Objective To explore the home-made U-shaped retractor ’ s effect on reducing the traction injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve in the video-assistance thyroidectomy . Methods The patients with unilateral and unifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma , which were diagnosed by ultrasound preparation and by pathological postoperation , were enrolled .They all underwent the ipdilateral lobectomy , isthmus resection and the clearance of central lymph nodes with video-assistance technology .From January 2013 to June 2014, 79 cases ( control group ) were received conventional method , by which the thyroid lobe was elevated onto the trachea surface.From January 2015 to March 2016, 71 cases (U-shaped group) accepted the procedure which adopted home-made U-shaped retractor to pull the thyroid lobe to carotid artery horizontally .The operations were completed by the same surgeon .There were no significant differences between the two groups in age , gender and lesion size , which is comparable .The incidence rate of hoarseness was compared postoperation . Results Postoperative hoarseness of the U-shaped group occurred in 6 cases (8.5%) and the control group in 17 cases (21.5%), which show a significantly statistical difference (χ2 =4.919, P=0.027).And there was no significant difference in voice recovery time [median:16.5 d (8-31 d) vs.18 d (4-50 d), Z=-0.246, P=0.806]. Conclusion In the video-assisted thyroidectomy , using the U-shaped retractor to pull the thyroid lobe laterally and horizontally will be beneficial to reduce the recurrent laryngeal nerve tension and the incidence of the retract injury .

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of minimally-invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy ( MIVAP) for parathyroid adenoma ( PA) . Methods Clinical data of 14 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism ( PHPT) caused by PA between April 2011 and September 2014 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Coexistent thyroid lesions were found in 6 patients.With preoperative definite diagnosis and localization, we performed parathyroidectomy and local excision or lobectomy of the thyroid gland.All the patients were confirmed by intra-operative fast frozen section pathological examination and postoperative pathological immunohistochemistry.Intra-and post-operative parathyroid hormone monitoring was conducted.Hoarseness, choking cough, and active bleeding were observed. Results All the procedures were accomplished successfully, without intra-operative abnormal blood loss or conversion to conventional operation.The operative time was 35-60 min ( mean, 50 min);the intra-operative blood loss was 1.7-32.0 g (mean, 9.75 g).Neither transient nor everlasting injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve or superior laryngeal nerve happened.No hemorrhage was observed.All the patients were followed up for 2-43 months ( mean, 16 months) , during which there was no recurrence. Conclusion MIVAP with thyroidectomy is feasible and safe for PA and coexistent benign thyroid lesions, on the basis of pre-operative adequate diagnosis and proper localization and intra-operative parathyroid hormone monitoring.

Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of endoscopic-assisted inguinal lymphadenectomy via a small incision (3 cm) for vulvar carcinoma . Methods From September 2013 to December 2015, local wide excision and endoscopic-assisted inguinal lymphadenectomy via a 3-cm incision was performed to treat vulvar carcinoma in 6 women.There were 2 cases of unilateral operation and 4 cases of bilateral operations .A small incision (3 cm) was made in the groin.The skin edge was lifted to separate subcutaneous tissue and obtain a surgical exposure .Then endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy was conducted . Results The surgeries were successful in all the 6 patients, with no conversion to open surgery or intraoperative secondary injury .The operation time of inguinal lymphadenectomy was 60-90 min (78.3 ±14.7 min), and the blood loss was 20-40 ml (31.6 ±9.8 ml).The number of lymph nodes desected was 3-13 (8.7 ±3.0) in each side.Pathological examinations showed squamous cell carcinoma . The FIGO staging showed 2 cases of stage ⅠB and 4 cases of stage Ⅱ.The postoperative stitches removal time was 7-9 d (7.8 ±0.7 d) .No surgical complications , such as incision disruption , delayed healing , inguinal skin necrosis , or lower extremity lymphedema , were recorded during a 3-12 months (6.5 ±4.4 months) of follow-up.No tumor recurrence or metastasis was found . Conclusions Endoscopic-assisted inguinal lymphadenectomy via mall incision in the treatment of vulvar carcinoma is effect , safe and feasible .It achieves radical effects .

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of three-dimensional video-assisted thyroidectomy (3D VAT). Methods During January to April of 2014, 10 cases with unilateral or bilateral thyroid benign diseases , thyroid cancer, or parathyroid lesions were enrolled .The 3D VAT was carried out by using a 10-mm 3D stereoscopic endoscope .Local excision or lobectomy was performed via a 2-4 cm curve skin incision one finger above the sternal notch .In two patients , lobotomy combined with systematic lymphadenectomy was performed when papillary thyroid microcarcinoma was identified during operation . Results All the procedures were accomplished successfully under 3D video-assisted system, without intra-operative abnormal blood loss or conversion to conventional thyroidectomy .The operative time was 30-90 min (61.8 ±22.4 min);the intra-operative blood loss was 1.3-93.0 g (median, 5.2 g).All the patients were followed up for 1-4 months.Neither intra-nor post-operative complications about recurrent laryngeal nerve , superior laryngeal nerve , or parathyroid were observed . Conclusions Preliminary impression emerging from this study seems to suggest that 3D VAT is safe and effective.Compared with 2D surgery, a good perception of depth and easy recognition of anatomic structures are noticeable .

Objective To investigate the expression of nm23-H1 in human benign and malignant colorectal lesions and the relationship between invasion,metastasis in colorectal carcinoma.Methods The expression of nm23-H1 were determined by ABC immunohistochemical technique in 80 cases human colorectal carcinoma,and compared with that in adenoma and normal mucus.Result Positivity expression rates of nm23-H1 were 66.7% in colorectal carcinoma.No significant difference of the expression of nm23-H1 in normal mucus,adenoma and cancerous tissue (P>0.05).The positive rates of nm23-H1 expression in different pathological grading,lymph node metastasis and post-operative survival (3 years) were showed significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusions It is suggested that the deletion of nm23-H1 low expression might play an important role in the carcinogenesis,development,metastasis and prognostic value of human colorectal carcinoma.

AIM: To assess the effect of estrogen on the gene expression of caveolin-1 in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: Wistar rats were ovariectomized and subjected to subcutaneous implantation of placebo pellets (OVX+V group) or estradiol pellets (OVX+E group). 2 weeks after implantation, the expression of caveolin-1 gene in endothelium-denuded aortic tissue was examined by RT-PCR. Furthermore, Northern blotting was used to analyze the mRNA expression of caveolin-1 in cultured rat VSMCs. RESULTS: RT-PCR showed that expression of caveolin-1 gene was significantly higher in OVX+E group than that in OVX+V group. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA expression of caveolin-1 was higher in VSMCs pretreated with 17?-estradiol (17?-E 2) than that in VSMCs without 17?-E 2 pretreatment. CONCLUSION: Estrogen up-regulates the gene expression of caveolin-1 in the vascular wall, partially indicating the cardiovascular effect of estrogen. [

AIM: To observe the effect of E2F decoy DNA on proliferation and apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3M.METHODS: E2F decoy DNA,ARE decoy DNA and control decoy DNA were transfected into PC-3M cells with lipofectamine,respectively.Their effects on cell proliferation were detected by MTT assay.The changes of cell morphology were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope.The cell apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry(FCM) analysis and chromosome DNA ladder was detected by DNA gel electrophoresis.The expression of c-Myc mRNA and cyclin D1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.The protein levels of c-Myc and cyclin D1 were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: The growth of PC-3M cells was inhibited after transfection.The transfected PC-3M cells displayed typical apoptotic morphological changes.The apoptotic rate was 26.35% and DNA ladder was observed after transfection.The expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1 were inhibited.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that E2F decoy DNA induces apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC-3M and inhibits cell proliferation via inhibiting expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1.

AIM: To study the basic mechanism of transcriptional regulation,NKX3.1 gene promoter was cloned and its promoter activities in prostate cancer cell lines and other cancer cell lines were tested.METHODS:(1.04 kb)-promoter fragment of NKX3.1 gene was obtained by PCR and cloned into pGL_3-basic and pEGFP-1 that are promoter-less reporter vectors to examine its promoter activity driving the reporter gene transcription.The promoter activity was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay and the expression of GFP reporter observed under fluorescence microscope.RESULTS: The sequence of the cloned(1.04 kb) promoter proved to be correct by DNA sequencing.The dual-luciferase reporter assay(M1/M2) showed that the promoter activity in LNCaP cell transfected with pGL_3-(1.04 kb) promoter was about 1.5-fold higher than that of pGL_3-control transfection and 50-fold higher than that of pGL_3-basic transfection.To investigate the 1.04 kb-promoter activity in different tumor cell lines,the constructed pGL_3-(1.04 kb) promoter and pEGFP-1.04 kb promoter were transfected into several cell lines,respectively.The results showed that the activity of(1.04 kb) promoter in LNCaP was highest among the tested cell lines.Multiple consensus sequence elements have been identified within the(1.04 kb) fragment using TRANSFAC database.Further experiments will be done to determine their founctions.CONCLUSION: Cloned 1.04 kb fragment upstream of NKX3.1 gene presented a strong promoter activity and its activity was highest in LNCaP cell among the tested tumor cell lines.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the biological characteristics of a human specifically targeted antimi- crobial peptide C16LL-37 against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).

METHODSIn this study, an antimicrobial peptide LL-37, a peptide derived from CSP(C16) (S. mutans competence stimulating peptide), and recombinant peptide C16LL-37 were synthesized by Fmoc-chemistry-based strategy. The selectivity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 were identified by the colony counting method on microbial culture plates. After treatment of C16LL-37 at 32 µmol · L⁻¹, the morphological changes in S. mutans were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions.

RESULTS1) The minimum inhibitory concentration of C16LL-37 was 16 µmol · L⁻¹, and the minimum bactericidal concentration was 64 μmol ·L⁻¹. 2) The survival rate of S. mutans was 3.46% after C16LL-37 treatment at 64 µmo-L⁻¹ for 30 min, whereas it was 0% at 64 µmol · L⁻¹ for 60 min. The survival rates of four other kinds of bacteria were more than 60% at any time (P < 0.05). 3) The morphological change in S. mutans was observed after C16LL-37 treatment at 32 µmol · L⁻¹ by using SEM. S. mutans presented an irregular shape, rough surface, and evident splitting. 4) The hemolysis rate of C16LL-37 (≤ 64 µmol · L⁻¹) was less than 0.33%. 5) This study showed no significant in- fluence on the antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions, such as temperature, pH, salinity, and trypsin at low concentration (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONC16LL-37 exhibited obvious specificity for S. mutans, strong antibacterial activity, low toxicity, and high stability. Thus, C16LL-37 has good potential in caries research and clinical application.

Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; Dental Caries ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Peptides ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects

Previous studies have demonstrated that the Chinese medicine paeoniflorin, derived from the Ranunculaceae plant peony, peony, purple peony root, was able to have anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-hypersusceptibility and anti-oxidation activity. In order to elucidate the pesticide effect and the mechanisms by which paeoniflorin exerts its effect of anti-inflammation and immunoregulation on oxazolone-induced colitic mice, disease activity index (DAI) and histological grading of colitis (HGC) were evaluated in animal model. Moreover, the expressions of HBD-2, IL-6 and IL-10 of mice with experimental colitis were observed with immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR in this study. Results showed that DAI and HGC of oxazolone control group was significantly higher than that of normal control group, and that paeoniflorin groups and 5-ASA group, compared with oxazolone control group, could alleviate the symptoms and histological damages of colitic mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The expression of HBD-2 and IL-6 cytokine on the colon of colitic mice was higher than that of normal control, paeoniflorin and 5-ASA groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), but the expression of IL-10 is lower than that of normal control, paeoniflorin and 5-ASA groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The positive correlations were demonstrated between the expression of (HBD-2 and IL-6) and DAI (Pearson r = 0.728, Pearson r = 0.758, P < 0.01, respectively), (HBD-2 and IL-6) and HGC (Pearson r = 0.819, Pearson r = 0.825, P < 0.01, respectively), whereas, the negative correlations were demonstrated between the expression of IL-10 and DAI (Pearson r = -0.789, P < 0.01), IL-10 and HGC (Pearson r = -0.725, P < 0.01). It can be concluded that to some extent paeoniflorin effectively alleviate the symptoms of oxazolone-induced colitis through regulating the expression of HBD-2, IL-6 and IL-10.