Neurotrophins promote and modulate the repair and regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) on the levels of synapses, neurites and neural cells, and even of the auxiliary structures of CNS. As to immune molecules, recent studies denied the classical doctrine that CNS is an immune privilege organ. In the last decade, it is found that immune responses can be beneficial for CNS repair. What are more, some macromolecules that were previously thought to be the members of the family of immune system play essential roles in the development and regeneration of the CNS. Therefore, the authors postulate that there are crosstalks between the neurotrophins and the immune molecules in the CNS.

Objective:To investigate the expression of Fas、FasL and the apoptosis of liver cancer cell line HepG2 transfected with LIGHT and IFN-? gene mediated by Cationic liposome.Methods:HepG2 cells were divided into two groups(the solo transfection of LIGHT gene and the combined transfection of LIGHT and IFN-? genes) and the control groups(no transfection).HepG2 cells were cellected at 12h,24h and 48h after transfection.The apoptosis of HepG2 cells and the expression of Fas and FasL of the HepG2 cells were investigated with flow cytometry.Results:After transfection,the apoptosis of HepG2 cells increased,and the apoptosis of combined transfection group was higher than the solo transfection of LIGHT(P

To analyze the constituents in supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2) of Radix caulophylli, the Radix caulophylli was extracted with SFE-CO2, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis with a DB-5MS capillary column (30 mm x 0.32 mm ID, 0.25 microm film thickness) was used. The inlet temperature was maintained at 280 degrees C. The column oven was held at 80 degrees C for 2 min, then programmed from 80 to 280 degrees C at 5 degrees C x min(-1) and, finally, held for 4 min. Helium at a constant flow rate of 2.0 mL x min(-1) was used as the carrier gas. The mass spectrometry conditions were as follows: ionization energy, 70 eV; ion source temperature, 200 degrees C. The mass selective detector was operated in the TIC mode (m/z was from 40 - 500). For the first time 49 peaks were separated and identified, the compounds were quantitatively determined by normalization method, and the identified compounds represent 97.44% of total GC peak areas. Viz, n-hexadecanoic acid (31.4%), (E, E) -9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (26.54%), (Z)-7-tetradecenal (9.4%), hexadecenoic acid (3.23%), 10-undecenal (3.22%), octadecanoic acid (2.25%), and caulophylline (1.76%) etc. The results will provide important foundation for understanding the constituents and further exploitation of Radix caulophylli.
Carbon Dioxide ; Caulophyllum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Linoleic Acid ; analysis ; Palmitic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the transplantation efficacy of neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells (SC) in a rat model of spinal cord contusion injury.

METHODSMultipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells were harvested from the spinal cords of embryonic rats at 16 days post coitus and sciatic nerves of newborn rats, respectively. The differential characteristics of NSCs in vitro induced by either serum-based culture or co-culture with SC were analyzed by immunofluorescence. NSCs and SCs were co-transplanted into adult rats having undergone spinal cord contusion at T9 level. The animals were weekly monitored using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating system to evaluate functional recovery from contusion-induced spinal cord injury. Migration and differentiation of transplanted NSCs were studied in tissue sections using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSEmbryonic spinal cord-derived NSCs differentiated into a large number of oligodendrocytes in serum-based culture upon the withdrawal of mitogens. In cocultures with SCs, NSCs differentiated into neuron more readily. Rats with spinal cord contusion injury which had undergone transplantation of NSCs and SCs into the intraspinal cavity demonstrated a moderate improvement in motor functions.

CONCLUSIONSSC may contribute to neuronal differentiation of NSCs in vitro and in vivo. Transplantation of NSCs and SCs into the affected area may be a feasible approach to promoting motor recovery in patients after spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Motor Activity ; Neurons ; cytology ; transplantation ; Postoperative Period ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Schwann Cells ; transplantation ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of elongated needle therapy and routine acupuncture therapy on dysuria induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSRandomized, controlled, multi-central method was adopted and 150 cases confirmed to the enrolled criteria were divided into two groups by odd or even number, an elongated needle group (n = 72) and a routine acupuncture group (n = 78). Acupuncture was given at bilateral Zhibian (BL 54) and Zhongji (CV 3) in the two groups, once daily, 5 sessions constituting one course, with a 2-day interval between two courses. The treatment was given for 2 courses. Changes of I-PSS symptom cumulative score, urine flowing rate, residual urine in bladder before and after the treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 83.3% in the elongated needle group and 44.9% in the routine acupuncture group. There were significant differences between the two groups in improvemet of I-PSS score, increase of urine flowing rate and reduction of residual urine in bladder (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe elongated needle therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on dysuria induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Urinary Bladder ; physiopathology ; Urination

BACKGROUNDAn important characteristic of renal cell carcinomas and adrenal tumors is that these tumors may expand into the renal vein and inferior vena cava, and transform into tumor thrombi. This study was to evaluate the use of piggyback liver transplant techniques for surgical management of urological tumors with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

METHODSNineteen patients with renal cell carcinomas or adrenal tumors with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus were treated from November 1995 to April 2008. Their ages ranged from 29 years to 76 years (mean 54 years). The extent of tumor thrombus was infrahepatic (level I) in 2, retrohepatic (level II) in 7, suprahepatic (level III) in 6, and intra-atrial (level IV) in 4 patients. We used cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest to remove the thrombi in 3 cases of level IV and in 2 cases of level III. In all level II, 4 level III, and 2 level IV cases, we used piggyback liver transplant techniques to mobilize the liver off of the inferior vena cava and to separate the inferior vena cava from the posterior abdominal wall.

RESULTSMean operative time was 5.1 hours, mean estimated blood loss was 2289 ml and mean blood transfusion was 12.84 U. One patient with adrenal cortical carcinoma and level IV thrombus died in the immediate postoperative period. Three patients were lost to follow up, and the other 15 survivors were followed from 5 months to 56 months. Eight of these 15 patients died due to metastasis; however 7 were still alive at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSAn aggressive surgical approach is the only hope for curing patients diagnosed with urological tumors combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. The use of piggyback liver transplant techniques to mobilize the liver off of the inferior vena cava provides excellent exposure of the inferior vena cava. Patients with a level II or level III inferior vena cava thrombus may be treated without using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of individual cylindrical abdominoperineal resection (CAPR) for locally advanced low rectal cancer.

METHODSFrom June 2011 to February 2012, 11 patients with locally advanced low rectal cancer underwent individual CAPR. There were 7 male and 4 female patients, aged from 32 to 74 years with a median of 64 years. Forty-seven patients underwent classic CAPR from January 2008 to February 2012. Preoperative and postoperative parameters such as clinical information of patients, tissue morphometry and complications were compared.

RESULTSIn the individual surgical group, 6 patients were treated with one side levator ani muscle totally or partially reserved, 3 patients with sacrococcyx reserved, and 2 patients with dissection close to the anterior rectal wall. Compared with classical surgery, the individual surgical specimens of horizontal section area ((2197 ± 501) mm(2)) and intrinsic muscle layer outer area ((1722 ± 414) mm(2)) were small, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.150 and 0.167). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, circumferential resection margin, total cross sectional tissue area, cross sectional tissue area outside the muscularis propria and bowel perforation rate between the two groups were not significantly different. Individual CAPR showed less incidence of chronic perineal pain (2/11, χ(2) = 6.116, P = 0.013) and sexual dysfunction (2/9, χ(2) = 4.412, P = 0.036) compared with classic CAPR.

CONCLUSIONSIndividual CAPR has the potential to reduce the risk of chronic perineal pain and sexual dysfunction without influencing the radical effect when compare with classic CAPR for the treatment of low rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perineum ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the types and therapies of malignancies in renal allograft recipients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the occurrence, types, and therapies of malignancies in 498 renal allograft recipients who had received operations in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 1986 to October 2008.

RESULTSAmong 498 renal allograft recipients, 18 patients (3.6% ) were diagnosed with malignancies, which included bladder cancer (n = 5), renal pyloric cancer or ureteric cancer (n = 4), leukemia or lymphoma (n = 3), hepatic cancer (n = 2), skin cancer, rectum carcinoma, pulmonary carcinoma and thymoma (n = 1 each). Surgical operations were performed in 10 cases, 6 of whom survived with normal renal function and had no rejection of transplanted kidneys. Three patients with bladder cancer and one patient with ureteric cancer experienced recurrences 7 to 15 months after operations; among them one bladder cancer patient died. One hepatic carcinoma patient died of pulmonary metastasis 8 months after operation. One non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient died 11 months after chemotherapy. Five cases with advanced unresectable malignancies died 8 to 17 months after the diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidences of malignancies, especially urological epithelial carcinoma, are high in renal allograft recipients. Radical surgery of the solid malignancies is a preferred option.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of intersphincteric resection (ISR) in T(1-2) ultra-low rectal cancer.

METHODSFrom March 2000 to March 2007, ISR with total mesorectal excision (TME) was performed in 40 patients with very low rectal cancer,among whom total ISR in 5 patients, partial ISR in 23 patients, and partial ISR with partial dentate line preservation (modified partial ISR) in 12 patients. The preoperative tumor staging was T(1-2)N(0-1)M(0).

RESULTSMorbidity was identified in 3 patients including anastomotic leakage in 1 patient and wound infection in 2 patients, and there was no postoperative mortality. The 5-year overall survival rate was 97%, and 5-year disease-free survival rate was 86%. Both patients with modified partial ISR (P=0.004) and patients with partial ISR (P=0.008) had significantly better continence than those with total ISR, and patients with a diverting stoma had significantly better continence (P=0.043) than those without a stoma at 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSISR is a safe procedure for sphincter-saving rectal surgery in selected patients with very low rectal tumors. A temporary diverting stoma may be beneficial to the improvement of anal function. Modified partial ISR under the precondition of radical resection shows better anal function and lower rate of incontinence.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study surgical treatment of postoperative stricture of anastomosis for lower rectal cancer.

METHODSThe data of 9 cases who were diagnosed as postoperative stricture of anastomosis after operation of intersphincteric resection for lower rectal cancer during January 2008 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Transanal excision of stricture were used in 3 cases diagnosed as membranous stricture. Transanal radial incision of stricture were used in 5 cases diagnosed as tubulous stricture. Biologic patch was used to repair the defect of the posterior wall of rectum after excision of severe stricture in 1 case.

RESULTSAll 9 cases of postoperative stricture of anastomosis were cured by surgery. Anal dilation were performed every day by patients themselves after discharge. Digital examination showed that 1 to 2 fingers could pass through the anastomosis after operation. The patient whose rectal defect was repaired by biological patch underwent colonoscopy examination two weeks after operation. Colonoscopy showed that the biological patch had been filled with granulation and integrated into the surrounding intestinal tissue. All patients defecated without difficulty and the anal function of all patients was good after restoration of intestinal continuity.

CONCLUSIONAggressive surgery, combining with the use of biological patch if necessary is an effective therapy of postoperative stricture of anastomosis for lower rectal cancer.

Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Constriction, Pathologic ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies