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Neuropathic pain after periphery nerve injury is frequently accompanied by the regeneration of the injured nerve fibers. We tested in this study whether local administration of Nogo-66, a well-studied axon growth inhibiting peptide in the central nerve system, could reduce the pain related behavior after sciatic nerve transection in rat. Nogo-66 peptide was purified as a GST fusion protein. Its inhibitory function was testified by neurite outgrowth assay of primary cultured neurons, and then it was given directly at the lesion site by a minipump for 2 weeks. Mechanical nociceptive withdrawal responses and heat hyperalgesia responses were assessed during a 4-week period, and autotomy was evaluated during a 6-week period. The results showed that the mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia scores of the rats treated with GST-Nogo-66 were significantly higher than the controls between 7 and 14 days after sciatic nerve transection. The autotomy scores in the GST-Nogo-66 group were significantly lower than the controls from 28 days after surgery. Taken together, the results of our present study suggest that Nogo-66 may be utilized to decrease the neuropathic pain after periphery nerve injury.

Purpose: To clarify the radiotherapy clinical target volume (CTV) margin needed for esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma., Methods and Materials: Surgical specimens of esophageal SCC (n = 34) and GEJ adenocarcinoma (n = 32) were prospectively collected and analyzed for microscopic spread along the esophagus and GEJ both proximally and distally from gross tumor and for lymph node (LN) metastasis., Results: For SCC, the mean microscopic spread beyond the gross tumor was 10.5 +/- 13.5 mm proximally (<30 mm in 32 of 34 cases) and 10.6 +/- 8.1 mm distally (<30 mm in 33 of 34 cases). For GEJ adenocarcinoma, the spread was 10.3 +/- 7.2 mm proximally (<30 mm in 29 of 29 cases) and 18.3 +/- 16.3 mm distally (<30 mm in 27 of 32 cases). The extent of microscopic spread of cancer was significantly associated with pathologic T stage (p = 0.012). LN metastases were observed in 12 (35%) of 34 patients with middle and lower esophageal SCC and 15 (47%) of 32 patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma., Conclusions: The extent of microscopic spread within esophagus (recommended CTV margin) was <30 mm in about 94% of cases of esophageal cancer, except for distal microscopic spread in GEJ adenocarcinoma, in which 50 mm was needed to cover about 94% of cases.

Basigin/CD147, also named extracelluar matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), has been implicated in playing very important roles in several aspects of tumor progression. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of antisense RNA of CD147 on invasion and angiogenesis of human glioblastoma U251 cells in vitro. The U251 cell line was transfected by a plasmid containing antisense CD147 cDNA. Gelatin zymography was used to determine the effect on reducing secretions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of the transfected cells. Boyden chamber was employed to test the invasion of U251 cells in vitro. We found that downregulation of CD147 resulted in reducing secretions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF. Moreover, the invasion of stable antisense transfectants was inhibited. Wound-induced migration assay also showed decreased migration in stable antisense transfectants compare to parental- and empty vector-transfected cells. Taken together, these results provide evidence that invasion of human glioblastoma cells can be inhibited by antisense RNA of CD147. Basigin/CD147 may be used as a potential target of drugs for anti-invasion and metastasis of human glioblastoma cells.

The aim of this study was to explore a new way of treating drug addiction by ablating the nucleus accumbens (NAC), which has a close relationship with drug-induced psychological dependence, using stereotactic surgery, blocking the mesocorticolimbic dopamine circuit, alleviating craving for drugs and lowering the relapse rate after detoxification. On the basis of animal experiments, stereotactic surgery was performed in 28 patients by making a lesion in the NAC bilaterally to treat opiate drug dependence. Indications, the criterion of therapeutic effect, treatment process and the therapeutic and safety evaluation index of the surgery were formulated particularly. The mean follow-up period was 15 months. Relapse has not occurred in 11 cases up till now. Drug-free time in these patients has been more than half a year in 4 cases (more than a year in 3 cases), and less than half a year in 7 cases. Relapse occurred in 15 cases after surgery. Drug-free time in these patients was more than half a year in 3 cases, between 1 month and half a year in 10 cases and less than 1 month in 2 cases. The therapeutic effect was excellent in 7 cases (26.9%), good in 10 cases (38.5%) and poor in 2 cases (7.7%). Another 7 cases were still under investigation at the time of writing. Relapse rates after surgery were 7.7, 38.5 and 57.5% within 1 month, between 1 month and half a year and after more than half a year, respectively. There were no common complications of surgery such as intracranial hematoma or infection in these patients after operation. Character type was changed slightly in 2 cases, and 4 cases suffered temporary memory loss, which did not affect their daily lives and learning function. They all recovered within 1 month. There were different degrees of effectiveness of treating drug addicts' psychological dependence by making lesions in the NAC bilaterally with stereotactic surgery. No particular complications occurred. The operation is safe and feasible. The mean follow-up time in this study was 15 months. The effectiveness was satisfactory. The relapse rate of drug addicts after detoxification was clearly reduced., (Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of adenovirus-mediated transfer of the herpes simplex virus thymidine rinase gene (HSV-tk) used by several methods and the dose-effect relationship., Methods: Diverse doses (1 x 10(9) PFU, 1 x 10(10) PFU, 1 x 10(11) PFU) of adenovirus-mediated transfer of HSV-tk were given by intraparenchymatous, intravenous and intraperitoneal injection, and ganciclovir (GCV) (100 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) was injected into the cavity of the peritoneum to treat human hepatocarcinoma. The change of tumors size was observed and the fragments of HSV-tk gene were tested., Results: In nude mice after intraparenchymatous injection and high-dose (1 x 10(11) PFU) intravenous injection, the tumors were suppressed significantly (t = 13.1, 12.4, P < 0.01) and lots of fragments of HSV-tk gene were observed. In mice after intraperitoneal injection and low-dose (1 x 10(9) PFU, 1 x 10(10) PFU) intravenous injection, no suppressive effect was observed (t = 1.8, 1.0, 2.1, 1.1, 0.8, P > 0.05) with few or without fragments in the tumors., Conclusions: Adenovirus-mediated transfer of the HSV-tk by intraparenchymatous or intravenous injection is effective in treatment of hepatocarcinoma in nude mice, but intraperitoneal injection has no therapeutic effect.

Objective: To investigate in vitro and in vivo bystander effect, including distance bystander effect of adenovirus-mediated transfer of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk)., Methods: In vitro, mixed tk + BEL-7402 cells and tk-BEL-7402 cells in diverse proportions and ganciclovir (GCV) was given, then tested the survival ratio of cells by MTT. In vivo, 5 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(7) tk + BEL-7402 cells were injected into the tumors in nude mice following GCV. The change of the size of the tumors was observed. To observe distance bystander effect, adenovirues with HSV-tk (1 x 10(9) PFU) were injected into the tumor, which was the one of the bilateral tumors in nude mice. Subsequently, GCV was given and the change of the tumor was observed., Results: Significant bystander effect was observed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro when tk + cells: tk(-) cells was 1:9, the survival rate of mixed cells was 36.6%. When the proportion of tk(+) cells was 90%, the survival rate of mixed cells was 3.2%. In vivo, those tumors with injection of tk(+) BEL-7402 cells were suppressed (P < 0.05). But in group of distance bystander effect the tumors on another side were not suppressed., Conclusion: In vitro, bystander effect exists. In nude mice, if tk(+) cells and tk(-) cells are contiguous, bystander effect is significant, or probably no bystander effect.