In this editorial preface, I briefly review cancer bioinformatics and introduce the four articles in this special issue highlighting important applications of the field: detection of chromatin states; detection of SNP-containing motifs and association with transcription factor-binding sites; improvements in functional enrichment modules; and gene association studies on aging and cancer. We expect this issue to provide bioinformatics scientists, cancer biologists, and clinical doctors with a better understanding of how cancer bioinformatics can be used to identify candidate biomarkers and targets and to conduct functional analysis.
Binding Sites ; Chromatin ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVE:To observe the protection and delaying effects of rosiglitazone on the onset and progression of type2diabetic nephropathy of senile patients.METHODS:23senile patients with type2diabetic nephropathy were random-ized to A and B groups.Group A were treated with rosiglitazone4mg/d and group B were administered orally with dimethyl biguanide1750mg/d(in3times),the course of treatment for both groups were4months.RESULTS:The post-meal blood sugar in both groups showed significant differences after treatment as against pretherapy(P0.05).CONCLUSON:Rosiglitazone has significant curative effect on diabetes,it can also delay the occurrence of albu-minuria and significantly lighten pathological changes of renal glomerulus.

The prognosis of gastric cancer is significantly associated with the disease stage,early diagnosis of gastric cancer is the key to extend the survival time of patients. Nowadays,gastroscopy combined with gastric mucosa biopsy is the most important method to detect early gastric cancer in clinical practice. However,the detection rate is low and requiring the endoscopists to learn the endoscopic morphological characteristics of early gastric cancer,which will help them to find out suspicious cancerous lesions and perform effective biopsy. This article reviewed the morphological risk factors of early gastric cancer under white light endoscopy,so as to provide endoscopists with the capability for diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

Objective To determine the effects of lensspecific overexpression of OSM on the eye development. Methods A truncated mouse OSM cDNA (661 bp) was linked to the ?A-crystallin promoter. Transgenic mice were characterized by routine histological and immunohistochemical techiniques. TUNEL assays were used to detect cell death. The mRNA expression of caspase-3 was detected by in situ hybridization, Rabbit anti-cleavage caspase-3 antibody was used to detect active capase-3. Results At embryonic day (E) 14.5 and 17.5, expression of the OSM transgenic protein was detected specifically in lens fiber cells. The onset of retinal degeneration in the mid portion of the transgenic retinae was observed started from E17.5. By the time of birth 50% or more of the retinal cells were missing. The OSM transgenic retinal cells underwent apoptosis indicated by TUNEL assays. Most strikingly, activation of caspase-3 protein were observed throughout the transgenic retinas. Conclusions Lens-specific overexpression of OSM activate caspase-3, leading to abnormal eye development, apoptosis and widespread retinal degeneration.

Objective To summarize the experience of l ap aroscopic pyloromyotomy for the treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric sten osis (IHPS). Methods Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was employed i n 50 cases of IHPS from April 2001 to April 2004. The patients aged 12~90 days ( mean, 35 days). Three 3-mm-diameter trocars were introduced into the abdominal c avity via the left, right and upper abdominal wall, respectively. A non-traumati c grasping forceps was inserted through the left trocar to manipulate the gastri c wall near the pylorus. Through the right trocar, a retractable pyloromyotomy s calpel, a stripper and a dissecting forceps were in turn utilized to complete py loromyotomy. Results The operation was completed under laparos cope in 48 cases, while a conversion to open surgery was needed in 2 cases (1 c ase of prepyloric membrane and 1 case of pyloric mucosal injury, which were cure d by open repair). The operative time was 15~45 min (mean, 25 min). The nasogast ric tube was removed and oral feeding with milk was attempted 6 hours after the operation. The patients were discharged at 3~5 postoperative days. Follow-up for 3~6 months (mean, 4.5 months) in 42 cases showed that the patients were normall y developed. Conclusions Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy can be wel l performed in the presence of experience in open surgery, technical skills in l aparoscopy, effective anesthesia and proper surgical instruments.

Objective To summarize the value of laparoscopic operation using an ultrasonic scalpel for the radical treatment of Hischsprung’s disease (HD) in infants and children. Methods Laparoscopic operation was performed in 20 infants and children with HD under general anesthesia from February 2003 to January 2006. The CO_2 pressure of pneumoperitoneum was set at 10~12 mm Hg. By way of three abdominal ports, the diseased colon and rectum were mobilized by dissecting the supplying vessels and severing the peritoneal reflection in the pelvic floor. The modified Soave pull-through procedure was employed to incise and mobilize the rectal mucosa at 0.5 cm above the dentate line. The lateral ligament of rectum was severed and the intraabdominal cavity was reached through the peritoneal reflection. The diseased colon was pulled through the anus passing the level of the transition zone for resection. Then coloanal anastomosis was made between the proximal colon and the cutting edge of the anal canal above the dentate line. Results All the procedures were completed smoothly. The operation time was 120~210 min (mean, 132 min). The length of resected colon was 20~55 cm (mean, 35 cm). The intraoperative blood loss was 5~20 ml (mean, 14 ml), with no need of blood transfusion. Enterocolitis happened in 2 cases postoperatively. Follow-up observations in the 20 cases for 3~36 months (mean, 12.5 months) found no complications. The patients had 1~2 times of fecal discharge per day during follow-up. Conclusions Laparoscopic pull-through procedure using an ultrasonic surgical scalpel has advantages of minimal invasion, little hemorrhage, simple performance, quick recovery, and low complication rate.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum in children. Methods Resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum was performed under a laparoscope in 13 children in our hospital from July 2002 to March 2006. Two 5-mm trocars were introduced at the infraumbilical ring and the right lower abdomen, respectively. When the Meckel’s diverticulum was found, the incision was prolonged to 2 cm long along the inferior border of the umbilicus, the diverticulum was removed externally and the intestine was anastomosed. Results The operation was completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time was 50 min (range, 40-70). The intestinal function of the patients recovered 24 hours after the operation, and then liquid food was given at 3 days postoperatively, and the patients was discharged from hospital within 5-7 days after the operation. The patients were followed up for 6-48 months (mean, 13), during which no one had recurrence, intestinal adhesion, or intestinal obstruction. Conclusions Two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of Meckel’s diverticulum is safe and feasible for children. The recovery time and hospital stay are short after the procedure.

[Objective]To report the treatment and outcome of treatment of discoid lateral meniscal tear by arthroscopic surgery.[Method]During the period between Jan.1999 and Jun.2005,77 patients suffered from discoid lateral meniscal tear have been treated by arthroscopic surgery in Xijing Hospital. The standard arthroscopic portals (anteromedial and anterolateral)were used.Lateral menisci were totally removed in the 21 patients (29.2%) of total 77 cases,whereas lateral menisci of 13 patients (18.1%) were removed partially and meniscus-plasty was applied in 38 patients (52.8%).Thirty-nine (54.2%) of 77 patients were males,and 33 (45.8%) females.Their average age was 29.4?10.9 years (range 8~51 year).Five patients were lost in follow-up.The mean follow-up period of the rest 72 patients was 26.2 ?9.3 months (range 12~44 months).The patients were assessed pre-operationally and post-operationally by the Lysholm score.Moreover,the results of Lysholm score were analyzed by student-t test.[Result]All patients had progress in pain,swelling,range of motion and knee function. No complication,which included intraarticular infection,iatrogenic injury,fibroarthritis or loss of range of motion,was found.Lysholm score was 66.8?5.2 in average (range from 50 to 78) before operation,whereas it improved to 96.4?3.6 in average (range from 85 to 100) after operation.According to student-t analysis,very significant statistical difference was found between the pre-operative and post-operative results (t=34.7,P

Objective To explore the significance and effect of NO treatment on plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP in acute high altitude diseases(AHAD) patients. Methods 47 AHAD patients were randomly divided into two groups, one group receiving routine medicine treatment (n=23), and the other group receiveing NO treatment (n=24). The level changes of serum NO, plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP and clinical symptom score were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results The levels of plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP, and clinical symptom score remarkably decreased after treatment in two groups, while serum NO and CGRP levels remarkably increased (P

Objective To determine the signal pathway of specifically expressed oncostatin M(OSM) in lens inducing retinal degeneration in transgenic mice. Methods A sequence-truncated OSM cDNA (661 bp) of mice was linked to ?A-crytallin promoter, and was micro-injected into unicellular embryo to set up the model of transgenic mice. Reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of gp130/OSMR? receptor in the retinae of OSM transgenic and non-transgenic mice. Rabbit anti-phosphorylated STAT-3 antibody was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated STAT-3,and mouse anti-cytochrome C antibody was used to detect the distributing of cytochrome C in retinae. Results Expression of gp130/OSMR? mRNA was found in retina of non-transgenic mice. At the 17.5th day in the embryonic stage, significant accumulation of the phosphorylated STAT-3 was detected in the retinal nucleolus in OSM transgenic retina. At the first day after birth, intensive staining of cytochrome C in OSM transgenic retina was found. Conclusions specifically expressed OSM in lens may act on gp130/OSMR? receptor in retinae, activate STAT-3, and cause the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, which eventually induces widespread retinal degeneration.