Ultrasonographic Observation of the Breast in Early Postmenopausal Women during Therapy with Cimicifuga Foetida Extract and Sequential Therapy with Estrogen and Progestin

Background:

It is now recognized that Cimicifuga foetida (C. foetida) extract is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms. But the durations reported were usually short. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of C. foetida extract therapy and different estrogen and progesterone sequential therapies, on the breasts of early postmenopausal women.

Methods:

This was a prospective randomized trial. Ninety-six early menopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned into three groups treated with different therapies for 2 years. Patients were given C. foetida extract in Group A, estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in Group B, and estradiol valerate and progesterone in Group C. Ultrasonography was used to monitor changes in breast during treatment.

Results:

In comparing breast glandular section thickness before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was observed in Group A (11.97 ± 2.84 mm vs. 12.09 ± 2.58 mm and 12.61 ± 3.73 mm, P > 0.05); in Group B glandular section thickness had increased significantly (10.98 ± 2.34 mm vs. 11.84 ± 2.72 mm and 11.90 ± 3.33 mm, P < 0.05) after treatment, the same as Group C (11.56 ± 3.03 mm vs. 12.5 ± 3.57 mm and 12.22 ± 4.39 mm P < 0.05). In comparing breast duct width before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was seen in Group A (1.07 ± 0.19 mm vs. 1.02 ± 0.18 mm and 0.98 ± 0.21 mm, P > 0.05); in Group B the duct width had a downward trend after treatment (0.99 ± 0.14 mm vs. 0.96 ± 0.22 mm and 0.90 ± 0.18 mm, P < 0.05), the same as Group C (1.07 ± 0.20 mm vs. 1.02 ± 0.17 mm and 0.91 ± 0.19 mm, P < 0.05). The nodules detected before treatment had disappeared after 1-year of treatment or exhibited no distinct changes in the three groups. However, new breast nodules had appeared after 2 years of treatment: There was one case in Group A, two cases in Group B and four cases in Group C, with breast hyperplasia after the molybdenum target check.

Conclusions:

In early postmenopausal patients, C. foetida extract therapy and estrogen and progesterone therapy at low doses did not increase the incidence of malignant breast tumors     

Bile Acid as an Effective Absorption Enhancer for Oral Delivery of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Targeted Hybrid Peptide

The aim of this study was to improve the oral absorption of epidermal growth factor receptor–targeted hybrid peptide using bile acid as an absorption enhancer. The oral formulation of this peptide was formed through electrostatic interactions between the cationic peptide and anionic bile acid. Comparative studies of in vitro cell permeability and in vivo antitumor effects of peptide and peptide/bile acid complex were performed in Caco-2 cells and in a xenograft mouse model of human gastric cancer. The in vitro permeability of peptide/bile acid complex across Caco-2 cell monolayers was significantly enhanced to about 5.0-fold over those of peptide alone. Furthermore, in vivo mouse xenograft model treated with peptide/bile acid complex showed a 1.6-fold reduction in the mean tumor volume as compared with the peptide alone. A preliminary safety evaluation of blood cells counts, liver enzyme levels, and histopathology of gastrointestinal tissues and main organs showed that the peptide/bile acid complex did not induce any acute toxicity. These results suggest that bile acid is an effective absorption enhancer for improving the oral bioavailability and bioactivity of epidermal growth factor receptor–targeted hybrid peptide.     

30例D-二聚体假性增高的数据分析

目的探讨30例临床检测中血浆D-二聚体水平>FDP水平的原因及相关资料分析。方法收取临床检测过程中首次出现血浆D-二聚体水平>FDP水平的标本30例。分别用血浆D-二聚体检测试剂(STA-LIATEST D-DI和STA-LIATEST D-DI PLUS)检测。并对其进行数据比较和原因分析。结果血浆D-二聚体检测试剂STA-LIATEST D-DI与STA-LIATEST D-DI PLUS数据相比较,[3.63(2.89~10.49)μg/mL vs 0.36(0.26~1.00)μg/mL,P<0.0001],两组数据的差别具有统计学意义。30例患者中21例患者类风湿因子(rheumatoid factor,RF)水平异常,>20 IU/mL(正常参考值上限)。9例患者类风湿因子水平正常,<20 IU/mL。结论血浆D-二聚体检测试剂STA-LIATEST D-DI PLUS对于D-二聚体水平假性增高的标本有很强的的纠正能力。血浆D-二聚体水平>FDP水平时,绝大多数是由于类风湿因子干扰造成的,少部分原因不明确,可能由其他异嗜性抗体导致。     

顺铂或多西紫杉醇同期放化疗治疗局部晚期宫颈癌疗效分析

目的:比较顺铂或多西紫杉醇同期放化疗治疗局部晚期宫颈癌疗效。方法:38例IIb到IVa期患者随机分为每周顺铂同期放化疗组(22例)或多西紫杉醇同期放化疗组(16例)。顺铂30mg/m2或多西紫杉醇25mg/m2抗过敏预处理,每周放疗的第一天同步静脉滴注,连续6周;放疗方法:两组患者外照射放疗采用直线加速器盆腔大野DT 30Gy后中央挡铅改为盆腔四野加量照射至DT 50Gy,常规分割,180-200cGy/F,盆腔四野照射期间每周局部后装铱192照射一次,每次剂量6Gy,共6次,A点剂量达3600cGy。观察两组治疗效果和不良反应并进行比较。结果:两组患者总有效率82%vs 87%,临床获益率91%vs 94%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);两组随访1年无进展生存率(PFS)比较77%vs 81%,总生存率(OS)95%vs 100%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);但多西紫杉醇同期放化组较顺铂同期放化组治疗无论在血液系统不良反应和非血液系统不良反应方面都明显降低,统计学比较差异有显著性P<0.05。结论:多西紫杉醇同期放化疗可取得不亚于顺铂同期放化治疗的疗效,且多西紫杉醇不良反应明显降低。     

食品中铝的测定方法及铝对人体健康影响的探讨

目的:为保证食品中铝测定结果的准确可靠及提高铝对人体健康影响的认识。方法:采用《食品中化学污染物及有害因素检测手册》,用两种不同的样品处理方法测定。结果:方法线性范围为0.25μg/ml～6.0μg/ml,线性方程为Y=0.0068+0.18X,相关系数r=0.9994,RSD湿法为2.9%～3.8%,干法为3.0%～4.8%,回收率湿法92.0%～100.8%,干法82.7%～93.7%,样品结果面制品合格率40%,油炸小食品83.3%。结论:用此方法测定铝,结果准确可靠,重现性好。实验结果表明,目前面制品中铝超标较为严重,应引起足够重视。     

NP方案联合不同间隔时间放疗对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞作用研究

Objective： To evaluate the effect of the treatment by vinovelbine （NVB） and cisplatin （DDP） with radiation at different timing intervals on the radiosensitivity of human breast cancer cell MCF-7. Methods： Six groups （at the interval of 0 h, 4 h, 12 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h between chemotherapy and radiotherapy） were studied by cologenic formation assay. In addition, the effect of different timing intervals between chemotherapy and radiotherapy on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells was also studied. Quantitation of the apopotic cells was performed by Flow cytometry measurements. For the qualitative detection, fluorescence microscopy analysis was used. Results： The six groups had different SF data, it was the lowest one at the intervals 12 h group, the middest one at 0 h groups, and the highest one at 48 h, 72 h groups when the radiation dose was 8 Gy. In some degree, the different SF data of the six groups could been explained by the different percentage accumulation of G2/M phase at different timing caused by the NP chemotherapy. Apoptosis index after chemotherapy increased with time extending, but the changes of apoptosis index seem not correlate with the SF differences. Conclusion： The different timing intervals between NP chemotherapy and radiotherapy affect the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 cells, but those changes according to the interactive of cycle distribution and apoptosis.     

慢性间歇性低压低氧对大鼠心肌细胞内向整流钾通道的影响

目的 探讨慢性间歇性低压低氧(chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia,CIHH)对大鼠心室肌细胞内向整流钾通道电流(Ik1)的影响.方法 通过低压氧舱制备CIHH大鼠模型;全细胞膜片钳方法记录大鼠心室肌细胞Ik1.结果 基础条件下,CIHH与对照大鼠心肌细胞Ik1差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);模拟缺血导致大鼠心肌细胞Ik1明显降低(P＜0.05),CIHH处理28d大鼠心室肌细胞Ik1降低达(20±25)%(n=10),CIHH处理42d大鼠心室肌细胞Ik1降低达(17±22)%(n=10),明显小于control大鼠心室肌细胞Ik1降低的(46±11)%(n=10,P＜0.05).结论 CIHH可有效对抗模拟缺血对大鼠心肌细胞Ik1的抑制,可能是CIHH抗心律失常作用的离子机制之一.     

Isolation,identification, and characterization of diesel‐oil‐degrading bacterial strains indigenous to Changqing oil field,China

In the present study, 12 indigenous diesel‐oil‐degrading bacteria were isolated from the petroleum‐contaminated soils of the Changqing oil field (Xi’an, China). Measurement of the diesel‐oil degradation rates of these strains by the gravimetric method revealed that they ranged from 42% to 66% within 2 weeks. The highest degradation rates were observed from strains CQ8‐1 (66%), CQ8‐2 (62.6%), and CQ11 (59%), which were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis, Ochrobactrum anthropi, and Bordetella bronchialis, respectively, based on their 16S rDNA sequences. Moreover, the physiological and biochemical properties of these three strains were analyzed by Gram staining, catalase, oxidase, and Voges–Proskauer tests. Transmission electron microscopy showed that all three strains were rod shaped with flagella. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometric analyses indicated that medium‐ and long‐chain n‐alkanes in diesel oil (C11–C29) were degraded to different degrees by B. thuringiensis, O. anthropi, and B. bronchialis, and the degradation rates gradually decreased as the carbon numbers increased. Overall, the results of this study indicate strains CQ8‐1, CQ8‐2, and CQ11 might be useful for environmentally friendly and cost‐effective bioremediation of oil‐contaminated soils.     

药物预防化疗所致血小板减少症研究进展

化疗是目前治疗恶性肿瘤的重要手段之一,化疗剂量强度、剂量密度与生存密切相关。化疗所致血小板减少症(chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia,CIT)是化疗后常见并发症,导致化疗剂量强度降低或延迟化疗,严重者还需输注血小板以避免出血。迄今为止,已研制出多种促血小板生成药物应用于CIT的治疗。CIT诊疗专家共识提出对于出血风险高的患者,为防止下一个化疗周期再发生严重的血小板减少症,可预防性应用促血小板生成药物,以保证化疗顺利进行。