Pathogenesis of Esophageal Cancer and Clinical Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Esophageal cancer is a digestive tract malignancy with high morbidity and mortality and mainly occurs in males. The 5-year survival rate is lower than 20%. In China， the morbidity and mortality of esophageal cancer rank the first in the world， seriously threatening national health. The pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is diverse， which is generally considered as the consequence of environmental-genetic-gene interaction. In addition to genetic factors and regional characteristics， gene mutation， RNA interference， DNA damage repair， tumor microenvironment， dietary habit， chronic adverse stimulation， and inflammatory reaction are all involved in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. However， there is no unified and accurate conclusion. Clarifying the exact pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is of great significance for its early screening， diagnosis， prevention， treatment， and prognosis. Surgery， radiotherapy， and chemotherapy are the three effective methods for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However， due to the atypical early symptoms， most patients have missed the best operation period when diagnosed， resulting in poor clinical prognosis. Moreover， radiotherapy and chemotherapy will cause side effects such as loss of appetite， low immune function， esophagitis， pneumonia， and malnutrition， which is not conducive to the prognosis and treatment maintenance of patients. With definite efficacies on esophageal cancer， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， which is flexible and diverse in the treatment， can primarily or alternatively be involved in the treatment of esophageal cancer. TCM can eliminate postoperative complications and postoperative infections and relieve adverse gastrointestinal reactions， weakened immune function， and organ damage caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It can enhance clinical efficacy and improve the quality of life of patients. Therefore， it is necessary to systematically summarize the clear pathogenesis or risk factors of esophageal cancer and review the clinical characteristics of TCM in the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer to facilitate the early screening， diagnosis， and treatment of esophageal cancer and promote the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer and related adverse reactions.

Autopsy study for maxillary nerve and its artery supply / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the travel, divisions, and the lengths, diameters, branches, artery supplies of the main segments of maxillary nerve.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty formalin-preserved adult half-head specimens with intravascular injection of red color emulsion were used for the gross and microanatomical studies of maxillary nerve. The lengths, diameters, branches and artery supplies of four main segments of maxillary nerve were observed. SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The length and diameter of cranial middle fossa segment of maxillary nerve were (10.70 ± 1.31) mm and (4.01 ± 0.52) mm respectively, which was supplied by inferior-lateral cavernous sinus artery. The length and diameter of pterygopalatine fossa segment were (16.21 ± 1.80) mm and (3.27 ± 0.62) mm respectively, in which one zygomatic branch, one to three posterior superior alveolar nerves, two ganglion branches and tuberal descending branches; were given off, and the segment was supplied by foramen rotundum artery. The length and diameter of infraorbital segment were (25.73 ± 2.03) mm and (3.30 ± 0.52) mm and it gave off middle superior alveolar nerve (64%) and anterior superior alveolar nerve and was supplied by infraorbital artery. Facial segment gave off superior labial branches, internal and external nasal branches, inferior palpebral branches, buccal branch and zygomatic branch and these branches were supplied by infraorbital artery and superior labial and angular artery originating from facial artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Understanding of travel and artery supply of maxillary nerve is helpful to regional anaesthesia and surgery for maxillary nerve. Foramen rotundum, sphenopalatine foramen and infraorbital nerve are important marks for endoscopic surgery in pterygopalatine fossa.</p>

New compound NL-608 (a nutlin analog) induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of NL-608 (a nutlin analog) on apoptosis induction in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro, and investigate the relevant molecular mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effect of NL-608 on proliferation of MCF-7 cells was determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was determined by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC and PI. The activity of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 was determined with caspase activity assay kit and Western blot, and the proteins of Fas and FasL were determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NL-608 showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. It induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of caspase 3 and caspase 8 in MCF-7 cells was increased with the increasing concentration of NL-608, but caspase 9 had no changes. The proteins of Fas and FasL were increased in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NL-608 induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in vitro through inducing caspase 3 activity and death receptor-mediated signal pathway.</p>

Application of separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by patient controlled intravenous analgesia in tendon repair / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by patient controlled analgesia (PCA) can be applied in tendon repair and postoperative active or passive functional exercise.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and ten cases with tendon injury were randomly divided into 3 groups and all of the patients were administered Bupivacaine (0.25%), Papaverine (0.0625 mg/ml), and Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/ml) in separating brachial plexus block through axillary approach. Group A was control group, and preoperative analgesia was not applied. Preoperative analgesia was applied in group B and C. Tramadol and Ondansetron were administered in group B, Midazolam was administered besides Tramadol and Ondansetron in group C. The injection volume in the PCIA pump was increased to 100 ml by mixing physiologic saline. The pump was started after separating brachial plexus block in velocity of 2 ml/h, and its maintenance time was 48 h. The effect of separating brachial plexus block at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block was compared. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring were recorded at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h after starting pump.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In each group, the effect of motor block became greater in the ascending order from 1, 2 to 3 h after finishing brachial plexus block, and less in the descending order from 3, 6 to 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block. Only at 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block, the effect of motor block of group B and group C was significantly less than that of group A (P < 0.05, < 0.01), the effect of motor block of group C was less than that of group B (P > 0.05). The effect of sensory block in the patients of all 3 groups was satisfactory. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring, effect of analgesia and sedation at 24 and 48 h after starting pump became greater in the ascending order from group A to group C, in which group B and group C were significantly greater than group A (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by 2 kinds of PCIA dispensation can be both applied in tendon repair, but the separating effect of brachial plexus block of group B was superior to the group C.</p>