OBJECTIVETo establish a method for real-time recording the oxygen consumption of mice under normobaric hypoxia.

METHODSThe experimental apparatus was made up of animal container, filling water control system, electronic balance, hose, a computer with weight recording software, etc. The working principle was that the oxygen consumed by animal was replaced by water filling which was controlled by the pneumatic and hydraulic actuator. The water was weighted by an electronic balance and the weight signal was recorded into excel file at the same time. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus were detected by a 10 ml syringe. The oxygen consumption characteristics of 6 acute repetitive hypoxia mice and 6 normal mice were observed.

RESULTSThe P value for the paired t test was 1 and the CV value was 4%. The survival time and total oxygen consumption of acute repetitive hypoxia mice were both significantly increased compared to normal mice (P < 0.05), which were (58.8 +/- 6.8) min and (46.0 +/- 8.7) min respectively for the survival time and (85.1 +/- 8.5) ml and (73.6 +/- 5.4) ml respectively for total oxygen consumption.

CONCLUSIONThe hypoxia tolerance of the acute repetitive hypoxia mice can significantly improved by taking more oxygen in the animal cabin. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus are high and it can be used for the determination of oxygen consumption in hypoxia research.

Animals ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; instrumentation ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the results and the prognosis of local excision of lower rectal cancer, and investigate the proper indication of local excision for cure purpose.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 76 patients with lower rectal cancer treated from February 1985 to October 2007 were analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-nine patients received transanal excision, 6 cases received trans-sacral excision and 1 case received trans-vaginal excision. Among the cases, 48 cases were ranged as T1 phase, 25 cases as T2, 3 cases as T3. The operation complication rate was 7.9%, and the 30-day mortality rate post operation was 0. The local recurrence rate was 22.4% and the overall 5 year survival rate was 84.5%. The local recurrence was significantly related with T stage and resection margin status. The survival was significantly related with mucinous adenocarcinoma, resection margin status and lymphovascular invasion; and the resection margin and lymphovascular invasion was the independent factors affecting survival.

CONCLUSIONLocal excision was safe in early stage lower rectal cancer. Careful patient selection is the key of the operation. The proper indication of local excision is T1-2 without high risk factors (high histopathological grade, presence of lymphatic or vascular invasion, mucinous adenocarcinoma); and the cases with T2 phase tumor should undergo chemoradiotherapy after local excision.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between the expression of Egr-1 and NF-kappaB and the up-regulation of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in macrophages after stimulation by silica in-vitro.

METHODSMacrophages were treated with antibodies against Egr-1 and NF-kappaB and antisense oligonucleotides. The level of TNF-alpha protein in the cell supernatant was then measured using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of TGF-beta1 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry. The expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 mRNAs was also monitored by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with silica-stimulated macrophages untreated with antibodies, the cells treated with 10 micro g/ml of Egr-1 or NF-kappaB antibodies were associated with reduced expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 proteins and mRNAs (P < 0.05). Compared with silica-stimulated untransfected group, the antisense group was associated with obvious reduction in the expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 proteins and mRNAs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 mRNAs and proteins are associated with activation of Egr-1 and NF-kappaB in macrophages, after stimulation by silica. It is possible that the corresponding antibodies and antisense oligonucleotides may become a potential therapeutic tool in the management of silicosis in the future.

Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Silicosis ; etiology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Previous methods used for nuclear transplantation were further investigated to develop a method that was both easy to carryout and did not require any special apparatus, such as Piezoimpact or Spindle-View. Following the puncture of zona pellucida with two holes by injection pipette that contained donor nuclei or cells, the injection pipette was pulled back to the perivitelline space while the negative pressure was increased in the holding pipette until the polar body and karyoplasm were wiped off completely. Then a reconstructed embryo was completed by the direct injection of the donor nucleus or cell without pulling out the injection pipette. 200 oocytes were manipulated using this method and it cost about 40 seconds with nucleus injection and about 30 seconds with cell injection to complete a reconstructed embryo. The success rates were 62.6% and 86. 0%, respectively, and enucleation rate was about 73.3% validated by Hoechst 33342. Using this method, the nucleus was completely eliminated and another was injected using the microscope and micromanipulator. Moreover, the efficiency of nuclear transplantation and survival rate of reconstructed embryos were greatly improved. Furthermore, it is very easy to manipulate and popularize in practice.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Organism ; methods ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; metabolism ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Oocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Zona Pellucida ; metabolism

This essay is to present an improvement on the concentration assay for hemihydrate gypsum in plaster of Paris bandage-Viscose form.
Calcium Sulfate ; analysis ; Casts, Surgical ; Titrimetry ; methods

BACKGROUNDAnorectal malignant melanoma was a rare disease with extremely poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristic, diagnosis and treatment strategies of anorectal malignant melanoma.

METHODSThe data of 57 patients with anorectal malignant melanoma was collected and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSRectal bleeding and anal mass were found to be common symptoms of anorectal malignant melanoma. The preoperative diagnosis rate of anorectal malignant melanoma was 48.6%. The overall 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 38.0% and 21.3% respectively. The 3-year survival rates of stage I and II patients were 63.0% and 16.7% respectively (P = 0.000), and the 5-year survival rates were 33.3% and 11.1% (P = 0.001), which both had significant statistic differences. The 3-year survival rate of patients undergone abdmoninoperineal resection and patients undergone wide local excision were 36.7% and 53.0% respectively (P = 0.280), while the 5-year survival rate were 24.1% and 23.1% (P = 0.642), which both had no significant statistic differences.

CONCLUSIONSThis study identified no survival advantage to abdominoperineal resection in treatment of anorectal malignant melanoma, and we propose that wide local excision could be considered as the initial treatment of choice.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anus Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo find out the vector ability and function of Nosopsyllus wualis leizhouensis in the transmitting plague.

METHODSIn T: 19 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, RH: 85% +/- 5%, data regarding the vector ability as cluster spreading, single flea spreading, single flea transmitting plague to single animal, formative bacterial embolus and infection fleas life-span through experiments was gathered.

RESULTSThe rate of infection on fleas was 94.64%, with 100% transmission rate of colony to spread, and 30% from single flea spreading to single animal. In the experiment of single flea transmission, all of the 388 rattus loseas were bitten by the fleas with bacterial, but only 9 animals were characteristically infected with the transmission potential, vector efficiency, survival potential of embolus, vector index as 0.360, 0.257, 0.868 and 0.223 respectively. The mean survive days of infected flea feed with blood were 17.58 (1 - 58), and the mean survive days of hunger infected flea were 7.25 (1 - 16). Formative bacterial embolus days were 8.80 (2 - 16) and the rate of embolus flea was 78.12%.

CONCLUSIONNosopsyllus wualis leizhouensis could serve as vector and important in the mode of plague transmittion.

Animals ; Female ; Insect Vectors ; microbiology ; Male ; Plague ; transmission ; Rats ; Siphonaptera ; microbiology

BACKGROUNDLymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that predominantly affects young females. It is considered as an "orphan" life-threatening disease of unknown etiology, with uncertain clinical prognosis, and no effective treatment. LAM can arise sporadically or in association with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an autosomal inherited syndrome characterized by hamartoma-like tumor growth and pathologic features that are distinct from manifestations of pulmonary LAM. The clinical course of LAM is characterized by progressive dyspnea on exertion, recurrent pneumothorax, and chylous fluid collections.

METHODSFourteen cases of LAM from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University are reviewed, twelve were confirmed by lung biopsy, one by retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyoma resection, and one by autopsy.

RESULTSAll 14 patients were women, aged 18 to 69 years (mean 43.3 years, median 46.5 years). Haemoptysis (57.1%) and chylothorax (35.7%) were more frequent than those described in previous case series. Extrapulmonary findings such as renal angiomyolipoma (AML), enlarged abdominal lymph nodes, liver AML and retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyoma were seen in 21.4%, 14.3%, 7.14% and 7.14% in 14 cases respectively, which is remarkably lower than in the previously reported. Abnormal smooth muscle cells (LAM cells) were found to line the airways, bronchioles, lymphatics and blood vessels leading to airflow obstruction and replacement of the lung parenchyma by cysts. There were some surprises in the autopsy case as several LAM cell emboli were found in the veins of mediastinum lymph nodes; LAM cells were found to be disseminated in soft tissues adjacent to the ilium.

CONCLUSIONSWomen with unexplained recurrent pneumothorax, tuberous sclerosis, or a diagnosis of primary spontaneous pneumothorax or emphysema in the setting of limited or absent tobacco use should undergo high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan screening for LAM. Routine abdominal and pelvic imaging examinations should be performed to detect extrapulmonary involvement. The autopsy studies histologically suggested that LAM could be a multisystemic disease and LAM cells might possess metastatic potential.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Medroxyprogesterone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Ovariectomy ; Progesterone ; therapeutic use ; Progestins ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of endothelial cell-targeted therapy to cure post-burn hypertrophic scar.

METHODSA hypertrophic scar animal model was made. Intralesional injecting of VEGF monoclonal antibody was performed for three weeks. The changes of scar in volume and morphology were observed.

RESULTS1. The volume of scar decreased. 2. The number of the capillary, the amount of collagen I and collagen III decreased. 3. Transmission electron microscope examinations demonstrated many dead or apoptotic fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Fibrocytes were seen relatively common.

CONCLUSIONVEGF induces the growth and development of hypertrophic scar in that it induces excessive and uncontrollable angiogenesis, which favors excessive collagen synthesis. Endothelial cell-targeted therapy may be a promising method to cure post-burn hypertrophic scar.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; complications ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type III ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; Feasibility Studies ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVETo analyze lymph node (LN) metastasis patterns and determine the appropriate extent of LN dissection in distal-third gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 545 patients with distal third gastric cancer undergoing radical operation in the Fujian Provincial Hospital between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. The metastasis rate for each LN station was analyzed stratified by the depth of tumor invasion.

RESULTSThe incidence of LN metastasis in this cohort was 38.2% (208/545). LN metastasis rate in mucosal cancer was 2.0% (2/99) and involved LNs were limited to station 1 LN stations. LN metastasis rate in submucosal cancer was 18.9% (18/95), significantly higher than that in mucosal cancer (P<0.01). The metastasis rates to groups No.7, 8 and 9 in station 2 were 5.3% (5/94), 3.2% (3/94), and 1.1% (1/89) respectively. In addition, 3 cases (3.2%) had metastasis in station 2 outside the range of groups 7, 8 and 9 including groups No.1, 11p and 12. Gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria or deeper layers showed an significant increased rate of metastasis (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIOND1 dissection seems to be sufficient for mucosal cancer. Standard D2 dissection should be performed for cancers of the muscularis propria or deeper. For submucosal cancer, an extended D1+ dissection is required for complete removal of metastatic nodes.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery