AIM: To isolate the stem cells from human placenta and induce them into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Stem cells were isolated from human placenta and characterized by morphologic analysis. The “hanging drop” methods were used to inducte stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The expressions of atrial natriuretic factor(Anf) and ?-myosin heavy chain(?-MHC) genes were analyzed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Stem cells derived from human placenta were self-renewed and differentiated into cardiomyocytes in vitro. RT-PCR showed that Anf and ?-MHC genes were expressed in the “beating cells”.CONCLUSION: Human placenta is an abundant source of stem cells.

AIM: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and stability of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens ( ICL ) implanation and clear lens extraction for the correction of high myopia.
METHODS: The study enrolled 56 cases ( 100 eyes ) of high myopia. Group I comprised 32 cases ( 58 eyes ) receiving ICL implantation and Group II comprised 24 cases (42 eyes) undergoing clear lens extraction. In this study, we evaluated the two groups of subject's the visual and refractive results, intraocular pressure ( IOP ) , endothelial cell density ( ECD ) , anterior chamber depth ( ACD) , lens transparency, the surgical complications as well as visual adverse symptoms before and after surgery.
RESULTS: The postoperative subjects in group I and group II were followed, uncorrected vision acuity ( UCVA)>0. 5 were 69. 0% in group I and 71. 4% in group II after 3mo. UCVA>0. 5 were 72. 4% in group I and 73. 8% in group II after 1a. Predictability of the manifest spherical equivalent refraction within±1. 00D was achieved in 62. 1%of eyes in group I and 57. 1% in group II after 1a. The central vault of the ICL ( distance from posterior surface of ICL to the crystalline lens ) measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography ( AS-OCT ) was 0. 35-0. 54 (0. 40±0. 16) mm. Twelve point one percent of eyes in group I and 7. 1% of eyes in group II had transient mild increase in IOP. Here were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative ECD (P<0. 001 ). Complications of surgery: 1 eye had ICL spontaneous rotation, 2 eyes had anterior subcapsular cataract, 4 eyes noticed halos around lights at night in group I. Three eyes had posterior capsule mild opacification, 3 eyes noticed halos around lights at night, 12 eyes had difficulty in near vision in group II.
CONCLUSION: ICL implantation and clear lens extraction are effective, safe and predictable surgical option for the management of high myopia. No severe complications occurred, but its long time effect and safety still need more time to prove.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a member of FGF family. It has been demonstrated that FGF21 is an independent, safe and effective regulator of blood glucose levels in vivo. In order to improve the activity of FGF21, we exchanged the beta10-beta12 domain of the human FGF21 with that of the mouse FGF21 to construct a novel FGF21 gene (named hmFGF21), and then subcloned hmFGF21 gene into the SUMO expression vector to create pSUMO-hmFGF21 and transformed it into E. coli Rosetta for expression of the fusion protein SUMO-hmFGF21. Both in vitro and in vivo glucose regulation activity of hmFGF21 was evaluated. The SDS-PAGE result showed that compared with wild-type hFGF21, the soluble expression of hmFGF21 increased about 2-fold. HmFGF21 was more potent in stimulation of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells in vitro. The results of anti-diabetic effect on db/db mice demonstrated that hmFGF21 had better efficacy on controlling the blood glucose of the db/db diabetic animals than wild-type hFGF21. These results suggest that the biological properties of FGF21 are significantly improved by optimization.

Objective To study the change of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in myocardial tissue and serum of myocardial ischemia in rats.Methods Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group and test group. Test group was ligated coronary artery,and the control group was pulled on line but not ligated,then observed the change of VEGF.The histological and immunohistochemical method were used for observing the change of VEGF serum in myocardial ischemia in rats' heart.VEGF levels were measured by image analysis.Results Compared with control group,the expression of VEGF in the myocardial ischemia group was increased obviously(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki67) with sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSSamples of pretreatment biopsies and the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy in 32 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were collected, and the expression of Ki67 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. The correlation of Ki67 and VEGF expression with clinicopathological factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of VEGF expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033), depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.007) and TNM stage (P = 0.016), but not with histological type, tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). However, VEGF expression was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with the sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (P = 0.016), and a transient increase of VEGF expression was detected in the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.035). Ki67 labeling index (Ki67-LI) was found to be significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.028), but not with tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). It was also found that tumors with lower Ki67-LI expression were more sensitive to neoadjuvant therapy than that with higher expression of Ki67-LI (P = 0.032). In contrast with VEGF, the Ki67 expression level decreased after neoadjuvant therapy, but no statistical significance was found between pretreatment and posttreatment specimens (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary results of this study demonstrate that the expression of VEGF and Ki67 in pretreatment biopsy of rectal adenocarcinoma may be used as a biomarker to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomic characteristics of splenic flexure, surgical techniques, and oncologic outcomes in 52 patients with non-obstructive splenic flexure colon cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 52 patients with non-obstructive splenic flexure colon cancer from March 2004 to March 2011 in the Department of General Surgery at the Henan Province Tumor Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThere were 37 patients of regular type, 5 of mobile type, and 10 of adhesive type. All the patients received radical operation. Eighteen patients received pre-small intestine anastomosis, including 12 cases with regular type, 4 with mobile type, and 2 with adhesive type. The difference in pre-small intestine anastomosis among the three types was not statistically significant(P=0.062). In addition, 32 cases received retro-ileum anastomosis. There were no significant differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node dissection and positive lymph node, and postoperation complication rate among the three types. Follow up was available in all the cases. Five-year survival rates of cases with regular type, mobile type and adhesive type were 62.5%, 59.2% and 58.7% respectively(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRadical resection can provide satisfactory survival for splenic flexure colon cancer patients. The anatomy of splenic flexure does not affect the type of anastomosis. Retro-ileum anastomosis is a simple and effective method for reconstruction after radical resection of the tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Colon, Transverse ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDOverexpression of G-protein coupled receptor 34 (GPR34) affects the progression and prognosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, however, the role of GPR34 in gastric cancer development and progression has not been well-determined. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of GPR34 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe expression of GPR34 in gastric cancer cell line HGC-27 was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. HGC-27 cells were employed to construct the stable GPR34 knockdown cell model in this study. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to validate the effect of short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) on the expression of GPR34 in HGC-27 gastric cells. The proliferation, migration of these cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell. We also measured expression profile of PI3K/PDK1/AKT and ERK using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe ShRNA directed against GPR34 effectively inhibited both endogenous mRNA and protein expression levels of GPR34, and significantly down-regulated the expression of PIK3CB (P < 0.01), PIK3CD (P < 0.01), PDK1 (P < 0.01), phosphorylation of PDK1 (P < 0.01), Akt (P < 0.01), and ERK (P < 0.01). Furthermore, GPR34 knockdown resulted in an obvious reduction in HGC-27 cancer cell proliferation and migration activity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGPR34 knockdown impairs the proliferation and migration of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells in vitro and provides a potential implication for therapy of gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Lysophospholipid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of mitochondrial structure and functions, as well as the protection of ligustrazine in the process of myocardial hypertrophy.

METHODSNeonatal myocardial cells were isolated and cultured with angiotensin II (Ang II) for 72 or 96 h. The total protein content was detected using BCA method. The cell diameter was measured by inverted microscope, by which to reflect the proliferation situation of cardiomyocytes. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured by fluorescence microscope. The mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was detected by spectrophotometer. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity and the mitochondrial damage percentage were detected by microplate reader, by which to reflect the damage of mitochondrial outer membrane's structure and the membranes' function. Also, cells were treated with ligustrazine and losartan and then the pharmacological effects on the mitochondrial structure and functions in the myocardial cells treated with Ang II were observed.

RESULTSAt 72 h and 96 h, when compared with the blank group, cells treated with Ang II had increased total protein content (P < 0.01) and enlarged diameter (P < 0.01). Treated with Ang II, the MAO activity and the outer membrane damage percentage of myocardial cells significantly increased (P < 0.01), and mitochondrial COX activity and the mitochondrial MMP significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group at the same time period, ligustrazine significantly reduced myocardial cells' total protein content and myocardial cell diameter, and significantly decreased myocardial cells' MAO activity, increased mitochondrial COX activity, improved the outer membrane damage percentage and inner membrane MMP at 72 and 96 h, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDuring the process of myocardial hypertrophy existed the damage to the mitochondrial structure and functions. Ligustrazine protected the mitochondrial structure and functions of the myocardial cells in reversing Ang II induced myocardial cell hypertrophy.

Angiotensin II ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Monoamine Oxidase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of early diarrhea(postoperative day 1 to 7) and anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 192 cases (group A, tumor from the anal verge 4-7 cm) from May 2004 to May 2007 and 236 cases(group B) from July 2007 to May 2010 in our hospital who received low anterior resection of rectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIn group A, the incidence of early postoperative diarrhea was 19.3%(37/192), of which 9 cases were treated with anti-diarrhea drugs. The morbidity of anastomotic leakage in patients with diarrhea was significantly higher than those without early diarrhea(16.2% vs. 5.2%, P<0.05). In group B, the incidence of early postoperative diarrhea was 16.5%(39/236). All the patients were treated with anti-diarrhea drugs. There was no difference in the morbidity of anastomotic leakage between patients with diarrhea and those without early diarrhea(16.2% vs. 5.2%, P<0.05). There was no difference in early diarrhea between groups A and B(P>0.05). However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients with early diarrhea was lower in group B(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly diarrhea after the low anterior resection of rectal cancer may indicate anastomotic leakage. Treatment of early postoperative diarrhea may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomotic Leak ; etiology ; Diarrhea ; complications ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; microbiology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Helicobacter pylori ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; microbiology ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics