Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of intraoperative methylprednisolone used in combination with perioperative enteral nutrition support in improving liver synthetic function after hepatectomy and postoperative recovery.Methods In this prospective controlled trial,79 patients treated with hepatectomy at Departement of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery in Drum Tower Hospital between June 2013 and May 2014 were included and divided into control group (n =39) and steroid group (n =40) according to the order of surgery.The control group underwent hepatectomy only,while the steroid group received intraoperative methylprednisolone (500 mg) at the start of liver excision.Both of the two groups were given the same perioperative enteral nutrition support.Liver function,prealbumin (PA),and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured before and on days 1,3,and 5 after the operation.Human blood albumin infusion volume,postoperative gas passing,postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of complications were recorded.Results The serum level of PA on day 3 after hepatectomy was significantly higher in the steroid group than in the control group [(101.26 ±61.17) mg/L vs.(81.84 ±43.58) mg/L,t =-1.607,P =0.049].The serum level of cholinesterase on day 1 after hepatectomy was significantly higher in the steroid group than in the control group [(5.60±1.54) kU/Lvs.(4.68±1.01) kU/L,t=-3.136,P=0.004].On day1 and day 3 after hepatectomy,the serum levels of CRP were significantly lower in the steroid group than in the control group [(41.79 ±20.86) mg/L vs.(62.08 ±38.33) mg/L,t =2.933,P=0.027;(64.14 ±32.38) mg/L vs.(102.64 ± 49.05) mg/L,t =4.127,P =0.006].The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the steroid group than in the control group [(12.62 ±5.74) d vs.(15.41 ± 10.00)d,t =1.514,P =0.002].Conclusion Intraoperative use of methylprednisolone combined with perioperative enteral nutrition support may inhibit postoperative inflammatory response,promote early recovery of liver synthetic function,and help to promote rehabilitation after hepatectomy.

Objective To investigate the gender differences of glucose metabolic network in brains of healthy adults at resting state by 18F-FDG PET.Methods A total of 204 dextromanual,healthy individuals (104 males,average age:(53.45±11.51) years;100 females,average age:(54.11±12.09) years) were enrolled from June 2011 to June 2016 to construct brain metabolic networks.The nodal and global parameters,including clustering coefficient (Cp),characteristic path length (Lp) and betweenness centrality (Cb),were analyzed by graph theory.Permutation test with 1 000 repetitions was used.Results The brain metabolic networks derived from 18F-FDG PET data were with small-world properties in both male group and female group.Compared with Cb in females,Cb in males was significantly reduced in left postcentral gyrus,right angular gyrus and left temporal pole/middle temporal gyrus (permutation test,all P<0.05);and it was increased in left amygdala,left precuneus,right temporal pole/middle temporal gyrus and left inferior temporal gyrus (permutation test,all P<0.05).Comparing with the females,the male group had higher Cp and longer absolute Lp but without significant difference (permutation test,all P>0.05).Conclusions There are gender-related differences of topological structure in whole-brain metabolic networks.Gender should be considered as a covariate while designing experiments,accounting for cerebral metabolic data from normal control and experimental patients as well as making clinical decisions.

DNA Methylation ; Glioma ; metabolism ; Humans ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

The study is aimed to ensure the quality and safety of medicinal plants by using ITS2 DNA barcode technology to identify Corydalis boweri, Meconopsis horridula and their close related species. The DNA of 13 herb samples including C. boweri and M. horridula from Lhasa of Tibet was extracted, ITS PCR were amplified and sequenced. Both assembled and web downloaded 71 ITS2 sequences were removed of 5. 8S and 28S. Multiple sequence alignment was completed and the intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were calculated by MEGA 5.0, while the neighbor-joining phylogenetic trees were constructed. We also predicted the ITS2 secondary structure of C. boweri, M. horridula and their close related species. The results showed that ITS2 as DNA barcode was able to identify C. boweri, M. horridula as well as well as their close related species effectively. The established based on ITS2 barcode method provides the regular and safe detection technology for identification of C. boweri, M. horridula and their close related species, adulterants and counterfeits, in order to ensure their quality control, safe medication, reasonable development and utilization.
Base Sequence ; China ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Papaveraceae ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

BACKGROUNDResection of petroclival meningioma (PCM) is difficult for neurosurgeons and usually brings poor performance status. In this study, we evaluated the possible risk factors for unfavorable clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of PCM, and tried to explore the optimal surgical strategies for better postoperative quality of life.

METHODSWe recruited 57 patients (14 male, 43 female, mean age, 50.5 years) who underwent surgical resection of PCM in Huashan Hospital during 2002 - 2006. The primary outcomes including postoperative neurological deficits, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score and recurrence rate were evaluated, and all potential risk factors were assessed by the χ(2) test. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated by univariate Logistic regression. The mean follow-up time was 34 months.

RESULTSGross total resection was achieved in 58% of patients. One patient died during the perioperative period because of intracranial hemorrhage. Sixty-seven percent of patients experienced new postoperative neurological deficits and 26% had a higher mRS score at follow-up assessment. Postoperative complications were observed in 24 patients. Within the follow-up period, radiographic recurrence occurred in 12.3% of patients at a mean follow-up of 42 months. Postoperative radiosurgery was administered to 19 patients who had residual tumors or recurrence and no further progression was found. Tumor adhesion, hypervascularity and engulfment of neurovascular structures were three risk factors for increased mRS score (P = 0.0002; P = 0.0051; P = 0.0009). Tumor adherence to adjacent structures clearly affected the extent of resection (P = 0.0029). The risk of postoperative cranial nerve deficits increased with tumor engulfment of neurovascular structures (P = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONSIntraoperatively defined tumor characteristics played a critical role in identifying postoperative functional status. An individual treatment strategy after careful preoperative evaluation could help improve quality of life.

Adult ; Aged ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Quality of Life

This study was aimed to investigate whether endothelium-specific deletion of PTEN can affect hemangioblast development in the AGM region of mouse embryos. Based on Cre/loxP system, the Tie2CrePten(loxp/loxp) and Tie2CrePten(loxp/wt) mouse embryos were obtained. The genotype was identified by PCR. After treated with type I collagenase, the AGM region was dispersed into single-cell suspension, and then was cultured in blast colony-forming cell (BL-CFC) media. The number of BL-CFC was counted 4 or 5 days later. The hematopoietic capacity of BL-CFC was detected in methylcellulose culture system and the endothelial potential was assessed by tube-like structure formation on Matrigel. The results showed that the number of BL-CFC in AGM region of Tie2CrePten(loxp/loxp) mouse embryo decreased as compared with Tie2CrePten(loxp/wt) embryo. Whereas the hematopoietic capacity of mutant BL-CFC was enhanced, the endothelial potential, as evaluated by tube-like structure formation in vitro, was significantly reduced. It is concluded that the endothelial PTEN is capable of exerting regulatory functions on both the numbers and the dual potential of hemangioblast in mouse AGM region.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Hemangioblasts ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore whether the inhibitory effect of Genipin on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in mitochondria is involved in energy metabolism of androgen-independent PC3 prostate cancer cells.

METHODSPC3 prostate cancer cells were cultured and treated with Genipin at the concentrations of 40, 80, and 160 μmol/L for 48 hours. Then the proliferation of the cells was detected by MTT assay, the expression of UCP-2 mRNA determined by RT-PCR, and the content of intracellular pyruvic acid (PA) and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the mitochondria measured by visible spectrophotometry.

RESULTSWith the increased concentration of Genipin, the proliferative activity of the PC-3 cells, the expression level of UCP-2 mRNA, the content of intracellular PA and the activity of SDH in the cells were all decreased, namely, with the enhanced inhibitory effect of Genipin on UCP-2, a trend of reduction was observed in the proliferation of the cells, intracellular PA content, and SDH activity in the mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONGenipin is involved in the energy metabolism of androgen-independent PC3 prostate cancer cells by reducing the content of intracellular PA and the activity of SDH in the mitochondria, which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on UCP-2.

Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Pyruvic Acid ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Uncoupling Protein 2

BACKGROUNDCentral neurocytoma accounts for 0.1% of primary brain tumor that often occurs in young adults. Surgery is the main treatment for central neurocytoma and the rate of 5-year survival reaches up to over 90%. This study aimed to assess the effect of transcortical frontal approach to surgical resection of central neurocytoma on emotion and cognitive function 5 years after surgery.

METHODSTelephone following-up visits were used in this study. By means of neuropsychological testing, assayed emotion, memory and abstract thinking ability of 18 patients undergoing central neurocytoma resection by transcortical frontal approach for 5 years or more, with another 21 normal cases as control group were enrolled. The data were analyzed statistically by paired t test with SPSS11.5.

RESULTSPatients whose central neurocytoma was removed by transcortical frontal approach were not affected on calculating ability 5 years after operation while ability of memory declined sharply (P = 0.000), the older, the more sharply (P = 0.036). Ability of abstract thinking was significantly reduced (P = 0.000), the older, the more significantly as well (P = 0.012); additionally, anxiety and depression occurred in patients rather more than those of control group (P = 0.000), especially cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONSTranscortical frontal approach for surgical resection of central neurocytoma has certain long-term influence on patients' life quality, vulnerable to anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment, the severity of which was correlated to age. Therefore, improving surgical approach will be of value for better long-term life quality of patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cognition ; physiology ; Emotions ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurocytoma ; mortality ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult

Aged ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology

Objective To evaluate the role of late course accelerated fractions.ted irradiation(LCAF) combined with concurrent chemotherapy in the management of esophageal carcinoma.Methods From March 1998 to July 2000,111 eligible patients were randomized into LCAF alone group(LCAF,57 patients)or LCAF plus concurrent chemotherapy group(LACF-CT,54 patients).The radiotherapy regimen was identical in the two groups,consisting of conventional fractionation in the first 2/3 course and accelerated fractionation in the second 1/ 3 course to a total dose of 68.4 Gy/41 Fx/44 d.Chemotherapy regimen consisted of four eycles of cisplatin 25 mg/ (m~2?d)plus fluorouracil 600 mg/(m~2?d)on day 1 to 3 every 4 weeks and was delivered on the first day of radiotherapy.Results The median follow-up time was 67.1 months(range 47.6-76.4 months).The 1-,3-,5- year survival rate was 67%,44% ,40% and 77%,39% 28% in LACF-CF and LEAF group,respectively(P =0.310).Grade 3+4 acute side-effact was 42% and 25% in LCAF-CT and LCAF group,respectively(P＜0. 05),with 3 treatment-related deaths in the LCAF-CT group.Conclusions Late course accelerated fractionated irradiation combined with concurrent chemotherapy has a trend towards improving the survival,at the cost of increasing acute side-effect.Its role needs further confirmation by larger sample studied in randomization.