Objective To investigate the value of serum?-human chorionic gonadotropin(?-HCG) and progesterone monitoring in medicinal conservative treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Methods Sixty patients with ectopic pregnancy treated with methotrexate were divideded into group A(n=39,?-HCG0.05).The time of serum progesterone level declining to normal level was significantly shorter than that of ?-HCG in both group A and group B(P

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and side effects of paroxetine and amitriptyline in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD).Methods82 PSD patients were randomly divided into the paroxetine group (n=42) and amitriptyline group (n=40). Before the treatment and at the ends of 2nd, 4th and 8th week after the treatment, all patients in two groups were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and TESS.ResultsAfter treatment, HAMD scores of patients of two groups were decreased significantly (P<0.01), but no difference was found between two groups. The side effects of the paroxetine group were obviously fewer and milder than that of amitriptyline group (P<0.01).ConclusionParoxetine is an effective and safe drug in the treatment of PSD.

Objective To observe the long?term survival and adverse reactions in patients with stage T4 N (+) Ⅲ middle and lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma undergoing intensity?modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT) . Methods From 2004 to 2010, 300 patients with stage T4 N (+) Ⅲ middle and lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma, consisting of 202 treated with three?dimensional conformal radiotherapy ( 3DCRT ) and 98 treated with IMRT, were enrolled as subjects. All patients received conventionally fractionated radiotherapy with a prescribed dose of 60 Gy. The long?term survival and adverse reactions were compared between patients treated with the two different radiotherapy regimens. The survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan?Meier method and analyzed by the log?rank test. Results The 5?and 7?year sample sizes were 239 and 120, respectively. The 3DCRT group had significantly lower 1?, 3?, 5?, and 7?year local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) rates than the IMRT group (64. 4% vs. 68. 3%, 40. 6% vs. 55. 3%, 38. 3% vs. 51. 9%, 34. 2% vs. 51. 9%, P=0. 048;54. 5% vs. 63. 3%, 19. 8% vs. 34. 7%, 14. 7% vs. 24. 4%, 10. 9% vs. 20. 3%, P=0. 013) . The stratified analysis showed that for patients older than 65 years, with the length of esophageal lesion>8. 0 cm before radiotherapy, the largest diameter of esophageal lesion in computed tomography image>4. 6 cm, gross tumor volume ( GTV)>60 cm3 , metastases to adjacent tissues or organs, stage N2 , and without chemotherapy, the IMRT group had a significantly higher OS rate than the 3DCRT group (P=0. 022,0. 003,0. 022,0. 034,0. 016,0. 044,0. 047). The GTV Dmin and GTVD100 were significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the 3DCRT group ( P=0. 000,0. 000) , while the Dmax of the spinal cord was significantly lower in the IMRT group than in the 3DCRT group ( P=0. 000) . Compared with the 3DCRT group, the IMRT group had a significantly higher incidence of acute radiation?induced esophagitis, particularly grade 1?2 esophagitis (P=0. 000). The mortality rate caused by local tumor was significantly higher in the 3DCRT group than in the IMRT group ( P= 0. 039 ) . Conclusions In the treatment of locally advanced middle and lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma, IMRT is safe and effective;it significantly improves the LC rate and long?term survival without severe toxicity to normal tissues. The results of this retrospective study need to be confirmed by prospective randomized controlled studies.

Objective To investigate the effects of dosimetric differences in gross tumor volume ( GTV ) on local control and survival rates in patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing three?dimensional ( 3D) radiotherapy,and to provide a basis for clinical treatment. Methods From January 2004 to December 2010, 548 patients with esophageal carcinoma received conventional fractionated 3D radiotherapy with a prescribed dose of 60 Gy. All patients were divided into low?dose group and high?dose group according to the dosimetric differences in GTV. The survival and local control rates were compared between the two groups. The survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan?Meier method and analyzed using the logrank test. The Cox regression model was used for the multivariate prognostic analysis. Results The number of sample were 456 and 216 patients at 5 and 7 years followed time. The 1?,3?,5?,and 7?year local control rates were significantly higher in the high?dose group than in the low?dose group ( 83?5% vs. 71?3%, 62?6% vs. 44?8%,57?5% vs. 41?7%,52?9% vs. 38?8%,P=0?000).The 1?,3?,5?,and 7?year survival rates were also significantly higher in the high?dose group than in the low?dose group ( 79?6% vs. 66?3%, 44?3% vs. 29?7%, 34?0% vs. 21?8%, 26?1% vs. 17?0%, P=0?000 ) . The univariate prognostic analysis using the Cox regression model showed that Dmin , Dmean , and D100 for GTV were prognostic factors ( P=0?000,0?001,0?000).In all the 548 patients,201 were assigned to the high?dose group and the others to the low?dose group. Compared with the high?dose group, the low?dose group showed significantly larger GTV (38?2 vs. 48?1 cm3,P=0?002) and more advanced T stages (P=0?035).The stratified analysis showed that the 1?,3?,5?,and 7?year local control and survival rates were significantly higher in the high?dose group than in the low?dose group,regardless of tumor location,GTV,TNM stage,or chemotherapy. The multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model indicated that tumor location and grouping based on the radiation dose to GTV were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions In 3D radiotherapy for treating esophageal carcinoma,a high?quality treatment plan and GTV dose assurance improve the survival rates in patients. The patients with lower Dmin ,Dmean ,and D100 for GTV than the prescribed dose have a poor prognosis.

· AIM: To inspect and compare the functional vision of an aspheric intraocular lens (Tecnis) with those of conventional monofocal silicone and acrylic intraocular lens and multifocal intraocular lens (Array).· METHODS: The IOLs were tested in the eye model, which was designed to be optically equivalent to the theoretical eye model. The eye model is a combination of a spherical photographic lens with 35mm focal length ( IOL put in a water cell)and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The images constructed by the lenses are observed on a monitor of personal computer and the contrasts of the images are analyzed by using commercial image processing software.· RESULTS: The modulation transfer function of the eye model equals the scale produced by the theoretical eye model. The images constructed by changing the diameter of aperture stop and IOL.· CONCLUSION: The proposed eye model is useful for testing functional vision and for inspecting differences of intraocular lens.

Objective To investigate the parameters of diffusion?weighted magnetic resonance imaging ( DWMRI) for prediction of the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy ( CRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC) , to determine the optimal time point and threshold for prediction, and to provide a basis for clinical practice. Methods From 2010 to 2011, 38 patients with ESCC were consecutively enrolled as subjects. All patients received three?dimensional conformal radiotherapy with 60 Gy in 30 fractions for 6 weeks. They also received concurrent or consolidation chemotherapy ( FP or TP scheme ) as adjuvant treatment. Patients received DWMRI scans before radiotherapy and at weeks 1?6 during radiotherapy. The apparent diffusion coefficient ( ADC ) values and tumor lengths obtained from serial DWMRI scans were recorded and analyzed. Comparison was made by paired t test. Repeated measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance ( ANOVA) and multivariate ANOVA. The prognosis was predicted by the Logistic model. The effectiveness analysis and threshold screening were performed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results In all patients, 20(52?6%) had complete response (CR) and 18(47?4%) had partial response ( PR) . There were no significant differences in the ADC values before radiotherapy and at weeks 1?6 during radiotherapy between patients with CR and PR ( 1?82 vs. 1?42;1?92 vs. 1?49;2?06 vs. 1?67;2?35 vs. 1?79;2?62 vs. 2?11;2?71 vs. 2?18;2?96 vs. 2?28×10-3 mm2/s;P=0?006,0?003,0?012, 0?001,0?003,0?008,0?002) . The ADC value at third week during radiotherapy was the only independent prognostic factor for short?term treatment outcomes in patients with ESCC ( OR=0?134, P=0?007) . These results were also supported by the multivariate ANOVA analyses. The analysis of the ROC curve showed that at the third week during radiotherapy, the area under the ADC curve was the largest ( A z=0?857) and the diagnostic effectiveness was the best;the threshold value, sensitivity, and specificity were 2?02×10-3 mm2/s, 80?0%, and 92?9%, respectively. Eight patients who had tumor out of control or recurrence within 1 year after treatment had the ADC curve fall down at the end of the fifth week and the reduction of tumor length substantially slow down from the fifth week. Conclusions DWMRI is an effective imaging approach for monitoring tumor response to CRT in patients with ESCC. The ADC value at the end of the third week during radiotherapy may be the optimal time point for prediction of treatment outcomes. The reduction in the ADC value or non?reduction in tumor length at the end of the treatment indicates a high risk of recurrence.

Objective To explore the effects of thyroid hormone on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx6.1 in offspring of hypothyroidism rats and the relationship between gene expression and hormone level by supplying their hypothyroidism pregnant mother with thyroid hormone. Method A total of 240 Wistar rats were half nude and half female. Female rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control, hypothyroidism group, hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone in high, medium and low dosage in early stage(1- 17 d) and in late stage( 18 - 20 d). According to 100 grams of body weight, the concentration of thyroid hormone were 3.5,2.0,0.5 μg/d in high, medium and low dosage group. All the rats were fed with low-iodine food. The normal control group was given KIO_3 solution and the other groups were given deionized water. After three months female rats were mated with male rats. The content of Nkx6.1 mRNA in brain tissue of 17-day fetal rats, new-born and 20- day old offspring by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR techniques. Results①A rat model of hypothyroidism was successfully established, there were statistical significance between 8 groups in TT_3,TT_4,FT_3,FT_4(F=4.08,31.99,5.79,26.34, all P < 0.01 ). ② The expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(F = 758.720, 1121.589,144.716, all P < 0.01 ) between groups in 17-day fetal rats, new-bern and 20-day old offsprings and intra- groups in different time (F=2898.863,325.605,716.285,56.329,236.727,196.678,7115.752,9152.306, all P < 0.01 ). ③The time factor and dosage factor had influence on Nkx6.1 mRNA expression(F = 1176.655,246.530, all P < 0.01 ). There were interaction between time and dosage factor(F = 1249.934, P < 0.01 ). ④Comparison of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism group and normal control group had significant difference in the above three time points(all P < 0.01 ). ⑤Comparisons of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between 6 hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone and hypothyroidism group had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) in new-bern and 20-day old offspring; comparisons of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with high and medium thyroid hormone and hypothyroidism group had significant difference in 17-day fetal rats(all P < 0.01 ). ⑥Comparison of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with medium thyroid hormone in early stage and normal control group had no statistical significance (all P > 0.05), while between the other 5 groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone and normal control group had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) in the above three time points.⑦Multiple comparison of early stage groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone showed that the expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(all P < 0.01) between high, low dosage groups and medium group in 17-day fetal rats, new-bern and 20-day offspring(all P< 0.01). ⑧Multiple comparison of late stage groups supplied with thyroid hormone showed that old offspring and between high dosage groups and low dosage groups in 17-day fetal rats and 20-day the expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) between three groups in new-bern and 20- day old offspring. Conclusion The expression of Nkx6.1 in rats offspring is highly related to the supply dosage and supply time of thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism pregnant rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of LTF mRNA in several nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cell lines, and analyze the relationship between the genetic and epigenetic changes and expression of LTF gene.

METHODSThe expression level of LTF was detected in NPC cell lines HNE1, HNE2, HNE3, CNE1, CNE2, 5-8F, 6-10B cells and tissues of 15 cases of chronic nasopharyngitis by RT-PCR. The LTF protein level was analyzed by Western blotting in 6-10B cells. Then LOH, mutation and methylation status of LTF was examined by microsatellites analysis, PCR-SSCP, MSP and bisulfite genomic sequencing, respectively.

RESULTS15 chronic nasopharyngitis tissues showed stable LTF expression, while there were weak expression in 6-10B cells and absent expression in remaining detected NPC cell lines. There was a significantly lower LTF expression in chronic nasopharyngitis tissues (Z = -3.738, P = 0.000). No LTF protein expression was observed in 6-10B cells. LOH analysis demonstrated that allele loss of LTF wasn't found in NPC cell lines. LTF mutation was noted in 14.3% (1/7) of NPC cell lines. DNA sequencing confirmed the mutation point in the promoter region (-305 bp to -50 bp) was at -218 bp (del T) of LTF gene in the HNE1 cell line. Methylation of LTF gene was not found in chronic nasopharyngitis. However, methylation of LTF promoter was detected in all NPC cell lines. LTF mRNA expression was increased in 5-8F and 6-10B cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine.

CONCLUSIONThere is an inactivation of expression of LTF gene in the NPC cell lines. Its molecular mechanism may be related with methylation of promoter region and deletion mutation.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nasopharyngitis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Transfection

The distribution information of Cistanche deserticola was collected by interview investigation and field survey, and 55 related environmental factors were collected, the habitat suitability study was conducted based on geographic information system (GIS) and Maximum entropy model. The AUCs of ROC curve were both above 0.9, indicating that the predictive results with the maxent model were highly precise. The results showed that 14 major environmental factors have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of C. deserticola, including vegetation type et al, the suitable distribution areas are mainly concentrated in the central of Alxa Youqi, the north of Alxa Zouqi and the south-east of Ejin Banner, including Tamusu towns, Alateng towns et al, The zoning results basically coincide with the genuine producing areas, and further afford new suitable distribution areas, which can provide reference for the siting of introduction and cultivation of C. deserticola.
China ; Cistanche ; growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Rain ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature