Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,manifestation and management of adrenal ganglioneuromas. Methods The data of 15 cases of ganglioneuromas diagnosed by pathology were reviewed retrospectively.Of the 15 cases,5 was male,aged 24 to 45 with an average of 29 years,and other 10 was female,aged 25 to 69 with an average of 31.Ten tumors were located in the right side,which was twice as many as that of the left side.There were 8 patients discovered by B ultrasonograpgy during health check-up,4 patients were detected because of paroxysmal abdominal pain. Three cases mainly presented with paroxysmally hypertension,and one of them had a high level of aldosterone ( 112 pmol/L). One of them had a high level of epinephrine (210 nmol) and nor-epinephrine (496 nmol). The B-ultrasound showed low-echo in all cases.Five cases showed calcification,the border was legible.The border lines of the tumors are not clear with vana cava in two cases. On unenhanced CT scanning,all cases showed low density areas.Eleven of the 15 cases underwent the enhanced CT,but 10 cases showed no enhanced areas on CT scanning.One case underwent MRI and showed low signals in T1 WI and inhomogeneous high signals in T2WI. Results Twelve cases underwent adrenal glands tumorectomy with abdominal NO.11 intercostals incision while other 3 underwent adrenal glands tumorectomy through posterior abdominal laparoscope.The tumors were completely removed in 14 cases,partly removed in 1 case.All patients recovered soon without complications such as bleeding or adrenal crisis.All cases were followed-up 13 to 74 months.The blood pressure of 3 cases with hypertension decreased to normal.The tumors recurred in 1 case,but no metastasis 55 months later. Conclusions It is difficult to differentiate adrenal medullary tumor from ganglioneuromas.The imaging data of iconography before surgery can give helpful information in the diagnosis of ganglioneuroma.Complete surgical excision is the only method for curing and the outcome is satisfactory.

Objective To investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in elderly men in Beijing.Methods Totally 370 elderly men with an average age of (76.6±9.3) years from the departments of gerontology were included.BMD,echocardiography measurements as well as blood chemistry were analyzed.LVMI was obtained by echocardiography.All the subjects were divided into two groups:non-LVH group (n=231) and LVH group (n =139).Differences in quantitative variables were tested by independent-sample t test.Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis were performed to identify determinants of LVMI.Results The serum creatinine concentration was significantly higher in LVH group than in non-LVH group [(97.1±43.0) μmol/L,(88.2±21.1) μmol/L (P＜0.05)].Compared with non-LVH group,LVH group showed that the lumbar spine BMD (L1-L4) were significantly lower[L1:(0.90±0.16) g/cm2 vs.(0.95±0.21) g/cm2,P=0.05; L2:(0.95±0.17) g/cm2 vs.(1.01±0.20) g/cm2,P＜0.01 ; L3:(0.99±0.19) g/cm2 vs.(1.06±0.28) g/cm2,P＜0.01] as well as the lumbar spine totalBMD [(0.97±0.18) g/cm2 vs.(1.03-1-0.26) g/cm2,P＜0.05].The femur BMD was lower in theLVH group than in non-LVH group [trochiter:(0.64±0.11) g/cm2 vs.(0.67±0.17) g/cm2,P＜0.05; inter area:(1.00±0.17) g/cm2 vs.(1.05±0.22) g/cm2,P＜0.05].Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that BMI (r=0.27,P＜0.01),the lumbar spine BMD (r=-0.20,P＜0.01),age (r=0.16,P＜0.05),serum creatinine (r=0.15,P＜0.05) were independently correlated with LVMI.Conclusions In elderly men in Beijing,the lumbar spine BMD is an independent correlative factor for LVMI.

Objective To evaluate selective retention of the great saphenous vein (GSV) belowknee in the prevention of saphenous nerve injury during varicose veins surgery.Methods From January 2009 to January 2012,280 consecutive patients with incompetence of the GSV resulting in varicose veins were prospectively randomized into 2 groups.Patients in the experimental group underwent stripping restricted to the below knee level,patients in control group underwent GSV stripping to the ankle level Patients in the two groups were treated with transilluminated powered phlebectomy,and foam sclerotherapy.Primary end points were postoperative pain,saphenous nerve injury,quality of life and recurrence rate.Results After one month follow-up:5.71％ patients had symptoms of nervous system in the observation group,14.29％ patients had symptoms of nervous system in the control group (P =0.02).After 1 year follow-up,1.47％ patients had symptoms of nervous system in the observation group,7.14％ patients had symptoms of nervous system in the control group (P =0.02).Conclusions Selective retention of great saphenous vein below-knee decreases saphenous nerve injury.

BACKGROUND:Hydrothermal condition of oral environment has an effect on the mechanical properties of dental core materials.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate effect of water storage on the weight change rates and flexural properties of three dual-cure core buildup composite resins.
METHODS: Rectangular specimens (25 mm×2 mm×2 mm) were prepared from three dual-cure core buildup composite resins (LuxaCore Smartmix Dual, Para core and Clearfil DC Core). Specimens were stored in distiled water at 37℃ for 0, 1 day, 1, 2, 3 weeks and 1 month, respectively, weighted and then subjected to three-point bending test in a universal testing machine.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Weight change rates of the three composite resins increased with immersion time; at the same immersion time, weight change rates of three composite resins ranked as the folowing order: LuxaCore Smartmix Dual > ParaCore > Clearfil DC Core. The flexural strength of LuxaCore Smartmix Dual decreased with immersion time. The flexural strength of ParaCore showed no significant change during 3 weeks immersion (P > 0.05), while it showed a significant decreasing after 1 month immersion (P < 0.05). There was no significant change on the flexural strength of Clearfil DC Core in the whole immersion process(P > 0.05). The flexural modulus of LuxaCore Smartmix Dual showed a decreased trend in the whole immersion process, but it showed that there was no significant change during the first 2 weeks(P > 0.05), while a significant decrease occurred after 3 weeks and 1 month (P < 0.05). Compared with original specimens, the flexural modulus of ParaCore and Clearfil DC Core showed a decreased trend, but this change was not significant (P > 0.05); the flexural properties of three composite resins showed a fluctuant decreased trend along with weight changes increased. To sum up, Clearfil DC Core showed the best water resistance among three composite resins.

Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin-17 (IL-17) and vitiligo.Methods Totally,32 vitiligo patients and 30 healthy human controls were enrolled in this study.Blood samples were collected from all the subjects,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the plasma levels of IL-17.The relationship of plasma IL-17 levels with disease stage,clinical course and lesion area was assessed.Results The plasma levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in the patients with progressive and stable vitiligo than in the healthy controls (both P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the patients with progressive vitiligo than in those with stable vitiligo (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,the plasma levels of IL-17 were positively correlated with the area of vitiligo lesions (r =0.456,P ＜ 0.05),but unrelated to the clinical course of vitiligo (r =0.239,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion IL-17 may play a certain role in the occurrence and development of vitiligo.

The HSS found in the cytosol of new-born calf liver was heat-stable and it promoted the DNA-synthesis of guinea-pig liver cells (P/o:5.72),HSS was also found in the cytosol of new-born rat livers,and its most effective concentration to promote incorporation of H2-TdR into DNA of guinea-pig liver cells was about 0.05mg/ml.This activity was reduced with both the increase and decrease of cytosol content,and the reason was not clear.It was proved with SDS-PAGE that the molecular weight of the active component was about 14000 and 23000 daltons.The cytosol from control rat livers showed no HSS activity and also no component measuring 23000 daltons.It needs further identification that the 23000 daltons protein is the active component in the cytosol of new-born calf and rat livers and the partially hepatectomized rat livers,but not in the cytosol of control rat livers.This finding indicateds that the livers of new-born calf and rat contain highly active HSS and are a valuable resource of HSS

Objective To observe the effect of hot spring hydrotherapy and routine rehabilitation on spasticity of patients with incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 25 patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were divided into hydrotherapy group (n=15) and control group (n=10). The hydrotherapy group received both routine rehabilitation and hydrotherapy，and the control group only underwent routine rehabilitation．They were evaluated with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) before and after treatment. Results There was a significant reduction on MAS in both the groups after treatment (P<0.01), and it was more in the hydrotherapy group (P<0.05). Conclusion The hot spring hydrotherapy can facilitate the release of spasticity after incomplete thoracic SCI.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Totally 150 male patient from the Department of Geriatrics in Peking University Hospital were included in this study.Blood pressure,body weight,body height,body mass index (BMI) were measured and calculated.Biochemical analyses including serum fasting levels of insulin(FINS),glucose,total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,high density lipoprotein cholesterol,and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were performed.Total prostate volume (PV) were measured by ultrasound.Results PV and annual prostate growth rate were more increased in insulin resistance group(40 cases) compared with insulin sensitivity group(110 cases) (t=2.91,3.71 respectively,both P＜0.01).Along with the levels of FINS,HOMA-IR and PSA were increased,the prostate volume was enhanced (t=-3.02,-2.88,-2.84 respectively;all P ＜0.05).PV was positively correlated with insulin resistance,serum fasting insulin and PSA (r=0.16,0.16,0.35;all P＜0.05),while annual prostate growth rate was positively related with insulin resistance,serum fasting insulin,PSA and BMI (r =0.22,0.21,0.24,0.19 ; all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Insulin resistance and fasting insulin plays roles in the pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia.

The aim of this study is to prepare hyaluronic acid (HA) modified core-shell liponanoparticles (pHA-LCS-NPs) as gene delivery system and investigate its gene transfection efficiency in human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells in vitro. The pHA-LCS-NPs was prepared by firstly hydrating dry lipid film with CS-NPs suspension to get LCS-NPs, then modifying the lipid bilayer with HA by amidation reaction between HA and dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Its morphology, particle size and zeta potential were investigated. XTT assay was used to evaluate the cell safety of different vectors in vitro. The gene transfection efficiency of pHA-LCS-NPs modified with different contents of HA was investigated in ARPE-19 cells with green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) as the reporter gene. The results showed that the obtained pHA-LCS-NPs exhibited a clear core-shell structure with the average particles size of (214.9 +/- 7.2) nm and zeta potential of (-35 +/- 3.7) mV. The 24 h cumulative release of gene from pHA-LCS-NPs was less than 30%. After 48 h incubation, gene transfection efficiency of pHA-LCS-NPs/pEGFP was 1.81 times and 3.75 times higher than that of CS-NPs/pEGFP and naked pEGFP, respectively. Also no obvious cytotoxicity was observed on pHA-LCS-NPs. It suggested that the pHA-LCS-NPs might be promising non-viral gene delivery systems with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity.

The purpose of this study is to prepare galactosyl modified lipid bilayer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GPEM) to enhance the antitumor efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The irinotecan (CPT-11) loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) was coated with the Gal-P123 modified functional lipid bilayer by thin-film dispersion method. Nanoparticles were characterized with particle size, zeta potential, morphology and drug release in vitro. Afterwards, the cell uptake, intracellular concentration of CPT-11, cell apoptosis rate and cytotoxicity were evaluated on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh-7. The results showed that MSNs were coated with intact lipid bilayers and the nanoparticles had clear core-shell structure. GPEM is stable with the mean particle size of (78.01 +/- 2.04) nm. The low leakage rate in normal physiological conditions in vitro is contributed to the protection of stable lipid bilayer, and the fast drug release in acid environment due to the destruction of the lipid bilayer. On the cell level, the vector could improve the intracellular CPT-11 concentration by 4 times because of the functional lipid bilayer. The high CPT-11 concentration led to the increasement of apoptosis rate by 48.6%, and the reduction of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of CPT-11 by 2 times, indicating stronger cell cytotoxicity.