Objective To explore the mechanism of the catdioprotection of isoflurane delayed preconditioning on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits.Method Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits,weighing 2.0 to 2.5 kg,were randomly divided into three groups(ten for each group):Control group(group C),I/R group(I/R group) ,2.0% isoflurane group(group S) .Group S was exposed to 2.0% isoflurane-100% oxygen for2 h.Group C and I/R group were exposed 2 h to 100% oxygen served as untreated controls.Twenty-four hours later I/R group and group S underwent 40 rain of coronary occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion.Blood samples were taken from arterial line at 20 min before occlusion(T1) ,20 rain after occlusion(T2) ,40 rain after occlusion(T3) ,1 h after reperfusion(T4) and 2 h after reperfusion(TS) for determination of plasma IL-10 levels and TNF-alevels by ELISA.At the end of the reperfusion,infarct size and area at risk were defined by Evans and TTC staining.The heart was harvested and levels of the nuclear factor kappa β(NF-κB)activity were determined by Western Blot,and ultrastructures were observed by electron microscopy.The data was expressed as,and were analyzed by using oneway ANOVA test with SPSS 13.0.P value less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results The NF-κB activity of group S was significantly lower than that of group I/R(P<0.05).Group S significantly(P<0.05)reduced infarct size(19.7%±2.8% in group S) of the left ventricular area at risk as compared with control (37.8 %±1.7 % in I/R group).The injury of I/R group was worse than that of group S from the changes of the cellular structure under light microscope.Group S had a lower levels of TNF-α and also had a higher level of IL-10.Conclusions Isoflurane can inhibit NF-κB activity during myocardial ischemia reperfusion and modulate the cytokine expression,which may be one of molecular mechanisms of Isoflurane delayed preconditioning on cardioprotection.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Monocytes ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

To further reveal the risks of heroin abuse to human body, and to determine the injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers, we determined and compared plasma values of lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), β-carotene (β-CAR) and erythrocyte values of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in 114 heroin abusers and 100 healthy volunteers. Using linear regression and correlation as well as stepwise regression and correlation, we also analyzed the effect of the abusing duration, and daily abusing quantity on the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in the heroin abusers. The results showed that, compared with the healthy volunteer groups, the average plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the average erythrocyte value of LPO in the heroin abuser group were significantly increased (P＜0.0001), and the average plasma values of VC, VE, and β-CAR and the average erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P＜0.0001). Analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with prolonged heroin abusing and with increased daily quantity in the heroin abusers, the plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the erythrocyte value of LPO were gradually increased (P＜0.001), whereas the plasma values of VC, VE, and β-CAR and the erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P＜0.001). Analysis of stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the plasma values of NO, VC and VE were closely correlated with the abusing duration and daily abusing quantity. These results indicate that the balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the heroin abusers was seriously disturbed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, through oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation to the bodies of heroin abusers exacerbated. It is therefore necessary that in abstaining from heroin dependence, the heroin abusers should acquire sufficient quantities of antioxidants such as VC, VE and β-CAR.

In order to analyze the prognosis and related factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 53 newly diagnosed ALL patients were enrolled in this study. The therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of 53 cases of ALL were analyzed, the remission, relapse, overall survival and event-free survival were studied, and relation between different factors and prognosis of ALL were investigated by comparison of cases in same stage. The results showed that the complete remission was achieved in 36 out of 53 patients, the total remission rate was 67.9%, the total relapse rate was 37.7%, the median relapse duration was 6 months after remission. Median overall survival (OS) and median event-free survival (EFS) time were 4 and 1 months after remission respectively, OS and EFS rate of 18 month was 35.1% and 14.2%. The patients with different gender had significantly different EFS. Age was an independent risk factor of CR rate. White blood cell count and hemoglobin level of newly diagnosed patients were significantly correlated with OS and EFS. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at the end of the induction chemotherapy was an independent related factor of OS, the higher ANC, the lower risk of death. The patients with or without chemotherapy related infection had different relapse rate. The patients with bleeding after chemotherapy had lower OS when compared with those without bleeding. Serum glucose level was a significant negative prognostic factor. It is concluded that there is higher relapse rate, poor prognosis in adult ALL in comparison with children. In order to decrease the relapse rate and prolong the EFS, individual therapeutical regimens and prophylaxis of complicating diseases should be applied to ALL patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the dendritic cell (DC) subsets and transcriptive factors, T-bet, GATA-3, and immune imbalance in acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA).

METHODSThe DC1 (HLA-DR+Lin-CD11c+) and DC2 (HLA-DR+Lin-CD123+) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were measured with flow cytometry (FCM), the expressions of T-bet mRNA and GATA-3 mRNA in PBMNC with semiquantitative RT-PCR and the plasma level of IFN gamma and IL-4 with ELISA in 29 SAA patients and 16 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe percentages of DC1 in PBMNC were (0.44 +/- 0.24)% and (0.73 +/- 0.30)% in untreated and recovered SAA patients respectively, both were higher than that in controls (0.29 +/- 0.10)% (P < 0.05). The percentage of DC2 in the untreated cases was lower than that of recovered ones or controls [(0.18 +/- 0.14)% vs (0.28 +/- 0.20)% and (0.29 +/- 0.13)%] (P < 0.05). DC1/DC2 ratios were 3.45 +/- 2.71 and 2.90 +/- 0.95 in untreated and recovered groups respectively, both were higher than that in controls (1.15 +/- 0.56) (P < 0.05). No statistic difference in DC1/DC2 ratio was found between untreated and recovered patients (P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression levels of transcriptive factor T-bet were 0.37 +/- 0.07, 0.20 +/- 0.07 and 0.17 +/- 0.05 in the above 3 groups, respectively, untreated group being higher than that of recovered group or healthy controls (P < 0.05). There was no statistic difference of GATA-3 expression among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). T-bet/GATA-3 ratio was 0.72 +/- 0.13 in untreated group, being higher than that of recovered group (0.33 +/- 0.08) or controls (0.35 +/- 0.11). The plasma level of IFN gamma in the untreated group was (50.9 +/- 1.1) ng/L, which was higher than that of recovered group [(49.7 +/- 0.9) ng/L] or controls [(49.7 +/- 0.7) ng/L]. There was significant positive correlations between T-bet and DC1/DC2 ratio (r = 0.445, P < 0.01), as well as between T-bet and IFN gamma (r = 0.402, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEither DC1/DC2 or T-bet/GATA-3 ratio might become an index to estimate immune imbalance. High-expressed T-bet was related to the progress of SAA. In patients with SAA, DC1/DC2 ratio returns to normal range later than that of routine blood test does, indicating that immunosuppressive therapy should not be withdrawn too earlier.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Young Adult

To analyze the prognosis and risk factors of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), 94 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in this study, while survival rate and risk factors of prognosis were analyzed. The results indicated that the complete remission (CR) ratio was 51.1%. Overall survival and event-free survival rates of month 6, 12, 18, 24 were 68.6%, 55.8%, 53.8%, 46.4%, 21.3% and 57.9%, 38.6%, 33.3%, 31.6%, 0% respectively. The factors such as age<40 years, WBC<10.0x10(9)/L before chemotherapy, WBC in the period of bone marrow suppression<1.0x10(9)/L, chemotherapy within 1 month after occurrence of leukemia, blood transfusion before chemotherapy of APL had favourable influence on remission and survival rates of ANLL patients. CR1, the time to get CR, length of CR and relapse significantly correlated with prognosis (p<0.05). It is concluded that the individualized therapy concerning the risk factors should be applied to ANLL patients for improving the remission, survival rate and prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Harringtonines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine as first-line therapy in patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer.

METHODSFrom December 2000 to November 2001, sixty patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer received first-line capecitabine treatment given at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) twice daily, on days 1 - 14 every 21 days. At least 2 cycles were administered.

RESULTSThe overall response rate was 23.3% with 14 PR, 24 SD (40.0%) and 15 PD. The median survival time was 14.7 months. The survival rate was 63.9% at 12-months and 33.4% at 24-months. Grade III-IV adverse effects were diarrhea in 4 patients (6.6%), anemia in 2 (3.3%) and hand-foot syndrome (HFS) in 1 (1.7%); Grade I-II adverse effects were hyperpigmentation in 20 (33.3%), HFS in 18 (30.0%) and diarrhea in 10 (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine is an efficacious and better-tolerated alternative treatment for the patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Deoxycytidine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety among three different entry points of needle knife, including tenderness point, intervertebral foramen point and articular process node, for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A total of 105 patients with LDH were randomly divided into a tenderness point group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ), an intervertebral foramen point group (35 cases) and an articular process node group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the three groups, the needle knife was given at positive tenderness points of lumbosacral and hip, the external point of intervertebral foramen and the node of vertebral joint process respectively, once a week for a total of 4 times. The scores of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks into treatment, and 3 months follow-up after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and safety was observed. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the JOA scores in each group were increased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05); 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up, the JOA scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were higher than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, except for ODI score 2 weeks into treatment in the intervertebral foramen point group, the ODI and VAS scores in each group were decreased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05), and the ODI scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). In 2 weeks into treatment, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05); in 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group were lower than the other two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the clinical efficacy of each group was similar (P>0.05); during the follow-up, the total effective rate in the tenderness point group was higher than that in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse events in each group. CONCLUSION The three different entry points of needle knife all could improve the symptoms of patients with LDH. The comprehensive effect of improving the subjective symptoms, lumbar function, pain degree and long-term curative effect is better in the tenderness point group.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid nodules (TNs) and its relationship with urine iodine concentrations (UICs) after the regional rapid economic growth and lifestyle changes.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in the general population aged 15-69 years. A questionnaire regarding general and personal characteristics and relevant information was administered. Ultrasonography of the thyroid was performed, and serum triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) levels were measured for each individual subject.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of TNs in the whole population, females and males were 27.76%, 34.04%, and 21.60%, respectively. The prevalence of multiple nodules increased with age, whereas the prevalence peaks differed between males and females. The median UICs in the whole population and females with non-TNs were higher than those of subjects with TNs (P=0.0035, P=0.0068). The median UICs in subjects with a single TN were higher than those in subjects with multiple TNs (P=0.0164, P=0.0127). The result showed a U-shaped curve relationship between UIC and prevalence of TNs. The prevalence of TNs was the lowest when the UIC was 140-400 μg/L.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of TNs was nearly 30% and increased with age. The relationship between UIC and prevalence of TNs is U-shaped, with an increase in risk when the UIC was <140 μg/L and >400 μg/L. Very low or high UIC levels need attention and correction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Nodule ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Young Adult