Objective To investigate the expression of apoptotic protease cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase-3) in cortex neurons of rats with sepsis.Methods Models of rats with sepsis were established by the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Totally 70 cases of 30-day-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into CLP group (n =50) and control group (n =20).In CLP group,CLP was performed in the rats.Neurobehavioral score was measured in 5 rats at 6,12,24 and 48 h after CLP surgery,respectively.Then,they were killed and their brains were removed.The immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the apoptotic protein caspase-3 expression in cortex of rats.Control group did not undergo CLP,and the other treatment was the same as CLP group.Results Neurobehavioral scores at 12,24 and 48 h after CLP surgery were significantly lower than that in the control group(t =3.651,3.773,7.155,all P ＜ 0.05),and the scores were gradually decreased,overall situation of rats was getting worse along with the time.Caspase-3 protein expressed only in trace amounts in rat cerebral cortex in the control group by immunofluorescence analysis,however,its expression was significantly increased at 12 h after CLP surgery.Western blot test showed that caspase-3 protein expression in rat cerebral cortex at 6,12 and 24 h after CLP surgery was significantly higher than those in control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Its expression began to increase at 6 h after CLP surgery,and reached the peak at 12 h,then decreased at 48 h.Conclusion The neurobehavioral scores decreases and the expression of apeptosis protease caspase-3 increases in cortex of rats with sepsis brain injury.

Objective To evaluate the effect of GTV volume on response of esophageal carcinoma.Methods From Jan.2004 to Dec.2008,72 cases newly diagnosed N0 stage thoracic esophageal carcinomas were included in this retrospective study.All treatment plans were set up and designed by CT simulator and 3D TPS.They received dose 56-70 Gy/27-33F/6-7w with 6MV X-ray.The GTV,the tumor length and maximum diameters were measured on the treatment planning system with the X-ray.RECIST standard was applied to evaluate the radiotherapy response of esophageal carcinoma.The effectiveness of related prognostic factors on survival was evaluated by univariate analyses.Results The short-term response with CR were 79％ with length ＜ 5 cm,48％ with 5-7 cm and 26％ with length ＞7 cm(P =0.003).The 1-,2-,3-and 5-year survival rates were 93％,79％,69％,69％ ; 91％,61％,46％,46％ and 80％,46％,28％,22％ (P =0.037).The short-term response with CR were 56％ with maximum diameters ≤3 cm and 33％ with maximum diameters ＞ 3 cm(P =0.033).The 1-,2-,3-and 5-year survival rates were 91％,72％,55％,37％ and 80％,45％,30％,30％ (P =0.037).The short-term response with CR were 52％ with GTV volume≤40 cm3 and 30％ with GTV volume ＞40 cm3(P =0.059).The 1-,2-,3-and 5-year survival rates were 91％,67％,51％,41％ and 80％,43％,27％,27％ (P =0.047).In the multivariate analysis,the length of GTV was likely to be the most important factor for the short-term response(P =0.005,0.014).Conclusions GTV volume,the tumor length and maximum diameters are factors for short-term response of N0 stage esophageal carcinoma.The GTV length is independent prognostic factor.The GTV length is the worse the prognosis will be.

The body mass index (BMI)is one of the important indexes to evaluate the nutrition / health status.BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in per square meter (unit of kg/m2).BMI is changing with age.However,there are no BMI guidelines for the elderly.It is really necessary to set up a proper BMI range for the elderly.This research analyzed the relationship of BMI with all-cause mortality,cardiovascular mortality and body composition change in the elderly.The result showed that an appropriate higher BMI could help to decrease the all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly and could also increase bone density and lean body mass,which could prevent the geriatric fracture and sarcopenia.Furthermore,underweight-related mortality was much higher than overweight-related mortality.

OBJECTIVETo study the predictive factors that are associated with intraoperative identification of the sentinel lymph node (SLN).

METHODSLymphatic mapping using blue dye was performed in 108 patients with stage I and II operable primary breast cancer. Subsequently the patients received operations of breast cancer including axillary dissection. Clinical and histological factors were assessed to determine those that were associated with intraoperative identification of the SLN.

RESULTSThe sentinel node was identified at the time of surgery in 84 patients (77.78%). Of the clinical factors assessed, age(y) < 50 (chi(2) = 7.447, P < 0.01), tumour in the upper quadrant (chi(2) = 6.330, P < 0.05), diagnosis by preoperative biopsy (chi(2) = 5.509, P < 0.05), successful mapping of the lymphatic duct (chi(2) = 13.125, P < 0.01) were significant in identifying the sentinel node at operation. No histological factor was associated with intraoperative identification of the sentinel node.

CONCLUSIONThere are the possibility of failure of SLN identification at sentinel lymph node biopsy. Our results suggest that the best predictor of intraoperative sentinel node identification is the visualization of the lymphatic duct on mapping by blue dye. Other factors such as age, tumour site as well as diagnostic method are also important in determining the success of the procedure.

Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Care ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations and prognosis of severe coronal virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pneumonia combined with coronary artery disease(CAD)in the elderly.Methods:A total of 351 old patients(≥60 years)with severe COVID-19 pneumonia combined with CAD admitted to Tongji Hospital of Wuhan from February 2020 to March 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study.The patients were divided into CAD group(n=52)and non-CAD group(n=299). The clinical data, the changes of blood tests and cardiovascular complications were observed.Results:Compared with non-CAD group, CAD group showed a longer time of stay in hospital[(12.3±2.6)d and(9.3±2.1)d, t=3.24, P=0.002], and higher incidence of cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction(7.7% and 0.0%, χ2=21.6, P<0.001), heart failure(15.4% and 0.3%, χ2=34.7, P<0.001), arrhythmia(50.0% and 12.4%, χ2=24.45, P<0.001)and all-cause mortality(15.4% and 4.3%, χ2=7.94, P=0.005). The serum levels of interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin 6, CK-MB, cTnI, NT-proBNP, D-dimer and fibrinogen were higher in CAD group than in non-CAD group.The oxygenation index was significantly lower and the blood lactic acid level was higher in CAD group than in non-CAD group. Conclusions:The aged patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia combined with CAD show obvious inflammatory reaction, high incidence of cardiovascular complications and high mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To show evidence of the autophagy in hippocampal nerve cells from rats with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) in vivo and to investigate the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). 
 METHODS: A rat model of sepsis was established by the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). A total of 60 male Wistar rats (30 days old) were randomly divided into a sham group (n=10) and a CLP group (n=50). At 12 hours after CLP, the electroencephalogram (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) changes in rats were monitored and the neurobehavioral score was measured. According to the occurrence of SAE, the CLP group was further divided into an SAE(+) group and an SAE(-) group. Histopathological changes in hippocampus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. An electron microscope was used to observe autophagosome formation and lysosome activation in the hippocampal nerve cells. Expressions of LC3-I and LC3-II protein were measured by Western blot. 
 RESULTS: Five of 50 rats in CLP group died in 12 hours after CLP. According to the low neurobehavioral score and abnormal EEG and SEP, 16 rats were diagnosed as SAE. The incidence of SAE was 35.56% (16/45). Compared with the sham group or the SAE(-) group, the frequency of α wave in SAE(+) group was significantly decreased at 12 hours after CLP, the δ wave increased, the P1 amplitude decreased, and the latency of SEP waves (P1 and N1) was prolonged (P<0.05). The morphology of hippocampal nerve cells was obvious in a status of edema. Pyramidal cells decreased significantly, even dissolved, and cell arrangement was in disorder in the SAE(+) group. But these cells were normal in the sham group and the SAE(-) group. The structure of hippocampal nerve cells was disordered, and the autophagy, granular matrix and square or rectangular crystals were found in the SAE(+) group. However, there was no autophagy both in the sham group and the SAE(-) group. LC3-II/LC3-I ratio in the hippocampal nerve cells was increased significantly at 12 hours after CLP in the SAE(+) group when compared with that in the sham or the SAE(-) group (P<0.05). 
 CONCLUSION There is autophagy in hippocampal nerve cells from rats with SAE and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio is increased significantly.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Hippocampus ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy