Objective To evaluate the efficacy and value of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of superior vena cava obstruction syndrome (SVCOS). Methods 12 patients with SVCOS underwent mediastinoscopy. This group consists of 9 males and 3 females aged 16 to 71 years. 7 cervical mediastinoscopies and 5 parasternal mediastinoscopies were performed. Results In eleven patients, definite pathological diagnosis was obtained, included: primary lung cancer in 8, lymphoma in 3 and invasive thymoma in 1. There were no operative morbidity and mortality. Only in 1 patient with lymphoma the symptom got worse after cervical mediastinoscopy and soon released by chemotherapy. Conclusion Mediastinoscopy is an effective method in the diagnosis of SVCOS.It can be considered as a routine procedure if other methods failed.

Objective: To clarify Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Senticosi decoction (DAS) via Chitosan Flocculation. Methods: The operating conditions were optimized and the results were compared with that of ethanol subsiding. Economic budget was carried out. Results: The optimized conditions were: 28.6mL/L Chitosan flocculating agent was added at 30 ?C and pH 5.36. Conclusion: Chitosan coagulating method was economic and efficient on the clarification of DAS and can replace ethanol subsiding method.

Objective:To evaluate the role of miR-124 in breast cancer and its underlying mechanism. Methods:Quantitative re-verse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to quantify the expression level of miR-124 in the breast can-cer cell lines and matched tissues of 52 patients. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of MDA-MB-231 and T-47D were deter-mined by miR-124 overexpression in vitro. Luciferase vectors (pMIR-SP1 3'UTR) were also constructed. The predicted target gene of miR-124 was identified via luciferase activation assay. The mRNA and protein expression of SP1 was detected via qRT-PCR and West-ern blot, respectively. Results:MiR-124 was decreased in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. This result is correlated with metastatic capacity, TMN stages, and prognosis in breast cancer tissues. In breast cancer cell lines, ectopic overexpression of miR-124 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro. MiR-124 mimics significantly inhibited luciferase activation (P<0.05) in HEK293 cells and could significantly decrease the mRNA (P<0.05) and protein expression levels of SP1 in MDA-MB-231 and T-47D cells. Con-clusion:MiR-124 could be inhibited in breast cancer. The low miR-124 expression is associated with poor prognosis. In addition, miR-124 could inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting SP1. These findings confirm that miR-124 downregulation may be a key mechanism for breast cancer carcinogenesis.

Objective To observe the morphology, cell viability and secretion function of catecholamine of the alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) before and after cryopreserving with liquid nitrogen. Methods The APA microencapsulated BCCs were cryopreserved with dimethyl sulfoxide as cryopreservative agent by slow cooling and rapid rewarming for revivification. The change of cell function was observed by detecting the cell viability and secretion of catecholamine. Results As compared with the precryopreseving cells, the morphology and cell viability of the resuscitated APA microencapsulated BCCs showed no significant change. The catecholamine secretion volume of BCCs remained 80% of that by the precryopreserving cells. Conclusion It demonstrates that the resuscitated cryopreserved APA microencapsulated BCCs still remained good morphology, cell viability and secretion function of catecholamine.

Objective To investigate the effect of EST on function of sphincter of Oddi and on the long-term complications.Methods A total of 68 patients with common bile duct stones were recruited from January 2009 to January 2013 in The First People's Hospital of Hangzhou.All patients were under follow-up to observe the incidence of late complications after EST.Oddi sphincter manometry and bile bacterial culture were performed before EST and one year later.Results With the 13-36 months follow-up,the incidence of late complications was 16.9％ (11/65).The peak pressure and frequency of contraction of Oddi sphincter after EST were significantly lower than those before EST,but there were no significant differences between patients with complication and without (P ＞ 0.05).After EST,positive rate of biliary bacteria in patients with complications was much higher than that in patients without complications [70％ (7/10)vs.31.7％ (13/41),P =0.026],although there were no significant differences between them before EST [54.5％(6/11) vs.46.3％ (25/54),P =0.618).Logistic regression analysis showed that cholecystolithiasis,bile duct diameter (＞ 1.5 cm),number of stone (＞ 3),maximun diameter of stone (＞ 20 mm),large EST were independent risk factors for late complications of EST.Conclusion Importance should be attached to the late complications of EST with Oddi sphincter function declination,and biliary enteric reflux being the basic factor in late compilations after EST,which are also influenced by many risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis secondary to ischemia and hypoxia is the main cause of spinal cord dysfunction. Because of the decrease in atmospheric pressure, patients living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are in a hypoxic environment, which is very unfavorable for the recovery of spinal cord injury. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve the postoperative function of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury, and its effect is better on the plateau than at normal altitudes.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on traumatic spinal cord injury in patients living on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.METHODS: This prospective, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed at the Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, China. In total, 164 patients with incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury were equally and randomly assigned to a control group and a hyperbaric oxygen therapy group. Patients in the control group were treated with pedicle screw fixation and decompressive laminectomy. In addition to the surgical treatment performed in the control group, patients in the hyperbaric oxygen group underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 0.2 MPa once a day for four treatment courses. Ten treatment sessions constituted one course, and each course was separated by a 5- to 7-day rest interval. The primary outcome was the modified Barthel index to assess activities of daily living. The secondary outcomes were the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale grade, sensory score, and motor score. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, China (Approval number: QHC011K). Written informed consent was provided by a relative or legal representative of each patient after they had indicated that they fully understood the treatment plan. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The partial results demonstrated that after four treatment courses (55-61 days), the modified Barthel index and ASIA tactile, pain, and motor scores were higher in the hyperbaric oxygen group than in the control group. The ASIA grades were significantly different between the hyperbaric oxygen group and control group. The proportion of patients with ASIA grades D and E was higher in the hyperbaric oxygen group than in the control group. In this trial, we aim to determine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the treatment of incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury in patients living on the plateau and to provide clinical evidence for treating incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury in these patients.

In order to explore whether gene CHFR was inactivated by methylation in leukemia cells, the expression of CHFR was examined before and after treatment with demethylation agent in Molt-4, Jurkat and U937 leukemia cell lines by means of RT-PCR. The methylation of promoter in Molt-4, Jurkat and U937 cells as well as 41 acute leukemia patients was analyzed by MS-PCR. The results showed that methylation of CHFR promoter was inactivated and could be reversed by treatment with a demethylating agent in Molt-4, Jurkat and U937. CHFR promoter methylation was detected in 39% of acute leukemia patients. There was no difference in incidence of CHFR promoter methylation between acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. In conclusion, CHFR is frequently inactivated in acute leukemia and is a good candidate for the leukemia supper gene. By affecting mitotic checkpoint function, CHFR inactivation likely plays a key role in tumorigenesis in acute leukemia. Moreover, the methylation of gene CHFR appears to be a good index with which to predict the sensitivity of acute leukemia to microtubule inhibitors.
Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Neoplasm ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/*genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*genetics ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/*genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Elsholtiza Bodinieri Vaniot has the food and medicinal value. The whole plant contains aromatic oils, flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenolic constituents, β-carotene, vitamin C and inorganic elements, and is characterized by antibacterial, antioxidant, hypolipidemic and other kinds of activity. However, few researches are on the extraction method and activity of the effective ingredient of Elsholtiza Bodinieri Vaniot. This article reviewed the chemical constituents of Elsholtiza Bodinieri Vaniot, with a purpose to provide references for further study and development.