Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on cardiovascular remodeling in renovascular hypertensive rats. Methods The 2-kindey,1-clip hypertensive rats(2K1C,Goldblatt) were prepared with Sprague-Dawley rat.SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control rats,hypertensive rats and hypertensive rats treated with atorvastatin(2 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)).After 6 weeks treatment,systolic blood pressure(SBP) was measured using the tail-cuff method.The plasma concentration of angiotensin Ⅱ and renin activity were determined by radioimmunoassay.The heart weight,the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight were calculated.Results The plasma concentration of angiotensin Ⅱ((106.4?7.8)ng/L) and renin activity((20.6?2.4) ng/L)were significantly increaed in hypertensive rats compared with normal rats((72.3?5.4) ng/L and(12.5?3.7) ng/L)(P

Objective To establish a model of rat orthotopic liver transplantation and investigate the relationship among cold preservation time, activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and donor preservation injury after liver transplantation. Methods Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in Wistar rats which were randomly divided into the following groups according to the different duration of liver cold storage in UW solution: group A (sham operation, n=10), group B NF-κB in liver before and after transplantation was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays; protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the liver was measured by immunohistochemistry; the serum TNFα and IL-1β, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hepatic cell apoptosis were examined. Results With extended cold storage duration, the activity of NF-κB in the donor liver increased (P<0.05, group D vs. groups A, B and C). TNF-α and IL-1β levels also increased (P<0.05, group D vs. groups A, B and C). Donor liver reperfusion injury was gradually aggravated with the prolonging of graft cold preservation. Both the serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels increased highly (P<0.05 group A vs. groups B, C and D),NF-κB in the liver significantly increased (P<0.05, group A vs. groups D, B and C) with gradual prolonging of graft cold preservation time. The serum ALT and AST level and apoptosis index level elevated greatly (P<0.05, group A vs. groups D, B and C). Conclusion NF-κB of donor liver was activated inductively in cold preservation phase and activated explosively in reperfusion phase. The longer cold preservation time was, the higher NF-κB level in donor liver became. NF-κB led to the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in donor liver. Inflammatory factors are one of the most important mechanisms for the donor liver injury after liver transplantation.

Objective To study the regulation of heparanase expression by hypoxia and its correlation to the invasiveness of tumor cells. Methods BxPC-3 cells were cultured in hypoxia in vitro and the heparanase mRNA and protein expression were detected by reverse transcriptional polymerase reaction chains (RT-PCR) and western blot respectively. Matrigel invasion assay was used to observe the invasive abilities of tumor cells in hypoxia and in the status of heparanase was inhibited by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) targeting to the heparanase gene promoter. Results In normoxia, there was a relatively low level of heparanase mRNA and protein expression in cultured BxPC-3 cells. In hypoxia, heparanase expression, mRNA and protein which expressed consistently, were inhibited slightly at 3h and upregulated significantly at 6h, 12h, 24h and 48h. When the heparanase expression was inhibited by AS-ODN, the heparanase mRNA and protein maintained low in hypoxia, however, the nonsense oligodeoxynucleotide (NS-ODN) did not block upregulation of heparanase expression. In matrigel assay, after 48h incubation, number of BxPC-3 cells that penetrated the Matrigel-coated filter of transwell chamber was increased 96.2% in hypoxia (P<0.01), the Hpa AS-ODN (400 nmol/L) inhibited the invasive cells by 37.2% (P<0.05). Conclusions BxPC-3 cells invasion ability is enhanced by hypoxia through upregulation of heparanase mRNA and protein expression in BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of 3 operative options with selective high level ligation of spermatic veins, transinguinal canal and renovated Potomo's laparoscopic manage-ment of varicocele. Methods From January 1990 to November 2006, 1075 primary varicocele above grade Ⅱ patients accepted the operations, of them, 685 patients had follow up data and were recruited into this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to the operative methods:group A (n=369) was treated with open selective high level ligation of spermatic veins, group B (n=218) was treated with open transinguinal canal operation, and group C (n=98) was treated by renovated Polo-mo's laparoscopic management of varicocele. The complications of the 3 operative methods were com-pared, such as recurrence rate, testicular atrophy rate, scrotal edema rate and semen analysis. The therapeutic effects of these 3 methods were evaluated. Results The recurrence rates of the 3 groups were 3.3%, 7.3% and 5.1%, respectively. Group A had significantly lower recurrence rate than group B, P<0.05. The testicular atrophy rates of 3 groups were 0.5%, 17.9% and 9.2%, respec-tively. There were significant differences among the 3 groups (P<0.05). The scrotal edema rates of the 3 groups were 1.4%, 17.4% and 16.3%, respectively. Group B and C had higher risk of scrotal edema than group A, P<0.05. For patients with ages younger than 30, the improved semen quality rate in group A was higher than in group B and C. The improved semen quality rate in each group of patients younger than 30 was higher than patients with age over 30. Conclusion The open selective high level ligation of spermatic veins is the best choice in the treatment for patients with primary sper-matic varicocele.

Objective To research the effect to the semen quality of the three operation methods of superiority of highly selective varicocele high ligation,transinguinal canal and laparoseopic of renovated polomo management of varicocele.Methods 561 patients in our hospital who charged by infertility had the operation were analyzed retrospectively and were recruited with primary varicocele above grade II for this study.These patients were divided into three group according to three kinds of operation methods of varicocele :group A was treated with highly selective varicocele high ligation and had 300 patients;group B was treated with transinguinal canal operation and had 181 patients; and group C was treated by laparescopic of renovated polomo operation with 80 patients.Through the comparing of the fertility ability of the three operation methods,to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the three methods.Results The increasing rates of the quality of semen in group B was higher than other groups if patients' ages were lower than 30.The increasing rates of the quality of semen in every group was also higher if patients' ages were lower than 30.No difference was found between three groups in natural conception rate (P＞0.05).Conclusion The methods of highly selective varieecele high ligation would be a better choice in the management of patients with primary varicecele because of higher quality of semen.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinicopathological data and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients in China and Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2009 in 2 high-volume institutions in both China (n=1,637) and Korea (n=2,231) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological variables, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and surgery-related complications were assessed for all patients and compared between the 2 institutions. RESULTS: Chinese patients included in the study were significantly older and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than the Korean patients. Esophagogastric junction tumors were more frequent in Chinese patients. However, the number of patients with stage I gastric cancer, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the number of total gastrectomies were significantly higher in the Korean population. Korean patients also presented with fewer undifferentiated tumors than Chinese patients. Furthermore, Korean patients had prolonged OS and PFS for stage III cancers only. BMI, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and distant metastases were all independent factors affecting OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Although China and Korea are neighboring Asian countries, the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients are significantly different from those of Korean patients. Korean gastric cancer patients had longer OS and PFS than Chinese patients. Influencing factors included TNM stage, tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; China* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Objective:To investigate the effect of reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps for skin defects of forefoot with the help of the three dimensional computerized tomography angiography(3D-CTA).Methods:From November 2013 to February 2018, 19 patients with anterior foot defects were treated in the Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang. There were 12 males and 7 females. The patients ranged from 16 to 45 years old, with an average age of 29.6 years. Preoperative 3D-CTA examination of the ipsilateral foot was performed to find out the blood vessels in the donor site, to determine the location, course, length of the superficial branch of the medial plantar toe artery and its relationship with the surrounding tissues, and to design the medial saphenous nerve nutrient vessel skin flap for retrograde repair of the skin and soft tissue defect at the front of the foot. Sensitive recovery were evaluated according to Swanson evaluation of clinical effect of peripheral nervous impairment.Results:Preoperative three-dimensional CT angiography showed that the superficial branches of the medial plantar toe artery were detected, and the perforating vessels during the operation were basically consistent according to the result of the examination. The 19 cases of forefeet skin detects were successfully reconstructed with the reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps. All patients were followed up with the mean of 8 months. All flaps survived totally without diabrosis and swelling. The walking and weight-bearing were normal and the blood supply of foot were good. The functional recovery of foot and ankle was excellent in 8 cases, good in 10 cases and middle in 1 case. The sensory recovery of the forefoot: S4 5 feet, S3 10 feet, S2 4 feet; R4 3 feet, R3 9 feet, R2 7 feet.Conclusions:Preoperative 3D-CTA examination can confirm the anatomy of the superficial branch of the medial toe base artery in the donor site and guide the design of the medial saphenous nerve nutrient vessel flap for retrograde repair of skin and soft tissue defects of the distal foot. The blood supply is reliable, the wound is small and the effect is satisfactory.

Objective·To explore the efficacy and safety of compound amino acid capsules in the treatment of malnutrition and calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders in maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods·In this prospective,randomized,controlled,single-center study,forty maintenance hemodialysis patients from Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were randomly divided into two groups,the treatment group(n=21)and the control group(n=19).The treatment group was given oral compound amino acid capsules on the basis of regular hemodialysis treatment,while the control group received no special nutritional intervention.Serum albumin,prealbumin,hemoglobin,ferritin,calcium,phosphorus,1,25-(OH)2-D3 and intact parathyroid hormone levels were analyzed every 3 months,and the incidence of adverse events including death,cardio-cerebrovascular accidents and vascular access failure was recorded.The total follow-up period was 9 months.Results·Serum albumin and prealbumin in the treatment group at 6-month and 9-month were significantly higher than the baseline parameters(albumin,t=3.574,5.599,both P<0.05;prealbumin,t/Z=-2.485,2.921,both P<0.05).Albumin in the control group increased at 9-month with a lower amplification compared to the treatment group(t=3.877,P=0.001),while the difference of prealbumin showed no statistical significance during follow-up.Hemoglobin and serum ferritin in the treatment group started to increase at 3-month(hemoglobin,t=2.192;ferritin,t=2.994;both P<0.05).Phosphorus in treatment group decreased at 3-month and 9-month(t/Z=-2.743,-2.103,both P<0.05),while phosphorus in the control group remained relatively stable during the first 6 months and increased at 9-month(Z=-2.178,P=0.029).Calcium and 1,25-(OH)2-D3 in the treatment group at 3-month and 6-month were significantly higher than the baseline parameters(calcium,t=4.581,4.922,both P=0.000;1,25-(OH)2-D3 t/Z=4.504,-2.374,both P<0.05),while the increase in blood calcium in the control group was significantly smaller than that in the treatment group during the same period.1,25-(OH)2-D3 in the control group showed no significant improvement.There was no significant difference in intact parathyroid hormone level,incidence of adverse events and other laboratory examination results between the two groups.Conclusion·Compound amino acid capsules can ameliorate the nutrition status and regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism effectively and safely in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND:Electrical stimulation is a physical method that can be used to induce various cellular activities such as cell proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis.The induction of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells will be beneficial in the field of bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To observe whether micro-current field can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:The fresh human umbilical cord tissue was cut to obtain umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,which were inoculated into a 6-well plate after cell culture and passage to the third generation.After 24 hours,the cells were cultured under a stimulation of 0,50,and 100 mV/mm micro-electric field,at a frequency of 1 hour per day for 3 continuous days.The growth and morphological changes of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were observed by a microscope.The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and EdU staining.Alizarin red staining was used to detect the osteogenic differentiation ability of cells.Western blot assay was used to determine the expression of ERK signal pathway proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The optical density value and the number of proliferating cells in 50 and 100 mV/mm groups were significantly higher than those of the unstimulated group(P<0.05).(2)Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could be induced to differentiate into osteocytes before and after micro-electric field stimulation,but the differentiation rate of 50 and 100 mV/mm groups was faster than that of unstimulated groups.(3)The protein expression of p-ERK1/2 in the 50 and 100 mV/mm groups was higher than that in the unstimulated group,and significant difference was detected between the 100 mV/mm group and the unstimulated group(P<0.05).(4)Micro-electric field can promote the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,and the mechanism may be achieved by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK.

Objective:To investigate the effect of reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps for skin defects of forefoot with the help of the three dimensional computerized tomography angiography(3D-CTA).Methods:From November 2013 to February 2018, 19 patients with anterior foot defects were treated in the Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang. There were 12 males and 7 females. The patients ranged from 16 to 45 years old, with an average age of 29.6 years. Preoperative 3D-CTA examination of the ipsilateral foot was performed to find out the blood vessels in the donor site, to determine the location, course, length of the superficial branch of the medial plantar toe artery and its relationship with the surrounding tissues, and to design the medial saphenous nerve nutrient vessel skin flap for retrograde repair of the skin and soft tissue defect at the front of the foot. Sensitive recovery were evaluated according to Swanson evaluation of clinical effect of peripheral nervous impairment.Results:Preoperative three-dimensional CT angiography showed that the superficial branches of the medial plantar toe artery were detected, and the perforating vessels during the operation were basically consistent according to the result of the examination. The 19 cases of forefeet skin detects were successfully reconstructed with the reverse saphenous nerve neurocutaneous flaps. All patients were followed up with the mean of 8 months. All flaps survived totally without diabrosis and swelling. The walking and weight-bearing were normal and the blood supply of foot were good. The functional recovery of foot and ankle was excellent in 8 cases, good in 10 cases and middle in 1 case. The sensory recovery of the forefoot: S4 5 feet, S3 10 feet, S2 4 feet; R4 3 feet, R3 9 feet, R2 7 feet.Conclusions:Preoperative 3D-CTA examination can confirm the anatomy of the superficial branch of the medial toe base artery in the donor site and guide the design of the medial saphenous nerve nutrient vessel flap for retrograde repair of skin and soft tissue defects of the distal foot. The blood supply is reliable, the wound is small and the effect is satisfactory.