Objective To discuss the utility of MRI in evaluating arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC).Methods Nine patients of ARVC who received treatment in our hospital from January 2005 to May 2008,were retrospectively analyzed.They all underwent MRI by using GE signa 1.5 Tesla CV/I MR system.White blood technique(Fast cine sequence) were performed in short axis view,four-chamber view,and long axis view of two ventricles.Black blood techniques(Double IRFSE and Triple IRFSE) were performed in short axis view and long axis view of the right ventricle.Results MRI displayed thinning of the right ventricular(RV) wall(9 cases),dilatation of the RV(8 cases),fat signal intensity of the RV wall in DIRFS and irregular insula or continuity breaking in TIRFSE(3 cases),dilatation of the left ventricle(LV)(2 cases),a bit thickening of ventricular septum(1 case),enlargement of the outflow of the RV(2 cases),and ventricular wall aneurysm formation(2 cases).Their positions involved apex of the right ventricle(6 cases),facies diaphragmatica(4 cases),anterior ventricle(4 cases),infundibulum(4 cases) and the papillary muscle of the RV(1 case).Conclusion Cardiac MRI is the most specific and sensitive examination technique in diagnosing of ARVC,which can present structural and functional changes and the quality,degree,range of the disease.We recommend cardiac MRI if ARVC is suspected.

Objective To develop a system for detection and diagnosis of osteoporosis by using quantitative ultrasound technology.Methods An ARM embedded system was used to measure the speed of ultrasound,the broadband ultrasound attenuation(BUA) and the stiffness.The speed of ultrasound mainly reflects bone structural features,BUA mainly reflects bone density,and stiffness can synthetically reflects bone intensity.Results Based on an ARM microprocessor,the whole system could diagnose osteoporosis through the parameters sent by ultrasound.Conclusion The system for ultrasonic diagnosis of osteoporosis based on ARM can achieve precise diagnosis in clinic by setting osseous parameters database of normal people in different age,weight and sex.

In the present study, A fluorescent imaging-based high-throughput screening method was developed for identifying anti-migratory compounds with 96-well Transwell plates. The correlation, precision and stability of this method were examined and the incubation time of dye Hoechst 33342 in addition to migration time was optimized. In addition, The inhibitory activity of anti-cancer drug paclitaxel on tumor cell migration was assayed and an IC50 value of 0.717 micromol x L(-1) was obtained. Using this method, 24 components from Rhizoma Alismatis were screened and one component with anti-migration activity was found. These results show that the new proposed method with good precision, stability and linear range has the potential to assay the inhibitory activity of anticancer compounds.

Purpose: To evaluate the causes and management of bronchial pleural fistula after pneumonectomy. Methods: Retrqspective analysis for Bronchus-pleural fistula( BPF) of 16 cases after pneumonectomy of 820 cases of lung cancer in our hospital. BPF occurred in right peumonectomy( 13/320) is more than in left pneumonectomy(3/500) . BPF occurred in the positive stump of bronchus ( 10/41) more than in negative stump of bronchus (6/779) ; BPF occurred in preoperative chemotherapy cases( 5/110) more than in non-preoperative chemotherapy cases( 11/710), No BPF occurred in the 70 cases in which the bronchial stump was covered by autogenous tissue. The management principle in early stage is thoracocentesis and wash with antibiotics; after identification of the infection in thoracic cavity or BPF, closed drainage for thorax was done. If the results of drainage are not very good, open drainage is necessary. Results: 2 cases were discharged with completely healing, (the cavity of 1 case was washed again and again with 5% NaHC03and urokinase , another case was operated again to cover the BPF using muscle flaps 3 days after the first operation), 8 cases were discharged with closed drainage, 4 cases were discharged with open drainage changing the wound covering every day, the BPF did not heal for a long time after open drainage in 1 case, 1 case died of function failure of body organs. Conclusions: BPF is related to management of the bronchial stump and radical resection for tumor, It is a useful method to cover the bronchial stump with autogenous tissues to decrease BPF's, especially for right pneumonectomy and preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy cases. The management principle of BPF is thoracocentesis for early cases, especially washing with antibiotics and 5% NaHC03and urokinase repeatedly, closed drainage when necessary is also a good method for curing empyema and BPF.

Objective To investigate the effect of electric stimulation applied during absolute refractory period on contraction and relaxation and Ca 2+ transient of ventricular myocytes from normal guinea-pigs. Methods The ventricular myocytes of guinea-pigs were obtained by enzyme digesting, and the extent of the contraction and relaxation and Ca 2+ transient were recorded through the motion edge detection system. The Ca 2+ transient was reflected by fluorescence ratio (360/380) ( F 360/F 380). Results The ventricular myocytes from the normal guinea-pigs: ①The contraction extent of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes increased by (16.55?5.49)%. The peak velocity of shorting (contraction) and the peak velocity of relengthening (relaxation) increased by (17.43?7.08)% and (19.74?9.08)%, respectively(n=10); ②The extent of F 360/F 380 increased (25.79?6.88)%. The peak velocity of F 360/F 380 increased by (29.47?9.25)% and (22.52?7.81)% during shortening and relengthening, respectively(n=10). The ventricular myocytes from failure guinea-pigs: ①The contraction extent of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes increased by (15.53?5.31)%. The peak velocity of shortening (contraction) and the peak velocity of relengthening (relaxation) increased by (10.60?3.02)% and (23.32?8.26)%, respectively(n=6); ②The extent of F 360/F 380 increased (16.82?7.03)%. The peak velocity of F 360/F 380 increased by (16.27?5.91)% and (10.32?2.46)% during shorenting and relengthening, respectively(n=6). Conclusion Appropriate electric stimulation applied during absolute refractory period might strengthen the contracting and relaxing function of normal and failing ventricular myocytes in guinea-pigs.

BACKGROUND:Current research has shown that tumor necrosis factorαstimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) has anti-inflammatory effect, and the scar formation can be inhibited by local injection of TSG-6 protein at the early stage of trauma. However, the mechanism of this effect is stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To construct the lentiviral expression vector and shRNA vector for human TSG-6, with stable overexpression, transfection and interference, and to explore the effect of TSG-6 on proliferation and apoptosis of keloid fibroblast cel lines. METHODS:Human keloid fibroblast cel s were isolated from the keloid’s tissue by enzyme digestion and identified by immunocytochemistry assay. Lentiviral vectors pLVX-puro-TSG-6 and pLVX-shRNA1-TSG-6 were constructed and transfected into human keloid fibroblast, exclusively. Expression levels of TSG-6 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot assay. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to estimate the cel proliferation and apoptosis in each group after transfection. In addition, expression of Bcl-2, p53 and active-caspase-3 were detected by western blot assay in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Human keloid fibroblasts were separated successful y. Under the light microscope, cel s were spindle. Immunohistochemical staining for vimentin was performed in the fifth passage of cel s, with the positive rate of 100%. Cel s were negative for cytokeratin. (2) Recombinant lentiviral vectors and stably transfected cel lines were successful y established. TSG-6 gene expression was altered apparently. Compared with the control group, cel proliferation was delayed and apoptotic rate was noticeably increased in TSG-6 gene overexpression group. Cel proliferation increased and apoptotic rate decreased in the TSG-6 gene intervention group (P<0.05). (3) Western blot assay results demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression reduced, P53 and Active-caspase-3 expression significantly increased in the TSG-6 gene overexpression group (P<0.05). (4) These finding showed that TSG-6 could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts. Its mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression, up-regulation of P53 protein expression and increased Caspase-3 activity.

Background and purpose:VATS lobectomy has gained popularity for lung cancer around the world.Complete anatomic resections and node dissections are routinely being performed at many centers under VATS,but some thoracic surgeons are concerned regarding the safety,benefit and radical resection of this operative method.Our study is to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of pulmonary resection by video-assisted mini-thoractomy(VAMT) for patients with lung cancer.Methods:72 patients with lung cancer received either lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection by video-assisted mini-thoracotomy(VAMT group;n=32) or conventional thoracotomy(conventional group;n=40),lobectomy was performed by conventional or thoracoscopic instruments,specific lymph node clamps were applied for lymph node dissection.Results:VAMT was successfully performed without significant postoperative complication and blood transfusion.No significant differences were observed in the two groups with respect to the length of operation and the total groups of dissected lymph nodes.This study showed that VAMT is a minimally invasive surgery without impairing of the outcome and needed less operative blood loss and shorter postoperative hospitalization compared to conventional thoracotomy.Conclusions:Major pulmonary resection by video-assisted minithoractomy for patients with lung cancer is safe,reliable and less invasive,it is consistant with the surgical standard of lung cancer.Its long-term benefit needs to be clarified after further follow-up.

Objective To evaluate the reliability of video-assisted mini-thoracectomy(VAMT) for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary peripheral nodules.Methods A total of 55 patients with pulmonary peripheral nodules(1 case of multiple nodules and 54 cases of solitary nodule) underwent VAMT.The surgery included wedge resection in 23 patients and lobectomy with lymph node dissection in 32 patients(The lobectomy was performed by using conventional combined with thoracoscopic instruments.A self-made lymph node clamp was applied for lymph node dissection).Results The operation was successfully accomplished under thoracoscopy in all the 55 patients.The operation time was 35~180 min(mean,109 min) and the intraoperative blood loss was 50~400 ml(mean,122 ml).No blood transfusion was required.Postoperative complications included air leakage in 1 patient(discharge on the 32 postoperative day) and delayed wound healing in 1 patient(discharge on the 19 postoperative day).The length of postoperative hospital stay of the other 53 patients was 4~11 days(mean,8.3 days).Final pathological diagnosis showed 15 cases of benign lesions,38 cases of primary lung carcinoma,1 case of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia,and 1 case of metastatic lung cancer.The benign lesions were cured by wedge resection.Anatomic lobectomy with lymph node dissection was performed in 32 patients with primary lung cancer.Of other 6 patients with terminal lung cancer,4 patients were conservatively treated because of an extensive dissemination and 2 patients received a palliative wedge resection because of poor pulmonary functions.Conclusions Video-assisted mini-thoracectomy is helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary peripheral nodules.Its long-term effects for clinical early-stage lung cancer need further follow-up investigations.

Objective To observe the effect of tumor necrosis factorαstimulated gene-6 ( TSG-6 ) on hypertrophic scarring by using a rabbit ear model. Methods TSG-6 and PBS were injected intradermally in the right and left ear wounds, respectively. Collagen I and III expression detected by immunohistochemistry and scar elevation index ( SEI) was used to evaluate the extent of scarring. The expression of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β( IL-1β) , interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) and tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse tran-scription polymerase chain reaction. Transmission electron microscope ( TEM) and TUNEL analyses were used to detect fibroblast apoptosis. Results Compared with control scars, TSG-6-treated wounds exhibited decreased in-flammation significantly as evidenced by the lower levels of IL-1β, IL-6 , TNF-α. The apoptosis rate was higher and the SEI and the synthesis of collagens I and III were significantly decreased in the TSG-6-treated scars ( P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion Immediate topical injection of TSG-6 during the wound healing process can reduce the severity of hy-pertrophic scarring in a rabbit model. The anti-cicatrix effect of TSG-6 may result from controlling inflammation, in-ducing fibroblast apoptosis and promoting collagen degradation.

Objective To evaluate the value of acute physiology and chronic health condition evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score in evaluating outcome of patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods 399 patients with ACI were scored by APACHEⅡ and NIHSS in 3 d after onset.Prognosis judgement accorded to the patients survival or death during 28 d after onset.Area under of the receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curves was used to scale the ability of APACHEⅡ and NIHSS scoring systems evaluating severity and predicting outcomes of patients with ACI to find best cut-off points of the two scoring systems.Using discriminant analysis method to analysis the two scoring systems and estabished mathematical functional equation to calculate accuracy.Results For prognosis of patients with ACI,the areas under ROC curves were 0.835 and 0.822,and the best cut-off points were 12 and 10 respectively for APACHEⅡand NIHSS.The accuracy rates of APACHEⅡand NIHSS were 74.5% and 76.9%,respectively.The accuracy rate of APACHEⅡcombined NIHSS was 85.5%.Conclusions The APACHEⅡand NIHSS score systems have satisfactory discrimination for patients witn ACI,The predictive accuracy may improve if APACHEⅡ is combined with NIHSS.