BACKGROUND: A number of studies have suggested that lycopene is an antioxidant which is used to decrease the risk of age-related chronic diseases.OBJECTIVE: To establish a rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and to investigate the effects of lycopene in preventing bone loss in ovatiectomized rat models of osteoporosis.METHODS: The 6-month-old female Wistar rats, SPF grade, which had never given birth, were divided into sham and ovatiectomized groups. The ovatiectomized rats were further sub-divided into four groups which were administered with corn oil orally as model group, lycopene (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, daily) or treated by intraperitoneal injection with estradiol benzoate (25 mg/kg, twice).RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 12-week administration, as compared with the model group, the uterus weight of high-dose and low-dose lycopene groups significantly increased (P < 0.05); the Ca, P, superoxide dismutase levels, percent trabecular area,and trabecular number were obviously higher, and serum alkaline phosphatase, urine deoxypyridinoline, malondialdehyde,trabecular separation and number of osteoclasts were obviously lower in the lycopene groups than the model group (P < 0.05). The bone mass index, bone bio-mechanics and bone histomorphometry were better in the lycopene groups than the model group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that lycopene has a definite antiosteoporotic effect on ovatiectomized rats.

Objective To investigate the value of diffusion weighted magnetie resonance imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.MethodsThe clinical data of 36 patients with pancreatie cancer who were admitted to the Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital from March 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed,and the clinical data of 30 healthy volunteers were collected.All candidates received diffusion weighted magnetie resonance imaging examination.The signal intensity ratios ( SIRs ) of the cancer and the pericancerous tissues in the T1 weighted-images (T1WI),T2 weighted-images (T2WI)and diffusion weighted-images (DWI) were compared by using one-way analysis of variance.The ADC values of the cancer and the paricancerous tissues were compared using the paired t test.The differences of the ADC values of the cancer and pericancerous tissues compared with those of healthy individuals were analyzed using an independent sample t test.ResultsThe accuracy rate of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging examination was 92％.The relative SIRs were 0.203 ± 0.190 in the T2 WI,0.399 ± 0.201 in the T1 WI and 0.579 ± 0.291 in the DWI,respectively,with no significant differences across the 3 kinds of images (F=5.92,6.15,6.83,P ＜ 0.05 ),while SIRs of the T1 WI and DWI were significantly higher than that of the T2 WI ( P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in SIRs when comparing T1 WI and DWI ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The mean ADC values of the cancer and pericancerous tissues of the pancreatic cancer patients and the pancreatic tissues of healthy individuals were (1.40±0.24) ×10 3 mm2/s,(1.71 ±0.10) ×10-3 mm2/s and (1.73±0.30) ×10-3 mm2/s,respectively,with significant differences across the 3 modes of images (t =10.54,12.08,P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionDWI can show high quality images of the lesions,and ADC value is helpful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

AIM: Lycopene as an antioxidant can decrease the risk of age-related chronic diseases, such as cancer. In this study, we investigated the impact of lycopene on bone mineral density and bone biomechanics in experimental osteoporotic rats. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the Animal Experiment Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College from July 2006 to November 2007. The lycopene was provided by the Xinjiang Zhixing Technology Invest Development Company, and diluted to certain concentration by corn oil. Fifty six-month-old SPF female Wistar rats were selected and divided into 5 groups (n=10) according to body mass: Sham operation and corn oil group (2 mL/d), ovariectomy (OVX) and corn oil group (2 mL/d), OVX and estradiol benzoate (EB) group (0.2 mg/kg, once a week), low and high lycopene groups (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, once a day). Except the sham operation group, all rats underwent OVX to establish models of osteoporosis. Each group was administrated corresponding medicine for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Within 2 weeks postoperatively, 1 of sham operation group died and 2 of low lycopene group died. Finally, 47 rats were included in final analysis. ①The lumbar and femoral bone mineral density and maximum stress of ovariectomized rats were significantly lower than those of sham operation group (P

Objective To investigate the expression of integrin β1 and VEGF in gastric carcinoma and evaluate its correlation with invasion and metastasis.Methods Immunohistochemistry techniques were used to study the expression of integrin β1 and VEGF in 63 gastric carcinoma specimens.We analyzed the variance with histological grade and stage and classification of clinical date.Results No significant relationship was observed among age,sex and histological classification of the expression of integrin β1 in the gastric cancer group (P>0.05).With the depth of invasion and lymphatic metastasis increasing,integrin β1 expression improved.The positive rate of integrin β1 among tubular adenocarcinoma,papillary carcinoma,mucinous carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma was 70.00 %,55.56 %,57.14 % and 64.86 %.No significant relationship was observed in it.Integrin β1 in cases with lymphnode metastasis was significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).No significant relationship was observed among VEGF expression and age,sex,histological classification and depth of invasion (P>0.05).Significant relationship was observed among VEGF expression and lymphatic metastasis.VECF in cases with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).Conclusion Immunohistochemistry techniques indicated that integrin β1 participated in the procession of invasion and metastasis.The expression of integrin β1 and VEGF are important factor,forecasting the invasion and metastasis.VEGF is an important factor for lymphnade metastasis of gastric carcinoma.VEGF in cases with lymphnode metastasis was significantly higher than those without lymphnode metastasis(P<0.05).The usage of integrin β1 and VEGF will improve the rightness in forecasting the invasion and lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Objective:To analyze the clinical outcome and feasibility for patients who underwent total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation (TPTX) for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).Methods:From April 2012 to December 2015,220 SHPT patients underwent TPTX in the department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.The clinical data and effect were assessed retrospectively.Results:All the 220 patients were on permanent dialysis with mean duration of dialysis (7.93 ± 3.75) years.A durable reduction in mean PTH,Ca and P were observed after TPTX (P＜0.01).The mean hospital stay was (7.8 ± 2.8) days.TPTX produced a rapid improvement in clinical symptoms.Incidence of hypocalcemia was 73.46％.Severe complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or inactive dynamic osteopathia,haven't been observed postoperatively.The rate of persistent status (PTH≥300 pg/mL) was 9.1％.One (0.45％) died of infectious shock perioperatively.Conclusions:TPTX was a safe and feasible surgical procedure for patients with SHPT.It was worth of being applied.Not missing the parathyroid during operation was the key point for successful TPTX.Intensive monitoring and maintaining stable normocalcemia were the key point to reduce complication.

Objective To investigate the effect of down?regulation of insulin?like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene on the biological characteristics of HCT116 colon cancer stem cells (CSCs). Methods Flow cytometry sorting technology was used to isolate CSCs from colon cancer cell line HCT116 by a monoclonal antibody against CD133; serum free floating culture assay was used for the enrichment of CSCs. The proportion of CD133+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry; CSCs were identified by sphere culturing, immunofluorescence analysis and soft agar clone formation. RT?qPCR method was used to examine transcriptional level of IGF2 gene in CSCs. Western blotting was used to examine IGF2 protein expression in CSCs. siRNA was used to establish IGF2 transient knock down model in CSCs. Cell proliferation array, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, cell invasion array and colony forming assay were used to further examine the role of IGF2 on the biological characteristics of colon CSCs. Results CSCs were successfully isolated from HCT116 cell lines, which were cultured to form cell spheres in serum?free stem cell culture medium. We found that the morphology of sphere?forming?like cells after several passages maintained the same characteristics as that of the first passage. The results of immunofluorescence showed that CSC markers including CD133 and ALDH continued positively expressing on the cell surface of CSCs, and flow cytometry analysis showed that more than 90% of the spheroid cells remained CD133 positive. The clone formation rate of non?CSCs group and CSCs group were ( 28.10 ± 2.66 )% and ( 43.73 ± 2.30 )% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The RT?qPCR results showed that the transcriptional level IGF2 gene in non?CSCs group and CSCs group were ( 1.06 ± 0.24) and ( 2.17 ± 0.51) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.05). The western blot results showed that the protein expression of IGF2 in CSCs group and non?CSCs group were (1.10±0.55) and ( 2.14±0.23) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.05). Knockdown of IGF2 significantly decreased the percentage of CD133+ cells in CSCs and cell proliferation (P＜0.01). Knockdown of IGF2 increased the percentage of G2／M phase (23.46% of siNC group vs 60.14%of siIGF2 group) and cell apoptosis (2.80% of siNC group vs 40.70% of siIGF2 group), while decreased the percentage of G0／G1 phase (40.77% of siNC group vs 17.73% of siIGF2 group). The invasion results showed that the number of cells penetrating into the basement surface in siNC group and siIGF2 group was (109.00±16.37) and (54.00±8.19) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The rate of sphere?forming of colon CSCs in siNC group and siIGF2 group were (51.70±7.42)%and (21.27±2.35)% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The clone formation rate of siNC group and siIGF2 group were (37.20± 3.87)% and (18.23±2.25)% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). Conclusion IGF2 gene plays an important role in maintaining the biological characteristics of colon cancer stem cells and promoting self?renewal and stemness of colon CSCs.

Objective To investigate the effect of down?regulation of insulin?like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene on the biological characteristics of HCT116 colon cancer stem cells (CSCs). Methods Flow cytometry sorting technology was used to isolate CSCs from colon cancer cell line HCT116 by a monoclonal antibody against CD133; serum free floating culture assay was used for the enrichment of CSCs. The proportion of CD133+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry; CSCs were identified by sphere culturing, immunofluorescence analysis and soft agar clone formation. RT?qPCR method was used to examine transcriptional level of IGF2 gene in CSCs. Western blotting was used to examine IGF2 protein expression in CSCs. siRNA was used to establish IGF2 transient knock down model in CSCs. Cell proliferation array, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, cell invasion array and colony forming assay were used to further examine the role of IGF2 on the biological characteristics of colon CSCs. Results CSCs were successfully isolated from HCT116 cell lines, which were cultured to form cell spheres in serum?free stem cell culture medium. We found that the morphology of sphere?forming?like cells after several passages maintained the same characteristics as that of the first passage. The results of immunofluorescence showed that CSC markers including CD133 and ALDH continued positively expressing on the cell surface of CSCs, and flow cytometry analysis showed that more than 90% of the spheroid cells remained CD133 positive. The clone formation rate of non?CSCs group and CSCs group were ( 28.10 ± 2.66 )% and ( 43.73 ± 2.30 )% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The RT?qPCR results showed that the transcriptional level IGF2 gene in non?CSCs group and CSCs group were ( 1.06 ± 0.24) and ( 2.17 ± 0.51) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.05). The western blot results showed that the protein expression of IGF2 in CSCs group and non?CSCs group were (1.10±0.55) and ( 2.14±0.23) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.05). Knockdown of IGF2 significantly decreased the percentage of CD133+ cells in CSCs and cell proliferation (P＜0.01). Knockdown of IGF2 increased the percentage of G2／M phase (23.46% of siNC group vs 60.14%of siIGF2 group) and cell apoptosis (2.80% of siNC group vs 40.70% of siIGF2 group), while decreased the percentage of G0／G1 phase (40.77% of siNC group vs 17.73% of siIGF2 group). The invasion results showed that the number of cells penetrating into the basement surface in siNC group and siIGF2 group was (109.00±16.37) and (54.00±8.19) respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The rate of sphere?forming of colon CSCs in siNC group and siIGF2 group were (51.70±7.42)%and (21.27±2.35)% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). The clone formation rate of siNC group and siIGF2 group were (37.20± 3.87)% and (18.23±2.25)% respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.01). Conclusion IGF2 gene plays an important role in maintaining the biological characteristics of colon cancer stem cells and promoting self?renewal and stemness of colon CSCs.

OBJECTIVETo perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the benefit of providing branched chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched nutrition to improve hepatic function in patients undergoing hepatic operation.

METHODSThe electronic databases of PubMed, Springerlink, the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), the Cochrane Library, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for relevant RCTs using the following search terms: nutritional support, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, hepatic/liver surgery, liver cirrhosis, cancer, hepatectomy, and liver transplantation. The quality of the retrieved RCTs was assessed according to the scale developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan software, version 5.2.

RESULTSA total of 11 relevant RCTs, representing 510 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to patients in the control (normal nutrition) group, the patients in the BCAA group experienced an effective improvement in hepatic function, as evidenced by significant decreases in total bilirubin (by 0.07 mumol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.18 to 0.05, P more than 0.05]. In addition, the BCAA group showed improvements in plasma levels of albumin (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.24, P less than 0.05) and alanine aminotransferase (WMD = +5.61; 95% CI: -8.63 to 19.86, P more than 0.05] but neither of the changes reached the threshold of a statistically significant improvement. The BCAA group did however show significantly lower complication rate after operation (65%, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.87, P less than 0.01] and mean duration of hospital stay (4.61 days; 95% CI: -6.61, -2.61, P less than 0.01].

CONCLUSIONBCAA-enriched nutrition improves hepatic function in patients undergoing hepatic operation, thereby helping to reduce the complication risk, duration of hospital stay, and financial burden. BCAA-enriched nutrition is a safe and effective therapy and further clinical application may be beneficial.

Amino Acids, Branched-Chain ; therapeutic use ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Liver ; physiology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Nutritional Support ; methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major chronic non-communicable diseases in the 21st century. With high prevalence and mortality, COPD has become a global problem. Due to high prevalence of COPD in China, it is necessary to prevent and control COPD effectively. There is increasing evidence that COPD is a complex systemic disease with numerous risk factors. This paper summarizes the risk factors of COPD based on the latest research, and provides scientific references for the prevention and control of COPD.

Objective: To investigate the effect of down-regulation of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene on the biological characteristics of HCT116 colon cancer stem cells (CSCs). Methods: Flow cytometry sorting technology was used to isolate CSCs from colon cancer cell line HCT116 by a monoclonal antibody against CD133; serum free floating culture assay was used for the enrichment of CSCs. The proportion of CD133⁺ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry; CSCs were identified by sphere culturing, immunofluorescence analysis and soft agar clone formation. RT-qPCR method was used to examine transcriptional level of IGF2 gene in CSCs. Western blotting was used to examine IGF2 protein expression in CSCs. siRNA was used to establish IGF2 transient knock down model in CSCs. Cell proliferation array, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, cell invasion array and colony forming assay were used to further examine the role of IGF2 on the biological characteristics of colon CSCs. Results: CSCs were successfully isolated from HCT116 cell lines, which were cultured to form cell spheres in serum-free stem cell culture medium. We found that the morphology of sphere-forming-like cells after several passages maintained the same characteristics as that of the first passage. The results of immunofluorescence showed that CSC markers including CD133 and ALDH continued positively expressing on the cell surface of CSCs, and flow cytometry analysis showed that more than 90% of the spheroid cells remained CD133 positive. The clone formation rate of non-CSCs group and CSCs group were (28.10±2.66)% and (43.73±2.30)% respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01). The RT-qPCR results showed that the transcriptional level IGF2 gene in non-CSCs group and CSCs group were (1.06±0.24) and (2.17±0.51) respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). The western blot results showed that the protein expression of IGF2 in CSCs group and non-CSCs group were (1.10±0.55) and (2.14±0.23) respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). Knockdown of IGF2 significantly decreased the percentage of CD133⁺ cells in CSCs and cell proliferation (P<0.01). Knockdown of IGF2 increased the percentage of G₂/M phase (23.46% of siNC group vs 60.14% of siIGF2 group) and cell apoptosis (2.80% of siNC group vs 40.70% of siIGF2 group), while decreased the percentage of G₀/G₁ phase (40.77% of siNC group vs 17.73% of siIGF2 group). The invasion results showed that the number of cells penetrating into the basement surface in siNC group and siIGF2 group was (109.00±16.37) and (54.00±8.19) respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01). The rate of sphere-forming of colon CSCs in siNC group and siIGF2 group were (51.70±7.42)% and (21.27±2.35)% respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01). The clone formation rate of siNC group and siIGF2 group were (37.20±3.87)% and (18.23±2.25)% respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion IGF2 gene plays an important role in maintaining the biological characteristics of colon cancer stem cells and promoting self-renewal and stemness of colon CSCs.