Objective To discover the reciprocal regulation and its molecular mechanism of estro-gen, IL-6 and IL-8 in ovarian cancer cells. Methods Based on our previous studies, the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and their respective receptors was investigated. Mean-while, the effect of IL-6/IL-8 on estrogen receptor (ER) expression and estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation was analyzed. Gene expression profile analysis revealed that CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells, which express ER, IL-6 and IL-8 receptors, were suitable models for this study. Results We found that E2 not only enhanced IL-6/IL-8 secretion via NF-κB signaling pathway, but also modulated IL-6 and IL-8 receptors expression. Tamoxifen (Txf), an ER antagonist, completely abolished E2-stimulated IL-6/IL-8 expression. On the other hand, in the absence of estrogen, both cytokines increased ERα expression, decreased ERβ ex-pression, and activated estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation, which was completely blocked by Txf. Pretreatment of OVCAR-3 with p38 MAPK, MEK1/2 or ErbB2 MAPK inhihitors, respectively, IL-6-media-ted ER activation was blocked, while IL-8-indueed ER activation was blocked by Src inhibitor. Conclusion These data suggest that estrogen, IL-6 and IL-8 may form a mutual amplifying signaling which contributes to the growth and development of ovarian carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mutation ; Paraffin Embedding ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors which influence the safety and prognosis of aorta replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 1982 to October 2002, 67 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were admitted, and 24 of them combined with CABG. Of the 24 patients, 9 received descending aorta replacement combined with CABG, and the other 15 received the ascending aorta replacement combined with CABG. The treatment results were compared with the other 43 patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement.

RESULTSThe mortality rate of the patients with aorta replacement combined with CABG was 13% (3/24). Though the descending aorta replacement combined with CABG could make the cardiopulmonary bypass time and selective cerebral perfusion time longer, (278 +/- 54) min and (188 +/- 59) min respectively, no significant difference was observed in postoperative complications, 3-year survival rate, 3-year-cardiac-event-free rate compared with the patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aorta replacement combined with CABG can be performed safely, and the revascularization for coronary artery disease is useful for preventing occurrence of cardiac events.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective To explore the establishment of the coherent health service system for patients undergoing surgery in this region to optimize health care resources.Methods Using the Quantitative-qualitative research to investigate the conditions and needs of the regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals,and it is about two-way referral,the follow ups after discharge,remote consultation,the conditions and needs of the remote training and the knowledge to the obstacles of carrying out the regional network service.Results The doctors and nurses in the research said,it was difficult to achieve the up referral in two-way referral,and there was financing obstacles for remote consultation and training,furthermore,the effects of the remote training was uncertain.Conclusions The regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals is still weak,and we need to intensify the development of the regional network service.

Objective To investigate the relationship between raf kinase inhibitor protein (SKIP), a novel metastasis suppressor gene, and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and western blot analysis were performed to examine the expression of SKIP in clinical samples of ovarian tumors and five human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Stable cell lines over-expressed or deleted of SKIP were cloned to investigate the function of SKIP in ovarian cancer cells. The recombinant plasmids expressing sense (ss) or antisense (as) SKIP cDNA or empty vector was transfected into ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 by lipofectamine. The expression level of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in ovarian cancer cells were detected by western blot analysis. Assays of cell proliferation, soft-agar colony formation, cell adhesion, and cell invasion in vitro were used to examine the malignant phenotypes of the transfected cells. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to observe the effect of SKIP on cell cycle distribution before and after transfection. Results (1 ) The expression levels of SKIP protein in ovarian carcinoma tissues from patients were found to be reduced than those in ovarian benign tumor and borderline tumor. SKOV3 clones stably expressing full-length recombinant ssRKIP, asRKIP, and their respective empty vector were obtained. (2)RKIP was able to block basal levels of MEK and ERK in ovarian cancer cells. The expression level of phosphorylation MEK in ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells were 0. 35, 0. 34; while the expression level of phosphorylation ERK in ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells were 0.48 and 0.46. (3) Abilities of cell proliferation in the ssRKIP vector-transfected cells were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells (P ＜0. 01 ). (4)Anchorage-independent growth in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells (83.7 ± 5.7, 106. 0±9. 2) were decreased compared with that in the empty vector-transfected cells (158.3 ± 14. 6, P＜ 0. 01). (5)Cell adhesion in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells [(68.3±0. 8)%, (64. 1±0. 9)%] were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells [(100. 0 ± 1.1 )%, P ＜ 0. 01]. (6) Cell invasion in the ssRKIP#1 and ssRKIP#4 cells (24 ± 5, 25±4) were decreased compared with that in the non-transfected cells (68 ± 5, P ＜ 0. 01 ). (7) ssRKIP cells had a significant increase in the G1 phase and decrease in the G2 + S phase. Conclusion RKIP could inhibits the metastasis, but also the growth of ovarian cancer cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of epilepsy as a monotherapy in children.

METHODSThirty-two children with epilepsy (age ranged from 8 months to 12 years) and who had received LEV monotherapy were investigated by a self-controlled and open-label research. LEV was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg.d, and increased by 10 mg/kg.d per week till to the target dose (20-40 mg/kg.d), with a mean dose of 35 mg/kg.d.

RESULTSThirty-one patients were followed up for more than three months. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) had at least 50% reduction in seizures, 22 cases (70.9%) became seizure-free, and LEV therapy was discontinued in 5 patients (16.1%) due to either an inadequate seizure control or aggravated seizures. The therapy-related adverse events included mood and behavioral changes (6/31, 19.4%), asthenia (2/31, 6.5%), somnolence (2/31, 6.5%), and skin rashes (1/31, 3.2%). The adverse effects were spontaneously disappeared or disappeared after reducing the LEV dose.

CONCLUSIONSLEV monotherapy is effective and safe for the control of partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children with epilepsy. LEV appears to be a promising anti-epileptic drug for monotherapy in children with epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Piracetam ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Carcinoma ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Spectral Karyotyping ; methods

Objective To evaluate the effects of capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis and prognosis of small bowel tumors.Methods Three hundred and fifty-eight consecutive patients who underwent capsule endoscopy for suspected small bowel disease during May 2002 to Feb.2007 were examined.The final diagnosis was confirmed pathologically.Results Thirty-three(9.22%) out of 358 patients were identified as small bowel tumors[male 14/female 19,mean age(51?17)years].Of them,23(69.70%) patients had malignant tumors and ten(30.30%) had benign tumors.Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were found in 26 cases,bleeding with abdominal pain in 2 cases,bleeding with diarrhea in 1 case,abdominal pain in 2 cases,abdominal pain with diarrhea in 1 case and vomiting in 1 case.All patients with benign tumors underwent surgery for their tumor.No further bleeding or abdominal pain after resection was found in all but one patient.Of the patients with malignant tumors,all expect two underwent surgery.Three patients accepted palliative surgery while eighteen patients received a curative resection.The locations of the tumor detected by capsule endoscopy were correlated well with the results of surgery.Conclusions Capsule endoscopy promises a higher diagnostic yield in small bowel tumors. h may improve the diagnosis of small bowel tumors and alter management thoroughly.

Objective To explore the changes of S-100 protein(S-100) levels in blood in newborn rats with bilirubin encephalopathy.Methods The model was established by administered bilirubin intraperitoneally(200 mg/kg) in newborn rats.The blood and brains samples were taken from 8 rats at the sequential time points of 6,12,24,48,72 and 96 h after the model established.Eight normal rats were used as the control.The dynamic changes of S-100 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and immunohistochemical technique.Results S-100 significantly increased in blood of bilirubin encephalopathy newborn rats compared with controls(P

AIM: To investigate the effect of problem - based learning ( PBL) used in the teaching of medical students'evidence-based medicine ( EBM) .
METHODS: Five classes ( total 147 students ) were randomly selected as experimental ( PBL ) group, at the same time, another 5 classes ( total 149 students ) were also randomly selected as control group, using traditional teaching method ( lecture-based learning, LBL ) in 2010 grade. The final examination scores of the experimental group were compared with control at the end of term. In addition, all students were interviewed using self -administered questionnaire to obtain their evaluation for PBL practice. SPSS13. 0 software was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: The homogeneity test in baseline survey showed that the basic characteristics between the two groups of students were no significant differences, and were comparable (P>0. 05). Final exam results showed that in addition to the scores of the EBM basic knowledge indicated no significant difference between two groups of students (P>0. 05), for the 5 steps of EBM procedure, namely, asking questions, finding the best evidence, evaluating the evidence, using and practicing the evidence, re - evaluating the evidence, and the total scores between the two groups, there were significant statistically differences (P<0. 05). The results to student learning evaluation showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0. 05) in aspects of better understanding classroom knowledge, improving language expression ability, and writing skill exercises. And other residual items had a significant difference ( P<0. 05), especially in aspects of improving enthusiasm for learning, self - study ability, improving learning efficiency, information analysis and utilization ability, team collaboration, and communication between teachers and students, however, there was a very significant difference (P<0. 001) between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: PBL teaching mode can effectively improve teaching effectiveness and the quality of EBM teaching, so the this teaching mode is worth further popularizing.