In this editorial preface, I briefly review cancer bioinformatics and introduce the four articles in this special issue highlighting important applications of the field: detection of chromatin states; detection of SNP-containing motifs and association with transcription factor-binding sites; improvements in functional enrichment modules; and gene association studies on aging and cancer. We expect this issue to provide bioinformatics scientists, cancer biologists, and clinical doctors with a better understanding of how cancer bioinformatics can be used to identify candidate biomarkers and targets and to conduct functional analysis.
Binding Sites ; Chromatin ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

The prognosis of gastric cancer is significantly associated with the disease stage,early diagnosis of gastric cancer is the key to extend the survival time of patients. Nowadays,gastroscopy combined with gastric mucosa biopsy is the most important method to detect early gastric cancer in clinical practice. However,the detection rate is low and requiring the endoscopists to learn the endoscopic morphological characteristics of early gastric cancer,which will help them to find out suspicious cancerous lesions and perform effective biopsy. This article reviewed the morphological risk factors of early gastric cancer under white light endoscopy,so as to provide endoscopists with the capability for diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the protection and delaying effects of rosiglitazone on the onset and progression of type2diabetic nephropathy of senile patients.METHODS:23senile patients with type2diabetic nephropathy were random-ized to A and B groups.Group A were treated with rosiglitazone4mg/d and group B were administered orally with dimethyl biguanide1750mg/d(in3times),the course of treatment for both groups were4months.RESULTS:The post-meal blood sugar in both groups showed significant differences after treatment as against pretherapy(P0.05).CONCLUSON:Rosiglitazone has significant curative effect on diabetes,it can also delay the occurrence of albu-minuria and significantly lighten pathological changes of renal glomerulus.

Objective To summarize the value of laparoscopic operation using an ultrasonic scalpel for the radical treatment of Hischsprung’s disease (HD) in infants and children. Methods Laparoscopic operation was performed in 20 infants and children with HD under general anesthesia from February 2003 to January 2006. The CO_2 pressure of pneumoperitoneum was set at 10~12 mm Hg. By way of three abdominal ports, the diseased colon and rectum were mobilized by dissecting the supplying vessels and severing the peritoneal reflection in the pelvic floor. The modified Soave pull-through procedure was employed to incise and mobilize the rectal mucosa at 0.5 cm above the dentate line. The lateral ligament of rectum was severed and the intraabdominal cavity was reached through the peritoneal reflection. The diseased colon was pulled through the anus passing the level of the transition zone for resection. Then coloanal anastomosis was made between the proximal colon and the cutting edge of the anal canal above the dentate line. Results All the procedures were completed smoothly. The operation time was 120~210 min (mean, 132 min). The length of resected colon was 20~55 cm (mean, 35 cm). The intraoperative blood loss was 5~20 ml (mean, 14 ml), with no need of blood transfusion. Enterocolitis happened in 2 cases postoperatively. Follow-up observations in the 20 cases for 3~36 months (mean, 12.5 months) found no complications. The patients had 1~2 times of fecal discharge per day during follow-up. Conclusions Laparoscopic pull-through procedure using an ultrasonic surgical scalpel has advantages of minimal invasion, little hemorrhage, simple performance, quick recovery, and low complication rate.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum in children. Methods Resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum was performed under a laparoscope in 13 children in our hospital from July 2002 to March 2006. Two 5-mm trocars were introduced at the infraumbilical ring and the right lower abdomen, respectively. When the Meckel’s diverticulum was found, the incision was prolonged to 2 cm long along the inferior border of the umbilicus, the diverticulum was removed externally and the intestine was anastomosed. Results The operation was completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time was 50 min (range, 40-70). The intestinal function of the patients recovered 24 hours after the operation, and then liquid food was given at 3 days postoperatively, and the patients was discharged from hospital within 5-7 days after the operation. The patients were followed up for 6-48 months (mean, 13), during which no one had recurrence, intestinal adhesion, or intestinal obstruction. Conclusions Two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of Meckel’s diverticulum is safe and feasible for children. The recovery time and hospital stay are short after the procedure.

Objective To discuss the indication, surgical technique and curative effect of humeral head replacement in treatment of complex proximal humerus fracture in old patients. Methods From 2000 to 2006, 23 patients with complex proximal humerus fractures were treated with humeral head replacement and fixated with bone cement in old patients. Rehabilitation training was performed after operation.Results Of all, 19 patients were followed up for average 1.8 years, which showed no infection, nerve injury or periprosthetic fracture except for one patient with semiluxation. NEER score system was used to evaluate the function joint prosthesis. Mean NEER score was 82.1 points, including 80-89 points ( satisfactory) in 17 patients and 70-79 points (unsatisfactory) in 2, with satisfaction rate of 89%. No patient needed revision. Conclusion With strict indication, active reconstruction of rotating cuff and stable structure of the joint, planned postoperative rehabilitation training, the humeral head replacement is a good method for treating complex proximal humerus fractures in the old patients.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of 150 mg clopidogrel and triple antiplatelet in acute anterior myocardial infarction ( AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI).Methods Totally 50 patients who had been diagnosed as acute anterior myocardial infarction and prepared to PCI treatment were randomly divided into two groups:150 mg clopidogrel group ( asprin 100 mg/d qd+clopidogrel 150 mg/d qd) and triple antiplatelet group ( cilostazol 100 mg bid+asprin 100 mg/d qd+clopidogrel 75 mg/d qd).The coronary lession through CAG, incidence of major cardiovascular events and safety in 6 months were observed and assessed.ResuIts There was no significant difference in level of target lesion diameter between two groups after PCI instantly (2.75 ±0.29 mm vs.2.69 ±0.31 mm).There were no significant differences of late lumen loss (LLL) and target lesion revascularization (TLR) between triple antiplatelet group and 150 mg clopidogrel group (0.22 ±0.46 mm vs.0.38 ±0.65 mm; 8%vs.24%) , but the two indexes were improved in a certain extent.There were no significant differences in hemorrhage and major adverse cardiovascular events ( MACE) between two groups.ConcIusion The triple antiplatelet therapy could reduce the late lumen loss and target lesion revascularization, and not increase hemorrhage and adverse cardiovascular events.

Objective Through detect the expression of DLC1 and RhoA protein in breast cancer tissues ,investigate the effect of DLC1 and RhoA in lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer .Methods Totally 25 breast cancer specimens that had occurred lymph node metastasis and 30 breast cancer specimens that had not occurred lymph node metastasis were collected ,the expression of DLC1 and RhoA were tested by immunochemistry ,and the experimental data were analyzed by statistical methods .Results The positive rate of DLC1 in the breast cancer specimens that had occurred lymph node metastasis was 44 .00% ,that had not occurred lymph node metastasis was 73 .33% (χ2 =4 .889 ,P=0 .027) ,and the positive rates of RhoA in the two specimens were 92 .00%and 50 .00% (χ2 =11 .264 ,P=0 .001) .Spearman rank correlation analysis showed the expression of DLC 1 and RhoA had a nega‐tive correlation in breast cancer tissues (r= -0 .454 ,P=0 .000) .Conclusion The breast cancer lymphatic metastasis and is closely related to the low expression of DLC1 and the high expression of RhoA .

Objective To explore the significance and effect of NO treatment on plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP in acute high altitude diseases(AHAD) patients. Methods 47 AHAD patients were randomly divided into two groups, one group receiving routine medicine treatment (n=23), and the other group receiveing NO treatment (n=24). The level changes of serum NO, plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP and clinical symptom score were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results The levels of plasma ET, NPY, ANP and CGRP, and clinical symptom score remarkably decreased after treatment in two groups, while serum NO and CGRP levels remarkably increased (P

Objective To determine the signal pathway of specifically expressed oncostatin M(OSM) in lens inducing retinal degeneration in transgenic mice. Methods A sequence-truncated OSM cDNA (661 bp) of mice was linked to ?A-crytallin promoter, and was micro-injected into unicellular embryo to set up the model of transgenic mice. Reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of gp130/OSMR? receptor in the retinae of OSM transgenic and non-transgenic mice. Rabbit anti-phosphorylated STAT-3 antibody was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated STAT-3,and mouse anti-cytochrome C antibody was used to detect the distributing of cytochrome C in retinae. Results Expression of gp130/OSMR? mRNA was found in retina of non-transgenic mice. At the 17.5th day in the embryonic stage, significant accumulation of the phosphorylated STAT-3 was detected in the retinal nucleolus in OSM transgenic retina. At the first day after birth, intensive staining of cytochrome C in OSM transgenic retina was found. Conclusions specifically expressed OSM in lens may act on gp130/OSMR? receptor in retinae, activate STAT-3, and cause the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, which eventually induces widespread retinal degeneration.