AIM: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in pulmonary artery fibroblasts. METHODS: MMP-2 activity was measured by using gelatin zymography. TIMP-1 protein level was determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The production of MMP-2 mRNA and protein was down-regulated in pulmonary artery fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia for 24 h. Gelatin zymography also demonstrated that lower level of MMP-2 activity was induced after hypoxia. Meanwhile, hypoxia induced the up-regulation of TIMP-1 mRNA and protein in pulmonary artery fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia induces unbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-1 in pulmonary artery fibroblasts, which may contribute to the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Stromal Cells ; pathology

Objective To investigate the role of acid and bile reflux in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to evaluate the significance of detecting acid and bile reflux in diagnosing GERD in children.Methods Using ambulatory 24 h pH mo-(nitoring) and bilirubin monitoring technique, we simultaneously assessed the changes of intraesophageal pH and bile reflux in 23 subjects (including 11 healthy controls and 12 patients with GERD).Results The time of esophageal acid exposure (pH

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; complications ; pathology

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neck ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To summarize the experience on diagnosis and treatment of splenic neoplasm. Methods Clinical data of 40 patients with primary splenic space occupying lesion treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results Thirty four out of the 40 cases were diagnosed as primary splenic neoplasm preoperatively. The detectable rate of B-US was 94%, and that of CT was 96%. The discrimination rate of benignancy and malignancy by CT was 84%. Serum AKP and ?-GT were significanfiy increased in most of the malignancies. Seventeen among 22 cases with benignancy were treated by splenectomy, and the others underwent partial splenectomy or tumor resection. Sixteen of 18 patients with malignancy underwent splenectomy, and two did biopsy. Pathology revealed cysts in 13, angiocavernoma in 4, inflammatory pseudotumor in 3, caverous lymphangioma in 1, and cystic degeneration of liomyoma in 1; malignant lymphoma and lymphsarcoma in 9, hemangiosarcoma in 3, and fibrosarcoma, liomyosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 1 each. Three cases with malignancy have survived more than 5 years. Conclusions Splenic neoplasm is diagnosed mainly according to clinical manifestation and image examination. The discrimination of benignancy and malignancy depends on CT, angiography, and serous AKP and ?-GT level. Radical operation and complex treatment could improve the prognosis of splenic malignant tumor.

Objective To investigate the changes in blood coagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children of different ages undergoing open heart surgery for cyanotic congenital heart disease.Methods Sixty children with cyanotic congenital heart disease undergoing open heart surgery under CPB were divided into 3 age groups: Group A(age≤12 mort, n=25), Group B (12mon＜age≤24 mon, n= 17) and Group C (24 mon＜ age＜4 yr, n=18). Venous blood samples were taken immediately after induction of anesthesia(T1) and at 10 min after protamine administration (T2)for determination of activated coagulation time (SonACT), clot rate and platelet function (PF) using Sonoclot coagulation and platelet function analyzer-type DP2951 (Sieuco Co., USA).Results There was significant difference in SonACT, clot rate and PF at T1 among the 3 groups: the SonACT was significantly shorter in Groups B and C than in Group A, the clot rate was significantly higher in Group B than in Group C, and the PF was significantly lower in Group C than in Group A. At T2 , the SonACT was significantly prolonged in all 3 groups, the clot rate was significantly decreased in Groups A and B, and the PF was significantly decreased in Group A.Conclusion There are significant differences in blood coagulation and PF among the 3 different age groups of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease after induction of anesthesia and CPB has different effects on their blood coagulation and PF.

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of Shaoshanhuo needling method on periarthritis of shoulder.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group of 57 cases and a control group of 63 cases. The treatment group were treated with Shaoshanhuo needling method and massage combined with functional exercise of shoulder joint, and the control group were treated with warming acupuncture and moxibustion combined with massage and functional exercise of shoulder joint. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated after 2 courses.

RESULTSThe effective rate and the cured rate were 96.5% and 70.2% in the treatment group, and 88.9% and 50.8% in the control group respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups in the effective rate (P>0.05), but with a significant difference between the two groups in the cured rate (P<0.05), the treatment group being higher than the control group.

CONCLUSIONShaoshanhuo needling method has a better therapeutic effect on periarthritis of shoulder.

The research status is reviewed on taxonomic position, ecology, biological active matter and artificial cultivation of Shiraia bambusicola. Following problems are presented: whether there are new species and host specificity of Shiraia bambusicola. Since the artificial cultivation of stroma of Shiraia bambusicola has not been success, Shiraia bambusicola is in situation of emerge of itself and perish of itself so that it is not beneficial to resource protection and continual utilization of this medicinal fungus. It is pointed out that molecular biology of Shiraia bambusicola should be further researched and technology of artificial cultivation of Shiraia bambusicola should be explored in order to exploit and usage of Shiraia bambusicola.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18floro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CY(~(18)FDG PET-CT)in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis from advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods A prospective study is perfonued here to assess whether ~(18)FDG PET-CT can improve the diagnostic accuracy in lymph node metastasis for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.Thirty patients had undergone esophagectomy with extensive lymph node dissection.PET-CT findings were compared with that d CT with pathological finding as the final say.Results All patients were operated successfully without peri-operative complications.The pathological examination conformed metastasis in 22 patients and 49 out of 243 excised lymph nodes.In CT analysis,the sensitivity was 40.8%,specificity was 96.9%,with a diagnostic accuracy of 85.6%, The positive and negative predictive value was 76.9%,86.4% respectively;PET-CT resulted in a sensitivity of 93.9%,specificity of 91.2%,accuracy of 91.8%.The positive predictive value was 73.0% and negative predictive value was 98.3%,The difference of sensitivity(P＜0.001),accuracy(P＜0.05)and negative predictive value between the two radiological modalities was statistically significant(P＜0.001).Conclusions With a high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis,PET-CT appears necessary in preoperative examination for advanced esophageal carcinoma in the hope that surgical treatment be guided by the results of PET-CT,especially for the elder patients with poor pulmonary function or heart or brain complications. Moreover,it could be used as the basis of the conformal radiation therapy planning for inoperable patients.