Objective: To observe the clinical outcome of surgical treatment for malignant thymoma,and evaluate the prognostic factors thereof. Mothods:All patients (63 eases)were operated and followed by radiotherapy. The Logistie regression analysis was used for the relationship between the prognosis, Masaoka staging,L/B pathology ,and the differences of the operation given.Rosults:Patients with early Masaoka stage and who received radical resection of thymoma had higher 3 and 5 year survival rates (P＜0.05).The radiotherapy after surgery was related to 3 and 5 year survival rates. The differences of L/B pathology was not related to 3 and 5 year survival rates.Conclusion :The survival rate is enhanced for patients with malignant thymoma when both surgical and radiotherapy intervention axe given as early as possible.The Masaoka staging, not L/B pathology, is closely related to the prognosis.

Objective To study effectiveness and safety of lung volume reduction surgery(LVRS) in treatment for severe chronic emphysema(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).Methods Clinical data of 24 patients of severe chronic emphysema undergone with LVRS during January 2004 to June 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.LVRS was performed for the patients after respiratory tract preparation based on their pulmonary function,results of blood gas analysis,cardiac function,as well as physical activity capacity.and surgical incision Was selected based on"target"location of emphysema with chest computerized tomography and isotope lung perfusion scanning,22 cases with standard unilateral LVRS via outer post-lateral incision and two with bilateral LVRS via mid-sternal incison.A linear device for cutting and stitching was used in surgical operation to excise the lung tissues of severe emphysema with strips of bovine pericardium to prevent air leakage.Results All the patients were followed-up for 19 months in average and complications occurred in seven of them after operation,including four with leakage of the alveoli.two with cardiac arrhythmia and one with pneumonia,and no death was observed.Pulmonary function and symptoms of dyspnea improved obviously in all the patients after operation,and they all could care for themselves,in general,with scales of dyspnea increased to grade Ⅰ in one case,to grade Ⅱ in 10 cases and to grade Ⅲ in three cases.Conclusions LVRS can improve pulmonary function of selected patients with severe emphysema,to certain extent,and its safety will depend on strict selection of the patients and correct peri-operative care.

AIM To investigate the effects and possible mechanism s of Glycyrrhizin on rat pancreatic fibrosis induced by TNBS (trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, TNBS ). METHODS Chronic pancreatitis model was induced in male Sprague -Dawley rats by injection of 2% TNBS into bile duct. All the rats were randomly divided into two groups. The rats in Glycyrrhizin intervention group were treat ed with Glycyrrhizin 8 mg?kg -1 by injection into tail vein from day 3 to day 28, while the rats in control group were administrated with same volume of saline vehicle. Ten rats in the Glycyrrhizin intervention group and eight rats in the control group wer e sacrificed on day 29, the blood was collected to determine amylase and hyaluro nic acid by enzyme dynamic and RIA method. The histological change of pancreatic tissue was evaluated by H&E stain and modified Van-Gieson stain. Mast cell in pancreas was stained by thionine blue. Expression of TGF-? 1,Collagen Ⅰ and ?-SMA in pancreas were assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. RESULTS In the Glycyrrhizin intervention group, the mast cell number and the percentage of degranulation decreased significantly, and the expression of ?-SMA protein also decreased compared to the control group, but there was no difference in amylase or hyaluronic acid between the treatment group and the control group. In the Glycyrrhizin intervention group, inflammation and fibrosis were ameliorated and expression of collageⅠ and TGF-? 1 was also decreased significantly compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Glycyrrhizin inhibits pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis rats induced by TNBS. This action might be related to protecting pancreatic acinus cells from being destructed by mast cell activation and inhibiting extracellular matrix synthesis stimulated by pancreatic stellate cell.

Objective To observe the activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) during the formation of pancreatic fibrosis induced by the pancreatic injection of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Meanwhile, the effects of PSC-related factors, such as transforming growth factor ? 1 (TGF-? 1), collagen Ⅰ and MMP-2 on the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis in rats were also evaluated. Methods Pancreatic fibrosis model in rats was induced by the injection of 2% TNBS in ethanolate-phosphate buffer solution into the pancreatic duct. The rats were sacrificed and the pancreata were removed at the 72nd hour, 3rd week, 4th week, 5th week, 6th week and 7th week after the operation respectively. Expressions of ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA), transforming growth factor ? 1 (TGF-? 1), collagen Ⅰ and MMP-2 were determined by either immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR, or Western blot respectively. The ultrastructure of pancreas was studied by electron microscope at different time points. Results The inflammation, swelling and necrosis were the major pathological changes of the pancreas at the early stage after the injection of 2% TNBS. Subsequently, the fibrotic manifestations such as proliferation of the fibrosis, atrophy of vesicles, deposition of collagen because prominent at the 3rd week after the operation, which peaked at 4th week. The expression of TGF-? 1 was increased significantly at the 3rd week after the operation and reached maximum at the 4th week. The expression of ?-SMA, which indicated the activation of PSC, could be detected at the 3rd week and also reached the peak value at the 4th week. After wards, it was decreased gradually. During the first 72 hours, the expression of MMP-2 mRNA was increased significantly and then was fluctuated but still higher than that in normal rats. The deposition of type Ⅰ collagen was increased in the areas of fibrotic tissues. Conclusions PSC might involve in the courses of the development and progression of TNBS induced pancreatic fibrosis in rats. This action was achieved via the activation of PSC by TGF-? 1, the production of those extracellular matrix metabolic associated enzymes such as the synthesis of collagen Ⅰ and the secretion of MMP-2.

AIM: To determine the effects of NF-?B on the development of rat pancreatic fibrosis mediated by angiotensin II. METHODS: Spraque-Dawley rats (200-300g) were randomly divided into normal group, control group and losartan-treatment group. Pancreatic fibrosis was induced by injection of 2% TNBS into biliopancreatic duct. Rats in losartan-treatment group and control group were respectively treated with losartan (10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) by gavage and the same volume of saline vehicle. The expression, distribution, and activation of NF-?B were studied by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and TransAM~(TM). Toluidine blue staining and transmission electron microscopy were also used to observe the number, distribution and degranulation of mast cells. In addition, RT-PCR was performed to detect the intrapancreatic ICAM-1 mRNA expression. RESULTS: The expression and activity of intrapancreatic NF-?B p65 protein were significantly increased on day 3 after operation, reaching peak on day 7 [(0.406?0.086) mg/g total protein]. Mast cell activation was observed and ICAM-1 mRNA levels on day 3 and 7 were up-regulated in control group. Losartan treatment inhibited NF-?B expression and activation, reduced mast cell infiltration and degranulation and decreased ICAM-1 mRNA expression compared with control rats. CONCLUSION: It might be associated with the expression and activation of NF-?B that angiotensin II mediates inflammation and fibrosis in the early stage of pancreatic fibrosis. [

AIM: To examine the effects of PPAR? activation on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and to explore the role of NF-?B and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in this process. METHODS: SW-1990 pancreatic cancer cells were treated with ligand of RXR?, 9-cis-RA, ligand of PPAR?, 15d-PGJ_2, and both. Antiproliferative effect was evaluated by using MTT assay; the expression of NF-?B p65 active protein was assayed by using TransAM~TM technique. Expression of c-jun and c-fos by SW1990 cells, which were treated with 15d-PGJ_2, 9-cis-RA and both at varying concentrations, were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: MTT assay demonstrated that 15d-PGJ_2, 9-cis-RA and the combination of both had a potent inhibitory effect on the growth of SW1990 cells in a dose-dependent manner. 9-cis-RA had a synergic action with 15d-PGJ_2 on the growth inhibition of pancreatic carcinoma. TransAM~TM showed a down-regulation trend of P65 active protein in SW1990 cells treated with 15d-PGJ_2, 9-cis-RA and both. RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression of c-jun mRNA in 15d-PGJ_2, 9-cis-RA and the combination of both-treated cells were firstly increased and then decreased, the expression of c-fos was decreased in 15d-PGJ_2 or 9-cis-RA treated SW1990 cells, but increased in cells treated with both 15d-PGJ_2 and 9-cis-RA. CONCLUSION: Activation of PPAR? exerts a negative regulatory effect on the growth of pancreatic carcinoma in vitro. Activation of RXR? has a synergic action with PPAR? agonist. The mechanism is probably associated with down-regulating the expression of NF-?B and AP-1. [

Objective To investigate the protective effects of antioxidant taurine plus metoprolol on the blood pressure(BP)and blood vessel function of elderly spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods SHRs were divided into three groups (6 rats,each):metoprolol group (100 mg · kg-1 · d-1,intragastric administration);taurine group (200 mg · kg-1 · d-1,intraperitoneal injection);taurine plus metoprolol group(metoprolol 100 mg· kg-1 · d-1,intragastric administration ± taurine 200 mg· kg-1 · d-1,intraperitoneal injection).The control group[6 Wistar-Kyoto(WKY) rats]was treated with the same volume of sterile normal saline on the same schedule in intragastric administration and intraperitoneal injection.Blood pressure variability(BPV),diurnal variation of BP,the level of glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px),malonaldehyde (MDA) and the aorta GSTM1 enzyme expression were evaluated before and 14 days after treatment.Results The serum GSH-Px activities were higher in metoprolol group[(2 759.8 ± 117.6) kU/L],taurine group [(2 848.0 ± 280.2) kU/L] and taurine plus metoprolol group[(3 052.8±283.7)kU/L]than in control group[(2 368.0± 60.4) kU/L] (all P＜0.05).Fourteen days after treatment,MDA level was significantly lower in taurine group[(9.5±0.7)ng/L,P＜0.01]than in control group[(13.7±1.5)ng/L].However,there was no statistical difference in MDA level between metoprolol group/taurine plus metoprolol group and control group.Forty weeks after treatment with taurine,GSTM1 protein expression was increased,but it had no statistical difference.Conclusions The combined antioxidant taurine and metoprolol can effectively decrease BPV of elderly SHRs,in which the antioxidant effect might be associated with elevated GSTM1 protein expression.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effect of three-points ablation approach in in treatment of typical atrial flutter guided by CARTO. Methods Twenty-six patients with typical atrial flutter diagnosed by ECG and electrophysiological study (EPS) were enrolled in this study. Activation sequence mapping and linear ablation were performed in 11 patients (conventional group) . Three-points guided linear ablation with CARTO system was performed in another15 patients (three-points group) . Results There was no significant difference in the success rate between the two groups. Both the procedure and fluoroscopic time in three-points group were significantly shorter than that in conventional group [(72.66±29.82) vs (102.52±32.61) min;(4.26±2.76) vs (7.32±3.16) min] . Conclusions The three-points ablations approach is as safe and effective as conventional ablation approach in treatment of typical atrial flutter;however,the former can significantly shorten the procedure time and fluoroscopy time.

Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) and WASP family verprolin-homologous protein l (WAVE1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:The expression of Cdc42 and WAVE1 was detected in 106 paraffin-embedded NSCLC tissues and 46 adjacent normal lung tissues (control group) using immunohistochemis-try. Results:The expression levels of Cdc42 and WAVE1 was distinctly higher in NSCLC than in the control group. The expression of Cdc42 in NSCLC significantly correlated with tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The expression of WAVE1 in NSCLC was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of Cdc42 was significantly correlated with WAVE1 in NSCLC (r=0.469, P<0.01). The 3-year survival rates were significantly lower in the group with high Cdc42 expression (44.16%) than in the low expression group (72.41%;P<0.01). Similarly, the 3-year survival rates were significantly lower among patients with high WAVE1 expression (39.44%) than in those with low expression (77.14%;P<0.01). Lymph node metastasis and the common high Cdc42 and WAVE1 expression were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC. Conclu-sion:The Cdc42 expression is correlated with WAVE1 expression. They may act together and have an important function in NSCLC. The expression of both Cdc42 and WAVE1 in NSCLC tissue may be used as markers for assessing the clinicopathologic features and prognosis.

Objective Metabonomics method based gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS)were used to analyze the urine samples of patients with hyperlipidemic pancreatitis (HLP) to describe the characteristics of metabolism changes of HLP,identify potential biomarkers,and investigate the role of metabonomics study in the management of AP.Methods 24 patients of HLP and 40 age,sex matched volunteers were enrolled and their urine samples were collected.The urine samples underwent preparation,derivation and GC/MS analysis,Orthogonal-Projection to Latent Structures-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA)were performed to detect the metabolic profile difference between the HLP and control group.Results HLP patients can be precisely distinguished from healthy controls.21 metabolites (credibility ＞ 700 ) were identified using the reference compounds available in the libraries of NIST and Wiley.It was identified that levels of nicotinic acid,aconitie acid,citric acid,hippurie acid,hydroxyphenylacetic acid,hydroxyphenylpropionicacid were decreased,while the levels of tryptophan,tyrosine,tyramine,16-hexadecanoic acid,18octadecanoie acid were increased.It was also suggested that there was change in tricarboxylic acid cycle and gut bacterial flora,as well as fat metabolism and metabolism of amino acid.Conclusions There are differences between healthy controls and HLP patients in the term of GC/MS metabolic profiling,and the biomarkers in the metabolites could be found through metabonomics analysis,and the mechanisms of the metabolic changes could be explored.It was noted that the research of metabolites in the urine samples may be a useful tool to help diagnose and understand the pathogenesis of HLP.Metabonomics analysis is a promising research method.