Objective To observe the anti-atherosclerosis effects of Guizhi Fuling Capsule. Methods 50 healthy SD male rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: normal group (n=12) and AS model group(n=38). The model of experimental AS rats was established by feeding high cholesterol diet and intraperitoneal injecting VitD3. The normal control group was fed by ordinary diet. AS model group was further divided into 3 groups randomly: AS group(n=12), control group (n= 12), and therapy group(n= 12). The therapy group was given Guizhi Fuling Capsule by intragastric administration.The control group was given simvastatin and captopril by intragastric administration. 0.9% NaCl was given to the AS group instead of Guizhi Fuling Capsule. The rats were killed at the 16th weekend, and their aorta arch and breast aorta were observed.Blood fat and serum levels of Endothelin-1 (ET-1), Nitric oxide (NO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected respectively. Immunohistochemistry technology was used for observing the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule- 1 (ICAM- 1 ) in breast aorta. Results The values of ET- 1, NO, hs-CRP and the amount of ICAM- 1 were (142.61 ±25.67)ng/ml, (66.05 ± 8.63) μmol/L, (2.86±0.40)mg/L, (0.29±0.05) in the normal group; (182.38±22.96)ng/ml, (28.70±4.49)μmol/L, (5.60±0.49)mg/L, (0.58±0.06)in the AS group; (154.37±21.11)ng/ml, (45.88±11.36)μmol/L, (3.66±0.34)mg/L, (0.37±0.04)in the control group and (152.13±23.23)ng/ml, (57.67±8.96)μmol/L, (3.70±0.40)mg/L, (0.36±0.04) in the therapy group respectively. The levels of ET-1, NO, hs-CRP and the amount of ICAM-1 have significant difference between the AS group and the normal group(P=2.47E-4, 6.02E-19, 1.11E-12, 2.51E-18). There was also significant difference between the control group and the AS group(P=0.005, 1.59E-14, 1.87E-5, 3.87E-14). The level of NO in the therapy group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.002). The levels of ET-1, hs-CRP and the amount of ICAM-1 did not have significant difference between the therapy group and the control group(P=0.81, 0.81, 0.48) Conclusion Guizhi Fuling Capsule has effects of Anti-atherosclerosis on rats with AS.

Objective To summarize the experience in diagnosis and treatment for solid-pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas (SPT). Methods A retrospective clinical analysis about clinical, imaging and pathologic data was made on 16 cases of SPT admitted from January 2005 to December 2009. Results Five had SPT in the head of the pancreas, 5 in the body of the pancreas, 6 in the tail of the pancreas. The first symptom was intermittent epigastric pain ( n = 7), abdominal aponia mass ( n = 3), Pancreatic tumor found by chance (n =4), weight loss (n =2). Solid and Solid-cystic masses of low echo were found in US. Masses of low density in pancreas were found on CT scan, while irregular enhancement appeared in the circumference of all tumors in enhanced CT scan sequences. Tumor markers in patients' erum were all negative.9 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy and spleen resection, including 1 patient also underwent left hemicolectomy. Local excision of tumor was performed in 4 cases. Pancreatic local excision and pancreaticojejunostomy were performed in 3 cases. 14 cases were followed up with an period of from 3 to 48 months. No evidence of relapses and metastasis in these cases was found. Conclusion SPT primarily affects young women, and it may be located in any part of pancreas. Surgical resection is recommended as the treatment of choice. The prognosis is good.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum uric acid(SUA) levels and metabolic syndrome(MS) in middle-aged and elderly people,and to investigate the impacts of age and gender on the relationship between SUA and MS.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in general population aged over 35 years in rural area of Yiling District,Yichang City in 2007.All subjects were investigated by using the standardized questionnaire,physical and biochemical examinations.MS was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the latest Chinese guidelines.All subjects were divided into different subgroups based on quartiles of SUA levels and age(35-44 years old,45-59 years old,over 60 years old).The relationship of MS with age and SUA levels were investigated.Results 9354 subjects consisted of 3883 males and 5471 females were included in this study.The percentage of subjects aged over 60 years was 21.1％ in men and 17.4％ in women.The prevalence of MS from the first quartile to the fourth quartile were 3.8％,5.5％,7.9％,15.2％ in males,and 3.1％,5.5％,7.9％,16.7％ in females,respectively.The SUA levels was positively correlated with MS in both sexes after adjusting for other confounding factors.By analyzing associated-subgroups based on age and SUA levels,logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MS was significantly increased with aging and SUA levels in female subjects.The association between age and MS was significantly weaker in men than in women.Conclusions There is a positive correlation between SUA levels and MS.The associations of MS with age and SUA levels are more closely in women than in men.The risk of MS may be highest in middle-aged and elderly women with high level of SUA.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the Yes-associated protein (YAP) expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by transiently transfecting with YAP small-interfering RNA (siRNA) in MHCC97H and MHCC97L cells.Methods MHCC97H and MHCC97L cells were transiently transfected by YAP siRNA.Furthermore,protein expressions and mRNA levels of characteristic markers of EMT (E-cadherin,N-cadherin) were examined by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction.Transwell invasion assay was used to detect changes of invasiveness of MHCC97H and MHCC97L cells.Results The YAP siRNA transfected group in MHCC97H was examined after 72 hours by Western blotting.The result showed obviously higher expression of E-cadherin in transfected group compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05),and lower expression of N-cadherin (P ＜ 0.05).In MHCC97L cells,the expression of E-cadherin was also significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),however,N-cadherin expression did not significantly change (P ＞ 0.05).Moreover,compared with the control group,transwell invasion assay showed that the number of the transfected group cells significantly decreased in MHCC97H(66 ± 6.89 vs 117 ± 7.23,P ＜ 0.05),and compared with the control group,the number of the transfected group also significantly decreased in MHCC97L (40 ±2.65 vs 77 ±4.33,P ＜0.05).The result of real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that mRNA levels of E-cadherin increased (P ＜ 0.05),but mRNA levels of N-cadherin did not significantly change (P ＞ 0.05).This is considered as post-transcriptional regulation after silencing YAP in MHCC97H and MHCC97L.Conclusions YAP silencing is able to inhibit EMT in MHCC97H and MHCC97L cells by modulating the characteristic markers of EMT.The inhibition of YAP expression can reduce the invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect on the expression of Slug for the trasfection of miR-200c combined with the research on the ability of migration of breast cancer cell BT549.Methods:Chemically synthesized miR-200c mimic was trasfected into BT549 cells,which have high metastatic potential.The effect on the ability of migration of breast cancer cell BT549 for the transfection of miR-200c was analyzed by Transwell migration assay and Wound healing assay.The expression of Slug and E-cadherin mRNA was detected by Real-time PCR.The expression of Slug protein was detected by Western blot.Results:Transfection with miR-200c mimic significantly down-regulated the expression of Slug as compared with the control group (P<0.05).BT549 cell tranfected with miR-200c mimic had lower levels of migration capacity than cells in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:miR-200c inhibits Epithelial-mes-enchymal transition by suppressing Slug leading to down-regulation of migration capacity of breast cancer cell BT549.

Objective To evaluate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in alveolar macrophage cells of rats.Methods The alveolar macrophage cells of rats NR8383 were seeded in 6-well plates at a density of 1 × 106 cells/ml (2 ml/well) and randomly divided into 6 groups:control group (group C,n =24),0.2 μg/L LPS group (group L0.2,n =12),2.0 μg/L LPS group (group L2.0,n =12),20.0 μg/L LPS group (group L20.0,n =60),200.0 pg/L LPS group (group L200.0,n =12),and 20.0 μg/L LPS + ABCA1 siRNA group (group L20.0 + siRNA,n =12).The cells were routinely cultured in group C.LPS with the final concentrations of 0.2,2.0,20.0 and 200.0μg/L was added to the culture medium in L0.2,L2.0,L20.0 and I200.0 groups,respectively.In group L20.0 + siRNA,siRNA 50 nmol/L was added to the culture medium and 12 h later LPS 20.0 μg/L was added.In group C,6 wells were chosen for determination of ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression.At 24 h of incubation with LPS 0.2,2.0 and 200.0 μg/L,or at 2,6,12 and 24 h of incubation with LPS 20.0 μg/L,6 wells were chosen and the cell suspension was obtained for measurement of ABCA1 mRNA expression (by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR),and ABCA1 expression (by flow cytometry).At 12 h of incubation with 20.0 μg/L LPS or with 20.0 μg/L LPS + 50 nmol/L siRNA,6 wells were chosen and the cell suspension was obtained for measurement of TLR4 mRNA expression (by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR) and TLR4 expression (by flow cytometry).Results Compared with group C,the expression of ABCA1 mRNA and protein was significantly down-regulated in L0.2,L2.0,L20.0 and L200.0 groups,and the expression of ABCA1 mRNA and protein was up-regulated in L20.0 and L20.0 + siRNA groups.In L20.0 group,the expression of ABCA1 mRNA and protein was gradually down-regulated with the prolonging time of incubation with LPS.Compared with group L20.0,the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was significantly up-regulated in group L20.0 + siRNA.Conclusion LPS can down-regulate the expression of ABCA1 in alveolar macrophage cells of rats,however,ABCA1 can inhibit the synthesis of TLR4.

Objective To explore the relationship between the hepatic injury and the severity of the patients with non-gallstone severe acute pancreatitis,so as to provide some evidences in the treatment on the hepatic injury,to lower the systemic and local applications of SAP,as well as lower the morality of SAP.Methods Patients suffering from non-gallstone SAP were retrospectively analyzed.We statisticated the occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.We adopted the occurrence of MODS of the patients as the indicatrix of prognosis and analyzed the results.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the ralationship between the markers of heapatic injury and the prognosis of the patients suffered of non-gallstone SAP.Results The univariate logistic regression analysis of the relationship between hepatic dysfunction and the occur of MODS of non-gallstone SAP shows that there were correlation between the occur of MODS and AST,ALT,ALB,respectively.The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that there were correlation between the occur of MODS and AST,ALT,ALB,respectively.Conclusion The study showed that the heighten of the serum consentration of AST,ALT,TB and the degrade of the serum consentration of Alb were the independent influencing factors of patients with non-gallstone SAP,respectively,and suggested the unfavourable prognosis of the patients.

Objective To investigate the expression of Hippo pathway component in hepatic cancer tissues and investigate its effects on the tumor recurrence after Iiver transplantation.Methods The clinical data of 105 patients with liver cancer who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from July 2004 to September 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.The samples of liver cancer tissues were collected.The maximum diameter,number of foci,blood vessel involvement,preoperative level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),results of postoperative pathological examination were analyzed.All the patients were followed up via out-patient examination,mail and phone call.Patients were followed up once a week within the first month after operation,and once a month within the 6 months after operation,and then once every 3 months at 1 year later.The follow-up ended in December 2012 or tumor recurrence.The disease-free survival time began at the date of operation and ended at the time of tumor recurrence.The expressions of Yes-associated protein (YAP),phosphorylated YAP,Hippo pathway component (Lats1/2,pLats1/2,Mst1,pMst1/2) were detected by immunohistochemical staining.All data were analyzed using the chi-square test or Student t test.Factors might influence the postoperative tumorfree survival time after liver transplantation were analyzed using the Cox regression model.The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method,and the disease-free survival was analyzed using Log-rank test.Results Positive expressions of YAP and phosphorylated YAP were detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm,and the positive expressions of Lats1/2,pLats1/2,Mst1 and pMst1/2 were detected in the cytoplasm.The positive expressions of YAP,phosphorylated YAP,Latsl/2,pLats1/2,Mst1 and pMst1/2 protein were 51.43％ (54/105),55.24％ (58/105),45.71％ (48/105),9.52％ (10/105),64.76％ (68/105) and 20.00％ (21/105),respectively.The positive expression of YAP was correlated with the tumor diameter,venous infiltration and AJCC stage (x2=4.173,9.611,7.233,P ＜ 0.05).The positive expression of Lats1/2 protein was correlated with tumor diameter and AJCC stages (x2=14.413,7.969,P ＜ 0.05).The positive expression of Mst1 protein was correlated with the tumor diameter (x2=4,129,P ＜0.05).The results of univariate analysis showed that the protein expressions of YAP,Lats1/2,pMst1/2,age,tumor diameter,tissue differentiation,preoperative level of AFP,venous infiltration and AJCC stages were risk factors influencing tumor recurrence after liver transplantation (HR =2.603,0.502,1.802,0.955,3.559,2.395,2.414,2.915,2.086,95％ CI:1.452-4.666,0.287-0.880,1.040-3.123,0.931-0.981,1.921-6.595,1.475-3.889,1.313-4.337,1.604-5.229,1.370-3.176,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that the positive expression of YAP,tumor diameter ＞ 5 cm,low differentiation of tissue and AJCC stages Ⅲ were independent risk factors influencing tumor recurrence after liver transplantation (HR=2.011,2.176,2.390,1.574,95％CI:1.115-3.628,1.125-4.206,1.448-3.945,1.041-2.381,P ＜ 0.05).The median time of follow-up was 13.0 months (range,1.0-96.0 months).Eight patients missed follow-up.Fifty-four patients had tumor recurrence,and the mean time of tumor recurrence was 6.7 months (range,1.0-41.0 months).The disease-free survival time of patients with positive expression of YAP were significantly shorter than those with negative expression of YAP (Log-rank value =12.890,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Positive expressions of YAP and phosphorylated YAP were detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm,and the positive expressions of Lats1/2,pLats1/2,Mst1 and pMst1/2 were detected in the cytoplasm.The positive expression of YAP is the independent risk factor for tumor recurrence after liver transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the difference of radiofrequency ablation combined with ethanol ablation and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of benign cystic solid thyroid nodule.Methods:A total of 80 patients who visited the Thyroid Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to July 2018 were selected. All selected patients are required to meet the following criteria: (1)Color doppler ultrasonography of the neck revealed a cystic solid thyroid nodule greater than 20 mm in diameter. (2) The results of fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules were benign. (3)The patients is to undergo radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodule. According to the condition and patients′ wishes, radiofrequency ablation (Group A, n=40) and combined ethanol and radiofrequency ablation(Group B, n=40) were performed respectively to observe the changes of nodule volume and maximum diameter at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.The difference of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation energy, postoperative complications and patient satisfaction at 12 months after operation were also observed. The respective clinical effects of the two groups and the difference of curative effects between the two groups were analyzed. Two-factor repeated measurement analysis of variance or independent sample t test was used to compare the measurement data in line with normal distribution between groups. Friedman′s rank sum test was used for comparison of measurement data groups that did not conform to normal distribution, and Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparison. Chi-square test was used to compare the counting data between groups. Results:On the 12th months after operation, the volume reduction of of nodules in group B was greater than that of group A, and the difference was statistically significant[(7.0±5.1) mL vs (5.5±4.9) mL, P<0.05]. The maximum diameter reduction of nodules in group B was greater than that of group A and the difference was statistically significant [(1.5±0.6) cm vs (1.4±0.8) cm, P<0.05]. During the period of 6 to 12 months after operation, the trend of nodular shrinkage in group B was more obvious than that in group A ( P<0.05). The radiofrequency ablation energy of group was lower than that of group A, and the difference was statistically significant [(2.37±1.18) kJ vs (3.89±1.17) kJ, P<0.05]. Voice reduction occurred in 2 cases and recovered within 2 weeks.Local bleeding occurred in 1 case during the operation, which was stopped after ablation. There was no statistical significance in the satisfaction of patients in group A and group B (87.5% vs 90%, P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with radiofrequency ablation, radiofrequency ablation combined with ethanol ablation for benign cystic solid thyroid nodules can achieve better nodule reduction effect and reduce the ablation energy.

Objective:To observe the relationship between the occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcemia (SH) and various potential influencing factors in patients after thyroidectomy, stratify according to the scope of thyroidectomy, and explore the predictive value of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for postoperative SH.Methods:Among 3 379 patients with thyroidectomy who admitted into the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to February 2021, 122 patients with SH after thyroidectomy were collected retrospectively and set as SH group. 100 patients of the remaining 3 200 patients who did not suffer from SH in the same year were selected by systematic sampling method and set as control group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the potential influencing factors such as age, preoperative calcium, postoperative calcium, preoperative iPTH, postoperative iPTH, central lymph node number, blood loss, operation duration, gender, lymph node dissection method, thyroidectomy range, postoperative pathological type and other. Among them, the measurement data of normal distribution were expressed by mean±standard deviation( Mean± SD), t-test was used for the comparison between the two groups, and Chi-square test was used for count data. By drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the iPTH levels in patients with and without SH before/after operation (different surgical methods) were studied, and the diagnostic threshold, sensitivity and specificity of iPTH were predicted. Results:Among 3 379 patients, 122 patients suffered from SH after thyroidectomy, with the incidence rate of 3.6%. There were significant differences in gender (8 males and 114 females in SH group; 27 males and 73 females in control group), whether lateral area dissection was performed (58 cases with dissection and 64 cases without dissection in SH group; 7 cases with dissection and 93 cases without dissection in control group), thyroidectomy range (14 cases with one side and 108 cases with both sides in SH group; 73 cases with one side and 27 cases with both sides in control group), age (40.1 years old vs 43.2 years old), dissection number of central lymph nodes (8.6 vs 4.6), dissection number of cervical lymph nodes (12.3 vs 0.7), blood loss (22.8 mL vs 11.0 mL), operation duration (1.7 h vs 0.8 h), postoperative iPTH (16.4 pg/mL vs 41.9 pg/mL), preoperative iPTH (39.4 pg/mL vs 47.8 pg/mL) in SH group; and postoperative calcium level (1.9 mmol/L vs 2.2 mmol/L). There was significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant differences between them with postoperative pathological type (4 cases with toxic goiter, 3 cases with medullary thyroid carcinoma, 1 case with thyroid follicular carcinoma, 114 cases with papillary thyroid carcinoma in SH group; 1 case with medullary thyroid carcinoma, 1 case of thyroid follicular carcinoma, 98 cases with papillary thyroid carcinoma in control group, P=0.25) and preoperative calcium (2.3 mmol/L vs 2.3 mmol/L, P=0.10). For patients with bilateral thyroidectomy, SH was easy to occur when postoperative iPTH < 20.08 pg/mL, and its sensitivity and specificity were 74.07% and 96.30%; however, for patients with unilateral thyroidectomy, SH was easy to occur when iPTH < 24.00 pg/mL after operation. Conclusions:Gender, age, postoperative calcium, preoperative iPTH, postoperative iPTH, central lymph node number, blood loss, operation duration, lymph node dissection method and thyroidectomy range are important factors affecting the occurrence of SH after thyroidectomy. With the expansion of surgical range, the postoperative iPTH level gradually decreases, which predicts the occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. In order to avoid the occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcemia after operation, it is necessary to supplement calcium in time according to the range of operation and postoperative iPTH level.