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 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.

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 compare the effects and significance of laparoscopic and open D2 gastrectomy on the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10.Methods The clinical data of 146 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to the Southwest Hospital from November 2010 to October 2011 were prospectively analyzed.All the patients were randomly divided into the laparoscopic group (75 patients) and open group (71 patients)according to the sealed envelope method.Laparoscopic or open D2 gastrectomy were performed according to the 14th edition of gastric cancer treatment guidelines of Japan Gastric Cancer Association.Peritoneal lavage fluid was collected at the beginning and the end of operation,and the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal lavage fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The measurement data were analyzed using the t test,and the count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Results The preoperative concentrations of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (34 ± 13)μg/L and (35 ± 12)μg/L,respectively,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =-5.110,P ＞ 0.05).The postoperative concentrations of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (4015 ± 1592)μg/L and (6724 ± 2112)μg/L,respectively.The postoperative concentration of IL-6 in the laparoscopic group was significantly lower than that of the open group (t =-8.367,P ＜ 0.05),and the postoperative concentrations of IL-6 were significantly higher than those before operation in the laparoscopic group and open group (t =-59.065,-87.123,P ＜0.05).The preoperative concentrations of IL-10 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (43 ±9) μg/L and (42 ± 10) μL,respectively,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (t =1.190,P ＞0.05).The postoperative concentrations of IL-10 in the laparoscopic group and the open group were (92 ± 32)μg/L and (62 ± 23)μg/L,respectively.The postoperative concentration of IL-10 was significantly higher than that of the open group (t =6.408,P ＜ 0.05),and the postoperative concentrations of IL-10 were significantly higher than those before operation in the laparoscopic group and the open group (t =-12.680,-6.802,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Peritoneal inflammatory reaction is relatively lighter after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy when compared with open D2 gastrectomy,which might prevent the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer mediated by IL-6.

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.

The operation path, lymph node dissection and reconstruction of the alimentary tract are the three most technical difficulties of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy. The essential difference between laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy and open gastrectomy is the operation path. Based on our clinical experience, we investigated reasonable paths for laparoscopyassisted gastrectomy. Patients were placed in a supine position with their legs apart, and the operator stood on the left side of the patient. Five trocars were placed in the abdominal wall in a curved line. The operation was carried out in the order of greater gastric curvature, the lower region of the pylorus and antrum,the upper region of the pancreas, omentum minus, cardia, and arcuate diaphragm. From May 2004 to April 2010, we successfully carried out 761 laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomies with satisfactory outcomes.

Objective To investigate the effects of different CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressures on gastric cancer cells' growth and proliferation in nude mouse model of implanted tumor. Methods Human gastric cancer cell lines MNK-45 were exposed under 0、10、12 and 15 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum for 4 hrs respectively. 2 × 106 processed cells were inplanted into nude mice subcutaneously. Three weeks later, mice were sacrificed and the weight and bulk of the tumor measured. Then we observed the transplantation tumor by HE stain and Ki-67 stain. Results There was no significant difference in tumor's growing time, bulk and weight between 0, 10, 12 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum groups (7. 8 d, 7. 2 d, 7. 8 d; 1. 2 cm3, 1. 3 cm3, 1. 3 cm3; 1.5 g, 1. 9 g, 1. 6 g)and the control group (7. 3 d, 1. 2 cm3, 1.4 g) (P > 0. 05 ). The growing time of tumor in 15 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum (12. 5 d) was obviously longer than the control group ( P < 0.05 ) , the bulk and weight of tumor in 15 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum (0. 5 cm3, 0. 5 g) group significantly decreased compared with the control group (P <0.05). The positive rate of Ki-67 in 15 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum (27. 5% ) group was obviously lower than the control group (59.6%) (P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences between 0, 10, 12 mm Hg CO2 pneumoperitoneum groups (61.2%, 60.5%, 63.4%) and the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Clinically adopted CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressures have no significant effect on gastric cancer cells growth and proliferation.

With the development of instrumentation and surgical techniques,laparoscopic gastrectomy has become a promising surgical option for the treatment of gastric cancer.While laparoscopic gastrectomy is high technique-demanding,which hampered its popularization.Compared with traditional laparoscopes,Da Vinci surgical system has more special features,such as flexible robotic arms and three-dimensional imaging,which facilitates surgical procedures.A 58-year-old male patient with gastric cancer underwent Da Vinci surgical system-assisted radical total gastrectomy at the Southwest Hospital in March 2010.The mean operation time and blood loss were 270 minutes and 60 ml,respectively,and the number of dissected lymph nodes was 21.The short-term clinical effect was perfect without postoperative complications.Da Vinci surgical system-assisted radical total gastrectomy is safe and feasible,and it brings challenges to conventional laparoscopes.