Objective To explore whether the presence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula (JPDD) risks biliary stone disease and recurrence.Methods 829 patients undergoing ERCP in our hospital from Aug 2008 to Dec 2012 were divided into four groups:biliary stone disease (n =609) non-stone biliary abnormality (n =124) common bile duct malformation with cholelithiasis (n =38) and normal control group (n =58).There were 206 patients with JPDD and 623 patients without JPDD.Biliary stoneformation,post-ERCP pancreatitis,cannulation failure,and stone recurrence were compared between those with JPDD and those without.Results The incidence of JPDD in biliary stone disease group (27.8％) was significantly higher than in non-stone biliary anatomical abnormality group (18.5 ％) (x2 =4.512,P ＜ 0.05).In biliary stone disease group,rates of post-ERCP pancreatitis were significantly higher in JPDD cases (33.7％) compared to those without JPDD (13.8％) (x2 =30.841,P ＜ 0.05).The cannulation failure rate was also higher in patients with JPDD (15.4％) compared to JPDD negative (6.8％) (x2 =0.731,P ＜0.05).Recurrence rates in biliary stone disease were significantly higher in patients with JPDD (19.5％) when compared to JPDD-lacking individuals (9.3％) (x2 =14.51,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions JPDD is a risk factor for biliary stone formation.JPDD also is associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis,cannulation failure and biliary stone recurrence.

Objective To study the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3) in airway epithelial cells of asthmatic mouse model and its association with airway remodeling,explore the role of signal-transduction pathway in airway remodeling.Methods Thirty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10),asthma without intervention group(n=10) and AG490 intervention group(n=10).The mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish the asthmatic model.The histological changes were evaluated by HE staining,total brochial wall thickness(Wat)and smooth muscle thickness(Wam) were measured by image analysis system,the percentages of collagen deposition were detected by Masson′s trichrome staining,the expression of STAT3 in airway were detected by immunohistochemistry technique;lung tissue extracts were analyzed for phosphorylation of STAT3(p-STAT3)by Western blot.SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results 1.The histological changes including airway thickness,airway smooth cell proliferation and excessive collagen deposition in subepithelial aera were found under light microscope in asthmatic mice.2.The level of STAT3 and p-STAT3 in asthma without intervention group were significantly higher than those in normal control group(Pa

Objective To observe the effects of inhaled budesonide (BUD) in early phase on the airway inflammation in asthmatic mouse,and its effects on the IL-6/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(IL-6/STAT3 )signaling pathway in airway,explore the therapeutic target of BUD.Methods Forty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group(n=10),asthma group(n=10),BUD group(n=10) and AG490 group(n=10).The mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish the asthmatic model.The histological changes were evaluated by HE staining.The levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Lung tissue extracts were analyzed for total STAT3 and phospho-STAT3(p-STAT3) by Western blot.Results 1.The levels of inflammatory cells,EOS%, IL-4,IL-5 and IL-6 levels in the BALF in BUD group were significantly lower than those in asthma group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Inhaled corticosteroid can apparently ameliorate airway inflammation in early phase in asthmatic mouse model,and it can downregulate the expressions of IL-6 and STAT3,inhibit the signal-transduction pathway of STAT3.The IL-6 /STAT3 signaling pathway of airway may be one of the potential therapeutic targets of inhaled corticosteroid.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the effect of combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 80 cases with PSD were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine hydrochloride, whereas the treatment group received acupuncture plus auricular point sticking base on the same oral administration. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) and HRV were measured before and after treatment in both groups. Results: The individual and global scores of HAMD significantly dropped after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (all P<0.05). In the treatment group, anxiety/somatization factor, sleep disturbance, hopelessness factor, cognition factor and global score were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). The 24 h standard deviation of all normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), standard deviation of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percent of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms (PNN50) and high frequency (HF) were increased while low frequency (LF) and LF/HF decreased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). All items in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking can enhance the conventional medical treatment for HRV in patients with PSD.

The population of bacterial physiological groups in tomato with different resistant to Ralstonia solanacearum was studied. The results suggested that endophytic bacterial communities and population in tomato variety changed with different resistant cultivars, different stages of tomato and seasons. It was con-ducted that the amount of ammoniation bacteria was the highest among the seven physiological bacterial groups. There were more ammoniation bacteria in high resistant tomato cultivars than that in high suscepti-ble cultivars. It may indicate that ammoniation bacteria played a key role in the occurrence of tomato bacte-rial wilt. In addition, the total amount of physiological bacteria in resistant cultivars was more than that in susceptible cultivars in different stages of tomato, and the tendency of changing displayed fluctuation. The average level of quantities of the ammoniation bacteria, nitrifiers bacteria, erobic nitogenfixing bacteria and desulphate reducer bacteria in summer were higher than that in winter, while the population of the sulphate reduced bacteria in winter was higher than that in summer. Furthermore, the amount of anaerobic bacteria was the least among them.

The role of autophagy is known to be highly complex and context-dependent, and may be characterized as both tumor suppression and tumor promotion in some tumors, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. This review outlines recent advances in the studies of the involvement of autophagy in the development, progression and treatment of prostate cancer, focusing on autophagy modulation during androgen deprivation, with a special discussion on the regulatory effect of androgens on the autophagy of prostate cancer cells. A critical evaluation and analysis of the studies suggests that autophagy inhibition combined with androgen deprivation therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of prostate cancer.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo observe the relation between Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS) and the configuration and functions of extensor digitorum longus (EDL)and soleus (SOL).

METHODSTotally 36 ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to weight matching principle, the control group, the exhausted group, and the rhubarb group, 12 in each group. Two PDS models were established by either purgation with rhubarb diarrhea (as Group A) or exhausted swimming plus sleep deprivation (as Group B).The cross sectional area (CSA) of type I and II fibers of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL), relative proportions of type I and II fibers were measured by m-ATPase histochemical method. The isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction of EDL and SOL were detected by PowerLab system.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the body weight, body temperature, and the general health condition of PDS model rats obviously decreased; the spleen index and the thymus index were also lower; the maximal isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction obviously decreased; the cross section areas of EDL and SOL were reduced with loosely arranged cells. In EDL, the proportion of type I fibers was added and the proportion of type II fibers was lowered. In SOL, there was no change in the proportion of type I and type II fibers.

CONCLUSIONSEDL and SOL were obviously atrophied in the two PDS model mice. The type I fibers of SOL was more significantly atrophied in Group B.

Anticonvulsants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Seizures ; chemically induced

This study was conducted to investigate the wild and cultivated resource situation of Rheum tanguticum in main production area of China, estimate its reserves, and put forward the feasible approach for the sustainable utilization of R. tanguticum. On the basis of the literature data about R. tanguticum, conbined with interview, investigation and sampling investigation, the total reserve of resources is estimated using the route-quadrat method and the vegetation and soil-type map area method proposed by our research group. The results indicate that there is no obvious change between the present distribution ranges of the wild R. tanguticum and its historical records, but its population density has changed clearly. The reserve of the wild R. tanguticum has seriously declined in lots of place, even faced the exhaustion in some regions. According to the investigation, the resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is no more than 5 000 t, and the cultivated is about 1 607 t. The resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is nearly depleted, and this suggests that the wild R. tanguticum should be enrolled in the protection plant list, and the cultivated will become the main resource of Rhubarb in the future. So it is extremely neccessary to collect and protect the germplasm resource of R. tanguticum, establish the germplasm nursery and repository, and conduct breeding research on those bases.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Rheum ; growth & development