AIM:To investigate the effects of icarⅡn on the viability, migration and invasion of the prostate cancer lines Du145 and PC3.METHODS:Du145 cells and PC3 cells were treated with icarⅡn at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 or 80 μmol/L), and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by Transwell assay.The protein expression of Notch-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and hairy/enhancer of split-1 (Hes-1) was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The results of MTT assay revealed that icarⅡn inhibited the viabilitiy of Du145 cells and PC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.The maximal effect was at dose of 40 μmol/L.IcarⅡn treatment significantly decreased the abilities of migration and invasion of Du145 cells and PC-3 cells.Moreover, the protein expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1 was dramatically reduced after icarⅡn treatment.CONCLUSION:IcarⅡn inhibits prostate cancer cell viability, migration and invasion by decreasing the protein expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of nicorandil for treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 40 cases of patients with ARDS admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from October 2012 to October 2014 were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into two groups, 20 cases in each group. The two groups were treated with routine western medicine after admission. On this basis, the observation group was given nicorandil 10 mg, while the control group was given warm boiled water 10 mL, through gastric tubes 3 times a day, the therapeutic course being consecutive 5 days in both groups. The length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), duration of mechanical ventilation after treatment, oxygenation index (OI), alveolo-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference (PA-aO2), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, Glasgow coma score (GCS) before and after treatment, the predicted death rate (PDR) and 28-day mortality were compared between the two groups. The predicitive factors for 28-day mortality were screened by binary logistic analysis.Results The length of stay in ICU and duration of mechanical ventilation of control group were longer than those of observation group, but the difference was not statistically significant [ICU length of stay (day): 14.55±12.71 vs. 9.15±6.00, duration of mechanical ventilation (day): 13.25±12.27 vs. 7.75±5.32, bothP > 0.05]. After treatment, the GCS was higher than that before treatment in control group and observation group (11.95±3.98 vs. 10.75±4.89, 12.95±3.67 vs. 12.20±4.56), while APACHE Ⅱ score, PDR and PEEP were all lower than those before treatment [APACHE Ⅱ: 21.05±8.58 vs. 24.90±5.63, 18.70±11.21 vs. 26.65±7.67; PDR: (47.71±29.49)% vs. (61.00±23.29)%, (36.79±18.49)% vs. (56.12±18.16)%; PEEP (cmH2O, 1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa): 4.40±3.14 vs. 5.75±2.59, 3.80±2.55 vs. 7.55±3.32], but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups before and after treatment (allP > 0.05). After treatment, the OI was significantly higher and the PA-aO2 was significantly lower than those before treatment in the two groups, and the degrees of improvement of the observation group were more remarkable than those of the control group [OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 224.72±85.12 vs. 141.37±45.82, PA-aO2 (mmHg): 132.60±46.64 vs. 204.30±121.2, bothP < 0.05]. The 28-day mortality of observation group was lower than that of control group, but no statistically significant difference was seen [15% (3/20) vs. 25% (5/20),χ2 = 0.156,P > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analyses showed that the PA-aO2 [odds ratio (OR) = 0.958,P = 0.013, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.927 - 0.991], APACHE Ⅱ score (OR = 0.882,P = 0.010, 95CI = 0.803 - 0.970), GCS (OR = 1.399, P = 0.004, 95%CI = 1.111 - 1.761) and PDR (OR = 0.907,P = 0.002, 95%CI = 0.853 - 0.965) after treatment were the independent predictors of 28-day mortality.Conclusion Nicorandil can significantly improve oxygenation, but cannot reduce 28-day mortality in patients with ARDS.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of COX-2 and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma tissues(ECT)and resection margin of the esophagus(RME),and to analyze their diagnostic and prognostic value for esophageal carcinoma.Methods The expression of COX-2 and telomerase activity in ECT and RME was examined in 82 patients with esophageal carcinoma and 40 normal esophageal epithelium tissues(NEET) by tissue array with EnVision imimunohistochemistry.Their correlations with the clinicopathologic factors were analyzed statistically.Results The positive expression rates of COX-2 and telomerase in ECT and RME were significantly higher than those in NEET(82.9 ％,29.3 ％vs 12.5 ％;and 87.8 ％,18.3 ％vs 5.0 ％;respectively;all P ＜ 0.05).The expression of COX-2 and telomerase in ECT and RME was correlated to TNM stage,tumor cell differentiation and lymph node metastasis (all P ＜0.01),while both expression in RME was closely related to anastomotic recurrence following resection of esophageal carcinoma (P＜0.01).The survival rate in esophageal carcinoma patients with the positive expression of COX-2 and telomerase in RME could be much lower than those with negative expression of COX-2 and telomerase in RME (P=0.000,Log-rank test).COX-2 expression was positively correlated to telomerase in ECT and RME (r=0.786,0.218,P＜0.05).Conclusion COX-2 and telomerase might be important biological markers for malignant transformation and invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.The activity of COX-2 and telomerase in RME could prognosticate anastomotic recurrence,and could be potential biomarkers evaluate the surgical treatment and prognosis of esophageal carcinoma.

Objective To analyze the disease spectrum of patients admitted to the General Internal Medicine Unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, which is the first academic division of general internal medicine in the department of medicine within Chinese medical colleges and universities, and the value of general internal medicine unit in comprehensive hospitals. Methods A retrospective data review of patients admitted to the General Internal Medicine Unit from 2004 to 2008 was conducted from hospital information system and partially by chart review manually. Analysis of disease spectrum was performed thereafter. Results A total of 2593 patients were included in our study. It consisted of 1075 men and 1518women, with an average age of 45.1 years old. Forty point three percent of these patients were from Beijing,the local city, and the remaining 59.7% were from outside of Beijing. Sixty-four point nine percent (1683/2593)of these patients did not have a clear diagnosis on admission, including 758 fever of unknown origin (FUO) cases and 925 non-FUO cases. The final diagnostic rate of the FUO cases was 89. 2% [676/758, with the first three leading causes as diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (29. 8%), certain infectious and parasitic diseases(26.3%), and neoplasm (14. 5%)] . The final diagnostic rate of the 928 non-FUO cases was 86. 8%(803/925), with the first three leading causes as musculoskeletal system and connective tissue(24.9%), neoplasm (15.5%), and diseases of blood and blood-forming organs(11.4%). Despite most diagnoses fitting into the above categories, the array of diseases was broad with as many as 550 discharge diagnoses from 2004 to 2008. Conclusions During 2004 -2008, there was a high proportion of cases that presented to the General Internal Medicine Unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital with an unclear diagnosis, and the spectrum of diseases diagnosed was very broad. This kind of patient admitting model might not only benefit patients with no clear admission diagnosis and patients with multidisciplinary medical problems for whom it is usually difficult to be admitted by a specialty unit, but would also benefit medical students and residents by providing a good clinical medicine teaching base. These features show the value of general internal unit in comprehensive hospitals.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a reasonable return level for Chinese pharmaceutical industry and to study the return level of the domestic pharmaceutical industry from 2000 to 2005.METHODS:In view of the financial data of Chinese pharmaceutical industry in the statistical yearbook from 2001 to 2006,the return level for Chinese pharmaceutical industry was established based on its risk level using the principle of "risk-return equilibrium",and the rationality of the return level of Chinese pharmaceutical industry over the 6 years was validated as well.RESULTS:Over the 6 years,the average lowest anticipating rate of return for the Chinese medicine industry was 7.72% and the actually average assets income rate stood at 8.53%,i.e.the average abnormal return rate over the 6 years was 0.81%.CONCLUSION:The return rate of Chinese pharmaceutical industry corresponds to the risk level as well as the reasonable return level.

OBJECTIVE:To probe into the profits level and profits-gaining capability of Chinese pharmaceutical industry.METHODS:Based on the data recorded in yearbooks between 2001 and 2006,the profits levels were compared between Chinese pharmaceutical industry and China social average assets,other industries in China and overseas pharmaceutical industry.RESULTS:Between 2000～ 2005,the profits level of Chinese pharmaceutical industry was lower than that of Chinese social average assets,i.e.the profit-gaining capability of Chinese pharmaceutical industry was lower than that of China social average assets.Between 2002～ 2004,the profits level of Chinese pharmaceutical industry ranked at the first 10 places among the 39 industries,but dropped far behind in 2005,meanwhile the number of pharmaceutical enterprises who suffered loss increased greatly.CONCLUSION:The prospect for the development of Chinese pharmaceutical industry and the industry environment they confronted are far from optimistic.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib mesylate in the treatment of metastatic renal carcinoma.Methods:Between October 2018 and April 2020, 32 patients with metastatic renal carcinoma were enrolled in the Department of Oncology of Shiyan People′s Hospital of Hubei Province, Taihe Hospital and Sinopharm Dongfeng General Hospital. Apatinib mesylate was administered at an initial dose of 500 mg once daily. The main research end point was progression-free survival (PFS), secondary study destination included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety. Multivariate analysis of PFS was carried out by Cox regression.Results:The median follow-up time was 6.5 months (from 2 to 10). All 32 patients could be evaluated for efficacy. Efficacy evaluation showed 0 cases of complete remission, 14 cases (43.75%) of partial remission, 10 cases (31.25%) of stable disease, 8 cases (25.00%) of progressive disease, the ORR was 43.75% (14/32), and DCR was 75.00% (24/32). The PFS of patients had no significant correlation with gender, age, pathological type and previous surgery (all P>0.05), but was significantly correlated with the site of metastasis ( HR=0.032, 95% CI: 0.003-0.411, P=0.008). The median PFS for all patients was 9.5 months (8.3-10.7 months), and there was a significant difference in the median PFS between patients with lung metastasis ( n=21) and those with other sites ( n=11) (9.5 months vs. 6.2 months, χ2=14.812, P<0.001). The main adverse reactions were hypertension (37.50%, 12/32), hand-foot syndrome (31.25%, 10/32), proteinuria (18.75%, 6/32), neutropenia (25.00%, 8/32), anemia (28.13%, 9/32), thrombocytopenia (18.75%, 6/32), nausea/vomiting (15.63%, 5/32) and elevated transaminase (15.63%, 5/32), most of which were grade 1 or 2. The incidence of grade 3 adverse reactions was 28.13% (9/32), without grade 4 adverse reactions. After dosage reduction and symptomatic treatment, the symptoms could be controlled. Conclusion:Apatinib mesylate can effectively prolong PFS in metastatic renal carcinoma patients with good safety, and can be used as a treatment option for metastatic renal carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the content of thorium (Th) in surface water in Sichuan Province, China, and to evaluate Th-associated health risk via water intake for residents. Methods Twenty-three monitoring sections were set in main surface water bodies in Sichuan Province. From 2016 to 2021, the Th radioactivity level in the water bodies was measured during dry and normal-water seasons. The health risk of residents was evaluated by calculating radioactive Th intake from the surface water bodies combined with the use of a health risk assessment model. Results The Th radioactivity level of the surface water bodies in Sichuan Province was 0.02-0.67 μ./L. There was no significant difference in the Th radioactivity level of different years or different surface water bodies (P > 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the Th radioactivity level of different water seasons (P < 0.05). The total mean annual committed effective doses of Th in all age groups caused by drinking water and water immersion ranged from 3.14 × 10⁻⁸ to 8.75 × 10⁻⁷ Sv, all lower than the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended reference level of 0.1 mSv. The overall carcinogenic risks for residents in all age groups ranged from 3.93 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.09 × 10⁻⁸, all below the most rigorous control limits issued by WHO and International Commission on Radiological Protection. Conclusion The Th-associated health risk via direct water intake and water immersion in main surface water bodies of Sichuan Province is at an acceptable level. Th in main surface water bodies of Sichuan Province is safe for all age groups.