The choroid is one of the most common ocular sites for metastatic disease. Lung cancer is the first cause of choroidal metastasis among primary cancers in China. The current management of choroidal metastasis of lung cancer is based on the combination of systemic treatments and local treatments. The latter mainly include radiotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, photodynamic therapy, intravitreous injection and enucleation. This review covers the research progress in local treatments on choroidal metastasis of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) on the angiogenesis and injury repair in the ischemic region.

METHODSThe ischemic hind limb rat model was established using Bletilla embolization. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were labeled with DAPI and injected into the model rats from the vena caudalis. Then rats were treated with different doses of XFZYD by gastrogavage. Blood was withdrawn. The granulation tissue and the muscle tissues from ischemic and necrotic portion were taken on the 3rd and 7th day of the medication. The samples were frozen and sliced to analyze the fluorescent expressions. The necrosis of each sample was observed by routine pathological section. The vessels number was counted. The serum NO levels were detected using nitrate reductase method. The macro-morphological observation of ischemic lower limbs were lasted for 30 days.

RESULTSAfter 3 and 7 days of medication, the fluorescence intensity of ischemic area and the number of granulation vessels were significantly more in the high dose XFZYD group than in the routine treatment group and the normal saline treatment groups. The aforesaid indices were significantly higher in the routine treatment group than in the normal saline treatment group after 7 days of medication. The serum NO concentrations were significantly lower in the normal saline group at other time points. On the 30th day of medication, the muscular atrophy of the ischemic hind limbs was the least significant in the high dose XFZYD group.

CONCLUSIONXFZYD could improve the ischemic necrosis by improving the NO level, inducing the EPCs' migration to the ischemic region, and promoting the angiogenesis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Female ; Ischemia ; pathology ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of X-ray stereotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) in diagnosis of mammographic minimal lesions.

METHODSThirty-one cases with suspicious malignant lesions detected by mammography underwent breast biopsy using computer-assisted stereotactic system with spring-loaded biopsy guns and 16G core needles. All specimens underwent histopathologic examination. Surgical operations were performed in 24 cases after SCNB, and pathological findings of SCNB specimens were compared with those of surgical biopsy.

RESULTAmong 24 cases with surgical excision, 8 cases (33.3%) were confirmed as breast carcinoma, and the other 16 cases (66.7%) was benign breast lesions. The consistency rate of diagnosis with two methods was 87.5%.

CONCLUSIONAs a safe and effective diagnostic method, SCNB is preferred approach to differentiate between malignant and benign diseases of minimal breast lesions before surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Breast ; pathology ; Breast Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged

To optimize the formulation and preparation method of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin and to investigate its pharmacokinetics in rats, the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin was prepared by double emulsification method and the formulation was optimized by orthogonal design. The release characteristics of thymopentin from multivesicular liposome in PBS (pH 7.4) and in plasma were investigated. The multivesicular liposome of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate was prepared by double emulsification method. Its pharmacokinetics was evaluated following intramuscular injection in rats. The optimal formulation of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin were formulated with 7.5% glucose in aqueous phase and 2.25 mol x L(-1) triolein, 2.68 mol x L(-1) DPPG and 16.96 mol x L(-1) DOPC in organic phase. The entrapment efficiency of the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin was above 85% and the mean particle size was about 22 microm. The in vitro release of thymopentin from multivesicular liposome in PBS (pH 7.4) and in plasma was found to be in a sustained manner. The release curves were fitted to Higuchi equation. The pharmacokinetics following intramuscular injection of the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate in rats showed that the peak concentration of thymopentin was lower and elimination of it was slower significantly than that of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate solution in the same dose. The plasma concentration of thymopentin maintained above quantitative limitation at 120 h after administration of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin. The optimized formulation and preparation technology of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin with higher entrapment efficiency are feasible with good reproducibility. Multivesicular liposome of thymopentin showed significant sustained-release property following intramuscular injection in rats.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Male ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylcholines ; chemistry ; Phosphatidylglycerols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thymopentin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Triolein ; chemistry

Objective:To explore the effects of tamoxifen on proliferation,migration and invasion of human thyroid papillary carcinoma BCPAP cells.Methods:Human thyroid papillary carcinoma BCPAP cells were treated with various concentrations of tamoxifen for 24 hours,respectively,CCK8 assay was used to detect the change of proliferation level;It can be divided into four groups:negative group,10 μmol/L TAM group and 20 μmol/L TAM group.Wound healing test was used to detect the change of migration ability and Transwell assay was used to detect the change of invasion ability.The protein levels of bcl-2 and C-myc in the BCPAP cells treated with various concentrations of tamoxifen were detected by Western blot.Results:CCK8 assay,wound healing test and Transwell assay showed that tamoxifen had induced a dose-dependent decrease in the proliferation,migration and invasion of human thyroid papillary carcinoma BCPAP cells.Furthermore,western blot demonstrated that the tamoxifen decreased the expression of bcl-2 and C-myc in BAPAP cells.Conclusions Tamoxifen can inhibit proliferation,migration and invasion of human thyroid papillary carcinoma BCPAP cells.We speculated that the inhibition of proliferation maybe related to down-regulation of bcl-2 and C-myc expression.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between polymorphism of Ghrelin gene and serum levels of lipoprotein in Han Chinese with or without coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors.

METHODSPCR restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to detect the distribution of genotypes of Ghrelin gene in 225 Han Chinese (40 to 69 years-old) with CHD risk factors, 78 subjects without CHD risk factors served as normal controls. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured to analyze the relationship with the polymorphism of Ghrelin gene.

RESULTSGhrelin genotype frequencies of AA, AG, GG (0.975, 0.025, 0.00 in control group and 0.956, 0.040, 0.004 in the high-risk group, all P > 0.05) as well as the allele frequencies of A, G (0.987, 0.013 in control group and 0.976, 0.024 in the high-risk group, all P > 0.05) were similar between the groups. HDL-C levels of the Arg/Gln carriers were significantly lower than those of Arg/Arg carriers in control group and in the high-risk group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONArg/Gln carriers were associated lower HDL-C levels in Han Chinese.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Ghrelin ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze factors influencing the choice of atrial septal occluder (ASO) for transcatheter closure of patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).

METHODSA total of 1114 ASD patients [388 males, aged from 2 to 75 years, mean age (26.3 +/- 17.0) years] were enrolled. Patients were divided to adult (> 14 years, mean 34.4 years, n = 779) and child (< or = 14 years, mean 7.3 years, n = 335) groups. ASD size in different ultrasound cross-sections was determined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). ASO size was chosen on the basis of the maximum diameter of the defect (MD). Defect-shapes and rim lengths of ASD, the difference choice of ASO in the two groups were compared.

RESULTSMD of the defects ranged from 5 to 40 mm [mean (19.7 +/- 7.8) mm]. ASD was successfully occluded in 1085 out of 1114 patients (97.4%). Occluder size ranged from 6 to 46 mm [mean (25.8 +/- 8.9) mm] and the difference between occluder size and MD ranged from 2 to 10 mm [mean (6.1 +/- 3.4) mm, ASO/MD ratio 1.3:1]. Though the diameter of the defect was similar between the 2 groups, the size of occluder was significantly larger in adult group than that in child group (ASO/MD ratio 1.1 - 1.6:1 vs. 1.2 - 1.8:1, P < 0.05). MD was significantly correlated with ASO in both groups (r = 0.911 and r = 0.944 in adults and child groups, respectively, all P < 0.01). The size and increment of the occluder used in patients with deficient anterior rims was significantly bigger than patients with sufficient anterior rims (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe maximum diameter of the defect was the major determinant for selecting occluder size and choice of occluder size was also influenced by patient age, defect-shape and defect rim for transcatheter closure of secundum ASD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physicians ; psychology ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Prosthesis Design ; Septal Occluder Device ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction ()-containing serum (XFZYD-CS) on endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) tube formation in vitro.

METHODSMononuclear cells from rat bone marrow were prepared in a Ficoll density gradient centrifuge. EPCs were separated by the differential attachment method, and observed with inverted microscope for the effect of XFZYD-CS on EPC tube formation.

RESULTSAfter one day, EPCs exposed to the serum containing 5%, 10% and 15% XFZYD-CS formed typical tubes or vessel networks. The tube formation time was two days ahead of the control group and the size of most tubes in the serum groups was smaller than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONXFZYD-CS could induce EPC angiogenesis and hasten tube formation, especially in capillary vessels. The study provides experimental evidence for the plausibility of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in the treatment of ischemic diseases.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Shape ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) and their role in podocyte injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSForty SD rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin were randomized equally into 5 groups, including a diabetic nephropathy model group and 4 treatment groups, with 8 normal SD rats as the normal control group. In the 4 treatment groups, the rats received intraperitoneal injections with SU5416 at 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg twice a week or with LY294002 at 1 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg once daily for 8 weeks. Blood glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and 24-h urinary protein levels of the rats were detected at different time points, and the pathologies in the renal tissue were observed using HE staining, PAS staining and immunohistochemistry. The expressions of VEGF, nephrin, and TRPC6 at mRNA and protein levels were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with normal control rats, the diabetic rats showed significantly increased fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24-h urinary protein levels with decreased expressions of nephrin mRNA and protein (P<0.05) and increased expressions of VEGF and TRPC6 (P<0.05). Compared with the untreated diabetic rats, the rats with SU5416 treatment showed increased 24-h urinary protein, urea nitrogen, and nephrin expression and decreased TRPC6 expression without significant changes in fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, or VEGF expression. The rats treated with LY294002 showed decreased 24-h urinary protein and TRPC6 expression without significant changes in fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, or expressions of nephrin and VEGF.

CONCLUSIONThe regulatory effect of VEGF on TRPC6 can be blocked by inhibiting VEGFR-2 or blocking PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.