AIMTo study the effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current in human atrial myocytes and in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

METHODSSingle cardiac myocytes were isolated by enzyme. The effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current (INa) were assessed by applying whole-cell patch clamp techniques.

RESULTSHydrocortisone sodium succinate (1, 3, 10 micromol x L(-1)) was shown to inhibit INa of both human atrial myocytes and guinea pig ventricular myocytes in concentration dependent manner and the IC50 were 6.97 and 8.74 micromol x L(-1), respectively. The inhibition effects acted quickly (1-3 min) and the maximal activating voltage of INa was not changed in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

CONCLUSIONHydrocortisone sodium succinate can exhibit inhibitory effects on INa in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes, and its inhibitory effects act rapidly, which are not consistent with genomic effects, so there may be nongenomic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects

Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the best choice of the three treatment modalities of preserving laryngeal functions in T3 laryngeal carcinoma. Methods： There were 94 cases with T3 laryngeal carcinoma (Stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ ) who were treated by three kinds of modalities of preserving laryngeal functions： definitive radiotherapy, salvage surgery for the failures of definitive radiotherapy, partial laryngectomy. We compared their survival curve, recurrence rate of the primary and secondary site, and the complications. Results： The survival curve of the partial laryngectomy groups was better than that of the definitive radiotherapy group in supraglottic carcinoma (P=0.0248). In glottial carcinoma, the survival curve of partial laryngectomy group and salvage surgery group were insignificantly different, both of them were better than that of definitive radiotherapy group (P=0.0075). The complication rate of the salvage surgery group was significantly higher than that of partial laryngectomy group (60％ Vs 16.7％ ); We regarded the definitive radiotherapy group and salvage surgery group as one group, it's primary site recurrence rate was significant higher than that of partial laryngectomy group (45.8％ Vs 19.4％ ). Conclusion： Partial laryngectomy is the most effective way among the three modalities of preserving laryngeal functions to treat T3 laryngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors that influence survival of the patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in young people and evaluate the efficiency of unilateral lobectomy plus isthmectomy with therapeutic cervical lymph node dissection and postoperative TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) suppressive therapy.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-one patients under 30 years old with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated in this hospital (14 cases no more than and 117 cases more than 16 years) from Jan. 1st, 1985 to Dec. 31st, 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were received only surgery and TSH suppressive therapy, and 3 patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of the progressive metastasis in necks or mediastina. A multivariate analysis was performed in these patients by the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTSThe mean follow-time (x +/- s) of all patients were (140.86 +/- 43.76) months, with range from 20 to 229 months; Ninety-eight patients followed more than 10 years. Ten patients died of thyroid cancer. The overall 10-year survival rate was 97.18%. The 10-year survival rate for patients < or = 16 years of age and > 16 years were 75.97% and 96.57% respectively (P = 0. 0006). The 10-year survival rate for women and men were 94.91% and 93.69% respectively (P = 0.5261). The 10-year survival rates of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma were 93.77% and 96. 55% respectively (P = 0.8137). For patients with tumor size of < or = 1 cm, 1-4 cm and >4 cm the survival rate was 100.0%, 96.40%, and 80.67% respectively (P = 0. 0589). The 10-year survival rates of patients with or without lymph node metastasis were 88.37% and 100. 0% respectively (P = 0.0313). For patients of with or without distant metastasis, The survival rate was 96.64% or 60.00% (P = 0.0000). The 10-year survival rates with or without recurrence were 86. 67% and 95.48% respectively (P = 0. 5681). Using multivariate analysis, risk factors that independently influence survival were distant metastasis, tumor size and age.

CONCLUSIONSThe distant metastasis, tumor size and age at diagnosis were the independent factors influencing survival significantly. The status of lymph node metastasis may have certain effect on the prognosis. Unilateral lobectomy plus isthmectomy with a therapeutic cervical lymph node dissection followed by postoperative TSH suppressive therapy is a favourable model to children and young adults with DTC without distant metastasis, but to the patients with distant metastasis, their prognosis of this therapy model is disappointing.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Papilloma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate reasonable surgical therapy for conjoined twins.

METHODSTwo pairs of gastrothoracopagus were admitted in July 2004 and April 2005 respectively. The first pair was separated by emergency surgery for the rupture of umbilical hernia resulting in the exposure of intestines. The thoracic and abdominal wall was repaired with local skin flaps, and the secondary wound was covered with artificial skin. Skin expanders were embedded in thoracic and abdominal wall 2 months after birth in the second pair. The surgical separation was performed one month after. The deficiencies of pericardium, sternum and abdominal wall were reconstructed by allogenic grafting of pericardium, porous polyethylene implant and monofilament polypropylene patch respectively. The thoracic and abdominal wall was repaired with expanded rotation skin flap.

RESULTSThe first twins died of respiratory failure and circulatory and respiratory failure 2 hours and 39 hours after the separation respectively. Both of the second pair survived and were discharge after healing.

CONCLUSIONSThe separation of gastrothoracopagus should be performed after skin expansion in the interest of the closure of wound. It's better to use porous polyethylene implant and monofilament polypropylene patch to reconstruct the sternum and abdominal wall respectively.

Abdominal Wall ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Wall ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Twins, Conjoined ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quantity, subset of dendritic cells (DC) and their costimulatory molecule expression in peripheral blood (PB) of the patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODSTotal DC (Lin1(+) HLA-DR(+)), myeloid DC (mDC) (Lin1(-) HLA-DR(+) CD11c(+)) and plasma DC (pDC) (Lin1(-) HLA-DR(+) CD123(+)) in fresh PB samples of 38 MDS patients and 19 normal controls were assayed by flow cytometry with the monoclonal antibodies. The expressions of costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40 on these DCs were also assayed in the same way.

RESULTSThe number of total DC in PB of low-risk and high-risk MDS patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls [(33.7 +/- 7.0) x 10(6)/L, (56.3 +/- 29.0) x 10(6)/L vs (12.1 +/- 1.4) x 10(6)/L, respectively] (P < 0.05), that of mDC in PB of low-risk and high-risk MDS patients was higher than that of normal controls too [(16.7 +/- 6.3) x 10(6)/L, (28.7 +/- 17.6) x 10(6)/L vs (5.5 +/- 0.9) x 10(6)/L] (P < 0.05), but pDC in low-risk and high-risk MDS patients was not significantly higher than that in normal controls (P > 0.05). The percentage of total DC in PB mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of low-risk and high-risk MDS patients [(2.37 +/- 0.53)% and (3.58 +/- 1.39)% respectively and that of mDC (0.90 +/- 0.35)%, (1.51 +/- 0.70)% respectively] were higher than that of normal controls [(0.68 +/- 0.08)%, and (0.32 +/- 0.05)% respectively] (P < 0.05), but that of pDC in MDS cases was not higher than that of normal controls (P > 0.05). The expressions of CD80 and CD86 between MDS patients and normal controls had significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTotal DC and mDC were increased significantly in MDS, but pDC did not. The costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) except CD40 expressed higher on the DC of MDS patients. It suggested that the inflammatory injury related APC increased in MDS, but the antitumour immunity related APC did not . What found here might be one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of MDS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effect of four types of neck dissections for the recurrent and persistent lymph nodes of NPC after radiotherapy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 88 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with recurrent and persistent lymph nodes after radiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively, the 5-year survival rate, recurrent rate, distant metastatic rate and surgical complications were analyzed. The survival rate and recurrent rate of the radical neck dissection (RND), modified radical neck dissection (MRND), selective neck dissection (SND) and lymph node resection (LNR) were compared. The survival and recurrent rate between those with and without postoperative radiotherapy were investigated as well.

RESULTSThe 5-year survival rate and recurrent rate of whole group were 42.8% and 22.7%, respectively. As for the patients with disease staged II, III, IV, the 5-year survival rates were 56.7%, 36.1% and 32.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of groups of RND, MRND, SND and LMR were 39.8%, 60.0%, 37.9% and 44.1%, respectively, the differences were insignificant (Log Rank = 1.0, P = 0.8011), the recurrent rate of the lymph node among the 4 groups were insignificant either (chi2 = 0.470, P = 0.493). The 5-year survival rates of those with and without postoperative radiotherapy were 39.1% and 45.3%, respectively, the differences were insignificant (Log Rank = 0.06, P = 0.8138), the recurrent rate of the two groups were insignificant (chi2 = 0.593, P = 0.441).

CONCLUSIONSThe four types of neck dissection were effective and safe to control the recurrent and persistent lymph nodes in the neck after radiotherapy, as long as choosing patients rationally and gave postoperative radiotherapy if necessary.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Neoplasm, Residual ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to explore the optimal management option for cervical metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clinically N0 neck in order to avoid excessive or inadequate treatment in clinical practice.

METHODSClinical data of 327 cases of tongue SCC with cN0 neck were retrospectively analyzed. Neck control rates affected by different pathoclinical parameters were compared. Prognosis analysis and death analysis were also performed.

RESULTSOverall 3-year survival was 69.7% (228/327), 3-year survival of neck recurrent group and non-recurrent group was 39.1% (25/64) and 77.2% (203/263), and 51.5% (51/99) of the death related to neck failure. Overall neck control rate was 80.4% (263/327); neck control rate of wait and watch group, level I neck dissection, level I + II neck dissection, supraomohyoid neck dissection, radical neck dissection, functional neck dissection, was 67.5% (27/40), 72.7% (24/33), 60.0% (15/25), 84.9% (45/55), 86.8% (131/151), 84.0% (21/25), respectively. Treatment modality and cervical lymph node involvement were independent factors for neck control.

CONCLUSIONSNeck control is a key for prognosis of tongue SCC with cN0 neck. Supraomohyoid neck dissection is the first choice in management of cervical metastases in tongue SCC with cN0 neck, during which the suspected involved lymph nodes should be sent for frozen section to determine whether comprehensive neck dissection required. Multimodal metastasis and/or capsular spread are the indications for postoperative irradiation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics on molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from hospitals in Tianjin area.

METHODSOne hundred M. tuberculosis isolated strains were collected in succession from August 16th-December 25th, 2005 in Tianjin Haihe Hospital and genotyped by spoligotyping and multiple locus variable number-tandem repeat(VNTR). Data was analyzed by cluster software. Based on the concept of Beijing lineage, it was determinate two sub-groups: atypical Beijing strains and W strain/typical family strains by multiplex and real-time PCR. The associations of subgroups with drug resistance and age were assessed by the chi2 test.

RESULTS96 M. tuberculosis strains were genotyped in which 91.7% (88/96) strains belonged to Beijing genotype (including 3 Beijing-like strains) by spoligtyping. VNTR typing could differentiate 60 genotypes among the 88 Beijing genotype strains. 93.2% of the Beijing lineage M. tuberculosis strains of this study belonged to W strain/typical Beijing family strains (82/88). No statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of the two sub-groups in patients of different age, or drug resistance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains were dominated on tuberculosis hospital patients of Tianjin area. The discriminatory power of VNTR typing was higher than that of spoligtyping. The two sub-groups of Beijing lineage had been prevalent in Tianjin, however W strain/typical Beijing family strains were of preponderance.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of using small interfering RNA targeting TF as a therapy for vein graft failure.

METHODSExternal jugular vein to carotid artery interposition vein grafts, which were applied to a low flow condition, were made in 120 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 260 to 300 g. These rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 30 rats each group. Group A was atelocollagen-TF Stealth Select RNAi group. Group B was atelocollagen-TF Stealth RNAi group. Group C was atelocollagen group. Group D was control group. Small interfering RNA mixed with atelocollagen was administrated to the external wall of grafted veins. The TF protein expression of vein grafts was analyzed by Western blot at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d postoperatively, and by immunochemistry at 3 d postoperatively. The proliferation index was determined at 14 d postoperatively. Neointimal hyperplasia was evaluated at 28 d postoperatively. BLOCK-iT fluorescent oligo was used to confirm its stability and successful transfer into the vein graft wall at 3 and 7 d postoperatively for another group (n=12).

RESULTSFluorescence of BLOCK-iT fluorescent oligo could be detected in the graft wall even at 7 d postoperatively. Knockdown of the TF expression was achieved by perivascular application of siRNA using atelocollagen. Compared with control group, the intima thickness at 28 d after grafting was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). This phenomenon was preceded by significant reduction of cell proliferation in siRNA-treated grafts at 14 d postoperatively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TF in vein grafts can be effectively inhibited by specific siRNAs using a atelocollagen-based nonviral delivery approach in vivo, so that the neointimal thickening can be prevented. Transplants;

Animals ; Collagen ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hyperplasia ; prevention & control ; Jugular Veins ; pathology ; transplantation ; Male ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the performance of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) for the bio-decontamination of the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter unit.

METHODSSelf-made or commercially available bioindicators were placed at designated locations in the HEPA filter unit under VHP fumigation. The spores on coupons were then extracted by 0.5 h submergence in eluent followed by 200- time violent knocks.

RESULTSDue to the presence of HEPA filter in the box, spore recovery from coupons placed at the bottom of the filter downstream was significantly higher than that from coupons placed at the other locations. The gap of decontamination efficiency between the top and the bottom of the filter downstream became narrower with the exposure time extended. The decontamination efficiency of the bottom of the filter downstream only improved gently with the injection rate of H2O2 increased and the decontamination efficiency decreased instead when the injection rate exceeded 2.5 g/min. The commercially available bioindicators were competent to indicate the disinfection efficiency of VHP for the HEPA filter unit.

CONCLUSIONThis assay developed can detect all 16 β-lactams demanded by the European Union (EU). The whole procedure takes only 45 min and can detect 42 samples and the standards with duplicate analysis.

Air Filters ; Fumigation ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; chemistry