Objective: To study the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase-4 (Flt-4) and to determine whether the presence of VEGF-D and Flt-4 was associated with the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Methods: The expressions of VEGF-D and Flt-4 proteins were examined by immunohistochemical staining in 48 pancreatic cancer tissues, 32 adjacent pancreatic tissues, and 13 normal pancreatic tissue samples. Differences in distribution of VEGF-D or Flt4 were analyzed using the χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate survival time and log-rank test was used to compare differences in survival time between the patients with or without VEGF-D or Flt-4 expression. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the positive staining rates of VEGF-D and Flt-4 in pancreatic cancer tissues were significantly lower than that in para-cancerous tissues (P < 0.05), but significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues (P < 0.05). Pancreatic cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis had higher expression of VEGF-D and Flt-4 compared with those without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). The median survival time and 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rate of VEGF-D-or Flt-4-positive patients were significantly decreased compared with VEGF-D- or Flt-4-negative patients (P < 0.05). Conclusion: VEGF-D and Flt-4 may contribute to lymph node metastasis and may serve as a prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer patients.

Background Cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is a primary treatment for cataract.However,tear film stability and ocular surface structure are affected after surgery,especially some cataract patients with diabetes.Researches determined that tear film dysfunction is an important causative factor of dry eye.Objective This study was to investigate the change of tear film after phacoemulsification in cataract patient with diabetes.Methods A non-randomized cases-controlled study was designed.Thirty-six cataract patients with diabetes (54 eyes)and matched 32 patients (40 eyes)with age-related cataract were included in this study in Tianjin First Center Hospital from October,2010 to May,2011.Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was performed on the all patients with the same topical eyedrops in both groups.Dry eye-related symptom was surveyed and scored by questionnaire,and tear film break-up time (BUT),Schirmer Ⅰ test(S Ⅰ t)and corneal fluorescein(FL) were examined 3 days before operation and 1 day,1 week,1month,3 months after operation.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before entering this trial.Results The percentage with preoperative symptoms of dry eye was 36.2％ and postoperative dry eye symptoms accounted for 75.8％.Significant differences were seen in dry eye symptom score,FL score,BUT value and S Ⅰ t value between the diabetic cataract group and only cataract group as well as among 4 time points(dry eye symptom score:Fgroup =139.347,P =0.000 ; Ftime =342.741,P =0.000 ; FL score: Fgroup =14.073,P =0.000 ; Ftime =332.697,P =0.000 ; BUT value: Fgroup =28.198,P =0.000 ; Ftime =868.364,P =0.000 ; S Ⅰ t value: Fgroup =2.848,P =0.095 ; Ftime =564.017,P=0.000).FL scores of 2 groups were significantly higher in postoperation than those in preoperation (P＜0.05),and those of diabetic cataract group were significantly higher than only cataract group(P＜0.05),but no significant difference was found between postoperation 3 months and preoperation (P＞0.05).BUT was shorter in postoperation than that in preoperation in the diabetic cataract group(P＜0.05).S Ⅰ t values in postoperative 1 day and 1 week were significantly lower than in preoperation in both groups(P＜0.05).However,S Ⅰ t values returned to normal from 1 month through 3 months in both groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Tear film dysfunction occurs after operationin cataract patient with type 2 diabetes.It is thought that cataract patient with diabetes is susceptible population of dry eye.Dry eye appears more early and severer in diabetes patients after phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation.

It is held by some of the researches that the "16 collaterals" is composed of the "15 collaterals" and "the major collateral of stomach". And it is included into the textbook that Xuli, the major collateral of stomach, is the pulsation point at the cardiac region. Xuli is often explained as the empty portion of the human body by many researches. Through analysis and summarization of the related theory of the major collateral of stomach, the above mentioned opinion is discussed. And the understanding on the major collateral of stomach is deepened. As a result, it is concluded that count the major collateral of stomach into the 16 collaterals together with the 15 collaterals is inadvisable. The real pulsation point at the cardiac region locates under the left breast. And the real meaning of Xuli is "extending in all directions".
Acupuncture ; history ; China ; Collateral Circulation ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Stomach ; blood supply

Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inhibited, but the apoptosis rate was not affected. The proliferation rates, mobility and tubule formation of all the three tested lung cancer cells, such as NCI-H446, NCI-H460 and A549, were inhibited to different extents. This cellular study not only confirmed the intracellular activity, but also suggested it may serve as a kind of "balance factor" in multi-targeted controlling, which may provide a new train of thoughts to explain the regulatory contradiction in PI3K-Akt signaling pathways by KAL.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dependovirus ; Genetic Vectors ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

Objective To explore the clinical application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)in the treatment of critically ill children with cardiac arrest.Methods The clinical data of critically ill children due to cardiac arrest who were treated with ECMO assisted CPR from June 2012 to December 2015 in Affiliated Bayi Children's Hospital,Clinical Medical College in Army General Hospital,Southern Medical University were retrospectively reviewed,and the datas were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software.Results A total of 17 patients received ECMO assisted CPR treatment,13 cases were male,4 cases were female,aged from 5 hours to 5 years old,the weight ranged from 3 to 16 kg;5 cases survived,and the survival rate 29.41％;12 cases died,the mortality rate 70.59％,of which 5 cases died of hear failure in withdrawal of ECMO,and 7 cases died of complications after withdrawal of ECMO.The age,sex ratio,body weight and other demographic data between 2 groups were not statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the primary diseases between 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in CPR time and ECMO support time between 2 groups (t =1.541,0.375,all P ＞ 0.05).Among 11 cases of children with ECMO-related complications,the incidence rate was 64.71％,the incidence of complication in the survival group was significantly less than that in the death group (x2 =8.709,P =0.003).The common complications of ECMO were bleeding,acral necrosis,infection,multiple organ failure,nervous system injury and acute kidney injury.There was no significant difference in the level of lactic acid between the survival group and the death group (P ＞ 0.05) before ECMO support started,but after 24 h of ECMO support,the lactic acid level in the survival group was significantly lower than that in the death group (t =2.896,P =0.014).Conclusions ECMO assisted CPR can improve the survival rate of critically ill children who have cardiac arrest and have no response to the conventional CPR.The serum lactic acid level after 24 h ECMO support has a guiding significance for the prognosis assessment,and ECMO patients' complications are still the most important factor affecting the prognosis of ECMO assisted CPR patients.

Using the chromosomal DNA of an ice nucleation active bacterium Erwinia ananas 110 as template, an ice nucleation active (ina) gene was amplified by PCR with Taq plusI DNA polymerase. After sequencing and compared with reported ina genes, the cloned gene was identified as a new ina gene and was registered in GenBank at the accession number of AF387802. The new ina gene, named as iceA, has 3921 bp for its coding region, which encodes 1306 amino acids consisting of repetitive segment (R-domain, 1104aa), which is flanked by N-and C-terminal sequences, with 161 aa and 41aa, respectively.

BackgroundGlaucoma associates with apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells ( RGCs).Research showed that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can repair optic nerve trauma,but it has not reported whether CNTF has a protective effect on glaucomatous optic neuropathy.ObjectiveThis experimental study was to explore the protective effect of CNTF on RGCs in rat eyes with acute ocular hypertension.MethodsOcular acute hypertension models were induced in bilateral eyes of 24 clean Wistar rats by forced perfusion of a balanced salt solution into the anterior chamber.Two days before molding,0.5 μg recombinant human CNTF (5 μl) was injected intravitreously in the left eyes,and 5 mmol/L sodium phosphate solution (5 μl) was injected in the same way as the control group.Three other Wistar rats were used as the normal control group.The animals were sacrificed by excessive anesthesia and the retinal sections were prepared 1,3,7,14 days after molding.The morphology of the retina was examined and RGCs counting was performed by hematoxylin & eosin staining and observed under a light microscope.The expression of glutamic acid in RGCs was assessed by immunochemistry.ResultsRegular retinal structure with clearly defined cell layers were observed in normal control rats.Changes in vacuoles in RGCs were seen in the model control group.The number of degenerative RGCs decreased in the CNTF group.Compared with the model control group,number of normal RGCs increased from 1 day to 14 days after molding with a significant difference between the two groups (all P=0.000).Immunochemistry assay showed that the numbers of positive cells for glutamic acid were 5.50±1.04 and 6.00±1.41 for the average of 3 fields at 3 days or 7 days in the CNTF group,and those in the model control group were 9.00±2.91 and 10.83 ± 1.94,respectively,showing significant differences between them ( all P =0.000 ).However,no comparable differences were found in the numbers of positive cells for glutamic acid at 1 day and 14 days between the two groups( P=0.578,0.180).ConclusionsCNTF down-regulates the expression of glutamic acid in RGCs and offers neuroprotection for RGCs in an acute glaucoma rat model.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection(LAPR) with pelvic peritoneum closure for patients with low rectal cancer.Methods:The clinicopathological data of 90 patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection from Mar 2014 to Jan 2019 at the Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into closed pelvic floor peritoneum group (study group, n=42) and without pelvic floor peritoneum group (control group, n=48) . Results:The postoperative hospital stay of the study group was shorter than that of the control group[(10.8±3.0) d vs. (12.4±3.1) d, t=2.569, P=0.013]. There was no statistically significant difference in the operation time , intraoperative blood loss , time to first flatus ,first time of getting out of bed between the two groups. Perineal incision infection and perineal incision dehiscence occurred in 2 cases and 1 case in the study group, and 10 cases and 9 cases in the control group respectively (χ 2= 5.007, P=0.025; χ 2=6.077, P=0.033). In the study group, there were 0 cases of perineal hernia, 1 case of pelvic floor peritoneal hernia and 2 cases of adhesive intestinal obstruction, while those in the control group were 7 cases, 8 cases and 9 cases, respectively (χ 2=6.642, P=0.013; χ 2=5.079, P=0.033; χ 2=4.085, P=0.043). Conclusion:Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection with pelvic peritoneum closure significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative perineal-related complications and shorten postoperative hospital stay.

The quality markers (Q-markers) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have become a topic of interest in TCM research in recent years. Nonetheless, there is still no consensus on how to scientifically characterize TCM Q-markers. Our study establishes an identification method for TCM Q-markers based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weight comprehensive method. By constructing an evaluation system encompassing the target layer, the factor layer and the control layer, AHP can be used to analyze the weight of three core TCM quality attributes, including effectiveness, testability and specificity. Following that, the entropy weight method is employed to analyze the specific indicators for each attribute based on the literature and experimental data. Finally, the comprehensive weight of each index is obtained by combining the two weights, and the comprehensive weight and the specific value of each component is multiplied and summed to obtain the integrated score ranking, and thereby identify the TCM Q-markers. Taking Shaoyao Gancao decoction as an example, the analysis revealed that the top 8 components are as follows: paeoniflorin > quercetin > albiflorin > glycyrrhizic acid > naringenin > liquiritin > oxypaeoniflorin > benzoylpaeoniflorin, and can be identified as Q-markers of Shaoyao Gancao decoction. This study not only provides support for the establishment of quality standards and process quality control of TCM formulae, but also provides innovative ideas and methods for quantitative evaluation and accurate identification of TCM Q-markers.

Objective To evaluate the effect and mechanism of bone morrow MSCs transplantation in swine with AMI by cell biology and molecular imaging methods including PET/CT, SPECT, and MRI. Methods Twenty?four Chinese mini?swine ( ( 25 ± 5 ) kg ) were randomly divided into 2 groups: MSCs group ( n=12) and control group ( n=12) . Myocardial infarction was induced in swine hearts by occlusion of the LAD. Thirty minutes later, the MSCs group received autologous MSCs transplantation through in?tramyocardial injection into the peri?infarcted areas (2×107,2 ml) and the control group was subjected to cell culture medium in the same way. At the 1st and 4th weeks after MSCs transplantation, myocardial glu?cose metabolism, myocardial perfusion and cardiac function were evaluated in the two groups through PET/CT, SPECT and MRI. The minimum FDG mean signal intensity ( MSI ) , summed MSI, SRS, SRS%, LVEF, ESV, stroke volume ( SV) and cardiac output ( CO) were calculated. On the 4th week, HE and Masson′s Trichrome stains were performed. Mann?Whitney u test and non?parametric Wilcoxon test were used. Results (1) As evaluated by PET in the 1st week, the MSI and summed MSI in MSCs group were less than those in control group ( 22. 10 ± 3. 18 vs 35. 70 ± 3. 02, z=-2. 65; 1 013. 50 ± 29. 37 vs 1 084. 00 ± 21?15, z=-1.97;both P<0.05) . Compared to the minimum MSI and summed MSI in the 1st week, those in MSCs group increased significantly (34.00±4.25, z=-2.81;1 075.50±28.30, z=-2.80;both P<0?01) in the 4th week. SRS and SRS% decreased in the 4th week compared to those in the 1st week (20.20±2.24 vs 23.80±1.58, (29.80±3.31)% vs (35.10±2.34)%;both z=-2.08, both P<0.05). The averaged MSI in left ventricular infarction area (MSI<70) also increased (56.25±3.54 vs 48.14±2.71;z=-2.80, P<0.01). The a?bove?mentioned parameters had no statistically significant differences in the 4th week compared to those in the 1st week in the control group (all P>0.05). (2) In the 1st week, the perfusion variables had no signifi?cant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05) . There was no significant difference in any perfusion vari?ables between the 1st and 4th weeks in the two groups, respectively (P>0.05). (3) As evaluated by MRI, the cardiac functional parameters had no significant differences between the two groups at the 1st week. In the MSCs groups, LVEF increased significantly ((54.41±2.62)% vs (47.54±2.43)%;z=-2.60, P<0.01) and ESV reduced significantly ((22.85±1.91) vs (27.07±1.67) ml;z=-2.70, P<0.01) in the 4th week com?pared to those in the 1st week; SV and cardiac CO in the 4th week also increased significantly ((29.35± 1?84) vs (26.52±1.46) ml, (2.23±0.14) vs (1.96±0.13) L/min;z=-2.09 and -1.99, both P<0?05). In the control group, there were no significant differences in the cardiac functional parameters between the 1st and 4th weeks ( all P>0.05) . Conclusions Four weeks after MSCs transplantation for AMI, cardiac func?tion and myocardial glucose metabolism improved significantly but without significant myocardial perfusion improvement. Therefore, the cardiac function improvement might be associated with increased myocardial glucose metabolism.