Penaeidin-2 (Pen-2) is an important antimicrobial peptide derived from the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, and possesses both antibacterial and antifungal activities. Recent studies suggest that recombinant penaeidins show similar activities to the native Pen-2 protein. Previous researches have shown that some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. To date, there have been no studies on the antitumor effects of Pen-2. This study evaluated the potential of recombinant pen-2 (rPen-2) in the selective killing of kidney cancer cell lines ACHN and A498, and its action mechanism. MTT assays found the maximal growth inhibition of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells treated with 100 μg/mL rPen-2 at 48 h was 13.2%, 62.4%, and 70.4%, respectively. DNA-specific fluorescent dye staining showed a high percentage of apoptosis on cancer cells. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptosis rate of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells was 15.2%, 55.2%, and 61.5% at 48 h respectively, suggesting that rPen-2 induced higher apoptosis rate in cancer cells than in HK-2 cells. Laser confocal scanning microscopy demonstrated that the plasma membrane was the key site where rPen-2 interacted with and destroyed tumor cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the morphologic changes of the cell membranes of kidney cancer cells treated with rPen-2. These results suggest that rPen-2 is a novel potential therapeutic agent that may be useful in treating kidney cancers.

Objective To analyze the correlations of vascular structure, hemodynamic changes and surgical recanalization of carotid endarterectomy ( CEA) for the treatment of subtotal or complete occlusion of carotid artery. Methods A total of 107 patients with carotid artery occlusive disease diagnosed at Beijing Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University received CEA therapy from January 2005 to January 2014 and were enrolled retrospectively. According to the findings of introperative ultrasound,they were divided into either a recanalization group (n=86) or a non-recanalization group (n=21). Preoperative and intraoperative carotid artery diameter and blood flow velocity were compared and analyzed with carotid ultrasonography. Intraoperative detected vascular abnormalities, residual vascular stenosis rate, blood flow velocity and pulsatility index of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery ( MCA) were documented. Results (1) The peak systolic velocity (PSV) (82 ± 32 cm/s and 60 ± 17 cm/s),mean velocity (MV) (50 ± 19 cm/s and 42 ±13cm/s),and pulsatility index (PI) (0. 97 ± 0. 25 and 0. 67 ± 0. 14) on the ipsilateral MCA in patients of carotid artery recanalization before and after procedure were significantly higher than those during the procedure. There were significant differences (all P=0. 000). In patients failed to recanalize,the intraoperative and preoperative PSV,EDV,and MV of MCA were 46 ± 20 cm/s and. 63 ± 21 cm/s,24 ± 13 cm/s and 34 ± 12 cm/s, and 32 ± 16 cm/s and 44 ± 15 cm/s,respectively. They were reduced more significantly during the procedure than those after procedure. There were significant differences ( all P=0. 000 ) . But there was no significant difference in PI (0. 70 ± 0. 18 and 0. 67 ± 0. 15) compared with that before procedure (P=0. 317). (2) The diseased vascular diameter of the recanalization group was significantly widened (0. 6 ± 0. 4 mm vs. 3. 4 ± 0. 9 mm,P=0. 000) compared with before procedure. The overall recanalization rate was 80. 4% (86/107). Intraoperative ultrasound revealed that 13 patients had mild abnormal vascular structures among the recanalized patients. The non-recanalized patients had significantly abnormal vascular structure. Conclusion Intraoperative carotid ultrasound in combination with transcranial Doppler (TCD) for monitoring cerebral blood flow may effectively identify the carotid structure and the degree of cerebral hemodynamic improvement,and timely guide the secondary repair.

AIM: To investigate the effect of problem - based learning ( PBL) used in the teaching of medical students'evidence-based medicine ( EBM) .
METHODS: Five classes ( total 147 students ) were randomly selected as experimental ( PBL ) group, at the same time, another 5 classes ( total 149 students ) were also randomly selected as control group, using traditional teaching method ( lecture-based learning, LBL ) in 2010 grade. The final examination scores of the experimental group were compared with control at the end of term. In addition, all students were interviewed using self -administered questionnaire to obtain their evaluation for PBL practice. SPSS13. 0 software was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: The homogeneity test in baseline survey showed that the basic characteristics between the two groups of students were no significant differences, and were comparable (P>0. 05). Final exam results showed that in addition to the scores of the EBM basic knowledge indicated no significant difference between two groups of students (P>0. 05), for the 5 steps of EBM procedure, namely, asking questions, finding the best evidence, evaluating the evidence, using and practicing the evidence, re - evaluating the evidence, and the total scores between the two groups, there were significant statistically differences (P<0. 05). The results to student learning evaluation showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0. 05) in aspects of better understanding classroom knowledge, improving language expression ability, and writing skill exercises. And other residual items had a significant difference ( P<0. 05), especially in aspects of improving enthusiasm for learning, self - study ability, improving learning efficiency, information analysis and utilization ability, team collaboration, and communication between teachers and students, however, there was a very significant difference (P<0. 001) between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: PBL teaching mode can effectively improve teaching effectiveness and the quality of EBM teaching, so the this teaching mode is worth further popularizing.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Popliteal Cyst ; surgery ; Suture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate the temperature change of scrotum caused by varicocele(VC) and its significance.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six VC patients were examined by infrared ray imaging and colored ultrasonic scanning, and the results were analyzed. Comparisons of the infrared ray images and the routine semen analysis of 106 of the patients were made between before and after the operation.

RESULTSThe difference in the infrared ray images between before and after the operation on the VC patients was significant (P < 0.01), and so was the difference in the results of semen analysis(P < 0.01; some of the items P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe infrared ray imaging, together with the semen analysis and colored ultrasonic scanning, had a directive value for the diagnosis and treatment of VC patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Temperature ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scrotum ; physiopathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Varicocele ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathoclinical features of adult primary mediastinal liposarcoma and their correlation with the prognosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 19 patients with adult primary mediastinal liposarcoma who were treated in our hospital between 1970 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Eighteen patients underwent open thoracic tumor excisions for at least one time, and the remaining one patient only received biopsy surgery. Histopathological results after surgery revealed that 6 well-differentiated type tumors, 6 myxoid type tumors, 3 pleomorphic type tumors, 2 mixed type tumors, and 2 un-classified tumors.

RESULTSAmong 6 patients with well-differentiated type tumors, 1 died after having been survived for 10 years; 5 were still alive, with a mean duration of 126.2 months,the 5-year survival rate was 100%. Among 6 patients with myxoid type tumors, 5 patients had follow-up data, with a mean survival of 26.2 months. Among 3 patients with pleomorphic type tumors, only one patient had follow-up data: the patient finally died, with a survival of 34 months. Of 2 patients with mixed type tumors, only one patient had follow-up data: the patient survived 8 months and died. Of 2 patients with un-classified type tumors, one had follow-up data: the patient lived for 24 months and died.

CONCLUSIONSMediastinal liposarcoma is a rare disease. Surgery is the primary therapeutic modality. Different pathological subtypes have different epidemiological features, biological behaviors, and malignant potentials. Pathological subtype is an important prognosis factor. Patients with well-differentiated tumors have much better prognosis than those with other subtypes.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the bowel control of the anus-preserving operation for elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal cancer.

METHODSThirty-nine elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal carcinoma (4-7 cm from anal verge) were treated during the study period. The patients were divided into different groups according to the surgical procedures and anastomotic locations. The bowel control and patients satisfaction were compared.

RESULTSThe time of recovering normal defecation frequency was (9.8+/- 2.9) months. There were no differences in bowel control and anorectal manometric findings between the lower anastomosis group and super-lower anastomosis group, the lower anastomosis group and anorectal anastomosis group. The patients in anorectal anastomosis group displayed significantly better bowel control and anorectal manometric findings than those in the super-lower anastomosis group (P< 0.05). The time of recovering normal defecation frequency in colonic J-pouch-anal anastomosis group was (7.7+/- 1.7) months, shorter than (10.6+/- 2.8) months in direct anastomosis group (P< 0.01). The complication rate of I degree incontinence was 36.1%, but there was no difference between the two groups. The anorectal manometric findings were better in J-pouch-anal anastomosis group than those in direct anastomosis group (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONColonic J-pouch-anal anastomosis for lower rectal carcinoma can significantly improve the bowel control in a short term without increasing the complication rate.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Rectal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo screen and verify differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing DNA microarray, we screened differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer tissue and its adjacent tissue followed by verification by PCR.

RESULTSA total of 1 444 genes were found to be differentially expressed (differentiation ≥ 1.5-fold; P≤ 0.05) in the prostate cancer tissue, of which 769 (53%) were up-regulated and 675 (47%) down-regulated. Fifty percent of the differentially expressed genes showed a 1.5- to 2-fold differentiation, including 396 up-regulated and 182 down-regulated ones. Additionally, 308 up-regulated and 334 down-regulated genes exhibited a >2- to 5-fold, 46 up-regulated and 78 down-regulated genes a > 5- to 10-fold, and 19 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes a > 10-fold differentiation. Verification by subjecting 15 most significantly up-regulated and another 15 most markedly down-regulated genes to quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that most of the genes had a transcriptional profile similar to that in the microarray data, with a Pearson correction coefficient of 0.83 between the microarray data and qRT-PCR results. Totally, 10 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified.

CONCLUSIONDNA microarray analysis provides reliable information on differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and benign tissues. The 10 significantly differentially expressed genes verified by qRT-PCR could possibly become new bio-markers and specific molecules for tumor identification.

Cell Differentiation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the status of Th1/Th2 immune response and the value of the detection of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) by examining the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSThe levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum were measured using ELISA in 25 children with severe MPP, 25 children with mild MPP and 25 children with foreign body in bronchus.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01) or with mild MPP (P<0.05). The levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF were significantly higher than in serum (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 exists in children with severe MPP and it seems to represent a predominant Th2-like cytokine response. The detection of cytokines in BALF appears to be more sensitive than in serum and may be of value in the diagnosis and therapy of MPP.

Adolescent ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology