In this article , the hot ethical concerns related to totally endoscopic thyroidectomy have been ana-lyzed and discussed .The author considers that this procedure is consisted with the patient′s no-harm and advanta-geous ethical principles , and the patient′s privacy is well protected .However , different procedures and operative risks should be well understood by the patients before the operation .Patient′s independence should be respected .

Aim ToinvestigatetheexpressionofMT1 in the hippocampus and serum melatonin in the asth-matic rats, and explore the mechanism in the develop-mentofasthma.Methods SixtyadultSDratswere randomly divided into two groups: control group ( n=20 ) and asthma group ( n=40 ) . Asthma rat model was established by sensitization and stimulation with ovalbumin ( OVA ) . Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and reverse transcription PCR ( RT-PCR ) were used to evaluate the expression of MT1 in hippocam-pus. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) was used to detect serum melatonin level. Results TheexpressionofMT1inhippocampusatgeneand protein levels were significantly elevated in asthmatic group ( P <0. 05 ) compared with the control group,whereas serum melatonin was obviously reduced ( P<0. 05 ) . Compared with day 5 and day 10 in the asth-matic group, there was a significant increase of MT1 in hippocampus on day 17 ( P<0. 05 ) , while there was no significant difference between day 5 and day 10 ( P>0.05).Conclusions MelatoninandMT1maybe involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. The up-regula-tion of MT1 in hippocampus with time-dependent pat-tern may be a compensatory response to decreased pe-ripheral melatonin levels for augmenting melatoninˊs neuroprotective and neuroimmunomodulatory effects a-gainst inflammatory reaction and stress in asthma.

Objective To investigate the difference of TCM body constitution betweenpeople of the Shimian county and Chengdu city. Methods 200 sub-health patients in clinic of Shimian TCM Hospital were selected randomly. Another 200 sub-health patients in clinic of the Second Sichuan Province Hospital of TCM wererandomly selected. The two groups were identified with TCM body constitution based on the clinical symptoms, tongue, pulse condition, etc. Comparisons on body constitution were made between the two groups. Results In Chengdu, patients withbalance constitution and Qi deficiency constitution (respectively have the proportion of 33.0% and 20.0%)were significantly higher than thoseof Shimian County(the proportion of the two wererespectively 4.0% and 6.0%);while Shimian County have a significantly higher ratio of phlegm dampness and blood stasis constitution(43.5% and 13.0%)than those in Chengdu city(the proportion of the two wererespectively 8.0%and 4.0%), P<0.01. Conclusion Because of different regions, the population constitution ratio wasdifferent, so the disease tendency wasalso somewhat different. Therefore, physicians should give full consideration to the regional factors in diagnosing and treating patients.

Recently,the prevalence of human papillomavirus(HPV)infection in head and neck squa-mous cancers has shown an upward trend,especially in the oropharynx squamous carcinoma. This subset of head and neck cancers possesses distinct clinical and laboratory features and outcome,and is particulary com-mon in individuals who lack the traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol abuse. The biological markers and treatment of HPV associated head neck cancers are hot topic in current international research.

AIM: To explore the main risk factors related to the incidence of endophthalmitis in patients after cataract surgery in China and to provide evidence for prevention.METHODS: The results of 5 studies on the main risk factors of endophthalmitis in patients after cataract surgery were analyzed by Meta-analysis method.
RESULTS: The pooled odds ratio values and 95% CI of age(≥70), diabetes, vitreous overflow, operative time ( ≥ 10min ), common operating room and control of using time of topical anesthetic were 1. 81(95% CI: 1. 43-1. 69),3. 66 (95% CI: 1. 64 - 8. 16),2. 21 (95% CI: 1. 46 -3. 32),3. 54 (95% CI: 2. 47 - 5. 06),2. 77 (95% CI: 2. 07 -3. 72),2. 09(95% CI: 1. 53-2. 86).
CONCLUSION: The main risk factors of endophthalmitis were the age(≥70), diabetes, vitreous overflow, operative time(≥10min), common operating room and control of using time of topical anesthetic.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; etiology ; microbiology ; Mycosis Fungoides ; etiology ; Prescription Drug Misuse ; Substance-Related Disorders ; complications ; Young Adult

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Heterogeneity ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Polyploidy ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the directional differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into Leydig cells.

METHODSAfter purification and identification, we inoculated the third-generation BMSCs of SD rats onto a six-orifice board and then randomly divided them into groups A (normal saline control), B (human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] + platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] induction), C (hCG + PDGF + 5.0 ng/ml bFGF induction), D (hCG + PDGF + 10.0 ng/ml bFGF induction), and E (hCG + PDGF + 20.0 ng/ml bFGF induction). On the 7th, 14th and 21st day of induction, we observed the morphological changes of the cells and measured the level of testosterone (T) and expression of 3 beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in the supernatant by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSAfter induction, the BMSCs of groups B, C, D, and E exhibited microscopic features of enlarged size, inter-connection, long-shuttle or irregular shape, adherent growth, and large round nuclei, all characteristic of Leydig cells. With the prolonging of time and enhanced concentration of bFGF, gradual increases were observed in the T level and the count of 3β-HSD-positive BMSCs in the four induction groups, with statistically significant differences between group B and groups C, D, and E (P < 0.05), as well as between group C and groups D and E (P < 0.05), but not between D and E (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe bFGF has an obvious promoting effect in the in vitro induced differentiation of rat BMSCs into Leydig cells.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; metabolism

Objective To study the therapeutic efficacy of Rex shunt in treating pediatric patients with prehepatic portal hypertension (PHPH).Methods Five children with PHPH who were admitted from October 2014 to May 2015 were reviewed.There were three boys and two girls,with age ranging from 50 to 95.5 months [(75.8 ± 1.9) months].They all suffered from recurrent upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.Their red blood cell (RBC),white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts were decreased,but laboratory findings revealed no liver dysfunction.Ultrasound and CT scan diagnosed cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV) and splenomegaly.The mean splenic length was (42.8 ± 8.2) cm.Indirect portal venography revealed patent left portal vein.All patients underwent Rex shunt and were followed up for 3 ～ 7 months.Results The mean duration of operation was (566.0 ± 39.7) min.Intraoperative bleeding varied from 10 to 50 ml.The portal pressure significantly decreased after surgery from [(25.6 ± 1.5) mmHg,1 mmHg =0.133 kPa] preoperatively to (19.2 ± 3.3) mmHg postoperatively (P ＜ 0.05).Portal venography indicated patent left portal vein after the Rex shunt.The postoperative course was uneventful in the five patients with a mean hospital stay of (26 ± 9.3) days.There was no further GI bleeding.The RBC,WBC and PLT counts increased.Ultrasound indicated patent anastomotic stomas and decreased splenic size.Conclusion A Rex shunt in treating patients with PHPH is safe,feasible and efficacious.

The array CGH technique (Array Comparative Genome Hybridization) has been developed to detect chromosomal copy number changes on a genome-wide and/or high-resolution scale. It is mainly used in human genetics and oncology. Generally PCR amplified bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) or cDNAs have been spotted on the arrays as probes. Recently, however, oligonucleotide arrays designed with more flexibility and provide much higher resolution with high sensitivity, have been successfully explored in stead of BAC array CGH and can save considerable time and efforts. There will be a gradual transition from BAC array CGH to oligonucleotide array CGH in the coming years. The combination of oaCGH and other high-through put analysis can lead to discoveries of a host of novel oncogenes, tumor suppressors as well as tumor drug resistance genes. Some major platforms of oaCGH concerning their spatial resolution, optimal probe length, sensitivity, specificity and application in recent years were compared.