Objective To explore the fluctuation of cytokine mRNA expression level in a novel T-cell-mediated immune hepatic fibrosis model induced by repeatedly injections of Concanavalin A in BALB/c mice. Methods BALB/c mice were divided into different groups. Model group mice were injected weekly up to 20 weeks with Concanavalin A (15mg/kg), via retro-orbital venous plexus under ether anesthesia. Normal control group mice were treated in the same manner weekly with normal saline. Twenty-four hours after Concanavalin A challenge at 1, 5, 12 and 20 week, 8 mice from each time were killed by cervical dislocation, repectively. The livers of different group were excised and fixed in 10% formalin for HE staining and Gomori Ag staining or frozen in optimal cutting temperature (O.C.T.) media in liquid nitrogen for immunohistochemical staining for CD4 +T or CD8 +T cell. After extracting total RNA from liver tissues, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and transforming factor ?1 messenger RNA were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. PCR products were electrophoresed on agrose containing ethidium bromide and visualized under ultraviolet light. Densitometric RT-PCR data were standardized with ?-actin signals. Results The histological change of HE staining and Gomori Ag staining indicated the fibrogenesis in model group mice. Immunohistochemical staining for CD4 + or CD8 + T cell indicated that the infiltrating lymphocytes in liver parenchyma were mainly CD4 +T lymphocytes. IL-2 mRNA expression level only increased after the first injection of Concanavalin A. The expression levels of IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor ?1 mRNA significantly increased over the whole experiment period as compared with control group. Conclusions Repeated administration of Concanavalin A can induce T-cell-mediated immune hepatic fibrosis model in BALB/c mice. The expression levels of IL-4, 10 and TGF-?1 increase over the whole experiment period and may play an important role in creating mouse fibrotic model.

Objective To investigate the effects of acellular allo-dermis for repairing skin defects in clinic.Methods A total of 78 cases were studied in this article. All of these patients were treated by acellular allo-dermis plus autologous epiderm skin complex grafts. Among these patients, 10 patients were injuried with skin,and soft tissue avulsion, 23 patients with limbs eschar wounds caused by burn,and after scar excision,45 patients with wounds undergoing plastic operations. Results 78 cases had satisfactory effects in appearance and functions. The complex skin grafts of 69 cases among all the 78 cases were alive. The complex skin grafts of the other 9 cases were partially skin sheet alive. Conclusions Acellular allo-dermis is an ideal skin surrogate, it has good tissue elasticity and tolerance. It can not only ensure the appearance and functions similar to thicker skin graft, but also reduce scar produce in donor site.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of internal mammary sentinel node(SN) biopsy and internal mammary lymph chain excision under thoracoscope. Methods Six small pigs were used for the experiment.The small pigs were intubated using a double lumen endotracheal tube and kept anesthetized with ketamine.Methylene blue(4 ml) was injected subdermally into both of the first pair of breast.The sentinel node biopsy and internal mammary lymph chain dissection was performed thoracoscopically using a harmonic scalpel.Time of the appearance of the first blue-stained node and the dissection procedure were recorded respectively.Results Thoracoscopic internal mammary sentinel node dissection and internal mammary lymph chain excision was performed successfully in all the 6 pigs(12 sides).The time of the appearance of the first blue-stained sentinel node was 5~15 min(mean,8.9 min),the time of thoracoscopic biopsy was 15~50 min(mean,30.4 min),and the time of internal mammary lymph chain excision was 30~56 min on the left side and 22~48 min on the right side(mean,38.2 min),respectively.No bleeding,lung injuries,and other surgical complications occurred. Conclusions Thoracoscopic internal mammary sentinel node dissection and internal mammary lymph chain excision is feasible,easy to perform,and minimally invasive.

Objective To investigate the effects of different astragalosides(AST) and hydro-soluble astragali polysaccharide(APS) of Astragalus membranaceus on inducing erythroid differentiation of human leukaemic K562 cells.Methods APS and AST were extracted by alcohol or water from Astragalus membranaceus.K562 cells were treated with APS,AST and sodium butyrate(BA) respectively.The proportion of benzidine-positive cells was examined after 1-4 days culture.MTT assay was performed for evaluating the proliferation effects of APS,AST and BA on K562 cells.Results The percentages of benzidine-positive cells induced by APS,AST and BA were 13.2%,2.9% and 17.5%,respectively.The kinetic characteristics of K562 cells induced by different levels of APS(1,2,4,8mg/ml) indicated that 4 mg/ml APS was sufficient to induce K562 cells to turn to be benzidine-positive.The results suggested that APS,other than AST,could induce the K562 cells towards erythroid differentiation.Compared with BA,the percentage of benzidine-positive cells induced by APS was lower at 24h,48h and 72h(F=237.44,P=0.00),while the total number of benzidine-positive cells was higher at 96h(F=322.25,P=0.00).The results of MTT assay for Absorbance(A) showed that APS and AST had no inhibitory effects on growth of K562 cells(P=0.28,P=0.11),while BA showed an obvious inhibitory effect on K562 cells(P=0.00).Conclusion Astragalus membranaceus has pharmacological effects to induce the K562 cells towards erythroid differentiation,and its valuable constituents are contained in hydro-soluble astragali polysaccharide(APS).The induction of differentiation is most evident with a dosage of 4 mg/ml APS.The cell growth curve reveals that APS has no inhibitory effect on K562 cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of resveratrol on epileptic seizure and cognitive impairment and the role of CREB in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods TLE rat model was established by LiCl?pilocarpine injection and resveratrol was administrated at a dose of 15 mg/(kg · d) for 7 days. The rat behavior was evaluated by Racine scale and the CREB expression and phosphorylation in temporal cortex were detected with western blot. The Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory. Results Resveratrol administra?tion significantly reduced the Racine scales of TLE rats. The CREB phosphorylation in TLE group was increased compared with that in control group, which was remarkably inhibited by resveratrol. The escape latency of TLE group was increased at 4th, 5th and 6th day after training, and time in target quadrant was reduced compared with that in control group. Resveratrol significantly decreased latency time and increased target quadrant time of TLE rats. Conclusion In TLE rats, resveratrol administration suppresses epileptic seizure and improves cognitive function, which might be mediated by inhibition of CREB phosphorylation.

Objective To explore the surgical skill, safety, and cosmetic outcomes of complete endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants for breast cancer. Methods From August 2004 to September 2007, 31 women with breast cancer received complete endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants in our hospital after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The operation spaces were established by insufflating carbon dioxide after lipolysis and liposuction in the subcutaneous stratum and retromammary space. Subcutaneous mastectomy was carried out under a complete endoscope, sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection, and immediate reconstruction with implants were carried out via axillary small incision. Results The operations were completed in all of the 31 cases. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed on 15 cases (including supplemental axillary lymph node dissection in 8), and immediate axillary lymph node dissection was done in 16 cases. No cancer infiltration on tumor surface or into the nipple basement was observed in frozen sections during the operation. In one patient, the nipple was partly necrotic. No other complications were found in this series. Three months after the operation, cosmetic results were good in 22 cases (71.0%), average in 7 (22.6%), and poor in 2 (6.4%). The patients were followed for 3 months to 3 years (over 1 year in 15 patients), during which no one had metastasis or recurrence of the tumor. Conclusions Complete endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy combined with immediate reconstruction with implants is less traumatic and safe with few complications and good cosmetic result. The method is a good choice for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Bobath therapy in treating motor dysfunction of the core muscles in patients with hemiplegia after cerebral stroke.Method Totally 144 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were divided into a control group, treatment group 1 and treatment group 2. The treatment group 1 was intervened by Bobath therapy, while the treatment group 2 was by abdominal acupuncture and scalp acupuncture in association with Bobath therapy. The recruited patients were examined for the manual muscle strength rating of the abdominal core muscles, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, and Barthel Index (BI) score on the day of admission, the 30th day and 60th day after admission.Result There were no significant inter-group differences in comparing the core muscle strength, BBS, and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) on the day of admission (P>0.05). The core muscle strength, BBS, and ADL were significantly increased on the 30th and 60th day after admission in the three groups (P<0.05), and the scores in treatment group 2 were significantly higher than that in the control group and treatment group 1 (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus Bobath therapy can significantly improve the motor dysfunction of the core muscles in patients with hemiplegia after cerebral stroke.

Objective To investigate the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA)and β-catenin proteins and their relationship with tumor angiogenesis,and explore their correlation with invasion and metastasis of thyroid carcinoma.Methods SP immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of uPA,β-catenin and CD105 in 90 cases of thyroid carcinoma tissues.MVD counting was performed and analyzed in conjunction with the clinicopathological features of human thyroid carcinomas.Results The positive rate of uPA expression and abnormal expression rate of β-catenin and the MVD value was positively correlated with histological typing of thymid carcinoma.There was significant difference in thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis,which was significantly higher than those cases without lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05),as well as between clinical stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ and Ⅰ～Ⅱ.The MVD value was significantly correlated with the positive expression of uPA and abnormal expression of β-catenin in thyroid.There was statistically significant correlation between the expression of uPA and β-catenin.Conclusion The expression of uPA protein in thyroid carcinoma was higher than those in normal.A reduced membranous expression rate and abnormal nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin was observed in thyroid carcinoma cells,which was positively correlated with histological typing and clinical staging,invasion and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.uPA and β-catenin were cooperated in angiogenesis of thyroid carcinoma.MVD was positively correlated with invasion and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.They were hopeful to be an important prognostic indicator of thyroid carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of aspirin resistance(AR)in the patients with metabolic syndrome and the clinical characteristics.Methods A total of 221 patients with metabolic syndrome received 200 mg of aspirin daily for 10 days and no other antiplatelet agent.The blood samples were analyzed by platelet aggregation test(pAgT)using arachidonic acid(AA).We identified aspirin resistance when arachidonic acid induced aggregation≥20%.Results 17.6%of the patients showed AR.The AR fibrinogen level was significantly higher than AS patients(2.6?0.4 vs 2.4?0.4,P=0.017).Patients who were AR had no statistically significant difference in blood pressure,age,fasting blood glucose,blood fat and BMI compared with aspirin-sensitive patients(AS).There was also no difference in sex,smoking and history of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke between AR and AS patients.When stratified by sex,we found history of myocardial infarction was predictor for AR in male(50.0% vs 14.5%,P=0.020)and so was diastolic blood pressure higher than 85mmHg in female(34.0% vs 15.5%,P=0.043).Conclusion The AR accounts for 17.6%(39/221)of all.In this research.AR patients have higher level of fibrinogen than AS.History of myocardial infarction and higher level of diastolic blood pressure may be the predictor for AR in male and female individually.

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of pS2 protein and the clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer and to evaluate the value of pS2 as a prognostic factor for breast carcinoma and a predictive factor for response to endocrine therapy. Methods Expression levels of pS2 protein, estrogen receptor (ER) and progestogen receptor (PR) in tissues from 75 cases of breast cancer were detected by immunohistochemical assay. The relationship of pS2 protein expression with patient age, menopausal status, tumor size, metastasis to the axillary lymph nodes, pathological types, ER and PR was analyzed. Results pS2 protein, expressed in 33.3% of breast carcinomas, was correlated with patient age and pathological types, but was not correlated with tumor size. The positive rate of pS2 protein before menopause was higher than that after menopause, but no significant difference was found. Similarly, higher positive rate of pS2 protein was found in patients with metastasis to axillary lymph nodes than those without, but no significant difference was found. pS2 expression was correlated with ER and PR, but they were not perfectly consistent. Conclusion In breast cancer, pS2 protein expression, associated with some clinical factors and pathological features, is a good prognostic factor. pS2 expression may be a reasonable index for endocrinotherapy of breast carcinoma, but the detection of pS2 protein can not be employed in place of the detection of ER and PR.