The purpose of this study is to prepare T7 and TAT dual modified liposomes (T7-TAT-LIP) to penetrate through blood brain barrier and target to brain tumor cells. The liposomes were prepared with CFPE, T7 modified PEG-DSPE, TAT modified PEG-DSPE, soybean phospholipid, PEG-DSPE and cholesterol. The CFPE was used to track the cellular uptake efficiency. The density of T7 and TAT and the length of PEG were optimized, and then the liposomes were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, morphology and stability. Afterwards, the cellular uptake by bEnd.3 and C6 cells were evaluated. The results showed that the optimized parameters were 6% of T7, 0.5% of TAT, the molecular weight of PEG for T7 was 2000 and the molecular weight of PEG for TAT was 1000. After optimization, the particle size of T7-TAT-LIP was 118 nm, the zeta potential was -6.32 mV and the particles were spherical. The turbidity and particle size of liposomes were not obviously changed after 24 h incubation in PBS at 37 °C. The particle size and polydispersity index were also stable during 1 month incubation at 4-8 °C. The cellular uptake by both bEnd.3 and C6 cells of T7-TAT-LIP was higher than that of T7 or TAT modified liposomes, suggesting dual modified liposomes possessed better blood brain barrier targeting ability and brain tumor targeting ability than the single ligand modified liposomes.

The purpose of this study is to prepare T7 and TAT dual modified liposomes (T7-TAT-LIP) to penetrate through blood brain barrier and target to brain tumor cells. The liposomes were prepared with CFPE, T7 modified PEG-DSPE, TAT modified PEG-DSPE, soybean phospholipid, PEG-DSPE and cholesterol. The CFPE was used to track the cellular uptake efficiency. The density of T7 and TAT and the length of PEG were optimized, and then the liposomes were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, morphology and stability. Afterwards, the cellular uptake by bEnd.3 and C6 cells were evaluated. The results showed that the optimized parameters were 6% of T7, 0.5% of TAT, the molecular weight of PEG for T7 was 2000 and the molecular weight of PEG for TAT was 1000. After optimization, the particle size of T7-TAT-LIP was 118 nm, the zeta potential was -6.32 mV and the particles were spherical. The turbidity and particle size of liposomes were not obviously changed after 24 h incubation in PBS at 37 °C. The particle size and polydispersity index were also stable during 1 month incubation at 4-8 °C. The cellular uptake by both bEnd.3 and C6 cells of T7-TAT-LIP was higher than that of T7 or TAT modified liposomes, suggesting dual modified liposomes possessed better blood brain barrier targeting ability and brain tumor targeting ability than the single ligand modified liposomes.
Biological Transport ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol ; Liposomes ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyethylene Glycols

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors in treating primary liver cancer (PLC) patients by Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating method (PSQRM), thus providing evidence and optimizing Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating program.

METHODSClinical data of 151 PLC patients treated by PSQRM at Oncology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2007 to March 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate analysis was determined to analyze possible prognostic factors. Selected key factors were introduced into the COX proportional hazard model, and multivariate analysis was carried out.

RESULTSThe 1-year survival rate was 21.85%, the median survival time was 6.80 months, and the mean survival time was 8.98 months. The univariate analysis showed that Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types, clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis, ascites, tumor types, ratios of foci, portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatic metastasis, a-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, total bilirubin classification, albumin classification, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). The statistic data of multivariate analysis indicated that CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were independent factors influencing prognosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of PLC treated with PSQRM is determined by multiple factors including CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and cytogenetic features of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) associated with del(20q).

METHODSThe cytogenetic profiles, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and transformation in course of disease were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Of 29 MDS patients with del(20q), eleven (37.9%) had normal karyotype in addition to del(20q) aberration. Among them, nine patients were categorized into refractory anemia(RA)/RA with ringed sideroblasts(RAS) group and two into RA with excess Hasts(RAEB)/RAEB in transformation(RAEB-T) group. The breakpoint in 20q11 was commonly seen in patients with RA/RAS(63.2%), while del(20q12) was predominant in patients with RAEB/RAEB-T(accounting for 70% in all RAEB/RAEB-T patients). It was observed that RAEB/RAEB-T patients had higher frequencies of extra chromosomal aberrations(50%) and complex karyotype(30%) than did the RA/RAS patients (26.3%, 5.3% respectively); (2) Almost all patients revealed prominent pancytopenia, dyserythropoiesis and dysgranulopoiesis and 58.6% patients showed dysmegakaryopoiesis; positive periodic acid schiff staining of nucleated erythrocytes or reduction of neutrophils were found in 62.5% of patients; 81.8% of patients expressed lymphoid antigens; (3) Two cases transformed to acute myeloid leukemia.

CONCLUSIONDel(20q) may be an early and primary cytogenetic event in the development of hematologic malignancies. Pancytopenia and dysplasia of bone marrow cells are prominent in patients with MDS associated with del(20q); lymphoid antigen expression is a common occurrence; more additional chromosomal abnormalities and complex karyotypes appear when the disease becomes worse.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe changes of learning and memory ability (LMA) in burn rats with depression, and study the relationship between LMA and expression of hippocampal NMDA.

METHODSAccording to simple random method, 46 Wistar rats were divided into burn group (B, with 30% TBSA deep partial-thickness burn, n = 10), depression group (D, with moderate stress stimulation in chronic and unpredictable, n = 12), B + D group (with the same stress stimulation inflicted to B group after burn, n = 12), healthy control group ( HC, without treatment, n = 12). Changes in escape latency was examined in water maze test. Expression of hippocampal NMDA in CA1, CA2 regions and dentate gyrus were observed with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with that of HC group (22 +/- 20 s), water maze escape latency in B, D, B + D groups on 2 day after training prolonged (38 +/- 31, 41 +/- 36, 42 +/- 33 s, respectively, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Water maze escape latency in B + D group on 4th day after training was longer than that of other groups (P < 0.01). There was no obvious difference in positive expression of NMDA in CA1, CA2 regions among groups (P > 0.05). The positive count of NMDA in dentate gyrus in D group (198 +/- 14) and B + D group (191 +/- 6) were lower than that of HC group (224 +/- 23, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but there was no obvious difference between HC group and B group (219 +/- 25, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBurn complicated with depression can reduce LMA, which may be due to a decrease in NMDA in dentate gyrus.

Animals ; Burns ; complications ; metabolism ; psychology ; Depression ; complications ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; N-Methylaspartate ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To analyze the results of malaria focus investigation and disposal in Tengchong City,Yunnan Prov-ince between 2015 and 2016,so as to provide evidences for interrupting potential malaria transmission. Methods The malaria foci were investigated and disposed according to the malaria cases reported from"China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention"in Tengchong City between 2015 and 2016. The mosquitoes were captured by mosquito-lured lamp overnight to investigate the malaria vector in local. The peripheral blood samples were collected from the local residents with a febrile history in the foci within two weeks and the accompanists of the cases,and then the rapid malaria diagnosis tests were used to screen the malaria carriers. Results Totally 145 imported malaria cases were reported in Tengchong City between 2015 and 2016,and the focus investigation and disposal rate within 7 d was 100%(145/145). A total of 16186 mosquitoes of 12 species of Anopheles were captured,among which An. sinensis was the predominant,accounting for 64.31%(10410/16186),followed by An. kun-mingensis and An. minimus,with the constituent ratios of 14.15%(2291/16186)and 11.66%(1887/16186),respectively. One person(1.96%,1/51)in the 51 accompanists of the cases was positive in the malaria rapid diagnosis test. Conclusions The malaria transmission vectors such as An. sinensis,An. kunmingensis,An. minimus etc. are still distributed in Tengchong City,and An. sinensis is the predominant species. Therefore,the relevant authorities should continue to strengthen the focus in-vestigation and disposal to interrupt the potential introduced malaria transmission by imported cases in the future.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found that polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) exhibits anti-osteoporosis effect, but its therapeutic effect in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats and the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of administration of PSP on the bone microstructure, bone mineral density as well as osteoblast- and osteoclast-related gene expression in rats. METHODS: Twenty-five infertile female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3 months were randomly allotted into five groups (n=5 per group): sham operation (same volume normal saline), model, zoledronate (0.2 mg/kg?d), high-dose PSP (800 mg/kg?d) and medium-dose PSP (400 mg/kg?d) groups. All rats were subjected to ovariectomy except sham operation group. The administration was intragastrically given every 2 days beginning at 7 days after modeling and lasted 12 weeks. Then, the rats were sacrificed, and the uterus was weighed. The bilateral tibias were removed, one side for histomorphometric analysis by micro-CT, and the other one for RNA detection by qualified PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the sham operation group, the rat body mass in the model group was significantly increased and the weight of uterus was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, zoledronate and high-dose PSP could significantly alleviate the excessive increase in body mass (P < 0.05). The bone mineral density in the model group was decreased by 63% compared with the sham operation group (P < 0.01), Compared with the model group, after 12-week high-dose PSP and zoledronate administration, the bone mineral density was increased by 44% and 38%, respectively (P < 0.01); the trabecular bone volume fraction and trabecular number rose significantly(P<0.05),while the trabecular separation decreased significantly(P<0.05).In vivo,PSP could significantly promote the expression levels of osteoblast-related genes (alkaline phosphatase, RUNX2, Col1a1 and osteocalcin), and significantly inhibit the expression levels of osteoblast-related genes (ACP5 and CTSK) (P < 0.05). These results imply that high-dose PSP can reduce bone loss and decrease of bone mineral density, improve the destruction of bone microstructure, as well as promote osteoblast-related genes but inhibit osteoclast-related gene mRNA expression in the ovariectomized rats.

Objective To explore the effect of 0.9％ sodium chloride solution airway instillation before endotracheal suctioning on machinery ventilates patients.Methods Totals of 80 patients who received mechanical ventilation longer than 72 hours were enrolled in this study and were randomly divided into experimental group and the control group with 40 cases each group.And 5ml 0.9％ sodium chloride solution was instilled into the airway of each case in experimental group before the endotracheal suctioning,while the same procedure was not performed in control group.The incidence of VAP,the positive rate of sputum culturing,themechanical ventilation time and the staying time in ICU were observed and respectively compared between the two groups.Results The incidence of VAP was 25.0％ in experimental group and 15.0％ in control group,and the difference was no statistically significance(P ＞0.05).The positive rate of sputum culturing was 47.5％ in experimental group,while that was 22.5％ in control group,and the difference was statistically significant( x2 =5.495,P ＜ 0.05 ).The mechanical ventilation time and the staying time in ICU of experimental group respectively were higher than that of control group [ ( 7.35 ± 3.89 ) vs( 5.73 ± 2.45 ),( 10.88 ± 4.37 ) vs(9.00 ± 3.59 ) ],and the difference was statistically significant ( U =602.0,589.5,respectively ; P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Airway instillation of 0.9％ sodium chloride solution before endotracheal suctioning can increase the positive rate of sputum culturing,mechanical ventilation time,and the staying time in ICU for patients,so it should not be performed as a routine nursing procedure.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of the number of lymph node metastasis on survival and prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy after radical resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSFour hundred and ninety-five patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer who had undergone radical resection were randomly divided into surgery group alone (S, 275) and surgery plus radiotherapy group (S + R, 220). The patients were classified into three groups: Group A: 234 patients (47.2%) without lymph node involvement; Group B: 146 patients (29.5%) with 1 to 2 involved lymph nodes and Group C: 115 patients (23.2%) with >or= 3 involved lymph nodes.

RESULTS1. The 5-year survival rate in Groups A, B and C for the same T stage (T3) was 52.6%, 28.8% and 10.9%, respectively (P = 0.0000); the 5-year survival rate in group C was 0% in S group and 19.3% in S + R group (P = 0.0336); 2. In the positive lymph node group, the metastatic rate of intra-thoracic and supraclavicular lymph node was 35.9% and 21.2% in S group and 19.7% and 4.4% in S+R group (P = 0.014 and P = 0.000). In the negative lymph node group, the metastatic rates of intra-thoracic lymph node was 27.8% in S group and 10.3% in S + R group (P = 0.003). The metastatic rate of intra-abdominal lymph node in Groups A, B and C was 3.9%, 9.4% and 17.5%, respectively (P = 0.0000). The occurrence of hematogenous metastasis was most frequent in group C (27.8%) with >or= 3 positive lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION1. The number of metastatic lymph node is one of the important factors which affects the survival of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. 2. Chemotherapy might be given to the patients with three or more lymph nodes involved who have the possibility of developing hematogenous metastasis. Postoperative radiotherapy can reduce the occurrence of intra-thoracic and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis and improve the survival of patients with three or more lymph nodes involvement.

Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of serum free testosterone (FT) and testosterone secreting index (TSI) in ED patients, and to assess the contribution of these two indexes to the diagnosis of ED caused by endocrine factors.

METHODSWe studied 120 ED patients and 30 healthy men undergoing pre-marital medical check-up in Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM by analyzing the scores on erectile function and desire domain in IIEF, testing the serum total testosterone, luteinizing hormone by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLIA), measuring free testosterone by radioimmunoassay( RIA), and calculating TSI.

RESULTSOf the 120 ED patients, 5% and 1538% were below the reference norm of TT and FT values respectively. TT, FT and TSI decreased with age, with statistical with FT and TSI, but not with TT. FT and TSI statistically declined with lower IIEF score on ED domain, but this was not the case with TT. There were no significant differences in TI, FT and TSI among different sexual desire groups the ED patients.

CONCLUSIONFT is much more valuable than TF in the diagnosis of ED with hypogonadism. Both FT and TSI are important parameters in assessing the severity of ED.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Erectile Dysfunction ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; methods ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioimmunoassay ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Testosterone ; blood ; secretion