Objective To investigate the value of cervical mediastinoscopy(CM) in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases.Methods From January 1990 to September 2008,281 patients with diseases in the chest were examined by cervical mediastinoscopy under local infiltration anesthesia or general anesthesia.Through the pretracheal space,exploration and biopsy of the neoplasms and lymph nodes around the trachea were carried out.Results Among the cases,pathological diagnosis were made in 268 patients(95.4%),including the 23 patients who were not clearly diagnosed before the operation.The accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis was 56.9%(41/72) for malignant tumors,and 87.4%(104/119) for benign lesions.Conclusions Cervical mediastinoscopy is an effective method to detect mediastinum diseases with or without other thoracic diseases,especially for simply enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum.For the patients with lung cancer complicated with enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum or those with tumors in the mediastinum,the method is also feasible.

Objective To investigate the effect of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell-derived Exosome on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells(MSC)into cancer-associated myofibroblasts(CAF)and the impacts of CAF on liver cancer cell proliferation,migration,and invasion. Methods The protein expression of HepG2 cell-derived Exosome was detected by Western blotting. MSCs were separated from human adipose tissue and cultured with HepG2 cell-derived Exosome(100 ng/nl)to initiate differentiation. The expressions of mesenchymal markers and several interleukins were also detected by Western blotting. HepG2 cells were co-cultured with the conditioned media(CM),in which HepG2 Exosome induced the differentiation of MSC into CAF. The expressions of epithelial and mesenchymal markers were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTS assay. Transwell chambers were used in the in vitro migration and invasion assay. Results HepG2 cell-derived particles expressed CD63,70 kilodalton heat shock proteins,and 90 kilodalton heat shock proteins. With the treatment of HepG2 cell-derived Exosome,the expressions of mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin,fibroblast activation protein α,interleukin(IL)-6,IL-8,and IL-1β were up-regulated,while vascular endothelial growth factor had no significant change. The conditioned media which HepG2 Exosome induced MSC differentiation CAF(CAF-CM)could significantly promote HepG2 cells proliferation(1.075±0.104),compared to BSA control(0.874±0.066,P=0.023)and MSC-CM(0.649±0.034,P=0.0005). CAF-CM could significantly enhance cell migration [(42.5±9.1) cells vs.(18.5±3.1) cells,P=0.001] and invasion [(29.0±3.5) cells vs.(13.1±3.7) cells,P=0.009] compared to its control group. Moreover the conditioned medium which HepG2 Exosome induced MSC to differentiate into CAF could also promote the expressions of mesenchyme-related genes Smad interacting protein 1(P=0.040),β-catenin(P=0.038),fibronectin(P=0.029),and Vimentin(P=0.013)and inhibit the expression of epithelial related genes zonula ocdudens-1(P=0.010).Conclusions Exosome extracted from HepG2 cells can induce human adipose-derived MSC to differentiate into cancer-associated myofibroblasts. CAF-like cells can promote the migration of the liver cancer cell line HepG2.

·AIM: To investigate the efficacy and security of the silicone membrane implant through observing intraocular pressure, filtering blebs and histopathologic results.·METHODS; Forty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 10 rabbits. Trabecu-lectomy and silicone membrane implantation were performed in one eye of each rabbit, while the other eye was only performed trabeculectomy as control. The change of intraocular pressure, filtering blebs were observed postoperatively. And each eye had undergone histopathologic examination.·RESULTS:The duration of low intraocular pressure and existence of filtering blebs in implanted eyes was longer than that in controlled eyes. Light microscopy revealed that patent drainage tract and biting site could be seen in silicone membrane implanted eye. The activity and regularity of fibroblast proliferation in implanted eyes and controlled eyes were similar. Excessive expression of fibroblast proliferation was not induced by silicone membrane.·CONCLUSION: Characterized by safety, effectiveness and simplicity, silicone membrane implantation can act as a new drainage surgery.KEYWORDS: silicone membrane; drainage surgery;intraocular pressure

Objective To investigate the effects of breviscapine injection on intestinal mucosal barrier damage induced by intestine ischemia-reperfusion (IIR). Methods 44 old SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham,intestine ischemia-reperfusion(IIR),EB+IIR,LN+IIR. Breviscapine injection 20 mg/(kg·d) was given intraperitoneally in EB+IIR group. L-NAME(100 mg/kg)was given intravenously 30 min before surgery in LN+IIR group. Rats were subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion consisting of 45 min of ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion;sham laparotomy served as controls. Intestine pathology was assayed by H&E staining. Concen-trations of SIgA,iNOS,eNOS and NO in intestinal mucosa,also endotoxine in plasma,were determined by ELI-SA. Results IIR induced serious intestinal mechanical and immune barrier damage ,evidenced as poor intestine pathology,depression of intestinal SIgA and eNOS levels,elevation of intestinal iNOS/NO levels. However,brevis-capine injection pretreatment could promote eNOS/NO production ,down-regulated iNOS expression ,leading to ele-vating SIgA concentration in intestine ,attenuate endotoxemia induced by IIR. The protection was canceled when application of L-NAME. Conclusion Breviscapine pretreatment attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage via promoting eNOS/NO production.

ObjectiveTo determine the possible causes for functional delayed gastric emptying (FDGE) and its diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThe clinical data of 53 FDGE patients after subtotal gastrectomy from 1987 to 2001 were retrospectively analysed. ResultsAll the 53 patients were recovered and discharged. Among them, 11 were misdiagnosised as mechanical ileus and were reoperated on. ConclusionsThe main cause of FDGE may be the disturbance of gastrointestinal motility which may be caused by vegetative nerve injury during the operation. The main therapy is non-surgical treatment and reoperation should be avoided at the early stage.

Phospholipase D(PLD) is ubiquitous in bacteria,fungi,and mammal.In pathogenic microorganisms,PLD can be pathogenic determinant and play a role in spore generation.In mammalian cells,PLD functions in several signal transduction pathways,such as membrane transportation,mitosis regulation,and actin cytoskeleton regulation.In the process of pathogens invasion host cells,both of the pathogen and host cells’ PLD will be activated and a series of cascade reaction will be generated.During this process,pathogen’s PLD can regulate the polymerization and reorganization of its own actin filaments and induce the polymerization or reorganization of the host cell actin filaments near the foci,thus to promote the phagocytosis of the pathogen by host cell.Investigating the role of PLD activation in the infection will be significance for further understanding the molecular mechanism of pathogen-host cell interaction.

Applications of network pharmacology are increasingly widespread and methods abound in the field of drug development and pharmacological research. In this study, we choose rosiglitazone compound as the object to predict the targets and to discuss the mechanism based on three kinds of prediction methods of network pharmacology. Comparison of the prediction result has identified that the three kinds of prediction methods had their own characteristics: targets and pathways predicted were not in accordance with each other. However, the calcium signaling pathway could be predicted in the three kinds of methods, which associated with diabetes and cognitive impairment caused by diabetes by bioinformatics analysis. The above conclusion indicates that the calcium signaling pathway is important in signal pathway regulation of rosiglitazone compound, which provides a clue to further explain the mechanism of the compound and also provides a reference for the selection and application of methods of network pharmacology in the actual research.
Calcium Signaling ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Computational Biology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Pharmacology ; methods ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), dexamethasone (Dex), and insulin on the mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54 in the MCF7 cell line in vitro.

METHODSMCF7 breasr cancer cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of LPS (10 and 20 µg/ml), TNFα (20 and 100 ng/ml), IL-6 (10 and 20 ng/ml), Dex (10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/L), and insulin (0.01 and 0.1 IU/L). Those treated with culture fluid only served as controls. The mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the blank con- trol, LPS (10 and 20 µg/ml), TNFα (20 and 100 ng/ml), IL-6 (10 and 20 ng/ml), Dex (10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/L), and insulin (0.01 and 0.1 IU/L) significantly increased the expressions of GPR54 mRNA (P < 0.05) and protein (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLPS, TNFα, IL-6, Dex, and insulin evidently increase the expression of GPR54 in the MCF7 cell line, indicating their influence on the function of gonads by regulating the GPR54 level.

Blotting, Western ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; MCF-7 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Kisspeptin-1 ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Objective: Our aims were to study the expression of p73 protein in giant cell tumor of bone, and to investigate its function in the carcinogenesis and development of giant cell tumor of bone. Methods: The expression of p73 was detected by using S-P immunohistochemical method in 40 cases of paraffin-embedded sections of giant cell tumor of bone. Results: The positive rate of p73 in 40 patients with giant cell tumor of bone was 30.0%,and 20.0% in osteochondroma.The difference between them was not significant(P<0.05). There was significant difference between the expression of p73 in different stages of giant cell tumor of bone(P>0.05). Conclusion: The expression of p73 in giant cell tumor of bone increased prominently in this experiment. It suggests that p73 may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of giant cell tumor of bone, and p73 may also have a certain value for the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of bone.

ObjectiveTo establish the reference value of inhibin-A in the serum of pregnant women with gestational age from 15 to 20+6 weeks in Guangdong province,and assess the efficiency of inhibin-A and quadruple test in Down syndrome screening.Methods A total of 2802 singleton pregnancies receiving triple test screening in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from March 2008 to December 2010 were included in this study.Inhibin-A was measured by automatic enzyme-linked immunosorbent chemiluminescence assay. The concentration of inhibin-A was expressed as multiples of the median (MoM),and adjusted with maternal weight and gestational age.Parameters of SURUSS were used to recalculate the risk of Down syndrome.The efficacy of single marker and combination were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under the curve. Results(1) In normal singleton pregnancies,the median concentration of inhibin-A was 286.60,267.10,249.10,243.40,242.30 and 256.60 pg/ml respectively for each week of gestational age from 15 to 20+6 weeks.The distribution of inhibin-A in each gestational week was relatively stable.The mean concentration [(852.83±370.04) pg/ml] and MoM (2.82) of inhibin-A in twelve pregnant mothers with Down syndrome fetuses were significantly higher than those without [(293.28±149.46) pg/ml (t=5.37,P＜0.05) and 1,respectively].(2) The detection rate was 83.3％ (10/12) by using the quadruple test including free human chorionic gonadotropin-β,alphafetoprotein,unconjugated estriol and inhibin-A at false positive rate of 5.8％; while when the detection rate of triple test including alpha-fetoprotein,free human chorionic gonadotropin-β and unconjugated estriol was 83.3％,the false positive rate was 7.7％.When the false positive rate was set to 5.0％,the area under the curve of inhibin-A,alpha-fetoprotein,free human chorionic gonadotropin-β and unconjugated estriol was 63.7％,20.5％,46.1％ and 4.8％,respectively,and the relative area under the curve of routine triple test and quadruple test was 45.5％ and 63.1％,respectively.ConclusionsInhibin-A is suggested to be the most effective marker used for secondtrimester screening,which could be used for second trimester Down syndrome screening in Chinese population combined with existing three markers.