Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of a 3-week regimen of low dosage of paclitaxel (PTX) combined with gemcitabine (GEM) for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who had been pretreated with antracyclines. Methods: Thirty two MBC patients who received antracyclines chemotherapy were recruited in this study. They were infused with PTX (120 mg/m2) for 3 h on d 1, followed by 30-min intravenous infusion with GEM 900 mg/m2) on d 1 and d 8. The combined chemotherapy was repeated every 21 d as one cycle. Maximum 6 cycles were given. Toxicity was evaluated on all the patients. The clinical efficacy was evaluated on those who had received at least 2 cycles of combined chemotherapy. Results: All of the 32 patients completed 156 cycles of chemotherapy with a median number of five cycles per patient. Four patients (12.5% %) achieved a complete response, 15 patients (46.9%) had a partial response, with an overall objective response rate of 59.4% (95% CI: 42.4%-76.4%). Stable disease was documented in 8 patients (25%) while progressive disease occurred in 5 patients (15.6%). There were no differences in response rates between the ER(+) and ER(-) patients, between the patients aged ≥50 years and <50 years, and between the patients with invasive ductal cancer and invasive lobular cancer (P = 0.783, P = 0.328, P = 0.794,respectively). The average follow-up period was 20.2 months, the median time to progression was 10.0 months, and median overall survival time was 20.0 months. Nine patients were alive with no progression at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: The 3-week combined chemotherapy of low dosage of PTX with GEM is effective for breast cancer patients who had been treated with antracyclines. The hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities are well-tolerated.

AIM: To study the effects of insulin and glucose on tissue-type plamingen activator (tPA) and its inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) secretion in cultured human endothelial cells. METHODS: Human endothelial cell line ECV-304 was cultured with glucose and/or insulin at different concentrations with or without hypoxic exposure. RESULTS: The tPA, PAI-1 secretion and ratio of tPA/PAI-1 increased in endothelial cells during hypoxia. Insulin and glucose increased the tPA and PAI-1 secretion in endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia, and increase in tPA/PAI-1 ratio was also observed at 4 h and 8 h. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia stimulates the release of tPA and PAI-1. Insulin and glucose also stimulate the tPA and PAI-1 secretion during hypoxia.

The PDB culture medium was selected to ferment the endophyte strain, and the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi Penicillium polonicum were studied. Combined application of Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC chromatographies over the ethyl acetate extract of the fermented culture led to the isolation of 6 compounds. By spectral methods, the structures were elucidated as [3, 5-dihydroxy-2-(7-hydroxy-octanoyl)]-ethylphenylacetate (1), (3, 5-dihydroxy-2- octanoyl)-ethyl phenylacetate (2), (5, 7-di- hydroxy-9-heptyl)-isobenzo pyran-3-one (3), 3-(hydroxymethyl) 4-(1E)-1- propen-1-yl-(1R, 2S, 5R, 6S)-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] hept-3-ene-2, 5-diol (4), (E)-2-methoxy-3-(prop-1-enyl) phenol (5) and p-hydroxylphenylethanol (6).
Biological Factors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Fabaceae ; microbiology ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Agranulocytosis ; chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Dacarbazine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

Today pedicle screw instrumentation system and short-segment fixation have been commonly used for treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures because pedicle screw fixation allows 3-column fixation and facilitates simultaneous application of axial compression or distraction and rotational forces.Indirect decompression and direct decompression are the two ways to deal with canal compromise when pedicle screw instrumentation is used.Indirect decompression is achieved to correct the canal compromise due to ligamentotaxis and hyperextension.The present study reviews the current research on indirect spinal canal decompression in adult patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Objective To investigate the changes of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and cell apoptosis of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the influence of brain-derived neutrophic factor(BDNF) on these parameters in rats.Methods Eighty-four male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups:BDNF (n =42) and control (n =42) groups.The BDNF group was induced using the improved Zea-longa method and were received abdominal injections of BDNF (0.5 μg/μl) immediately after injury.The control group was received abdominal injections with the same dose sodium chloride injection immediately after injury and repeated one time everyday until the rats was killed.Each group was divided into seven subgroups by sacrificed time after injury,including subgroups 1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,3 d,and 7 d; each subgroup got 6 rats.Each subgroup were randomly selected three rats after being killed.The expressions of NF-κB and TNF-α of rats contusion peri tissues brain tissue were detected by immunohistochemical methods.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TUNEL) method was used to observe the peri cell apoptosis after brain contusion.Results The expressions of NF-κB and TNF-α in BDNF group was significantly decreased relative to the control group (P ＜ 0.05),with a significant positive correlation between two parameters in two groups (P ＜ 0.001).The number of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in the BDNF group relative to control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Brain-derived neutrophic factor probably relieves inflammation response,reduces the change of secondary brain injury after traumatic brain injury,and decreases neural cell apoptosis,and finally provides protection of neurocytes.

Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Cough ; etiology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the diagnosis value of X-ray breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) combined with wire-guided localization biopsy for breast microcalcifications in impalpable breast cancer.Methods 192 palpation negative patients with 205 microcalcification lesions were detected by mammography.All lesions were classified according to BI-RADS descriptors for calcification and were categorized by the BI-RADS.The patients with BI-RADS category 4a and above underwent X-ray positioning guide wire-guided biopsy and pathological diagnosis.Results In 205 microcalcification lesions,74 (36.1％) were malignant lesions,131 (63.9 ％) were less than benign lesions.The positive predictive value of malignant breast lesions in clustered,segmental,regional linear branching calcifications were higher [83.3 ％ (5/6),100.0 ％ (11/11),100.0 ％ (1/1)],followed by clustered,linear,segmental,regional pleomorphic calcifications [55.9 ％ (38/68),50.0 ％ (1/2),40.0 ％ (8/20) and 33.3 ％ (4/12),respectively].The positive predictive values of malignant in linear branching calcifications and pleomorphic calcifications were significantly higher than those of coarse heterogeneous calcifications,amorphous or indistinct calcifications (x2 values were 34.44,51.87,16.71,29.86,all P ＜ 0.05).The linear branching calcification had the highest possibility.The proportions of malignant lesions in four different types of glands were extremely dense 40.5 ％ (30/74),heterogeneously dense 39.2 ％ (29/74),scattered areas of fibroglandular density 10.8 ％ (8/74) and fat 9.5 ％ (7/74),respectively.Conclusions BI-RADS categorization for breast microcalcification lesions can improve the detection rate of impalpable breast cancer.Linear branching calcification has higher predictive value for malignant lesions.Dense breast is the risk factors of breast cancer,which should be attached great importance.

Objective The aim of this paper is to know about the pollution of microcystin-LR(MC-LR)in Fenhe First reservoir and Fenhe Second reservoir in Taiyuan and provide reference for making the policy of prevention microcystin-LR pollution.Methods During the low water period(May,2005)and common period(Oct,2005),5 liter water was sampled in the entrance,the center and the exit in Fenhe First reservoir and Fenhe Second reservoir respectively.The concentrations of MC-LR in two reservoirs were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results The average concentration (0.875 ?g/L)of MC-LR in low water period was 3 time of that(0.283 ?g/L)in common period in Fenhe First reservoir.The average concentration(0.815 ?g/L)of MC-LR in low water period was 17 time of that(0.048 ?g/L)in common period in Fenhe Second reservoir.The level of MC-LR in the entrance was the highest,that in the exit was the lowest,that in the center was middle. The concentration of MC-LR of the entrance in low water period was more than the MC-LR limit(1 ?g/L)in Life drinking water hygienic guide(2001).Conclusion MC-LR pollution has been found in Fenhe First reservoir and Fenhe Second reservoir and the pollution is serious in low water period.

ObjectiveTo analysis the clinical features of thoracic spine and spinal cord injury (SCI) and summarize the inclusive standard of cellular transplant clinical trial for SCI.MethodsThe data of 72 cases with thoracic spine and spinal cord injury from 1990 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsMean follow-up period was 20 months (6～48 months). There was no recovery in 12 spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) patients, but improvement of urine function in 4 cases. 5 cases of 52 fracture-dislocation complete injury were improved to grade B (sense recovery), rate of recovery was 9.6%; recovery rate was 62.5% in incomplete injury. Sense recovery of all cases was better than motor recovery. Partial cases appeared spasm paralysis relief.ConclusionIncidence rate of complete injury is high and recovery is bad in thoracic spine and spinal cord injury. The inclusive standard of cellular transplant clinical trial for SCI is old complete thoracic spinal cord injury without residual compression.