Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Fasciitis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To probe the value of 3.0T MRI in the preoperative assessment of rectal carcinoma.Methods The study recruited 41 patients who were confirmed by biopsy of rectal carcinoma and underwent conventional MRI, high-resolution MRI and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI), the distance from the inferior part of tumor to transitional skin and the percentage of circumferential invasion were measured, the tumor's T staging, N staging,and the status of circumferential resection margin(CRM) and extramural vascular invasion(EMVI) were assessed.MRI findings were compared with endoscope and postoperative pathological results.Results MRI could accurately show the distance from the inferior part of tumor to transitional skin(P>0.05);The mean percentage of circumferential invasion for the tumor with T1-T2 and T3 were 61%,83% respectively (P>0.05);The total accuracy of T,N staging diagnose were 80.5%,75.6% respectively, which had a better consistent with pathological T,N staging(Kappa=0.564,0.634);The total accuracy of CRM and EMVI diagnose were 90.2%,73.2% respectively,which had a better or moderate consistent with pathological diagnose(Kappa=0.765,0.461).Conclusion 3.0T MRI has the unique application in the preoperative assessment of rectal carcinoma, which can provide more comprehensive information for clinic.

OBJECTIVETo probe into the current situation and problems of establishing control group in clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of periarthritis of shoulder at home.

METHODSTo retrieve the literatures of establishing control groups in clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of periarthritis of shoulder in magazines at home, and based on key problems in establishment of control group, make a Excel form to take out relative contents in the literatures and classify, summarize and statistically analyze.

RESULTSIn establishing control group in clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of periarthritis of shoulder, a lot of problems exist, most studies do not have the basis of establishing control group, and also do not establish control group for the purpose of the study, making the whole test have error in the stage of program design, and leading to unreliable for the results of clinical control studies.

CONCLUSIONIn clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion, a standard for guiding establishment of control group is eagerly needed.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Control Groups ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Periarthritis ; therapy ; Research Design ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the correction for shortened and broaden prolabium deformity following bilateral cleft lip repair.

METHODSWe designed the upper lip double flag-shaped flaps. The quadrilateral original surgical scar (flap flag pole part) was resected and the incision was made along the direction of nasolabial groove at the nostrils bottom to form two flag-shaped flaps (the section of the flag face). Lip tubercle were tracted and blunt dissection of upper philtrum were performed to form a wound, 4-6 mm in width. The flag-shaped flaps on both sides were rotated to the central, in order to form a new nasal base and new prolabium, followed by V-Y or Z plasty procedure to correct the defect of tubercle and vermilion.

RESULTS10 cases were enrolled for the clinical application from January 2008 to December 2012. The height of the prolabium was lengthened by 4-6 mm after operation, which fundamentally corrected shortened and broaden prolabium deformity after bilateral cleft lip operation. The procedure can also correct the depression or defect of tubercle, too wide philtrum, philtrum column scar and the deformity of vermilion border continuity. The patients were followed up for a period of 3 months to 3 years with satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONDouble flag-shaped flaps of the upper lip at the nostrils bottom is a simple and good surgery method to correct the shortened and broaden prolabium deformity following bilateral cleft lip repair.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and clinical significance of ribosomal S6 kinase-4 (RSK-4) in breast cancer and explore the role of RSK-4 in the genesis and development of breast cancer.

METHODThe expression levels of RSK-4 mRNA and protein were detected in 56 cases of breast cancer and the normal breast tissues, as well as in 20 cases of breast benign lesions, by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression rates of RSK-4 mRNA in breast cancer, the normal breast tissues and breast benign lesions were 48.2%, 76.8% and 75.0%, respectively. The expression level of RSK-4 mRNA in breast cancer was significantly lower than those in normal breast tissues and breast benign lesions tissues (P < 0.05). The expression level of RSK-4 significantly correlated with tumor size and clinical stage (P < 0.05).The expression rate of RSK-4 protein was 39.3% in breast cancer tissues, which was significantly lower than that of normal breast tissues (71.4%) and breast benign lesions (75.0%, P < 0.01). The expression level of RSK-4 protein was lower in breast cancer with large tumor, high clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. In 56 cases of breast cancer samples, the consistency rate of RSK-4 mRNA and protein was 73.2%. A significant correlation was found between RSK-4 mRNA and protein (χ² = 10.254, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe down-regulation of RSK-4 expression in breast caner suggests that it is a breast cancer suppressor gene, and the lack or down-regulation of RSK-4 expression is involved in the genesis and progression of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDVirtual reality (VR) has been recognized as a useful modality in the training of surgical skills. With respect to basic endoscopic skill training of urology, we sought to investigate the effectiveness of the UroMentor(TM) virtual reality simulator (VRS) in the skill acquisition of flexible cystoscopy.

METHODSUrologists familiar with rigid cystoscopy procedures were selected to take part in a virtual training course of flexible cystoscopy. Changes in total operating time, frequency of injury, number of digital markers inside the bladder, and the global rating scale (GRS) scores were assessed following eight repeated training sessions on the UroMentor(TM).

RESULTSEighteen urologists voluntarily took part in the study. Total operating time was significantly lower after eight sessions of training by comparison ((111 ± 10) seconds and (511 ± 67) seconds, respectively; P < 0.001). Additionally, the frequency of injury decreased with training from (12 ± 2) times to (5 ± 1) times (P < 0.001), while the number of digital markers observed increased from 9 ± 0 to 10 ± 1 (P = 0.005). Finally, training with the UroMentor(TM) resulted in a GRS increase from (1.3 ± 0.2) points to (3.9 ± 0.2) points (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONthe VRS UroMentor(TM) can improve urologists' ability to perform flexible cystoscopy and could be used as an effective training tool for trainees.

Clinical Competence ; Computer Simulation ; Cystoscopy ; education ; Humans ; Urology ; education

A new oleanane-type triterpenoid glycoside, 3beta-O-(f-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -->3)]-beta-D-fucopyranosyl-11, 13(18) diene-olean-23alpha, 28 diol (1), along with three known phenylethyl glycosides (2-4), was isolated from the root of traditional Chinese medicine Scrophularia ningpoensis. Among them, compounds 2 and 3 were obtained from Scrophularia genus for the first time. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic method including 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Scrophularia ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUNDThe need to develop new methods of surgical training combined with advances in computing has led to the development of virtual reality surgical simulators. The PERC Mentor(TM) is designed to train the user in percutaneous renal collecting system access puncture. This study aimed to validate the use of this kind of simulator, in percutaneous renal access training.

METHODSTwenty-one urologists were enrolled as trainees to learn a fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous renal accessing technique. An assigned percutaneous renal access procedure was immediately performed on the PERC Mentor(TM) after watching instruction video and an analog operation. Objective parameters were recorded by the simulator and subjective global rating scale (GRS) score were determined. Simulation training followed and consisted of 2 hours daily training sessions for 2 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the training session, trainees were evaluated performing the same procedure. The post-training evaluation was compared to the evaluation of the initial attempt.

RESULTSDuring the initial attempt, none of the trainees could complete the appointed procedure due to the lack of experience in fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous renal access. After the short-term training, all trainees were able to independently complete the procedure. Of the 21 trainees, 10 had primitive experience in ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Trainees were thus categorized into the group of primitive experience and inexperience. The total operating time and amount of contrast material used were significantly lower in the group of primitive experience versus the inexperience group (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe training on the virtual reality simulator, PERC Mentor(TM), can help trainees with no previous experience of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous renal access to complete the virtual manipulation of the procedure independently. This virtual reality simulator may become an important training and evaluation tool in teaching fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous renal access.

Adult ; Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; education ; Urology ; education ; User-Computer Interface

AIMTo study the effect of Angelica sinsensis polysaccharides on lymphocyte proliferation and induction of IFN-gamma.

METHODSAngelica sinensis polysaccharides(AP) were separated into AP-I, AP-II, AP-III and AP-IV by alcohol deposition with different concentration. The radioactivities of [3H]-TdR uptake by lymphocyte were used to determine the ability of lymphocyte. The bioactivity of IFN-gamma was measured by violet crystalline dying.

RESULTSAP-IV was found to be composed of Ara and Glu in the ratio of 0.99:6.47, the molecular weight was estimated to be 5,600. AP-I and AP-II 100 mg.kg-1 i.p. were found to significantly augment mice splenocyte proliferation, release IFN-gamma and increase IFN-gamma bioactivity. 50 micrograms.mL-1 AP-I, AP-II and AP-III were shown to enhance the proliferative response of the mouse spleen lymphocytes in vitro.

CONCLUSIONAP-I and AP-II showed higher immunoactivity than AP-III, AP-IV had no effect.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Immunity ; drug effects ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting cyclin A2 gene on the growth of osteosarcoma MG-63 and human normal skin fibroblast HSF cells and to explore whether cyclin A2 siRNAs could become a useful tool in the treatment of osteosarcoma.

METHODSThree pairs of siRNAs targeting cyclin A2 mRNA and a pair of nonsense siRNA were designed according to the current criteria. SiRNAs were chemically synthesized and purified. The siRNAs were transfected into MG-63 cells and HSF cells via oligofectamine. The cells transfected with nonsense siRNA served as negative control group and those only treated with PBS as blank control group. Quantitative fluorescence RT-PCR, Western-blot, MTT assay, reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, flow cytometry and clone forming test were employed to evaluate the efficacy of RNA interference. At the same time, the mRNA expression of PCNA and cyclin B1 in siRNA-treated MG-63 cells were examined.

RESULTSAlthough all three siRNAs could reduce the cyclin A2 expression, siRNA, appeared to be the most effective. After 48 h treatment with siRNA1, cyclin A2 mRNA and protein expression in MG-63 cells was significantly reduced by nearly 80% as compared with that of the blank control group, whereas the negative and blank control groups had similar expression levels. MG-63 cells treated with siRNA1 were arrested at G0/G1 phase by 80.1% and the proliferation of these tumor cells was suppressed 48 h after transfection. Furthermore, MG-63 cells showed a decreased colony forming ability after siRNA1 treatment. In addition, the cyclin A2-depleted MG-63 cells showed decreased levels of PCNA and cyclin B1. In contrast, although cyclin A2 expression in HSF reduced by nearly 60% after treatment by siRNA1 for 48h, these cells exhibited only a slight change in cell cycling, and neither clear inhibition of proliferation nor impaired colony forming ability was observed.

CONCLUSIONCyclin A2 is critical for proliferation of MG-63 cells. Cyclin A2-siRNAs can induce obvious inhibition of cyclin A2 mRNA and protein expression in MG-63 and HSF cells, which consequently down-regulate the proliferation of MG-63 cells. There is little effect on the proliferation of siRNA-treated HSF cells. Those results indicate that siRNAs against cyclin A2 may become a potential antiproliferative tool in future antitumor therapy.

Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin A2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin B1 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Skin ; cytology ; Transfection