OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Testin gene, and analyze its possible relationship with the clinicopathological features of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHOD: The expression of Testin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry methods, semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The correlations of Testin to clinicopathologic features of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed. RESULT: The positive expression rate of Testin in NPC biopsy tissue was 37.8% (17/ 45), while it was 88.9% (40/45) in the normal tissue; The expression of Testin mRNA was significantly lower than that in the normal tissue (P < 0.01); The expression levels of Testin protein in the NPC biopsy tissue by Western blot were lower than that in the normal tissue (P < 0.01); The expression of Testin in the tumor tissue had no significant correlation with sex, age (P > 0.05); but it had significant correlation with lympho node metastasis, distant metastasis and differentiation degree. CONCLUSION The decreased expression of Testin gene may play an importmant role in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. And thus Testin gene might be a novel candidate of tumor-suppressor. It may be an objective marker for prognostic factor and malignant level for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Carcinoma ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; LIM Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

The present paper is aimed to explore the origins of Proteus mirabilis (PM) whorl swarming growth phenomenon. The whorl swarming growth phenomenon of PM was observed by changed bacterial culture inoculation time, humidity, vaccination practices, cultured flat placement, magnetic field, pH and other factors. Bacterial ring spiral direction of rotation is counterclockwise and the volatile growth process of PM was whorl swarming growth phenomenon. Spiro fluctuation phenomenon was of high frequency in the sealing tanks by cultured anytime inoculation, wherever inoculation technique applied or not, the presence or absence of the magnetic field, and wherever the dish position was. The experimental results showed that the whorl swarming growth phenomenon of PM requires specific pH environment, in which the facts may be relative to its genetic characteristics and the Earths rotation.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnetic Fields ; Proteus mirabilis ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the accuracy of ultrasonographic assessment of the total uterine weight and the feasibility of using this method in the pelvic floor reconstruction.Methods Firstly,81 cases with hysterectomy due to benign uterine diseases or uterine prolapse were studied.The preoperative dimensions and gravities of corpus uteri and cervix were calculated by formulas,and were then compared with the postoperative measurements.Subsequently,46 cases with pelvic floor reconstruction and preserved the uterus were subjected to retrospectively analysis of uterine measurement parameters.Results There were no statistically differences between the preoperative and postoperative diameters of corpus uteri and cervix (P ＞ 0.05),and no statistically differences between the weight of corpus uteri and cervix estimated by the formulas [(87±55),(32±6) g] and the true weight [(88±57),(33±6) g; P＞0.05].In 46 cases that underwent the pelvic floor reconstruction by transvaginal mesh repair and preserved the uterus,42 cases were successful treated and the average weight of total uterus was (49 ± 13) g (95％CI:39.90-49.88 g) ; the 4 relapsed cases were treated with hysterectomy and the weight of total uterus were 85.24,82.69,92.67 and 120.06 g which were consistent with the weights estimated by the formulas (87.36,82.00,90.88,123.12 g ; all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The uterine weight might be a significant factor for uterus preservation in pelvic floor reconstruction,while ultrasonographic assessment can accurately estimate the uterine weight preoperatively.All these raised the feasibility of assessing uterine weight preoperatively in pelvic floor reconstruction.

Objective To study the influence of patient perceived medical service quality on the satisfaction and behavioral intention.Methods The AMOS21.0 software was adopted to construct a structural equation model with satisfaction as a medium for conducting the path analysis among the perceived medical service quality,satisfaction and behavioral intention.Results The perceived medical service quality produced the direct impact on behavioral intention(y=0.50) and satisfaction(γ=0.87),the satisfaction produced the direct impact on behavioral intention(γ=0.38);with the satisfaction as a medium,the perceived medical service quality had the indirect impact(0.33) on behavioral intention and the intermediary rate was 39.76％.Conclusion The perceived medical service quality has active influence on the patient satisfaction and behavior intention,and indirectly acts on the behavioral intention with the satisfaction as intermediary agent.

To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of a novel gastrointestinal occluder device for gastrobronchial fistula. Data of 5 patients diagnosed as having gastrobronchial fistula who received treatment by a novel gastrointestinal occluder device at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The total operation time, occluding time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay and patients′ satisfaction were reviewed. Regular follow-up was conducted, and the short-term curative effect of occluding was evaluated 1 month after operation.All patients were males with age of 58-69 years. The course of fistula ranged 3-16 months and the diameter ranged 0.3-1.0 cm. All 5 patients achieved technical success with operation time of 38-88 minutes and occluding time of 8-24 minutes. The postoperative hospital stay ranged 3-5 days and the patients′ satisfaction score was 10. No severe complications occurred during or after operation. One month after endoscopic therapy, fistula was completely occluded in 4 patients. One patient died due to severe pulmonary infection and multiple organ failure although the bucking symptom after drinking and eating recovered before. Endoscopic closure of gastrointestinal fistula by means of the novel gastrointestinal occluder device is safe and effective.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of the novel double disc-shaped gastrointestinal occluder (hereinafter referred to as occluder) in treatment of refractory tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF).Methods:From July 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021, 10 patients with refractory TEF treated with occluder at Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University were collected. The patients′ clinical data such as gender, age, body mass index and fistula diameter were recorded. The success rate of operation, intraoperative and postoperative complications, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, efficacy of fistula closure and postoperative recovery were analyzed. The Karnofsky score and body mass index of patients 1 month and 3 months after operation were compared with those before operation for curative effect evaluation. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 10 TEF patients, there were 7 males and 3 females, the median age was 64.5 years old (ranged from 49.0 to 78.0 years old), the body mass index was (18.0±2.5) kg/m 2 and the diameter of the fistula was (1.2±0.6) cm. Occluder placement was successful in all patients. The operation time was (17.6±7.8) min (ranged from 7.0 to 30.0 min). Two cases had little bleeding during the operation, and there was no bleeding after the operation. The postoperative hospital stay was (5.9±4.0) d (ranged from 1.0 to 12.0 d). Among the 10 TEF patients, fistula of 5 patients were completely blocked, 4 cases were partially blocked and 1 case was ineffectively blocked, the effective rate of blocking was 9/10. One month follow-up after operation showed that the symptoms of choking and coughing during eating were significantly improved in 9 patients, and the symptoms of choking and coughing during eating were significantly improved in 1 patient after waist diameter of 12 mm occluder was replaced with the occluder of 15 mm. The 3-month follow-up after operation showed that the occluders were in the right place in 8 patients, the occluder was displaced in 1 patient and the occluder was removed and treated with enteral nutrition. One patient died due to the recurrence of esophageal cancer. The Karnofsky score of TEF patients 3 months after operation and the body mass index of TEF patients 1 month and 3 months after operation were higher than those before operation (70.0±34.0 vs. 46.0±10.7, (19.32±2.59) and (19.73±2.92) kg/m 2 vs. (18.03±2.50) kg/m 2), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-3.09, -2.37 and -2.82, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Gastrointestinal occluder is safe and effective in the treatment of refractory TEF.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified mushroom-shaped occluder in the treatment of refractory thoracogastric-airway fistulas.Methods:From March 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, 12 patients with refractory thoracogastric-airway fistulas underwent the placement of modified mushroom-shaped occluder at the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled. The baseline clinical data of patients such as gender, age, course of disease, and fistula diameter were recorded. The data of operation and follow-up, such as operation time and method, intraoperative and postoperative complications were also collected. The occlusion efficacy at 1 month and 6 months after surgery, as well as the improvement of body mass index (BMI) and scores of the short form 36 (SF-36) were analyzed. Paired t test and non-parametric test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 10 males and 2 females among the 12 patients. The median age was 66.5 years old (ranged from 53.0 to 69.0 years old), the median course of disease was 7.5 months (ranged from 3.0 to 39.0 months), and the diameter of fistula was (9.3±3.4) mm. The occluder placements were successful in all the 12 patients, with 6 cases intracavitary release and 6 extracavitary release. The operation time was (30.9±9.9) min and the time of occluder placement was (3.5±1.3) min. One patient had minor (<2 mL) bleeding during the operation and 2 patients reported mild foreign body sensation but tolerable after operation. All patients resumed oral feeding and nasojejunal tubes were removed before discharge. The follow-up time of 12 patients was (11.3±1.7) months. The initial effective occlusion rate was 11/12, and the complete occlusion rate was 9/12. Two patients died but neither were related to the procedure or instruments. The BMI of 12 patients at 1 month after surgery was (18.5±1.9) kg/m 2, which was higher than that before operation ((17.6±2.3) kg/m 2), the BMI at 6 months after operation was (20.3±2.5) kg/m 2, which was higher than that at 1 month after operation, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.15 and -4.45, P=0.002 and 0.001). The scores of 8 domains of SF-36 including physical functioning, general health, vitality, mental health, role-physical, bodily pain, social functioning and role-emotional of 12 patients before operation, at 1 month after operation and 6 months after operation were 49.6±13.6, 63.3±13.5 and 75.4±8.6, 17.1±11.2, 33.2±14.5 and 56.0±12.2, 30.0±12.6, 45.0±13.5 and 67.5±8.7, 41.3±18.7, 52.0±15.4 and 68.0±8.2, 0.0 (0.0 to 75.0), 25.0 (0.0 to 100.0) and 50.0 (25.0 to 100.0), 87.8 (44.0 to 100.0), 90.8 (57.0 to 100.0) and 100.0 (94.0 to 100.0), 12.5 (0.0 to 50.0), 50.0 (37.5 to 75.0) and 81.3 (50.0 to 87.5), 0.0 (0.0 to 100.0), 66.7 (33.3 to 100.0) and 100.0 (33.3 to 100.0), respectively. The scores of 8 domains at 1 month after operation were all higher than those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-5.25, -5.32, -4.87 and -2.51, Z=-2.97, -2.20, -3.11 and -3.00; all P<0.05). The scores of 8 domains at 6 months after operation were all higher than those at 1 month after operation, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.34, -7.48, -7.10 and -4.64, Z=-2.49, -2.20, -2.97 and -2.07; all P<0.05). Conclusion:The clinical application of the improved mushroom-shaped occluder in the treatment of refractory thoracogastric-airway fistulas is effective and relatively safe.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic injection of autologous platelet rich plasma(PRP)in the treatment of refractory upper gastrointestinal fistula(RUGF).Methods:From June 1, 2022 to March 1, 2023, at the Department of Gastroenterology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 8 RUGF patients who received PRP treatment were enrolled. The baseline data such as gender, age, course of disease, and body mass index, etc. as well as the PRP treatment-related data such as the time of first treatment, length of hospital stay after the first treatment, and adverse events were recorded. The postoperative follow-up lasted till 6 months after the first treatment to assess fistula healing, and to record body mass index and health survey short form. Paired t-test and non-parametric test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 8 RUGF patients, there were 7 males and 1 female. The median age was 58.5 years old (ranged from 27.0 to 75.0 years old), and the median duration of the disease was 14 months (ranged from 4 to 120 months). The maximum diameter of the fistula was(4.50±2.62) mm, the concentration multiple of PRP was (4.02±0.48) times. The operation time of the first endoscopic PRP treatment was (21.88±4.52) min; the median length of the first postoperative hospital stay was 2 days (ranged from 1 to 2 days), and the median total number of treatment was 4 (ranged from 1 to 5). The healing time was (2.57±1.72) months, 7 RUGF patients healed within 6 months after the first treatment, and the fistula was narrowed in 1 patient. There were no adverse events during or after the operation. After 6 months of treatment, the body mass index and the scores of 8 dimensions of the health survey short form which included physical functioning, physical role functioning, body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role functioning and mental health were all higher than those before treatment ((20.91±2.15) kg/m 2 vs. (18.67±3.21) kg/m 2, 86.88±13.35 vs. 58.13±20.34, 100 (0 to 100) vs. 0(0 to 100), 83.06±11.74 vs. 56.94±28.86, 67.88±26.77 vs. 31.88±13.08, 81.88±13.87 vs. 46.25±24.02, 76.56±22.60 vs. 37.50±26.73, 100 (0 to 100) vs. 0 (0 to 100), 78.00±17.37 vs. 51.50±22.77), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-3.40 and -3.87, Z=2.06, t=-3.03, -4.26, -4.73 and -6.06, Z=-2.06, t=-4.32; P=0.012, 0.006, 0.039, 0.019, 0.004, 0.002, 0.001, 0.039 and 0.003). Conclusion:Endoscopic injection of autologous PRP for the treatment of RUGF is safe and effective, and has a significant promotion effect on the healing of small (maximum diameter ≤ 6 mm) fistula.