[Effect of different ways of insulin infusion in parenteral nutrition patients on activation and concentration of insulin and blood glucose control:a prospective randomized comparison study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare activation and concentration of insulin, and blood glucose control in patients between insulin added into "all in one" bags and syringes at parenteral nutrition (PN). METHODS: From April 2006 to August 2006, 20 consecutive patients after gastrointestinal operations were recruited and randomized to instillation group and pump group. In instillation group, the insulin was directly added into PN and transfused. In pump group, the insulin was added into syringes and transfused by infusion pump. Activation and concentration of insulin, and blood glucose in patients were measured at beginning infusion, infused 1000 ml, infused 2000 ml, and remained 100 ml daily for the first 3 days after operation. RESULTS: There was a tendency of decrease for the activation and concentration of insulin in both groups with the time. There was no significant difference of activation of insulin between the two groups (P = 0.347). There were no significant differences of blood glucoses between the two groups, and between the four time points in each groups (P > 0.05). There were no complications association with blood glucoses in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both of activation and concentration of insulin at PN decreased gradually and slightly with the time no matter the ways of insulin infusion. Activation of insulin and blood glucoses in patients are no significant differences between the two groups. Insulin can be safely added into "all in one" bags at PN.

Inhibition of human prostate cancer xenograft growth by 125I labeled triple-helix forming oligonucleotide directed against androgen receptor.

BACKGROUND: The failure of hormone treatment for advanced prostate cancer might be related to aberrant activation of the androgen receptor. We have shown that (125)I labeled triple-helix forming oligonucleotide (TFO) against the androgen receptor gene inhibits androgen receptor expression and cell proliferation of LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vitro. This study aimed at exploring the effects of the (125)I-TFO on prostate tumor growth in vivo using a nude mouse xenograft model. METHODS: TFO was labeled with (125)I by the iodogen method. Thirty-two nude mice bearing LNCaP xenograft tumors were randomized into 4 groups and were intratumorally injected with (125)I-TFO, unlabeled TFO, Na(125)I and normal saline. Tumor size was measured weekly. The tumor growth inhibition rate (RI) was calculated by measurement of tumor weight. The expression of the androgen receptor gene was performed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical study. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) serum levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The tumor cell apoptosis index (AI) was detected by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Tumor measurements showed that tumor development was significantly inhibited by either (125)I-TFO or TFO, with tumor RIs of 50.79% and 32.80% respectively. (125)I-TFO caused greater inhibition of androgen receptor expression and higher AIs in tumor tissue than TFO. Both the tumor weight and the PSA serum levels in (125)I-TFO treated mice ((0.93 +/- 0.15) g and (17.43 +/- 1.85) ng/ml, respectively) were significantly lower than those ((1.27 +/- 0.21) g and (28.25 +/- 3.41) ng/ml, respectively) in TFO treated mice (all P < 0.05). Na(125)I did not significantly affect tumor growth and androgen receptor expression in tumor tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The (125)I-TFO can effectively inhibit androgen receptor expression and tumor growth of human prostate cancer xenografts in vivo. The inhibitory efficacy of (125)I-TFO is more potent than that of TFO, providing a reference for future studies of antigen radiotherapy.

[Effects of anti-gene and antisense therapeutics on human prostate cancer xenograft in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of triple-helix forming oligonucleotide (TFO) and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) on androgen receptor (AR) expression and tumor growth of human prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: Thirty-two nude mice were inoculated with human prostate cancer cells of the line LNCaP-C4-2 were randomized into 4 equal groups: TFO treatment group, undergoing intra-tumor injection of TFO at the dose of 25 mgxkg(-1)x(2d)(-1) for 14 times, ASO treatment group, undergoing intra-tumor injection of ASO at the same dose for 14 times, SCO group, undergoing intra-rumor injection of sequence control oligonucleotide (SCO) at the same dose for 14 times, and control group. The body weight and xenograft tumor volume of the nude mice were monitored during the therapy. 28 days later venous blood samples were collected to measure the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) by radioimmunoassay and then the mice were killed with their tumors taken out to measure the weight, and RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and radioligand binding assay were used to detect the AR gene mRNA and protein expression in the tumor tissues. RESULTS: By the end of experiment the volumes and weights of tumor of the ASO and ASO groups were all significantly lower than those of the control group (all P < 0.01) with the inhibition rates of 67.55% and 41.06% respectively, and the volumes and weights of tumor of the TFO group were all significantly lower than those of the ASO group (all P < 0.05). The tumor weight and AR expression levels of TFO group were significantly lower than those of ASO group (P < 0.05). The serum PSA level of TFO group was (6.6 +/- 1.0) ng/ml, significantly lower than that of the ASO group [(19.8 +/- 3.7) ng/ml, P < 0.05]. The mRNA and protein expression levels of AR of the TFO group were significantly lower than those of the other groups (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in all the above mentioned markers between the SCO and control groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TFO shows significantly higher inhibitory effect on AR expression and tumor growth of human prostate cancer xenograft than ASO, and is a promising agent for prostate cancer gene therapy.

[Expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in colorectal cancer: a quantitative study].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It was indicated that there was relationship between estrogen and colorectal cancer. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were expressed in colorectal cancer tissue. They were measured using immunohistochemistry with various results,but there was little quantitative study. This study was designed to quantitatively measure the expression of ER and PR in tumor tissues and normal mucosas and analyze its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in colorectal cancer. METHODS: ER and PR expression in cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor tissues and normal mucosas from 45 colorectal cancer patients were quantitatively measured using radioligand binding assay (RBA). RESULTS: ER and PR were expressed in all tumor tissues and normal mucosas. In cytoplasm, the ER expression level of tumor tissues was higher than that of normal mucosas; they were 7.96+/-3.69 fmol/mg protein and 4.34+/-2.84 fmol/mg protein (P< 0.01) respectively. And that was the same for PR expression; they were 3.89+/-2.64 fmol/mg protein and 2.50+/-1.73 fmol/mg protein(P< 0.01)respectively. In nucleus, the ER expression level of tumor tissues was higher than that of normal mucosas; they were 18.42+/-8.30 fmol/mg protein and 11.24+/-5.44 fmol/mg protein (P< 0.01)respectively. And that was the same for PR expression, they were 9.36+/-5.90 fmol/mg protein and 7.84+/-7.41 fmol/mg protein (P< 0.05) respectively. There was positive correlation between ER and PR expression in cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor tissues (P< 0.01) respectively,so was in cytoplasm in normal mucosas (P< 0.01) respectively, but not in nucleus (P >0.05). There was correlation between ER expression in tumor tissues and patients' age,and the expression in these people over 45 years old was higher than those less 45 years old (P< 0.05), but no correlation between tumor tissues PR expression and age (P >0.05). There was no correlation between tumor tissues ER, PR expression and sex, staging, tumor location, size, gross and histological type, invasive depth, lymph nodes metastasis, or tumor tissue CEA expression (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ER and PR expression in colorectal tumor tissues were higher than those in normal mucosas, and there was positive correlation between ER and PR expression in tumor tissues. All these indicate that ER in colorectal cancer tissues has some activity. The level of the ER, PR expression in tumor tissue could not predict the malignant biological behaviors of colorectal cancer.

[Expression of growth hormone receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma and its significance].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been proved effective in clinic, such as promoting protein synthesis and decreasing the mortality. But there are still many arguments on whether it can be used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. rhGH cannot work except that it combines to its own receptor growth hormone receptor (GHR). The current study was designed to explore the expression of GHR in HCC tissues and to investigate the viability of rhGH for HCC treatment. METHODS: Radioreceptor assays were used to determine growth hormone receptor (GHR) in 40 HCC tissues; 6 normal liver tissues were used as control. Receptor binding capacity(RT) and affinity constant(Kd) of GHR were calculated by Scatchard's method; the relationship between RT of GHR in cancer and clinicopathologic factors were also analyzed. RESULTS: The growth hormone- specific singular binding site, namely GHR, was detected respectively in 35 HCC cases and control tissues. The RT and Kd of GHR were 18.5416+/-4.1686 fmol/mg protein and 0.6319+/-0.1978 nmol/L in tumor tissues, 39.5467+/-3.4770 fmol/mg protein and 0.6167+/-0.1007 nmol/L in control tissues, respectively. Compared with the normal liver tissue, RT of GHR in tumor was lower (P< 0.05) but Kd did not show any difference(P >0.05). The RT of the GHR was negatively relevant to the tumor size and disease stage, but was not associated with differentiation of tumor, ages of the patients or whether the patient suffered from cirrhosis at the same time. GHR was undetectable in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: This study showed that most of the HCC tissues express low levels of GHR. Before their functions are well understood, rhGH should be very carefully used in HCC patients.

[Significance of both nuclear and cytosol androgen receptor (AR) in assessment of AR status in prostate carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Androgen receptor (AR) is closely associated with the genesis,development,treatment and assessment of prognosis of prostate carcinoma (PC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to determine the AR status accurately has important clinical significance. This study was designed to investigate the significance of androgen receptor(AR) in cell nucleus for assessment of the AR status of patients with PC and HCC. METHODS: A total of 94 PC and 192 HCC tissues were analyzed for the affinity (KD),cytosol AR (AcR) and nuclear AR(AnR) using radioligand binding assay(RBA). RESULTS: In 94 PC tissues, the Bmax values of AcR and AnR were 58.82+/-34.73 and 543.70+/-249.44 fmol/mg protein which were significantly higher than those of the surrounding tissues (21.63+/-14.89 and 89.20+/-47.32 fmol/mg protein, P< 0.001). The KD values of AcR and AnR were 0.84+/-0.52 and 2.15+/-0.79 nmol/L which were not significantly different as compared with the surrounding tissues(0.78+/-0.49 and 2.24+/-0.84 nmol/L, P >0.50). In 192 HCC tissues, the Bmax values of AcR and AnR were 18.09+/-16.87 and 59.93+/-34.12 fmol/mg protein, which were significantly higher than those of the surrounding tissues (10.87+/-7.60 and 25.54+/-20.10 fmol/mg protein, P< 0.001 ). The KD values of AcR and AnR were 0.76+/-0.57 and 1.89+/-0.74 nmol/L)which were not significantly different as compared with the surrounding tissues(0.69+/-0.48 and 1.94+/-0.88 nmol/L, P >0.50). The ratio of AnR/AcR was also higher (P< 0.001). Of 94 PC tissues, 48.94% were both AcR and AnR positive, being lower than that of the tissues with positive AcR alone (77.66%). Of 192 HCC tissues, 34.09% were both AcR and AnR positive, being also lower than that of AcR positive alone (56.26%). However, 63.01% of PC and 62.03% of HCC AcR-positive tissues were accompanied by AnR-positive. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the Bmax of both AcR and AnR increased in PC and HCC tissues as compared to the surrounding tissues, the AnR showed more significant changes. In assessment of the AR status of PC and HCC tissues, it would be more accurate to analyze with both AcR and AnR than with AcR alone.