Adult ; Colon, Transverse ; pathology ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; pathology ; Spleen ; pathology ; Stomach ; pathology

This study aims to investigate the preparation process and in vitro release behavior of artesunate polylactic acid microspheres, in order to prepare an artesunate polylactic acid (PLA) administration method suitable for hepatic arterial embolization. With PLA as the material and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the emulsifier, O/W emulsion/solvent evaporation method was adopted to prepare artesunate polylactic acid microspheres, and optimize the preparation process. With drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency and particle size as indexes, a single factor analysis was made on PLA concentration, PVA concentration, drug loading ratio and stirring velocity. Through an orthogonal experiment, the optimal processing conditions were determined as follows: PLA concentration was 9. 0% , PVA concentration was 0. 9% , drug loading ratio was 1:2 and stirring velocity was 1 000 r x min(-1). According to the verification of the optimal process, microsphere size, drug loading and entrapment rate of artesunate polylactic acid microspheres were (101.7 +/- 0.37) microm, (30.8 +/- 0.84)%, (53.6 +/- 0.62)%, respectively. The results showed that the optimal process was so reasonable and stable that it could lay foundation for further studies.
Artemisinins ; chemistry ; Calibration ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; chemistry

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; complications ; mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; mortality ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Phytoestrogen is the bioactive substance from plant, with structure is very simliar to that of estrogen. Phytoestrogen is mainly comprises of isoflavone, lignan and coumarin. Epidemiological restrarch shows that the increasing the uptake phytoestrogen of can reduce the morbidities of breast and other cancers. In this paper, the food source, characteristic and relevant researches both in vitro and in vivo were reviewed, and its mechanisms of intervening breast cancer were also discussed.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lignans ; pharmacology ; Phytoestrogens ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo build an epidemic model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to be used to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures.

METHODSFollowing the nature of SARS epidemics, an epidemic model of SARS based on SEIR model of infectious disease was built, in which case management group was set up and some parameters related to control measures were included. As an example, data gathered from Beijing was fitted to illustrate its application to quantitatively evaluate the intervention measures.

RESULTSIn the newly developed model of epidemics, parameters related to control measures could easily be modified. When scenario assumption was used, a model on SARS outbreak under various circumstances of intervention measures could be set. Thus, quantitative evaluation of intervention measures could perfectly be caried out. Pilot study revealed that the fitness existed in modeling the outbreak of SARS in Beijing and the intervention measures implemented around April 20, 2003, had major contribution to the control of SARS.

CONCLUSIONThe model of SARS epidemics seemed to be stable and reliable to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures implemented during the SARS outbreak in a quantitative way.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; statistics & numerical data ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Models, Statistical ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; therapy ; transmission

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cost-benefit for the Influenza Type A H1N1 Virus (Influenzae H1N1) vaccination in Shanghai primary and junior schools.

METHODSA semi-experiment study was selected to evaluate the cost-benefit for Influenza H1N1 vaccination in primary and junior schools in 6 districts of Shanghai, including 414 636 students in total. According to the voluntary principle, the students were divided into the vaccinated group (233 445 students) and control group (181 191 students). The information of vaccine cost was collected from CDC in 19 districts in Shanghai by questionnaire; and the information of medical treatment cost was collected from questionnaire and abstracts of retrospective medical records, which included 31 mild cases and 15 severe cases. The cost-benefit analysis was conducted by health economic evaluation.

RESULTSIn total, there were 414 636 students enrolled in this study; while 233 445 (56.3%) students were in the vaccinated group and 181 191 in the control group. The attack rate in vaccinated group and control group was 0.61% (1433/233 445) and 1.76% (3166/181 191) respectively. The protection ratio was 65.34% ((1.76 - 0.61)/1.76) in the vaccinated group. The average cost of Influenza H1N1 was 36.81 yuan/person; and the average cost of medical treatment was (358.3 ± 243.6) yuan/mild case and (49 188.4 ± 99 917.3) yuan/severe case. The total benefit of vaccination in schools was 19 155 566.3 yuan, and the net benefit was 10 560 673.7 yuan. Therefore, the benefit-cost ratio was 2.24:1.

CONCLUSIONInfluenza H1N1 vaccine could protect the students from Influenza H1N1 infection, and the cost-benefit analysis showed that the intervention strategy was worth trying.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; economics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; economics ; prevention & control ; Schools ; Students

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of nipple-areola complex (NAG) involvement in stage I - II a breast cancer patients who underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and to determine the associated risk factors, to provide a theoretical basis for modified radical mastectomy preserving NAC and breast reconstruction in early stage breast cancer patients.

METHODSA total of 68 women with primary breast cancer were included in this study. The following associated risk factors of NAC involvement were assessed and compared with those of non-involvement: the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), axillary lymph node status, over-expression of HER-2/neu, location of tumor, TNM stage, abnormal nipple (nipple indentation, erosion, discharge), tumor size, age, histological type, as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), by Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe positive rate of NAG involvement was 13.2%. It decreased with an increase in the distance from the tumor site to the edge of the areola (D) (chi2 = 10.68, P <0.01)), and higher incidence of NAG involvement was found in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis (chi2 = 14. 61, P < 0.01) and over-expression of HER-2/neu (chi2 =6.83, P <0.01). Location of tumor (P <0.01), TNM stage (chi2 =3.85, P <0.05), abnormal nipple (chi2 = 11.65, P<0.01), and tumor size (chi2 =4.13, P <0.05) also had influence on the NAG involvement. No significant correlation between NAC involvement and age (P > 0.05)), histological type (chi2 = 0.07, P > 0.05)), as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) (chi2 = 0.06, P > 0.05) and progesterone receptor (PR) (chi2 = 0.04, P > 0.05) was found. Most of the NAG involvement was caused by ductal infiltration.

CONCLUSIONIn the stage I - II a breast cancer patients, location of tumor, TNM stage, the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), abnormal nipple, over-expression of HER-2 and metastases in axillary lymph nodes are the primary influential factors of NAG involvement.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammaplasty ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nipples ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of inverted urothelial papilloma.

METHODSA total of 151 cases of urothelial inverted papilloma were analysed retrospectively. Of the cases, 134 were male and 17 were female, with a mean age of 54 years old. Most patients complained of painless gross hematuria. The diagnosis could be established mainly by ultrasonic, intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, cystoscope and pathology. Among them, 7 cases who had the papilloma at upper urinary tract underwent nephroureterectomy except one. One hundred and forty-four cases had the papilloma at low urinary tract, with 124 treated by transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT), among which 11 cases accompanying benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated by transurethral prostatic resection, 3 by transurethral resection of prostatic urethral tumor, 15 by partial cystectomy, 2 by total cystectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and eighteen cases were followed up 1 year to 12.5 years (mean 6.3 years). Intravesical recurrence was found in 5 cases. Of them 2 cases developed malignance in 8 and 30 months postoperatively, and 1 case underwent total cystectomy.

CONCLUSIONSInverted urothelial papilloma is a benign tumor, which appears male predominant. Most of the lesions are found in the bladder. TURBT is the preferred treatment choice for inverted papilloma of the bladder. Although this disease has a good prognosis, regular follow-up observations are necessary.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma, Inverted ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Urologic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

AIM:To investigate the effects of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X-linked (USP9X) down-regula-tion on apoptosis and invasion ability in gastric carcinoma cells, and to explore its possible molecular mechanisms. METH-ODS:USP9X small interfering RNA (siRNA) and control siRNA were used to be transfected into gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The cells were divided into 3 groups, including untreated AGS group, control siRNA group and USP9X siRNA group. The expression of USP9X at mRNA and protein levels in the AGS cells with different treatments was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The cell viability was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry and Boyden chamber were employed to examine the apoptosis and invasion ability of the AGS cells. RESULTS:USP9X siRNA significantly down-regulated the expression of USP9X at mRNA and protein levels in the AGS cells. Down-regulation of USP9X markedly induced apoptosis and reduced invasion ability of the gastric carcinoma AGS cells. Notably, down-regulation of USP9X sig-nificantly reduced the protein expression of Mcl-1 and MMP-2, but markedly increased the protein level of Bax. CON-CLUSION:USP9X may be a key regulator for apoptosis and invasion in gastric carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on obesity in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men.Methods From 2002 to 2006,a population-based cohort study of 61,491 Chinese men aged from 40 to 74 in urban Shanghai were conducted by the Shanghai Men's Health Study(SMHS).Information on smoking status and body weight change was collected using a structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview.Measurements of body weight,height and circumferences of waist and hip were taken by medical professionals.Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the associations of smoking habit with body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)and adult body weight gain after adjusting for potential confounding factors.Results The current smokers had a lower BMI(23.4±3.1)and body weight gain in adulthood(11.6±9.7)kg than non-smokers[24.0±2.9 and(12.7±8.9)kg,respectively].The adjusted differences between these two groups were 0.60(95%CI:-0.67--0.54)for BMI and 1.46 kg (95%CI:-1.65--1.27)for body weight gain,respectively.Smokers,both former and current,showed a higher WHR than non-smokers with an adjusted average difference of 0.006 08(95%CI:0.005 08-0.007 09).Among current smokers,the WHR increased with the early age starting smoking,number of cigarettes smoked per day,years of smoking and pack-years of smoking in a dose-response manner.Further analysis showed that,although the ex-smokers showed a higher body weight and weigh gain than non-smokers in succedent several years of smoking cessation,they were comparable to non-smokers in body size after 5 years of quitting smoking.Conclusion Cigarette smoking may be inversely associated with body weight and weight gain but positively related to central fat deposition which is more detrimental to health than general obesity.The initial wain in weight after smoking cessation is temporary.