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The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms driving the protective effects of squid ink polysaccharide (SIP) against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced testicular damage, focusing on germ cells. In the testes of mice exposed to CP and/or SIP, the present study examined the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde, activity of superoxide dismutase levels, protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), and total Caspase 3, activation of p-p38 and p-Akt proteins, and tissue morphology. The findings indicated that CP induced ROS production and oxidative stress, resulting in testicular damage. However, under administration of SIP, oxidative stress was impaired and the testicular toxicity induced by CP was weakened, which implied that SIP may have an important role in preventing chemotherapeutic damage to the male reproductive system via promoting antioxidant ability. Furthermore, the altered expression levels, including the upregulation of Bax and Caspase 3, downregulation of Bcl-2 and the increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, indicated that apoptosis occurred in CP exposed testes of mice; however, the alterations were reversed in mice treated with SIP. Moreover, in CP-exposed testes, p38 and Akt proteins were significantly phosphorylated (P<0.05), whereas in the testes of mice co-treated with SIP and CP, phosphorylation of the two proteins was inhibited, demonstrating that the two signalling pathways participated in the regulative processes of the deleterious effects caused by CP, and the preventive effects SIP mediated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal post-operative adjuvant treatment for completely resected gastric cancer with D2 lymphadenectomy remains controversial. The present study was a phase II trial on post-operative chemoradiotherapy in 30 patients with gastric cancer. Patients with stage II to IV (M0) gastric cancer received two cycles of chemotherapy prior to and following chemoradiotherapy. The chemotherapy consisted of a 2-h infusion of oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) and folinic acid (100 mg/m2), which was followed by a 46-h continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 2,400 mg/m2) through a portable pump, repeated every 3 weeks. The chemoradiotherapy consisted of 45 Gy of radiotherapy for 5 weeks and 5-FU continuous infusion (350 mg/m2/day). In total, 30 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent the chemoradiotherapy treatment as planned. A total of 10 (33.3%) patients relapsed; two (6.7%) locoregional relapses and mediastinum metastases, four (13.3%) peritoneal relapses, and four (13.3%) distant metastases. The three-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 72.7 and 65%, respectively. The toxicities of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, consisting of neutropenia, nausea and hand-foot syndrome, were observed. In conclusion, post-operative chemoradiotherapy following complete resection of gastric cancer with D2 lymphadenectomy is feasible in a significant subset of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]