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Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. Animal studies have shown that homocysteine (Hcy) inhibits hepatic expression of apolipoprotein AI (apoAI). Our recent clinical study showed that increased plasma Hcy levels were associated with decreased apoAI levels in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. In this study, we assessed a potential association between Hcy and apoAI levels in normal healthy people.Methods: A total of 1768 normal healthy individuals were divided into two groups: the control group (subjects without HHcy) and the HHcy group (subjects with HHcy).Results: HHcy subjects exhibited significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apoAI levels than the control group (HDL-C: 1.18 ± 0.25 vs. 1.29 ± 0.32 mmol/L; apoAI: 1.38 ± 0.19 vs. 1.47 ± 0.25 g/L; all P < 0.01). Plasma Hcy levels were negatively associated with HDL-C and apoAI levels after adjustments for age, BMI and TG (HDL-C: r = -0.10; apoAI: r = -0.11; all P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the plasma Hcy levels were an independent influencing factor for apoAI (β = -0.065, P < 0.05).Conclusions: Increased plasma Hcy levels were associated with decreased apoAI levels in normal healthy people, and the inhibition of apoAI synthesis might be a mechanism through which Hcy is linked with the development of atherosclerosis in HHcy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management of pediatric recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma after multimodal treatment remains challenging. We investigated the feasibility, efficacy, and morbidity of permanent interstitial 125I seed implantation under image guidance as a salvage treatment for pediatric patients with recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 10 patients who underwent percutaneous ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) guided permanent 125I seed implantation. Postoperative dosimetry was performed for all patients. Actuarial D90 was 121-187.1 Gy (median, 170.3 Gy). The number of 125I seeds implanted was 6-158 (median, 34.5), with a median specific activity of 0.7 mCi per seed (range, 0.62-0.8 mCi); total activity was 4.2-113.76 mCi. Follow-up time was 6-107 months (median, 27.5 months); no patients were lost to follow-up. Results: The overall response rate (complete response + partial response) was 8/10 (80 %), including two patients with complete response (CR) (20 %) and five patients with partial response (PR) (60 %). Local control rates after 1 and 2 years were 70.1 and 62.3 %, respectively, with a mean local control time of 70.6 months (95 % confidence interval (CI) 45.1-96.0). Survival rates after 1 and 2 years were 68.6 and 57.1 %, respectively, with a mean survival time of 65.3 months (95 % CI 34.1-96.5). Three patients died from distant metastasis; one died from local recurrence 12 months after seed implantation. Three patients suffered a grade I skin reaction and one developed ulceration. No severe adverse neurologic sequelae or blood vessel damage occurred. Conclusions: Image guided permanent interstitial125 I seed implantation as a salvage treatment appears to have a satisfactory outcome in children with recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Management of spinal neoplasms has relied on open surgery and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Although primary spinal tumors are rare, their treatment remains a pervasive problem. This analysis sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-guided 125I seed brachytherapy for recurrent paraspinous and vertebral primary tumors. Methods From November 2002 to June 2014, 17 patients who met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. 14 (82.4%) had previously undergone surgery, 15 (88.2%) had received conventional EBRT and 3 (17.6%) had chosen chemotherapy. The number of 125I seeds implanted ranged from 7 to 122 (median 79) with specific activity of 0.5-0.8 mCi (median 0.7 mCi). The post-plan showed that the actuarial D90 of 125I seeds were 90-183 Gy (median 137 Gy). The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 69 months (median 19 months). The local control rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results For 5 Chondrosarcomas, the 1-, 2-, 3-year local control rates were 75%, 37.5%, and 37.5%, respectively, with a median of 34 months (range, 4-39 months). For 4 chordomas, the local control rate was 50% with a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 3-17 months). For 3 fibromatosis, all of them were survival without local recurrence at the end of follow-up. During the follow-up period, 35.3% (6/17) died from metastases, 17.6% (3/17) developed local recurrence by 8, 14 and 34 months while 64.7% (11/17) remained alive. 100% experienced pain relief and normal or improved ambulation, without more than Frankel grade 3 radiation myelopathy. Conclusions Percutaneous 125I seed implantation can be an alternative or retreatment for recurrent spinal primary tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A preliminary assessment was conducted of the feasibility, efficacy, and morbidity of 125I seed implantation for recurrent head and neck carcinoma after surgery and external beam radiotherapy. Methods: Nineteen patients with recurrent head and neck carcinomas underwent 125I seed implantation under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance. The actuarial D90 of 125I seed implantation ranged from 90 to 160 Gy (median, 131 Gy). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 44 months (median, 11 months). Results: The median local control was 24 months (95% confidence interval, 10.2 to 37.8). The one- year, two-year and three-year local controls were 73.3%, 27.5% and 27.5%, respectively, whereas the one-year, two-year and threeyear survival rates were 53.0%, 18.2% and 18.2%, respectively, and the median survival was 13 months (95% confidence interval, 6.6 to 19.4). A total of 26.3% of patients (5/19) died of local recurrence and 21.1% of patients (4/19) died of metastases. One suffered from a grade 1 skin reaction. Conclusions: 125I seed implantation is feasible and safe as a salvage treatment for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers. The high local control results and low morbidity merits further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To assess the efficacy of intraoperative ultrasound-guided implantation of 125I seeds for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma, and analyze the associated prognostic factors. Methods Twenty-eight patients with pancreatic carcinoma who underwent laparotomy and were considered to have unresectable tumors were included in this study. Nine patients were pathologically diagnosed with Stage II disease, and nineteen patients with Stage III disease. Twenty-eight patients received intraoperative ultrasound-guided 125I seed implantation and received a D90 (at least 90 % of the tumor volume received the reference dose) ranging from 60 to 163 Gy, with a median of 120 Gy. Seven patients received an additional 35-50 Gy external beam radiotherapy after seed implantation, and ten patients received two to ten cycles of chemotherapy. Overall survival of the patients was calculated and prognostic factors were evaluated. Results Of the patients, 94.1 % (16/17) achieved good to medium pain relief. The tumor response rate was 78.6 % (22/28), and local control was achieved in 85.7 % (24/28) of patients. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 30 %, 11 % and 4 %, and the median survival was 10.1 months (95 % CI: 9.0-10.9). Analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model suggested that patients younger than 60 years and patients who received a D90 higher than 110 Gy may survive for a longer period. Conclusions I seed implantation provides a safe and effective method to relieve pain, control local tumor growth and, to some extent, prolong the survival of patients with stage II and III pancreatic disease, without additional complications. Age and accumulated dose may be factors predictive of a favorable outcome for patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma treated with 125I seeds. These findings need to be validated by conducting further studies with larger cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]