Objective To investigate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in ischemic brain tissue and bran edema after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.Methods Eighty four male SD rats were randomly assigned to either a cerebral ischemia reperfusion group (n =44) or a sham-operation group (n =40). A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion for 120 minutes followed by reperfusion was induced in rats using the suture method. The infarct size was determined by 2, 3, 5-triphenyi terazoloride (TTC) staining at 6 h,24 h, 3 d, and 7 d respectively after the reperfusion. Dry-wet weight method was used to measure brain water content and evaluate the extent of brain edema. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of TNF-α in ischemic brain tissue. Results TNF-α level in ischemic brain tissue was increased at 6 h (445.8 ±91.7 pg/ml) after the reperfusion, and reached the peak at day 3 (715.5 ±121.3 pg/ml). There were significant differences compared to the sham-operation group and other time points (all P＜0.001). After that, it was decreased gradually, but it was still higher than that in the shamoperation group at day 7 (478.1 ± 145.5 pg/ml vs. 148.5 ± 101.7 pg/ml, P＜0.005). The initial change of the water content in brain tissue lagged behind the increased TNF-α. It did not increase significantly until 24 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (P ＜0.001). It reached the peak at day 3 (P ＜0.001), and it was still higher than that in the control group at day 7 (P ＜0.05). The evolution of cerebral infarct volume was in accordance with the changes of TNF-α level. Conclusions TNF-α is associated with the changes of brain edema and infarct volume,and it is harmful to brain tissue.

Objective To compare the complications of end colostomy and loop colostomy for preventive colostomy,then to evaluate which one is superior to the other.Methods Studies and relevant literatures comparing end colostomy with loop colostomy for defunctiong colostomy were searched by PubMed,Springer and Embase Library.The rates of complications were pooled and compared using a Meta analysis.The risk ratios were calculated with 95％ confidence intervals to evaluate the safety and efficacy of each teachnique.Results Six nonrandomized studies were included,with 1999 patients in total.The Meta-analysis of the non-randomied studies showed a lower risk of stoma retraction (RR:0.21,95％ CI:0.04 ～ 0.99,P =0.05) and stoma prolapse (RR:0.23,95 ％ CI:0.05 ～0.99,P =0.05) in the end colostomy group,but the higher risk of ischemia and necrosis (RR:5.08,95％ CI:1.94 ～ 13.22,P =0.05).No other statistically significant difference was observed for other complications.Conclusions Each type of defuncyioning stoma has its advantages and disadvantages.The study endorses end colostomy stoma over loop colostomy.However,there is not a strong evidence for the superiority of one colostomy over another for colostomy patients.So,large scale RCTs and high quality studies are needed.

BACKGROUND: Presently, there is not an optimal cryopreservation protocol of the microcapsules, which has restrained the application of the microcapsules. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of ice crystal and the morphology of alginate-chitosan-alginate (ACA) microcapsules cryopreserved at different solutions and different cooling rates, and to explore the optimal cryopreservationprotocol for ACA microcapsules. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An observational study was performed at the Laboratory of Cryomicroecope in Shanghai University of Science and Technology (China) from February to April in 2008. MATERIALS: The high-voltage pulsing microcapsule shaping device was used to prepare ACA microcapsules.METHODS: The ACA microcapsules were preserved at different cooling rates (1 ℃/minute, 10 ℃/minute, 30 ℃/minute and 100 ℃/minute) by the cryomicroscopy system and then rawarmed at 50 ℃/minute. The protocols were repeated after the supplement of 10% dimethyl sulphoxide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The growth of ice crystals and the morphology of ACA microcapsules were checked at different cooling rates and in different solutions. The changes of forms and the rates of damage were checked after the microcapsules were rewarmed.RESULTS: The ice crystals grew into big crystals at the freezing process when the cooling rate was low than 10 ℃/minute and cryoprotector was not used. The growth of ice crystals would result in the distortion of microcapsules. It also could reduce the cryodamage of the microcapsules. The size of the ice crystals would grow down when raising the cooling rate and using thecryoprotector. The post-thaw ACA microcapsules were intact when dimethyl sulphoxide was used at a concentration of 10% and the cooling rate was higher than 30 ℃/minute (P ＜ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mechanical damage occurs mainly during the growing of ice crystals at the time of microcapsules cryopreservation process. The growth of the ice could be restrained effectively by raising the cooling rate and using the cryoprotector.

Objective To study the changes of Young's modulus value of the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus when there was a different degree of acute renal artery stenosis.Methods 10 Japanese white rabbits were used for this study.The left renal artery was dissected.An ultrasound probe was placed on the left kidney,Young's modulus of the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus were recorded using shear wave ultrasound elastic imaging technique during three stages:when the renal artery was intact (0％ stenosis),tied with a suture (＞ 50％ stenosis),and ligated (100％ stenosis).Renal tissue elasticity with different degrees of renal artery stenosis were compared.Pathological study was carried out in the kidneys,each with either 0％,＞ 50％ or 100％ renal artery stenosis.Results The mean values of Young's modulus from the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus with different degrees of renal artery stenosis were as follows:0％ stenosis,(16.31 ±1.70) kPa,(13.38± 1.63) kPa,and (12.75±2.26) kPa;＞ 50％ stenosis,(14.16±2.34) kPa,(11.49±2.70) kPa,and (10.72±2.56) kPa;100％ stenosis,(11.35 ± 1.48) kPa,(8.39± 1.29) kPa,and (7.08 ± 1.52) kPa.The mean value of Young's modulus from the renal cortex was significantly higher than those from the renal vertebral body and sinus (P ＜ 0.05).The mean values of Young's modulus from different parts of the kidney decreased progressively with an increase in renal artery stenosis (P ＜ 0.05).The pathological study demonstrated that with the increase in the severity of renal artery stenosis,glomerular volume,renal interstitial capillary diameter and red blood cells decreased.When renal artery stenosis reached 100％,there was patch degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration within the renal interstitium,and mild degeneration of tubular epithelial cells with obscure cell borders.Conclusions The value of Young's modulus from the renal cortex was higher than those from the renal pyramid and sinus in rabbits.The values of Young's modulus from the renal cortex,pyramid and sinus decreased with an increase in the severity of renal artery stenosis,which suggest that,in the study of the elasticity of the kidney,the renal artery blood flow dynamic state can obviously affect the value of the elasticity of the kidney.

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple, rapid and economical method in detecting mutations of oncogene K-ras and to investigate its mutations in colorectal cancer tissues and its relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSForty colorectal cancer tissues were tested for K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) followed by sequence analysis. The other 113 colorectal cancer tissues were tested for K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 using PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis only. The mutation results were analyzed with the corresponding clinical pathological data.

RESULTSAmong 40 colorectal cancer cases, none of K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 was detected by PCR followed by direct sequencing. However, K-ras mutations were found in 11 cases (11/40, 27.5%) by PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis, including 8 cases at codon 12 and 3 cases at codon 13 respectively. Among 153 colorectal cancer cases, point mutations were detected by PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis in 58 cases (37.9%). Point mutations at codon 12 were found in 46 cases and 12 cases at codon 13. Mutations with the highest frequency were G→A transitions (25/58, 43.1%) at codon 12. No significant correlation was observed between mutations of K-ras and gender, invasive depth, tumor differentiation, number of invaded lymph nodes, distant metastasis and clinical stage (P > 0.05). Mutation of oncogene K-ras at codon 12 and codon 13 was closely related with age and tumor location (P < 0.05). The incidence of K-ras mutation was significantly higher in younger patients and in patients with ascending colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONSPCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis is a rapid, simple, sensitive and low-cost method. It is a suitable technology for detecting hot-spot mutations in the K-ras oncogene. Mutation of oncogene K-ras at codon 12 and codon 13 is a common molecular event in colorectal carcinogenesis, which might be related with age and tumor location.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, ras ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Circumferential resection margin(CRM) is the closest distance from the deepest of tumor invasion to the surgical margin of mesentery. It has been well known that CRM has significant impact on the prognosis and treatment of rectal cancer. However, the significance of CRM of colon cancer is just brought to the forefront recently. Current evidence showed positive rate of CRM is 10%, and the patients with positive CRM have worse survival. The factors influencing CRM include tumor stage, differentiation, vascular cancer embolus, etc. Standard surgical procedure can lower the positive rate of colon CRM, and adjuvant therapy applied to the patients with positive colon CRM can improve the survival of colon cancer patients. CRM may become a new factor guiding the treatment in colon cancer patients.
Colectomy ; methods ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Prognosis

Objective To analyze the thickness of cornea and corneal epithelium in healthy subjects by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods Totally 100 healthy subjects aged between 20 and 30 years were analyzed by OCTA technique.Using AngioVue OCTA system of retinal imaging mode,and using SSADA algorithm for imaging,the cornea and the corneal epithelium in the central corneal diameter range of 9 mm were measured.The differences of corneal and corneal epithelial thickness in different gender regions were compared.Results In the male and female group,the corneal central total thickness were (559.92 ±33.26) μm and(540.06 ±31.63)μm,and the corneal epithelial thickness were(57.78 ±4.88) μm and(56.88 ±4.57) μm,The total central corneal thickness and central corneal epithelial thickness of the male were greater than those of the female,the difference was statistically significant (t =3.06,2.10;all P ＜ 0.05).The cornea of male was the thickest at S5,S7 and SN9,there were significant differences at S5 and S7 compared with female (t =2.93,2.83;all P ＜ 0.05);The female cornea was the thickest at S5,SN7 and SN9,and the difference was significant at S5 compared with male.The cornea of male subjects was the thinnest at IT,which was statistically significant only at IT5 compared with female subjects in the same area (t =2.02,P ＜ 0.05);The cornea of female subjects was the thinnest at T5,IT7 and T9,which was statistically significant only at T5 and T9 compared with male subjects in the same region (t =2.63,2.20;all P ＜ 0.05);There was significant difference in corneal thickness between male and female at ST (t =3.1 1,2.79,2.33;all P ＜ 0.05).The corneal epithelium was the thickest at IT5,I7,and I9,and the lowest at S5,S7 and S9,and there was no significant difference compared with female in the same region (all P ＞ 0.05).The corneal epithelium of female at the IT5,T7,N9 were the thickest,SN5,S7,S9 were the thinnest;Except for M2 and SN5,there was no significant differences in corneal epithelium between male and female groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Corneal central epithelium accounted for the largest percentage of total corneal thickness,and gradually decreased from inside to outside.Conclusion OCTA can be used to measure the thickness of corneal and corneal epithelial regions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the time and postoperative binocular vision of strabismus surgery for children with intermittent exotropia (X(T)).

METHODSA retrospective investigation was conducted in 80 child patients with intermittent exotropia. Pre- and postoperative angles of deviation fixating at near (33 cm) and distant targets (6 m) were measured with the prolonged alternate cover testing. The binocular function was assessed with synoptophore. Twenty-one patients took the postoperative synoptophore exercise.

RESULTS(1) A week after surgery, 96.2% of the 80 patients had binocular normotopia, while a year after surgery, 91.3% of the 80 patients had binocular normotopia; (2) Preoperatively, 58 patients had near stereoacuity, while postoperatively, 72 patients achieved near stereoacuity (P<0.05); (3) Preoperatively, 64 patients had Grade I for the synoptophore evaluation and postoperatively, 76 patients achieved Grade I. Meanwhile, 55 patients had Grade II preoperatively and 72 achieved Grade II postoperatively. For Grade III, there were 49 patients preoperatively and 64 patients postoperatively (P<0.05); (4) Patients of 5-8 years old had a significantly better recovery rate of binocular vision than those of 9-18 years old (P<0.05); (5) Patients taking postoperative synoptophore exercise had a better binocular vision than those taking no exercise (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Strabismus surgery can help to preserve or restore the binocular vision for intermittent exotropia; (2) Receiving the surgery at young ages may develop better postoperative binocular vision; (3) The postoperative synoptophore exercise can help to restore the binocular vision.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Exotropia ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vision, Binocular

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OBJECTIVETo determine the distribution of HCV genotypes among volunteer blood donors in Guangzhou.

METHODSSix-nine HCV RNA-positive samples were collected from volunteer blood donors in Guangzhou. NS5B fragments of HCV were amplified followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTSHCV genotypes were determined for 67 samples. Among them, the subtypes 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 6a and 6n were detected at the frequencies of 37.31%, 4.48%, 7.46%, 4.48%, 44.78% and 1.49%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONHCV 1b and 6a are the most predominant two subtypes among volunteer blood donors in Guangzhou.

Blood Donors ; China ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA