Objective:To study the correlation between serum homocysteine (Hcy) and the staging of gastric cancer,by comparing the concentrations of patients with gastric cancer at different pathological staging.Methods:90 patients with benign gastric diseases and 138 patients with gastric cancer were selected and admitted by Shandong University Qilu Hospital during the date from Mar 2014 to Jun 2015.The patients with gastric cancer were divided into 4 groups,according to the 7th AJCC Cancer Staging.To compare the difference of the concentration levels of Hcy and Tumor marks in different groups and analyze the relationship between benign disease and gastric cancer,and analyze it correlation with different pathological stagings of gastric cancer.Enzymatic cycling assay was used for detecting serum Hcy.Results:The serum Hcy concentration level in benign disease was (1 2.31 ± 3.22) μ mol/L,and significantly lower than cancer group(1 6.19 ± 4.84) μ mol/L,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05):The serum Hcy concentration levels increased gradually from staging I to staging Ⅳ,and the concentration level in staging Ⅰ was (13.94 ± 4.07) μ mol/L,in staging Ⅱ was (15.49 ± 4.09) μ mol/L,in staging Ⅲ was (17.10 ± 4.79) μ mol/L,in stagingⅣ was (19.81 ± 5.77) μ mol/L,the differences among the four groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Spearman Rank Correlation analysis confirmed that,the Hcy concentration level was positively related with pathological staging(r=0.503,P＜ 0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that,the serum Hcy concentration level is significantly correlated with gastric cancer,after the adjustment of other risk factors (OR=1.208,P=0.003).Conclusions:The serum Hcy concentration level is closely correlated with gastric cancer staging,and increase significantly with the cancer staging (from staging Ⅰ to staging Ⅳ),so itcan be used to evaluate the severity of gastric cancer.

Objective To analyze the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP),and to evaluate the role of PCT in the therapeutic effect,severity and prognosis.Methods A retrospective analysis of data and laboratory tests of 50 patients with CAP admitted from November 15,2011 to November 15,2012 in GICU was carried out.Patients with infection of other parts of body,surgical treatment and trauma were ruled out.The level of PCT (ng/mL) before and during treatment,and the relationships between PCT and respiratory failure,mechanical ventilation,treatment results were analyzed respectively.Results According to the occurrence of sepsis,50 patients were divided into sepsis group and non-sepsis group.In the non-sepsis group,the PCT level before treatment,the highest and average PCT levels during the treatment were 0.1125 (0.078,0.269),0.1235 (0.078,0.494),and 0.1355 (0.08,0.245) respectively.Correspondingly,the PCT levels in the sepsis group were 8.92 (2.715,16.33),13.53 (6.305,25.625),and 4.26 (2.1415,8.2455),and there were statistically significant differences in three values of PCT between groups (ZIst =-4.743,PIST ＜ 0.05 ; ZMax =-5.783,PMax ＜ 0.05 ; ZMean =-5.644,PMean ＜ 0.05).According to the emergence of respiratory failure during treatment,average PCT level in the patients with respiratory failure was 1.7375 (0.224,5.092),and that in the patients without respiratory failure was 0.081 ng/mL (0.049,0.146),presenting the statistically significant difference between two groups (Z =4.472,P ＜ 0.05).In case of using mechanical ventilation (MV),the average PCT level of the patients with mechanical ventilation was 1.618 ng/mL (0.224,5.092),and that in the patients without MV was 0.086 ng/mL (0.061,0.465),producing a significant difference between the two groups (Z =-3.788,P ＜ 0.05).Grouped according to the outcome of patients,the mean value of PCT level in death group was 7.4585 ng/mL (2.392,16.25),and that in the survival group was 0.1965 ng/mL (0.885,0.618),showing statistically significant difference between two groups (Z =3.857,P ＜ 0.05).The first PCT level in the GICU within 24 h after admission was used to make the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC),and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.9867,cutoff point was 1.25 ng/mL.Conclusions In case of CAP,the PCT level in patients with sepsis is significantly higher than that in patients without sepsis,and PCT can distinguish sepsis from pneumonia precisely.In addition,PCT is an important biomarker to judge the severity and outcomes of CAP at early stage.

AIM:To analyze the changes in the active components alignment of Puerariae Decoctions between its two different compatibility proportion. METHODS: Reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was applied. RESULTS: When the compatibility ratio of Radix Puerariae Lobatea, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma Coptidis and Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum melle was 5∶3∶3∶2, the contents of the eight drug active components alignment were 2.48% puerarin, 0.101% daidzin, 0.614% baicalin, 0.155% berberine, 0.048% palmatine, 0.094% jateorhizine, 0.154% glycyrrhizic acid, 0.283% liquiritin, and the proportional relationship of compatibility was 51.7∶2.1∶12.8∶3.2∶1∶2∶3.2∶5.9. When the compatibility ratio of Radix puerariae lobatae, Radix scutellariae, Radix Coptidis and Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum melle was 8∶3∶3∶2, the proportion of contents of the eight active components alignment were 1.67%, 0.143%, 0.36%, 0.085%, 0.031%, 0.048%, 0.126%, 0.174%. And the proportional relationship of compatibility was 54.4∶4.7∶11.7∶2.6∶1∶1.5∶4.1∶5.7. CONCLUSION: When the compatibility percentage consists of 8∶3∶3∶2, only the puerarin content relatively increases. The active components alignment of the rest have no significant difference. This illustrates the contents of the active components alignment of puerariae decoction is related to the compatibility percentage and herb solubility.

Objective To investigate the biocompatibility and biodegradability of mini-implants of PLA-based composites in experimental animals by histomorphometry, and to study its clinical application in orthodontic treatment. Methods Six adult male Beagle dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups, a total of 72 mini-implants were implanted to the mandibular. Two Beagle dogs were sacrificed at 2 months、4 months and 6 months after surgery. Animals were intramuscularly injected with tetracycline on 14 and 4 days before sacrifice. Mandibular specimens and the surfaces of mini-implants were examined with Cone beam CT, CBCT and Scanning Electronic Microscopy and SEM respectively. Histopathologocal changes were observed with toluidine blue staining and HE staining. Results The results of CBCT assay showed that the mini-implants were gradually radiopacity with the extension of time. SEM assay showed that the morphology of mini-implants surface was significantly changed;micro-implants degradation occured gradually.New bone formation was observed around the micro-implants within 10 days.Toluidine blue staining showed the formation of new bone around the mini-implants. However, the inflamma-tion around the implants was not observed. Conclusion The biocompatibility of biodegradable mini-implant is good. This mini-implant is biodegradable in vivo and can promote the formation of the surrounding bone tissue.

Background:Esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage is relatively uncommon in clinical,however,it can be life-threatening in severe cases. Thus,retrospective analysis of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage could provide important evidence for its diagnosis and treatment. Aims:To analyze the clinical characteristics of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage. Methods:A total of 175 cases of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage from January 2006 to December 2016 at Daping Hospital were enrolled. Gender,age,cause of bleeding,location of bleeding,season of onset,treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results:The ratio of male to female was 3. 5: 1 in 175 patients with esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage,73. 1％ of patients were middle-aged and elderly. The main cause of bleeding of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage were cardiac mucosal laceration syndrome (46. 9％),esophageal cancer (23. 4％),esophageal ulcer (12. 6％)and esophageal foreign body (12. 0％). The most common site of bleeding was lower esophagus (70. 9％). Fifty-one patients accepted endoscopic treatment or surgery. After treatment,142 patients (81. 1％)were cured or improved,and death was occurred in 27 patients (15. 4％). Conclusions:The incidence of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage is higher in male than in female,and is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly patients. The most common cause of bleeding of esophageal non-variceal hemorrhage is cardiac mucosal laceration syndrome,and the most common site of bleeding is lower esophagus. Medicine combined with endoscopic treatment is effective for most of the patients.

Objective To explore the role of EphB4 in proliferation of glioma cells. Methods The mRNA and protein expressions of EphB4 were detected using RT-PCR, immunochemistry, and Western-blot, respectively. EphB4 siRNA was synthesized and transfected into U251 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Glioma cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion were determined by MTT assay, TUNEL and transwell experiment, respectively. Results The expression (P<0.05) and proliferation of EphB4 were obviously decreased in U251 transfected with EphB4 siRNA and the proliferation was further decreased with the increased concetrations of siRNA. Compared with U251 group and siRNASCR group, EphB4 siRNA at different concentrations (25, 50 or 100 nmol/L) significantly reduced the invasion ability of cells and increased the number of apoptotic cells (P<0.05). Conclusions EphB4 plays an important role in the regulation of glioma cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion.

Objective To explore the clinical characters,treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal Dieulafoy lesion in China.Methods Dieulafoy was used as search term,the literatures about Chinese patients with Dieulafoy lesions from January 1998 to October 2016 were retrieved in the Chinese literature library including China National Knowledge Infrastructure,VIP network,Wanfang database and China Biology Medicine disc,and a total of 515 literatures,5 145 patients were enrolled and analyzed.The gender,age,geographical distribution,location of the lesion,treatment and prognosis of the disease were summarized.Results Among the 5 145 patients (male 3 959,female 1 186) with Dieulafoy disease,the ratio of male to female was 3.34∶1.00.The age was from 3 to 95 years,and mean age was 51 years.The lesion location was mainly in stomach (88.82％,4 570/5 145) and second was small intestine (8.28％,426/5 145).In stomach,the lesions were mainly located in gastric corpus,fundus and cardia.The small intestinal Dieulafoy lesions were mainly located in duodenum.The main manifests were sudden hematemesis,melena,and hematochezia.The treatments mainly was endoscopic treatment (72.56％,3 733/5 145),and second was surgery (25.27％,1 300/5 145).Among the5 145 patients withDieulafoy disease,5 099 patients (99.11％) were cured and 46 patients (0.89％) died.The proportions of endoscopic treatment,interventional therapy and first endoscopic treatment within 24 hours in tertiary hospitals were all higher than those of nontertiary (all P＜0.01).The cure rate of tertiary hospitals (99.22％,3 674/3 793) was significantly higher than that of nontertiary hosptials (98.54％,1 421/1 442) (x2 =0.89,P＜0.05) and the mortality was significantly lower than that of nontertiary hospitals (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The male is more susceptible to Dieulafoy lesion which occurred at any age than the female in China.The predilection sites of Dieulafoy lesion were stomach and duodenum.The primary treatments were endoscopic treatment and surgery,and the disease usually had a good prognosis.

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on learning and memory abilities, corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in subacute aging rats. Methods:Twenty four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 8 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the moxibustion group were subcutaneously injected with 25% D-galactose [125 mg/(kg·bw)] for 40 d continuous; rats in the normal group were injected with saline at the same position for 40 d continuous. Rats in the moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) at the same time of modeling; rats in the normal group and the model group were only identically grabbed without moxibustion for 40 d. The learning and memory abilities of rats were observed using the Morris water maze at the end of the experiment. Abdominal aorta blood and thymus were collected after water maze experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum corticosterone level, and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of thymus GR. Results:Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed that a significantly longer escape latency time (P<0.01) on the third and the fourth days; number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly reduced (P<0.01); activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly decreased (P<0.05); serum corticosterone levels increased (P<0.01); thymus GR expression decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, rats in the moxibustion group showed that the escape latency times were significantly shorter on the third, the fourth and the fifth days (P<0.01,P<0.05); number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly increased (P<0.05); activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly increased (P<0.05); serum corticosterone levels decreased (P<0.05); thymus GR expression increased (P<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion could improve the learning and memory abilities of subacute aging rats, down-regulate serum corticosterone levels, and increase thymus GR content.

Objective:This study aims to determine the efficacy of chemotherapy and to identify potential chemotherapy agents for advanced primary duodenal carcinoma (PDC). Methods:Fifty-six patients with advanced PDC, who did and did not receive chemo-therapy, were involved in this study. Response rates (RR), disease control rates (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall sur-vival (OS) were analyzed. Results:The overall RR and DCR of 43 patients were 19.04%and 71.42%, respectively. The patients who re-ceived chemotherapy agents fluorourzcil and oxaliplatin exhibited higher RR compared with patients who received other chemotherapy combinations (35.29%vs. 7.69%, P=0.010 9). Palliative chemotherapy improved the OS of patients with advanced PDC compared with patients who did not receive chemotherapy (13.35 months vs. 5.65 months, HR=0.203, 95%CI:0.083 to 0.497, P=0.000 5). Compared with the use of other chemotherapy regimens, treatment with a fluorourzcil-based chemotherapy agent resulted in a longer PFS (5.08 months vs. 1.08 months, HR=0.004, 95%CI:0.000 to 0.315, P=0.013 2). Multivariate analysis indicated mucinous histology and lymph mode metastasis as factors predictive of poor prognosis in patients with advanced PDC. Conclusion:Palliative chemotherapy may im-prove the OS of patients with advanced PDC.

Objective:This retrospective study aims to determine the efficacy of chemotherapy and improve a salvage chemother-apy agent for metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) after failure of treatment with irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Methods:Between Janu-ary 2002 and March 2013, 37 patients with metastatic MCRC who had progressed after treatment with irinotecan and oxaliplatin were analyzed for their response rate (RR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results:The overall RR of the 37 patients was 13.51%, with 5 cases of partial response (PR), 12 cases of disease stabilization (SD), and 20 cases of progression (PD). Compared with other chemo-therapy regimens, treatment with a pemetrexed-based chemotherapy agent had a higher RR (17.64%vs. 10.00%, P=0.64) without a lon-ger PFS (2.00 months vs. 1.63 months, HR=0.79, 95%, CI:0.35 to 1.78, P=0.58). Compared with other chemotherapy regimens, treat-ment with a raltirexed-based chemotherapy agent had a higher RR (16.67%vs. 12.00%, P=0.34) without a longer PFS (1.58 months vs. 1.90 months, HR=2.24, 95%, CI:0.98 to 5.12, P=0.06).Conclusion:In patients with MCRC after failure of treatment with irinotecan and oxaliplatin, a pemetrexed-based or raltirexed-based chemotherapy agent may beneficial during salvage treatment and is therefore worthy of further study.