OBJECTIVETo identify the differentially expressed genes related to lymphatic metastasis of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSSpecimens of primary lung squamous cancer tissues and regional lymph nodes were obtained from 10 patients undergoing complete surgical resection of the tumor. The samples were classified into 3 groups, namely the primary tumor with lymphatic metastasis (TxN+, n=5), primary tumor without lymphatic metastasis (TxN-, n=5) and matched tumor cells from the metastatic lymph nodes (N+, n=5). The total RNA extracted from the laser microdissected primary tumor or metastatic nodes was labeled and hybridized with the microarray containing 6 000 known human genes or ESTs. Data analysis was performed using GeneSpring(TM) 6.2 software. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of CCL20 in the specimens.

RESULTSA total of 37 genes showed differential expressions between TxN+ and TxN- tissues, among which 8 genes were upregulated and 29 were downregulated in TxN+ group. No genes, however, showed distinct differential expressions between N+ and TxN+ tissues. The expression of CCL20 was significantly higher in TxN- than in TxN+ tissues (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acquisition of the metastatic phenotype may occur early in the development of lung squamous cancer. The gene expression signature of lung squamous cell carcinoma is valuable to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regarding lymphatic metastasis of the malignancy, and may provide important clues for exploring novel therapeutic targets.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis

Objective To evaluate the running status of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province in order to further improve the supervising mechanism and raise the efficiency of defluoridation in drinking water.Methods The water-improving projects,either being normal,or intermittent,or discarded and the cause of abnormal running in 33 counties in Gansu Province were surveyed with unified standard method.Fluoride content in water was determined by F-ion selective electrode.Results 993 water improving projects covering 3389 fluorosis villages were surveyed,682 projects worked well[68.68%(682/993)]and had supplied water with normal fluoride contents to 2174 villages[64.15%(2174/3389)]and benefited 116.56 hundred thousand populations.And the rest 311[31.32%(311/993)]projects worked abnormally or supplied unqualified fluoride water.The main causes were the exceeded lasting life,insufficiency of water resources,high fluoride content in water and unqualified administration.Conclusions Most of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province are basically running normally,but about 1/3 of the projects do not function well,so the management of the projects must be improved and consummated.

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) in improving hemorheology and blood fat of mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

METHODThirty-six Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Shujiangzhi group and TYTZ groups with doses of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 g x kg(-1), with six mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary heart disease model of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. In the 8th week after the operation and administration, the changes in hemorheological parameters, serum lipid level, myocardial ischemia level and range were observed.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.01), whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s (-1) and 60 s (-1) (P < 0.01), and myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TYTZ groups revealed significant decrease in myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01), serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s(-1) and 60 s(-1) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTYTZ could improve the abnormal hemorheology in Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome, and regulate serum lipid, with a certain efficacy for coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

Animals ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mucous Membrane ; secretion ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the application of condensed Chinese version of the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) in assessment of quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease,and to provide a scientific basis in rehabilitation of the patients.Methods Four hundred and twenty seven eases of adult patients with Kashin-Back disease and 419 healthy individuals randomly selected in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in 8 counties of Gansu province were surveyed with the SF-36.The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's α coefficient and the validity through principal component factor analysis and correlation analysis,etc.The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and univariate t-test.Results The split-half reliability of all the 8 dimensions was greater than 0.6 and the Cronbach's α coefficient was greater than 0.8; the pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were greater than 0.391.SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis.The score differences of quality of life in different ages of the patients,different stages of the disease were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck Disease.

In order to investigate the feasibility of the modified chitosan-gelatin crosslinked membrane (MC-Gel) and chitosan-gelatin crosslinked membrane (CS-Gel) to be a potential biomaterial for corneal regeneration, we evaluated their physicochemical properties and intraocular biocompatibility in this study. White light transmission and permeability of these membranes were detected. Results showed that white light transmission of both membranes was above 90% at 500 nm, which was similar to that of human cornea. The glucose, tryptophan and NaCl permeability of MC-Gel membrane and CS-Gel membrane was better than or similar to those of human cornea. The methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess cell viability and proliferation. Also, interlamellar corneal transplantation was carried out to evaluate ophthalmic biocompatibility of MC-Gel membrane and CS-Gel membrane. Results indicated that MC-Gel membranes could support the proliferation of HCEC and displayed good intraocular biocompatibility when implanted into rabbits. No severe inflammatory reaction occurred after transplantation and the implanted MC-Gel membrane degraded completely 16 weeks post-operation. Due to its good physicochemical properties and biocompatibility, MC-Gel membrane could be a promising candidate material for corneal regeneration.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Cornea ; cytology ; Corneal Injuries ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Epithelium, Corneal ; cytology ; physiology ; surgery ; Gelatin ; chemistry ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; methods ; Humans ; Membranes, Artificial ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Jiangtang Xiaozhi capsule (JXC) on morphological changes of islets and liver at rat model of type 2 diabetic mellitus and provide the experimental basis for the clinical therapy of type 2 diabetic mellitus.

METHODWister rats were fed on a diet enriched in fat and glucose to induce insulin resistan, the rats were injected intrapertoneally with a low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) twice (25 mg x kg(-1)) to induce hyperglycemia, so the successful rat model of type 2 diabetes were established. The experimental rats were divided into model group, high dose JXC group, middle dose JXC group, low dose JXC group, Erjiashuanggua group, Jinqijiangtang group and normal control group. After all the treatment groups received their own medicine for two months, all the rats were sacrificed and morphological examination on their islets and livers were performed.

RESULTFatty liver in various degrees was seen in the model group and all the treatment groups, but the liver steatosis in middle and low dose JXC groups was significantly milder than that in model group (P < 0.05). Islets in the high dose JXC group were significantly more than that in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJXC can improve significantly the pathological change in islets and liver steatosis at rat model of type 2 diabetic mellitus.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

A total of 108 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 21 healthy subjects(control group), 34 non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS1 group, body mass index(BMI)<25 kg/m²], 32 obese patients with PCOS(PCOS2 group, BMI≥25 kg/m²), and 21 simple obese patients whose age and BMI matched with PCOS2(OB group). BMI, waist-hip ratio(WHR), fasting plasma glucose(FPG), postprandial 2h plasma glucose(2hPG), HbA_1C, fasting insulin(FINS), postprandial 2h insulin(2hINS), sex hormones, and lipid parameters were determined. The status of insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistant index(HOMA-IR)and insulin sensitivity index(ISI). Levels of plasma galectin-3 and interleukin-6(IL-6)were detected by ELISA. The results showed that the plasma level of galectin-3 was significantly higher in PCOS group than those in control and OB groups(all P<0.05). Moreover, the level of galectin-3 was also higher in OB group compared with control group, while galectin-3 level in PCOS2 group was higher than that in PCOS1 group(all P<0.05). After adjusted by age, BMI, and WHR, correlation analysis showed that the level of galectin-3 was positively correlated with FPG, 2hPG, FINS, HOMA-IR, highly-sensitive C-reactive protein, and IL-6, while negatively correlated with ISI. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the plasma galectin-3 concentration was independently associated with IL-6, HOMA-IR, and BMI(all P<0.05). These data suggest that plasma galectin-3 is closely associated with glucose metabolism, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 578-582)

Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the present status of water- improving delluoridation projects in the endemic fluorosis areas in Gansu Province. Methods According to "The National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control in 2004" for the water improving projects, water fluoride content was determined from fluorosis villages in 34 counties of 11 cities in Gansu Province. The fluoride content in drinking water was assessed by F-ion selective electrode. Results Water fluoride content was determined in 1576 fluorosis villages of 34 counties. Water fluoride content of 7829 water samples was determined, and the fluoride content of 1891 samples was over standard. Water fluoride content was ≤ 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 75.19%) in 1185 villages and 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 24.81%) in 391 villages; the highest water fluoride content was 6.78 mg/L Nine hundred and ninety three water-improving and defluoridation projects were determined. Water fluoride content of 867 water-improving and defluoridation projects was determined; 768 projects had water fluoride content ≤1.00 mg/L(accounting for 87.67%) and water fluoride content of 108 projects was 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 12.33%),with the highest water fluoride content being 5.27 mg/L. Water-improving and delluoridation projects mostly relied on drilling a well to obtain under-grand water. Abandoned projects accounted for 30%. Conclusions In 34 counties of 11 cites(prefecture), nearly 30% of the villages had water fluoride content exceeding the standard. The situation of endemic fluorosis control is still serious in Gausu Province, countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as soon as possible and surveillance of water-improving and defluoridation projects must be strengthened.

BACKGROUNDPatients aged over 85 years have been under-represented in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trials despite an increase in referrals for PCI. The long-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary stenting in patients aged over 85 years with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. Moreover it is unknown whether there are differences between bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES) in this special population.

METHODSA total of 80 patients with ACS aged over 85 years undergoing stenting (BMS group n = 21 vs DES group n = 59) were retrospectively studied. In-hospital, one year and overall clinical follow-up (12 - 36 months) of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including cardiac deaths, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) as well as stroke and other major bleeding were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn the entire cohort, the procedure success rate was 93.8% with TIMI-3 coronary flow post-PCI in 93.8% of the vessels and the procedure related complication was 17.5%. The incidence of in-hospital MACEs in BMS group was higher (14.3% vs 6.8%, P = 0.30). The 1-year incidence of MACEs in DES group was 7.0% while there was no MACE in the BMS group. Clinical follow-up for 12 - 36 months showed that the overall survival free from MACE was 82.9% and the incidence of MACE in the BMS group was lower (5.3% vs 21.1%, P = 0.20). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the creatinine level (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.006 - 1.020; P = 0.004) and hypertension (OR: 3.201; 95% CI: 1.000 - 10.663; P = 0.04) are two major factors affecting the long-term MACE.

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous coronary stenting in patients aged over 85 years is safe and provides good short and long-term efficacy. Patients with renal dysfunction and hypertension may have a relatively high incidence of MACE.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; pathology ; therapy ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metals ; Myocardial Infarction ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Stroke ; etiology ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study surgical strategies for ankle and foot deformities secondary to spina bifida and treatment methods for different types of deformities.

METHODSFrom January 1990 and July 2009, 107 patients with ankle and foot deformities secondary to spina bifida were retrospectively analyzed. There were 44 males and 63 females, with an average age of 17.7 years (rangd from 1.3 to 52 years). Among the patients, 58 patients had double ankle deformities, 49 patients had unilateral deformities (22 cases on the left side, 27 cases on the right). Ninety-nine patients with equinus deformities were treated by achilles tendon lengthening and tendon transfering; 25 patients with talipes were treated by release of anterior tendon of ankle and tendon transfer; 17 patients with valgus and varus deformities were treated by tendon transfer and calcaneal osteotomy; 15 patients with flail deformities were managed treated by bone fusion between calcaneus and talus and shortening of achilles tendon; 9 patients with claw toe deformities were treated by bone fusion of interphalangeal joint or Ilizarovs distraction. AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society) comprehensive scoring system was used to evaluate subjective pain and objective functional.

RESULTSSeventy-nine (127 feet) of 107 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 48 to 180 months (averaged, 64 months). According to AOFAS scoring system, the results were rated as excellent in 89 feet, good in 26 feet, moderate in 9 feet and poor in 3 feet.

CONCLUSIONTreatment strategies for ankle-foot deformities mainly included four principles, deformity correction, muscular balance, joint stability and reservation of foot elasticity. Different combined procedure was applied for different foot deformities and received good therapeutic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foot Deformities ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Dysraphism ; complications ; Young Adult