Objective To define the role of melatonin in the pathogenesis of chickens scoliosis following pinealectomy and constant light irradiation. Methods Ten white leghorn chickens in the control group were kept in light-dark (12h:12h) cycle, 500 lx in daytime and 0-5 lx in nighttime after birth. Pinealectomy was performed in 20 white leghorn chickens when 3-day-old and then kept in light-dark cycle as the control group. Constant light (500 lx) irradiation was used to reduce the secretion of melatonin in 20 chickens after their births. Radiologic examinations were performed on all chicken spines for scoliosis monthly. When the chickens were 3-month-old, their mid-day and mid-night serum samples were collected and analyzed with ELISA kit for melatonin. Results There was no scoliosis in the control group and constant light group when the chickens were 3-month-old. In the pinealectomy group, 4 chickens had obvious scoliosis in the first month when X-ray examination was taken. The curved deformity progressed and became serious when the chickens grew up. There were 7 chickens with severe curved deformity in the second month. When the chickens were 3-month-old, there were totally 11 chickens with scoliosis, Cobb' angle 11?-85?, average 30.63?. The level of melatonin in control group was low in daytime (10.6 pg/ml) and high in nighttime (110.4 pg/ml) alternately. The melatonin level was much lower, daytime 8.4 pg/ml and nighttime 6.9 pg/ml in pinealectomy group and 10.8 pg/ml in constant light group. There was no statistical significance in the serum melatonin between the pinealectomy group and constant light group. Both groups remained low level of serum melatonin. Conclusion Pinealectomy can reduce the secretion of melatonin and induce scoliosis in chickens. Although constant light could suppress the secretion of melatonin in chicken serum, it did not induce scoliosis. The pathogenesis of chickens scoliosis might not be mediated by low-level melatonin.

As the improved understanding of the biological behavior of colorectal cancer and the development of diagnosis and surgical techniques,the prognosis of patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer has been improved significantly.Locally advanced colorectal cancers are best treated with multivisceral resections,but the procedure is high technique-demanding and the indications for the procedure should be strictly followed.In this article,the procedure of right colectomy combined with pancreatoduodenectomy for colon cancer was described in detail in order to share the experiences and skills with surgeons.

Objective To evaluate the significance of the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) as prognostic indicators for patients with stage Ⅱ colorectal cancer. Methods A total of 285 patients with stage Ⅱcolorectal cancer who underwent potentially curative surgery were enrolled in the study. A high CEA level was defined as a level exceeding 5 ng/ml and a high CA19-9 level was defined as a level exceeding 37 U/ml. Patients were followed up every 3 months to review CEA and CA19-9 levels. Two years later, the chest and abdominal CT examination were performed every 3 months, and then every 6 months until 5 years. Results Out of these 285 patients, 99 (42.60%) patients had high CEA levels, 25 (8.77 %) patients had high CA19-9 levels, and 12 (4.21 %) patients had both high CEA and CA19-9 levels. The overall survival rates of patients with both high CEA and CA19-9 levels were significantly worse than those of others (P< 0.05). During the study, 51 recurrences were diagnosed. There were 22 hepatic recurrences, 10 pulmonary recurrences, 9 local recurrences, 8 lymph node recurrences, and 2 peritoneal recurrences. CT, CEA and CA19-9 were the first abnormal examinations in 30, 5 and 8 recurrent patients, respectively. In 27 % of recurrent patients, the recurrence was detected earlier by CEA and CA19-9 than that by CT. Conclusions The detection of preoperative CEA and CA19-9 levels is useful for predicting the prognosis after potentially curative surgery in patents with stage Ⅱ colorectal cancer. For early detection of occult recurrence of colorectal cancer, tumor markers are relevant.

Objective To assess the feasibility and short-term effect of transanal everted extraction of laparoscopic rectal excision without abdominal incision.Methods Eleven patients were operated by transanal everted extraction of laparoscopic rectal excision without abdominal incision.Results All the operations were accomplished successfully,the average operative duration was (189.5±25.2) min,the intra-operative blood loss volume was (25.4±9.4) ml,the average time to flatus was (38.9±8.6) h,the average postoperative hospital stay was (12.7±2.5) d,and the number of lymph nodes harvested was 13.5±4.1.There were no post-operative complications.Conclusion The technique of transanal everted extraction of laparoscopic rectal excision without abdominal incision is safe and feasible,but the long-term effects need more observation.

Objective To explore the best operation method in the patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Methods A total of 139 patients with papillary thjroid microcarcinoma were treated at our institute between Jan.2000 and Jan.2010.The data on the clinicopathological characteristics of patients and treatment were collected.Results The mean tumor size was (0.45 ± 0.24) cm.Of the 139 patients,30.2％ had multifocal tumors,19.4％ had bilateral tumors,42.4％ neck lymph node metastases.The number of eases of lymph node metastasis in level Ⅵ,Ⅱa,Ⅲ and Ⅳ was 58(41.7％),3(2.2％),10(7.9％),5(3.6％),respectively.Only one had lymph node metastasis in Level Ⅲ Microscopic extrathyroid extension was associated with neck lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid microcareinoma patients (x2 =38.39,P ＜0.001).No one developed permanent hypoparathyroidism.The median follow-up time was 103 (range,30-154) months,and local recurrence in the thyoid was diagnosed in 2 patients who underwent hemi-or subtotal thyroidectomy.Follow-up of 10 years was done in 16 cases,and the survival rate of 139 patients for 10-year was 100％.Conclusions It suggested that patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma has uniform clinicopathologic characteristics and the pattern of lymph node metastasis from those with papillary thyroid carcinoma.Total thyroidectomy plus level Ⅵ dissection is the optimal surgical treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Objective To explore the pattern of cervical nodal metastasis and the clinical significance of total thyroidectomy plus functional neck lymphadenectomy in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. Methods Clinical and pathological data of 172 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy plus functional neck lymph node dissection at Jinan Military General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed, including patient demographics, extent of surgery, parathyroid hormone level,recurrence, tumor pathology, such as tumor size, multifocality, capsular invasion, vascular invasion,extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node status. Results Of the 172 functional neck dissection patients (47 ambilateral), the incidence of lymphonodus metastasis in regions Ⅵ, Ⅳ and Ⅲ was 96. 3% ,78. 5%and 62.1% respectively. Rate of nodal metastasis was higher in patients with extracapsular invasion than in patients with no invasion ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Serum parathyroid hormone levels significantly decreased immediately postoperatively in total thyroidectomy plus functional neck dissection and remained low for several weeks thereafter ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rate was ( 98. 83 ± 0. 82) %, (98. 23 ± 1.02 ) % and (96. 42 ± 1.43 )%, respectively. Conclusions Therapeutic neck lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid cancer is recommended for cervical nodal metastasis patients. Total thyroidectomy plus functional neck dissection is important in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been widely used on clinic; however, there are still few reports addressing rhBMP-2-induced osteogenesis in intervertebral disc.OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect of rhBMP-2 to induce interbody fusion in rabbits.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized controlled animal study and multi-level evaluation, which was performed in Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University from February to July 2007.MATERIALS: 24 adult New-Zealand rabbits weighing 3.5-4.5 kg were used to expose L4-5 and L5-6 intervertebral disc; rhBMP-2 (1 mg/ampoule, purity≥95%) was provided by Beijing Bailingke Biological Products Co., Ltd.METHODS: 24 rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group and control group with 12 rabbits for each. In the experimental group, saline (20 μL, containing 200 μg rhBMP-2) was injected into nucleus pulposus of L4-5 intervertebral disc; equivalent saline was inserted into nucleus pulposus of L5-6 intervertebral disc as controls. Rabbits in the control group were injected with saline (20 μL) into nucleus pulposus of L4-5 intervertebral disc.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphological changes of injected segments were observed by hand-feeling check together with histological and imaging tests at 10, 30, 60, and 90 days postoperatively.RESULTS: 24 rabbits were included in the final analysis. ①In the experimental group, the motion range of L4-5 segment was not limited at 10 days postoperatively, and lightly limited at 30 days, but severely limited at 60 days postoperatively; L4-5 segment was fixed tightly at 90 days postoperatively. Moreover, motion range of L5-6,segment and articular motion range in the control group were not changed remarkably. ② L4-5 interbedy space was narrowed at 10 days or even disappeared at 90 days postoperatively, and then osteogenesis fusion was formed. Transmittance of intervertebral space in the L5-6 segment and in the control group was not changed obviously. ③ Nucleus pulposus was gradually shrunk at 10 days postoperatively; partial cartilage endplate transformed into mature woven bone, and collagen fiber structure of annulus fibrosus gradually disappeared at 90 days postoperatively. A lot of mesenchymal cells were aggregated surrounding annulus fibrosus at 10 and 30 days postoperatively. Moreover, mature woven bone was formed in annulus fibrosus near to cartilage endplate at 90 days postoperatively. However, histological and morphological changes were not found in the control group at those four time points.CONCLUSION: rhBMP-2 can induce intervertebral disc osteogenesis so as to achieve interbody fusion.