AIM: To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of punctoplasty by using trabeculectomy punch combined with a novel RS tube for the treatment of punctal stenosis.METHODS: Totally 39 patients (39 eyes) with punctual stenosis were selected from October 2013 to October 2015 in the Second People`s Hospital of Foshan.All patients underwent punctoplasty by using trabeculectomy punch combined with a novel RS tube.These tubes were removed at 3mo after operation.A follow-up of 6mo was taken for final analysis.The fluorescein dye disappearance test score was recorded before the operation and at 1,3 and 6mo after the extubation.The curative effect of the operation at 6mo after the extubation was assess.RESULTS: Fluorescein dye disappearance test: the scores at 1,3 and 6mo after the extubation all decreased compared with the preoperative ones.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).At the last following up, 35 eyes (90%) were cured completely, 4 eyes (10%) were improved significantly, no patients recurred.Effective rate was 100%.No serious intraoperative and postoperative complications happened.CONCLUSION: Punctoplasty by using trabeculectomy punch combined with novel RS tubes is a safe and effective method for the punctul stenosis, which is easy to perform, with high success rate.

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of losartan(Los) on apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by isoprenaline(ISO),and to discover its related mechanism.METHODS:H9c2 cells cultured on plastic plates were divided into control,ISO,ISO+Los,ISO+Los+LY294002 and DMSO groups.Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometery and agarose gel electrophoresis.The mRNA levels of bax,bcl-2 and caspase-9 were detected by RT-PCR and the expressions of phosphorylated and total Akt(p-Akt and t-Akt) were assessed by Western blotting.The cAMP was measured by radioimmunoassay.RESULTS:ISO at concentration of 10 ?mol/L induced apoptosis of H9c2 with an increase in bax/bcl-2,caspase-9 and cAMP.Addition of 10 ?mol/L losartan inhibited apoptosis obviously with a decrease in bax/bcl-2,caspase-9 and cAMP.A significant increase in p-Akt was observed,and its protein level was elevated.LY294002 at concentration of 1 ?mol/L abolished the protective effects of losartan on ISO-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.CONCLUSION:ISO might induce H9c2 cell apoptosis through stimulation of ?-adrenergic receptor(?-AR).Los inhibits downstream signaling of ?-AR,and promotes the activation of Akt.Subsequently it might attenuate the apoptosis induced by ?-adrenergic stimulation of ISO.

Objective: To discuss the effect and safety of continuous pumping for home enteral nutrition after esophagectomy. Methods: The current study retrospectively analyzed the esophageal cancer patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy between January 2017 and November 2017 at First Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute. There were totally 108 cases, including 88 males and 20 females, with an average age of 62 years. The patients were divided into pump feeding group (n=56) and traditional tube feeding group (n=52). The postoperative short-term safety, weight maintenance, enteral nutrition tolerance and nutritional support complete rate of the 2 groups were compared by χ² test, Fisher exact test and t test, respectively. Results: Compared with traditional tube feeding group, the patient safety in pumping feeding group was significantly better, with complications within 2 months after discharge were 11/52 and 4/56 respectively (χ²=2.393, P=0.035); the weight maintenance was significantly better, the weight loss within 4 weeks after discharge were 3.90 kg and 0.13 kg, respectively (t=7.720, P=0.000); the general enteral complications were significantly lower (26/52 vs. 5/56, χ²=22.225, P=0.000), the nutritional support complete rate was significantly higher (23/52 vs. 55/56, χ²=39.167, P=0.000). Conclusions Continuous pump feeding enteral nutrition support after discharge postoperatively could help improve patient safety after discharge, which is better for weight maintenance of the patients. Pump feeding could also enhance tolerability of tube feeding and ensure the effective accomplishment of nutritional support.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in normal and azoospermic human testes and their significance.

METHODSWe studied the routine pathological slices of normal and non-obstructive azoospermic human testis tissues for changes in the tight junction of Sertoli-germ cells, and identified the differential gene expression profiles of the normal and azoospermic testis tissues using cDNA microarrays containing multiple cadherin molecules. The results were confirmed by Western blot.

RESULTSAbnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells was observed in 37.5% of the azoospermic testis samples, and obvious changes were seen in the expressions of some cadherin molecules, with down-regulation of CDH18 and PCDH17.

CONCLUSIONCadherin molecules such as CDH18 and PCDH17 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia, which might be related with the abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sertoli Cells ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tight Junctions ; Young Adult

It has been a long time since ultrasound hyperthermia began to be used in the clinical management of cancers and benign diseases. Numerous biological and clinical investigations have demonstrated that: hyperthermia in the range of 41-45 degrees C can significantly enhance clinical response to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and high-temperature hyperthermia (greater than 65 degrees C) alone is now being used as an alternative to conventional invasive surgery for selective tissue destruction, causing tumor coagulation and necrosis. As a promising noninvasive and effective local therapy, HIFU has attracted great attention. China is advanced in the clinical applications of HIFU. This article gives an introduction of the development and applications of ultrasound hyperthermia technology, and also provides a general review of a selection of ultrasound hyperthermia systems both in clinical use and under development.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; instrumentation ; methods ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasound, High-Intensity Focused, Transrectal

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of COX10 mRNA in the testes of non-obstructive azoospermia patients and normal men.

METHODSA cDNA microarray containing COX10 and some other genes as RBM and EIF1AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles in the normal and azoospermic testes. The cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testis tissues with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP respectively through reverse transcription. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray. Later the fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were calculated and analyzed. After that an ISH was employed to detect the expression of COX10 mRNA in 10 fertile and 39 non-obstructive azoospermic testes, and the expression levels were compared to evaluate the significance.

RESULTSWe obtained 128 differentially expressed genes that might be related with azoospermia, among which 56 were up-regulated and 72 down-regulated, with the expression of COX10 significantly decreased. In situ hybridization confirmed that the mRNA expression of COX10 was stronger in the spermatogenic cells of the normal fertile than the azoospermic testes.

CONCLUSIONCOX10 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia. The technique of cDNA microarray can be applied to further studies of screening non-obstructive azoospermia associated genes.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the Notch1 mRNA and protein expression in human breast cancers and normal mammary tissues, and their relationship with the clinical indicators of breast cancers were analyzed.

METHODSNotch1 gene of human breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and normal mammary gland tissues were amplified by RT-PCR, and the expression of Notch1 protein was detected by immunohistochemical Streptavidin-Biotin Complex (SP) stain in 60 IDC, 30 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 60 normal mammary tissues.

RESULTSNotch1 gene of human IDC and normal mammary tissues both could express in a transcription level; the positive rates of Notch1 protein expression in normal mammary tissues and DCIS were 55% and 70%. Respectively, which did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), while the positive rate in IDC was 90%, significantly higher than that of the normal mammary tissues and DCIS (P < 0.05). The high expression of Notch1 protein in IDC correlate significantly with lymph node metastasis, pathological grades and TNM stages.

CONCLUSIONSNotch1 protein was over expressed in breast IDC. A high Notch1 protein expression is considered associating with the evolution and malignant transformation of the breast tumor. The expression of Notch1 gene maybe impact the effect of on the progression of breast cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammary Glands, Human ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and related mechanisms of hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein on cell cycle and growth in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSA human hepatocyte HepG2 cell line stably expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged HBx (HepG2/GFP-HBx cells) was used for the experiment, and HepG2 parental and HepG2/GFP cells was used as the controls. Effect of HBx on cell growth was evaluated by the MTT cell proliferation assay and on cell cycle progression by flow cytometry analysis of cells with or without treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR; 5 pmol/L). Effect of HBx expression on promoter methylation status of the p16INK4A tumor-suppressor gene was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and on p16 protein level was analyzed with western blotting.

RESULTSThe HepG2/GFP-HBx cells showed significantly higher cell proliferation at 72 hrs of culture (3.225+/-0.038 A490) than either control (HepG2: 2.012+/-0.022 A490, t = -46.86, P less than 0.001; HepG2/GFP: 2.038+/-0.029 A490, t = 42.51, P less than 0.001). The HepG2/GFP-HBx cells also showed significantly lower proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase (16.45%+/-0.45%) than either control (HepG2: 44.81%+/-1.36%, t = -34.202, P less than 0.001; HepG2/GFP: 42.76%+/-1.58%, t = -28.88, P less than 0.001). However, 5-Aza-CdR treatment did lead to a significant amount of HepG2/GFP-HBx cells being arrested in the G0/G1 phase (33.25%+/-0.79%, t = 31.85, P less than 0.001). The p16INK4A promoter was methylated in the HepG2/GFP-HBx cells, and became demethylation after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR. However, no methylation of p16INK4A promoter was observed in both HepG2 and HepG2/GFP cells. The p16 protein level was significantly lower in the HepG2/GFP-HBx (vs. HepG2 and HepG2/GFP cells) and this level increased after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR.

CONCLUSIONHBx protein promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell cycle progression and growth by shortening the G0/G1 phase, and the underlying mechanism may involve inducing p16INK4A promoter methylation and downregulating p16 protein expression.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, p16 ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Trans-Activators ; pharmacology

Objective To study the protective effect of the sodium selenite and benazepril on renal interstitial fibro-sis(RIF) in rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) and its mechanism. Methods The male SD of clean grade rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,UUO group(UUO model was established by li-gating unilateral ureter), UUO+ sodium selenite group group(sodium selenite 0.2 mg/kg·d gavage), UUO+benazepril group(benazepril 10 mg/kg·d gavage),with 18 in each group.At day 7,14 and 21 after thetreatment, 6 rats selected randomly from each group were killed.The extent of RIF was evaluated by HE and Masson staining of the renal tissue. The expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) andⅢ collagen(ColⅢ) were detected by immunohistochemical method.The protein expression of CTGF and TGF-β1 were detected by Western blot. Chemical colorimetric method was used to detecte the contents of supper oxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in renal cortex. Results The extent of RIF and the expression of CTGF,TGF-β1,α-SMA and ColⅢin renal cortex were significantly lower in sodium selenite group and benazepril group at day 7,14 and 21 after the op-eration compared with that in UUO group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). In sodium selenite group and benazepril group,the contents of SOD and GSH-px in renal cortex were higher significantly than those in UUO group at day 7,14 and 21 after the operation respectively(P<0.05),but the MDA in renal cortex was significantly decreased(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the indexes between the two groups of sodium selenite and benazepril. The expres-sion of CTGF,TGF-β1,α-SMA,ColⅢand the extent of RIF were positively correlated to the level of MDA in UUO group(P<0.05,respectively),and negatively correlated to the level of SOD and GSH-Px(P<0.05,respectively). The expression of CTGF was positively correlated to the expression of α-SMA and ColⅢin UUO group(P<0.05).The expres-sion of CTGF,α-SMA and ColⅢwere positively correlated to RIF in UUO group(P<0.05).Conclusions Sodium sele-nite and benazepril can reduce the extent of RIF in rat model with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and management of renal angiomyolipoma (RAML), and to identify risk factors affecting spontaneous angiomyolipoma rupture.

METHODSThe data of 68 patients with RAML from 1989 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were divided in two groups on the basis of tumor size, 35 patients in group A ( 4 cm).

RESULTSSeven patients were identified by image-guided percutaneous biopsy, and no major complications was noted. Sixteen patients with RAML were examined with angiography and 9 of 16 patients had got spontaneous rupture. 41.2% of patients were symptomatic, 4 cases (11.4%) in group A and 24 (72.7%) cases in group B (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in mean tumor size (11.6 cm +/- 5.1 cm vs 5.3 cm +/- 2.9 cm, P < 0.01) and mean aneurysm size (13.6 mm +/- 5.8 mm vs 2.6 mm +/- 3.0 mm, P < 0.01) between 9 cases of the ruptured tumor and 59 cases of unruptured tumor, 9 cases of the ruptured and 7 cases of unruptured tumor with angiography, respectively. Treatment consisted of conservative observation in 10 patients (no radiographic changes during the follow-up of 2 - 7 years); partial nephrectomy in 14 patients, tumor enucleation in 30 patients, total nephrectomy in 14 and posterior laparoscopic nephrectomy in 3 (no recurrence and complication correlation to operation during the follow-up of 2 - 144 months).

CONCLUSIONSIt is an important role that percutaneous biopsy guided by ultrasonography or computerized tomography performs in managing suspicious and/or indeterminate RAML. A higher probability of rupture is related to tumor and/or aneurysms size. Nephron-sparing surgery is the first choice for surgical treatment of RAML.

Adolescent ; Aged ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Interventional