Objective To investigate the incidence of pancreatic cancer-related depression in Guangzhou,China.Methods A multicenter,prospective survey was conducted,50 patients with pancreatic cancer,60 with liver cancer,50 with esophageal cancer,50 with gastric cancer,52 with colorectal cancer were enrolled from 4 hospitals in Guangzhou between June 2007 and June 2009.Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-24 (HAMD-24) questionnaire was used to assess the degree of depression.Results The incidence of depression in pancreatic cancer patients was 78% (39/50),which was significantly higher than that among liver cancer patients (60% ,36/60),gastric cancer patients (36%,18/50),esophageal cancer patients(24%,12/50),and colorectal cancer patients(19.2%,10/52,P＜0.05 ).Twelve of 50 patients in pancreatic cancer were reported to have severe depression (24%),which was significantly more than that in liver cancer (10%,6/60),gastric cancer (4%,2/50),esophageal and colorectal cancer (0,P ＜0.05).In pancreatic cancer patients,the incidence of depression was significantly higher in patients with advanced stage (94.3%) than that in early stage (46.7%,P＜0.05).Patients who underwent chemotherapy had high incidence of depression(92.3%)than that of patients who underwent operation (62.5%,P＜0.05 ).Conclusions Compared with other cancers of digestive tract,the incidence of pancreatic cancer-related depression was higher,and its degree was more severe than that of other cancers.

AIM:To explore the influence of long-term swimming on peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetic rats.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet, and injected with streptozocin to estab-lish a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group (C group), ex-ercise control group ( CE group ) , diabetes mellitus group ( DM group ) and diabetes mellitus +exercise group ( DME group).The rats in CE group and DME group received 8-week swimming training (6 d/week).The training time was 20, 30 and 45 min in the first 3 d,respectively, and then it increased to 60 min a day.Eight weeks later, the motor nerve conduc-tion velocity ( MNCV ) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor α( TNF-α) , interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) and C-reactive protein ( CRP) in sciatic nerve tissues of the rats were measured .The morphological changes of the sciatic nerve were also observed under light microscope .RESULTS:Compared with DM group , 8-week swimming obviously accelerated the MNCV ( P<0.05), decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in DME group (but no significant difference, P>0.05).The obvi-ous nerve injury in DM group was observed .However , the pathological change of the sciatic nerve in DME group was re-lieved.CONCLUSION:Eight-week swimming training significantly accelerates the MNCV , attenuates the nerve injury in diabetic rats and has protective effect on peripheral nerve , which may be correlated with relieving the inflammatory reaction .

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) gene in a Chinese family with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to identify the mutation type. The sequencing results were compared with the normal sequences in GenBank to find the mutation. In order to exclude the polymorphism, 30 normal volunteers were analyzed.

RESULTSOne novel mutation (17839 del C) was detected in 5 patients with HAE. The mutation was not found in controls.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation of C1 INH gene (17839 del C) is identified in the family. Molecular diagnosis can be made by detecting the mutation.

Angioedema ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Complement C1 ; genetics ; Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins ; genetics ; Exons ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors which influence the safety and prognosis of aorta replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 1982 to October 2002, 67 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were admitted, and 24 of them combined with CABG. Of the 24 patients, 9 received descending aorta replacement combined with CABG, and the other 15 received the ascending aorta replacement combined with CABG. The treatment results were compared with the other 43 patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement.

RESULTSThe mortality rate of the patients with aorta replacement combined with CABG was 13% (3/24). Though the descending aorta replacement combined with CABG could make the cardiopulmonary bypass time and selective cerebral perfusion time longer, (278 +/- 54) min and (188 +/- 59) min respectively, no significant difference was observed in postoperative complications, 3-year survival rate, 3-year-cardiac-event-free rate compared with the patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aorta replacement combined with CABG can be performed safely, and the revascularization for coronary artery disease is useful for preventing occurrence of cardiac events.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the value of human fatty acid binding protein (h-FABP) in predicting myocardial ischemia and injury in the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, we observed the dynamic changes of h-FABP in perioperative period of patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and ventricular septal defects repairing surgery, and evaluated the relationship of h-FABP and ischemia modified albumin ( IMA), CK-MB, cTnI. Methods Patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (n =30) and ventrieular septal defect repairing (n = 30) surgery between February 2008 and December 2008 were included in this study. Venous blood sample was obtained at preoperative, aortic clamping, aortic unclamping of 10 rain, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h for the measurements of h-FABP, IMA, cTnI and CKMB. Results h-FABP and IMA changed in the same way at various examined time points, h-FABP changes also paralleled cTnI and CK-MB changes, h-FABP peaked early during myocardial ischemia and injury and returned to baseline level at 2 h post myocardial ischemia and injury. Linear correlation analysis showed that the peak value of h-FABP was positively correlated with IMA, CK-MB and cTnI in both CABG group (r =0. 948, 0. 964 and 0. 961, P < 0. 05 ) and in the VSD group ( r = 0. 986, 0. 978 and 0. 957). Conclusions h-FABP is an early diagnostic parameter reflecting perioperative myocardial ischemia and injury in cardiac surgery. Quantitative h-FABP monitoring could predict the severity of myocardial ischemia and injury early during cardiac surgery.

AIMTo report the clinical experience during collecting sperm samples in the Fragile X syndrome (FXS) male patients.

METHODSTwo different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods were used for the molecular diagnosis of FXS. Sperm collection was done mostly according to the laboratory manual of the World Health Organization.

RESULTSWe failed to collect sperm samples from five Fragile X subjects aged 18-60 years as a result of an unexpected erectile dysfunction (ED). Multiple examinations of the same subject at different times, and of different subjects from different provinces examined by different physicians, showed the same result consistently in all the five subjects.

CONCLUSIONErectile reflex is an instinctive response in all healthy males. The absence of erection can be caused by hormonal, physical or neuronal malfunction. As hormonal profiles were reported to be generally normal in Fragile X men, we propose that an unknown physical factor or the neuronal circuit, or both, underlying the erection is compromised. The finding of this symptom in Fragile X patients may help better understand the clinical spectrum and pathogeneses of the disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

·AIM: To quantitatively assess the influence of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on the length of lens zonules and anterior chamber depth (ACD). ·METHODS: The medical records of 87 cataract patients (88 eyes ) were retrospectively reviewed. Forty- three patients (44 eyes) with previous PPV were included in the study group, and 44 patients (44 eyes) without a history of PPV were served as control group. Length of zonules and anterior chamber depth ( ACD ) were quantitative analyzed based on the data from ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM) and IOL Master examinations respectively. ·RESULTS: The average length of zonules in study and control group were 1. 09 ± 0. 24mm and 0. 78 ± 0. 22mm, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). The ACD of the two groups were 3. 25 ± 0. 39mm and 3. 44 ± 0. 48mm, respectively, and a statistical difference was observed (P<0. 05). The length of zonules in the control group was positively correlated with the ACD (r=0. 468, P=0. 001), however, this was not the case in the study group (r=0. 173, P=0. 263). ·CONCLUSION: Previous vitrectomy may cause changes in zonular length, which may imply a possibly weakened zonules, especially for patients with the axial length less than 29mm. The change in anterior chamber depth in patients with previous PPV may not be correspondent to that in the length of zonules. The findings of our study suggest that preoperative conditions of zonules and anterior chamber should be fully understood to reduce the related complications and to improve the safety and efficiency of cataract surgery after pars plana vitrectomy.

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

OBJECTIVEFibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by mutations of ACVR1 gene and can be inherited from either mother or father. FOP is characterized by the presence of malformations of the big toes and of progressive extra-skeletal ossification. Direct sequence analyses of genomic DNA have demonstrated that there is an identical single nucleotide substitution (c617G-->A, R206H) in the glycine-serine (GS) activation domain of ACVR1 gene, responsible for all affected individuals reported so far. We report a Chinese girl with typical FOP characteristics, in whom the same mutation in ACVR1 was identified.

METHODSClinical diagnosis was based on physical examination, radiological findings, and biochemical tests. For mutation detection, peripheral blood was obtained with informed consent from the patient and the parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using standard method. Exon 4 of ACVR1 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were subjected to automatic DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe affected girl is 3-year-old and showed typical clinical manifestations of FOP. She had malformations of the halluces at birth and subsequently progressive extra-skeletal ossification developed at the age of 8 - 9 months. Then, she gradually developed stiffness of the knee joint and neck but remained ambulant. Radiographic changes were observable, e.g., the extra-skeletal ossification was found at cervical spine. Her mother has congenital malformations of the halluces, but had no postnatal progressive extra-skeletal ossification. Her father and other family members are normal. With direct sequencing of the PCR products, a G to A substitution at c617 of ACVR1 (R206H) was detected in the patient only but not in her parents. Paternity analysis suggested that it is a de novo mutation.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first case reported in a Chinese patient with FOP in the mainland of China, which was confirmed by direct sequencing. Although sporadic cases of FOP have been reported in diverse geographic and ethnic group, the mutations of ACVR1 c617 (R206H) are identical up to now. The presence of mutation hot spot facilitates molecular diagnosis in clinical practice. Genetic detection is important for FOP patients to avoid misdiagnosis and further damages, including those from medical intervention.

Activin Receptors, Type I ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myositis Ossificans ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo screen out the HAb18G/CD147 binding peptides and find out an antagonist against hepatoma invasion.

METHODSHAb18G/CD147 was purified by affinity chromatographic method and the antigen binding peptides acquired by bio-panning a phage-displayed 12-peptide library. After obtaining the sequence of the selected phage-displayed peptides, all the 9 peptides were synthesized by solid-phase method and identified by mass spectrograph. The peptides' anti-metastatic function was tested by Boyden Chamber assay.

RESULTSThe purified HAb18G/CD147, identified by Western blot (molecular weight about 65 kd) could be used to bio-pan the phage-displayed peptide library. After 3 rounds of bio-panning, 9 positive phage clones were selected and sequenced. The synthesized peptides had uneven inhibitory activities and three of them were able to markedly inhibit the hepatoma cell invasion (P < 0.01). The most effective peptide decreased by 90.1% of hepatoma cells migrating through the Boyden Chamber membrane as compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONBio-panning the phage-displayed peptide library can be used successfully to screen out the antigen binding peptides. Hepatoma metastatic potential can be inhibited by peptide antagonist which could be a good foundation of developing peptide therapeutic agent against hepatoma metastasis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Basigin ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Mice ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; therapeutic use