OBJECTIVE:To establish the quality standard of Belamcandin standard substance.METHODS:Different indices of standard Belamcandin were examined with quantitative and quantitative analyses according to the corresponding measures stipulated in the Appendix of pharmacopoeia of people's republic of China(part Ⅱ)published in 2005.RESULTS:The specific rotatory power of 3 batches of standard Belamcandin was —28?～—30?([?]25 D,c0.11,Pyridine);the E1% 1 cmwas 790～830;the melting point was 252～254 ℃ and the ash content was less than 0.5%.The content of Belamcandin in the products was above 99.5% as revealed by HPLC.CONCLUSION:All of the indices were shown to meet the standards for standard substances and the established standard can be used for the quality control of standard Belamcandin.

Animals ; Arrestins ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; beta-Arrestin 1 ; beta-Arrestins

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical compositions of the leaves of Iris tectorum. METHODS:Using 70% ethanol for extracting,silica gel column chromatography,Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and thin-layer chromatography were used to iso-late and purify the chemical compositions of the leaves of I. tectorum,the compound structures were analyzed and identified accord-ing to the physicochemical properties and spectral data. RESULTS:12 compounds were isolated from the leaves of I. tectorum, namely 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6-methoxy isoflavone(1),tiliamin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),5-hydroxy- 4′,7- dimethoxy-isofla-vone(3),tectoridin(4),tectorigenin(5),iridin(6),dimethyl tectorigenin(7),genistein(8),protocatechuic acid(9),isorham-netin-7-O-β-D- glucoside (10),daucosterol (11),tetradecanoic acid (12). CONCLUSIONS:Compounds 1,2,3 are isolated from the plants of the genus for the first time,and the study has laid the foundation for the quality evaluation of I. tectorum.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the degenerative mechanisms of lumbar intervertebral disc (LID) and apoptosis.MethodsThe total RNAs were isolated from human LID tissues. Both the mRNAs from the degeneration and normal LID were reversely transcribed to the cDNAs. The cDNAs were labeled with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and analyzed by computer image analysis. The apoptotic status and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in 12 cases of degenerative LID and 10 cases of normal LID were detected with TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry methods.ResultsAmong the 4096 targets, there were 10 genes related to apoptosis. The expression related to Bax protein gene was up-regulated and it was down-regulated for Bcl-2 protein. In group of normal LID, the average apoptotic index (AI) was (24.897±3.620); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (31.440±4.150)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (29.372±2.588)%, average optical density (OD) values of positive particles were (0.183± 0.010 ), ( 0.203 ±0.012) and (0.169±0.005) respectively. In group of degenerative LID, the average AI was (49.232±3.440); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (18.239±2.470)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (52.349±3.764)%; average OD values of positive particles were (0.152±0.003), (0.310±0.008) and (0.262±0.014) respectively. There were significantly differences in AI and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between normal LID and degenerative LID (P<0.05).ConclusionCell apoptosis plays an important role in the process of LID degeneration. Both Bcl-2 and Bax take part in the occurrence and progression of LID.

Objective : To compare the clinical effect of the reconstruction of defects of the surgical area with the facial-submental artery island flap (FSAIF) after resection of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OC-SCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OP-SCC). Methods: A total of 203 cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and 72 cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with the FSAIFs. The complications and success rate of the two groups were observed. The swallowing and voice functions of the two groups were evaluated and compared 6 months after the operation. The survival of the two groups was followed up. Results: No significant differences were found in TNM stage, the skin paddle of the flap, the rate of flap failure, or local complications between the OC-SCC and OP-SCC groups (P > 0.05). Significant differences in swallowing and speech outcomes were observed between the groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in survival outcome between the groups after 9-59 months of follow-up. Conclusion FSAIF can be used for reconstructing the defect in oral cavity or oropharynx, but the swallowing function of reconstructing the defect in oropharynx is poor.

Recent studies have revealed that the interactions of nervous and immune system play a role in the advancement of allergy diseases. Allergy diseases are the consequence of an aberrant response from the immune system to foreign substances and harmful stimuli, have high incidence and the related allergic symptoms seriously affect the patient's quality of life. Specific immune mediator receptors [such as type 1 histamine receptors (H1R), protease activating receptor 2 (PAR-2), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA)] may be expressed on the surface of neurons and nerve fibers of the nervous system, while neuropeptide receptors [such as neurokinin receptor-1 (NK-1R), vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VPAC)] and neurotransmitter receptors [such as α7 acetylcholine nicotinoid-like receptor (α7nAChR), Beta 2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR)] may also be expressed on the immune cell membrane in the immune system. Therefore, esthesioneure can be activated by inflammatory mediators secreted by immune cells to conduct sensation and release neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, while the function of immune cells can be regulated by neuropeptides and neurotransmitters from the nervous system. Further understanding the role of neuroimmune in allergic diseases may provide guidance for the treatment of allergic diseases.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is char?acterized by numerous genetic mutations. TNM staging is not sufcient for predicting patient outcomes. Addition?ally, ESCC shows poor responsiveness to chemotherapy and radiation. Thus, there is an urgent need to find efcient therapy targets. Previous ESCC high?throughput genomic studies have lacked intensive survival analysis, particularly for copy number variation (CNV) and the genes involved. Main body: In the study“Genomic Characterization of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reveals Critical Genes Underlying Tumorigenesis and Poor Prognosis”recently published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, we comprehensively analyzed the effects of CNVs, mutations, and relative gene expression on patient outcomes. To validate our findings for our 67 sequencing samples, we collected a 321?patient retrospective cohort with detailed 5?year follow?up information and carried out univariate and multivariate survival analyses. In addition, the biological functions of the survival predictors in ESCC were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We found the independent ESCC survival predictors and potential therapy targets. Nevertheless, the effects of numerous low?frequency mutations need to be explored using larger sample sequencing. Overall, con?structing multi?gene prognostic signatures will remain a great challenge in the future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of postoperative chyle leak after surgery for digestive malignancies.

METHODSFrom December 2008 to February 2012, in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, clinical data of 19 patients with chyle leak after digestive system cancer surgery were retrospective analyzed.

RESULTSNineteen cases of chyle leak were all identified between the second and the fourth postoperative day and were all initially managed with conservative treatment including early fasting, parenteral nutrition(PN), 24-hour continuous infusion of somatostatin, and low pressure suction drainage. Eight patients were treated successfully for 6 to 10 days with a significant reduction of the daily drainage volume. Ten patients had enteral nutrition(EN) and their drain tubes were repeatedly washed with 30 ml of compound meglumine diatrizoate injection every day until the drainage volume decreased to 200 ml/day. The time to resolution of chyle leak in these ten patients ranged from 12 to 24 days. One patient had no significant decrease in fluid drainage and developed abdominal distension after one week of conservative treatment. Surgical closure of chyle leak was performed on the 11th postoperative day, abdominal cavity drainage tube was removed on the 4th postoperative day. The patient was discharged home in good condition.

CONCLUSIONMost postoperative chyle leak after surgery for digestive malignancies can be successfully managed with conservative treatment. Somatostatin and the drainage are the main therapeutic approaches. When chyle leak is not resolved with conservative treatment, surgical treatment should be considered to prevent serious complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomotic Leak ; therapy ; Chyle ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective： This study was designed to evaluate the clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic characteristics of primary gastric malignant lymphoma(PGML). Methods： Thirty patients with PGML were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed in the aspects of elinical, roentgenography, and endoscopic status. Results： The clinical presentations including abdominal pain, loss of weight, fever, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were invariably found. Most lesions were in the body of stomach(73.3％ ). All patients were examined by endoscopy with protruding, infiltrative, and ulcerative lesions accounting for 46.7％ (14/30), 40.0％ (12/30), and 13.3％ (4/30) ,respectively. The pathological coincidence rate of endoscopic biopsy with resected operation was 80.0％ . The tumor might originate from the following organisms： B cell of 90.0％ (27/30)(19 of them are mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) and T cell of 10.0％ (4/30). The operative resectability of these PGML remained higher and these PGML were sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Conclusion： PGML is very likely to be misdiagnosed or neglected due to its rarity and specificity. Gastroscopy remains to be valuable to correct diagnosis of PGML. Better prognosis is often expected if followed by operative resection, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation of CCBE1 expression in adjacent tissues of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) with pericancerous lymphatic vessel proliferation, cervical lymph node metastasis and survival outcomes of the patients. METHODS: Lymphatic vessel density was quantified in pericancerous tissue sections of 44 cases of cT_1-2N₀ TSCC using D2-40 as the lymphatic vessel endothelial marker for calibration and counting of the lymphatic vessels. Of these 44 cases, 22 showed a relatively low lymphatic vessel density (group A) and the other 22 had a high lymphatic vessel density (group B), and the expression levels of CCBE1 in the adjacent tissues determined using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were compared between the two groups. The expression level of CCBE1 was also measured in another 90 patients with TSCC using immunohistochemistry, and all the patients were followed up for their survival outcomes. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed a significantly lower rate of high CCBE1 expression in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence assay showed co-localization of CCBE1 and D2-40 in the adjacent tissues of TSCC. In the 90 TSCC patients with complete follow-up data, a high expression of CCBE1 was found to correlate with lymph node metastasis and a poor 5-year survival outcomes of the patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION A high expression of CCBE1 in the adjacent tissues of TSCC is closely related with pericancerous lymphatic vessel proliferation, cervical lymph node metastasis and a poor 5-year survival of the patients, suggesting the value of CCBE1 as a potential prognostic predictor for TSCC.
Humans ; Tongue Neoplasms/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Lymphatic Vessels/pathology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Tongue/pathology* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism*