Drug Stability ; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate ; administration & dosage

Background and purpose:Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most important therapeutic tools for esophageal cancer. Because tumors are heterogeneous, including for18F-FDG uptake and, most likely, for radioresistance, selective boosting of high FDG uptake zones within the tumor has been suggested. Therefore, it is critical to know whether the location of these high FDG uptake patterns within the tumor remains stable during RT.Methods:Twenty-two patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with concurrent chemo-radiation underwent repeated18F-FDG PET-CT scans before RT and after 20 fractions of RT. On all scans, the high and low FDG uptake regions were auto-delineated using several standard uptake value (SUV) thresholds, varying from 40% to 70% of SUVmax on the pretreatment scan [gross tumor volume (GTV)40%pre, GTV50%pre, GTV60%pre, GTV70%pre] and from 70% to 90% of SUVmax on the dur-treatment scan (GTV70%dur, GTV80%dur, GTV90%dur) and ifxed thresholds of 2.5 and 5 (GTV2.5pre, GTV5pre). The volumes and overlap fractions (OF) of these delineations were calculated to demonstrate the stability of the high FDG uptake regions during RT.Results:The high uptake regions within the tumor during RT largely corresponded (OF>70%) with the 50% SUVmax high FDG uptake area (GTV50%pre) of the pretreatment scan. The hotspot within the residual area (GTV90%dur) was completely within the GTV and pre-radiotherapy high uptake regions (OF=100%). Although the location of the high FDG uptake patterns within the tumor during RT remained stable, the delineated volumes varied markedly.Conclusion:The location of the high FDG uptake areas within the tumor remained stable during RT. This knowledge may enable selective boosting of high FDG uptake areas within the tumor.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of the elderly far lateral lumbar disc herniation via Quadrant channel system under the Wiltse approach. Methods Thirty-three elderly patients suffering from far lateral lumbar disc herniation were treated by surgery, among whom 18 patients were treated by Quadrant minimally invasive channel system (Quadrant group), and 13 patients were treated by percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED group). The patients were followed up for 12 months, and the operation time, blood loss and length of incision were investigated. The JOA scores were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. Results The patients in two groups were followed up for 24 months, except 1 patient withdrew in Quadrant group. The incision length and blood loss in PTED group were superior to those in the Quadrant group:2.0-2.5 cm vs. 0.7 cm, (46.50± 15.20) ml vs.(23.87±6.58) ml, P<0.01, but the operation time in PTED group was longer than that in Quadrant group: (77.17 ± 8.71) min vs. (63.20 ±10.87) min, P<0.01.The two groups had achieved good curative effect, while JOA score in PTED group was superior to the Quadrant group 1 week after operation ( P<0.05), but in 3 month and 12 month two groups had no significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion Surgical treatment on elderly far lateral lumbar disc herniation via quadrant channel under wiltse approach is an effective method, and can achieve similar effect with PTED.

Objective To examine the distribution of bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of pathogens in febrile neutropenic patients.Methods A total of 355 bacterial strains were isolated from febrile neutropenic patients in Shanghai General Hospital from January 2005 to December 2012. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer method. The susceptibility testing results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 70.4% of the 355 isolates, while gram-positive organisms accounted for 29.6%. The most common bacterial species werePseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophiliaand Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Non-fermentative bacteria accounted for 53.2% of all the gram-negative bacterial isolates. All theEnterococcus and
Staphylococcus isolates were susceptible to linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin. All theStaphylococcus strains were resistant to methicillin.P. aeruginosa isolates were relatively more susceptible to cefoperazone-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam and cefepime (>70%) than imipenem (40.8%) and meropenem (59.2%). All theK. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem and more than 70% of the isolates were susceptible to cefoperazone-sulbactam, amikacin. More than 80% of theA. baumannii isolates were susceptible to carbapenems, cefoperazone-sulbactam, amikacin, ciprolfoxacin and aminoglycosides. All the E. coli isolates were susceptible to carbapenems and more than 70% were susceptible to cefoperazone-sulbactam and ceftazidime. More than 90% of theS. maltophilia strains were sensitive to levolfoxacin, minocycline, cefoperazone-sulbactam and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.Conclusions Our data suggest that gram-negative bacteria, especiallyEnterobacteriaceae and non-fermentative bacteria, are still the primary pathogens in febrile neutropenic patients. Antimicrobial resistant strains are prevalent. Such data of bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility proifle of pathogens in febrile neutropenic patients are useful for empirical antimicrobial therapy of such infections.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of Modified Xiaoyao Decoction (MXD) combining clomipramine in treatment of depression.

METHODSOne hundred and five depression patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The treated group (53 patients), all were differentiated as Gan-qi stagnation syndrome type and treated with MXD combining clomipramine 25-50 mg/d. The control group (52 patients) treated with clomipramine 75-225 mg/d alone. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks in both groups. Scores of depression was assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) before treatment and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th week of the treatment, efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated with Global Impression of Change (CGI) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) respectively.

RESULTSAfter treatment the scores in both groups were significantly different from those before treatment (P < 0.01), but no significant difference was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Main adverse reactions were dry mouth, constipation in the treated group, much less than those in the control group, which were mainly dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, blurred vision and prolonged Q-T interval (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMXD combining clomipramine has the efficacy on depression similar to clomipramine, but has less adverse reactions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; therapeutic use ; Clomipramine ; therapeutic use ; Depression ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE:To study the time-effect and dose-effect of paeonol on the apoptosis of knee osteoarthritis(OA)artic-ular chondrocyte in rabbits and the mRNA expression of its related protein Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS:60 big-ear rabbits were ran-domly divided into normal (normal saline) group,model (normal saline) group,paeonol high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups and triamcinolone acetonide(positive drug)group,with 10 rabbits in each group. Except for normal group,OA model was induced by right knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACLT) and the medial meniscus 1/3 resection in those groups. After modeling, different doses of paeonol(0.8,0.4,0.2 mg/kg),triamcinolone acetonide 0.2 mg/kg were injected into right articular cavity twice a week. 4 weeks and 8 weeks after administration,articular cartilage specimens were collected. Ultrapathological structure changes of articular chondrocytes were observed by electron microscope. Apoptosis of cartilage cell was observed by TUNEL and apoptotic index was calculated. mRNA expression of apoptosis related genes of Bcl-2 and Bax in articular cartilage tissue of rabbits were de-tected by in situ hybridization technique. RESULTS:Compared with normal group,articular chondrocyte of model group showed early and middle stage apoptosis morphology change after 4 and 8 weeks,and apoptosis index increased significantly and the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was up-regulated (P<0.01);4 and 8 weeks later after administration,compared with model group,apoptosis index decreased and mRNA expression of Bax was down-regulated in paeonol groups,while mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Electron microscopy ultrastructural observation showed articular chondrocyte of pae-onol high-dose and middle-dose groups were in early stage of apoptosis.CONCLUSIONS:Paeonol can slow down articular chondro-cyte degeneration and destroy in OA model rabbits in time and dose dependently. Its mechanism may be associated with expression up-regulation of Bcl-2 and expression down-regulation of Bax.

In this paper, vegetative( vip83 ) and crystal(cry1Ac10 and cry1Ca) insecticidal protein genes from Bacillus thuri ngiensis were simultaneously electrospored into the plasmid-free strain BMB17 1. By the means of the specific P CR detection, the recombinant strains BMB2830-171 contained cry 1Ac10 and vip83, and BMB2 882-171 had cry1Ca and vip83 , were obtained respectively. Under the control of r ecombinant strains with one gene, bioassay of the synergism between vegetative V ip83 and crystal Cry1Ac10( or Cry1Ca )insecticidal proteins to three important Lepidopteran pests were done. The results, by analysis of statistic bio-so ft, showed that the synergia relation of vegetative Vip83 and crystal Cry1Ac10 i nsecticidal protein toxic to Heliothis armigera wascounteracted, while Plu tella xylostella and Spodotera exigua unobservable. There was no synergis tic action between Vip83 and Cry1Ca insecticidal proteins with Spodotera exigu a as tested insect. Bu t their cooperation to Heliothis armigera was minus, and the counterpart to Plutella xylostella plus, whose cotoxicity factor is 32.6. The experiment of bi-g ene genetic stability also suggested that the synergia effection had certain molecu lar genetic stability in the same cell. This performance can be contributed to construct high-effect and wide-spectrum engineered strain.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on the testicular histology and reproductive endocrine function in male rats and investigate the possible mechanism of inflammation affecting male fertility.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (A) and three LPS intervention groups (B, C, and D) to receive saline and LPS (5 mg/kg i. p, once), respectively. The animals in groups B, C, and D were killed by anesthesia at 12, 24, and 72 hours after treatment. Histopathological changes in the left testis of the rats were observed by HE staining and the levels of the reproductive hormones T, FSH, and LH in the serum were determined by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with group B, group A showed clear structure of seminiferous tubules, orderly arrangement of spermatogenic cells, a slightly decreased number of sperm in some seminiferous tubular lumens, and shed spermatogenic cells in the rat testis tissue; group C exhibited thinner seminiferous epithelia, disordered structure of seminiferous tubules, irregular arrangement of spermatogenic cells, decreased number of mature sperm and obvious shedding of spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubular lumens; group D manifested similar findings to those of group C, with even more shed spermatogenic cells that blocked the tubular lumens. The levels of serum T, LH, and FSH were (0.490 +/- 0.028) ng/ml, (6.290 +/- 0.515) ng/L, and (1.837 +/- 0.127) IU/L in group A, (0.460 +/- 0.024) ng/ml, (5.881 +/- 0.124) ng/L, and (1.707 +/- 0.098) IU/L in group B, (0.417 +/- 0.021) ng/ml, (5.123 +/- 0.271) ng/L, and (1.620 +/- 0.115) IU/L in group C, and (0.378 +/- 0.021) ng/ml, (4.504 +/- 0.279) ng/L and (1.562 +/- 0.216) IU/L in group D, all decreased in group B as compared with A (P > 0.05). The decreases of T and LH were extremely significant (P < 0.01) and that of FSH was significant in groups C and D (P < 0.05) in comparison with A.

CONCLUSIONLPS-induced inflammation affects the testicular tissue and reproductive endocrine function of male rats, resulting in decreased levels of serum T, LH, and FSH.

Animals ; Endocrine System ; drug effects ; physiology ; Fertility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reproduction ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

To study the chemical constituents of the 95% ethanol extract of Psidium guajava. Compounds were separated by using a combination of various chromatographic methods including silica gel, D101 macroporous resin, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral data Eighteen compounds were isolated and identified as (+) -globulol (1), clovane-2beta, 9alpha-diol (2), 2beta-acetoxyclovan-9alpha-ol (3), (+) -caryolane-1 ,9beta-diol (4), ent-T-muurolol (5), clov-2-ene-9alpha-ol (6), isophytol (7), tamarixetin (8), gossypetin (9), quercetin (10), kaempferol (11), guajaverin (12), avicularin (13), chrysin 6-C-glucoside (14), 3'-O-methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyellagic acid 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15), p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (16), guavinoside A (17) and guavinoside B (18). Compounds 2-9 and 14-16 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The ethanol extract showed 61.3% inhibition against the proliferation of colon cancer cell line SW480.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Psidium ; chemistry

Acclimatization ; physiology ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Mountaineering ; physiology ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Physical Fitness ; physiology ; Young Adult