The application of C-arm CT scan in performing precise prostatic arterial embolization / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the application of C-arm CT scan in performing precise prostatic arterial embolization (PAE).Methods The dominant artery of the prostate and its spatial relationship with the peripheral blood vessels were identified by intraoperative synchronous XperCT angiography,which was followed by the performance of precise PAE.Results Among 16 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia,one patient had to give up the operation because abdominal aortic aneurysm was found by intraoperative angiography;2 patients received unilateral precise PAE as contralateral internal iliac artery was occluded;bilateral precise PAE was successfully accomplished in 13 patients.XperCT angiography was successfully performed for all the arteries that were treated with embolization.Based on the contrast agent staining of the prostate gland and the 3D reconstruction of peripheral arteries,the dominant artery of the prostate and its spatial relationship with the peripheral blood vessels were determined,and precise PAE was carried out.After PAE,no ectopic embolism-related complications occurred.One month after PAE,the remission rate of clinical symptoms was 100％.Conclusion Intraoperative C-arm CT scan can provide more accurate images which are very important for accurately identifying the prostate arteries and its relationship with the peripheral vessels,therefore,C-arm CT scan is an important technical support for the performance of precise PAE.

MRI outstands mammogram in sensitivity of breast ductal carcinoma in situ:an analysis of 122 cases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To compare the sensitivity of mammogram and breast dedicated MRI in detecting ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvaion (DCIS-MI) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, and to further investigate the independent predictive factors of mammogram and MRI sensitivity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2009 to November 2011, 122 consecutive confirmed breast cancer patients who had received operations were recruited for this clinical research. These patients were divided into two groups including DCIS (72 cases) and DCIS-MI (50 cases) based on pathologic reports. All the patients were female, with mean ages of 52.6 years and 54.4 years. Preoperative bilateral breast mammogram, breast dedicated MRI depictions and reports as well as histopathological reports were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sensitivity of MRI outstood mammogram in each subgroups: 84.7% vs. 42.4% in DCIS (χ(2) = 27.028, P = 0.000), 94.0% vs. 80.0% in DCIS-MI group (χ(2) = 4.540, P = 0.040). And further analysis showed that MRI was more sensitive to high nuclear grade DCIS and DCIS-MI lesions than low nuclear grade ones (OR = 3.471, P = 0.031).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>of logistic regression analysis proved microcalcification was an independent predictive factor of mammogram sensitivity (OR = 11.287, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sensitivity of breast dedicated MRI is superior to mammogram in detecting DCIS and DCIS-MI groups. Lesions with microcalcifiation is an independent predictive marker which meant that mammogram would achieve high detection rate in cancers presented calcification on mammogram image when compared with non-calcification. Diagnostic performance of breast MRI is less affected by clinical and pathological characteristics of the early stage breast cancer patients but further increased detection rate is observed in DCIS and DCIS-MI with high nuclear grade lesions which indicated that MRI could detect more early stage cancers with relative more aggression biological behaviour and provide these patients with early surgical interventions before possible progression to invasive breast cancers.</p>

Determination of the content of phloridzin using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for determination of phloridzin content.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A RP-HPLC method was established for determination of phloridzin using an Inertsil ODS-3 (4.6×150 mm, 5 µm) column with the detection wavelength of 288 nm, flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, and column temperature of 25 degrees celsius;.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result showed that the phloridzin had a good linear relationship when its concentration ranged between 0.5988 and 89.72 µg/ml. The regression equation was Y=46.370 X-0.6728 (r=0.9999, n=3). The average recovery of phloridzin was 99.40% with the relative standard deviations (RSD) of 0.67%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method is simple, quick and accurate for determination of phloridzin content.</p>

Location of exogenous α-crystallin in retinal ganglion cells / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background There is no effective method to regenerate the optic nerve after injury. It has been recently reported that α-crystallin could promote the survive rate and axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) effectively. However,the molecular mechanism is not clear. Objective This study was to identify the site of RGCs where the exogenous α-crystallin bind to. Methods RGCs was isolated from retinas of two 2-day-old Long Evans rats and primarily cultured. The positive rate of the RGCs was assessed by counting the number of positive cells for fluorescently-labeled thy1. 1 and cy3 under the fluorescence microscope. The biotinylated exogenous α-crystallin was evaluated by direct coloration and the activity of molecular chaperones was measured by insulin test.After identifying the success of biotinylation along with the activity of molecular chaperones,biotinylated α-crystallin was co-incubated with RGCs and the cells then were reacted to fluorescently labeled avidin for the observation of binding site of exogenous α-crystallin under the laser confocal microscope. Results RGCs of 94% were survived through primary culture. The coloration of biotinylated α-crystallin labeled by the direct coloration method was more intensive, and the value of A450 descended as the decrease of biotinylated α-crystallin concentration,indicating that the α-crystallin was biotinylated successfully. The activity of molecular chaperones of biotinylated α-crystallin was significantly strong but no significant change after being biotinylated after co-incubation of RGCs with biotinylated α-crystallin. Laser confocal microscope examination revealed that co-incubated RGCs with biotinylated α-crystallin showed the red fluorescence on membrane and axon of RGCs rather than cytoplasm and nucleus. The absent response was seen in the control group. Conclusion Exogenous α-crystallin can specifically combine with the membrane of RGCs to play the biological function,but its binding mode and mechanism need further study.

An optimized method for extracting corosolic acid from loquat leaves / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To extract corosolic acid from loquat leaves for medical use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Loquat leaves were boiled in water to remove the water-soluble substances followed by 3 cycles of extraction with 25% aqueous methanol for 30 min and then by 95% aqueous methanol for 1 h at 80 degrees celsius;. After cooling at room temperature and filtration, the extract was treated with activated carbon to remove chlorophyll, and the liquid was filtered and concentrated to allow precipitation. The sediment was washed to obtain the total crude triterpene acid, which was further dissolved with methanol and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fractions including corosolic acid were collected, concentrated with vacuum distillation, and dried to obtain corosolic acid product, which was analyzed with HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPLC analysis of the extracts showed that the percentages of corosolic acid were 4.66%, 2.42%, and 24.18% in crude corosolic acid extracted with methanol, boiling water, and 95% aqueous methanol, respectively. After purification with HPLC, the purity of corosolic acid in the product exceeded over 80%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The optimal extraction method, which is convenient and cost-effective, is established for extracting corosolic acid from loquat leaves for medical use.</p>

HER2 and topoisomerase IIalpha: possible predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Surrogate markers may be used to assess the response to neoadjuvant treatment. The association between HER2 overexpression and favorable response to specific therapy in breast cancer is controversial, and the mechanism unclear. The purpose of the study was to evaluate HER2 and topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo IIalpha) as candidates for predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between 1999 and 2006, seventy-six breast cancer patients who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were studied. Regimens including either CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil) or CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) were given in more than three cycles to this group of patients. Protein expression of HER2 and Topo IIalpha were determined by immunohistochemistry. The primary endpoint was pathological and clinical response.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 76 primary breast cancer samples, 27 (35.5%) showed overexpression of either HER2 (25%) or Topo IIalpha protein (10.5%), whereas in 7 tumors (9.2%) both proteins were found to be overexpressed. Ten patients (13.2%) had a clinical complete response and 21 (27.6%) had a clinical partial response. Five women (6.6%) had a pathological complete response, 5 (6.6%) had microscopic residual disease, and 46 (60.5%) had macroscopic residual disease. HER2 and Topo IIalpha overexpression was significantly associated with a favorable response (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study suggests that HER2 and Topo IIalpha overexpression could be predictors of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in both the CEF and CMF arms.</p>