AIM: To study apoptosis and the involved genes in malignant transformation of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Apoptotic cell and apoptotic regulating gene p53,bcl-2,c-myc were detected in 46 cases with gastric carcinomas, 20 cases with precancerous lesions and 24 cases with normal mucosa in situ using TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: Apoptotic index in precancerous lesion(intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia) and gastric carcinoma were significantly higher than that in normal mucosa( P

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the modified esophageal capsule endoscopy (stringed esophageal capsule endoscopy,SCE) for esophageal diseases.Methods A total of 80 patients with esophageal related symptoms underwent SCE followed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).The examination time,detection rate of esophageal lesions,complications and adverse effects were compared.Results All patients completed the study.The mean examination time of SCE and EGD was 226.18 ± 1 10.30 seconds and 21.28 ± 8.01 seconds respectively (t =-16.665,P =0.000).A total of 119 lesions were detected by SCE and EGD,and the diagnostic accordance rate of SCE and EGD was 82.4％ (98/119).Ten lesions of advanced squamous carcinoma,5 lesions of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 3 lesions of early squamous carcinoma were detected by both examinations,all of which were confirmed by histopathologic examination.The overall rate of complication in SCE (1.3％,1/80) was significantly lower than that of EGD (8.8％,7/80,x2 =4.238,P =0.040) and the rates of swallow difficulty (P =0.022),throat discomfort (P =0.007) and vomiting (P =0.000) of SCE were significantly lower than those of EGD.Conclusion SCE is a feasible,easy-to-operate,safe,well tolerated and accurate method for detection of esophageal diseases,and could be a non-invasive alternative for conventional EGD.

Objective To explore the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on neuronal cell apoptosis after cerebral ischemia based on mediating Cav1 in regulating Wnt pathway.Methods Male wild-type(WT)and Cav1-/-(KO)C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group and Buyang Huanwu Decoction group(18.5 g/kg).Cerebral ischemia model was prepared using middle cerebral artery occlusion method,and drug intervention was given for 14 days.Neurobehavioral score was performed,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ischemic cortical area of brain tissue,TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in ischemic cortical area,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis related proteins and Wnt1,glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)and β-catenin protein in ischemic cortical area.Results Compared with the same genotype sham-operation group,the neurobehavioral score of the model group mice significantly increased,neuronal cells in the ischemic cortical area showed vacuolar changes,with nuclear condensation and widened intercellular spaces,the apoptosis rate of nerve cells significantly increased,with increased expressions of Bax,GSK3β and decreased expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin(P<0.01).Compared with the same genotype model group,the neurobehavioral score of mice in Buyang Huanwu Decoction group were significantly decreased,the pathological damage of the ischemic cortical area improved,the apoptosis rate of nerve cells decreased,the expressions of Bax and GSK3β decreased,and the expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin increased(P<0.01).Compared with the WT model group,the KO model group showed an increase in neurobehavioral score,aggravated damage in ischemic cortical area,significantly increased neuronal apoptosis rate,and increased expression of GSK3β(P<0.05).Compared with the WT Buyang Huanwu Decoction group,the KO Buyang Huanwu Decoction group showed an increase in neurobehavioral score,aggravated damage in ischemic cortical area,significantly increased neuronal apoptosis rate,increased expressions of Bax and GSK3β,and decreased expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin(P<0.01).Conclusion Buyang Huanwu Decoction can inhibit neuronal cell apoptosis after cerebral ischemia,and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins by mediating Cav1 to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway.