The association between fasting plasma ghrelin levels and insulin resistance and blood pressure (BP) in octogenarians was investigated in this study. A total of 487 unrelated octogenarians (including 203 men and 284 women) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study at the Healthy Care Center of Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, China, from October 2008 to April 2009. Plasma ghrelin was determined by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Insulin sensitivity was assessed using the homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The age of the participants ranged from 80 to 89 years (mean=83.9+/-4.8 years) with a body mass index (BMI) of 25.3+/-4.9 kg/m(2). Plasma ghrelin levels were 20.94+/-5.34 mug/L, being 20.89+/-5.53 mug/L in men and 21.38+/-3.73 mug/L in women respectively. Plasma ghrelin was not associated with systolic (P=0.981) or diastolic (P=0.724) BP, waist circumference (P=0.278), fasting insulin (P=0.246), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P=0.693) and HOMA-IR (P=0.232). In the control cohort, no significant differences in plasma ghrelin were found between genders (P=0.489), and among subjects with hypertension (BP>140/90 mmHg) (P=0.284) and type 2 diabetes (P=0.776). In conclusion, fasting plasma ghrelin levels are not directly correlated with insulin resistance and BP among octogenarians.

A total of 167 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients were divided into metabolic syndrome (MS) group (68 cases) and non-MS group (99 cases). There were significant differences in the disease-related metabolic indicators and coronary angiography (multivessel lesions, diffuse stenosis, occlusive lesions, Ginsini score) between MS group and non-MS group ( all P<0.05 ). When the patients with MS were divided into 3 groups according to the number of componernts of MS, three lesions, diffuse stenosis, and occlusive lesions were more frequent in five components group compared with three components group. Ginsini points rised with the increased risk factors. There existed differences in Ginsini score between three components group and four, five components group (P<0. 05 or P<0.01 ). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that obesity, hypertension,diabetes, high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were the predictors of CHD in patients with MS (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ).

Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group (n =16) and fructose group (n =16) fed with 10％ fructose solution.After 4 weeks,the rats of two groups were treated with saline and 50 nmol/kg ghrelin for 6 weeks,respectively (each group n =8).Fasting plasma glucose,insulin,and blood lipid profile were measured.Insulin receptor (Ins-R) mRNA expression in muscle was detected by RT-PCR.The phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) was measured by Western blot.The results showed that insulin level and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in fructose group were higher than those in control group [(13.1±3.6 vs 9.0 ± 1.5) μU/ml,P＜0.05 ;2.78 ± 0.14 vs 1.81± 0.13,P ＜0.01)].After ghrelin treatment,plasma insulin concentration [(9.6 ± 2.5) μU/mL,P＜0.05] and HOMA-IR (1.96 ± 0.12,P＜0.01)significantly decreased,along with increased Ins-R mRNA and IRS-1 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle (P ＜0.01).These results suggest that ghrelin can ameliorate insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats by restoring Ins-R function.

'Social beings' model of standardized training program for residents in Shanghai is one of the important measures in the health care reform. According to the requirements of the standardized training of residents in thoracic surgery, the article preliminarily explored the standardized training model for residents from four aspects such as individualized treatment of different professional backgrounds, focus-ing on the training needs of residents with different starting point of social beings, developing training programs for different training time and combining the master's degree graduate education. And based on the characteristics of thoracic surgery, it also summed up the past experience and explored the clinical practice teaching.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Schwann cells (SCs) and fibronectin (FN) support the growth of damaged axons and their conductive function. METHODS: Thirty adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into 3 groups (n=10), and the following grafts: both SCs and FN, FN, and basal medium were implanted respectively into the lumbar of spinal cords hemisected at vertebra T(12). RESULTS: At 6 weeks postoperation, the latencies of spinal cord evoked potential (SCEP) P(1) wave in the three groups were 1.57 ms, 1.84 ms, and 2.03 ms, respectively. The differences between SCs/FN group and the other two groups were statistically significant. The number of regenerated axons in SCs/FN group was significantly greater than that in FN group. The number of survival neurons in L(4) and L(5) left dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in SCs/FN group was significantly greater than that in the rest two groups respectively. The latencies of P(1) wave were significantly correlated with axon counts in both SCs/FN and FN groups. CONCLUSIONS: SCs/FN grafted to the hemisected lumbar of spinal cords can produce robust axon regeneration and promote partial repair of their conduction. Surface recording of SCEP technique has been proved to be a reliable and less-traumatic method for assessment of recovery of afferent conduction in hemisected spinal cord.

Objective To compare the effect of two procedures,named "mucosa to mucosal "and "end-inside" anastomosis for cholangiojejunostomy,and analyze its applicable scope.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 340 patients who underwent choledochojejunostomy from May 2012 to May 2017 in the Navy General Hospital.These patients were divided into two groups according to the procedure they received,including " mucosa to mucosal" anastomosis (n =249) and " end-inside"anastomosis (n =91).Two anastomotic methods of intraoperative state and postoperative complications were compared respectively under normal bile duct condition and cholangiectasis condition.Results When the common bile duct was not dilated,time spent for anastomoting in "end-inside" anastomosis was significantly shorten than that in "mucosa to mucosal" anastomosis (12.7 ± 1.2) min vs.(25.2 ± 5.8) min,and incidences of anastomotic leakage,bile duct infection,liver abscess,blie duct stricture postoperation (1.6％ vs.9.7％) in "end-inside" anastomosis were significantly lower than those in "mucosa to mucosal" anastomosis (P ＜ 0.05).Whether the common bile duct was dilated or not,the shrinking extents of stoma in " end-inside" anastomosis were lower than those in " mucosa to mucosal" anastomosis (1.4 ± 0.4) mm vs.(3.6 ± 1.2),(2.9 ± 0.6) mm vs.(4.2 ± 1.2) mm with statistical significances (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant differences between two procedures when common bile duct was dilated.Conclusion Compared to the mucosa to mucosal anastomosis,the end-inside anastomosis had the advantage of easy operating and low postoperative complications when the bile duct was not dilated.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of miR-125a-5p targeted regulation of scavenger receptor B1 (Scarb1) gene on anoxia/reoxygenation injury of rat cardiomyocytes. METHODS: H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into blank control group, hypoxia/reoxygenation group, transfection control group and mir-125a-5p transfection group. The expression of miR-125a-5p, cardiomyocyte viability, apoptosis rate, ATP content and the expression of Scarb1, Cyt C, Bax, Bcl-2 and NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins were determined. Target gene of miR-125a-5p was predicted with Targetscan software, and the targeting of miR-125a-5p on Scarb1 was verified by double luciferase reporter gene experiment. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the expression of miR-125a-5p, Bax, Cyt C and the apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes in the hypoxia/reoxygenation group were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the expression of Scarb1, Bcl-2 and the content of ATP were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the situation of mir-125a-5p transfection group was just the opposite. Double luciferase reporter gene experiment has confirmed Scarb1 to be the target of miR-125a-5p. Hypoxia/reoxygenation can promote the expression of NF-κB p65, C-myc and Cyclin D1 in cardiomyocytes, while down-regulating the expression of miR-125a-5p can inhibit the expression of such proteins. CONCLUSION Hypoxia/reoxygenation can induce the expression of miR-125a-5p in rat cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of miR-125a-5p can protect cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation by up-regulating the expression of Scarb1. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of down-regulating miR-488 targeting Jag1 on the injury of hypoxia-reoxygenation myocardial H9c2 cells. METHODS: A hypoxic-reoxygenated myocardial H9c2 cell injury model was constructed. miR-488 inhibitor was used to transfect the cells. CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis in each group. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) levels were detected. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2 associated X Protein (Bax) and B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2 (Bcl-2). Target genes of miR-488 were predicted, and a luciferase reporter system was used to verify the targeting relationship between the two. Myocardial H9c2 cells were co-transfected with miR-488 inhibitor and Jag1 siRNA, and treated with hypoxia and reoxygenation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, LDH, SOD, MDA, CAT levels, and Bax, Bcl-2 protein expression were detected. RESULTS: The expression of miR-488 in the hypoxia-reoxygenated myocardial H9c2 cells was increased, along with reduced cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, increased Bax protein expression, decreased Bcl-2 protein expression, increased MDA, decreased CAT and SOD, and increased LDH level in the supernatant of cell culture. When myocardial H9c2 cells were transfected with miR-488 inhibitor and treated with hypoxia and reoxygenation, the expression of miR-488 was decreased, along with increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, decreased Bax protein expression, increased Bcl-2 protein expression, decreased MDA, increased CAT and SOD, and decreased LDH level in the supernatant of cell culture. Down-regulation of miR-488 could target and down-regulate Jag1 expression. And Jag1 siRNA could reverse the effect of miR-488 inhibitor on the proliferation, apoptosis, LDH, SOD, MDA, CAT levels and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 of hypoxic-reoxygenated myocardial H9c2 cells. CONCLUSION Down-regulating miR-488 targeted Jag1 can attenuate hypoxia-reoxygenation induced myocardial H9c2 cell injury.
Apoptosis/genetics* ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Hypoxia/genetics* ; Jagged-1 Protein/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; Myocytes, Cardiac

Objective:To preliminarily study the feasibility, safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with selective portal vein embolization (SPVE) before surgical resection in the treatment of large liver cancer.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients with large liver cancer treated with TACE combined with SPVE from January 2016 to December 2019 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital. The study included 15 males and 2 females, aged (59.17±10.30) years. The levels of alanine aminotransferase, tumor changes and patient survival were analyzed before operation, after TACE, and after SPVE.Results:Among the 17 patients, the levels of alanine aminotransferase on the 1st and 3rd day after SPVE was significantly higher than those after TACE [191.4 (30.5-1966.4) IU/L vs 125.3 (35.7-846.2) IU/L on the first day, and 298.5 (24.6-1334.2) IU/L vs 208.6 (21.6-775.6) IU/L on the 3rd day], all P<0.05. One month after the two combined embolism, among the 6 patients with a tumor diameter of 5-10 cm, 2 patients (33.3%) had complete remission, 3 patients (50.0%) had partial remission, and 1 patients (16.6%) had stable disease. For the tumor’s longest diameter, among the 11 patients with tumors >10 cm, 1 patient had complete remission (9.1%), 4 patients had partial remission (36.4%), 5 patients had stable diseases (45.5%), and 1 patient had disease progression (9.1%). Eventually, 11 patients underwent surgical exploration. The median residual liver volume before treatment was 329.5 (284.9-365.7) ml, and after the combined procedure 415.6 (354.7-718.8) ml. The median hyperplasia ratio was 28.1% (14.1%-51.3%). Eight patients finally underwent surgical resection. There was no death in the perioperative periods. The median tumor-free survival time was 17 (7-42) months, and the median survival time was 27 (7-42) months. Conclusion:For patients with large liver cancer with insufficient remnant liver volume, preoperative TACE+ SPVE has certain value in controlling tumor progression, promoting remnant liver hyperplasia, increasing surgical resection rate and improving prognosis.

The association between fasting plasma ghrelin levels and insulin resistance and blood pressure(BP)in octogenarians was investigated in this study.A total of 487 unrelated octogenarians (including 203 men and 284 women)were enrolled in this cross-sectional study at the Healthy Care Center of Shanghai East Hospital,Tongji University,China,from October 2008 to April 2009.Plasma ghrelin was determined by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Insulin sensitivity was assessed using the homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).The age of the participants ranged from 80 to 89 years(mean=83.9±4.8 years)with a body mass index(BMI)of 25.3±4.9 kg/m2.Plasma ghrelin levels were 20.94±5.34 μg/L,being 20.89±5.53 μg/L in men and 21.38±3.73 μg/L in women respectively.Plasma ghrelin was not associated with systolic(P=-0.981)or diastolic(P=0.724)BP,waist circumference(P=0.278),fasting insulin(P=0.246),fasting blood glucose(FBG)(P=0.693)and HOMA-IR(P=0.232).In the control cohort,no significant differences in plasma ghrelin were found between genders(P=0.489),and among subjects with hypertension (BP＞140/90 mmHg)(P=0.284)and type 2 diabetes(P=0.776).In conclusion,fasting plasma ghrelin levels are not directly correlated with insulin resistance and BP among octogenarians.