Objective To summarize the experience of great saphenous vein (GSV) harvesting using multiple interrupted cutaneous incisions and retrospectively compare the clinical results with those using traditional single long incision. Methods One hundred and forty-nine patients for initial elective coronary artery bypass grafting underwent GSV harvesting by either interrupted incisions (Group A, n=108) between August 2004 to October 2005 or traditional technique (Group B, n=41) between February 2004 and July 2004, respectively. The Length of GSV harvested, total incision length, time of harvesting, and complication rate were compared between the two groups. Results There were no statistical differences in the age, sex, length of GSV harvested, and macroscopic GSV quality between the two groups. Short- or long-term complications relating to the quality of venous grafts occurred in neither groups. As compared with the Group B, the Group A presented significantly longer time for GSV harvesting (49.3?6.6 min vs 29.1?5.4 min; t=17.490, P=0.000), shorter incision length (17.8?3.2 cm vs 43.1?4.9 cm; t=-36.878, P=0.000), and lower wound-related complication rate [9.3% (10/108) vs 22.0% (9/41); ?2=4.303, P=0.038]. The time for donor site manipulation was slightly increased in the Group A (62.4?8.7 min vs 59.8?6.9 min; t=1.718, P=0.088). Conclusions GSV harvesting using multiple interrupted incisions requires more complicated and difficult techniques than using a single long incision, but it is less invasive and produces superior patient satisfaction and better cosmetic outcomes.

Objective To investigate the effect of taurine on proliferation / apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cells in culture and the possible mechanism involved. Methods Rat hepatic stellate cells were incubated with different concentration of taurine. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay, cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed by flow cytometry, apoptotic morphology was examined by vital staining of acridine orange, c-jun and c-fos expression was determined by immunocytochemistry and computer video text analysis system. Results Administration of 5-50 mmol/L taurine into culture medium had no toxicity to hepatic stellate cells, but could significantly inhibit hepatic stellate cell proliferation in dose-dependent manner, increase the number of cell in G 0/G 1 phase and decrease the numbers in S phase. Taurine could also markedly inhibit c-jun and c-fos expressions ( P

[Objective] To observe the effect of Naolisu Granules (NG) for experimental cerebral ischemia in rats. [Methods] Rat models with cerebral ischemia was set up by embolization of middle artery. To observe the effects of NG on cerebrovascular permeability, cerebral water content was examined and cerebral Evans blue (EB) content was detected with chromatometry. Meanwhile, the effect of HG on cerebral histological structure was observed with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining method. [Results] NG decreased cerebral capillary permeability and cerebral edema ( P

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF) on telomerase activity in hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells and HepG1 6 cells. Methods TRAP ELISA method was used to determine the telomerase activity in HepG2 and HepG1 6 cells which were treated by different concentrations of rhTNF; plasmid which had been inserted 800 bp of the hTERT promoter was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells by Lipofect, and different concentrations of rhTNF were added into culture media 2 hours later, then the activity of the hTERT promoter was tested 48 hours after transfection. Results The telomerase activity of HepG2 was suppressed by rhTNF in a dose dependent manner. The expression of hTERT promoter was inhibited linearly with the dose of rhTNF within the range of 10～1 000 IU/ml. Conclusions Above results suggest that the anti tumor activity of rhTNF may attribute to its inhibitory effect on hTERT promoter expression.

Objective To summarize the treatment of 10 aortic coarctation cases ,who receive the surgery from ascending aorta to thoracic descending aorta with the prosthetic graft, discuss the valuable and appliable of this method. Methods Cardiac surgery, Chinese Acdemy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital department treated 10 patients who got the aortic coarctation from Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2015 Seven male patients and 3 cases of female patients consist of the sample, aged from 14 to 35 years old, the median age was 27. One cases consolidated aortic valve deformity and aortic root expansion, the others were simple aortic coarctation. Their upper limbs blood pressure was 20 mmHg higher compared with the low limb. Meanwhile, there was no sign of surgery contraindication. Ten cases received this operation under cardiopulmonary bypass situation. And the patient who consolidate aortic valve deformity and aortic root expansion receive the Bentall surgery at the same time. Results There was no death during perioperative time, no spinal cord ischemic and other serious complications. Those patients went back to outpatient department after discharging from hospital 3 to 6 months. The differential pressure between upperlimbs and low limbs were less than 20 mmHg, and the CTA results indicated no aneurysms. Conclusion Using artificial blood vessels to make a graft from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta is an effective method for treatment of thoracic aorta.

Objective To investigate the value of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) in the differential diagnosis of small solid thyroid nodules.Methods 35 patients with 41 small thyroid nodules were examined by conventional ultrasound and VTI examination.The stiffness of the nodules in VTI images was scored.Area ratios of VTI and gray scale images of nodules were calculated.The pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard.The ROC curve was drawn to determine the cut off point of area ratio to predict thyroid cancer.Results 41 small thyroid nodules were confirmed by pathological diagnosis,including 23 benign and 18 malignant nodules.Compared with benign nodules,the ratio of VTI hardness score ≥4 was significantly higher in the malignant nodules (88.9％ vs 8.7％,P ＜0.01).Compared with benign nodules,the area ratios of malignant nodules were higher (1.67 ± 0.16 vs 1.23 ± 0.12,P ＜0.01).When 1.46 was set as the cut off point of areas ratio,the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing thyroid cancer were 88.9％ and 95.7％,respectively.Conclusions VTI can provide information about thyroid nodules hardness.It has high value in the differential diagnosis of small solid thyroid nodules.

Objective: To study the effect of intracellular-free calcium and the expression of Fas and Fas L on the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis. Methods: Apoptosis induced by 2 μmol/L arsenic trioxide in pancreatic cancer cell lines SW-1990 was investigated.Concentration of intracellular-free calcium （［Ca2+］i） was determined by Fura-2a fluorescein load technique. Fas and FasL were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Pancreatic cancer cells treated with 2 μmol/L arsenic trioxide presented apoptotic features: intact cell membrane, chromatin condensation, nucleic fragmentation and apoptotic body formation; agarose electrophoresis showed marked ladder; flow cytometery analysis showed a sub-G1 cell peak. In the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis Fas and FasL and the ［Ca2+］i were significantly higher than that in the control. Conclusion: The pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide is related to Fas and FasL expression by the cancer cells and the ［Ca2+］i increase in the cancer cells.

Objective: To select the telomerase positive cancer cell lines of gastrointestinal tract and to provide a convinced methodology for future telomerase study. Methods: Fifteen cancer cell lines (carcinoma of stomach 4, of liver 6, of pancreas 2, of colon 3) were cultured and telomerase activity were detected by TRAP-ELISA. The normal hepatic cells were taken as control. Results: Thirteen cell lines were telomerase positive in the 15 lines(86.7%). Conclusion: Most of gastrointestinal tract cancer lines express telomerase, indicating the detection of telomerase activity has clinical potential.

Objective To explore a method to culture human aortic valvular interstitial cells and identify the phenotypes,to establish the cell model which would be used to study aortic valve diseases in vitro.Methods Normal aortic valves of the patient with acute Stanford A aortic dissection in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were preserved during the surgical operation.Human aortic valvular interstitial cells were isolated and amplified in vitro by modified collagenase digestion method.The cell phenotype was identified by the immunofluorescent staining.Results Human aortic valvular interstitial cells could be successfully isolated and amplified in vitro by modified collagenase digestion method,identified by positive staining of Vimention and α-SMA.Conclusions The cell model of human aortic valvular interstitial ceils could be successfully established in vitro by modified collagenase digestion method.The cell phenotype identification proved to meet the experimental requirements.So it could provide cellular foundations for the study of pathogenesis of degenerative aortic valve disease.

Objective: To study the effect of intracellular free calcium and the expression of Fas and Fas L on the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis. Methods: Apoptosis induced by 2 ?mol/L arsenic trioxide in pancreatic cancer cell lines SW 1990 was investigated.Concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) was determined by Fura 2a fluorescein load technique. Fas and FasL were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Pancreatic cancer cells treated with 2 ?mol/L arsenic trioxide presented apoptotic features: intact cell membrane, chromatin condensation, nucleic fragmentation and apoptotic body formation; agarose electrophoresis showed marked ladder; flow cytometery analysis showed a sub G 1 cell peak. In the process of pancreatic carcinoma cell apoptosis Fas and FasL and the [Ca 2+ ]i were significantly higher than that in the control. Conclusion: The pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide is related to Fas and FasL expression by the cancer cells and the [Ca 2+ ]i increase in the cancer cells.