OBJECTIVETo observe clinical effect of integrated Chinese medical (CM) treatment (as maintenance therapy) on the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first-line chemotherapy.

METHODSThe study was a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Totally 69 non-progressive advanced NSCLC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to the test group (34 cases) and the control group (35 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with one Western drug chemotherapy (Gemcitabine or Alimta or docetaxel). Those in the test group were treated with integrated CM treatment (CM decoction, CM Intravenous preparation, and point application). Each cycle consisted of 21 days. Treatment lasted till the disease progressed, or intolerable toxic/adverse reactions occurred, or patients refused to continue the treatment. Patients' life spans were regularly followed-up.

RESULTS(1) The median cycle of maintenance therapy was 2 cycles for two groups with no statistical difference (P =0.274). The median PFS was 12.43 weeks in the test group and 10.00 weeks in the control group, showing statistical difference (P =0.025). The middle survival time (MST) was 18.8 months in the test group and 16.73 months in the control group, showing no statistical difference (P =0.437).

CONCLUSIONCM treatment (as maintenance therapy) showed quail effect to one Western drug chemotherapy in prolonging patients' life span.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pemetrexed ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use

To explore the epidemiological character of Methicillin-resistant Stapkylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the phenotyping and genotyping motheds and to investgate the source, transmission, and the spread of nosocomial MRSA infection, consequently, reducing the nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, 19 MRSA strains were isolated from patients and environment in a hospital in two months. Patterns of resistantce against 16 antimicrobial agents and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE) of these strains were analyzed to find the relationship among those isolates Clustering analysis was made from the patterns. Some isolates with high homology was found in 19 MRSA, 11 of them belong to type A, and 8 of them belong to the same subtype A1. They were endemic in burn ward, oncological ward and ICU. In addition, 4 isolates were clustered into group B, all found in the same ward of burn unit Thus, our results indicated a outbreak of MRSA ( A type) in this hospital and the potential prevalence of MRSA (B type) , which might be mediated by health care stuff. It is essential to enhance the infection control implementation and to utilize the PFGE genotyping system for the real-time surveillance of MRSA.

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of BCL-10 protein expression in the gastrointestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry studies were performed using CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD45RO, CD23, CD5, CD10 monoclonal antibodies in 43 cases of gastrointestinal MALT lymphomas, including 25 indolent classical MALT lymphomas and 18 MALT lymphomas with large cell transformation. BCL-10 protein expression was assayed in the tumor cells.

RESULTSIn 25 low-grade MALT lymphomas, expression of BCL-10 was found in the nuclei in 10 cases, in both nuclei and cytoplasm 1 case, in cytoplasm 3 cases and no expression 11 cases. In 18 transformed MALT lymphomas, BCL-10 was expressed in the nuclei in 7 cases, in both nuclei and cytoplasm 1 case, in cytoplasm 2 cases, no expression 8 cases. The frequency of BCL-10 expression in nuclei was the highest (44.2%).

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of BCL-10 expression in nuclei in the gastrointestinal MALT lymphoma is high, indicating that it may associate with the pathogenesis of this entity, and may be helpful to its diagnosis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; biosynthesis ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; B-Cell CLL-Lymphoma 10 Protein ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy of 3 different treatment programs for oligospermia patients of Shen-essence deficiency syndrome (SEDS).

METHODSTotally 450 male patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., the treatment group, the control group 1, and the control group 2, 150 in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated by Bushen Yijing Decoction (BYD), tamoxifen tablet (TT), Licorzine Capsule (LC), and Vitamin E Soft Capsule (VESC). Those in the control group 1 were treated by BYD, LC, and VESC. Those in the control group 2 were treated by TT, LC, and VESC. All patients were treated for 3 months. Their pregnant rates were compared. Clinical efficacies of each Chinese medical symptom and sperm parameters [sperm density, grade a sperm motility rate, grade (a + b) sperm motility rate, grade (a + b + c) sperm motility rate, and normal sperm morphology rate] were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSAt 3 months after treatment 61 patients were pregnant in the treatment group, 36 patients were pregnant in the control group 1, and 30 patients were pregnant in the control group 2. The differences in the sperm density, grade a sperm motility rate, and grade (a + b) sperm motility rate, and grade (a + b + c) sperm motility rate between before and after treatment were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P < 0.01). The difference in the normal sperm morphology rate between before and after treatment was obviously higher in the treatment group and the control group 1 than in the control group 2 (P < 0.01). Better results were obtained in the treatment group and the control group 1 in improving the sexual apathy, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, impotence, premature ejaculation, seminal emission, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, alopecia, when compared with the control group 2 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the total effective rate of improving Chinese medical symptoms between the treatment group and the control group 1 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBYD combined with TT, LC, and VESC could significantly improve sperm qualities and clinical Chinese medical symptoms of oligospermia patients of SEDS.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced breast cancer.

METHODSSixty patients were randomly assigned to two groups by digital table, the control group and the treatment group, 30 in each group. All patients were treated with the same CTF regimen of chemotherapy for 21 days as one therapeutic cycle, while those in the treatment group were given SFI additionally in the meanwhite. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 2 cycles of treatment by observing the changes of short-term efficacy, TCM syndrome, quality of life and immune function, as well as the adverse reaction.

RESULTSThe total short-term remission rate, the improvement rate of clinical syndrome and quality of life was 50.0%, 70.0% and 76.7% in the treatment group, and 43.3%, 46.7% and 50.0% in the control group, respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (all P < 0.05). The occurrence of adverse reaction in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The level of CD3+ CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio increased (P < 0.05) and CD8+ decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01), while they showed insignificant change in the control group.

CONCLUSIONFor treatment of advanced breast cancer, SFI can alleviate the bone marrow inhibition caused by chemotherapy, improve clinical symptoms and quality of life and prolong the survival period by regulating cellular immune function of patients, so as to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of trichostatin A (TSA) on protein-protein interaction between HBx and histone deacetylase protein 1 (HDAC1).

METHODSBoth HBx and HDAC1 expressing vectors were constructed by the method of routine molecular cloning. The expression of HBx and HDAC1 were observed by Western blot assay. The protein-protein interaction was tested between HBx and HDAC1 by GST pull-down in vitro as well as co-immunoprecipitation in vivo.

RESULTSBoth HBx and HDAC1 expressing vectors were successfully constructed. Protein-protein interaction between HBx and HDAC1 existed both in vitro and in vivo. TSA, an inhibitor of HDAC1, had no effect on the interaction between HBx and HDAC1.

CONCLUSIONSHBx interacts with HDAC1 in vivo and in vitro in a non- TSA dependent way.

Histone Deacetylase 1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; metabolism ; Immunoprecipitation ; Plasmids ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Erlong Zuoci Pill (, ELZCP) and its disassembled: prescriptions on gentamicin (GM)-induced ototoxicity model in vitro.

METHODSAfter the spiral organ of cochleae: of newborn mice (postnatal days: 2-3) cultured for 24 h, GM alone or combined with water extracting-alcohol precipitating solution of ELZCP or with its disassembled prescriptions was added. Hair cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope after TRITC-phalloidin staining, and the cochlear hair cell loss rate was calculated by counting the whole cochlear hair cells and analyzed by whole cochlear hair cells analyzing software.

RESULTSGM induced cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) and inner hair cells (IHCs) injuries in a dose-dependent manner, and they were significantly different as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ELZCP at the concentration of 0.003-3 mg/mL could decrease the hair cells loss induced by the 0.3 mmol/L GM (P<0.05, P<0.01), the effects was in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentration of 0.3 mg/mL showed the optimal protective effect. For the ELZCP disassembled prescriptions, Liuwei-Dihuang could decrease OHC loss rate than that in the 0.3 mmol/L GM model group (P<0.05), but the OHC loss rate was still higher than that in the ELZCP group (P<0.01), which indicated that the protective effect of hair cells by Liuwei-Dihuang was not better than that of ELZCP. Poria decreased OHC loss rate from 72.1 % +/-3.7 % to 58.8 %+/- 8.2 % (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSELZCP could play a role in antagonizing the injury of cochlear hair cells induced by GM ototoxicity,: and its disassembled prescriptions, Liuwei-Dihuang was the main component to protect the cochlear hair cells from GM-induced ototoxicity, and Magnetitum combined with Radix Bupleurui could strengthen the action of the whole prescription; Poria could reduce GM-induced OHC loss.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice ; Organ of Corti ; drug effects ; pathology ; Prescriptions ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between myc gene rearrangement and myc protein expression in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and their correlation with prognosis.

METHODSOne hundred and six cases of DLBCLs with follow-up data were analyzed using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Immunophenotyping analysis for CD20, CD3, myc, Mum-1, CD10, bcl-6 was also performed using EnVision immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe percentages of tumor cells expressing myc, Mum-1, CD10 and bcl-6 were 70.8%, 56.6%, 21.7% and 26.4%, respectively. Twenty six cases (24.5%) were of GCB type and the rest (75.5%) were of non-GCB (non germinal center) type. The myc rearrangement was identified in 13 (12.3%) of 106 cases. 13 cases showed to be of non-GCB type. There was no correlation between myc rearrangement and myc protein expression. DLBCLs (n = 13) with myc rearrangement showed significantly poorer overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), with a median OS and PFS time of 4.7 and 3.2 months, respectively (for OS and PFS, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard model confirmed that myc rearrangement, ECOG performance status of 2-4, immunophenotyping subgroup and myc protein were independent factors affecting the prognosis and significantly associated with the survival. However, myc rearrangement was the strongest prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONSDLBCL with myc gene rearrangement is a subgroup of non-GCB DLBCL with poor outcome. It is an independent and useful factor for prognosis in DLBCL. Expression of myc is influenced by many factors and myc rearrangement may be one of these factors.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of road injury.

METHODSCase-control study was used. From November 2001 to August 2002, 406 drivers who had 438 drivers who had not experienced a motor vehicle crash in Huanggu district, Shenyang city were recruited by randomly selection on time of day, day of week and site in the same period at same district. Face to face interviews with drivers were conducted according to a highly structured questionnaire covering the circumstances of the current trip, usual behavior and background characteristics of the drivers and the condition of motor vehicles. Stanford sleepiness scale and Epworth sleepiness scale were used to quantify acute and chronic sleepiness respectively.

RESULTSIncreased risk was associated with drivers who identified themselves as having chronic doziness (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.26 - 3.12). Increase in risk was associated with measures of acute tiredness, but without statistical significance (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 0.89 - 6.31). Comparing to permanent daytime work pattern, rotating shifts or permanent night-work pattern increased the risk of crash (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.48 - 2.94). The risk of motor vehicle crash among the drivers who drank alcohol in the previous 6 hours was 3.59 times (95% CI: 1.13 - 11.39) of those drivers who did not drink. Driving violations also contributed to the increased risk of crash (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.22 - 2.46).

CONCLUSIONFactors as chronic doziness, rotating shifts or permanent night-work pattern, driving under alcohol impairment, violation of motor vehicle regulation all significantly increased the risk of road injury. Acute sleepiness might serve as a potential risk factor for road injury.

Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Automobile Driving ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors