Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility of irradiat ion to the metastatic retroperitoneal lymph nodes using three-dimensional confo rmal radiotherapy (3-DCRT) and to assess the irradiation side effects. Methods:From Jun. 1997 to Sep. 2000, 52 patients of metastatic retroperitoneal lymph nodes were treated with 3-DCRT.These patients had receive d radical therapy for their primary tumors. 50 of them had been proved by pathol ogical examination. Radiotherapy was designed by Elekta company’s 3-D treatmen t plan. Dose volume histography (DVH) was used to verify and optimize the radiat ion plan. Using 5～6 conformal portals,the total irradiation dose was 40 Gy an d delivered at 4～5Gy per fraction every other day,to a total of 8～10 fractions in 16～20 days. The immediate responses and side effects were evaluated accordi ng to the WHO and RTOG criterion system. Results:According to Karnofsky criterion system the median scor e was raised 21.3. Three months after irradiation, the complete ,partial and tot al response rates were 38.6%(27/70), 54.3%(38/70)and 92.9%(65/70),respect ively. The early response was related to the target volume and pathological clas sification. The smaller the target volume, the better the response(? 2 = 1 5.211,P=0.004).The anaplastic carcinoma cases had better results than the squamous carcinomas and adenocarcinomas(? 2 =13.455,P=0.009).The 1- ,2- and 3- year survival rates were 59.6%(31/52)、23.1%(12/52)and 9.6%(5/ 52),respectively. Conclusions:Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy can be con sidered as an effective and feasible approach for the treatment of metastatic r etroperitoneal lymph nodes,and no serious complications were observed.

Aim To investigate the effects of leptin on ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression and protein production, and the roles of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling transduction pathway in increased ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression stimulated by leptin in activated hepatic stellate cells(HSCs).Methods Firstly, ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression and protein production as well as JAK1 and STAT3 phosphorylation induced by leptin at different doses in a human HSC cell line, LX-2 were determined by RT-PCR, ELISA, and Western-blot.Secondly, the effects of JAK1 inhibitor AG490 on JAK1 phosphorylation and ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression stimulated by leptin were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Thirdly, the roles of AG490 and transfection with STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide(STAT3-ASON) in STAT3 phosphorylation after leptin were detected by Western blot. Finally, the effect of transfection with STAT3-ASON on ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression after leptin was measured by RT-PCR.Results Leptin increased ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression and protein production in a dose-dependent manner in LX-2, reaching a maximal level at 80 ?g?L-1 leptin. In addition, phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3 after leptin exhibited a time-dependent effect. Besides, JAK1 inhibitor AG490 completely blocked JAK1 and STAT3 phosphorylation and increased in ?1(Ⅰ) collagen gene expression after leptin in LX-2. Transfection with STAT3-ASON blocked STAT3 phosphorylation and increased ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA by leptin in LX-2.Conclusion Leptin had a direct action on liver fibrogenesis by stimulating ?1(Ⅰ) collagen mRNA expression and protein production in activated HSC, and JAK/STAT signaling transduction pathway was involved in the process. JAK1 inhibitor AG490 and transfection with STAT3-ASON blocked the transduction pathway effectively in LX-2. Leptin may be an important factor in the development of hepatic fibrosis. Activated JAK1 and STAT3 signaling in human HSC line provided a novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention of liver fibrosis.

Objective To study the appearance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in early stages of cartilage degeneration and to detect its values.Methods Intra articular injection of 5 units of papain causing a reversible loss of cartilage proteoglycan in the New Zealand rabbit knees.Rabbits were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging,using a 0 3 T Hitachi magnet with 16 cm coil.Gradient echo sequences and spin echo sequences were performed in the sagittal planes at 0,24,48 and 72 hours after intra injection of papain.Then signal intensity and thickness of cartilage were measured.The proteoglycan content was measured biochemically and histochemically.Results The cartilage thickness and signal intensity decreased significantly in treated knees compared with control knees at 24 and 48 hours ( P 0 05) after injection of papain.These changes on magenetic resonance (MR) images were consistent with the changes of proteoglycan concentration measured by biochemical analysis and histochemical staining of cartilage.Conclusion It is possible for MRI to detect the early stages of cartilage degeneration.

Objective To study the correlation of fingerprint chromatograms of Cinnamomi Ramulus formula granules, decoction pieces and water decoction by HPLC; To investigate the difference of main chemical constituents among different forms. Methods The Diamonsil C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) was used with mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with detection wave of 280 nm and temperature of 30 ℃. The detection of 10 batches of Cinnamomi Ramulus formula granules, 10 batches of decoction pieces and 10 batches of water decoction were established respectively. Results Totally 12 peaks in the HPLC fingerprint chromatogram from 10 batches of formula granules could be tracked in the water decoction; 10 peaks in the HPLC fingerprint chromatogram could be tracked in the decoction pieces. Three components, such as protocatechuic acid, coumarin and cinnamic acid were verified. Conclusion The main chemical components of Cinnamomi Ramulus formula granules and water decoction are basically the same, and the common component contents have similar proportion.

Humanin(HN,its analogue [Gly14]-Humanin,HNG)was originally identified as an endogenous peptide that protects neuronal cells from apoptosis induced by various types of Alzheimer's disease-related insults.But the relative low content of this peptide in its natural sources limits its further characterization.An expression vector pET32a/HNG was corstructed and transformed it into E.coli BL21 trxB(DE3).HNG was expressed as a fusion protein in the soluble fraction and was purified by nickel affinity chromatography.Subsequently,the purified fusion protein was cleaved by enterokinase and was further purified by reverse-phase HPLC.A 23 mg recombinant HNG(rHNG)from 1 L bacterial culture was purified.The molecular weight of rHNG determined by ESI-MS was 2876.5 Da which was the expected size for correctly processed peptide.The N-terminal amino acid sequence of rHNG determined by Edman degradation method is identical to the theoretical sequence.Neuroprotective bioassay studies of rHNG exhibited its potential neuroprotective effect comparable to that of the natural HNG peptide.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound or CT guided percutaneous Trucut needle biopsy on the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors.Methods One hundred and twenty-four patients clinically diagnosed as pancreatic cancer without pathological diagnosis underwent percutaneous pancreatic biopsy by using Trucut needle under ultrasound or CT guidance.ResultsOne hundred and nine procedures of ultrasound-guided biopsy and 15 procedures of CT-guided biopsy were performed,and one patient received 2.3times of punctures.Tissue samples were obtained in all 124 patients,the diagnostic accuracy was 95.2％,among them 115 were adenocarcinoma,5 were cystadenoma,2 were metastasis cancer,1 was cancer of unknown origin and 1 was normal.The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were 99.2％ 100％,and 99.2％,respectively.Transient serum amylase increase was observed in 3 patients; 5 patients' abdominal pain aggravated,but all recovered with conservative management.One patient was found to have tumor seeding on the spot of insertion after 34 days.No other major complications occurred.ConclusionsUltrasound or CTguided percutaneous pancreatic 16 ～ 18G Trucut needle biopsy is a safe and simple procedure with excellent diagnostic value for pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of point sticking therapy and Chinese herbs on hyperplasia of mammary glands. Methods Sixty-three female patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands were randomly divided into an observation group (n=33) and a control group (n=30). The observation group were treated with point sticking therapy, i.e., Sanleng (Rhizoma Spargani), Ezhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae), Zhi Nanxing (Pedate Pinallia Jackinthepulpit Rhizome) and Bingpian (Borneolum) were made a plaster to apply Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Ashi points on breast. The control group were treated with oral administration of Rupixiao.

RESULTSAfter treatment of 3 courses, the total effective rate was 97.0% in the observation group, and 83.3% in the control group, the former significantly being better than the latter (P < 0.05). The score of mastalgia improvement was (13.82 +/- 5.90) points in the observation group and (7.00 +/- 3.89) points in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONooint sticking therapy has a definite therapeutic effect n hyperplasia of mammary glands.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Breast ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the mechanism underlying the WNK4 kinasemediated inhibitory effect on BK channel. Methods Cos-7 cells were cotransfected with BK in combination with either CD4 (control group) or wild type WNK4 (WNK4-WT).Immunostaining and confocal microscopy,chemiluminescence,Western blotting analysis were then employed to determine the BK localization in cells,BK surface expression and total protein level,respectively.To further investigate whether the reduction of BK protein expression is due to an increase in degradation through a lysosomal pathway,BK protein level was determined after treated with bafilomycin A1(Baf A1),a proton pump inhibitor affecting lysosomal degradation. Results Immunostaining and confocal microscopic study showed that BK was localized both in plasma membrane and cytosol in the control group.After cells transfected with WNK4-WT,BK expression was markedly reduced.Chemiluminescent assay found that BK surface expression level was 299.9±18.6 in the control group,whereas it was significantly reduced (148.4±13.7,P＜0.01) in the WNK4-WT group.Western blotting analysis showed that total BK protein level was markedly reduced in the presence of WNK4-WT compared to the control group.WNK4-WT was shown to significantly reduce the BK total protein level (42.3％±15.2％) compared to the control group (100％) (P＜0.01).When the cells was treated with Bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1,0.5 μmol/L),WNK4-mediated reduction in BK protein was reversed (82.2％±12.1％,P＜0.05). Conclusions WNK4 inhibits total and surface protein expression of BK in Cos-7 cells whick is likely due to an increase in BK degradation through a lysosomal pathway.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy

To reveal the underlying mechanism of doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity, an NMR-based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to observe its metabolic alternations of rat liver. Sixteen differential metabolites between model rats and normal rats were characterized as potential pathological biomarkers related to doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity. Six pathways, including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism were regarded as the targeted metabolic pathways according to Metabolic Pathway Analysis (MetPA). The results suggested that the metabolic perturbations in rats with doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid pathways, purine metabolism, energy metabolism, dysfunction of biotransformation and oxidative stress. The investigation revealed the effects of doxorubicin on liver in a holistic metabolic way, which laid a foundation for further studies on its toxicity mechanism.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; toxicity ; Energy Metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats