Study on neuroprotective effects of astragalan in rats with ischemic brain injury and its mechanisms / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of astragalan (AG) on the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM) and c-fos of hippocampus CA1 region after the ischemic brain injury in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were divided into ten groups randomly, they were sham operated group (SOG, n = 10), three model group(MG-ld, 3d, 7d, n = 10), as well as three low and high dose astragalan treatment groups (L/H-AGTG-1d, 3d, 7d, n = 10), respectively. And then, middle cerebral artery of MG and AGTG were intercepted by operation inducing brain injured. Their cerebral blood vessel were reperfused on 1, 2, 3 d, respectively, after the L/H-AGTG were treated with the AG (5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, ip). After neurologic impairment(NIP) was scored, animals were decapitated to take out hippocampus for counting apoptosis , determining the expression of the NCAM and c-fos by immunohistochemistry method and RT-PCR semiquantitative analysis, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NIP scores and apoptotic cell of the L-AGTG and H-AGTG were significantly lower than MG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of NCAM and c-fos were significantly higher than the MG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Astragalan could improve significantly neural function of ischemia brain injury in rats,the mechanism concerned probably with blocking or reversing apoptosis of hippocampus by promoting the expression of the NCAM and c-fos of hippocampus CA1 region.</p>

Analysis of sensitivity and specificity of sputum cytology screening for lung cancer with different positive criteria / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the effect of different positive criteria on the sensitivity and specificity of sputum cytology screening for lung cancer among Yunnan tin miners.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>9223 Yunnan tin miners who received at least one annual sputum cytology screening for lung cancer during the period between 1992 and 1999 were recruited in the study. At time of enrollment, all participants were aged over 40 years old, had at least 10 years of employment as an underground miner and(or) smelter, and had not been diagnosed with malignancy. In our study, a true positive was categorized as having at least one prior positive sputum screening and a diagnosis of lung cancer, while a true negative, by our definition, signified negative sputum examinations and no diagnosis of lung cancer during the follow up time. Based on different positive criteria, sensitivity and specificity of sputum cytology were computed and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted. Z statistic was used to test the differences of the area under ROC based on Hanley and McNeil method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By the end of following up on December 31, 2001, a total 500 lung cancer cases were diagnosed among 9223 participants: most were squamous cell carcinoma (55.8% (222/398)) and central lung cancers (68.5% (316/461)). 150 lung cancer cases had a previous positive sputum screening result. When positive criteria were taken as grave atypical metaplasia, moderate atypical metaplasia and slight atypical metaplasia, the corresponding sensitivities were 30.0% (150/500), 36.4% (182/500), 53.0% (265/500) respectively; while the corresponding specificities were 98.9% (8628/8723), 95.1% (8611/8723), 77.9% (7033/8723) respectively. The areas under ROC curve according to different positive criterias were 0.645 (95%CI: 0.635 - 0.654), 0.657 (95%CI: 0.668 - 0.667), 0.655 (95%CI: 0.645 - 0.664) respectively. There were no significant differences found in the comparisons between grave and moderate atypical metaplasia, grave and slight atypical metaplasia, moderate and slight atypical metaplasia(Z statistics were 0.780, 0.645, 0.209 respectively, all P values > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>While the standard of positive criteria for diagnosis of lung cancer decreased, the sensitivity of sputum cytology screening increased and the specificity decreased. Since there were no significant differences of accuracy for different positive criteria.</p>

Cataract phacoemulsification after vitreoretinal surgery / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the characteristics, safety and therapeutic effect of cataract phacoemulsification after vitreoretinal surgery.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively reviewed 132 patients (132 eyes) which had phacoemulsification after vitreoretinal surgery between July 2001 and December 2004 in our hospital, among which 67 patients (50.75%) combined with silicon oil removal.We also analyzed the difficulties and complications of the surgery.@*RESULTS@#Patients were followed up for 7-14 months.Three eyes with broken suspensory ligaments were implanted with one point transcleral fixed intraocular lens(iol).Corrected visual acuity improved in 123 patients (93.18%), no change in 6 patients (4.54%), and visual acuity loss in 3 patients (2.27%).@*CONCLUSION@#Cataract surgery is high difficult after the vitreoretinal surgery. Phacoemulsification can easily adjust and control intraocular pressure, simplify the operation,and reduce complications during and after the surgery. Silicon oil removal combined with cataract phacoemulsification is safe and economic.

Phase III clinical study of zoledronic acid in the treatment of pain induced by bone metastasis from solid tumor or multiple myeloma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid in the treatment of bone pain in patients with bone metastasis from solid tumor or multiple myeloma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized, double-blind, double-simulated and multi-center phase III clinical trail with pamidronate as control was conducted. Patients with moderate to severe bone pain (VAS > 50 mm) induced by solid tumor or multiple myeloma were randomized to receive intravenous zoledronic acid 4 mg or pamidronate 90 mg. Then the change of VAS and urinary NTX/Cr and CTX/Cr were observed in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From July 2005 to September 2006, 228 patients with bone pain induced by bone metastasis from 15 cancer centers were randomize into two groups: 116 patients in zoledronic acid group and 112 patients in pamidronate group. The VAS value was decreased gradually after treatment in these two groups. Significant improvement in bone pain after treatment were observed both in zoledronic acid group and the control group when compared with baseline VAS on D8 (-11.77% vs. -10.87%), D15 (-24.60% vs. -21.06%) and D28 (-32.37% vs. -31.26%) (P< or =0.0001), but no significant difference existed between two groups (P =0.6587). Compared with baseline, urine NTX/Cr and CTX/Cr level were decreased rapidly after treatment in both groups, the nadir was on D8, the median decreased on D28, which was -36.9% vs. -32.1% for NTX/Cr (P = 0.7922) and -63.2% vs. -47.9% for CTX/Cr (P =0.834). The frequently observed adverse events were pyrexia (19.0% vs. 31.3%), vomiting (6.0% vs. 8.9%), nausea (4.3% vs. 4.5%), fatigue (3.4% vs. 2.7%) and constipation (2.6% vs. 1.8%) in the two groups. Compared with baseline, the serum creatinine level was not significantly increased throughout the study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intravenous injection of 4 mg zoledronic acid can significantly reduce bone pain and bone resorption marker in urine in the Chinese patients with bone metastasis from solid tumor or multiple myeloma, which is tolerable and also comparable to pamidronate in the efficacy and safety.</p>

Expression of EMMPRIN, MMPs and TIMP2 in retinoblastoma and normal retinal tissue / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 in retinoblastoma (RB) and normal retinal tissues and their clinicopathological significance and interrelationship.METHODS: Envision immunohistochemistry stainings of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 were performed in 30 enucleated eyeballs with retinoblastoma and 15 specimens of normal retina tissue, which had been routinely imbedded with paraffin.RESULTS: Positive rate of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression was higher in RB tissue than in normal control (P<0.01), while TIMP2 expression was lower in RB than in normal retinal tissue (P<0.01). Samples from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅰ, differentiated type, and life span≥2 years had lower positive rate in expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 than those from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅲ, undifferentiated type, and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while samples from RB cases of differentiated type, optic nerve unaffected, and life span≥2 years had markedly higher positive rate in expression of TIMP2 than those from RB cases of undifferentiated type, optic nerve involved and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In RB tissues, EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expressions were highly consistent (P<0.05), whereas TIMP2 expression is highly inconsistent with EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression levels (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression level of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 may be an important marker of RB progression, invasion and prognosis. There exist internally mutual regulation relations among them.

Non-small cell lung cancer evaluated by first pass dynamic contrast-enhanced 16-slice spiral CT: correlation of tumor vascularity with pathological characteristics / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of first pass dynamic 16-slice spiral computed tomography in the evaluation of tumor angiogenesis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to assess its importance in predicting pathologic characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The first pass dynamic 16-slice spiral computed tomography was performed in 33 patients with NSCLC. Their peak heights (PH) were measured with dynamic evaluation software. Their angiogenesis were labelled by anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody. The first pass peak heights (PH) in 33 patients with NSCLC were compared with their microvessel densities (MVD) and their relationships were assessed by linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 33 patients with NSCLCs, the mean first pass PH and MVD of N1-2 were significantly higher than those at stage No (P < 0.01). The first pass PH of 33 NSCLC was correlated positively with MVDs. To differentiate stage N0 from stage N1-2 with 12 HU cutoff value of the first pass PH, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 88.0%, 75.0%, 84.8%, 91.7% and 66.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The first pass dynamic contrast enhanced CT may be a predictor of tumor angiogenesis in patients with NSCLC and its pathologic characteristics, and may be helpful to improve the accuracy of lymph node staging with conventional CT.</p>

A study on selective killing effect of Hsv-tk/GCV driven by human telomerase catalytic subunit promoter on human lung cancer cell A549 / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study selective killing effect of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (Hsv-tk/GCV) driven by human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) promoter on lung cancer cell line A549 in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) Expression plasmids of Hsv-tk gene driven by hTERT promoter and sv40 promoter respectively (pGL3-hTp-tk and pGL3-sv40-tk) were transfected into telomerase-positive human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 and telomerase-negative fetal lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5. Reverse transcription-PCR was performed to detect expression of tk gene in above transfected cell lines; (2) Inhibition effect on proliferation of above transfected cell lines treated with GCV was investigated with MTT method; (3) Influence of GCV on apoptosis and cell cycle of above transfected cell lines was investigated with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) tk mRNA expression was detected in both A549 and MRC-5 transfected with pGL3-sv40-tk, also in A549 transfected with pGL3-hTp-tk, but not in pGL3-hTp-tk transfected MRC-5; (2) GCV showed significant inhibition effects on proliferation of pGL3-sv40-tk transfected A549 and MRC-5 in vitro, also on that of pGL3-hTp-tk transfected A549, but not on that of pGL3-hTp-tk transfected MRC-5; (3) Treated with GCV, apoptosis index (AI) of pGL3-sv40-tk transfected A549 and MRC-5 as well as pGL3-hTp-tk transfected A549 (21.58%, 9.35% and 23.19% respectively) increased significantly, compared with A549, MRC-5 transfected with pGL3-hTp (0.78% and 0.55% respectively) and A549, MRC-5 without plasmid transfection as blank control (2.17% and 0.60% respectively); GCV had no influence on AI of pGL3-hTp-tk transfected MRC-5 (0.88%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>tk gene driven by hTERT promoter could express selectively in lung cancer cell A549. Hsv-tk/GCV driven by hTERT promoter could selectively inhibit proliferation of lung cancer cell.</p>

nm23-H1 gene inhibits lung cancer cell invasion through down-regulation of PKC signal pathway / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the molecular mechanisms of nm23-H1 for regulating PKC signal pathway before and after transfection with nm23-H1 gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using Western-blot, Boyden-chamber, MTT and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) techniques to detect the distribution of PKC in cytosol and plasma membrane, changes of invasion and proliferation activity, PKC translocation status and changes of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration among different human pulmonary carcinoma cells with transfected or untransfected nm23-H1 gene, and changes of the three cell lines after treatment with Calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The expression of PKCalpha, PKCbeta II on L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell membrane, which was in activated status, was remarkably higher than those in L9981-nm23-H1 cell line (P < 0.001). The expression of PKCalpha, PKCbeta II in cytosol in L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell lines, which was in inactivated status, was lower than those in L9981-nm23-H1 cell line (P < 0.001). It means that the PKC signal pathway was activated in L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell lines. (2) PKCalpha and PKCbeta II mainly located in nuclei and perinuclear area in L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cells, which were in active status, and the Ca(2+) concentration in these cells was obviously higher than that in L9981-nm23-H1 cell line (P < 0.01). In L9981-nm23-H1 cell line, which was transfected with nm23-H1 gene, PKCalpha and PKCbeta II mainly located in soluble cytosolic section, in an inactive status. (3) The invasion and proliferation ability of L9981 and L9981-pLXSN lung cancer cells was higher than that of L9981-nm23-H1 cell line (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell lines (P > 0.05). (4) After treated with PKC inhibitor Calphstin C, the expression of PKC and PKCbeta II in membrane in L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell lines was down-regulated (P < 0.001), PKCalpha and PKCbeta II were mainly located in cytosolic area, mainly in an inactive status, and the Ca(2+) concentration was found to be decreased in all the three cell lines. The invasion and proliferation ability of the three lung cancer cell lines were obviously decreasing (P < 0.001). However, the invasion and proliferation ability of L9981-nm23-H1 lung cancer cell line was still lower than that of L9981 and L9981-pLXSN lung cancer cell lines (P < 0.001). There was also no significant difference between L9981 and L9981-pLXSN cell lines (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of this study suggest that nm23-H1 gene might inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells by down-regulating PKC signaling pathway. The Ca(2+) in cells might be involved in this process.</p>

Influence of regenerated fluid in vitreous cavity at various periods after vitreoretinal microsurgery on the proliferation and bFGF secretion of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To demonstrate the mechanism of positive effects of the sequential air-fluid exchange on the use of complicated vitroretinal microsurgery.@*METHODS@#Seventy-one patients who underwent vitreoretinal microsurgery were performed 2 or 3 times sequential air-fluid exchange. The regenerated fliud in vitreous cavity at various periods was collected to act on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells,and then the secretion of bFGF and the expressions of bcl-2 and ki-67 by RPE cells were observed.@*RESULTS@#The expressions of bcl-2 and ki-67 were up-regulated and the secretion of bFGF significantly increased after RPE cells was acted with the regenerated fluid in the vitreous cavity.@*CONCLUSION@#The sequential air-fluid exchange can mechanically reduce intraocular growth factors after the vitreoretinal microsurgery, indirectly restrain the proliferation of RPE cell, and improve the successful rate of vitreoretinal microsurgery.

Value of diagnosing micrometastasis by nested RT-PCR in the peripheral blood and bone marrow in non-small cell lung cancer patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the specificity, sensitivity and their clinical significance of detecting CK19 mRNA expression by nested RT-PCR for molecular diagnosis of micrometastasis in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CK19 mRNA expression was detected by nested RT-PCR in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from 59 lung cancer patients, with samples of 11 benign pulmonary lesion patients and 20 healthy adults as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity of nested RT-PCR was 10(-6). The positive rates of micrometastasis were 33.89% (20/59) in peripheral blood and 22.03% (13/59) in bone marrow, with a highly positive correlation existing between the two groups (P < 0.05). The micrometastasis in peripheral blood and bone marrow was closely correlated with the pathological classification and cell differentiation (P < 0.05) and P-TNM stage (P < 0.01). No CK19 mRNA expression was found in the samples from patients with benign pulmonary lesion or healthy adult volunteers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The peripheral blood and bone marrow from patients with non-small cell lung cancer possesses micrometastasis that can not be detected by common methods. Nested RT-PCR technique shows favorable specificity and sensitivity in detecting the condition with definite clinical prospects.</p>

Multi-center prospective randomized trial on paclitaxel liposome and traditional taxol in the treatment of breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effects and side effects of paclitaxel liposome formula on breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, compared with traditional taxol.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>129 patients from multicenters were prospectively randomized into a test group, given paclitaxel liposome at 135 mg/m(2) each session, and a control group, given traditional taxol at 135 mg/m(2) each session. Both groups received these regimens combined with ADM or DDP for two cycles (3 weeks per cycle).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 129 cases, 128 were eligible for the analysis of side effects and 126 for the overall response rate. The complete remission rate, partial remission rate and overall response rate were 1.6%, 33.3%, 34.9% in the test group and 6.3%, 22.2%, 28.6% in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Though there was no significant difference in hematological toxicity between the two groups, the toxicity from the mixed solvent of polyethoxylated castor oil and ethanol was significantly lower in the test group than that in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Paclitaxel liposome combined with ADM or DDP in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer, being similarly effective as taxol, can significantly lower the incidence of serious hypersensitive reactions.</p>