Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic techniques for diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases. Methods Related literatures of recent years were reviewed. Results A minimally invasive endoscopic technique can be performed through small incisions. This can contribute greatly to reducing postoperative pain, shortening recovery time, and achieving a good cosmetic outcome. Under endoscopy, meticulous dissection and hemostasis can be achieved. Endoscope assisted subcutaneous mastectomy, immediate mammary reconstruction, sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection, for breast cancer can be performed safely. Endoscopic surgery can also be applied for the diagnosis and treatment of benign breast tumor and transaxillary removal of glandular tissue in gynecomastia. In addition, fiberoptic ductoscopy can be used to diagnose patients with nipple discharge. Endoscopic surgery for patients with breast diseases can offer an excellent cosmetic outcome and maintain normal physiologic functions without a noticeable scar. It helps to give the patients confidence and improve the quality of life. Conclusion Breast surgery is a good candidate for endoscopic techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Microgravity culture is an emerging cultural technology,which can be used in many fields such as tissue engineering and cell culture,etc. Microgravity bioreactor was used for cell culture in simulated microgravity environment.DATA SOURCE: We search the PubMed database from January 1995 to June 2002, using the key words "microgravity,simulated microgravity,bioreactor, tissue engineering, cell culture, rotating cell culture system" and the language was confined to English.STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria: ① Research of cell culture in simulated microgravity condition. ② Research of tissue engineering of microgravity. ③ Randomized controlled empirical study. ④ Establishment of the simulated microgravity environment. Exclusion criteria: ①Quite obsolete literatures. ② Repeated research.DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 288 articles on reparation of spinal cord injury were collected, according to the inclusion criteria 19 articles were included, and the other 269 articles were excluded because they were repetitive and duplicated researches.DATA SYNTHESIS: ①Cultivation in simulated microgravity had its particular feature and practicability: Shearing force formed by the turbulent flow was avoided; Culture fluid was admixed by rotating; There exists Zero headspace; Anchorage-dependent cell could grow on the carriers; Sufficient oxygenation was provided. ② Cell growth in simulated microgravity environment: cells were prone to aggregate, and much higher cell density was generated. ③ Three-dimensional culture system of animal cells was constructed with microgravity bioreactor to satisfy organ surrogate or requirement of investigation in vitro. ④ Angioid tubiform fabric was generated in the three-dimensional tissue structure constructed with microgravity bioreactor, which was used to generate the blood vessel pipage of tissue engineering. ⑤ Problems needing to solve: Once separated from the microgravity environment, whether the function of three-dimensional structure constructed with microgravity bioreactor can be still remained for long term or not and the structure will be kept invariably or not after transplanted and integrated to parasitifer tissue need further research.CONCLUSION: Technique of simulated microgravity culture is a original tissue culture technology. The central technique is the construction of three-dimensional culture system of animal cells, which can provide a favourable cultural surrounding for the growth and metabolism of mutiplicate cells and tissue blocks, carry out the tissue culture of high density, and keep the specificity of histological differentiation of cultural cells.

Objective To evaluate effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer.Methods A total of 45 patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery(Combination Group) were compared with 79 patients with breast cancer treated with initial surgery only(Surgery Group) in respect of axillary lymph node status,including the total number of the lymph nodes and the number of positive and negative lymph nodes,according to findings of physical examination,B-ultrasonography,and molybdenum target radiography.Results The total number of the lymph nodes and the number of positive lymph nodes were significantly less in the Combination Group(16.9?5.9 and 2.5?2.2) than in the Surgery Group(20.8?8.0 and 3.9?3.0)(t=-2.856,P=0.005;t=2.790,P=0.006),whereas the number of negative lymph nodes were 14.4?5.4 and 16.7?7.0 in the Combination Group and the Surgery Group,respectively,without statistical significance(t=-1.904,P=0.055).Four patients were found loco-regional relapse in each group during follow-up checkups for 6~19 months(mean,10 months) in 40 patients in the Combination Group and 7~21 months(mean,12 months) in 67 patients in the Surgery Group.Conclusions Total and positive axillary lymph nodes retrieved after axillary lymph node dissection decrease in number after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate expression of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene in breast cancer cell line and its effect on biologic characteristics.Methods The normal PTEN expression cell line MDA-MB-231 (M231) was used in this study.PTEN-shRNA plasmid was transected into M231 breast cancer cells to knock down the expression of PTEN.The changes of PTEN expression,proliferation,invasion and metastasis of PTEN knocked down cell were tested by RT-PCR,Western blot,CCK-8,scratch and Transwell.Results PTEN-shRNA was successfully transected into M231 cells.PTEN mRNA and protein expression was efficiently inhibited in M231-3001 cell lines than that in control group M231-scr(P ＜ 0.01),M231-3001 cell lines showed a greater capability of colony formation,migration and invasion than that in control group M231-scr (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions PTEN,as a suppression gene,its low expression can promote the proliferation,migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Objective To explore the microRNA expression changes and related characteristics and analyze the corresponding miRNA target genes and their bioinformatics in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis.Methods The fresh specimens of primary CRC were collected in 10 patients during operation,with liver metastasis or without.The miRNA expression levels were compared by miRNA microarray between two groups.Then,target genes were identified using target prediction algorithms.The liver metastasis related miRNA-target networks and gene ontology (GO) bioinformatics analysis were further performed.Results A total of six dysregulated miRNAs were identified in colorectal cancer liver metastasis comparing with no metastasis,including 3 up-regulated miRNAs (miR-224,miR-1236,miR-622) and 3 downregulated miRNAs (miR-155,miR-342-5p,miR-363).miR-224 with most significantly up-regulation played regulation role not only with corresponding target-genes but also downstream genes.Conclusions As a core of the regulation networks,miR-224 can regulate the related gene functional groups simultaneously and asynchronously.It further implements the post-transcriptional regulation and plays a vital role in liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation at 530 nm,630 nm and 850 nm in the treatment of photoaged skin.Methods A total of 14 adults with photoaged extensor forearm were recruited in this study.Three areas were selected at the extensor forearm in each of these subjects and received LED irradiation at 530 nm,630 nm and 850 nm,respectively,thrice a week for 12 sessions.Dermoscopy was used to visualize these areas before and after the irradiation,the Corueometer CM 825 to measure stratum corneum (SC) hydration,Tewameter TM 300 to determine transepidermal water loss (TEWL),and CM-2600d spectrophotometer to measure L* value and melanin index (MI).Tissue specimens were obtained from these areas irradiated with LED at 530 nm (n =5),630 nm (n =5) and 850 nm (n =4) separately before and 6 weeks after the initial irradiation,and subjected to histopathological examination.Results Both skin texture and pigmentation were improved in 10 and 7 testees after 12 sessions of LED irradiation at 630 nm and 850 nm,respectively,but the skin texture became rougher and pigmentation was increased in 7 testees after LED irradiation at 530 nm.After LED irradiation at 630 nm and 850 nm,the testees experienced an obvious increase in SC hydration ((37.9 ± 7.7) au and (34.5 ± 7.1) au at 6 weeks after the initial irradiation vs.(33.1 ± 6.1) au and (32.0 ± 7.0) au before irradiation,both P ＜ 0.05),but a significant decrease in TEWL value ((9.8-± 2.5) and (10.9 ± 2.5) g·m-2·h-1 at 6 weeks after the initial irradiation vs.(14.0 ± 1.8) and (14.2 ± 2.6) g·m-2·h-1 before irradiation),with no significant changes in L* value or MI (both P ＞ 0.05).No evident alteration was observed in SC hydration or TEWL value (both P ＞ 0.05),while the L* value significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05) and MI increased (P ＜ 0.05) after LED irradiation at 530 nm.Histopathological examination showed photo-induced denaturation of collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the dermis of these subjects before irradiation,as well as nascent collagen fibers and elastic fibers in a more dense and regular arrangement after irradiation at the three wavelengths.Conclusions LED irradiation at both 630 nm and 850 nm can improve the appearance and barrier function of,and stimulate the proliferation and rearrangement of collagen fibers and elastic fibers in,photoaged skin,while LED irradiation at 530 nm increases skin pigmentation.