ABSTRACT
In the past decade, the role of the mevalonic acid pathway and its inhibitor statins in preventing tumorigenesis and improving tumor prognosis has attracted wide attention; however, so far, there are still controversies over the role of statins in liver cancer. Previous studies have shown that statins play an important role in cholesterol metabolism, antioxidation, and anti-inflammation, and cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response are important factors to promote the development and progression of liver cancer. However, some recent studies have found that statins have an adverse effect on the treatment of some liver cancer patients. This article elaborates on the role of statins as a “double-edged sword” in the treatment of liver cancer and related molecular mechanisms.
ABSTRACT
Objectives To observe the effects of varied doses of L-thyroxin sodium ( L-T4) on congenital hypothyroidism ( CH) and to determine appropriate dose for early therapeutic intervention. Methods Totally, 108 cases of confirmed CH were divided into two groups (54 in each group). All the cases were administered with L-T4 at varied doses( 10. 1? - 15. 0 ?g ? kg-1? d-1 for large-dose group and 6. 0 - 10. 0 ?g ?kg-1? d-1 for small-dose group) after their parents were trained for basic knowledge of CH by specialists. Their serum levels of T3, T4 and TSH, as well as their body height, weight and head circumference, were measured during follow-up. L-T4 was maintained at doses of 1. 0 - 4. 0 ?g ? kg -1 ? d-1 when their serum levels of T3, T4 and TSH returned to normal. Results All the 108 cases had their clinical symptoms quickly improved and development and growth accelerated after L-T4 substitution. Their serum level of T3 returned to normal in all cases, that of T4 did not return to normal in six cases of large-dose group and in 16 cases of small-dose group, and that of TSH did return to normal in 22 cases of large-dose group and in 39 cases of small-dose group, respectively, after one-month treatment, with a significant difference between the two groups. Cases in large-dose group gained more weight in average than those in small-dose group when they were three months old. Conclusions Early therapeutic intervention for babies with CH with L-thyroxin sodium of 10. 1 -15. 0 ?g ? kg-1? d-1 could quickly correct abnormal function of their thyroid and could avoid abnormal development of their intelligence due to CH.
ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the treasure of the Chinese nation civilization. Along with China acceding to WTO, the grandness of international natural drug market and its accepting of Chinese materia medica (CMM), CMM industrialization in China gets the opportunity growing quickly. But it is faced with many challenges from all over the world.This article introduces the theory of industria-lization competitiveness, which was put forward by Pro. Michael E. Porter, Harvard University, and applied “diamond model” theory to evaluating the international competitiveness of the CMM industrialization of China. The analysis will provide the base for establishing the strategy for the development of the CMM industrialization in China and upgrading its international competitiveness.