This paper describes the measuring principle and algorithm of atherogenic index with oscillometric model. The algorithm proves effective and reliable through analyses of many cases and lots of clinical tests, which has been applied to the development of Lab-VIEW-based software for clinical use. Both patients and doctors can turn to this software for the information of angiosclerosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo probe into the law of acupuncture analgesic effect and specificities of acupoint action.

METHODSAdult male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a model plus electroacupuncture (EA) group and a model plus sham EA group. Chronic inflammatory pain model was prepared by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into right posterior foot, and paw withdrawing latency (PWL) induced by radiation heat was used as pain threshold index, and changes of PWL in all the groups were investigated.

RESULTSAfter modeling, PWL significantly shortened on the inflammatory side (P < 0.05); EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) could significantly reverse the shortened PWL (P < 0.05), and this effect was prolonged along with increase of EA times, but in the sham EA group PWL did not significantly change; EA at bilateral "Shousanli" (LI 10) and Neiguan" (PC 6) could not reverse the shortened PWL (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnalgesic effect of EA is strengthened along with increase of EA times and shows specificity of acupoints to a certain extent.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Electroacupuncture ; Freund's Adjuvant ; immunology ; Male ; Mice

BACKGROUNDCompensatory sweating (CS) is one of the most common postoperative complications after thoracic sympathectomy, sympathicotomy or endoscopic sympathetic block (ESB) for palmar hyperhidrosis. This study was conducted to examine the relevance between CS and the sympathetic segment being transected in the surgical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, and thus to detect the potential mechanism of the occurrence of CS.

METHODSBetween October 2004 and June 2006, 163 patients with primary hyperhidrosis were randomly divided into two groups, T(3) sympathicotomy (78 patients) and T(4) sympathicotomy (85), who were operated upon under general anesthesia via single lumen intubation and intercostal video-mediastinoscopy (VM).

RESULTSNo morbidity or mortality occurred. Palmar hyperhidrosis was cured in all patients. Follow-up (mean (13.8 +/- 6.2) months) showed no recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis. The difference of rates of mild CS in groups T(3) and T(4) was of no statistical significance. The rate of moderate CS was significantly lower in group T(4) than in group T(3). No severe CS occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe rates of occurrence and severity of CS are lowered with the lower sympathetic chain being transected.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

BACKGROUNDIt is important to identify the multiple sites of leptin activity in obese women with breast cancer. In this study, we examined the effect of exogenous human leptin on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and in a breast carcinoma xenograft model of nude mice.

METHODSWe cultured MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and established nude mice bearing xenografts of these cells, and randomly divided them into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was treated with human leptin, while the control group was treated with the same volume of normal saline. A real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to quantify the mRNA expression of HSP70 in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and in tumor tissues. Western blotting analysis was applied to quantify the protein expression of HSP70 in the MCF-7 cells. Immunohistochemical staining was done to assess the positive rate of HSP70 expression in the tumor tissues.

RESULTSLeptin activated HSP70 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro: leptin upregulated significantly the expression of HSP70 at mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in expression of HSP70 mRNA in the implanted tumors between the leptin-treated group and the control group (P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed no significant difference in tumor HSP70 expression between the leptin-treated group and the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA nude mouse xenograft model can be safely and efficiently treated with human leptin by subcutaneous injections around the tumor. HSP70 may be target of leptin in breast cancer. Leptin can significantly upregulate the expression of HSP70 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective:To study the expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in simple and radiation-combined wound healing and their effects on the healing process and tissue remodeling. Methods: A rat model of radiation-combined wound healing was used. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed which enabled the detection of MMP1 and TIMP1 expression in the healing process. Ultrastructural changes were observed with transmission EM. Results: The wound healing process was impaired and delayed. In rats receiving 25 Gy of gamma ray locally the irradiated wounds healed 6 days later than non-irradiated controls. The following changes in MMP1 and TIMP1 expression were found: (1) In the early inflammatory phase and in the period of granulation tissue formation, MMP1 expression in the newly-formed epidermis of irradiated wounds approximated that in the controls. Later, the epidermal expression of MMP1 in radiation wounds was comparatively increased with the delay of the healing process.On days 3 to 14 after wounding, TIMP1 was weakly positive in the proliferating keratinocytes of control wounds and became negative after epidermal covering, whereas no or only slight epidermal expression was detected in radiation wounds before epidermal covering.(2)MMP1 and TIMP　1 expression in radiation wounds was markedlydecreased in fibroblasts　, endotheliocytes and macrophages as compared with the controls. The expression phase was prolonged due to the delay of the healing process.Conclusions:The reduced expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in granulation tissue retards such important processes as cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus retarding the healing process. The expression of MMP1 in the newly-formed epidermis may help the process of reepithelialization,but in the late healing period, overexpression of MMP1 and decreased expression of TIMP1 in the epidermis may hinder the establishment of basal membrane and the formation of granulation tissue, and thus affect the matrix remodeling process.

Objective To discuss the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction by laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive laparoscopic pyeloplasty in 102 patients between September 2001 and December 2007 was performed. The ureterpelvic junction was dissected and the obstruction portion was excised. Anastomosis was then performed through the ureter and the renal pelvis walls with a stent. Results The mean operating time was 120 min and the average blood loss was 80ml. No major complication occurred intraoperative. The drainage was removed in 3-10 days. The average hospital stay was 8.5 days. The stent was kept for 30-60 days. IVU and B ultrasound examination revealed that the hydronephrosis alleviated during the follow-up and no anastomosis stricture occurred. Conclusions Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty could provide lower morbidity, shorter hospital stay, and faster convalescence. It could be an effective treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and immunoreactivity in experimental acute inflammatory brain injury.

METHODSTen rats were inoculated with pneumococcus to establish the model of bacterial inflammatory brain injury and other 6 rats were used as normal controls. At 24 h after inoculating, the expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

RESULTThe necrosis of neuron in cerebral cortex and hippocampus was observed after infection. The increase of BDNF mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of experimental animals was demonstrated at 24 h after inoculation: (0.1194 +/- 0.02941 compared with 0.0662 +/- 0.01176)A and (0.1608 +/-0.01854 compared with 0.0680 +/- 0.00946)A (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with controls the expression of BDNF protein in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was enhanced at 24 h of inoculation:(177.04+/-43.66 compared with 79.79+/-7.23)mm(2) (P<0.01) and (81.78 +/-37.47 compared with 42.98 +/-20.44)mm(2) (P<0.01), respectively. Strong positive hybridization and immunoreactivity were observed in the infiltrated inflammatory cell in leptomeninges, subarachnoid cavity, ventricles and brain parenchyma in the brain from the experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein increases following brain inflammatory injury, which supports the hypothesis that BDNF may constitute intrinsic neuroprotective mechanism as a part of the inflammatory response.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of ginsenosides (GS) or low dose of glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) alone or combined in managing the liver injury and renal function after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODS120 patients with primary liver carcinoma were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) with 30 patients in each. Group A was treated with placebo; group B with Dex; group C with GS and group D with Dex plus GS. The changes in liver and renal function after TACE were observe according to the WHO criteria for side effects of anti-cancer drug.

RESULTSCompared with group A, Dex combined with GS was able to reduce the level of TB, ALT/AST, BUN and Child-grade, which significantly protected the liver and kidney (P < 0. 05). However, Dex or GS alone could also improve some parameters of liver and renal function after TACE (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDex combined with GS is effective in managing the liver injury and renal function after transcatheter arterial

Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Creatinine ; blood ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Topotecan ; administration & dosage

Aim: To put forward criteria for the pressure assessment in the operation of intercavemous embedding of bulboperineal urethra for the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatic operation. Methods: A Fl4 urethral catheter is inserted during the operation and upon suturing the corpora cavemosa centrally, the catheter is slowly pushed in and pulled out in order that the operator feels a certain degree of close-fit resistance. The degree of tightness of the stitches,which regulate the compression pressure, is adjusted in accordance with this close-fit sensation. To further ascertain the adequacy of the force of compression, the bladder is filled with 300 ml physiological saline and observe the appropriateness (size and continuity) of the outflow stream when the lower abdomen is depressed with a pressure of 80-90 cm H2O. The operation was given to six patients suffered from urinary incontinence for 20 or more months after prostatic operation. Results: Five cases achieved complete recovery, while the therapeutic effect of the 6th one was not satisfactory. A second stage operation was carried out 3 months later with the addition of one more stitch both proximally and distally to reinforce the compression force. The condition was improved dramatically. The follow-up period averaged 3.5 years. Conclusion: The adequacy of the compression pressure exerted by the juxtaposed corpora cavernosa is the key point determining the outcome of the operation. The measures for assessing the compression pressure suggested by the authors are helpful in obtaining the good results of the present paper (6/6 success) as compared with 25/34success in the previous report.