By participating in the research practice of basic medicine,the innovative consciousness,the scientific thinking and researching ability of seven-year program medical students can be improved. Meanwhile,the generalization of Open Experimental Teaching and further development of self-design experiment also improve the innovation and research ability of medical students,which can serve as a new approach to the quality education of higher medical talents.

Objective To explore the CT and MR features of cystic nephroma. Methods CT and MRI findings of 8 patients with cystic nephroma comfirmed surgically and pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. Results In all 8 patients, cystic nephromas were unilateral and solitary, and diameter of lesions was 2.92-7.81 cm. The CT and MR scans showed multilocular cystic lesion with clear border. These locules did not communicate with each other. The septa were intact and smooth, and showed slight to moderate and gradual enhancement. The interlocular septa were demonstrated clearly on coronal T2WI, and showed hypointensity signals. The intracapsular liquids were heterogenous in 4 patients on MR images. The CT scanning showed a patchy calcification in 1 case. Histopathology proved that the capsule and septa of the lesions were lined by cuboidal or flattened epitheial cells, of which hemosiderin depositions were presented in 4 patients. Conclusion CT and MR are valuable in the diagnosis of cystic nephroma, and MRI can reflect the pathology of cystic nephroma more clearly, and supply the accurate reference information for diagnosis.

Objective To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tracography (DTT) in assessment of Corticospinal tract (CST) and medial lemniscus (ML) in tumors involving brainstem.Methods A total of 35 cases with pathologically confirmed tumors involving brainstem were collected,and 35 volunteers matched with genders and ages were recruited as the normal group.DTI scanning was performed on all the patients and controls.The damage degrees of CST and ML were evaluated and graded by DTT,and the dysfunction degrees were evaluated for the patients.Spearman correlation was used to statistically analyze the relationships of limb movement,sensory dysfunction and CST and ML damage.Results According to the rating results,normal findings,shifting,edema or infiltration and damage of CST was found in 9,9,11,and 6 cases respectively.They were 8,9,15,3 cases for ML.Motor function was normal in 20 cases,slightly defective in 11 cases,and moderate defective in 4 cases.Sensory function was normal in 21 cases,slightly defective in 6 cases,and moderate defective in 8 cases.The patients' dyskinesia and CST damage degree,sensory dysfunction and ML damage degree were positively correlated (r was 0.786 and 0.686 respectively,P ＜ 0.01).The position relationship among tumor and CST and ML could be well displayed on images.None of the patients showed new symptoms of dysneuria after surgery.Conclusions DTI and DTT technology can be used to evaluate CST and ML damage degree in tumors involving brainstem.They can display the position relationship between tumor and the brainstem CST and ML,which is important in protecting the brainstem fiber tract during operation and evaluating the recovery after the operation.

Objective To investigate the effect of thyroxine replacement therapy with residual subclinical hypothyroidism on the success rate of catheter ablation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Among the consecutive patients with AF who underwent a first AF ablation in our center between 2009 and 2012,we identified 56 patients(41 paroxysmal AF,15 persistent AF)with subclinical clinical hypothyroidism after receiving thyroid hormone replacement therapy as study group.The control group consisted of 56 patients with euthyroidism and no history of thyroid dysfunction.All patients underwent catheter ablation.Results At the end of follow up,37.5%(21/56)patients were AF free after the first procedure in the study group,in comparison to 64.3%(36/56)in control group(χ2=8.655,P=0.003).Last procedure was performed in 27 patients of study group and in 15 patients of control group.After the last performed ablation,62.5%(35/56)study group patients and 80.4%(45/56)controls group patients had no recurrence(χ2=4.653,P=0.031).The major complications rate did not differ between two groups(P=0.642).Conclusions Thyroid hormone replacement therapy with residual subclinical hypothyroidism reduces catheter ablation success rate in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical implication of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and association of NLR with the prognosis of the elderly patients over 75 years old with primary gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 160 patients (≥75 years) with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy in Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Tumour Hsopital of Harbin Medical University form January 2007 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative neutrophil and lymphocyte count was measured and NLR was calculated. The cut-off value of NLR to predict the survival was obtained from the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve. Patients were divided into two groups based on cut-off value. Clinicopathological features were compared between two groups using Chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze risk factors associated with survival.

RESULTSThe cut-off value of NLR was 1.83 with 0.709 of sensitivity and 0.562 of specificity. A total of 54 patients with NLR<1.83 belonged to NLR-0 group, and 106 patients with NLR≥1.83 belonged to NLR-1 group. As compared to NLR-0 group, patients in NLR-1 group had significantly higher proportion in maximum tumor size ≥ 50 mm [66.0%(70/106) vs. 42.6%(23/54), P=0.004], serosal invasion [75.5%(80/106) vs. 57.4%(31/54), P=0.029], positive lymph node metastasis [83.0% (88/106) vs. 55.6%(30/54), P=0.001] and TNM stage III( [79.2%(84/106) vs. 61.1%(33/54), P=0.013]. The median survival of NLR-0 and NLR-1 group was 1 209 days and 587 days respectively, with significant difference(P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that NLR≥1.83(HR=0.530, 95% CI: 0.332 to 0.846, P=0.008), serosal invasion (HR=0.570, 95% CI: 0.332 to 0.979, P=0.042), and lymph node metastasis(HR=0.475, 95% CI: 0.462 to 1.685, P=0.033) were independent risk factors of poor prognosis(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPreoperative higher NLR value in the elderly patients over 75 years old with primary gastric cancer indicates larger tumor size, severe serous invasion, more lymph node metastasis, later TNM staging, and poorer prognosis.

Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigative the influencing factors of metastatic lymph node staging (N staging), and the effect of number of lymph node dissection on the prognosis in advanced gastric carcinoma.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 395 advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing radical operation in Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital in 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression was used to investigate the influencing factors. Cox model was used to evaluate the prognostic factors. Association of survival with the number of lymph node dissection in different N stage was further examined.

RESULTSLymph node metastasis was found in 307 patients(77.7%), including 88 of N0, 86 of N1, 111 of N2 and 110 of N3. Overall 3-year survival rate was 65.3%. Borrmann classification (χ(2)=32.045, P=0.000), histopathological type (χ(2)=5.595, P=0.018), depth of invasion (χ(2)=27.227, P=0.000) and the number of lymph node dissection (χ(2)=12.337, P=0.000) were influencing factors of metastatic lymph node. Tumor location(OR=2.86, 95% CI: 1.80~4.53, P=0.000), depth of invasion (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.12~1.85, P=0.004) and the number of metastatic lymph node (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.33~1.87, P=0.000) were independent prognostic factors(all P < 0.05), and number of lymph node dissection was not associated with prognosis (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed overall survival rate of stage N3 patients with ≥ 40 of lymph node dissection was obviously higher as compared to those with < 40, while such difference was not found in N0, N1, N2 groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLymph node staging of advanced gastric cancer is associated with Borrmann classification, histopathological type, depth of invasion and number of lymph node dissection. Dissection of 20 lymph nodes is suitable for stage N0, N1 and N2, while ≥ 40 lymph nodes should be dissected in stage N3.

Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

Objective To investigate the effects of Tim-3 on the renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI),and explore the role of monocyte-macrophage cell system.Methods Totally 72 C57BL/ 6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (n =18 each).(1) IR + Tim-3 rnAb group (experimental group):Each mouse was intraperitoneally injected with 200μg of anti-Tim-3 mAb and the IR model of mouse kidney was established after 1 day;(2) IR + IgG monoclonal antibody group (negative control group):each mouse was intraperitoneally injected with anti-IgG mAb (200 μg) and the IR model of mouse kidney was established after 1 day;(3) IR group:mouse kidney IR model was established only;(4) Control group:mouse kidney IR model was not established.At 6,24 and 48 h after IR respectively,venous blood of 6 mice in each group was taken from the infrarenal vein.Scr and CystinC were detected and PAS staining was used to observe the pathological change of renal tissues.Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.Pax,bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression in renal tissue was detected by Western blotting.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the distribution of Tim-3 and activated macrophage cells.Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to evaluate the level of Tim-3 and inflammatory cytokines secretion respectively.Results Compared with control group,the Tim-3 expression was dramatically increased in IR group and I/R + Tim-3 mAb group.The serum Scr and CystinC levels were increased in IR group,and Tim-3 blocking decreased the levels of serum Scr and CystinC (P＜0.05).PAS and TUNEL staining showed that renal injury score and apoptotic index were higher in IR group than those in control group.Tim-3mAb significantly decreased those markers,and ameliorated the renal tubulointerstitial injury induced by IRk The expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax/bcl-2 was increased in IR group,but deceased by Tim-3mAb.IR induced F4/80 + distribution and inflammatory cytokines secretion in renal tubular interstitial tissues,while Tim-3mAb down-regulated F4/80 + activation and the levels of inflammatory cytokines.Conclusion The findings demonstrated Tim-3 may promoted renal IRI through regulating mononuclear phagocyte system function.

Objective To assess the influence of metabolic syndrome(MS)on the success rate of catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)in the elderly. Methods A retrospective study included a total of 221 aged patients with AF who underwent AF ablation for the first time. The patients were divided into two groups :an MS group(n＝72)and a control group(without MS)(n＝149) . The MS group had a mean age of (67.1 ± 5.2) years ;the control group had a mean age of (68.3 ± 5.7) years. Forty-six patients in the MS group and 105 patients in the control group experienced paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Prognoses in two groups were compared at the end of the follow-up. Results At the end of the follow-up ,the success rates of the procedure in the MS group and the control group were 37.5%(n ＝ 27)and 51.7%(n ＝ 77) ,respectively (χ2＝ 3.917 ,P ＝ 0.049) .Recurrence happened in 19 patients of the MS group and 28 patients of the control group ,and they underwent a repeat ablation. The overall success rates after the last ablation in the two groups were 51.4%(n＝37)and 65.8%(n＝98) ,respectively (χ2＝4.224 ,P＝0.034).In the multivariable model adjusted for risk factors ,MS(HR＝1.42 ,95% CI :1.11-1.64 ,P＝0.033)and left atrial diameter(HR＝ 1.83 ,95% CI :1.27-3.19 , P ＝ 0.017 ) were independent predictors for recurrence. Conclusions MS can affect the success rate of catheter ablation for AF in elderly patients and the effect remains even after the procedures are repeated

Objective:To determine the long-term efficacy and safety of intra-cervical lymphatic immunotherapy (ICLIT) for adult allergic rhinitis (AR) by comparing it with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT).Methods:A total of 100 adult AR patients with dust mite allergy in Department of Otorhinolaryngology, First People′s Hospital of Foshan from Feb 2018 to Dec 2019 were randomly divided into two groups, 50 in SCIT group [including 42 males and 8 females, aging (32.55±9.72) years] and 50 in ICLIT group [including 45 males and 5 females, aging (31.33±9.84) years]. The changes in total symptom score (total system score, TSS), nasal symptom score (total nasal symptom score, TNSS), eye symptom score (total ocular scoring system, TOSS), drug score (total medication score, TMS), and quality of life score of the two groups of patients were evaluated before and after treatment, and the adverse reactions of all patients during the treatment period were recorded. The changes in the level of dust mite specific IgE (sIgE) in the serum were evaluated. GraphPad Prism 9.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:In the SCIT group, 38 patients completed treatment and follow-up, with a dropout rate of 24%. In the ICLIT group, 48 patients completed treatment and follow-up, with a dropout rate of only 4%. The scores of TSS, TNSS, TOSS, TMS, and quality of life in the ICLIT group before treatment were 32.1±3.0, 27.3±3.1, 4.8±2.8, 2.3±0.9, and 68.1±28.7, respectively; After 36 months of treatment, the scores were 21.8±11.4, 18.1±9.4, 3.7±2.9, 1.3±1.1, and 36.0±26.7, respectively, which were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). After 36 months of treatment, the TSS of the ICLIT group improved by 10.3±11.2 compared to before, while the TSS of the SCIT group improved significantly by 21.9±11.0 compared to before, with statistically significant differences between the groups ( P<0.001). No serious systemic adverse reactions occurred in both groups of patients. Conclusions:ICLIT treatment for adult AR has long-term efficacy, high safety, and high compliance, but its long-term efficacy is not as good as SCIT. ICLIT can be considered as a new complementary option for AR immunotherapy.

BACKGROUNDLittle is known about the value of (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) in in vivo assessment of exhaustive exercise-induced injury in skeletal muscle. We aimed to evaluate the value of a (31)P-MRS study using the quadriceps femoris after a single bout of acute exhaustive swimming in rats, and the correlation between (31)P-MRS and histological changes.

METHODSSixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control, half-exhaustive, and exhaustive exercise groups. (31)P-MRS of the quadriceps femoris of the right lower limb was performed immediately after swimming exercise to detect Pi, PCr, and β-ATP. The Pi/PCr, Pi/β-ATP, PCr/β-ATP, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) were calculated and pH measured. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic potential of (31)P-MRS in identifying and distinguishing the three groups. HE staining, electron microscopy and desmin immunostaining after imaging of the muscle were used as a reference standard. The correlation between (31)P-MRS and the mean absorbance (A value) of desmin staining were analyzed with the Pearson correlation test.

RESULTSPi, PCr, Pi/PCr, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) showed statistically significant intergroup differences (P < 0.05). AUCs of Pi, PCr, Pi/PCr, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) were 0.905, 0.848, 0.930, and 0.930 for the control and half-exhaustive groups, while sensitivity and specificity were 90%/85%, 95%/55%, 95%/80%, and 90%/85%, respectively. The AUCs of Pi, PCr, Pi/PCr and PCr/(PCr+Pi) were 0.995, 0.980, 1.000, and 1.000 for the control and exhaustive groups, while sensitivity and specificity were 95%/90%, 100%/90%, 100%/95%, and 100%/95%, respectively. The AUCs of Pi, PCr, Pi/PCr, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) were 0.735, 0.865, 0.903, and 0.903 for the half-exhaustive and exhaustive groups, while sensitivity and specificity were 80%/60%, 90%/75%, 95%/65%, and 95%/70%, respectively. In the half-exhaustive group, some muscle fibers exhibited edema in HE staining, and the unclear Z-discs and the mitochondria with vacuolar degeneration under electron microscopy. Compared with the half-exhaustive group, muscle fiber edema was increased in the exhaustive group, and the Z-discs were broken and the mitochondria exhibited marked vacuolar degeneration under electron microscopy. There were significant difference in A values of desmin staining in the right vastus lateralis among the control, half-exhaustive, and exhaustive groups with 0.58 ± 0.06, 0.30 ± 0.04, and 0.21 ± 0.02, respectively (P < 0.05). Histological examination also showed injury-induced changes in the vastus lateralis among the different intensities groups. Statistically a moderate correlation between (31)P-MRS and desmin was observed, the correlation coefficients of Pi, PCr, Pi/PCr, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) were -0.706, 0.709, -0.726, and 0.791, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(31)P-MRS can effectively reflect the changes in energy metabolism in the skeletal muscle after a single bout of acute exhaustive swimming in rats. Based on the significant correlation between (31)P-MRS parameters and histological changes, the changes of Pi, PCr, Pi/PCr, and PCr/(PCr+Pi) can indirectly reflect the degree of exercise-induced injury.

Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Quadriceps Muscle ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley