Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on TGF-beta1, ROS and PAI-1 induced by angiotensin II in renal mesangial cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on glomerulosclerosis induced by Ang II.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat mesangial cells were exposed to 100 nmol L(-1) Ang II. Meanwhile, we added S. miltiorrhiza injection of different concentrations to Mcs. PAI-1 mRNA and protein, TGF-beta1 in serum free MEM medium, and the level of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>S. miltiorrhiza notably attenuated Ang II induced expression of PAI-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, S. miltiorrhiza suppressed the production of TGF-beta1 and cellular ROS in mesangial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>S. miltiorrhiza can alleviate glomerular sclerosis. The renoprotective effects of S. miltiorrhiza may be due to its ability to decrease Ang II -induced PAI-1 and TGF-beta1 secretion and cellular ROS level.</p>

Retrospective analysis of 934 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy alone / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical outcome of 934 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy alone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>34 patients were treated from Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 1999. The radiation fields were delineated according to the CT/MRI imaging findings on disease extent. Two lateral opposing isocentric portals with customized blockings were used for the nasopharynx and upper neck. The dose delivered to tumor in the nasopharynx was 68-70 Gy/2 Gy fraction/7 weeks. The doses delivered to the neck was 60-70 Gy/6-7 weeks for patients with positive lymph nodes and 50 Gy/5 weeks for the patients with negative lymph node.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year overall survival rate (OS) was 89.5%, 81.9%, 78.1% and 75.7%, and metastasis-free survival rate (MFS) was 84.0%, 77.2%, 74.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 80.8%, 73.1%, 68.5% and 65.1%, and the relapse-free survival rate (RFS) was 95.5%, 92.7%, 90.3% and 87.3%, respectively. The overall failure rate was 30.9% (289/934). At the end of the radiotherapeutic course, the percentage of residual disease was 14.6%. The 4-year loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis rates after radiotherapy were 7.2% and 9.2% with a median time of 19.3 months and 12.8 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It may be helpful to improve radiotherapy curative effect when the target is individually designed through improving irradiation technique according to CT/MRI findings and by shortening the overall course time, enhancing irradiation dose and strictly implementing QA/QC measures.</p>