Chaihu Guizhi Decoction plus or minus formula combined with capecitabine inhibits IL-6/STAT3 signaling to suppress triple-negative breast cancer xenografts in nude mice / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Chaihu Guizhi Decoction (CHGZD) combined with capecitabine on growth and apoptosis of subcutaneous triple-negative breast cancer xenografts in nude mice and explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Nude mouse models bearing subcutaneous triple-negative breast cancer xenografts were randomized into 6 groups (n=10) for treatment with distilled water (model group), low (10.62 g/kg), medium (21.23 g/kg) and high (42.46 g/kg) doses of CHGZD, capecitabine (0.2 mg/kg), or the combination of CHGZD (42.46 g/kg) and capecitabine (0.2 mg/k) once daily for 21 consecutive days. The general condition of mice was observed, and after 21-day treatments, the tumors were dissected for measurement of tumor volume and weight and histopathological examination with HE staining. Serum IL-6 levels of the mice were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression levels of IL-6, STAT3, p-STAT3, Bax, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 in the tumor tissues were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared with those in the model group, the tumor-bearing mice receiving treatments with CHGZD showed significantly increased food intake with good general condition, sensitive responses, increased body weight, and lower tumor mass (P < 0.01). Compared with capecitabine treatment alone, treatment with CHGZD alone at the medium and high doses and the combined treatment all resulted in significantly higher tumor inhibition rates (P < 0.01), induced obvious tumor tissue degeneration and reduced the tumor cell density. Treatments with CHGZD, both alone and in combination with capecitabine, significantly decreased serum IL-6 level, lowered the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and STAT3, the protein expressions of IL-6, STAT3 and P-STAT3 (P < 0.05), and the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 (P < 0.05), and increased the mRNA and protein expressions of Bax in the tumor tissues (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#CHGZD combined with capecitabine can significantly inhibit tumor growth in nude mice bearing triple-negative breast cancer xenografts, the mechanism of which may involve the inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and regulation of Bax, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 expressions to suppress tumor cell proliferation and differentiation and induce cell apoptosis.

Clinical study on distance and near stereoacuity changes in patients with different types of strabismus before and after surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To discuss and evaluate how different types of strabismus impact on the recovery of distance and near stereoacuity after strabismus surgery. METHODS:We selected 72 cases of strabismus who were treated in our hospital. They were divided into four groups: Group 1 as constant non - accommodative esotropia;Group 2 as intermittent exotropia; Group 3 as constant exotropia; Group 4 as exotropia V sign with inferior oblique hyperfunction. The distance stereoacuity were examined by synoptophore and the near stereoacuity was examined by Shaoming Yan's stereogram. Above examination data was collected and recorded before surgery,7d,1,3,and 6mo after surgery. RESULTS: The 72 patients' distance and near stereoacuity were significantly improved after their surgery, compared with their previous binocular vision. The improvement showed statistical significant(P<0.05). The recovery of Group 2's distance and near stereoacuity had been proved superior to that of Group 1, Group 3, and Group 4. The changes in the distance and near stereoacuity of Group 2 were statistically significant (P<0 05). There were no statistically significant changes in the distance and near stereoacuity of Group 1, Group 3, and Group 4 after the surgeries(P>0.05). The damage of distance stereoacuity (0 cases) was more severe than the damage of near stereoacuity (19 cases, 26%). After the surgeries, near stereoacuity's (51 cases, 71%) recovery was significantly superior to the distance stereoacuity's recovery(17 cases,24%). At 1mo after the surgeries,the improvement of distance and near stereoacuity was most obvious. CONCLUSION:Postoperative recovery of distance and near stereoacuity varies as per strabismus type. Intermittent exotropia's patients show the best recovery of distance and near stereoacuity after the surgeries. The clinical results on the recovery of distance and near stereoacuity after surgery for constant non -accommodative esotropia, constant exotropia and exotropia V sign with inferior oblique hyperfunction are consistent. As the distance stereoacuity of the patients with strabismus has more severe damage,the recovery of near stereoacuity is superior to that of distance stereoacuity.

Visual quality of Q-factor guided LASEK for myopia and astigmatism with positive Q-factor / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To explore the long-term efficacy of Q-factor guided laser epithelial keratomleusis ( LASEK ) for myopia and astigmatism with positive Q-factor. METHODS: There were 158 eyes which were myopia and astigmatism with positive Q- factor taken in two groups randomly: 86 eyes accepted Q - factor guided LASEK as observation group and 72 eyes accepted routine LASEK as control group. The difference between the two groups about all data was similar. The uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA ) and the best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) as well as diopter, ocular tension, corneal topography, Keratometry value K, aspherical factor Q, Higher-order aberrations ( HOA ) , corneal thickness by ultrasound and, contrast sensitivity ( CS ) , Haze were examined and compared before and after surgery. All the cased were followed up for 14d, 1, 3, 6, 12mo. And there were no statistical difference among the data before surgery. RESULTS: After 12mo there were no statistical difference between the two groups about UCVA and BCVA. But the safety index of observation group was 1.10, that of control group was 1. 07. The validity index of observation group was 1. 06, that of control group was 0.99. The HOA of observation group was 0. 45±0. 17μm, and that of control group was 0. 72±0.25μm, there was statistically significant difference (t=-8. 193,P=0. 000). Q factor of observation group was 0. 41±0. 17, that of control group was 0. 77±0. 22, there was significant difference (t=11. 377,P = 0. 028). The contrast sensitivity of 3mo post surgery of patients in the observation group returned to the level of before surgery. But in the control group the contrast sensitivity of the patients did not returned until 6mo. CONCLUSION:Q-factor guided LASEK for myopia and astigmatism with positive Q-factor is stable, safe and effective. The operation allow for reducing the high order aberrations, maintaining the most asphericity of cornea, saving more in corneal tissue, which cause faster recovery of contrast sensitivity, less haze and better visual quality.

Simultaneous Determination of Seven Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Human Urine by Online Solid Phase Extraction-High Performance Liquid Chromatography / 分析化学

A novel method for the simultaneous quantification of seven metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in human urine was developed using online solid phase extraction-HPLC with double ternary liquid chromatography system combined with fluorescence detector. The target compounds were online concentrated on the Turboflow Cyclone solid phase extraction column at first, then transferred by the six-way valve to the Hypersil Green PAH column for separation with acetonitrile and water as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min and at 35 ℃. A single sample analysis cycle took only 20 min. Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the method showed good linear relationship ( r≥0. 999 ) in the range of 5-2000 ng/L or 50-20000 ng/L. The LODs were 0. 5-15 ng/L, and the recoveries were 80. 7%-110. 7%. The proposed method was successfully applied in the detection of metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine from several smokers and non-smokers. The concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene and 6-hydroxychrysene in the smokers urine were much higher than that in non-smokers.

Application of microfluidics in sperm isolation and in vitro fertilization / 中华男科学杂志

Due to the low effectiveness of traditional assisted reproductive technology (ART), new technological possibilities are constantly explored. Lots of studies have demonstrated the potential of microfluidics to revolutionize the fundamental processes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). With the advantages of high efficiency, short time, harmless collection, real-time observation of separation, similar microenvironment, and automation, the application of microfluidics in sperm isolation and IVF has shown an evident superiority over the conventional approaches and provided a new platform for ART. This review highlights the application of various microfluidic techniques in sperm motility assessment and isolation, sperm chemotaxis assay, IVF, sperm concentration, and sperm separation and enrichment in recent years. It also briefly introduces the basic principles, structural design, and operation processes of the microfluidic platform, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of each method and the potential of their clinical application. Obviously, there are still some challenges to the application of microfluidics in ART. However, it is believed that the development of this new technology would be toward a highly integrated application of several steps in one single device, known as IVF-lab-on-a-chip.

Treatment of refractory lateral epicondylitis with modified Nirschl surgical technique / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical effects of modified Nirschl surgical techniique in treating refractory lateral epicondylitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2009 to January 2011,21 patients (21 elbows) with refractory lateral epicondylitis were treated in our hospital. There were 8 males and 13 females,ranged in age from 25 to 59 years with an average of (48.3+/-13.4) years and the duration time from 8 to 33 months with an average of (17.1+/-7.7) months;affected position in dominant sides of 16 cases and non-dominant sides of 5 cases. The patients had already received multiple non-operative treatments. Modified Nirschl surgical technique was performed,and operative origination from origin of musculus extensor carpi radialis brevis to discard process with small incision, the process place of extensor digitorum communis would be removed. The incisions were nursed by ice compress for 2 days after operation. Range of motion (ROM) and strengthening exercise of elbow joints started at the 1 week after plaster slab fixation; ROM and strengthening exercise of wrist joints also started at the 2 week after fixation. The pain, power of gripping and patient staisfaction were recorded after operation. Verhaar scaling were used to estimate the recovery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventeen patients were followed up from 13 to 22 months with an average of 16.3 months. According to Verhaar standard, 15 cases obtained excellent results and 2 good. No postoperative complication such as instability was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Modified Nirschl surgical technique is an effective method in treating refractory lateral epicondylitis but correct to diagnosis and exclusion the coexisting diseases,accurate removal the process are important guarantee.</p>

Study of the treatment of comminuted fractures of proximal humerus with open reduction and internal fixation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of the treatment for comminuted fractures of proximal humerus with open reduction and internal fixation, and the influence of the different internal fixation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2003 to June 2007, 423 cases of comminuted fractures of proximal humerus were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Among them, 139 patients included 51 males and 88 females were treated with the Kirschner needle with an average age of 55.8 years old ranging from 35 to 72 years, and the average course was 7 days (from 3 to 20 days); 103 patients included 48 males and 55 females were treated with the cloverleaf plate with an average age of 56.7 years old (from 22 to 76 years), and the average course was 8.5 days (from 3 to 23 days); 181 patients included 85 males and 96 females were treated with the locking plate with an average age of 57.1 years old (from 29 to 77 years), and the average course was 7.9 days (from 3 to 21 days). The pain, daily activities, orbit, and the strength of the shoulder were evaluated with the Constant's scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The wound of all the cases was primary healing. All patients were followed-up for over 12 months, the sings and symptoms of all the patients were improved very well. There was significant difference between, before and after operation on Constant's scoring. While there was not significant difference among the different internal fixation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Open reduction and internal fixation is effective for comminuted fractures of proximal humerus. There is no significant difference on therapeutic efficacy in different internal fixation.</p>