Myoblast line C_2C_ 12 cells were co-cultured with various concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Being induced by GLP-1, myoblast line C_2C_ 12 cells have the potential to differentiate into cells which are able to secrete insulin-like substance.

Objective To evaluate the value of ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy for predicting the postoperative pulmonary function in patients with lung cancer. Methods Twenty-six patients with lung cancer, male 21 and female 5, aged from 44 to 86 ys, were recruited into the study. Before surgery, 21 patients underwent 99Tcm-DTPA aerosol ventilation and 99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin ( MAA ) perfusion scintigraphic imaging. The other five patients were studied with perfusion imaging only. Pulmonary function was measured as forced expiratory volume in the first second ( FEV1 ) at about one week before surgery for all patients, and at two months after surgery. The predicted postoperative FEV1 ( ppoFEVt ) was calculated by Neuhaus' formula based on the ventilation or perfusion function obtained from scintigraphy studies, and compared with the measured post surgery FEV1. Eighteen patients underwent the surgical resection successfully. The t-test and correlation analysis were used. Results The ppoFEV1 values of ventilation and perfusion were (1.347±0.539) Land (1.410±0.543) L, respectively (n=21, t =0.062, P＞0. 05). Both the ppoFEV1 values of ventilation and perfusion showed no significant difference with the respective post-surgeryFEV1(n=13, (1.545 ±0.588) Lvs (1.45 ±0.521) L, t=0.092, P＞0.05; n=18, (1.697±0. 546) L vs ( 1.457±0.488) L, t =0. 017, P ＞0.05, respectively). Both the ventilation ppoFEV1 (n =13) and perfusion ppoFEV1 (n = 13, n = 18) correlated well with the post-surgery FEV1 respectively (r =0. 950, 0. 937, 0. 922, all P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion Ventilation and perfusion imaging can predict the postoperative pulmonary function for patients with lung cancer, especially for those with borderline pulmonary function, thus useful for selection of suitable candidates for surgical resection.

OBJECTIVETo analyze retrospectively the postoperative complications of acromioclavicular joint dislocation (Tossy III) and explore the preventative methods for the complications.

METHODSForty-eight cases of acromioclavicular joint dislocation (Tossy III) were reviewed, 14 cases treated with open reduction and Kirschner wire combined with steel wire fixation (group A), 11 cases treated with open reduction and lag screw or steel wires fixation (group B), 23 cases treated with open reduction and AO clavicular hook plate fixation (group C). The acromioclavicular ligament, articular capsule, coracoclavicular ligament and coracoacromial ligament were repaired in all patients. The reasons of postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTSForty-eight patients got average follow-up of 18 months. In group A, 8 patients obtained excellent results, 4 good and 2 poor; in group B, 7, 3 and 1, respectively; in group C, 21, 1 and 1, respectively. The excellence rate showed statistical difference between group A and C (P < 0.05). In group A, 4 cases with postoperative pain, 3 cases with periarthritis of shoulder, 3 cases with arthritides of acromioclavicular joint, 4 cases with internal fixation failure and 2 cases with recurrence of joint dislocation; in group B, 3, 2, 1, 3 and 1, respectively; in group C, 22, 2, 1, 2 and 1, respectively. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications in three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSelection of the suitable internal fixation and reconstruction of coracoclavicular and coracoacromia ligaments is the basic operation. Acromioclavicular space debridement, ligamentous reconstruction, rigid internal fixation are effective methods to reduce postoperative complications for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Bone Wires ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Dislocation ; complications ; surgery ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; analysis ; Coal Mining ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; metabolism ; Pneumoconiosis ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the effect of neutrophil elastase inhibitors (GW311616A and sivelestat) on the proliferation and apoptosis of U937 cells.

METHODSInhibitory effects of GW311616A and sivelestat on the proliferation of U937 cells were assayed by MTT assay. The morphologic changes of U937 cells were detected by transmission electron microscope, and apoptosis was observed by AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining. The changes of cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of NE in U937 cells was observed by indirect immunofluorescence, the variations of content and activity of NE in U937 cells were measured through ELISA assay and colorimetric method.

RESULTSMTT showed that both NE inhibitors could inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 of GW311616A and sivelestat were 150 and 214 μmol/L respectively. The inhibition effect of GW311616A was significantly higher than of sivelestat (P<0.01). Typical apoptosis morphological changes of U937 cells was observed through electron microscope. AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining showed that U937 cells could be induced to undergo apoptosis by the two inhibitors, the apoptosis ratio of 150μmol/L GW311616A group (13.60%) was significantly higher than that of 150μmol/L sivelestat group (3.69%)(P<0.01). The result of flow cytometry indicated that the apoptosis ratio of 150 μmol/L GW311616A group was 14.61%, U937 cell cycle was mainly blocked in G2/M phase; meanwhile 150 μmol/L sivelestat group as 4.25% with cell cycle in S phase. The fluorescence intensity of GW311616A group obviously decreased than of sivelestat group. And the two inhibitors could reduce the content and activity of NE in U937 cells, but the effect of GW311616A was significantly higher than of sivelestat (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONGW311616A and sivelestat could inhibit the proliferation and cause apoptosis of U937 cells. Furthermore, GW311616A was more effective and harmful to cells than sivelestat.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukocyte Elastase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory ; pharmacology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of protein peak (3144 m/z) in serum and of its association with clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSThree hundred and twenty seven pathologically confirmed gastric cancer patients were recruited from February 2006 to October 2008 in the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. SELDI-TOF-MS was employed to detect the expression of protein peak (3144 m/z) in preoperative serum.

RESULTSThe positive rate of 3144 m/z protein peak was 33.9% (111/327), significantly higher than that of CEA (21.1%,69/327), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The positive rate of combined detection of protein peak (3144 m/z)and CEA was 45.6% (149/327). The expression of protein peak (3144 m/z) was associated with clinical staging (P<0.01), nervous invasion (P<0.01), tumor size (P<0.01), vascular invasion (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), expression of CEA (P<0.05), and depth of infiltration (P<0.05). Significant difference was observed in 3-year survival rate between the patients with protein peak and patients without protein peak (44.7% vs. 64.4%, P<0.01). However, 3144 m/z protein peak was not an independent prognostic factor on multivariate Cox regression analysis (P=0.057).

CONCLUSIONProtein peak (3144 m/z) may be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore possible correlations between renal Th1/Th2 ratio and renal microvascular injury in children with Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura nephritis (HSPN).

METHODSThirty-two children with HSPN were enrolled. They were classified into four groups by renal pathology: HSPN class II (n=8), HSPN class IIIa (n=7), HSPN class IIIb (n=10) and HSPN class IV/V (n=7). Five patients undergoing nephrectomy due to trauma were used as the controls. INFγ, IL-4 and CD34 in the renal tissues were measured by immunohistochemical analysis. INFγ was used as a marker of Th1, IL-4 was used as a marker of Th2 and CD34 was used as a marker of microvessel. The renal microvessel density was evaluated according to the Weidner standard. The relationships among the local Th1/Th2 ratio, renal pathological grade, microvessel score and microvessel density were studied.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical analysis showed a lower expression of INFγ and a higher expression of IL-4 in the HSPN groups than in the control group. The local Th1/Th2 ratio in the HSPN groups decreased and correlated significantly with the renal pathological grade. There were significant differences among four HSPN subgroups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the renal microvessel density in the HSPN class II and class IIIa groups increased significantly (P<0.05), but it decreased in the HSPN class IV/V group (P<0.05). The renal microvessel scores in the HSPN class IIIa, class IIIb and class IV/V groups increased significantly compared with those in the control and the HSPN classⅡ. The increased renal microvessel scores were associated with more severe renal pathological changes. A negative correlation was found between the local Th1/Th2 ratio and the microvessel density in kidneys (r=-0.921, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease of Th1/Th2 ratio in kidneys might be responsible for renal microvascular injury in children with HSPN.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Nephritis ; immunology ; pathology ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; immunology ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of length of cervical anterior fusion on adjacent levels by Biomechanical test.

METHODSSix fresh-frozen human cervical specimens were used in this study. The specimens were tested in flexion, extension, bending and rotation on a spine 3D test system. The specimens were tested intact and then underwent a single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at the C4-5 first, a double-level fusion at the C4-6, and finally extended to triple-level at the C4-7, Based on a hybrid test method. Changes in overall range of motion (ROM), segmental motion and facet joints pressure during flexion, extension, bending and rotation were measured and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall ROM of the entire spinal construct decreased progressively as the single-level fixation extending to 2-level and 3-level (P < 0.05). A progressive increase in ROM above (C3-4) the fused motion segment units (MSUs) was found during flexion, extension and bending (P < 0.05). In bending and extension, a same result was recorded on the average pressure and max pressure of C3-4 facet joints (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study has demonstrated that the biomechanics at adjacent levels to a cervical spine fusion are altered and that there was progressively increased adjacent segment motion and stress as a single-level ACDF extended to a 3-level fusion, which might lead to the acceleration of adjacent segment degeneration.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cadaver ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotation ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

BACKGROUNDChronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes mellitus portend high morbidity and mortality because of an interrelated pathophysiologic process. This large cohort study aimed to analyze the prevalence, clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients with CHF and diabetes.

METHODSA total of 1119 patients with NYHA functional class II - IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45% between January 1995 and May 2009 were recruited. Clinical variables, biochemical and echocardiographic measurements were retrospectively reviewed, and composite major cardiac events (MCE) including death, heart transplantation, and refractory heart failure requiring multiple hospitalizations were recorded.

RESULTSThe prevalence of CHF with diabetes was progressively increased with time (16.9% in 1995 - 1999; 20.4% in 2000 - 2004, and 29.1% in 2005 - 2009) and age (18.5% in < 60 years, 26.6% in 60 - 80 years, and 26.6% in > 80 years). Compared with CHF patients without diabetes, those with diabetes had worse cardiac function, more abnormal biochemical changes, and higher mortality. Treatment with glucose-lowering agents significantly improved LVEF and decreased MCE. An elevated serum HbA1c level was associated with large left ventricular end-systolic diameter (P < 0.05), decreased LVEF (P < 0.01) and reduced survival (P < 0.05). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjustment for confounding factors, NYHA functional class (OR 2.65, 95%CI 1.14 - 6.16, P = 0.024) and HbA1c level >or= 7% (OR 2.78, 95%CI 1.00 - 7.68, P = 0.049) were independent risk factors for adverse outcomes in CHF patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONSPrevalence of CHF with diabetes was increasing during past decades, and patients with CHF and diabetes had worse clinical profiles and prognosis. Aggressive anti-CHF and diabetes therapies are needed to improve overall outcomes for these patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diabetes Complications ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo study the difference in the expressions of C-erbB-2 gene between the coal miners with pneumoconiosis complicated by pulmonary cancer and the controls with single pulmonary cancer, and its relation to clinical pathology.

METHODMeasuring the expressions of C-erbB-2 in 32 cases of pneumoconiosis complicated by pulmonary cancer and those in 30 cases of pulmonary cancer by means of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate in 32 cases of pneumoconiosis complicated by pulmonary cancer was 53.13% whereas that in 30 cases of single pulmonary cancer was 26.67% (P < 0.05); the positive expressions of C-erbB-2 in patients with lymph node metastasis (70.59% in pneumoconiosis group, 50.00% in controls) were significantly different from those without lymph node metastasis (33.33% in pneumoconiosis group, 11.11% in controls) (P < 0.05). The prognosis on patients with positive expressions of C-erbB-2 was poor, and was not related to pathologic category.

CONCLUSIONC-erbB-2 gene may be an important regulating gene in the coal miners with pneumoconiosis complicated by pulmonary cancer, and as a reference index to determine lymph node metastasis and prognosis.

Aged ; China ; Coal Mining ; Gene Expression ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; genetics ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survival Analysis