Objective To study the protection of phycocyanin on the neurons and the expression of Caspase-3 genes after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.Methods The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) was established using intraluminal filament method.All 84 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(4 cases),control group(40 cases) and therapeutic group(40 cases) treated by phycocyanin.The nervous functional deficit score was evaluated by Bederson's testing,the cererbral infarction volume was measured using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining,and the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization at regular intervals after ischemic reperfusion.Results Phycocyanin could improve nervous functional deficit score and reduce the cerebral infarction volume during 24～48h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.In the control group,the upregulation of Caspase-3 mRNA began 6h after reperfusion,reached its maximum at 24h and subsided gradually from 48h to 14d.In the therapeutic group,the time-phase pattern of Caspase-3 mRNA expression was similar to that in the control group,and the number of caspas-3-positive cells were significantly lower than that in the control group at the same time.Conclusions Phycocyanin could inhibit the over-expression of Caspase-3 mRNA in neurons,and might play an important role in protecting ischemic reperfusion injury in rats.

Background and purpose: At present, gastric cancer is considered to be both genetic and epigenetic disease, and epigenetic alterations play a significant role in the development of gastric cancer. DNA methylation is the most well studied and most in-depth epigenetic modiifcations in human-beings. The silencing of tumor-related genes by DNA methylation is reversible. ERCC1 is a kind of DNA repair gene. The present study was aimed to detect the CpG island methylation status of ERCC1 gene promoter in gastric cancer tissues and corresponding peripheral blood, and to explore the relationship between methylation of ERCC1 gene in peripheral blood and in gastric cancer tissues. Methods:Methylation speciifc PCR was performed to detect the methylation status of ERCC1 gene in the tumor tissues and the paired peripheral blood from 30 gastric cancer patients. Results:The positive rate of methylation of ERCC1 gene promoter CpG island was 76.7%(23/30) in the tumor tissues and 63.3%(19/30) in serum of gastric cancer patients, and the difference had no statistical signiifcance. Conclusion:Our studies suggest that ERCC1 gene promoter CpG island methylation can be detected in a high proportion of the serum consisting with that in tumor tissues of gastric cancer patients, and the detection of methylation status of ERCC1 gene in peripheral blood provides a more simple, fast and reliable way for the medical treatment of gastric cancer and also provides the possible theoretical basis for the CpG island methylation of ERCC1 gene promoter as a target for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Objective:This study aims to detect the CpG island methylation status of the ERCC1 gene promoter and the expres-sion of the ERCC1 protein in gastric cancer tissues, as well as to investigate the correlation and significance between ERCC1 gene pro-moter CpG island methylation and protein expression. Methods:Methylation-specific PCR was performed to detect the methylation sta-tus of the ERCC1 gene in tumor tissues and adjacent cancerous tissues from 30 gastric cancer patients. Ten cases of normal gastric tis-sues were used as control. Expression of the ERCC1 protein in gastric cancer tissues, adjacent cancerous tissues, and normal gastric tis-sues was examined by immunohistochemistry S-P method. Results:The methylation rate of the ERCC1 gene promoter CpG island in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent cancerous tissues (76.7%vs. 13.3%, P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The incidence of promoter methylation was not found in 10 normal gastric tissues. The negative rate of ERCC1 protein expression in 30 cases of gastric carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent cancerous tissues (70.0% vs. 33.3%, P<0.05), whereas 10 normal gastric tissues all exhibited positive expression for the ERCC1 protein. The tumor tissues with ER-CC1 gene promoter CpG island methylation showed a lower expression of ERCC1 protein than the unmethylated tumor tissues in gas-tric cancer patients. Conclusion:Methylation of the ERCC1 gene promoter CpG island and protein expression are negatively correlat-ed, and methylation of the CpG island of the ERCC1 gene may be one of the main reasons for the down-regulation of protein expres-sion.

Drug eluting stents (DESs) have revolutionized the interventional cardiology over the past decade since the first DES became commercially available in Europe in 2002. Compared to bare metal stents that are deployed to keep the vessel open by mechanical force, DESs have an additional function of reducing restenosis by the action of the drug on the target site. Coatings on the stent surface which ensure the maximum delivery of therapeutic agents to the target site with minimal systematic toxicity, also play an important role in adjusting the drug release profile. Coating material and technology not only affect the surface biocompatibility and the integrity maintenance during the implanting process, but also decide the way of drug delivering and transmitting from the coating. This paper reviews the basic principles of DES coating design, the categories of DES coatings, the commonly used clinical DES coatings and their efficiency in reducing restenosis, and finally provides the future perspectives for DES coatings.

Objective To explore the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) combined with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and cerebral thrombosis in a child. Method The clinical data of SLE combined with APS and cerebral thrombosis in a child was retrospectively analyzed, and the related literature was reviewed. Results This was a 12-year-old boy. The disease onset with recurrent fever, confusion and rash in cheek. He had anemia and thrombocytopenia, and positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anticardiolipin antibody (aCL). Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarction. The diagnosis of SLE combined with APS and cerebral thrombosis was clearly made. Methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, warfarin, meropenem and acyclovir were used for the treatment. At the same time, the patient also received intravenous immunoglobulin. Conclusion SLE combined with APS and cerebral thrombosis in children was usually in a severe condition, the prognosis of which can be effectively improve by early diagnosis and reasonable treatment.

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Objective To study the pathological and ultramicrostructural characteristics of organ tissues in relation to the clinical course of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methods Post-mortem tissue samples of organs (lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, stomach ) were obtained by needle biopsy from four SARS patients who died in middle and late stages 3-5 weeks after the onset of the disease. The pathological samples were studied by light and electron microscope, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry and indirect immuno-fluorescent antibody test. Results The main pathological features were early interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or organizing pneumonia. Fibroblasts were increased in the interalveoli septa and young connective tissue was found to fill the alveoli. Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) with alveolar pneumocytes proliferation and an increase in macrophages were found. Desquamative alveolitis also existed at the same time. Squamous metaplasia and syncytial giant cells with multinuclei could be seen. CD3 + and CD20 + lymphocytes were markedly decreased and CD68 + macrophages and S-100 + dendritic cells increased in spleen. Proliferation of bone marrow cells became restrained . Hepatocytes were vacuolated with fatty degeneration. Electron microscopy showed the presence of coronavirus-like particles 80-60nm in diameter enveloped in the cytoplasm of the type Ⅱ pneumocytes, endothelial cells and lymphocytes. Conclusions A novel coronavirus is the cause of the newly recognized severe acute respiratory syndrom (SARS). The main target organs are lung and immune system. Different pulmonary pathological features were found in patients dying from the disease in different stages. All of specimens showed positive reaction of SARS-fluorescence antibody.

Objective To explore the high-risk factors of infection of incisional wound after cesare-an section.Methods We retrospectively reviewed cesarean section cases with infection of incisional wound and evaluated the high-risk factors.Results Totally ten factors were identified as the high-risk factors ( P<0.05)such as obesity(BMI),more amount of bleeding, prolonged operative time, sugar diabetes, rupture of fetal membranes, etc.The four factors such as age, history of induced abortion ,social factor were not shown to be significant high-risk factors( P >0.05).Conclusion The high risk factors of incision infec-tion in cases with cesarean section include BMI , prolonged operative time , kinds of anesthesia , sugar diabe-tes and more amount of bleeding .

Objective To estimate the value of the Angio seal (Vascular Cloure Device, St Jude Medical) in femoral artery closure after CAG (coronary angiography) or PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). Methods From Oct 2002 to Oct 2003 316 patients received CAG or PCI at our hospital They were divided into group A (150 patients) and group B (166 patients) The Angio seal was useded in group A to close the puncturing spot of femoral artery, and the side of the body punctured was trigged for 4 hours Common hemostasis was adopted in group B Results As compared with group B, time to hemostasis and time to ambulation were notably decreased and groin hematoma and time to bleeding disposed at the puncture site were markedly reduced in group A Conclusion Safe and effective, the Angio seal may be widely adopted in clinical practice

Objective To explore the effect of intra ve nous irradiation of low energy He-Ne laser on plasma endothelin(ET) levels in p atients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods Eighty-five patients with ACI were randomly divided into two groups: In group s I, the patients were treated with low energy He-Ne laser intravenous irradiat ion combined with conventional treatment (group ILIB);In group II, the patients were only received the conventional treatment (conventional control group). The levels of plasmal ET were measured using radioimmunoassay before and 10, 20 days after the treatment, simultaneously 39 healthy subjects were examined for ET le vels and served as the normal control group. Results Before treatment, the plasmal ET level of ACI was significantly higher than th at of normal control group ( P 0.05). ConclusionIt was suggested that intravenous irradiation therapy with low energy He-Ne laser could inhibit ET release and facilitate the recovery of ACI patients.