Objective To review the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease(HVOD)induced by sedum aizoon in HBsAg positive patients. Methods Clinical data of 35 HBsAg positive cases who took sedum aizoon decoction and developed HVOD were collected, the clinical manifestation, imaging examination, histological examination of liver puncture biopsy, and the outcomes of patients were reviewed. Results Hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, abdominal effusion and map-like density changes in liver CT scan were observed in 35 patients. Liver biopsy wag performed in 17 patients. In histopathological examination, the swelling and point-like necrosis of liver cells, expansion and congestion of sinus, endothelial swelling, wall thickening, incomplete lumen occlusion of small liver vascular were observed. Map-like density changes in liver CT scan were found in all 17 patients who were diagnosed by histological examination. Fifteen patients presented small amount of ascites within 4 weeks of onset, 13 of whom recovered or improved after treated with low-molecular weight heparin and albumin; while among the remaining 20 patients. only half of them were benefited from the same treatments. Conclusion HVOD can be diagnosed by liver CT scan instead of histological examination; treatment of patients in early stage may improve the outcome.

The scholars at home and abroad pay great attention to the studies of specificities of acupoints, but the studies were superficial and non-systemic because of lacking to application of modern sciences and technology. There are not persuasive conclusive achievements for the specificities of acupoints and the key factors influencing the effect of acupuncture. The study of the specificities of acupoints should be concentrate on the diseases for which acupuncture and moxibustion are effective. And multiple modern sciences and techniques should be adopted to resolve the key problems about biological and physical characteristics, pathological response, effects and law of compatibility of acupoints usually selected for the diseases, and then to create the model of the theory about the specificities of acupoints and to richen and develop the theory of the specificity of acupoints.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Research

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of mild moxibustion on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) visceral hyperalgesiamodel rats and its regulatory effect on P2X3 receptors in the spinal cord, anterior cingutate cortex (ACC) and thalamic ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL). Methods: Thirty 8-day-old newborn rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=6) and a modeling group (n=24) according to the completely random number table method. Rats in the normal group were bred routinely, and those in the modeling group were subjected to preparing IBS chronic visceral hyperalgesia model using colorectal distention (CRD) in stimulation method. Rats successfully modelled were re-divided into a model group, a mild moxibustion group, a P2X3 receptor antagonist group, and a normal saline group according to the completely random number table method with 6 rats in each group. Rats in each group received corresponding interventions from the 37-day old, once a day for 7 consecutive days. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were used to detect P2X3 protein expressions in the spinal cord, ACC and VPL of rats. Results: Under different intensities of CRD stimulation, the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores of the model group were significantly increased versus the normal group (all P<0.05); the AWR scores of the mild moxibustion group and the P2X3 receptor antagonist group were significantly reduced versus the model group (all P<0.01). The P2X3 protein expressions in rat spinal cord, ACC and VPL tissues of the model group were significantly increased versus the normal group (all P<0.01); the P2X3 protein expressions in rat spinal cord, ACC and VPL tissues of the mild moxibustion group and the P2X3 receptor antagonist group were significantly reduced versus the model group (all P<0.01). Conclusion: Mild moxibustion can inhibit the P2X3 receptor expressions in the spinal cord, ACC, and VPL tissues of IBS visceral hyperalgesia model rats, which may be the mechanism of mild moxibustion in relieving the central sensitization of rats with IBS visceral hyperalgesia.

Hyperglycemia is an important initiator of cardiovascular disease, contributing to the development of cardiomyocyte death and diabetic complications. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether high glucose state could induce apoptosis of rat cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 through microRNA-mediated Bcl-2 signaling pathway. The expression of miR-34a and Bcl-2 mRNA was detected by using real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to examine the changes in apoptosis-associated protein Bcl-2. Apoptosis of H9c2 cells was tested by using flow cytometry. The results showed that the expression of miR-34a was significantly elevated and that of Bcl-2 was strongly reduced, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was apparently increased in the high-glucose-treated H9c2 cells as compared with normal-glucose-treated controls. In addition, we identified Bcl-2 gene was the target of miR-34a. miR-34a mimics reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and increased glucose-induced apoptosis, but miR-34a inhibitor acted as the opposite mediator. Our data demonstrate that miR-34a contributes to high glucose-induced decreases in Bcl-2 expression and subsequent cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Glucose ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODSBetween April 2005 and March 2009, 47 patients were treated with minimally invasive nephron sparing surgery (LPN or LCA) for RCC. The LCA group included 18 selected primary RCC cases (14 men and 4 women, mean age 63 years). There were 6 tumors located in the left, 11 located in the right and 1 located bilaterally. The maximum diameter of tumors was 1.5 - 5.0 cm (mean: 2.9 cm). The LPN group included 29 renal tumors patients (19 men and 10 women, mean age 61 years). The maximum diameter of tumors in this group was 2.0 - 4.5 cm (mean: 2.8 cm). Changes of hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum creatinine (SCr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after operations were compared between LCA group and LPN group. The operative time, average intra-operative bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay and incidence of postoperative complications of the 2 groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe 2 surgical procedures were both successful. There was no significant change of Hb, ESR, SCr and GFR after operations in LCA group and LPN group (P > 0.05). The operative time was (94 ± 29) min and (146 ± 45) min in LCA group and LPN group, respectively. The average estimated blood loss was (37 ± 20) ml and (274 ± 69) ml. The postoperative hospital stay was (4 ± 2) d and (10 ± 2) d. These differences between the 2 groups were significant (P < 0.01). No laparoscopic operative complications were noted in LCA group. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1, 3, and 6 months identified the punched-out, nonenhancing, spontaneously resorbing, renal cryolesion. LCA group had completed a minimum follow-up of 6 months (mean 16, range 6 to 21 months). No evidence of local or port-site recurrence was found, and no patient developed metastatic disease. 3 - 36 months' (mean 20 months) follow-up showed no recurrence of tumors or metastatic disease in LPN group.

CONCLUSIONSLCA for RCC is an accurate and effective intervention with a relatively low incidence of complications, and is superior to LPN in operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative recovery.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; surgery ; Cryosurgery ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with regular follow-up.

METHODSAll patients underwent surgery from March 2006 to March 2009. Eight cases were solitary kidney. Twenty-two cases of left RCC and 18 cases of right RCC were diagnozed by ultrasonography and CT scanning.All of the cases were T1aN0M0 stage. No metastasis was found by iconography test. By ultrasound positioning, laparoscopic radiofrequency were performed on the renal tumor. All patients were followed up with eGFR and enhanced-CT.

RESULTSAll patients underwent laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation surgery successfully. The mean operation time was (101 ± 19) minutes and the mean blood loss was (90 ± 14) ml (no blood transfusion pre- and post-operation). During postoperative follow-up, enhanced CT revealed complete ablation in 39 cases (the success rate was 97.5%), and 1 residue tumor was confirmed by enhanced CT 7 days post operation. This patient was under close surveillance because of solitary kidney. No progression of the residue tumor was found during the follow-up. One case of recurrence was confirmed by enhanced CT in 6 month after operation. The 3-year recurrence rate was 2.5%. No further intervation was performed on this patient and no change was found in the recurrence area during the follow-up. Both 3-year total survival rate and 3-year cancer specific survival rate were 100%. The mean eGFR was (72 ± 9) ml/(min·1.73 m(2)) in 3 years after surgery. There was no significant difference between pre-and post-operation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMid-term follow-up results show the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation in the treatment for T1aN0M0 RCC and have no negative influence on the renal function.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; mortality ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and function of miR-218 in gastric cancer.

METHODSmiR-218 levels were evaluated in 20 non-cardia gastric cancer tissues using TaqMan stem-loop real-time PCR analysis. Pre-miR-218 and anti-miR-218 inhibitor were used to change the miR-218 expression level and examine its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and cell invasion.

RESULTSComparing with the corresponding normal tissues, miR-218 expression was significantly reduced in the gastric cancer tissue (P < 0.01). Forced expression of miR-218 increased apoptosis in AGS cells. The proportion of apoptosis cells induced by transfection of pre-miR-218 was greater than that induced by control (21.6% vs. 10.4%, P = 0.032). Pre-miR-218 resulted in a significantly decreased cell growth activity (P < 0.01) and cell invasion (P < 0.05) of AGS cells compared with that of the control.

CONCLUSIONmiR-218 expression is reduced in gastric cancer. miR-218 may function as a tumor suppressor in gastric carcinoma.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type II ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Female ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the technique and the clinical efficacy of Retroperitoneoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty in children.

METHODSRetroperitoneoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty was performed on 17 patients of pediatric ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, age ranging from 3 - 10 years. All patients had radiographic evidence of obstruction with signs, symptoms or deterioration of renal function.

RESULTSAll of the 17 operations were performed successfully, and no serious complications occurred during and after the operations. Average operating time was 4.3 hours, which decreased with surgeon experience. Average blood loss was 38 ml, mean postoperative stay was 4.6 d. Only one case had postoperative urine leakage. With a mean follow-up of 14 months, all patients were free of obstruction on follow-up radiographic imaging.

CONCLUSIONSRetroperitoneoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty is a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure for treatment of UPJ obstruction in children, and it can be used as an alternative to open surgery.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Retroperitoneal Space ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo find the best treatment of penile strangulation and to analyze the sexual psychological factors of the patients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the experiences in removing foreign objects around the penis in 21 patients aged 19 - 61 years with the strangulation time varying from 10 hours to 4 days. The objects were mostly made of metal or plastics.

RESULTSAll the objects were successfully removed, 5 of them with the help of lubricant, 4 by aspirating the corpus cavernosum, 8 by shipping with pliers, 2 with the diamond-tipped dental drill, and the other 2, which virtually defied cutting, by aspirating the corpus cavernosum following degloving surgery.

CONCLUSIONIn removing foreign objects around the penis, simpler methods should be given precedence over more complex ones, and for those that virtually defy cutting, the best option is degloving surgery with particular attention to the survival of the penile skin flap.

Adult ; Foreign Bodies ; psychology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult