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Biomedical subjects

X Han

Publications and source records attributed to X Han.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Seven years' summary report on the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with arsenic trioxide--an analysis of 242 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS: Data of clinical observation, seven year follow-up survey were analysed with American SAS system software, concentration of arsenic in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined by atomic absorbing spectrum. RESULTS: The complete remission (CR) and effectiveness rates were 87.9% and 94.4% for the previously untreated group; 60.0% and 65.0% for the relapsed in As(2)O(3) maintenance treatment group; 69.5% and 84.8% for the relapsed in other than As(2)O(3) maintenance treatment group; and 48.7% and 94.1% for the refractory group, respectively. In the previously untreated group, the relapse rate at 3 years after CR was 26.7%. The probability of survival in 136 follow-up survey patients was 92.0% and 76.7% at 5 years and 7 years, respectively. There were mild side effects. Central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) occurred in 138 out of 412 cases in 6 years, including some refractory leukemia, extramedullary residual leukemia and extramedullary relapse. Prophylactic intrathecal injection could reduce the incidence rate of CNSL. Determination of arsenic concentration indicated that it was difficult for arsenic to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. CONCLUSION: The CR rate and long-term survival are high and the relapse rate is low in APL patients treated with As(2)O(3). There is no cross-resistance between ATRA and As(2)O(3) and other chemotherapeutic agents. As(2)O(3)-resistance occurs scarcely. It can also be used in maintenance treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Study on physical properties of titanium alloy sample fabricated with vacuum-sintered powder metallurgy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physical properties of titanium alloy fabricated with vacuum-sintered powder metallurgy. METHODS: The titanium powders of three different particle sizes(-160mesh, -200 - +300mesh, -300mesh) were selected, and mixed with copper and aluminum powder in different proportions. Two other groups were made up of titanium powder(-200 - +300mesh) plated with copper and tin. The build-up and, condensation method and a double-direction press with a metal mold were used. The green compacts were sintered at 1000 degrees C for 15 minutes in a vacuum furnace at 0.025 Pa. In the double-direction press, the specimens were compacted at the pressure of 100 MPa, 200 MPa and 300 MPa respectively. Then the linear shrinkage ratio and the opening porosity of the sintered compacts were evaluated respectively. RESULTS: 1. The linear shrinkage ratio of specimens decreased with the increased compacted pressure(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the linear shrinkage ratios of three different titanium powders at the same compacted pressure(P > 0.05), but that of titanium powder plated with copper and tin was higher than those of other specimens without plating(P < 0.05). 2. The opening porosity of specimens decreased with the increased compacted pressure(P < 0.05). Three different sized particle of titanium powder did not affect the opening porosity at the same compacted pressure(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The composition of titanium-based metal powder mixtures and the compacted pressures affect the physical properties of sintered compacts. Titanium powder plated with copper and tin is compacted and sintered easily, and the physical properties of sintered compacts are greatly improved.

Dental Alloys↗

[Preventive and therapeutic effect of Chinese herbs naofeikang on experimental emphysema and pulmonary artery hypertension in hamsters].

OBJECTIVE: To observe preventive and therapeutic effect of Chinese herbs Naofeikang on hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension of elastase-induced emphysema hamsters and investigate its mechanism. METHODS: Hamsters for 30 days after intratracheally-instilled elastase, were kept in hypoxia environment under normal atmospheric pressure for 15 days, 50 hamsters were divided into prevention group (Prv), treatment group (T), emphysema + hypoxia (EH), and control group(N). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) was measured before hamsters were killed. And then right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) was measured, as well as circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and cells recoveries from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted. Meanwhile, pulmonary tissue changes were studied under light microscope with morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Compared with EH group, MPAP, CEC, and cells recoveries of BALF of Prv and T groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); Mean linear intercept and percentage of arterial media area of Prv and T groups had totally a significant difference (P < 0.01) in comparison with EH group. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese herbs Naofeikang could lower pulmonary hypertension, preserve vessel endothelial cells and lessen the inflammatory reaction in pulmonary tissue. Thereby, it could hinder the further development of emphysema and inhibit the remodeling of pulmonary small artery.

Animals↗

Interaction of mutant influenza virus hemagglutinin fusion peptides with lipid bilayers: probing the role of hydrophobic residue size in the central region of the fusion peptide.

The amino-terminal region of the membrane-anchored subunit of influenza virus hemagglutinin, the fusion peptide, is crucial for membrane fusion of this virus. The peptide is extruded from the interior of the protein and inserted into the lipid bilayer of the target membrane upon induction of a conformational change in the protein by low pH. Although the effects of several mutations in this region on the fusion behavior and the biophysical properties of the corresponding peptides have been studied, the structural requirements for an active fusion peptide have still not been defined. To probe the sensitivity of the fusion peptide structure and function to small hydrophobic perturbations in the middle of the hydrophobic region, we have individually replaced the alanine residues in positions 5 and 7 with smaller (glycine) or bulkier (valine) hydrophobic residues and measured the extent of fusion mediated by these hemagglutinin constructs as well as some biophysical properties of the corresponding synthetic peptides in lipid bilayers. We find that position 5 tolerates a smaller and position 7 a larger hydrophobic side chain. All peptides contained segments of alpha-helical (33-45%) and beta-strand (13-16%) conformation as determined by CD and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The order parameters of the peptide helices and the lipid hydrocarbon chains were determined from measurements of the dichroism of the respective infrared absorption bands. Order parameters in the range of 0.0-0.6 were found for the helices of these peptides, which indicate that these peptides are most likely aligned with their alpha-helices at oblique angles to the membrane normal. Some (mostly fusogenic) peptides induced significant increases of the order parameter of the lipid hydrocarbon chains, suggesting that the lipid bilayer becomes more ordered in the presence of these peptides, possibly as a result of dehydration at the membrane surface.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

NMR structure of an antisense DNA.RNA hybrid duplex containing a 3'-CH(2)N(CH(3))-O-5' or an MMI backbone linker.

The solution structure of an antisense DNA.RNA hybrid duplex, d(CGCGTT-MMI-TTGCGC).r(GCGCAAAACGCG) (designated R4), containing an MMI backbone linker [3'-CH(2)N(CH(3))-O5'], is elucidated. The structural details of the MMI linker, its structural effects on the neighboring residues, and the molecular basis of the MMI effects are examined. The lipophilic N-methyl group of MMI is peripheral to the helix, assuming a conformation that is most stable with regard to the N-O torsion angle. The MMI linker promotes a 3'-endo conformation for the sugar moieties at both 3'- and 5'-adjacent positions and a backbone kink involving distant residues along the 3'-direction. Comparison of R4 with other analogous hybrid duplexes previously studied in this laboratory reveals a new family of low-energy helical conformations that can be accommodated in stable duplexes and a common feature of C3'-modified sugars for adopting a C3'-endo pucker. The results of these studies emphasize the interplay of several factors that govern the formation of stable hybrid duplexes and provide a basis for the understanding of the biological role of the MMI modifications, which are important building blocks for a family of promising chimeric antisense oligonucleotides.

Base Sequence↗

The protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor is a serpin.

In the presence of phospholipid vesicles and calcium ions, protein Z (PZ) serves as a cofactor for the inhibition of coagulation factor Xa by a plasma protein called PZ-dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI). To further characterize ZPI, its cDNA has been isolated and cloned from a human liver cDNA library. The ZPI cDNA is 2.44 kb in length and has a relatively long 5' region (466 nt) that contains six potential ATG translation start codons. ATG's 1-4 are followed by short open reading frames, whereas ATG(5) and ATG(6) are in an uninterrupted open reading frame that includes the encoded ZPI protein. In vitro experiments show that ATG(6) is sufficient for the expression of rZPI in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. Northern analysis suggests the liver is a major site of ZPI synthesis. The predicted 423 residue amino acid sequence of the mature ZPI protein is 25-35% homologous with members of the serpin superfamily of protease inhibitors and is 78% identical to the amino acid sequence predicted by a previously described cDNA isolated from rat liver, regeneration-associated serpin protein-1 (rasp-1). Thus, ZPI is likely the human homologue of rat rasp-1. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of ZPI with those of other serpins predicts that Y387 is the P(1) residue at the reactive center of the ZPI molecule. Consistent with this notion, rZPI(Y387A), an altered form of ZPI in which tyrosine 387 has been changed to alanine, lacks PZ-dependent factor Xa inhibitory activity.

Adult↗

Neuregulin signaling in the heart. Dynamic targeting of erbB4 to caveolar microdomains in cardiac myocytes.

Two of the neuregulins (NRG1 and NRG2) and their receptors (erbB2 and erbB4) are essential for normal cardiac development and can mediate hypertrophic growth and enhance survival of embryonic, postnatal, and adult rat ventricular myocytes. The expression of erbB4, the predominant NRG receptor in postnatal rat ventricular muscle, declines after midembryogenesis, and its expression is limited to cardiac myocytes. A full-length erbB4 rat cDNA isolated from neonatal ventricular muscle was found to be highly homologous to human erbB4 and contained a caveolin binding motif within the cytoplasmic kinase domain. Using the complementary techniques of detergent-free density-gradient ultracentrifugation of myocyte lysates and coimmunoprecipitation of erbB4 and caveolin-3, the caveolin isoform expressed in cardiac myocytes, erbB4 could be localized (using both approaches) to caveolar microdomains. Moreover, addition of a soluble NRG1, recombinant human glial growth factor 2, resulted in rapid (2-minute) translocation of erbB4 out of caveolar microdomain in cardiac myocytes. Thus, erbB4 is dynamically targeted to caveolar microdomains within cardiac myocytes. Its rapid translocation after NRG1 binding may contribute to receptor desensitization in the continuous presence of ligand.

Age Factors↗

Phospholipid-subclass-specific partitioning of lipophilic ions in membrane-water systems.

Herein, we systematically investigate phospholipid-subclass-specific alterations in the partitioning of both cationic and anionic amphiphiles to identify the importance of ester, ether and vinyl ether linkages at the sn-1 position of phospholipids in the partitioning of charged amphiphiles. The results demonstrated that the membrane-water partition coefficient of a prototypic cationic amphiphile (i.e. 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide) was approximately 2.5 times higher in membranes comprised of plasmenylcholine in comparison with membranes comprised of either phosphatidylcholine or plasmanylcholine. In striking contrast, the membrane-water partition coefficient of a prototypic anionic amphiphile [i.e. bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)trimethine oxonol] in membranes comprised of plasmenylcholine was approximately 2.5 times lower than that manifest in membranes comprised of phosphatidylcholine or plasmanylcholine. Utilizing theseexperimentally determined partition coefficients,the relative membrane dipole potential of membranes comprised of plasmenylcholine was calculated and found to be approximately 25 mV lower than in membranes comprised of phosphatidylcholine or plasmanylcholine. This lower membrane dipole potential in membranes comprised of plasmenylcholine is equivalent to the membrane potential induced by incorporation of approximately 25 mol% of anionic phospholipids in membranes comprised of phosphatidylcholine. Collectively, these results demonstrate that phospholipid-subclass-specific differences in the membrane dipole potential contribute to alterations in the partitioning of lipophilic ions in membrane bilayers comprised of distinct phospholipid subclasses. Moreover, they suggest that these physicochemical differences can be exploited to facilitate the targeting of charged lipophilic drugs to specific cells and subcellular membrane compartments.

Anions↗

IL-2 enhances standard IFNgamma/LPS activation of macrophage cytotoxicity to human ovarian carcinoma in vitro: a potential for adoptive cellular immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the enhancement of human peritoneal macrophage cytotoxic in vitro activity by the addition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to the standard interferon gama (IFNgamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation procedure used for cellular adoptive immunotherapy in a human ovarian cancer system. This cytotoxic effect of these activated macrophages was tested on cells from ovarian cancers of various stages, histology type, and grade, both prior to chemotherapy and at recurrence, in ovarian carcinoma cells lines and normal cells. Increased activation of the macrophage may make it a better candidate for intraperitoneal cellular adoptive immunotherapy as a component of ovarian cancer therapy. This was not a study of the mechanism of macrophage killing. METHODS: Ascites specimens were collected from 24 ovarian cancer patients at the time of surgery or by paracentesis. The mononuclear cell fraction was isolated by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation and used as a cellular source of peritoneal macrophages (PMs) and primary cultured ovarian cancer cells. PMs were separated by 1-h adhesion followed by intensive washing to remove floating cells. The floating cells were cultured for 24 h which left the cancer cells attached after unattached cells were removed by washing. These cells formed a monolayer of cancer cells, which could be subcultured in 22 patients. The cells from the third to fifth passages were used as target cells without coculture with other cells. PMs were identified by latex ingestion, and their purity after isolation by adhesion culture was tested by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. PMs were activated by culturing in the presence of IFNgamma, with or without IL-2, for 18 h followed by the addition of LPS 6 h prior to use as effector cells in cytotoxicity assays. Ovarian cancer cells of both established cell lines and primary cultures were labeled with (51)Cr and utilized as target cells to quantitatively measure PM-mediated cytotoxicity. Ovarian cancer cells were also cocultured with PMs for morphologic observations to provide supporting evidence to the cytotoxicity assays. RESULTS: IL-2 enhances the cytotoxicity of the standard IFNgamma/LPS macrophage activation in this system. Peritoneal macrophages so activated are cytotoxic to autologous and allogenic primary cultured ovarian tumors and to ovarian carcinoma cell lines. The macrophages are cytotoxic to cells both prior to treatment and at recurrence, but the data from the few recurrent patients did reach statistical significance. This cytotoxicity is not MHC associated. Normal cells are minimally affected. CONCLUSIONS: IL-2 augmented the standard IFNgamma/LPS method of activating peritoneal macrophage cell killing of human ovarian cancer cells in this in vitro system. The cell killing occurred with autologous and allogenic tumor cells from patients with primary and possibly recurrent tumors. Activated PMs minimally affected the normal cells tested. This enhanced activation may improve the disappointing results of previous adoptive cellular immunotherapy human trials and should be considered for ovarian cancer clinical trials.

Adult↗

Muscarinic cholinergic signaling in cardiac myocytes: dynamic targeting of M2AChR to sarcolemmal caveolae and eNOS activation.

The isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) originally described in endothelial cells is also expressed in a number of other cell types, including cardiac myocytes. eNOS is activated in both atrial and ventricular myocytes, including specialized pacemaker cells, by M2AChR agonists, among other stimuli. In cardiac myocytes, as in endothelial cells, eNOS is targeted to sarcolemmal caveolae, due to both co-translational myristoylation and later palmitoylation, and by the presence of a caveolin binding domain in eNOS which interacts with the caveolin scaffolding domain. In the absence of ligand, the M2AChR is not associated with caveolar microdomains, but translates into caveolae upon agonist (but not antagonist) binding. Finally, the role of M2AChR-induced eNOS activation in regulating I(Ca-L) via activation of guanylyl cyclase has been confirmed in ventricular myocytes of mice that lack functional eNOS (i.e., eNOS(null)).

Animals↗

Cholera toxin-induced alteration of the phenotype and behaviour of an ovarian carcinoma cell line, SR8.

Cholera toxin (CT) has been reported to cause a variety of effects on several different cell types. Recently, CT has been shown to increase the susceptibility of ovarian carcinoma cells to cytotoxicity mediated by a variety of effector cells (natural killer, lymphokine-activated killer cells and tumour-associated lymphocytes derived from ascites of ovarian cancer patients) of both autologous and allogenic background. In the present study, CT demonstrated several effects on a newly established ovarian carcinoma line (SR8)1 when added to the culture medium at a concentration of 12.5 ng/mL for 2 days. Cholera toxin altered SR8 morphology to a uniform polygonal cellular shape, with less cell dispersion than the non-CT treated cells. Cholera toxin prolonged the population doubling time by approximately 10 h. The CT-treated SR8 cells exhibited reduced epidermal growth factor receptor expression (39 versus 50%), and increased carbohydrate antigen 125 expression (45 versus 2%) in both immunocytochemical and quantitative flow cytometric analyses. These changes in morphology and tumour marker expression were reversible when CT was removed from the culture. The CT-treated SR8 cells showed reduced capacity to generate tumours in female nude mice in comparison with non-CT treated cells, which produce both subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenografts with local invasion in an animal model. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line SR8 before and during treatment with CT showed no new clonal rearrangements. The possible mechanisms involved and the influence of CT on the biological behaviour of ovarian tumour cells are discussed.

Animals↗

Structural requirements for TFPI-mediated inhibition of neointimal thickening after balloon injury in the rat.

The intimal thickening that follows vascular injury is inhibited by periprocedural tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) treatment in animal models. TFPI is a multivalent Kunitz-type protease inhibitor that inhibits factor Xa via its second Kunitz domain and the factor VIIa/tissue factor (TF) complex via its first Kunitz domain. The basic C-terminus of TFPI is required for the binding of TFPI to cell surfaces and cell-bound TFPI mediates the internalization and degradation of factor X and the down regulation of surface factor VIIa/TF activity. The C-terminus of TFPI is also required for its reported direct inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro. To examine the structural requirements for the inhibition of neointimal formation by TFPI, several TFPI-related proteins were tested in the rat carotid angioplasty model: 1) XK(1), a hybrid protein containing the N-terminal portion of factor X and the first Kunitz domain of TFPI that directly inhibits factor VIIa/TF; 2) TFPI(WT), the full-length TFPI molecule that inhibits factor Xa and factor VIIa/TF and binds cell surfaces; 3) TFPI(K36I), an altered form of TFPI that inhibits factor Xa, but not factor VIIa/TF, and binds cell surfaces; 4) TFPI(13-161), a truncated form of TFPI that inhibits factor VIIa/TF but interacts with factor Xa poorly and does not bind to cell surfaces. Seven day infusions of XK(1), TFPI(WT), and high levels of TFPI(K36I) begun the day before balloon-induced vascular injury produced a significant reduction in the intimal hyperplasia measured 28 days after angioplasty. The infusion of high concentrations of TFPI(13-161) was ineffective in this model. These in vivo results directly mirror the ability of each TFPI-related protein to inhibit tissue thromboplastin-induced coagulation in rat plasma: XK(1) approximately TFPI(WT)>TFPI(K36I)>>TFPI(13-161). The studies confirm the important role of TF-mediated coagulation in the smooth muscle proliferation and neointimal thickening that follows vascular injury and suggest that the anticoagulant effect alone of TFPI and TFPI-related proteins is sufficient to explain their therapeutic action.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Ser-322 is a critical site for PKC regulation of the MDCK cell taurine transporter (pNCT).

Previous studies have shown that the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell taurine transporter (pNCT) is downregulated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation. In this study, it is hypothesized that the highly conserved serine-322 (Ser-322) located in the fourth intracellular segment (S4) may play an important role in the function of taurine transporter, which is modulated by PKC phosphorylation. It is demonstrated that Ser-322 is the critical site of PKC phosphorylation, as determined by site-directed mutagenesis. When Ser-322 of pNCT was changed to alanine (S322A) and this mutant was evaluated in an oocyte expression system, taurine transport activity increased threefold compared with control (wild-type pNCT). Activation of PKC by the active phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate did not influence taurine transport by mutant S322A. Kinetic analysis showed that the mutation of Ser-322 essentially changed the Vmax, rather than the Km, of the transporter. Mutation of all other PKC consensus sites did not affect transporter activity when expressed in the oocyte system. Western blot analysis showed that expression of taurine transporter protein was similar in oocytes injected with either wild-type or mutant pNCT cRNA, indicating that the enhanced taurine transport activity by mutant S322A was not caused by a greater amount of transporter expressed in the oocyte. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that the taurine transporter was phosphorylated after PKC activation, and this effect was not observed in mutant S322A. In conclusion, Ser-322 is critical in PKC regulation of taurine transporter activity. The steady-state taurine transporter activity is tightly controlled by endogenous PKC phosphorylation of Ser-322, which is located in the fourth intracellular segment of the taurine transporter.

Animals↗

Leukocyte common antigen-related tyrosine phosphatase receptor: increased expression and neuronal-type splicing in breast cancer cells and tissue.

The findings that protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulate cell proliferation, response to growth factors, and cellular adhesion and the discovery that mutations in PTP genes are associated with breast cancer suggest that altered expression of PTPs contributes to the breast cancer cell phenotype. The leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) PTP receptor is a prototype member of the class of PTP receptors containing cell adhesion domains. Full-length constitutively spliced LAR transcripts are expressed in breast and other tissues, whereas alternatively spliced isoforms are preferentially expressed in the nervous system. As a first step in evaluating the hypothesis that LAR-type PTPs influence breast cancer cell behavior, LAR expression and neuronal-type alternative splicing were examined in normal and breast cancer cell lines and tissues. Northern blot analysis demonstrated markedly increased LAR mRNA levels in breast cancer cell lines and tissues. Western blot analysis showed a greater than tenfold increase in LAR protein levels in breast cancer tissues. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to assess alternative splicing of extracellular and proximal membrane exons. Differential patterns of extracellular alternative splicing were found in normal versus carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated increased levels of LAR protein isoforms encoded by alternatively spliced transcripts in breast cancer cell lines. This study is the first demonstration of increased LAR mRNA and LAR protein expression in breast cancer tissue and nontransformed cell lines and helps to elucidate the role of LAR in human breast cancer. The differential patterns of alternative splicing of LAR transcripts introduce LAR isoforms as candidate markers for future studies correlating differential gene expression and tumor behavior.

Alternative Splicing↗

[Combination of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for recurrent and high-risk breast cancer: a pilot study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of combined high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for recurrent and high-risk breast cancer. METHODS: Thirteen patients with recurrent or high-risk breast cancer underwent HDC with AHSCT. Seven cases had relapsed metastasis who had failed in the previous chemotherapy. Two cases had stage IV disease who had received palliative excision. Four cases had stage II or III breast cancer with over 10 positive axillary lymph nodes who had received radical surgical resection. Four cases received autologous bone marrow transplantation, and six received autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The consolidation regimen was Thiotepa 500 (250-604) mg/m2, Cyclophosphamide 4.9 (3.3-6.0) g/m2. Eight cases were also given Carboplatin 800 (400-800) mg/m2, and two received Etoposide 830 (800-830) mg/m2 instead of Thiotepa in the consolidation regimen. Twelve cases underwent endocrinotherapy after HDC with AHSCT, six operated cases underwent radiotherapy in the area of chest wall and regional lymph nodes after HDC with AHSCT. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 8(1-47) months, four cases achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 achieved partial remission (PR) in the 7 cases with relapsed metastasis after induction of chemotherapy, PR patients achieved CR after HDC with AHSCT. The disease free survival (DFS) was 1-31 months in these 7 cases. One of two stage IV cases achieved CR and the other had progressive disease (PD) after induction chemotherapy, but the PD patient achieved PR after HDC with AHSCT, they underwent local radiotherapy after HDC with AHSCT and DFS was 5 and 22 months, respectively. The DFS was from 1-47 months in 4 cases with stage II or III disease. CONCLUSION: HDC with AHSCT is a highly potential therapeutic means for recurrent and high-risk breast cancer paitents.

Adult↗

Blocking effect of puerarin on calcium channel in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether Puerarin (Puer) has blocking effects on L-type calcium channel. METHODS: We used whole-cell recording of patch-clamp techniques to analyse calcium channel current in ventricular myocytes isolated from Langendorff guinea pig hearts by collagenase. RESULTS: In control group, peak calcium channel current was decreased by 10.6% and 29.8% at 5, 10 min of recording time, respectively. For the same period, 0.1 mmol/L Puer reduced calcium current by 23.9% and 72.4%. 0.1 and 1 mmol/L Puer inhibited the amplitude of peak Calcium channel current by 40.6% and 63.2% after perfusing for 10 min. Compared with control group in which "rundown" phenomenon was observed, Puer also demonstrated its blocking effect on L-type channel. While washout of Puer with perfusing solution, calcium channel current went down further instead of recovery. Current-voltage (I-V) curves showed that the levels of calcium channel current were obviously decreased by Puer (both 0.1 mmo/L and 1 mmo/L) form -40 mV to +10 mV. CONCLUSION: Puer has blocking effect on L-type calcium channel in a concentration dependent manner.

Animals↗