Objective To evaluate the significance of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopy ( PTCCS) in managing cholecystolitheasis. Methods From September 1999 to November 2001, eighty - six patients with symptomatic gallstones were allocated into this study. At first percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage ( PTGBD) was carried out, one week later the formed fistula was dilated by bouginage to 16-22Fr in diameter, thereafter cholecystoscope was inserted into gallbladder through the dilated fistula to extract the stones using basket or electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL). Results PTGBD was attempted successfully in 82 out of 86 cases, PTCCS was performed in 80 of them. The amount of stones ranged from 1 to 76, single stone in 28 patients, stones more than two in 52 , with stone size ranged from 5 to 32 mm, and stones greater than 15mm in 45 cases. The stones were removed only using basket in 28, and by EHL in 54 cases due to their large size. The overall stone removal rate was 97. 5 % (78/80) . Complication of peritonitis appeared in 4 cases (4. 7% ) requiring emergent surgical intervention. The follow - up period with an average of 16. 4 months, gallstones recurred in 2 cases (2.5%). Stones were assayed by intra - red spectrom-etry in 30 of 54 patients with EHL, cholesterol stone existed in 24 of them. Conclusion PTCCS is relatively a safe and effective procedure for those patients with high risk on surgical cholecystectomy, or unsuitable to receive laparoscopic cholecystectomy. If the patients were selected strictly along the rules of indication, the complication and stone recurrence can be avoided.

Objective To investigate the relationship between bile amylase (BA) elevation and biliary tract disease in patients with normal pancreaticobiliary junction (NPBJ). Methods The bile juice was collected from bile duct in 202 consecutive cases who underwent therapeutic endoscopic retragrade cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary diseases ( biliary bile group), and from gallbladder (GB) in 73 consecutive cases who underwent percutaneous transbepatic cholecystoscopy for extraction of GB stone ( GB bile group). In biliary bile group, in addition to the measurement of BA, the level of lipnse (n =68), bacteria culture ( n = 149 ), manometry of Oddi's sphincter ( n = 27 ) and bile duct ( n = 38) were also performed. In GB bile group, additional GB biopsy was taken in 31 cases. No patient with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, history of cholangiojejunostomy or post-endoscopic sphincterotomy was included in the study. Results In biliary bile group, BA level was elevated in 95 patients (47. 0% ), in which there was no significant difference between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cases ( 56. 9% vs. 43.7%, P > 0. 05 ), although BA was elevated in most patients with hiler cholangiocarcinoma (7/9). The level of BA was correlated with bile lipase (r =0. 561 ), but not with pressure of Oddi's sphincter or bile duct. No significant difference in positive rate of bile bacteria culture was detected between patients with normal BA level and those with elevated level. In GB bile group, BA level was elevated in 25 patients (34. 3% ), in which the frequency of GB epithelium dysplasia is 87.5%, which was significantly higher than that from patients with normal BA level ( P < 0. 001 ). Conclusion The patients with biliary tract disease and NPBJ have high incidence of reflux of pancreatic juice into bile duct. In patients with elevated BA level, there was no significant difference between incidences of neoplastic or non-neoplastic disease, while the frequency of GB epithelium dysplasia and hilar cholangiocarcinoma were higher than those from patients with normal BA level.

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of recurrent common bile duct (CBD) stones after treatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods A total of 802 patients with CBD stone and with complete follow-up data were recruited to the study, among which 297 patients were accompanied with gallstone, 222 patients having undergone cholecystectomy before ERCP and 283 having no gallstones. The CBD stone recurrent frequency and the possible risk factors were calculated with uni- and multi-variate logistic regression analysis. Results The patients were followed up at a mean duration of 84. 8 months, and CBD stone re-occurred in 92 (11.5%). Both uni- and multivariate analysis showed gallstones, CBD larger than 1.5 cm, endoscopic mechanical lithotrity (EML) and angle of bile duct less than 120° were risk factors of recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed cholesterol stones, cholangeal stricture or sphincter of Oddis dysfunction (SOD) were all risk factors for reccurrence. Univariate analysis revealed that history of cholecystectomy or Billroth Ⅱ gastrectomy, stones larger than 1.5 cm and multiple stones were risk factors of recurrence. Conclusion For those with CBD stones undergoing ERCP, gallstone,common bile larger than 1. 5cm, EML and the angle of CBD less than 120° are major risk factors of recurrence. History of cholecystectomy and Billroth Ⅱ gastrectomy, SOD, large CBD stone ( ≥1.5 cm), cholesterol stone and multiple stones are also associating risk factors.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between ineffective esophageal motility (IEM)and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).MethodsA total of 90 GERD patients were enrolled in our study,including 62 patients with reflux esophagitis (RE) and 28 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).All the patients underwent gastroscopy,24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal manometry.ResultsIn the RE group 30 (48.4％) patients were diagnosed as having IEM,which was significantly higher than the NERD group (6 patients,21.4％ ) (P＜0.05).Positive esophageal acid exposure was more often seen in patients with IEM than in those with normal esophageal motility (91.7％ v.s.57.2％,P ＜0.01 ).The values of total percentage of time with pH ＜4,percentage of reflux time in supine position,long-duration episodes ( ＞5 min) and the longest reflux time and DeMeester score were significantly higher in the IEM cases than those in the normal esophageal motility cases ( P ＜ 0.01 ),so was the values of number of reflux episodes (P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionIEM is the most common esophageal dysmotility in patients with GERD and closely related to distal esophageal acid exposure and RE.

Purpose: To probe into the tissue damnification in progress of using modern madical instruments, the degest organs variation of low-voltage alternating current stimulation on thenar was observed. Method:the animals of experiment group were stimulated with 80V- 140V alternating current on time every days. At day of sixteenth these animals were killed,and liver and intestine histology were analyzed. Result: 1.the damnifications were distinctly in hepatocytes、hepatic sinusoid and portal area .2.the gland cells of small intestin and the cells ofsmooth muscle altered distinctly in morphology. Conclusion:Low-voltage alternating current could change the configuration of degest organs.

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.

Background and purpose:Aberrant DNA methylation that leads to the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes plays important roles in development and progression of breast cancer. Clinically, related gene methylation is considered to be a promising biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the methylation status ofSox17 gene in breast cancer tissue and its corresponding plasma circulating DNA, as well as to investigate its value in breast cancer early diagnosis and prognosis.Methods:TheSox17 gene promoter methylation status was detected by MSP in 86 cases of breast cancer, 36 normal breast tissues and its paired plasma DNA, the results were analyzed with corresponding clinical and pathological features.Results:The frequency ofSox17 gene methylation rate among 86 breast cancer tissues was 77.9%(67/86), and was 61.6%(53/86)in plasma circulating DNA, however, noSox17 gene methylation was found in normal breast tissues.Sox17 gene promoter methylation in plasma circulating DNA was signiifcantly associated with the methylation status in tumor tissues (r=0.502,P=0.000). In breast cancer tissue specimens,Sox17 methylation status was significantly correlated with tumor stage (χ2=6.18,P=0.041) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=13.54,P=0.001);Sox17 gene methylation rate was signiifcantly correlated with tumor stage (χ2=27.06,P=0.000), tumor size (χ2=9.65,P=0.007) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=20.80,P=0.000) in plasma samples, and there was no signiifcant difference ofSox17 gene methylation between patient age, histological grade and ER, PR, HER-2/neu status.Conclusion:Sox17 gene promoter methylation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of breast cancer, and may be associated with the prognosis of breast cancer. Furthermore, methylatedSox17 gene may be a useful tumor biomarker in plasma circulating DNA for breast cancer detection and disease monitoring.

Objective To explore the impact of pancreatobiliary reflux (PBR) in normal pancreatobiliary junction on gallbladder.Methods A total of 54 patients receiving cholecystectomy for gallbladder diseases underwent ultrasonography to evaluate the thickness of gallbladder wall,inner layer and gallbladder wall blood flow before operation.The bile juice was sampled during ERCP in 45 patients with common bile duct stone and during cholecystectomy in 9 patients to detect amylase level.All patients with normal pancreatobiliary junction enrolled in the study were assigned into PBR group (n =24) and controlled group (n =30) according to their bile amylase level.Resected gallbladder specimens were examined histopathologically and then tested for expression of COX2,Ki-67 and p53 immunohistochemically.Results PBR group included 20 cases of cholelithiasis and 4 gallbladder polyp,among which 23 were occult PBR (OPBR) and 1 high confluence of pancreatobiliary ducts (HCPBD),which was similar to pancreatobiliary maljunction (PBM) pathologically.The control group recruited 28 cases of cholelithiasis and 2 gallbladder polyp.There were no differences in frequency of inflammation,hyperplasia,metaplasia or expression of p53 between the two groups (p ＞ 0.05),while higher presence of dysplasia and higher expression of COX2 and Ki-67 were seen in PBR group (p ＜ 0.05).Conclusion In patients with OPBR,although hyperplasia and metaplasia in gallbladder epithelium were similar to those induced by cholelithiasis,dysplasia and active proliferation might relate to progress to malignancy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between polymorphisms of serine hydroxymethyltransferase1 gene and the adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods:A total of 51 patients with ALL were treated with HD-MTX, and clinical manifestations after HD-MTX treatment were evaluated retrospectively. cD-NA was obtained from mRNA. The polymorphisms of SHMT1 gene containing rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, and rs12952556 sites were tested by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. Effects of SHMT1 gene polymorphisms on HD-MTX ad-verse reactions were evaluated. Results:Severe adverse reactions in ALL patients treated with HD-MTX appeared to be mainly neutro-penia and hepatoadverse reactions. The frequency distributions of rs3783 (C>G), rs1979276 (C>T), rs12952556 (A>G), and rs1979277 (C>T) were the same. The polymorphisms of rs1979277 showed no correlation with neutropenia (P>0.05) but rs1979277 CT and TT genotypes were correlated with hepatoadverse reactions (CT: OR=0.129, 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.817, P=0.03; TT: OR=0.103, 95% CI:0.017 to 0.620, P=0.013). Conclusion: No correlation was found between the combination of rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, rs12952556, and neutropenia, but one or more of these loci may reduce the risk of hepatoadverse reactions.