Objective To lessen the learning curve of percutaneous renal lithotripsy(PCNL),we introduced a novel ex-vivo learning and training model for PCNL under fluoroscopy and ultrasonography-guided access. Methods The model was set up nailing an adult porcine kidney with＞3 cm ureter (freshly removed from the slaughtering factory),with a full thickness flap of the thoracic wall or abdomen wall with two ribs,to a board.The porcine kidney was placed within the flap with the catheterized ureter outside.The kidney was enclosed by the flap so as to create a roodel for percutaneous renal surgery;with the ribs overlying the upper portion of the kidney.The model was fixed to the board by two nails.Artificial stone material was implanted in the renal pelvis.Fluoroscopy guidance access:Retrograde pyelography via injection of contrast medium into the ureteral catheter images the collecting system. After the long axis of the target calyx is identified,the C-arm is rotated 30 degrees toward the surgeon,placing the C-arm axis in the same posterior plane of the kidney.The needle is advanced in the plane of the fluoroscopic beam,and the appropriate needle placement is determined by obtaining a bull's-eye sign on the fluoroscope screen. Rotating the C-arm to a vertical position monitors the depth of the needle penetration. Ultrasonography guidance access:The renal pelvis can he filled with normal saline through a catheter to simulate hydronephrosis and the target calyx is identified under ultrasonography guidance.The tract dilation and stone disintegration were followed.After training,the kidney can be opened to examine the target calyx and the complication of dilation. Results Altogether,126 urologists attended a urologic endoscopic technique training course.Of the 126 trainees,104 (82.5%) successfully performed the whole percutaneous procedure.At the end of training,114 (90.5 %) of the 126 attendees rated the porcine kidney model for simulation of percutaneous renal surgery as very helpful or helpful.Conclusions This biological training model simulates realistically the clinical procedure of PCNL with respect to trainee experience in a low stress environment that provides an opportunity for repetitive performances in order to learn basic technical skills for the clinical procedure of PCNL in the future.

Objective Toinvestigate the association between genetic susceptibility of gastric carcinoma and single nucleotide polymorphism of REG1a gene in Chinese Han population. Methods The genotype of REG1a gene were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing in 183 Chinese patients with gastric carcinoma and 204 controls.Results It was found 3 new SNPs in REG1a gene at site 929(T/C),1790(C/G) and 2751(A/T), respectively; and the different genotypes of site 929 and 1790 were significant between gastric carcinoma patients and controls(P<0.05). Conclusions Sequencing of REG1a gene from specific population is available for screening candidate SNPs. The study reveals that the initially gastric carcinoma may be associated with site 929 and 1790. It provides a basis for further screening suitable SNPs labeling forecasting risk for gastric carcinoma.

Objective To describe a new kind of Y-shaped metallic stent delivery system and evaluate its feasibility and preliminary effect for managing multiple airway stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal carina.Methods The Y-shaped metallic stent delivery system consisted of three- tier structure.The inner-tier was composed of four parallel guiding tubes,which was used for two guidewires and two threads passing through,the middle-tier was delivery catheter,which contained the four guiding tubes,and the outer-tier was introducer sheath.Under the fluoroscopic guidance,15 patients with multiple stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal carina were treated with the new covered self-expandable Y-shaped metallic stents.Results Stent placement in the tracheo-bronchial tree was technically successful in all patients with obliteration of the dyspnea immediately after stent placement,and SaO_2 was increased form preoperative 75%—89% to postoperative 96%—99%.During follow-up a period of 3—58 weeks (M 22 weeks),all stenosis were resolved without stent-related complications,and the general physical of all 15 patents was improved with no occurrence of obviously dyspnea and bleeding.Karnofsky performance status(KPS)was improved from preoperative 26%—45% to postoperative 72%—95%.Five patients died of the following causes unrelated to stent insertion:multiple organ failure(n=3),cachexia(n=1)and pulmonary infection caused by gastrobronchial fistula(n=1),and the remaining 10 patients were alive with no evidence.of dyspnea at the time of this report.Conclusion Deployment of the covered Y-shaped metallic stent with the use of Y metallic stent delivery system in the management of airway stenoses involving the lower trachea and the tracheal earina was a simple and safe procedure and with a good short-term clinical efficacy.

Objective To summarize the experiences in using Bio-Gide and Bio-Oss for guided bone regener- ation in dental implantation.Methods In 28 cases of bone deficiency,Bio-Gide membranes were applied to cover alveolar defects filled with the Bio-Oss bone powder.In postoperative periodic follow-.up,the bone regeneration effect was observed by successive clinical and X-ray examination.Results 38 implants were inserted in the 28 patients and Bio-Gide membranes were used in the sites of the 38 implants.Alveolar bone defects were filled with new bone in 27 patients,1 implant loosed because of inflammation.37 implants had ideal osseointegration at stageⅡsurgery and were prosthetic rcconstructed successfully.No implant loosed during the observed period of 15 months to 4 years. Conclusion Bio-Gide and Bio-Oss have ideal effect of guided bone regeneration in dental implantation.

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is the pathogen of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD); it seriously disserves the banana production. This paper reviewed the separation and purification methods, classifying and taxonomy status of BBTV; the genome structure and function of each encode protein of the virus; and the present problems that should be further clarified.

The triterpenoids of Dichrocephala benthamii were investigated by means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Nine triterpenoids were isolated from D. benthamii. By analysis of the EI-MS, NMR spectra and comparison to the data reported in literatures, the structures of these compounds were determined as β-amyrin formiate (1), β-amyrin acetate (2), β-amyrenol (3), β-amyrone (4), 3β-hydroxy-olean-11, 13 (18)-diene (5) , Δ12-oleanene (6) , friedelin (7), dammaradienyl acetate (8), epi-friedeband (9), respectively. Compounds 1-8 were isolated for the first time form this genus, compound 9 was isolated for the first time from this plant, whereas β-amyrin formiate (1) was a new natural product.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the association of human epidermal growth factor receptor family molecules expression in gastric cancer tissues with the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 161 patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital between January 2006 and January 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The expression of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Association of the expression of HER family with the prognosis of patients was examined. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival.

RESULTSHigh expression rates of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 were 46.0% (74/161), 10.6% (17/161),55.9% (90/161) and 68.3% (110/161) respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that high expression of HER3 was associated with tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, stage, neurovascular invasion, and overall 4-year survival. High expression of HER4 was associated with tumor distant metastasis and stage. High co-expression of HER2 and HER3 was associated with overall 4-year survival (P=0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that high expression of HER3 and stage were prognostic independent factors.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated expression of HER3 is associated with the poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-3 ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-4 ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate if the Ribbond polyethylene fiber has the effect of reinforcing polymethyl methacylate.

METHODS28 specimens were fabricated and divided into 3 groups: group of chemical-cured PMMA, group of chemical-cured PMMA reinforced by stainless steel wire and group of chemical-cured PMMA reinforced by Ribbond polyethylene fiber. A three-point bending test was used to measure the flexural strength and flexural modulus of specimens. Then the data were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe flexural strength of chemical-cured PMMA group was (51.383 +/- 2.761) MPa, the flexural modulus was (1791.2 +/- 113.760) MPa; The flexural strength of stainless steel wire reinforced group was (58.725 +/- 1.218) MPa, the flexural modulus was (2092.76 +/- 120.28) MPa; The flexural strength of Ribbond polyethylene fiber reinforced group was (80.975 +/- 2.58) MPa, the flexural modulus was (2866.53 +/- 107.51) MPa. The one-way analysis of variance showed that the results were significant (P < 0.001). Newman-Keuls method showed that the differences among all groups were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Ribbond polyethylene fiber can raise the flexural strength and flexural modulu of polymethyl methacylate.

Dental Bonding ; Dental Materials ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Materials Testing ; Polyethylene ; chemistry ; Polyethylenes ; chemistry ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; chemistry ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of over expression of human hyperplasia suppressor gene (HSG) on proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle of human breast cancer cells and to determine the relationship between HSG and Ras-dependent signaling pathway.

METHODSFull length HSG coding sequences were cloned into plasmid pcDNA3.0. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into MDA-MB-231, a highly malignant breast cancer cell line. Vacant pcDNA3.0 was used as the control. MTT, Matrigel transwell assay and flow cytometric analysis were used to test for proliferation, invasion, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of tumor cells after transient transfection of HSG.GST-pulldown and Western blotting assays were performed to investigate the activity of Ras protein.

RESULTSHSG transfection inhibited proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells, and significantly decreased the number of invading cells in Matrigel transwell assay compared with the vector/231 group (78.5 +/- 5.8 vs. 131.1 +/- 14.5) cells. FACS analyses demonstrated that compared with the vector/231 group, up-regulation of HSG promoted breast cancer cell apoptosis [(35.8 +/- 4.8)% vs. (25.6 +/- 3.5%)] and induced G(0)/G(1) phase arrest [(56.3 +/- 2.3)% vs. (50.4 +/- 1.9%)] after transfection for 18 hours. Furthermore, GST-pulldown assay showed that over-expression of HSG remarkably decreased the activity of Ras (about 65% lower than control).

CONCLUSIONSHSG exibits multiple anticancer functions in breast cancer cells including inhibition of proliferation and in vitro invasion, G(0)/G(1) arrest and promotion of apoptosis. Besides, inhibition of Ras-dependent signaling pathway may be involved in these processes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation ; ras Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the marginal microleakage of porcelain-fused-to-metal crown using four different cements.

METHODSSixteen porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were built and randomly divided into 4 group, luted onto standard prepared human forward molars using four different cements (glass ionomer cement, resin-modified glass ionomer cement, PanaviaF, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system). After temperature cycling test, all the crowns were then submerged in 2% fuchsin for 24 h. The marginal microleakage at tooth cement interfaces was observed using light stereomicroscopy and evaluated in classification index. The marginal microleakage grade of 4 groups were analyzed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe PanaviaF demonstrated the least marginal microleakage, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system, resin-modified glass ionomer cement showed an intermediate level of marginal microleakage, glass ionomer cement was associated with severe marginal microleakage (total, Chi2 = 157.60, P < 0.01; among the different groups, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdhesive resin luting system which is the first selection in clinical is better than glass ionomer cement and is good at porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.

Boron Compounds ; Cementation ; Crowns ; Dental Cements ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Marginal Adaptation ; Dental Porcelain ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Metals ; Methacrylates ; Methylmethacrylates ; Resin Cements