Elevated expression and altered pattern of activity of DNA methyltransferase in liver tumors of rats fed methyl-deficient diets

DNA methyltransferase (MTase) activity in nuclear extracts from neoplastic and preneoplastic livers of rats fed a methyl-deficient diet (MDD) is elevated compared with that seen in the livers of control rats. Nuclear proteins were prepared in the presence of protease inhibitors including trans-epoxy succinyl-L-leucylamido-(4- guanido)butane and were fractionated by isoelectric focusing. In normal, control liver, two distinct MTase fractions were observed. In MDD-induced malignant liver, a third fraction, in addition to the previous two, was also seen. Both the DNA substrate and the cytosine site specificities of the third MTase fraction differ from those of the other two fractions. The distinct MTase activity in liver tumor has significantly more de novo MTase activity than do the MTase fractions of normal, control liver. Thus, normal and neoplastic rat livers differ in DNA MTase fractionation patterns and site specificities. The altered DNA MTase activity observed in rat liver tumors caused by MDDs may be one of the critical factors contributing to cancer formation through abnormal DNA methylation.      

前列腺癌患者调强放疗计划中不同算法计算结果分析

目的 分析前列腺癌患者调强放疗计划设计时PBC和AAA算法计算得到的剂量学参数差异。方法 对13例术后接受调强放射治疗的前列腺癌患者进行调强放疗计划设计时,分别用Eclipse Version 8.10治疗计划系统提供的PBC和AAA算法进行剂量计算并用二维电离室矩阵进行验证测量,比较两种算法获得的HI、CI、PTV_DP、PTV_mean、直肠和膀胱V₅₀等参数差异,并将二维电离室矩阵测量的剂量分布与两种算法的计算结果分别进行比较获得γ通过率、单次照射时的及DD_mean等参数差异。结果 两种算法得到的靶区HI、CI、PTV_DP、PTV_mean平均相差分别为0.003、0.004、2.2%、10 cGy,直肠和膀胱V₅₀值平均差异分别为0.3%和1.3%。γ通过率、DD_max及DD_mean平均差异分别为0.9%、1.2%(2.4 cGy)和0.85%(1.7 cGy)。两种算法所获得的剂量学参数差异不大。结论 对前列腺癌患者进行调强放疗计划设计时,PBC和AAA两种算法均可使用。     

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??OBJECTIVE To evaluate retrospectively the clinical application of apatinib in a hospital. METHODS The medical records including apatinib were collected during April 2015 to March 2016. Then, the rationality and safety of drug use were evaluated. RESULTS The 84 patients used apatinib during this time, while 15.48% (15 patients) conformed to the approved indications. The major adverse reactions were gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, skin disorders and myelosuppression. CONCLUSION Irrational use of apatinib such as off-label use, inadequate usage and dosage exists in clinic. Clinicians should pay close attention to the rationality of apatinib, and clinical pharmacists can improve the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic drugs by taking this as the breakthrough point.     

Effect of 2'-deoxycoformycin on erythroid, granulocytic, and T- lymphocyte colony growth

The finding of elevated intracellular levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in some patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia has led to attempts to control this disease with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF). Because of clinical reports indicating its relative freedom from myelotoxicity, we have tested the effects of this drug on erythroid, granulocytic, and T-lymphocyte colony formation by normal marrow and peripheral blood cells. While clinically the drug has been found to be active at serum concentrations of approximately 10 microM, we have tested it at concentrations up to and including 1 mM. It was found that both erythroid and granulocytic colony growth was completely unaffected by 1 mM dCF, a concentration at least 2 magnitudes higher than that necessary to totally ablate intracellular ADA levels. T-lymphocyte colony growth was unaffected by 100 microM dCF, but at 1 mM some inhibition was observed. These findings therefore indicate that dCF, while able to cause leukemic cell lysis in vivo, has no inhibitory effect on the proliferative capacity of normal hematopoietic cells.     

Determination of Chemical Antioxidants and Phenolic Compounds in the Brazilian Mushroom Agaricus sylvaticus

Agaricus sylvaticus mushroom has been widely studied because of its high nutritional value and medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of both alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Agaricus sylvaticus and quantify their total polyphenol content. The antioxidant activity was performed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity and total polyphenol content was assessed by colorimetric method. Observation also noted the great antioxidant potential of aqueous, alcoholic and ethereal extracts (14.6%, 75.6% and 14.6%, respectively) of the Agaricus sylvaticus mushroom, highlighting the alcoholic extract, which demonstrates the extraordinary benefits of this mushroom in the diet, since antioxidants prevent premature ageing and various types of cancer.     

D2 lymphadenectomy in the management of gastric cancer

Background Gastric carcinoma is a significant cause of death in Ireland. Surgery offers the best option of cure, but the five-year survival following resection remains dismal at 10–15%. Experience from Japan and from some Western units suggest that an extended (D2) lymphadenectomy in association with gastrectomy increases the prospect of cure, but concern about the morbidity and mortality of this operation and lack of evidence from randomised studies has limited its acceptance. Aims This study reports the experience of a specialist upper gastrointestinal unit with D2 gastrectomy in a four-year audit. Methods Sixty-two resections were performed for gastric cancer. Results Nineteen patients were deemed unsuitable for the D2 procedure and underwent a more limited lymphadenectomy (DO or D1). Forty-three patients underwent D2 resection, 12 with an oesophagogastrectomy, 22 with total gastrectomy and nine with a sub-total distal resection. Eight patients undergoing D2 resection had extended resections, five with splenectomy and three with a distal pancreatectomy. Post-operative complications occurred in 31% of patients. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality were zero. Median survival was 822 days in the D2 group (range 120–1,320). Conclusions These results show that a D2 gastrectomy can be performed with a low morbidity and mortality and a median survival of greater than two years.