OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcomes of T3a prostate cancer with unfavorable prognostic factors treated with permanent interstitial brachytherapy combined with external radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to December 2008, 38 patients classified as T3a prostate cancer with unfavorable prognostic factors were treated with trimodality therapy (brachytherapy + external radiotherapy + hormone therapy). The prescription dose of brachytherapy and external radiotherapy were 110 Gy and 45 Gy, respectively. The duration of hormone therapy was 2-3 years. The endpoints of this study included biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Log-rank test was used to identify the prognostic predictors for univariate analysis.

RESULTSThe median follow-up was 71 months. The serum pre-treatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ranged from 10.0 to 99.8 ng/ml (mean 56.3 ng/ml), the Gleason score ranged from 5 to 9 (median 8), and the percentage of positive biopsy cores ranged from 10% to 100% (mean 65%). The 5-year BFFS, DMFS, CSS, and OS rates were 44%, 69%, 82%, and 76%, respectively. All biochemical failures occurred within 40 months. The percentage of positive biopsy cores was significantly correlated with BFFS, DMFS, and OS (all P=0.000), and the Gleason score with DMFS (P=0.000) and OS (P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONST3a prostate cancer with unfavorable prognostic factors presents not so optimistic outcome. Hormone therapy should be applied to prolong the biochemical progression-free or metastasis-free survival. The percentage of positive biopsy cores and the Gleason score are significant prognostic factors.

Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; agonists ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the correlation between IL‐18 and deep venous thrombosis disease and its clinical significa‐tion .Methods To detect the expression of IL‐18 by ELISA ,we collected the blood samples of DVT patients as the experimental group(n=40) compared to the control group(n=40) and normal group(n=20) .IL‐18 over expression/interference vectors were constructed and transfected human vein endothelial cells ,analyzed by microarray and KEGG Pathway as biology information tech‐nology .Then discuss the association between IL‐18 and DVT .Results Results of ELISA showed that compared with control group and normal group ,the expression of IL‐18 gene in DVT patient were up‐regulated(F=11 .248 ,P<0 .01) .Compared with normal group ,the IL‐18 expression in control group have not been significantly up‐regulated(P>0 .05) .Immunofluorescence detected IL‐18 gene expression in cytoplasm of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) .According to the microarray analysis we found in the IL18‐pCDH‐GFP transfected cells 17 signaling pathways were down‐expressed while 16 signaling pathways were up‐expressed .Compared with normal group cells ,in the IL18‐LMP‐shRNAmir1 transfected cells 23 signaling pathways were down‐ex‐pressed and 9 signaling pathways were up‐expressed .Conclusion Based on the above experimental data ,it is very clear that IL‐18 influenced HUVECs and plays an important role in DVT ,it is possible to predict the diagnosis of DVT and act as candidate molecu‐lar markers .

Methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH, E.C.3.1.8.1) coding gene mph from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3, isolated and identified by our lab, was successfully expressed in E. coli AD494 (DE3)/ pET32a(+) system as soluble fusion form at high level. The recombinant MPH showed nearly 4～5 fold higher specific activity to parathion than the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3. In addition, the thermal stability of the recombinant enzyme was improved comparing with the wild type enzyme.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

METHODSThis study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications.

RESULTSTUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemospermia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the activity of esterases, including butyrylcholinesterase (BchE), carboxylesterase (CarbE), paraoxonase (PonE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and to explore the effect of genetic polymorphism on the activity of esterase for workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs).

METHODSTwo hundred and forty-one long term OPs directly exposed workers and 151 indirectly exposed workers in the same factory were taken as study group. One hundred and sixty unexposed persons were taken as control group. The activity of serum enzymes was measured and the polymorphic distribution was detected using 7900 genotype detecting system and CMOS Chip technique. The effect of long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticides was analyzed.

RESULTSThe activities of BchE, CarbE and PonE were independent on the gender or age in control group. Average values of Carb and BchE activities of directly and indirectly exposed workers were lower than those in control group respectively. PonE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in control group. AChE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in indirectly exposed group. All the differences were significant (P < 0.01). In the direct exposure group, the frequency of three variants of butyrylcholinesterase gene K (BCHE-K) polymorphism was 74.3%, 24.1% and 1.6% for UU, UK and KK respectively. Frequency of allele U and K was 0.863 and 0.137 respectively in the same group. Frequency of three variants of PON192 polymorphism was 15.0%, 45.5% and 39.5% for AA, AB and BB respectively in direct exposure group. Gene frequency of low activity (PON*A) and high activity (PON*B) was 0.378 and 0.622 respectively. Frequency of three variants of PON55 polymorphism was 96.2%, 3.8% and 0% for MM, LM and LL respectively in direct exposure group. Frequency of allele M and L was 0.981 and 0.019 respectively in the same group. The activity of PON was different in various genotypes of PON192 and PON55.

CONCLUSIONThe long-term exposure to OPs could inhibit the activities of CarbE, BchE, PonE and ACh E in different level. The genetic polymorphisms of PON192 and PON55 affect the activity of PonE, which is related to the detoxification of OPs and health impact.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Adult ; Alleles ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Butyrylcholinesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carboxylesterase ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo study an effective method for vertebral artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (VA-PICA) dissecting aneurysms.

METHODSFive patients with VA-PICA dissecting aneurysms were treated surgically between December 2007 and February 2010, who were all males, aged from 40 to 55 years. Four of them presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 1 of them suffered from an intermittent headache on occipital area about 4 months. All the aneurysms were trapped via a far-lateral approach after revascularization of the PICAs by occipital artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (OA-PICA) bypass.

RESULTSAmong the 5 patients, 1 of them got a good outcome without any neurological deficit after surgery, 3 of them had postoperative lower cranial nerve palsy, 1 of them complicated with bleeding in the operative field after postoperative antithrombotic treatment, and suffered from contralateral hemiplegia after second surgery of removing hematoma. Postoperative cerebral angiographies (received by 2 patients) and CT angiographies (received by 3 patients) all showed patent bypasses and no filling of the aneurysms. During the follow-up from 2 to 29 months, 4 patients got good outcomes, 1 patient still suffered from moderate hemiplegia.

CONCLUSIONSTrapping the aneurysms after revascularization of PICA by OA-PICA bypass should be an effective method to treat the VA-PICA dissecting aneurysms, but individualized strategies also need to be considered based on different cases.

Adult ; Cerebellum ; blood supply ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dimethoate on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human beings and to explore the feasibility of HSP70 in biomonitoring among workers exposed to organophosphorous pesticides.

METHODSPeripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from subjects, comprising 11 people of the control group and 35 workers of the exposure group exposed to dimethoate. Flow cytometry was used for detecting both the basic level and the level of the dimethoate-induced expression of HSP70. The activity of whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was examined at the same time. Then the potential influential factors to HSP70 expression and AChE activity were analyzed.

RESULTSThe basic level of HSP70 expression in the exposure group and the control group was 41.24% +/- 10.45% and 23.97% +/- 4.29% respectively. The activity of AChE in these two groups were (125.23 +/- 7.97) and (145.36 +/- 8.78) U/ml respectively. Both differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Among the exposure group, the basic level of HSP70 expression of the two categories comprising operators and packers, were 47.34% +/- 11.87% and 38.05% +/- 8.20% respectively (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in AChE activity between these two categories. The factors that had significant influence on the HSP70 basic level of the exposure group were the health condition, the environmental concentration of dimethoate and the exposure time in order, according to their significance of influence. At least 88% variance of HSP70 could be explained by these factors. The only factor that could influence AChE activity significantly was the exposure time, and it could only explain about 12% variance of AChE activity. After the treatment of dimethoate in vitro, the level of the induced expression of HSP70 in the control group was significantly higher than that of the exposure group (P < 0.01). The increasing order was the control group, the group of packers and the group of operators according to the increasing extent and there were significant difference among them (P < 0.01). The factors that could significantly influence the change ratio of HSP70 expression were the environmental concentration and the exposure time.

CONCLUSIONHSP70 is a potential index that can reflect the individual and environmental conditions of workers exposed to dimethoate comprehensively.

Acetylcholinesterase ; blood ; Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethoate ; toxicity ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical application of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). METHODS PVP was performed in 21 cases of 37 vertebral lesions,including 14 osteoporotic compression fractures, 6 metastases, 1 hemangioma,and 17 lesions in thoracic vertebra and 20 in lumbar. The procedures of PVP were as follows: The needle was inserted via percutaneous transpedicular approach or percutaneous posterolateral vertebral approach; the needle tip was placed at the junction of the anterior located the one third of the vertebral body; intraosseous venography was performed; and last bone cement was injected at 2-10 mL. The technical success rate, clinical efficacy and complications were observed after the procedure. Results The procedure was successful in 18 cases with 31 lesions,and the success rate according to the number of cases and vertebral lesions was 85.7% (18/21) and 83.8% (31/37), respectively. After the procedure, the numbers of complete remission, partial remission, mild remission and no remission were 10, 5, 2 and 1, respectively; and the total effective rate was 94.4% (17/18). Progressive compression did not occur. Three patients had transient neuropathy and recovered after physiotherapy. Other complications were insignificant; no severe complications occurred. Conclusion PVP is an effective and micro-traumatic treatment for patients with benign and malignant lesions in vertebral bodies.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Spinal Fractures ; etiology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the application of “OmniView”, a new three-dimensional ultrasound technology, in displaying the fetal palate. Methods The three-dimensional volume data was acquired from 100 normal fetuses, analysed by OmniView technology with the facial midsagittal plane as the starting plane. The imaging of fetal palate was obtained in axial plane (through maxilla, oral cleft), coronal plane, oblique coronal plane (through piriform aperture, oral cleft, submental triangle), and the palate′s curved plane tiled imaging by drawing the anatomical lines on referenced sagittal plane (facial midsagittal plane). The volumes of ifve fetuses with cleft lip and palate were obtained and analysed by the same technology. Results The volume dataset of 91 (91.0%, 91/100) normal fetuses were acquired successfully, and analyzed by OmniView technology, the results of 91 normal fetal palate in different plane were: (1) In axial plane through maxilla, the visualization of alveolar process bow was 91 (100%, 91/91). It was shown as“C”shaped arcuate structure, the anechoic structure of alveolar socket could be seen on the bow, and the ifrst 6 alveolar sockets were displayed clearly. The visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as hyperechoic lfake between two sides of alveolar bones. In axial plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91), it was shown as a strip of soft tissue echo band. (2) In coronal plane, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as a strip of hyperechoic band and separated the oral and nasal cavity. (3) In oblique coronal plane through piriform aperture, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as a short strip of hyperechoic band. In oblique coronal plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). In oblique coronal plane through submental triangle, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). In the above two planes, the hard palate was shown as a strip of hyperechoic band, due to acoustic shadow behind the hard palate, the nasal cavity and nasal septum above the hard palate couldn’t be displayed. (4) In oblique coronal plane through piriform aperture, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). The visualization number of uvula was 25 (27.5%, 25/91). The soft palate was shown as a lfake of soft tissue echo behind the hard palate, and the uvula was shown as papillary protrusions on the edge of the soft palate in the midline. In oblique coronal plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). In oblique coronal plane through submental triangle, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). In the above two planes, the soft palate was shown as a strip of soft tissue echo band, the soft tissue echo of fetal tongue was in the lower front of soft palate, and the anechoic region of nasopharynx was superior behind the soft palate. (5) In the curved plane tiled imaging of palate, the visualization number of alveolar process bow (primary palate) was 91 (100%, 91/91). The visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). The visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). the visualization number of uvula was 25 (27.5%, 25/91), the planar panorama of alveolar process bow, hard palate and soft palate could be visualized intuitively, the alveolar arch and hard palate were shown as bone-like hyperecho, and the soft palate was shown as soft tissue hypoecho. In iffteen cases′volume involved cleft lip and palate, all five cases of malformations were detected through three-dimensional data analysis, the position and range of the cleft palate could also be conifrm. Abnormal fetuses were all veriifed after induction of labor. Conclusions By three-dimensional ultrasound technology-“OmniView”, the axial and coronal plane of fetal palate could be obtained easily which was dififcult by two-dimensional ultrasound, and the special oblique coronal plane of secondary palate could be displayed easily. The panorama of the palate could be visualized intuitively though curved plane tiled imaging by drawing a line tracking the structure of the palate. This technology could simplify the ultrasound examination procedure of the fetal palate, reduce the operators′skill-dependence, and quickly evaluated the integrity of the fetal primary palate and secondary palate. For the cleft lip fetus, this technology can determine whether the cleft palate exist or not, together with their position and range.