ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of tumor metastasis associated genes-1 (MTA1) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the relationship between them and lymphangiogenesis. MethodA total of 107 patients who received excision for ESCC in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Suining Central Hospital from March 2013 through January 2014 were enrolled. And the paraffinembedded esophageal tissues in 56 healthy persons were collected. The expression of MTA1 and VEGF-C in ESCC was detected using the immunohistochemical method. And D2-40 was used to label the micro-lymphatic endothelial cells of the tumor tissues while the micro-lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was counted. Meanwhile, a statistical analysis was performed for the relationship between MTA1 with VEGF-C and clinical pathological parameters. ResultsThe expression rates of MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein in ESCC (50.4% and 58.8%, respectively) were higher than those in normal esophageal tissues with a statistical difference (P<0.05). Besides, their high expression rates in stage T3/T4 ESCC and lymph node metastasis group were significantly higher than those in stage T1/T2 ESCC and metastasisfree group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). The high expression rates of MTA1 and VEGF-C protein in ESCC with different TNM stages were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test with statistical differences (P<0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation existed in the expression level between MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein of ESCC (Spearman coefficient r=0.512, P=0.000). And LVD of the high expression group for MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein was statistically different from that of the low expression group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe expression of MTA1 is positively correlated with the expression of VEGF-C in ESCC. And they may co-promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC. Therefore, both can be used as the laboratory indicators to determine the prognosis of ESCC.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of somatostatin analogs versus placebo for Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, WanFang Data, CNKI, VIP and CBM were searched to collect the randomized controlled trails (RCTs) about somatostatin analogs for Graves’ Ophthalmopathy (GO) pulished by March 2012, while the bibliographies of the included literatue were also retrieved. According to the inclusion criteria, two reviewers screened literature, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 5 RCTs involving 210 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that somatostatin analogs could reduce the clinical activity score (CAS) of GO patients (MD=0.58, 95%CI 0.02 to1.13, P=0.04), but the effects in reducing the degree of proptosis (mm) was still unverifiable (MD=0.21, 95%CI –0.14 to 0.56, P=0.24). It did not show obvious effects for diplopia, orbital volume, intraocular pressure, visual acuity or the restriction of eye movements. The existing evidence could not confirm that somatostatin analogs were effective for GO (OR=1.32, 95%CI 0.45 to 3.9, P=0.61). Conclusion Somatostatin analogs can reduce the CAS of GO patients, but without significantly clinical significance. Moreover, the effect of reducing proptosis is sitll unverifiable. So the existing evidence cannot confirm that somatostatin analogs are effective for GO. For the quality and quantity limitation of the included studies, this conclusion needs to be proved by performing more high quality RCTs.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of fetal bovine serum (FBS) of different concentrations in the culture medium on osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) proliferation and differentiation. MethodsBMSCs were separated from limb bones of 8 Sprague Dawley rats (5 weeks old) and purified by adherence method, and BMSCs at passage 3 were divided into 4 groups according to OGP concentration: OGP 1×10-10 mol/L group, OGP 1×10-9mol/L group, OGP 1×10-8 mol/L group, and control group without OGP; and 0, 2%, 5%, 8%, and 10%FBS concentration gradient was used in each group. The cell proliferation rate was detected by MTT method at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 days after culture, and the activity of intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined by the method of p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium at 9 days after culture. ResultsBMSCs showed adherent growth, rapid proliferation, long fiber vortex, and typical morphology. MTT analysis showed that cells could not sustain proliferation when FBS concentration was less than 5% in each group; when FBS concentration was above 8%, cells proliferated continually. Proliferation promoting effect of OGP 1×10-8 mol/L and 1×10-9 mol/L groups was significantly higher than that of the control group in all serum concentrations (P<0.05); when FBS concentration was lower than 10%, the proliferation promoting effect of OGP 1×10-8 mol/L group was significantly higher than that of the other 2 OGP groups (P<0.05), but when FBS concentration was 10%, OGP 1×10-8 mol/L group had no advantage of promoting proliferation. ALP test results showed that as the FBS concentration increased, ALP activity of all groups also significantly increased (P<0.05). Under the condition of 5%FBS and 8%FBS, the ALP activity of each OGP group was significantly greater than that of the control group, and it was the highest in OGP 1×10-8 mol/L group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 10%FBS, the ALP activity of each OGP group was still greater than that of the control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the OGP 1×10-8 mol/L group and OGP 1×10-9 mol/L group (P>0.05). ConclusionThe concentration of 8%FBS is the best concentration of serum for OGP promoting the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs, and the most suitable concentration of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs is OGP 1×10-8 mol/L.
The resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has been brought into focus. COX-2 signal pathway was found to be closely related to EGFR signal pathway by recent researches, and there has been a growing interest to focus the researches on whether COX-2 pathway inhibition improves the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in treating advanced NSCLC. In this review, we will illustrate recent advances of combined inhibition of EGFR and COX-2 signal pathways in NSCLC therapy.
Objective To assess the value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the prognosis of esophageal cancer. Methods PubMed and EMbase were searched for collecting retrospective cohort studies on the correlation between VEGF expression and prognosis of esophageal cancer, and relevant articles were also retrieved from inception to June, 2012. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality. Then the meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.0 software, and the publication bias of literature was evaluated by means of Begg’s funnel plot and Egger’s method. Results Finally 10 cohort studies involving 811 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that, patients with high level of VEGF had poor overall survival (HR=1.55, 95%CI 1.25 to 1.91). The results of subgroup analyses including VEGF subtype, critical value of VEGF and source of patient showed that: a) there was no correlation between patient’s prognosis and high level of VEGF-C; b) The high level of VEGF subtype in cancer tissue indicated a higher risk of death when the critical value was 10%, while it was not related to the prognosis when the critical value was 30%; and c) The high level of VEGF in cancer tissue was more valuable to predict the prognosis of esophageal cancer for Chinese patients rather than non-Chinese patients. Conclusion The level of VEGF’s expression in cancer tissue is valuable to predict the prognosis of esophageal cancer.
Objective To evaluate long-term effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about rhGH in treating ISS published from 1985 to 2010 were searched in PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCOHost, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI and VIP. According to the Cochrane Handbook, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, assessed methodological quality, and conducted meta-analysis using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 11 RCTs involving 607 ISS children were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the blank/placebo control group after 1-year treatment, the rhGH group resulted in a significant increase in height standard deviation score (SDS) (MD=0.29, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.54, P=0.03), growth velocity (MD=2.68 cm/year, 95%CI 1.70 to 3.65, Plt;0.000 01), and adult SDS (MD=0.46, 95%CI 0.29 to 0.63, Plt;0.000 01). Conclusion rhGH can effectively promote the growth of ISS children. But due to the limitation of quality and small sample size of the included studies, its effectiveness still needs to be further proved by more high quality RCTs.
Objective To explore whether the polymorphism of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF β1) gene at 869T/C and 915G/C loci contributes to the genetic susceptibility to hypertension. Methods Assessed under the same criteria, all case control studies on relationship between the polymorphism of TGF β1 gene and hypertension were searched in both English and Chinese databases. All articles retrieved were screened and evaluated, and meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan 5.1 software. Results A total of 14 case control studies were included. The results of meta-analyses showed TGF β1 gene C allele was related to hypertension (OR=1.37, 95%CI 1.21 to 1.54). It was noted that individuals with CC genotype and TT genotype had a significant increased risk of hypertension (OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.27 to 1.60; OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.53 to 0.78, respectively). And there was no b evidence showing that TGF β1 915G/C genetic polymorphism was related to hypertension. The results from meta-analyses of the studies based on Chinese population on the two loci were in consistent with the outcomes of overall meta-analyses. Sensitivity analyses indicated the results were stable. And publication bias was not present, reflected by P values from Egger’s regression asymmetry test and Begg’s adjusted rank correction test. Conclusions 869T/C polymorphism of TGF β1 gene is associated with hypertension. C allele is potentially one of the genetic risk factors for hypertension. Present studies do not support a direct relationship between 915G/C polymorphism TGF β1 gene and hypertension.
Objective To determine the effects recombinant human growth hormone (GH) and hypocaloric nutrition on postoperative convalescence, we performed a placebo-controlled randomized double-blind trial in 18 patients after elective gastrectomy or colectomy. Methods The subjects received parenteral nutrition containing 20 calories/kg per day and 1 g protein/kg per day. Daily injections of drug or placebo were given during the first postoperative week. Result The nine control subjects lost 3.3 kg (5.9% of preoperative weight) and had a cumulative nitrogen loss of 32.6 ± 4.2 g nitrogen at eight days. The patients receiving GH lost significantly less weight (1.3 kg) and nitrogen loss was 7.3 ± 3.1 g at eight days (Plt;0.001). Kinetic studies demonstrated that anabolic effects of GH were associated with increased protein synthesis, and amino acid flus studies across the forearm revealed increased uptake of amino acid nitrogen in the GH-treated patients. Body composition analysis revealed that the patients receiving GH maintained their lean body mass despite the major surgical procedure. Conclusion We conclude that the postoperative catabolic response can be modified with GH and hypocaloric nutrition. The metabolic and physiologic effects should now be studied in a larger number of patients to determine if this approach can reduce morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay for surgical patients.
Objective To make individualized evidence-based treatment for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Based on the clinical questions we raised, evidence was collected and critically assessed. Patients’ preferences was also taken into consideration in the decision-making treatment. Results 157 studies were retrieved and finally 15 randomized controlled trials, 14 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and 1 clinical guidelines were considered eligible. The evidence indicated that the first step in management of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy should aim for stable and optimal glycemic control; there was no statistically significant difference between aldose reductase inhibitors and placebo in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy, the same to nerve growth factor; alpha-lipoic acid is superior to placebo in reducing symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy; 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants might alleviate the pain in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy; vitamin B and capsaicin cream are is effective and safe in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. The individualized treatment plans were developed based on the available evidence. After 3 month of treatment, the blood sugar returned to normal and symptoms were alleviated. Conclusion The treatment efficacy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been improved by determining an individulized treatment plan according to evidence-based methods.
目的 通过检测脑胶质瘤患者血清中胰岛素生长因子-1（IGF-1）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）的表达，探讨其与胶质瘤分级及预后评估的关系。 方法 2010年12月－2011年11月，采用双抗体一步夹心法分别测定A、B两组共40例不同级别脑胶质瘤患者术前、术后血清中IGF-1和GFAP浓度。 结果 高级别胶质瘤患者组血清中IGF-1浓度显著高于低级别胶质瘤组（P=0.009 0）；血清GFAP浓度显著低于低级别胶质瘤组（P＜0.000 1）。经手术治疗后且疗效评价为有效的胶质瘤患者，其血清中IGF-1、GFAP浓度较术前水平显著下降（P＜0.001 0）。结论 IGF-1、GFAP是两种较好的脑胶质瘤血清标志物，在其分级及预后评估中具有重要的临床应用价值。