AIM and METHODS: To study the changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and its significance. Eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. MI was produced by left coronary arterial ligation in 80 animals, and eight rats undergoing thoracotomy but not coronary ligation served as controls (sham).Blood samples were drawn from the right atrium before (sham animals) and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours and 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 days after MI( n =8,respectively). Serum VEGF concentrations were measured by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for VEGF. RESULTS: In 8 sham animals, the concentration of serum VEGF was (66 99?17 83) pg/mL. Six hours after MI, the level of serum VEGF significantly increased to (125 68?28 07)pg/mL ( P

AIM: As a human basement membrane-derived inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth, canstatin has been paid great attention since it was isolated and identified in 2000. Canstatin significantly inhibited human endothelial cell migration and proliferation and induced apoptosis, suggesting that it might be a powerful and potential therapeutic molecule for atherosclerosis,unstable angina and tumor.

AIM: To investigate the effect of VEGF gene transfer on matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPs) expression after vascular balloon injury. METHODS: 90 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly: group Ⅰ(balloon injury group), groupⅡ (pAdtrackCMV group) and group Ⅲ(pAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 group). Hypercholesterol diet was given for 7 days before experiment and continued to receive until the animals were killed. Each group were divided into five subgroups according to the sacrifice time. Blood samples and iliac arteries were harvested for further analysis. RESULTS: In group Ⅰ and Ⅱ, MMP2 and TIMP1,2 expressions were detected during the whole process ,while in group III ,MMP1,2,9 and TIMP1,2 could be detected from 3 days after gene transfer and reached the highest level at 1 week and could not be detected at 8 week. CONCLUSIONS: Imbalance expression of MMPs and TIMPs occurred after vascular injury and this may be the reason of pathological remodeling. Local phAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 transfer could specifically change the expression of MMPs and facilitate the positive remodeling process after vascular injury.

AIM: To investigate the effect of canstatin on cultured rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC). METHODS: By means of cationic liposome mediated method, canstatin RNA was transferred into cultured VSMC. The proliferation quantity of VSMC were determined by the cell counting method and thymidine(-TdR) incorporation. RESULTS: Canstatin RNA could be effectively transferred into cultured primary rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells by the cationic liposome-Dosper and could markedly inhibit VSMC proliferation. CONCLUSION: Transfection of canstatin RNA could inhibit the growth of VSMC in vitro.

AIM: To screen and identify the differentially expressed genes in lymphocytes of patients with unstable angina in order to find the molecular mechanism of unstable angina. METHODS: Suppression subtractive hybridizations (SSH) and dot blot hybridizations were performed to screen the relatively differentially expressed genes in lymphocyte RNA between the patients with unstable angina pectoris and stable angina pectoris. The obtained expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were used as probes to perform Reverse Northern blot with forward and reverse suppression products. And the positive ESTs were performed RNA slot hybridization with unstable and stable angina group. The obtained ESTs were sequenced and analyzed using BLAST (nr) at NCBI. RESULTS: Three up-regulated ESTs in the unstable angina group, and one down-regulated EST in the stable angina group were obtained. All of them are sequences of known genes. CONCLUSION: All these ESTs may be associated with the unstablization of plaque of coronary artery in patients with unstable angina.

Objective To observe the effect of wheel running and treadmill running on the cognitive functioning of rats after the extraction of a molar.Methods Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (group C,n =8),a molar extraction group (ML group,n =8),a wheel running pretreatment group (W-ML group,n=8) and a treadmill running pretreatment group (T-ML group,n =8).The rats in the T-ML and W-ML groups practiced wheel running and treadmill running for 1 week,then they and the rats in the ML group received molar extraction surgery.One week later,a passive avoidance test was used to evaluate the cognitive functioning of all of the rats.Results No significant differences were found in the groups' average latency I times,but the average latency II time of the ML group was significantly shorter.There was no significant difference in the average latency II times of the T-ML and W-ML groups.Conclusion Either wheel running or treadmill running can promote learning and memory after molar loss by oral surgery,at least in rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of phVEGF165 transfer on vascular remodelling after balloon injury and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS90 New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 3 groups: group I (balloon injury group), group II (pAdtrackCMV group) and group III (pAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 group). All animals were given hypercholesterol diet for 7 days before experiment and continued to receive hypercholesterol diet until being killed. Each group was further divided into five subgroups according to the sacrifice time (3 days, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after transfection). Blood samples and arteries were harvested for further analysis.

RESULTSAt the end of 2 weeks, areas of neointima plus media of group III were smaller than those of group I and II (P < 0.05). The areas under external elastic membrane were larger in group III at 4 weeks and lumen stenosis rates were significantly lower than group I and II (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In group III, VEGF165, metalloproteinases (MMPs) -1, -2, -9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) 1, 2 could be detected from 3 days after gene transfer and reached the highest level at 2 weeks time and could not be detected by 8 weeks time. In groups I and II, MMP-2 and TIMP-1, -2 could be detected during the whole procedure and the value of TIMP1/MMP1 was significantly higher than in group III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRemodelling is the main reason for restenosis (RS) after vascular balloon injury. Local pAdtrackCMV-VEGF165 transfer can specifically change the expression of MMPs and facilitate the positive remodelling process, hence, inhibiting restenosis.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Objective To analyze the clinical outcomes and surgical procedures of 32 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods From January 2013 to July 2018,32 patients who were diagnosed to have hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent total laparoscopic treatment in Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University.The clinical data of these patients were recorded,including the general data,Bismuth types,AJCC types,postoperative complications,pathological findings,and follow-up results.Results This study included 20 males and 12 females with a mean age of 60.9±8.8 years and a body mass index of 22.6±3.2 kg/m2.According to the preoperative imaging studies,the Bismuth types Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,Ⅲb,and Ⅳ were found in 12,2,3,4 and 11 patients,respectively.Laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and bilioenteric anastomosis was performed in 12 patients,with radical resection and external bile drainage in 6 patients,extended hemihepatectomy with caudate lobectomy in 6 patients and concomitant portal vein resection in 2 patients.The mean operative time was 365.6± 121.9min and the median intraoperative blood loss was 300 (75,400) ml.Intraoperative red cell and plasma transfusion were 0-15 U and 400(0,625)ml,respectively.According to the Clavien-Dindo complication classification system,5 of 32 (15.6％) patients developed type Ⅱ morbidity.The postoperative pathological findings revealed bile duct adenocarcinoma in 30 patients and mucinous adenocarcinoma in 2 patients.The median size of cancer was 3.0 (1.0,3.5) cm.According to the 8th AJCC staging system,stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ were found in 6,13,11,and 2 patients,respectively.A negative resection margin was achieved in 24 of 32 patients (75％).Up to August 6,30 of 32 patients (93.8％) were followed up and the overall 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates for the patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma were 80.0％,53.0％,and 53.3％.The median survival time was 21.8 months.Conclusion Total laparoscopic surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma was safe and feasible if performed by an experienced surgeon after accurate preoperative evaluation.

Objective To study the feasibility of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy ( LPD) in the treatment of pancreatic head cancer, and to analyze the short-term postoperative outcomes. Methods The clinical data of 57 patients with pancreatic head cancer who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduode-nectomy from April 2015 to November 2017 in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retro-spectively analyzed. Results Of the 57 patients, conversion to open surgery was required in 2 patients, and major venous resection and reconstruction were performed in 9 patients, including 8 end-to-end anastomosis, and 1 synthetic graft interposition. Total pancreatectomy was carried out in 4 patients. For the remaining 53 patients, pancreaticojejunal mucosal anastomoses were carried out in 50 patients, and sleeve pancreaticojeju-nostomy in 3 patients. The mean operative time and operative blood loss were 497 (240～720) min and 435 (50～3 000 ) ml, respectively. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 17. 7 ( 6. 0 ～59. 0 ) days. Postoperative complications were detected in 26. 3% (15/57) of patients, which included delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in 4 patients, Grade B pancreatic fistula (PF) in 4 patients, biliary fistula ( BF) in 2 patients, postpancreatectomy hemorrhage ( PPH) in 2 patients, intraabdominal infection in 1 patient and pulmonary infection in 2 patients. All the patients with DGE recovered with conservative treatment and they were discharged home. Reoperation was only required in the two patients with PPH. One patient died after the operation. The postoperative pathological results revealed pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma in 53 patients, adenosscale carcinoma in 1 patient and neuroendocrine carcinoma in 3 patients. The maximum and minimum tumor sizes were 7. 0 cm×5. 0 cm×3. 5 cm and 2. 5 cm×1. 5 ×1. 0 cm, respectively. The mean lymph nodes harvest and positive lymph node retrieval were 14(1～60) and 0. 7(0～3), respectively. Negative resection margins were obtained in 84. 2% (48/57) of patients. This study was censored on December 31, 2017. The follow-up for these patients ranged between 1 to 32 months. Mortality occurred in 21 patients, including 1 patient with a ruptured aneurysm 2 months after operation, 2 patients with GI bleeding 2 and 9 months respectively after operation, 1 patient with severe pulmonary infection and 17 patients with cancer recurrence with survival varying from 2 to 21 months. 35 patients were still alive. Conclusion Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is a safe and feasible procedure for pancreatic head cancer.