Objective: To explore the value of TEE-guided surgical minimal invasive closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD). Methods: Totally 58 patients with ASD and 129 patients with VSD underwent TEE-guided minimal invasive surgical closure. After small chest wall incision, under TEE monitoring, the accurate puncture point of right atrium or right ventricular wall was selected, then arterial hemostatic sheath passed through the gap. Multi-section TEE was used to confirm that the occluder position was suitable. Then the occluder was released when no significant residual shunt and valve complication was observed. Results: Minimal invasive surgical closure was successfully performed in all 58 ASD patients, with small residual shunts were found in 8 cases. Minimal invasive surgical closure of VSD was successfully performed in 114 patients but failed in 15 patients who then underwent open heart repair. Among 114 patients with successfully occluded VSD, 19 patients displayed minimal residual shunt, 2 patients displayed right ventricular outflow tract blood flow velocity increased, and the guide wire smoothly entered the gap in 1 patient after changing the right ventricular wall puncture point. Conclusion: TEE is useful for minimal invasive surgical closure of ASD and VSD, included measuring the size and position, choosing the occluder size, determing operative approach, guiding occluder released and evaluating instant therapeutic effect.

To investigate the effects of essential oil of Citrus reticulata (EOCR) on proliferation of human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELFs), and to explore its protective effects on bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis in rats.

Objectives To investigate the clinical features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL).Methods A retrospective study was carried out on the clinical records of 6 patients with primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) treated at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from April 2005 to September 2010.The domestic and foreign medical literatures were reviewed.Results For the 6 patients with PHL,the median age was 57 years (range 31-78 years).The male-to-female ratio was 2: 1.The most common initial symptoms were abdominal pain and fever.Serum transaminase,lactate dehydrogenase and β2-microglobulin levels were elevated in 4 of 6 patients.For the 3 patients who were tested for alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen levels,the results were normal.None of the patients had a history of hepatitis or cirrhosis.The diagnosis was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.A R0 resection was carried out in 1 patient who was lost to follow-up soon after surgery.A R2 resection was carried out in another patient.The remaining 4 patients received liver biopsy.Five patients were treated by CHOP or CHOP-like chemotherapy.A patient died of brain metastases after 8 cycles of chemotherapy,and another patient was lost to follow-up after 1 cycle of chemotherapy.Chemotherapy combined with rituximab were given to the other 3 patients.There was a complete remission in 2 patients after chemotherapy and biotherapy,and these patients were still alive at the last follow-up.Partial remission was achieved in the remaining patient after chemotherapy.The patient was given radiotherapy,but he died finally of tumor progression.Conclusions PHL is an extremely rare lymphoma.Its clinical presentations and imaging manifestations are non-specific.PHL should be considered when the patient has abdominal pain or fever,with a mass in the liver.The ultimate diagnosis depends on histopathologic examination.The pathological type is mainly non Hodgkin's lymphoma,with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.There is still no standard treatment.Surgery,chemotherapy,radiotherapy,targeted therapy and biotherapy can be used.

Objective To investigate the expression of Wnt-5a gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to expose its role and clinical significance in the development of HCC.Methods Real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed in 26 fresh HCC samples and the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues to detect mRNA expression of Wnt-5a gene.Wnt-5a protein was detected with immunohistochemical method in paraffin embedding tissues of 85 cases of HCCs and the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues,and 15 cases of hepatic cirrhosis.Results RT-PCR analysis showed that Wnt-5a mRNA (0.102 127 ±0.158 620) in the HCC tissues was more than that (0.020 106 ±0.022 075) in the para-carcinoma tissues (P＜0.05).The positive expression rate of Wnt-5a protein in HCC,para-carcinoma,and hepatic cirrhosis tissues were 21.2％ (18/85),81.26％ (69/85),and 86.7％ (13/15),respectively.The positive rate of Wnt-5a was significantly lower in the HCC than in the para-carcinoma and hepatic cirrhosis tissues (P ＜ 0.01).The expression of Wnt-5a was significantly associated with lower tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages and small alpha fetoproteins (AFP) content of blood serum (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The high expression of Wnt-5a mRNA was found in the gene transcription of HCC,while Wnt-5a protein was absent or low in HCC.It was suggested that the roles of Wnt-5a was interfered at the protein level rather than the transcriptional level in the HCC.

Objective:To investigate the effects of bezafibrate (BF) on the activation,proliferation and differentiation of CD4+T cells from primary biliary cirrhosis ( PBC) patients and to elucidate the mechanisms for the immunosuppressive effects of BF and to further provide experience basis for BF target therapy PBC.Methods:PBMCs were isolated from PBC patients then CD 4+T cells were selected by MACS, and stimulated with anti-CD3, anti-CD28, in the presence of different concentration of BF.The cytokines were measured by ELISA,and the activation,proliferation and differentiation of CD4+T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:(1) BF could inhibit the activation of CD 4+T cells in PBC patients.(2) BF could inhibit the proliferation of CD 4+T cells in PBC patients in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05).(3)BF could down-regulation IFN-γand IL-17 production of CD4+T cells in a dose-dependent manner ( P<0.05 ).Conclusion: BF could inhibit immune responses of PBC patients by suppressing CD 4+T cells activation;proliferation and cytokine production.

Objective To investigate the changes of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate after urgently going to high‐alti‐tude area ,so as to provide a reference for medical rescue in high‐altitude area .Methods Subjects left from the plain area with an al‐titude of 400 m .Blood oxygen saturation and heart rate were measured before departure and after reaching 4 300 m altitude region . Then the subjects were taken to the destination with an altitude of 3 200 m ,at which they received a dynamic continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation /heart rate at the 1st day ,2nd day ,3rd day ,4th day ,5th day ,6th day ,7th day after arrival .After adapting to the environment in 3 200 m altitude area for 1 week ,subjects were taken to the 4 300 m altitude region ,at which they were re‐measured blood oxygen saturation and heart rate .Results After entering the areas of 4 300 m altitude and 3 200 m altitude ,the blood oxygen saturation was significantly decreased compared with that in plain area (P< 0 .05) .The blood oxygen saturation at the 6th and 7th day after entering 3 200 m altitude area was statistically different when compared with that at the 1st day(P< 0 .05) . The blood oxygen saturation had statistical difference between reaching at 4 300 m altitude area for the first time and re‐entering 4 300 m altitude area ,while the heart rate had no statistical difference (P> 0 .05) .Conclusion The arterial oxygen saturation was de‐creased with the increase of altitude ;the people living in plain areas can preliminarily adapt to the environment at 6th day after reaching 3 200 m altitude regions ;people can better adapt to the high‐altitude environment by shortly living in lower‐altitude areas before re‐entering high‐altitude areas .

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients and analyse the factors affecting the survival. Methods 135 CML patients receiving imatinib were evaluated for hematologic, cytogenetic, and molecular responses and adverse events. Results The median follow-up was 20 (range 3-67) months. The rate of cumulative complete hematological response (CHR), major cytogenetic response (MCyR), complete cytogenetic response( CCyR ) and complete molecular response (CMoR) in chronic phase CML patients were 97.9 %, 78.3 %, 72.2 % and 35.1%, respectively.These rates were significantly higher in chronic phase than in accelerated phase and blastic phase (P ＜0.001).The rate of CCyR in low-risk patients was significantly higher than high-risk patients (P =0.048). The estimated overall survival (OS) rate at 1, 3 and 5 year for chronic phase patients were (97.8±1.5) %, (95.2±2.4) % and (91.9±3.2) %, respectively. The estimated progression-free (PFS) survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 year were (92.6±2.7) %, (85.5±3.7) % and (81.3±4.3) %, respectively. The OS rate for accelerated phase patients at 6, 12 and 24 month were (93.8±6.1) %, (72.5±11.8) % and (64.5±12.9) %, the PFS rate were (92.3±7.4) %,(64.5±14.7) %, (53.7±15.7) %, respectively. The OS rate for blastic phase patients at 6, 12 and 19 month were (86.4±7.3) %, (45.4±11.4) %, (19.4±9.8) %, the PFS rate were (70.1±12.6) %, (37.6±15.6) % and (18.8±15.4) %, respectively. The OS and PFS of patients in chronic phase who achieved CCyR or CMoR were better than patients only achieved CHR (P ≤0.001). Multivariate analysis for survival of chronic phase patients indicated that imatinib resistance was the unfavourable factor for PFS (P =0.000, RR =46.744) and OS(P =0.007, RR =20.270). The non-hematological toxicity of imatinib was slight and tolerable, severe hematological toxicity was the major reason for dose reduction or drug discontinuation. Conclusion The efficacy of imatinib in chronic phase CML patients is significantly superior to which in accelerated phase and blastic phase; Achieving CCyR even CMoR is the most important thing for longer survival, iinatinib resistance is the major problem in the treatment with imatinib.

Objective To investigate whether chlorophyllin could protect human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) against oxidative damage by inducing the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods The cellular protection of chlorophyllin against oxidative damage was detected by cell-survival assay with flow cytometry.The level of free radicals was detected directly by electron spin resonance spectra.The induced expression of HO-1 was shown by RT-PCR,Western blot,immunofluorescence confocal laser microscopy and enzymatic activity test.Whether the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway was involved was detected by Western blot.Results Chlorophyllin could protect HUVEC against oxidative damage caused by H2O2 via scavenging the excessive free radicals.Chlorophyllin treatment could induce expression of HO-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner.The activation of PI3K/Akt pathway was required in the induction of HO-1.LY294002,the specific inhibitor of PI3K,could suppress the activation of PI3K/Akt and the induced expression of HO-1 in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions Chlorophyllin shows cellular protection against oxidative damage by counteracting the excessive free radicals.Up-regulation of HO-1 expression plays a pivotal role in the protection of chlorophyllin,while the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is required in the induction of HO-1.

Objective To identify the histological features as well as factors influencing the course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV)-infected patients with persistently normal alanine amino-transferase (ALT) levels (PNAL). Methods Ninety-eight HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected patients with PNAL who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were recruited from October 2003 to March 2008. The ALT level, HBV markers, HBV DNA level and liver histological changes were detected. Comparison of means was done by t test and single factor analysis of variance. Nonparametric statistics was done by Marm-Whitey U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Analysis of independent risk factor was done using Logistic model. The dianostic value of ALT level to significant liver histological changes was evaluated by receiver performance curve. Results Twenty-two point four percent and 17.3% of subjects had the histological activity index (HAI)≥4and fibrosis (F) score≥3 respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that subjects with ALT＞0.50 × upper limit of normal (ULN) had a significantly higher rate of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 than those with ALT≤0.50×ULN (HAI≥4:36.4% vs 11.1%, χ2 =8.881, P=0.003;F score≥3:27.3% vs 9.3%, χ2 =5.487, P= 0.019, respectively), and older subjects (more than 45 years old) had a higher proportion of HAI ≥4 than the younger (33.3% vs 13.4%, χ2 =4.923, P=0.027). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that a decade increase in age was the independent predictor of HAI≥4 (OR=2.410, P=0.023).Receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that 87.0% and 90.7% of subjects with ALT＜0.50× ULN had histological changes of HAI＜4 and F score＜3 respectively. The proportions of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 in subjects with HBV DNA＜1×104 copy/mL were 14.9% and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusions Significant histological changes may be present in part of the subjects with persistently normal ALT and different HBV DNA levels, so that liver biopsy is very important, especially in those with age ＞45 years.Half time the ULN may serve as an appropriate cutoff value of normal ALT level for managing Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-int'ected patients.

Objective To investigate the expression and function of retinoic acid-inducible gene Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ) in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) at different stages of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and to explore the role of RIG-Ⅰ in the disease progression after HBV infection. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 28 hepatitis B virus-infected persons, including 21 cases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 7 of acute hepatitis B (AHB). Eighteen healthy subjects were recruited as controls. Purified CD14~+ monocytes were isolated by CD14 microbeads. MoDCs were induced from CD14~+ monocytes with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4 for 7 days, and then were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to stimulate RIG-Ⅰ expression. The mRNA expression levels of RIG-Ⅰ, interferon (IFN )-promoter stimulating factor-1 (IPS-1) and IFN-β at 16 hours and 24 hours after infection with VSV were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data with normal distribution were tested by analysis of variance. Continuous variables between groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison among multiple groups was done by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results The expression levels of RIG-Ⅰ in MoDCs from CHB patients were significantly lower than those in AHB patients and healthy controls at 16 hours (2.44±2.03, 19. 54±3. 15, 21. 48±8. 39, respectively; F=7.451,P=0.002) and 24 hours (2. 68±2. 93, 10. 31 ±3. 88, 14. 01 ±5. 04, respectively, F = 7. 908, P = 0. 001)following VSV stimulation. The IPS-1 levels in both CHB patients and AHB patients were higher than those in healthy controls at 16 hours (2. 05±l. 08, 1. 99±1. 56, 0. 60±0. 31, respectively) F=7.246,P =0.003) and 24 hours (2. 27±2. 16, 3.24 ± 1.21, 1. 08±0. 73, respectively; F= 13. 598, P = 0. 001).Furthermore, the IFN-β expression levels were significantly lower in CHB patients compared to AHB patients and healthy controls at 16 hours and 24 hours after VSV stimulation. Conclusions The expressions of RIG-Ⅰ and IPS-1 in MoDC are abnormal in HBV infected persons, which indicates that RIG-Ⅰ signaling pathway might be blocked by HBV. The impaired function of MoDC may play a role in HBV infection and chronicity.