Objective To investigate the correlation between ankle-brachial index and ultrasonography in lower ex- tremities vascular in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods 218 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled,and ankle-brachial index(ABI)measurements and uhrasonography in lower extremities vascular were performed in all patients.Lower extremi- ties vascular disease(LEVD)were divided into six species according to the uhrasonography results and scored in accord- ante with its serious degree,then investigate the correlation between ABI and uhrasonography results score.All patients were divided into deferent groups according to uhrasonography results and ABI range,and then compared their deference. Results The lower the ABI,the more serious of the LEVD showed by ultrasonography.ABI and ultrasonic inspection score was significantly negatively correlated(r=-0.65,P

BackgroundOur previous study determined that tetrandrine (Tet) has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human Tenon capsule fibroblasts ( TCFs ) in vitro,but its mechanism is poorly understood.ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the effect mechanism of Tet on human TCFs.MethodsHuman TCFs were isolated and cultured from scleral tissue of donor using explant technique.The cells were identified by vimentin antibody staining and morphology.The third generation of cells were seeded in the culture plate at the density of 1 × 105 cells/ml.Twenty-four hours after inoculation,the Tet of 1 × 10-5 mol/L was added in the well of culture plate,and the cells cultured only in 1640 medium served as the control group.The apoptosis of the cells was assessed by TUNEL,and the expressions of bax,bel-2,transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2 ) in TCFs were detected using immunochemistry.Results The cultured cells showed the features of the fibroblasts in shape with the positive response for vimentin.A number of TUNEL positive cells were seen in Tet group and no TUNEL positive response was found in control group.The expression levels (A value) of bax,bcl-2 and TGF-~ protein in TCFs were 0.577 ± 0.009,0.430±0.012 and 0.341 ±0.017 in Tet group,and those in control group were 0.320±0.015,0.819±0.021 and 0.624±0.014 respectively,showing statistically significant differences between two groups( t =33.277,-35.356,-28.093,P＜0.01 ).Conclusions Tet suppresses the proliferation of human TCFs through up-regulating the expression of bax and down-regulating the expressions of bcl-2 and TGF-β2 in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect and impact of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and 120-W thulium: YAG vapoenucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) on erectile function in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 93 cases of symptomatic BPH treated by HoLEP or 120 W ThuVEP. We made comparisons between the two groups of patients in the baseline and postoperative clinical and surgical indexes as well as their IPSS, quality of life (QOL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), and IIEF-EF scores before surgery and during the 12-month follow-up.

RESULTSThuVEP, in comparison with HoLEP, achieved a significantly shorter operation time ([57.6 +/- 12. 8] vs. [70.4 +/- 21.8] min, P = 0.001) and a higher laser efficiency ([0.71 +/- 0.18] vs. [0.62 +/- 0.19] g/min, P = 0. 021). At 1, 6, or 12 months of follow-up, no significant differences were observed in IPSS, OOL, Omax, and PVR between the two groups (P > 0.05). Both the HoLEP and ThuVEP groups showed low incidences of complications and remarkably improved IIEF-EF scores at 12 months postoperatively, but with no significant differences (both P > 0.05). However, in those with relatively normal erectile functions before operation, the mean IIEF-EF score was reduced from 22.8 +/- 2.2 preoperatively to 21.0 +/- 2.7 after HoLEP, (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONBoth HoLEP and 120W ThuVEP are effective and safe in the treatment of BPH. Compared with HoLEP, 120 W ThuVEP has even a higher laser efficiency. However, neither can significantly improve erectile function, and HoLEP may have a short-term negative impact on the relatively normal erectile function of the patient.

Aged ; Holmium ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Lasers, Solid-State ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Thulium ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urine

Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor arising from the undifferentiated cells of the primitive neural crest. We report a case of malignant paraganglioma originating from the left kidney. The 55-year-old female patient was admitted for intractable cough for a month and the presence of a solid mass in the left lung detected by computer tomography (CT). Sonography revealed a mass in the left kidney after admission. Complete surgical resection of the tumor was performed and the diagnosis of malignant paraganglioma originating from the left kidney was established pathologically. During the follow-up for 12 months, the patient showed a good general condition and sonography revealed no evidence of recurrence. Based on these findings, we discussed the diagnosis of this disease using medical imaging modalities.
Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Paraganglioma ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Radiography

Objective To study the expression of KAI1 and CD40 in gastric cancer and their correlation with clinicopathologic features and prognosis.Methods The expression of KAI1 and CD40 of 64 gastric cancer tissues was examinated by S-P immunohistochemieal methods.Results The overall positive rate of KAI1 was 22% in gastric cancer.Expression of KAI1 was positively related to the degree of tumor differentiation,it was negatively related to invasion depth and lymph node metastasis and the tumor clinical stage.The 5-year survival rate of cases with positive expression of KAII was significantly higher than that of cases with negative expression(X~2=42.426,P=0.000).The expression rate of CD40 in gastric cancer tissue was 34%.The expression of CD40 was significantly correlated with metastasis and clinical stage of gastric cancer.The 5-year survival rate of cases with positive expression of CD40 was significantly lower than that of cases with negative expression(X~2=4.841,P=0.028).There is no relationship between KAI1 and CD40 expression in gastric cancer.Conclusion KAI1 is associated with gastric cancer differentiation,invasion and metastasis.CD40 status helps to evaluate metastasis,and predict prognosis of gastric cancer.

Objective To evaluate a single step electrophoresis for quantitative determination of cholesterol of high-, low-, very-low-density lipoprotein(HDL, LDL, VLDL) and fast pre-beta lipoprotein [lipoprotein (a), Lp(a)]. Methods Quantification of lipoprotein cholesterol was performed by enzymatic staining of cholesterol in a new agarose gel electrophoresis method that allows the separation of LDL, VLDL, HDL, and Lp(a) by Helena REP system. The results of electrophoresis method were compared with those by traditional method like PTA-Mg2＋ precipitation method for HDL-C, PVS precipitation method for LDL-C, and Immunoturbidimetric assay(ITA) method for Lp(a).Results Within-runs CV were 5.16% ～ 7.46%,1.26% ～ 3.28% and 3.78% ～ 5.86% for VLDL-C, LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively. Between-runs CV were 8.35% ～ 11.25%, 2. 78% ～4. 08% and 4. 23% ～6. 36%, respectively. The linearity of this method was up to 10. 35 mmol/L total cholesterol. The recoveries were 90. 3%, 94. 3% and 89. 6%, respectively. No interference were observed when bilirubin( ＜ 342 μmol/L), hemoglobin( ＜ 20g/L) or triglyceride( ＜ 11.0 mmol/L) were added to pooled serum, respectively. There was good agreement between methods, with r = 0.9557 for HDL-C(electrophoresis method vs PTA-Mg2+ precipitation method),r = 0. 9609 for LDL-C (electrophoresis method vs PVS precipitation method) and r = 0. 9235 for Lp(a)-C (electrophoresis method) vs Lp(a) (ITA method). Conclusions The electrophoresis method offers a simple and inexpensive means of simultaneously measuring HDL-C, VLDL-C, Lp(a)-C and LDL-C.

Objective To study the asymmetry of medulla on the sectional plane to support the way of localizing gyris by the neurapophysis,and to enrich the anatomical knowledge about the telencephalic sectional plane.Methods Slected 30 adult normal head specimens.Head specimens saw cutting were made through the planum sphenoidale till the surface of the brain were marked.Colored the different gyris with different colors so as to distinguish.Then cut the brain parallel to the marked line to make brain slices of 6 mm.Observed the corresponding neural process by different staining of brain slices.The number and direction of neurapophysis branches of the corresponding neurapophysis were observed.And these data were statistically analyzed and processed.Results On the telencephalic sectional planes,most of the corresponding neurapophysis of gyrus were symmertrical in the number and direction of neurapophysis branches.Conclusion It is reliable and practical to localize gyris with neurapophysis on telencephalic sectional planes.

BACKGROUNDAscorbic acid has important antioxidant properties, and may play a role in the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning on later ischemia-reperfusion. Herein, we examined the role of endogenous extracellular ascorbic acid in ischemic preconditioning in the kidney.

METHODSWe developed a solitary rabbit kidney model where animals received ischemia-reperfusion only (ischemia-reperfusion group, n = 15) or ischemic preconditioning followed by ischemia-reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning group, n = 15). Ischemia-reperfusion was induced by occluding and loosening of the renal pedicle. The process of ischemic preconditioning included 15-minute brief ischemia and 10-minute reperfusion. In vivo microdialysis coupled with online electrochemical detection was used to determine levels of endogenous extracellular ascorbic acid in both groups. The extent of tissue damage was determined in kidney sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were also detected to assess renal function.

RESULTSDuring ischemia-reperfusion, the extracellular ascorbic acid concentration during ischemia increased rapidly to the peak level ((130.01 +/- 9.98)%), and then decreased slowly to near basal levels. Similar changes were observed during reperfusion (peak level, (126.78 +/- 18.24)%). In the ischemic preconditioning group there was a similar pattern of extracellular ascorbic acid concentration during ischemic preconditioning. However, the ascorbic acid level was significantly lower during the ischemia and early reperfusion stage compared to the ischemia-reperfusion group. Additionally, the extent of glomerular ischemic collapse, tubular dilation, tubular denudation, and loss of brush border were markedly attenuated in the ischemic preconditioning group. Levels of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were also decreased significantly in the ischemic preconditioning group.

CONCLUSIONSIschemic preconditioning may protect renal tissue against ischemia-reperfusion injury via use of extracellular ascorbic acid. In vivo microdialysis coupled with online electrochemical detection is effective for continuous monitoring extracellular ascorbic acid in the renal cortex.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of low-dose simvastatin on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the renal tubulointerstitium of rats with diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group C (control group), Group D, in which diabetes was induced by stroptozotocin (STZ) and Group DS, in which STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with low-dose (no cholesterol-lowering effect) simvastatin. The following parameters were measured after 6 weeks and 12 weeks in each groups, respectively: body weight and kidney weight, 24-h urinary albumin excretion (UAE), biochemical indexes including blood glucose (GLU), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG) and serum creatinine (SCr). The expression of CTGF and α-SMA in renal tubulointerstitium was assessed by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTAfter 6 and 12 weeks, there were no significant differences in SCr, LDL, HDL and TG levels among all three groups. The expression levels of CTGF and α-SMA in the tubulointerstitium of Group DS were significantly decreased compared with those of Group D at week 6 (P<0.05); there were no significant differences compared with Group C (P>0.05). After 12 weeks, CTGF and α-SMA expressions in Group DS were also lower than those in Group D (P<0.05); while higher than those in Group C (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin with a under cholesterol-lowering dose, can decrease the expression levels of CTGF and α-SMA in renal tubulointerstitium of rats with diabetic nephropathy, by which the progression of the tubulointerstitial fibrosis would be delayed.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo identify cancer-related genes in diffuse-type gastric cancer and to explore its molecular mechanism by cDNA microarray analysis.

METHODSA total of 22 pairs of diffuse-type gastric cancer tissue and the corresponding normal mucosa were taken and freshly frozen. cDNA microarray with 14,592 genes/ESTs was used. Genes were considered to be up- or down-regulated when the fluorescent intensity ratio between tumor and normal mucosa was over 2-fold in over 50% of the samples (P < 0.05). Hierarchical clustering of regulated genes was performed as a measure to study expressional similarity. Validation of array results was carried out by real time quantitative PCR (QPCR).

RESULTSCompared with those of corresponding normal mucosa, there were a total of 153 genes/ESTs up-regulated and 204 down-regulated in diffuse-type gastric cancer. Hierarchical clustering demonstrated that the genes belonging to the same subgroup displayed similar function. Most of the overexpressed genes were those related to cell adhesion, cell motility, matrix reconstruction, cell proliferation and/or signal transduction; while genes related to defense response, toxicoid metabolism, DNA repairing, nuclear-cytoplasmic transport and/or anti-apoptosis made up the main list of the underexpressed genes. Seven genes showed higher expression in TNM (T I + T II) group than in (T III + T IV) group. QPCR confirmed the array analysis results.

CONCLUSIONGene expression profiling by cDNA microarray analysis provides not only molecular understanding of biological properties of cancer, but may also be helpful in discovering new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biglycan ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pepsinogen C ; metabolism ; Proteoglycans ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism