Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of high density lipoprotein on the lung function of rats with severe burns.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five Wistar rats were employed in the study and were randomly divided into control (n = 15, without injury), burn (n = 60, with 30% TBSA full-thickness burn on the back) and experimental [(n = 60, with the injection of HDL (80 mg/kg) via the caudal vein immediately after burns)] groups. The rats in the latter two groups were resuscitated with intraperitoneal isotonic saline (50 ml/kg) 30 minutes after burns. The serum content of ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha as well as the blood content of PCO2 and PO2 of the rats in burn and experimental groups were determined at 12, 24, 48 and 72 post-burn hours (PBH) and in control group. The pathological changes in the lung tissue of the rats in all groups were observed under light microscope and electronic microscope at 48 PBH.

RESULTSPCO2 and the contents of ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha in burn group were significantly higher, but the PO2 was lower than those in control group at each time-point (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There were no obvious differences in the above indices between the experimental and control groups (P > 0.05), but the ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha levels in experimental group were markedly decreased than those in burn group at each time-point (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha contents in burn group at 48 PBH were (3.42 +/- 0.25) microg/L and (4. 04 +/- 0.28) ng/L, respectively, which were markedly higher than those in experimental group [(2.24 +/- 0.14) microg/L, (3.35 +/- 0.22) ng/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. Dilation of capillaries, congestion and inflammatory infiltration in the pulmonary capillaries, and loosening of conjunction between pulmonary capillary vascular endothelial cells and endothelial swelling were observed in burn group at 48 PBH. Compared with the burn group, the injury was markedly alleviated in the experiment group, and the pulmonary capillary endothelial cells showed tighter junction.

CONCLUSIONHDL exhibits a protective effect on the lung function of rats with severe burns via reducing the expression of ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha.

Animals ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Burns ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; pharmacology ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Adult ; Choriocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This short article is dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the School of Life Sciences at Zhejiang University, China. Immunotherapy of cancer is currently a hot topic in the biomedical field, and a re-search focus of my laboratory is on developing new and effective combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies for liver cancer. Of note, my interest in immunotherapy of cancer stems from the training as an undergraduate student at Hangzhou University, China, almost 40 years ago.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of chronic lead exposure on expression of autophagy-associated proteins in rat hippocampus.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group was given distilled water, lead-exposed groups were given 0.5 g/L (low-dose) or 2.0 g/L(high-dose) lead acetate solution in drinking water. The rat pups started to drink the lead content water until 60 d maturity. The lead contents in blood and brain samples were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The expressions of Beclin 1, LC3, LAMP2 and cathepsin B proteins were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the contents of lead were significantly higher in blood and hippocampus samples in chronic lead-exposed rats (P<0.01). Western blot showed that the expression of Beclin 1 and LC3-II/LC3-I increased significantly in high dose lead-exposed group compared with control group (P<0.05 or P<0.001). The confocal laser immunostaining results demonstrated that increased immunofluorescence staining of cathepsin B in hippocampal neurons compared with control animals.

CONCLUSIONThe disturbance of autophagy-lysosome signaling molecules might be partially contribute to neurotoxicity of chronic lead exposure.

Animals ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; physiology ; Beclin-1 ; Cathepsin B ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lead Poisoning ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of one dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burns.

METHODSFrom January 1997 to January 2004, sixty-seven cases of deep partial thickness total burned surface area (TBSA) from 50% to 90% burn wound were treated by a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix (the porcine acellular dermal matrix group). Ten cases of deep partial thickness burned patients with the same TBSA treated by exposure method served as the exposure method group. The healing time of the wound was observed. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years, and the scar proliferation was observed.

RESULTSThe deep partial-thickness wound would be healed without dressing change in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group, and the average healing time was (12.2 +/- 2.6) days. The average healing time of the exposure method group was (27.4 +/- 3.5) days. Follow up of the patients within 3 months to 2 years showed that scar proliferation in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group was much less than that in the exposure method group, even no scar proliferation was observed in some patients.

CONCLUSIONWithout tangential excision, autografting and dressing change, a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burn wound could shorten the healing time and inhibit scar proliferation.

Animals ; Biological Dressings ; Burns ; pathology ; therapy ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo identify the disease-causing gene in a four-generation Chinese family with 9 members affected with primary congenital lymphoedema (PCL, also known as Milroy disease).

METHODSLinkage analysis was performed with a few microsatellite markers flanking the candidate genetic loci for PCL, including 3 known genes associated with autosomal dominant PCL. For mutation analysis, VEGFR3 gene was sequenced with DNA from the proband. Direct DNA sequencing of exon 25 of the VEGFR3 gene was performed in all family members.

RESULTSThe disease gene in the family was mapped to chromosome 5q35.3 with a maximum Lod score of 2.07. Direct DNA sequencing of VEGFR3 gene revealed a heterozygous C to T transition at nucleotide 3341, resulting in p.Pro1114Leu mutation. The p.Pro1114Leu mutation co-segregated with all affected individuals in the family.

CONCLUSIONThis study identified a C3341T (p.Pro1114Leu) mutation in the VEGFR3 gene in a Chinese family with PCL, provided evidence that VEGFR3 mutation can cause PCL in Chinese.

Amino Acid Substitution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cataract ; genetics ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; Lod Score ; Lymphedema ; genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Mutation ; Point Mutation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; genetics

Objective To explore and compare the relevant regional anatomies as they relate the fron- tolateral keyhole approach under microscopy and neuroendoscopy for operations in anterior cranial base and sellar region.Methods Fifteen silieone-injected cadaveric heads were dissected to reveal and compare the extent of expesure through the transfrontolateral keyhole approach under neuroendoscopy and microscopy. Results Portions in the areas of olfactory groove,sellar region and sylvian tissure were blind under micro- scope.Endoscope could allow observation of areas considered blind under the microscope.It could increase light intensity during the approach to objects,extend viewing angles,clear depiction of details in close-up po- sitions and inspect hidden structures.But images of endoscope were two dimensional,lack of view depth.Mi- croscopy and neuroendoscopy could help each other to recuperate deficiency.Conclusion Endoscope-assis- ted neuromicrosurgery is helpful,safe and minimally invasive to treat deepseated lesions in anterior cranial base,sellar region by transfrontolateral keyhole approach.

OBJECTIVETo explore the indications and effect of surgical resection for hepatic metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma and to discuss the implications of clinicopathologic features on the prognosis.

METHODSA retrospective study of 61 patients undergoing hepatectomy for metastatic tumors from colorectal adenocarcinoma from January 1991 to December 2000 in our hospital was performed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates after hepatic resection were 72.13%, 58.10% and 26.01% respectively. Complications occurred in 8 cases. Tumor pesudomembrance was found in 20 cases. Dukes stage, pathologic type,the number of hepatic metastases and tumor pesudomembrance were all significant factors for prognosis after surgery (P< 0.05). The 3-year survival rate of the patients with postoperative comprehensive treatment was higher than that with non-postoperative treatment (P< 0.05). The size of hepatic metastases and the resecting time didn't affect the prognosis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer should be treated by a surgical approach. The earlier stage of clinical pathology,higher differentiation extent, metastases less than 3, the formation of pesudomembrance of the metastatic tumor and the postoperative comprehensive treatment predict a better survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of nipple-areola complex (NAG) involvement in stage I - II a breast cancer patients who underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and to determine the associated risk factors, to provide a theoretical basis for modified radical mastectomy preserving NAC and breast reconstruction in early stage breast cancer patients.

METHODSA total of 68 women with primary breast cancer were included in this study. The following associated risk factors of NAC involvement were assessed and compared with those of non-involvement: the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), axillary lymph node status, over-expression of HER-2/neu, location of tumor, TNM stage, abnormal nipple (nipple indentation, erosion, discharge), tumor size, age, histological type, as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), by Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe positive rate of NAG involvement was 13.2%. It decreased with an increase in the distance from the tumor site to the edge of the areola (D) (chi2 = 10.68, P <0.01)), and higher incidence of NAG involvement was found in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis (chi2 = 14. 61, P < 0.01) and over-expression of HER-2/neu (chi2 =6.83, P <0.01). Location of tumor (P <0.01), TNM stage (chi2 =3.85, P <0.05), abnormal nipple (chi2 = 11.65, P<0.01), and tumor size (chi2 =4.13, P <0.05) also had influence on the NAG involvement. No significant correlation between NAC involvement and age (P > 0.05)), histological type (chi2 = 0.07, P > 0.05)), as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) (chi2 = 0.06, P > 0.05) and progesterone receptor (PR) (chi2 = 0.04, P > 0.05) was found. Most of the NAG involvement was caused by ductal infiltration.

CONCLUSIONIn the stage I - II a breast cancer patients, location of tumor, TNM stage, the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), abnormal nipple, over-expression of HER-2 and metastases in axillary lymph nodes are the primary influential factors of NAG involvement.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammaplasty ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nipples ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden