Therapeutic Efficacy of Tian Yuan Acupuncture Method for Liver Cancer Pain and Its Effect on Quality of Life and Adverse Reactions / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Tian Yuan acupuncture method in treating liver cancer pain and its effect on quality of life (QOL) and adverse reactions. Method A total of 108 patients with liver cancer were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 54 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by Tian Yuan acupuncture method, while the control group was intervened by the three-step analgesic ladder recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The clinical efficacies, changes in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and QOL, and the occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups were observed. Result The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); the VAS and QOL scores showed improvement after treatment in both groups and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05); adverse reactions occurred in both groups, and the occurrence rate was 25.9％ in the observation group, significantly lower than 53.7％ in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Tian Yuan acupuncture method can produce significant clinical efficacy in treating liver cancer pain. It can effectively improve the symptoms of cancer pain and enhance the QOL.

Heparin-derived oligosaccharide inhibits vascular intimal hyperplasia in balloon-injured carotid artery / 中国天然药物

The aims of the present study were to determine the effects of heparin-derived oligosaccharides (HDOs) on vascular intimal hyperplasia (IH) in balloon-injured carotid artery and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. An animal model was established by rubbing the endothelia within the common carotid artery (CCA) in male rabbits. The rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet. Arterial IH was determined by histopathological changes to the CCA. Serum lipids were detected using an automated biochemical analysis. Expressions of mRNAs for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA-1) were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Expressions of VEGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, SR-BI and ABCA-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify expression levels of VEGF and bFGF. Our results showed that administration of HDO significantly inhibited CCA histopathology and restenosis induced by balloon injury. The treatment with HDOs significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF, bFGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, and SR-BI in the arterial wall; however, ABCA-1 expression level was elevated. HDO treatment led to a reduction in serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density and low-density lipoproteins). Our results from the rabbit model indicated that HDOs could ameliorate IH and underlying mechanism might involve VEGF, bFGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, SR-BI, and ABCA-1.

Two new diterpenoid lactones isolated from Andrographis paniculata / 中国天然药物

In the present study, two new diterpenoid lactones, 3-deoxy-andrographoside (1) and 14-deoxy-15-methoxy-andrographolide (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata. Their structures were elucidated by combination of NMR, MS, and chemical methods. The configurations of 1 and 2 were established based on the analysis of ROESY data and single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment.

Clinical significance of CASP8AP2 gene methylation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the methylation level in the promoter of caspase 8 associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2) gene between samples at diagnosis and in complete remission, and to investigate its relationship with clinical features and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diagnostic DNA samples from 109 newly diagnosed children with ALL admitted from August 2007 to March 2010, and 94 ALL children in CR (complete remission) among them were collected. Bisulfite modification and MethyLight method established by our research team were used to determine the methylation level of the two key CpG sites (at -1189 and -1176) of the promoter of CASP8AP2 gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average methylation level of the two CpG sites in newly diagnosted samples was higher than that in CR samples (71.1% ± 1.7% vs 64.2% ± 21.2%) (P = 0.008). Analysis with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under curve was 0.687 (P = 0.024), indicating that the methylation level of the two CpG sites was able to predict relapse efficiently to some extent, 76.9% was chosed as a cutoff value to divide the patients into high methylation group (49 patients) and low methylation group (60 patients). The incidence of relapse in high methylation group was higher than that in low methylation group (20.4% vs 6.7%) (P = 0.044), five year relapse free survival in high methylation group was also lower than that in low methylation group (Log rank, P = 0.033). Furthermore, high methylation at new diagnosis were correlated with high level of minimal residual disease (MRD) before consolidation therapy (P = 0.011). In the 34 children with MRD ≥ 10(-4) at the end of induction remission, the relapse rate of high methylation patients was significantly higher than that of low methylation patients (8/16 vs 3/18)(P = 0.038).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The abnormal hypermethylation of the two CpG sites (at -1189 and -1176) of the promoter of the CASP8AP2 gene is possibly associated with leukemogenesis in childhood ALL. The treatment outcome is more poor in patients with hypermethylation than that in patients with low methylation. The combination of the methylation level of the two CpG sites and MRD level at the end induction remission is able to predict relapse more effectively.</p>

MicroRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 癌症

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) provide insight into both the biology and clinical behavior of many human cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The dysregulation of miRNAs in NPC results in a variety of tumor-promoting effects. Furthermore, several miRNAs are prognostic markers for NPC. In addition to cellular miRNAs, NPC samples also often contain miRNAs encoded by Epstein-Barr virus, and these miRNAs may impact NPC biology by targeting both cellular and viral genes. Given their numerous putative roles in NPC development and progression, a thorough understanding of the impact of miRNA dysregulation in NPC is expected to shed light on useful biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the clinical management of this disease. In this review, we describe the efforts to date to identify and characterize such miRNAs in the context of NPC.

Primary neuroendocrine tumor of the testis: clinicopathological study of 7 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment of primary neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the testis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry, we studied 7 cases of primary NET of the testis, reviewed relevant literature, and analyzed the clinical manifestations, histomorphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of the tumor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 7 male patients, at the mean age of 40.6 years, all presented with testicular painless masses, none accompanied with carcinoid syndrome. Histologically, the uniform tumor cells were arranged in trabecular, island, solid and/or flake structures and locally in a tubulo glandular pattern, round and polygonal in shape, with a small amount of lipid vacuoles in the eosinophilic cytoplasm. The cells had round nuclei with fine chromatin and rarely identified mitosis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cells were positive for Syn, CgA, NSE and CK, with a Ki-67 positive rate of < 2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Primary NET of the testis is a rare and low-grade malignancy. Early diagnosis and surgical resection are essential for good prognosis. Immunohistochemistry helps its diagnosis and differential diagnosis from other metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, teratomas with carcinoid, seminoma, and Sertoli cell tumor.</p>

Primary testicular yolk sac tumor: clinicopathological study of 8 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of primary testicular yolk sac tumor (YST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We studied 8 cases of primary testicular YST by microscopy and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 8 cases of primary testicular YST, including 2 consultation cases, were confirmed from 1998 to 2013, accounting for 10.7% (8/75) of all the testicular germ cell tumors diagnosed in our hospital. The patients ranged in age from 7 to 43 years, 23.9 years on average. The main clinical manifestation of the patients was painless unilateral testis swelling. Microscopically, reticular tissues, schiller-duvaI (S-D) bodies, and eosin-stain transparent bodies were seen in the tumors. One of the cases was confirmed to be simple YST, while the other 7 mixed YST. AFP was a characteristic immunophenotype marker of the tumors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Primary testicular YST is a rare malignancyr with poor prognosis. Its diagnosis depends on preoperative AFP test and postoperative pathology. Comprehensive treatment, including orchiectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, can prolong the survival of the patients.</p>

Evaluation of pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of valacyclovir hydrochloride tablets by HPLC-MS/MS / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple, sensitive method of high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of valaciclovir in human plasma, and to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioequiva-lence of valaciclovir hydrochloride tablets in healthy volunteers. METHODS: A single oral dose of reference and test tables was given to 24 healthy male volunteers according to randomized crossover design. The plasma samples were precipitated by 30% trifluoroacetic acid, and the supernatant was neutralized by 50% ammonia and injected into the LC-MS/MS system directly. Then internal standard method was used to calculate the concentrations of valaciclovir in plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using SAS 9.1. RESULTS: The main pharmacokinetic parameters of valaciclovir test and reference preparations were as follows: ρmax (3457.92 ± 783.83) and(4181.25 ± 1130.19) μ · L-1, t1/2 (3.04 ± 0.41) and (3.13 ± 0.52) h, AUC0-tn(10 624.29 ± 2007.05) and (12 607. 30 ± 2 808.07) μg · h · L-1, respectively. F0-tn was (95.25 ± 15.72), and F0-∞ was (95.32 ± 15.76)%. CONCLUSION: The HPLC-MS/MS method established in this study is simple, sensitive and accurate, and it is suitable for the study of pharmacokinetics of valaciclovir in human plasma. The test tablets are bioequivalent to the reference tablets. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.