Objective To investigate the association between serum non-organ-specific autoantibodies and polycystic ovary syn-drome(PCOS).Methods A total of 69 patients with PCOS in child-bearing period treated in our hospital were selected as the study group and contemporaneous 69 healthy child-bearing year women were selected as the control group.Serum level of antinuclear anti-bodies (ANA)was measured by ELISA,serum level of anti-dsDNA was measured by colloidal gold spot infiltration assay and the extractable nuclear antigen (ENA)auto-antibodies profiles were measured by Western blot.Results Serum levels of ANA and an-ti-dsDNA antibodies in the study group were significantly elevated compared with the control group with statistical difference.Con-clusion Serum autoantibody positive exists in the patients with PCOS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects and operative options for the treatment of Forestier disease.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to May 2012, 8 patients with progressive dysphagia due to Forestier disease were treated through anterior approach, their clinical data were retrospective analyzed. There were 6 males and 2 females, aged from 65 to 83 years old with an average of 73 years. Among the patients, osteophytes removal was performed in 3 cases, osteophytes removal with discectomy and fusion was performed in 2 cases, osteophytes removal with corpectomy and fusion was performed in 3 cases. According to Bazaz dysphagia score to assess the improvement of the patients' symptoms before and after operation.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 40 months with the mean of 18.5 months. Seven cases were asymptomatic and 1 case had mild symptom in the last follow-up. Radiographs showed the space enlargement between vertebral body and trachea.

CONCLUSIONIt is effective to treat patients with progressive dysphagia due to Forestier disease through surgical method. And the operative options depend on the stability of cervical spine and the neurological symptoms of the patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Regeneration ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and safety of radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy in thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of a cohort of 147 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Seventy-one patients received traditional lymphadenectomy for the periesophageal and subcarinal lymph nodes (traditional dissection group), while 76 patients received radical lymph node dissection for the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve lymphatic chains as well as the periesophageal and subcarinal nodes (radical dissection group). The number of retrieved lymph nodes, incidence of node metastasis, the operation time, estimated blood loss, complications, morbidity and mortality were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThoracoscopic esophagectomy was completed in all patients with no conversion to thoracotomy. There were no significant differences of operational time and blood loss between the two groups [(89 ± 32) min versus (99 ± 32) min, P = 0.064; (152 ± 108) ml versus (107 ± 82) ml, P = 0.261]. In all patients, the total and average number of retrieved mediastinal nodes were 1644 and 11.2 ± 5.9/case, and the incidence of metastatic lymph nodes was 24.5%. The total and average number of retrieved mediastinal nodes were 999 and 13.6 ± 6.4/case in the radical dissection group, significantly higher than that in the traditional dissection group (645 and 9.1 ± 4.4/case) (P < 0.001). The average number of retrieved nodes and node metastasis rate in the radical dissection group were significantly higher than in the traditional dissection group (13.1 ± 6.4 versus 9.1 ± 4.4, P < 0.001; 35.5% versus 12.7%, P < 0.05). In the total group of 147 cases, the metastasis rates of periesophageal, subcarinal nodes and nodes along the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymphatic chains were 19.7%, 3.4% and 17.1%, respectively. There was thoracic lymph node metastasis in 27 cases with a metastasis rate of 35.5% in the radical dissection group, significantly higher than that in 9 cases and 12.7% in the traditional dissection group (P > 0.001). In the 1644 retrieved thoracic lymph nodes, there were 90 positive metastatic lymph nodes (metastasis ratio 5.5%). Among the 1644 lymph nodes, the metastasis ratio of periesophageal lymph nodes was 6.5%, subcarinal lymph modes 2.4% and the recurrent laryngeal nerve chain lymph nodes 7.5%. Among the 147 cases, complications occurred in 60 cases, with an overall morbidity rate of 40.8%. There were no significant differences of the incidence rates of overall complications, pulmonary complications and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic esophagectomy with radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy is technically Safe and feasible.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thoracoscopy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of recipient derived bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on immunological rejection in mouse allogeneic skin transplantation.

METHODSThe C57BL/6 to BALB/c allogeneic skin transplantation model was created. The bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated from BALB/c by gradient density centrifugation and adhesion separation. The BMSCs were injected back through tail vein. The mouse were divided into three groups as group A (BALB/c + BMSCs), group B (BALB/c with skin transplantation), and group C (BALB/c with skin transplantation + BMSCs). The pathologic examination of the graft was performed and the cytokines such as IL-2, IFN-gamma were detected at the different time.

RESULTSThe attained BMSCs in the experiment had the characteristics of BMSCs. The acute immunological rejection reaction detected by immunohistochemistry staining was alleviated noticeably in group C than that in group B. The concentrations of cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma in group B were lower than that in group C at 7 d (F = 248,954.6, P < 0.05; F = 148,311.7, P < 0.05) and 14 d (F = 117,372.3, P < 0.05; F = 126,743.3, P < 0.05) after skin transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSRecipient derived BMSCs transfusion can alleviate the acute immunological rejection after allogeneic skin transplantation. The possible mechanism maybe related to the inhibitory effect on the secretion of cytokines like IL-2, IFN-gamma.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Skin Transplantation ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

Objective To investigate the trend and related determinants of cigarette smoking on experimental smokers among undergraduate students in Changsha.Methods Stratified sampling method was adopted and 3600 undergraduate students from grade 1 to 3 in Changsha city were investigated through a self-administered questionnaire.All the experimental smokers during the last month were selected and divided into two groups based on the present smoking status.x2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to compare the differences of cigarette smoking among subpopulations and to explore the determinants.Results Among the 1550 experimental smokers of undergraduate students,the prevalence of cigarette smoking was 30.8％(95％CI:28.5-33.1).Students from the second-class(OR=2.367)or the third-class universities(OR=2.562)were more likely to adopt smoking behavior than those from top universities.Students majored in sports or arts(OR=2.456)were significantly more inclined to smoke than the liberal arts students.Students whose father were cadres(OR=1.602)were more likely to become smokers than those whose fathers were workers.Students being males(OR=7.386),having high monthly expenses(OR=1.139),with positive attitude to smoking benefits(OR=1.140)were risk factors for smoking.Number of smoking members in the family(OR=1.801)was significantly associated with the prevalence of cigarette smoking.Knowledge on diseases caused by smoking(OR=0.806)was protecting factor to smoking among the experimental smokers.Conclusion Those experimental smokers among undergraduate students might become smokers and the determinants of cigarette smoking behavior would include:ranking of universities,students' major,gender,father' s occupation,amount of pocket money,number of smoking members in the family,knowledge about smoking,the attitude to the benefit of smoking.

OBJECTIVETo compare the outcome between retrosternal and posterior mediastinal gastric tube reconstruction after three-phase esophagectomy.

METHODSA total of 107 patients who underwent three-phase esophagectomy between July 2005 and May 2009 were enrolled in this study.

RESULTSThere were 78 men and 29 women. Median age was 62.1 years. The tumor located at upper segment in 20 cases, middle segment in 69 cases and lower segment in 18 cases. There were 55 patients in the posterior mediastinal group and 52 in the retrosternal group. There were no significant differences between two groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of chest tube. Hospital stay of retrosternal group was longer as compared to posterior mediastinal group. No death occurred in both groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred more frequently in retrosternal group than that in posterior mediastinal group (26.9% vs 5.5%). Postoperative pneumonia, atelectasis and arrhythmia were not significantly different between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSAfter three-phase esophagectomy, both retrosternal and posterior mediastinal gastric tube reconstruction can be performed easily and safely. Morbidity of anastomotic leakage is higher in retrosternal reconstruction. Individualized gastric tube reconstruction should be considered.

Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Gastroenterostomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to March 2012, 260 patients with esophageal carcinoma received thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE group), while 322 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group). Operative procedures, perioperative complications, reoperation, readmission to intensive care unit (ICU), and perioperative mortality were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with OE group, TE group possessed less thoracic operative time [(105±30) min vs. (112±41) min, P=0.000], less blood loss [(95±48) ml vs. (107±44) ml, P=0.002], shorter postoperative hospital stay [(14.3±7.5) d vs. (16.9±9.5) d, P=0.000] and more lymph node harvest from thorax [(13.5±5.0) vs. (11.6±4.7), P=0.000]. The total perioperative complication rate was lower in TE group than that of OE group (34.6% vs. 45.0%, P=0.011), as well as perioperative mortality (0.8% vs. 3.4%, P=0.032). Lower rate of readmission to ICU (5.4% vs. 10.6%, P=0.024) was found in the TE group as compared to the OE group, while the reoperation rate was comparable (1.5% vs. 2.5%, P=0.425).

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic esophagectomy is advantageous than open procedure in terms of surgical safety.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Video-Assisted Surgery

BACKGROUNDThe footprint of most prostheses is designed according to Caucasian data. Total disc replacement (TDR) has been performed widely for cervical degenerative diseases in China. It is essential to analyze the match sizes of prostheses footprints and Chinese cervical anatomic dimensions in our study.

METHODSThe anatomic dimensions of the C4-C7 segments of 138 patients (age range 16-77 years) in a Chinese population were measured by computed tomography scans. We compared the footprints of the most commonly used cervical disc prostheses (Bryan: Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Prestige LP: Medtronic, Fridley, Minnesota, USA; Discover: DePuy, Raynham, MA, USA; Prodisc-C: Synthes, West Chester, PA, USA) in China with Chinese cervical anatomic dimensions and assessed the match of their size.

RESULTSThe mismatch of available dimensions of prostheses and anatomic data of cervical endplates ranged from 17.03% (C4/C5, Prestige LP, Prodisc-C) to 57.61% (C6/C7, Discover) in the anterior-posterior (AP) diameter, and 35.51% (C4/C5, Prodisc-C, Prestige LP) to 94.93% (C6/C7, Bryan) in the center mediolateral (CML) diameter. About 21.01% of endplates were larger than the largest prostheses in the AP diameter and 57.25% in the CML diameter. All available footprints of prostheses expect the Bryan with an unfixed height, can accommodate the disc height (DH), however, 36.23% of the middle DH was less than the smallest height of the prostheses. The average disc sagittal angles (DSAs) of C4-C7 junctions were 5.04°, 5.15°, and 4.13° respectively. Only the Discover brand had a built-in 7° lordotic angle, roughly matching with the DSA.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a large discrepancy between footprints of prostheses and Chinese cervical anatomic data. In recent years, possible complications of TDR related with mismatch sizes are increasing, such as subsidence, displacement, and heterotopic ossification. Manufacturers of prostheses should introduce or produce additional footprints of prostheses for Chinese TDR.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the safety and efficacy between two different surgical approaches for thoracoscopic esophagectomy including left lateral decubitus position and prone position.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2009, 88 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy were enrolled in this study. Among them, 52 patients were placed in decubitus position and 36 patients were placed in prone position.

RESULTSNo conversion to thoracotomy occurred in either group. The operative time was shorter in the prone group than that in the decubitus group (70 ± 20 min vs. 82 ± 17 min, P<0.01). Blood loss during operation was less in the prone group(100 ± 52 ml vs. 139 ± 54 ml, P<0.01). More lymph nodes were harvested from chest in the prone group(12.2 ± 6.2 vs. 8.6 ± 4.3, P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in morbidity.

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic esophagectomy in prone position is associated with better exposure of surgical filed, shorter operative time, less blood loss, and more extensive lymph node dissection as compared to decubitus position.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posture ; Prone Position ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome