Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Preoperative Period

Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Eugenol ; pharmacology ; Fever ; metabolism ; Preoptic Area ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Objective To investigate the effect of erythropoietin(EPO)as a brain-protective factor and inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy(CP).Methods Serum samples from 31 CP patients,37 neonates with CP risk factors such as hypoxic-ischemic injury and/or perinatal infection,and 20 controls of neonates or children were obtained respectively.EPO,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-6 levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay double sandwich method(ABC-ELISA).Results The serum EPO level of neonatal patients was higher than that of controls or CP group(P<0.01),but there was no significant difference between CP group and controls.The serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels of CP and neonatal patients were higher than that in controls(P<0.01).The serum TNF-α level of CP group was higher than that of neonatal patients(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between CP group and neonatal patients in serum IL-6 level.Conclusion The inflammatory responses mediated by proinflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and to compare surgical results of VATS with standard median sternotomy (MS) and other minimal invasive approaches through various small incisions (SI).

METHODSTotally 111 patients underwent surgery for thymic disorders (maximun diameter ≤ 5 cm, clinical stage I-II for thymic tumors) during March 2010 to June 2012 was retrospectively reviewed. There were 46 male and 65 female patients with a mean age of (51 ± 15) years.Resection via VATS was carried out in 47 patients, via SI in 26 patients, and via MS in 38 patients. Demographic characteristics, operation time, number and cause of conversion, blood loss during operation, duration and amount of chest tube drainage, transfusion, morbidity, and length of hospital stay (LHS) were compared between the three groups.

RESULTSOf the 111 patients, 79 patients had thymic epithelia tumors (stage I 32 patients, stage II 39 patients, stage III 8 patients), 31 patients had benign cysts and 1 patient had tuberculosis.In the VATS group, there were 3 conversions among 38 patients through right-side approach, and 4 conversions among 9 patients through left-side approach. The causes for conversion included dense pleura adhesion, invasion of tumor into adjacent structures (pericardium, lung, or great vessels), and injury of the left inominate vein. There was no significant difference in operative time, blood loss or transfusion during operation, duration or amount of postoperative chest tube drainage among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). Average LHS was significantly shorter in the VATS group (5.7 ± 1.7) days than in the SI group (7.5 ± 2.2) days and the MS group (8.2 ± 1.9) days (F = 3.759, P = 0.002). Total thymectomy was performed in 74 patients, 25 patients (53.2%, 25/47) in VATS group, 11 patients (42.3%, 11/26) in SI group, and 38 patients (100%, 38/38) in MS group. The reset of the patients received tumor resection and partial thymectomy. Among all the subgroups, LHS was the shortest in VATS total thymectomy patients (5.0 ± 1.4) days (F = 5.844, P = 0.001). There was no perioperative mortality. The only major morbidity was a postoperative bleeding necessitating reintervention in SI group.

CONCLUSIONSVATS for benign thymic lesions and early-stage thymic tumors is safe and feasible.It is associated with shorter hospital stay compared with other minimal invasive approaches or standard sternotomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymectomy ; methods ; Thymoma ; surgery ; Thymus Neoplasms ; surgery

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Defecation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective To explore the signal transduction pathway of cyst fluid of Echinococcus granalosus in anti-parasite mechanisms through investigating the effect of cyst fluid on the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR) in cells. Methods Changes of TLR4 and TGF-β1 expression of 7404 liver cells were detected by quantitative PCR. Results After treatment with increasing concentration cyst fluid the expres-sion of TLR4 was reduced. TGF-β1 expression of liver cells increased with the dose. TLR2 expressions in each group were very low. Conclusion Cyst fluid can increase the expression of TLR4, suggesting that the TLR4 signal transduction pathway involve anti-cyst fluid of Echinococcus granulosus. High concentrations of cyst fluid contribute to TGF-β1 expression which plays a role in immune evasion.

AlM:To investigate the prevalence and related high risk factors of retinal vessels disease of native Tibetan among the aged 40 and above in Maqin county, Qinghai province, China.
METHODS:The cluster sampling method was used to investigate the visual acuity and retinal vessel diseases of the native Tibetan among the aged 40 and above in Maqin county.
RESULTS:Totally 2 511 individuals were underwent the survey, among them, 29 cases (37 eyes) were of retinal vessel diseases, the prevalence was 1. 15%, 21 cases (23 eyes) were retinal vein obstruction (0. 84%), 5 cases (10 eyes) were diabetic retinopathy ( 0. 20%), 3 cases ( 4 eyes) were retinal vasculitis (0. 12%). The blindness and low vision of retinal vessels disease were 23 eyes (0. 92%).
CONCLUSlON:All the hypertension, hyperglycemia, erythrocytosis, high altitude and weight are the high risk factors of retinal vessel diseases which are the main eyes fundus disease could grow blind.

?AlM: To evaluate the clinical effects and security of posterior chamber implantable Collamer lens ( lCL ) implantation in patients with extreme highly myopia.
?METHODS:ln this study, 18 patients ( 32 eyes ) with extreme highly myopic patients who had undergone posterior chamber lCLs implantation from July 2010 to July 2013 were evaluated. Diopter -10. 5 ~ 19. 0D, and astigmia -0. 5 ~4. 5DC. Changes in intraocular pressure ( lOP ) , refraction, visual acuity and corneal endothelium, anterior chamber depth, iris, high arch, lens were noted at 1d, 1wk, 1, 3mo and 1a after surgery respectively, and follow-up was of 1a.
? RESULTS: Before surgery, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) were 0. 01~0. 05, and the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity ( BSCVA) were 0. 4 ~ 1. 0. One month after surgery, the UCVA were 0. 5~1. 2. The mean vault were 547±222 μm (95%CI 442~672μm) and 528±268μm (95%CI 354 ~635μm) for 1mo and 1a, respectively (P = 0. 81), and there was no significant difference. Anterior subcapsular opacities in 1 eye, mild and transient increase in lOP in 3 eyes, and chronic pigment dispersion in 2 eyes were observed. There was no serious complication.
?CONCLUSlON: Posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation is an effective and safe method for correcting patients with extreme highly myopia.

Abstract?AIM: To obtain the prevalence and risk factors of symptomatic dry eye disease ( SDED ) among college students in China.?METHODS:Population-based cross-sectional study. Students in Medical School of Lanzhou University were approached. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of SDED and its risk factors. The diagnosis of SDED was based on reported symptoms and was established if the participants reported “often” or “all the time” once or more for 6-item questionnaire. Positive tests included a tear-film breakup time ( TBUT)≤10s and a fluorescein staining score ( FSS ) ≥1. Demographic information and possible factors that may contribute to SDED were analyzed in a step-wise multivariate logistic regression modelto assess risk factors of SDED.? RESULTS: There were 1139 participants ( 84. 37%response rate ) have completed the questionnaire, 475 males and 664 females aged 16-26y. The prevalence of SDED was 18. 70% [95% confidence interval ( CI)= 16. 59-20. 81]. A TBUT of ≤10s and a FSS≥1 were noted in 47. 67%(95% CI=44. 95-50. 57) and 13. 97%(95% CI=11. 95-15. 99) for all participants, respectively. The multivariate regression analysis revealed the following risk factors:daily reading time of≥4h(OR=1. 58,95% CI=1. 15-2. 18), daily computer use of≥4h ( OR= 1. 52, 95% CI= 1. 02-2. 25), and constant eyeglasses wearing (OR=1. 54,95%CI=1. 08-2. 13). The female gender, refractive surgery and contact lens ( CLs) wearing were not risk factors for SDED in this analysis.? CONCLUSION: The prevalence for SDED is high in Chinese college students. The risk factors include daily reading time of≥4h, daily computer use of≥4h and constant eyeglasses wearing.