Serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in epithelial ovarian cancer

Fifty-six patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma receiving chemotherapy were monitored with serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels. The mean and standard deviation of serum AGP levels for 63 healthy controls were 0.88 +/- 0.469 mg/ml. A serum level above 1.80 mg/ml was considered as above normal level. Five patients had evidence of persistent ovarian carcinoma and had elevated AGP levels. Sixteen patients had normal serum AGP levels and had no evidence of persistent ovarian cancer at second-look laparotomy. However, 35 patients had false-negative AGP levels at the time they had persistent tumor. Although the specificity of the AGP level was 100%, the sensitivity was only 12.5% and the overall accuracy 37%. Therefore, it would appear that serum AGP levels are not of value in monitoring patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma.     

剂量分布比较中γ因子的快速计算方法

γ比较方法作为放射治疗剂量学验证中的一种手段,现在已经在科研和临床的剂量分布比较中得到广泛应用。但是,在比较三维剂量分布时,γ因子的计算量大,需要花费大量的时间。本文采用一种预先排序技术和基于图形处理器(GPU)的并行计算技术结合,实现了γ因子的快速计算。通过7对剂量分布的测试,基于GPU的γ因子的计算速度提高了几十倍,而且与CPU相比保持了相同的计算精度。实验结果表明,利用GPU的并行计算对γ比较方法进行加速是切实有效的。     

前臂头静脉解剖类型对桡动脉-头静脉内瘘手术的影响

目的:探讨前臂头静脉的解剖类型对桡动脉-头静脉内瘘手术的影响。方法:将48具成人尸体的前臂进行解剖分区,对不同区域的头静脉分支类型、管径大小以及瓣膜的解剖进行研究。结果:Ⅰ区范围内头静脉分支未观测到静脉瓣膜;Ⅱ区瓣膜出现率为96.46%(354/367),其中桡骨茎突至茎突以近5 cm范围内11.72%(43/367),茎突以近5～10 cm范围内84.74%(311/367);Ⅲ区瓣膜出现率为98.73%(312/316)。结论:在鼻烟窝及前臂远段(桡骨茎突至茎突以近5 cm)范围内行动静脉内瘘手术时,需结扎术野内头静脉分支,以增加瘘口的血流量,同时利于减少静脉窃血综合征、肿胀手综合征等术后并发症。在桡骨茎突以远15 cm的前臂行内瘘手术的头静脉管径适宜,如患者无明显器质性心脏病变,术后并发心衰的可能性较小;而在桡骨茎突以近15 cm的范围内行内瘘手术,术后并发心衰的风险增高,必要时需要外科手段进行干预或选择其它透析方式。     

Acute toxicity of berberine and its correlation with the blood concentration in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the LD₅₀ (median lethal dosage) of berberine (BBR) through three different routes of injection in mice: intravenous (IV) injection, intraperitoneal (IP) injection, and intragastric (IG) oral administration. The concentration of BBR in blood from their IG doses (10.4, 20.8, 41.6, and 83.2 g/kg) and the content relationship of BBR among different injections were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The LD₅₀ of BBR from IV and IP injections is 9.0386 and 57.6103 mg/kg, respectively; but no LD₅₀ was found in the IG group. A significant difference in bioavailability was observed between the different routes. Furthermore, the concentration of BBR in the blood from different IG doses was also significantly different. However, we discovered an interesting phenomenon indicating that the absorption of BBR by oral administration has a limit, therefore, explaining the difficulty in obtaining an LD₅₀ of BBR for IG injection. From the analysis of BBR content in blood after various administrations, we hypothesized that not only does the concentration of BBR in blood contribute to its acute toxicity, but also the routes of administration may be an important facet that affects this toxicity evaluation.     

Clinically aggressive primary solid pseudopapillary tumor of the ovary in a 45-year-old woman

We report the first case of primary solid pseudopapillary tumor of the ovary with aggressive behavior and fatal outcome in a 45-year-old woman. The patient presented with weight loss, decrease of appetite, and abdominal bloating for the last several weeks. Computed tomography scan revealed an ovarian mass, omental caking, complex ascites, and 2 hepatic lesions. The pancreas was unremarkable. Grossly, the ovarian mass showed severe capsular adhesion, and the cut surface was cystic and solid. On histologic examination, the tumor was composed of diffuse solid pseudopapillary and pseudocystic patterns. The neoplastic cells were uniform and round with very dispersed chromatin. The cytoplasm was faintly pink. There was mild atypia, but the mitotic rate was as high as 62 per 50 high-power field, and the Ki-67 was elevated at 20%. The tumor exhibited severe necrosis. Numerous foci of lymphovascular invasion were also seen. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (focal) and for β-catenin (cytoplasmic and nuclear patterns). They were negative for chromogranin, synaptophysin, thyroglobulin, calcitonin, hepatocyte-paraffin 1, epithelial membrane antigen, calretinin, and α-inhibin. Electron microscopic study revealed nests of tumor cells with oval nuclei. The cytoplasm contained numerous pleomorphic mitochondria interspersed among short strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The tumor involved the fallopian tube, omentum, cul-de-sac, and abdominal wall. The pelvic washing was also positive for tumor cells. Despite chemotherapy, the patient's condition had worsened, and she died of her disease 8 months after the initial diagnosis. We discuss the differential diagnosis of this tumor and the hypothesis of its origin.