Objective To analyze the occurrence rate,positive rate,and other related factors influencing interpectoral lymph nodes in breast cancer patients,and to explore the significance and indications of the surgical dissection of interpectoral lympy nodes.Methods Clinical and pathological data from 148 breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were subjected to modified radical mastectomy,and interpectoral lympy nodes were pathologically examined.The occurrence rate and metastasis of interpectoral lympy nodes were recorded,and the relationship between the interpectoral lympy nodes positive rate and tumor size,axillary nodes,clinical stages,neo-adjuvant chemotherapy,hormone receptors,human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her-2) expression,and molecular subtypes of breast cancer were determined.Results The occurrence rate,overall metastasis rate,and the positive rate of interpectoral lympy nodes in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis were 13.5％(20/148),4.7％(7/148),and 10.9％ (7/64),respectively.I nterpectoral lympy nodes metastasis was significantly correlated with axillary node metastasis and clinical stages (P＜ 0.05).However,interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis was not significantly related with hormone receptor and Her-2 expressions(P ＞ 0.05).Interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis rate was not affected by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.Patients with interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis were characterized by larger tumors,more positive axillary lymph nodes,and later chnical stages.Conclusions Interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis usually occurs in patients with larger tumors,more positive axillary lymph nodes,later clinical stages,as well as those with locally advanced cancer that meets the standard of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.These indications suggest that the surgical dissection and pathological examination of interpectoral lymph nodes should be routinely performed.

Objective To investigate the effect of GDNF on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and chemotaxis.Methods The cell counting, MTT and flow cytometry were employed to investigate whether the neurotrophic factor GDNF can stimulate the proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma cells.Meanwhile, the trans-well invasion chamber was used to observe the chemotactic effect of GDNF on pancreatic cancer cells.Results The cells were exposed to incremental concentrations of human re-combinant GDNF (0-120 ng/mL).We found that the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells was stim-ulated by GDNF in a dose-dependent manner and the number of cells in "S" phenotype was increased;The count of cells was increased by GDNF in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion GDNF can stimu-late the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of four natures of medicine on therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking therapy.

METHODSSixty-one cases of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into a capsaicin group (n=20), a menthol group (n=20) and a control group (n=21). They were treated respectively with capsaicin and menthol, which are extracts of Lajiao (Fructus Capsici) and Bohe (Herba Menthae) with same pungent in flavor and different cold (cool) and heat in property, and application of Tongjing Jiu Tieji (plaster for dysmenorrhea) at Shenque (CV 8). Changes of clinical symptoms before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the cumulative scores of symptoms and the scores of pain decreased significantly in the 3 groups (P < 0.01), with no significant differences among the 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn acupoint sticking therapy, the four natures of medicine have no obvious effect on the therapeutic effect, so the four natures of medicine should not used as main standard of medicine selection.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Hot Temperature ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

METHODSThis study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications.

RESULTSTUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemospermia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDDermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are common inflammatory myopathies whose immunopathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. The NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a type of cytoplasmic multiprotein inflammasome and is responsible for the activation of inflammatory reactivations. Responding to a wide range of exogenous and endogenous microbial or sterile stimuli, NLRP3 inflammasomes can cleave pro-caspase-1 into active caspase-1, which processes the pro-inflammatory cytokines pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and pro-IL-18 into active and secreted IL-1β and IL-18. The NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in infectious and sterile inflammatory diseases. However, it remains unclear whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of DM/PM, which we aim to address in our research.

METHODSIn this study, 22 DM/PM patients and 24 controls were recruited. The protein and RNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in serum and muscle samples were tested and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in DM/PM patients than those in the controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, DM vs. control, 25.02 ± 8.29 ng/ml vs. 16.49 ± 3.30 ng/ml,P < 0.001; PM vs. control, 26.49 ± 7.79 ng/ml vs. 16.49 ± 3.30 ng/ml,P < 0.001). Moreover, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that DM/PM patients exhibited higher RNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, and NLRP3 in the muscle (for IL-1β, DM vs. control, P= 0.0012, PM vs. control, P= 0.0021; for IL-18, DM vs. control, P= 0.0045, PM vs. control, P= 0.0031; for NLRP3, DM vs. control, P= 0.0017, PM vs. control, P= 0.0006). Moreover, the protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in muscle samples of DM/PM patients were also significantly elevated compared to that in the muscles of the controls.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in the pathogenesis of DM/PM. High NLRP3 expression led to elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and could be one of the factors promoting disease progress.

Adult ; Caspase 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Dermatomyositis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; analysis ; genetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; analysis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Polymyositis ; etiology

This study examined the expressions of miR-22 and miR-135a in rats with acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP) and their target genes in order to shed light on the involvement of miR-22 and miR-135a in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). The in vivo model of AEP was established by introperitoneal injection of L-arginine (150 mg/kg) in rats. The miRNA microarray analysis was used to detect the differential expression of miRNAs in pancreatic tissue in AEP and normal rats. The in vitro AEP model was established by inducing the rat pancreatic acinar cell line (AR42J) with 50 ng/mL recombinant rat TNF-α. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of miR-22 and miR-135a in AR42J cells. Lentiviruses carrying the miRNA mimic and anti-miRNA oligonucleotide (AMO) of miR-22 and miR-135a were transfected into the AR42J cells. The AR42J cells transfected with vehicle served as control. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of activated caspase3 and flow cytometry analysis to detect the apoptosis of AR42J cells. Targets of miR-22 and miR-135a were predicted by using TargetScan, miRanda, and TarBase. Luciferase reporter assay and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were performed to confirm whether ErbB3 and Ptk2 were the target gene of miR-22 and miR-135a, respectively. The results showed that the expression levels of miR-22 and miR-135a were obviously increased in AEP group compared with the control group in in-vivo and in-vitro models. The expression levels of miR-22 and miR-135a were elevated conspicuously and the expression levels of their target genes were reduced significantly in AR42J cells transfected with lentiviruses carrying the miRNA mimic. The apoptosis rate was much higher in the TNF-α-induced cells than in non-treated cells. The AR42J cells transfected with miRNA AMOs expressed lower level of miR-22 and miR-135a and had lower apoptosis rate, but the expression levels of ErbB3 and Ptk2 were increased obviously. It was concluded that the expression levels of miR-22 and miR-135a were elevated in AEP. Up-regulating the expression of miR-22 and miR-135a may promote the apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells by repressing ErbB3 and Ptk2 expression in AEP.

MISA (MicroSAtelite) software was employed to screen SSRs in 68 787 contigs of Swertia mussotii transcriptome sequences. 5 610 SSRs were distributed in 5 099 contigs which accounted for 7.41% of 68 787 contigs. There are 220 kinds of SSR motifs existing in S. mussotii transcriptome. On average, SSRs occurred every 12.60 kb in length. In the SSRs, the tri-nucleotide repeat motif was the most abundant (45.99%), followed by the di-nucleotide (41.62%). AT/TA and AAT/TTA were the main types of motif in di-, tri-nucleotide repeats. The repeat numbers of SSRs which from S. mussotii transcriptome SSRs were mainly from 5 to 10 and motif length of them mostly ranged from 12 bp to 30 bp. A total of 30 651 contigs were annotated, and only 1 447 SSRs were occurred in protein-coding regions. In the six repeat motifs, tri-nucleotide repeats were the most abundant in coding regions (928). There are abundant SSRs in S. mussotii transcriptome with high frequency and various types, indicating their usefulness in theory. This research may lay the foundation for designing the targeted SSR primers and developing SSR molecular markers by mining the information of SSRs loci in S. mussotii transcriptome sequences data.
Data Mining ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Swertia ; genetics ; Transcriptome

UNLABELLEDTo evaluate the efficacy of complete mesocolic excision (CME) for stage III colon cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 100 patients diagnosed as stage III colon cancer in our hospital from July 2011 to July 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-four patients in CME group underwent complete mesocolic excision and 46 patients in control group underwent traditional radical surgery. Lymphadenectomy, postoperative specimen quality and short-term clinical efficacy were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe number of gross dissected lymph nodes and positive dissected lymph nodes in CME group were 26.7 ± 2.6 and 4.3 ± 1.4, which were significantly higher than those in control group (22.9 ± 3.7 and 2.8 ± 1.2) (all P<0.01). There was statistical significance in surgical C-class specimens of CME group were found in 45 cases (83.3%), which were significantly higher than those of control group (29 cases, 63.0%) (P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate of two groups was the same without significant difference(both 13.0%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCME is safe and effective for stage III colon cancer, which can improve the quality of surgical specimen and increase the number of dissected lymph nodes, but do not elevate the morbidity of postoperative complication.

Colectomy ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation for treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation.

METHODSSixteen patients with atlantoaxial dislocation were treated from Dec. 2005 to June 2007, included 10 males and 6 females, aged from 38 to 45 years old (means 40.5 years). Among them 12 patients combined with nerve injury, according to ASIA grade: there were 3 cases in grade B, 5 cases in grade C, 4 cases in grade D. All patients received preoperative CT, radiograph and skull traction. Intraoperative posterior approach general spine pedicle screw-rod orthopaedics fixation system used and iliac bone block were implanted in space of posterior atlantal arch and axial vertebral plate. The outcome and complications were observed in the near future.

RESULTSThere was no vascular or neural injury found. The patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months (means 18 months). All head pain, acid storm symptoms were improved after operation. According to the Odom's clinical efficacy evaluation standard, 12 cases were excellent, 4 were good. Eleven cases of 12 with nerve injury recovered significantly. By ASIA classification: 1 cases was in grade B, 2 cases were in grade C, 5 cases were in grade D, 4 cases were in grade E. No looseness or breakage of screw occurred. Bony fusion was achieved in all cases.

CONCLUSIONPosterior approach atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation have the advantages of direct screw placement, short-segment fusion, intraoperative reduction, fixation reliable, high fusion rate, and it can restablish the upper cervical vertebrae stability and help to recover the spinal cord and nerve function.

Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors of long-turn survival of liver cancer after surgical treatment.

METHODSFive hundred and twenty-two cases of liver cancer that received surgical treatment in 14 years were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSComparison between the small liver cancer (< 5 cm) and the greater one (> 10 cm) revealed that the small liver cancer had a higher survival rates than the greater one [3 year (61.25 +/- 4.41)% versus (45.90 +/- 6.98)%; 5 year (53.84 +/- 5.68)% versus (30.21 +/- 10.23)%]. There were same results between single-nodule and two or more than two nodule [3 year (61.86 +/- 3.69)% versus (38.31 +/- 4.97)%; 5 year (55.40 +/- 4.91)% versus (28.01 +/- 6.31)%], between child I and child II or more than II [3 year (60.68 +/- 3.68)% versus (49.88 +/- 4.13)%; 5 year (50.99 +/- 5.10)% versus (36.39 +/- 7.58)%], and between single segmentectomy of the liver and two or more than two segmentectomy [3 year (68.65 +/- 4.95)% versus (49.88 +/- 4.13)%; 5 year (65.38 +/- 5.69)% versus (37.98 +/- 5.70)%].

CONCLUSIONSSmall liver cancer, single-nodule, good hepatic function and minor resection were important factors to prolong survival further.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate