[Clinical analysis of 554 patients with colorectal diverticulosis].

Objective: Most patients with asymptomatic colorectal diverticulosis are easily overlooked. However, some of diverticulosis become diverticulitis, bleeding and even perforation, which cause extensive harm to patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the incidence, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal diverticulosis in order to improve the clinical understanding of diverticulosis and its related complications. Methods: A descriptive cohort study was carried out. Clinical data of 554 patients with colorectal diverticulosis confirmed by CT, colonoscopy, digestive tract radiography or operation in Peking University First Hospital from January 2009 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, long term use of immunosuppressive drugs, chronic liver diseases and renal diseases, and mental disorders were excluded. The analysis parameters included gender, onset age, clinical symptoms, location of diverticulitis, treatment and prognosis. According to the criteria established by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), acute diverticulitis was divided into 5 stages based on the extension of the infectious process. Stage 0 was simple diverticulitis and stage 1-4 was complicated diverticulitis. Results: Among the 554 patients with colorectal diverticulosis, 358 (64.6%) were males, the median onset age was 63 years; 191 patients (34.5%) had various digestive symptoms, of whom 113 (20.4%) had chronic constipation and abdominal distension, 78 (14.1%) had chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain; the other 363 patients had no obvious abdominal symptoms. Four hundred and six patients were found by colonoscopy and 465 patients were found by CT. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed by lower gastrointestinal tract radiography and 3 were confirmed during operation. There were 339 patients with multiple diverticula (61.2%) and 215 patients with single diverticulum (38.8%). 76.5% (424/554) of diverticula were located in colon, 37.0% (205/554) in ascending colon, 21.3% (118/554) in multiple sites, and 2.2% (12/554) in rectum. The median diameter of diverticulum was 7 mm, and 78 cases (14.1%) was ≥30 mm. Forty-nine patients (8.8%) developed acute diverticulitis, including 13 patients with simple diverticulitis and 36 patients with complicated diverticulitis. Among 36 patients with complicated diverticulitis, 29 (80.6%) were males, 27 (75.0%) had recurrent abdominal pain and fever before onset; diverticula of 25 cases were located in sigmoid colon; 11 cases in ascending colon. Nine cases developed sigmoid colon perforation and 8 cases developed vesicocolonic fistula, and these 17 patients underwent surgical treatment. The other 19 cases with complicated diverticulitis developed gastrointestinal bleeding, of whom 18 cases were male, 11 cases were located in ascending colon; 13 cases were healed after conservative treatment, 4 cases received endoscopic hemostatic intervention, and 2 cases underwent surgery. Conclusions: Colorectal diverticulosis is more common in male patients, and CT and colonoscopy are main diagnostic methods. The symptoms of complicated colonic diverticulitis are related to the location of diverticulum. In addition to symptomatic treatment, surgical procedures are the most important treatments.

[Thirty years' changes of the strategy of lateral lymph node dissection in low rectal cancer: treatment experience and prognostic analysis of 289 cases in one single center].

Objective: The surgical indications, resection extent and management principle of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) in lower rectal cancer have been controversial between Eastern and Western countries. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for the rational implementation of LLND by reviewing the changes of LLND strategy over the past 30 years in a single-center, and analyzing prognostic factors for the survival outcomes of patients with lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM). Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed. Clinical data of 289 patients with rectal cancer who received LLND at the Department of General Surgery of Peking University First Hospital from 1990 to 2019 were collected. Patients were divided into three groups based on decades. There were 89 cases in 1990-1999 group, 92 cases in the 2000-2009 group, and 108 cases in the 2010-2019 group. Data analyzed: (1) patient baseline data; (2) surgery and postoperative recovery; (3) lateral lymph node dissection; (4) postoperative survival and prognosis of patients with positive lateral lymph nodes. The surgical methods and pathological results of LLND were compared between groups, and the prognostic risk factors of patients with LLNM were analyzed. Results: A total of 289 patients underwent radical resection with LLND' accounting for 6.3% of the 4542 patients with rectal cancer during the same period in our hospital. Except decade-by-decade increase in tumors with distance from anal verge ≤ 7 cm, the proportion of ulcerated tumors, and the proportion of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, the differences in other baseline data were not statistically significant among 3 decade groups (all P>0.05). The proportion of LLND in the 3 groups decreased decade by decade [9.9% (89/898) vs. 8.0% (92/1154) vs. 4.3% (108/2490), χ(2)=40.159, P<0.001]. The proportion of laparoscopic surgery and unilateral LLND increased, while the mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, surgical complications above grade III and postoperative hospital stay decreased decade by decade. These 289 patients completed a total of 483 lateral dissections, including 95 cases of the unilateral dissection and 194 cases of the bilateral dissection. The proportion of LLND in the 3 groups decreased decade by decade [9.9% (89/898) vs. 8.0% (92/1154) vs. 4.3% (108/2510), P<0.001]. The median number of dissected lymph nodes in the internal iliac artery and obturator regions increased (2 vs. 3 vs. 3, P<0.001), but those in the common iliac and external iliac regions decreased significantly (4 vs. 3 vs. 2, P=0.014). A total of 71 patients with LLNM were identified. The rate of LLNM in the 2010-2019 group was significantly higher than that in the previous two groups [37.0% (40/108) vs. 16.9% (15/89) vs. 17.4% (16/92), P=0.001]. The patients with LLNM showed a poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) compared with negative lateral lymph nodes (P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in 5-year OS rate (30.9% vs. 27.2% vs. 0, P=0.028) and 5-year DFS rate (28.3% vs. 16.0% vs. 0, P=0.038) among patients with only internal iliac lymph node metastasis, patients with only obturator lymph node metastasis, and patients with external iliac or common iliac lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that external iliac or common iliac lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for OS (HR=1.649, 95%CI: 1.087-2.501) and DFS (HR=1.714, 95%CI: 1.173-2.504) in patients with LLNM (all P<0.05) . The OS and DFS were not significant different in patients with LLNM among 3 decade groups. Conclusions: In the past decade, the proportion of LLND in rectal cancer has decreased significantly. However, LLNM rate has been significantly increased due to preoperative imaging assessments focusing on suspicious LLNM without compromising the survival. Internal iliac artery and obturator lymph nodes can be regarded as regional lymph nodes with a satisfactory prognosis after LLND. For suspected external iliac or common iliac lymph node metastasis, the significance of LLND remains to be further evaluated.

[Otological and hearing characteristics in children with Turner syndrome].

Objective: To explore the otological and hearing characteristics in children with Turner syndrome (TS), to determine risk factors of hearing loss, and to discuss algorithms for future surveillance. Methods: The clinical data of otolaryngology in children with TS from January 2018 to April 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 46 female children with TS, aged from 5 to 18 years were enrolled. Karyotypes included 17 cases (37.0%) of monosomy, 16 cases (34.7%) of mosaicism, and 13 cases (28.3%) of abnormal X chromosome structures. The otoscopic characteristics, audiological performance, and otologic diagnoses were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The most common otologic comorbidity was otitis media with effusion (OME), including 20 cases (43.5%) with 33 ears (35.9%). 14 cases (30.4%) were diagnosed with hearing loss. The regression analysis revealed that the age (OR=1.345, 95%CI: 1.072-1.760) and comorbidity of OME (OR=9.460, 95%CI: 2.065-60.350) were risk factors associated with hearing loss. In TS with OME, when compared with the mean air conduction threshold, the hearing loss of the group with pars flaccida retractions was significantly higher ((24.3±13.8) dB HL vs. (14.4±4.2) dB HL, U=59.500, P=0.008) than that of the group with none retractions. Conclusion: OME and hearing loss are common in children with TS. As age increases or suffers from OME, the risk of hearing loss increases.

[Analysis on risk factors of the degree of radical resection and prognosis of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the factors affecting the degree of radical resection and the prognosis of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed. Clinical data of 111 patients with LRRC undergoing operation at the General Surgery Department of Peking University First Hospital from January 2009 to August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The "Peking University First Hospital F typing" was performed according to the preoperative images of the pelvic involvement. The pelvis was assigned into four directions: the front wall, lateral sides of the pelvic wall and the sacrum. According to the degree of pelvic wall involvement, F typing included F0 type (no involvement of the pelvic wall, the cancer only involved the adjacent organs or invaded conteriorly the urinary tract, genital organs or small intestine), F1 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in one direction, such as the sacrum, or one side of the pelvic wall), F2 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in two directions) and F3 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in three directions). Case inclusion criteria: (1) LRRC was confirmed by imaging and pathological examination of samples (puncture or endoscopic biopsy); (2) complete clinical and follow-up data; (3) informed consent of patient. Those with dysfunction of heart, lung, etc., intolerance of operation, F3 type indicated by image, and distant metastasis were excluded. The degree of radical resection was evaluated according to the postoperative pathological results. Patients were followed up every 12 months and related examinations were arranged. The univariate analysis of radical resection was performed by χ(2) test, and the multivariate analysis was performed by logistic methods. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the survival curve was drawn. The survival rate was compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with LRRC. Results: A total of 111 patients were included in this study. Of 111 patients, 59 were male and 52 were female; recurrent age of 36 cases was ≥ 65 years old; CEA level of 48 cases was ≥15 µg/L. According to the "Peking University First Hospital F typing", 70 cases were F0 type, 38 F1 type and 3 F2 type. Surgical procedures were abdominoperineal resection (n=28), posterior pelvic exenteration (n=32), and total pelvic exenteration (n=51, including 1 case of TPE combined with sacrectomy). According to the postoperative pathological results, R0, R1 and R2 resections were 83, 20 and 8 cases, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the degree of radical resection was associated with the secondary surgical procedure, F typing and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that F typing (F1-F2) was an independent risk factor for non- R0 resection (OR=37.256, 95%CI:8.572 to 161.912, P<0.001). The morbidity of operative complications was 22.5% (25/111); the perioperative mortality was 1.8% (2/111); the local recurrence rate after the second operation was 37.8% (42/111). The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 41.2% and 21.9% respectively. The 3-year survival rates of patients with and without postoperative chemotherapy were 52.7% and 32.4% respectively (P=0.005). The 3-year survival rates of patients with lower (<15 µg/L) and higher CEA level (≥15 µg/L) were 52.9% and 24.3% respectively (P<0.001). The 3-year survival rates of patients with R0, R1 and R2 resection were 49.8%, 21.3% and 8.5% respectively (P=0.002). The 3-year survival rates of patients with F0, F1 and F2 type were 52.7%, 22.0% and 0 respectively (P<0.001). Cox analysis confirmed that the degree of radical resection (HR=2.088, 95%CI:1.095 to 3.979, P=0.025), the CEA level before the secondary operation (HR=1.857, 95%CI:1.157 to 2.980, P=0.010) and postoperative chemotherapy (HR=1.826, 95%CI:1.137 to 2.934, P=0.013) were independent factors affecting the prognosis. Conclusions: The indication of LRRC surgical treatments must be strictly limited. Evaluation of the fixation site to the pelvic wall is helpful for improving the rate of R0 resection. Lower preoperative CEA level, radical resection and postoperative chemotherapy are protective factors of prolonged overall survival time of patients with LRRC.

[Exploration and application of occupational disease risk assessment model based on information diffusion theory].

Objective: To research build a kind of occupational disease risk assessment model which provides scientific basis for prevention and control of occupational diseases. Methods: Based on the principle of information diffusion, this paper uses spread function to extend the incomplete gathered information, establishes the mapping relationship between observation samples and risk probability distributions, and constructs the occupational disease risk assessment model, to analyzes the risk data of occupational disease reported cases in Guangdong Province in the past five years. Results: Through evaluation analysis, every year, 200-300 cases of pneumoconiosis probability is 67.77%, 100-200 cases of occupational poisoning probability is 68.52%, 20-40 cases of occupational cancers probability is 71.62%, each year, the incidence of occupation otorhinolaryngology and oral diseases in 200 cases was 62.23%. Conclusion: A model of occupational disease risk assessment based on information diffusion theory is constructed, the evaluation result is basically consistent with the actual situation of occupational disease, which can provide reference for occupational disease prevention and control.

[Preoperative evaluation using multi-slice spiral CT angiography of right-side colon vascular in laparoscopic radical operation for right colon cancer].

Objectives: To examine the value of multi-slice spiral CT angiography (MSCTA) in the analysis of anatomical variation and structural classification of right colon vessels. Methods: From August 2015 to August 2017, 198 patients (96 of whom underwent laparoscopic radical resection of right colon cancer) at Department of General surgery of Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively collected, and the results of abdominal enhanced CT scan were collected and three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels was performed. There were 104 males and 94 females. The age was 64(27) years (M(Q(R)), range: 19 to 87 years). Right gastroepiploic vein, anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein, right colonic vein (RCV), superior right colonic vein, ileocolon artery or vein (ICA or ICV), middle colon artery or vein (MCA or MCV) and Henle trunk were observed and recorded respectively. The anatomical relationship between the positions of blood vessels, the length of Henle trunk and surgical trunk were measured. Results: ICV and ICA were the most constant anatomic structures. The ICV/ICA of all patients came directly from SMV/SMA, 36.9% (73/198) ICV going in front of SMV and 63.1% (125/198) behind SMV. 72.2% (143/198) of the patients had RCV imported into Henle trunk and the rest into SMV. Middle colonic vein (MCV) could be observed in 81.3% (161/198) of the cases. 81.4% (131/161) of MCV were imported into SMV, 16.8% (27/161) into Henle trunk, 1.2% (2/161) into the first jejunal vein and 0.6% (1/161) into the splenic vein. Henle trunk was divided into 4 types, among which the occurrence probability of gastric node and pancreatic trunk was the highest. The dry length of Henle trunk was (0.82±0.39) cm (range: 0.37 to 1.68 cm). The length of surgical trunk was (2.54±0.83) cm (range: 1.57 to 3.95 cm). Accuracy of MSCTA results was 96.9%(93/96). Conclusions: Anatomical variation of blood vessels in the right colon is common. Abdominal CT angiography can accurately determine the anatomical structure of the blood vessels in the right colon.

[Radical vulvectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy using a single incision for the treatment of vulvar malignancy].

Objective: To describe a novel procedure of radical vulvectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy using a single incision (RVIL-SI) for the treatment of vulvar malignancy. Methods: In March, 2019, two cases affected with vulvar cancer (the first one is stage ⅢA squamous cell carcinoma and the second one is stage ⅠB with malignant melanoma) underwent this novel procedure, which was characterized by the combination of radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy without making additional incisions in groin areas. The boundaries of femoral triangle could be exposed perfectly using the initial incision of radical vulvectomy and the combined superficial and deep groin lymph node dissection were done subcutaneously from medial to lateral. Preoperative data and short term follow-up outcomes were collected. Results: The RVIL-SI was successfully conducted in two patients without any incisions of groin. The great saphenous veins were all spared. The operative time, average blood loss and median total regional lymph nodes of two cases were close. No major intraoperative complications occurred. Micrometastasis in one right superficial inguinal node was found in the first case with ipsilateral huge cancer lesion. No drain tube was left in inguinal areas intraoperatively. On postoperative day 3, the second case suffered mild lymphocele of right groin, which was resolved via repeated percutaneous needle puncture followed by elastic compression. Postoperative hospital stay of two cases were 10 and 11 days, respectively. With no skin complication at the time of writing this report. Conclusion: Our preliminary experience with the RVIL-SI has confirmed the reproducibility and minimal invasive therapeutic potential in the treatment for patients with vulvar cancer. But this novel procedure is in its infancy stage. Although short-term results are encouraging, a larger series with longer follow-up are required to fully evaluate the therapeutic efficacy.

[Diagnostic accuracy of ROMA index in diagnosing ovarian malignancy in pelvic mass patients].

Objective: To evaluate ROMA in assessing malignancy risk of pelvic mass with Meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane literature were searched until December 2017. Combine and analyse sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihoodratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagonistic odd ratio and AUC. Results: Data of ROMA was retrieved from 8 studies, sensitivity and specificity were 86% and 77% respectively, and AUC was 0.899. Conclusion: According to Meta analysis of previous studies, sensitivity and specificity of ROMA are high enough to be used as an index in setting of ovarian cancer diagnosis.

[Surgical technique and outcomes of uteri retrieval from brain-dead multi-organ donors: a preclinical research of human uterine transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the surgical technique and outcomes of uteri retrieval from brain-dead multi-organ donors.This study is a preclinical research of human living uterine transplantation. Methods: From May, 2015 to May, 2017, four uteri retrieval procedures, characterized with radical hysterectomy and uterine vascular pedicles dissection, were performed in multi-organ brain-dead donors.The uterus was the third authorized organ after the kidney and liver retrieval procedures in the first two cases.The uterine pedicles included the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, the upper one-third of the vagina and internal iliac vessels or external iliac vessels.The perfusion of the uterus was conducted after the retrieval for evaluating the availability, followed by histopathological examination of the uterine issues per 30 minutes. Results: Since the uterine vein was quite difficult to identify and dissect in the first two case, which result in the rupture of triple uterine veins.Therefore, the uterine venous vessels including uterine vein connected with internal iliac vein and internal iliac arteries were selected as vascular grafts and dissected successfully in the last two cases, which could be perfused with the mixture of 4 ℃ heparinized physiological saline through each artery because of shortening the surgical time and arranging the uterine procurement as the first authorized organ procedure.Mean (SD) operative time was 152.5±39.0 min (115-215 min, n=4). Conclusion: Our preliminary experience indicated that the uterus could be retrieved from the brain-dead multi-organ donors and transplanted to the recipient.The attempt of skeletonizing the uterine veins should be replaced by dissection of internal iliac vein.

[Olfactory function in children with adenoid hypertrophy who underwent adenotonsillectomy during pre- and post-operative period].

Objective: To assess the olfactory function in children with adenoid hypertrophy and investigate the changes of both olfactory function and appetite in children with adenoid hypertrophy before and after adenoidectomy. Methods: Forty-four children with adenoid hypertrophy admitted for adenoidectomy, aged 7-12 years, mean age (10.0±2.0) years were tested by Sniffin' Sticks test and visual analog scale(VAS) of the children's appetite preoperatively between March and August 2015.In a appointment 6 months after operation, all of them returned and were tested again. The control group consisted of 40 healthy children, aged 7-12 years, mean age (11.2±0.8) years.SPSS 13.0 software was used for statistical analysis Results: The olfactory function of the study group TDI scores (32.4±3.5) preoperatively were significantly lower in comparison with the results of the control group TDI scores (37.3±2.8)(t=7.057, P<0.001). Significant improvement of olfaction TDI scores (36.8±1.9) was observed in the follow-up appointment(t=13.573, P<0.001). The VAS of the children's appetite during post-adenoidectomy was higher compared to pre-adenoidectomy(t=16.765, P<0.001). There was a strong correlation between the increase in appetite of children and the change of TDI score (r=0.59, P<0.01). Conclusions: Children with adenoid hypertrophy have a reduced ability of both olfactory function and appetite. Surgery had a greater impact on olfaction and appetite.

Graphene-clad microfibre saturable absorber for ultrafast fibre lasers.

Graphene, whose absorbance is approximately independent of wavelength, allows broadband light-matter interactions with ultrafast responses. The interband optical absorption of graphene can be saturated readily under strong excitation, thereby enabling scientists to exploit the photonic properties of graphene to realize ultrafast lasers. The evanescent field interaction scheme of the propagating light with graphene covered on a D-shaped fibre or microfibre has been employed extensively because of the nonblocking configuration. Obviously, most of the fibre surface is unused in these techniques. Here, we exploit a graphene-clad microfibre (GCM) saturable absorber in a mode-locked fibre laser for the generation of ultrafast pulses. The proposed all-surface technique can guarantee a higher efficiency of light-graphene interactions than the aforementioned techniques. Our GCM-based saturable absorber can generate ultrafast optical pulses within 1.5 µm. This saturable absorber is compatible with current fibre lasers and has many merits such as low saturation intensities, ultrafast recovery times, and wide wavelength ranges. The proposed saturable absorber will pave the way for graphene-based wideband photonics.

Asthma as a hidden disease in rural China: opportunities and challenges of standard case management.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the implementation of standard case management of asthma in Huaiyuan County, Anhui Province, China, in 2008. DESIGN: The study project began with the local adaptation of international asthma guidelines, followed by a situation analysis, pre-intervention study, training and intervention. Inhaled beclomethasone (US$15 for a 200-puff [250 µg/puff] inhaler) was prescribed for patients with persistent asthma. Treatment outcome was assessed at 1 year after enrolment. RESULTS: Asthma was never diagnosed in the participating facilities before the project was introduced. Of the 95 patients diagnosed with persistent asthma, 72 (75.8%) were prescribed inhaled beclomethasone, and 23 (24.2%) were not, because they either refused to use inhaled beclomethasone or did not return after the initial visit. At 1 year evaluation, of the 72 patients with persistent asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids, 12 (16.7%) improved, 7 (9.7%) remained stable, none were worse, 1 (1.4%) had died, and 52 (72.2%) were lost to follow-up. Of the 52 patients lost to follow-up, 25 (48%) were found to be alive but had stopped using inhaled beclomethasone. CONCLUSION: Asthma is more frequently disabling and costly than had been recognised earlier. Asthma patients can be provided the care that they require, but affordable access to inhaled corticosteroids remains a challenge.

Mosaic genome structure of echovirus type 30 that circulated in Taiwan in 2001.

An echovirus type 30 (E30) outbreak occurred in Taiwan in 2001. In this study, one 1998 and nineteen 2001 enterovirus isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with meningitis were genetically analyzed. Although negative results were obtained using the E30-specific monoclocal antibody in an immunofluorescent assay (IFA) test of all 20 isolates, molecular typing by partial VP1 sequences and subsequent neutralization test identified them as E30. Among those, seven of them were misidentified as echovirus type 4 (E4) when E4-specific monoclonal antibody was used. Complete genome sequences of one E30 isolate (TW-2513) that were IFA-positive to E4 and another (TW-3182) that was IFA-negative to both E30 and E4 were determined and analyzed. The overall percentage nucleotide identity in the structural coding region (P1) between these two isolates is 98.4, while those in the nonstructural regions P2 and P3 are only 83.2 and 84.4, respectively, indicating that the two 2001 Taiwanese E30 strains were probably recombinant. Recombination analysis of these two E30 genomes revealed that their genome structures are mosaic, which might have been formed gradually and frequently over time.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) induced apoptosis undergo caspase-3 activity in human bladder cancer T24 cells.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), one of the major components of garlic (Allium sativum), is well known to have chemopreventative activity against human cancer such as colon, lung and skin. But the exact mechanism of the action is still unclear. In this study, we investigated how DADS--induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in T24 human bladder cancer cells in vitro. Apoptosis induction, cell viability, cell cycle arrest, caspases-3, -9 activity and gene expression were measured to determine their variation by flow cytometric assay, western blot, and determination of caspase-3 activity, PCR and cDNA microarray. There are significant differences in cell death (decreased viable cells then increased the amounts of apoptosis) of T24 cells that were detected between DADS (5-75 microM) treated and untreated groups. A significant increase was found in apoptosis induction when cells were treated with DADS (50 microM) compared to without DADS treated groups. DADS also promoted caspase-3 activity after exposure for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, which led to induce apoptosis. DADS also increased the product of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the DADS-induced apoptosis on T24 cells was blocked by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk and antioxidant (catalase). DADS also increased cyclin E and decreased CDK2 gene expression which may lead to the G2/M arrest of T24 cells.

Effects of garlic components diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adducts in human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Two components of garlic, diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS), inhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). The NAT activity was measured by high performance liquid chromatography assaying for amounts of N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (2-AAF) and remaining 2-aminofluorene (2-AF). Cellular cytosols and intact cell suspensions were assayed. The inhibition of NAT activity and 2-AF-DNA adduct formation in human leukemia cells by DAS and DADS were dose-dependent and were directly proportional. The data also indicated that DAS and DADS decrease the apparent values of Km and Vmax from human leukemia cells in both assays. This is the first report of garlic components affecting human leukemia cell NAT activity and 2-AF-DNA adduct formation.

Novel transmembrane GTPase of non-small cell lung cancer identified by mRNA differential display.

The technique of differential display was used previously to profile the gene expression patterns of non-small cell lung cancer, and several genes differentially expressed were thus identified. In this report, we demonstrate that a DNA fragment of 347-bp length, up-regulated in tumor tissues, showed 100% sequence similarity to human cDNA FLJ20693 for a 370-residue protein. The gene product of cDNA FLJ20693 was postulated to be a shorter isoform of transmembrane GTPase, termed TG370, based upon the results of searching for sequence homology. The nucleotide sequence alignment also indicated that the cDNA FLJ20693 and the cDNA for 741-residue human mitofusin 1 (TG741) possibly resulted from the event of alternative splicing from which a 127-bp region was retained in the latter. Analysis of the genome sequence confirmed the speculation that both cDNAs were mapped to the same chromosomal position composing of 18 exons, of which the 127-bp region of TG741 constituted exon 11. The alternative splicing in all lung cancer cell lines was also observed to occur nearly in all tissue specimens examined. The up-regulated expression of transmembrane GTPase was subsequently found in tumor tissues from at least five of seven non-small cell lung cancer patients. Also, a distinct PCR product was initially detected in cell line H520, and further sequence analysis identified the presence of the 86-bp region mapped to the genome sequence immediately followed by exon 10. To evaluate the retention of 86-bp region, it was found that, besides the predicted 486-bp product, an unexpected 332-bp product was concomitantly observed and identified as the result of exon 8 deletion. The expression and subcellular localization of the full-length TG741 and other shorter isoforms were detected by flow cytometry using three polyclonal antibodies. It was concluded that the full-length TG741 located at plasma membrane with its NH(2)-terminal domain exposed extracellularly and the shorter isoforms retained at cytosol. Finally, the up-regulation of transmembrane GTPase in tumor tissues was further illustrated using immunohistochemical staining.

Amantadine-resistant influenza A virus in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amantadine and rimantadine have been used for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A virus infection. We examined the amantadine susceptibility of field isolates of influenza A virus in Taiwan from 1996 to 1998 to monitor the presence of resistant strains. METHODS: Eighty-four field isolates of influenza A virus were examined for resistance to amantadine by plaque inhibition assay. Virus isolates with amantadine 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) greater than 0.9 microgram were chosen for sequence analysis of the M gene that is the molecular target for amantadine/rimantadine. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the viral RNA. RT-PCR products were examined and purified by agarose gel electrophoresis for further sequence analysis. The Genetics Computer Group Sequence Analysis Package and the neighbor-joining method listed in the Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis package were used for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: One field strain was amantadine resistant (IC50 > 10 micrograms/mL), with a mutation (position 31, serine to asparagine) in the M2 protein. The resistant virus was isolated from a non-immunocompromised child without a history of amantadine/rimantadine treatment. None of the family members reported previous exposure to amantadine/rimantadine. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, amantadine-resistant influenza A (H1N1) virus was isolated from a non-immunocompromised Taiwanese child without a known history of exposure to this drug. Resistant field isolates were rare. Due to the increasing use of amantadine/rimantadine in Taiwan, continued surveillance for amantadine/rimantadine-resistant influenza A viruses is warranted.

Effects of the butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene on the DNA adduct formation and arylamines N-acetyltransferase activity in human colon tumor cells.

The effects of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity were examined using a human colon tumor cell line (colo 205). BHA or BHT were added to the cytosols or to the medium of human colon tumor cells: The NAT activity was measured by high performance liquid chromatography, assaying the amounts of acetylated 2-aminoflluorene (AAF), p aminobenzoic acid (N-Ac-PABA), nonacetylated 2 aminofluorene (AF) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). The NAT activity in the human colon tumor cells and cytosols was suppressed by BHA or BHT in a dose-dependent manner. The apparent values of Km and Vmax of NAT of human colon tumor cells were also decreased by BHA or BHT in cytosols and in intact cells. BHA or BHT may act as a noncompetitive inhibitor. After the incubation of human colon tumor cells with AF in the presence of BHA or BHT, the cells were recovered and DNA was prepared and hydrolysed to nucleotides. Adducted nucleotides were extracted into butanol and AF-DNA adducts were analysed by HPLC. The results also demonstrated that when BHA or BHT was added to the media, a decrease in AF-DNA adduct formation was seen in the human colon tumor cells. The finding of AF-DNA adduct formation in cultured human colon tumor cells suggest the possibility of using cultured cells for assessing arylamine-induced DNA damage.

Luteolin inhibits the growth and arylamine N-acetyl-transferase activity in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Growth inhibition and arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in Neisseria gonorrhoeae were inhibited by luteolin, a drug which originated from herbs. The growth inhibition was based on changes in optical density (OD) using a spectrophotometer, and arylamine NAT activity with 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) was determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. The inhibition of growth in N. gonorrhoeae demonstrated that luteolin elicited a dose-dependent growth inhibition in the N. gonorrhoeae cultures. Suspensions of N. gonorrhoeae with or without specific concentrations of luteolin cotreatment showed different percentages of 2-AF acetylation. The data indicated that there was reduced NAT activity associated with increased levels of luteolin in N. gonorrhoeae suspensions. Time-course experiments showed that NAT activity measured from intact N. gonorrhoeae cells was inhibited by luteolin for at least 4 h. Using standard steady-state kinetic analysis, it was demonstrated that luteolin was a possible uncompetitive inhibitor to NAT activity in N. gonorrhoeae. This report is the first to show that luteolin can inhibit N. gonorrhoeae NAT activity.

[Clinical and experimental study on treatment of moderate and advanced malignant tumors with tianfoshen oral liquid].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Tianfoshen oral liquid (TFS) in treating moderate and advanced malignant tumors and its mechanism. METHODS: Therapeutic effect of TFS in treating 71 patients of malignant tumor was analyzed with the criteria, including quality of life, 3-year survival rate and immune function. And experimental studies of inhibitory effect on tumor clone primordial cells and tumor growth rate of TFS on human gastric tumor (MGC803) cell, human liver cancer (SMMC7721) cell and mice galactophore cancer (EMT6) cell by colony forming method and dye exclusion test respectively were also conducted. RESULTS: Clinical study showed that in the 71 cases treated, the total remission rate was 45.1%, the effective rate 71.8%, with improvement in quality of life and immune function, the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate being 78.5%, 38.5% and 10.8% respectively and the mean survival time 24.2 months. Experimental study showed that TFS could kill the cancer cells directly, inhibit the proliferation of single clonogenic cell, and had a broad-spectrum dose-dependent inhibitory action on various tumors with significant difference in comparing with the effects of the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TFS had obvious therapeutic effect to moderate and advanced tumors, its anti-tumor effect was related to the enhancement of immune function and tumor inhibiting or direct killing action.