Objective To analyze the independent factors affecting the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients undergoing radical operation.Methods The clinical characteristics and follow up data of the 97 patients with GIST underwent radical opsration from January,2001 to January,2003 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods.Results In the univariate analysis of the 97 cases,gender,tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count,and Gleevec administration postoperatively were found to be related to the prognosis of GIST.Multivariate Cox model analysis showed that tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count,and Gleevec administration postoperatively were independent prognostic factors for patients with GIST.Conclusions Tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count are important prognostic factors for patients with GIST undergoing radical operation.

Thirty cases of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome were divided into normal height (group 1) and short stature (group 2).There was no significant difference in growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ levels between two groups(P＞0.05).Expected height and body mass index in group 1 were higher than those in group 2,while testosterone,cortisol,and FT4 were lower.Height were positively correlated with age,expected height,birth weight,and body mass index.The height of patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome depended on both genetic factors and the hormones from pituitary-target gland.

Objective To research the metabolism and distribution ofsilybin in normal rats and liver injury model rats.Methods The normal rats group and immunity liver injury rat models were fed with the same dose ofsilybin capsule,and HPLC was used to determine the silybin concentration in biological samples in different time.Results The silybin concentration in the normal group in biological samples was higher than the model group at different time.In the normal group,the consequence of silybin concentration in each viscera distribution from top to bottom was liver＞kidneys＞plasma＞heart,while in the model group the fact was kidneys＞heart＞liver＞plasma.Conclusion The difference of metabolism and distribution of silybin in normal rats and liver damage model rats was obvious.

This experiment was designed to observe the morphologic changes of aortic endothelial cells in diabetic rats and to investigate the influence of hyperglycemia. Diabetic rats were used and their aortic endothelial cells were observed under atomic force microscope, then these pictures were 3D reconstructed. The results showed that numerous microvilli and round window-hollow-like structures and insect- bitten-like caveloae were scattered on the surface of the vascular endothelia, and a few ball-like granules were adhering to the endothelial cells. In diabetic rats, microvilli decreased and the cells looked as if they were weather-beaten rocks. The adhering ball-like granules in the diabetic group were significantly more than those in the control group. They were most numerous at 12 weeks. The insect-bitten-like caveloae began deepening at 7 weeks, and their diameters markedly increased at 12 weeks, but they decreased in number. After 3D figures were reconstructed, the surface of cells manifested smoothness. However, in diabetic rats, the morphology of their endothelial cells was characterized by roughness and small surface projections. The quantitative results showed that the average roughness increased gradually as the experiment time prolonged. These indicate that excess sugar in the blood may destroy the endothelial structure, make the cells rougher, and hence cause the protein granules to adhere onto the endothelial cells. At the same time, the deepening and enlargement of the insect-bitten-like caveloae may indicate the increasing endocytosis.
Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A 31-year-old male normotensive patient with aldosterone-producmg adenoma complained of thirst,polydipsia,polyuria,and periodical paraplegia.The diagnosis is raised by signs of hypokalemia.Despite the lack of hypertension,primary aldosteronism was confirmed by persistent hypokalemia,increased urinary potassium,increased urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and suppressed plasma rennin activity (PRA).The blood pressure profile was studied by ambulatory monitoring,and the mean blood pressure of 24h was normal and the circadian rhythm remained normal. Surgical removal of the histologically typical aldosterone-producing adenomas normalized the kalemia.The patient had a marked fall in blood pressure with mean values of 21/17 mm Hg ( diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure were 19/17 and 22/17 mm Hg respectively)and recovery of normal urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and PRA 6 weeks after surgery.This suggests that excess serum aldosterone induced relative hypertension in those patients whose blood pressure was spontaneously very low.Our observations call for primary hyperaldosteronism assay in patients with hypokalemia and renal potassium leakage.

Objective To study gender-related differences of clinical characteristics and vascular complications in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma(APA).Method Consecutive 315 patients with APA confirmed by pathological diagnosis were included and the clinical features and vascular complications were compared based on gender.Results (1) Of the 315 patients with APA,female accounted for 52.7％ (166/315).Male patients with APA presented a higher BMI,compared with females [(25.4± 2.9) vs (24.1 ± 3.2) kg/m2,P＜0.01],and the history of smoking and drinking was more common in male patients.No significant difference was found in regard to the age,duration,hypokalemia,tumor size,and family history of hypertension between two groups (P＞0.05).(2) No significant difference was found in the prevalence of hypertension,duration of hypertension,blood pressure,and antihypertensive medieation between two groups.However,the patients with grade 3 hypertension tended to be more prevalent in males(P =0.08).(3) Serum aldosterone concentrations were similar in two groups,but 24 h urinary aldosterone showed an increased trend in male group (P =0.07).(4) The overall prevalences of cardiovascular (51.0％ vs 36.1％) and cerebrovascular (9.4％ vs 3.0％) complications were significantly higher in male group (P ＜ 0.05).Further analysis of cardiac events revealed significantly higher rates of left ventricular hypertrophy (23.5％ vs 13.9％) and arrhythmia (21.5％ vs 10.8％) in males (P＜0.05).However,no significant difference in the prevalence between two groups was found in regard to cerebral hemorrhage,infarction,and chronic renal insufficiency.(5) The fall of blood pressure and recovery from hypokalemia were comparable between males and females in two weeks after sugery.However,in the patients with persistent hypertension,the number of antihypertensive drugs used in males was greater than that in females and more male patients needed ≥ 2 types of antihypertensive drugs.Conclusion There were significant gender-related differences with regard to clinical features and vascular complications in patients with APA.

Objective To study whether preoperative serum thyrotropin ( TSH) concentration can be used for risk prediction of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma ( PTMC ) . Methods The cohort of this retrospective study consisted of 1 707 patients who underwent surgery on thyroid nodules at Chinese PLA General Hospital from October 1999toFebruary2011. 37.32%(n=637)ofthesepatientssufferedfromdifferentiatedthyroidcancer(DTC),and 14. 18%(n=242) of patients with DTC suffered from PTMC. Results (1) The mean TSH level in patients with DTC was significantly higher than that in patients with benign thyroid nodules [(1. 99(1. 25-3. 19) vs 1. 48 (0. 85-2. 32) mU/L, P<0. 01]. DTC with diameter greater than 10 mm had higher serum TSH level compared with that in benign thyroid nodules[2. 04(1. 26-3. 36) vs 1. 45(0. 83-2. 30), P<0. 01]. Serum TSH level was not significantly raised in cases where-as the diameter of tumor was 10 mm or less. (2) With the increasing level of TSH, the prevalence of DTC and tumours with diameter greater than 10 mm rose significantly, but the increasing trend was not significant in PTMC. (3) Raised TSH level was an independent risk factor of DTC based on Binary logistic regression. Conclusions Serum TSH is an independent risk predictor of DTC, it is an independent risk predictor of the diameter of DTC greater than 10 mm, but it is not a good risk predictor in PTMC.

Objective To better understand the clinical management of tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) by analyzing the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, postoperative biochemical changes, and clinical status in 12 cases of TIO. Methods Twelve cases of TIO hospitalized from 2004 to April 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. All cases were diagnosed based on their clinical manifestation, hypophosphatemia, and image study including technetium-99m octreotide scintigraphy (99mTc-Oct). Resuits There were 7 males and 5 females with mean age of (41.8±9.6) years (20 to 56 years). The course of disease was from 2 to 14 years ( median course 4.0 years). They all presented with bone pain, gait disturbance, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. Serum phosphate( Pi)levels were low in 12 cases with a range from 0.30 to 0.56 mmol/L. 99mTc-Oct was performed in 9 cases and it showed that the lesions were located in head of femur, fibula, retrocalcaneal area, foot, humerus,metacarpal, posterior chest wall or near nasal bone (apex partis petrosae ossis temporalis). Subcutaneous soft tissue mass was found in another 3 cases at loin, thigh, and foot by physical examination. The tumors were confirmed by CT, MRI or ultrasonography. Twelve patients underwent operation to remove the tumors and histopathology showed hemangioendothelioma or fibrous angioma (6 cases), giant cell tumor or fibroma of tendon sheath(4 cases), liposarcoma(1case), and phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor(1case). Serum Pi levels returned to normal in 10 patients after resection of tumor. During 2 to 64 months follow up, symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness were improved obviously. Conclusions Patients with hypophosphatemic osteomalacia should be thoroughly investigated for TIO. 99mTc-Oct and other imaging examinations can effectively locate the tumors. Once the hidden tumor is found and excised, the patient will recover and enjoy normal life with normalized Pi concentrations and marked improvement of symptoms.

Objective:To explore the effects of protoporphyrin Ⅸ (PpⅨ)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on induction of apoptosis and death in colon cancer cell and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:The cell killing effect of PDT on HCT116 cell was determined by cell counting kit (CCK).The cells were divided into a control group,a single light group,a single PpⅨ group,and a PDT group.Hoechst 33342 and flow cytometry was used to assess the cell apoptosis.Western blot was employed to analyze the expressions ofbd-2,bax,and caspase-3.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by flow cytometry.Results:The viability of HCT116 cell was decreased gradually with the increase of irradiation dose (P<0.05).Compared to the other 3 groups,ROS production,the number of apoptotic cells and the protein expressions ofbax and caspase-3 in PDT group increased,while bcl-2 expression was decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion:PpⅨ-mediated PDT can enhance the apoptosis in HCT116 cell,which may be related to mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Objective To assess the significance of insulin tolerance test(ITT) in clinical diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency(GHD).Methods Eighty-two patients with an established diagnosis of adult GHD [53males,29 females,mean age (30.9 ± 12.3) years (18-65 years)] were reviewed retrospectively for evaluating the GH response to ITT in the General Hospital of the People' s Liberation Army.Control data for peak GH after ITT were obtained in 15 healthy subjects [9 males,6 females,mean age (26.7 ± 5.6) years (22-41 years)].Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic cut-off point of peak GH and GH increment response to ITT.Results (1) Mean peak GH response to ITT was significantly higher in 15 controls compared with 82 patients (the median 14 μg/L vs 0.62 μg/L,P =0.001).The cut-off point of the peak GH(chemiluminescent immunoassay,CLIA) response to ITT in adult GHD was 4.935 μg/L (AUC 0.993).(2) Mean GH increment was significantly higher in 15 controls compared with 82 patients (the median 13.17 μg/L vs 0.19 ug/L,P＜0.001).The cut-off point of the GH increment was 4.088 μg/L(AUC 0.937),with a 91.5％ sensitivity and 100％ specificity.(3) The peak GH showed even higher diagnostic value than the GH increment after ITT.(4)The above mentioned cut-off points (peak GH less than 4.935 μg/L and 5 μg/L) had a coincidence with a 95.1％ sensitivity and 100％ specificity,respectively.Conclusion The current guidelines for the diagnosis of adult GHD based on the optimal cut-off point of the peak GH(CLIA) response to ITT less than 5 μg/L turned to be of reliable diagnostic value in our country.