The treatment of premature arrest of growth plate with a novel engineered growth plate: experimental studies

OBJECTIVES: To observe the role of the engineered growth plate (EGP) in the treatment of premature arrest of growth plate and to establish a novel treatment method for the premature arrest of the growth plate. METHODS: The engineered growth plates were cultured for the first time by using polylactic acid (PLA) as cell scaffold seeded with growth plate chondrocytes and they were implanted into the medial proximal defects of growth plates of New Zealand rabbit tibia. The degree of deformity of the tibia was evaluated by X-ray and the expression of collagen II mRNA of regenerating growth plate was detected by in situ hybridization technique. RESULTS: Little deformity appeared in the EGP group 8 weeks after operation. Some deformity was seen in the EGP group 16 weeks after operation, whereas it's degree was much less than that of the control group (P = 0.0001). The degree of the angular deformity of the EGP precultured with bFGF and TGF-beta group was less than that of the EGP group (P < 0.05). The cells in the regenerating growth plate arranged in column and were stained blue by in situ hybridization technique. CONCLUSION: The EGP can prevent the formation of bony bridge and restore the growth of the damaged growth plate.     

Clinical evaluation of HER-2/neu protein in malignant pleural effusion-associated lung adenocarcinoma and as a tumor marker in pleural effusion diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Lung adenocarcinoma presenting as malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is common in Taiwan. Microscopically, the involved pleurae are infiltrated by numerous tumor foci, which suggests that the cancer cells are highly invasive. Overexpression of HER-2/neu has been related to proliferation, antiapoptosis, and the high invasiveness of various cancer cells. We therefore were interested in studying the role of HER-2/neu in MPE-associated adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer (ADCLC). Experimental Design: The expression of HER-2/neu in pleural effusion was measured by ELISA. The HER-2/neu protein expression on tumor cells was evaluated by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and gene amplification was assayed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The mean value of HER-2/neu in pleural effusions of patients with ADCLC and other nonmalignant lung diseases was 9.9 and 2.7 ng/ml, respectively. The difference is statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared with cytokeratin 19 fragment CYFRA 21-1, the performance of HER-2/neu as a tumor marker in pleural effusion diagnosis was better. Overexpression of HER-2/neu in tumor tissues was found in 70% (23 of 32) of patients with MPE-associated ADCLC, 30% (13 of 43) with stage I/II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and 44% (14 of 32) with stage III NSCLC. The incidence of HER-2/neu overexpression in tumor tissues of patients with MPE-associated ADCLC was significantly higher than that of patients with stage I-III NSCLC without MPE. HER-2/neu gene amplification was uncommon (1.9%). The correlation between the IHC H-score in tumor samples and the pleural effusion level of HER-2/neu was significant (P < 0.01). A higher incidence of HER-2/neu expression beyond the cutoff point (5.5 ng/ml) in pleural effusions was also found in patients whose IHC H-scores were >50. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that HER-2/neu is important in the pathogenesis of MPE-associated ADCLC and is a potential tumor marker for a diagnosis of pleural effusion.     

川红花产地环境及品质特性研究

川红花是传统的活血化瘀中药材,本文从川红花道地产区简阳的产地生态环境、产区的种植历史、与其它品种质量的比较等多方面研究了川红花的品质特性。结果表明,简阳具有悠久的川红花种植历史,良好的种植技术和品牌效应,产地生态环境因子（大气、土壤、农田灌溉、水质）符合中药材生产质量管理规范（GAP）要求;川红花品种的有效成份黄色素和红色素含量高,其吸收度分别为0.614和0.844,符合《中国药典》2000年版一部要求,并高于其它同生态条件种植的非地道性品种,其水溶性黄酮苷类的含量也高于其它品种;在不影响黄色素和黄酮苷类含量的条件下改进采收加工技术可大幅度提高红色素的含量,吸收度可达1.271,对红色素工业化提取极有利用价值;川红花药材的主要重金属和农药残留量均明显低于国家药材进出口绿色行业标准。实施川红花规范化栽培及按GAP要求建立生产基地后将进一步提高川红花的品质,增强川红花的国际市场竟争能力。     

Higher gastric cycloxygenase-2 expression and precancerous change in Helicobacter pylori-infected relatives of gastric cancer patients.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine whether relatives of gastric cancer patients (GCF) showed greater gastric cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression or a greater incidence of precancerous lesions after Helicobacter pylori infection and whether H. pylori eradication could reduce COX-2 expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Three hundred subjects were enrolled in this study: half were relatives of 50 H. pylori-infected gastric cancer patients, and half were relatives of 50 H. pylori-infected duodenal ulcer (DU) patients (controls). Each relative underwent endoscopy to detect H. pylori infection and related gastric histology. One hundred and twenty GCFs were found to have H. pylori infection. After H. pylori eradication, 90 of the 120 GCFs were followed up with annual endoscopy examinations over the next 2 years. Gastric COX-2 intensity in all of the specimens collected from these patients was immunochemically stained and graded from 0 to 4. RESULTS: H. pylori infection, gastric atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia (IM) were more prevalent in GCFs than in relatives of H. pylori-infected patients with DUs (P < 0.05). H. pylori-infected GCFs also showed a greater COX-2 intensity than H. pylori-infected relatives of patients with DUs (89.1% versus 62.7%, P < 0.001; relative risk: 4.9; 95% confidence interval: approximately 2.34-10.29). Among the H. pylori-infected GCFs, COX-2 intensity correlated with atrophy and IM (P < 0.001). After H. pylori eradication, gastric COX-2 expression disappeared only in those relatives without IM (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GCFs are more likely to show greater gastric COX-2 expression and a higher incidence of precancerous lesions after H. pylori infection than the relatives of H. pylori-infected patients with only DUs. H. pylori eradication can reverse gastric COX-2 expression in patients without IM but not in patients with IM.     

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin SPECT predicts chemotherapy response in small cell lung cancer.

The multidrug resistance gene 1 encoding human P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is thought to play an important role in the multidrug resistance of lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to predict chemotherapy response by technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) lung single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and compare Pgp expression in patients with untreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Forty patients with untreated SCLC received Tc-99m TF lung SPECT prior to chemotherapy. The chemotherapy response was evaluated in the 3rd month after completion of treatment. Immunohistochemical staining of Pgp expression was performed on multiple nonconsecutive sections of biopsy specimens. By quantitative analyses, tumor to background ratios were 1.86 +/- 0.27 and 1.17 +/- 0.26 for patients with a good and poor response, respectively (p < 0.05). All of the 20 patients with a good chemotherapy response also had a positive Tc-99m TF lung SPECT and negative Pgp expression. In contrast, only 4 of the 20 patients with a poor chemotherapy response had a positive Tc-99m TF lung SPECT. Moreover, 10 of the 20 patients with a poor chemotherapy response also had negative Pgp expression (p < 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that Tc-99m TF lung SPECT can accurately predict the chemotherapy response, and Tc-99m TF lung SPECT findings can be partially compatible with Pgp expression in patients with untreated SCLC.     

加替沙星制剂中有关物质检查与含量测定的高效液相色谱法

目的　建立加替沙星制剂中加替沙星的含量及其有关物质测定的 RP- HPL C法。方法　采用Shimpack VP- ODS柱 (15 0 mm× 4 .6 mm,5 μm) ,流动相为 1%三乙胺 (磷酸调节 p H至 4 .5 ) -乙腈 (82∶ 18,体积比 ) ,检测波长 32 5 nm。结果　加替沙星在 2 .32～ 4 6 .4 8μg/ ml浓度范围内线性关系良好 ,日内及日间 RSD分别为 1.1%和 1.7%。平均回收率为 99.9% ,RSD为 0 .6 5 %。最低检测限为 0 .2 μg/ ml。结论　该方法简单 ,灵敏度高 ,结果准确 ,可用于加替沙星制剂的含量测定及有关物质检查。     

复方苦参洗剂中小檗碱的含量测定

目的: 建立三元络合物比色法测定复方苦参洗剂中小檗碱的含量,为制剂质量控制提供依据.方法: 小檗碱在pH6.7的溶液中, 与溴酚蓝、奎宁形成三元络合物比色, 经氯仿提取, 在610 nm波长处测定吸收度.结果: 回归方程为A=0.182C-0.004(r=0.999 9),小檗碱在0.8～4 mg·L-1浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.999 9),平均回收率为98.65%,RSD为1.12%.结论: 本方法准确,灵敏度好,可用于复方苦参洗剂中小檗碱的含量测定.     

抗幽门螺杆菌感染的4种药物治疗方案的成本-效果分析

目的: 对幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染的消化性溃疡4种治疗方案进行分析比较.方法: 用药物经济学成本效果分析进行评价.结果: 无论是成本效果比分析(C/E),还是增量成本效果比分析(△C/△E),均得出P1(奥美拉唑 阿莫西林 甲硝唑 果胶铋)组为最佳方案.结论: 药物经济学在优化治疗方案,指导合理用药,提高经济效益方面具有重要作用.     

不同产地黄精中糖醛酸含量的比较

目的:比较不同产地黄精中糖醛酸的含量。方法:采用硫酸咔唑比色法,线性范围2.86～14.31μg·ml-1(r=0.998 2)。结果:以半乳糖醛酸计,安徽九华山、贵州、湖南、河南周口、云南、河南济源、河北等地黄精中糖醛酸的含量分别为:3.54%,3.08%,1.84%,2.36%,2.66%,1.23%,1.43%。结论:不同产地黄精中糖醛酸的含量差异明显,其中以安徽九华山产黄精中糖醛酸的含量最高。