Objective: To investigate the expression of calcineurin (CaN) in breast carcinoma and to analyze the relationship between the expression of the member of CaN family and clinicopathological features. Methods: The expressions of CaN Aα, CaN Aβ and CaN B in 55 cases of breast carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues were measured by Western blotting. The intracellular distribution of CaN proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method. Results: The expression levels of CaN Aα and CaN Aβ and CaN B proteins were markedly increased in breast carcinoma tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. The relative intensities were 6.45-,4.67-, and 2.31-fold of the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). The expression levels of CaN Aα and CaN Aβ were related with TNM staging (III/IV) of breast carcinoma (P = 0.05). Conclusion: The continuous activation of CaN signaling pathway maybe play an important role in tumorigenesis of breast carcinoma.

Objective To assesses the value of the Pipkin fracture classification on the treatment and prognosis of Pipkin fracture. Methods A total of 71 patients with Pipkin fractures treated from January 2002 to January 2007 were followed up and the detailed information of 63 patients were obtained. The clinical and radiographic evaluation criteria of Thompson was employed to evaluate the outcome, analyze the results and discuss the correlation between Pipkin fracture type and prognosis and hence propose the significance of Pipkin classification on the prognosis. Results There was no statistical difference in aspect of the outcome between type Pipkin Ⅰ , Ⅱ injury and type Pipkin Ⅳ injury (types Pipkin Ⅰ and Ⅱ injury combined with minimum fracture, with fragment ＜ 1 cm,P＞0. 05). There showed statistical difference in outcome between types Pipkin Ⅰ , Ⅱ injury and type Pipkin Ⅳ injury (types Pipkin Ⅰ and Ⅱ injury combined with acetabular rim fracture, P ＜0. 05). Conclusions Pipkin fracture classification system needs a further improvement. The type Pipkin Ⅳ injury that is combined with types Pipkin Ⅰ , Ⅱ , Ⅲ injuries with minimum fracture (fragment ＜ 1 cm) of the acetabular rim should be incorporated into types Pipkin Ⅰ ,Ⅱ , Ⅲ injury. Type Pipkin Ⅳ injury refers to types Pipkin Ⅰ ,Ⅱ , Ⅲ injuries, with major fracture of the acetabular rim and the hip joint instability. In addition, the Pipkin fracture type involving the fracture line, femoral neck and intertrochanteric region is hard to treat clinically and has poor prognosis, suggesting that this type of injury should be considered as special type Pipkin Ⅲ injury.

Objective To evaluate the clinical results of femoral-deep femoral crossover bypass in the treatment of long-segment unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease.Methods From July 1995 to December 2010,40 patients (28 males,12 females,aged from 66 to 90,with mean age of 73) with comprehensive unilateral iliac-superficial femoral arteriosclerosis obliterans were enrolled in this procedure.All patients suffered from unilateral common iliac,external iliac,common femoral,and superficial femoral arteriosclerosis obliterans.These patients were treated with femoral-deep femoral crossover bypass.Postoperative ankle-brachial index,blood flow velocity and patency rates in 5,7 and 10 years and limb salvage rates in 5,7 and 10 years were evaluated.Results There was no perioperative mortality nor extremity amputation.35 (87.5％ ) patients were followed-up from 1 to 13 years (mean 5.7 y).Anklebrachial index rose from preoperative 0.23 ± 0.10 to postoperative 0.55 ± 0.11 (t =15.91,P =0.000 ).Popliteal arterial velocity rose from preoperative ( 14 ±6) cm/s to postoperative (34 ± 10) cm/s (t =15.63,P =0.000) ; Tibial arterial velocity rose from ( 10 ±4) cm/s to (22 ±7) cm/s (t =15.71,P =0.000).The primary and secondary patency rates were 60.1％,44.3％,25.3％,and 93.5％,86.8％,57.9％ at 5,7 and 10 years,respectively.Limb salvage rates were 97.5％,95％,and 90％,at 5,7 and 10 years,respectively.Conclusions Femoral-deep femoral crossover bypass is safe and reliable in treating certain unilateral iliofemoral occlusive disease,especially for high-risk old patients or those who are not indicated for endovascular therapies or direct aortic approaches.

BACKGROUND:Mechanical, inflammatory, and biochemical factors, particularly matrix metaloproteinases and reactive oxygen lead to chondrocyte degeneration in osteoarthritis. Curcumin has been shown to be a potent antioxidant; however, its protective effects against chondrocyte degeneration in osteoarthritis remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of curcumin on articular cartilage of osteoarthritis in rats.
METHODS:A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were used and randomly divided into model group (positive control,n=15) and normal group (negative control,n=15). Rat models of traumatic osteoarthritis were established, and then cartilage cels were isolated from articular cartilage and culturedin vitro. Chondrocytes were treated with curcumin (curcumin group) or PDTC (an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B) for 24 hours. The expression level of nuclear factor-kappa B P65 in nucleus and cytoplasm in chondrocytes were determined by western blot assay and immunofluorescence. Moreover, mRNA expressions of type II colagen, matrix metaloproteinase-1 and -13 were analyzed using RT-qPCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nuclear factor-kappa B P65 protein was mainly expressed in nucleus, but few in cytoplasm in positive control group; the reversed results were found in the curcumin group. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B P65 was observed mainly in nucleus in the positive control group; however, that was observed mainly in cytoplasm in the negative control, curcumin, and PDTC groups. Matrix metaloproteinase-1 and -13 mRNA expressions were significantly decreased, while type II colagen mRNA expression was significantly increased in the curcumin group compared with the positive control group. These findings indicated that curcumin protect chondrocytes against degeneration through inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, suppressing nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B P65 and inhibiting the expressions of matrix metaloproteinase-1 and -13, which are responsible for upregulation of type II colagen expression.

A two-step method for the purification of blocking-type anti-human CD80 monoclonal antibody 4E5 from mouse ascites was developed using anion exchange and gel filtration in combination. The ascites was first purified by anion exchange after centrifugation and filtration. The experimental parameters of sample loading and elution were optimized. The optimized loading condition was pH 8.0,50 mmol/L Tris-HCl and satisfactory results were obtained using a 0~0.5mol/L NaCl step elution. The fraction containing the protein of interest was directly loaded on gel filtration column and eluted using a 20 mmol/L phosphate buffer at pH 7.2. The purity of the obtained monoclonal antibody was up to 95% with a recovery of 61%. The purity of mAb could efficiently inhibit the growth of Daudi cells. The amplification of the method was also studied using a Bio-Scale Q5 column and the result was satisfied.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of combined application of Xuezhikang Capsule (XZK) and hypotensive drugs on the dynamic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure index (PPI), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and smoothness index (SI), and to study the relationship between SI and related factors (age, BP, dynamic PPI, and vascular elasticity).

METHODSOne hundred and ten patients with essential hypertension were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 54 in the control group and 56 in the treated group. Both were treated with hypertensive drugs, but with oral medication of XZK given additionally to the treated group at the dose of 60 mg, twice a day. PWV and DBP were measured before treatment and at the terminal of a 6-month treatment. Meantime, the 24-h average systolic and diastolic pressures were recorded to calculate the 24-h dynamic pulse pressure (24 hPP), PPI, SI of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SISBP and SIDBP) for comparing the changes between groups and analyzing the SI related factors.

RESULTSAll patients' blood pressure levels were well controlled; after a 6-month treatment, the PP and PPI in the treated group were 45 +/- 8 mm Hg and 0.35 +/- 0.08 respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (51 +/- 10 mm Hg and 0.38 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05); while SISBP and SIDBP in the treated group were higher than those in the control group (1.37 +/- 0.16 vs 1.26 +/- 0.20, P < 0.01; and 1.28 +/- 0.14 vs 1.18 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05) respectively; and PWV in the former was significantly lower than that in the latter group (10.4 +/- 3.68 m/s vs 12.5 +/- 4.27 m/s, P < 0.05). Multiple factor stepwise regression analysis showed that the SISBP was negatively correlated with age, PPI and PWV, while the SIDBP was negatively correlated with PPI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined application of XZK and hypotensive drugs can decrease PP and PPI, improve the endothelial function and arterial elasticity, enhance the efficacy of treatment on SI. After treatment SI shows a significant negative correlation with PPI, PWV and age in patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arteries ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Compliance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver resection.Methods A total of 432 patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC were divided into normal GGT group (175 patients with GGT ≤ 50 U/L) and high GGT group (257 patients with GGT ＞ 50 U/L).After balancing baseline characteristics by propensity score analysis,disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups.Independent risk factors influencing DFS and OS were identified by Cox multivariate analyses.Results Propensity score analysis identified 124 matched pairs of patients from each group.In the propensity-matched cohort,DFS at 1,3,and 5 years in normal GGT group (69.3％,36.1％,12.8％) was significantly higher than that in high GGT group (60.6％,18.7％,7.5％;P=0.039).OSat1,3,and5 years innommlGGTgroup (90.7％,73.7％,66.1％) was also significantly higher than that in high GGT group (89.2％,63.6％,43.3％;P =0.024).COX multivariate analyses revealed that alpha-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/ml,GGT ＞ 50 U/L,macrovascular invasion,tumor size ≥ 10 cm,and tumor number ≥3 were independent risk factors for DFS in patients with HCC after liver resection.Albumin ＜ 35 g/L,GGT ＞ 50 U/L,macrovascular invasion,tumor size ≥ 10 cm,and tumor number ≥ 3 were identified as independent risk factors for OS.Conclusions Preoperative serum GGT level is an independent factor predicting tumor recurrence and long-term survival in HCC patients after liver resection.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of compound glycyrrhizin tablets in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis primary biliary cirrhosis with overlap syndrome (AIH-PBC).Methods Forty-six patients with AIH-PBC were randomly divided into control group and treatment group with 23 cases per group.Control group received 10 mg · kg-1ursodeoxycholic acid capsule,qd,orally + prednisone acetate tablet,orally,starting dose 0.5 mg · kg-1 · d-1,and gradually reduce to 5 mg · d-1 to maintain treatment + azathioprine tablets 50 mg · d-1,orally.Treatment group was given compound glycyrrhizin tablets 75 mg each time,tid,orally,on the basis of control group.Two groups were treated for 12 months.The clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were respectively 91.30％ (21 cases/23 cases) and 60.87％ (14 cases/23 cases) with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The adverse drug reactions of treatment group were diarrhea,gastrointestinal discomfort and headache,which in control group were diarrhea and gastrointestinal discomfort.The incidences of adverse drug reactions in treatment and control groups were 17.39％ and 26.09％ without significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Compound glycyrrhizin tablets have a definitive clinical efficacy in the treatment of AIH-PBC,without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness of percutaneous bone marrow grafting for treatment of fractures nonunion.

METHODSFrom June 2001 to December 2007, 29 consecutive cases of fractures nonunion were treated with percutaneous autologous bone marrow grafting included 20 males and 9 females, ranging in age from 20 to 71 years, with an average of 40 years. All the cases were traumatic fractures involving 13 of tibia, 10 of femur, 3 of humerus, 2 of ulna, 1 of radius, 11 cases of them were open fractures. All the cases were performed internal or external fixation before marrow grafting, intramedullary pin in 15 cases, plate in 12 cases, external fixator in 2 cases. The time from injury to therapy were from 6 to 12 months, with an average of 8.5 months. The type of nonunion included atrophic in 26 cases,hypertrophic in 3 cases. All the cases were performed 3 times injection, the interval was 1 month. According to the different fracture, the amount of bone marrow was from 6 to 15 ml.

RESULTSAll the 29 cases were followed-up for from 5 to 22 months with an average of 14 months. Four of them were not observed obvious callus after 3 months from the 3rd injection, judged unsuccessful therapy, changed to perform autologous bone grafting (3 of them re-internal fixation), the follow-up ended. The other 25 cases obtained bone union during 3 to 8 months with an average of 4.5 months, the follow-up ended at the time of internal fixation removal.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous autologous bone marrow grafting is an effective, easy and economic therapy for fracture nonunion. But stable internal or external fixation is the premise. Excessive bone defect, the gap more than 5 mm and mal-align requiring rectification is not appropriate for this therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult