Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and risk of primary lung cancer.

Angiogenesis is an essential process in the development, growth, and metastasis of malignant tumors including lung cancer. DNA sequence variations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene may lead to altered VEGF production and/or activity, thereby causing interindividual differences in the susceptibility to lung cancer via their actions on the pathways of tumor angiogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the potential association between three VEGF polymorphisms (-460T > C, +405C > G, and 936C > T)/haplotypes and the risk of lung cancer in a Korean population. VEGF genotypes were determined in 432 lung cancer patients and 432 healthy controls that were frequency matched for age and sex. VEGF haplotypes were predicted using Bayesian algorithm in the phase program. Compared with the combined +405 CC and CG genotype, the +405 GG genotype found associated with a significantly decreased risk of small cell carcinoma [SCC; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.36; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.17-0.78]. The 936 CT genotype and the combined 936 CT and TT genotype were also associated with a significantly decreased risk of SCC compared with the 936 CC genotype (adjusted OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.85 and adjusted OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.24-0.80, respectively). Haplotype CGT was associated with a significantly decreased risk of SCC (adjusted OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.18-0.87), whereas haplotype TCC conferred a significantly increased risk of SCC (adjusted OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.14-2.33). None of the VEGF polymorphisms studied significantly influenced the susceptibility to lung cancer except SCC. However, haplotypes TCT and TGT were significantly associated with the risk of overall lung cancer, respectively (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.25-0.60 and adjusted OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 2.00-7.76, respectively). These effects of haplotypes TCT and TGT on lung cancer risk were observed in three major histologic types of lung cancer. These results suggest that the VEGF gene may be contribute to an inherited predisposition to lung cancer.     

抗肿瘤药物致死病例分析

[目的]探索抗肿瘤药物致死的特点和规律,促进临床合理用药.[方法]检索1995～2004年中国医院数字图书馆(CHKD)期刊知识库收载的中文医药卫生期刊,对其报道的抗肿瘤药物致死病例作汇总性统计与分析.[结果]致死的患者中男性多于女性,而年龄在60岁以上年龄段的比例较大,阿霉素、甲氨蝶呤、平阳霉素、顺铂分别占致死药物的前4位,与之相对应的不良反应心脏毒性、骨髓抑制、过敏反应则占了致死原因的前3位,死亡发生的时间从2分钟到4个月不等,但分布均衡.[结论]加强临床监护,严密观察监测,注意不良反应的预防、发生及应对措施.     

No evidence of association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism with occurrence of second neoplasms after treatment of childhood leukemia

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms have been associated not only with the risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults and children, but also with increased methotrexate toxicity. The present study aimed to investigate whether MTHFR polymorphisms modify the risk for development of secondary malignancies in children treated for ALL with protocols that included high-dose methotrexate. MTHFR genotypes were determined in DNA samples isolated from archived bone marrow smears of 15 patients with a second malignancy and a matched control group of 30 patients who did not developed a second malignancy after the treatment for ALL. The frequencies of MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes in all patients were: C677T: CC 40%, CT 46.7% and TT 13.3% and A1298C: AA 46.7%, AC 44.4% and CC 8.9%. The relative risk for second malignancy was not significantly increased in ALL patients having at least one polymorphic C667T [odds ratio (OR) 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43 - 5.31] or one polymorphic A1298C allele (OR 1; 95% CI 0.29 - 3.46). Our study suggests that MTHFR polymorphisms are not associated with increased risk of second cancer in children treated with high-dose methotrexate.     

Risk Factors of Gastric Cancer in Wuwei City- an Endemic Region of Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE Studies have shown that risk factors of gastric cancer include living habits, eating moldy pickled food, dystrophy, lack of nutrients, and genetics, etc. This study explores the prevalence of these factors in Wuwei, a city in northwest China with a high incidence of gastric cancer.METHODS Family histories of the residents in Wuwei City were investigated with a case-control method. Segregation ratio and heredity degree of gastric cancer were calculated using theLi-Mantel-Cart and Falconer's regression methods. Chronic gastritis patients were followed-up by home visits, gastroscopy, and pathology. Carcinogenic fungi and volatilile N-nitroso compounds were noted in the residents' meals. Helicobactor pylori (Hp) was assessed in their gastric mucosa and the total content of serum vitamin C in 293 healthy adults was determined.RESULTS In Wuwei City, the segregation ratio of gastric cancer was 0.077. The heredity degree of first-degree relatives was 22.91%. The incidence rate of cancer per year in people in an atrophic gastritis group was 1.09%. Eight kinds of nitrosamines and 14 kinds of carcinogenic fungi were detected in the residents' food. Total average vitamin C in the serum of the 293 healthy adults in the summer was 5.74±2.79 mg/L. The positive rate of Hp in gastric mucosa of the residents was 67%.CONCLUSION The majorextrinsic factors include infection of Hp, atrophic gastritis (especially atrophic hyperplasia), and genetic susceptibility.     

Expression and Significance of Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor in Renal-Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of Coxsackie and Adenovirus receptor (CAR) in renal-cell carcinoma and the relationship of the CAR to the biological behavior of the carcinomas.METHODS The immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of Coxsaekie and Adenovirus receptor in 48 cases of renalcell carcinoma and in 12 cases of normal renal tissue 2 cm away from the tumor tissue.RESULTS The positive rates of CAR were 100% in 12 cases of para-tumcr normal renal tissue and 35.4% in 48 cases of renal-cell carcinoma respectively. The difference of CAR expression between them was significant (P＜0.05). The grades of the tumor were as follows: 22 in Grade Ⅰ, 17in Grade Ⅱ and 9 in Grade Ⅲ with the CAR positive rate being 54.5%,23.5% and 11.1%, respectively. There was a negative correlation between CAR expression and tumor grading (P＜0.05). In addition, the number of the cases in stages Ⅰ to ⅣV were 19, 13, 11 and 5 respectively, with the respective positive rates being 57.9%, 30.8%, 18.2% and 0.0%, i.e. there also was a negative relationship between CAR expression and the stage (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION CAR expression is down-regulated in renal-cell carcinoma compared with normal tissue. The level of CAR may be a sensitive predictor of differentiation, invasion and metastasis. Loss of CAR expression correlates with the invasive phenotype in our analysis of renal-cell carcinoma.     

Treatment of 1 case of brachial plexus injury by acupuncture of detecting peripheral nerve plus Tuina

Medical History A male patient, 37 years old, was wounded on the lateral and superior aspect of the right chest by the knife on Nov. 16 of 2003. The physical examination showed there was a wound 2 cm in length on the lateral and superior aspect of the right chest with active bleeding, the patient could flex and extend the right elbow, wrist,palm and metacarpophalangeal articulation, but felt numbness of five digits of right hand.     

Professor LUO Yong-fen＇s Experience in Treating Facial Paralysis by Acupuncture

Professor LUO Yong-fenhas been engaged in acupuncture practice, teaching and scientific research for more than 40 years, and has rich and unique experience in the treatment of various disorders by acupuncture. I was lucky to follow professor LUO to do clinical practice and benefited a great deal. Now I summarized professor LUO's experience in the treatment of facial paralysis.     

腹壁子宫内膜异位症28例临床分析

子宫内膜异位症是生育年龄常见病，分布范围广。腹壁子宫内膜异位症临床少见，多发生于中期妊娠剖宫取胎或足月剖宫产术后。近年来，随着剖宫产率的增加，腹壁子宫内膜异位症逐渐上升。现对我院自1990年1月至2005年7月经手术及病理确诊的腹壁子宫内膜异位症28例，进行回顾性分析报道如下     

白鲜皮质量标准研究

目的：为中药白鲜皮制定2005年版药典标准。方法：采用TLC法鉴别、反相高效液相色谱法测定白鲜皮中活性成分末梣酮含量，并对各地产白鲜皮药材的水分、总灰分、酸不溶性灰分、浸出物含量进行测定。结论：本方法操作简单，重现性好，可用于白鲜皮药材的质量控制。     

IFN-γ REGULATES Fas/FasL EXPRESSION IN CHOLANGIO CARCINOMA CELLS

Objective: To study the regulation of Fas receptor (Fas)/Fas ligand (FasL) expression by IFN-γ in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Methods: We studied the expressions of Fas and FasL gene in the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939 by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry and their apoptosis effects on human T cell line Jurkat cell. At the same time, we investigated the regulative effect of IFN-γ on them. Results: Fas, FasL mRNA and protein were expressed by cholangiocarcinoma cells. We also found IFN-γ could up-regulate the expressions of these two genes. However, IFN-γ could also down-regulate the ability of them to make Jurkat cells apoptotic. With the increasing of dosage and time, the effect was enhanced. Conclusion: IFN-γ could regulate the expression of Fas and FasL in cholangiocarcinoma cells, and might influence the ability of cholangiocarcinoma to regulate immune escape. This study provides new theoretical basis for immunological therapy of cholangiocarcinoma.