Objective To compare the morphological differences in soleus between tail-suspended and 30-month-old rats.Methods Fourty-two male rats were randomly divided into seven groups:5 d,7 d and 14 d tail-suspended and their synchronous control groups,30-month-old group.The cross-sectional area(CSA)and percentage of MHC Ⅰ/Ⅱ fibers were measured in immunohistochemically stained sections and CSA was normalized by body weight.Results Wet weight,relative wet weight,CSA and normalized CSA in unloaded soleus decreased significantly as compared with the synchronous control.The percentage of MHC Ⅰ fibers decreased,but that of MHC Ⅱ fibers increased in unloaded soleus.The wet weight and CSA of soleus in 30-month-old rats increased,but the relative wet weight and normalized CSA reduced significantly as compared with 14-day synchronous control.The relative wet weight and normalized CSA of soleus in 30-month-old rat were similar to that of 14 d tail-suspended group.The percentage of MHC Ⅰ/Ⅱ fibers of soleus in 30-month-old rat and in 5 d,7 d,and 14 d of synchronous control groups kept constant value.Conclusion It's suggested that the atrophic process of soleus is slower in 30-month-old rats than that in the tail-suspended rates.The reduction of soleus relative wet weight and normalized CSA appears early in aged rats,but the absolute and relative wet weight of soleus decrease simultaneously in tail-suspended rats.

Objective To compare the effects of radiofrequency ablation and clamp crushing resection on intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications.Methods The clinical data of 130 patients with hepatic cancer who were admitted to the Southwest Hospital from January 2011 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Sixty-five patients who received radiofrequency ablation were in the radiofrequency ablation group; the clinical data of 65 hepatic cancer patients with similar tumor size,position and Child-Pugh scores who received traditional clamp crushing resection were selected from the data base,and they were in the clamp crushing resection group.The intra-and postoperative clinical data of the 2 groups were statistically analyzed.The measurement data were presented in the format of median plus range,and were analyzed using the analysis of variance; the enumeration data were analyzed using chi-square test,when the number of patients was under 10,the Fisher exact probability was used for analysis.Results The time for liver resection and hepatic inflow occlusion in the radiofrequency ablation group were 28 minutes (range,12-55 minutes) and 10 minutes (range,0-15 minutes),which were significantly shorter than 45 minutes (range,25-92 minutes) and 15 minutes (range,10-32 minutes) in the clamp crushing resection group (F =10.35,9.05,P ＜0.05).The volumes of intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion were 150 ml (range,50-350 ml) and 0 ml in the radiofrequency ablation group,which were significantly lesser than 450 ml (range,250-2500 ml) and 550 ml (range,0-2000 ml) in the clamp crushing resection group (F =15.86,P ＜ 0.05).The number of patients who did not receive blood transfusion in the radiofrequency ablation group was 65,which was significantly greater than 48 in the clamp crushing resection group (x2 =19.58,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of aspartic transaminase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBil) at postoperative day 3 and 7,prothrombin time (PT) at postoperative day 3,Clavien classification of surgical complications,duration of hospital stay were 302 U/L (range,89-823 U/L),54 U/L (range,16-325 U/L),37 μmol/L(range,18-112 μmol/L),24 μmol/L (range,9-66 μmol/L),15 s (range,11-20 s),22％ (14/65),12 days (range,8-36 days) in the radiofrequency ablation group,and 253 U/L (range,63-876 U/L),62 U/L(range,22-376 U/L),41 μmol/L (range,19-105 μmol/L),25 μmol/L (range,11-59 μmol/L),14 s (range,11-21 s),26％ (17/65) and 13 days (range,9-35 days) in the clamp crushing resection group.There were no significant differences in the 7 indexes between the radiofrequency ablation group and the clamp crushing resection group (F=2.59,1.93,3.96,1.58,2.35,x2 =0.381,F=1.58,P＞0.05).The incidence of complications of the radiofrequency ablation group was 17％ (11/65),which was significantly lower than 52％ (34/65) of the clamp crushing resection group (x2 =17.38,P ＜ 0.05).The number of patients who had postoperative bleeding in the radiofrequency ablation group was 2,which was significantly lesser than 22 patients in the clamp crushing resection group.Eight patients in the radiofrequency ablation group had encapsulated effusion,and 5 of them need drainage.Two patients in the clamp crushing resection group had hepatic insufficiency.Two patients in the radiofrequency ablation group had hemoglobinuria.Conclusion Compared with clamp crushing resection,radiofrequency ablation has advantages of less blood loss and safer manipulation.

Objective To investigate the value of continuous occlusion of hepatic artery proper to intermittent Pringle maneuver in partial hepatectomy for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of 36 patients(test group)who received partial hepatectomy for ruptured HCC by adding continuous occlusion of hepatic artery proper to intermittent Pringle maneuver at the Southwest Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Thirty-six patients(control group)who received intermittent Pringle maneuver only were selected as the control.All data were analyzed using the chi-square test,Fisher exact probability and analysis of variance.Results The mean hepatic artery occlusion time of the test group was 58 minutes(range,36-98 minutes).The median blood loss of the test group was 400 ml,which was significantly less than 750 ml of the control group(F =16.47,P ＜ 0.05);78%(28/36)of patients in the test group did not receive blood transfusion,which was significantly more than 53%(19/36)of the control group(x2 =6.01,P ＜0.05).The levels of postoperative serumaspartate transaminase and total bilirubin of the 2 groups were peaked at postoperative day 2 and then decreased to the normal level 1 week later.There were no significant differences in the incidences and levels of complications between the 2 groups(x2 = 1.83,0.89,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The addition of continuous occlusion of hepatic artery proper to intermittent Pringle maneuver significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss and doesn't bring any adverse effects to hepatic function for partial hepatectomy in patients with ruptured HCC when compared with intermittent Pringle maneuver alone.

Objective To investigate the long-term efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Long-term follow up of 48 SLE patients with autologous stem cell transplantation were studied. All patients were followed up for 10 years. Among the patients, 24 cases were treated with purified CD34+ cells transplantation and 24 cases were treated with non-CD34+ cell transplantation. Comparison between groups was performed by x2 test. Results Among 5 dead patients, 4 died of transplantation related complications including 3 cases treated with CD34+ transplantion. The survival rate of those patients with more than 10 years duration of lupus was 90%(43/48). Among 43 patients, 7 had disease flare, 6 were treated with non-CD34+ cell transplantation. Eight patients went to college, 26 returned to normal life and 4 of them had children. Conclusion The long-term effect of SLE treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is good. The recurrence of CD34+ transplant patients is lower than those treated with non-CD34+ transplantation. The quality of life in SLE patients treated with transplantation is better than those treated with conventional therapy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of mini-clamp crushing combined with saline-linked diathermy in hepatectomy for giant hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of 58 patients with giant HCC(diameter≥10 cm)who received hepatectomy with the mini-clamp crushing technique(miniclamp crushing group)at the Southwest Hospital from April 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively analysed.According to the tumor size,location and Child classification,the clinical data of 58 patients with similar parameters and received hepatectomy with traditional clamp crushing technique(control group)were selected from the database to conduct the matched case-control study.All the peri-and postoperative data were compared and analysed via one-way ANOVA,chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.Results The median blood loss and transfusion of control group were 850 ml and 650 ml,which were significantly higher than 400 ml and 550 ml of mini-clamp crushing group(F=16.23,5.63,P＜0.05).Twenty-four patients in control group needed blood transfusion,which was significantly larger than 6 of mini-clamp crushing group(χ~2=14.57,P＜0.05).The median time for parenchymal transection and portal triad clamping of control group were 45 minutes and 16 minutes,which were significantly shorter than 86 minutes and 35 minutes of mini-clamp crushing group(F=12.76,11.23,P＜0.05).The numbers of patients in control group who had complications and blood loss were 43 and 28,which were significantly larger than 13 and 8 of mini-clamp crushing group(χ~2=18.69,16.11,P＜0.05).The numbers of patients who had bile leakage,encapsulated effusion of the liver cut face and hepatic insufficiency were 8,5 and 2 in control group,and were 2,3,0 in mini-clamp crushing group,with no significant difference(χ~2=3.04,0.54,2.04,P＞0.05).Conclusion Mini-clamp crushing combined with saline-linked diathermy for the treatment of g4ant HCC is mone effective and available than traditional clamp crushing in terms of reducing blood loss and complications.

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnosis and follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) patients after percutaneous radiofrequence ablation ( RFA). Methods The data of 46 HCC cases were reviewed in our study. Results of contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) , ultrasound contrast agent sonography and grey ultrasound were compared with each other pre- and after percutaneous radiofrequence ablation. Results Contrast agent ultrasound imaging had the same value with CT in preoperative diagnosis of HCC, with postive likelihood ratio of 1.26 and 1.31, respectively,sensitivity of 97% and 91% and specificity of 23% and 31% respectively. For grey ultrasound the positive likelihood ratio was 0.99, sensitivity and specificity was 76% and 23% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound after percutaneous radiofrequence ablation was 60% and 90% respectively, and the postive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio was 6. 18 and 0. 44 respectively. The difference was significant while compared with CT (P = 0. 012). All cases were followed-up from 1 to 9 months, and all were alive with recurrence found by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in 3 cases. Conclusions Contrast agent ultrasound imaging is sensitive and effective in the diagnosis of HCC and follow-up after percutaneous radiofrequence ablation.

Objective To investigate the expression of calcium-binding protein S100A4 in pancreatic carcinoma and its clinical significannce.Methods Immunohistochemistry EliVisionTM Plus method was used to examine the expression of S100A4 in 70 surgical specimens of primary pancreatic carcinoma and 15 patients with noncarcinoma pancreatic tissues.The correlation between the expression of S100A4 and the clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.Results S100A4 was positive in 52(52/70,74.3％) specimens of primary pancreatic carcinoma according to immunohistochemistry detection.No expression of S100A4 in adjacent noncarcinoma pancreatic tissues was detected.The expression of S100A4 did not correlated with gender,age or tumor site while it was significantly correlated with tumor size,grade of differentiation,TNM stages,lymph node metastasis and survival.Disease-free survival and overall survival of the negative group were significantly longer than the positive group.The difference had statistical significance.Conclusion The study shows that over expression of S100A4 protein is closely related with clinicopathological parameters of pancreatic cancer patients,indicating poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients.

Objective To investigate the impact of planning parameter settings on plan quality and delivery efficiency of VMAT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with two treatment planning systems (TPS),as references for clinic plan optimization. Methods 25 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected and planned for SIB?VMAT treatment. The same planning aims were used in the two kinds of TPS ( TPS?1 and TPS?2). Multiple planning parameters were set for plan optimization. Dose distribution to the target volumes and organs at risk,monitor unit ( MU) and delivery time were compared. Paired t?test or one?way ANOVA was used for the data which was in accordance to normal distribution;otherwise, nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test or nonparametric Friedman test was used. Results More segments lead to better plan quality and less MU but longer delivery time ( Minor impact was observed when segment number was larger than 120) in TPS?1,while it had little impact on both plan quality and delivery efficiency in TPS?2. Comparing to single?arc plans,dual?arc VMAT achieved no significant benefit in plan quality but had more MU and longer delivery time in TPS?1 ( P= 0?000 ) . However, dual?arc VMAT plans had better dose distribution in TPS?2, decreased the maximum and mean dose for spinal cord in 3?9% and 13?7%respectively (P=0?000,0?000).Changing the settings of maximum or minimum dose rate did not affect the plan quality in both of the tested TPSs. Increasing the maximum or minimum dose rate reduced the delivery time but the latter increased the number of MU ( P=0?000,0?000) . Conclusions VMAT plan quality and delivery efficiency is affected significantly and differently by planning parameter settings for two TPSs. Trial test should be conducted for different TPS to determine the optimal parameter settings.

Objective Anti-calcification and surface modification of the transcatheter heart valve is the priority research area and development direction of bioprosthesis heart valve.In present study,the Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid(RGD) coating technology and anti-calcification with epoxy chloropropane(EC) treatment were applied to investigate surface modification property of the transcatheter heart valve compared to the traditional anti-calcification method with glutaraldehyde (GA) treatment to demonstrate the improvement of structure and surface biological properties of the transcatheter heart valve.Methods Morphological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) seeded on the transcatheter heart valve with the various anticalcification treatments were observed by scanning electron microscopy and the apoptosis rates of MSCs seeded on the transcatheter heart valve with the various anti-calcification interventions were studied by TUNEL staining.The cell adhesion and expression of the cytoskeletal protein,Vinment of MSCs treated as described were analyzed by cell-counting method and fluorescence immunohistochemical method respectively.Results The apoptosis rate of MSCs was markedly decreased while the expression of vinment and the cell adhesion strength of MSCs were elevated in the groups of GA-EC and RGD-EC treatments.The biological indices of RGD-EC group has significant difference(P ＜ 0.05) compared with GA group.Conclusion Biological properties of the surface of transcatheter heart valve can be remarkably improved by GA-EC and RGD-EC anti-calcification treatments.

Objective To investigate the role of three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) in providing a novel approach to assessing myocardial viability in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).Methods The subjects from the Department of Cardiology and the Department of Cardiac Surgery admitted from April 2010 through December 2012 were diagnosed as MI by electrocardiogram,myocardial enzymes and angiography.The clear imaging of angiography was selected out and collected.All patients had different degrees of segmental wall motion abnormalities,and some already had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting.Patients with diabetes,heart disease and severe valvular disease of heart were excluded.A total of 45 MI patients were checked with routine echocardiography,two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) and 3D-STE.Then,radionuclide myocardial perfusion/metabolic imaging was served as a golden standard to distinguish the viable from nonviable myocardium in each patient within a day.In order to determine the most sensitivity and specificity threshold values of circumferential peak-systolic strain (Cs),longitudinal peak-systolic strain (Ls),radial peak-systolic strain (Rs),3D strain and area strain for viability detection from 3D-STE,the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of viable myocardium with strain parameters in the study.Comparisons between viable and non-viable groups were carried out with t test.Data were expressed as the mean value ± standard deviation (-x ± s).Results The ventricular wall motion abnormality by visual assessment was observed in 368 segments from 720 segments in 45 patients.Furthermore,204 segments were confirmed to be viable by radionuclide myocardial perfusion/metabolic imaging whereas the rest 164 segments were identified as nonviable among 368 abnormal segments.There were no significant differences in circumferential peaksystolic strain (Cs),longitudinal peak-systolic strain (Ls) and radial peak-systolic strain (Rs) by 2D-STE between viable and nonviable group.Compared with those in viable group,there wasn' t any difference in Cs,but Rs and Ls decreased significantly by 3D-STE in nonviable group.The 3D strain and area strain in absolute value decreased in nonviable group compared with viable group.According to 3D-STE,when Rs higher than 11.1％,the sensitivity was 95.1％ and the specificity was 53.4％ for identification of viable myocardium,whereas Ls higher than 14.3％ resulted in sensitivity of 65.2％ and a specificity of 65.7％.Besides,3D strain higher than 17.4％ had a sensitivity of 70.6％ and a specificity of 77.2％ for detection of viable myocardium,while area strain higher than 23.2％ allowed a sensitivity of 91.5％ and a specificity of 78.8％.Conclusions The 3D-STE might have potential reliability of myocardial viability detection in the patients with left ventricular dysfunction after MI.