Objective: To investigate the cognitive impairment features in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI) and vascular cognitive impairment-no dementia(VCI-ND).Methods:Sixteen normal elders,10 patients with aMCI and 12 patients with VCI-ND were recruited.The normal elders were selected from communities in Shanghai,while the aMCI and VCI-ND patients were selected from outpatient clinic.All participants ranged in age of 50～80 years,with education level of junior middle school or above,and they completed cranial CT or MRI and a series of neuropsychological tests.Results:In the three memory tests,aMCI group performed worst.The scores of both aMCI and VCI-ND groups were lower than that of the normal elders.For example,the delayed recall scores of the Rey-Osterrich complex figure test in the three groups were(18.8?9.5)(normal),(5.6?5.6)(aMCI) and(9.6?7.0)(VCI-ND)(P

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy on the progression of acute renal failure in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with chronic renal insufficiency developed acute renal failure recently were treated with Chinese herbs and western drugs intravenously and clysterizing of Chinese herbs liquid for 30 minutes, and the treatment course was 14 days. Assessment of liver and renal function, blood routine, electrolytes and endogenous creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) was performed before and 2 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: The levels of hemoglobin (HB), white blood cell count (WBC) and serum electrolytes showed no significant changes after the treatment. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) decreased, while the level of Ccr increased significantly (P<0.05) after the treatment. The total effective rate was 65.6%. CONCLUSION: The integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy can effectively delay the deterioration of renal function in patients with chronic renal insufficiency accompanied by acute renal failure.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and survival status of mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and to analyze the prognostic factors.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 94 patients with mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses treated from January 2000 to December 2012.Of the 94 patients,50 were male,and 44 were female.The median age of onset was 60 years (range,26-85 years).The primary sites were nasal cavity (86 patients),maxillary sinus (7 patients),and nasopharynx (1 patient).Cervical lymph node metastasis was observed in 10 patients (7 patients before treatment,2 patients during treatment,and 1 patient after treatment).No patient had distant metastasis.Patients were treated with surgery ± radiotherapy.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates,and the logrank test was used for univariate prognostic analysis;the Cox regression model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The 1-,3-,and 5-year sample sizes were 80,54,and 50,respectively.The 1-,3-,and 5-year disease-related survival rates were 71％,33％,and 22％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that the prognostic factors were age over 55 years (P =0.034),involvement of the posterior naris (P =0.011),involvement of the maxillary sinus (P =0.009),involvement of the hard palate (P =0.003),cervical lymph node metastasis (P =0.001),and therapeutic method (P =0.038).Multivariate analysis showed that the prognostic factors were involvement of the posterior naris (P =0.027),involvement of the orbit (P =0.005),and involvement of the hard palate (P =0.003).Conclusions The distant metastasis and local recurrence rates are high among patients with mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses,so combination therapy is imperative.Cervical lymph node metastasis rate is low.Rational clinical staging needs to be further explored.

Objective To investigate the influence of chondrocytes originating from different source on early chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in isolated co-culture system.Methods We applied hanging cell culture system to culture chondrocytes of different origin (osteoarthritis chondrocyte cells,nomal chondrocyte cells,infant chondrocyte cells) and controls.These chondrocytes and MSCs of the same origin were cultured in the common medium in a separated condition,and observed by microscope at 3,6,9,12 day after co culture.Expression levels of aggrecan,collagen type Ⅱ (Col 2),cartilage-specific transcription factor (Sox-9) in MSCs of different origin were determined by Real-time PCR.Results MSCs showed obviously morphological differentiation induced by chondrocytes of different origin at 12 day after coculture as compared with controls.Real-time PCR analysis showed that SOX9 mRNA level was stimulated by 1.7-fold,1.6-fold and 1.2-fold (all P＜0.05) and aggrecan mRNA level was increased by 2.8-fold,2.2-fold and 1.3-fold (all P＜0.05) in infant chondrocytes group,nomal chondrocytes group,osteoarthritis chondrocytes group respectively as compared with controls while COL2 mRNA level had no significant differences among the four groups.Corresponding protein signal level had obvious differences among the four groups,especially in infant chondrocytes as compared with osteoarthritis chondrocytes and nomal chondrocytes.Conclusions Isolated co-culture system may indirectly promote MSCs differentiation to chondrocytes by local micro-environment regulation.Chondrocytes of different origin have different effects on MSCs differentiation,but they could promote MSCs differentiation to chondrocytes.

Objectives To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of bortezomib based combination therapy for Chinese patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma(MM),and to determine the combination regimen,dosage and cycles in application of bortezomib for MM therapy.Methods Forty-six patients with refractory or relapsed myeloma were treated with bortezomib(1.3 mg/m2)as an intravenous bolus twice weekly for 2 weeks on day 1,4,8,and 11 in a 3-4 week cycle,in combination with dexamethasone,dexamethasone plus thalidomide, CD(C-cytoxan,D-dexamethasone),MD(M- mitoxsnteone),DCEP(E-etoposide,P-platinol),and DT-PACE regimens(T-thalidomide,A-adriamycin). Response to bortezomib was evaluated according to the criteria of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG)before initiation of each cycle.Adverse events were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria,version 3.0.Forty-nine matched patients with relapsed and refractory MM who received thalidomide based combination therapy were used as a historical control group.Results Among 43 of the 46 patients whom could be evaluated,the overall response rate was 72.1%(the control group was 51.0%,P＜0.05),including complete response in 5 patients(11.6%),very good partial response in 12 patients(27.9%),and partial response in 14 patients(32.6%).The overall response rate after one and two cycles was 30.2%and 58.1%(P＜0.05),respectively.The frequent adverse events were thromboeytopenia(62.8%),fatigue(55.8%),nausea(51.2%)and peripheral neuropathy (30.2%);all of the events could be tolerated.The most common adverse event in the control group was constipation(69.4%),followed by fatigue(59.2%)and dizziness(46.9%).Conclusions Bortezomib based combination therapy is a new effective therapy in relapsed or refractory myeloma patients with a higher response rate and difierent toxicities as compared with thalidomide based combinations.

OBJECTIVETo assess the methodology and report quality of systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion in China.

METHODSRetrieve CBM, CNKI, WF and VIP database, collect data from the information system established by Epidata 2.1, assess the methodology and report quality by using the QQAQ and QUOROM, calculate the percentage of adequate rate.

RESULTSThirty-eight reviews, including twenty six systematic evaluation and twelve Meta-analyses, met the enrolled criteria. Twenty-two kinds of diseases and six diseases systems were included. The methodology quality scores were generally low (3.34 +/- 1.44). The causes of the problems were insufficient literature resource, bias in data collections and inaccurate merging methods. The report quality was relatively low in abstracts, methods, trial flow, introduction and data merging.

CONCLUSIONThe amount of literatures on systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis of acupuncture is gradually increasing from 2002. However, the quality control is not ideal. It is important to improve the methodology and report quality.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; China ; Moxibustion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of ghrelin and its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), in the hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) and explore their relationship with the disorder of gastrointestinal tract motility.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=8) and CRF group (n=16), and in the latter group, the rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy to induce CRF. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the distribution of mRNA and protein of ghrelin and GHS-R in the gastric fundus, duodenum, and hypothalamus.

RESULTSThe rats in the CRF group showed a significantly higher expression of ghrelin mRNA and protein in the gastric fundus but a lower expression in the hypothalamus than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01), but the expression in the duodenum was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The expression of GHS-R mRNA and protein in the gastric fundus was significantly higher in the CRF group than in the sham-operated group (P<0.01), while in the hypothalamus and duodenum, the expression was significantly lower in the CRF group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe different distribution patterns of ghrelin and GHS-R in the tissues may be an important pathological basis of gastrointestinal motility disorder in CRF.

Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Ghrelin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of drug sensitivity of spindle poison-induced polyploid tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents and its possible mechanism.

METHODSNocodazole in a dose of 100 ng/ml was used to induce polyploidization in a breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells. The polyploid cells (T-MDA-MB-231) were sorted by flow cytometry. The morphological changes and proliferation of T-MDA-MB-231 cells were compared with that of MDA-MB-231 cells. The cell growth inhibition was assessed by MTT assay. The cells were treated with paclitaxel, docetaxel, vincristine, epirubicin, 5-Fu, VP16 and oxaliplatin, respectively. Those cells were labeled with annexin V-FITC/PI and analyzed by flow cytometry. Bcl-2 was knocked down in T-MDA-MB-231 cells using SiRNA and their growth inhibition was evaluated by MTT assay to evaluate the reversing effect of Bcl-2-silencing on drug resistance.

RESULTSThe polyploid T-MDA-MB-231 cells grew in vitro continuously and maintained constant DNA content. They had a larger cell size, and grew more slowly than MDA-MB-231 cells. The IC(50(s)) of T-MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly higher than that of the MDA-MB-231 cells: paclitaxel: (6.37 ± 0.07) vs. (2.05 ± 0.83) µmol/L; docetaxel: (32.98 ± 1.48) vs. (11.95 ± 0.98) µmol/L; vincristine: (35.28 ± 1.66) vs. (14.58 ± 0.94) µmol/L; oxaliplatin: (19.07 ± 0.45) vs. (9.75 ± 1.05) µmol/L; 5-Fu: (85.49 ± 3.21) vs. (31.35 ± 1.51) µmol/L; and epirubicin: (0.53 ± 0.06) vs. (0.15 ± 0.01) µmol/L, (all P < 0.05). The IC(50(s)) of VP16 in T-MDA-MB-231 cells was (2.85 ± 0.50)µmol/L, significantly lower than the (12.20 ± 1.55) µmol/L in MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05), and that of T-MDA-MB-231 cells after Bcl-2-knocked down by siRNA was (19.59 ± 0.48) µmol/L, significantly higher than the (12.20 ± 1.55) µmol/L in the MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). The IC(50(s)) of docetaxel of T-MDA-MB-231 cells after Bcl-2-knocked down by siRNA was (21.52 ± 0.68) µmol/L, significantly decreased and lower than that before Bcl-2 silencing (32.98 ± 1.48) µmol/L.

CONCLUSIONSOur results indicate that polyploid tumor cells induced by spindle poison Nocodazole are more resistant to most of chemotherapeutic drugs. Downregulation of Bcl-2 increases the sensitivity of polyploid cells to docetaxel. The high expression of Bcl-2 may be one of the drug resistance mechanisms of polyploid tumor cells. The polyploid tumor cells are relatively sensitive to VP16, suggesting that VP16 might be an effective candidate drug for treatment of chemoresistant polyploid tumors.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Epirubicin ; pharmacology ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Nocodazole ; pharmacology ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Polyploidy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Taxoids ; pharmacology ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

A new qualitative and quantitative analytical method of the chromatographic fingerprints: the Total Quantum Statistical Moment (TQSM) has been eluciated and established according to statistical moment principle. The study was carried out with model drugs as the alcohol extracted liquid for Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (AELRR) by HPLC under the chromatographic conditions that the column was C18, 4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm; the detection of wavelengths was set at 254 nm; a solution of acetonitrile: 1% acetic acid water (from 0:100 to 100:0) was carried with gradient elution as the mobile phase; the ratio of flow was 1 mL min(-1); the temperature was 40 degrees C. The coefficients were dealt with Excel document. It has been established the expressions that consists of four main parameters: 1) total quantum zero moment as AUC(T), area under curve; 2) total quantum respondent ratio as AUCPW(T), area under curve per weight; 3) total quantum center moment as MCRT(T), mean chromatographic retention time of total quantum, expressed by lambda(T); 4) total quantum variance as VCRT(T), variance of mean chromatographic retention time of total quantum, expressed by sigma2(T), by which we have obtained. The TQSM's parameters of the AELRR, such as AUC(T) as 3.273 x 10(8) microV s, AUCPW(T) as 2.286 x 10(6) microV s mg (-1), MCRT(T) as 33.50 min, VCRT(T) as 484.4 min2, and total quantum concentration as 143.2 mg mL(-1). The total quantum statistic moment can be characterized the curve of chromatographic fingerprints with expressive parameters above, also used to quantitative analyses by AUC(T), to qualitative analyses by AUCPW(T), MCR(T), and VCRT(T).
Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quantum Theory ; Rheum ; chemistry

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabies ; epidemiology