Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mutation ; Paraffin Embedding ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

Objective To discover the reciprocal regulation and its molecular mechanism of estro-gen, IL-6 and IL-8 in ovarian cancer cells. Methods Based on our previous studies, the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and their respective receptors was investigated. Mean-while, the effect of IL-6/IL-8 on estrogen receptor (ER) expression and estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation was analyzed. Gene expression profile analysis revealed that CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells, which express ER, IL-6 and IL-8 receptors, were suitable models for this study. Results We found that E2 not only enhanced IL-6/IL-8 secretion via NF-κB signaling pathway, but also modulated IL-6 and IL-8 receptors expression. Tamoxifen (Txf), an ER antagonist, completely abolished E2-stimulated IL-6/IL-8 expression. On the other hand, in the absence of estrogen, both cytokines increased ERα expression, decreased ERβ ex-pression, and activated estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation, which was completely blocked by Txf. Pretreatment of OVCAR-3 with p38 MAPK, MEK1/2 or ErbB2 MAPK inhihitors, respectively, IL-6-media-ted ER activation was blocked, while IL-8-indueed ER activation was blocked by Src inhibitor. Conclusion These data suggest that estrogen, IL-6 and IL-8 may form a mutual amplifying signaling which contributes to the growth and development of ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors which influence the safety and prognosis of aorta replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 1982 to October 2002, 67 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were admitted, and 24 of them combined with CABG. Of the 24 patients, 9 received descending aorta replacement combined with CABG, and the other 15 received the ascending aorta replacement combined with CABG. The treatment results were compared with the other 43 patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement.

RESULTSThe mortality rate of the patients with aorta replacement combined with CABG was 13% (3/24). Though the descending aorta replacement combined with CABG could make the cardiopulmonary bypass time and selective cerebral perfusion time longer, (278 +/- 54) min and (188 +/- 59) min respectively, no significant difference was observed in postoperative complications, 3-year survival rate, 3-year-cardiac-event-free rate compared with the patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aorta replacement combined with CABG can be performed safely, and the revascularization for coronary artery disease is useful for preventing occurrence of cardiac events.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND:During total hip arthroplasty, placement angle of acetabular prosthesis is significant for clinical curative effects. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the abduction angle and anteversion angle of acetabular prosthesis at different positions during total hip arthroplasty and related influential factors. METHODS:Thirty-five patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty were included in this study, containing 21 males and 14 females, at the age of 51-75 years old. Thesame patient at different positions underwent X-ray examination, including standing anteroposterior pelvis radiographic imaging, standing lateral radiographic imaging and supine anteroposterior pelvis radiographic imaging. Abduction angle and anteversion angle of acetabular prosthesis were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Abduction angle and anteversion angle at standing positionwere bigger than that at supine position (48.47°, 45.89°; 12.44°, 6.17°;P< 0.05). (2) The change in anteversion angle wasassociated with pelvic incidenceangleand pelvic tiltangle. The change in abduction angle was associated with pelvic obliquity. (3) The range of abduction angle (40±10)° and anteversion angle (15±10)° of acetabular prosthesis was identified as securityzone. (4) Results suggested that there were changes in acetabular abduction angle and anteversion angle between supine anteroposterior pelvis radiographic imaging and standing anteroposterior pelvis radiographic imaging after total hip arthroplasty. Acetabular angle was associated with pelvic obliquity, pelvic incidence and pelvic tilt.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of epilepsy as a monotherapy in children.

METHODSThirty-two children with epilepsy (age ranged from 8 months to 12 years) and who had received LEV monotherapy were investigated by a self-controlled and open-label research. LEV was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg.d, and increased by 10 mg/kg.d per week till to the target dose (20-40 mg/kg.d), with a mean dose of 35 mg/kg.d.

RESULTSThirty-one patients were followed up for more than three months. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) had at least 50% reduction in seizures, 22 cases (70.9%) became seizure-free, and LEV therapy was discontinued in 5 patients (16.1%) due to either an inadequate seizure control or aggravated seizures. The therapy-related adverse events included mood and behavioral changes (6/31, 19.4%), asthenia (2/31, 6.5%), somnolence (2/31, 6.5%), and skin rashes (1/31, 3.2%). The adverse effects were spontaneously disappeared or disappeared after reducing the LEV dose.

CONCLUSIONSLEV monotherapy is effective and safe for the control of partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children with epilepsy. LEV appears to be a promising anti-epileptic drug for monotherapy in children with epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Piracetam ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Carcinoma ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Spectral Karyotyping ; methods

Objective To investigate the relationship between raf kinase inhibitor protein (SKIP), a novel metastasis suppressor gene, and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and western blot analysis were performed to examine the expression of SKIP in clinical samples of ovarian tumors and five human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Stable cell lines over-expressed or deleted of SKIP were cloned to investigate the function of SKIP in ovarian cancer cells. The recombinant plasmids expressing sense (ss) or antisense (as) SKIP cDNA or empty vector was transfected into ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 by lipofectamine. The expression level of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in ovarian cancer cells were detected by western blot analysis. Assays of cell proliferation, soft-agar colony formation, cell adhesion, and cell invasion in vitro were used to examine the malignant phenotypes of the transfected cells. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to observe the effect of SKIP on cell cycle distribution before and after transfection. Results (1 ) The expression levels of SKIP protein in ovarian carcinoma tissues from patients were found to be reduced than those in ovarian benign tumor and borderline tumor. SKOV3 clones stably expressing full-length recombinant ssRKIP, asRKIP, and their respective empty vector were obtained. (2)RKIP was able to block basal levels of MEK and ERK in ovarian cancer cells. The expression level of phosphorylation MEK in ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells were 0. 35, 0. 34; while the expression level of phosphorylation ERK in ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells were 0.48 and 0.46. (3) Abilities of cell proliferation in the ssRKIP vector-transfected cells were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells (P ＜0. 01 ). (4)Anchorage-independent growth in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells (83.7 ± 5.7, 106. 0±9. 2) were decreased compared with that in the empty vector-transfected cells (158.3 ± 14. 6, P＜ 0. 01). (5)Cell adhesion in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells [(68.3±0. 8)%, (64. 1±0. 9)%] were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells [(100. 0 ± 1.1 )%, P ＜ 0. 01]. (6) Cell invasion in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells (24 ± 5, 25±4) were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells (68 ± 5, P ＜ 0. 01 ). (7) ssRKIP cells had a significant increase in the G1 phase and decrease in the G2 + S phase. Conclusion RKIP could inhibits the metastasis, but also the growth of ovarian cancer cells.

Objective To explore the establishment of the coherent health service system for patients undergoing surgery in this region to optimize health care resources.Methods Using the Quantitative-qualitative research to investigate the conditions and needs of the regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals,and it is about two-way referral,the follow ups after discharge,remote consultation,the conditions and needs of the remote training and the knowledge to the obstacles of carrying out the regional network service.Results The doctors and nurses in the research said,it was difficult to achieve the up referral in two-way referral,and there was financing obstacles for remote consultation and training,furthermore,the effects of the remote training was uncertain.Conclusions The regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals is still weak,and we need to intensify the development of the regional network service.

Objective To analyze the cost of capsule endoscopy in diagnosing small bowel bleeding and to compare it with traditional diagnostic methods.Methods The patients suspected with small bowel bleeding were divided into group A(n=58,collected during 1998 to 2005)diagnosed with traditional processes and group B (n=93,collected during 2002 to January 2005)diagnosed with capsule endoscopy.The diagnostic yield,specific treatments,examination costs and other accumulated costs of two groups was compared.The examination cost ratio and the integration cost ratio were evaluated.The sensitivity analysis was performed.Results The diagnostic yield of small bowel bleeding in group A and group B were 22.4%(13/58) and 86%(80/93),respectively.The total of examination costs were 133 750 RMB and 790 500 RMB,respectively.The examination costs in group B(RMB 9881.3/each) was slightly lower than group A(RMB 10 288.5/each).Furthermore,as the diagnostic yield of group B was significantly higher than group A(P=0.001).The specific treatments based on the results of the diagnosis was 37.4% higher in group B(49.5%) than group A(12.1%).That means the cost of repeat- ed consultations,emergencies room visit,examinations,supporting treatments and hospitalizations in group B were significantly decreased.After the adjustment,the cost in group B(RMB 9881/patient) was lower than group A(16 361.5 RMB in one month—97 424.0 over 5 years/patient).The total cost of each patient in group A was 6480.2—87 542.7 RMB more than group B,which represented 1.7—9.9 folds increase.Conclusions The patients who suspected with small bowel bleeding and had a negative results of gastroscopy and colonoscopy were recommended to have capsule endoscopy which yields early diagnosis and less cost.

0.05).(4) Significant differences between CC and CIN Ⅰ for p16,CDH1,RASSF1A and TIMP3 genes(P