OBJECTIVETo study the effect on synthesis of nitric oxide in myocardium by local cryoablation and to investigate its mechanism.

METHODSMyocardium was cryoablated locally by a probe cooled to -60 degrees C and rewarmed by normal salt solution, nitric oxide and its synthesis enzyme were measured before and after cryoablation. L-arginine or methylene blue was added before and during cryoablation and the effect of these drugs on synthesis of nitric oxide was studied.

RESULTSNitric oxide and its synthesis enzyme decreased after cryoablation; L-arginine preserved the synthesis of nitric oxide and methylene blue inhibited the synthesis of nitric oxide. However, nitric oxide in serum did not change.

CONCLUSIONNitric oxide and its synthesis enzyme in myocardium decrease after cryoablation.

Animals ; Cryosurgery ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Translational medicine is a systemic project because it is patient and clinical problems oriented, aiming at research results application, and involves multidisciplinary cooperation. Studies on molecular events in the precancerous stage, early stage and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) are the CRC hot research topics currently. Investigations on the earliest molecular events can help to find out the markers which may improve the effect of CRC screening and predict CRC liver metastasis and prognosis. Based on the concept of micro environment, molecular targeted drugs to interfere with metastasis and invasion and new concepts of surgical resection margin and neoadjuvant therapy will gain recognition from clinicians.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Translational Medical Research

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship among HBV-associated histopathological indexes, x gene mutations and the methylation status of p16INK4A promoter in liver with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, in order to illustrate their role in p16INK4A hypermethylation and HCC progression.

METHODSTwenty-three cases of surgically resected HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and twenty-five fine needle aspiration biopsy cases of chronic hepatitis B were chosen for this study. The methylation status of the p16INK4A promoter in tumors, their corresponding peritumoral samples and chronic hepatitis B cases was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). EnVision two-step immunohistochemical staining showed the expression of viral antigens in situ. Tissue HBV DNA levels were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Polymerase chain reaction and the direct sequencing method was used for mutation analysis of HBV x gene.

RESULTSIn peritumoral samples (P = 0. 025) and chronic hepatitis B cases (P = 0.029), the expression of HBx protein in methylated groups was all significantly higher than that in unmethylated groups of p16INK4A gene. But in tumors, there was no such significant difference. Other HBV antigens including HBsAg and HBcAg, tissue HBV DNA levels and point mutations of HBV x gene did not show a relationship with the methylation status of p16INK4A gene.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that p16INK4A hypermethylation correlated closely with higher HBx expression in precancerous lesions. HBx may play an important role in the early stage of HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis via induction of hepermethylation of p16INK4A promoter.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

Refractory gelastic seizure is one of the most common clinical manifestations in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and HH is usually regarded as the epileptogenic focus. A young female patient with a small HH and refractory seizures is reported here. However, both the seizure semiology and results of electroencephalogram monitoring indicated the right temporal region was the epileptogenic focus. Thus a standard right anterior temporal lobectomy was performed while the hamartoma preserved. There was a marked improvement in both seizure frequency and quality of life during a 13-month follow-up. The outcome supported the concept that independent epileptogenic focus outside of the hypothalamus might occur in patients with HH.
Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Hamartoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study whether human neural progenitor cells can differentiate into neural cells in vivo and improve the recovery of injured spinal cord in rats.

METHODSHuman neural progenitor cells were transplanted into the injured spinal cord and the functional recovery of the rats with spinal cord contusion injury was evaluated with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale and motor evoked potentials. Additionally, the differentiation of human neural progenitor cells was shown by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSHuman neural progenitor cells developed into functional cells in the injured spinal cord and improved the recovery of injured spinal cord in both locomotor scores and electrophysiological parameters in rats.

CONCLUSIONSHuman neural progenitor cells can treat injured spinal cord, which may provide a new cell source for research of clinical application.

Objective To determine the efficient cut-off points of fasting fingertip blood glucose test for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus(DM), impaired glucose tolerance(IGT), and impaired fasting glucose(IFG)in community-based residents aged above 45 years old. Methods A cluster-randomized study was conducted from May 2008 to January 2009. A total of 3250 subjects aged above 45 years in two communities of Baoding city received questionnaire investigation and tested for fingertip blood glucose. Those subjects whose capillary blood glucose level ≥5.1 mmol/L were subjected to 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and pre- diabetes were identified by fasting plasma glucose and OGTT. In this study, the cut-off points of fasting capillary blood glucose for detecting undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes were evaluated, using receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC). Results Of 1351 subjects that having had oral glucose tolerance test, 230 cases were diagnosed as diabetes mellitus(7.3%), 166 cases(5.2%)as IFG, and 204(6.7%)as IGT under fasting capillary blood glucose as test variable and state variables according to the following criteria.(1)FPG≥7.0 mmol/L or/and 2hPG≥11.1 mmol/L(2)FPG<5.6 mmol/L (3)FPG<7.0 mmol/L and 7.8 mmol/L≤2hPG≤ 11.1 mmol/L, areas under three ROC curves were 0.905, 0.633 and 0.719, respectively. The cut-offvalues of screening for undiagnosed DM, IGT and IFG were 6.0 mmol/L, 5.7 mmol/L, and 5.7 mmol/L, respectively. When cut-off value of screening for undiagnosed DM was 6.0 mmol/L, the maximal sensitivity was 78.0% and specificity was 89.3%.But there were both lower sensitivity and specificity in screening for IFG and IGT according to the best predicting value(5.7 mmol/L)from the ROC curves(50.3% and 28.0% vs. 60.8% and 28.0%). Conclusion Fasting capillary blood glucose with the lower cut-point of 6.0 mmol/L in screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus alone, was relatively reliable, whereas for both IFG and IGT the fasting fingertip blood glucose tests were fallible. It was convenient and could be used in screening the DM at the community level.

A variety of novel 2-(1-substituted-piperidine-4-ylamino)quinazoline derivatives were prepared and their antiproliferative activities on five cancer cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay. Quinazolines 4j-4l, 5a, 5b and 5d bearing a small hydrophobic alkyl group on piperidine ring exhibited potent antitumor activities with IC50 values at micromolar level. Compound 41 displayed significant in vivo antitumor activity with 72.9% inhibition on H22 tumor growth and 80% inhibition on Lewis lung cancer growth at a dose of 200 mg x kg(-1).
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Quinazolines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the regularity of splanchnic hemodynamic changes after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for patients with portal hypertension. At the same time, effect of such changes on splenomegaly, hypersplenism, collateral circulation and the postoperative liver function was discussed.

METHODSBetween June 2002 and October 2005, 173 liver transplantations were performed. In 38 patients with portal hypertension undergoing OLT, the following parameters were measured before surgery and subsequently at 1, 3, 5, 7 days, 1, 6 months and 1, 2, 3 years after operation by using Color Doppler sonography: portal blood flow mean velocity (PBV), portal blood flow volume (PBF), hepatic artery resistance indexes (HA-RI) and spleen size. The same parameters were measured in 8 patients with acute liver failure and 20 healthy controls. Meanwhile to observe liver function and varicose vein of esophagus.

RESULTSIn cirrhotics, PBV and PBF increased immediately after transplantation [from (13.7 +/- 4.2) cm/s to (58.4 +/- 25.2) cm/s and from (958 +/- 445) ml/min to (3024 +/- 1207) ml/min respectively, P < 0.05]. HA-RI also augmented [from (0.65 +/- 0.11) to (0.74 +/- 0.12), P < 0.05]. PBV returned to normal values after 6 months, PBF returned to normal value after 2 years. Spleen size decreased significantly, but splenomegaly persisted after 3 years. In addition the esophagogastric varix ameliorated significantly.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal splanchnic hemodynamic changes for patients with portal hypertension still will long-term exist after OLT, but does not effect recovery of hypersplenism, esophagogastric varix and liver function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Artery ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Intraoperative Period ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology ; Splanchnic Circulation ; physiology ; Spleen ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and side effect of DA/HA regimen chemotherapy for the treatment of refractory and relapsed paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

METHODSEight patients with refractory and relapsed PNH were treated with DA/HA regimen chemotherapy. Three patients were treated with DA (DNR 40 mg/d, i.v.drip, the first and the second day; 20 mg/d, i.v.drip, the third day; Ara-C 100 mg/d, i.v.drip, for 5 days) and 5 patients with HA (HHT 2 - 3 mg/d, i.v.drip, for 5 days; Ara-C 100 mg/d, i.v.drip, for 5 days).

RESULTSAll the 8 patients responded well: the PNH clone was diminished in five patients. Hemolysis was remitted in 6 cases. Five patients showed improvement in hematological parameters. The dosage of corticosteroid was decreased in all of them. No serious side effect was revealed.

CONCLUSIONDA/HA regimen chemotherapy was safe and effective for refractory and relapsed PNH patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; Daunorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glycosylphosphatidylinositols ; analysis ; Harringtonines ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) combined with direct bilirubin (DB) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. METHODS: A total of 667 infants with cholestasis who were hospitalized and treated from July 2010 to December 2018 were enrolled as subjects. According to the results of intraoperative cholangiography and follow-up, they were divided into biliary atresia group with 234 infants and cholestasis group with 433 infants. The two groups were compared in terms of age of onset, sex, and serum levels of total bilirubin (TB), DB, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bile acid (TBA), and GGT. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for indices with statistical significance, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis were calculated. RESULTS: The biliary atresia group had a significantly younger age of onset than the cholestasis group (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in sex, ALT, and AST between the two groups (P>0.05), while the biliary atresia group had significantly higher serum levels of TB, DB, TBA, and GGT than the cholestasis group (P<0.05). GGT combined with DB had the highest AUC of 0.892 (95% confidence interval: 0.868-0.916) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. At the optimal cut-off values of 324.0 U/L for GGT and 115.1 μmmol/L for DB, GGT combined with DB had a sensitivity of 79.8% and a specificity of 83.2% in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. CONCLUSIONS GGT combined with DB has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of biliary atresia and can be used as an effective indicator for diagnosis of biliary atresia in infants.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biliary Atresia ; diagnosis ; Bilirubin ; Humans ; Infant ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood