Objectives:To evaluate the potent role of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and its tissue inhibitors(TIMPs) in the processes of metastasis and local invasiveness of Chinese human ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas,and to evaluate the possible biologic association between its gene expression and the clinical manifestations.Methods:Northern-blot and in-situ hybridization has shown MMPs and TIMPs gene expression in the pancreas and alterations associated with neoplastic transformation.Fifteen cases of surgical pancreatic specimens were examined with cDNA probes to MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1,findings were correlated with the size of tumor section,CA19-9,pathological classification,thrombosis and infiltration of capsule and lymph nodes.Results:Increased levels of genes mRNA from MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 were found in the examined pancreatic cancer tissues,MMP2≈MMP9＜TIMP1,whereas low levels of transcripts for MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 were detectable in pancreata of organ donors.Transcripts coding for MMP2,MMP9,TIMP1 were found in both stroma and tumor cells.Gene expression of MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 has shown an obvious correlation with the infiltration of capsule cells,surrounding lymph nodes and the specific histopathological features.Conclusions:Imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs may help physicians to assess the metastatic potential and the prognosis of individual patients.

Objective To study a safe and effective method for the dissection of the cystic duct under laparoscope.Methods Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1 460 cases,by using the retrograde dissection of the cystic duct,from December 2002 to December 2005 in this hospital. Results The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully completed in 1 442 cases,with an operation time of 15~100 min(mean, 42 min).A conversion to open surgery was required in 18 cases(1.23%).Complications included 5 cases of bile duct injury(0.34%),3 cases of intraabdominal hemorrhage(0.21%),and 3 cases of biliary leakage(0.21%).Follow-up for 2~24 months(mean,11.8 months) found 2 cases of residual calculi in the common bile duct.Conclusions The retrograde dissection of the cystic duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe method and simple to perform.