Objective To evaluate the effect of laparoscopy in treatment of renal cysts.Methods Twenty- eight and thirty-five patients with renal cysts were performed with transperituneal and retroperitonel laparoscopy,re- spectively.Results A total of 62 patients were treated successfully,the average operation time was 60 minutes,no complications presented,and there was no recurrence in follow-up.Conclusion Laparoseopy survey had the advan- tages of less trauma and fewer complications and rapid recovery in treatment of renal cysts,which was suggested for clinical applications.

Objective: To investigate the function network and potential mechanisms of effects of Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction in the treatment of functional constipation by using network pharmacology methods. Methods: TCMSP, TCMID, and Swiss Target Prediction online prediction databases were used to screen the components and their potential targets of Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction using oral availability (OB) and drug-like (DL) as the qualification conditions. PubMed, CTD, TTD, and DrugBank were used to search functional constipation-related targets. STRING and Cytoscape were used to make targets network visualization, screen the key components and core targets with high a degree of the node; Finally, relevant software was applied to analyze core targets and predict the mechanism. Results: A number of 206 total components of Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction were screened, and there were 998 corresponding targets, which were contained 295 targets associated with functional constipation. According to the analysis, there were 64 key components and 30 core targets involving the Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction-induced treatment of functional constipation. After enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis of 30 core targets, it was found that SCN9A, CFTR, HTR2A, OPRD1, PTGS1, and FGFR1 were involved in regulating biological processes including opioid receptor activity, water balance of the organism, terpenoids and biological receptors and subsequent mediating the function of serotonin receptors, arachidonic acid metabolism, transcriptional regulation of MECP2, cytochrome P450, biogenic amine-binding receptors, PI3K the aberrant expression, tyrosine-protein kinase signaling pathway, and exogenous foreign body stimulation. These biological targets and molecular signaling pathways may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of functional constipation. Conclusion: The mechanism of effect of Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction in the treatment of functional constipation is characterized by multiple targets and pathways. Saponins, flavonoids, and sterols may be the material basis for core functions, and serotonin receptors, opioid receptors and chloride channel-regulated receptors may be key targets of Chaihu Plus Mangxiao Decoction.

Objective To evaluate surgical treatment of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.Methods The data on surgical treatment of 45 patients with infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm admitted from January 2003 to June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.Fourty-three patients underwent operative treatment including excision of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm,exhaustive debridement and bypass graft with vascular prosthesis.Two patients were unavoidable to undergo removing of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm and ligating the proximal and distal artery of pseudoaneurysm because of severe infection and large volume.Results The patients were followed up from 3 to 12 months(mean 7.82 months).The limbs of all the patients underwent bypass graft with vascular prosthesis were salvaged successfully,patients of which had secondary wound healing and had not intermittent lameness.One of two patients performed ligation of artery was salvaged successfully but had severe intermittent lameness,another patient underwent high amputation above knee because of ischemic gangrene.ConclusionFor infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm,the operative treatment including excision of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm,exhaustive debridement and bypass graft with vascular prosthesis is effective and safe.

AlM:To investigate the expression of VEGF, CD34, Ki-67 and p21 in pterygium as well as the correlation between their expression and clinical pathological characteristics;explore its pathogenesis.
METHODS: lmmunohistochemical S - P staining method was adopted in detecting the expression of VEGF, CD34, Ki-67 and p21 in 62 cases of pterygia and 20 cases of normal conjunctival tissues. Relationship between these markers and clinical pathological characteristics was analyzed.
RESULTS:(1) The positive expression of VEGF, CD34, Ki-67 and p21 in 62 cases of pterygia was 74. 2% (46/62), 77. 4% ( 48/62 ), 66. 1% ( 41/62 ) and 40. 3% ( 25/62 ) respectively. The differences were statistically significant compared with normal conjunctival tissues (P<0. 05). (2) The expression of VEGF and CD34 in 62 cases of pterygia was correlated with clinical types and stages (P<0. 05), and was not associated with sex, age and occupation ( P>0. 05 ); the expression of Ki-67 was correlated with clinical stages (P<0. 05), and was not associated with other clinical pathological characteristics ( P>0. 05 ); the expression of p21 was correlated with clinical stages and pterygium characters (P<0. 05), and was not associated with other clinical pathological characteristics ( P> 0. 05 ). ( 3 ) Spearman correlation showed that there was a positive correlation between VEGF and Ki - 67 ( r = 0. 279, P < 0. 05 ), a positive correlation between VEGF and CD34 (r=0. 299, P<0. 05), a negative correlation between VEGF and p21 (r=-0. 267, P<0. 05 ); it also showed that there was no correlation between any two of CD34, Ki-67 and p21 (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: ( 1 ) Overexpression of VEGF, Ki-67, CD34 and low expression of p21 suggest that these markers are concerned with the development and progression of pterygium. ( 2 ) Expression of VEGF and CD34 increases along with the increase of clinical types and stages, expression of Ki-67 increases along with the increase of clinical stages, and expression of p21 decreases along with the improvement of clinical types or stages; they suggest that these markers may play important roles in the development and recurrence of pterygium. ( 3 ) There is positive correlation between VEGF and Ki-67, VEGF and CD34 as well as negative correlation between VEGF and p21. They suggest that there may be synergistic action between two factors during the development and progression of pterygium.

BACKGROUND: In the field of organ transplantation, patients often take immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, such as CsA, FK506, DEX and MPA. However, their mechanisms of immunosuppression are different. The effect of immunosuppressive drugs on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different immunosuppressants on the secretions of MCP-1 in whole blood. METHODS: The whole blood of healthy volunteers was mixed with different immunosuppressants for 6 hours, such as CsA, FK506, DEX and MPA, which included low, middle and high concentrations, followed by PMA and IONO stimulation for 6 hours. MCP-1 levels in whole blood samples were compared. The whole blood cultured alone served as control. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MCP-1 secretion was inhibited by DEX (1, 10 mg/L) and CsA (0.25,1.25 mg/L)- However, FK and MPA exhibited no such effect. Therefore, DEX and CsA may inhibit the function of monocytes and macrophages in immune system by diminishing the secretion of MCP-1. The combination of FK (5 μg/L), MPA (10 mg/L) and DEX (1 mg/L) or CsA (0.25 mg/L), MPA (10 mg/L) and DEX (1 mg/L) can inhibit the secretion of MCP-1, but only DEX among all the immunosuppressants mentioned above exhibited significant effect on inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 when using alone.

Objective To summarize experience of diagnosis and treatment of the mucin-producing bile duct tumors(MPBTs). Methods Clinicopathological features of 7 patients with MPBT undergoing surgery from Nov 2002 to May 2005,were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical radiography characteristics and the resection type were summarized respectively. Results Fluctuant iaundice was the most common manifestation of MPBTs,with different characteristics of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography when compared with gallbladder carcinoma,hilar cholangiocarcinoma and distal bile duct cancer.All the 7 patients with MPBT underwent successful surgical resection and were cured. Conclusion Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of MPBTs made it possible to achieve long-term survival of these patients.

Objective To characterize the vascular cognitive impairment of stroke patients with different injury sites (right or left cerebral hemisphere) and pathological type (hemorrhage or infarct). Methods A total of 119 stroke patients were assessed with regard to their cognitive functions using the LOTCA within one week of admis-sion, and comparison was made among patients in terms of VCI characteristics, injury site, and pathological type. Results In patients with left hemisphere injury, there found no significant difference between those with cerebral in-farct and hemorrhage with regard to the total score of LOTCA, but the score of perception of those with hemorrhage was lower than those with infarct(P<0.05). in patients with right hemisphere injury, both total score of LOTCA and the subscore were not significantly different between those with infarct and hemorrhage(P>0.05). In patients with infarct in left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.05), but the scores of orientation and thinking operation were lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). In patients with hemorrhage in the left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was not significantly different from those with hemorrhage in right hemisphere, but the scores of orientation and perception were lower than thosewith hemorrhage in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). Conclusions More attention with regard to perception training should be paid to those with cerebral hemmorhage than those with cerebral infarct. In patients with cerebral infarct, more attention with regard to orientation and thinking operation training should be paid to those with infarct in left side, while for those with cerebral hemorrhage, more attention with regard to orientation and perception training should be paid to the left hemisphere insult.

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of Skp2 in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and tissues, and explore its influence on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway and development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

METHODSThe expression levels of Skp2 and AR in different PCa cell lines were detected by Western blot. After knockdown of Skp2 in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells transfected with shRNA, the expressions of AR and P27 were determined and the activity of ARR3-Luc measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay following treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The expressions of AR and Skp2 in human naïve PCa or CRPC specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining followed by analysis of their differences and correlation.

RESULTSThe Skp2 protein expression level was significantly higher in the C4-2 or 22RV1 cells than in the LNCaP cells. DHT treatment increased the expression of Skp2 in the C4-2 cells, but knock-down of Skp2 significantly up-regulated the expression of the well-known downstream protein P27 and down-regulated that of AR. Consistently, DHT treatment increased the activity of ARR3-Luc, while knockdown of Skp2 remarkably decreased it in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher expressions of Skp2 and AR were observed in the CRPC than in the naïve specimens (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation between the two proteins (r = 0.658 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSkp2 can enhance the expression and transcription activity of the AR protein in CRPC cells or tissues and is promising to be a critical molecular therapeutic target.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dihydrotestosterone ; pharmacology ; Disease Progression ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; metabolism ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; physiology ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of polygonatum polysaccharide on zebrafish with Alzheimer disease. METHODS Zebrafish were trained in T maze for 7 d. The 40 zebrafish successfully trained were divided into 4 groups:blank group, model group, positive group and polygonatum polysaccharide group. Model group, positive group and polygonatum polysaccharide group were put in AlCl3100μg·L-1 for 6 d. The positive group was exposed to Huperzine A solution 4μg·L-1, and the polygonatum polysaccharide group was exposed to polygonatum polysaccharide solution 6 g·L-1 for 6 d. The model group was not treated, and the blank group was not treated. Each stage of zebrafish was recorded by video, and the time of each group in the EC region was analyzed. After administration, the brain tissue was taken out and the expression of N-cadherin, P38 and p-P38 protein factors was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS In behavior, the analysis of the time spent in the EC area, the blank group, the positive group and the polygonatum polysac?charide group were compared with the model group, respectively, there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At the protein level, compared with the model group, the P38 and p-P38 proteins in the positive group and the polygonatum polysaccharide group were down-regulated, while the N-cadherin protein was up-regulated, with statistical difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Polygonatum polysaccharide can improve the learning and memory ability of zebrafish with Alzheimer disease by up regulating the protein level of N-cadherin and hindering P38 phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene of diacylglycerol kinase κ (DGKK) in hypospadias in Chinese children.

METHODSWe performed direct sequencing on 2 hypospadias-related candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms of the DGKK gene (rs1934179 and rs7063116, never previously reported in the Chinese population) from 300 children with sporadic hypospadias and 200 healthy controls, and compared the results between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 were 5.0% (15/300) and 5.67% (17/300) respectively in the hypospadias patients, significantly higher than 1.5% (3/200) and 2.0% (4/200) in the normal controls (P <0.05). The mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 in the cases of distal and middle hypospadias were also remarkably higher (6.5%, [13/200] and 7.5% [15/200], P <0.05), but those in the proximal cases (both 2.0% [2/100]) showed no statistically significant difference from the control (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphisms of the DGKK gene may be associated with hypospadias, particularly distal and middle hypospadias, in Chinese children.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; China ; Diacylglycerol Kinase ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide