Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of coronary artery bypass grafting through descending thoracic aorta in elderly patients with coronary heast disease and to decrease the post-operative complication.Methods Thirteen elderly patients underwent coronary bypass surgery with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB).Age range from 70 to 82 years with a mean of(72.1?6.0)years.Patients suffered from multi vessel disease.Many minimally invasive techniques of“Y”blood vessel graft anastomosis,anastomosis of blood vessel graft to descending aorta,minimally invasive direct,thoracoscope assist were used.Results All patients were survived.The mean duration of intubation was (6.9?0.9) hours.The average ICU stay was (2.5?0.5)days.No patients received blood transfusion.During the short-term follow-up(3 to 14 months) patients had no complaint of angina,Conclusions The technique of“Y”blood vessel graft anastomosis,descending aorta blood vessel graft,minimally invasive direct and thoracoscope assist in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe and cost-effective new procedure for elderly patients with multi-coronary artery disease.

Objective To establish inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( ICP -MS ) method for determining the concentration of ethaselen in human plasma , and to apply it to the pharmacokinetic study of ethaselen dispersible tablets.Methods Plasma samples were digested with nitric acid , then detected by ICP -MS method.The main pharmaco-kinetic parameters were calculated with non -compartmental analysis by Wi-nNonlin 5.2 software.Results The parameters pharmacokinetic results of ethaselen were as follows: tmax was ( 9.20 ± 0.98 ) h, Cmax was (597.58 ±221.73) ng· mL-1, AUC0-t was (2.57 ±0.92) ng· h· mL-1, the mean residence time (MRT) was (24.60 ±0.63)h.Conclusion The ICP-MS method is simple, rapid and sensitive, which is suitable for clini-cal determination of the concentration of ethaselen dispersible tablets in hu-man plasma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamics and clinical significance of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels during the terminal phase of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) with different hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-seven patients with terminal ACLF were tested for HBeAg status by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and serum HBV DNA levels by real-time PCR at three chronological time ranges, representing increasing severity of disease phases prior to death (day 0): 29-56 d, 15-28 d, and 0-14 d.

RESULTSIn the 37 HBeAg(+) patients, HBV DNA levels at above-mentioned phases were 6.10+/-1.63, 5.61+/-1.50, and 5.29+/-1.96 log10 copies/mL. In the 70 anti-HBe(+) patients, HBV DNA levels were 4.63+/-1.82, 5.81+/-1.78, and 4.93+/-1.73 log10 copies/mL. Phase to phase comparisons revealed that the HBV DNA level in the HBeAg(+) group was significantly higher than that in the anti-HBe(+) group at 29-56 d (P less than 0.05), and that 15-28 d and 0-14 d were not significantly different (P more than 0.05). Intragroup comparisons of phases revealed no significant differences in the HBeAg(+) group (P more than 0.05), but a significant difference between 15-28 d and 0-14 d (P less than 0.05) for the anti-HBe(+) group.

CONCLUSIONSerum levels of HBV DNA in patients with HBeAg positivity are higher than those in patients with anti-HBe positivity as the disease phase of ACLF nears fatality. Following the deterioration to liver failure, the HBV DNA load in HBeAg(+) patients remains stable while that in anti-HBe(+) patients decreases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; End Stage Liver Disease ; blood ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-152 in hepatocellular carcinoma, and analyze the correlation of miR-152 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. Methods Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-152 in tissue specimens from HCC and the adjacent non-cancerous hepatic tissues collected from 56 patients who underwent surgical treatment for primary HCC. The association between the expression of miR-152 and the clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients was analyzed. Results The relative expression of miR-152 in hepatocellular carcinoma and corresponding adjacent non-carcinoma tissues were 0.616±0.041 and 0.768±0.042 (P=0.011). The expression of miR-152 was significantly associated with TNM stages (P=0.042), tumor differentiation (P=0.035), metastasis (P=0.048) and venous invasion (P=0.042). There was no significant association between the miR-152 expression and gender, age, AFP level, tumor number or tumor grade. The OS (P=0.035) and PFS (P=0.012) in the low miR-152 expression group were obviously shorter than those in the high miR-152 expression group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the low expression of miR-152, tumor recurrence and pathological classification were significant independent prognostic factors for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Conclusion The expression of miR-152 is decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and the low expression of miR-152 is significantly associated with TNM stages, tumor differentiation, metastasis, venous invasion and the prognosis of HCC patients.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of fenofibrate on TNF-α-induced CD40 expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods Quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the effect of fenofibrate on TNF-α-induced CD40 mRNA and cell surface CD40 expression in HUVECs, and gelatin zymography was used to determine the effect of fenofibrate on the gelatinolytic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. Results Fenofibrate at the concentrations of5×10-5, 1×10-4 and 2×10-4mol/L significantly reduced TNF-α-induced increment of CD40 mRNA and cell surface CD40 expressions (P＜0.01), with the maximal inhibition achieved at the concentration of 1 × 10-4 mol/L. Fenofibrate at 2× 10-4 mol/L did not further decrease CD40expression induced by TNF-α. Fenofibrate significantly inhibited the stimulatory effect of TNF-α on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in HUVECs. Conclusion Fenofibrate reduces TNF-α-induced increment of CD40 expression and MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in HUVECs.

Using cell culture, radioimmunoassay for endothelin and RT-PCR, the effect of aldosterone on the endothelin secretion of ventricular fibroblasts was studied. The results showed that aldosterone (1×10－7 mol/L) promoted the expression of ppET-1 mRNA, which began to increase in 2 hours and attained the highest level in 4 hours, thereafter decreased; aldosterone increased the endothelin level in ventricular fibroblasts and fibroblast conditioned growth medium (FCGM) as well, which was blocked by spironolactone (1×10－6 mol/L), an aldosterone receptor antagonist. The results suggest that aldosterone can increase endothelin secretion by ventricular fibroblasts, which can be inhibited by its receptor antagonist spironolactone.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of the TRPV6 gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of human prostate cancer LNCaP cells.

METHODSWe constructed two siRNA sequences (siTRPV6-1 and siTRPV6-2) targeting the TRPV6 gene and then transfected them into LNCaP cells mediated by liposome. The transcription of TRPV6 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the effects of siRNA on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of the LNCaP cells were determined by MITT and flow cytometry.

RESULTSBoth siTRPV6-1 and siTRPV6-2 significantly suppressed the expression of TRPV6 mRNA in the LNCaP cells, and the expression was decreased with the extension of time, by 73 and 77% respectively at 72 h after transcription with siTRPV6-1 and siTRPV6-2 as compared with the blank control group (P < 0.01). The proliferation inhibition rates were the highest (34.53 and 29.32%) at 48 h in comparison with 24 and 72 h (P < 0.05). The number of cells was significantly increased in the GO and G1 phases and decreased in the S phase after siTRPV transfection (P < 0.01). The apoptosis rates of LNCaP cells were 14.45 and 12.73% respectively at 48 h after transfected with siTRPV6-1 and siTRPV6-2, significant higher than in the blank control and negative control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTRPV6-targeted siRNA can effectively inhibit the transcription of TRPV6 mRNA, inhibit the proliferation of LNCaP cells, arrest their cycles in the G0 and G1 phases, and induce their apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Calcium Channels ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; TRPV Cation Channels ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein.

METHODSNine hundred and forty-five (945) cases of DLBCL (including 177 consultation cases) diagnosed according to the 2001 World Health Organization classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues were enrolled into the study. Immunohistochemical study for anti-ALK-11 was performed using LSAB technique. The ALK-positive cases were further confirmed by immunohistochemical study using EnVision technique. Only ALK-positive cases by EnVision technique were further analyzed by immunostaining for antigens including CD20, CD3, CD30, EMA, granzyme-B, TIA-1 and PC. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement study was also performed and follow-up data collected.

RESULTSThere were altogether 5 (4 males and 1 female) cases of DLBCL showing expression of ALK protein. The age of the patients ranged from 34 to 72 years. All were primary nodal DLBCL. One case belonged to clinical stage I, 2 in stage II and 2 in stage III. The duration of follow up ranged from 4 to 32 months. Three patients subsequently died and the longest survival was 32 months. Morphologic subtypes included centroblastic 2, anaplastic 1, immunoblastic with plasmacytoid differentiation 1 and plasmablastic 1. Immunohistochemically, 4 cases were CD20 positive (including 2 centroblastic, 1 anaplastic and 1 immunoblastic cases). The plasmablastic case expressed kappa light chain and was negative for CD20. Rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was demonstrated in all 5 cases studied. As for ALK protein staining, a mixed membranous and cytoplasmic (1 immunoblastic case), granular cytoplasmic (2 centroblastic and 1 anaplastic cases) and mixed nuclear and cytoplasmic (1 plasmablastic case) patterns were observed.

CONCLUSIONSExpression of ALK protein is a rare phenomenon in DLBCL and can be seen in centroblastic, anaplastic, immunoblastic and plasmablastic subtypes. It is often associated with aggressive clinical behavior and worse prognosis. A new pattern of ALK protein expression, mixed membranous and cytoplasmic, is reported.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Hodgkin Disease ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PAX5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the different features of hyperplasia in castrated and uncastrated mice after testosterone (T) treatment.

METHODSForty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 in each: castrated (A), uncastrated (B) , castrated + low T (C), uncastrated + low T (D), castrated + high T (E), uncastrated + high T (F). Groups C and D were treated with testosterone solution at the dose of 12.5 mg/(kg d) and Groups E and F at 125 mg/(kg d) for 20 consecutive days, while Groups A and B received saline only. All the mice were sacrificed on the 21st day, their ventral and dorsal prostate glands weighed and their pathological features studied.

RESULTSAtrophic prostates were observed in Group A, but normal in Group B; prostatic hyperplasia was found in both Group C and D, but more obvious in the latter (P <0.05); and a slightly higher degree of hyperplasia was noted in Groups E and F than in C and D. There was an increase in serum T and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and a decrease in serum estrogen (E2) concentration in the testosterone treated groups.

CONCLUSIONBoth castrated and uncastrated mice develop prostate hyperplasia after short-term testosterone treatment, although in different degrees and with different features, which may help further the studies on the association of castration and androgen with prostate diseases.

Animals ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use