Objective To evaluate the relationship between the level of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hippocampus and cognitive dysfunction after splenectomy in aged rats.Methods Sixty-three male aged Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 480-550 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =21 each):control group (group C),anesthesia group (group A),and surgery group (group S).Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory ability before surgery and at 1,3 and 7 days after surgery.The escape latency and swimming distance were recorded.Seven rats were chosen after MWM test was performed at 1,3 and 7 days after surgery and sacrificed.Their hippocampi were removed for detection of the expression of AMPK and phosphorylated (p-AMPK) (by Western blot).Results Compared with the baseline,the escape latency and swimming distance were significantly prolonged at 1 and 3 days after surgery in group S (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group C,the escape latency and swimming distance were significantly prolonged at 1 and 3 days after surgery,the expression of AMPK was up-regulated at 1,3 and 7 days after surgery,and the expression of p-AMPK was up-regulated at 1 and 3 days after surgery in group S (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the indices mentioned above in group A (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Increased AMPK level in hippocampus is the regulatory mechanism of the body adapting to the development of cognitive dysfunction after splenectomy in aged rats.

Objective To investigate the effects of different standard cross sections and angles on the measurement accuracy of induced postnatal fetal long bones. Methods Fetal long bones (femori and humeri) in 30 cases with induced abortion were measured utilizing ultrasound from different angles and /or at different directions. The values measured from different sections and angles with vernier calipers were compared prenatally and postnatally. Results There was no apparent difference between the pre-induced abortion and those of the post-induced abortion. The results in the 30 cases showed that: (1) the values measured from anterior 90 degree, the long bone length would best match with the bare long bone length up to 96.7%, the match rate of other angles and/or directions was up to 80%; (2) no apparent statistical difference was between the length of left and right bone and no difference was found using 4 different directions and 3 different angles; (3)there was no difference between the left and right femuri and humeri.Conclusions Though the measured value from anterior 90 degree direction was the most accurate one, the statistical analtical results showed no difference among 12 values measured from 3 different angles and/or 4 different directions.

This article describes the experiences of professor CHEN Quan-xin, an old famous TCM doctor, in the treatment of insomnia. He believes that insomnia stems from incoordination between nutrient qi and defensive qi and deficient cultivation of cardiac spirit, and treatment of insomnia need to regulate spirit and quiet heart coherently. Painless acupuncture method of Chen's flying needling is adopted including to select Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Anmian (Extra) as the main points and take special needling technique and grading reinforcing and reducing manipulations. During treatment, he pays attention to understanding patients' psychological and mental status through "watching one's expressions and weighing his words carefully".
Acupuncture Therapy ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Spirituality

Abdominal Wall ; Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Colonic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Ileal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Ileocecal Valve ; Leiomyoma ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; diagnosis ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Uterine Neoplasms ; diagnosis

Objective To determine the urinary iodine level of people in Yunyang and Bishan County of Chongqing and explore into its influencing factors. Methods Using multistage cluster stratified simple random sample method, Yunyang and Bishan County were chosen as research spots, then thirty children aged 8-10 in each 3 primary school of the 2 counties were selected using stratified randomization sampling method to inspected their urine and household salt for iodine and the iodine content in drinking water. Results Five hundred and seventy-one urine samples were inspected and the urinary iodine median was 261.47 μg/L. 5.78% (33/571) and 37.48%(214/571) of samples had an urinary iodine median less than 100 μg/L and more than 300 μg/L. The urinary iodine median of Yunyang County was higher than that of Bishan (H = 7.42, P < 0.01). The iodine salt coverage rate, the qualified rate and edible qualified iodine salt rate respectively were 99.64%(554/556), 94.22% (522/554) and 93.88% (522/556) in 556 samples of family table salt. Eighty-seven samples of drinking water were inspected, resulting an averaged iodine content of 8.81 and 2.97 μg/L, respectively in the 2 counties. Conclusions The 2 counties are all the area of iodine deficiency. The urinary iodine level, although meeting the demand of eliminating iodine deficiency diseases, is a little bit higher given that iodized salt of present doage has been taken for a long time. The content of iodized salt should be adjusted accordingly.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThe purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the surgical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 832 patients who underwent hepatic resection between February 2002 and June 2010 in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Post-resection prognostic factors were assessed using a univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 92.0%, 70.2% and 53.6%, respectively. The disease free survival rates (DFS) were 90.2%, 61.5% and 40.5%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that a better prognosis for overall survival (OS) was associated with asymptomatic presentation, small tumor, single lesion, high-grade histological differentiation, no vascular tumor embolus, negative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), negative serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Child-Pugh class A, no ascites, no/mild cirrhosis, new surgical techniques, no blood transfusion, no regional lymph node metastasis, no major vascular invasion, and no extra-hepatic invasion. The multivariate analysis showed that asymptomatic presentation, small tumor, single lesion, no tumor embolus, negative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), no regional lymph node metastasis, no major vascular invasion, no extra-hepatic invasion, no/mild cirrhosis, and surgical techniques are independent factors for a longer overall survival.

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of HCC after resection is influenced by a number of factors. Therefore, regularly screening and early diagnosis, applying surgical techniques to minimize the liver injury, and preventing the aggravation of cirrhosis are important measures to improve the overall survival of HCC patients. For those patients with high risk factors of recurrence, routine follow-up is one of the best methods to be recommended.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Objective To assess the limit of detection(LOD),sensitivity and specificity of collodial gold immunochrom-atography(GICA)products purchased from two manufacturers under special environmental conditions.Methods The sensitivity and specificity of GICA made in InTec Products, INC.and Beijing WANTAI Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., LTD.for detecting HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-Treponema pallidum(TP)serum samples were evaluated under different conditions(conventional facilities,simulated hot and humid environments and simulated low pressure and hypoxia environments)according to the protocol of kits.LOD was estimated by detecting the standard materials obtained from the National Center for Clinical Laboratory(NCCL)of China.Results LOD for syphilis improved from 2 NCU to 1 NCU using GICA from InTec Products in hot and humid environments.The extreme conditions did not influence the specificity of GICA from the two manufacturers in the course of detection of clinical samples,but the sensitivity of detection was affected.For InTec Products,the sensitivity of hepatitis B virus and syphilis detection was improved in hot and humid environments,but was reduced in low pressure and hypoxia environments.In addition,the sensitivity of hepatitis C virus detection by InTec Products decreased in hot and humid environments.As for WANTAI products,the sensitivity of hepatitis B virus detection was reduced under extreme conditions and that of hepatitis C virus was only influenced by hot and humid environments. Interestingly, extreme conditions had no impact on the sensitivity of syphilis.Conclusion LOD of InTec Products is better than that of the WANTAI products for detection of standard materials from blood-borne diseases.In the process of detecting clinical samples,the sensitivity of the two manufacturers′GICA is influenced by extreme conditions, with the specificity unchanged.Overall, WANTAI products are more stable than those of InTec, and are also less influenced by extreme conditions.

OBJECTIVETo obtain recombinant human interleukin 12 by genetic engineering, and to explore possibility of its clinical application in treatment of tumor and chronic hepatitis.

METHODSBicistronic expression vector P35-IRES-P40 was constructed for the simultaneous translation of IL-12 p35 and p40 cDNA subunit through internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES). pCI-dhfr-P35-IRES-P40 vector was constructed for expression in CHO-DHFR- cells. Positively cloned cells were screened by means of ELISA. Pools of clones with increased expression of IL-12 could be generated by selection in methotrexate. To determine the biological activities of rhIL-12, PHA-activated lymphoblasts proliferation assay and IFN-gamma induction assay were used in this study.

RESULTSGenetically engineered cells expressing hIl-12 were obtained and all the cell lines showed the stabile expression of rhIL-12 in high efficiency and good growth properties.

CONCLUSIONrhIL-12 have good biological activities, it can stimulate activation and proliferation of T cells and induce production of IFN-gamma.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CHO Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Transfection

Objective To discuss the clinical curative effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP)combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar fracture.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 43 patients with thoracolumbar fracture who underwent PVP combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in our hospital from November 2015 to June 2017.Those patients included 28 males and 15 females,and the age of patients ranged from 50 to 66 years old,with an average age of(58.26 ±3.67)years old.The func-tional outcome were evaluated by VAS scores and ODI scores before and after the operation.The sagittal Cobb angle was used to evaluate the reduction of fracture.Results All these patients all successfully completed the operation,and there was no complications after operation.The operation time ranged from 60 to 126 min,with an average time of(96.07 ±15.69)min;the blood loss ranged from 60 to 180 min,with an average time of(113.26 ±24.7)min.All the patients were followed up for 4 to 23 months,with an average time of(12.07 ±4.01)months. The VAS score,ODI score and sagittal Cobb angle were significantly decreased in the last follow -up period compared with those before surgery,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion PVP combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture has smaller incision,less blood loss,shorter operation time and better improvement of local pain,func-tional movement and kyphosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of combined hepatectomy with splenectomy on safety of operation for hepatocellular carcinoma patients complied with cirrhosis and hypersplenism and the best peri-operative treatment of these patients.

METHODSClinical data of 177 hepatocellular carcinoma patients complied with cirrhosis and hypersplenism admitted from January 1999 to December 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Among which, 71 patients received concomitant splenectomy with hepatectomy (splenectomy group), 106 patients only receive a hepatectomy (non-splenectomy group). The safety of operation, complications, liver function and WBC and PLT counts were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of general conditions, counts of WBC and PLT between the two groups before operation. The counts of PLT at 1, 10, 30 day after operation were (88.4 ± 23.6) × 10⁹/L, (345.3 ± 98.2) × 10⁹/L and (210.8 ± 92.2) × 10⁹/L respectively in splenectomy group, which were significantly higher than that of non-splenectomy group (P < 0.05). The operation time of splenectomy group was (216 ± 105) min, which was longer than that of non splenectomy group (P < 0.05), but the blood loss and transfusion rate had not significantly difference between the two groups. The complication rates of splenectomy group and non-splenectomy group were 11.3% and 6.6% respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONCombined hepatectomy with splenectomy will be safe for hepatocellular carcinoma patients complied with cirrhosis and hypersplenism as if the operative indication and increase the ability of peri-operative treatment are strictly obeyed.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; etiology ; surgery ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; Treatment Outcome