OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A gene (MICA) polymorphism and serum soluble MICA level were associated with the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer.

METHODSDNA samples from 117 colorectal cancer patients and 113 healthy individuals from Yangzhou in Jiangsu province were genotyped by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence-specific primer (SSP) method and PCR based sequencing. In addition, polymorphism at position 129 was also analyzed by PCR-SSP. Serum levels of soluble MICA were measured by a sandwich ELISA method.

RESULTSNeither the extracellular nor the transmembrane region polymorphisms of MICA gene were associated with the occurrence and the different stages of colorectal cancer. In contrast, the frequency of the methionine residue at position 129 was significantly decreased in the patient group. Soluble MICA levels in sera were increased in the late stages of colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONAlthough there was no genetic susceptibility attributed to MICA gene polymorphism with regard to development of colorectal cancer, serum levels of soluble MICA may be a diagnostic marker of advanced stages.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Genotype ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Objective By analyzing the surveillance result of Brucellosis in human being of Guizhou province from 2005 to 2008,to understand the current situation of relevant population with brucella infection,and then to provide the basis for the development of prevention and control measures.Methods According to the Brucella Disease Monitoring Standards (GB 16885-1997),in Guizhou province,Huaxi,Wudang,Xingyi,Dushan,Ceheng,Long Lane,Xifeng,Carey,Ziyun and so on other areas(city,county) were selected as monitoring points,and occupational groups of animal husbandry in agricultural areas,as well as farmers and students contacted with livestock were selected as monitoring subjects.Rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and tube agglutination test (SAT) were used to detect Brucellosis antibody.Results From 2005 to 2008,Brucellosis antibody detection rate was 0.63％(37/5904) in target groups of Guizhou province,specifically,the rates in Huaxi,Wudang,Xingyi and Ceheng counties(towns or districts) were 2.28％(19/832),0.16％(2/1274),1.84％(15/815) and 0.14％ (1/735),respectively; the rates in livestock workers,peasants and students contacted with livestock in rural areas were 1.29％ (36/2800),0.04％ ( 1/2814) and 0.00％ (0/290),respectively.In all antibody positive carriers,most were dairy cattle raisers which accounted for 83.78％ (31/37) in the total infected persons.Conclusions Dairy cattle and goat raisers in some counties(towns or districts) of Guizhou province have infected Brucellosis,and direct contacts with brucella-carrying cattle is the major route of Brucellosis transmission in human being.Strengthen livestock quarantine and dispose infected livestock timely are the key of Brucellosis control.

Objective To study Caveolin-1,EGFR expression in bladder transitional call carcinoma and their prognostic value. Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect Caveolin-1,EGFR in 89 cases.of bladder transitional call carcinoma.Results In 89 cases,the percentage of abnormal Caveolin-1 and EGFR expression were 37.1% and 50.6 % respectively.Significant change was observed in different grade case,P

BACKGROUNDThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were evaluated by an approach of systematic review of published studies in the past decade.

METHODSA database searching was performed on MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, American College of Physicians Journal Club, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Both comparative and non-comparative studies about endoscopic thyroidectomy were selected and analyzed. For the comparative studies, RevMan 4.2 was used for statistical analysis; and for the non-comparative studies, data analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSSeven comparative studies involving 367 patients (video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT), 174 patients; conventional thyroidectomy (CT), 193 patients) were included in VAT-CT group. Age, gender, operative types, and pathological diagnosis were similar. Compared with CT, the mean operative time for VAT was significantly longer (VAT, 80.0 minutes; CT, 61.9 minutes, P < 0.01), but the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (VAT, 1.7 days; CT, 2.5 days, P < 0.01). The complication rate for VAT was 6.9%, while that for CT was 9.3% (P = 0.35). Three studies analyzed the postoperative pain and cosmetic evaluation, and indicated that the VAT group was superior to the CT group, but there was no significant difference after a meta-analysis. Three comparative studies involving 273 patients (totally endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET), 145 patients; CT, 128 patients) were included in TET-CT group and the results generally resembled that of VAT-CT group. There were 18 and 14 non-comparative studies reporting the results of VAT and TET, respectively. The mean operative time for VAT was 76.8 minutes compared with 135.8 minutes for TET. The postoperative hospital stay was 1.8 and 3.8 days for VAT and TET respectively. The rates of conversion to open surgery for VAT and TET were similar (VAT, 2.8%; TET, 3.9%, P = 0.105). The complication rate for VAT was 8.6%, while that for TET was 3.5% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were initially verified and accepted, and it should be considered as a valid option, offering some advantages to patients in terms of cosmetic results and postoperative distress.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; Thyroidectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Video-Assisted Surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shugan Jianpi Recipe (SJR) on LXRα/FAS signaling pathway mediated hepatocyte fatty deposits in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats.

METHODSTotally 75 SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Shugan Recipe (SR) treatment groups, the Jianpi Recipe (JR) treatment group, and the SJR group. Except rats in the normal control group, the NAFLD rat model was duplicated using high fat diet (HFD). SR (Chaihu Shugan Powder) was administered to rats in the SR group. JR (Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the JR group. SJR (Chaihu Shugan Powder plus Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the SJR group. Changes of liver fat were analyzed using automatic biochemical analyzer. Liver cells were separated by low-speed centrifugation. Their activities and purities were identify using Typan blue and flow cytometry (FCM). Expression levels of LXRα and FAS mRNA in hepatocytes detected by Real-time quantitative PCR. Expression levels of LXRα and FAS protein were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Pathological results showed in the model group, hepatocytes were swollen with nucleus locating at the cell edge after oil red O staining; unequal sized small vacuoles could be seen inside cytoplasm. Some small vacuoles merged big vacuoles. All these indi- cated a NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. Pathological structural changes could be impaired to some degree in all medicated groups, especially in the SR group. (2) Compared with the normal control group, expression levels of LXRα and FAS genes and proteins obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, their expression levels were obviously down-regulated in the JR group and the SR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was an important signaling pathway for mediating lipid metabolism disorders of NAFLD rats. SJR could make hepatocyte fatty deposits tend to repair by adjusting the LXRα/FAS signaling pathway in NAFLD rats, which might be one of important mechanisms for SJR to prevent and cure NAFLD.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

This study examined the effect of Notch-1 signaling on malignant behaviors of breast cancer cells by regulating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). BCSCs were enriched by using serum-free medium and knocked out of Notch-1 by using a lentiviral vector. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the Notch-1 expression levels in breast cancer cell lines and BCSCs, and flow cytometry to detect the proportion of BCSCs in BCSC spheres. The BCSC self-renewal, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity were examined by the tumor microsphere-forming assay and transwell assay and after xenotransplantation. The results showed that the Notch-1 silencing reduced the number of BCSC spheres, the proportion of BCSCs, and the number of cells penetrating through the transwell membrane. It also decreased the size of tumors that were implanted in the nude mice. These results suggest that Notch-1 signaling is intimately linked to the behaviors of BCSCs. Blocking Notch-1 signaling can inhibit the malignant behaviors of BCSCs, which may provide a promising therapeutical approach for breast cancer.

Objective To study the related influencing factors involving in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) and changing characteristics of hemodynamics of VBD. Methods Outpatients and inpatients with posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) underwent brain MRA from June 2008 to September 2009 were chosen; 116 patients met the standard of VBD were selected as VBD group and other 130 patients without VBD were as control group. The univariate analysis and multiple factor analysis were applied to study the correlation of hypertension,smoking,diabetes,low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and intracranial vascular variation with VBD.Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were applied to observe the hemodynamic changes and arteriosclerosis of these patients.Results Univariate analysis indicated that statistical significance on intracranial vascular variation,hypertension and smoking was noted between the VBD group and the control group (x2=13.530,P=0.000; x2=8.539,P=0.003; x2=3.959,P=0.047),while no statistical significance in diabetes and LDL was obtained between the 2 groups (x2=0.451,P=0.519; x2=0.220,P=0.881).Multiple factors analysis showed that VBD could be obviously related to intracranial vascular variation (OR=21.732, 95％CI:3.02-5.94),hypertension (OR=5.173,95％CI:1.23-3.05) and smoking (OR=3.145,95％CI:1.86-4.85).According to TCD,peak velocity (Vp),mean velocity (Vm) in the VBD group were significantly lower than those in the control group,but pulsatility index (PI) and resistant index (RI) in the VBD group were statistically higher (P＜0.05).DSA showed that the blood flow length of the VBD group was obviously shorter than that of the control group in the same time with statistical significance (P＜0.05). Conclusion Vascular variation,smoking and hypertension are related to VBD; and VBD leads to slow blood flow and aggravated arteriosclerosis,which may result in high incidence of stroke.

Objective To assess the clinical application of contrast-enhanced MR angiography using three-dimensional(3D)time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics(CE-MRA 3D-TRICKS).Methods TRICKS is a high temporal resolution(2—6s)MR angiographic technique using a short TR(2.8— 4.0 ms)and TE(0.9—1.3 ms),partial echo sampling and the central part of the k-space being updated more frequently than the peripheral part of the k-space.Pre-contrast mask 3D images are first acquired and 15--20 sequential 3D images following bolus injection of Gd-DTPA are then acquired.Results Thirty patients underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography using TRICKS.Twelve vertebral arteries were well displayed on TRICKS.Seven of them showed normal,bilateral vertebral artery stenosis was shown in 1 case, and unilateral vertebral artery stenosis was shown in 4 wth aecompaning ipsilateral carotid artery bifurcation stenosis in one case.Bilateral renal artery showed normal in 4 cases,and the artery in transplanted kidney showed normal in one case and stenosis in another case.The cerebral artery showed normal in 2 cases, sagittal sinus thrombosis was detected in one case and intracranial arteriovenous malformation in one case. Pulmonary artery displayed normal in 3 cases,pulmonary artery thrombosis was seen in one case and pulmonary sequestration's abnormal feeding artery and draining vein was revealed in one case.The feeding artery in left lower limb fibrolipoma was showed in one case.The radial-ulnar artery artificial fistula stenosis was seen in one case,and left antebrachium hemangioma was showed in one case.Conclusion TRICKS can clearly delineate the whole body vascular system and can reveal any vascular abnormality.It is convenient and with high successful rate,which make it the first method of choice in displaying vascular abnormality.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the short-term efficacy and security of whole body hyperthermia (WBH) combined with chemotherapy for advanced cancer. METHODS: Different chemotherapy regimens were applied in 138 patients with advanced cancer. Among them, 68 patients (Group A) didn't receive any other therapies. The other 70 patients (Group B) received WBH together with chemotherapy. WBH was maintained at 40 degrees C approximately 42 degrees C for 50 approximately 60 min (once or twice every week and 4 times a cycle). RESULTS: In Group A, the rate of complete remission (CR) was 2.9%, partial remission (PR) was 36.8%, stable disease was 35.3%, progressive disease was 25.0%, the overall response rate (CR + PR) was 39.7%; while in Group B, the corresponding figures were 5.7%, 52.9%, 25.7%, 25.0%, and 58.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The rates of III + IV gastrointestinal tract andmyelosuppression toxicities were 26.5% and 16.2% in Group A, while 27.1% and 18.6% in Group B. No significant difference was found. CONCLUSION WBH combined with chemotherapy is efficient and safe for advanced cancer, and is worth generalizing extensively.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Lung Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome