Objective To determine relative risk factors for positive surgical margins in extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy(LRP). Methods From February 2004 to September 2007,33 patients(mean age 70 years old)with prostate cancers underwent extraperitoneal LRP.All patients were diagnosed by pathology preoperatively.Gleason score:3+3 14 cases(43%),3+4 11 cases(33%),4+3 6 cases(18%),4+4 2 cases(6%).Clinical stage:T1a-T1b 4 cases(12%),T1c 14 cases(43%),T2a-T2b 5 cases(15%),T2c10 cases(30%).Logistic regression analyses were performed. Results LRP was successfully performed on 31 cases.There were 2 cases converted to open surgery.Nine cases(27%)had PSMs.There were 6 cases(67%)and 4 cases(17%)of clinical stage T2c in PSM and negative surgical margin(NSM)groups respectively(P=0.010).There were 3 cases(33%)and 0(0)with high Gleason score(higher than 7)in PSM and NSM cases(P=0.015).There were 4 cases(44%)and 5 cases(21%)with t-PSA higher than 20dg/ml in PSM and NSM cases respectively(P=0.178).In these 9 cases,there were 4 cases(44%)positive with DRE.However there were 9 in the 24 NSM cases(38%)(P=0.509).Clinical stage T2c was independently positively correlated with PSM(OR=24.69).High Gleason score(higher than 7)and t-PSA higher than 20 ng/ml were positively correlated with PSM. Conclusions Clinical stage is positively correlated with PSM.It is an independent factor.High Gleason score(higher than 7)and t-PSA higher than 20 ng/ml mignt be the risk factors in predicting PSM and should be used together with clinical stage.Positive DRE findings may be also useful to predict PSM.

BACKGROUND:Electrospun polylactic acid/polycaprolactone nanofibers (ENF) are a kind of self-synthesized biodegradable material. Our preliminary studies have indicated that the biomaterial exhibits excel ent biocompatibility;however, the research about its mechanics is stil little. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of static pressure on the cytocompatibility of adipose-derived stem cel s on the ENF scaffold. METHODS:Adipose-derived stem cel s were seeded onto the ENF scaffold, and then cultured in the low-glucose DMEM supplemented with 10%fetal bovine serum. The mixed constructs were submitted to the static pressure at 0, 15, 30, and 45 kPa for 4 hours using a static pressure device, respectively. Subsequently, the proliferation, adhesion and viability of adipose-derived stem cel s on the ENF scaffold were detected using MTT assay and living/dead staining to evaluate the cytocompatibility. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MTT assay showed that there were significant differences in absorbance values among groups by one-way analysis of variance after 4 hours of loading with different static pressures in vitro. Under 0-30 kPa static pressure, the absorbance values increased with static pressure, but the absorbance values declined until the pressure reached 45 kPa, and multiple comparisons between groups showed significant difference. The significant differences in the cel attachment percentage by MTT assay could be found among groups. The living/dead staining results supported the above findings. Furthermore, the significant differences in percentage of living cel s among groups were shown using either one-way analysis of variance or paired t test. In conclusion, the appropriate static pressure can promote the cytocompatibility, proliferation, adhesion and viability of adipose-derived stem cel s on the ENF scaffold. But the excessive pressure is likely to inhibit the cel ular biological behaviors, thus affecting cytocompatibility of adipose-derived stem cel s with the ENF scaffold.

To study the relation between drug release and the drug status within curcumin-loaded microsphere, SPG (shirasu porous glass) membrane emulsification was used to prepare the curcumin-PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres with three levels of drug loading respectively, and the in vitro release was studied with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The morphology of microspheres was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the drug status was studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared analysis (IR). The drug loading of microspheres was (5.85 ± 0.21)%, (11.71 ± 0.39)%, (15.41 ± 0.40)%, respectively. No chemical connection was found between curcumin and PLGA. According to the results of XRD, curcumin dispersed in PLGA as amorphous form within the microspheres of the lowest drug loading, while (2.12 ± 0.64)% and (5.66 ± 0.07)% curcumin crystals was detected in the other two kinds of microspheres, respectively, indicating that the drug status was different within three kinds of microspheres. In the data analysis, we found that PLGA had a limited capacity of dissolving curcumin. When the drug loading exceeded the limit, the excess curcumin would exist in the form of crystals in microspheres independently. Meanwhile, this factor contributes to the difference in drug release behavior of the three groups of microspheres.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Curcumin ; chemistry ; Drug Liberation ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microspheres ; Polyglycolic Acid ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the functional outcomes of modified limited "L" incision beside the Achilles tendon with distraction bone block arthrodesis in treatment of subtalar osteoarthritis.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2012, a total of 22 cases of old calcaneus fractures with subtalar osteoarthritis were treated with modified limited "L" incision and distraction bone block arthrodesis including 13 males and 9 females with a mean age of 35.3 years old (ranged 22 to 49). The mean time from calcaneal fracture was 21 months (ranged 11 to 32). According to the Stephens-Sanders classification, 16 cases were type II and 6 were type III. The modified-AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was used for functional outcomes evaluation.

RESULTSThere was one incision necrosis and no infection, implant failure, bone-graft absorbed or talus necrosis was note at the follow-up time. A total of 21 cases were followed up for a mean time of 29 months (ranged from 18 to 46 months). All of the cases reached a bony union within 4 months postoperation. The mean modified-AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 82.6 points (ranged from 66 to 92 points),reached a significantly improvement in comparing with the mean preoperative score (50.8 points,ranged from 32 to 65 points, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe modified limited"L" incision beside the Achilles tendon with distraction bone block arthrodesis is an acceptable and alternative treatment method for subtalar osteoarthritis. This method is easy to use and with less complication. It can correct the main pathological changes and reach good functional outcomes.

Adult ; Arthrodesis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; surgery ; Subtalar Joint ; surgery

Arginine Deiminase(ADI) was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation,Q-Sepharose Fast Flow anion exchange chromatography and SephadexG-75 gel filtration chromatography. This purification protocol resulted in a 34.5-fold purification of ADI with 31.4% final yield. A molecular weight of about 190 kD determined by native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has only one kind of 46 kD subunit determined by SDS-PAGE. Combining the results from the two kinds of electrophoresis,the authors deduce that the enzyme may be a tetramer. The optimum pH and temperature for lipolytic activity of ADI was pH 6.5 and 50℃,respectively. It was extremely stable at 45℃ and retained 97.9% of its original activity for 30 min. The stability declined rapidly as soon as the temperature rose over 50℃. ADI was highly stable in the pH range from pH 5-8. ADI acted on L-arginine but not on D-arginine. ADI catabolism was dependent on metal ions. At their adequate concentration,Mn2+,Mg2+ and Co2+ were the effective promoter,while superfluous Zn2+and Co2+ inhibited ADI activity. L-citrulline did not act on ADI,but L-ornithine inhibited ADI activity. The degradation of L-arginine with ADI catalysis was according to simple Michaelis-Menten equation. The Michaelis constant was 3.2686 mmol/L and the maxi-mum velocity was 2.44 ?mol/min.

Objective To investigate the capability of empathy for pain in bipolar disorder (BD). Methods Thirty-two patients with BD (16, 8 and 8 in depressed, manic and remitted phases, respectively) and 32 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education were recruited. Empathy for pain paradigm were used. Subjects were required to judge whether the person in the picture felt painful and rate pain degree regarding to painful and neutral pictures. Accuracy, reaction time and ratings of pain degree were used as indicators of empathy for pain. Chinese version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C) were used to measure empathy. Results Compared to controls, accuracy of painful pictures was significantly lower in patients [(0.74±0.16) vs.(0.83±0.10), P<0.05]. Reaction time for both painful [(903.84±167.49) ms vs. (765.06±108.21) ms] and neutral [(880.44 ± 190.36) ms vs. (750.31 ± 103.15)ms] pictures were significantly longer in patients (P<0.05). Pa?tients showed lower scores in factors of perspective taking [(9.20±5.43) vs. (12.43±4.13)], fantasy [(11.85±4.57) vs. (15.50± 5.56)] and empathy concern [(14.59±5.35) vs. (17.63±3.37)] in IRI-C (P<0.05). Accuracy of painful pictures was positively correlated with scores in fantasy (r=0.37, P=0.04) and reaction time was positively correlated with duration of disease in pa?tients (r=0.64, P<0.01). Conclusion Bipolar disorder has deficit in the capability of empathy for pain.

Objective To characterize the vascular cognitive impairment of stroke patients with different injury sites (right or left cerebral hemisphere) and pathological type (hemorrhage or infarct). Methods A total of 119 stroke patients were assessed with regard to their cognitive functions using the LOTCA within one week of admis-sion, and comparison was made among patients in terms of VCI characteristics, injury site, and pathological type. Results In patients with left hemisphere injury, there found no significant difference between those with cerebral in-farct and hemorrhage with regard to the total score of LOTCA, but the score of perception of those with hemorrhage was lower than those with infarct(P<0.05). in patients with right hemisphere injury, both total score of LOTCA and the subscore were not significantly different between those with infarct and hemorrhage(P>0.05). In patients with infarct in left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.05), but the scores of orientation and thinking operation were lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). In patients with hemorrhage in the left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was not significantly different from those with hemorrhage in right hemisphere, but the scores of orientation and perception were lower than thosewith hemorrhage in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). Conclusions More attention with regard to perception training should be paid to those with cerebral hemmorhage than those with cerebral infarct. In patients with cerebral infarct, more attention with regard to orientation and thinking operation training should be paid to those with infarct in left side, while for those with cerebral hemorrhage, more attention with regard to orientation and perception training should be paid to the left hemisphere insult.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method of quick identification of Fufang yuxingcao tablel(manufactured by A). METH-ODS:NIRDRS was adopted,the near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum were recorded by a fiber optic probe,and the conformi-ty test model was established through the consistency index (CI) value and the CI limit comparison method. The spectral range of 9 002-7 497.8 cm-1 ,6 903.8-5 596.4 cm-1 and 5 002.4-4 246.4 cm-1 was selected as the characteristic spectral band ,the spectra were preprocessed by first derivation and vector normalization with 17 smoothing points , and 7.0 was set as the CI value;the characteristic spectrum correlation coefficient model was established through the correlation coefficient method ,the spectral range of 6 200-5 500 cm-1,5 000-4 700 cm-1 was selected as the characteristic spectral band,the spectra were preprocessed by first deri-vation with 17 smoothing points,and 97% was set as the threshold. RESULTS:The above established models can rapidly identify and accurately distinguish Fufang yuxingcao tablet(manufactured by A)from similar products of other manufacturers,the CI value of the validation samples was beyond 7.0,the correlation coefficient(r)were less than 97% compared with the reference sample. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple and rapid,and can be used for fast screening of Fufang yuxingcao tablet.

Objective To establish an eukaryotic vector of monkey B virus glycoprotein D gene and analyze the expression of gD gene in human embryonic kidney 293T cells.Method First, the protein of monkey B virus glycoprotein D was obtained by gene synthesis.The gene fragments were digested with Pst I and Not I, and ligated to pEGPF-N3. Then, the recombinant plasmid pEGPF-N3-GD was transfected into 293T cells.The expression of gD protein in the cells was detected by Western blot, and the expression localization was investigated using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Results The recombinant plasmid pEGPF-N3 carrying gD gene was successfully constructed, and normally expressed in the 293T cells.Conclusions Glycoprotein D of monkey B virus is expressed successfully in the 293T cells and the protein is located on the cell surface.It may be useful for the preparation of specific recombinant antigen to the glycoprotein D of monkey B virus on cell surface, and can be also used for preparation of antigen slide for detection of monkey B virus.

BACKGROUND: In the field of organ transplantation, patients often take immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, such as CsA, FK506, DEX and MPA. However, their mechanisms of immunosuppression are different. The effect of immunosuppressive drugs on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different immunosuppressants on the secretions of MCP-1 in whole blood. METHODS: The whole blood of healthy volunteers was mixed with different immunosuppressants for 6 hours, such as CsA, FK506, DEX and MPA, which included low, middle and high concentrations, followed by PMA and IONO stimulation for 6 hours. MCP-1 levels in whole blood samples were compared. The whole blood cultured alone served as control. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MCP-1 secretion was inhibited by DEX (1, 10 mg/L) and CsA (0.25,1.25 mg/L)- However, FK and MPA exhibited no such effect. Therefore, DEX and CsA may inhibit the function of monocytes and macrophages in immune system by diminishing the secretion of MCP-1. The combination of FK (5 μg/L), MPA (10 mg/L) and DEX (1 mg/L) or CsA (0.25 mg/L), MPA (10 mg/L) and DEX (1 mg/L) can inhibit the secretion of MCP-1, but only DEX among all the immunosuppressants mentioned above exhibited significant effect on inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 when using alone.