSE)affects the prognosis of extensive small cell lung cancer by analyz?ing the association between NSE before treatment and disease progression and overall survival of patients. Methods This study retrospectively an?alyzed 83 inpatients in the medical oncology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from March 2008 to September 2014. The Kaplan?Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze relevant factors affecting the prognosis of extensive small cell lung cancer;statistical significance was determined for a P value less than 0.05. Results The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level be?fore treatment was significantly associated with the progression?free survival(PFS)(P=0.001)and overall survival(OS)(P=0.036). The NSE level before treatment was also significantly associated with the PFS(P=0.007)and OS(P=0.013). Conclusion LDH and NSE affect progno?sis and survival of patients with extensive small cell lung cancer.

Aim To investigate the effect of ASX (trans-astaxanthin)on the expressions of NF-κB p65 , iNOS and TNF-αin the hippocampus and the prefron-tal cortex of chronic alcohol mice.Methods 40 mice were randomly divided into control group,7 d,14 d, 21 d,28 d alcohol-treated group,the mice were given alcohol preference testing on day of 6,13,20,27. Mice were subjected to alcohol withdrawal for one day after testing.In order to determine the exact time point of cognitive memory impairment in mice after alcohol consumption,they were given morris water maze test after alcohol preference testing. The other 40 mice were randomly divided into control group, alcohol group and ASX group (20,40,80 mg·kg-1 ).After chronic ASX administration, mice were given one probe trial of 60 s in which the platform was removed from the pool to evaluate escape latency,the number of times the animal crossed the previous location of the platform,time spent in the target quadrant,and swim-ming speed.The expressions of NF-κB p65 ,iNOS and TNF-αwere detected by western blotting after behav-ioral testing.Results The mice showed an obvious al-cohol-related phenomenon on 2 1 and 28 days after al-cohol treatment,and escape latency significantly in-creased,entries in target quadrant and duration in tar-get quadrant significantly decreased with increasing drinking days and withdrawal times.The results also suggested that 2 1 days chronic ASX treatment reversed this learning deficit.Moreover,the expression of NF-κB p65 ,iNOS and TNF-αin the hippocampus were significantly increased after 2 1 d alcohol treatment (P<0.001),and pretreatment with ASX (40,80 mg· kg-1 ) could obviously inhibit these changes (P <0.001);Parallel to these changes in the hippocam-pus,the level of NF-κB p65 ,iNOS and TNF-αwere also increased in the prefrontal cortex (P<0.001 ), however,only ASX (80 mg · kg-1 ) administration could inhibit the increase (P<0.05 ).Conclusion These results indicate that ASX pretreatment can pro-tect against alcohol-induced memory impairment via the inhibition of NF- κB p65 ,iNOS and TNF-αexpres-sions in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

AIM:To investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram on the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of alcoholism model mice.METHODS:The mice (n=60) were randomly divided into control group , con-trol+rolipram group, alcoholism model group, and alcohol +rolipram (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) groups.The mice were given alcohol preference test on days 6, 13, 20 and 27.After the test, the mice received withdrawal of alcohol for 1 d.On day 28, the mice were given behavior test of depression , and after the test, the mice were sacrificed.The cAMP levels in the hippocampus and PFC were detected by ELISA , and the protein levels of PKA , CREB, p-CREB and BDNF were detec-ted by Western blot.RESULTS:The mice showed an obvious drinking phenomenon (P<0.01), and the immobility time of forced swimming test and tail suspension test was significantly increased (P<0.01), with increasing drinking days and withdrawal times .However , chronic treatment with rolipram for 28 d reversed this phenomenon .Moreover , the cAMP lev-els in the hippocampus and PFC were significantly decreased after 28 d alcohol treatment ( P<0.01 ) , and pretreatment with rolipram (1 mg/kg) obviously reversed this decrease (P<0.01).Parallel to these changes of cAMP , the protein lev-els of PKA, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased in the hippocampus and PFC (P<0.01), and 28 d rolipram adminis-tration inhibited the decreased cAMP , PKA, p-CREB and BDNF levels in the hippocampus .Moreover, 28 d rolipram ad-ministration also reversed decreased cAMP , PKA and p-CREB in the PFC.CONCLUSION:Rolipram treatment protects against alcohol-induced depression-like behaviors , and also reduces alcohol drinking .These effects may be related to PDE4-cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway .

Objective To assess the value of multi-slice spiral CT angiography (MSCTA) in diagnosis of posterior nutcracker syndrome (NCS). Methods MSCTA of 15 patients clinically diagnosed as posterior NCS (patient group) and 50 subjects with normal renal vessels (control group) were retrospectively analyzed. The anatomy, course and relationship to the adjacent structure of left renal vein (LRV) and its branches were observed. The anteroposterior diameter (d1) and cross areas (s1) of the angle of control group and posterior abdominal artery (AA), the anteroposterior diameter (d2) and cross areas (s2) at the largest lumen near the renal hilar were measured and the ratio of s2/s1 and d2/ d1 were calculated.Results All LRVs posterior AA of patient group were compressed and narrowing with dilating apparently near the renal hilar. The difference of d2 was not significant (P＞0.05), but of other values were significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion MSCTA can show anatomy and three-dimentional trend clearly of LRV for posterior NCS, and evaluate the extent of narrow and dilating lumen accurately with cross areas measuring.

Objective To study the expression of PTEN and Caspase-3 proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) and to analyze the relationships between the expressions of the proteins and clinicopathologic factors as well as prognosis.Methods 64 cases of ESCCs,16 cases of pericarcinoma tissues and 16 cases of dysplasia epithelium were immunohistochemically stained.All 64 patients who underwent surgical treatment up to January 2005 were regularly followed up through letters and check-ups.Results The positive expression rate in pericarcinoma tissues,dysplasia and ESCC were significantly down-regulated((P