ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the Clock T3111C and T257G gene polymorphisms and sleep epilepsy patients in Han population of Hunan province.MethodsThree hundred and eleven subjects with epilepsy ( sleep epilepsy group ( n =112 ),aperiodic group ( n =95 ),awakening epilepsy group ( n =104 ) ) and 300 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study.Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes by phenol-chloroform methods.The Clock T3111C and T257G polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).Results(1) Two genotypes(TT and TC) were detected in Clock T3111C.The frequency of Clock site T3111C genotypes in all of the people was 86.09％ (TT,526/611),13.91％(TC,85/611),0( CC),T allele gene frequency was 93.04％ (1134/1222) and C allele gene frequency was 6.96％ (85/1222).There was no significant difference in genotype and gene distribution of Clock gene T3111C polymorphism between sleep epilepsy group,aperiodic group,awakening epilepsy group and control group.(2)Two genotypes(TT and TG) were detected in Clock T257G.The frequency of Clock site T257G genotypes in all of the people was 85.92％ (TT,525/611 ),14.08％ (TG,86/611 ),0( GG),T allele gene frequency was 92.96％ (1136/1222) and G allele gene frequency was 7.04％ (86/1222).There was no significant difference in genotype and gene distribution of Clock gene T257G polymorphisms between sleep epilepsy group,aperiodic epilepsy group,awakening epilepsy group and control group.(3)There was an almost complete correspondence (complete linkage disequilibrium) of bases between the positions 257 and 3111.ConclusionClock gene T3111C and T257G polymorphisms are not associated with sleep epilepsy in Han population of Hunan province.

BACKGROUND: Following renal transplantation, native renal pelvic or ureteral tumor occurs not only on one side, but also on both sides simultaneously or continuously.OBJECTIVE: To describe a new procedure in managing native renal pelvic or ureteral tumor, in which, retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was first done followed by transurethral resection of ureteral orifice, and finally the kidney and the complete ureter with a bladder cuff were taken out through a midline abdomen incision, and to validate its feasibility.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A technique modification experiment was performed at the Department of Urinary Surgery, Third Hospital, Peking University between July 2004 and March 2006.PARTICIPANTS: Eight patients (7 males and 1 female) with native renal pelvic or ureteral tumor who received laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection were included into this study. Of them, 4 cases had bilateral lesions. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection was conducted 12 times totally.METHODS: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was first done in the lateral decubitus, followed by transurethral resection of the ureteral orifice with resectoscope in the lithotomy position, and finally, an incision was created in the lower midline abdomen to allow dissection of the distal ureter and bladder cuff and intact specimen extraction. Postoperatively, intravesical chemotherapy was routinely performed to prevent tumor recurrence. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, and once a year thereafter.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgery time, blood loss volume, pathological report, tumor recurrence time, tumor-free survival time, and complications.RESULTS: The mean surgery time was 3.8 hours (range: 2.5-7 hours). The mean hemorrhage volume was 240 mL (range: 50-1 200 mL). Two cases needed blood transfusion, 600 and 1 000 mL, respectively. Transitional cell carcinoma grade Ⅲ was found in 3 cases, grade Ⅱ in 4 cases, and grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in 4 cases. In addition, there was 1 case presenting with tumor breaking through the serous membrane of the ureter and 1 case suffering from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The tumor recurred locally in one case 6 months after surgery, and the remaining cases all survived in a tumor-free state.CONCLUSION: After renal transplantation, laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection through a lower midline abdomen incision is feasible for treatment of native renal pelvic or ureteral tumor, with low tumor recurrence rate and satisfactory excision effects.

BACKGROUND:The effects and molecular mechanism of simvastatin on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts remain unclear. Especial y, we do not know much about the effects of connexin 43.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and the regulatory effect of simvastatin on the expression of osteogenic genes and connexin 43.
METHODS:Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen and the cranium digestion method was used to culture osteoblasts. The different concentrations of simvastatin (0.062 5, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0μmol/L) were used to deal with osteoblasts. The proliferative effect of simvastatin on osteoblasts was measured with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. The effect of simvastatin on osteoblast differentiation was measured with alkaline phosphatase activities. The mRNA and protein expression of osteogenic genes and connexin 43 were measured by real time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no significant differences in absorbance values of simvastatin groups at 3 days (P>0.05). However, at 4 and 5 days, absorbance values were lower in the simvastatin groups than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, alkaline phosphatase activities of osteoblasts were greater in the simvastatin groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the effects of 0.25μmol/L simvastatin on alkaline phosphatase activities of osteoblasts were most significant. Osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase activities, type I col agen and connexin 43 mRNA and protein expressions were increased after treatment with 0.25μmol/L simvastatin (P<0.05). These results indicated that simvastatin may inhibit the proliferation and improve the differentiation of osteoblasts by upregulating the mRNA and protein expression of osteogenic genes and connexin 43. These data may provide the new intervention target for osteoporosis treated with statins.

Objective To evaluate the clinical experience of applying the combined tacrolimus (FK506) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPKT) with bladder drainage of pancreatic secretion. Methods SPKT was performed for 14 consecutive patients. On the first day after transplantation, triple immunosuppression therapy was appliedwith FK506(0.07-0. 15 mg·kg-1·d-1), MMF(1.0- 1.5 g/d) and prednisone (25 mg/d). The FKS06 blood concentration after oral administration was assayed by the means of MEIA. The occurrence of rejection and the drug toxicity were monitored and recorded. Results Nine recipients survived with the grafts and their general conditions were well. They were followed up for 18--70 months (mean 34 months). There was no early stage complication such as pancreatic fistula and thrombosis after operation. The blood glucose level returned to normal range after operation. All recipients survived over 1 year. Of them, 3 cases survived for 1-3 years,1 case survived for 3-4 years, 1 case survived 4-5 years and 4 cases survived over 5 years. All the cases had normal blood glucose level and early graft function. Removal of allograft pancreas was performed on one patient because of hyperacute rejection. There were 4 cases died. Of whom, one case was diagnosed with duodenal stump leak 45 days after transplantation and he died of corrosive hemorrhage 7 months after operation. One patient died of unexpected heart disease. The 3rd patient died ol multiple organ failure and the fourth case died of acute rejection. Four cases with acute rejection, 2 cases with renal toxicity and 1 case with hepatotoxicity were observed. Conclusions The combination of TAC/MMF has synergetic effect. The application of this combination has good immunosuppression result. It could effectively reduce the risk of acute rejection and improve graft survival in SPKT recipients.

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds interstitial implantation in treating the refractory liver cancers that show poor response to commonly used therapies. Methods A total of 40 patients with refractory clinically or pathologically-proved liver cancer were enrolled in this study, the diseases included primary liver cancer (n = 27, with coexisting portal vein cancerous thrombus in 2) and metastatic liver cancer (n = 13). CT-guided 125I seeds interstitial implantation was performed in all patients. Preoperative plan of seeds implantation protocol was formulated by using the treatment plan system (TPS); the 125I seed activity was 0.6 -0.8 mCi and the peripheral matching dose (MPD) was 100 -140 Gy. The procedure of 125I seeds interstitial implantation was performed under local anesthesia in all patients. By using percutaneous trans-hepatic puncturing and single-or multiple-needle technique, the 125I seeds were implanted along a line parallel to the long axis of the tumor and/or tumorous thrombus with an interval of 0.5 -1.0 cm. The short-term efficacy was evaluated by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST), and the median time to tumor progression (mTTP) and the median overall survival time (mOS) were calculated by Kaplan and Meier method. Results The technical success rate was 100%. The diameter of the tumor was 1.5 -12.0 cm (mean 4.0 cm), and a total of 1 748 125I seeds were implanted in 40 patients (mean 44 seeds per patient). The short-term effective rate was 37.5%(n = 15), including complete remission in 8 cases and partial remission in 7 cases, the stable disease was seen in 15 cases (37.5%), and the disease control rate was 75%. The mTTP was 7.0 months (95%CI:4.524-9.476 months), while mOS was 10 months (95%CI: 6.901 -13.099 months). The procedure-related adverse reactions included small amount of subcapsular hemorrhage (n =2, 5%), intrahepatic migration of 125I seeds (n=2, 5%), pain at liver area (n=1, 2.5%); and no special treatment was needed in these patients. One patient developed high fever with chills 3 hours after the procedure, which was relieved after symptomatic and antipyretic treatment. Conclusion For the treatment of refractory liver cancers, CT-guided 125I seeds permanent interstitial implantation, used as a remedial therapy, is safe and effective. This technique is worth popularizing in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating lung tumors. Methods A total of 33 patients with lung cancer (35 lesions in total), who were admitted to authors’ hospital during the period from May 2007 to August 2013 to receive treatment, were enrolled in this study. RFA was carried out in all patients. After RFA the patients were followed up regularly (once every 3 months) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and the adverse reaction. The deadline for the following-up was November 2013, or to the time when tumor progression occurred. Results Of the total 34 lesions in 32 patients who had received RFA and had complete follow-up data, the one-year local control rate was 85.3%. The average one-year progression-free survival rate was 75.0%, among them 15 cases with primary lung cancer had a mean one-year progression-free survival rate of 80.0% and 17 cases with metastatic lung cancer had a mean one-year progression-free survival rate of 70.6%. The overall median progression-free survival (PFS) was(18.0±1.3) months. No obvious correlation existed between PFS and age, sex, tumor size, pathological type, clinical stage (P<0.05). The main adverse reactions of RFA were pain, hydrothorax and pneumothorax; no serious life-threatening complications occurred. Conclusion RFA is a safe, effective and minimally-invasive treatment for lung cancer, regardless of early stage or late stage of the tumor.

Objective To investigate the regularity of abdominal pain and its influence factors in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) after receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods A total of 121 patients with PHC were enrolled in this study.All patients were admitted to the Department of Interventional Radiology of Zhejiang Provincial Cancer Hospital from December 2012 to June 2013,and all patients were suffered from PHC.The occurrence,duration and severity of the abdominal pain as well as the used dosage of morphine within 48 hours after TACE were documented.The results were statistically analyzed.Results A total of 96 patients (96/121,78.5％) complained of different degrees of abdominal pain after interventional therapy,and 72 patients (72/121,59.5％) showed moderate to severe pain,with the VAS score being more than 4 points.The average dosage of morphine used each time for one patient was 19.7 mg.Statistical analysis indicated that these patients were more prone to develop abdominal pain after TACE if they carried more than one of the following risk factors:age ≥60 years (when compared with patients ＜60 years,OR:0.307,P=0.008),preoperative ECOG score ＞2 (when compared with a ECOG score of 0-1,OR:0.195,P=0.006),the distance between tumor and liver capsule ＞1 cm (when compared with the distance ≤ 1 cm,OR:0.296,P=0.007),the use of THP in performing chemoembolization (when compared with other chemotherapeutic drugs,OR:0.232,P＜0.003 4).Conclusion After TACE abdominal pain is a high-frequency event.The independent factors affecting the occurrence of abdominal pain are age＜60 years,preoperative ECOG score ＞2,tumor located close to liver capsule,and the use of THP-lipiodol mixture as embolic agent.Therefore,for patients carrying moderate-high risk of abdominal pain,routine use of analgesics before TACE as well as within 12 hours after TACE to prevent the occurrence of abdominal pain is quite necessary.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 615 recipients (347 male and 268 female, age range: 9-75 years weighing 38-100 kg) who received renal transplantation in the Third Hospital of Peking University from January 2001 to July 200 to summarize the causes and experience of surgical complications after renal transplantation. Kidney of donors with brain death wa obtained using modified in situ hypothermy perfusion method, and kidney from living bodies was obtained using posterio abdominal cavity open or abdominal speculum method. After renal transplantation, the immunosuppressive therapy including FK50 or Cyclosporine A + mycophenolate mofetial or mizoribine + Prednisone was applied and regulated according to the variation o concentration in whole blood. Recipients were followed up for at 1 year. Of 615 patients, 29 cases developed surgical complication with the incidence rate of 4.72%; Graft lost in 5 cases due to surgical complications after renal transplantation. The achievement rati of operation was 99.19%.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alterations of bcl-2 gene family in the area of CA-3 in rats and the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis following traumatic brain injury. METHODS: To investigate the alterations of bcl-2 gene family in the area of CA-3 in rats and the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis following traumatic brain injury. RESULTS: The immunoreactivity of bcl-2 and bcl-x proteins decreased in the hippocampus ipsilateral impact site at 6 hours after injury, and this was the main cause of down-regulation of the value of (bcl-2+bcl-x)/ bax. During the period of 1-3 days after injury, bax protein expression increased significantly, while bcl-2 and bcl-x protein expressions decreased relatively slowly. The decreased value of (bcl-2+bcl-x)/ bax was mainly due to the bax up-regulation. CONCLUSIONS: The bcl-2 gene family is involved in neuronal apoptosis after traumatic brain injury, and the protein-expression alterations of the bcl-2 gene family members lead to apoptosis of the neuronal cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and the receptor (RAGE) of aorta pectoralis in the T2DM rats, and explore the protective mechanism of GLPs on the aorta pectoralis.

METHODSD rats were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks and then were injected STZ (30 mg x kg(-1)) to induce the type 2 diabetic rats. Once the T2DM models were set successfully, rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes model (DM) group, berberine (30 mg x kg(-1)) group, GLPs of low (GLPs-L), middle (GLPs-M) and high-dose (GLPs-H) group (GLPs were orally given 200, 400, 800 mg x kg(-1)). After 12 weeks' treatment, the content of fasting blood glucose and AGEs in serum were detected. The expressions of AGEs and RAGE in aortas pectoralis were measured both by immunohistochemistric assays and western-blot analysis.

RESULTCompared with DM group, the content of blood glucose and AGEs in serum were significantly decreased in GLPs-H group and GLPs-M group (P < 0.01). Compared with DM group, the expressions of AGEs and RAGE in aorta pectoralis were decreased in other groups, especially in GLPs-H group (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONGLPs could low blood glucose and protect aortas effectively. The mechanisms may be involved in down-regulation the expressions of AGEs and RAGE in aortal tissue.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Reishi ; chemistry