OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of α3 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) on apoptosis and p38 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells and to assess the roles of α3 nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe levels of α3 nAChR mRNA and protein were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA. The mRNA level of bcl-2 and bax was measured by the real-time PCR. The siRNA transfected SH-SY5Y cells and control were then treated with 10 µmol/L Aβ25-35 for another 48 h, and the change in apoptotic rate and the levels of p-p38 and p38 were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Subsequently these SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to a blocker of p38 protein, and the apoptotic rate was measured again.

RESULTSCompared to the controls, the expression of α3 nAChR at mRNA and protein levels in the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA decreased by 95% and 86%, respectively; the mRNA levels of bax increased 2.11 times and that for bcl-2 decreased 0.53 times. The apoptotic rate was unaffected (3.40% ± 0.20%); but it increased after Aβ25-35 treatment (24.52% ± 1.59%); the level of p-p38 protein also increased by 178% in the α3 nAChR inhibited cells treated with Aβ25-35. Compared to controls, the Aβ25-35-treated SH-SY5Y cells and the Aβ25-35-treated and siRNA-transfected cells both showed a reduction in apoptosis after treatment with p38 blocker, especially in the former.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA silencing of α3 nAChR mRNA may enhance the effect of Aβ25-35 on the cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of p38 protein and bax mRNA and decreasing the level of bcl-2 mRNA, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; etiology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVELow-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been reported to enhance proliferation and to alter protein production in various kinds of cells. In the present study, we measured the neurites length after LIPUS treatment to define the effectiveness of LIPUS stimulation on neurons, and then we examined the acticity of GSK-3beta to study the intracellular mechanism of neurite's outgrowth.

METHODSLIPUS was applied to cultured primary rat cortical neurons for 5 minutes every day with spatial- and temporal average intensities (SATA) of 10 mW/cm(2), a pulse width of 200 microseconds, a repetition rate of 1.5 KHz, and an operation frequency of 1 MHz. Neurons were photographed on the third day after LIPUS treatment and harvested at third, seventh, and tenth days for immunoblot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis.

RESULTSMorphology change showed that neurite extension was enhanced by LIPUS. There was also a remarkable decrease of proteins, including p-Akt, p-GSK-3beta, and p-CRMP-2, observed on the seventh and tenth days, and of GSK-3beta mRNA expression, observed on the seventh day, in neurons treated with LIPUS.

CONCLUSIONLIPUS can enhance elongation of neurites and it is possible through the decreased expression of GSK-3beta.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Primers ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Neurites ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ultrasonics

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of blindness among people over 65 in developed countries.With the rapidity of population aging process,the prevalence of AMD will be further increased.The application of anti-vascular endothelial factor growth medicine in ophthalmology has made great progress in the therapeutic effect and prognosis of wet AMD.In this context,many countries and regions have successively formulated guidelines for the AMD clinical diagnosis and treatment,especially the United States,Europe and Australia.Through the analysis of AMD clinical guidelines of American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in 2015,and by comparing it with AMD analysis and treatment guidelines of European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) in 2014,this paper provides an accurate,effective and comprehensive diagnosis strategy and lays a foundation for providing AMD patients with quality diagnosis and treatment plans.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility, safety and oncological effect of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG).

METHODSThe clinical data of TLTG cases and open total gastrectomy (OTG) patients between November 2007 and October 2011 were analyzed. Also compared the feasibility, safety and short-term outcomes of TLTG with OTG.

RESULTSNinty cases were analyzed. There were 18 cases in the TLTG group and 72 cases in the OTG group. Operation time was significantly longer in the TLTG group ((310 ± 86) minutes) than in the OTG group ((256 ± 57) min, t = 4.963, P = 0.002), However, the blood loss were significantly lower in the TLTG group ((136 ± 84) ml vs. (359 ± 141) ml, t = -11.734, P = 0.000). The post operative morbidity was similar between the TLTG and OTG group. First flatus time (t = -7.020), first diet time (t = -6.166 and -5.698), and post operative hospital stay (t = -4.610) were significantly shorter in the TLTG group than in the OTG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLTG is a safe and feasible procedure with quick post-operation recovery. The laparoscopic side-to-side esophagojejunal anastomosis is a safe and feasible method of alimentary reconstruction after laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prognostic factors of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN).

METHODSClinical data of 61 patients with PNEN from March 1992 to December 2012 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 23 male and 38 female patients, with a median age of 52 years (ranged from 22 to 68 years). Forty-one patients were non-functional tumors, and 20 patients were functional tumors. Fifty-nine patients received operation, 13 (22.0%) patients underwent laparoscopic operation, 2 patients underwent puncture biopsy under CT guidance. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSAmong these patients, 53 (86.9%) patients underwent curative resection. The cases of grade G1, G2, G3 were 41 (67.2%), 9 (14.8%), 11 (18.0%), respectively. The cases of stageI, II, III, IV were 47 (77.0%), 7 (11.5%), 2 (3.3%), 5 (8.2%), respectively. Liver metastasis, neural invasion were found in 5 cases (8.2%), 5 cases (8.2%), respectively. The median follow-up period was 40 months (ranged from 3 to 209 months). The overall 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 92.0%, 89.7%, 86.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed WHO classification (χ(2) = 18.503), TNM staging system (χ(2) = 23.401), liver metastasis (χ(2) = 18.606), neural invasion (χ(2) = 10.091), resection status (χ(2) = 25.514) were prognostic factors of PNEN (all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSSurgical resection in PNEN results in long-term survival. WHO classification, TNM staging, resection status are effective in predicting the prognosis of PNEN. Liver metastasis, neural invasion predicted poor prognosis.

Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo compare the safety and efficacy of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer by meta-analysis.

METHODSThe literature on comparative studies of TLDG and LADG up to June 2014 were extensively retrieved from database PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Biosis Previews. The operation time, blood loss, time to flatus, time to first oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity, times of analgestic requirement, pain score, and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day 1 and 7 were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed with RevMan 5.1 software.

RESULTSSeven studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. A total of 1783 Patients were included for meta-analysis, among whom 727 cases underwent TLDG and 1056 underwent LADG. Comparing with LADG, TLDG experienced less blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD)=22.86 ml，95% confidence interval (CI): 12.0-33.72, P<0.01)], less times of analgesic requirement (WMD=0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.81, P< 0.01)，less pain score on postoperative day 1 and day 3 (day1: WMD=0.60, 95% CI: 0.20-0.99, P < 0.01; day3: WMD=0.36, 95% CI: 0.24-0.48, P < 0.01), earlier beginning to take diet (WMD=0.66, 95% CI: 0.13-1.19, P=0.01). The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, overall morbidity and anastomosis-related morbidity, and the level of CRP on postoperative day 1 and 7 were similar between two groups (Ps>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTLDG is a safe and feasible procedure with less blood loss, less pain, and quicker recovery than those of LADG.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective: To examine the clinical effect of minimally invasive duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection(DPPHR) for benign and pre-malignant lesions of pancreatic head. Methods: The clinical data of patients with diagnosis of benign or pre-malignant pancreatic head tumor were retrospectively collected and analyzed,all of them underwent laparoscopic or robotic DPPHR between October 2015 and September 2021 at Division of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic surgery,Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital. Thirty-three patients were enrolled with 10 males and 23 females. The age(M(IQR)) was 54(32) years old(range: 11 to 77 years old) and the body mass index was 21.9(2.9)kg/m²(range: 18.1 to 30.1 kg/m²). The presenting symptoms included abdominal pain(n=12), Whipple triad(n=2), and asymptomatic(n=19). There were 7 patients with hypertension and 1 patient with diabetes mellitus. There were 19 patients who were diagnosed as American Society of Anesthesiologists class Ⅰ and 14 patients who were diagnosed as class Ⅱ. The student t test,U test, χ² test or Fisher exact test was used to compare continuous data or categorized data,respectively. All the perioperative data and metabolic morbidity were analyzed and experiences on minimally invasive DPPHR were concluded. Results: Fourteen patients underwent laparoscopic DPPHR,while the rest of 19 patients received robotic DPPHR. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging was used in 19 patients to guide operation. Five patients were performed pancreatico-gastrostomy and the rest 28 patients underwent pancreaticojejunostomy. Pathological outcomes confirmed 9 solid pseudo-papillary neoplasms, 9 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 7 serous cystic neoplasms, 6 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, 1 mucous cystic neoplasm, 1 chronic pancreatitis. The operative time was (309.4±50.3) minutes(range:180 to 420 minutes),and the blood loss was (97.9±48.3)ml(range:20 to 200 ml). Eighteen patients suffered from postoperative complications,including 3 patients experienced severe complications(Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥Ⅲ). Pancreatic fistula occurred in 16 patients,including 8 patients with biochemical leak,7 patients with grade B pancreatic fistula and 1 patient with grade C pancreatic fistula. No one suffered from the duodenal necrosis and none perioperative death was occurred. The length of hospital stay was 14(7) days (range:6 to 87 days). The follow-up was 22.6(24.5)months(range:2 to 74 months). None suffered from recurrence or metastasis. During the follow-up,all the patients were free of refractory cholangitis. Moreover,in the term of endocrine dysfunction,no postoperative new onset of diabetes mellitus were observed in the long-term follow-up. However,in the view of exocrine insufficiency,pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was complicated in 2 and 1 patient,respectively,with the supplement of pancreatic enzyme,steatorrhea and weight loss relieved,but NAFLD was awaited to be seen. Conclusions: Minimally invasive DPPHR is feasible and safe for benign or pre-malignant lesions of pancreatic head. Moreover,it is oncological equivalent to pancreaticoduodenectomy with preservation of metabolic function without refractory cholangitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Duodenum/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/surgery* ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult