Objective To validate a new standardized training program for urological surgeons to improve their laparoscopic surgical skills. Methods The laparoscopic surgical training program was carried out by using the traditional mechanical simulators and animal models. Thirty-three trainees participated the urological laparoscopic surgical training program. Initially, the novices were assigned to practise basic laparoscopic skills step by step on the simulator with fixed trocar positions. After a period of basic training, they were allowed to practise on animal models for some particular proce-dures. Results All trainees (33/33, 100.0%) participated were able to perform all basic techniques skillfully and completed laparoscopic anastomosis accurately after the training. The time required for performing the partial nephrectomy, dismembered pyeloplasty and ureteral reimplantation on animal models declined from 64.0±18.4, 127.54±17.5 and 75.84±11.6 min at the beginning to 30.94±3.8, 65.2±7. 5 and 37.7±7.2 min after practicing these procedures 8 times (P<0.01). They could un-derstand the crucial procedures of the laparoseopic surgeries after 6 to 8 special trainings on animal models. Fifteen trainees (15/33, 45.5%) had started to carry out laparoscopic surgeries after-finish- ing the training program. Conclusions Our program enables the participants to improve their techniques in complicated laparoscopic surgeries. The challenging parts of reconstructive laparoscopic surgeries such as laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty can be taught by using animal models. This program could be incorpo-rated easily by all urological departments developing a laparoscopie surgical training program.

Objective To investigate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on early and mid-term knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods 70 patients were randomly assigned to ESWT group (n=34) or control group (n=36). The ESWT group was given shock wave on unilateral knee, while the control group accepted shock wave with the energy density of 0. They were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on movement, Lequesne Index and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index before and 12 weeks after the intervention. Results The scores of VAS, Lequesne Index and WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index improved more in the ESWT group than in the control group after intervention (P<0.01). Conclusion ESWT is effective on KOA as a non-surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) on distribution taxis of paclitaxel in mice with lung cancer to discuss targeted relationship between acupoints and corresponding viscera.

METHODSAccording to randomized digital table, 315 SPF-grade BALB/C female mice were divided into 7 groups: blank group (group A), model group (group B), medication group (group C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (group D), acupuncture at Feishu group (group E), acupuncture at Lingtai group (group F) and acupuncture at Feishu and Lingtai group (group G), 45 mice in each one. Except the blank group, the remaining groups were treated with N-nitroso-tris-chloroethyl urea (NTCU) to establish the model of squamous-cell carcinoma. After model establishment, group A, group B and group C were not treated with acupuncture; group A and group B were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chlorvde solution by 6 mL/kg while group C was treated with intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The group D, group E, group F and group G were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint, "Feishu" (BL 13), "Lingtai" (GV 10) and "Feishu" (BL 13) plus "Lingtai" (GV 10), respectively, then were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The treatment was all given once a day for continuous 10 days. 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after the treatments, 6 mice in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed to collect samples of lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart, etc. High performance liquid chromatography was applied to measure the concentration of paclitaxel in each organ (lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart) at different time points.

RESULTS(1) The content of paclitaxel in lung, kidney and heart reached the peak at 2 h, then decreased significantly in group C, group D, group E, group F and group G; the content of paclitaxel in spleen showed downtrend at each time point. The content of paclitaxel in liver reached the peak at 2 h in group C and group D; the content of paclitaxel reached the peak at 8 h in group E, group F and group G. (2) The content of paclitaxel in lung in group E and group G was higher than that in group C and group D at each time point (all P < 0.01); the content of paclitaxel in lung in group F was higher than that in group C (P < 0.01) and group D (P < 0.01) only at time point of 2 h. The content of paclitaxel in lung in group G was higher than that in group F at each time point (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between group G and group E (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) could influ- ence the metabolism of paclitaxel in lung-cancer mice, leading to distribution change in each organ. As a result, it could cause targeting effects, which is more significant at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacokinetics ; Taxus ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the in vitro effects of bladder cancer cell proliferation after silencing Notch1 gene. Methods The siRNA eukaryotic expression vector of Notch1 (psiRNA1)was constructed and transfected into bladder cancer cell lines T24 and BIU-87. Methabensthiazuron (MTT) and flow cytometry (FCM) assays were used to detect bladder cancer cells line growth, cell cycle and apoptosis after the transfection. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expression changes of Notch1 in these cell lines. Results After transfection for 72 h, the rate of G0/G1 phase cells inceased from (23.89±1.32) % to (80.13±2.69)% in T24 cell line, and increased from (24.63±1.68)% to (69.44±2.41)% in BIU-87 cell line (both P<0.05). In addition, apop-totic cell index in T24 and BIU-87 cell lines increased from (1.28±0.14)% to (13.75±1.23)%, from (1.01±0.27)% to (8.72±1.01)%, respectively(both P<0.05). The growth of T24 and BIU-87 cell lines was obviously inhibited 24 h after the transfection, and the inhibitory effects lasted until 96 h after the transfection. Notch1 mRNA and protein significantly downregulated after transfection compared to the control(P<0.05). Conclusions Silencing Notch1 expression can inhibit the prolif-eration of bladder cancer cell lines. Notch1 gene might act as a tumor gene in bladder cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation(UBIO)on oxygen free radical metabolism(OFRM)in rabbits with acute soman intoxication.Methods One hundred rabbits were randomly divided into five groups:a control group,a soman intoxication group(I),a soman intoxication plus routine therapy group(TR),a soman intoxication plus UBIO therapy group(UBIO)and a soman intoxication plus complex therapy group(CT).All the rabbits were intervened accordingly.Then the concentrations of malondiade- hyde(MDA)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathionperoxidase(GSH Px)and catalase (CAT)in serum were determined at 14 d after various treatments.Results Compared with the control group,the concentration of MDA and the activity of CAT in the 1 group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),while the activi- ties of SOD and GSH Px were obviously decreased(P＜0.05).After UBIO or complex therapy,the serum level of MDA was significantly decreased in comparison with that in the I group(P＜0.01),while the concentrations of SOD, GSH Px and CAT were enhanced(P＜0.05).Conclusion UBIO therapy can improve antioxidation activity against the injury caused by free radicals and could be used to treat acute soman intoxication,which causes injury from in- creased oxygen free radical concentrations.

The disorders of DNA and histone methylation have a close relationship with the development and progression of tumors. Epigenetic regulation is critical in maintaining the stability and integrity of the expression profiles of different cell types by modifying DNA methylation and histone methylation. However, the abnormal changes of methylation often result in the development and progression of tumors. This review summarized the theory of tumor genomic and histone methylation, detection methods of methylation and their applications, and the clinical application of methylation as biological markers and drug targets.
DNA Methylation ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

As the most homologic homologue of silent information regulator 2 of yeast, Sirt1 gene is extensively expressed in mature tissues, and is rich in early embryo and reproductive cells. It is involved in the regulation of gene transcription, energy metabolism and cell aging. It promotes fat mobilization in adipocytes and glucose production in liver and regulates insulin secretion in islet beta cell. Furthermore, Sirt1 gene is an essential endogenous apoptosis inhibitor. In future, it may be used as new drug targets or applied in other disease management modalities.
Animals ; Humans ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the linkage between -148C/T polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene and plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-one patients with cerebral infarction and 101 healthy individuals were enrolled in this trial. The beta-fibrinogen gene -148C/T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained from prothrombin time assay.

RESULTSPlasma fibrinogen levels of patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P<0.01). In both groups, T allele carriers had higher plasma fibrinogen levels than other those did (P<0.01); and the fibrinogen level difference was still significant if both groups was based on their sex (P<0.05). Divided by age, each group of the study cases has significant difference between two genotypes (P<0.05). T -148 allele frequency of the middle age case in study group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh plasma fibrinogen level is a risk factor to cerebral infarction. Plasma fibrinogen level is affected by -148C/T polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene. With or without other risk factors and environmental factors affecting, T allele increases plasma fibrinogen level and may be a heritable risk factor to cerebral infarction.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cerebral Infarction ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stroke ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective To study the endoscopic anatomical structures in retroperitoneal space and to share experiences of retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy. Methods Between January 2006 and March 2008, a total of 85 patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy. Thirty-eight tumors were on the left kidney and 47 on the right side. The mean tumor size was 5.5± 1.7 cm in diameter (2.5 to 10.5 cm). There were 74 cases in clinical stage T1N0M0 and 11 cases in T2N0M0. Following the principle of radical nephrectomy outside the renal fascia, the whole surgical procedure was performed along "2 spaces" and "2 poles". The ventral attachment of the kidney was dissected in anterior pararenal space between peritoneum and anterior renal fascia. The dorsal attachment was dissected in anterior psoas space between posterior renal fascia and psoas fascia. The cepha-lic attachment was dissected up to the subdiaphragmatic and down to iliac fosse. During the proce-dure, important anatomic structures such as parietal peritoneum and its reflexion, anterior renal fasci-a, lateroeonal fascia, posterior renal fascia, psoas muscles, greatvessels and their branches were care-fully identified. Results One case was converted to open surgery because of severe and extensive ad-hesion of the right kidney to the adjacent tissues. The other 84 procedures were successfully comple-ted. The median operative time was 65 rain (range 50 to 165 min) and median estimated blood loss was 58 ml (range 25 to 600 ml). Of all operations, peritoneum perforation occurred in 5 cases and small vessel injuries around renal pedicles were observed in 6 cases. Major complication such as great vessel injury was not observed. Mean follow-up of all 85 patients was 10 months (range 2 to 25 months). No local recurrence and port site tumor seeding was found. Conclusion During retrope-ritoneoscopic radical nephrectomy, studying anatomical features of renal area and recognizing impor-tant anatomic structures will help to improve the safety of the surgery and reduce morbidities.

AIMTo study the chemical constituents of Sargentodoxa cuneata.

METHODSTo isolate compounds with chromatography technology and to elucidate their structures by spectral analysis.

RESULTSTen phenolics were isolated from Sargentodxa cuneata and their structures were determined as 1-O-(vanillic acid )-6-O-( 3", 5"-dimethoxy-galloyl)-beta-D-glycoside (I), (-)-epicatechin (II), phydroxyphenylethanol ferulate (III), chlorogenic acid (IV), methyl chlorogenate (V), apocynin (VI), vanillic acid (VII), protocatechuic acid (VIII), 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethanol (IX), tyrosol (X).

CONCLUSIONCompound I is new compound, compound III-VI and VIII-X were isolated from Sargentodoxa cuneata for the first time.

Acetophenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification