Diabetes mellitus complicated with cerebral infarction is the commonest and most serious vascular complication of diabetes mellitus. With a high disability and mortality rate, it seriously threatens human health. Because the pathogenesis is still unclear, more and more scholars have focused on the research of diabetic cerebral infarction at home and abroad. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) compounds have a remarkable curative effect in the treatment of diabetic cerebral infarction. Its mechanisms of action mainly include anti-hypertension, reduction of blood sugar and lipid, promotion of vascular regeneration and vascular endothelial function, anticoagulation, anti-thrombosis, improvement of nerve function defect, reduction of infarct volume, improvement of hemorheological, inhibition of inflammation and platelet aggregation, and promotion of collateral circulation. Through literature search, this paper summarizes the research progress of the mechanisms of TCM compounds in treating diabetic cerebral infarction in recent five years at home and abroad, in order to provide reference for clinical treatment.

BACKGROUNDTendon adhesion is one of the most common causes of disability following tendon surgery. Therefore, prevention of peritendinous adhesion after surgical repair of tendon is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to explore the possible application of a collagen membrane for the prevention or attenuation of peritendinous adhesions.

METHODSSprague-Dawley (SD) rat Achilles tendon was cut and sutured by a modified Kessler's technique with or without the collagen membrane wrapped. Macroscopic, morphological and biomechanical evaluations were applied to examine the recovery of the injured tendon at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery.

RESULTSThe surgery group wrapped by collagen membranes had a better outcome than the group with surgery repair only. In the collagen membrane-treated group, less adhesion appeared, stronger tensile strength was detected, and more tendon fibers and collagen I expression were observed morphologically.

CONCLUSIONWrapping the tendon with a collagen membrane may be an efficient approach for tendon repair and preventing tendon adhesion after its ruptures.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; Animals ; Collagen ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tendon Injuries ; surgery ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristic findings of an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung without the pulmonary artery on spiral CT and discuss its nomenclature.

METHODSFour cases of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal segment of the lung without the pulmonary artery were retrospectively reviewed with analysis of the characteristic CT findings.

RESULTSOn spiral CT scans, the involved left lower lung including the entire left basal segments (n=2), the lateral and posterior basal segment (n=1), and the anterior, medial, and posterior basal segment (n=1) had mild volume loss and areas of ground-glass opacity but with normal bronchial trees. The absence of the entire or part of the basal segments of the normal left lower lobar pulmonary artery, anomalous systemic artery originating from the abdominal aorta, diffuse dilatation of the systemic arterial branches distributed in the basal segments of the left lower lobe, and left lower pulmonary venous drainage into left atrium were found in all these patients.

CONCLUSIONThis anomaly presents with characteristic findings on chest spiral CT, for which the nomenclature of local absent pulmonary artery better shows the characteristics of the disease.

Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Terminology as Topic ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUNDBlocking the 4-1BB/4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) signal may modulate the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines and prolong the survival of the grafts, which play a key role in organ transplantation tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody (mAB) in acute rejection of rat orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSThe orthotopic liver transplantation model was set up, while male Lewis rats were used as liver donors and Brown-Norway rats as recipients. The recipient rats were intravenously injected with anti 4-1BBL mAB or isotype control antibody. Groups were monitored for graft survival after transplantation. Plasma chemistry, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin (BIL), was assayed. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma in plasma were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Allograft histology images were collected under light microscope and electron microscope.

RESULTSIsotype antibody treated recipients exhibited elevated plasma levels of liver injury markers including AST, ALT and BIL, progressive portal and venous inflammation and cellular infiltration of the liver allografts, and a mean graft survival time (MST) of 10.9 days. Administration of anti 4-1BBL mAB resulted in a decrease in plasma levels of liver injury markers and the concentrations of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. The histological grade of rejection on day 7 decreased and MST (17.3 days) increased substantially.

CONCLUSIONSThese results demonstrate that attenuation of acute rejection follows the blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody and strongly suggest it is a promising strategy to prevent progression of graft rejection by suppressing T cell-mediated immunity.

4-1BB Ligand ; immunology ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew

Objective To investigate the prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) and genotypes of hepatitis E virus in 8 species of animals including swine, cattle, sheep, horse, donkey, dog, chicken and duck in the suburb of Beijing. Methods Serum samples were collected from the 8 species of animals, and fecal samples of younger swine were collected from 2 stock farms. Anti-HEV was detected by Double Antigen Sandwich Assay. HEV RNA from fecal samples was detected by a reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). Parts of the PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The swine HEV sequences were analyzed genetically. Results The positive rates of anti-HEV in serum specimens of swine, cattle, horse, donkey, sheep, dog, duck and chicken were 80.43%(481/598), 15.02%(52/346), 14.29%(40/280) ,0(0/26) ,9.88%(33/334), 0(0/ 21) ,3.03% (7/231) and 2.53%(8/316), respectively. The anti-HEV prevalence of adult swine(≥6 months)and younger swine(≤3 months)were 87.86%(369/420)and 62.92%(112/178)respectively. 74 of 111 (66.67% ) pig faces were positive for HEV RNA. Sequence analysis on these positive samples showed that there were 6 groups of HEV designated as bjsw1, bjsw2, bjsw3, bjsw4, bjsw5 and bjsw6. The 6 strains of HEV shared 94.5%-99.6% sequence identity of partial HEV ORF2 nucleotide with each other. The identities of HEV ORF2 nucleotide sequences between the 6 strains and genotype 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 75.6%-78.6% , 75.6%-76.2%, 77.1%-80.7% and 83.7%-94.5%, respectively. The sequence identity between the 6 strains and human HEV genotype 4d was 90.0%-94.5% . Conclusion HEV infection was seen in swine, cattle, horse, sheep, duck and chicken in the suburbs of Beijing. The anti-HEV positive rate appeared the highest in swine and the lowest in dog and donkey. The six strains of HEV isolated from younger swine belonged to genotype 4d.

BACKGROUNDThe antitumor role of Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene and its potential molecular mechanisms are not well understood. The objective of this study was to observe the antitumor ability of RASSF1A in hepatocellular carcinoma, and study the mechanisms of cell apoptosis induced by RASSF1A.

METHODSAfter stably transfecting a RASSF1A (wild-type or mutant) expression vector into the BEL-7402 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, RT-PCR and Western blotting was used to detect the RASSF1A expression levels in recombinant cells. The effects of wild-type RASSF1A on cell growth were observed in vitro by analyzing cell proliferation rate, cell colony formation, and in vivo by analyzing tumorigenesis in nude mice. In addition, the effect of RASSF1A gene expression on the chemosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to antitumor drugs was examined by inhibition of cell proliferation and the percentage of apoptotic cells.

RESULTSWild-type RASSF1A, not the mutant, suppressed cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Re-expression of wild-type RASSF1A could enhance the inhibition of cell proliferation and the percentage of apoptotic cells following cell treatment with mitomycin, but had no significant effect when combined with adriamycin, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin treatment.

CONCLUSIONWild-type RASSF1A inhibits cell growth and enhances cell chemosensitivity to mitomycin in hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that RASSF1A may serve as a new target for gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Mitomycin ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of modified BFM-90 regimen originated from Germany authors in the treatment of Chinese childhood and adolescent lymphoblastic lymphoma.

METHODSThirty-six untreated lymphoblastic lymphoma patients aged from 3 to 18 years were included, with 1 patient in stage II , 9 in stage III and 26 in stage IV. Of these 36 patients, 28 (77.7%) were diagnosed as T cell phenotype, 26 (72. 2%) were found to have mediastinal mass, 21 (58. 3%) had bone marrow involvement. All patients received chemotherapy of modified BFM-90 regimen consisting of induction remission, central nerve system prophylaxis, re-induction remission and maintenance therapy. Total treatment duration was two years. The difference from standard BFM-90 is that we omitted cranial radiotherapy but gave regular high dose methotrexate (MTX) iv infusion and intrathecal MTX therapy during maintenance therapy period. Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate survival rate.

RESULTSOf 36 patients, 32 (88%) achieved complete remission (CR) , 1 (2. 7%) partial remission (PR) with an overall response rate of 90.7%. One patient had disease progression ( DP). Two patients received autologous stem cell transplantation at CR1, and two patients received radiotherapy to mediastinum. Totally, 5 patients relapsed, while 2 of them were still alive after salvage chemotherapy. The other 3 died of tumor progression. Two patients died during induction remission, 1 of fungal septicemia, the other of cerebral hemorrhage; one PR and one DP patient died of disease, therefore, totally 7 patients died at last. Median follow-up time was 28 months. Overall three-year survival rate was 78. 3%. The major toxicity was myelosuppression.

CONCLUSIONModified BFM-90 protocol can improve the efficacy and survival of Chinese childhood and adolescent lymphoblastic lymphoma with tolerable toxicity. However, this modified protocol should only be used in experienced cancer center or hematological unit.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asparaginase ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Daunorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Mercaptopurine ; therapeutic use ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; ethnology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

AIMTo study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin and hematocrit values in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, tid). Complete blood counts were determined before and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.

RESULTSThe hemoglobin and hematocrit levels declined significantly in all patients and at all the time points after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONProstate cancer patients treated with combined androgen block would develop obvious anemia. Recombinant human erythropoietin can be used to treat patients with severe anemia.

Adenocarcinoma ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Adult ; Androgen Antagonists ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anemia ; chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Flutamide ; therapeutic use ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Prostatic Secretory Proteins ; analysis

Objective:Position emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) is a new bio-imaging system which is combined metabolic with anatomic imaging.This study was to compare the accuracy of conventional staging methods(including computed tomography,ultrasound,magnetic resonance imaging,and detection of bone marrow) with that of PET/CT for lymphoma staging and re-staging. Methods:A total of 42 patients with lymphoma diagnosed by operation or biopsy,received conventional and PET/CT staging.The accuracy of these two methods and their impact on lymphoma staging were compared.Results:The accuracy of PET/CT scan was 95.2%(40/42),and that of conventional staging was 78.6%(33/42).The detection rates of internal lymph node were 97.1%(66/68) and 88.2%(60/68),respectively.The detection rates of outer lymph node were 91.7%(22/24) and 58.3%(14/24),respectively.Compared with conventional staging methods,7 cases were up-staged and 2 cases were down-staged by PET/CT,which led to the change of therapy in 8 cases.Conclusion:PET/CT scan is more sensitive and accurate than conventional staging methods in staging and restaging of lymphoma.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit value (Ht) in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, Tid). Complete blood counts were detected before initiation and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.

RESULTSHb level declined significantly in all patients from a mean baseline of (136 +/- 14) g/L to (126 +/- 16) g/L, (121 +/- 14) g/L, (120 +/- 15) g/L, (113 +/- 12) g/L, (121 +/- 13) g/L and (123 +/- 15) g/L at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Ht decreased from a mean baseline of 0.424 +/- 0.041 to 0.390 +/- 0.038, 0.381 +/- 0.042, 0.378 +/- 0.038, 0.366 +/- 0.041, 0.384 +/- 0.039 and 0.387 +/- 0.040. The differences between Hb, Ht before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with prostate cancer being treated with combined androgen block would develop a significant degree of anemia. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level should be monitored periodically. This kind of anemia can be treated by recombinant human erythropoietin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists ; adverse effects ; Anemia ; chemically induced ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy