Objective To investigate the expression of Notchl and NUMB in gastric cancer and explore the relationship between two genes and clinicopathologic features. Methods The mRNA and protein expressions of Notchl and NUMB in the gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric tissues were determined by realtime PCR and Western blotting. Results The mRNA expression of Notchl in gastric cancer tissues was 1.67times that of Notchl in normal gastric tissues. The increase of the mRNA expression of Notchl was correlated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastatis of the patients ( P < 0. 05 ). The mRNA expression of NUMB in gastric cancer tissues was 0.597 times that of Notchl in normal tissues. The decrease of the mRNA expression of NUMB was correlated with tumor differentiation of the patients (P < 0.05). The expression of Notchl was negatively correlated to that of NUMB ( r = - 0.459, P < 0.05 ). The protein expression of Notchl in gastric cancer tissues was (0. 348 ±0. 133) , which was significantly higher than (0. 208 ±0. 140) in normal gastric tissues (P < 0.05 ). The protein expression of NUMB in gastric cancer tissues was (0.490 ±0.440), which was significantly lower than 0.746 ±0.390 in normal gastric tissues (P<0.05).Conclusion Up-regulation of Notchl and down-regulation of NUMB may play an important role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer.

In response to the expanding landscape of the biotechnology industry and the increasing demand for comprehensive drug development as well as the conduct of preclinical and clinical trials, there is a growing need for employment of diverse animal models, including both small and large animals. The focus of this study was on refining ex vivo culture techniques for bioluminescence imaging following administration of intradermal injections in large animals. To examine the feasibility of our approach, varying concentrations of the rFluc protein were administered to rats and live imaging was employed to validate the corresponding levels of expression. Subsequently, following administration of rFluc to mini-pigs, ex vivo analyses were performed on sample tissues to assess the levels of protein expression across different concentrations. In particular, optimal culturing conditions that facilitated the sustained expres-sion of the protein in samples post-euthanasia were identified. Moreover, by employing small animal imaging devices, we were able to capture clear images of the sample plates, which provided evidence of the successful application of our experimental techniques. The findings from this research represent a significant effort toward refining bioluminescence imaging methods tailored for use with large animal models—an imperative facet of contemporary drug development and biomedical research.

Objective To survey the biliary flora in patients with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic head cancer,also the multiple factors which affect the positive findings of bile culture in these patients.Methods The information of 65 patients with obstruetive jaundice due to pancreatic head eancer,who admitted to surgery in Huashan Hospital from Oetober 2007 to October 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.The factors which may potentially affect the detection of bile pathogen in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were studied with univarite analysis and muhivariate analysis,including age,history of biliary surgery,yellow stained time,serum alanihe aminotransferase level,serum bilirubin level,CA19-9 level,tumor size,site of obstruction,with or without clinical manifestations of biliary infection,and APACHE Ⅱ score.Results Twenty-five positive cultures happened in 65 bile samples (38.5％),including 21 strains of Gram-negative baeilli (72.4％),6 strains of Gram-positive bacteria (20.7％),and 2 strains of fungi (6.9％).Univariate analysis showed that the relevant factors which may affect the rate of positive bile culture in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were age,history of biliary surgery,biliary obstruction site,biliary tract infection symptoms and APACHE Ⅱ score.Multivariate analysis showed that age,history of biliary surgery,biliary obstruction site and APACHE Ⅱ seore were independent risk factors.Conctusion Age,history of biliary surgery,biliary obstruction site and APACHE Ⅱ score were independent risk factors which led to positive findings of bile cultures in patients with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic head cancer.

AIM:To determine whether acellular porcine cornea stroma (APCS) could support the growth of the rabbit corneal cells in vitro.METHODS: APCS was prepared. The rabbit's corneal epithelium and stromal cells were cultured and seeded on, APCS in vitro.The observation of phase contrast photograph and histological examination were performed.RESULTS: Histological examination showed the epithe- lium grew on the scaffold of APCS in 2-3 layers at 10th day. The stromal cells adhered to the surface of the scaffold after 24 hours and invaded into the interlaminar of the material at 5th day.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that APCS can support the growth and proliferation of the corneal epithelium and stromal cells in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the role of endorectal ultrasonography with coupling gel intrarectal filling in preoperative T stage of rectal cancer. Methods One hundred and fifteen patients with rectal cancer underwent endorectal ultrasonography with coupling gel intrarectal filling. The preoperative T stage according to ultrasonic manifestations was compared with histological findings. Results The total diagnostic accordance rate of preoperative T stage by endorectal ultrasonography with coupling gel intrarectal filling was 89.57%. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for T1, T2, T3 and T4 was 93.10%, 61.11%, 96.61%, 88.89%, while the specificity was 97.67%, 96.91%, 89.29%, 99.06%, respectively. The overstaging rate of ultrasonography was 6.96% (8/115), and the understaging rate was 3.48% (4/115). Conclusion Endorectal ultrasonography with coupling gel intrarectal filling is a valuable diagnostic method for T stage of rectal cancer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of the treatment on malignant obstructive jaundice by combination of percutaneous biliary stent placement and 125 I particles intraluminal implanation.Methods As a prospective study , 32 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who either have no opportunity for radical operations or unwilling to be surgically treated were enrolled to be treated with percutaneous biliary stent placement and 125 I particles intraluminal implanation.Biochemical routine tests , blood routine tests , tumor markers , coagulation function , color ultrasound , CT and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were conducted prior to the operation to obtain general information of the clinical status of the patients and the tumor and the site of obstruction.Percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage was performed first under the B -type ultrasound system.After one week , biliary stents were placed under DSA.According to the stent expansion presented by real-time DSA imaging , 125 I particles were implanted simultaneously or afterwards.Routine biochemical tests and cholangiopancreatography under DSA were conducted in one week , one month and three months after the implantation.Variance analysis was performed with repeated measurements to compare the difference of liver function indexes pre -and post-operation.Meanwhile, 125I particle displacement, falling off and stent patency were observed.After three months, the tumor size was measured by CT.Student t-test was used to compare the tumor sizes of pre-and post-operation.Results The symptoms of jaundice resolved and the general physical conditions improved in 32 patients substantially.The total bilirubin level decreased from preoperative level of (302 ±169)μmol/l to the level of (108 ±50)μmol/l at one week following the surgery , and the indirect bilirubin level decreased from preoperative level of ( 250 ±160 )μmol/l to the level of ( 85 ±43 )μmol/l at one week following the surgery(F=76.32,58.23,P<0.01).The maximal diameters of the tumors decreased from preoperative size of (3.78 ±1.14)cm to the size of (3.14 ±1.28)cm at three months following the surgery, and the minimal diameters of the tumors decreased from preoperative size of ( 2.80 ±0.88 ) cm to the size of ( 1.93 ± 1.00)cm at three months following the surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.11, 6.73,P<0.05).By using Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the average survival periods were ( 9.9 ± 0.7) months.Conclusions Percutaneous biliary stent placement and 125 I particles intraluminal implanation have definite short-term effects in prolonging survival time , stent patency time and improving the living standard of the patients.The technique is safe and simple.It only needs small incision , has no absolute contraindications and can be applied repeatedly .

Objective To study the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic factors in metastatic pancreatic tumor.Methods The clinical data of 32 patients with metastatic pancreatic tumors were retrospectively analyzed.The survival of the patients were evaluated with the KaplanMeier method.Univariate analysis was done by log-rank test.Results The primary foei of these32 patients included:9 lung cancer,6 renal cell carcinoma,5 gastric cancer,12 others.The median survival was 15.5 months in the radical surgery group (n 8),18 months in the cryosurgery group(n=3),8 months in the group with palliative bypass operation (n=9),6 months in the group with local radiotherapy (n=3),and 5 months in the group without treatment (n=9).Univariable analysis revealed the type of primary tumor,treatment of the primary tumor,interval between diagnosis of primary tumor and pancreatic metastases,localized pancreatic metastasis,and treatment of the metastatic pancreatic tumor were associated with prognosis.Conclusions Metastatic pancreatic tumors are rare.Long term survival can be achieved with pancreatic resection in a highly selected subset of patients according to the type of primary tumor.Therapeutic cryosurgery as a new minimally invasive,targeted and immunologic method needs to be further evaluated.

Objective To study the clinicopathological characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas.Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms of pancreas were retrospectively analyzed.Chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean age of the patients was 53.1 yeas (ranged from 29 to 78 y).There were 32 female (76.2％).The patients were divided into two groups according to symptoms (the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group).There were significant differences in tumor size,tumor location,operation type,operation time and adhesions with the surrounding tissues between the 2 groups of patients.The patients were then divided into three groups according to pathological type.There were significant differences in age,tumor marker,tumor location,operation type,operation time,adhesions with the surrounding tissues,operative blood loss,and postoperative hospital stay among the 3 groups of patients.There was no tumour recurrence in the patients with cystadenoma.Patients with cystadenocarcinoma developed tumor recurrence at a mean of 16.4 months (range,0-50) and died of tumor recurrence even after radical surgery at a mean of 22.9 months (range,3-58).Conclusion MCNs were seen most commonly in middleaged women.The presence of symptoms was a sign of malignancy.Resection of the tumor in the early stage is the key in dealing with MCNs.

Objective To assess the association between NOD2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and leprosy in Chinese Yi population.Methods Whole blood samples were obtained from 300 patients with leprosy and 300 healthy human controls of Yi nationality in Sichuan province.Genomic DNA was extracted,and a SNaPshot assay was performed to determine the genotypes of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NOD2 gene,including rs9302752,rs7194886,rs8057341 and rs3135499.Chi-square test was conducted to compare allele frequency,and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested.Results The genotype distribution of all the four SNPs was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (all P ＞ 0.05).Significant differences were observed between the patients with leprosy and healthy controls in both genotype distribution and allele frequency of the SNP rs3135499 (both P ＜ 0.01),but not in those of the other three SNPs (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The SNP rs3135499 of the NOD2 gene may be associated with the development of leprosy in Chinese Yi population.

Animals ; Aquaporin 4 ; metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; physiopathology ; Brain Edema ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Capillary Permeability ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology