Objective The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of pro-gastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP) , squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1) and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis and clinical stage of lung cancer in Chinese patients.Methods Patients with lung cancer and benign lesions confirmed by pathology were enrolled in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2013 to October 2014.The serum levels of four tumor markers (ProGRP, SCC-Ag, Cyfra21-1 and CEA) were measured using immunoassays before treatment.The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) of these four tumor biomarkers were analyzed for the diagnosis of lung cancer.Results A total of 134 patients were finally analyzed, including 73 patients with lung cancer and the other 61 patients with benign lung disease.The diagnostic sensitivity of serum Cyfra21-1 to lung cancer was 67.1％, the specificity 45.1％, the AUCROC 0.658.The diagnostic sensitivity of the panel including ProGPR, Cyfra21-1 and CEA to lung cancer was 75.3％ , the specificity 57.4％ , the AUCROC 0.702.In the lung cancer group, the AUCROC of ProGRP over 65 ng/L to diagnose small cell lung cancer was 0.954;the AUCROC of SCC-Ag over 1.5 μg/L to diagnose squamous cell lung cancer was 0.788;the AUCROC of Cyfra21-1 to diagnose non-squamous-non-small-cell lung cancer was 0.716.In small cell lung cancer patients, the level of ProGRP in limited-disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) were significantly higher than that in extensive-disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) (P =0.005).Conclusion This panel of serum tumor markers including ProGRP, Cyfra21-1 and CEA improves the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity in patients with high-risk lung cancer.The serum CEA level of advanced lung cancer patients is significantly increased.The high level of serum ProGRP predicts the ED-SCLC.

BACKGROUND:Transformation growth factor-β(TGF-β) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are the main regulatory factors in the process of spinal cord injury. There are many researches for TGF-βand BDNF pathogenesis in the spinal cord injury, but the regulation of Ginsenoside Rg1 intervention on TGF-βand BDNF in the spinal cord injury is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 intervention on TGF-βand BDNF expression at themolecular protein levels, and to study the protection effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on the spinal cord and nerve function after spinal cord injury.
METHODS:Experimental rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group and Ginsenoside Rg1 group. In the model and Ginsenoside Rg1 groups, spinal cord injury model was established with the impact method in rats. In the Ginsenoside Rg1 group, rats were intraperitoneal y injected with 10 mg/kg Ginsenoside Rg1 24 hours after modeling, once per day, for 14 days. Rats in the blank control and model groups were injected with equal saline.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, serum malondialdehyde levels increased, the content of superoxide dismutase decreased, TGF-βexpression levels in spinal cord tissue increased, and BDNF expression levels decreased in the model and Ginsenoside Rg1 groups. Compared with the model group, serum malondialdehyde levels decreased, the content of superoxide dismutase increased, TGF-βexpression levels in spinal cord tissue decreased, and BDNF expression levels increased in the Ginsenoside Rg1 group. Ginsenoside Rg1 can protect the injury spinal cord in rats after spinal cord injury.

Objective To observe the effect of low arsenic sub-chronic exposure on blood routine test index in rabbits to pave a way for screening early injury of the low arsenic exposure. Methods Twelve healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. They were administrated with As at the concentration of 0(control), 10, 50 and 250 μg/L in the drinking water. Blood samples were collected from the vein of the ear edge in 8 weeks, and blood test routine including leukocyte (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), lymphocyte percentage (LYM%), neutrophil (GRA), neutrophil percentage (GRA%), monocyte (MON), monocyte percentage (MON%), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin content (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC), RDW, platelets(PLT), mean platelet volume(MPV), platelet hematocrit(PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW), were detected by the ABX-60 hemocyte analyzer. Results Compared with the control group, the WBC, GRA and GRA% increased in 0, 50 and 250 μg/L groups, but there was no significance(P > 0.05). PLT and MPV had a statistical significance in 4 groups(F = 4.07,4.20, all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group[(292.00±16.97)×109/L, (7.10±0.99)fL], PLT decreased in the 250 μg/L group [(221.33±22.50)×109/L] and MPV decreased in the 50μg/L group [(5.57±0.46)fL] significantly (P < 0.05). The other index didn't change obviously. Conclusions Sub-chronic low level arsenic exposure may lead to the change in the blood system. The blood routine test may be considered for early injury of the arsenic poisoning.

BACKGROUND:Chinese herb extracts can restore and protect the nervous system of rats through intervention of neural stem cels. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of ginsenosides Rg1 in the proliferation and protection of neural stem cels. METHOD:Sprague-Dawley rats at pregnant 19 days were dissected to take out fetal rats, and then the hippocampal tissues from fetal rats were isolated to extract neural stem cels. Neural stem cels were co-cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing 50 g/L ginsenosides Rg1 as intervention group, with DMEM/F12 medium as blank control group, and with DMEM/F12 containing 0.64% phenol as positive control group, respectively. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of neural stem cels in each group, and western blot method to detect the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and transforming growth factor-β in neural stem cels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Rat neural stem cels were round single cels with clear border at early period after isolation but at 2 days after inoculation, the cels were adherent and aggregated into smal cel spheres. Compared with the blank control group, the proliferative rate of neural stem cels was significantly increased in the ginsenosides Rg1 group (P < 0.05), but decreased in the positive control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, in the ginsenosides Rg1 group, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was elevated, and the expression of transforming growth factor-β was reduced, indicating ginsenosides Rg1 has a certain effect to promote the proliferation of neural stem cels as wel as to protect the neural stem cels.

Objective To determine the risk factors for post-operative delirium(POD)and post-operative cognitive dysfunction(POCD)in patients undergoing spine surgery.Methods One hundred and twenty ASA Ⅰ-Ⅲ of both sexes aged 50-76 yr undergoing elective spine surgery under general anesthesia were studied.POD was assessed by Delirium Rating Scale revised 98 at 2 days after operation and the patients were assigned into POD and nonPOD group.Cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)at 1 day before and 3 days after operation.The patients were diagnosed as having POCD if MMSEpre-MMSEpost ≥ 3.The palients were assigned into POCD and nonPOCD group.Executive function and depression were assessed by stroop interference test and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI)at 1 day before operation.Age,sex,education,alcohol consumption per week,a history of psychiatric disease,ASA physical status,Charlson comorbidity score,type of anesthesia,anticholinergic drug administration and VAS score at 1 day after operation were recorded.If there was signifirant difference between the 2 groups,the factor was analyzed using multi-factor logistic regression to select risk factor for incidence of POD and POC).Results Eleven patients developed POD(9.2％)and 30 patients developed POCD(25.0％).Logistic regression model showed that lower Stroop-CW,higher BDI score,higher Charlson comorbidity score and a history of psychiatric disease were risk factors for POD,while lower Stroop-CW,higher BDI score,higher Charlson comorbidity score and higher alcohol consumption per week were risk factors for POCD.Conclusion Preoperative executive dysfunction,depression and greater preoperative comorbidity are risk factors for both POD and POCD.A history of psychiatric disease is a risk factor for POD and higher alcohol consumption is a risk factor for POCD in patients undergoing spine surgery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Compound Yihe Tea on improving insulin resistance in obesity mice. Thirty-two male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal fat diet group(NFD group), high fat diet group(HFD group), Compound Yihe Tea low dosage group［20 mg/(kg ·d), YH-L group］ and high dosage group［40 mg/(kg ·d), YH-H group］. NFD group was given standard feed, and the remaining mice were administered with high fat diet. After 6 weeks, YH-H and YH-L groups were given Compound Yihe Tea for 6 weeks. Blood glucose was measured at week 11 and serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), serum triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were measured at week 12. Liver tissues were prepared for oil red O and HE staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to test the protein expression of GLUT4 in liver. Protein expressions of PI3K, Akt and GLUT4 in epididymis white adipose tissue(WAT)were tested by Western blot. The results showed that Compound Yihe Tea could effectively reduce body weights and the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C. Furthermore Compound Yihe Tea could improve the histopathological changes of liver, up-regulate the protein expression of PI3K, Akt and GLUT4 in epididymis WAT and the protein expression of GLUT4 in liver. Compound Yihe Tea can reduce the fat accumulation in liver tissue, improve the indexes of blood glucose and lipid levels, and improve insulin resistance via PI3K-AKT-GLUT4 pathway.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the pathological and clinical characteristics,methods of therapies and perioperative considerations of cervicothoracic spinal fractures and dislocations in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSThirteen patients with ankylosing spondylitis and cervicothoracic spinal fractures and dislocations were treated from January 2001 to March 2009, including 11 males and 2 females,aged varied from 33 to 60 years (mean 46) in 11 males and from 36 to 59 years (mean 47.5) in 2 females respectively. The symptom duration of AS was from 12 to 27 years (means 14.5 years). The chief complains were pain around cervical part and shoulder blades, some accompanied with decrease of motor power and sensation in upper or lower limbs. Spine radiographs revealed a displaced fracture of cervicothoracic spine. Laboratory examination presented positive results of HLA-B27 test. Fusion of fracture and ASIA neurological function grade variation were observed.

RESULTA total of 13 patients, who underwent operation, were followed up for 12 to 43 months(means 35.6 months). There were 6 patients were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, 4 with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, 1 with laminectomy and fusion and 2 with combined anterior and posterior stabilisation. The bone fusion were observed after reduction of fractures and dislocations ultimately. Twelve patients acquired an improved neurological status in different degrees, and only one suffered from persistent neurological impairment loss. The complications occurred in 5 cases during perioperation.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that most cervicothoracic spinal fractures and dislocations in patients with AS are extremely unstable and require operations. If operative method is proper and operative process accurate, either anterior,posterior or combined approach can achieve good spinal myeloid functional recovery with low rates of operative complications occurrence, under the guidence of imaging manifestation.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective To investigate the effects of melatonin on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat hippocampus after isoflurane anesthesia. Methods Sixty male SD rats weighing 390 - 440 g were randomized into 5 groups (n = 12 each): control group (group C), 1% isoflurane group (group Ⅰ), 1% isoflurane + melatonin group (group IM) , 2% isoflurane group (group J) and 2% isoflurane + melatonin group (group JM) . In IM and JM groups, melatonin 10 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 7 consecutive days, while equal volume of normal saline was given intraperitoneally instead of melatonin in C, I and J groups. Groups Ⅰ and IM inhaled 1% isoflurane and groups J and JM 2% isoflurane for 4 h on 7th day. All the rats underwent Morris water maze test on the day after anesthesia for assessment of learning and memory ability (escape latency and probe time) . The training test was performed 4 times a day for S days. Six rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed the end of the test. The blood samples were collected for detection of plasma melatonin level by ELISA.The brain tissues were removed for determination of the expression and activity of ChAT in hippocampus by Western blot or colorimetric assay. The left rats were selected and sacrificed for determination of the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and entate gyrus by immunofluorescence. Results The plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group I than in group C ( P ＜ 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly longer, the probe time was significantly shorter, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group J than in group C ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly shorter, the probe time was significantly longer, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly higher in group IM than in group Ⅰ ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). The escape latency was significantly shorter and the plasma melatonin level and ChAT activity were significantly higher in group JM than in group J ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The results of immunofluorescent staining showed that the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus wag consistent with the changes in the measured ChAT expression. Conclusion Melatonin can reduce isoflurane-mediated inhibition of ChAT expression and activity and thus improve spatial memory impaired by isoflurane anesthesia in rats.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of liver transplantation (LT) for cholangiocarcinoma(CC)and analyze the prognostic factors.Methods From December 2001 to December 2006,234 patients receiving LT for hepatic carcinoma in our institute were enrolled as a basis of comparative study for 6 CC patients undergoing LT during the same period.Results These 6 patients were followed-up from 1 to 56 months.Five patients died and one recurred.The 0.5-,1-and 2-year patient cumulative survival rates were 4/6,3/6 and 1/6,respectively.The 0.5-,1-and 2-year tumor-free survival rates were 3/6,2/6 and 1/6,respectively.The average patient or tumor-free survival time were both(14±4) months.Conclusion The prognosis of cholangioearcinoma patients after LT iS poor.

Objective To investigate the surgical options for the management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) during liver transplantation and its impact on the outcome of patients. Methods 773 cases of liver transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. PVT occurred in 107 patients, inclu-ding 59 of grade Ⅰ ,33 of grade Ⅱ, 12 of grade Ⅲ and 3 of grade Ⅳ. Simple thrombectomy or thrombus-extraction was performed in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ. 12 patients with grade Ⅲ received thrombus-extraction or using the donor iliac vein to act as a bridge between the donor portal vein and host superior mesenteric vein. Two cases of grade Ⅳ received a modified cavo-portal hemitransposition and one case received portal-vena coronaria varication anastomosis. Results Liver function had a good recover and the perio-perative mortality is 4. 3% in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ. In grade Ⅲ , 5 cases received thrombus-extraction had a normal liver function after transplantation and had no died. 2 cases among the other 7 cases using por-tal vein reconstruction had bad liver function and died. The liver function recovered well after trans-plantation and there was no died in grade Ⅳ. Conclusions PVT is not a contraindication for liver transplantation. Good results can be obtained by applying reasonable operative procedures individually.