Objective To prospectively evaluate changes in serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and to investigate the association between serum VEGF levels and characters of imaging features. Methods Serum VEGF levels in 30 patients with HCC were measured on one day before TACE 3-4 days and 28-30 days after TACE, using quatitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA R&D system). The occurrence of metastasis was assessed 6 months after TACE by CT (computed tomography) and DSA (digital subtraction angiography). Results (1) Serum VEGF levels had a tendency to increase in patients with the heterogenous uptake of iodine oil and those with portal vein invasion (P

OBJECTIVE:To establish derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of the main component of Captopril tablets.METHODS:Under the alkaline condition of sodium hydroxide,2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene was used as derivatization reagent to react with captopril at 40 ℃ in the water bath.Then UV spectrophotometry was adopted to detect the content of captopril with detection wavelength set at 342 nm.RESULTS:The linear range of captopril was 1.0～14.0 ?g?mL-1(r=0.999 9) with an average recovery of 99.61%(RSD=1.27%,n=9).The RSD of intra-day and inter-day both were less than 2%.CONCLUSION:This method is stable,reliable,rapid and simple for the determination of the main components of Captopril tablets.

Background and purpose:Since the number and tumor size of localized liver metastases can be controlled, local minimally invasive treatment can improve the survival of patients. Hence, microwave ablation has become an important treatment method for liver metastases. This study was to investigate the value of percutaneous microwave ablation in the treatment of tumor metastases. Methods: From Sep. 2011 to Oct. 2014, 26 advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with post-chemotherapy consolidation, liver metastases were collected. All the patients with the number of tumor lesions less than 3, diameter less than 5 cm, no other distant metastases was excluded. The ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was used for 26 patients. Finally, 43 ablations were completed followed by liver function test, enhanced CT and MRI diagnosis 1 month later. mRECIST criteria was used to evaluate the effcacy of cancer treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Results:Twenty-six cases of a total of 53 lesions, including complete ablation (CA) 20 patients (20/26, 77.0%), partial ablation (PA) 3 patients (3/26,11.5%). The overall effciency was 88.5%(CA+PA) with no serious complications. 6 months, 1-, 2-year survival rates of 26 patients were 96.1%, 65.3%and 23.0%. PFS was 11.4 months. The median survival time (MST) was 11.9 months, while OS was 23.7 months. Conclusion:Percutaneous microwave ablation for limited liver metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment method.

Objective To discuss the clinical application of preoperative tumor-feeding artery emboli -zation in treating hypervascular giant meningiomas.Methods A total of 71 patients with giant meningioma (maximum diameter ＞5 cm),who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from April 2013 to August 2014,were selected for this study.Preoperative MRI demonstrated that the lesions showed obvious enhancement with rich blood supply.The patients were divided into the study group (using preoperative embolization,n =38) and the control group (not using preoperative embolization,n =33).Based on preoperative DSA findings,the lesions were classified into type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ.Tumor-feeding artery embolization with PAV particles (200-300 μm) was employed in the patients of the study group,while only cerebral angiography was adopted in the patients of the control group.The amount of intraoperative blood loss,tumor resection time and embolization complications in both groups were recorded.Postoperative MRI scan was performed to observe the degree of tumor resection.Results The amount of intraoperative blood loss and the tumor resection time in the study group were (562±178) ml and (5.45±2.13) h respectively,which in the control group were (833±234) ml and (7.23±2.45) h respectively;the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (both P＜0.05).The tumor resection degree of Simpson classification Ⅲ and ＜ Ⅲ was obtained in 27 patients of the study group (27/38,71.0％) and in 19 patients of the control group (19/33,57.6％),the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05).After embolization,cerebral edema became aggravated in 7 patients,ischemic necrosis of the scalp was observed in 2 patients,and one patient developed epileptic seizure during the operation.After symptomatic treatment,all the above complications were relieved.Conclusion For the treatment of hypervascular giant meningiomas,preoperative tumor-feeding artery embolization can strikingly reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss,shorten the operation time,and improve the tumor resection degree,therefore,this therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trascatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with raltitrexed and oxaliplatin (RO) regimen as well as lipiodol emulsion in treating BCLC B/C hepatocellular carcinomas.Methods A total of 183 patients with BCLC B/C hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with TACE by using RO regimen and lipiodol emulsion.The therapeutic regimen included raltitrexed 3 mg/m2 for hepatic artery perfusion,oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 mixed with lipiodol 5-30 ml emulsion for embolization.The toxicities were assessed according to WHO anti-cancer drug toxicity grading standards.Liver damage was determined by Child-Pugh classification.All the patients were followed up and the survival time was calculated.Results In 183 patients,the hematologic toxicity was characterized by bone marrow suppression.The incidences of neutropenia,anemia and thrombocytopenia were 21.9％,8.3％ and 2.7％,respectively.The degree Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ of neutrophil count decrease were seen in 15.85％,5.46％,0.55％ and 0％ of patients,respectively.Nausea and vomiting of degree Ⅰ-Ⅱ was observed in 71.58％ of patients.Liver function damage was presented as elevated transaminase and elevated bilirubin level.Preoperative Child-Pugh grade A was seen in 96 patients and grade B in 87 patients.Child-Pugh grade was elevated from preoperative grade A to postoperative grade B in 48 patients,from preoperative grade A to postoperative grade C in 6 patients,and from preoperative grade B to postoperative grade C in 12 patients.In this series,no symptoms or signs of cardiac,urinary or nervous system toxicity were observed.The survival time of 183 patients was 5-35 months,with the median survival time being 20 months.Conclusion For the treatment of BCLC B/C hepatocellular carcinomas,TACE using RO regimen and lipiodol emulsion is safe and effective,and it can reliably improve the quality of life of patients.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS ) is a self-limiting medical condition characterized by headache ,nausea ,fa-tigue ,dizziness ,and insomnia .AMS usually occurs after rapid ascent to high altitudes in non-altitude acclimatized individuals . Extensive studies have been done on AMS ,but knowledge on the mechanism ,prevention and treatment are still limited .It will help the prevention and treatment of AMS with deep understanding of its risk factors and mechanisms .In this article ,we sys-tematically reviewed the diagnosis ,risk factors ,developing mechanisms ,preventions and treatments of AMS .