Risk factors and etiological characteristics of urinary tract infection in hospitalized continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the risk factors and etiological characteristics of urinary tract infection (UTI) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 90 CAPD patients with UTI comprised the infection group, while 32 CAPD patients without UTI constituted the control group. The risk factors and etiological characteristics of UTI were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 90 bacterial strains isolated, 30 were Gram-positive (33.3%) and 60 were Gram-negative (66.7%). Urinary stones or urinary tract structural changes were more prevalent in the infection group (71.1%) than in the control group (46.9%) (χ² = 6.076, p = 0.018). The proportion of patients with residual diuresis less than 200 ml was higher in the infection group (50%) than in the control group (15.6%) (χ² = 11.533, p = 0.001). The distribution of primary disease differed between the two groups. Patients in the infection group had higher CAPD vintage, levels of triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, blood creatinine, blood phosphorus, and calcium-phosphorus product than those in the control group. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated that residual diuresis less than 200 ml (OR = 3.519, p = 0.039) and urinary stones or structural changes (OR = 4.727, p = 0.006) were independent risk factors for UTI. CONCLUSIONS: Urine cultures of CAPD patients with UTI contained a complex distribution of pathogenic bacteria. Urinary stones or structural changes and residual diuresis less than 200 ml were independent risk factors for UTI.

Understanding the Complex Interactions between Coffee, Tea Intake and Neurologically Relevant Tissues Proteins in the Development of Anxiety and Depression.

OBJECTIVES: Coffee and tea intake might be associated with psychiatry diseases. However, it is unclear whether the effect of coffee/tea on anxiety and depression depending on the different types of proteins. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: Our datasets were downloaded from online. PARTICIPANTS: Phenotypic and genotypic data for coffee intake(N=376,196) and tea intake (N=376,078) were derived from UK Biobank. GWAS data of proteins (N=1,537) from neurologically relevant tissues (brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma) were obtained from a recently published study. MEASUREMENTS: Multivariate linear analysis was then used to evaluate the potential interaction effect between coffee/tea intake and proteins polygenetic risk score (PRS) on the risks of anxiety and depression controlling for age, sex, Townsend deprivation index (TDI), smoke, drinking and education level. RESULTS: 34 coffee intake-proteins interactions and 15 tea intake-proteins interactions were observed in anxiety individuals, such as coffee intake-c-Jun interaction (ß=0.0169, P=4.131×10-3), coffee intake-Fas interaction (ß=-0.0190, P=8.132×10-4), tea intake-sL-Selectin interaction (ß=0.0112, P=5.412×10-3) and tea intake-IL-1F6 (ß=0.0083, P=4.471×10-2). 25 coffee intake-proteins and 14 tea intake-proteins interactions were observed in depression individuals, including coffee intake- IL-1 sRI (ß=0.0171, P=4.888×10-3) and coffee intake-NXPH1 interaction (ß=0.0156, P=9.819×10-3), tea intake-COLEC12 interaction (ß=0.0127, P=3.280×10-3), and tea intake-Layilin interaction (ß=0.0117, P=7.926×10-3). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested the important role of multiple proteins in neurologically relevant tissues in the associations between coffee/tea intake and psychiatry diseases, providing entry points to explore the mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression.

[Research progress on potential targets-mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins in treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury].

Acute myocardial infarction(AMI) is still the leading cause of death worldwide. At present, the treatment of AMI is mainly to restore the cardiac blood supply through myocardial reperfusion. With the widespread use of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI), myocardial reperfusion injury is a major clinical problem. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important pathological basis for myocardial ischemic injury. Therefore, mitochondria can be used as an important target against myocardial damage. In this article, we would briefly review the physiological functions of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins as well as their pathological mechanisms and pharmacological interventions in treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Effects of organic zinc on tibia quality, mineral deposit, and metallothionein expression level of aged hens.

The study aimed to determine the effects of methionine hydroxy analog chelate zinc on the tibia quality, mineral deposit, apparent retention of nutrients, and liver metallothionein (MT) expression level of aged laying hens. A total of 960 layers (Hy-Line Grey, 57 wk old) were randomly assigned into 4 groups, and each group had 8 replicates of 30 hens. During the first 2 wk, groups were fed a basal diet without extra zinc (Zn: 35.08 mg/kg). During the ensuing 14 wk, 4 levels of Zn (inorganic Zn: 80 mg/kg; organic Zn: 20, 40, 80 mg/kg) were added to the diet. The results indicated that both the Zn source and level did influence tibia strength and calcium (Ca) and Zn concentrations of tibia (P < 0.05), whereas there were no differences in the copper (Cu) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of the tibia and the tibia length (P > 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with 40 or 80 mg/kg of organic Zn showed higher Zn and Ca concentrations in the tibia and higher tibia strength. The Cu concentration in the liver showed no difference among the 4 treatments, whereas the Zn concentration in the liver increased with the increasing Zn level. The apparent retention of P, iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) was not affected by the Zn level or source (P > 0.05). However, the organic Zn group increased the apparent retention of Cu, Zn, Ca, crude protein (CP), and energy, and the group supplemented with 40 or 80 mg/kg of organic Zn obtained significant effects (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with 40 or 80 mg/kg organic Zn increased the MT mRNA expression of the liver at week 72, whereas 20 mg/kg of organic Zn decreased it (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggested that an optimum dietary (40 mg/kg) organic Zn level plays a key role in promoting the apparent retention of minerals and nutrients, trace element deposit, and MT mRNA expression.

Effects of methionine hydroxyl analog chelated zinc on laying performance, eggshell quality, eggshell mineral deposition, and activities of Zn-containing enzymes in aged laying hens.

The study aimed to determine the effects of methionine hydroxyl analog chelated zinc (MHA-Zn) on laying performance, eggshell quality and mineral deposits, and the activities of Zn-containing enzymes on aged laying hens. A total of 960 layers (Hy-Line Grey, 57 wk old) were fed a basal diet (Zn: 35.08 mg/kg) without extra zinc for 2 wk. During the ensuing 14 wk, birds were randomly divided into 4 groups according to body weight and laying rate, with 8 replicates per treatment, and each group had 8 replicates of 30 hens. Four levels of Zn (ZnSO4: 80 mg/kg; MHA-Zn: 20, 40, 80 mg/kg) were added to the diet, respectively. The results shown that dietary Zn did not affect laying rate, average egg weight, average daily feed intake, or feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05); however, compared to the inorganic group, dietary supplementation with 40 or 80 mg/kg MHA-Zn decreased broken egg rate significantly in the whole period (P < 0.05), while significantly increased eggshell weight in week 62 to 72, eggshell thickness and eggshell strength in wk 66 to 72, eggshell weight percent and eggshell density in week 62 to 72 (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary supplementation with different sources and levels of Zn did not affect ash concentration of eggshell (P > 0.05), whereas dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg MHA-Zn improved the Zn and Ca concentrations of eggshells and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of liver, and 40 mg/kg MHA-Zn increased Zn concentration of liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase activity were observed among the treatment groups (P > 0.05). Therefore, dietary supplementation with 40 mg/kg MHA-Zn can improve eggshell quality by promoting Ca deposition and CA activity.

Effect of dietary supplementation of organic or inorganic zinc on carbonic anhydrase activity in eggshell formation and quality of aged laying hens.

This study evaluated the effects of different dietary levels and sources of zinc (Zn) on performance and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in eggshell formation and quality in aged laying hens. A total of 504 Hy-line Grey layers aged 59 wk were fed a basal diet (Zn, 28.4 mg/kg) for 4 wks, then randomly allocated to 7 groups that were fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with inorganic (ZnSO4·H2O) or organic (amino acid metals, 9.58%) Zn at 35, 70, or 140 mg Zn per kg of feed for 6 weeks. Each group had 6 replicates of 12 hens. Results showed that egg weight decreased linearly with the supplemental level of organic Zn (P < 0.05). Dietary Zn supplementation had linear and quadratic effects on the CA activity in plasma (P < 0.05), and it was higher in the organic Zn-added groups at wks 2 and 4 (P < 0.05). Dietary Zn supplementation had a quadratic effect on the CA activity in the eggshell gland (P < 0.05). Shell thickness was greater in the organic Zn-added groups (P < 0.05), and its relationship with the supplemental level of Zn showed linearly and quadratically, increasing with the organic Zn and with the inorganic Zn at wk 4, while linearly increasing with the inorganic Zn at wk 6 (P < 0.05). At wk 4, the supplemental level of inorganic Zn had a linear effect on shell weight, and linear and quadratic effects on shell index and ratio (P < 0.05), while shell weight, the index, and ratio increased linearly and quadratically with the organic Zn level in the diet (P < 0.05), with more obvious effects in the organic Zn-added groups (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary Zn supplementation, up to 140 mg/kg feed, could increase eggshell thickness by enhancing CA activity in the plasma and eggshell gland of aged layers; thicker eggshells were found in the organic Zn-added groups, but the breaking strength did not increase despite the eggshell thickness increasing.

JNK pathway and relative transcriptional factor were involved in ginsenoside Rh2-mediated G1 growth arrest and apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Ginsenoside Rh2 has been shown to have an anti-tumor effect on a wide range of cancers. A previous study has shown that ginsenoside Rh2 can inhibit the proliferation of the human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line in a dose-dependent manner by activating caspase-8/3 activity to promote apoptosis. However, the association of the JNK signaling pathways and transcription factors with ginsenoside Rh2 in the suppression of non-small cell lung cancer has not yet been reported. In this study, we found that ginsenoside Rh2 can activate the JNK/MAPKs signaling pathway and increase the phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of the transcription factors AP-1 and ATF2. Ginsenoside Rh2 also reduced the expression of transcription factors E2F1 and c-Myc. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rh2 affected the expression levels of cyclin D1 and the CDK4 protein, which are key regulatory factors of the G1/S cyclin-dependent kinase. The anti-proliferative and induced apoptotic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on A549 cell provide evidence to support the application of traditional Chinese medicine to lung cancer treatment.

[Effect of prostate volume on the peripheral nerve block anesthesia in prostate biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of periprostatic nerve block in transrectal ultrasound(TRUS) guided biopsy on different prostate volume. METHODS: A total of 568 patients received prostate biopsy in Department of Urology, Subei People's Hospital from May 2013 to September 2015 were retrospectively studied. All patients were divided into local anesthesia group and nerve block group according to different way of anesthesia. Then each group was divided into four subgroups(20-40 ml, >40-60 ml, >60-100 ml and >100 ml subgroups) according to different prostate volume range. After being anaesthetized successfully, patients in two groups underwent prostate biopsy, visual analogue scale(VAS) scores, visual numeric scale(VNS)scores and complications were recorded and analyzed. At inter-group and intra-group in local anesthesia group and nerve block group, Mann-Whitney U test of non-parametric analysis and single factor variance analysis were used to compare the VAS scores and the VNS scores respectively, and chi-square test was used to compare the rates of complication. RESULTS: The VAS scores of four subgroups: local anesthesia group: 1.9±0.9, 2.8±1.5, 3.8±2.3 and 5.3±2.5; nerve block group: 1.5±0.7, 2.0±0.8, 2.9±1.7 and 4.2±2.0. The VNS scores: local anesthesia group: 3.4±0.6, 2.9±0.6, 2.7±0.5 and 1.6±0.7; nerve block group: 3.7±0.5, 3.3±0.4, 3.0±0.8 and 2.0±0.7. The VAS scores and the VNS scores had significant differences (Z=-3.637-98.253, all P<0.05) at inter-group or intra-group level. For the complication rates of operation, hematuria, blood, urinary retention were significant differences (F=1.347-15.402, all P<0.05) at intra-group level. But there were no significant differences at inter-group level(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with local anesthesia, ultrasound guided prostate peripheral nerve block anesthesia has great analgesic effect and high safety, but for patients with a large prostate volumethe analgesic effect is inefficiency.

[Outcomes of total deafness type of idiopathic suddendeafness in different ages].

Objective:This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of hearing recovery in the complete deafness type of SSNHL(≥81 dBHL) in patients with different ages.Method:Clinical outcomes of 179 total deafness type of idiopathic sudden deafness were compared.Patients were divided into 5 groups according to age,they were,pediatric group(13 years or less),youthful group(14-44 years),middle-aged group(45-59 years),presenium group(60-74 years),senectitude group(75 years or higher).Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the initial degree of hearing loss: 81 dB group (81-89 dBHL),90 dB group(90- 99 dBHL),100 dB group(100 dBHL or higher).Routine comprehensive treatment including corticosteroids,the inner ear microcirculation improvement drugs,neurotrophic drugs,saturationoxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy,etc.was applied.Patients were treated in accordance with the age and body weight.Result:The percentage of youthful group(83/179,46.4%) was highest(P<0.05),middle-aged group(57/179,31.8%)followed(P<0.05),presenium group(26/179,14.5%)was lower(P<0.05),pediatric group(8/179,4.5%) and senectitude group(5/179,2.8%)were the lowest.No a complete recovery in either pediatric group or senectitude group.A complete recovery was rare in the other groups.Recovery rate of the different aged groups was similar(P>0.05).The percentage of 100 dB group(108/179,60.3%) was highest(P<0.05).The percentage of 81 dB group(39/179,21.8%)was similar to 90 dB group(32/179,17.9%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate was similar in 81 dB group(25/39,64.1%)and 90 dB group(18/32,56.2%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of both 81 dB group and 90 dB group were greater than 100 dB group(24/108,22.2%)(P<0.05).The 100 dB group reduced the satisfactory recovery effects.There were no differences in the proportion of the patients with dizziness(95/179,53.1%)and without dizziness(84/179,46.9%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of patients without dizziness(43/84,51.2%) was greater than with dizziness(24/95,25.3%)(P<0.05).The percentage of the patients without dizziness(31/39,79.5%)in 81 dB group was the highest(P<0.05),90 dB group(18/32,56.2%)followed(P<0.05).The percentage of the patients with dizziness in 100 dB group(73/108,67.6%)was highest(P<0.05).Recovery rate was similar in the patients without dizziness of 81 dB group(21/31,67.7%)and 90 dB group(11/18,61.1%)(P>0.05).Recovery rate of the above two groups was greater than that of 100 dB group(11/35,31.4%)(P<0.05).Conclusion:Recovery rate of the different aged groups was similar.The percentage of the patients with dizziness in 100 dB group was highest.Initial hearing threshold in excess of 100 dB reduced the satisfactory recovery in patients with total deafness type of SSNHL.Our results provided a good reference for other clinicians.

A Comment on Qi et al. An Estimation of Radiobiological Parameters for Head-and-Neck Cancer Cells and the Clinical Implications-Authors' Reply.

We appreciate the thoughtful comments from Dr. Jack Fowler on our recent manuscript of an estimation of radiobiological parameters for head and neck cancer (HNC) and the clinical implications [1]. [...].

The effects of the Chinese medicine ZiBu PiYin recipe on the hippocampus in a rat model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline: a proteomic analysis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Increasing evidence suggests that diabetes is associated with an enhanced risk of cognitive decline. The precise mechanisms underlying diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) remain unclear. Here we investigated the molecular changes associated with DACD using a comparative proteomics study of hippocampus in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. In addition, we tested the effects of the Chinese medicine ZiBu PiYin recipe (ZBPYR) on DACD. METHODS: The hippocampus was dissected from control, diabetic and diabetic rats treated with ZBPYR (DM/ZBPYR). Soluble proteins were separated using fluorescence-based difference gel electrophoresis. Protein spots were visualised with fluorescent dyes and spot density was compared between each pair of groups. Proteins of interest were identified using mass spectrometry. Proteins of specific interest were also tested by western blot and real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS: We found 13 spots that were altered between control and diabetes groups, and 12 spots that were changed between diabetes and DM/ZBPYR groups. The identities of nine proteins were determined by mass spectrometry. The identified proteins were largely involved in energy metabolism, cytoskeleton regulation and oxidative stress. The protein alterations observed in the diabetes group were ameliorated to varying degrees following ZBPYR treatment. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The protein changes identified in hippocampus from a rat model of type 2 diabetes suggest that specific cellular alterations contribute to DACD. The Chinese medicine ZBPYR was found to affect multiple targets and partially repaired the original cellular balance. This study may provide important insights into the molecular events underlying DACD and allow the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Acute restraint stress increases intrahypothalamic oestradiol concentrations in conjunction with increased hypothalamic oestrogen receptor ß and aromatase mRNA expression in female rats.

Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is considered to be one of the key physiological responses to stress and, interestingly, shows a marked sex difference. Oestradiol plays an important role in this sex difference. The present study investigated the systemic and intrahypothalamic oestradiol response to physical restraint stress in female rats. We used jugular catheterisation and intrahypothalamic microdialysis to simultaneously measure plasma oestradiol and local oestradiol concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. We also assessed corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), aromatase, and oestrogen receptor (ER) α and ß mRNA expression in the PVN by quantitative polymerase chain reaction immediately after the acute stress period. As expected, PVN CRH mRNA and plasma corticosterone were significantly increased after acute stress. Interestingly, the local oestradiol concentration in the PVN also increased during the 1-h stress period in pro-oestrus and in ovariectomised (OVX) animals. Aromatase mRNA expression in the PVN was increased markedly in pro-oestrus but only modestly in oestrus. PVN ERß but not ERα mRNA expression was significantly elevated in pro-oestrous animals. In addition, plasma oestradiol levels increased 10 min after stress, both during pro-oestrus and oestrus but not in OVX animals. To conclude, we report an intra-hypothalamic oestradiol response to restraint stress. The rising hypothalamic oestradiol concentration together with increased ERß gene expression indicates a positive feedback of hypothalamic oestradiol signalling during acute stress in rats.

Natural variation in drug susceptibility to HCV polymerase inhibitors in treatment-naïve HCV patient isolates.

Summary. To assess the natural variation in drug susceptibility among treatment-naïve hepatitis C virus (HCV) patient isolates, the susceptibilities of chimeric replicons carrying the HCV NS5B polymerase from up to 51 patient isolates against a panel of diverse HCV nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors were evaluated using a replicon-based transient replication assay. Some patient to patient variation in susceptibility to the panel of three HCV nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors was observed. Linear regression and correlation analyses revealed no correlations among the susceptibilities to the polymerase inhibitors tested. Our results suggest that variable antiviral responses to HCV nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors may be observed because of the natural variation in baseline susceptibility. In addition, the lack of correlation among the susceptibilities to three classes of HCV polymerase inhibitors evaluated here supports their possible combined use in a combination therapy strategy.

The antioxidant activities of natural sweeteners, mogrosides, from fruits of Siraitia grosvenori.

To search for antioxidant agents from natural resources, in this paper the in vitro antioxidant activities of two natural sweeteners, mogroside V and 11-oxo-mogroside V isolated from the fruits of Siraitia grosvenori, were determined using chemiluminescence (CL). The results showed that these sweet glycosides, having cucurbitane triterpenoid aglycon, exhibited significant inhibitory effects on reactive oxygen species (O2-, H2O2 and *OH) and DNA oxidative damage. 11-oxo-mogroside V showed a higher scavenging effect on O2- (concentration at which 50% of chemiluminescence intensity is inhibited [EC50] =4.79 microg/ml) and H2O2 (EC50 = 16.52 microg/ml) than those of mogroside V. However, mogroside V was more effective in scavenging *OH, with EC50 =48.44 microg/ml compared with that of 11-oxo-mogroside V (EC50 = 146.17 microg/ml). Further, 11 -oxo-mogroside V exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on *OH-induced DNA damage with EC50 = 3.09 microg/ml.

Atrial tachycardia induces remodelling of muscarinic receptors and their coupled potassium currents in canine left atrial and pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Both parasympathetic tone and atrial tachycardia (AT) remodelling of ion channels play important roles in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathophysiology. Different muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) subtypes (M2, M3, M4) in atrial cardiomyocytes are coupled to distinct K+-currents (called IKM2, IKM3, IKM4, respectively). Pulmonary veins (PVs) are important in AF and differential cholinergic current responses are a potential underlying mechanism. This study investigated AT-induced remodelling of mAChR subtypes and K+-currents in left-atrial (LA) and PV cardiomyocytes. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Receptor expression was assayed by western blot. IKM2, IKM3 and IKM4 were recorded with whole-cell patch-clamp in LA and PV cardiomyocytes of nonpaced control dogs and dogs after 7 days of AT-pacing (400 bpm). KEY RESULTS: Current densities of IKM2, IKM3 and IKM4 were significantly reduced by AT-pacing in LA and PV cardiomyocytes. PV cardiomyocyte current-voltage relations were similar to LA for all three cholinergic currents, both in control and AT remodelling. Membrane-protein expression levels corresponding to M2, M3 and M4 subtypes were decreased significantly (by about 50%) after AT pacing. Agonist concentration-response relations for all three currents were unaffected by AT pacing. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: AT downregulated all three mAChR-coupled K+-current subtypes, along with corresponding mAChR protein expression. These changes in cholinergic receptor-coupled function may play a role in AF pathophysiology. Cholinergic receptor-coupled K+-currents in PV cardiomyocytes were similar to those in LA under control and AT-pacing conditions, suggesting that differential cholinergic current properties do not explain the role of PVs in AF.

Genetic risk identifies multiple myeloma patients who do not benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation.

Genetic aberrations have emerged as major prognostic factors for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated 126 MM patients for t(4;14) or t(11;14), 13q or p53 deletions and correlated the number of genetic aberrations with patient's clinical outcome following undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. We demonstrate the significance of genetic-based risk classification that clearly segregate patients into low (no genetic abnormalities or only t(11;14)), intermediate (any one of the genetic abnormalities other than t(11;14)) and high-risk groups (any two or more of the genetic abnormalities other than t(11;14)). High-risk patients do not benefit from stem cell transplant and should be offered alternative therapies.

[The proper opportunity of surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the proper opportunity of surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy. METHODS: Preoperative chemotherapy was performed on 27 rectal cancer cases at Dukes stage B and C. The therapy comprised of arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2), mitomycin 15 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 30 mg/m(2) for one course. Miles' or Dixon's operation was carried out 7 to 10 days later. The effects of chemotherapy were evaluated. Dynamic changes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections. RESULTS: Hematochezia was remitted in 19 cases. Histologically, the effects of chemotherapy were considered as slight, moderate and marked in 9, 15 and 3 cases, respectively. Side effects were slight and recovered in 4 days. There was a high expression of PCNA in rectal cancer. On the 7th to the 10th day, proliferating index was significantly higher than that of before chemotherapy (46.48 +/- 10.62)%, P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy plays a role in the treatment of resectable rectal cancer. It is suggested that radical surgery should be carried out 5 to 6 days after intra-arterial chemotherapy.

[Timing changes of apoptosis and proliferating cells nuclear antigen after intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the timing changes of apoptosis (APO) and PCNA after intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for rectal cancer. METHODS: Twelve patients were subjected to percutaneous arterial femoralis catheterization by Seldinger's technique and infusion of anti-cancer drugs: 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 600 mg/m(2), mitomycin (MMC) C5 mg/m(2) and epirubicin (EDR) 35 mg/m(2). The biopsy of rectal tumor tissues was done before chemotherapy, and 24, 48, 72 hours and 7-10 days after chemotherapy. Apoptotic cells were examined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-fluorescein and labeling. The expression of proliferating cells nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by immunohistologic staining. RESULTS: The apoptosis index (AI) of rectal cancer cells before chemotherapy, and 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7-10 days after chemotherapy was 6.84 per thousand, 19.53 per thousand, 13.15 per thousand, 11.85 per thousand and 11.86 per thousand respectively. The PCNA index (PI) was 45.56%, 40.68%, 39. 87%, 51.28% and 63.75% before and 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7-10 days after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy not only induced apoptosis effectively, but also inhibited temporarily tumor cells proliferation in patients. The curative surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible after chemotherapy.

Effects of acupuncture on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rabbits with fracture.

PURPOSE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rabbits with fracture. METHOD: 36 male rabbits with a 3-mm width experimental defect in the middle segment of the left radius were randomly divided into the treatment group and control group, and the changes in serum T3, T4 and TSH contents in different weeks were investigated. RESULTS: Serum T3, T4 and TSH contents in the treatment group all were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences in the contents of T4 and TSH in the second week and T3 content in the fourth week (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The action of promoting union of fracture is possibly related with the pituitary-thyroid axis.

[A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of pinoresinol diglucopyranoside in Eucommia Ulmoides Oliv].

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of (+)-pinoresinol-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the bark of Eucommia Ulmoides was established. The air-dried bark of E. Ulmoides was ground into powder and extracted continuously with methanol. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure, then suspended in water. This suspension being subjected to column chromatography was eluted successively with water, 30%, 50% and 90% aqueous solution of ethanol. The 30% EtOH eluate was concentrated and then injected into HPLC system. The conditions of HPLC were: YWG-C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d. 10 microns); 28%(V/V) methanol mobile phase and UV detector at 232 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.068 microgram-0.68 microgram of(+)-pinoresinol-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside with correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The coefficient of variation and average recovery were 0.50%-0.74% (n = 5) and 99.22% (n = 3) respectively.