BACKGROUND:The vascularization plays a key role in bone formation and reconstruction. Bioactiveβ-tricalcium phosphate has a porosity and absorbability that al ow a possibility of constructing vascularized bone.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the blood supply and construction of the central vascularizedβ-tricalcium phosphate, as wel as the mechanism of vascularization in artificial bone for its further clinical application.
METHODS:The lumbar dorsal artery of New Zealand rabbits was isolated and prepared into vascular bundle. At the experimental side, the vascular bundle was implanted into channel of theβ-tricalcium phosphate, then fil ed with the autologous tiny bone particles, and embedded into the latissimus dorsi muscle. Animals without the vascular bundle implantation were taken as the control group. The samples were determined for the morphology and histology at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-surgery.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The site where the vascular bundle was implanted appeared foramen nutriens-like structure, the blood vessels were abundant and smooth. The central vascularized tricalcium phosphate were fil ed with new-born vessels at 4-8 weeks. The newly formed bone and bone metabolism appeared at 4 weeks and newly formed bones were more mature at 12 weeks. In the control group, there were only a few new-born vessels, the newly formed bone was immature. The central vascularizedβ-tricalcium phosphate can significantly improve the vascularization of artificial bone. This model can probably serve as a new method for tricalcium phosphate in clinical use.

0.05). However, the protein expression of HIF-1? was increased remarkably with correspondence to the different hypoxia time (P

Objective To evaluate the relationship between von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutations and the prognosis of Chinese sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Methods VHL gene mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), direct DNA sequencing in 74 paired specimens of sporadic CCRCC and normal kidney. The mutation findings, pathologic fea-tures and prognostic characteristics were analyzed. Results Fifty-one patients (68.9%) were in clinical stage T1, 9 patients (12.2%) were in T2 and 14 patients (18.9%) were in T3. In the aspect of pathological grade, 15 patients (20.3%) were in G1, 50 patients (67.6%) were in G2 and 9 pa-tients (12.2%) were in G3. VHL gene mutations were detected in 40 of 74 cases (54.1%). There were no significant differences of VHL gene mutations in different pathological grade and clinical stage of CCRCC, P=0.915, P=0.237, respectively. All patients were followed up for 34 to 107 months (mean 71 months). Seven patients died of CCRCC. Another 11 patients developed CCRCC related me-tastasis. Five-year tumor-free survival was 78%. The incidence of death or metastasis of CCRCC in VHL gene mutation group (15.0%, 6/40) was significant lower than non-mutation group (35.3%,12/34), P=0.043. Logistic regression results showed that lower tumor pathological grade and stage, better patients' prognosis would be (P=0.016, P=0.024, respectively). However, VHL gene muta-tion was related with better prognosis (P=0.033). This association was stronger among patients with high grade tumors (G3, P=0.048). Conclusions There are frequent VHL gene mutations in spo-radic Chinese CCRCC. Tumors' pathological grade and clinical stage are the important parameters for prognosis. However, VHL mutations are strongly associated with better cancer specific survival for CCRCC patients. These associations are relatively stronger in patients with high grade tumors.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy in treating insomnia in people with blood stasis constitution. Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by using the random number table, 36 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy, while the control group was intervened by oral administration of estazolam. One-week treatment was taken as a course, for 3 successive courses in total. A follow-up study was conducted 3 months later. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was evaluated before and after the intervention, as well as in the follow-up. The clinical efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 88.9% in the treatment group versus 83.3% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the intervention, the PSQI scores dropped significantly in both groups (both P<0.05); the between-group difference in PSQI score was statistically significant (P<0.05). The follow-up study showed that the between-group difference in the global score of PSQI was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus bloodletting therapy can produce a more significant efficacy than oral administration of estazolam in treating insomnia in people with blood stasis constitution.

Objective : To investigate the mutation of VHL gene, an important tumor suppressor gene in primary sporadic human renal cell carcinoma (RCC),and analyse its relationships with pathological stage and grade of renal cell carcinoma. Methods: We analyzed 57 cases of primary sporadic Chinese renal clear carcinoma using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC).All positive cases in DHPLC analysis were further characterized by direct sequencing. Results: Somatic mutations were detected in 30 (53%) of 57 clear cell renal carcinomas including 13 deletions, 2 insertions, and 15 missense mutations. These mutations mainly occurred in the last one third region of exon 1, 2,and 3. Conclusion: VHL tumor suppressor gene is one of the major tumor suppressor genes in human renal cell carcinoma,and there are frequent mutations of VHL in primary sporadic Chinese renal clear cell carcinomas. The mutations of VHL gene were irrespective of the age and pathological grade and stage of patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism and feasibility of transurethral electrochemical therapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSBetween March 1998 and March 2000, specifically designed devices and catheters for electrochemical therapy were applied to 6 prostate specimens obtained by suprapubic prostatectomy in order to treat BPH patients with urinary retention for whom surgery was contraindicated. Sixteen patients (with a mean age of 77.3 years old) underwent electrical treatment totaling 160-220 coulombs under topical urethral anesthesia for 68-132 min. The catheters remained inside the patient for 7-10 d.

RESULTSIrreversible destructive changes occurred within cathodal tissue, while carbonization occurred within anodic tissue. The radius of tissue change was 7-8 mm and 1-2 mm, respectively. In vivo trial: 11 (69%) patients could be weaned off the catheters with satisfactory urination. Three months after therapy, the mean international prostate symptom score (IPSS) was 14.5, mean peak flow rate was 10.5 ml/s, and mean residual urine was 39 ml. No serious complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral electrochemical treatment is potentially a minimally invasive alternative for treatment of BPH, especially for elderly patients at high risk.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; adverse effects ; Electrochemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; therapy ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

At present, PCI is widely applied and their postoperative self-management becomes crucial. This paper studies the definition of self-management, its current application after PCI and possible contributing factors, so as to provide a reference for standardizing home self-management of patients who have received PCI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate biallelic inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene (VHL) in patient of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patient.

METHODSWe extracted tumor and normal DNA from 41 RCC patients. Mutation of VHL gene from tumor tissue was detected from tumor tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites located in VHL gene were analyzed by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was analyzed for VHL gene by comparing between tumor with normal tissue.

RESULTSMutation and LOH of VHL gene was found in 51% (21/41) and 42% (8/19) of RCC patients respectively. LOH was highly associated with mutation positive tumors (r = 0.78) and VHL biallelic inactivation was detected in 37% of RCC patients.

CONCLUSIONBiallelic inactivation of VHL gene occurs in RCC due to VHL mutation and LOH, and its frequency rate is 37%.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein