AIM To investigate the anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of arecoline. METHODS Fifty-eight male rats were assigned to control, model, arecoline 1 mg?kg -1 and arecoline 5 mg? [FQ(12。46,X-WZ]-kg -1 groups randomly. The rats in model and arecoline-supplied groups were fed with hypercholesterol diet. The following variables were measured: HE staining of rat aorta; serum level of TC, LDL-CHO, HDL-CHO, IL-8, ET-1 and NO; expression of eNOS protein on rat aorta; expression of MCP-1, ICAM-1, CXCR-2 and eNOS mRNA on rat aorta. RESULTS Arecoline increased plasma level of NO and the expression of eNOS protein and mRNA, decreased plasma level of IL-8 and the expression of ICAM-1, MCP-1 and CXCR-2 mRNA on rat aorta. CONCLUSION The anti-atherogenic effects of arecoline seems to be closely involved in increasing plasma level of NO and eNOS protein and mRNA expression, decrease in plasma IL-8 level and down-regulation of the expression of ICAM-1, MCP-1 and CXCR-2 genes.-

AIMTo investigate the anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of the novel compound PPVP. METHODSThirty-six male rats were a ssigned to control, model and PPVP 5 mg?kg -1 groups randomly. The rats in model and PPVP 5 mg?kg -1 groups were fed with hypercholesterol diet for inducing atherolcerosis model. The following variables were measured: HE stainin g of rat aorta; serum level of TC, LDL-CHO, HDL-CHO, IL-8, ET-1, PGI 2, TXA 2 and NO. RESULTSPPVP increased serum level of NO, decreased plasma level of TXA 2 and inhibited the over expression of IL-8. CONC LUSIONThe anti-atherogenic effect of PPVP seems to be closely involved in increasing serum NO level, decreasing plasma level of TXA 2, and inhibiting over expression of IL-8. The result also suggests that the anti-atherogenic ef fect of PPVP in high cholesterol-fed rat may not due to the regulation of plasm a lipid profile, plasma level of ET-1 and PGI 2.

Objective To investigate the role of integrin CD11b in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its possible mechanism.Method CD11b-/-and WT (C57BL/6) mice were used to establish a 70％ liver warm I/R by clamping the left and median liver lobes for 60 min with vascular micro clamp at 37℃,then the clamp was removed and the abdominal incision was sutured.The blood plasma and liver samples were obtained at different time points (1,3,6,12,24 and 48 h) postreperfusion to assess liver function and cellular injury.Serum ALT and AST levels were determined,and HE staining and TUNEL assay were performed to estimate the severity of liver damage.Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assayed by Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Kupffer cells were isolated from the live,and the reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity and active oxygen species (ROS) production were assayed.Result CD11b-/-mice displayed a significantly preserved liver function as represented by lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartic transaminase (AST) levels,less histological damage and apoptosis compared to WT mice.Furthermore,TNF-α was decreased and IL-10 mRNA expression was increased in CD11b-/-mice compared to WT mice.Finally,CD11b-/-mice showed decreased activity of NADPH oxidase and less ROS production.Conclusion Integrin CD11 b may regulate the levels of inflammatory (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines,enhance the activity of NADPH oxidase in Kupffer cells and enrich the production of ROS,which aggravate liver I/R injury.

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 set up the isolated perfused rat liver model. Methods Rat livers were harvested after the cannulation of the portal vein and bile duct. The reperfusion solution was Krebs-Henseleit solution containing bovine albumin serum and sodium taurocholate. The original CZ-1 isolated perfused rat liver system contained two subsystems: recirculating perfusion system and heat-exchange system. Then we modified the original CZ-1 system and omitted the heat-exchange system.The modified CZ-1 system consisted of a thermostatically regulated water bath,a peristaltic pump,a 4-neck round-bottom flask, a flow meter, an in-line manometer, a glass organ chamber, an iron support and a set of recirculating pipe line. Then the livers were connected via the portal vein to the modified CZ-1 system for 120 min. After 120 min reperfusion, bile production was evaluated. Routine HE staining and electron microscopic examination of hepatic tissues were also performed. Results The was not significantly different from that reported by references. Hepatic tissues in reperfusion group were also morphologically normal Conclusion The CZ-1 isolated perfused rat liver system was cost-effective and reliable to use. It was easy to run and is the ideal model for investigation of organ preservation solution.

Objective To investigate the clinical distribution and change of pathogenic bacterium in women and children' s hospital and health institute. Methods Pathogens isolation, and identification were conducted for samples, which were gathered from patients in our hospital between Nov. 2001 and Oct. 2007. Results The total posi-tive rate was 12.7%. Conclusion Clinical distribution of pathogenic bacterium in women and children' s hospital and health institute was different from other hospitals. It is important for reasonable antibacterials application, also for nosocomial infection prevention and reduction.

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 clinical features of kidney transplantation of small pediatric donors to pediatric recipients.Method A retrospective analysis of 48 kidney transplants from small pediatric donors into pediatric recipients was performed.Result Based on the transplantation types,the patients were divided into two groups:the single kidney transplantation (SKT) group and the en bloc kidney transplantation (EBKT) group.SKT was performed on 36 patients and EBKT on 12 patients.In the SKT group,postoperative complications included vascular thrombosis in 1 case (2.8％),primary disease recurrence in 1 case (2.8％),ureteral stenosis in 1 case (2.8％),delayed graft function in 17 cases (47.3 ％) and acute rejection in 4 cases (11.1 ％).In the EBKT group,postoperative complications included vascular thrombosis in 4 cases (33.3％),urine leak in 2 cases (16.7％),delayed graft function in 2 cases (16.7％) and acute rejection in 2 cases (16.7％).At last follow-up,patient survivals were 100％ in both groups,whereas graft survival was 94.4％ (34/36) in the SKT group and 75％ (9/12) in the EBKT group.The mean serum creatinine in the SKT and EBKT group was (68.4 ± 22.1) and (55.8 ± 16.7) μmol/L,respectively.Conclusion Favorable outcomes can be obtained from transplantation from small pediatric donors.The use of this donor population for pediatric recipients should be encouraged.

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.

ObjectiveTo verify the efficacy and safety of conversion from cyclosporine (CsA) to tacrolimus (Tac) in renal transplant recipients. MethodsThe clinical data of conversion from CsA to Tac in renal transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. In 97 patients undergoing kidney transplantation, there were 62 cases of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), 21 cases of refractory renal allograft rejection, 8 cases of hepatic impairment, and 6 cases of gingival overgrowth and hirsutism. The patients were followed up with renal function, hepatic function, blood fat, pressure,glucose,acute rejection incidence, patients/kidney survival rate,and adverse drug reaction for 3 years.ResultsThe renal function of patients with CAN and refractory acute rejection was greatly improved after conversion from CsA to Tac treatment at the first year (P＜0. 05) ,and steady at the 2nd or 3rd year. The conversion treatment could greatly improve the hepatic function of patients with dysfunction of liver, improve the gum hypertrophy and hypertrichosis results from CsA. The 1- and 3-year patients/kidney survival rate after conversion from CsA to Tac was 100 ％/97. 9 ％ and 100 ％/92. 8 ％, respectively. The conversion treatment showed a significantly lower degree of plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood pressure (P ＜ 0.05). Incidence of pathoglycemia, diarrhea or anepithymia,and tremor after conversion treatment was 13.4 ％ (13/97),2. 1％ (2/97) and 5. 2 ％ (5/97),respectively. There were no serious pulmonary infection and tumor during the observation period. ConclusionThe mid-long term effect of conversion from CsA to Tac in patients with kidney transplantation is safe and effective.