Objective: To investigate the effects of Qingyi Huaji (QYHJ) decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on tumor inhibition rate and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in nude mice with transplanted tumors of human pancreatic cancer. Methods: The tumor-bearing mice model was established by subcutaneously inoculating with xenografts of pancreatic cancer into the right armpit of 40 BALB/c nude mice. After successful modeling, the mice were randomly divided into untreated group (Arabic gum), capecitabine group, low-dose QYHJ decoction group (36 g/kg) and high-dose QYHJ decoction group (72 g/kg), with 10 mice in each group. Citrate buffer solution (containing 5% Arabic gum), capecitabine suspension and QYHJ decoction were administered to four groups by gavage respectively. After 5-week treatment, the concentrations of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using blood sample from eye socket. Then the mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation. Tumor weight and the tumor inhibition rate were calculated. Results: Tumor weight in the low-dose QYHJ decoction group decreased significantly as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in low- and high-dose QYHJ groups were extremely significantly lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.01). Serum level of IL-8 in the low-dose QYHJ group was significantly lower than that in the untreated group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that transplanted tumor weight of the mice was linearly positively correlated with serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 or TNF-alpha (P<0.01). Conclusion: Conventional dose of QYHJ decoction is effective in suppressing pancreatic carcinoma in nude mice. The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of serum cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha.

Objective To study the changes of the transient outward K+ current (Ito),delayed rectifier K+ current(IkDR) and the inward rectifier K+ current(Ik1) of the rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induced by 5-Azacytidine(5-Aza) during proliferating and differentiating process in vitro. Methods MSCs were cultured according to related articles for two weeks and then some of the cells were induced by 5-Azacytidine.The experiment was divided into uninduced(cultured for 6w) and induced(1,2,3 and 4w) cell groups. Each week had twenty cells random tested by the whole-cell patch clamp technology and the K+ currents were identified by corresponding ionic blockers.Results The detection rate of the same type of K+ current during test weeks had no significant deviation;The three types of K+ current intensity were gradually augmented after being inducing cultured for 1,2,3 and 4 weeks(P

Objective To investigate the incidence and the related factors of the depression in Parkinson's disease. Methods 52 cases with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were included in this study. Such scales as Hamilton depression scale-24 item (HAMD-24), Non Motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's disease (NMSS), 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), revised Hoehn-Yahr rating scale (H-Y), revised Schwab and English daily life event scale (S-E), Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE), etc. were applied and underwent Spearman correlation analysis. Results Thirty-six patients with Parkinson's disease (69.23%) met the criteria for depression. The spearman rank correlation analysis showed that MMSE (r=-0.294, P=0.036) and S-E (r=-0.506, P<0.001) had negative correlation with depression in Parkinson's disease, and the course of the disease (r=0.274, P=0.049), UPDRS (r=0.485, P<0.001), H-Y (r = 0.459, P = 0.001), NMSE (r = 0.729, P < 0.001) and PDQ-39 (r = 0.619, P < 0.001) had positive correlation with depression in Parkinson's disease. Conclusions The patients with Parkinson's disease had high incidence of depression. The depression in Parkinson's disease is associated with many factors and affected the quality of life of the patients.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features,and differential diagnosis of nephrogenic metaplasia (NM).Methods The clinical data,histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of 6 cases of NM were analyzed,with review of the literature.Results There were 1 case of female,5 cases of male,aged from 31 to 81 years,with average of 58.1 years.The history revealed lithiasis of urologic tact in 2 cases,previous transurethral resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia or cystitis glandularis in 3 cases,and concurrent urothelial carcinoma in 1 case.The lesion involved in the ureter in 3 cases,prostatic urethra in 2 cases,and bladder trigone in 1 case.Cystoscopic examination demonstrated mucosal rough or low villous protrude.Microscopically,the lesion was consisted of tubules,cysts,small nests and papillary structures with basement membrane-like eosinophilic sheath,and lined by cuboidal,or low column epithelial cells with cytological atypia in some area,and shown inflammation in stroma.Immunohistochemically,there was positive staining for PAX2,PAX8,CK7 and P504S,negative for p63,CD10,and PSA.Conclusion NM is a rare tumor-like lesion often with injure of urologic tract,and should be differential with urothelial carcinoma,prostatic carcinoma,clear cell adenocarcinoma and endometriosis.It's important to know the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of NM for the correct interpretation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safe and effective treatment for painful venous malformation (VM) in limbs.

METHOD(1) 97 cases with painful VM underwent MRI to detect the location of VM, as well as its size and structure, its relationship with the surrounding tissue. Statistical analysis was also performed. (2) The embolic agent (ethanol) was first injected to embolize the draining vessels of VM, then the Polidocanol plus Methotrexate (MTX) was followed to keep the embolization effect on VM. The therapeutic effect was observed and analyzed.

RESULTSFrom January 2010 to January 2012, 97 patients with painful VM were treated. A Spearman correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between symptoms of pain and lesion growth, volume, or MRI grades (P > 0.05). The lesions in the muscle space are more likely to have the symptoms of pain (P < 0.01), followed by the lesions in the muscle, then the lesions in the joint and subcutaneous tissue. The pain relieve percentage was 95.9% (93/97) after one time embolic sclerotherapy. No severe complication, such as distant embolization, nerve damage, or muscle atrophy happened. No pain reoccurrence happened after 0.5-1.5 years of follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSThe treatment of embolic scleratherapy is minimal invasive, safe and effective for painful VM with stable results.

Ethanol ; therapeutic use ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Pain ; etiology ; Pain Management ; methods ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Sclerosing Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Sclerotherapy ; methods ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Vascular Malformations ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Veins ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion for pancreatic cancer with liver metastases (PCLM).

METHODSWe retrospectively selected 292 patients with PCLM who were treated by Chinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2001 to December 2010. All patients were assigned to the Western medicine treatment group (157 cases) and the integrative medicine treatment group (135 cases). Patients in the Western medicine treatment group were treated with gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy, and partial of them received regional arterial perfusion. Those in the integrative medicine treatment group additionally took Chinese herbs of clearing heat and eliminating mass for at least 4 weeks. The median survival time (MST) , adverse reactions and the incidence of complications were observed.

RESULTSThere was no statistical significance in general data between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in MST between the two groups (4.8 months vs 5.5 months, P < 0.05). No death occurred during chemotherapy or regional arterial perfusion. All toxic or adverse reactions were tolerable.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion was effective and safe, and it could be optimally selected as palliative therapy for PCLM.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Complementary Therapies ; methods ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Chemotherapy completion rate can reflect the tolerance and compliance of patients to chemotherapy. Poor tolerance may result in delay or suspension of the comprehensive treatment plan, thus affect the efficacy of cancer treatment. Evaluating methods to improve the completion rate of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence of delayed chemotherapy has gained increasing attention and is the significant area of study in the field of cancer treatment. Studies have shown that Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy could improve the quality of life in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ObjectiveTo explore the values of 3D enhanced T2-star weighted angiography (ESWAN) in detecting iron deposition of the brain in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS).Methods Conventional MRI and 3D ESWAN were performed in 22 patients with released-remitting MS(RR-MS) and in 22 age- and gender-matched normal controls.Both the magnitude images and phase images were available after post processing of the original ESWAN data post processing.The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores of the patients were from 0 to 8.5,and the course of disease were between 0.5 year and 15 years.The manifestation of MS lesions was evaluated on conventional MR images and ESWAN images by two experienced radiologists with blind methods.The phase values were measured for MS lesions between the semioval center and periventricular white matter and the corresponding regions in the normal control group were measured as well The Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare the differences of phase values between MS patients and normal controls,and the Spearman rank correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlations among the phase values of MS lesions,EDSS scores and course of disease of MS patients.Results( 1 ) MS lesions were observed on magnitude images and phase images,respectively and together.Two hundred and thirteen(32.8％ )lesions were detected on both the magnitude images and phase images,164 (25.2％)lesions were detected on the magnitude images only,and 273 (42.0％) lesions were detected on the phase images only.A total of 650 lesions were observed on the ESWAN,which showed more 42 lesions than conventional images(608).Among 486(273 + 213 )lesions observed on the phase images,205 (31.5％) lesions were homogeneously hypointense,45 (6.9％ ) lesions showed hypointense ring,and 236 (36.4％ ) lesions were inhomogeneously hypointense.(2) “ Penetrating veins” were showed in 424 (65.2％ ) periventricular lesions.The “penetrating veins” showed dilated and prolonged in 198 (30.5％ ) acute lesions,thin and short in 208 (32.9％ ) chronic lesions.However,the “penetrating veins” of 12 ( 1.8％ ) chronic lesions in 5 stable MS patients were expanded and prolonged slightly.( 3 ) The average phase value of the lesions ( - 0.05 ± 0.08) in patients with RR-MS was significantly lower than that of corresponding to regions (0.06 ± 0.05 ) in the normal control group( Z = 22.30,P ＜ 0.01 ).(4) The phase values of MS lesions were significantly correlated to the EDSS and course of disease of patients with RR-MS (r = -0.98,0.99 respectively,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionESWAN can be helpful in the evaluation and quantification of abnormal iron deposition in MS lesions,which provides important values for the pathogenesis and pathological study for MS patients.

AIM:To investigate the effect of microRNA-429 (miR-429) on the expression of occludin (Ocln) in intestinal epithelial cells ( IECs) and intestinal epithelial barrier function in diabetic mice.METHODS:Diabetes mel-litus mouse model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin.The expression of miR-429 in IECs of diabetic mice was inhibited by antagomiRNA-429 injected via tail vein.The expression of miR-429 and mRNA expression of Ocln were detected by real-time PCR.The protein expression of Ocln was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochem-istry.The urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio was measured by gas chromatography.The plasma LPS concentrations in the mice were measured by chromogenic end-point TAL kit.RESULTS:The results of real-time PCR confirmed that the ex-pression of miR-429 in IECs of diabetic mice was remarkably inhibited by tail-vein administration of antagomiRNA-429, and resumed to similar level of normal mice on the 6th day after the administration.After suppressing the level of miR-429, the expression of Ocln in IECs of diabetic mice increased significantly (P<0.05), while the urinary lactulose/mannitol ra-tio and the plasma LPS concentration decreased obviously ( P<0.05 ) .CONCLUSION:AntagomiRNA-429 effectively suppresses miR-429 expression in IECs of diabetic mice, and then enhances the expression of Ocln and partially resumes the intestinal epithelial barrier function.

Objective To evaluate the impacts of the two different gastrectomy methods on the quality of life,complication and prognosis in proximal gastric cancer.Methods One hundred and two cases of proxi-mal gastric cancer in Tung Wah Hospital were collected for retrospective analysis.They were divided into proxi-mal gastrectomy/gastroesophagostomy (PG)group (n =50)and total gastrectomy/esophagojejunostomy (TG) group (n =52),according to the methods of gastrectomy and reconstruction.The postoperative complications, nutritional status and prognosis of the two groups were compared.Results The incidence of reflux esophagitis was obviously higher in PG group than that in TG group (38.0% vs 1 9.2%,χ2 =4.464,P =0.035).No sig-nificant differences were found between the two groups in the incidences of postoperative infection,bleeding and anastomotic leakage (χ2 =0.063,P =1 .000;χ2 =0.001 ,P =0.978;χ2 =0.31 1 ,P =0.577).There were no significant differences between PG and TG group in total plasma protein [(65.26 ±4.1 0)g/L vs (65.33 ± 3.75)g/L,t =-0.402,P =0.688],albumin [(39.76 ±2.1 7)g/L vs (39.59 ±2.04)g/L,t =1 .778,P =0.076],hemoglobin [(1 07.33 ±1 1 .1 0)g/L vs (1 08.09 ±1 1 .1 7)g/L,t =-1 .502,P =0.1 33]and weight loss [1 .00 ~8.00 kg vs 0.50 ~8.20 kg,t =-1 .622,P =0.1 05]in one year postoperatively.All cases were followed-up for 7 months to 1 0 years.No significant differences were found between PG and TG group in the incidences of anastomotic tumor recurrence (4.0% vs 5.8%,χ2 =0.1 71 ,P =0.679),metastasis (24.0% vs 28.8%,χ2 =0.308,P =0.579)and median survival time (53.6 months vs 49.8 months,χ2 =2.564,P =0.1 09).Conclusion Compared with PG group,the incidence of postoperative reflux esophagitis is effectively reduced,and the incidences of malnutrition,tumor recurrence and metastasis and death are not increased in TG group.Hence,TG should be a safe and effective surgery strategy.