Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of microendoscopic tubular retractor system (METRx) with a postmedial approach in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Methods A total of 290 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with METRx. The duration of follow-up ranged from 3 months to 33 months. Results According to the Nakai scale, 81% (235 cases) of the patients were evaluated as excellent, 13.4% (39 cases) as good, 4.8% (14cases) as fair and 0.7% (2 cases) as poor. Postoperative infection in intervertebral space was found in 2 cases. Conclusions METRx has a satisfactory short-term therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

Objective\ To investigate the cardiovascular distribution of orphanin FQ (OFQ) and OFQ precursor mRNA in spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR) and rabbit. Methods\ Reverse transcription polymerase chain reacrtion(RT PCR), and immunohistochemical method were used. Results\ The expression of OFQ precursor mRNA was detected from aorta, pulmonary artery, renal artery and vein of rat at a high level comparable with the amounts of brain, and a weak expression signal could also be observed in the atrium. The positive immunoreactive OFQ was detected in the tissues of aorta, atrium and renal of rabbit, as well as in smooth cells, endothelium and glomerulus. Conclusion\ These observations suggest that orphanin FQ might play a role in regulating the function of cardiovascular system and kidney, but the exact underlying mechanism needs further studying.

Objective To study the function of let-7 and miR-24 in UVB-induced apoptosis.Methods After NIH3T3 cells were irradiated with UVB.Hoechest33342/PI staining was used to study the cell apoptosis and RT-PCR was used to uralyzc the expression level of let-7 and miR-24.In addition,potential target genes of these miRNAs in PicTar were classified into different function categories through GOstat software.Results Compared to the control,the NIH3T3 cells exposure to UVB appeared typical apoptotic and necrotic ceils by fluorescence microscope.The exprossion level of let-7 and miR-24 in NIH3T3 cells after UVB irradiation was higher than that of the control.Among the target genes,casp3,bc1212,map3kl and cdk5 were also involved in UVB-induced apoptosis mechanism.Conclusion Let-7 and miR-24 play a role in UVB-induced apoptosis.

Objective To study the expression level of miR-21 in UVB irradiated HaCaT cells and A431 cells. Methods Real-time qPCR was used to examine the expression level of miR-21 in HaCaT cells and A431 cells after 50 J/m2UVB radiation. The possible target genes were predicted by PicTar and performed function categories with Gostat analysis. Results Compared with the HaCaT cells, miR-21 the expression level in A431 cells increased over 4 times. At 2h and 4h after UVB irradiation, the expression level of miR-21 in HaCaT cells were up regulated, and it lowered 2 times at 8 h compared with the control.There was no further change in the expression level of miR-21 after 12 h. While miR-21 expression levels in A431 cells were not changed signifcantly. The results of target prediction and Gostat analysis suggested that PIK3R1, BCL2 and E2F3 were involved in the cell differentiation and cell process. Conclusion miR-21 possibly involved in the pathogenesis of epidermal squamous cell carcinoma and the mechanism of UVB-induced injury.

Objective To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)on neuropathic pain and detect the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the mechanism of treatment. Methods A total of 30 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n =10):group S(sham group),group CCI(chronic sciatic nerve constrictive injury group),group HBO(HBO treat-ment for seven days group).Rats of group HBO received HBO one time per day for 7 days since the 1st day after surgery.Rats of group S and group CCI were just placed inside the chamber for approxi-mately 100 min,no HBO treatment.The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT)and thermal with-drawal latency (TWL)of all rats were measured on 1 d before CCI,1 d,3 d,5 d,7 d after CCI respec-tively.The animals were sacrificed after the last measurement of pain threshold,and the lumbar spinal cord specimen were taken to detect the expression of Wnt3a,β-catenin by immuno-histochemis-try and Western blot analysis.Results Compared with group S,MWT decreased significantly and TWL shortened significantly in CCT and HBO groups at 1,3,5,7 d after operation (P <0.05).Com-pared with group CCI,MWT was elevated and TWL was prolonged in group HBO at 1,3,5,7 d after operation (P <0.05).The Wnt3a,β-catenin expression increased after CCI treatment compared with group S and group HBO (P <0.05).Compared with group CCI,the expression of Wnt3a,β-catenin decreased significantly in the group HBO and group S at 7 d after operation (P <0.05).There was no significant difference between group S and group HBO.Conclusion HBO post-conditioning may relieve the neuropathic pain of rats by inhibiting the activation of spinal path of Wnt3a,β-catenin.

ObjectiveTo determine the peripheral serum expressions and clinical value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and a single sialic acid ganglioside (CA50) antigen in advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) combined with endogenous field hyperthermia.Methods60 patients inoperable,advanced pancreatic cancer were treated by 3D-CRT combined with endogenous field hyperthermia.Radiation dose (DT) was 46 ～ 66 GY/23 ～ 33 F.Hyperthermia temperature was 41 ～ 43 ℃ 2 times/week,lasted 60 min each time.The expressions of CEA,CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and CA50 in peripheral serum were detected by Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) every 2 weeks during treatment,and correlation were analyzed with tumor diameter,clinical stage,lymph node metastasis.Results From the 8th week,with 3D-CRT combined with endogenous field hyperthermia ongoing,CEA,CA19-9,CA50 andCA242 expression levels showed a gradual decline.CEA,CA19-9,CA50 and CA242 expression levels were (6.22 ± 2.71 ) μg/L,(43.44 ± 12.93 ) μg/L,(23.21 ± 7.71 )g/L and (24.26 ± 8.92) μg/L in 6 weeks,respectively.The difference was statistically significant among week 6 and week 0,week2,week 4 ( P ＜0.05),however there was no significant difference between week 6 and week 8 ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The CA724 expression did not change significantly ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There were positively correlation between CEA,CA199,CA50 and CA242 with pancreatic cancer tumor size,clinical stage and lymph node metastasis( respectively r =0.877,0.725,0.826,all P ＜ 0.01 ),however CA72-4 had no correlations ( P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionsCEA,CA19-9,CA50 and CA242 expressions in peripheral serum of pancreatic cancer patients were closely related to the treatment.Their joint detection can be served as independent objective evaluation reference information for the treatment efficacy and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the variations of the spatial position and overlap ratio of the internal target volume (ITV) and planning target volume (PTV) of primary thoracic esophagus carcinoma using repeated four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) scanning during conventional fractionated radiotherapy.Methods Thirty patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma were included whose 4D-CT scans were conducted before radiotherapy and between every ten fractions.The gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were delineated by the same radiation oncologist on each 4D-CT image phase,and the ITV and PTV were constructed afterwards.Results No significant difference of the isocenters was observed for the ITV and PTV during the treatment course,yet both the volumes of the ITV and PTV decreased.The median DI (the degree of inclusion) of the target acquired subsequently in the original target were 0.85,0.77 (Z=-3.10,P ＜0.05) for ITV and 0.86、0.82(Z =-2.49,P ＜0.05)for PTV respectively during entire treatment.The variation of volume ratio correlated strongly with the variation of DI (the DI of the target acquired subsequent in the original target) (rITV =0.71,rPTV =0.77,P ＜0.05).The variation of volume ratio and the variation of the matching index (MI) were positively correlated (rITV =0.47,rPTV =0.59,P ＜ 0.05).The 3D vectors of ITV and PTV motions were negatively correlated with the corresponding MI (rITV =--0.52,rPTV =-0.36,P ＜ 0.05).If the initial PTV was used for treatment planning,8.80％ and 6.37％ of the target volume would be missed at the tenth and twentieth fraction (Z =-0.55,P ＞ 0.05),respectively.In the meanwhile,11.45％ and 18.49％ of the normal tissues would be wrongly irradiated at the corresponding time points (Z =-2.49,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The variations of the spatial position of all targets were all less than 0.6 cm.The DI and the MI of the target decrease by various degrees during the treatment course,which lead to target mispositioning and normal tissue irradiation at different levels.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) combined with thermochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).Methods From June 2008 to June 2011,70 patients with LAPC were divided into radiotherapy group (30 patients) and combination group (40 patients).Radiotherapy used 3D-CRT with a 90％ to 95％ isodose curve,a single dose of 1.8 to 2.OGy,and total radiation dose 50 ～ 70 Gy.The combination group patients received simultaneous thermotherapy at 41.5 ～43.5 ℃ (1 h/fraction,twice a week for 6 times),and hyperthermia given simultaneously injected using arsenic trioxide 20 mg,recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor(rmhTNF) intravenous infusion of 10 million U,4 to 6 times,or 3D-CRT at the same time and the treatment given after gemcitabine(0.6 ～ 1.0 g/m2) on Days dl and 8 and cisplatin (DDP) (20 ～ 30 mg/m2) on Days d1-3 intravenous infusion,repeated every 28 days for 3 ～ 6 cycles.Results At 3 months after treatment,the total response (complete remission and partial remission) rate was 70.0％ (49/70),the efficiency of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy,and radiotherapy combined with thermo-chemotherapy were 56.5％ and 88.2％,and the radiotherapy alone group was 56.7％.There were significant difference in efficiency between radiotherapy combined with thermo-chemotherapy group compared to radiotherapy-chemotherapy group and radiotherapy group (x2 =4.68,4.98,P ＜ 0.05),the last two groups showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The 1-year and 2-year survival rate was 46.8％ and 20.3％,respectively.The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 52.4％ and 26.7％ in combination group,and 42.5％ and 16.2％ in radiotherapy group (x2 =14.17,P ＜ 0.05 ; x2 =9.74,P ＜ 0.05).No serious complications such as perforation,bleeding,and high fever were seen during treatment and follow-up.Conclusions 3D-CRT combined with thermochemotherapy is well tolerated and is relatively effective for the LAPC patients.

Objective To investigate the role of IQ domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) in angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)-induced podocyte apoptosis and the underlying mechanism.Methods Differentiated mouse podocytes were exposed to Ang Ⅱ at different concentrations for 6 h or at 10-8 mol/L for variable incubation time.Podocyte apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.Expression of IQGAP1 was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting.IQGAP1 siRNA and MAPK pathway inhibitors(10 μmol/L SB202190,25 μmol/L SP600125,10 μmol/L U0126) were further introduced to investigate the role of IQGAP1 and MAPK signalings in the process.And coimmunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the interaction between ERK1/2 and IQGAP1.Results (1)Ang]] promoted podocyte apoptosis in a dose-and time-dependent manner.(2) IQGAP1 was located in celluar membrane and cytoplasm of cultured podocytes.Exposure to Ang Ⅱ stimulated IQGAP1expression in a dose-and time-dependent manner,and elevated phosphorylation of p38,JNK,and ERK1/2 simultaneously.(3) Pretreatment with SB202190,SP600125,or U0126 dramatically prevented Ang Ⅱ-promoted podocyte apoptosis respectively (P ＜ 0.05).However,the protein level of IQGAP1 was not altered.(4) Knockdown of IQGAP1 with siRNA obviously prevented Ang]Ⅱ-induced apoptosis of podocytes(P ＜ 0.05) and reduced Ang Ⅱ-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2(P ＜ 0.05),but not that of p38,JNK.This was accompanied by a reduced interaction between ERK1/2 and IQGAP1(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion IQGAP1 contributes to Ang Ⅱ-induced podocyte apoptosis by interacting with the ERK1/2 signaling protein.