The cyclic voltammetric behaviors of sodium selenite on the gold electrode modified by L-cysteine self-assembled monolayer (L-Syc,Au/SAMs) has been investigated in 0.05 mol/L H_2SO_4 solutions with sodium selenite. Sensitive anodic stripping current of selenium (Se) with the peak potential at 0.99 V (vs. SCE) has been observed. In comparison with the electrochemical properties of sodium selenite on the modified electrode with those on the naked gold electrode, it was found that selenite was reduced to selenium by the redox interaction with sulfur on the monolayer and the monolayer catalytically oxidizes Se as the electrode was positively scanned. According to the electrochemical properties of sodium selenite both on the naked and modified gold electrode, the Se deposition mechanism and catalytic mechanism as well as bionic membrane model were proposed for the bio-utilization of selenite through nano scale selenium.

Objective: We examined the cause、level of pathology、onset of symptoms、time taken to treatment and outcome of 14 patients with cauda equina syndrome(CES) to determine how these factors influenced the eventual outcome.Methods:14 patients with CES treated at our hospital between 1991 and 1997 underwent laminectomy followed by bilateral decompression.The mean time of followup was 35 months(range 22～48months).Logistical regression analysis was used to manage the data.Results:Out of 14 patients,11 had satisfactory recovery at 2 years postdecompression;3 patients were left with some residual dysfunction.Conclusion:There was a clear correlation between delayed decompression and the poor overall outcome,as well as the presence of perineal anaesthesia and significant sphicter dysfuncation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and the clinical significance of diacylglycerol kinase α (DGKα) and protein kinase C (PKC) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsDGKα and PKC expressions in the samples from 60 pathologically confirmed HCC patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between DGKo expression and clinical pathology factors was analyzed.ResultsThe expression positive rates of DGKo and PKC were highest in normal liver tissues [90.0％ (9/10) and 100.0％ (10/10)].The positive rates were 81.7 ％ (49/60) and 71.7 ％ (43/60) in HCC tissues,respectively,and were 58.3 ％ (35/60) and 61.7 ％ (37/60) in carcinoma adjacent tissues,respectively.In three liver tissues,the positive rates of DGKα and PKC were significantly different (P ＜0.05).The location of both kinases in hepatocytes translocated from cytoplasm/nucleus to membrane.The expressions of DGKα and PKC were positively correlation(r =0.495, P ＜ 0.05), The DGKα expression was correlated to differentiation type,portal venous tumor thrombus and TNM staging(all P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionDGKa is expressed with high activity in advanced stage and poorly differentiated HCC. It may be promote the pathological process of HCC.

BACKGROUND:The degradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) biliary-enteric composite stent has been developed. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the solubility and biocompatibility of the degradable PLLA biliary-enteric composite stent. METHODS:Solubility:the PLLA composite stent was implanted into artificial gastric acid to detect the dissolution rate within 12 weeks. Pyrogen test:the PLLA composite stent extracts were injected into the rabbits via ear vein to detect the changes of body temperature. Hemolysis test:the PLLA composite stent extracts, normal saline and distil ed water were added into the rabbit anticoagulant, respectively, to detect the hemolysis ratio. Cytocompatibility test:Caco-2 cel s were respectively cultured in the DMEM medium containing 10%fetal bovine serum, rubber material extracts and the PLLA composite stent extracts, and the cel proliferation was detected at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours;the lactic dehydrogenase release was detected at 2 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The PLLA composite stent showed a long stability in vivo, and approximately 80%was dissolved at about 20 weeks. No reactions of pyrogen and henolysis were observed in the pyrogen and hemolysis tests. The PLLA composite stent made no effects on the Caco-2 cel proliferation and lactic dehydrogenase release. In conclusion, the PLLA composite material holds a good solubility and cytocompatibility.

Objective To explore the value of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy(SRS) in evaluating the immune activity of orbital inflammatory pseudotumor associated with systemic vasculitis.Methods Twenty-five patients with orbital inflammatory pseudotumor associated with systemic vasculitis (10 males,15 females,average age:(51.2± 14.2) years) underwent SRS.The uptake ratio (UR) of orbital inflammatory pseudotumor was obtained.(1) Patients were divided into group A (with immune activity) and group B (without immune activity) according to Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS).The difference of UR between the 2 groups was compared by two-sample t test.The difference of UR before and after treatment in 12 patients was also compared.(2) Based on the results by BVAS,ROC curve was used to obtain the cut-off value of UR,as well as the diagnostic efficiency and Youden index.The consistency between SRS and BVAS was calculated.(3)Patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off value of UR and the prognosis difference between them was compared by Fisher exact test.(4)The expression of SSTR2 and SSTR5 was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results (1) UR in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (2.09±0.44 vs 1.32±0.46,t =5.94,P＜0.01).After glucocorticoids treatment,the UR in group A reduced significantly (t=4.07,P＜0.01),but not in group B (t=1.76,P＞0.05).(2)ROC curve analysis identified UR cut-off value as 1.66,with the sensitivity of 87.5％,specificity of 95.7％,positive predictive value of 95.2％,negative predictive value of 88.0％,accuracy of 91.3％ and Youden index of 83.2％.The consistency between SRS and BVAS was strong (Kappa =0.840).(3) The prognosis was significantly different between patients with UR≥ 1.66 and UR＜1.66 (P＜0.05).(4) The immunohistochemical results revealed high expression of SSTR2 and SSTR5 in inflammatory cells in patients with immune activity.Conclusion SRS has potential value in evaluating the immune activity of orbital inflammatory pseudotumor associated with systemic vasculitis.

Objective:To supply good information integration,knowledge representation,text mining,intellectual education and data sharing services by setting up neuroinformatics ontology.Methods:By analyzing the structures and contents of current ontologies in the biomedical field,such as UMLS,Gene Ontology,Cancer Ontology,Anatomy Ontology,Disease Ontology and Drug Ontology,the concepts and their relationships of neuroinformatics were discussed and the design principles,standards and norms,building methods and basic procedures of multi-level concept semantic networks-based neuroinformatics ontology constructed by Prot?g?-OWL tool were presented in this article.Results:A multi-level concept semantic network-based OWL(web ontology language) neuroinformatics ontology was built.Conclusion:The neuroinformatics ontology can bring about explicit definitions of concepts and their relationships in the field of neuroinformatics from different formal models,build clear theoretical framework for neuroinforma-tics,achieve a common understanding of related field knowledge and supply good services of information integration,knowledge representation,text mining,intelligent education and data sharing.

Objective:Recent studies have shown that in contrast to decrease in distal gastric adenocarcinoma (DGA), incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has increased noticeably in numerous counties. However, the reasons remain unclear. This study evaluated the possible differences in the expression of KLF4, SP1, and Cyclin D1 in AEG and DGA, and explored the potential carcinogenesis of AEG. Methods:Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues to evaluate the pu-tative differences in the expressions of KLF4, SP1, and Cyclin D1 at protein level between AEG (n=58) and DGA (n=47). The patholog-ical significance of these markers between the two groups was also compared and analyzed. Results:The percentage of positive KLF4 expression was significantly lower in DGA than in AEG (P<0.05). Lower KLF4 expression was found both in well-or moderately dif-ferentiated cases and in poorly differentiated cases with DGA compared with their AEG counterparts (P<0.05). However, positive stain-ing for SP1 was significantly higher in DGA (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression of Cyclin D1 between the two groups. Further analysis showed that in DGA, the positive expression of KLF4, SP1, and Cyclin D1 were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. In AEG, only Cyclin D1 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). No correlation was found among the expression of KLF4, SP1, and Cyclin D1 in AEG. In DGA, KLF4 was inversely correlated with SP1 and Cyclin D1 (r=-0.334 and r=-0.341, respectively, P<0.05), and SP1 was positively correlated with Cyclin D1 expression (r=0.340, P<0.05).Conclusion:Different expression patterns and clinicopathological significance of KLF4, SP1, and Cyclin D1 were observed between AEG and DGA, suggesting the putative difference in the carcinogenesis and progression of AEG and DGA.

Objective To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in reduction of hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury by CO2 preconditioning in rats.Methods Forty-eight male Wistar rats,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 230-270 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =16 each):hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury group (group HIRI),CO2 preconditioning group (group P),and c helerythrine (CHE,a specific inhibitor of PKC) group (group CHE).The portal vein,hepatic artery and bile duct of the left lateral and median lobes of the liver were occluded for 1 h,followed by 4 h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.The rats inhaled 50％ O2-50％ N2 for 1 h during mechanical ventilation in group HIRI.In P group,the rats inhaled 50％ O2-45％ N2-5％ CO2 for 1 h during mechanical ventilation and then inhaled 50％ O2-50％ N2 and the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was performed 15 min later.In group CHE,CHE 5 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 10 min before mechanical ventilation,and the other procedures were similar to those previously described in P group.Before mechanical ventilation,immediately before ischemia,and at 0,1,2,3 and 4 h of reperfusion,mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded and arterial blood samples were obtained for blood gas analysis.At 4 h of reperfusion,the serum aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) activities and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration (by ELISA) were determined and hepatic specimens were obtained for detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (by spectrophotometry),and the expression of activated caspase-3 (by immuno-histochemistry) and PKC (by Western blot) in hepatic tissues.Apoptosis index was calculated by using TUNEL.Results Compared with group HIRI,MAP,PaO2 and PaCO2were significantly increased immediately before ischemia and during reperfusion in group P,MAP and PaCO2 were increased during reperfusion and PaO2 was increased immediately before ischemia and during reperfusion in group CHE,the serum ALT and AST activities,TNF-α concentrations,MDA content and apoptosis index were decreased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was down-regulated in P and CHE groups,and the SOD activity was increased,and the expression of PKC was up-regulated in group P (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and no significant changes were found in the SOD activity and PKC expression in CHE group (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group P,MAP was significantly increased immediately after onset of reperfusion,while decreased at 1-4 h of reperfusion,PaO2 was decreased immediately before ischemia and during reperfusion,PaCO2 was decreased at 3 h of reperfusion,the serum ALT and AST activities,TNF-α concentrations,MDA content and apoptosis index were increased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was up-regulated,and the expression of PKC was downregulated in group CHE (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PKC is involved in reduction of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by CO2 preconditioning in rats.

Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of Diacylglycerol Kinase α (DGKα) mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and to explore the function of DGKα in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Tissues from 30 cases of HCC and 5 normal liver tissues were collected immediately after surgical resection.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression levels and distribution of DGKα mRNA,respectively.Results Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of DGKα mRNA in HCC (0.798±0.317) and normal tissues (0.908±0.425) was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis (0.205±0.102,P<0.05).In situ hybridization demonstrated that the number of DGKα mRNA positive hepatocytes in HCC [(57.6±6.3)/mm2] and normal tissues [69.8±8.7)/mm2] was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis [(26.3±4.9)/mm2,P<0.05]; DGKα mRNA was expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in HCC and carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis,and in the nuclear of hepatocytes in normal tissues.Conclusion The present study suggests that DGKa may play important roles in carcinogenesis and progressing of HCC.

This study was designed to observe the clinical value of low-density lipoprotein immune complexes (LDL-ICs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fifty-four patients with type 2 diabetes + macroangiopathy (DM-MA group), 48 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM group), 45 patients with macroangiopathy ( MA group), and 30 normal controls ( NC group) were enrolled. LDL-ICs levels in the DM-MA group were significantly higher than those in the other three groups. The levels of LDL-ICs in the MA group were higher than those in the NC and DM groups. There was a significant difference in LDL-ICs between the DM and NC groups. LDL-ICs levels were positively related with body mass index (BMI), glycesylated hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc), blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. There was no significant relationship between low-density lipsprotcin cholesterol and LDL-ICs. A significantly negative correlation was recorded between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and LDL-ICs. Our study suggests that LDL-ICs, blood pressure, and HbAlc may be risk factors of macroangiopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.