ObjectiveTo investigate the clinicopathological characristics of mucinous gastric carcinoma (MUC). MethodsFrom 1994 to 2001, 438 gastric cancer patients underwent operation, among them, 36 patients (8 2%) were with MUC. The clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of MUC and non MUC were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThere were no significant differences in age, sex, tumor site and hepatic metastasis. Patients with MUC had higher rate of serosal invasion, invasive type lymph node involvement, peritoneal dissemination. Patients with MUC were of more advanced stage (stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ:MUC 88 9%,non MUC 73 9%). The 1 year and 2 year survival rate for MUC patients was lower than that for non MUC patients (50 5%?33 1% vs. 74 9%?64 7%). Conclusions The poor prognosis of MUC was correlated with frequent serosal invasion, lymph node involvement, peritoneal dissemination, and advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To investigate the biomechanical properties of the posterior tibial anatomic plate. Methods A total of 25 fresh frozen adult tibial top and matching femur specimens were randomly divided into four groups. One specimen was used as normal control ( N group), and the remaining 24specimens were with Schatzker Ⅵ tibial plateau fracture and accompanied by rear split and backward fracture displacement. The lateral margin of the tibia was fixed with a L-type plate, and the medial margin was fixed with the same plate after remodeling. The 24 specimens were divided into three groups, eight specimens per group. The posterior margin of the tibia was fixed by posterior tibial anatomic plate ( Group A), T-type plate ( Group B) or straight reconstruction plate ( Group C). The strength, stiffness, torsional biomechanics and failure load performance of the plates in each group were evaluated. Results The strength and stiffness of test groups was superior to that of Group N ( P ＞ 0.05 ), and the torsional biomechanics of test groups was close to that of Group N ( P ＞ 0.05 ). The posterior tibial anatomic plate was superior to T-type plate and straight reconstruction plate in aspects of strength, stiffness, torsional biomechanics and failure load performance ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions Posterior tibial anatomic plate has excellent biomechanical properties, and it is superior to other materials in treating posterior tibial plateau fracture and restoring the stability of the knee.

Objective To discuss the technology of modest isolating and enriching the intestinal epithelial stem cells. Methods Mouse intestinal epithelial cells were stained by Rhodamine 123 (Rho), sorting the Rhodamine 123 low staining cell population ( Rholow ) and Rhodamine 123 strong straining cell population ( Rhobri ) by fluorescence activated cell sorting(FACS) in flow cytometer; Detecting the musaashi-1 and p-glycoprotein 1 (p-g-p1) mRNA expression of two groups by RT-PCR; Analyzing the cell cycle and the percentage of the musashi-1 positive cells by flow cytometry. Results The intestinal epithelial cells were divided into three groups, Rhodamine 123 low staining cells( 12. 34% of total cells), Rhodamine 123 middle staining cells (45.26% of total cells) and Rhodamine 123 strong staining cells ( 41. 40% of total cells). The Rholow cell fraction and Rhobri cell fraction were isolated successfully. Both of musashi-1 and p-g-p1 mRNA were strongly expressed in Rho1ow cell fraction, and Rhobri cell fraction little expressed p-g-p1 mRNA. Most of Rho1ow cells were in G0/G1 phase, and the musashi-1 positive cells were about 10.37% of total cells in this fraction. Conclusion The intestinal epithelial stem cells can be modestly isolated and enriched by Rhodamine 123 staining.

AIM: To investigate mutations of oncogene k-ras in colorectal cancer tissues and the relationship between mutations of k - ras and biological behavior of colorectal carcinoma. METHODS:The specimens of 123 patients with colorectal cancer were collected. Real - time fluorescence quantitative PCR were performed to detect k-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 of exon 1, and the results were analyzed with the corresponding clinical pathological data. RESULTS: Among 123 colorectal cancer cases, point mutations were detected in 53 cases (40.8% ) , point mutations at codon 12 were found in 42 (34.1 % ) cases, and 11(8.9% ) cases at codon 13.No closely relationship between mutations of k-ras and tumor size, location, invasive depth and differentiation extent was observed. The rate of k-ras mutation in the cases with more invaded lymph nodes was higher than that in the cases without invaded lymph nodes ( P < 0.05 ) , and the rate of k-ras gene mutation in the cases with hepatic metastases was higher than that in no hepatic metastases (P <0.05). The rate of k - ras gene mutation was higher in TNM staging Ⅲ/Ⅳ than that in Ⅰ/Ⅱ( P < 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: Mutation of oncogene k-ras plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of colorectal cancer, and it is closely associated with invaded lymph notes and hepatic metastases, suggesting that mutation of k- ras indicates a poor prognosis.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells and to explore the potential mechanism involved.MethodsHuman gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and MGC-803 were treated with EPA at 10,20,40 μg/ml for 24-72 hours.The inhibition of cell proliferation was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay.The apoptosis and the distribution of cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry.Mitochondria membrane potential was determined with a fluorescence probe rhodamine 123.Cellular distribution of cytochrome C was quantitatively detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Caspase-3 activity was measured with spectrofluorometry.ResultsAfter incubation with 10-40 μg/ml EPAfor 24-72 hours,the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells was markedly inhibited in a time-dependent manner.The treatment of 40 g/ml EPA for 72 hours increased the proportion of G0/G1 phase cells in both SGC-7901 and MGC-803 (P=0.006,P=0.009).In SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells incubated with 40 μg/ml EPA for 24 hours,mitochondria membrane potential decreased significantly (P =0.001,P =0.047 ); cytochrome C level significantly declined in mitochondria (P=0.001,P=0.000) but increased in cytosol (P =0.001,P=0.000).In SGC-7901 cells,the apoptotic effector caspase-3 activity increased time-dependently along with incubation with 40 g/ml EPA.ConclusionEPA could inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells through inducing cell cycle arrest and activating intrinsic death pathway mediated by mitochondria.

Zebrafish was selected as model animal, and glucocorticoid dexamethasone was used as a model compound to establish a rapid and high efficient osteopenia model. Zebrafish larvae at 4 days post fertilization (dpf) were exposed to a serial concentrations of dexamethasone solutions, and 0.5% DMSO was selected as the vehicle control group. All groups were incubated in 24-well plates (28.5 degrees C) until 9 dpf. In addition, effects of 10 micromol x L(-1) dexamethasone on preventing against osteopenia induced by etidronate disodium were also investigated. Zebrafish bones at 9 dpf were stained with alizarin red. Quantitative analysis of the stained area was performed by microscopic inspection and digital imaging methods to reflect the amount of bone mineralization. Results showed that dexamethasone group at 2.5, 10 and 25 micromol x L(-1) can decrease the staining area and the staining optical density values of zebrafish head bones when compared with the vehicle control group (0.5% DMSO), which suggested that dexamethasone can significantly reduce the zebrafish mineralized bone and the bone mineral density. Results also showed that 15 and 30 microg x mL(-1) etidronate disodium can increase the mineralized matrix of zebrafish head bone and prevent against osteopenia induced by dexamethasone. In conclusion, the study indicated that zebrafish can be an idea osteopenia model induced by dexamethasone.

BACKGROUND: +Gz-induced acute dysencephalia and its protection is one of the significant topics in Aero-medical researches. Its pathological mechanism, however, is still unclear and protective measures should be developed further. OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) in brain tissue after +Gz exposure and to analyze the protective effects of danshen and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on repeated +Gz exposure-induced brain injury. DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study. SETTING: Researching Center of Molecular Biology, Air-force General Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out at the Researching Center of Molecular Biology, Air-force General Hospital of Chinese PLA from April to August 2000. A total of 20 healthy SD rats of clean grade were divided into 5 groups according to randomly digital table, including control group, +Gz exposure group, bFGF group, danshen group and saline group with 4 in each group.METHODS: All rats were fixed on rotatory arm of centrifugal apparatus,and their heads were towards core of the apparatus. Except the rats in control group, the value of +Gz exposure was +14 Gz, and the growth rate was 1.5 G/s. The exposure at peak value lasted for 45 s. +Gz exposure was done for three times, and the interval was 30 minutes. Rats in the control group were also treated with the same +Gz exposing procedure, but the G value was +1 Gz. Rats in bFGF group and danshen group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μg/kg of bFGF and/or 15 g/kg of danshen solution, respectively, at 30 minutes before centrifugation and immediateness after centrifugation; moreover, rats in saline group were injected with the same volume of saline. Six hours after exposure, rats were cut off their heads to obtain the brains which were maintained in liquid nitrogen for RNA extraction. The expression of iNOS mRNA in brain tissues of the rats in each group was detected with semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and calculated on the basis of ratio between iNOS and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrognase.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Expressed level of iNOS mRNA in brain tissue of rats.RESULTS: Expression of iNOS mRNA in brain tissue was higher in repeated +Gz exposure group than that in control group (0.452 ±0.014,0.065±0.008, P ＜ 0.01); however, that was lower in bFGF group and dan-shen group than that in +Gz exposure group (0.196±0.010, 0.183±0.011,0.452±0.014, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Repeated +Gz exposure can increase the expression of iNOS mRNA, this plays an important role in cerebral injury induced by repeated +Gz exposure. Moreover, bFGF and danshen have protective effects on cerebral injury induced by +Gz exposure.

0.05). Results The median survival of patients with splenectomy and without (splenectomy) was (507.4?318.6) days and (849.4?672.9) days,respectively.The patients without splenectomy survived (significantly) longer than those with splenectomy(P=0.046).The 1-year,3-year and 5-year survival rates of patients with splenectomy and without splenectomy were 61.18%, 8.23%, (0%) and (81.56%), 48.28%, 30.62%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that (only ) (splenectomy) was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.007). Conclusions The rates of postoperative complications and tumors recurrence were not influenced by splenectomy. Splenectomy did not prolong the survival time of patients with proximal gastric carcinoma who underwent radical total gastrectomy. Preservation of the spleen can prolong postoperative survival time and improve the survival rate in these patients.Splenectomy might only be (appropriate) for patients with direct invasion of the spleen.

AIM: To investigate the role of CagA and the effect of small interference RNA (siRNA) on the release of IL-8 in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. METHODS: siRNA were transferred into CagA positive strain H. pylori NCTC 11637 by using electroporation. The CagA positive strain NCTC 11637 and the CagA negative strain NCTC 11639 were co-cultured with gastric epithelial cells and the level of IL-8 in the supernatant was measure by ELISA. RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect CagA expression. RESULTS: The level of IL-8 induced by CagA positive strain NCTC 11637 was higher than the level induced by CagA negative strain NCTC 11639 ( 1 200.00 ?32.51) ng/L vs (100.00?8.58) ng/L, P0.05). Meanwhile, CagA mRNA decreased significantly in siRNAⅢgroup. The levels of CagA mRNA at 6, 12, and 24 h after electroporation were 31.3% (0.270/0.861), 57.6% (0.496/0.861), and 73.9% (0.637/0.861) of the control levels, respectively. Inhibition rate by siRNAⅢ was 68.7%. The Western blotting result in siRNA Ⅲ group showed that the level of CagA protein degraded to 30.7% (0.4/1.3) at 12 h after electroporation. In siRNA V group, the expression of CagA mRNA at 6 h is suppressed by 23.1% (P