Risk factors of bone metastasis in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to explore the risk factors for bone metastasis (BMT) in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 322 patients newly diagnosed with PCa following transrectal prostate biopsy at our hospital from October 2016 to March 2021 were analyzed. According to the results of whole-body bone emission computed tomography (ECT) scanning, patients were divided into the following two groups: bone metastasis group (BMT) and none-bone metastasis group (None-BMT). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the BMT-related factors associated with PCa. A receiver operating characteristic curve was also used to compare the diagnostic value of total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA), prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), Gleason score and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for prostate cancer bone metastasis (PCBM). RESULTS: The results revealed that the incidence of BMT in newly diagnosed patients with PCa was ~22.05% (71/322). Univariate analysis demonstrated that Gleason score, clinical T stage, TPSA, PSAD and ALP were associated with PCBM (p<0.001). Furthermore, the results of multivariate regression analysis revealed that TPSA, PSAD, Gleason score and ALP were independent risk factors for BMT (p <0.05). The cutoff values for TPSA, PSAD, ALP and Gleason score were 39.58 ng/ml, 1.489 ng/(ml/cm3), 93.15 U/l and 7.5, respectively. Additionally, the respective sensitivities for TPSA, PSAD, ALP and Gleason score were 67.6, 62.0, 57.7 and 46.5%, and the respective specificities were 88.4, 98.0, 100 and 98.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The current study determined that TPSA, PSAD, Gleason score and ALP were predictors of PCBM. In patients with PSA levels >39.58 ng/ml, PSAD levels >1.489 ng/(ml/cm3), Gleason scores >7.5 and ALP levels >91.0 U/l, a whole-body bone ECT scan is recommended.

[Pharmacokinetics of praziquantel injection in healthy buffaloes].

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of praziquantel injection in buffaloes in contrast to praziquantel tablet. Methods A single oral administration of praziquantel tablet at a dose of 20 mg/kg or intramuscular administration of praziquantel injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg was performed in six healthy adult buffalos according to a twoperiod crossover design. The praziquantel concentration in plasma was determined by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of praziquantel tablet were as follows: Tmax = (0.60±0.29)h, Cmax = (0.57±0.37)µg/ml, T1/2ß = (0.70±0.42)h, AUC = (0.80±0.70) (µg/ml)·h. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of praziquantel injection were as follows: Tmax = (0.65± 0.49)h, Cmax = (3.82±1.17)µg/ml, T1/2ß = (1.00±0.73)h, AUC = (1.61±0.89) (µg/ml)·h. The relative bioavailability of praziquantel injection was 402.5% in contrast to praziquantel tablet. Conclusion The praziquantel injection has pharmacokinetic characteristics of rapid absorption, high bioavailability and extensive distribution, and the clinical recommended dosage of praziquantel injection is 10 mg/kg.

[Pulmonary ectopic lesion of acute schistosomiasis: a report of two cases].

This paper reports the diagnosis and treatment of 2 cases of acute schistosomiasis with ectopic lesion in the lung. It suggests that in schistosomiasis endemic areas, if the patients with the contact history of infested water have the symptom of fever, while the effects of anti-infection and the corresponding treatments are not good, the clinician should consider acute schistosomiasis.

The relationship between microvessel density, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the extension of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at clarifying whether the microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were related to the degree of local invasion and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). STUDY DESIGN: We measured the MVD and examined whether VEGF was expressed in NPC tissue using histological study combined with immunohistochemistry. METHODS: MVD and VEGF expression was measured in 73 specimens of NPC, 15 benign tumors of nasopharyngeal region, and 20 nasopharyngeal tissue without tumor. MVD and VEGF expression in NPC was compared between a metastasis group (49 specimens) and a non-metastasis group (24 specimens). RESULTS: Both MVD and VEGF expression were markedly increased in NPC tissue as compared with those in benign tumors of nasopharyngeal region. Both MVD and VEGF expression in NPC tissue with metastasis were statistically significantly increased as compared with those in NPC without metastasis. Therefore, the invasion and metastasis of NPC cells were closely related to MVD and the expression of VEGF in NPC tissue. CONCLUSION: The metastatic potency of NPC tissue and the prognosis of the patients with NPC can be estimated by measuring MVD and the expression of VEGF in NPC tissue. Drugs that have inhibitory actions on angiogenesis could be useful to prevent metastasis of NPC cells in the patients.

Apolipoprotein E and longevity among Han Chinese population.

The apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), which locates on chromosome 19, has three common APOE alleles encoding APOE*2, APOE*3, APOE*4. It has been considered to be closely associated with human longevity among Western population. However, the allele frequency varies among racial and ethnic groups. We studied the relationship between APOE and longevity among 1562 Han Chinese (246 female and 1316 male) whose ages ranged from 20-108 years old in Shanghai metropolitan area and Lian Yungang, Jiangsu province. APOE was amplified by one-stage PCR using the forward primer: 5'-GGC ACG GCT GTC CAA GGA GCT-3' and reverse primer: 5'-GAT GGC GCT GAG GCC GCG CT-3'. The PCR product was digested directly with 5 U of CfoI and separated by a 20% polyacrylamide (acrylamide:bisacrylamide = 29:1) nondenaturing gel. The allele frequency of APOE*4 in thevery old age group (> or = 85 years) was significantly different from that in the youth (20-39 years), middle (40-59 years) and old (60-84 years) age group (2.5% vs 8.4, 7.9 or 7.6%; P < 0.05), respectively.

Behavior pattern, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, superoxide dismutase, micro-blood-flow state and longevity or aging.

It is believed that the mechanisms of aging or longevity are multifactorial. We selected four major postnatal factors to verify the mechanisms of longevity and aging. Type B behavior is strongly associated with longevity. The frequency of Type B behavior pattern (55.5 vs. 26.6%) was significantly higher while Type A behavior pattern (2.4 vs. 5.9%) was much lower in the longevity group compared with those in the elderly group (P < 0.01). The decline of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) might relate to the aging process which was supported by two facts: (1) low PaO2 might lead to high frequency of chromosomal aberrations, the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was 1.22+/-0.53%, 0.57+/-0.23% and 0.23+/-0.22% in PaO2 < 75, 75-84 or > or = 85 mmHg groups respectively (P < 0.025); (2) the lower the PaO2, the more serious the retina arteriosclerosis. Five mean contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes were 626+/-39, 583+/-56, 556+/-43, 547+/-49 and 557+/-40 microg/gHb in different age groups. No significant differences were found in the longevity group as compared with those in 40-89 years old age groups (P > 0.05), but a significantly lower level was found in the middle rather than the young age group (P < 0.05). The studies of thixotropy show that micro-blood-flow state also sustains a better condition in the longevity group. We consider Type B behavior pattern, a higher PaO2, a better micro-blood-flow and a higher level of SOD of erythrocytes may be beneficial for longevity.

Wear of composite resin in vitro: a testing machine with rubber plate. Preliminary results.

A new machine was developed to study the wear of dental filling materials in vitro. Four products: amalgam, Adaptic, Clearfil and acrylic resin were tested. Wear was measured quantitatively by weighing the specimen, and the wear pattern was studied qualitatively with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). A comparison was made with materials that were placed in the mouth for a prolonged period. It was found that the in vitro wear pattern was comparable to that found in vivo.