Problem-based learning has gradually become an important pedagogical tool in the medical curriculum.Behaviors of PBL tutor play an unique role in teaching.A good PBL tutor must consider the following issues:ample preparing before class,awareness of learning outside the tutorial room,social congruence,dealing with the difficult student and dysfunctional group,sharing the PBL experience and seeking support or advice from peers.

Objective To investigate the activation and clinical significance of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway related protein and eukaryotic translation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in gastric cancer.Methods The activation of mTOR and 4E-BP1 in gastric cancer tissues of 38 surgical patients were detected by immunohistochemical method.The differences of phosphorylated mTOR and 4E-BP1 expression among cancerous tissues,para-cancerous tissues and normal gastric mucosa tissues and dinicopathological variables were analyzed by Chi square test and Kruskal-Wallis test.Results The positive expression rate of phosphorylated mTOR in the gastric cancerous tissues was significantly higher than that of para-cancerous tissues and normal tissues [71.1％ (27/38),50.0 ％ (19/38) and 44.7 ％ (17/38),x2 =11.031,P =0.026].The positive expression rate of downstream protein 4E-BP1 in the gastric cancer tissues was also significantly higher than that of paracancerous tissues and normal tissues [68.4％(26/38),57.9％(22/38) and 28.9％ (11/38),x2 =13.943,P=0.007].There was no correlation between phosphorylated mTOR and 4E-BP1 expression and tumor Lauren's sub-type,infiltration,differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis and patient's age.There was statistical significant difference between activated 4E-BP1 expression and tumor size in gastric cancer (H=3.86,P＜0.05).Conclsions mTOR pathway was over activated in gastric cancer.There was difference between phosphorylation degree of its downstream protein 4E-BP1 and the tumor size.

BACKGROUND: A skull defect is inevitable after decompression treatment for traumatic brain injury. Titanium mesh as the most recognized skull repair material has good biocompatibility and has been widely used in clinical practice. However, the timing for skull repair after brain injury is still in dispute.OBJECTIVE: To compare the changes of brain perfusion and the recovery of neurological function in patients with skull defects before and after early and late-stage titanium mesh repair based on CT perfusion technique.METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, observational clinical trial that was completed at the Taihe Hospital,Hubei University of Medicine in Hubei Province, China. Eighty-six patients with craniocerebral injury who had undergone decompression with removal of bone flap from January 2013 to January 2016 were recruited and subjected to skull repair using titanium mesh. All the patients were randomized into two groups: test group (n=40) with early skull repair within 1-3 months after decompression and control group (n=46) with late-stage skull repair within 6-12 months after decompression. CT perfusion technology was used to observe changes of brain perfusion at 3 days operatively and at 10 days postoperatively. The Barthel index was evaluated at 30 days postoperatively. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov (identifier: NCT03222297) on July 12th, 2017. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Taihe Hospital with the approval No. 2012 (08), and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki,formulated by the World Health Organization and the hospital's ethical requirements for human research. All the patients and their families were voluntary to participate in the trial, were fully informed of the trial process, and then signed the informed consent prior to the initialization of the trial.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The postoperative cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow at the parietal cortex on the side of skull defect and at the cortex in the defect region were significantly higher in the two group than the baseline (P < 0.05), while the time to peak was lower than the baseline (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group,significantly higher cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow as well as shorter time to peak were observed in the test group (P < 0.05). The Barthel index of the test group was also significantly higher than that of the control group at 30 days postoepratively (P < 0.05). Overall, early skull repair with titanium mesh is helpful to improve the cerebral blood perfusion at the affected side and the recovery of neurological function. In addition, CT perfusion technology is a safe and effective method to monitor hemodynamic changes in the brain.

Objective·To prepare chitosan-gelatin porous microspheres by high voltage electrostatic method combined with freeze-drying and ionic cross-linking method and investigate the factors that influence the formation of porous medium.Methods·Porous chitosan microspheres and chitosangelatin porous microspheres were prepared using high voltage electrostatic method combined with freeze-drying and ionic cross-linking method,with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as crosslinking agent.Factors that affect the porous structure and pore size of porous microspheres were compared,such as different chitosan-gelatin ratio,freezing temperature,curing time with saturated STPP in 85％ ethanol solution.The morphology,surface and internal structure,particle size of the porous chitosan microspheres and chitosan-gelatin porous microspheres were observe by using light microscope,scanning electron microscope and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Results·Microspheres prepared by freeze-drying with an electrostatic and ionic cross-linking method have open,interconnected and highly macroporous,with good spherical surface.Saturated STPP ethanol solution (85％ ethanol) was chosen as the crosslinking agent to prevent destruction of the porous structure.The order of freeze and crosslinking,cross-linking time and the second freezing temperature,can influence the pore size of porous microspheres.Gelatin and chitosan can form polyelectrolyte complexes,and can also be used as porogen in porous structure.Conclusion·The preparation of porous chitosan-gelatin microspheres via this method has a large pore size (diameter 100-200 μm),suitable for cell growth and the migration.

Objective To explore the correlation of total IgE and childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) in maternal serum and newborn cord blood, as well as its clinical significance of allergen testing. Methods Thirty-five cases diagnosed as AD (AD group) were selected, and other 35 children who were not diagnosed as AD (control group) were randomly selected from a birth cohort established in 2009—2011. The total IgE levels were detected by ELISA in maternal serum and newborn cord blood. The serum specific IgE antibody level was detected by quantitative immunoblotting method. Results The serum total IgE level was significantly higher in mother and newborn cord blood in AD group than that in control group (χ2=16.568 and 14.933, P<0.01). Compared to control group, there was a significantly higher positive rate of mother serum allergen includ?ing dust mites, house dust, ragweed pollen, song kind of pollen, poplar, surname and elm pollen, mould, shrimp, marine fish, in AD group (P<0.05). There was a significantly higher positive rate of artemisia pollen and fungi IgE in newborn cord blood in AD group (P<0.05). Conclusion The increased total IgE in maternal serum may play a predictive effect on infants suf?fering from AD. There is no obvious consistency in allergic state between mothers and infants.

Primary female urethral adenocarcinoma is rare. This paper reports a case of primary urethral mucinous adenocarcinoma complicated with signet ring cell carcinoma. The patient underwent urethral tumor resection in another hospital. Postoperative examination indicated that the tumor remained, and the tumor was completely removed after urethral tumor resection. After 11 months of follow-up, there was no tumor residue or recurrence.

Objective To discuss the clinical characteristics of adrenal metastases,and summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment.Methods From January 2008 to June 2018,the clinical data of 55 patients with adrenal metastases treated in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.This study included 34 male patients and 21 female patients and the median age was 60 years old (ranged 55 to 84 years old).The median value of maximum diameter of adrenal metastases was 3 cm (ranged 1.9 to 10.3 cm);with 35 cases on the left side,13 cases right and 7 cases bilateral.The primary sites of malignant tumors were pancreas (18 cases,32.7％),lung (12 cases,21.8％),liver (6 cases,10.9％) and colorectum (6 cases,10.9％),respectively.Thirty-four cases were confirmed by pathology after adrenalectomy and 21 cases were confirmed by needle biopsy.Thirty cases were diagnosed synchronously with the primary tumor and 25 cases were metachronous.The median time from diagnosis of primary tumors was 13.3 months (ranged 2.0 to 97.4 months).42 cases of these 55 cases were diagnosed within one year.Treatment options for adrenal metastatic lesions included single adrenalectomy in 18 cases,adrenalectomy combined with radiotherapy 16 cases,single intravenous chemotherapy 10 cases,intravenous chemotherapy combined with non-operative treatment 10 cases and single radiotherapy 1 case.Results The main pathological types were adenocarcinoma (19 cases,34.5％),ductal adenocarcinoma (10 cases,18.2％),hepatocellular carcinoma (6 cases,10.9％) and clear cell carcinoma (4 cases,7.3％).Two cases were lost follow-up and the follow-up rate was 96％,the median follow-up time was 8 months (ranged 1 to 135 months).The median overall survival (OS) time of 55 patients was 5.3 months (ranged 1 to 134 months).The one-year survival rate was 23.6％ (13/55),the two-year survival rate was 12.7％ (7/55),the three-year survival rate was 9.1％ (5/55) and the five-year survival rate was 1.8％ (1/55).Conclusions Pancreatic cancer was the most common type of malignant tumor for adrenal metastases in our hospital.Most primary tumors and adrenal metastases were diagnosed synchronously or within one year.Comprehensive treatment with retroperitoneal adrenalectomy may improve the OS,however the overall prognosis is poor.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of unilateral adrenalectomy for treating primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) of different clinical types.Methods:The clinical and biochemical data of 54 patients with PBMAH who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy from May 2008 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected. Preoperative CT images of all patients showed enlarged bilateral adrenal glands with multiple nodules of " fused masses". Mean preoperative blood cortisol concentration at 8am was (21.5±7.7)μg/dl, urinary free cortisol concentration was (442.6±300.4)μg/24h, and mean 8am ACTH concentration was (6.4±2.3)pg/ml. Postoperative symptoms, BMI, blood pressure, mass diameter, cortisol and ACTH concentration were recorded and analyzed.Results:Compared with ordinary laparoscopic surgery, robot-assisted surgery showed shorter operation time [(115.4±22.1)min vs.(95.0±19.8)min, P=0.045]; less blood loss [(118.2±57.0)ml vs. (125.6±45.3)ml, P=0.441] and shorter hospitalization time [(5.2±0.9)day vs. (6.4±1.2)day, P=0.279]. Compared with laparoscopic surgery, open surgery showed longer operation time [(134 34.5) min vs. (104.3±20.1) min, P=0.035]; more blood loss [(305.5±85.2) ml vs. (122.5±44.3) ml, P=0.012] and longer hospitalization time[(10.4±3.2)day vs. (5.7±1.0) day, P=0.020]. The average follow-up time was (23.7±11.7) months. Sixteen cases biochemically relapsed, and the average relapse-free time was (25.4±13.4) month. Mean postoperative systolic blood pressure was (131.1±16.8)mmHg ( P=0.001) while diastolic blood pressure decreased to (82.2±11.1)mmHg ( P=0.002). Postsurgical average blood cortisol concentration decreased to (10.2±4.0)μg/dl ( P<0.01), while urine cortisol concentration decreased to (106.6±43.4)μg/24h( P<0.01). Average ACTH concentration increased to (12.6±4.1)pg/ml( P=0.005). Recurrent patients had higher preoperative blood and urine cortisol concentration(24.7±8.2)μg/dl( P=0.046), (522.8±234.2)μg/24h( P=0.028), and all of them underwent contralateral adrenalectomy. Conclusions:Unilateral adrenalectomy is safe and effective for treatment of PBMAH while part of patients biochemically relapsed. Subclinical patients were observed no recurrent cases after surgery. Recurrent patients have higher preoperative blood and urine cortisol levels and should undertake contralateral adrenalectomy and supplement corticosteroids for whole life.

Cerebral artery embolism is a rare but serious complication of facial plastic surgery. This paper reports a case of severe total cerebral arterial fat embolism caused by facial autologous fat injection. The patient past away after 40 hours of treatment. The cause of this total cerebral artery embolism patient was analyzed by tracing relevant medical history and cephalic CTA examination. By studying this case, we hope to reduce the occurrence of similar situations in the future.

Objective:To assess the application value of CNVPLUS ?-array for the genetic analysis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods:From June 2021 to December 2022, CNVPLUS ?-array technique was employed to test the SMN1 and SMN2 genes among peripheral blood samples from 17 suspected SMA patients, 18 core families with suspected SMA, and 25 healthy individuals. The results were compared with those of multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay. Samples with inconsistent results were subjected to nested PCR or comprehensive analysis of SMA. This study was approved by the Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Ethics No. XHEC-D-2024-038). Results:CNVPLUS ?-array has identified 35 SMA patients, 36 carriers, and 25 healthy individuals. In comparison, MLPA has identified 34 SMA patients, 36 carriers, and 26 healthy individuals. The two methods demonstrated a high consistency ( Kappa = 0.968, P<0.001). Additionally, CNVPLUS ?-array has identified one patient with compound heterozygous variants of SMN1 and one carrier with a [2+ 0] genotype. Conclusion:CNVPLUS ?-array not only can accurately determine the copy numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 genes, but also identify point mutations in SMN1 and [2+ 0] carriers, which has offered a new method for the genetic testing of SMA.