Objective To analyze differential gene expression profiles by cDNA microarray in colon carcinomas with or without lymphatic metastasis. Methods cDNA microarray was prepared by spotting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of 16 000 human genes onto specially treated glass slides. The cDNA probes were prepared by labeling cancer tissue mRNA and lymphatic metastasis tissue mRNA with Cy3-dUTP and Cy5- dUTP through reverse transcription. The mixed probes were ,then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. The chips were scanned by Agilent fluorescence scanner and analyzed by gene Pix QuantArray. Results Among the 16 000 target genes, 999 genes were screened out for differences in gene expression level in the cases with colon carcinoma and lymphatic metastasis, among which 537 were up-regulated and 462 down-regulated. There were many genes evolved in the metastasis of colon carcinoma, including oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, adhesion molecular, matrix metalloproteinases, signal transduction factors, metabolism, immune associated genes, etc. Conclusion The genes, being closely associated with carcinoma metastasis, could be considered as potential markers to predict metastasis and targets for antimetastasis intervention.

Objective To study surgical techniques and clinical effects of minimally invasive excision of high rectal carcinoid tumors with anus preservation. Methods We conducted transanal local excision of rectal carcinoid tumors in 6 cases by using self-made proctoscope and laparoscopic instruments from August 2002 to January 2005. The tumors were located on the depth of 9~12 cm from the anal verge, and excision margin was 0.5~1 cm from the tumors. Results All the operations were performed successfully. A follow-up for 3~28 months (mean, 15 months) found no recurrence, metastasis, rectal stenosis, or other short- or long-term complications. The postoperative hospital stay was 3~6 days. No analgesics were required. Conclusions Transanal local excision of high rectal carcinoid tumors under proctoscope is safe, reliable, minimally invasive, and cost-effective.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus contralateral needling in treating post-stoke myodystonia. Method Totally 120 patients with post-stroke myodystonia were randomized into group A, B, C and D, 30 in each group. Group A was intervened by yin-reducing and yang-tonifying needling method plus contralateral needling; group B was by ordinary acupuncture plus contralateral needling, group C was by yin-reducing and yang-tonifying needling alone, while group D by ordinary acupuncture. Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI) was observed before and after intervention. Result After treatment, the CSI scores (tendon reflex, muscle tension, episodic spasm scores and total score) were significantly changed in the four groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The tendon reflex score, muscle tension score and total score in group A were significantly different from that in the other three groups after intervention (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a significant difference in comparing the episodic spasm score between group A and D after intervention (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the tendon reflex score, muscle tension score and total score between group B and D after intervention (P<0.05). The total score in group C was markedly different from that in group D after intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion Yin-reducing and yang-tonifying needling method plus contralateral needling is an effective method in treating post-stroke myodystonia.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of block calculus extraction catheter in the ureteroscopic lasertripsy. Methods Two hundred and thirty patients with ureter calculus were enrolled. Ninety-six patients were treated with block calculus extraction catheter (test group), and 134 patients were treated without block calculus extraction catheter (control group). The patients in 2 groups were treated with holmium laser ureteroscopic lithotripsy of Lumenis PowerSuite60W, and the treatment effectiveness was compared. Results The operation time and primary stone clearance rate in test group were significantly better than those in control group: (23.3 ± 7.4) min vs. (35.6 ± 11.1) min, 98.92%(92/93) vs. 88.89%(112/126), and there were significantly differences (P<0.01). The bleeding amounts and fever rate of 2 groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions The block calculus extraction catheter is very useful and safe in preventing the calculus shift, shortening the operation time and improving the calculus elimination rate .

Objective To explore the establishment of the coherent health service system for patients undergoing surgery in this region to optimize health care resources.Methods Using the Quantitative-qualitative research to investigate the conditions and needs of the regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals,and it is about two-way referral,the follow ups after discharge,remote consultation,the conditions and needs of the remote training and the knowledge to the obstacles of carrying out the regional network service.Results The doctors and nurses in the research said,it was difficult to achieve the up referral in two-way referral,and there was financing obstacles for remote consultation and training,furthermore,the effects of the remote training was uncertain.Conclusions The regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals is still weak,and we need to intensify the development of the regional network service.

Objective Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are important indicators of cerebral small vessel disease .However, it is still unclear whether endothelial dysfunction is involved in CMBs .The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between CMBs and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in patients with acute ischemic stroke . Methods Based on the results of MRI (3.0 T) susceptibility weighted imaging , we divided patients with first acute ischemic stroke into a CMBs group ( n=63 ) and a non-CMBs group (n=63), and recruited another 45 volunteers with normal MRI findings as controls .We collected and conducted comparative a-nalysis on the demographic data , biochemical variables ( including the sE-selectin level ) , vascular risk factors , and the number of CMBs of the patients . Results Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed a significantly positive correlation between sE -selectin and the number of CMBs (OR=1.062, 95%CI:1.023-1.103, P=0.002), higher systolic blood pressure associated with more CMBs (OR=1.014, 95%CI:1.002-1.025, P=0.021). Conclusion Serum sE-selectin is significantly positively correlated with and can be used as a biological marker for the severity of CMBs .

Objective To explore whether the process of oxidative stress exists in schizophrenia through analyzing changes of levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) ,and analyse the influence of age on SOD and MDA .Methods Serum levels of MDA and SOD in the schizophrenia group and healthy control group were detected by using enzyme‐linked immu‐nosorbent assay(ELISA) and were statistically analysed by using t test .Results Compared with the healthy control group ,there was an increase in serum level of MDA and a decrease in serum level of SOD in the schizophrenia group ,and had statistically signifi‐cant differences(P<0 .05) .Moreover ,statistically significant differences were found between subjects in the same age group of the two groups(P<0 .05) .Meanwhile ,serum levels of MDA and SOD were respectively compared in the two groups between different age groups ,it was shown that in the schizophrenia group and healthy control group there were no statistically significant differences of serum levels of MDA and SOD between subjects 50 years old and over and subjects younger than 50 years old(P>0 .05) .Conclu‐sion The process of oxidative stress exits in patients with schizophrenia ,and oxidative stress may be involved in the occurrence and progression of schizophrenia .Patients′age may not be significantly correlated with schizophrenia .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of losartan in regulating oxidative stress and the underlying mechanism in mice with ventilator-induced lung injury.

METHODSThirty-six male C57 mice were randomly divided into control group, losartan treatment group, mechanical ventilation model group, and ventilation plus losartan treatment group. After the corresponding treatments, the lung injuries in each group were examined and the expressions of caveolin-1 and NOX4 in the lung tissues were detected.

RESULTSThe mean Smith score of lung injury was significantly higher in mechanical ventilation model group (3.3) than in the control group (0.4), and losartan treatment group (0.3); the mean score was significantly lowered in ventilation plus losartan treatment group (2.3) compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). The expressions of caveolin-1 and NOX4 were significantly higher in the model group than in the control and losartan treatment groups (P<0.05) but was obviously lowered after losartan treatment (P<0.05). Co-expression of caveolin-1 and NOX4 in the lungs was observed in the model group, and was significantly decreased after losartan treatment.

CONCLUSIONLosartan can alleviate ventilator-induced lung injury in mice and inhibit the expression of caveolin-1 and NOX4 and their interaction in the lungs.

Animals ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of spironolactone against hepatic sinusoid angiogenesis in rats with hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSTwenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, bile duct ligation (BDL) group, and BDL+SP group in which the rats received daily spironolactone injection (20 mg/kg) the day after BDL. Four weeks after the operation, the rats were sacrificed for examination of liver histology using Masson staining and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mRNA in the liver using real-time quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the hepatic tissues.

RESULTSSpironolactone significantly inhibited liver fibrogenesis in rats after BDL (METAVIR liver fibrosis scores 2.84∓0.44 vs 19.73∓3.54, P=0.00). Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that compared with BDL group, spironolactone treatment significantly inhibited the expression of VEGF-A mRNA (0.71∓0.12 vs 1.75∓0.15, P=0.00) and vWF (1.15∓0.09 vs 3.08∓0.17, P=0.00) in the liver. The expression of VEGF-A mRNA was highly correlated with the expression of vWF (r=0.890, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSpironolactone can inhibit hepatic sinusoid angiogenesis in rats with BDL-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of VEGF-A.

Animals ; Hepatic Veins ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spironolactone ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibitory effect of angiotensin-(1-7) on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation in rats.

METHODSEighteen Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups and subject to sham operation, bile duct ligation (BDL), or BDL with angiotensin-(1-7) treatment. An osmotic minipump was implanted intraperitoneally for administration of saline in the sham-operated and BDL groups and angiotensin-(1-7) (25 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1)) in angiotensin-(1-7) treatment group. After a 4-week treatments, the fibrosis score, Masson staining, and hydroxyproline assay were used to evaluate the level of liver fibrosis in the rats, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the liver tissue.

RESULTSCompared with BDL group, a 4-week treatment with angiotensin-(1-7) following BDL significantly reduced the fibrosis score (2.33±0.52 vs 5.17±0.75), hydroxyproline content (0.36±0.03 vs 0.52±0.04) and α-SMA expression (54.11±17.55 vs 191.84±31.72) in the liver tissue of the rats (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONProlonged infusion of angiotensin-(1-7) inhibit the formation of hepatic fibrosis in rats following bile duct ligation.

Angiotensin I ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Bile Ducts ; surgery ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Ligation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar