Objective To observe the effect of atorvastatin on intraabdominal fat and microalbuminuria (MAU) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods Forty-four MS patients were divided into the atorvastatin group and the control group. Blood pressure and blood glucose were controlled in both groups, in addition, atorvastatin was administered to the patients in the atorvastatin group. Blood pressure, blood glucose, body weight, abdominal wall fat, intraabdominal fat and MAU were compared before and after 12 weeks’ treatment. Results Obvious decrease of the intraabdominal fat and MAU was found in the atorvastatin group compared with those before the treatment Intraabdominal fat: non-ACE1/ARB (41.76?3.61) mm vs (33.23?2.47) mm, P

Objective To investigate the synergistic efficacy of different antibiotic combinations against KPC-2 carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in vitro and search for effective antibiotic combination.Methods During 2008 - 2009,a total of 24 strains of K.pneumoniae producing KPC-2 carbapenemase were collected from 8 hospitals in the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University,Ningbo LiHuiLi Hospital,Zhejiang People's Hospital,Hangzhou Third Hospital,the Second Hospital of Shaoxing,Hangzhou First Hospital,Fudan University Huashan Hospital,General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region.MLST technique was used for epidemiological analysis.The MIC of antibiotics,such as amikacin,minocycline,imipenem,amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid,ceftazidime,meropenem,gentamicin,cefoxitin,cefepime,rifampicin,polymyxinB,ciprofloxacin were determined by an agar dilution method,the MIC of tigecycline and piperacillin/tazobactain were determined by Etest.The antibacterial activities of cefepime in combination with amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid,amikacin,or ciprofloxacin,amikacin with ciprofloxacin,imipenem with amikacin,ciprofloxacin,polymyxinB,or minocycline,polymyxin B with rifampicin,ceftazidime with amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid were assessed by chequerboard synergy agar dilution tests against all the isolates.Results MLST showed 5 STs among 24 strains of KPC-2 carbapenemase producing K.pneumoniae,and the most prevalent clone was ST11 (15 strains).All isolates were susceptible to polymyxin B and tigecycline,and the resistance rate of minocycline was 4.2％.The synergetic effects were observed in cefepime-amoxicillin/clavulanic acid,imipenem-amikacin,ceftazidime-amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combinations as 19 isolates,13 isolates,and 13 isolates,respectively.Conclusions KPC-2 carbapenemase producing K.pneumoniae is sensitive to polymyxin B,tigecycline and minocycline.The synergetic effect is predominant in cefepime-amoxicillin/clavulanic acid,imipenem-amikacin ceftazidime-amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combinations in vitro,their clinical efficacy are worthy of further observation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of re operation for postoperative recurrent gastric carcinoma. Methods From 1986 to 2001, fifty one patients with postoperative local recurrence of gastric carcinoma were admitted into our hospital. The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of 51 cases, there were 31 cases with recurrence within the stump stomach and 20 with local and metastatic recurrence. Twenty seven cases were treated by radical resection, 3 cases by palliative residual stomach resection, 15 cases by gastrojejunostomy or gastroenterostomy, 6 cases by simple exploration. Pathological examination of 30 cases revealed perianastomosis recurrence in 10 cases, stump stomach carcinoma in 20 cases. The 1,3,5 year survival rate of 27 cases after radical resection was 88%, 58%, 19% respectively. The survival time of palliative and comprehensive treatment group was 6 to 24 months and mean survival time was 16 months, while all patients undergoing simple exploration and abdominal cavity chemotherapy died after 2 to 7 months. Conclusion Most postoperative recurrent gastric carcinoma are within the residual stomach and hence could be treated by reoperative resection.

ObjectiveTo study the proper timing for radical hepatectomy after tumour-down-staging with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable primary liver cancer.Method This is a retrospective study of 18 patients with unresectable primary liver cancer who received radical liver resection after tumour-downstaging with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) from January 2005 to August 2010 at Zhejiang Province People's Hospital Hepatobiliary Surgery Department.The patients received TACE 1 to 3 times (once n=4,twice n=12,and thrice n=2).After tumour-downstaging,radical liver resection was carried out (right hepatectomy,n =10 ; resection of tumour in right liver + resection of right liver metastases,n=2; resection of tumnour in right liver +radiofrequency ablation of right liver metastasis,n=1; right hepatectomy + removal of portal vein tumour thrombus,n=1 ; left hepatectomy + radiofrequency ablation of right liver metastases,n=2 ;Mesohepatectomy,n=1; and left hepatectomy + excision of liver metastasis,n=1).ResultsAfter TACE,the diameter of the primary tumour reduced by over 30％ in 6 patients (6/18,33.3％);10％～30％ in 8 patients (8/18,44.4％),and 10％ in 4 patients (4/18,22.2％).Before TACE,the tumours were not encapsulated in 6 patients (33.3％).After TACE,only 1 patient (5.6％) had the tumour remained unencapsulated.After TACE in 6 patients,the primary tumour shrunk to be within a hemiliver,and ultrasound and CT showed the tumours to have defined borders and they were away from the porta hepatis and major blood vessels.In another 6 patients,there were metastases to the contralateral hemilivers but these tumours had all shrunk in size.Selective vascular inflow and outflow occlusion technique was routinely used for liver resection.ConclusionFor primary liver cancers which are not resectable,TACE should be used first.When the tumours shrink in size,radical resectional surgery should be performed as soon as possible.The surgical technique should follow the following principles:-preserve as much normal liver parenchyma as possible,use selective vascular inflow and outflow occlusion technique to avoid ischaemia/reperfusion injury to the remnant liver,and to reduce haemorrhage.The surgery should be carried out by experienced surgeon.

Objective To compare the effect of transplant islets between the subcutaneous inguinal white adipose tissues and renal capsule in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus in mouse models. Methods The mice with type 1 diabetes mellitus undergoing islet transplantation were divided into the white adipose group (n=10) and renal capsule group (n=10). The islets were isolated, purified and transplanted to the subcutaneous white adipose tissues of inguinal region and renal capsule. The random blood glucose level and glucose tolerance function of the recipient mice in two groups were continuously monitored after operation. Islet grafts of the surviving recipient mice were harvested at postoperative 100 d for histopathological examination. Results In the white adipose group, the blood glucose levels of 6 recipient mice were restored to normal at 1 month after transplantation, whereas the blood glucose levels of the other 4 recipient mice were high, which died before the end of monitoring. In the renal capsule group, the blood glucose levels of 10 recipient mice returned to normal within 10 d after transplantation. Islet grafts of the recipient mice in two groups could lower the blood glucose levels, whereas the islet grafts in the white adipose group required a longer time to exert the effect. The glucose tolerance function of the mice in the renal capsule group was significantly better than that of those in white adipose group (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination demonstrated that the insulin of the islet grafts was normally expressed in two groups. Conclusions The islets transplanted into the subcutaneous white adipose tissues of inguinal region can play an effective role in regulating the changes of blood glucose level. Although the blood glucose-lowering function is slightly weaker than that of the islets graft in the renal capsule, it has multiple advantages resembling the ideal islet transplantation sites, which is a promising replacement site for islet transplantation.

To establish a platform to monitor the immune rejection after abdominal aortic patch suture in a xenotransplantation model.Methods The carotid was excised from wild-type Bama pigs,cut into 2.5 cmx 1.0 cm pieces in shuttle shape and subsequently sutured to the abdominal aorta of cynomolgus monkeys.No immunosuppressive agent was administered.General conditions of the recipient monkeys were observed.The morphological changes of the graft artery were assessed by pathological examination at postoperative 1 year.Before and 7,14,28 and 49 d after surgery,the blood samples were collected from the recipient monkeys.The serum levels of IgM and IgG antibodies were quantitatively measured by the red blood cell and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from Bama pigs.The quantity of lymphocytes in the recipient monkeys was detected by routine blood test and flow cytometry.Results All 3 monkeys undergoing transplantation survived well.At postoperative 1 year,the lateral tissues of the vascular wall at the artery graft were seen in dark red color.Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining revealed a large quantity of red blood cell and platelet deposition,accompanied with lymphocyte infiltration.Using porcine red blood cell and PBMC as target cells,the serum levels of anti-pig IgM and IgG antibodies peaked at postoperative 28 d,and slightly declined at postoperative 49 d.The quantity of lymphocytes and T cell subset also peaked at postoperative 28 d and began to decrease at postoperative 49 d.Conclusions Artery patch suture is a simple and reliable xenotransplantation model.The recipients can maintain normal physiological state without the use of immunosuppressive agents.The grafts can effectively activate the immune system of the recipients,induce the production of anti-pig antibodies and provoke cellular immune rejection.Therefore,this model can be utilized to monitor the immune rejection throughout the xenotransplantation process.

A 58-year-old male patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma developed a rash and skin tightness on the face, limbs, and trunk together with joint stiffness and dysfunction after 6 months of treatment with the programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor camrelizumab. Laboratory tests revealed progressive eosinophilia over 6 months, with the eosinophil count increasing from 0.07×10 9/L to 3.3×10 9/L. Magnetic resonance imaging showed thickened skin of both forearms, while T 2-weighted imaging showed markedly increased signal intensity within the myofascia. Skin biopsy of the right forearm showed thickened and fibrosed fascia and infiltration of inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils. The patient was diagnosed with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced eosinophilic fasciitis (EF). After beginning treatment with methylprednisolone (40 mg daily), methotrexate (10 mg/week), and baricitinib (4 mg daily), his symptoms of skin tightness and joint dysfunction significantly improved within 1 month, and his peripheral blood eosinophil count decreased to 0.17×10 9/L. ICI-induced EF is a rare immune-related adverse reaction. To date, only 20 cases have been reported in published foreign literature, and their clinical characteristics are summarized here. The time from ICI treatment to EF was 12 (8,15) months, and the main clinical manifestations included skin involvement ( n=19), joint dysfunction ( n=11), myalgia/muscle weakness ( n=9), and peripheral eosinophilia ( n=16). After treatment, the clinical symptoms of EF improved in 17 patients, and eosinophil counts returned to normal after 3 (1,8) months. EF is a dysfunctional adverse response to ICI therapy. Tumor patients undergoing immunotherapy should be monitored for symptoms of EF. Early treatment is essential for preventing complications.

[Objective]To explore the occurrence of gasdermin D(GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis and its effect on cell proliferation,migration and tubular formation abilities of synovial vascular endothelial cells(VEC)in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).[Methods]Synovium tissues from knee joints of 22 RA patients and 18 orthopaedic arthropathies(Orth.A)patients were collected.The level of activated GSDMD-NT segment in synovium was detected by Western blot.The clinical characteristics of RA patients were compared between high and low synovial GSDMD-NT groups.The cell localization of GSDMD in RA synovium was detected by immunofluorescence staining.RA synovial fluid was added to the culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)in vitro,and the level of apoptosis and expression of pyroptosis pathway proteins were detected.The effects of GSDMD on apoptosis,proliferation,migration and tubule formation of HUVEC cells were analyzed.[Results]GSDMD expression in RA synovium was significantly higher than that in Orth.A,and more severe joint destruction and higher microvascular count score were found in RA patients with high GSDMD-NT expression.Synovial VEC had positive expression of GSDMD.Stimulation with RA synovial fluid could induce GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in HUVEC,increased the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and their abilities of proliferation,migration and tubule formation.Knockdown of GSDMD could reverse the above effects.[Conclusion]GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis of partial synovial VEC aggravates RA joint destruction through VEGF secretion that promotes proliferation,migration and angiogenesis of the remaining VEC,which may be a new target to block neovascularization and inhibit joint destruction in RA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether transplantation of autologous peripheral blood CD34+ stem cells is a viable approach for treating patients with advanced cirrhosis,which is currently hindered by a shortage in liver donors.

METHODSA total of 100 patients with advanced cirrhosis and who had failed to respond to conservative therapy were recruited for transplantation of autologous peripheral blood CD34+ stem cells.The success of transplantation was investigated 6-and 12-months later by measuring markers of liver biosynthesis function (coagulation,albumin level,indocyanine green clearance,Child-Pugh score) and assessing pathological changes (Knodell score) and morphologic changes in the liver tissue.Complications were also recorded during follow-up.

RESULTSThe 1-year cumulative survival rate was 100%. Fifty-two patients with massive ascites showed gradual reduction and disappearance of the ascites.Four patients experienced upper gastrointestinal bleeding and three patients developed with hepatic encephalopathy (I-II degree) at 3 months post-transplantation.All patients showed significantly improved liver biosynthesis function,liver elasticity and Knodell score after transplantation (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAutologous peripheral blood CD34+ stem cell transplantation is a safe and effective treatment for advanced cirrhosis,and has high cost-benefit since it improves liver function,liver histology,and quality of life.