AIM: To study whether agonists of group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) exert effects on LPS-induced glutamate uptake inhibition in C6 glioma cells. METHODS: The glutamate uptake into C6 glioma cells was measured by uptake of [3H]-D,L-glutamate; and the apoptosis and the viability of C6 glioma cells were investigated by Hoechst33342 and MTT methods, respectively. RESULTS: LPS (4, 6 ?g/mL) inhibited glutamate uptake significantly compared with that in the control group without effect on the apoptosis and viability of C6 glioma cells. Pretreatment of C6 glioma cells with group II and III mGluRs agonists DCG-IV(100 ?mol/L) and L-AP4(100 ?mol/L) reversed LPS-induced glutamate uptake inhibition. These recovery effects were abolished by their respective antagonists APICA and MSOP. CONCLUSION: Activation of group II and III mGluRs recovers LPS-induced glutamate uptake inhibition in C6 glioma cells, suggesting the enhancement of glutamate uptake is involved in neuroprotective roles exerted by group II and III mGluRs agonists.

Objective To investigate the differences in dosimetry between conformal radiotherapy (CRT),field-in-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (FIF-IMRT),and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after breast-conserving surgery for left-sided breast cancer.Methods A total of 31 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery for left-sided breast cancer were randomly selected,and the plans for CRT,FIF-IMRT,and IMRT were developed.The dose-volume histogram (DVH) was used for self-control study,and the non-parametric test was used to compare the differences in target volume and doses to organs at risk (OARs).Results All the three methods met the requirements of the prescribed doses.The CRT group had a higher V105 of the target volume and higher heart V30 and Dmax (P=0.000,0.000,0.000).The IMRT group had higher V5 and Dmean (P=0.000,0.000),as well as a higher lung V5 and a lower lung V40 (P=0.000,0.000).The FIF-IMRT group had the lowest Dmean (P=0.000),and the IMRT group had significantly higher Dmean and Dmax of the right lung and the spinal cord than the other two groups (P=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000).The FIF-IMRT group had a significantly lower single hop count than the other two groups (P=0.000).Conclusions CRT has a good dose distribution in the target volume,but greatly injures the surrounding tissues.FIF-IMRT can well protect OARs and cause less damage to the device.

Objective To develop the fluorescence molecular imaging system and obtain the 3D images of near-infrared fluorescent probe in tissue-like solution.Methods Weak optical signals were acquired with hypothermal cooled CCD camera.The system captured the fluorescent images of different projections at rotating the tissue phantom.The photon propagation in tissue followed the diffusion approximation theory.The 3D image of probe was calculated with a fast reconstruction algorithm based on finite element approach.Results The imaging system could obtain the full-angle dense raw dataset.The reconstruction algorithm had capacity to recover the position and contour of the fluorescent target included in diffusive medium.Conclusion The results from phantom experiments are promising and show the potentials to act as a platform for in vivo fluorescence tomography.

Objective To obtain the near-infrared fluorescence image in vivo and find the relationship between the detecting depth and fluorescence probe concentration. Methods Signals of fluorescence probe in various depths of vivo and tissue phantom with cooled CCD camera were acquired. Results The fluorescence intensity informations with different fluorescence probe concentrations and depths in vivo and liquid phantom were obtained. Conclusion Relationship between fluorescence intensity,location and depth of detecting probe in vivo is found. The linear relation of fluorescence probe concentration and detecting intensity is simulated,which will be used as a reference for the experiment system.

Objective To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide′s donor NaHS on the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in adipocytes and its mechanism.Methods 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes and incubated with various concentrations of NaHS or 10 μg/ml caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK for 24 hours.The expressions of NLRP3(NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3), ASC(apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing CARD domain), caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in adipocytes, as well as the content of IL-1 and IL-18 in culture medium were determined.Results 10, 25, and 50 nmol/L NaHS significantly decreased NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-caspase-1 protein expressions in adipocytes, as well as IL-1β and IL-18 contents in culture medium in a dose-dependent manner.The mature-IL-1β/pro-IL-1β, mature-IL-18/pro-IL-18 ratios in adipocytes and IL-1β and IL-18 contents in culture medium were also reduced by 10μg/ml Ac-YVAD-CMK.Conclusion Donor of hydrogen sulfide NaHS inhibits the maturation and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in adipocytes through downregulating the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Objective To improve the prognosis and radical resection of the extended pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with pancreatic cancer in the ucinate process involving mesentery mot. Methods From Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2007, a total of 23 ( 14 male and 9 female, aged between 30 and 72 years old) patients with pancreatic cancer in the ucinate process involving mesentery root were treated in our department. Curative resection was performed for all patients by the extended pancreaticoduodenectomy with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) isolation and mesentery root resection. The surgical procedure, the safety and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. Results 12 patients underwent the procedure, among them 11 also underwent combined SMV partial resection and reconstruction. The operation time was (4.2 ± 1.1 ) hours, and the blood loss was ( 1 635 ± 1 362) ml with the blood transfusion of ( 1 609 ± 1 462 ) ml. There was no operation related death in this case series, and mild to severe diarrhea occurred in 6 cases. The post-operative stay ranged 9 to 30 days. The pathological examination showed that the tumor size was (5.3 ± 1.4) cm. 13 patients (57%) had one or more lymph nodes metastasis. 20 patients (87%) had nerve involvement. Among 11 patients with SMV partial resection and reconstruction, 10 patients had endangium involvement. 22 patients had negative surgical margins for all specimens. Rapid intra-operative frozen pathological examination showed negative surgical margins in one patient, however, post-operative paraffin section pathological examination revealed nerve involvement between SMA and celiac trunk. After a follow-up of 5 to 42 months, liver metastasis occurred in 4 patients, and local recurrence occurred in 3 patients. The 1-year and 2-year accumulated survival rates were 77.2% and 42.5%, respectively. Conclusions Isolation SMA and the mesentery resection in extended pancreaticodudenectomy were safe and useful. Using this modified technique, Radical operation resection could be achieved in the treatment of pancreatic cancer in uncinate process.

Objective To study the effects of taking clopidogrel on relevant indicators of platelet aggregation function in 138 cases acute coronary syndrome (ACS) .Methods The platelet function analyzer and flow cytometry were adopted to detect the ADP‐induced platelet aggregation rate ,P selectin and activated GP Ⅱ b/ Ⅲ before medication and on 7 d after taking clopidogrel . Results The platelet aggregation rate after taking clopidogrel for 7 continuous d was decreased significantly (P<0 .01);the P se‐lectin level and activated GP Ⅱ b/ Ⅲ a expressed on platelet surface were significantly reduced (P<0 .01) as well .Conclusion Taking clopidogrel could reduce the platelet aggregation significantly in the patients with ACS and has the effect for inhibiting the platelet aggregation .

Objective To observe the curative effect of low molecular heparin for treating secondary high coagulation state in the patients with nephrotic syndrome(NS) .Methods Total 87 cases of NS in our hospital were divided into the conventional treat‐ment group (n=42) and the low molecular heparin treatment group (n=45) .The routine treatment group was given the prednisone treatment and the low molecular heparin treatment group was treated by low molecular heparin combined with prednisone .The re‐lated indicators of blood coagulation before and after treatment were detected and the clinical curative effects in two groups were an‐alyzed .Results The coagulation related indicators in the conventional treatment group had no statistically significant difference be‐tween before and after treatment (P>0 .05) ,the prothrombin time(PT) and activated partial thrombin time(APTT) after treat‐ment in the low molecular heparin treatment group were significantly extended compared with before treatment ,while the concen‐trations of D‐dimer and fibrinogen were significantly decreased and the concentration of antithrombin Ⅲ was markedly increased compared with before treatment ,showing statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0 .05);the patients of the low molecular heparin group patients had no bleeding after treatment .Conclusion Low molecular heparin combined with predni‐sone can reduce the secondary high condensation state in NS without bleeding and has a significantly clinical effect .

Objective To investigate the possible risk factors of functional dyspepsia(FD)in Beijing university students.Methods 490764 random samples were selected.A self-reported questionnaire containing ROME III questionnaire and other questions regarding food habit,studying style,past history,etc was delivered to all students.The factors related to FD were compared between the two groups.Results To distribute questionnaire 9800,call in 8608.The response rate is 87.8%,the qualification rate is 80.8%.A total of 602 youth were divided into FD group(110 cases)and control group(492 cases without any symptoms related to FD).The differences between the two groups were found as follows:① Indexes in height,weight and body mass in FD group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P

To develop a core-shell structure pDNA-CaPi-PLGA nanoparticles (CS-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs), calcium phosphate-pDNA nano complexes (CaPi-pDNA) were encapsulated inside of PLGA shells. The characteristics of the nanoparticles, including morphology, average particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, loading efficiency, stability in medium, pDNA protection ability from nuclease degradation, in vitro release, cytotoxicity and cell transfection were investigated and compared with the embedded structured CaPi modified PLGA nanoparticles (embedded-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs). The results showed that the obtained CS-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs were spherical in shape with an average particle size of (155 +/- 4.5) nm, zeta potentials of (-0.38 +/- 0.1) mV, entrapment efficiency of (80.56 +/- 2.5)% and loading efficiency of (1.16 +/- 0.04)%. The CS-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs were stable in the release media and could protect pDNA against nuclease degradation. And they also exhibited sustained release of pDNA in vitro. The highest gene transfection efficiency of the CS-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs in vitro reached (24.66 +/- 0.46)% (after 72 h transfection), which was significantly higher than that of free pDNA [(0.33 +/- 0.04)%, P < 0.01] and the pDNA-PLGA-NPs [(1.5 +/- 0.07)%, P < 0.01]. Besides, the transfection lasted for longer time than that of embedded-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs and the cytotoxicity of it was significantly lower than that of PEI (P < 0.01). These results indicate that CS-pDNA-CaPi-PLGA-NPs are a promising non-viral gene vector. Key words: gene delivery system; polylactic-co-glycolic acid; calcium phosphate; nanoparticle