Objective: To investigate the relation between ser um hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration and cryopreservation-reperfusion injury. Methods: The animals were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (1 ) group A: the control; (2) group B: liver allografts were stored in lactated R inger's solution (0℃) for 2 h before implantation; (3) group C:liver allografts were stored in lactated Ringer's solution (0℃) for 4 h before implantation. Th e serum sample and liver specimen were taken up at 2 h and 4 h after transplanta tion to detect the concentration of HA, AST and LDH, and to get pathologic obser vation. Results: Serum HA increased earlier and decreased more s hortly than AST and LDH after transplantation in group A. Serum HA increased sig nificantly in group B and C, much higher than that in group A(P<0.01). The i njury of vascular endothelium and the disorder of hepatic sinuses and hepatic lo b ules were observed in group B and C. In the specimen of 4 h in group C, evident infiltration of inflammatory cell was present. Conclusion: Cryopreservation leads to injury of endothelial cell and reperfusion aggravat es this injury. The serum HA concentration indicates the degree of cold ischemia -reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the related brain areas and nucleus involved in the inhibition of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on epilepsy. Methods Using the kainic acid kindling epilepsy rats model,we observed the distribution of Fos positive neurons in the brain after VNS treatment combined with immunohistochemical method. Results VNS induced a significant increase in Fos immunoreactivity in the bilateral nucleus of solitary tract,the locus coeruleus,parabrachial nucleus,periaqueductal gray of midbrain,lateral habenular nucleus,paraventricular thalamic nucleus,rhomoid thalamic nucleus,paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus.Dense Fos immunoreactive staining was also seen in the central nucleus of amygdala,bed nucleus of stria terminalis,lateral septal nucleus and prepirifiorm cortex.Pretreatment with electric stimulation on cervical vagual nerve stem, c fos expressing of hippocampus formation,cingulate gyrus and frontal,parietal,temporal lobus significantly diminished after KA injection. Conclusion This finding may suggest that VNS activates various brain structure that could be involved in the regulation of seizures.

Objective To elucidate the existence of reciprocal pathways between medullary visceral zone (MVZ) and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) or supraoptic nucleus(SON) following hyperosmotic stimulation. Methods Hyperosmosis was produced in rats by drinking 3% sodium chloride solution. The distributions and expressions of HRP retrogradely labeled neurons, Fos, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or vasopressin (VP) positive neuron and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive astrocytes(AST) in MVZ, SON and PVN were observed by quadruplicate labeling methods of WGA HRP retrograde tracing combined with anti Fos, TH (or VP) and GFAP immunohistochemical technique. Results Fos positive neurons within the MVZ, PVN and SON were increased markedly. There was also a marlced increase in GFAP positive structures in the brain, and their distribution pattern was fundamentally similar or analogous to Fos positive neurons in the above mentioned areas. The augmented GFAP structures manifested as hypertrophic cell bodies, with thicker and longer processes. Quadruplicate immunohistochemical staining showed that neurons were surrounded by many AST to form neuron astrocytic complex (N ASC). Conclusion The neurons and AST, as a functional unif in the form of N ASC, might actively participate in modulating osmotic pressure. There was reciprocal osmoregulation pathways between the MVZ and SON or PVN in the brain

Objective To evaluated the treatment results of late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods 72 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were randomized into two groups. The late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy(LCAF+CT)group received the induction chemotherapy for two cycles, followed by conventional fractionation radiotherapy to a dose of 36 Gy, then changed into accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy to a total dose of 60 ~ 66 Gy. The conventional fractionation radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy(CF+CT)group received the chemotherapy that it was similar to LCAF+CT group, and used the conventional fractionation radiotherapy to a total dose of 60 ~ 66 Gy. Results The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.3 %, 51.6 %, 38.2 % in the LCAF+CT group, and 73.8 %, 31.5 %, 18.6 % in the CF+CT group. The differences of 3- and 5-year survival rates were statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion Late-coures accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy might improve the treatment efficacy of advanced esophageal cancer and lengthen the suvival time. The toxic and side effects of LCAF+CT group were more severe than those of CF+CT group, but they were well tolerable.

OBJECTIVEThis investigation aimed at explore the total distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive (NPY-LI) fibers and their changes post-trauma in rat temporomandibular joints (TMJs).

METHODSSix groups of rats were killed individually before trauma, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after trauma. TMJs were extracted totally, and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method and image analysis were employed to detect NPY-LI fibers in frozen sections of TMJs.

RESULTSNPY-LI fibers were distributed extensively in TMJs, except the central disc band and bone, and they were mainly located around blood vessels, especially arteries. The densities of fibers in the six groups were 160.4 +/- 27.5, 95.8 +/- 16.4, 88.6 +/- 14.5, 114.3 +/- 17.0, 135.0 +/- 20.7, 158.6 +/- 19.5 (unit:mm2).

CONCLUSIONNPY-LI nerve fibers are distributed extensively in the periphery of blood vessels of TMJs and densities changed dynamically when TMJs were impacted. NPY may play an important role in pathologic change of TMJ by regulating local blood circulation.

Animals ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; analysis ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Temporomandibular Joint ; innervation

BACKGROUND: Astrocytes play active roles in neuronal activity through reciprocal communication with neurons.OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution of pyramidal cells and astrocytes in rat hippocampal CA3 area and to reconstruct their three-dimensional relationship.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment based on rats.SETTING: Neurosurgery department in a university and neuroscience institute in a military medial university of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Neurosurgery Department of Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the Neuroscience Institute of Fourth Military Medial University of Chinese PLA from October 2001 to June 2003. Thirty-day-old male SD rats were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Fourth Military Medial University of Chinese PLA.METHODS: The techniques used in this study were brain slice patch-clamping whole-cell recording, lucifer yellow (LY) staining, immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The discharge features of neurons and the spatial distribution of astrocytes.RESULTS: The hippocampal neurons were classified into 2 types according to their discharge patterns: phasic and non-phasic neurons. The observation under both LSCM and three-dimensional reconstruction revealed that a large number of astrocytes aggregated around LY-dyed pyramidal cells and there were tight contacts between them. The contacts between astrocytes and the two types of neurons differed in that they were found both on dendrites and cell body of non-phasic neurons but on dendrites of phasic neurons.CONCLUSION: The spatial distributions of astrocytes around different types of hippocampal pyramids may be different.

This study was aimed to analyze the pathogen distribution,drug resistance and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome of patients with primary nephrotic syndrome complicated with pulmonary infection for the guidance of clinical practice.The clinical data of 180 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome complicated with pulmonary infection were analyzed.The results showed that among 180 patients,117 were male,accounting for 65％;73.33％ of them were over 40 years old.Membranous nephropathy was the most common pathological type,accounting for 40％.Gram-negative bacteria were the main pathogen,accounting for 51.72％.The drug resistance rates of piperacillin/tazobactam,imipenem,amikacin,gentamicin were the lowest.The drug resistance rates of third generation of cephalosporins and quinolone antibiotics were in the middle.In TCM syndrome differentiation,central qi deficiency and phlegm syndrome occupied the highest proportion,accounting for 25.56％;and the phlegm heat in the lung syndrome,accounting for 17.78％;wind evil attacking the lung syndrome,accounting for 13.33％;qi deficiency and phlegm syndrome,accounting for 9.45％;qi deficiency,blood stasis and water stagnation syndrome,accounting for 8.89％;the mixture of deficiency and excess syndrome,accounting for 59.45％,with qi deficiency as the main part.It was concluded that middle-aged and older men,pathologic type of membranous nephropathy had the higher rate of suffering pulmonary infection.Gram-negative bacteria were the main pathogen.The choice of antibiotics should be based on piperacillin/tazobactam,and third generation of cephalosporins.Qi deficiency and phlegm syndrome was the most common TCM syndrome.

Objective The results and side effects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by combined external radiotherapy and Californium -252 neutron after loading intracavitary radiotherapy. Methods From November 2005 to March 2007, 30 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with staged T1 and T2 by 1992 Fuzhou staging system, were treated by external beam radiotherapy combined with Californium-252 neutron after loading intraeavitary radiotherapy. Results All patients were followed up for 2 years. 2 cases recurred in the nasopharynx. 4 cases developed distant metastases. 2 cases developed trismus. No perforations in hand and soft palate occurred. Conclusion External beam radiotherapy combined with Californian-252 neutron after loading intracavitary radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is indicated for boosting the dose to the nasopharyngeal cavity; reducing the dose for external irradiation. It can improve local control rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and reduce occur rate for the trismus.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of capecitabine continuous maintenance in treatment of re-currence of triple-negative breast cancer,which had responded to combined chemoradiotherapy.Methods The triple-negative breast cancer was defined as negative of ER,PR and HER2.A total of 46 patients of triple-negative breast cancer were divided into the treatment group (23 patients)and the control group (23 patients).The treatment group was given capecitabine continuous mainte-nance after 6 cycles of chemotherapy.The control group was given 6 cycles of combined chemotherapy only.The clinical efficacy and safety was evaluated between the two groups.Results The PR,PD,RR,and DCR in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P <0.05).The acute toxic effects (except for hand-foot syndrome)were similar in two group(P >0.05).Conclusion Capecitabine continuous maintenance after combined chemoradiotherapy in treatment of recurrence of triple-neg-ative breast cancer is more effective,lower toxicity and tolerable.

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on autophagy and inflammatory response in mice subject to renal ischemia reperfusion.Method Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (n =10 each):sham-operated (SO) group (Abdominal incision was made to expose the kidneys,bilateral renal pedicle dissociated and the abdomen sewed),ischemia reperfusion (IR) group,curcumin (CM) group (given CM 10 mg/kg) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group (given 3-MA 15 mg/kg).Six and 24 h after reperfusion,renal function was tested by determining the serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels,and the morphological changes in the kidney tissue were observed.The expression of LC3,Beclin 1,Rab7 and LAMP2 in kidney tissue was detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting.Fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to examine the expression of IL-6,IL-10,IL-17 and TNF-α in kidney tissue and serum.Result As compared with IR group and 3-MA group,the Scr and BUN levels in the CM group were significantly decreased (P＜0.01),and the renal morphological changes were improved significantly (P＜0.01).The mRNA and protein expression of LC3,Beclin 1,Rab7 and LAMP2 was significantly increased in kidney tissue,and the expression of IL-6,IL-17 and TNF-α was reduced,while IL-10 was increased (P＜ 0.01) in the CM group as compared with IR group and 3-MA group.Conclusion Curcumin possesses a protective effect against renal ischemia reperfusion injury in mice,which is probably mediated by promoting autophagy and subsequently inhibiting inflammatory response.