ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of transureteroscopic Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy on ureteral calculi.Methods105 cases of ureteral stones were treated by transureteroscopic Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy. The transverses of stones were 4～15 mm and the vertical lengths were 5～25 mm.ResultsSuccessful lithotripsy was achieved on one session in 98 cases (95%), with the stones completely expelled within 2～6 weeks. Complications occurred in 4 cases and stones moved up in 3 cases.ConclusionThe transureteroscopic Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy is an effective and safe method for ureteral calculi.

Objective To explore the effect of metformin on hepatoma cells senescence and the underlying mechanism.Methods Cell proliferation,cycle and apoptosis were examined by MTS and flow cytometry assay in response to different concentrations of metformin(0,0.01,0.1,1,10 and 50mmol/L).Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-ga1) staining and senescence marker Dec1 protein levels were used to evaluate the effect of metformin on hepatoma cells senescence.In addition,protein expression of p-AMPK,p-ACC and AMPK was detected by Western blot analysis.Results Metformin suppressed proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.High concentrations of metformin (10 and 50mmol/L) promoted cell apoptosis,while lower doses of metformin (0.01,0.1 and 1mmol/L) led to enlarged and flatten senescent morphology and increased SA-β-ga1 positive cells.Moreover,cell cycle was blocked in G0/G1 phase and protein levels of senescent marker Dec1,p-AMPK and p-ACC were significantly enhanced,whereas AMPK protein expression was almost unchanged.Conclusion We showed here that high dose of metformin promotes HepG2 cells apoptosis,but low doses of metformin induce cellular senescence,which may be related to the activation of AMPK signaling.These data will provide vital evidence for improving the outcome of comprehensive treatment in HCC patients by driving hepatoma cells to undergo senescence.

Objective To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of HDAC inhibitor SNDX-275 inhibiting cell proliferation in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer BT474 cells.Methods Breast cancer BT474 cells were treated with HDAC inhibitor SNDX-275,setting as test group,and the cell line treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS)as control.The concentration of SNDX-275 were 0,0.5,1 .0,2.0,3.0,4.0 μmol/L respectively.Cell proliferation was analyzed by MTS assay and colony formation assay,the expressions of ErbB2, ErbB3,p-Akt were analyzed by Western blotting,and the expressions of miR-125a,miR-125b were analyzed by RT-PCR.After transfecting miRNA125 inhibitor into BT474 cells,the inhibition rate of SNDX-275 was tested by MTS assay .Results MTS result showed that SNDX-275 inhibited cell proliferation in BT474 cells in a dose-dependent manner.The inhibition rate of 4.0 μmol/L SNDX-275 was about (68.00 ±4.45)%.Clone assay indicated SNDX-275 could inhibit the proliferation of BT474 cells.Western blotting result indicated that SNDX-275 significantly inhibited the protein expressions of ErbB2,ErbB3 and p-Akt,RT-PCR result illustrated 2 μmol/L SNDX-275 could increase the expressions of miR-125a and miR-125b about 3.22 ±1 .17,5.42 ±0.38 times compared with the PBS control respectively,the difference has a statistical significance (t =4.338,P =0.049;t =21 .805,P =0.002).MTS result indicated that compared with the PBS control,the inhibition rate of SNDX-275 group was (56.97 ±3.56)%,while the inhibition rate of SNDX-275 and miRNA125 inhibitor group
was (10.67 ±2.21 )%,with a statistical significance(t =-10.993,P =0.008).Conclusion SNDX-275 could inhibit cell proliferation of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer BT474 cells,by inhibiting ErbB2-ErbB3-Akt sig-nal pathway through up-regulating miR-125a and miR-125b.

Objective To explore the clinical effects of atlantoaxial pedicle screw instrumentation in treatment of intractable atlantoaxial dislocation in children. Methods A total of 7 patients with intractable atlantoaxial dislocations were treated with aflantoaxial pedicle screw instrumentation plus atlantoaxial bone grafting from June 2002 to January 2001. Results The dislocation in all patients reached complete reduction, with no complications. All patients were followed up for average 10 months (8-14 months). Radiographs showed successful bone fusion in all patients. Conclusion Atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation and fusion is an effective method for treatment of intractable atlantoaxial dislocation in chil dren.

Objective To observe the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on osteogenic differentiation abili?ty and cell proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and to explore the role of bFGF on the process of osteogenic differencitiaion in vitro. Methods HGFs were cultured in vitro until the 3rd passage when they were divided into four groups:normal medium as group 1, normal medium with 10μg/L bFGF as group 2, osteogenic medium as group 3 and osteo?genic medium with 10μg/L bFGF as group 4. MTT assay was used to evaluate the proliferation of HGFs. Alkaline phospha?tase (ALP) staining and Alizarin red staining were applied to investigate osteogenic potential of HGFs under different culture conditions. Results bFGF at concentration of 10 μg/L could increase HGFs proliferation in both normal and osteogenic medium (P<0.01). HGFs could be induced towards osteogenic differentiation and form mineralized nodule in osteogenic me?dium. However, 10μg/L bFGF had no effects on ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation of HGFs during osteogenic differentiation. Conclusion bFGF could promote the proliferation of HGFs but show no effects on osteogenic differentiation of HGFs at concentration of 10μg/L.

Objective To investigate the relationship of glycoprotein serglycin (SRGN) expression with invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells,and the role of microRNA in the regulation of SRGN expression.Methods Real-time quantitative polymer ase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the differences in SRGN expression between higher metastasis Michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7)/5-Fu breast cancer cell lines and weaker metastasis MCF-7 cell line.The siRNA interference experiment and in vitro Transwell experiment were used to detect effect of SRGN on the ability of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells.Bioinformatics software was used to predict miRNAs targeting SRGN,and integrated microRNA differentially expressed chip data between breast cancer cell MCF-7 versus MCF-7/5-Fu.The miRNA quantitative PCR was used to determine the differences of candi date miRNA expression.After transfection of microRNA minics,Western blot was used to test candidate microRNA target SRGN.Transwell experiment was used to test the effects of candidate microRNAs on tumor cell invasion and metastasis.Results SRGN was increased significantly in MCF-7/5-Fu cells,and the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells were inhibited when SRGN was interfered.In addition,miR181 b/c expressed in MCF-7/5-Fu cells was reduced significantly,negatively correlated with SRGN expression,and targeted SRGN expression.It inhibited invasion and metastasis of tumor cells.Conclusions MicroRNA181b/c inhibits metastasis of breast cancer by targeting SRGN.

Objective To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (ErbB3) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) in enhancing the resistance of Herceptin in human breast cancer.Methods HRG (Heregulin,the ligand of ErbB3) or IGF2 (insulin-like growth factor2,the ligand of IGF1R) was correspondingly added into breast cancer cells SKBR3 and BT474,and then 3-(4,5-dimenthylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay and were performed in these cells to evaluate the sensitivity of these cells to Herceptin.Furthermore,we used HRG or IGF2 antibodies to inhibit their joint receptors in Herceptin-resistant breast cancer cells SKBR3/POOL2 and BT474/HR20.Finally,the sensitivity of these treated cells to Herceptin was detected via MTS assay.HRG or IGF2 was added into breast cancer cell BT474,and co-IP assay was used to detect the expressions of ErbB3 and IGF1R which combined with ErbB2.Results The treatment groups used HRG or IGF2 enhanced the resistance of Herceptin in Herceptin-sensitive breast cancer cells.On the other hand,we used antibodies of HRG and IGF2 to block their combining with their receptors in Herceptin-resistant breast cancer cells,the cells became more sensitive to Herceptin.BT474 cell was treated with HRG or IGF2.The expressions of ErbB3 and IGF1R which combined with ErbB2 were increased.Conclusions The formation of heterodimers ErbB2/ErbB3 and ErbB2/IGF1R might enhance the resistance of Herceptin in ErbB2-overexpression human breast cancers.

Objective To explore the value of CT diagnosis of high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Methods The CT findings in 16 patients unfit to high altitude were analyzed. Results The findings on CT were as follows: (1) The early stage of HAPE showed ground glass opacity, most of which located at the superior segment and posterior basis segment of inferior lobes, with the right lung to occur earlier than that of the left lung. (2)The advanced stage showed shaggy opacity. (3) The late stage lesions developed to posterior and apical segment of the superior lobes, air bronchus sign could be seen on involved segments. (4)Right lung was more serious than left lung. Conclusion CT was an ideal method to find HAPE. The accuracy of CT diagnosis in HAPE was 100%.

AIM: To construct an eukaryotic expressive vector of cAMP response element binding protein (?CREB ) and observe the regulation effects of ?CREB transfection on TNF? transcription in cardiomyocytes. METHODS: ?CREB gene was obtained after PCR amplification from human heart cDNA library with CREB specific primers. After digestion and ligation, the complete cDNA was inserted into pAdTrack, a shuttle plasmid. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were dissociated and cultured. The myocytes were transfected with the vector by liposome-lipofectamine. The expression of transfected ?CREB was confirmed and evaluated with green fluorescent protein (GFP), competitive RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry. Concentrations of TNF? in cultured supernatants of cardiomyocytes were measured with radioimmunoassay from control, forskolin (10 ?mol/L), transfected, and transfected with adding forskolin (10 ?mol/L) groups. RESULTS: The expression levels of ?CREB in transfected group (mRNA ratio to ?-actin, 1.00?0.05; positive protein 28.88%?9.05%) was significantly higher than that in control group (mRNA 0.76?0.04, P

Objective To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of fecal calprotectin(FC) on assessing endoscopic disease activity in colonic or ileo-colonic Crohn disease (CD) and CD-related surgery patients .Methods Totally 56 colonic or ileo-colonic CD pa-tients ,25 CD-related surgery patients and 25 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients with previously confirmed diagnosis of CD and IBS were enrolled into this study .Fecal samples were collected from 1 to 3 day before bowel preparation and FC was measured by ELISA .Endoscopic activity was determined for colonic or ileo-colonic CD with Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn′s Disease (SES-CD) and CD-related surgery patients with the Rutgeerts′ score .Results Among colonic or ileo-colonic CD patients ,the levels of FC in endoscopic active patients had significantly higher than that of endoscopic remission patients and IBS patients(P < 0 .01) ,there was significant correlation between levels of FC and the SES-CD (r= 0 .802 ,P< 0 .01) .FC threshold of 250 μg/g was tested to in-dicated active endoscopic disease with 97 .1% sensitivity and 71 .4% specificity .Among CD-related surgery patients ,FC level in IBS patients were significantly lower than that of endoscopic remission patients and endoscopic active patients ,but the FC in endoscopic remission patients and endoscopic active patients had no statistic difference(P> 0 .05) ,FC cutoff level of 250 μg /g gave a sensitivity and specificity of 50 .0% ,66 .7% ,respectively .Conclusion FC is a surrogate marker for the evaluation of colonic or ileo-colonic CD endoscopic disease activity .The FC ,however ,can not distinct remission period and active period after CD surgery .