Objective To investigate the level of soluble interleukin 7 receptor (sIL-7R) in serum of lupus nephritis(LN)patients and evaluate its clinical significance. Methods sIL-7R level in serum of LN patients and healthy controls were measured by ELISA , while total 24 hours urinary protein and complement C3 of LN patients were measured by BN ProSpec. The level of sIL-7R correlation with SLEDAI, total 24 hours urinary protein and complement C3 were analyzed respectively. Results The levelof sIL-7R was higher in serum of LN patients than healthy controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, its expression in serum was increased in LN patients in active stage than in LN patients in stable stage (P < 0.05). The level of sIL-7R was positively assosicated with SLEDAI, total 24 hours urinary protein(P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and negatively with complement C3 (P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of sIL-7R is upregulated in serum in LN patients and correlated with disease activity and progression, so it may be expected to become a potential marker of disease in prediction.

Objective To analyze setup errors and guide the calculation of margins from clinical target volume (CTV) and planning target volume (PTV) in esophageal cancer patients treated with tomothcrapy by the MVCT image-guided system.Methods Sixty-four esophageal canccr patients trcated with tomotherapy in our hospital in 2016 were randomly selected.MVCT images were acquired after patients' positioning and co-registered with KVCT images.The setup errors of x,y,and z translations and roll rotation were analyzed with the t-test or one-way ANOVA.Meanwhile,PTV margin was calculated based on the formula of M =2.5 Σ + 0.7δ Results According to the formula,the CTV-PTV margins in the x,y and z directions are slightly different between cancers located in the cervical,upper thoracic,middle thoracic,and lower thoracic segments.In patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer,the average setnp error in the yaxis was lower when the head-neck-shoulder thermoplastic film fixation was used than when somatic thermoplastic film fixation (P=0.000);the setup errors of z-axis with somatic thermoplastic film fixation in the fifth and sixth weeks were slightly less than those in the first several weeks (P =0.036);the setup errors acquired by three image registration patterns were similar (x-axis P=0.868,y-axis P=0.491,z-axis P=0.169,roll P=0.985).Conclusions In the treatment of patients with esophageal cancer,the setup errors are large,but the MVCT in the TOMO HD system can greatly reduce the setup errors,ensuring the accuracy of each treatment.It is further recommended that in clinical practice,different CTV-PTV margins should be used for the treatments of esophageal cancers located in different segments.Patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer are advised to use the head-neck-shoulder thermoplastic film fixation.

Objective To study the effect of Aloe polysaccharides (AP) on the thymocytic apoptosis and cell cycle in ? - ray irradiated mice. Methods Single- cell thymocytes suspension was sampled at different time points to observe the thymocytic apoptosis and cell cycle by flow cytometry. DNA ladders were tested by 1.8 % agarose gel electrophoresis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure of thymocytes. Results Pre- treating with AP (50 mg/kg,ip) 30 min before irradiation could significantly decrease the percentages of apoptotic thymocytes in? - ray irradiated mice 4 h, 8 h and 12 h after irradiation, increase the percentage of thymocytes at G0/G1 phase and reduce the percentage of thymocytes at G2/M phase. It could also lessen the DNA ladders and reduce the number of apoptotic bodies. Conclusion The protective effects of AP on the thymocytes in ? - ray irradiated mice is related with the alleviation of the disorder of cell cycle and the inhibition of the apoptosis of thymocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the curative effect of arthroscopic suture anchor fixation on shoulder bankart injury. METHODS: Sixteen patients with shoulder recurrent dislocation and diagnosed bankart injury were treated with suture anchor fixed by shoulder arthroscopy. Both shoulders of the patients had X-ray, MRI, physical examination before the operation. Suture anchors were used to fix the lesion labrum by shoulder arthroscopy. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were adopted for the final evaluation at the latest follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a period of 25 (7-68) months. At the latest follow-up, no redislocation and instability occured. The pre- and post-operation UCLA score was (20.8 ± 0.8) vs (32.9 ± 1.5), excellent in 6, good in 10, with no poor score, while the pre- and post-operation VAS score was (3.3 ± 0.8) vs (0.6 ± 0.5). CONCLUSION Suture anchor fixation guided by arthroscopy is good for bankart injury caused by recurrent shoulder dislocation, which has many advantages, such as mini-invasion, rapid recovery and a satisfactory outcome in function and motion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Dislocation ; surgery ; Shoulder Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Suture Anchors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the relationship between the levels of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn in serum and Parkinson disease (PD). Methods A total of 40 patients with PD (PD group) and 40 control subjects (control group)were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of Mn were measured by graphite atomic absorption, and Cu ,Fe, Zn were measured by inductively coupled plasma(ICP)mass spectrometry. Resudts There were significantly increase in the levels of Mn and Fe in PD group than those in control group [(0.269±0.326) μ mol/L vs (0.125±0.054) μmol/L, P< 0.05, (1.512±0.949) μmol/L vs (0.676±0.111) μmol/L, P< 0.01)]. There were no significant difference in the levels of Cu and Zn between two groups (P> 0.05). Condusion Micreelements may play important roles in pathogenesis and development of PD, especially Fe and Mn.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac remodeling and function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats and whether this effect is mediated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway.

METHODSAMI was induced by left coronary artery ligation in 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats, and 45 surviving rats were randomized into control group (n=15), low-dose atorvastatin group (10 mg/kg, n=15) and high-dose atorvastatin group (20 mg/kg, n=15). Similar surgical procedure was performed in sham-operated rats (n=15) without coronary ligation. Atorvastatin was given daily by gavage from the first day after AMI. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function, left ventricular weight/body mass index (LVMI), collagen volume fraction (CVF), and the expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2 were compared between the groups.

RESULTSAMI caused significantly reduced cardiac function, increased LVMI and CVF, and upregulated expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2 mRNA and proteins in the control group (P<0.05). The cardiac function, LVMI, and CVF were improved by atorvastatin, which also down-regulated the expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2 (P<0.05), and the effects were more prominent in high-dose atorvastatin group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAtorvastatin can dose-dependently improve cardiac remodeling and function after AMI in rats, which is mediated by regulating the activity of TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

Objective To detect ED1 gene mutations in the families with X-linked hypohidrotic ec-todermal dysplasia (XLHED). Methods Blood samples were obtained from 2 pedigrees. All 8 exons and flanking intronic boundaries of ED1 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction technique and then directly sequenced. Results Two mutations were found in ED1 gene. One was splicing mutation (IVS8+5 del G), the other was missense mutation (A959G). None of the mutations was found in normal individuals of two XLHED families and in 188 unrelated, population-matched control individuals. Conclusion Out of the ED1 gene mutations identified in 2 Chinese XLHED families, IVS8+5del G is a novel mutation.

Objective To compare the dosimetric difference among TomoDirect (TD) radiotherapy,Helical Tomotherapy(HT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) in the treatment of upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma.Methods A total of 15 patients with cT2-4 N0-1 M0 upper thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled.Three plans were generated using the same dose objective for each patient:TD,HT and VMAT.Dose-volume histogram (DVH),homogeneity index (HI),conformal index (CI),dose at organ at risk (OAR),delivery time and monitor unit (MU) were compared among different plans.Results The D2 and D values in the HT and TD plans were significantly lower than those in the VMAT plans.The D98 value in the TD was similar to that in the HT,but lower than that in the VMAT.The HI of HT was significantly better than those of TD and VMAT (F =81.603,P ＜ 0.05).For the CI,there was no significant difference among the three techniques (P ＞ 0.05).For the V15 of lung,HT was significantly higher than TD (t =-2.626,P ＜0.05) and VMAT (t=3.547,P ＜ 0.05).The V20 of lung in TD was similar to that in HT,but higher than that in VMAT (t =2.824,3.052,P ＜ 0.05).The Dmax of spinal cord showed no significant difference among the three techniques.VMAT had a significantly shorter delivery time and lower MU compared with HT and TD (t =21.617,15.693,10.018,7.802,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HT and TD could gain a better planning target volume (PTV) coverage and HI than VMAT in the treatment of upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma.However,VMAT achieved the lowest lung V20,the least Mus and the shortest delivery time.HT achieved a better PTV coverage compared with TD,but TD had a lower lung V15 Mus and shorter delivery time compared with HT.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality of life of rectal cancer patients after anterior resection and the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in the pathogenesis of anterior resection syndrome (ARS).

METHODSBetween November 2012 and October 2014, 90 rectal cancer patients who underwent Dixon procedure in the Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, and developed ARS postoperatively were enrolled in the study. By clinic interview and telephone follow-up, they were investigated according to the 4 questionnaires, including gastrointestinal quality of life index(GIQLI), Wexner constipation and incontinence score(WCS, WIS), and 36-item short form health survey(SF-36). Associated clinical data and above parameters were compared between postoperative 0-6 months and 7-24 months. Expression of 5-HT in rectal mucosa was determined by immunohistochemistry preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSThe GIQLI, WCS and WIS were significantly improved in 7-24 months group compared with those in 0-6 months group(all P<0.05). Furthermore, the SF-36 test result also showed significant improvement in the terms of physical function, physical role, vitality, social function, emotional role and health changes spheres in 7-24 months group(P<0.05). 5-HT expression in rectal mucosa(upper anastomosis 3402.95±1876.24, lower anastomosis 3045.35±1373.59 of ARS patients was significantly down-regulated compared with the preoperative expression(rectal margin mucosa 7176.60±3927.61)(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with ARS experience a significant trend toward recovery in their whole long-term quality of life. The down-regulation of 5-HT expression in rectal mucosa after surgery may be related with the pathogenesis of ARS.

Constipation ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Serotonin ; Treatment Outcome