The advances of microRNA in aortic aneurysms / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a vascular disease involving the progressive dilation of aorta diameter. It is usually asymptomatic but with high mortality once rupture. Currently, there is no effective pharmacologic treatment. MicroRNA specifically refers to non-coding small RNAs consisting of 19-25 nucleotides. The characteristic of microRNA targeting multiple genes seems to form a complicated regulation network, which receives considerable attention. Emerging studies show that microRNAs are closely related to the occurrence and development of AA. Many microRNAs are involved in multiple cell processes and functions and may participate in the pathogenesis of AA, including endothelial cell dysfunction, inflammatory cell infiltration, smooth muscle cell apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation. This article will describe the animal models for AA research and the latest progression of microRNA and AA.

Combined chemo-radiotherapy for inresectable non-small cell lung cancers / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective　To evaluate the effect of radiotherapy（RT）combined with chemotherapy(C) for stage Ⅲ non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and to find a more effective way of giving them.Methods　From Jan. 1995 to Dec. 1997 , 60 patients with stage Ⅲ NSCLC were randomized into two groups . RT alone group(30 cases) was given conventional fractionated DT 60～70?Gy/6～7 W. The combined group(30 cases) received conventional fractionated radiotherapy plus chemotherapy (DDP,5-FU,VP-16 and IFO, given simulatneosly). In some patients,chemotherapy was also siven before,during and after RT for at least 2 courses. Results　CR rates of RT and combined groups were 20% and 43%, respectively . PD rate of the two groups were 10%and 7% . The 1-,2-and 3- year survival rates were 42.4%,15.7%,7.8% in the RT group and 68.1%,37.8%,18.9% in the combined group(P<0.05). The median survival periods were 8 months and 15 months though the combined group had more obvious side-effects than the RT group. Conclusions　Combined therapy is able to improve obviously the survival rate of stage Ⅲ NSCLC with the induction therapy very important. We expect a more effective combination is to have RT and C simultaneosly or alternately given.