A preliminary study on correlations of triple-phase multi-slice CT scan with histological differentiation and intratumoral microvascular/lymphatic invasion in gastric cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Many studies have shown that cancer cell differentiation and microvascular invasion play a principle role in cancer progression and metastasis, and non-invasive imaging techniques such as CT, MRI and US assessing the differentiation and the surgical resectibility and the prognosis of cancers are now of great importance. This study aimed to explore the correlation of triple-phase multi-slice CT scan with the histological differentiation and intratumor microvascular/lymphatic invasion of progressive gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The present study included 64 patients with gastric cancer, all of whom underwent routinal and dual-phase contrast enhancement multi-slice CT examinations of the upper abdomen before surgery. The post-operative specimens were used for determination of histological differentiation, cancer cell invasion of intratumoral microvascular/lymphatic vessel identified by CD34 and D2-40 expression. Correlations between contrast enhancement ratio (CER) of triple-phase multi-slice CT scan in gastric cancer and histological differentiation as well as intratumoral microvascular/lymphatic invasion were compared and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant correlation between CER of triple-phase CT scan in gastric cancer and tumor histological differentiation (P < 0.05). CER of the arterial phase in gastric cancer with intratumoral microvascular invasion was significantly higher than that without invasion (0.61 ± 0.28 vs. 0.46 ± 0.14, P < 0.05); CER of the arterial-parenchymal phase was significantly lower in gastric cancer with intratumoral microvascular invasion than that without invasion (1.81 ± 0.39 vs. 2.28 ± 0.80, P < 0.05). However, CER of the parenchymal phase in gastric cancer with intratumoral lymphatic invasion was significantly higher than that without invasion (1.25 ± 0.57 vs. 1.00 ± 0.35, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CER of triple-phase multi-slice CT scan in gastric cancer is closely correlated with intratumoral microvascular and lymphatic invasion, and also could be used as a marker for histological differentiation.</p>

The efficacy of open-wedge high tibial osteotomy for varus knee / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce the biplanar opening high tibial osteotomy with rigid fixation for adult varus knee.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve patients with varus knee and degeneration of medial compartment received the biplanar opening high tibial osteotomy between June 2001 and July 2008. The pre-operative deformity was about 11.5 degrees without osteoarthritis changes in other compartments. The average range of motion was more than 90 degrees . One of the patients had ruptures of LCL and ACL, who received osteotomy after reconstruction of the ligaments. The main symptom before the operation was pain in medial compartment. The range of motion, Lysholm score and subjective satisfactory examinations were assessed before and after the osteotomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the osteotomy sites were healed at twelve to sixteen weeks after operation. No complications such as plate broken or injury of nerve or blood vessel had occurred. The mean correct angle was 9.5 degrees . No degenerative changes had developed in other compartments of the knee. The mechanical axis of the lower extremities was maintained during the follow-up. The overall satisfactory rate was 83.3%. Statistically significant changes exist in the Lysholm score and varus degree.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The open-wedge high tibial osteotomy is suitable for the symptomatic genu varum in younger patients with good short-term and mid-term results.</p>

Repair full-thickness meniscal defects with injectable tissue engineering technique / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effectiveness of injectable tissue engineering to repair full-thickness meniscal defects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2008 to February 2009 full-thickness of meniscal defects were created in the anterior corner of goats, which with no blood supply, in a diameter of 2 mm. Then bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) was mixed with injectable calcium alginate gel to fill the defects. Other groups include the calcium alginate gel and empty group were served as control groups. At different time points, the animals were sacrificed and macroscopy, microscopy determination, electroscopy and MRI detection were performed to assess the outcomes of repairing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The meniscal defects had been filled thoroughly in 16 weeks after operation with white, tough and elastic repair tissue similar to normal meniscal fibrocartilage in the tissue engineering groups. The repair tissue was mainly fibrochondrocytes in line with the calcium alginate fiber. Thick matrix secreted by the cells crammed the space between fibers. The view under electroscopy demonstrated that the microstructure of the repair tissue was normal and cells were in a fibrocartilage phenotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The full-thickness meniscal defects in regions without blood supply can be reconstructed effectively with injectable tissue engineering.</p>

Preliminary study on the safety and pharmacodynamic action of low dose L-asparaginase / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of low dose (1000 U/m(2)) L-asparaginase (L-Asp) in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six patients were treated with low dose L-Asp after previously suffered severe side effects from standard dose L-Asp (5000 - 10,000 U/m(2)). Twenty-eight blood samples were obtained randomly from 5 of them. Plasma asparagine concentration was detected by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients treated with low dose L-Asp showed no any toxic symptoms. The plasma asparagine levels in the patients were all above 5 micromol/L except case 4 (4.91 micromol/L) before receiving L-Asp, and were all decreased below 0.5 micromol/L five days after receiving low dose L-Asp, except case 3 (3.70 micromol/L), the results being like that of receiving standard dose L-Asp.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low dose L-Asp has definite efficacy for childhood ALL, while avoids serious side effects from standard dose L-Asp.</p>

Research on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of L-asparaginase during its treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the activity of Escherichia coli asparaginase (L-asp) and the concentration of asparagines (ASN) in the plasma of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children receiving L-asp containing chemotherapeutic protocol to explore more reasonable usage of L-asp in the treatment of childhood ALL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>L-asp containing hemotherapy regimen of VDLP was used, in which L-asp (10,000 U/m(2)) was administered intravenously every other day for 10 doses in 15 children with ALL. A total of 340 peripheral blood samples were collected at scheduled time points during the therapy and plasma L-asp activity (by spectrophotometric assay) and asparagines concentration (by RP-HPLC) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the administration of L-asp, the plasma L-asp activity was increasing gradually peaked after eight doses and then decreased gradually, while the plasma concentration of asparagines maintained in complete or nearly complete depletion status. After the therapy courses finished, a plasma L-asp activity above 100 U/L with asparagines almost complete depletion status was lasting for about seven days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The current L-asp containing chemotherapeutic protocols in which L-asp was administered in a dose of 10 000/m(2) intravenously every other day, are efficient enough for the depletion of plasma ASN.</p>