Objective To study the role of Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin(rVvhA) induced THP-1 apoptosis and calcium influx.Methods CCK-8 cell proliferation kit,Fluo3/AM staining and AnnexinV/PI staining were performed to identify the apoptosis and calcium influx induced by rVvhA in THP-1 cells.Results rVvhA could induce THP-1 apoptosis and up-regulate the cellular calcium concentration.BAPTAAM could enhance the calcium influx induced by rVvhA in THP-1.Conclusion rVvhA had cytotoxic to THP-1 cells by inducing apoptosis and triggering extracellular calcium influx.

Neurons descending from the griseum centrale mesencephali, nucleus Darkschewitsch and nucleus interstitialis of Cajal to the nucleus raphe magnus and adjacent reticular formation (nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis and nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis) were identified in 9 adult cats with the retrograde HRP method. In the griseum centrale mesencephali, the labeled neurons were found bilaterally but slightly more ipsilaterally. In the nucleus Darkschewitscb and nucleus interstitialis of Cajal, the labeled neurons were consistently found in its rostral part ipsilateral to the injected side at the level of the posterior commissure. In addition, in 5 of the 9 cases, a few labeled neurons were observed in the nucleus raphe dorsalis.

Objective To employ Borrelia burgdorferi( B. burgdorferi) , a culturable and genetical-ly transformable spirochete, as a surrogate system to study Treponema pallidum ( T. pallidum) gene function. Methods Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the T. pallidum gene tp0111 encodes the putative sigma factor RpoN. We constructed a B. burgdorferi shuttle vector harboring tp0111. The shuttle vector was then trans-formed into the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant strain. The phenotype of the resulting B. burgdorferi strain was then determined. Results We successfully constructed the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant carrying the T. palli-dum gene tp0111. We found that tp0111 could partially complement the B. burgdorferi rpoN mutant. Con-clusion This work provides the first experimental evidence showing that tp0111 is the rpoN gene of T. palli-dum. It also demonstrates that B. burgdorferi can be used as a surrogate system for studying T. pallidum gene function.

Objective To clarify the expression and clinicopathological significances of mTOR and Merlin proteins in spinal schwannoma.Methods Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression levels of mTOR and Merlin proteins in tumor tissues from 21 spinal schwannoma patients.The meaning of the two proteins expression changes on schwannoma was analyzed.Results In 21 cases of schwannoma patients,the mTOR was positive expression in 16 cases,negative expression in 5 cases,while in the normal neural tissue,mTOR was all negative expression.In 21 cases of schwannoma patients,the Merlin protein was negative expression in 18 cases,positive expression in 3 cases,but it was positive in all of normal neural tissue.Merlin protein expression was negatively correlated with mTOR protein expression (r =-0.785,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The expression level of mTOR proteins in schwannoma is significantly higher than that in normal nerve tissue,while the expression level of Merlin protein in schwannoma tissue is significantly lower than that in normal nerve tissue.There is an internal relationship between mTOR and Merlin.

Although the surgical procedure and approach of da Vinci robotic surgical system-assisted radical resection of gastric cancer are gradually mature,it is rarely used for the resection of gastric stump cancer because of the complexity and low resection rate.In November of 2012,resection of gastric stump cancer using da Vinci robotic surgical system was performed in the Southwest Hospital.The short-term efficacy was satisfactory after the follow-up for 12 months.Da vinci robotic surgical system has the advantages of clear vision,easy manipulation of abdominal adhesion detaching,flexible operation and stable traction during resection of gastric stump cancer.

Advanced gastric cancer is usually dealt with D2 radical dissection. There are different opinions as to whether it is necessary to perform D3 radical lymphadenectomy.Some scholars thought that properly enlarged radical dissection can improve long-term outcomes for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.In recent years,laparoscopic D1 and D2 radical dissection of gastric cancer could be carried out in many hospitals.However,the technique and related skills for performing D3 radical lymphadeneetomy through laparoscope remains to be explored.Based on our previous experiences,D3 radical lymphadeneetomy using artery suspension method and medial-to-lateral approach for advanced gastric cancer is proved to be safe and feasihle.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of a new anvil inserting method for esophagogastrostomy or esophagojejunostomy during laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy or radical total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with gastric cancer who received laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy or radical total gastrectomy at the Southwest Hospital from March 2010 to February 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.Five trocars were inserted through the abdominal wall of the patients.After perigastric lymphadenectomy and mobilization of esophagus,an incision was made on the esophagus above the tumor,and then the anvil with drawn wire attached was inserted into the esophagus.An endo-cutter was applied to cut the esophagus adjacent to the incision left the drawn wire untouched,and then the stem of the anvil was pulled out by the drawn wire for laparoscopic anastomosis. Results The operations were successfully accomplished under the laparoscope with no conversion to open surgery.Fifteen patients received laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy and 6 received laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy. The mean operation time,volume of blood loss,time to off-bed activity,passage of flatus and postoperative duration of hospital stay were (257 ± 38) minutes,( 119 ± 32) ml,(2.5 ± 0.5 ) days,( 3.7 ± 0.8 ) days and (7.5 ± 2.6) days,respectively.No perioperative mortality,anastomotic bleeding or anastomotic fistula was detected.One patient was complicated with pulmonary infection + pleural effusion and was cured by conservative treatment; 1 was complicated with anastomotic stenosis which was alleviated by gastroscopic balloon dilation; 1 was complicated by incisional infection and was cured by medical treatment after drainage.No cancer cells were detected at the anastomotic ring or resection margin of the specimen.There were 4 patients with well-differentiated adenoma,8 with moderate-differentiated adenoma and 9 with poor-differentiated mucinous adenoma.There were 5 patients in stage Ⅰ,10 in stage Ⅱ and 6 in stage Ⅲ (UICC staging).Twenty-one patients were followed up for a mean period of (11 ±4) months (range,6-17 months ),no tumor recurrence or metastasis was detected. Conclusions The new technique for anvil insertion is safe,effective and easy for manipulation and learn.It offers a new approach for laparoscopic digestive tract reconstruction.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of eonnexin 43 (Cx43) and clinicopathologieal characteristics of gastric cancer, and to study the role of Cx43 in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods Thirty-two patients who had gastric cancer and with peritoneal metastasis had been admitted to Southwest Hospital from January 2000 to December 2008. Gastric cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues were obtained postoperatively, and the expression of Cx43 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between Cx43 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer was analyzed. All data were analyzed via Spearman rank correlation coefficient, Fisher exact probability and chi-square test. Results The expression of Cx43 was mainly detected in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The positive expres-sion rates of Cx43 in gastric cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues were 34% (11/32), 100% (32/32) and 94% (30/32), respectively. There were significant differences in the Cx43 expression between gastric cancer tissues and adjacent tissues (X~2=28.350, P < 0.01), and between gastric cancer tissues and metastatic peritoneal tissues (X~2 = 21.989, P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 did not correlate with age and sex of patients (r = -0.030, - 0.169, P > 0.05), but with tumor differentiation, histological type and lymph node metastasis (r = 0.750, 0.642, - 0.357, P < 0.05). Conclusions There is a decreased expression of Cx43 in gastric cancer tissues and a up-regulated expression of Cx43 in metastatic peritoneal tissues. Cx43 may play a positive role in the peritoneal metastasis.

Objective To investigate the effects of CO_2 pneumoperitoneum on the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) of gastric cancer MKN-45 cells. Methods CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with different pressures was simulated in vitro, and the gastric cancer MKN-45 cells were divided into test and control groups. In the test group, gastric cancer MKN-45 cells were cultured in CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with different pressures [5, 10 or 15 mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)] for 4 hours. The condition of the cells exposed to CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with a pressure of 15 mm Hg was observed at 0.5, 2 and 4 hours. Gastric cancer MKN-45 cells in control group were cultured at normal atmospheric pressure. The expression of FAK and phosphorylated FAK (FAK Tyr397) of each group was detected by Western blot. Multiple-group analysis was done by one-way ANOVA, and intergroup comparison was done by LSD test. Results In CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with pressures of 5, 10, 15 mm Hg, the expression of FAK was 2.14±0.17, 2.07±0.21 and 2.52±0.26, respectively, and the expression of FAK Tyr397 was 1.82±0.28, 1.93±0.52 and 3.71±0.37, respectively. The expression of FAK and FAK Tyr397 in the control group was 2.43±0.46 and 1.71±0.23, respectively. We found significant differences between the 2 groups (F = 2.171, 26.951, P < 0.01). After gastric cancer MKN-45 cells being treated for 0.5, 2 and 4 hours in CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with a pressure of 15 mm Hg, the expression of FAK Tyr397 was 3.41±0.44, 4.12±0.56 and 5.24±0.41 respectively, which is also significantly different (F =116.119, P < 0.01). The expression of FAK Tyr397 was back to 0.72±0.16 1 hour after the release of CO_2. Conclusions CO_2 pneumoperitoneum with different pressures can not promote the expression of FAK in gastric cancer MKN-45 cells which had been cultured for 4 hours, but can activate FAK through promoting its phosphorylation. The degree of FAK phosphorylation increases with pressure and time, and the activity of FAK decreases to pretreatment level rapidly once pressure is released.

Objective To investigate the value of remnant stomach-jejunal dual pathways reconstruction after laparoscope-assisted radical proximal gastrectomy in the treatment of upper gastric cancer. Methods Twenty-five patients with upper gastric cancer underwent laparoscope-assisted radical proximal gastrectomy and the remnant distal stomach was preserved for side-to-side remnant stomach-jejunal anastomosis and end-to-side jejuno-jejunal anastomosis to reconstruct dual pathways. Results The mean operation time was (240±35) minutes, the mean number of lymph nodes dissected were 22±5, and all the incised margins were negative. No anastomotic leakage, obstruction or stenosis occurred. All patients received postoperative barium meal examination. A large amount of barium directly entered the jejunum, leaving a small amount of barium entered the jejunnum via the route of remnant stomach-duodenum, and was detained in the remnant stomach for 30-60 minutes. No esophageal reflux of barium was observed. All the patients were followed up for 4-18 months, no reflux esophagitis was detected and the short-term life quality was satisfactory. Conclusions Remnant stomach-jejunal dual pathways reconstruction prevents the reflux esophagitis and dumping syndrome, preserves the pathway of duodenum and promotes the life quality of patients.