Objective To investigate the expressions of TESTIN gene and Caspase-3 protein and thier relations with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas(ESCC). Methods The expressions of TESTIN and Caspase-3 in 50 ESCC tissues and paracancerous tissues (＞5 cm apart form the ESCC tissue) were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of TESTIN in 65 matched-pairs of ESCC tissues was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The association of TESTIN and Caspase-3 with clinicopathological features and prognosis of ESCC were analyzed. Results The immunohistochemistry examination showed that the positive rates of TESTIN protein [30. 0% (15/50)] and Caspase-3 protein [24.0% ( 12/50)] were significantly lower in ESCC tissues than those in paracancerous tissues [(84. 0% (42/50) and 94. 0% (47/50),respectively, P＜0.01)]. The mRNA level of TESTIN was down-regulated in ESCC tissues (P＜0.05). Whereas the protein level of TESTIN was down-regulated in 45 (69.2%) of 65 ESCC tissues in comparison with paracancerous tissues. TESTIN expression was positively correlated with the differentiation of ESCC, but not associated with gender, age, tumor size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. There was a positive correlation between TESTIN and Caspase-3 in protein expressions (P＜0. 05). Patients with negative expression of TESTIN had lower survival rate compared to those with positive expression (P＜0. 05). Conclusions The positive relation between low-expression of TESTIN and Caspase-3 implicates that both are involved in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis, and TESTIN might be a novel ESCC marker with prognostic significance.

Objective To explore the effect of problem-based learning method in traditional Chinese internal medicine teaching. Methods 58 students enrolled in the major of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in class C at the Beijing University of Chinese medicine were arranged to receive PBL(test group)or traditional teaching methods(control group)in 2 courses and complete 116 questionnaires. The teaching outcomes were evaluated by questionnaire and individual interviews. Results Compared with controls,students receiving PBL performed significantly better in terms of active classroom atmosphere, broadening their knowledge, and improving teamwork ability(χ2 were 7.16, 4.07, 4.09, P<0.05). Conclusion The PBL strategy has the advantage than the traditional teaching methods in traditional Chinese internal medicine teaching.

Objective To prepare the mouse anti recombinant human Galectin-7 antibody and the antibody was characterized in bladder cancer.Methods The gene coding for Galectin-7 was amplified by PCR from the cDNA of human foreskin cells and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET28a.Then the recombinant plasmid pET28a/Galectin-7 was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3)and expressed under IPTG induction.The recombinant Galectin-7 was purified through Ni2+-NT agarosegel column and the purified Galectin-7 used as imunogen to imunize the mouse.The titer and specificity of the anti-Galectin-7antibody from the mouse were analyzed by ELISA,Western blot and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results The recombinant Galectin-7 was successfully expressed and purified,and the polyclonal ani-Galectin-7 antibody was suc-cessfully prepared.The titer of the antiserum was 1∶32 000 by ELISA.Western blot analysis showed this antiboday reacted specifically with Galectin-7.Immunohistochemistry analysis showed the antibody could recognize the native Galectin-7 in the human bladder cancer tissue.Conclusion The preparation recombinant Galectin-7 protein was as immunogen in rabbits.It was successful to produce high titer and high specificity of anti Galectin-7 polycolonal antibody.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of FBXW7 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to explore the correlation of FBXW7 expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of ESCC.

METHODSNinety cases of ESCC and twenty cases of tumor-adjacent normal tissues and forty intraepithelial neoplasia tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry methods. The expression of FBXW7 in 40 surgical ESCC tissues and tumor-adjacent normal tissues was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The relationship between the expression of FBXW7, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of FBXW7 protein was significantly lower in the ESCC and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues and low grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues (40.0% and 33.3% vs. 85.0% and 77.3%, χ² = 21.923, P < 0.001). The FBXW7 protein was down-regulated in ESCC tissues (P < 0.05), whereas the FBXW7 mRNA was down-regulated in ESCC tissues compared with that in the paracancerous tissues. The expression of FBXW7 was significantly correlated with TNM stage, degree of differentiation, invasion depth and lymph node metastasis (χ² =9.643, 14.908, 16.294, 10.222, respectively, P = 0.002, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001). In the ninety patients, the 5-year survival rates of cases with positive and negative expression of FBXW7 protein was 67.6% and 39.3%, respectively (χ² =6.699, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study demonstrate that FBXW7 expression is significantly declined in ESCC and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues, and is closely correlated with poor prognosis of this disease. FBXW7 as a tumor suppressor gene may play an important role in the carcinogenesis, development and metastasis of ESCC. These results suggest that FBXW7 may become a valuable marker for the severity and prognosis in ESCC.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; F-Box Proteins ; genetics ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Survival Rate ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of zonula occluden-1(ZO-1) in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(HSCC) and its clinical significance.METHODS Immunohistochemistry with tissue microarrays was used to detect the expression of the ZO-1 protein in 52 cases of HSCC.The correlation of prognosis and clinicopathological features was analyzed.RESULTS The expression of ZO-1 protein in HSCC was lower than that in adjacent tissues,its expression was closely related with tumor differentiation,tumor stage,tumor location and lymphatic metastasis.The Log-rank univariate analysis showed that the prognosis of HSCC was related to tumor differentiation,tumor stage,lymphatic metastasis and tumor location.The patients with lower expression of ZO-1 showed the worse prognosis than patients with higher expression of ZO-1.As shown in the Cox regression analyses,tumor differentiation,lymphatic metastasis,the ZO-1 expression and tumor stage were all independent prognostic factors.CONCLUSION The ZO-1 can serve as an independent prognostic factor of HSCC,and the low expression of ZO-1 is closely related to poor prognosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential suitable distribution area and spatial production area of high-quality medicinal materials of Miao medicine Laportea bulbifera. MethodBased on 200 distribution spots of L. bulbifera and 120 ecological factors, the maximum entropy model（MaxEnt） and ArcGIS software were applied to predict the potential suitable areas. The content of rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and quercitrin from 33 batches of L. bulbifera in Guizhou province was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Combined with the previous content data of total polysaccharides and total flavonoids, the correlation between the main pharmacodynamic components of L. bulbifera and ecological factors was analyzed. Eventually, the quality regionalization of L. bulbifera was exhibited by the collocated Cokriging in ArcGIS. ResultThe optimum distribution areas of L. bulbifera were Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, and Hubei provinces in China, and the high and medium suitable areas accounted for 59.48% of the total distribution areas. October precipitation, slope, min temperature of the coldest month, altitude, solar radiation intensity in June, and April precipitation were the main ecological factors affecting the growth and distribution of L. bulbifera. Temperature, radiation intensity, precipitation, and soil composition and properties had great effects on the accumulation of secondary metabolites in L. bulbifera. The results showed that the high-quality areas of L. bulbifera mainly included Leishan county, Kaili city, Qingzhen city, Pingba district, Huishui county, Longli county, Kaiyang county, and Jiangkou county in Guizhou province. ConclusionL. bulbifera is widely distributed in China， but the suitable distribution areas are mainly concentrated in southwest China and part of central China. The planting bases of L. bulbifera can be selected in parts of cities and counties in southeast and central Guizhou province. In this study， the potential suitable growing areas and the optimum planting areas of L. bulbifera in Guizhou were predicted， which could provide scientific references for the cultivation and the site selection of large-scale planting for L. bulbifera.

Objective    To investigate the clinical value of 3D CT combined with CT-guided Hookwire for localizing small pulmonary nodules in thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy. Methods    From December 2017 to February 2019, 39 patients received thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy in our hospital, including 14 males and 25 females with a mean age of 51.33±11.17 years. Before operation, we used Mimics Medical 20.0 to re-establish the anatomy of lung and locate the small pulmonary nodules with Hookwire guided by CT. Based on the position of Hookwire needle, 3D CT images and simulated surgical methods, thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy was performed accurately. Results    The surgery was successfully completed in 39 patients without a transfer to open procedure. The mean operation time, mean intraoperative blood loss, mean postoperative hospital stay, mean thoracic tube drainage time were 148.97±28.56 min, 27.95±17.57 mL, 6.95±1.68 d, 4.21±1.95 d, respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (12.82%), including atrial fibrillation in 1, pulmonary infection in 1, chylothorax in 1, intrathoracic hemorrhage in 1 and pneumothorax in 1. All actual surgical margins were larger than 3.0 cm. Conclusion    The application of preoperative 3D CT combined with CT-guided Hookwire to localize small pulmonary nodules is helpful for accurate anatomical segmental resection of the lung, making the operation safe .

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumor, a serious threat to human health. In the early and middle esophageal carcinoma patients, surgery is the only expected treatment to cure esophageal carcinoma. Traditional surgery of esophageal cancer needs thoracotomy and laparotomy, which has great trauma and high incidence of complications. So surgeons are looking for a minimally invasive surgical methods alternative to traditional esophagectomy. Video-mediastinoscopy is used to free middle and upper esophagus, as a minimally invasive surgical method, it is used in radical resection of esophageal cancer gradually. This article reviews the recent progress and the related research results in the application of mediastinoscopy in the radical resection of esophageal cancer. It is found that mediastinoscopy assisted the radical resection of esophageal cancer is a safe and feasible operation. It provides a feasible treatment option for early and middle stage esophageal cancer patients with pulmonary insufficiency who can not be resected by thoracoscopy.