CD133 is indicative for a resistance phenotype but does not represent a prognostic marker for survival of non‐small cell lung cancer patients

Despite advances in anticancer treatment, lung cancer still has poor prognosis. Recently, a cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has emerged describing a small subset of tumor cells with stem cell properties. CSCs found in many solid tumors express CD133 antigen on the cell surface. The presence of CSC is correlated with poor survival of patients with glioblastomas, colon or prostate cancers. In this study, we evaluated whether CD133 expression in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a prognostic value in patients' survival. We also analyzed whether CD133 positivity of NSCLC correlates with the expression of resistance‐related proteins, angiogenic factors, oncogenes, proliferative activity or apoptosis. CD133 expression was retrospectively examined in a total of 88 cases of previously untreated NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. We found no correlation between CD133 positivity or the amount of CD133⁺ cells with NSCLC patients' survival, expression of oncogenes c‐myc, c‐N‐ras, c‐jun, c‐fos, c‐erbB1, c‐erbB2 or p53, angiogenic factors VEGF, VEGFR‐1, FGF, FGFR‐1, tissue factor and with proliferative activity or apoptosis in NSCLC tissues. However, there was a significant association between the expression of resistance‐related proteins glutathione S‐transferase, thymidylate synthase, catalase, O⁶‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase and p170 and CD133. Because CD133 expression is linked to a resistant phenotype, detection of CD133⁺ cells may be useful to predict efficacy of cytotoxic therapy but CD133 is not a strong prognostic parameter for survival of patients with NSCLC.     

高效液相色谱法测定血清中依普拉芬浓度及在人体的药代动力学研究

高效液相色谱法测定血清中依普拉芬浓度及在人体的药代动力学研究马晓红许逸刘天培（南京医科大学基础医学院药理教研室，南京２１００２９）依普拉芬（ｉｐｒｉｆｌａｖｏｎｅ，７异丙氧基异黄酮）为一合成的异黄酮衍生物，是新型治疗骨质疏松药物。它主要通过抑制骨吸...     

小檗碱对培养大鼠神经细胞内游离Ca2+的影响

以Fura-2/AM为细胞内钙离子的荧光指示剂,用AR-CM-MIC阳离子测定系统,直接测定了体外培养的新生大鼠神经细胞内游离钙([Ca²⁺]i)值,并观察了小檗碱(Ber)的影响。结果表明,Ber对神经细胞静息[Ca²⁺]i无明显影响,Ber1～100μmol·L^-1能剂量依赖地抑制去甲肾上腺素和H₂O₂引起的[Ca²⁺]i升高,其IC₅₀分别为39.9和17.9μmol·L^-1。高剂量Ber(10～100μmol·L^-1)能抑制高K+引起的[Ca²⁺]i升高。姐果提示,Ber对去甲肾上腺素,高K⁺及H₂O₂引起的[Ca²⁺]i升高的抑制作用可能是其抗脑缺血作用机制之一。     

Long-term results of full-dose gemcitabine with radiation therapy compared to 5-fluorouracil with radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreas cancer

Purpose

To retrospectively compare the efficacy and toxicity of full-dose gemcitabine based chemoradiotherapy (GemRT) versus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemoradiotherapy (5FURT) for locally advanced pancreas cancer (LAPC).

Methods

From January 1998 to December 2008, 93 patients with LAPC were treated either with 5FURT (n = 38) or GemRT (n = 55). 5FURT consisted of standard-field radiotherapy given concurrently with infusional 5-FU or capecitabine. GemRT consisted of involved-field radiotherapy given concurrently with full-dose gemcitabine (1000 mg/m² weekly) with or without erlotinib. The follow-up time was calculated from the time of diagnosis to the date of death or last contact.

Results

Patient characteristics were not significantly different between treatment groups. The overall survival (OS) was significantly better for GemRT compared to 5FURT (median 12.5 months versus 10.2 months; 51% versus 34% at 1 year; 12% versus 0% at 3 years; 7% versus 0% at 5 years, respectively; all P = 0.04). The OS benefit of GemRT was maintained on subset analysis without concurrent erlotinib or with sequential gemcitabine (all P < 0.05). The rates of distant metastasis, subsequent hospitalization, acute and late grade 3-5 gastrointestinal toxicities were not significantly different between the GemRT and 5FURT groups.

Conclusions

GemRT was associated with an improved OS compared to standard 5FURT. This approach yielded long-term survivors and was not associated with increased hospitalization or severe gastrointestinal toxicity.     

Local Anaesthesia for Fiberoptic Intubation : A Comparison of Three Techniques

Background

The successful conduct of fiberoptic aided intubation is dependent upon effective local anaesthesia. The aim of the study was to compare three different methods of anaesthetizing the airway.

Methods

60 adult patients (American Society of Anaesthesiologists status I-III and Mallampati class III & IV), scheduled for elective surgery, received sedation followed by spraying of the nares and posterior pharyngeal wall with 4% lignocaine. Thereafter the patients received 4 ml of 4% lignocaine either by transtracheal injection (n=20, group A), via intubating fiberscope (Pentax F1-10P2) using ‘spray as you go’ technique (n=20, group B) or by nebulizer (Devilbiss 5610W) 20 min before intubation, (n=20, group C). Patients were asked to score the procedure using visual analog scale (VAS) and severity scores. Episodes of coughing, choking, stridor, extra / total local anaesthetic used and intubation times were recorded. Patients were monitored continuously for vital parameters.

Results

Group B patients showed better VAS scores with shorter intubation times and had a lower incidence of coughing and choking. The endoscopists’ VAS scores also showed a preference for group B.

Conclusion

In conclusion the ‘spray as you go’ technique was safe, provided effective local anaesthesia and was preferred by both patients and endoscopists.Key Words: Awake intubation, Difficult airway, Fiberoptic intubation     

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibition in lower oesophageal sphincter of opossum.

1. Field stimulation or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) relaxed lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) from North American opossum. Pretreatment with carbachol in Cl-ion-containing or Cl-ion-free Krebs solution or with 10(-3) M 9-aminoacridine abolished or markedly reduced relaxation due to VIP applied exogenously but not that elicited by field stimulation of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves. 2. Inhibitory junction potentials (7.5 +/- 1.2 mV, n = 5) could be recorded in LOS strips with the sucrose gap technique. They lacked significant after-depolarizations but were accompanied by decreased membrane resistance (61 +/- 6%, n = 3). In these strips, VIP (10(-6) M) produced small hyperpolarizations (2.1 +/- 1.1 mV, n = 5) sometimes followed by membrane potential oscillations but no change in conductance. 3. Removal of external chloride depolarized the membranes (7.6 +/- 1.7 mV) but did not prevent the hyperpolarization to VIP or the occurrence of inhibitory junction potentials. Restoration of external chloride repolarized the cells. It appears that an appreciable chloride conductance may be present in sphincter muscle cells and this may cause them to be more depolarized than non-sphincter muscle. 4. We conclude that it is very unlikely that VIP is the inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter since it does not mimic the inhibitory junction potential.