Objective To sum up the application and the technique of CT-guided percutaneous puncture biopsy of thoracoabdominal masses.Methods 107 cases of thoracoabdominal masses were made percutaneous puncture biopsy,in which chest disease 81 cases,abdominal disease 26 cases.Biopsy was done using 18～20 G Franseen needle and 18 G coaxial automatic cutting needle.Routinely chose vertical plane angle,horizontal plane angle and vertical plane angle on one side of the body outline when needle was been entered.Results The successful rate by first puncture was 100%,and the total verification rate was 92.52%.The rate of thoracic complication was 11.11%.No obvious abdominal complication was found.Conclusion The technique of CT-guided percutaneous puncture biopsy of thoracoabdominal masses is simple,practical,high accuracy and only few complications.It should be emphasized that the needle angle should be having definite reference and the needles should be chosen accurately.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of vector-based RNA interference(RNAi) on the expression of melanoma associated antigen A3(MAGEA3) protein in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and on apotposis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.METHODS: A vector for transcribing specific small hairpin RNA(shRNA) targeting MAGEA3 gene was constructed,introduced into hepatocellular carcinoma MEL-ED1 cells by Lipofectamine 2000.The MAGEA3 protein and mRNA expression levels of MEL-ED1 cells were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively.The cell apoptosis was studied by DNA fragmentation,electron microscopy,TUNEL assay,and annexin V/PI staining.RESULTS: The vector of RNA interference was successfully constructed and MAGEA3 expression was descreased significantly in MEL-ED1 cells.After the shRNA expression vector was transfected into the MEL-ED1 cells,the expression of MAGEA3 gene was inhibited significantly(by 90%).DNA fragmentation,electron microscopy and TUNEL assay showed classic apoptosis characters in the MEL-ED1 cells transfected with pSilencer-MAGEA3 plasmid with an apoptosis rate of 21.41% ?1.98%,significantly higher than those in the negative control group transfected with pSilencer-neo and in the non-transfected group(both P

Objective To observe the movement patterns of the geniohyoid muscle in swallowing of healthy subjects by using the real-time B/M-mode ultrasound imaging.Methods Thirty healthy subjects were recruited and the movement patterns of their geniohyoid muscles in swallowing of 5 ml juice-like,thin liquid,honey-like and budding-like bolus.The parameters included the range and the duration of geniohyoid muscle movement.Each subject was measured for 3 times to get the average.Results The range of geniohyoid muscle movement in swallowing of the above bolus was (6.993 ± 1.776)mm,(7.463 ± 1.947)mm,(8.446 ±2.293)mm and (8.905 ±2.057)mm,respectively,with significant differences among them except that between juice-like and thin liquid bolus swallowing,as well as between honey-like and budding-like bolus swallowing.The duration of geniohyoid muscle movement was (0.899 ±0.129)s,(1.019 ±0.149)s,(1.119 ±0.111)s and (1.211 ±0.141)s in juice-like,thin liquid,honey-like and budding-like bolus swallowing,with significant differences among them.When swallowing the same bolus,the range and duration of geniohyoid muscle movement of males were significantly longer than those of females.Conclusions B/M-mode imaging provides a useful technique for assessment the movement of the geniohyoid muscle.The bolus viscosity has an impact on the movement of the geniohyoid muscle.Compared with the range of movement,the duration of geniohyoid muscle movement is a better index for evaluating the effect of bolus viscosity on the geniohyoid muscle movement.

Objective To investigate the influence of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in proliferation and apoptosis of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Methods siHOTAIR was used to inhibit the HOTAIR expression in Tb3.1 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. The experiments were divided into siHOTAIR group, nonsense sequence group and blank control group. Real-time PCR was used to detect the HOTAIR expression. MTT assay was employed to determine the cell survival. The expression levels of Bcl2, BAX, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 were examined by Western blot assay. Tb3.1 xenograft tumor model was established in BALB/c nude mice, and the tumor model was divided into control group, negative group, and siHOTAIR treated group. The tumor tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry stain (IHC) and TUNEL assay. Results The detection of real-time PCR showed that HOTAIR expression was reduced after treated with siHOTAIR. Western blots assay showed that Bcl-2 protein was suppressed while cleaved caspase-3 and BAX protein were up-regulated after treated with siHOTAIR. MTT assay indicated that the cell survival rate was significantly reduced in siHOTAIR treated group. Flow cytometry detected that apoptosis levels were increased in siHOTAIR group. The level of cell senescence was higher in the siHOTAIR group than that of control group. Results of IHC indicated that Ki-67 and Bcl-2 protein of tumor tissue were inhibited, while BAX and cleaved caspase-3protein expressions were elevated simultaneously in the siHOTAIR group. TUNEL assay suggested that more apoptosis was observed in siHOTAIR group. Conclusion HOTAIR can affect proliferation and apoptosis of tongue squamous cancer cells. HOTAIR may be one of the new candidate targets for human tongue cancer therapy.

Objective To investigate the nutritional risks, undernutrition, and nutritional support among inpatients in tertiary hospitals in Tianjin using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002). Methods Inpatients in six departments in two tertiary hospitals in Tianjin (Tianjin Nankai Hospital and Tianjin Chest Hospital ) were consecutively enrolled from March 2005 to March 2006. Their nutritional risks were screened using NRS 2002, and the nutritional support was investigated. Results A total of 1200 inpatients received nutritional screening, and 93.0% of them underwent NRS 2002 scoring. The prevalence of undernutrition was 9. 8% and the prevalence of nutritional risk was 42. 8%. Of these patients, 241 patients (46.4%) with NRS2002≥3 received nutrition support, and 244 patients (35.9%) with NRS2002 ＜3 received nutritional support Conclusions NRS2002 is suitable for nutritional risk screening among inpatients. Inpatients usually have nutritional risks or undernutrition. However, physicians at different levels in different regions have different awareness of such risks or conditions, and the clinical application of nutritional supports sometimes are inappropriate.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of myocardial ischemia with blood stasis syndrome in mini-swines. METHODS: An animal model of myocardial ischemia was established in mini-swines by oppressing the coronary artery through the expansion of inner layer of Ameroid constrictor and the Ameroid constrictor was implanted into the distal end of the initial part of the first branch of interventricular septum of ramus descendens anterior arteriae coronariae sinistrae. Dynamic observation of behavior changes, general health status and changes of hemorheological parameters in the mini-swines were made after operation. RESULTS: The coronary angiography showed that the stenosis rate in ischemic group was more than 75% four weeks after operation. Compared with before operation and sham-operated group, there were great changes of behavior, general health status, tongue color and hemorheological parameters in ischemic group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The animal model of myocardial ischemia with blood stasis syndrome in mini-swines was established successfully 4 weeks after operation. The pathological process in the animal model is similar to that in the patients with chronic myocardial ischemia. So this model can be adopted in the research of myocardial ischemia with blood stasis syndrome.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and lateral neck lymph node me-tastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients, and to analyze the importance of high resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of lateral neck lymph node metastasis in PTMC patients. Methods:A retrospective protocol was applied, and a total of 1 037 PTMC patients were reviewed. These patients underwent central lymph node dissection or thyroidectomy with lateral neck lymph node dissection between January and November in 2013 in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. Clinicopathological factors, namely, age, sex, primary tumor size, multifocality, bilateralism, thyroid capsular invasion, and local invasion, were analyzed. Results: CLNMs were found in 332 of 1037 patients (32.0%), and 71 out of 1037 patients had lateral neck lymph node metastasis (6.85%). In the univariate analysis, patients with the following risk factors were at high risk of CLNM (P<0.05):male, aged≤45 years old, with primary tumor size of>5 mm, multifocality, bilateralism, thyroid capsular invasion, and local invasion. Male patients with cen-tral lymph node metastasis positively showed high lateral neck lymph node metastasis rate (P<0.05) according to high-resolution ultra-sonography diagnosis. The rate of lateral neck lymph node metastasis increased with increasing number of central lymph node metasta-ses. The sensitivity and specificity of high resolution ultrasonography for lateral neck lymph node metastasis were 92.96%and 81.48%in PTMC patients.Conclusion:Prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection needs to be performed in patients with CLNM risk factors (i.e., male, aged≤45 years old, primary tumor size of>5 mm, multifocality, bilateralism, thyroid capsular invasion, and lo-cal invasion). The importance of high-resolution ultrasonography in diagnosing lateral neck lymph node metastasis was revealed by the results. Thus, this method should be widely popularized. Radical neck dissection should be performed in male patients who received a positive diagnosis via ultrasonography or those with PTMC who had more than three positive nodes in the central lymph node metasta-sis. However, given the high occurrence rate of PTMC, a prospective study needs to be conducted in the future.

Objective To find out some trigger factors for the onset of acute childhood leukemia by examining seasonal distribution through a small cohort study in a single center.Methods The records of 688 childhood patients(age≤15 years)whom were initially diagnosed at Blood Disease Hospital of CAMS from October 2003 to June 2006,were retrospectively analyzed.Results In terms of time,our study provides modest support for sessonal peaks in summer and winter,or in Jan & Jun.Conclusion We initially realized the season tendency of the onset of acute childhood leukemia in some northern parts of China.which suggest that childhood acute leukemia is associated with the infection.

Objective To explore the expressions of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) related proteins including N-cadherin, Vimentin and E-cadherin in head and neck squamous cell carcino? ma (HNSCC), and to determine the relationship between the expression of CDK5 and prognosis. Methods The expression levels of CDK5 and EMT related proteins were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 55 patients who were diagnosed as HN?SCC. They were also analyzed in different clinical pathological factors. The correlation of CDK5 and EMT related proteins as well as the relationship between the expression of CDK5 and prognosis were also analyzed. Results The expression level of CDK5 was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than that in patients with non-lymph node metastasis (91.67%vs 30.23%, P<0.05). It’s also higher in T3-T4 stages than that in T1-T2 stages (85%vs 20%, P<0.05). The ex?pression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin were significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than those in patients with non-lymph node metastasis (75.00%vs 6.98%;91.67%vs 27.91%, all P<0.05). However, the expression level of E-cadherin was significantly lower in patients with lymph node metastasis (8.33%vs 86.05%, P<0.05) compared to that in patients without. CDK5 was positively correlated with N-cadherin and Vimentin, but negatively correlated with E-cad?herin (rs=0.512, 0.443,-0.363, all P<0.01). The 3-year survival rates were significantly lower in patients with high expres?sion of CDK5 (37.5%) than that in patients with low expression of CDK5 (87%, Log-rankχ2=12.678, P<0.01). Conclusion CDK5 and EMT related proteins were activated abnormally in HNSCC with lymph node metastasis. CDK5 may be a new bio?logical marker for prognosis of HNSCC.

Objective To examine the contribution of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells to liver transplant tolerance. Methods After injection of anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb, PC61), mouse orthotopic liver transplantation was performed and survivals were determined. The paraffin-embedded sections of hepatic allografts were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Furthermore, the effect of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells on proliferative response of CD4+ T cells and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells was examined by depleting these regulatory T cells. Results Depletion of these cells in the recipients but not in the donors before liver transplantation caused rejection. Histological analyses of hepatic allografts with PC61 treatment showed extensive leukocyte infiltration and tissue destruction, whereas those in the control group showed minimal changes. Moreover, elimination of CD4+CD25+ T cells resulted in the enhancement of both proliferative response of CD4+ T cells and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against donor-type alloantigen. Conclusions These results suggest that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were important for tolerance induction to hepatic allografts.