Objective: To investigate the correlation between prognosis of spinal metastatic cancer and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Methods: The expressions of MMPs and TIMPs were quantitatively studied by immunohistochemical method and image analysis technique in 77 patients with spinal metastatic cancer. The relation between MMPs and TIMPs expression and patients' prognosis was analyzed using Cox regression model. Results: The 3-year postoperative survival rate of the patients was 6.98% after a mean follow-up of 15.60?8.45 months ( 5.2-36 months). Both MMPs and TIMPs expressed in cancer cells and mesenchyme. The expression of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was the highest in the metastatic tumor from lung cancer (P

0.05) before treatment. After treatment, the hearing thresholds were recovered in 21 ears, signifi-cantly improved in 8 ears, improved in 4 ears and not changed in 2 ears in the DM group. In placebo group, the hearing threshold was recovered in 6 ears, signifi-cantly improved in 9 ears, improved in 15ears and not changed in 6 ears after treatment. There was a signifi-cant difference in the level of hearing improvement be-tween the DM group and the placebo group(x2=13.49, P

Objective To investigate and compare the argumentativeness and attitudes towards thinking and learning between clinical nurses in general adult wards and wards for patients requiring particularity healthcare for the identification and development of core communication skills.Mettods “Argumentativeness Scale” and “Attitudes toward Thinking and Learning Survey” in Chinese were used to measure a convenience sample of 504 clinical nurses in seven hospitals.Results The scores in items reflecting rationality,positivism,empathy and acceptance in 247 nurses in wards for particularity heahhcare were significantly different from those nurses working in internal medical wards for adults with internal medical problems.Conclusions To develop harmonious interpersonal relationships in nurses,we should strengthen competencies in emotional regulation and rational thinking in nurses in wards for adults with in-ternal medical problems.

Objective:To optimize the injection protocol of contrast medium for contrast-enhanced MRA (CEMRA) of pulmonary artery and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEMRA and pulmonary perfusion imaging (PPI) in an experimental model of acute pulmonary embolism. Methods:CEMRA and PPI were performed in 6 normal pigs with different doses of gadolinium contrast agent (5ml, 10ml, 15ml, 20ml and 25ml) at an injection rate of 3ml/s, and 3 pulmonary embolism models were injected with 20 ml contrast agent at 3 ml/s. DSA was also performed for comparison. Results:The signal intensities and the signal to noise ratios of the pulmonary arteries kept increasing with the dose increase of the contrast agent, but the best angio-pulmonary contrast dose was 10-15ml (0.25-0.375mmol/kg), while the optimal dose for PPI was 15-20ml (0.375-0.5mmol/kg). Although CEMRA demonstrated less obstructed pulmonary arteries than DSA (5/10 vs 8/10)did, it detected all obstructions when combined with PPI. The pulmonary infarction zones showed wedge-shaped perfusion defects on the PPI images, with the signal intensities lower than those of the normal areas (137.86±45.32 vs 330.14±46.52, P<0.001). Conclusion:It is suggested that the optimal dose of the contrast agent is 0.25mmol/kg to 0.375mmol/kg for CEMRA, and 0.375mmol/kg to 0.5mmol/kg for lung perfusion. CEMRA combined with PPI may be better than DSA in demonstrating pulmonary embolism.

Radiotherapy is one of the effective methods for the treatment of head and neck tumors, especially nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy are common. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a high incidence rate of dysphagia after radiotherapy. This article reviews the research progress of intervention strategies for dysphagia after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, aiming to improve the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Duosuike Tiancha contain multiple dihydrochalcone sweet constituents, which are mainly active constituents. For the purpose of overall assessment on quality Duosuike Tiancha, 5 sweet dihydrochalcones in Duosuike Tiancha, phloridzin, phloretin-4'-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3'-O-acetylphloridzin, 2'-O-acetylphloridzin and phloretin are determined as indicators. The separation was carried out through a isocratic elution using a Waters Acquity UPLC BRH C18 (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) column and a mobile phase consisting of water (75%) and acetonitrile (25%) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 285 nm. The column temperature was 40 degrees C. Under the optimized conditions, all the 5 sweet constituents were successfully separated with in 6 min, and good linearity (r2 > 0.999 1) was achieved. The linear range (g x L(-)) and recoveries were tested with results of 0.022 2-0.444 (98.37%), 0.102 84. 112 (97.32%), 0.003 39-0.067 68 (96.77%), 0.005 1-0.204 (98.85%) and 0.000 538-0.010 76 (100.91%) respectively. The results indicate that the content of the 5 dihydrochalcones were 7.83-62.37, 114.24-272.35, 0-1.02, 0-5.11 and 0.10-1.19 mg x g(-1), respectively. Furthermore, with certain regularity between their content and the sample size, harvest time. The separation and analysis method are fast and simple, as evidenced by the fact that the gradient elution is adopted to rapidly determine one sample within six minutes. Therefore, it can be used for dsetermine 5 sweet dihydrochalcones Duosuike Tiancha.
Chalcones ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fagaceae ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDTo improve the differential diagnosis accuracy for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs), and to study the basis and mechanisms of enhancement by comparing with the microvessel constructions (microvessel density and basement membrane of microvessels) in SPNs.

METHODSDynamic contrast enhancement CT scanning were performed in 38 peripheral lung cancer, 5 hamartoma and 10 inflammatory lesions which were less than 3 cm in diameter with Siemens Plus S or Marconi MX 8000 spiral CT scanner. The CT time-attenuation curves were interpreted. The microvessel density (MVD) and the basement membrane of microvessels of the resected specimens were observed with the ABC immuno-histochemical method in all patients.

RESULTSThe CT contrasted value of lung cancer [(49.05±16.08) HU] and inflammatory lesions [(49.59±21.30) HU] were significantly higher than that of hamartoma [(8.98±4.56) HU] (t=7.48, P < 0.05; t=8.35, P < 0.05), but the enhancement of lung cancer was similar to that of inflammatory lesions (t=0.76, P > 0.05). The time-attenuation curve of inflammatory lesions tended to increase faster and reach a higher peak value than that of lung cancer, and both of them maintained a high plateau after crossing. The hamartoma showed a slight increase and demonstrated a low plateau curve. The MVD of SPNs was positively related to CT enhancement (r=0.805 1). The microvessel counts of peripheral lung cancer (48.45±10.09) and inflammatory lesions (49.60±19.94) were significantly higher than that of hamartoma (8.70±7.30) (t=11.64, P < 0.001; t=6.09, P < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between lung cancer and inflammatory lesions (t=-0.26, P=0.799). There was no any difference in continuity of basement membrane between nodules with enhanced CT less than 30 HU and higher than 30 U (Chi-square=3.13, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe microvessel counts mainly contribute to the enhancement of SPNs. The basement membrane is not related to nodule enhancement, but it might influence the pattern of time-attenuation curve.

Objective: To determine whether microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) could be prognostic biomarkers for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Methods:With immunohisto-chemical staining, the expressions of MAP2 and MAP1B were examined in 193 and 120 primary tumors and peritumoral tissues, re-spectively. Then, the relationship between the expression of each protein and clinicopathological characteristics, including prognosis was analyzed. Results:MAP2 and MAP1B were expressed in 88 of 193 (45.6%) and 77 of 120 (64.2%) tumors, respectively. The expres-sion of MAP2 was significantly associated with the favorable overall survival of patients with PNETs (P=0.012). Moreover, MAP2 expres-sion was associated with the improved overall survival in a subset of patients with stageⅡand stageⅢtumors (P=0.017). The MAP1B expression did not correlate with other clinicopathological features and prognosis. Conclusion:MAP2 could be a novel, independent prognostcbiomarker for PNETs.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of adenovirus-mediated tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene on the invasion of laryngeal squamous cancer. METHOD: Ad-TFPI-2 was transfected into laryngeal squamous cancer (Hep-2) cell. Western-blot was used to test the TFPI-2 protein expression and Boyden Chamber experiment was used to examine the invasive ability of Hep-2 cells. Furthermore, the Ad-TFPI-2 infected Hep-2 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice and the tumor formation capability were observed. RESULT: Ad-TFPI-2 was identified correctly by endonuclease and sequencing and the virus titer was 2.8 x 10(13) PFU/L. In the Hep-2 cells of treated group, the TFPI-2 protein expression was increased while the invasive capability was descent. The tumor formation capability was also decreased in the treated group nude mouse model. CONCLUSION TFPI-2 recombinant adenovirus can effectively inhibit the invasive capability of laryngeal squamous cancer.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of anti-tumor peptide of tumstatin on tumor growth of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mice and the underlying mechanism. METHOD: Nude mice model bearing laryngocarcinoma were established by using human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (Hep-II). The animals were given tumstatin or PBS for 10 consecutive days. The volumes of the subcutaneous tumor were observed. The microstructure in which the general 2-step immunohistochemical examination was adopted and ultra-micro-structural changes of carcinoma after administration of tumstatin were observed under light and electron microscopes for pathology examination. RESULT: The differences was statistically significant in the net mice weight, tumor weight, tumor volume and tumor weight/net mice weight between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.01). The restrained percentage of tumor was 51.58%. The necrosis and apoptosis of the tumor cells and the angiogenesis reduction were found under light and electron microscope in the treatment group. MVD of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tumstatin can significantly restrain the development of laryngocarcinoma.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Autoantigens ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Collagen Type IV ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays