Effect of Zhenwu Decoction on electrical remodeling of cardiomyocytes in heart failure via I_(to)/Kv channels / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction in the treatment of heart failure by regulating electrical remodeling through the transient outward potassium current(I_(to))/voltage-gated potassium(Kv) channels. Five normal SD rats were intragastrically administered with Zhenwu Decoction granules to prepare drug-containing serum, and another seven normal SD rats received an equal amount of distilled water to prepare blank serum. H9c2 cardiomyocytes underwent conventional passage and were treated with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) for 24 h. Subsequently, 2%, 4%, and 8% drug-containing serum, simvastatin(SIM), and BaCl_2 were used to interfere in H9c2 cardiomyocytes for 24 h. The cells were divided into a control group [N, 10% blank serum + 90% high-glucose DMEM(DMEM-H)], a model group(M, AngⅡ + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a low-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z1, AngⅡ + 2% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoction + 8% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a medium-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z2, AngⅡ + 4% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoc-tion + 6% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a high-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z3, AngⅡ + 8% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoction + 2% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), an inducer group(YD, AngⅡ + SIM + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), and an inhibitor group(YZ, AngⅡ + BaCl_2 + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H). The content of ANP in cell extracts of each group was detected by ELISA. The relative mRNA expression levels of ANP, Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein expression of Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2 was detected by Western blot. I_(to) was detected by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed that Zhenwu Decoction at low, medium, and high doses could effectively reduce the surface area of cardiomyocytes. Compared with the M group, the Z1, Z2, Z3, and YD groups showed decreased ANP content and mRNA level, increased protein and mRNA expression of Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2, and decreased protein and mRNA expression of Kv1.4, and the aforementioned changes were the most notable in the Z3 group. Compared with the N group, the Z1, Z2, and Z3 groups showed significantly increased peak current and current density of I_(to). The results indicate that Zhenwu Decoction can regulate myocardial remodeling and electrical remodeling by improving the expression trend of Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, KChIP2, and DPP6 proteins and inducing I_(to) to regulate Kv channels, which may be one of the mechanisms of Zhenwu Decoction in treating heart failure and related arrhythmias.

Clone and expression of CpGAPDH gene in Codonopsis pilosula / 中国中药杂志

GAPDH(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) gene is a key enzyme gene in carbohydrate metabolism and always used as reference gene. To clarify and complete the biosynthetic pathway of polysaccharide, the GAPDH gene in Codonopsis pilosula, named CpGAPDH, was cloned according to the transcriptome of pilosula, using the GAPDH gene in potato as query. The CpGAPDH contained a 1 014 bp open reading frame(ORF) and encoded a protein with 337 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis clearly suggested that CpGAPDH shared high similarity with GAPDH among other plants, and had the closest relatives to potato and danshen. The predicted protein did not have signal peptide, which indicated that it might be located in the cytoplasm. According to the existing of several phosphorylation sites and the conserved domains analysis, we predicted that it belonged to Gp_dh_N superfamily. Prokaryotic expression showed that the recombinant expressed a 44.3 kDa protein, which was corresponding to the theoretical relative molecular mass. However, the relative transcript level of the CpGAPDH did not have significant differences in different tissues and roots at different developmental stages of pilosula. Moreover, the stability of the CpGAPDH was analyzed by BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder and RefFinder software, which showed that the CpGAPDH was more stable and could be used as a new reference gene. All these lay a foundation for the expression analysis of the gene relative to the polysaccharide synthesis.

Identification of gene mutation associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy by whole-exome sequencing / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To identify the disease-causing gene in a Chinese pedigree with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by whole-exome sequencing.Methods After collecting the clinical data and extracting the whole blood genomic DNA of the 5 family members form a Chinese DCM pedigree,whole-exome sequencing was performed to search the causative genes.Familial co-segregation analysis among the pedigree was subsequently confirmed by traditional Sanger sequencing.Results We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on representative affected individuals and unaffected familial members from this pedigree.After comparison with variants identified in affected individuals and unaffected individuals,along with previously reported genetic mutations associated with DCM,we found that a heterozygous variant c.961 C＞T (p.Arg321Ter) in exon 6 of the LMNA gene in affected individuals matched the criteria to be the potential disease-causing gene,which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing.This stop-gain mutation leads to only a small part of LMNA-coding protein expressed,therefore we concluded that LMNA c.961 C＞T should be the causative mutation for this familial DCM case.Conclusions The nonsense mutation c.961 C＞ T in gene LMNA identified by whole-exome sequencing might be the pathogenic mutation in this DCM pedigree.

Study on HPLC Fingerprint of Different Proportions of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in Angelicae Sinensis Radix / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To establish HPLC analysis methods and fingerprint of different proportions of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in Angelicae Sinensis Radix; To use HPLC fingerprint method to identify the adulteration of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Methods Agilent TC-C18 column (5 μm, 4.6 mm × 250 mm) was adopted. Acetonitrile (A) - 0.05% phosphoric acid (B) was the mobile phase, and the gradient elution (0–20 min, 95%–75%B; 20–60 min, 75%–65%B; 60–80 min, 65%–5%B) was used; The flowrate was 1 mL/min; Detection wavelength was 254 nm; Column temperature was 30 ℃. The HPLC spectra of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and adulterated samples were compared and analyzed by using TCM chromatogram fingerprint similarity evaluation system. Results Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Angelicae Pubescentis Radix showed good chromatographic peaks in chromatogram separation. 11 peaks in HPLC fingerprint could be used as the mark, including 7th peak for ferulic acid, 32th peak for osthole, and 34th peak for columbianadin. Conclusion This method is rapid, simple and feasible, can fully reflect the quality of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and clearly identify whether Angelicae Pubescentis Radix is adulterated in Angelicae Sinensis Radix.

Analysis of Correlation between IgG Titer of Pregnant Women and Neonatal Hemolytic Complications of Different Blood Groups / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between IgG titer of pregnant women and hemolytic disease of newborn(HDN) with different blood groups.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundred pregnant women, including pregnant women with type O blood, were selected from May 2014 to January 2015 in our hospital for inspection and a couple of different blood groups, the IgG titer of pregnant women were detected in the inspection process. According to neonatal HDN, newborns were divided into 2 groups: HDN group(85 cases) and non-HDN group(315 cases). The incidence of postpartum neonatal hemolytic disease was tracked and the correlation of IgG titers with HDN were systematically analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the production and inspection process, the IgG titer in pregnant women was divided into <1:64, 1:64, 1:128, 1:256 and greater than or equal to 1:512 five groups. the comparison of HDN incidence rate in 4 groups of IgG titer >64 and IgG titer <1:64 group showed that the prevalence of ABO hemolytic disease of newborn were 96.9%, 79.6%, 63, 7% and 28.8%, there was a certain correlation of pregnant women IgG titers with ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn, that is, with the increase of IgG titer, the incidence of hemolytic disease of newborns increased in certain degree (r=0.8832), the risk in 4 groups of neonatal HDN was higher than that in IgG titer <1:64 of IgG titer >64 HDN group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a certain corelation between prevalence of ABO-HDN and IgG titer of pregnant women. For these pregnant women, the control of the pregnant women IgG titer has a positive clinical significance to reduce the incidence of hemolytic disease of the newborn.</p>

Improvement of Quality of Nonanesthetic Colonoscopy by Preoperative Administration of Pinaverium Bromide / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Nonanesthetic colonoscopy is popular in clinical practice in China. However, intestinal spasms often result in a prolonged examination time, increased operating difficulties, decreased polyp detection rate, and failure to complete the procedure clinically. Therefore, exploring alternative approaches that can reduce the pain in patients during colonoscopy is of utmost importance, and finding the optimal preoperative administration to improve the quality of nonanesthetic colonoscopy is also necessary. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the prophylactic administration of pinaverium bromide before colonoscopy and the effects of pinaverium bromide alone at different time points or combined with scopolamine butylbromide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized controlled trial was performed on a cohort of 1000 patients who underwent colonoscopy in outpatient clinic of Wuhan Union Hospital. The patients were randomly assigned to the following groups: Group A, given oral pinaverium bromide (100 mg, three times a day) one day before examination combined with intramuscular injection of scopolamine butylbromide (20 mg) 10 min before colonoscopy; Group B0, given pinaverium bromide alone on the day of colonoscopy (100 mg, three times a day); Group B1, given pinaverium bromide alone (100 mg, three times a day) one day before colonoscopy; Group B2, given pinaverium bromide alone (100 mg, three times a day) two days before colonoscopy; and Group C, given scopolamine butylbromide alone (20 mg) before colonoscopy. The successful rate of colonoscopy, procedure time, degree of abdominal pain, and polyp detection rate were recorded and compared among all groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The successful rate of colonoscopy in Group B1(82.0%) and Group B2(83.0%) was significantly higher than that in Group B0(62.0%, all P < 0.01). The time to reach the ileocecal region in Group B1and Group B2were lower than those in Group B0(all P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in polyp detection rate between Group B1(24.0%) or Group B2(26.0%), and Group B0(22.4%, all P > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the various parameters examined between Group B1and Group B2(P > 0.05). The successful rate of colonoscopy in Group A (92.0%) was significantly higher than that in Group B1(82.0%) and Group C (80.0%; both P < 0.05). Moreover, the time for the colonoscope to reach the ileocecal region in Group A were markedly shorter as compared to those in Group B1 and Group C (P < 0.05). The polyp detection rate in Group A was 32.0%, significantly higher than that in Group B1(24.0%, P < 0.05) and Group C (24.2%, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of pinaverium bromide alone one day before examination was beneficial to relieve symptoms of abdominal pain during nonanesthetic colonoscopy. In addition, therapeutic effects were improved when pinaverium bromide administration was combined with intramuscular injection of scopolamine butylbromide. Therefore, the combined use of pinaverium bromide with scopolamine butylbromide might have great application value to improve the quality of nonanesthetic colonoscopy in the preoperative preparation.</p>

Preparation optimization of cationic liposome-siRNA complexes and in vitro therapeutic research on prostate cancer / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preparation of novel cationic liposomes encapsulating siRNA, and evaluate their silence efficiency on target mRNA in LNCap cells. METHODS: Reverse evaporation technique was used to prepare the cationic liposomes. Protamine and calf thymus DNA were added to increase the encapsulation efficiency. The physicochemical property of the liposomes was evaluated. Human prostate cancer cells, LNCap, were used as the cell model. The silence efficiency on target gene in LNCap cells was evaluated with lipofectamine 2000 as the positive control. RESULTS: The optimum liposomes were obtained when the ratio of DOTAP and cholesterol was 3:1 and the ratio of liposomes and siRNA was 300:1. The size distribution and Zeta potential of the liposomes were (117 ± 4.3) nm and (43 ± 3.6) mV, respectively. The liposomes significantly improved siRNA accumulation in cells. CONCLUSION: The novel cationic liposome showed high transfection efficiency and distinct silence efficiency for target gene, which are expected to become a highly effective drug delivery system for anti-cancer drugs.

Endoscope-assisted styloidectomy via postauricular incision / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of the endoscope-assisted styloidectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with Eagle's syndrome undergoing the endoscope-assisted styloidectomy via postauricular incision, including 7 unilateral and 53 bilateral, between June 2010 and March 2013 were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The styloid processes in all patients were resected successfully via this approach, with the incision length range of 2.0 to 2.5 cm. The mean operative time was (21.3 ± 4.8) min(X(-) ± s), for unilateral surgery and (48.5 ± 11.4) min for bilateral surgery. Fifty-four patients symptom showed complete remission of symptom, 3 cases with decrease in symptom and other 3 cases with no significant relief of symptom after surgery. None case recurred for follow-up of 3 to 70 months. There were 3 sides with ear numbness after surgery for 3 months, and one case had transient facial paralysis and recovered after 3 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The endoscope-assisted styloidectomy via postauricular incision is effective and feasible.</p>

Protection of phosphate esterification polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis on hematopoietic function in radiation-injured mice / 中草药

Objective: To study the effect of phosphate esterification polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis (PEPTF) on hematopoietic function in radiation-injured mice. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, polysaccharides from T. fuciformis (10 mg/kg) positive control, low-, mid-, and high-PEPTF (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) groups. Before irradiated with 137Cs γ-ray, rats were ip administered once daily for 3 d. On the day 7 after irradiation, the rats were sacrificed. Colony-forming unit of spleen, number of nucleated cells in bone marrow, number of white blood cells, spleen index, and thymus index were used as observation indexes to investigate the effect of PEPTF on hematopoietic function of mice. Results: Compared with the model group, the number of the nucleated cells in bone marrow, the number of white blood cells, spleen index, and thymus index of mice increased markedly. Conclusion: PEPTF have the protective effect on the hematopoietic function of radiation-injured mice.

Comparative study of portal vein stent and TACE combined therapy with or without endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds strand for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and main portal vein tumor thrombus / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacies of portal vein stenting and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined therapy performed with or without endovascular implantation of iodine-125 (125I) seeds strand in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One-hundred-and-six patients with HCC complicated by MPVTT who were treated with portal vein stents and TACE, either with (Group A, n=56) or without (Group B, n=50) endovascular implantation of 125I seeds strand, between July 2005 and April 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival, stent patency, and procedure-related adverse events were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The technical success rate was 100% for placement of 125I seeds strands and stents in the obstructed main portal vein. No serious procedure-related adverse events were recorded. Group A had significantly higher median survival (335 days vs. group B: 146 days; P=0.001, hazard ratio (HR)=2.244). Additionally, group A had significantly higher median stent patency (400 days vs. group B: 190 days; P=0.005, HR=2.479).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination therapeutic strategy of portal vein stenting and TACE with endovascular implantation of 125I seeds strands improves the survival of HCC patients with MPVTT complication.</p>

Case-control study on two different approaches for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture without neurological symptoms / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical effects of two surgical approaches for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture without neurological symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to December 2009, 40 cases with thoracolumbar fractures without neurological symptoms treated by surgery were respectively analyzed. Among the patients, there were 13 males and 27 females, with an average age of 46 years (ranged, 26 to 61 years). Twenty patients in group A treated through posterior median approach; twenty patients in group B were treated through paraspinal muscle approach. All the patients were received the same posterior spinal internal fixation (Sofamor Inc (Basis)). Operating time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative bed time, VAS score 24 and 72 hours after operation, postoperative Cobb angle correction rate, correction rate of vertebral collapse were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant difference in postoperative Cobb angle correction rate and vertebral collapse rate (P < 0.05); while the index such as operating time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative bed time and VAS score 24 h and 72 h after operation in group B is better than group A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment of thoracolumbar fracture through posterior median approach has an advantage of minimal invasive, less bleeding and rapidly recovery, but the patients with neural symptoms and intraspinal occupying more than 1/3 is not suggested.</p>

A case report of adult onset of primary hemophagocytic syndrome with literature review / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests of adult onset of primary hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), and to investigate the essentials of diagnosis and the genotype characteristics in adult onset patient.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The definite diagnosis of HPS was made according to HLH-2004. Exons of PRF1, STX11, UNC13D, SH2D1A and RAB27A genes coding region were amplified using polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 48-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of recurrent fever, pancytopenia and lymph node enlargement. His laboratory test revealed bone marrow hemophagocytosis, elevated ferritin level (2000 µg/L), reduced level of NK cell activity (20.13%) and elevated soluble CD25 level (12277 U/ml). Based on the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria, the patient was diagnosed as HPS. The patient had viral infection, and no other primary disease was identified that would cause HPS. The patient responded poorly to anti-viral therapy. DNA sequencing was used to confirm that perforin gene mutations might be one of the causes of the patient suffered from primary HPS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although primary HPS usually affects infants and young children, it also occurred in teens and adults. It is essential to perform genetic screenings to patient whose illnesses recur with unknown causes. In addition, detection of molecular genetic alterations can be used to distinguish primary HPS from acquired HPS.</p>

Pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen enantiomers in rats after intravenous and oral administration of ibuprofen arginate / 药学学报

The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen enantiomers were studied in rats after intravenous and oral administration of ibuprofen arginate by means of a chiral HPLC method. The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen was stereoselective after intravenous and oral administration of ibuprofen arginate. The pharmacokinetic stereoselectivity was higher after oral administration than that after intravenous administration. The systematic (R)-(-)-to-(S)-(+) inversion might be more important than the presystematic one in the stereoselective pharmacokinetics after oral administration. Oral administration of ibuprofen arginate resulted in a very rapid absorption of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen (eutomer), and the absolute bioavailabilities of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen and (R)-(-)-ibuprofen were about 100% and 80%, respectively. Based on the systemic exposure of (S)-(+)-ibuprofen, it could be concluded that the pharmacological actions might be similar when ibuprofen arginate was given orally and intravenously, except some differences in the onset of action.

Advance in the study of targeting delivery system for siRNA mediated by aptamers / 药学学报

RNA interference (RNAi), as a new technology of gene therapy, has been used in the studies of many diseases in vitro, however, targeting delivery of small interference RNA (siRNA) is still a bottleneck for clinical therapy of siRNA agents. Aptamer is a group of oligonucleotides with high affinity and targeting, and is becoming another important means of delivery for siRNA. In this review, we summarized siRNA delivery obstacles in vivo and recent attractive developments increatively using cell-internalizing aptamers to deliver siRNAs to target cells.

Expression of serum sHLA-G in patients with hemophagocytic syndrome and its clinical significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

In order to investigate the expression of serum sHLA-G in hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) patients and to evaluate its clinical significance, the clinical data of HPS patients in Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital during the period from September 2008 to July 2010 were collected. They were divided into infection-associated HPS, tumor-associated HPS and rheumatological disease-associated HPS according to cause of diseases. The serum concentration of sHLA-G in HPS patients and 25 healthy controls was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the correlations between sHLA-G level and laboratory indicators were analyzed. The results showed that the level of serum sHLA-G in HPS patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (p = 0.003), but the difference was not statistically significant between HPS groups of different causes (p = 0.233). The positive correlation of sHLA-G level in HPS patients with platelet count was found, but there was no positive correlation of their sHLA-G levels with WBC, Hb, Plt, ALT, AST, LDH, Alb, TBil, DBil, IBil, Cr, BUN, TG, fibrinogen and ferritin levels detected on same day. It is concluded that the the increase of serum sHLA-G levels in HPS patients may be caused by different factors such as infection, tumor, T cell activation and over-stimulation of several cytokines. sHLA-G can inhibit NK cell activity, resulting in formation of abnormal immune storm, and may be play a role in the pathogenesis of HPS.

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ in patients with hemophagocytic syndrome and its clinical significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

In order to explore the serum levels and clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). The clinical data of HPS patients in Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital from October 2008 to October 2010 were collected. The serum concentration of TNF-α and IFN-γ in HPS patients and 20 healthy controls was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations between the levels of TNF-α and primary disease were analyzed, the levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, triglyceride, NK cell activity and sCD25 were detected on the same day, the correlations between the concentrations of TNF-α and IFN-γ and these laboratory indicators were analyzed. The results indicated that the serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in 30 cases of HPS was higher than that in control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01); the difference of TNF-α concentration was statistically significant in rheumatism-related and tumor-related HPS groups(p = 0.04), the level of TNF-α in HPS patients showed negative correlation with hemoglobin. It is concluded that the high levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in HPS patients may play certain roles in the pathogenesis and progress of HPS. These data indicated that the high level of TNF-α may be the main factor for anemia in patients with HPS.

Screening program on novel drug resistance mutations of subtype B' in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To screen the level of novel drug resistance mutations in subtype B' in China. Methods 451 pol sequences collected from the previous study, which including 354 AIDS patients who had received antiretroviral treatment(ART)and 97 the untreated patients. Entire protease gene(codous 1-99)and full-length reverse transcriptase gene(codons 1-560)were included.Variation of mutations between the treated and the untreated patients with consensus/ancestral sequences were compared and the mutations with higher frequencies in the treated patients than in the untreated patients were screened before submitting the mutations to the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database(SHDB)(http://hivdb.stanford.edu/). Relation between the mutations and resistance preliminarily was then analyzed, according to the information including SHDB. Results Frequencies of 7 mutations at 6 positions, DI23E, V292I, K366R, T369A, T369V, A371V and 1375V, 2 at DNA polymerase domain and 5 at connection domain of reverse transcriptase(RT)were higher in the treated patients than in the untreated patients. The information of 7 mutations including the SHDB showed that 7 mutations were major variants at corresponding positions, and theirs frequencies were higher in the treated patients using some drugs, than in the untreated patients. Conclusion 7mutations being screened from the China subtype B were possibly associated with the resistance,which called for the construction of mutated viruses by site-directed mutagenesis to identify their effects on the susceptivity of different drugs.

Features of blood supply and results of transarterial infusion and embolization in spinal metastases / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the features of blood supply and results of transarterial infusion and embolization in spinal metastases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one patients with spinal metastasis received transarterial infusion and embolization between March 2001 and June 2008. The inclusion criteria were: The metastatic lesion caused back pain; The metastatic lesion involved vertebra at or below T3 level. There were 29 males and 12 females with a mean age of 56.0 (33 - 71) years. Epirubicin was used as the chemotherapeutic agent. Lipoid Ultra-Fluid, Contour SE or gelfoam particles were used as embolitic material.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The technical success of therapy was achieved in 52 vertebrae (100%) including 14 thoracic, 35 lumbar and 3 sacral vertebrae. 105 arteries were used for infusion and embolization (16 intercostal arteries, 78 lumbar arteries, 4 iliolumbar arteries, 4 branches of iliac arteries, and 3 median sacral arteries). Lipoid Ultra-Fluid (2 - 8 ml) was used in 15, Contour SE (300 approximately 500 microm, 20 - 100 mg) in 20, and gelfoam particles in 33 arteries. Three days after treatment, complete pain relief (CR) was achieved in 17 patients, partial pain relief (PR) in 20, and moderate pain relief (MR) in 4, with an effective rate of 90.2%. Two weeks after treatment, CR was achieved in 17 patients, PR in 21, and MR in 3, with an effective rate of 92.7%. No adverse nervous system effect occurred. 16 patients developed swelling and pain of normal tissues which were alleviated after symptomatic treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transarterial infusion and embolization is an effective therapy in relieving pain resulting from spinal metastases.</p>

Recombinant proteins secreted from tissue-engineered bioartificial muscle improve cardiac dysfunction and suppress cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with heart failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tissue-engineered bioartificial muscle-based gene therapy represents a promising approach for the treatment of heart diseases. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that systemic administration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) protein or overexpression of IGF-1 in the heart exerts a favorable effect on cardiovascular function. This study aimed to investigate a chronic stage after myocardial infarction (MI) and the potential therapeutic effects of delivering a human IGF-1 gene by tissue-engineered bioartificial muscles (BAMs) following coronary artery ligation in Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ligation of the left coronary artery or sham operation was performed. Primary skeletal myoblasts were retrovirally transduced to synthesize and secrete recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1), and green fluorescent protein (GFP), and tissue-engineered into implantable BAMs. The rats that underwent ligation were randomly assigned to 2 groups: MI-IGF group (n = 6) and MI-GFP group (n = 6). The MI-IGF group received rhIGF-secreting BAM (IGF-BAMs) transplantation, and the MI-GFP group received GFP-secreting BAM (GFP-BAMs) transplantation. Another group of rats served as the sham operation group, which was also randomly assigned to 2 subgroups: S-IGF group (n = 6) and S-GFP group (n = 6). The S-IGF group underwent IGF-1-BAM transplantation, and S-GFP group underwent GFP-BAM transplantation. IGF-1-BAMs and GFP-BAMs were implanted subcutaneously into syngeneic rats after two weeks of operation was performed. Four weeks after the treatment, hemodynamics was performed. IGF-1 was measured by radioimmunoassay, and then the rats were sacrificed and ventricular samples were subjected to immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the mRNA expression of bax and Bcl-2. TNF-α and caspase 3 expression in myocardium was examined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Primary rat myoblasts were retrovirally transduced to secrete rhIGF-1 and tissue-engineered into implantable BAMs containing parallel arrays of postmitotic myofibers. In vitro, they secreted consistent levels of hIGF (0.4 - 1.2 µg×BAM(-1)×d(-1)). When implanted into syngeneic rat, IGF-BAMs secreted and delivered rhIGF. Four weeks after therapy, the hemodynamics was improved significantly in MI rats treated with IGF-BAMs compared with those treated with GFP-BAMs. The levels of serum IGF-1 were increased significantly in both MI and sham rats treated with IGF-BAM. The mRNA expression of bax was lower and Bcl-2 expression was higher in MI-IGF group than MI-GFP group (P < 0.05). Western blotting assay showed TNF-α and caspase 3 expression was lower in MI-IGF group than MI-GFP group after therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rhIGF-1 significantly improves left ventricular function and suppresses cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with chronic heart failure. Genetically modified tissue-engineered BAMs provide a method delivering recombinant protein for the treatment of heart failure.</p>

The preliminary study of metallic stent implantation in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical efficiency of metallic stent implantation in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>22 cases of HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus were devided into 2 groups: 10 patients (group A) recieved stent implantation in combination with conformal radiation therapy, 12 patients (group B) recieved stent implantation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The adverse reactions, and liver function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months and the survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months were followed up. Comparison of liver function was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Comparison of stent patency rate curves and survival curves was analyzed by Log rank test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The portal vein catheterization was successful in all the patients. The stents were successfully implanted by transhepatic portal vein approach, and portal vein stenosis was re-opened. There was no abdominal hemorrhage in all the patients, but there were symptoms of abdominalgia, fever, nausea, vomiting and flatulence of varying degrees after interventional operation, and these symptoms were relieved by symptomatic treatment in one week. All patients in group A completed the treatment. I-II degree gastrointestinal tract reactions occurred in 3 cases, I-II degree myelosuppression occurred in 2 cases, and they were all completely relieved after treatment. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months was 90%, 70%, 30% in group A; and 50%, 25% , 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05). The survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months was 100%, 80% , 30% in group A and 91.7%, 41.7%, 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stent implantation combined with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy is a good treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus and causes less damage to liver.</p>