Objective To investigate the clinical significance of gastric cracks by investigating the relationship between stomach cracks under gastroscopy and H.pylori infection as well as its pathological manifestation,in order to improve the detection rate of H.pylori.Methods Gastroscopy patients were enrolled as our subjects excluding those with tumors,major diseases and under 18 years old.Mucosal biopsies were obtained from the lesser curvature of antrum and the greater curvature of body in each patient,then by HE staining,pathological and HP examination.The information including the pathological diagnosis,HP antibody,rapid urease test,endoscopic diagnosis and endoscopic gastric body cracking phenomenon were collected from all patient.H.pylori positivity was defined as a patient who showed two or more positive results in the Rapid Urea's Test,pathohistological examination and H.pylori antibody detection.Results (1) 437 patients with gastroscopy were included between December 2009 and December 2011,among whom 210 were male and 227 were female.There were 32 cases with gastric ulcer,59 cases with duodenal ulcer,51 cases with duodenitis,62 cases with reflux esophagitis,and 276 cases with chronic gastritis.(2) H.pylori distribution in stoma of all patients:160 of 437 patients(36.61％) are H.pylori positive,of which 68.75％ (110/160) was found H.pylori positive in both of gastric antrum and body,25.63％ (41/160) was H.pylori positive only in antrum,and 3.13％ (5/160) was H.pylori positive only in the body of stomach.(3)Relationship between the presence of cracks in gastric body and H.pylori infection:the H.pylori positivity was 62.58％ (97/155) and 22.34％ (63/282) respectively in the group with or without the presence of cracks in body.Cracks in gastric body examined by gastroscopy was related to H.pylori infection(x2 =69.788,P =0.000).(4) Relationship between the presence of cracks in gastric body and patho-histology:the presence of cracks in gastric body was related with severity of gastric inflammation by Wilcoxon rank sum test (P ＜ 0.0001),while there was no relationship between gastric body cracks and atrophy,intestinal metaplasia and atypical hyperplasia(P ＞ 0.05).(5) Relationship between the presence of cracks in gastric body and diseases:the presence of cracks in body was related with duodenitis,bile reflux under gastroscopy while there was no difference among in gastric body and gastric ulcer,esophagitis and chronic gastritis in terms of cracking appearance (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Our finding showed that cracking appearance in the gastric body is related with severity of inflammation in gastric mucosa bile reflux and duodenitis,suggesting that it can be one of the gastroscopic manifestations of more severe gastritis.

BACKGROUND:Cholesterol is closely linked to the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis. Current approaches to study celular cholesterol dynamics have their own limitations.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the cholesterol efflux rate of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages by BODIPY-Cholesterol labeling and to explore the effects of extracelular cholesterol and lipopolysaccharide on the cholesterol efflux rate.
METHODS:RAW 264.7 cels were cultured in vitro with DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum, and labeled with BODIPY-Cholesterol for 1, 2, 4, 8 hours. Then, the cels were rinsed with serum-free DMEM and inoculated for 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 hours to optimize the labeling time and incubation time. We measured and compared the cholesterol efflux rates after cultured cels were treated with cholesterol, lipopolysaccharide, human sera with high cholesterol or human sera with normal cholesterol.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The best labeling time for BODIPY-Cholesterol was 2-8 hours. Cholesterol efflux rates were gradualy decreased after the cels that were labeled for 2 hours were incubated with increasing concentrations of cholesterol (0.1, 0.5, 2.5 mmol/L,P< 0.01). Treating cels with lipopolysaccharide also decreased the cholesterol efflux rate (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the cholesterol efflux rate was decreased after cels were treated with human sera with high cholesterol (P< 0.05). These findings indicate that BODIPY-Cholesterol can be used to measure celular cholesterol efflux rate and to study the effects of extracelular cholesterol and lipopolysaccharide on the cholesterol efflux rate.

Objective To observe the application effect of Yunnan baiyao powder and alcohol with VitB12 on exosmosis of vincristin. Methods The 40 patients with exosmosis of vincristin were randomly divided into the treatment group(22 cases)and the control group( 18 cases).The treatment group was given the Yunnan baiyao powder and alcohol with VitB12,the control group was given magnesium sulfate for hydropathic compress.The effective rate and red swelling and ulcer of the skin in the two groups were evaluated. Results The effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group,red swelling and the diameter of the ulcer of the skin on the fifth and seventh day were shorter than the control group. Conclusions The Yunnan baiyao powder and alcohol with VitB12 are effective in treatment of the exosmosis induced by vincristin.

Objective To observe the influence of hemoperfusion(HP) on microinflammatory state and atherosclerosis in uremic patients .Methods Thirty‐six patients with uremia were randomly assigned into 2 groups ,18 cases in eath group .The hemo‐dialysis(HD) group took hemodialysis for 3 times per week ,4 h per time;the HP+ HD group took once HP per week on the basis of HD .The levels of C‐reactive protein(CRP) ,total cholesterol(TC) ,triglyceride(TG) ,urea nitrogen(BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) were measured before therapy and in six months after therapy .The atherosclerotic plaque size was detected by ultrasound with fine resolution .Results The levels of CRP ,TG and TC after treatment in the HP+ HD group were significantly decreased com‐pared with those before treatment and the HD group (P<0 .05) .The number of therosclerotic plaques in the HP+ HD group had no increase .BUN and Cr had no statistical differences between the two groups(P>0 .05) .Conclusion HP can alleviate the inflam‐matory reaction and decrease the atherosclerosis occurrence .

Objective To investigate the effects of icariin (ICA) on partial vasoactive substances in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) rat model.Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,model control group,ICA low-,middle-and high-dose (20,40,80 mg · kg-1 · d-1) group,12 rats in each group.Except for normal control group,the rats were injected with MCT (50 mg · kg-1 · d-1) to establish PAH model.After 1 week MCT-injection,ICA was given by intragastric administration for 3 weeks according to different groups.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was recorded through catheter connected with Power Lab system.Except for normal control group,the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated using formula:right ventricle weight/the weight of left ventricle with septum× 100％.The morphology of lung artery was assessed by HE staining.Concentration of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ),endothelin (ET),prostaglandine F2α(PGF2α),thromboxane A2(TXA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in serum was measured by ELISA kit assay.The protein levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE),cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and thromboxane A2 synthetase (TXAS) were analyzed by Western blotting,expression of ACE,COX-2 and TXAS mRNA was measured by real time RT-PCR.Results Compared with the normal control group,mPAP [(48.5±5.2) mmHg] and RVHI (33.3±3.8)％in model control group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),the morphology revealed there was obvious artery remodeling at distal artery,the contents of Ang Ⅱ,PGFA2,TXA2 in serum were elevated,and ACE,COX-2 and TXAS gene expression was up-regulated in rats treated with MCT.ICA (40,80 mg · kg-1 · d-1) treatment significantly attenuated mPAP,RVHI and pulmonary artery remodeling (P ＜ 0.05),and decreased the contents of serum Ang Ⅱ,ET,PGF2β,TXA2,and PGI2,and inhibited the gene expression of ACE,COX-2 and TXAS.Conclusion ICA decreases the contents of AngⅡ,ET,PGI2,PGF2α and TXA2 in the serum of MCT-induced PAH rats,which may be one of the mechanisms underlying ICA inhibiting PAH.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong capsule is the clinical prescription for the treatment of osteoarthritis in Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the previous studies mainly focus on effect to cartilage.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Tougu Xiaotong capsule on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts as wel as the expressions of bone remodeling correlated factors.
METHODS:Rat osteoblast-like cel line ROS17/2.8 cel s were incubated with Tougu Xiaotong capsule. The ROS17/2.8 cel s were divided into blank control group and Tougu Xiaotong capsule groups with different
concentrations. The cel proliferation was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Osteoblast differentiation biomarkers alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin and bone mineralized nodules were measured with colorimetry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and alizarin red staining, respectively. The real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expressions of bone remodeling factors osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the Tougu Xiaotong capsule with the
concentration of 0.25-2 g/L could significantly promote the ROS17/2.8 cel proliferation (P<0.05), up-regulate the alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin expression level and mineralized nodules area, and increase the
percentage of bone remodeling factors osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand (P<0.05). The mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong capsule protecting osteoarthritis may partly result from the regulation of
proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and bone remodeling.

Objective To study the effect of pinealctomy and melatonin on the cell cycle distribution during T cell development in thymus. Methods SD rats were divided into 5 groups:normal controls,sham-operated controls,pinealectomy,pinealectomy+melatonin injection 7.5 mg/kg; and pinealectomy+melatonin injection 15 mg/kg.The animals were sacrificed at 4 or 8 weeks after operation.cycilnA +and cyclinE +T cells in thymus were dyed with immunocytochemical ABC methods, measured by computer image analysis.Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry.The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1? was tested by RT-PCR method. Results The effect of pinealectomy on the expression of cyclinE was stronger than that of cycilnA. Pinealectomy promotes the synthesis of cyclinE in thymus.The percentage of G-0/G-1 phase cells was decreased and G-2/M phase cells was increased.These would be convalescente by supplement with melatonin,but the reaction to melatonin was differencet in thymus cortex and in medulla.Melatonin enhanced the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1? in thymus.Conclusion Pinealectomy influences notably the T cells development in thymus.Rejuvenation of degenerative thymus could be observed by melatonin administration.

Objective To investigate the influence of pinealectomy(Px)and melatonin (MLT) supplementation on CD4~+CD25~+Treg cells development and Foxp3 expression in rat thymus. Methods One hundred and twenty clean-grade male SD rats were divided into five groups: normal control group, sham pinealectomized group, pinealectomized group, Px +7.5 mg/(kg·d) MLT group, Px +15 mg/(kg·d) MLT group, and the thymus were taken out at the 4th week and the 8th week;Flow cytometric analysis was used to analyse the number of double positive cells in the thymus and peripheral blood;Semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to analyse Foxp3 expression of rat thymus. Results There was no difference of the number of CD4~+CD25~+ Treg cells in rat thymus between Px and normal/sham group, and the number increased dependently on time and dose after MLT supplementation. In rat peripheral blood the double positive cells significantly increased in models of Px at the 4th week, and then backed to normal level after MLT supplementation. The results showed no significant changes in all groups at the 8th weeek;At the 4th weeks, Foxp3 expression increased in the thymus of Px rats compared to nomal/sham group, which returned to normal level after MLT supplementation. On the other hand, Foxp3 expression showed no significant difference in all groups at the 8th weeek.Conclusion Px made no difference between the development of CD4~+CD25~+Treg cells in rat thymus, but resulted in significant increase of thymic output and Foxp3 expression. All the effects disappeared at the 8th week. MLT supplementation could reverse the abnormity.

Objective To explore the feasibility of detecting the cytokeratin 20 (CK-20) mRNA in exfoliated urothelial cells for the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma. Methods Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of CK-20 mRNA in cells collected from the urine of 45 cases of bladder cancer, 15 cases of cystitis accompanied by hematuria, 10 healthy volunteers, and 7 different cell lines, including bladder cancer cell line T24, kidney cancer 786-0 and GRC-1, breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435, and ovary cancer SKOV 3 and 3AO. Results CK-20 mRNA expression was detected in 36 of 41 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (87.80%), in 18 of the 21 GⅠ patients (85.71%), in 11 of the 13 GⅡ patients (84.62%), in 7 of the 7 GⅢ patients (100%), in 20 of the 22 T a-1 patients (90.91%), and in 16 of the 19T 2-4 patients (84.21%). Sensitivity of the method was found to be 87.80%, whereas specificity was 73.33%. In 15 patients with hematuria, there were 4 cases of false positive: 1 case of BPH, 1 case of atypical hyperplasia, 1 case of chronic inflammation, and 1 case undergoing TURP previously. CK-20 amplification band was also obtained in all of 19 cases of bladder transitional cell tumor tissues and bladder cancer cell line T24, but not in 4 patients with non-transitional cell carcinoma and 6 other tumor cell lines. No false positive cases were found in the healthy control group. Conclusion These results suggest that CK-20 might be a useful tumor marker for early noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of bladder cancer by detecting CK-20 mRNA expression of uroepithelial cells from the voided urine specimen by RT-PCR.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT metabolic parameters for occult lymph node metastasis (OLM) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:A total of 183 patients (72 males, 111 females; age (61.5±8.4) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and preoperatively diagnosed with clinical N0 stage (cN0) in Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent anatomical pulmonary resection with systematic lymph node dissections within 3 weeks after 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations. According to the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis, patients were divided into OLM positive (OLM+ ) group and OLM negative (OLM-) group. Parameters of primary lesions, such as the maximum diameter (D max), tumor sites, morphological features, maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV mean), metabolic total volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), tumor SUV max to liver SUV mean (TLR max), tumor TLG to liver SUV mean (TLR TLG) were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used to compare the parameters between groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for OLM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of different parameters. Results:Among 183 patients, 25 (13.7%, 25/183) of them were diagnosed as OLM. In OLM+ group, 46 lymph nodes were pathologically positive for metastasis, including 15 N1 disease and 31 N2 disease. D max (2.9(2.3, 3.7) vs 2.3(1.7, 2.8) cm), lobulation ((76.0%(19/25) vs 37.3%(59/158)), SUV max (11.1(7.9, 17.7) vs 4.7(2.3, 9.2)), TLG (41.5(10.2, 91.1) vs 15.6(6.5, 23.8) ml), TLR max (4.7(3.5, 7.6) vs 2.1(0.9, 4.0)) and TLR TLG (18.1(5.0, 44.3) vs 6.1(3.0, 11.4) ml) of the primary lesions in OLM+ group were significantly higher than those in OLM-group ( z values: from -4.709 to -3.247, χ2=13.190, all P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that TLR max (odds ratio ( OR)=15.145, 95% CI: 3.381-67.830, P<0.001) and D max ( OR=3.220, 95% CI: 1.192-8.701, P=0.021) were independent risk factors for OLM. TLR max yielded the highest area under curve (AUC; AUC=0.794) with the threshold of 3.12, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for predicting OLM were 92.0%(23/25), 63.3%(100/158), 67.2%(123/183), 28.4%(23/81) and 98.0%(100/102), respectively. Conclusions:TLR max of tumor is the independent risk factor for OLM in NSCLC patients. TLR max can sensitively predict OLM preoperatively in patients with NSCLC.