OBJECTIVETo explore the scavenging action of tenuigenin (TEN) on intracerebral amyloid β protein (Aβ) aggregation and the abnormal phosphorylated tau protein and its mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats' brain.

METHODSAβ1-40 was injected into the right CA1 region hippocampus to establish the AD model. Successfully modeled rats were divided into the model group, the low, middle, high TEN group. Rats were administered with TEN (18.5, 37.0, 74.0 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Besides, a sham-operation group was set up. Expression levels of Aβ1-40 and Tau p-Ser262 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-protein ligase E3 were measured by Western blotting.The content of 26S proteasome was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results showed that the number of Aβ and Tau p-Ser262 positively reacted neurons significantly increased in model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed expression levels of ubiquitinated protein were up-regulated and those of Ub-protein ligase E3 were down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). ELISA results showed that the content of 26S proteasome significantly decreased in AD rats' brain (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, expression levels of Aβ1-40, Tau p-Ser262, and Ub significantly decreased; expression levels of Ub-protein ligase E3 apparently increased; the content of 26S proteasome significantly increased in each TEN treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Best effect was shown in 37.0 mg/kg and 74.0 mg/kg TEN groups.

CONCLUSIONSUb proteasome pathway (UPP) participated in the occurrence of AD. TEN could obviously reduce intracere- bral Aβ1-40 accumulation and abnormal tau phosphorylation.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins

BACKGROUNDThe mechanisms of action for volatile anesthetics remain unknown for centuries partly owing to the insufficient or ineffective research models. We designed this study to develop three strains derived from a wild-type Drosophila melanogaster with different sensitivities to volatile anesthetics, which may ultimately facilitate molecular and genetic studies of the mechanism involved.

METHODSMedian effective doses (ED(50)) of sevoflurane in seven-day-old virgin female and male wild-type Drosophila melanogaster were determined. The sensitive males and females of percentile 6 - 10 were cultured for breeding sensitive offspring (S(1)). So did median ones of percentile 48 - 52 for breeding median offspring (M(1)), resistant ones of percentile 91 - 95 for breeding resistant offspring (R(1)). Process was repeated through 31 generations, in the 37th generation, S(37), M(37) and R(37) were used to determine ED(50) for enflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, halothane, methoxyflurane, chloroform and trichloroethylene, then ED(50) values were correlated with minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) values in human.

RESULTSFrom a wild-type Drosophila melanogaster we were able to breed three strains with high, median and low sevoflurane requirements. The ratio of sevoflurane requirements of three strains were 1.20:1.00:0.53 for females and 1.22:1.00:0.72 for males. Strains sensitive, median and resistant to sevoflurane were also sensitive, median and resistant to other volatile anesthetics. For eight anesthetics, ED(50) values in three strains correlated directly with MAC values in human.

CONCLUSIONSThree Drosophila melanogaster strains with high, median and low sensitivity to volatile anesthetics, but with same hereditary background were developed. The ED(50) are directly correlated with MAC in human for eight volatile anesthetics.

Anesthetics, Inhalation ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chloroform ; pharmacology ; Drosophila melanogaster ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Enflurane ; pharmacology ; Female ; Halothane ; pharmacology ; Isoflurane ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Methoxyflurane ; pharmacology ; Methyl Ethers ; pharmacology ; Trichloroethylene ; pharmacology

ObjectiveTo explore the Apolipoprotein-E （ApoE） gene polymorphism in patients with Alzheimer's disease （AD）, vascular dementia (VD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MethodsPeripheral blood was taken from patient with AD, VD or MCI to determine the ApoE genotypes. ResultsThe most of the patients were ε3/ε3 genotype, while the ε2/ε2 and ε4/ε4 could not be detected. ε3/ε4 genotype （P=0.001） and ApoE ε4 allele （P=0.013） was more frequent in AD than in MCI. ApoE ε4 was more frequent in VD than in MCI （P=0.044）. ConclusionApoE ε4 allele is a risk factor in AD, and may be associated with VD and MCI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical outcome of surgical treatment for spinal metastatic tumors.

METHODSThirty-six patients with metastatic spine tumors treated surgically were retrospectivly reviewed from September 2005 to August 2010. There were 15 males and 21 females with an average age of 58 years old (ranged, 27 to 79 years). The site of origin of primary cancer included the breast, prostate, colon, lung, liver, esophagus, kidney, carcinoma, bladder, and 10 patients were with unidentified primary cancer. Five lesions were located in the cervical spine, 17 in the thoracic spine, 13 in the lumbar spine and 1 in the sacral vertebrae. Preoperative evaluation was conducted according to Tokuhashi system: total score 0 to 8 in 9 cases, 9 to 11 in 25 cases, 12 to 15 in 2 cases. The surgical procedures, including PVP, tumor resection and decompression, titanium nets implant, artificial vertebra replacement, bone cement stuffiness and inter fixation, were performed based on Tokuhashi score, location of lesions and neurological symptoms.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the during ranged from 2 months to 60 months with a mean time of 10.8 months. Pain relief was obtained in all patients after operation, and the VAS pain scores declined after operation. Among 14 patients suffering from spinal cord and nerve compromise, 12 patients improved 1 to 2 grades after surgery according to the Frankel grading system. According to the system of the ECOG performance status: 28 patients improved 1 to 2 grades in performance status after surgery. The postoperative survival rates at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years were 97.2%, 63.9%, 38.9% and 16.7% respectively. Six patines had bone cement leakage after PVP, and none resulted in severe complications.

CONCLUSIONAccording to single or multiple spinal metastases, neurological symptoms, spinal stability and patients' condition, the different surgical treatments can be selected for spinal metastatic patients, which can relieve pain, maintain or improve the neurological status, improve quality of life, improve survival rate of patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in pancreatic cancer and its influence on the proliferation and migration of cancer cells.

METHODSThe expression of CTGF in pancreatic cell line PANC-1 cells was analyzed by real-time PCR and in pancreatic carcinoma (50 cases) tissues by immunohistochemistry. The ability of proliferation and migration in vitro of PANC-1 cells was tested by MTT assay, scratch test and Boyden chamber test after the CTGF gene was overexpressed by Ad5-CTGF or silenced with Ad5-siCTGF transfection.

RESULTSCTGF was overexpressed in both pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. Overxpression of CTGF leads to increased proliferation and migration of PANC-1 cells. The CTGF-transfected PANC-1 cells showed apparent stronger proliferation ability and scratch-repair ability than that of empty vector controls. The results of Boyden chamber test showed that there were 34 cells/field (200× magnificantion) of the CTGF-transfected overexpressing cells, much more than the 11 cells/field of the empty vector control cells; and 6 cells/microscopic field of the Ad5-siCTGF-transfected silenced cells, much less than the 15 cells/field of the control cells.

CONCLUSIONSCTGF is overexpressed in both pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating that it may play an important role in the cell proliferation and migration in pancreatic cancer.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective To explore the process and technique ofneuroendoscopic operation in obstructive hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa. Methods An analysis of 31 patients with obstractive hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa, admitted to our hospital from April 2004 to August 2010, was performed; CT and MRI were performed on these patients. Among all the 31patients, 19 had arachnoid cyst of the posterior fossa, 5 Dandy-Walker malformations, 2 Blake' s pouch cyst, and 5 cysts after resection of the tumor. Treatment efficacy was determined according to the improvement of clinical symptoms, imaging manifestations and appearing of relative complications.Results Endoscopic management (n=14), microsurgery (n=9) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (n=8) were performed. All the patients' postoperative hydrocephalus was alleviated in early stage of treatnent.Subsequent follow-up, ranged from 0.6 to 6 years, revealed a sharp reduction of sizes of the cyst and ventricle system under MRI in 28 patients, with a total effective rate of 87.1％. The effective rate and incidence of complications were 92.9％ and 14.3％ in patients performed endoscopic management, 88.9％and 33.3％ in patients performed microsurgery, and 75％ and 50％ in patients performed ventriculoperitoneal shunt, respectively.Conclusion Neuroendoscopic procedure is a safe and effective technique for hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa; as compared with those with microsurgery and ventriculoperitoneal shunt, higher success rate and less operative complications are achieved in patients with endoscopic management.

BACKGROUNDThe Red Cross of China and Ministry of Health jointly started a pilot program of organ donation after cardiac death to overcome the shortage of available organs since 2010. The purpose of this qualitative study were to compare the consent rate of organ donation between young donor families and adult donor families; to explore and determine factors associated with differences in willingness to donate organs between them. Research objective was to provide a rationale for further preparation of professionals involved in this sensitive work.

METHODSBetween March 2010 and June 2012, 24 young deceased patients including donors and non-donors and 96 potential adult donors were collected, and consent rates of young donors' families and adult donors' families were calculated. A χ(2) test analysis to compare the consent rates of the two groups was conducted. We studied through semistructured interviews 15 parents of young donors and 15 relatives of old donors who were interviewed for petition of consent. Data collection and analysis of the overall study were performed according to the grounded theory methodology. Factors that influenced the families' decisions were identified and classified. We found the differences in willingness to donate organs between the two groups.

RESULTSThe consent rate of young donor families was 66.67%, while the consent rate of adult donor families was 26.04%. Young donor families easily consented to organ donation than adult donor families (P < 0.005). The donors' families had been affected by various factors throughout the process of deciding to give consent for donation. The findings led to the formulation of an empirically based model of interlinking categories that influence families' decision-making process in organ donation. These factors are grouped into five main categories: (1) personal factors, (2) conditions of organ request, (3) interpersonal factors, (4) ethical factors, and (5) traditional views. The funeral tradition influenced the young donor parents' consent to donation, but had no relation with family decision of adult donors. And the family members of young donors are relatively less, who are more likely to reach a consensus.

CONCLUSIONSYoung donor families influenced by traditional funeral beliefs are easier to consent to organ donation than adult donor families. Family members of young donors are relatively less who are more likely to reach a consensus. Acceptance of the expanded criteria donors may improve the organ donation rates, especially those of the advanced age.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cadaver ; China ; Family ; psychology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tissue and Organ Procurement

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of childhood asthma, and to find the distribution characteristics, precipitating factors, diagnosis and treatment status, and to provide scientific data for improving the prevention and management of asthma in children in Kunming City, China.

METHODSChildren were selected by random cluster sampling. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out possible patients in the survey. Diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by diagnostic criteria in suspected asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were further asked for past diagnosis and treatment with the questionnaire of asthma in children.

RESULTSThe total asthma incidence rate was 1.40%. The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 1.89% and 0.88% respectively (P<0.05). Children aged 0-5 years old had a higher prevalence of asthma (1.69%) than that of school-age children (6-14 years old, 1.21%). In all asthmatic children, 51.3% were previously diagnosed with classical asthma or cough variant asthma, 26.0% were suffered attacks from December to February, and 54.0% were suffered attacks at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection (87.3%) was the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation. Antibiotics were used in 80.0%, bronchodilators in 66.0%, inhaled corticosteroid in 64.0%. A peak flow meter for monitoring lung function was used in 17% of asthmatic children over 5 years old.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of asthma is associated with age and gender in children aged 0-14 years old in Kunming City. Acute asthma attack occurs mostly in winter and at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection is the most common trigger of asthma exacerbation. Nearly a half of patients with asthma had not been diagnosed with asthma in the early stage. Most asthmatic children use antibiotics and only two-thirds use bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroid in the treatment. The treatment and management of asthma in children awaits improvement as well.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical outcomes after transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

METHODSPatients undergoing transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer at the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University were included.

RESULTSThree patients underwent transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic radical resection for sigmoid colon cancer and 1 for rectal cancer between August 2010 and September 2010. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. No conversion was required. The mean operative time was 206 min and the mean estimated blood loss was 75 ml. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 21. Patients were ambulatory in the same day of surgery or postoperative day 1. Length of hospital stay ranged from 7 to 10 days.

CONCLUSIONSTransumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery is safe for colorectal cancer. Long-term outcomes warrant further investigation.

Adult ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Umbilicus ; surgery

BACKGROUNDBladder urothelial cancer has been diagnosed at an increasing rate among young adults in China while the clinical outcomes remain highly controversial. To optimize the management of young patients with bladder cancer, we examined whether bladder urothelial cancer in young patients behaved differently from that in the elder patients.

METHODSFrom 1994 to 2008, a database of bladder urothelial cancer patients at a major tertiary medical center was retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and pathological parameters of patients who were less than 40 years of age and a series of patients older than 40 years of age as the control group during the same period were compared. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, and Cox regression was performed to identify clinical parameters that affected the clinic outcomes.

RESULTSYoung bladder cancer patients had a lower male-to-female ratio and were less likely to have advanced stages and high-grade cancers at the initial diagnosis. Tumors in young bladder cancer patients tended to be less multifocal at diagnosis. In addition, young patients had a lower recurrence rate and longer recurrence interval than older patients. The Kaplan-Meier curve and Log-rank test showed that young patients had significantly better cancer specific survival than old patients. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor grade is the sole predictor for tumor recurrence in young patients.

CONCLUSIONSYoung patients with bladder cancer have favorable pathological features and clinical outcomes than older patients. These findings argue for more conservative management approaches for young patients with bladder cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; Urothelium ; pathology ; Young Adult