Objective To investigate the causes and prevention of hemorrhage and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during the endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breast areola approach.Methods Totally 36 patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breast areola approach from January 2006 to January 2008.Results All the procedures were completed under an endoscope with a mean operation time of 105 min(50 to 180 min),and mean blood loss of 30 ml(20 to 150 ml).None of the patients were converted to an open surgery.One patient developed fat liquefaction,and one showed subcutaneous emphysema,no patient had injuries to any of the nerves or the parathyroid glands.The drainage tube was removed in 24 to 72 months after the surgery.The patients were discharged from the hospital 3 to 7 days postoperation.Postoperative pathological examination showed thyroid adenoma in 7 cases and thyroid nodular goiter in 29.The 36 patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months with a mean of 12 months.During the period,3 patients complained of chest symptoms and were cured spontaneously in 3 to 7 months.All the patients were satisfied with the aesthetic outcomes,none of them had local recurrence of the tumor.Conclusions Endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breasts areola approach is feasible and effective with good short-term and aesthetic outcomes.

Objectives To construct two retroviral vectors, one containing human interleukin-1 recep-tor antagonist (hIL-1Ra) gene and the other containing human interleukin-10 (hIL-10) gene and to transfect rabbit synoviocytes in vitro and detect the expression level of target genes. Methods RNA from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were extracted and target genes were amplified by RT-PCR. The target genes were cloned into retroviral vector pLXSN, which was then transducted into GP2-293 cells to produce recombinant retrovirus. Rabbit synoviocytes were transfected and the expression of target genes was detected by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western-blot. Results The retroviral vector containing hIL-1Ra gene or hIL-10 gene was constructed successfully. The hIL-1Ra gene and hIL-10 gene were transduced respectively into rabbit synoviocytes in vitro. The mRNA level of both genes reached peak in 5 days. In positive cell clones, the protein level of hIL-1Ra reached peak within 30 days and maintained at least 60 days; the protein level of hIL-10 maintained at least 40 days. Conclusion The hIL-1Ra gene and hIL-10 gene can be transduced successfully into rabbit synoviocytes by recombinant retrovirus.

Objective To detect the expression and activation level of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Method Forty-six specimens including 17 RA, 24 osteoarthritis (OA) and 5 normal synovial tissues were subjected to RT-PCR to determine the mRNA level of NF-?B p65,p50,inhibitor of NF-?B (I?B),interleukin-1? (IL-1?) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9).Thirty-nine sections including 14 RA,21 OA and 4 normal synovium were subjected to immunohistochemistry to determine the expression level of NF-?B p65.Synoviocytes from 14 synovial specimens including 8 RA and 6 OA were cultured and the nuclear protein was extracted and reserved for western blot.Results The mRNA level of p65,IL-1(,MMP-9 were higher in RA group than that of control (P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) on the expressions of Notch pathway components in human peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro.

METHODSMononuclear cells isolated by density gradient centrifugation of human peripheral blood mixed with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (Hes) were plated on fibronectin-coated 6-well culture dishes. After 7 days, the adherent cells were cultured in the presence of 10 and 20 mg/L CRP for 48 h, and the proliferation, migration, and adhesion abilities of the cells were observed. The mRNA expressions of Notch-1 and its ligand Jagged-1 in the EPCs were measured by RT-PCR, and their protein expressions by Western blotting.

RESULTSCRP at 10 and 20 mg/L caused a significant reduction in the number of viable EPCs (61∓3 and 54∓3, respectively) as compared with PBS (71∓4, P<0.05). CRP also resulted in a significant suppression of the proliferation, migration and adhesion capacities of the EPCs. The mRNA and protein expressions of Jagged-1 and Notch-1 in the EPCs significantly increased following CRP exposure in comparison with PBS treatment.

CONCLUSIONCRP can suppress the proliferation, migration and adhesion capacities of the EPCs probably by affecting the expressions of the Notch-1 pathway components.

C-Reactive Protein ; pharmacology ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Jagged-1 Protein ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism