Desert Hedgehog/Patch2 Axis Contributes to Vascular Permeability and Angiogenesis in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) constitutes the most common and the most aggressive type of human tumors affecting the central nervous system. Prognosis remains dark due to the inefficiency of current treatments and the rapid relapse. Paralleling other human tumors, GBM contains a fraction of tumor initiating cells with the capacity to self-renew, initiate and maintain the tumor mass. These cells were found in close proximity to brain vasculature, suggesting functional interactions between brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) and endothelial cells within the so-called vascular niche. However, the mechanisms by which these cells impact on the endothelium plasticity and function remain unclear. Using culture of BTICs isolated from a cohort of 14 GBM patients, we show that BTICs secretome promotes brain endothelial cell remodeling in a VEGF-independent manner. Gene array analysis unmasked that BTICs-released factors drove the expression of Ptch2 in endothelial cells. Interestingly, BTICs produce desert hedgehog (DHH) ligand, enabling a paracrine DHH/Ptch2 signaling cascade that conveys elevated permeability and angiogenesis. Finally, DHH silencing in BTICs dramatically reduced tumor growth, as well as vascularization and intra-tumor permeability. Collectively, our data unveil a role for DHH in exacerbated tumor angiogenesis and permeability, which may ultimately favor glioblastoma growth, and thus place the DHH/Ptch2 nexus as a molecular target for novel therapies.

Preparation and preliminary application of double antibody sandwich ELISA for CYFRA21-1 / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To establish the detection method of double-antibody sandwich ELISA about CYFRA 21-1 in human ser-um.Methods:The paired antibody were screened among four strains mAbs of CYFRA 21-1, which was marked by sodium periodate method.The detecting method of double antibody sandwich ELISA was optimizted , and evaluated by specificity , stability and sensitivi-ty.Results:The results showed that a paired of antibody , which was 2F9 as the coated antibody and 6F11 as the labeled antibody, was selected from four mAbs .It was the optimum condition of double antibody sandwich ELISA that the coating antigen concentration of 2F9 was 0.50 μg/ml, while the labeled antibody of 6F11 was diluted 6 000 times.The linear range of standard curve was 0.7-25 ng/ml with r2 =0.990 8, while the limit of detection was 0.666 8 ng/ml, the recovery rate was 98.14%.The cross-reactions with the oth-er analogues in serum were less than 0.1%.The coefficient of variation in group (n=10) was 6.8%, whereas coefficient of variation among group(n=5) was 11.4%.The correlation compared with other foreign ELISA kit was 91.42%.Conclusion:In brief, we suc-cessfully established the method of double antibody sandwich ELISA detecting CYFRA 21-1 level in human serum , laying the foundation for the production of CYFRA21-1 ELISA kit.

Hyperuricaemia and blood pressure, and blood lipid and glucose / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between hyperuricaemia and blood pressure, and blood lipid and glucose. Methods By using simple cluster sampling, 2 branch units from PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company were selected, and all the 720 subjects with hyperuricaemia (HUA) were assigned to the HUA group; another 620 participants with normal uric acid (UA) level into the normal group. The correlation between blood uric acid and blood pressure,and blood lipid and glucose was assessed by Logistic regression. Results The odds ratio (OR) of those who had 1,2 or 3 abnormal status of hypertension,hyperlipidemia and impaired fasting glucose in the HUA group were much higher than the normal group (OR values were 4. 036,2. 562, and 4. 174, respectively). Logistic regression showed that male, systolic blood pressure ( SBP), GLU, total cholesterol ( TC), triglyceride ( TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were risk factors of H UA ( OR values were 7. 736,2. 309,1.721,2. 761 and 1. 411,respectively) ,while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, OR = 0. 211 ) was a protective factor of HUA. Conclusions Gender,blood pressure and blood lipid may have correlation with blood UA. Multiple risk factors should be considered to improve the effectiveness of health education and health promotion.

Moving from A to Z: successful implementation of a statin switch program by a large physician group.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation and impact of a centralized statin switch program at a large academic medical center. METHODS: Patients on atorvastatin were identified from electronic medical records and pharmacy claims data. Relevant information was sent to physicians for approval of the proposed switches. Approved patients were then contacted via phone and offered the opportunity to switch to simvastatin; those who switched received a new prescription for simvastatin. To assess the independent impact of the active switch process, conversion rates within a single insurance plan were compared for patients who participated in this program versus those who were contacted only by mail. RESULTS: Physicians approved 3207 of the 3677 patients identified for this program. A total of 1710 approved patients accepted the switch, 704 declined, and 170 became ineligible. Information packets were mailed to 623 patients who could not be contacted. Within the single insurance plan, the generic dispensing rate for statins among the 1867 patients included in our program was significantly higher than that for the 2472 patients in the mail-only group (59.2% vs 35.8%, P <.001). Over 8 months, the direct cost of the program was $131,000 with projected annual cost savings of up to $1.14 million to payers and up to $250 for each patient who switched. CONCLUSION: A proactive and voluntary statin switch program to promote the use of a lower cost generic alternative can be successfully implemented in a fee-for-service health system setting with benefits to patients, providers, and payers.

Intrapentoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites / 国外医学(肿瘤学分册)

The formation of malignant ascites is concerned with non-obstructive factors including immunity regulator(IL-2,TNF,IFN-?)and factors of inducing blood vessel penetrability(VEGF,MMP) besides obstructive factors. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy makes drug directly act on peritoneum and arrives at the aim of controlling and treating malignant ascites.