ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genetic transfection on the intimal hyperplasia of venous autografts. MethodsThe external jugular veins were autografted into abdominal aorta arteries in 20 Wistar rats, which were divided evenly into experimental or control groups. The transplanted veins of experimental group were immersed in the adenovirus-mediated eNOS gene solution for 15 minutes just before anastomosis. The transplanted vascular samples were taken out 2 weeks after operation. The intimal thickness(IH), degree of restenosis(DR), expression of PCNA and NOS mRNA were determined with histology and transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ResultsThe IH, DR and PCNA decreased, while the expression of eNOS mRNA increased comparing with control group(P<0.01). ConclusionTransfection of NOS gene can inhibit the intimal hyperplasia of venous autografts.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the size of female sex workers and clients in Taizhou city.

METHODSA household survey using network scale-up method (NSUM) was conducted among the 3000 community residents in Taizhou city from August to October in 2011, which aimed to estimate the social network size (c value) of Taizhou residents, and the c value was adjusted by demographic characteristics, back estimation and outlier elimination. Using the adjusted c value, the number of acquaintance of female sex workers or clients and the respect level toward female sex workers or clients were used to estimate the size of female sex workers and clients.

RESULTSA total of 2783 valid questionnaires were collected, among which 1380 (49.6%) were collected from Taixing city, 1403 (50.4%) were collected from Jingjiang city. 1334 respondents were male (47.9%) and 1449 (47.9%) respondents were female. The mean age was (39.4 ± 10.7) years. The average personal social network size using original data for Taizhou residents was 525, which differed from place, sex, age, educational level and marriage status. Using the remaining known populations through back estimation, the social network size was 419 and became 424 after the elimination of outliers. The estimated population size for female sex worker was 6370 (95%CI: 5886 - 6853), which accounted for 0.52% (6370/1 229 980) of the total number of female aged from 15 to 49. The estimated population size for clients was 15 202 (95%CI: 14 560 - 15 847), which accounted for 1.28% (15 202/1 190 340) of the total number of males aged from 15 to 49 and the ration of clients to female sex worker was 2.39:1.

CONCLUSIONNSUM is an easy and quick way to estimate the size of female sex workers or clients, but the estimated sizes are subject to bias and error due to estimate effect and sample representativeness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Work ; statistics & numerical data ; Sex Workers ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; chemistry ; genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; chemistry ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of miR-124 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and tissue specimens and analyze its association with the radiosensitivity of the cells.

METHODSThe expression of miR-124 in CRC cell lines and tissues were detected using qRT-PCR. The effect of miR-124 in modulating cell radiosensitivity was assessed in CRC cells with miRNA-124 overexpression and miRNA-124 knockdown, and bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system were employed to identify the direct target of miR-124.

RESULTSs miR-124 expression was down-regulated in CRC cell lines and tissues. CRC cells over-expressing miR-124 showed an obviously enhanced radiosensitivity, whereas miR-124 knockdown resulted in a reduced radiosensitivity of the cells. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system verified PRRX1 as a direct target of miR-124, which regulated the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly inhibiting PRRX1.

CONCLUSIONmiR-124 can enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly targeting PRRX1, which provides a target for improving the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy of CRC.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luciferases ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance

OBJECTIVETo study on the efficacy, prognosis and security of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTotally 72 HCC patients treated by HIFU from December 2009 to January 2011 were divided into two groups according to treatment methods: 40 cases in HIFU group, 32 cases in TACE + HIFU treatment group (combined group). Then set up a control group include 40 cases treated by only TACE in the same period (TACE group). The improvement of clinical symptoms, AFP, reduce rate of tumor volume, survival rate of 1 year after operation and postoperative complications in front and behind the treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant statistical difference on the improvement of clinical symptoms in all these three groups (P > 0.05) after treatment for HCC. There is no significant statistical difference also on reduce rate of tumor volume and decrease rate of AFP in both HIFU group (35.0%, 41.4%) and TACE group (37.5%, 41.9%) (χ² = 0.054, P = 0.816; χ² = 0.002, P = 0.965). Both reduce rate of tumor volume (62.5%) and decrease rate of AFP (72.0%) in combined group were better than HIFU group (χ² = 5.394, P = 0.020; χ² = 5.098, P = 0.024) and TACE group (37.5%, 41.9%) (χ² = 4.448, P = 0.035; χ² = 5.062, P = 0.024). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that there was no significant statistical difference on short-term survival rate in the 3 groups. But the long-term survival rate of combined group was better than TACE group and HIFU group.

CONCLUSIONTACE combined with HIFU is a effective, safe and noninvasive treatment method to HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasound, High-Intensity Focused, Transrectal

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of glucose-insulin-potassium treatment (GIK) on the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the scalded rats with MODS.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Sprague Dawley rats were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scalding, and MODS model was reproduced with intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin following burn injury. Then the rats were randomly divided into GIK, glucose (G) and control (C) groups, with 40 rats in each group. The serum contents of glucose, lactate acid, TNF-alpha, NO and IL-6 of the rats in the three groups were determined during 1 to 7 PSD, and the mortality rate within 7 PSD was observed.

RESULTSThe serum contents of glucose, lactate acid, TNF-alpha, NO and IL-6 of the rats in the GIK group were obviously lower than those in the other two groups during 1 to 7 PSD (P < 0.01), and reached the lowest level at 6 to 7 PSD (TNF-alpha: 2.37 +/- 0.54 microg/L; IL-6: 0.28 +/- 0.17 microg/L; NO: 29 +/- 9 micromol/L). The content of glucose and lactate acid in G group were obviously higher than those in control group (P < 0.01), but the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO content were similar between these two groups (P > 0.05). The mortality in GIK group within 7 PSD was 20.0%, which was evidently lower than that in G (37.5%) and C (47.5%) groups (P < 0.05), while that between G and C groups was similar (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe administration of GIK might ameliorate sepsis by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokine after burns and endotoxin challenge.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucose ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Multiple Organ Failure ; diagnosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Potassium ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Blood Cell Count ; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; blood ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Objective To investigate the effect of patient-centered therapy on psychology and behavior in diabetes mellitus patients.Methods Sixty diabetes mellitns patients were randomly divided into the intervention group(n=30)and the control group.Patient-centered therapy was used to the intervention group.Symptom Checklist(SCL-90) and diabetes mellitus behavior questionnaire were used to assess the psychology and behavior before and after the psychotherapy.Results The score of each factor of SCL-90 had no statistical meaning before the intervention between the two groups(P>0.05).After thetervention,somatization,obsessive-compulsive,interpersonal sensitivity,hostility,phobia,paranoia and psychosis had statistical meanings between two groups (P<0.01).There were statisfical meanings in correction of the bad diet habits,alcohol cessation,control of review time,glucose control,insisting on the excises,tobacco cessation between two groups(P<0.01),but no statistical difference in the on-time use of medication and insulin(P>0.05).Conclusions Patient-centered therapy Can obviously improve the mental health in diabetes patients,and has positive effects in promoting their healthy behavior.

Objective To investigate the clinical benefits of emergent burr hole drainage in combination with decompressive craniotomy for patients with traumatic intracerebral haematoma-induced cerebral hernia. Methods A total of 291 patients with brain hernia caused by acute traumatic epidural and/or subdural hematoma were chosen in our study; 143 of them were treated with decompressive craniotomy alone (ordinary decompression group, admitted to our hospital from January 2003 to December 2006) and 148 of them were treated with emergent burr hole drainage in combination with decompressive craniotomy (emergent surgical intervention group,admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to June 2011).Clinical parameters,including Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores,incidence of massive cerebral infarction,pupil retraction rate,and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores,were evaluated retrospectively analyzed. Results Patients in ordinary decompression group had higher GOS scores than those in emergent surgical intervention group (Z=-4.012,P=0.000); mean rank indicated that the treatment efficacy in the emergent surgical intervention group was better than that in the other group.Patients in ordinary decompression group had significantly reduced incidence of massive cerebral infarction (45/148) as compared with patients in ordinary decompression group (70/143,P=0.000).Much more patients (124/148) enjoyed increment of GCS scores in the emergent surgical intervention group as compared with those in the ordinary decompression group (65/143,P=0.000). Conclusion Emergent burr hole drainage followed by decompressive craniotomy is an effective method in saving patients with brain hernia caused by acute traumatic intracerebral haematoma, which can notably resolve intracranial hypertension as soon as possible and give longer time for surgery,therefore,it can improve the prognosis.

Objective To research the role of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury in mice.Methods Healthy and mature male mice were reared normally.They were divided at random into 5 groups,namely the normal group (n =10),the experimental-1 group (n =10),the experimental-2 group (n =10),the experimental-3 group(n =10),the experimental-4 group(n =10).The normal group was not treated.The mouse in experimental-1 group,experimental-2 group,experimental-3 group,experimental-4 group were given uninterruptedly 56 degree Beijing Red Star Erguotou by intragastric administration(14 mL · kg-1) for preparation of alcohol liver injury in mice.At the first week,the second week,the third week and the fourth week,respectively,the blood of mice was taken directly by eyeball enucleation.The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was measured with a aspartate aminotransferase assay kit.The expression levels of p-STAT3 in liver of mice was measured by Western blot.Results The serum levels of AST in normal group,experimental-1 group,experimental-2 group,experimental-3 group,experimental-4 group were (112 ±22),(126 ±24),(967 ±30),(1010 ±35),(206 ±23) U · L-1;comparison between experimental-1 group,experimental-4 group and normal group,the difference were without significantly (all P ＞ 0.05);comparison between experimemal-2 group,experimental-3 group and normal group,the difference had significantly (all P ＜ 0.01).The expression levels of p-STAT3 in the 5 groups were (0.52 ± 0.11),(3.21 ±0.33),(1.12 ± 0.21),(1.51 ± 0.23),(2.13 ± 0.26) AU;comparison between experimental-1 group,experimental-4 group and normal group,the difference had significantly (all P ＜ 0.01);comparison between experi mental-2 group,experimental-3 group and normal group,the difference had significantly(all P ＜0.05).ConclusionP-STAT3 may be involved in the acute phase response in the early stage of liver injury in mice,and participate in and promote hepatocyte injury.In the later stage,it may be beneficial to the regeneration,repair and inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis.