0.05),but correlated with age and invasion depth of tumor(P

Objective To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of auto antibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Method The clinical features and laboratory parameters were compared between auto-antibndy-negative(n=30)and-positive(n=217)RA patients.The patients with osteoarthritis(OA,n=34) were used as controls.Results Thirty(12.1%)of 247 RA patients were auto-antibody-negative.It was shown that morning stiffness of the joints in auto-antibody-negative RA was shorter than that of auto-antibody-posi- tive RA patients(P

Objective To assess clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC). Methods Clinicopathological and follow-up data of 115 cHCC-CC patients confirmed pathologically in Liver Cancer Institute of Fudan University from 1995 to 2007 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate 1-,3- and 5-year survival rates and tumor-free survival rates. Survival curves were analyzed using the log-rank test. The factors that impacted the prognosis of cHCC-CC were estimated. Results In 115 cases, one was Allen's type A, one was Allen's type B, and the other 113 were Allen's type C. Being with male in predominance, most of the cHCC-CC patients had liver cirrhosis background. They presented with elevated AFP or CA19-9, vascular invasion, resembling hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)as well as lymph nodes metastasis. One-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of 115 patients were 68. 1%, 38. 1% and 33.6%, respectively, with median survival time of 13.0 months. Whereas the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates in radical resected patients were 78.4 % ,44.4 % and 44.4 % ,respectively, with median survival time of 16.0 months. Tumor free survival time at 1-, 3- and 5-year was 57.8 %, 12.6 % and 0.0 %,respectively,with median recurrent time of 10.0 months. One-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of 10 nonsurgical patients were 10/10,10/10 and 0/10,respectively, with median survival time of 5.3 months.TNM stage was independent factor for prognosis of the patients after resection. Whereas the lymph nodes involvement was independent factor for the tumor free survival time of radical resected patients.Conclusions Although clinicopathological characteristics of cHCC-CC are more similar to those of HCC, the prognosis of cHCC-CC is more unfavorable than that of HCC. TNM stage is an independent determinant of long time outcome for patients after resection.

AIM:To investigate the effect of renal denervation ( RDN) by radiofrequency catheter ablation on the expression of aquaporins ( AQP) in dog kidneys .METHODS:Adult Chinese Kunming dogs ( n=12 ) were randomly divided into RDN group and control group (6 for each group).The dogs in RDN group underwent bilateral RDN using ra-diofrequency catheter ablation , and radiofrequency catheter was positioned in bilateral renal artery without ablation in con -trol group.The levels of norepinephrine (NE) and AQP1~3 in the renal tissues were detected 1 month after RDN, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed at baseline and 1 month after RDN.RESULTS: The level of NE in RDN group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).The expression of AQP1~3 in the renal cortex and medulla was lower in RDN group than that in control group .RDN also caused a substantial BP reduction (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:RDN substantially decreases the tissue levels of NE and AQP in dog kidneys , and also decreases BP sig-nificantly , which might be involved in the mechanism of BP reduction by RDN .Renal sympathetic nerve plays an excitatory role in the regulation of AQP in the kidney.

Objective To investigate the effects of different pacing sites of right ventricle on serum N terminal Pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) and left ventricular systolic function.Methods A total of 76 patients with an implanted DDD pacemaker were randomly divided into right ventricular septal pacing group (RVSP group,n=40) and right ventricular apex pacing group (RVAP group,n=36) according to the ventricular leads position.Serum NT-proBNP level,left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVEDD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were analyzed before and 6 months after operation in the two groups.Results There was no difference in serum NT-proBNP level between the two groups before operation,but the serum NT-proBNP level increased in both groups 6 months after operation,and it was higher in RVAP group than in RVSP group (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in LVEDD and LVEF in RVSP group before and after implantation (P＞0.05).Compared with pre-implantation,LVEDD was increased and LVEF was decreased in RVAP group 6 months after implantation (both P＜0.05).Linear correlation analysis showed that serum NT-proBNP level was negatively correlated to LVEF (2γ=-0.76,P＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with RVAP,RVSP can keep the normal sequence of electrical activity and exert less adverse effects on left ventricular systolic function.Therefore,RVS is an ideal pacing location.

Objective To evaluate and analyze relationship of plasma level of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) and serum level of cystatin C (CysC) with cardiac and renal functions in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) , and explore significance of CysC measurement in early diagnosis for renal damage in patients with CHF. Methods Totally, 162 patients with CHF and 150 normal healthy (controls) undergone routine physical check-up at, Taizhou People's Hospital, Jiangsu were enrolled in the study. Their plasma level of NT-proBNP and serum level of CysC, as well as serum levels of creatinine ( SCr) , urea nitrogen ( BUN) were measured and echocardiography was performed. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated by modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) study group formula. Results Compared with the control group, blood levels of NT-proBNP, CysC, SCr, BUN and left ventricular end diastolic diameter ( LVEDD) all elevated, both eGFR and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) decreased (P <0. 05 or P <0. 01 ) in CHF group, and CHF patients were prone to complicate with renal dysfunction (P<0. 01). Blood levels of NT-proBNP and CysC elevated significantly and LVEF lowered significantly in CHF patients with NYHA functional classes II , III and IV than those in control group. There was significant difference in blood levels of NT-proBNP and CysC between patients with varied NYHA functional classes (P<0. 05). Blood levels of NT-proBNP and CysC reversely correlated with LVEF (r = -0. 36, P < 0. 01 and r = - 0. 39, P < 0. 01) . Blood level of CysC correlated with that of NT-proBNP ( r = 0. 87 , P < 0. 01). Results of logistic regression analysis showed that elevated blood levels of NT-proBNP and CysC were risk factors for mortality during hospitalization in patients with CHF. Conclusions Patients with CHF were more likely to complicate with renal dysfunction than controls, with main manifestations of more severe damaged eGFR, more severe heart failure and more obviously renal damage. Blood levels of NT-proBNP and CysC can be used as indicators for evaluating exacerbation of chronic condition, and serumlevel of CysC can be used as marker for early diagnosing renal damage in patients with CHF.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of carbon monoxide(CO) on the permeability of brain blood barrier(BBB) in cerebral ischemic rats. METHODS: SD rats were divided into three groups. Saline, hemin or ZnPP were injected intraperitoneally 12 h before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), respectively. The concentration of blood CO and the permeability of BBB at 24 h after MCAO were measured. RESULTS: The CO concentration in blood in hemin group was higher than that in saline group( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: CO reduced the permeability of BBB as a messenger gas molecular when its intrinsic concentration was elevated.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of Lipo-prostaglandin E1 (LipoPGE1) in the treatment of non-ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEAMI).Methods A total of 86 patients with NSTEAMI were randomly and equally divided into LipoPGE1 group (n= 43) which received intravenous LipoPGE1 combined with low-molecular-weight heparin,aspirin, clopidogrel and other basic therapy, and the control group (n=43) which received placebo combined with the same therapy. The basic clinical settings, curative effect, main adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) within 30 days including sudden death, new-onset myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization, bleeding complications and drug adverse effects were observed. Results There were no significant differences in basic clinical characteristics between the two groups. Compared with control group, the patients in LipoPGE1 group showed. significant improvements of ECG (93.0% vs. 74.4%), angina (95.3% vs. 81.4%, both P＜0. 05), the incidences of left heart failure (2.3% vs. 14.0%) and MACEs within 30 days (4.7% vs.18.6%)(both P＜0.05). There were no serious drug adverse effects. Conclusions The LipoPGE1 combined with heparin, aspirin and clopidogrel is effective and safe in the treatment of NSTEAMI,which could improve the clinical symptoms, distal myocardium perfusion and cardiac function,decrease the incidence of MACEs.

OBJECTIVETo explore novel cancer gene therapy by retrovirus-mediated RNAi technique to suppress the endogenous EphA2 oncogene expression in colon adenocarcinoma HCT-8 cells.

METHODSSequence information of EphA2 mRNA was selected and two complementary oligonucleotides with hairpin loop were designed. Retrovirus-mediated RNAi expression vector (pSIREN-EphA2) was then constructed and transfected into the HCT-8 cells. Inhibition of EphA2 protein expression was quantitatively determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry assay (SP method).

RESULTSThe construction of pSIREN-EphA2 vector was successful and confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis and DNA sequencing. The post-transfection level of EphA2 protein expressions was greatly reduced in HCT-8 cells transfected with pSIREN-EphA2, as compared with those of untransfected cells and the vector control (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSEphA2 protein expression in HCT-8 cell line can be suppressed using recombinant retrovirus-mediated RNAi technique. This approach may provide a novel gene therapy against colonic adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptor, EphA2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

Aim To investigate the molecular mecha-nism of Gab2 in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer and provide a theoretical basis for clinical pre-vention of breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Methods The Gab2 , MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in 80 cases of breast cancer were detected by immuno-histochemistry . Western blot was used to detect the ex-pression of Gab2 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells. The siRNA plasmid was used to transfect MDA-MB-231 cells. Western blot was used to detect the proteins expression of Gab2 , MMP-2 and MMP-9 . Transwell in vitro experiment was used to detect the in-vasion ability of each group transfected MDA-MB-231 cells, Western blot was used to analyze phosphorylation of Akt and ARK5 induced by epithelial growth factor ( EGF ) in transfected cells ( SiGab2/MDA-MB-231 and Scr/MDA-MB-231 ) . Results The expression of Gab2 protein in invasive ductal carcinoma was signifi-cantly higher than in normal breast tissue ( P<0. 01 ) . The expression of Gab2 was dramatically correlated with lymph node metastasis, ER expression, tumor his-tological grade, MMP-2 and MMP-9 (P<0. 05). The expression of Gab2 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells was higher than in MCF-7 cells. The expression of Gab2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased in SiGab2/MDA-MB-231 cells and the invasion ability of SiGab2/MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly decreased ( P<0. 05 ) , and after 5 minutes’ stimulating by EGF, the phosphoryla-tion of Akt and ARK5 was significantly reduced. Con-clusion Gab2 can promote the invasion and metasta-sis of breast cancer by effecting the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 through PI3 K/ Akt /ARK5 signal path-way.