OBJECTIVETo explore the ultrastructural changes of hepatocyte fibrogenesis in cholelithiasis in biliary tract.

METHODSl0 liver biopsies were taken from the patients suffered from gallstone and choledocholithiasis during surgical treatment and the ultrastructural changes were observed under electromicroscope.

RESULTSThere were plentiful collagenous microfibrils (CMFs) grown within some hepatocytes. These CMFs distributed locally or diffusely in cytoplasm even extended into nucleus. In 7 cases numerous megamitochondrias appeared in several hepatocytes, the inclusions mimicking fibrils could be frequently seen and grew beyond the envelope. Furthermore, typical CMFs could be seen in the large microbodies, and several vesicular or cystic structures similar as fibroblast were presented in marginal areas of the hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONSWe deduce that the fibrosed hepatocytes may be remained and take part in the hyperplasia of hepatic fibrous tissue.

Adult ; Cholelithiasis ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of compound azintamide on dyspepsia symptoms. Methods One hundred and eighty dyspepsia patients were divided into two groups according to dyspepsia symptom related with gastrointestinal disease ( group A) or biliary system disease (group B),whose dyspepsia symptom were not improved by the Domperidone 10 mg tid for 2 weeks. Two tablets of compound azintamide were administered orally following a meal, tid for 2 weeks. The changes of symptoms score of upper abdominal distention, upper abdominal pain or discomfort anorexia and effective rate as well as adverse events were recorded. Results Compound azintamide greatly improved the symptoms of upper abdominal distention, upper abdominal pain or discomfort and anorexia. All symptoms scores were significantly decreased after 2 weeks of compound azintamide (P < 0.01). The effective rate of each symptom and total symptoms score were more than 84.9% and 92.5%. One patient reported mild rash at the fourteenth days, which disappeared 3 days later. Conclusion Compound azintamide showed effective and safety in treatment of patient with dyspepsia symptoms when Domperidone therapy is not satisfactory.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of testicular appendages, observe their morphology, and analyze their histopathological origins.

METHODSWe observed 67 testes in 54 patients (15 children and 39 adults) undergoing scrotal surgery, investigated the incidence of testicular appendages, and identified their histopathological origins. We used the Chi-square test to compare the findings from the children and adult patients, with P < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTSThe detection rates of the appendix testis, appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aberrans inferior were 80.6% (54/67), 23.9% (16/67), 1.5% (1/67), 3.0% (2/67), and 1.5% (1/67), respectively. The incidence of testicular appendages was higher in children than in adults (93.3% vs 80.8%), but with no statistically significant difference (Chi2 = 1.339, P > 0.05), and that of the appendix testis and epididymis with pedicles was significantly higher in the former than in the latter (82.4% vs 54.7%, chi2 = 4.149, P < 0.05). Pathological examination showed that the appendix testis originated from the paramesonephric duct, while the appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aberrans inferior from the mesonephric duct.

CONCLUSIONTesticular appendages consist of five embryonic remnants, including appendix testis, appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aber- rans inferior. The appendix testis originates from the paramesonephric duct, and the other four from the mesonephric duct. The clinical implication of these testicular appendages is their tendency to torsion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Testis ; pathology ; Young Adult

Bone remodeling is balanced by bone formation and bone resorption as well as by alterations in the quantities and functions of seed cells, leading to either the maintenance or deterioration of bone status. The existing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), known as a family of short non-coding RNAs, are the key post-transcriptional repressors of gene expression, and growing numbers of novel miRNAs have been verified to play vital roles in the regulation of osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and adipogenesis, revealing how they interact with signaling molecules to control these processes. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the roles of miRNAs in regulating bone remodeling as well as novel applications for miRNAs in biomaterials for therapeutic purposes.

OBJECTIVE To explore the hypolipidemic mechanisms of the total phenylpropanoid glycosides from Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.)Blume (LRTPG)in hamsters using proteomics technique. METHODS The hamsters were fed with a high fat diet to induce hyperlipidemia.Then LRTPG of high (1.2 g·kg-1),medium(0.6 g·kg-1)and low(0.3 g·kg-1)doses were administrated daily for 4 weeks.Then the concentrations of plasma and hepatic lipids were determined using enzymic methods.The total protein was extracted from livers of the model group and the group treated with the high dose of LRTPG for label-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS LRTPG significantly reduced the concentrations of plasma and hepatic lipids in hamsters fed a high fat diet. The proteomics data showed that a total of 2231 proteins were identified,and 549 proteins were found to be differentially expressed between the model group and the group treated with LRTPG.Among the 549 proteins,93 proteins were up-regulated and 59 proteins were down-regulated, and 397 proteins were absent or not. And some of these proteins were much related to the lipid metabolism. Further, gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated metabolic process, transport, oxidation-reduction process, phosphorylation, signal transduction, lipid metabolic process were the main biological processes that those differentially expressed proteins participated. KEGG pathway analysis showed that those proteins were involved in several metabolic pathways including oxidative phosphorylation,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. CONCLUSION The proteomics study could provide valuable clues to help us to understand the hypolipidemic mechanisms of LRTPG much better.

Objective The CT values of brain tissue of premature infants are usually low and it is difficult to assess if they stand in the normal range of CT values of premature infants. This paper aims at studying the differences of brain CT values between the premature and term infants. Methods Seventy-six premature infants were divided into 2 groups according to the gestational age: 28 - 33+6 weeks group (n = 36) and 34 - 36+6 weeks group (n = 40). Fifty term infants were used as the control group. The cranial CT scan was taken and the CT values of various regions of brain tissues were measured. Results The CT values of cerebellum, brainstem, basal segment, thalamus, white matter and grey matter in the two premature infants groups were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The CT values of the above regions of brain tissues in the 28 - 33 + 6 weeks group were significantly lower than those in the 34- 36+ 6 weeks group ( P ＜ 0.01). Conclusions This study shows that the brain CT values of the premature infants are significantly lower than those of the term infants, thus the reference range of the brain CT values of full term neonates is not fit for the premature newborns.

AIMTo explore the effects of tRNA on the growth of mammalian cells.

METHODSL929, NIH3T3, MCF-7 and PC12 cells were seeded in 96 well culture plate individually, and incubated at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 for 4 h, the tRNAs from different species were added to the culture media individually. After certain time of incubation, the viability of the cells was evaluated by the MTT methods. Sub-confluent L929 cells were incubated with 200 microg/ml ytRNA for different times, then the cells were pooled and analyzed with flow cytometry assay.

RESULTStRNA specifically inhibited the growth of L929 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The sizes of tRNA-treated cells showed larger sizes and longer processes than those of untreated cells. Flow cytometric analysis further showed that most of tRNA-treated cells were arrested in S phase of the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONThe cell growth inhibitory effects of tRNAs were caused mainly by their degraded fragments. The results suggested that tRNA or its degraded fragments might play important roles in regulation of cell proliferation.

Animals ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Mice ; RNA, Transfer ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize our 10-year experience with percutaneous fluoroscopically guided removal (PFGR) of metallic foreign body (MFB) in the soft tissue.

METHODSPFGR was performed in 65 patients for removing a total of 368 MFBs from the soft tissues. The MFBs ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 cm in length embedded in the soft tissue for 7 days to 8 years. For superficial MFBs, the MFBs were removed directly with curved forceps under real time fluoroscopy. For deep MFBs, trocar technique was applied using the instruments for percutaneous diskectomy, with the outer cannula inserted toward the foreign body under real-time fluoroscopy followed by MFB removal by grasping forceps.

RESULTSA total of 346 MFBs were successfully removed without any serious complications (success rate 94.0%), including 154 removed directly and 192 MFBs with trocal technique. The time of the procedures and radiation exposure for MFB removal was 30 s to 20 min and 1-6 min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPGFR of MFBs in the soft tissue under fluoroscope is safe and effective. Direct removal using curved forceps is suitable for MFBs in superficial soft tissues, while trocal techniques needs to be utilized for deep MFBs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; methods ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Metals ; Radiography, Interventional ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) on endovascular exclusion (EVE) and its results.

METHODSFrom March 1997 to June 2007, 429 AAA patients were treated with endovascular stent-graft exclusion. According to the maximal diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the patients were divided into two groups: group A (diameter < 55 mm, n = 274) and group B (diameter > or = 55 mm, n = 155). The diameter of AAA, involvement of iliac artery, length, diameter and distortion of aneurismal neck in the two groups were recorded and compared retrospectively.

RESULTSPatients in group B were significantly older than group A (73.7 vs 71.1 years, P < 0.05). More patients in group B was complicated with coronary artery disease than those in group A (P < 0.05). The mean diameter of AAA in group A was (46.6 +/- 6.8) mm, and (66.8 +/- 11.2) mm in group B (P < 0.05). Proximal aneurysmal necks were shorter, wider and more tortuous in group B than those in group A (P < 0.05). Extraperitoneal approach, embolism of inner iliac artery and reconstruction of another inner iliac artery and stretch technique were more applied in group B. There were more endoleak during operation in group B and more stent-grafts were used. There was significant difference in morbidity rate between the two groups, while no statistic difference in mortality. And in group B, there were a high rate of endoleak and secondary intervention post operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe diameter of AAA affects EVE and its results. In small aneurysms, EVE carries better outcome than in big aneurysms.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of no antibiotic administration to prevent infection during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone-injection for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSSeventy-two patients with lumbar disc herniation but normal body temperature as well as normal results of three routine tests (blood, urine, stool) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in prophylaxis group were given cephalothin V(2.0 g) intravenous 30 min before the operation, and the control group did not use any antibiotics. All the patients were injected with 6-10 ml ozone (40 microg/ml) for medical use into the discs with 21G needles under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by 10 ml ozone into the paravertebral space. Three days later the general examinations and CRP measurement were repeated.

RESULTSNo infection was found in these patients, nor were any significant differences noted in the results of the examinations between the two groups after controlling in patients with above-normal white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage and CRP level.

CONCLUSIONProphylaxis antibiotics is not necessary during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone injection for lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cefazolin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Perioperative Care ; Radiography