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.

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 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.

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.

Objective To investigate the perioperative treatment and reduce the surgical risk in patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 213 PD patients operated at the PLA General Hospital from January 2012 to December 2012.Results The postoperative complications included pancreatic fistula (51 cases,24％),biliary fistula (8 cases,3.8％),intestinal fistula (8 cases,3.8％),gastroparesis (35 cases,16.4％),abdominal infection (16 cases,7.5％),and postoperative bleeding (16 cases,7.5％).The perioperative mortality was 1.9％ (4/213).Conclusion Strengthening the perioperative management of PD patients plays an important role in improving surgical safety and reducing postoperative complications.

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.

Objective: To study the effects of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati on expression of transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-?1) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin.Method: 120 male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: the control group(n=30),the bleomycin(BLM) model group(n=30),the Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati prophylactic group(n=30),the 7 th day treatment group(n=20) and the 28 th day treatment group(n=10).The rat models of pulmonary fibrosis were established by intratracheal injection of bleomycin, while the control group was given with normal saline instead.The Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati prophylactic group received intragastric administration with 4ml?kg-1?d-1 Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati 2 days before setting up models.The 7 th day treatment group and the 28 th day treatment group received the treatment on the seventh day and the twenty-eighth days after establishing models respectively.The other two groups received saline instead.On the 3rd,7th,14th,28th,42th and 56th day after instillation of bleomycin,lung samples were obtained and the content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue homogenate was detected to judge the degree of fibrosis and the therapeutic efficacy.At the same time the express of TGF-?1mRNA and TGF-?1 protein was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method.Results: Compared with the model group,the content of hydroxyproline in the Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati prophylactic group and the 7th day treatment group decreased significantly(P

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 feasibility,method and result of laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods Clinical data of 63 cases of gastric cancer treated with laparoseopic total gastrectomy were analyzed retrospectively. Results In this study,52 cases underwent laparoseopic radical total gastrectomy and 5 cases did laparoseopic palliative total gastrectomy.The procedure Was hand assisted in tlle first 45 cases for fashoning esophagojejunostomy through a small incision.In six cases the procedure was converted to open surgery.The operative time was(312±35)min,the blood loss was(190±50)ml,the number of lymph nodes dissected Was(32±7).It began to pass flatus(4.0±1.2)days postoperatively.It was(4.5±1.5)days to start oral liquids.Patients were up and about on(4.0±1.5)days postoperatively. Minor postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases. Conclusion Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is safe,feasible,less traumatic and of fast postoperative recovery.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility, safety and the long-termoutcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 346 cases after LADG from January 2004 to June 2009, compared with 313 cases after conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for advanced gastric cancer at the same period at our hospital. The surgical safety, postoperative complications, survival rate, and the recurrence and metastasis of cancer were compared.ResultsThere was no significant difference at the average time of LADG and ODG procedures (211 ± 56) min vs.(204 ±41 ) min, but blood loss during operation and length of incision in LADG group were significantly less than in the ODG group. The proximal and distal length were, respectively, (6. 3 ± 2. 0) cm and (5. 7 ± 1.7 ) cm in LADG group and (6. 3 ±2. 1 ) cm and (5.6 ± 1.6) cm in ODG group, the difference was not significant. The number of lymph node dissections was also similar: (33 ± 13) in LADG group and (33 ± 16) in ODG group. The incidence of postoperative complications in LADG group was significantly lower than that in ODG group ( 6. 7％ vs.13. 1％, P ＜ 0. 05). During the follow-up period of 6-72 months (average 37 months), the 1-, 3-and 5-year survival rates were, respectively, 87. 2％, 57. 2％ and 50. 3％ in LADG group and 87. 1％, 54. 1％and 49. 2％ in ODG group, the difference was not significant. The differences in recurrence and metastasis between the two groups were not statistically significant.ConclsionLaparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer is not significantly different with open surgery in postoperative survival rate or recurrence. It is less traumatic and of fewer complications.