Changes in the sonographic appearance of the endometrium after different premenopausal tamoxifen therapies / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of different schemes of premenopausal tamoxifen therapy on the endometrium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 109 normal premenopausal women positive for high-risk factors of breast cancer were divided into two groups, namely periodic and consecutive tamoxifen treatment groups. Endometrial thickness as examined by vaginal sonography was assessed in relation to duration of tamoxifen use and time from discontinuation of the drug.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After one year of tamoxifen use, the mean endometrial thickness in periodic treatment group was 6.5-/+1.4 mm, and 10.2-/+2.0 mm in consecutive treatment group. Endometrial thickness increased with the duration of tamoxifen use at the rate of 0.51 mm/year in the periodic treatment group, and 0.73 mm/year in consecutive treatment group. After discontinuation of tamoxifen, the endometrial thickness in the former group decreased by 1.29 mm/year, and by 1.33 mm/year in the latter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endometrial hyperplasia is obviously milder in premenopausal women receiving periodic tamoxifen treatment who are at risk for breast cancer than that in women with consecutive treatment. After discontinuation of the drug, the endometrial thickness decreases at a roughly equal slow rate in the two groups.</p>

Binding of targeted microbubble contrast agent to choriocarcinoma cells in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the cell binding characteristics of SonoVue microbubbles targeting choriocarcinoma cells and provide evidence for clinical ultrasonic localization of the tumor utilizing the microbubbles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The targeted microbubbles were prepared by conjugating anti-HCG antibody with the SonoVue microbubbles and added in choriocarcinoma cells or endometrial stromal cells to compare the cell binding rate of the agents under optical microscope and with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Flow cytometry demonstrated a binding rate of 77.6% between the SonoVue microbubbles and anti-HCG antibody. Light microscopy showed that the total rosette formation rate of the choriocarcinoma cells exposed to the targeted microbubble bearing anti-HCG antibody reached (87.8-/+6.3)%, significantly higher than that of the endometrial stromal cells [(9.4-/+1.7)%, P<0.05]. The binding rate of the targeted microbubbles with the choriocarcinoma cells before and after PBS washing were (85.4-/+4.7)% and (83.1-/+3.8)% (P>0.05), respectively, suggesting strong stability of the binding. The binding rate was 81.0% according to the results of flow cytometry.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The targeted microbubbles as a contrast agent can efficiently bind to the choriocarcinoma cells in vitro with a stability sufficient to resist the blood flow.</p>

Study on acupuncture treatment of diabetic neurogenic bladder / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into a better therapy for diabetic neurogenic bladder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group were treated with intramuscular injection of Methycobal 250 microg, once every other day; the treatment group were treated with intramuscular injection of Methycobal 250 microg, once every other day, and acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), Huiyang (BL 35), once every day. The residual urine were compared before and after treatment in the two groups; the effective rate for improvement of symptoms were compared between the two groups. The mental and healthy nursing were conducted for the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the improving rate for the urgency of urination, frequency of micturition, dribbling urination, urinary incontinence and dysuria in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group, but with no significant difference between the two groups in prolongation of urination time. After treatment, the residual urine in the bladder significantly improved in the two groups with more significantly improved in the treatment group than in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Methycobal plus acupuncture has a better result than the simple Methyeobal for treatment of diabetic neurogenic bladder, and strengthening nursing care in the treatment can significantly enhance life quality of the patient.</p>