Therapeutic effect of carotid artery stenting versus endarterectomy for patients with high-risk carotid stenosis.

Objective: To investigate therapeutic effect of carotid artery stenting versus endarterectomy for patients with high-risk carotid stenosis.

Methods: A total of 130 carotid stenosis patients at high-risk of stroke were randomly divided into stenting group and endarterectomy group, including 65 patients in each group. The patients in the endarterectomy group underwent endarterectomy and those in the stenting group received carotid artery stenting for treatment.

miRNA profiling reveals a potential role of milk stasis in breast carcinogenesis.

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis. Milk acts as an important microenvironment of breast cancer, but its role in breast carcinogenesis is largely unknown. Milk stasis may exist in the breast for a number of years after breastfeeding.

Clinical findings in 111 cases of influenza A (H7N9) virus infection.

Background: During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.

Methods: Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.

Activation of propane C-H and C-C bonds by gas-phase Pt atom: a theoretical study.

The reaction mechanism of the gas-phase Pt atom with C(3)H(8) has been systematically investigated on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces at CCSD(T)//BPW91/6-311++G(d, p), Lanl2dz level. Pt atom prefers the attack of primary over secondary C-H bonds in propane. For the Pt + C(3)H(8) reaction, the major and minor reaction channels lead to PtC(3)H(6) + H(2) and PtCH(2) + C(2)H(6), respectively, whereas the possibility to form products PtC(2)H(4) + CH(4) is so small that it can be neglected.

[Safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with temozolomide in treatment of diffuse brainstem gliomas].

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in combination with temozolomide in treatment of patients with diffuse brainstem glioma.

Methods: Twelve patients with MRI-confirmed diffuse brainstem glioma received 54 Gy three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for 6 weeks with 1.8 Gy per fraction, 5 times per week.

[Detecting and identifying 3 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA sequence of epidermal growth factor precursor from Buyi and Han individuals].

Objective: To examine the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distributed in exon 20, 21 and intron 20 of epidermal growth factor precursor gene (preproEGF) of Buyi and Han individuals.

Methods: Eleven primer sets were designed and synthesized for PCR, that genomic DNA of Buyi or Han individual was used as the template, to amplify and sequence respectively the large fragment DNA from preproEGF gene. BLAST programs were applied to compare and identify the SNPs from the sequenced PCR products or amplified DNA fragments.

11C-CHO PET in optimization of target volume delineation and treatment regimens in postoperative radiotherapy for brain gliomas.

Objective: We explored the clinical values of (11)C-choline ((11)C-CHO) PET in optimization of target volume delineation and treatment regimens in postoperative radiotherapy for brain gliomas.

Methods: Sixteen patients with the pathological confirmation of the diagnosis of gliomas prior to receiving radiotherapy (postoperative) were included, and on whom both MRI and CHO PET scans were performed at the same position for comparison of residual tumors with the two techniques. (11)C-CHO was used as the tracer in the PET scan.

Theoretical study on the gas-phase reaction mechanism between palladium monoxide and methane.

The gas-phase reaction mechanism between palladium monoxide and methane has been theoretically investigated on the singlet and triplet state potential energy surfaces (PESs) at the CCSD(T)/AVTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d, 2p), SDD level. The major reaction channel leads to the products PdCH(2) + H(2)O, whereas the minor channel results in the products Pd + CH(3)OH, CH(2)OPd + H(2), and PdOH + CH(3). The minimum energy reaction pathway for the formation of main products (PdCH(2) + H(2)O), involving one spin inversion, prefers to start at the triplet state PES and afterward proceed along the singlet state PES, where both CH(3)PdOH and CH(3)Pd(O)H are the critical intermediates.

Biochemical pathways in the antiatherosclerotic effect of berberine.

Background: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of berberine (BBR) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression via the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling cascade pathways in human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC).

Methods: PBMC from whole blood were isolated and cultured for up to 24 hours after division into 5 groups treated with LPS, LPS + BBR 25 micromol/L, LPS + BBR 50 micromol/L or LPS + BBR 100 micromol/L and untreated. Monocytes were extracted for RT-PCR and Western blot analyses to examine COX-2 mRNA and protein activated expression of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling pathways.

[Dosimetric analysis of radiotherapy with middle shielding blocks of different widths at the lower cervical supraclavicular field for stage N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Anterior tangential field irradiation with middle shielding block at the lower cervical and supraclavicular region is needed in the conventional radiotherapy for stage N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but there are still some disagreements on block width. This study was to explore a reasonable block width by dosimetric analysis of anterior tangential field irradiation with middle shielding blocks of different widths designed by the 3-dimensional treatment planning system (3D-TPS) at the lower cervical supraclavicular region for stage N2-3 NPC.

Methods: Ten untreated patients with stage N2-3 NPC received 3D-TPS-designed irradiation plan.

[Sparing normal oral tissues with individual dental stent in radiotherapy for primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients].

Background & Objective: With the progression of radiotherapy techniques, the 5-year overall survival rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients has increased obviously. As the survival time prolonged, more and more attention was paid to various radiation sequelae and the quality of life of the patients. This study was to explore the role of individual dental stent in sparing normal oral tissues for primary NPC patients in radiotherapy by pushing the tongue and a part of oral mucous membrane away from the radiation fields.

Effects of aspirin on atherosclerosis and the cyclooxygenase-2 expression in atherosclerotic rabbits.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular inflammatory disease. Aspirin is a mainstay in the prevention of vascular complications of atherosclerosis. In this study, the effectiveness of aspirin in suppressing atherosclerosis and the inflammation process was evaluated in rabbits fed with a high fat diet.

[The effect of breast cancer specific gene 1 in the prognosis of breast cancer].

Objective: To detect breast cancer specific gene 1 (BCSG1) expression in different breast tissue, analysis its correlation with clinical parameters and evaluate the prognosis of breast cancer.

Methods: The expression of BCSG1 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in surgical specimens from 84 cases of breast disease patients selected randomly at XinHua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Second Medical University from September 1999 to December 2002. Of 84 cases, 72 case were breast cancer.

Prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in patients with lymph node-negative breast carcinoma.

Twenty-five to thirty percent of patients with node-negative breast cancer are expected to relapse following surgery, therefore great efforts have been made to identify new prognostic markers that could be useful in defining patients for additional therapy. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 has been associated with high potential of metastasis in several human carcinomas including breast cancer. In the present study we examined the prognostic value of immunoreactive MMP-2/MMP-9 protein in 270 consecutive lymph node negative cases who received radical mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy.