Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of RNA interference on the expression of Aurora A in U251 cells, and the influence on proliferation and apoptosis of U251 cells. Methods The siRNA specific for Aurora A was synthesized and transfected into U251 cells in vitro. Aurora A mRNA expression and protein content were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) and flow cytometry(FCM). Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of U251 cells. Results After transfection, the expression level of Aurora A mRNA was significantly decreased(P<0.01), and the protein content of Aurora A was also obviously reduced. The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation reached up to 67.57% 72 hours after transfection, which was significantly higer than that of normal control group(P<0.01). The apoptosis rate of U251 cells was significantly increased from (3.69±0.87)% to (15.34±2.16)% (P<0.01). Under the transmission electron microscope, it was observed that the U251 cells showed typical morphologic changes of apoptosis after transfection, such as karyopyknosis, chromatin condensation and margination, intracytoplasmic vacuoles formed, and apoptotic bodies formed. Conclusion The expression of Aurora A gene can be inhibited by siRNA successfully, and it results in the suppression of cell growth and induce apoptosis of human glioma cells in vitro. Aurora A may become a new target for the gene therapy of gliomas.

Objective To observe the effect of long-term intensive glucose control therapy on diabetic retinopathy in outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Forty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to participate in the trial from 2002 to 2007,receiving either intensive (24 cases) or standard glucose control (25 cases).The patients were examined by the same ophthalmologists to identify any new diabetic retinopathy (DR).After 5 years of intensive glucose control,all of the patients were asked to attend our clinic every 6 months,but no attempts were made to maintain their previously assigned therapies.Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1 c) was measured regularly.In November of 2009,a retinal examination was carried out by the same ophthalmologist who worked in the trial.The visual acuity,lens,vitreous body and fundus were examined after pupil dilation to identify diabetic retinopathy (DR).Fundus fluorescein angiography and retinal laser photocoagulation were carried out when necessary.Results In the second year after enrollment in the trail,the median HbA1c level of the intensive-therapy group was significantly lower than that of the standard-therapy group [(6.3 ± 0.6) ％ vs.(7.2 ± 1.2) ％,t =2.09,P ＜ 0.05],and was maintained in a controlled level throughout the following 4 years.During the post-trial monitoring,no new case of of macula edema or diabetic associated blindness occurred in either intensive or standard-therapy group,the whole occurrence of micro-aneurysms,fundus hemorrhage,as well as those who needed retinal laser photocoagnlation and lowering in visual acuity in intensive-therapy group was lower than that in the standard-therapy group (3 vs.14,1 vs.7,2 vs.4,3 vs.11,respectively ;9 vs.36,totally,x2 =4.719,P ＜ 0.05).During the first post-trial monitoring,there was no difference in median HbAlc level between intensive-therapy group and standard-therapy group [(7.2 ± 1.1) ％ vs.(7.3 ± 1.3) ％,t =0.25,P =0.806],which was sustained in the following years.In the trail,no new case of fundus hemorrhage or diabetic associated blindness occurred in intensive-therapy group during the five-year period of therapy.Number of new episodes of micro-aneurysm,macula edema were less in intensive-therapy group than that in standard-therapy group,number of new episodes of lowering in visual acuity,and those who needed retinal laser photocoagnlation,were significantly less in intensive-therapy group than that in standardtherapy group(15 vs.25,4 vs.23,Z =-4.459,P ＜ 0.05) during five-year follow-up.Conclusions The benefit of reduced incidence of diabetic retinopathy in intensive glucose can be maintained because of the legacy effect.

Total caudate lobectomy via anterior hepatic transection is still a new technique to resect the tumor in the caudate lobe,which is mastered only by few surgeons.The procedure was successfully performed on a 21-year old patient with focal nodular hyperplasia in caudate lobe.The right and left lobes were first mobilized,then the short hepatic veins were dissected to detach the caudate lobe from the retrohepatic vena cava.Then the liver was split anteriorly and the partial middle lobe was resected.With this process,the tumor was in the sight and we dissected it from the liver parenchyma.The inflow blood was occluded 3 times with a period of 29,27 and 27 minutes,respectively,with an interval of 5 minutes.The total blood loss during operation was 1000 ml.The patient recovered quickly without any complications.The technique for caudate lobectomy via anterior hepatic transection can improve the success rate and safety of caudate lobectomy and deserve clinical consideration.

Objective:To evaluate the vomer development of cleft palate patients.Methods:38 patients over 1 4 years(averaged 23.4 years)of age with cleft palate and 76 controls of normal people(aged 22.8 year on average)were included.The 3D computed tomo-graphy reconstruction images of the bony nasal septum were measured.The development of the vomer was evaluated by comparing the L1 (the length of the lower edge of the vomer),L2 (the length from nasal spine to the point of the sella)and S (the approximate area of vomer)among deferent groups.Results:The L1 ,L2,and S of cleft palate patients were smaller than those of the controls(P <0. 05).Compared with the postoperative cleft cases,the S and L2 of preoperative cases were bigger(P <0.05).Conclusion:The vomer development is adversely affected by cleft palate.Not only the vomer-palate fusion is lower,but also the sutura between vomer and na-sal septum cartilage and ethmoid bone are short.And the latter is greatly influenced by surgical trauma.

Objective To estimate the significance of E-selectin and P-selectin in nodular vasculitis.Methods The EnVision two-step method was used to measure the expression of E-selectin and P-selectin in skin samples from the lesions of 70 patients with nodular vasculitis and normal skin of 24 human controls. The differences between the patients and controls in the expression of E-selectin and P-selectin and relationship between their expression levels in nodular vasculitis lesions were assessed. Results The expression of E-selectin was detected in all the specimens of nodular vasculitis, and most of the expression level was moderately intensive (++); while E-selectin was absent in all of the control specimens. All the specimens of nodular vasculitis stained postivive for P-selectin, which was strongly (+++) expressed in most of the specimens; while only 2 control specimens stained weakly positive for P-selectin. A significant difference was observed in the expression of E-selectin and P-selectin between the specimens from the patients and controls (both P< 0.01), but not among specimens from patients at different ages and between specimens from female and male patients (all P > 0.05). In addition, the expression of E-selectin and P-selectin was well correlated with each other in lesions of nodular vasculitis (P < 0.01). Conclusions The expression of E-selectin and P-selectin is correlated with each other in lesions of acute nodular vasculitis, and is associated with the development of nodular vasculitis.

Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of hepatic resection with selective hepatic vascular exclusion(SHVE). Methods SHVE was used in 246 consecutive patients undergoing major or complex liver resection in our center. Preoperative demographic and clinical data,details of the surgical procedure, pathologic diagnosis, postoperative course and complications were collected and analy zed. Results From January 2000 to July 2007, liver resections were performed IJnder SHVE in 246 patients; total SHVE, right partial SHVE and left partial SHVE in 145, 54 and 47 patients, respectively. SHVE was converted to total hepatic vascular exclusion(THVE)in 3 patients to repair the wall of inferior vena cava(IVC). Hemodynamic tolerance to SHVE was excellent, only with a slight increase in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance during clamping.There were no deaths. and the morbidity was 24.8%.The mean leyth of hospital stay was 9.6 days(range 8-18) .Conclusion Our study showed that SHVE is a safe and effective procedurei and it is applicable to liver tumors near but not invade the inferior vena cava.

BACKGROUND:During spinal degeneration process, the intervertebral disc and facet joints are interrelated and interacted to impact the normal function and stability of the spine, thereby resulting in low back pain. Moreover, there is always a controversy on the degeneration order of the intervertebral disc and facet joint. OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between lumbar facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with low back pain. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 186 patients with low back pain. The facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration at L2-S1 motion segments of each patient were evaluated. Enroled patients were divided into three age groups: < 40 years old, 40-60 years old and≥ 60 years old. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The incidence of lumbar facet joint and intervertebral disc degeneration was increased with age, and degeneration of the lumbar facet joint and intervertebral disc were the most obvious at L4-5 and L5-S1 segments. The incidence of intervertebral disc degeneration was more than that of facet joint degeneration at each segment in al age groups, except groups of < 40 years old and 40-60 years old at L2-3 segments, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was a weak correlation between facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration (χ2=100.9,P < 0.001, gamma=0.22). These findings show that the incidence of intervertebral disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration is increased with age, and there is a weak correlation between them. However, the lumbar degenerative order is stil unclear and further research is needed.

Objective To evaluate the effects of the chronic Keshan disease's self-management in Liangshan Prefecture of Sichuan Province. Methods According to "The Serf Management Program of Chronic Keshan Disease in Liangshen Prefecture of Sichuan Province", 56 chronic Keshan disease patients were selected in the personalized self-manngemant evaluation under the instructions by endemic disease specialists and the rural doctors. Evaluation was based on changes of indexes such as the clinical symptoms, general health conditions, the electrocardiogram, X-ray, the heart function, etc, before treatment and 3 and 6 months following the treatment. Results Clinical signs and symptoms of the patients were significantly improved 3 and 6 months after the treatment, and the improvement was more obvious 6 months than 3 months following the treatment(P<0.05 or< 0.01). After treatment for 3 months, the patients'electrocardingram and heart function did not show obvious change (X2=0.05,039, P0.05); hut obvious improvements Eexcept X ray results(X2=0.61 ,P0.05)] were seen 6 months after treatment (X2=4.36,16.84, P<0.05 or<0.01). Altogether, among the 56 patients evaluated after treatment for 6 months, none achieved the clinical cure standard, 26 cases(46.3%) showed significant improvement, 17 cases (30.4%) were stable, 5 cases (8.9%) were aggravated,one case (1.8%) lost contact, and 6 cases (10.6%) died. Conclusion The project of the chronic Keshan disease's self-management is suitable for the present situati,on of the endemic regions and can he introduced to many places in our country.

Objective To evaluate low-weight mesh for tension-free repair of inguinal hernia in the elders. Methods 120 old patients ( age at 60 -97 years) underwent tension-free repair of inguinal hernia by using low-weight mesh. The early complications, time of up and about, hospital stay, postoperative chronic pain,foreign body feelings and hernia recurrence were analyzed. Results The operations were successful in all cases and the average time of operation was (43 ± 12 ) min. 9 cases suffered from edema of the scrotum, 5 cases suffered urine retention, 4 cases suffered from incision hematoma. The average time of outof-bed was ( 17.4 ± 1.8 ) h, the average hospital days was ( 7.4 ± 1.9) d. However, there were 1.7%(2/120) patients suffering from slight chronic pain and 9. 1% (11/120) patients complaining foreign body feelings. There was no recurrence after follow-up for 6 to 48 months. Conclusions The clinical application of low-weight mesh for tension-free repair of inguinal hernia in old age is safe and effective, with an additional advantage of low occurrence of chronic pain and foreign body feelings.

Objective To study the value of carotid plaque magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pre-operation assessment in the elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis and explore the possibility of minimizing the contrast weightings to gain sweeptime. Methods Totally 70 elderly patients with cerebral ischemia (average age of 68.8 years) underwent carotid MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) due to the appearance of carotid plaque detected by ultrasound. Carotid plaque MRI was acquired with 3.0T MR scanner and 8 channel surface coil. The standard carotid plague MRI program included pre-and post-contrast T1 weighted imaging (T1WI), T2 weighted imaging, proton density weighted imaging and 3D time of flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA). All these program were divided into two combinations: the 5-sequence MRI (all the sequences) and 2-sequence MRI (T1WI and TOF MRA). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in coronal and lateral views of carotid artery was performed with GE Advantx LCN+. The software SPSS 13.0 was used to statistically analyze the difference between MRI and DSA, and that of two sequence combinations was used in the detection of luminal stenosis and fibrous cap (FC) rupture. Results Totally 135 arteries were analyzed while 3 arteries in one patient were excluded due to the poor quality image and stent placement. The degree of luminal stenosis were (38.3±31.0)% and (38.5±30.9)%, respectively, detected by the two MRI sequence-combination with no significant difference (t=2.447, P＞0.05) and was (35.1±31.8)% by DSA. There was a good concordance between MRI and DSA in luminal stenosis detection (Kappa value: 0.773). No statistical difference was found between two MR sequence combinations in detecting FC rupture (both in 36 vessels). DSA detected FC rupture of 16 vessels, showing remarkably difference contrast to MRI(χ2=12.0, P＜0.01). Conclusions MRI can accurately detect the luminal stenosis and FC rupture. The short time scanning resulting from sequence optimization could make MRI much more suitable than DSA to do the pre-operation assessment for senile carotid atherosclerotic patients.