Cancers of the digestive system account for a large portion of malignant tumors in humans,and the trend is on the rise.The formation of neovascularization is the dominant factor in the metastasis of tumors.The vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is well documented as the most potent inducer of angiogenesis.It promotes the formation of new blood vessels in several aspects,such as proliferation of endothelial cells,endothelial cell migration and increased vascular permeability.So VEGF is regarded as an important factor in the development of digestive system tumors.The purpose of this review is to investigate the relationship between VEGF and digestive system tumors.

Objective To investigate changes of metabolic syndrome (MS ) in patients with adrenocortical adenoma (ACA ). Methods Sixty‐five patients with aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) ,43 patients with cortisol‐secreting adenoma (CSA) and 24 patients with nonfunctional adrenal adenoma (NAA) were evaluated. Body Mass Index (BMI) ,blood pressure ,plasma lipid ,fasting and 2 h postprandial plasma glucose ,plasma and urinary aldosterone ,plasma potassium ,basic and upright plasma renin activity (PRA ) ,plasma and urinary cortisol ,plasma ACTH and plasma potassium ACA were examined and compared with those from 53 patients of essential hypertension (EH ) and 58 controls. Adrenalectomy was performed for all the patients with adrenocortical adenoma. The data after operation were compared with those before operation. Results (1) The prevalence of MS was 38.5% ,41.9% , 20.8% ,24.5% and 17.5% in the groups respectively. The prevalence of obesity/overweight was higher in CSA group than in the other groups. There were 44.6% patients with hyperglycemia in APA group ,and 48.8% in CSA group. The prevalence of hypertension was the highest in APA and EH group ,followed by CSA group ,NAA and control groups. There were 55.4% patients with lipid disturbance in APA group , and 46.5% in CSA group. (2 ) We divided all APA and CSA patients into groups with or without MS. The APA patients with MS had higher plasma aldosterone than those without MS. The CSA patients with MS had higher 08 :00 and 24 :00 plasma cortisol than those without MS. (3) After operation ,the plasma and urinary aldosterone were decreased and the plasma potassium was increased in APA patients. The 08 :00 ,24 :00 plasma cortisol and urinary cortisol were decreased and the 08 :00 plasma ACTH was increased in CSA patients. There were no significant differences in hormonal measurements of NAA patients before and after operation. (4 ) The prevalence of MS was 27.7% ,27.9% and 29.2% in three groups after operation. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased in APA patients after operation ,and the systolic blood pressure decreased in CSA patients. There was no significant difference in MS measurements of NAA patients before and after operation. Conclusions Our study indicates that patients with functional adrenocortical adenoma have a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome which is related to over secretion of adrenal cortex hormone. After operation ,accompanying normalization of hormonal secretion ,the condition of MS in functional adrenocortical adenoma patients is improved.

Objective To establish the quality standard for Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule. Methods TLC was employed to identify Pulvis ellis urs, Capillary Wormwood Herbin, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix, and HPLC was used to determine the content of sodium tauroursodeoxycholic acid in Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule. Kromail 100-5 C18 column (4.6 mm× 250 mm, 5 μm) in an oven at 25 ℃ was need, with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.03 mol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate solution (60∶40, pH=4.4) and UV detector at 210 nm, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. Results Pulvis ellis urs, Capillary Wormwood Herbin, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix can be detected by TLC. The linearity of sodium tauroursodeoxycholic acid was obtained in the range of 0.182 1-1.821 mg (r=0.999 98). The average recovery was 100.39%, and RSD was 1.70% (n=6). Conclusion The method is simple, accurate, specific, and can control the quality of Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule effectively.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between college freshman adaptation and adverse childhood events,and to explore the mediating role of personality characteristics.Methods:A sample of 523 college freshmen from a key university in Sichuan Province was assessed with the China College Student Adjustment Scale (CCSAS),Adverse Childhood Events Questionnaire (ACEQ) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised,Short Scale for Chinese(EPQ-RSC).Results:The rate of adverse childhood events of college freshmen was 87％ in current study.The total scores of adaptation were negatively correlated with the scores of adverse childhood events influence and neuroticism (r ＝-0.13,-0.51,Ps ＜ 0.01),while positively correlated with introversion-extroversion and lie (r ＝ 0.47,0.25,Ps ＜ 0.01).The scores of adverse childhood events influence were negatively correlated with scores of introversion-extroversion (r ＝-0.08,P ＜0.05) and lie (r ＝-0.12,P ＜0.01),while positively correlated with scores of neuroticism (r ＝ 0.17,P ＜ 0.01).Introversion-extroversion and neuroticism mediated the relationship between adverse childhood events influence and college freshman adaptation,the mediating effects were 51.65％ and 58.10％.Conclusion:College freshman adaptation may be closely associated with adverse childhood events influence and personality characteristics.Personality characteristics may play a mediating role between adverse childhood events influence and adaptation in college freshman.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Supratentorial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the changes in cathepsin B (CatB) expression in acutely photodamaged human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and their significance.Methods HDFs were isolated from the foreskin of children,and subjected to primary culture and subculture.The fourth-to eighth-passage HDFs were used in the following experiment.HDFs were divided into two groups to receive irradiation with different doses of ultraviolet A (UVA) for different durations (acutely photodamaged group) or remain unirradiated (control group).Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was conducted to evaluate the proliferative activity of HDFs after irradiation with UVA at 5,10,15,20 and 25 J/cm2 respectively.Western blot and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR were performed to measure the protein and mRNA expressions of CatB respectively in HDFs at 24,48 and 72 hours after exposure to UVA at 10 J/cm2,and at 48 hours after exposure to UVA at 10,15,20 and 25 J/cm2.Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) test using the SPSS 13.0 software.Results UVA radiation induced a decrease in the proliferative activity of HDFs.When the dose of UVA was ≤ 10 J/cm2,the survival rate of HDFs maintained higher than 85％,and significant differences were observed in cell survival rate between unirradiated and irradiated HDFs at 24,48 and 72 hours (all P ＜ 0.05).Western blot showed that the gray value of CatB protein in the acutely photodamaged group irradiated with 10 J/cm2 UVA was significantly higher than that in the control group at 24 hours (0.76 ± 0.14 vs.0.35 ± 0.01,P ＜ 0.05),48 hours (1.34 ± 0.38 vs.0.45 ± 0.12,P＜ 0.05) and 72 hours (0.82 ± 0.09 vs.0.61 ± 0.06,P＜ 0.05).Increased mRNA expressions of CatB were also observed in the acutely photodamaged group compared with the control group at 24 hours (0.149 ± 0.009 vs.0.089 ± 0.015,P ＜ 0.05),48 hous (0.173 ± 0.009 vs.0.091 ± 0.010,P ＜ 0.05) and 72 hours (0.185 ± 0.158 vs.0.111 ± 0.017,P ＜ 0.05) after UVA radiation at 10 J/cm2.The gray value of CatB protein was 0.99 ± 0.07,1.49 ± 0.14,1.89 ± 0.08,2.07 ± 0.06 in HDFs at 48 hours after exposure to UVA of 10,15,20 and 25 J/cm2,respectively,significantly higher than that in the control group (0.60 ± 0.05,all P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the mRNA expression of CatB was up-regulated in HDFs at 48 hours after UVA radiation at 10,15,20 and 25 J/cm2 compared with the unirradiated HDFs.Conclusion The protein and mRNA expressions of CatB are up-regulated in acutely photodamaged HDFs induced by UVA radiation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with spinal tuberculosis and explore its clinical effects with anti-TB drugs alone.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to July 2010, the data of 36 patients with spinal tuberculosis underwent conservative treatment of anti-TB drugs alone were analyzed. There were 19 males and 17 females with an average age of 73.5 years (ranged, 60 to 85). All patients were in the active phase with high ESR and CRP levels and were treated with 3HRZE/6-9HRE (course from 9 to 12 months). According to clinical symptoms, chemical examination, radiological image to adjust drug and depending on VAS score to evaluate pain.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 8 to 24 months with an average of 15 months. Tuberculose of 31 patients healed after chemotherapy from 9 to 12 months and ESR and CRP recovered normally. Levofloxacin and para-amino salicylic acid were used in 4 cases because of 4 cases occurred drug fast for RFP or INH, after 15 months, their obtained healing. Symptom of 1 case got worse during chemotherapy, and surgical treatment were performed, after 3 months, ESR and CRP recovered normally, X-ray and CT showed spinal osteosclerosis and fusion without significant kyphosis and internal fixation loosening. Cobb angle was respectively(17.6+/-2.3) degrees, (18.1+/-2.7) degrees before treatment and last follow-up (P>0.05). MRI showed abscess was absorbed and spinal inflammation subsidised. VAS score was respectively 6.5+/-1.7, 1.4+/-0.5 before treatment and last follow-up (P<0.05). Seven patients had complications relating with drug adverse reaction,after discontinuation and treated with clinical symptom,the patients recovered normally.

CONCLUSIONAnti-TB drugs alone can obtain satisfactory effects in treating early senile spinal tuberculosis, but strict supervision and individual administration should not be disregardful.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

AIM To investigate the effects of Tongluo Xingnao Effervescent Tablets (Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Angelicae sinensis Radix and Scutellariae Radix) on the learning and memory function in SAMP8 mice,and improvements in cognitive function.METHODS Morris water maze was used to evaluate the change of cognitive function in SAMP8 mice after they were treated with Tongluo Xingnao Effervescent Tablets for 60 d,and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD),the concentration of protein carbonyls (PC),the ratio of NAD +/NADH in brain tissue were detected by ELISA,the expression of Nampt,SIRT1 and FOXO3 in hippocampus were measured with immunohistochemical methods.RESULTS Tongluo Xingnao Effervescent Tablets shortened escape latency and obviously increased percentage of time in target quadrant in hidden platform test and increased the times entering the target quadrant in spatial probe test in SAMP8 mice.It evidently enhanced the activity of SOD,the ratio of NAD +/NADH and distinctly decreased the protein carbonyls level.Moreover,Tongluo Xingnao Effervescent Tablets could markedly up-regulate the expression of Nampt and SIRT1,but evidently down-regulate FOXO3 protein expression.CONCLUSION The experimental data show that Tongluo Xingnao Effervescent Tablets can enhance the cognitive function of SAMP8 through regulating Nampt/SIRT1/FOXO3 signal pathway.

Background and purpose:Esophageal cancer(EC) is one of the most common cancers that account for cancer-related deaths and over 400,000 new cases has been diagnosed per year.The morbility of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus(SCEC) is very low.This paper was to study was the clinical characteristics,treatment and prognosis of undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the esophagus(SCEC).Methods:From 1961 to 2003,743 patients with SCEC were treated in different hospitals.The number of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus seen accounted for 1.38% of esophageal cancer treated in those hospitals in the same period.the average age was 56.8(range,51 to 66).511 of patients were male and 232 female.2 of them had primary tumor in the cervical proportion of the esophagus,68 in the upper thoracic proportion,420 in the mid thoracic proportion,252 in the lower proportion and 1 in the whole esophagus.88 patients were treated by surgery alone,23 by radiotherapy alone,24 patients by chemotherapy alone and all other of patients were treated by combined modality.Results:The median survival was 12.4 months for all patients,with 10.8 months for surgery,6.2 months for radiotherapy,6.6 months for chemotherapy,14.7 months for surgery combined with radiotherapy,16.1 months for surgery combined with chemotherapy,12.3 months for chemoradiotherapy and 16.2 months for surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy,respectively.The survival rates at 1,2,3,4,and 5 years were 56.4%、27%、19.3%、11.1%、(9.7%) for the whole group,respectively.Conclusions:We recommend that combined modality should be used for SCEC.The combination of surgery and multi-drug chemotherapy may improve the treatment outcomes for the patients with early stage SCEC.