Background:Tissue microarray has been increasingly used in research of malignancies. It has been revealed that TGF-β signaling pathway contributes to the tumorigenesis and progress of malignancies. Aims:To determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21,the key molecules in TGF-β signaling pathway by tissue microarray,and investigate their correlations with clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods:A total of 378 paraffin embedded tissue blocks,including 130 gastric cancer tissue and 248 para-cancer tissue from 130 patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer were obtained. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21. Results:The aberrant expression rates of Runx3,Smad4, Cdk21 and p21 in gastric cancer tissue were significantly higher than those in para-cancer tissue(67. 7% ,35. 4% , 63. 8% and 70. 0% vs. 14. 1% ,12. 5% ,18. 1% and 37. 1% ,P < 0. 05,respectively). Aberrant expression of Runx3 was closely correlated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer( P < 0. 05),while aberrant expressions of Smad4 and p21 were correlated with histological grade only(P < 0. 05);aberrant expression of Cdk2 was correlated with histological grade,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging(P < 0. 05). Pairwise correlations were seen among aberrant expressions of Runx3,Smad4 and p21 in gastric cancer,while Cdk2 was correlated with Runx3 only. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that 5-year survival rates in Runx3,Smad4 and p21 aberrant expression groups were significantly lower than those in normal expression groups(P <0. 05). Furthermore,Cox proportional hazard model indicated that Runx3 and Smad4 were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer. Conclusions:Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21 might play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer. As interactions occurred among these four proteins,whether Runx3 and Smad4 could be used for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer needs to be further studied.

AIM:Todeterminetheeffectofsalviaextractonangiogenesisofthemyocardiumintheratswith myocardial infarction (MI) and to analyze its possible mechanism .METHODS: Left coronary artery of Sprague-Dawley rats was ligated to establish a MI model .The rats were randomly divided into MI model group , 3 different dose groups of salvia (10, 20 and 40 mg? kg-1? d-1), and sham operation group.Each group consisted of 8 rats.The rats in all treat-ment groups were orally administered with the salvia extract , and the rats in MI group and sham operation group were fed with the same volume of saline .The rats were sacrificed 4 weeks later .The hemodynamic changes of the rats were deter-mined , and the segmental heart samples were used for morphological observation by hematoxylin and eosin staining , Masson staining, or electron microscopic analysis.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of dif-ferentiation 34 ( CD34 ) was analyzed according to immunohistochemistry .RESULTS: Compared with sham operation group, the morphological changes of the myocardium in MI group were disordered , part of myocardial cell outline disap-peared , and obvious fibrosis in the necrosis myocardial tissue and fuzzy or disappearing microvascular ultrastructure were al -so observed .Compared with MI group , the number of new microvessels in all the treatment groups increased obviously , and the morphological changes of the endothelial cells were relatively complete according to electron microscopy .Compared with sham operation group , the protein expression of VEGF and CD 34 in the cytoplasm of the myocardial tissues in MI group in-creased only a little .Compared with MI group , the protein expression of VEGF and CD 34 in the cytoplasm of the myocardi-al tissues in all treatment groups increased significantly ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: Salvia extract obviously promotes angiogenesis of the myocardial tissues in the rats after myocardial infarction .

Objective The aim of this study was to compare recent clinical efficacy between a novel guidance method for percutaneous pedicle screw placement and the conventional fluoroscopic method for long segments thoracolumbar vertebral fracture without nerve injury. Methods A total of 38 patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fracture in our hospital from September 2010 to December 2012 were divided into group A and group B.Eighteen patients in group A underwent 200 percutaneous pedicle screw fixation by conventional fluoroscopic meth-od.Twenty patients in group B underwent 210 percutaneous pedicle screw fixation by a novel guidance method.All the operation for 38 cases were performed by the same surgeon.The time of insertion,radiation exposure,and accuracy of the screw placement between the two groups were compared.The accuracy of screws was evaluated and graded by two consecutive postoperative CT of operation segment for two groups. Results The mean time for a single pedicle screw placement was (13.11 ±2.32)minutes in group A and (10.35 ±1.92)minutes in group B,respectively.The average radiation exposure was (8.11 ±1.15)s in group B and (13.07 ±2.06)s in group A respectively.The differ-ences were statistically significant for both screw placement and radiation exposure times (P <0.05).A total of 172 screws (86.00%)in group A and 185 screws (88.09%)in group B were perfectly located within the pedicle.The statistical difference of grade A between two groups was not significant(P >0.05).Conclusion The novel guidance system can significantly reduce the insertion time and radiation expo-sure for long segments percutaneous pedicle screw placement,which provides the same accuracy for screw placement compared with the con-ventional method.

Objective To investigate the differences of hand and foot morphology and genetic phenotypic characteristics in adults of Hui and Han nationality in Southwestern Henan.Methods The indicators of height,weight,hand and foot were measured by the morphological measurements,the hand and foot genetic phenotype classification was observed and performed the statistical analysis.Results The hand width,foot length and foot width of the Hui adult men and women in Southwestern Henan were(8.27±0.55,23.10±1.20,9.34±0.83)cm and(7.41±0.44,20.50±1.23,8.79±0.69) cm,respectively,while which of the Han adult men and women were(8.56±0.09,24.57±1.33,9.47±0.70)cm and(7.74±0.36,22.46±1.21,8.91±0.85) cm,respectively.The total number of both hands fingerprint ridge line in Hui adult men and women were(135.06 ± 19.87) and (125.50 ±20.44)respectively,and which in Han adult men and women were (144.46 ±14.08) and (129.20 ± 20.34)respectively,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The tPD,atd angle and a-b crest line number among the Hui and Han nationalities were 16.07± 6.46,(44.61±8.66)°,34.04±5.47 and 16.53±6.27,(43.19±9.52)°,36.73±4.22 respectively.And the handedness,fingernail form,thumb type,footedness,right type ratio of foot and toe length of the Hui and Han nationalities were 90.01％,38.52％,85.59％,70.47％,56.92％ and 89.33％,45.26％,70.91％,96.98％,74.89％,respectively,the difference between the Hui and Han nationalities was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The national differences and gender differences exist in the multiple indicators of hand and foot morphology,finger and palm prints,and genetic phenotype among the Hui and Han adults in Southwestern Henan.

Objective To explore the effect of astragalus extracts on adherence, migration, cell viability, microvascular formation, and eNOS expression in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of rats. Methods EPCs were cultured, isolated and identified in vitro and divided into four groups: low titer group (10-4 g/L of astragalus extracts), middle titer group (10-3 g/L of astragalus extracts), high titer group (10-2 g/L of astragalus extracts) and control group. The effects of astragalus extract on adhesion, migration or microvascular formation were observed under the inverted microscope and com?pared between all groups;Cell viability was detected by MTT assay;mRNA transcription and protein expression levels of en?dothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in EPCs were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot re?spectively. Results Compared with the control group, cell adhesion, migration and microvascular formation of EPCs all en?hanced with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=15.256, 13.633, 97.549 respectively, and P <0.05 in all cases); Cell vitality of EPCs increased with administration of astragalus extracts in a time and dose dependant manner. (F=9.755 for time and F=10.18 for dose). mRNA transcription and protein expression of eNOS in EPCs were up-reg?ulated with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=56.356 and 77.125 respectively, and P<0.05 in both cases). Conclusion Astragalus extracts play important role in angiogenesis in EPCs probably through up-regulating expressions of eNOS.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics,diagnosis,differential diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of giant neurofibroma of penis in the child.Methods The clinical data including general data,imaging data,treatment methods,pathological characteristics of a case with giant neurofibroma of penis in a child were analyzed retrospectively and the relevant literature was reviewed.Results Gross appearance of the penile shaft neurofibroma was about 9 cm × 11 cm × 15 cm,with local ulceration.Computerized tomography scan revealed a giant mass in the penile shaft,about 9.0 cm × 10.0 cm × 13.4 cm.Partial excision of the penis was performed.Postoperative appearance of the residual penile shaft was about 2 cm long.The HE staining showed spindle cells with the red dye cytoplasm,spindle or elliptic nuclei and arranged in wavy partly.Positive immunostaining was presented with S-100 protein and Vimentin.The pathologic examination revealed a neurofibroma.There was no evidence of recurrence and the penis of the boy had normal sensation and erection by follow-up in 2 years.Conclusions Neurofibroma of penis in the child is extremely rare and the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors of penis should be considered.The operative method should be individualized,the treatment goal is the complete resection;however,this goal must be weighed against detriment to functioning and the cosmetics of the involved organ.

Aim To explore the effect of protein kinase D1 (PKD1 )on adherence,migration,proliferation, microvascular formation,and eNOS expression in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)of rats.Method The EPCs were isolated from bone marrow of rats,cultured and detected,the effects of PKD1 and its specific blocking agent CID755673 on adhesion,migration,proliferation,or microvascular formation were observed,as well as mRNA and protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS ) in EPCs.Results PKD1 significantly promoted adhe-sion,migration,proliferation and microvascular forma-tion of EPCs,and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of eNOS in EPCs,according to the cell cul-ture experiments of EPCs in vitro.Conclusion PKD1 has the role of angiogenesis through regulation of EPCs,which might be dependent on eNOS.

Microarray data are often extremely asymmetric in dimensionality,such as thou-sands or even tens of thousands of genes but only a few hundreds of samples or less.Such extreme asymmetry between the dimensionality of genes and samples can lead to inaccurate diagnosis of disease in clinic.Therefore,it has been shown that selecting a small set of marker genes can lead to improved classification accu-racy.In this paper,a simple modified ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is proposed to select tumor-related marker genes,and support vector machine (SVM) is used as classifier to evaluate the performance of the extracted gene subset.Ex-perimental results on several benchmark tumor microarray datasets showed that the proposed approach produces better recognition with fewer marker genes than many other methods.It has been demonstrated that the modified ACO is a useful tool for selecting marker genes and mining high dimension data.

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics of 2 patients with mucolipidosis type Ⅲ. Methods Two sibling patients (a sister and a brother) with mucolipidosis type Ⅲ symptoms and other family members were the research objects, and the changes of their features of hand bone imaging, blood indexes [blood glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb)] and body composition were analyzed. Results Except the 2 patients, the bone morphology, blood indexes and body compositions in other 7 family members were under normal conditions. The phalanx intervals of both hands in 2 patients with mucolipidosis type Ⅲwere widened significantly, among them the thumb manifestation was more obvious; the distal segments of phalanxes in both hands became pointed and curved presenting a "claw-like hand" deformity; the metacarpal and distal carpal metaphysis were obviously enlarged, and scaphoid, lunate, trianglar, orbicular, and trapezium and trapezoid bones were loosely arranged at the wrist; the distal ends of ulna and radius were markedly enlarged. Compared to healthy people, the triglyceride levels of serum in the 2 patients were obviously reduced (the percentage of reduction: 57.14% and 41.07% respectively); body mass indexes (BMI), total fat and visceral fat were significantly lowered (BMI reduction percentage:26.81% and 14.55%, total fat reduction percentage: 38.12% and 44.95%, visceral fat reduction percentage: 62.25% and 67.74%, respectively) in the two patients. Conclusion The purpose of studying the biochemistry indexes, imaging characteristics and body compositions is to more deeply understand the clinical symptoms and signs of the 2 sibling patients with mucolipidosis type Ⅲ in a family to provide a theoretical reference.