Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on myocardial injury induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats,weighing 280-300 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =8 each):sham operation group (group S),group I/R and dexmedetomidine group (group Dex).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in I/R and Dex groups.At 20 min before ischemia,dexmedetomidine 50 μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally in group Dex,and the rest procedures were similar to those previously described in group I/R.The rats were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion and myocardial specimens were obtained for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.The apoptosis in cardiomyocytes was examined by flow cytometry.Apoptosis index was calculated.The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by immunohistochemistry,and Bcl-2/Bax ratio was calculated.Results Compared with group S,apoptosis index and MDA content were significantly increased in I/R and Dex groups,Bcl-2/Bax ratio was decreased in group I/R,and Bcl-2/Bax ratio was increased in group Dex.Compared with group I/R,apoptosis index and MDA content were significantly decreased,and SOD activity and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were increased in group Dex.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can attenuate myocardial injury induced by renal I/R in rats,and the mechanism may be related to inhibited apoptosis in cardiomyocytes and reduced lipid peroxidation.

The zinc finger protein A20 exists in many kinds of ceils in the body and plays multiple roles in physiological and pathological processes such as regulation of immune response,inflammatory diseases and cancers by inhibiting cell apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and restricting NFKB signaling pathway.Recently,the role of A20 in generation and development of tumors draws wide attention,hence,we summarized recent research progress of the relation between A20 and cancer in this review.

BACKGROUND: The proximal tibia is the second common site for primary bony sarcomas,which lacks adequate soft tissue coverage.Resection and reconstruction by any technique leave the reconstructed area in a subcutaneous position.This has been a major source of necrosis of skin and infections.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of gastrocnemius muscle transfer to obtain soft-tissue coverage and extensor mechanism reconstruction for limb-sparing resection of the proximal tibia with endoprosthetic reconstruction.METHODS: From January 2001 to June 2008,27 patients with osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia confirmed by biopsy were selected.All the tumours were assigned to stage IIB based on Enneking's classical staging system.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(Bacci,IOR/OS-N4)was utilized for the patients.All the patients adopted limb-sparing surgery,i.e.resection of proximal tibia with endoprosthetic reconstruction.A gastrocnemius flap was utilized to improve implant coverage and enhance the patellar tendon repair.MSTS was used to measure the functional status of patients with a sarcoma in the leg.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The follow-up was averagely 53.1 months.Of 27 patients,2 cases(7%)died of lung metastasis within 2 years,1(4%)suffered from amputation due to infection and underwent amputation.The others developed no complications or recurrence.The MSTS score was averagely 25.1 points.Results show that resection with endoprosthetic reconstruction utilizing a gastrocnemius muscle flap for osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia is reliable and predictable in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the surgical technique,postoperative function and dislocation incidence of proximal humerus reconstruction with metallic endoprostheses and polypropylene knitted nonabsorbable mesh after proximal humeral tumor resection.Methods Twenty patients with proximal humeral tumor were retrospectively reviewed.They were performed proximal humerus reconstruction with proximal humeral prosthesis and polypropylene knitted non-absorbable mesh from February 2006 to January 2009.There were 5 women and 7 men with a mean age of 38 years(range,21-55 years)at the time of surgery,and giant cell tumor in 9 patients(including Campanacci Ⅱ for 3,Campanacci Ⅲ for 6),osteosarcoma in 1(Enneking ⅡB).and chondrosarcoma in 2 (Enneking ⅡA).The operative time,blood loss,and shoulder movement postoperation were analysed.According to the assessment system by MSTS,the function of limb after surgery was assessed.Results Patients were followed clinically and radiographically for a minimum of 24 months (mean,35 months;range,24-52 months).The mean operative time was 172 min(range,150-200min).The mean blood loss was 254 ml (range,150-500 ml).There were no shoulder dislocations at final follow-up.The mean shoulder flexion was 41°(range,20°-60°)and mean shoulder abduction was 42°(range,20°-70°).The mean postoperative functional assessment score of the limb was 66%(range,53%-77%).None of the Datients had a wound infection,traction neuropraxia or died after the surgical procedure.Conclnsion The data suggests that the use of a polypropylene knitted non-absorbable mesh for proximal humerus reconstruction may reduce dislocations and facilitate soft tissue attachment after tumor resection.

Objective T o observe the changes of cystathionine β-synthase (C B S ) expression in the cere-bral cortex after brain contusion at different tim es. Methods A n experim ental m odel of traum atic brain injury (T B I) in m ice w as established by an im proved w eight-drop device. T hen W estern blotting and im m unohistochem ical exam ination w ere used to detect the C B S expression in cerebral cortex around in-jury at different tim e points (1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d). Results T he results of W estern blotting revealed that the expression level of C B S w as dow n-regulated and reached its low est level at the 3rd days after injury, and then restored to norm al level after 7 days. T he results of im m unohistochem istry show ed that C B S w as present in the norm al brain cortex. C B S expression gradually decreased at the 3rd days after injury, and then restored to norm al level after 7 days. Conclusion C B S has the potential to be a reference index for tim e estim ation after brain contusion in forensic practice.

Objective To investigate the value of post processing technique of MSCT in the diagnosis of bile duct stones.Methods 89 cases with high density bile stones were collected.All of the images were reconstructed by using surface reconstruction(CPR),multiplanar reconstruction(MPR),volume reconstruction(VR), to clearly show the location, size, number and shape of bile duct stones, and provide accurate image information for clinic.Results 396 cases of bile duct stones were detected in all of the 89 patients,after treatment,the reconstructed image of could accurately show the location,size,number and shape of stones.Conclusion Post-processing technique of MSCT can provide accurate image information for the diagnosis of the the biliary stone,and improve the effectiveness and safety of the operation.

Objective To analyze the growth phenotype and blood biochemical parameters of chromosome 1 substi-tution mouse strain(CSS1), and investigate their potential of QTL mapping .Methods Body weight, body length, tail length, organ weight of the CCS1 mice were measured at different days to create a growth curve while blood biochemical in -dexes were measured at about the 80th day.Results The CCS1 mice were different from C57BL/6 mice in several inde-xes.Compared with the C57BL/6 mice during different developmental stages , six strains including B6-Chr1KM mice were significantly different in body weight .There were five strains including B6-Chr1CM mice significantly different with C57BL/6 mice in body length, and all of the CSS1 mice were significantly different from C57BL/6 mice in tail length.Part of CCS1 mice were significantly different from C57BL/6 mice in the weight of liver, spleen, kidney and brain.The ALT of female B6-Chr1CM mice was significantly higher than that in the C 57BL/6 mice.The ALP of female B6-Chr1HZ mice was signifi-cantly higher than that in the male C57BL/6 and B6-Chr1KM mice, and was significantly lower than that in the C57BL/6 mice.The TB of male B6-Chr1CM, B6-Chr1SMX and B6-Chr1HZ mice was significantly higher than that of the C 57BL/6 mice.The TG of male B6-Chr1SMX mice and male B6-Chr1TW mice was significantly higher than that in the C 57BL/6 mice. Conclusions The phenotype of Chr1 CSS mice is quite different from commonly used inbred strain C 57BL/6 mice.CCS1 mice show great potential in QTL mapping for their characteristic growth phenotype and blood biochemical indexes .

Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrogen on the mitochondrial function in brain tis-sues of mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy(SAE).Methods Two hundred and sixty-eight healthy male C57 mice,aged 6 weeks,weighing 20-25 g,were divided into 4 groups(n＝67 each)using a ran-dom number table method: sham operation group(group SH),sham operation plus hydrogen gas group(group SH+H2),group SAE,and SAE plus hydrogen gas group(group SAE+H2).Sepsis was produced by cecal ligation and puncture in anesthetized mice.The mice in group SH+H2 and group SAE+H2 inhaled 2％hydrogen gas for 1 h starting from 1 and 6 h after operation,respectively.The postoperative 7-day sur-vival rate was recorded.Brain tissues were obtained at 24 h after operation to count the normal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region.At 6,12 and 24 h after operation,hippocampal mitochondria were isolated for determination of mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)by fluorescence spectrophotometry and ATP con-tent by a bioluminescence assay.Y-maze(spontaneous alternation)test was performed at days 3,5 and 7 after operation.Results Compared with group SH,the 7-day survival rate was significantly decreased,the number of normal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region,MMP,mitochondrial ATP content and sponta-neous alternation percentage in Y-maze test were significantly decreased in group SAE and group SAE+H2(P＜0.05).Compared with group SAE,the 7-day survival rate,the number of normal neurons in hipp-ocampal CA1 region,MMP,mitochondrial ATP content and spontaneous alternation percentage in Y-maze test were significantly increased in group SAE+H2(P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which hy-drogen reduces SAE is probably associated with improving mitochondrial function in brain tissues of mice.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hydrogen on the mitochondrial function in brain tissues of mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Methods: Two hundred and sixty-eight healthy male C57 mice, aged 6 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups (n=67 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group SH), sham operation plus hydrogen gas group (group SH+ H₂), group SAE, and SAE plus hydrogen gas group (group SAE+ H₂). Sepsis was produced by cecal ligation and puncture in anesthetized mice.The mice in group SH+ H₂ and group SAE+ H₂ inhaled 2% hydrogen gas for 1 h starting from 1 and 6 h after operation, respectively.The postoperative 7-day survival rate was recorded.Brain tissues were obtained at 24 h after operation to count the normal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region.At 6, 12 and 24 h after operation, hippocampal mitochondria were isolated for determination of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by fluorescence spectrophotometry and ATP content by a bioluminescence assay.Y-maze (spontaneous alternation) test was performed at days 3, 5 and 7 after operation. Results: Compared with group SH, the 7-day survival rate was significantly decreased, the number of normal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region, MMP, mitochondrial ATP content and spontaneous alternation percentage in Y-maze test were significantly decreased in group SAE and group SAE+ H₂ (P<0.05). Compared with group SAE, the 7-day survival rate, the number of normal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region, MMP, mitochondrial ATP content and spontaneous alternation percentage in Y-maze test were significantly increased in group SAE+ H₂ (P<0.05). Conclusion The mechanism by which hydrogen reduces SAE is probably associated with improving mitochondrial function in brain tissues of mice.

Metabolic disorders are observed in women after menopause, and the postmenopausal women suffering from chronic liver diseases have an increased risk of progression to liver fibrosis, with a higher risk than male patients of the same age, which may be associated with the decline of ovarian function and the reduction of estrogen level after menopause. This article summarizes the research advances in the molecular mechanism of progression to liver fibrosis from the aspects of estrogen and oxidative stress, activation of hepatic stellate cells, accumulation of extracellular matrix, and immune regulation. It is pointed out supplementation with an appropriate amount of estrogen in the perimenopausal period and the early menopausal period can reduce the risk of liver fibrosis and delay or even reverse the process of liver fibrosis, thereby improving quality of life and prolonging survival time in elderly female patients.