OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of tetrandrine on inhibition of capsular contracture in rabbits.

METHODS12 female New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 6 animals in each group. Four smooth silicone implants (15 ml each) were implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of each rabbit. 20 mg tetrandrine was given in side of the implant cavity in the experimental group intraoperatively. All animals were sacrificed 3 months after operation. Capsular tensility, wet weight, collagen content and capsular histological examinations were carried out. In addition, The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCapsular tensility and capsular wet weight and capsular collagen content in the control group were significantly higher than that in the tetrandrine group (P < 0.01). alpha-SMA positive cell numbers in control group was obviously higher than that in the tetrandrine E group (P < 0.01). Capsular thickness were no statistical difference between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The capsular microstructure of control group was similar in two groups. The inner layer of capsule was smooth. The middle layer was lamellated fibrous tissue. The outer layer was loose connective tissue. Collagen fibres in control group was dense, the middle layer was thicker than that of the tetrandrine group. Typical myofibroblasts were found in both of 2 types of capsules. Myofibroblasts with swollen mitochondria and dilated rough and chromatin margination endoplasmic reticulum were found in the tetrandrine group.

CONCLUSIONSThis study verified the efficiency of tetrandrine in inhibiting the capsular contracture.

Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Breast Implants ; adverse effects ; Contracture ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rabbits ; Silicone Gels ; adverse effects

Objective To reveal the relationships between epileptic seizure in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and their intelligence.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 110 patients with seizure secondary to TSC,admitted to our hospitals from May 2007 to May 2012; the prognostic factors for mental retardation were analyzed.Results There were 67 males and 43 females in the TSC patients with seizures.The age of seizure onset ranged from 10 days to 28 years; the onset age was less than 1 year in 30％ and less than 3 years in 65％ of TSC patients.Twelve patients presented epileptic spasms; 40 had normal intelligence and 51 had mental retardation.In patients having onset age younger than 1 year,80％ had mental retardation; 92％ patients with epileptic spasms had mental retardation; 65％ patients with two seizure patterns had mental retardation; 62％ TSC patients with seizure frequency exceeding 4 times per month and 63％ patients with seizure history exceeding 5 years both had mental retardation.Conclusion The patients with seizure onset age less than 1 year old and having a history of epileptic spasms are more prone to mental retardation; so early control of seizure should be done to improve the intelligence.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of prostaglandin transporter (PGT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe mRNA and protein levels of PGT were determined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical methods in cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissue from 80 patients with colorectal cancer and their relationship with clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the adjacent normal tissue of colorectal cancer, the PGT mRNA relative expression (0.57 ± 0.33 vs. 2.33 ± 1.20) and the PGT protein expression in cancer tissues decreased significantly [PGT/GAPDH 0.45 ± 0.16 vs. 0.78 ± 0.23, integral A 718.7 ± 359.4 vs. 10412.0 ± 6423.3, average A 0.03 ± 0.01 vs. 0.12 ± 0.09, all P<0.01]. Lower mRNA and protein expressions of PGT in colorectal cancer were associated with depth of invasion T3 to T4 and TNM stage III( to IIII( (P<0.01), while not associated with gender, age, tumor location and differentiation degree (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONExpression levels of PGT mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissue are significantly down-regulation. PGT expression is associated with invasion depth and late stages.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organic Anion Transporters ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies of human leuckocyte antigens (HLA) -A, B and DRB1 alleles in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, and to assess the correlation of HLA molecules with other clinical and laboratory profiles.

METHODSGenotyping of HLA-A, B, and DRB1 were performed in 65 well-characterized patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 431 healthy controls with PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP).

RESULTSThe frequency of DRB1*0701 was increased to 29.2% compared with 13.9% in the controls (PC < 0.05, OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.4 approximately 4.6). No association was found with HLA-DRB1*08 which had been constantly reported. The A*2 allele (53.8%) was more frequent in the PBC patient group but without a significant statistical difference. The frequencies for the other A, B and DRB1 alleles were similar between patients and healthy controls. There was no difference between patients with or without DRB1*0701 in some clinical and laboratory profiles.

CONCLUSIONSusceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis in Chinese is associated with DRB1*0701 allele and differs from people in North America, South America, North Europe and even in Japan, but the association is not restricted to any particular subgroup of patients. Valine at position 78 of HLA DRbeta1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic