Objective To investigate the correlation between tumor metastasis with T cell subsets and cytokines in the pa tients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Ninety-seven cases of primary HCC were prospectively collected from January 2014 to January 2016 and assigned into the metastasis group (38 cases) and non-metastasis group(59 cases) according to whether suffering from metastasis.Surgical specimens were obtained from all pauents and flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4+,CD8+ T cell proportion in HCC tissue,paracancerous tissues and peripheral blood.Moreover,ELISA was adopted to detect the peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α and IFN-γ levels.Results Compared with the non-metastasis group,the CD4+ T cell proportion of HCC tissue in the metastasis group was significantly increased(P=0.02),while the CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased (P=0.015).There was no statistical difference in CD4+ T cells proportion in the paracancerous tissue between the two groups (P=0.328).However the CD8+ T cells proportion of paracancerous tissue in the metastasis group was significantly higher than that in the non-metastasis group (P=0.021).There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood of the two groups (P=0.362).The proportion of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of the metastatic group was significantly lower than that in non-metastasis group (P=0.032).When compared with non-metastasis group,the metastasis group got a decreased level of peripheral blood IL-6 (P =0.012);while the IL-10 level was significantly increased (P =0.006);the TNF-α level and IFN-γ level were significantly decreased(P=0.000,P=0.035).Conclusion The patients with primary HCC have obvious T cell subsets and cytokines imbalance.

Objective To study the expression of CD44 gene in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) tissue and the relationship with prognosis.Methods The expressions of CD44 gene in 36 specimens from 36 patients with NSCLC were determined by RT-PCR and all the patients were followed up for 3 years.Results CD44 gene was excessively expressed in 21 of 36 specimens of NSCLC tissues,excessive expression rate was 58.3%.The expression of CD44 mRNA in NSCLC tissue was related to metastasis of lymph node(?2 =9.787,P

Objective To investigate the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of ventricular outflow tract septum on the left ventricular structure and function in experimental canine.Methods Healthy experimental dogs were used for this study.RFA of the myocardium at ventricular outflow tract septum was performed.Before RFA,thoracic ultrasound examination was used to determine the width of left ventricular outflow tract,the systolic interventricular septum thickness,left ventricular ejection fraction,etc.The ultrasound examination was performed immediately after RFA to check the above indexes.Ultrasound examination was employed one and 3 months after RFA to record the above indexes of the survived dogs,and pathological examination was made.Results Among the 10 experimental dogs,successful RFA was achieved in 9,and one dog died of ventricular fibrillation.In one dog RFA was successfully accomplished,but it died of respiratory inhibition due to over-deep anesthesia.Immediate success rate of surgery was 80％,eight dogs survived to the scheduled follow-up time point.The width of left ventricular outflow tract and the systolic interventricular septum thickness determined immediately after RFA as well as one and three months after RFA in the survived dogs were significantly different from the preoperative data (P＜0.05).Histopathologically,striking microscopic changes could be observed.No obvious changes in ECG and blood pressure were seen.Conclusion The results of this study indicate that RFA of ventricular outflow tract septum in experimental dogs is safe and effective,which provides useful parameters and experimental basis for further animal experiments and clinical trials.

0.05).Conclusion The result of pulmonary function grading and symptom grading of Lung Qi Deficiency Syndrome was uniform,indicating that pulmonary fucntion grading may be as reference index for diagnosis of Lung Qi Deficiency Syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of valproate acid sodium (VPA) on gap junction intercellular communication in breast cancer Hs578T cells and explore the mechanism.

METHODSMTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of VPA on Hs578T cells, and parachute assay was used to detect the effect of VPA on dye spread of the cells. Western blotting was employed to detect the expression changes of Cx43 total protein in VPA-treated Hs578T cells. The effect of VPA on the expression of Cx43 on the surface of Hs578T cells was examined with immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSMTT assay showed no obvious cytotoxicity of VPA on Hs578T cells at the concentrations below 10 mmol/L. VPA below 5 mmol/L obviously increased the gap junction function in Hs578T cells (P<0.01), and significantly enhanced the expression of Cx43 total protein (P<0.01) and Cx43 expression on the surface of Hs578T cells (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONVPA can obviously increase the gap junction function in Hs578T cells possibly by enhancing Cx43 total protein expression and Cx43 protein expression on the surface of Hs578T cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Humans ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and experiences of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for segment Ⅶ and Ⅷ liver tumors.Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 94 patients who underwent LH for segment lⅦ or Ⅷ liver tumors in the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2010 to August 2016 were collected.The operating space for operation was built under laparoscopy.According to liver cirrhosis grading,tumor size,adjacent relationship with major blood vessels and residual liver volume,non-anatomical and anatomical hepatectomies were selected by patients.During the operation,tumors were precisely pinpointed and plane of liver resection was determined,and then proper instruments of liver partition and techniques of hepatic inflow occlusion were selected.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative recovery situations;(2) postoperative pathological examination;(3) follow-up and survival situation.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the patients' survival up to July 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (interquartile range).Survival rate was caculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative recovery situations:all 94 patients received successful operations,without perioperative death,including 73undergoing non-anatomical hepatectomy and 21 undergoing anatomical hepatectomy.Fourteen patients had conversion to open surgery and 27 received hepatic inflow occlusion.The median operation time,median volume of intraoperative blood loss and cases with intraoperative blood transfusion were respectively 187.5 minutes (75.0minutes),200 mL (200 mL) and 15.Eighteen patients had postoperative complications,including 6 with pleural effusion,6 with abdominal effusion,1 with wound infection,1 with abdominal infection,1 with venous thrombosis,1 with bleeding,1 with coagulation disorders and 1 with hepatic insufficiency.Clavien-Dindo classification of complications:11,1,5 and 1 patients were detected in grade Ⅰ,lⅡ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ,respectively.All complications were improved by symptomatic treatment.The median duration of hospital stay was 7 days (6 days).(2) Postoperative pathological examination:results of tumor pathological examination showed that 45,5,9 and 35 patients were respectively confirmed as hepatocellular carcinoma,cholangiocarcinoma,metastatic hepatic carcinoma and benign liver tumor.(3) Follow-up and survival situation:59 patients with malignant tumors were followed up for 6.0-52.0 months,with a median time of 42.6 months.Postoperative 1-and 3-year overall survival rates of 59 patients with malignant tumors were 98.3％ and 84.7％,respectively.Conclusions LH for segment Ⅶ and Ⅷ liver tumors which is conducted in experienced medical center is safe and feasible,with definite effects.Building operating space for operation under laparoscopy,determining precise positioning of the tumor and plane of liver resection,and selecting proper instruments of liver partition and techniques of hepatic inflow occlusion are the key points of successful operation.

Objective To discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of transcatheter implantation of double-ring aortic valve stent through puncturing the tip of the heart under thoracotomy.Methods A novel double-ring aortic valve stent was independently designed by the authors.Three healthy goats were selected for this study.A small incision on the left anterolateral thoracic wall was made to expose the cardiac apex,than the puncturing of the left ventricular apex was performed to establish the working pathway.Guided by fluoroscopy,along a hard guide wire a double-ring aortic valve stent was inserted through a 22-French sheath to the site above the aortic valve.By utilizing the opened outer ring of the stent,the double-ring aortic valve stent was accurately placed at the bottom of the aortic valve sinus.Then,the balloon was inflated and the stent was released to substitute the original aortic valve of the experimental goat.The experiment results were evaluated immediately after the procedure.Results Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was successfully accomplished in all the three experimental goats.DSA was performed immediately after the procedure and anatomy evaluation indicated that the position of the implanted artificial aortic valve was satisfactory,which could replace the work of original valve.Conclusion It is technically feasible and clinically effective to use this novel double-ring aortic valve stent to perform TAVI through transapical route by puncturing the left ventricular apex.

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) protein and explore the functional modulation of gap junction intercellular communication in astrocytes.

METHODSCultured neonatal SD rat astrocytes were divided into normal control group, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) group (treated with 10 µmol/L ATRA for 24 h) and oleamide group (treated with 25 µmol/L oleamide for 2 h). Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect total cellular Cx43 protein expression and Cx43 expression on the surface of the astrocytes, respectively. Parachute assay was used to evaluate the functional changes of gap junction intercellular communication of the astrocytes.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control cells, ATRA treatment resulted in a significantly increased expression of total Cx43 protein in the astrocytes (P<0.01), and oleamide significantly suppressed its expression (P<0.01). Similarly, ATRA obviously enhanced while oleamide suppressed Cx43 protein expression on the surface of the astrocytes. The gap junction intercellular communication of the astrocytes was enhanced by ATRA (P<0.01) and inhibited by oleamide (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONATRA and oleamide can modulate gap junction intercellular communication of the astrocytes possibly by regulating the expression of Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; Oleic Acids ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the effect of sodium valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. Methods Western blotting was used to assess Cx43 protein expression in breast cancer Hs578T cells exposed to doxorubicin and sodium valproate. MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin;annexin V/PI double staining and Hochest 33258 fluorescence staining were employed to detect doxorubicin-induced early and late apoptosis, respectively. Results Western blotting showed that sodium valproate significantly increased Cx43 protein expression in Hs578T cells (P<0.01). The cells exposed to both sodium valproate and doxorubicin showed significantly lowered cell viability compared with the cells exposed to doxorubicin alone (P<0.01). Exposure to both sodium valproate and doxorubicin resulted in significantly increased early and late cell apoptosis rate compared with doxorubicin treatment alone (P<0.01). Conclusion sodium valproate can significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and increase doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vitro possibly by enhancing the gap junction function.

Objective To investigate the effect of sodium valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. Methods Western blotting was used to assess Cx43 protein expression in breast cancer Hs578T cells exposed to doxorubicin and sodium valproate. MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin;annexin V/PI double staining and Hochest 33258 fluorescence staining were employed to detect doxorubicin-induced early and late apoptosis, respectively. Results Western blotting showed that sodium valproate significantly increased Cx43 protein expression in Hs578T cells (P<0.01). The cells exposed to both sodium valproate and doxorubicin showed significantly lowered cell viability compared with the cells exposed to doxorubicin alone (P<0.01). Exposure to both sodium valproate and doxorubicin resulted in significantly increased early and late cell apoptosis rate compared with doxorubicin treatment alone (P<0.01). Conclusion sodium valproate can significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and increase doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vitro possibly by enhancing the gap junction function.