Novel modified steroid derivatives of androstanolone as chemotherapeutic anti-cancer agents

The aim of the present study is to synthesize and evaluate new potential chemotherapeutic anti-tumor agents. Several thiazolo-, pyrido-, pyrano- and lactam steroid derivatives were obtained using 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one (androstanolone) 1 as starting steroid. The structure of the novel steroid derivatives was confirmed using the analytical and spectral data. The most pure and structurally promising compounds 7a, 10a, 12b, 18 and 23 were evaluated as anti-tumor agents. The in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated against hepatoma cell lines using MTT assay. Also the in vivo anti-tumor activity was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). The results of the in vitro study showed that at incubation time 72 h, in olive oil, compound 7a was the most effective cytotoxic compound with IC₅₀ of 30 μM, while the effects of compounds 18 and 23 were approximately similar with IC₅₀ of 37 μM and 35 μM respectively. While the tested compounds when dissolved in DMSO showed approximately the same IC₅₀ at both 48 and 72 h incubation period, compound 23 was the most effective cytotoxic with IC₅₀ 42 μM at 48 h and 40 μM at 72 h. The results of the in vivo study showed that all the tested novel compounds at 25 mg/kg were effective against EAC. Our novel steroid derivatives are promising candidates as anti-cancer agents, none of the mice treated with our novel derivatives showed any toxic symptoms, but they also completely inhibited tumor growth and retained the hemoglobin content, body weight, and WBCs near normal values and similar to what obtained for the standard drug 5-flurouracil.     

用圆形分布法探讨疫苗干预对麻疹发病季节性的影响

[目的]探讨麻疹流行的季节性规律及麻疹疫苗的干预对其流行高峰期的影响.[方法]采用圆形分布法.分析湖南省1951～1999年麻疹发病高峰日的变迁情况并对疫苗干预的不同时期的流行高峰日进行比较.[结果]从1951至1999年,划分的各个时期均存在麻疹发病高峰期,高峰日逐阶段后移达两个月江结论]疫苗干预可使麻疹发病高峰日后移,但不改变每年出现发病高峰季节的流行规律;圆形分布分析单峰型有周期性的疾病季节高峰特征,具有计算简单、描述直观的优点.     

TCT在子宫内膜癌腹水诊断中的应用价值

目的:探讨膜式液基薄层细胞学技术(thinprep cytology test,TCT)在子宫内膜癌腹水/腹腔冲洗液细胞学诊断中的临床应用价值。方法;收集2003年6月～2007年6月86例子宫内膜癌患者术中腹水/腹腔冲洗液,同时采用传统涂片方法和新柏氏薄层细胞学检测系统进行细胞学检查,就其术前临床分期与手术-病理分期(FIGO2000)进行比较,分析腹水细胞学检查对子宫内膜癌分期的影响,并对结果进行统计学分析。结果:①TCT涂片质量优于传统涂片,尤其对内膜癌晚期血性腹水者,两者比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。②腹腔液细胞学检查对子宫内膜癌分期的影响:TCT组因腹水瘤细胞阳性而使26例临床Ⅰ期患者中有2例上调到手术-病理分期的Ⅲa期,由于腹腔细胞学检查所致的分期变更率为7.7%;Ⅱ期变更率为17.8%(5/28)。普通涂片组Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期变更率分别为3.8%(1/26)、10.7%(3/28);两种方法的Ⅰ、Ⅱ期内膜癌腹水恶性细胞检出率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。③细胞学结果与肿瘤期别关系密切,TCT组Ⅲ、Ⅳ期腹水/腹腔冲洗液瘤细胞阳性率为40.6%(13/32),与Ⅰ、Ⅱ期瘤细胞阳性率12.9%(7/54)比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。普通涂片组Ⅲ、Ⅳ期瘤细胞阳性率25.0%(8/32),两种涂片方法Ⅲ、Ⅳ期腹水瘤细胞检出率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:①TCT细胞学检查法在标本的处理、制片和诊断方面明显优于传统的涂片方法,能够提高子宫内膜癌腹水瘤细胞的诊断率。②腹水细胞学检查对子宫内膜癌分期的影响值得关注,术中收集腹水/腹腔冲洗液送检是子宫内膜癌重要的诊断程序,对于准确分期并指导术后临床治疗及评估预后,具有重要的临床意义。     

Variation of serum and urine cotinine in passive and active smokers and applicability in preconceptional smoking cessation counseling

This study assessed the applicability of serum and urine cotinine as a biochemical marker of self-reported smoking habits for use in a preconceptional smoking cessation program. The variation of serum and urine cotinine over the course of the day was investigated in a sample of 21 smokers and 8 passive smokers who reported their smoking habits and exposure to smoke daily in a questionnaire for 10 consecutive days. Blood and urine samples were collected on two sampling days, 1 week apart. Both serum and urine cotinine assay could distinguish between passive and active smokers, but not between higher categories of smokers (10-19 and > or = 20 cigarettes per day) due to significant intersubject overlap. In serum, no significant differences were found between morning and afternoon cotinine concentrations on either day, in contrast to urine cotinine (with lower excretions observed in the morning). An overall coefficient of variation of 22% was observed for both specimens in smokers. Because serum cotinine is subject to lower variability over the course of the day, it is more practical for use in a clinical setting where appointments are scheduled throughout the day in order to confirm smoking status.     

Short version of the German evidence-based Guidelines for prophylactic vaccination against HPV-associated neoplasia

Persistent infection with HPV 16 and 18 has been causally associated with the development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions as well as with other carcinomas and their precursors, e.g. some vulvar and vaginal cancers. Furthermore HPV 6 and 11 are responsible for anogenital condylomata acuminata in more than 90% of cases. With the recently developed prophylactic bivalent (HPV 16 and 18) and quadrivalent (HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18) vaccines, it is possible to prevent infection of the cervical epithelium and other squamous epithelia, the development of premalignant lesions and, in the case of the quadrivalent vaccine, the development of condylomata acuminata. The following paper represents a summary of the full-text version of the German evidence-based Guidelines, including all evidence-based recommendations regarding the safety as well as the efficacy of the vaccines in preventing CIN, VIN/VaIN, genital warts and other HPV-associated lesions.