AIM:This study was to investigate the expression and significance of Bmi-1 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC),and to explore the effect of Bmi-1 on Ki67 expression in human CRC.METHODS:The samples from sixty CRC,thirty adenomas and twenty normal colorectal mucosal tissues were used in this study. The expression of Bmi-1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological features and survival rate of patients were also analyzed.RESULTS:The overexpression of Bmi-1 was respectively 25.0%,6.7%and 0% in CRC and adenomas as well as normal colorectal mucosal tissues. The results showed that the expression of Bim-1 was significantly higher in CRC,compared with that in adenomas and normal colorectal mucosal tissues (P0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overexpression of Bmi-1 reduced significantly survival of CRC patients (P

Objective To investigate the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B(CHB) by study the expression of TLR4 in liver tissues in patients with CHB, and the relationship among TLR4 and serum HBV DNA level, clinical severity degrees and histo-logical grades and stages. Methods Expression of TLR4 in liver tissues was semi-quantitatively determined by immunohistochemistry and e-valuated by a scoring system in 75 patients with CHB and 10 health controls. Results The positive staining of TLR4 mainly located in the cytoplasm and some on cell membrane of bepatocytes. Expression of TLR4 in the liver tissues of patients with CHB was stronger than that of health controls. The scores of TLR4 expression in patients with mild, moderate and severe CHB were 1.0±0.5,2.3±0.5 and 2.9±0.4. The scores increased gradually and significantly along with the increase of clinical severity degrees( F = 104.8, P<0.01). The scores of TLR4 expression in the liver tissues of patients with CHB were positively correlated with the clinical severity degrees (r=0.838, P<0.01) and histological grades (r=0.579, P<0.05), but not correlated with Lg (serum HBV DNA) or histological stages. Conclusion TLR4 was up-regulated in the hepatocytes of patients with CHB. There may be a role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of CHB.

Objective To study the change of TLR4 on peripheral blood monoeytes (PBMCs) and its role in the pathogenesis of chronic severe hepatitis B. Methods The expression of TLR4 on 10000 CDI4 + PBMCs was determined by flow eytometer in 30 healthy control,31 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 30 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. The level of serum tumor necrosis factor α(TNF- α) was determined by ELISA. Results The values of TLR4 on PBMCs and serum TNF-αof the groups of healthy control, patients with chronic hepatitis B and patients with chronic severe hepatitis B were 2.3±1.1,3.7±2.3, (6.9±4.1 ) mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and (53.8±38.1 ), ( 164.3±89.9) and (359.8±140.0) ng/L. The TLR4 value in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B was signifi- cant higher than those in healthy control and the patients with chronic hepatitis B ( P <0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the patients with chronic hepatitis B and healthy control ( P > O. 05 ). TNF-α increased gradually and significantly from the healthy control to the patients with chronic hepatitis B and patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. There was a significant positive correlation be- tween the value of TLR4 and the value of serum TNF-αin the patients with chronic severe hepatitis B( r=0.666, P <0.01). Conclusion There may be a role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of chronic severe hepatitis B.

Objective To study the effect of matrine on the expression of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in colorectal cancer cell line (SW480 cell). Methods MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of matrine on SW480 cells. The protein and mRNA levels of APRIL in SW480 cells were determined by immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RFQ-PCR). SW480 cells were treated with 0.5,1.0,2.0 mg/ml of matrine for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. FU and blank were served as drug control and blank control groups, respectively. Results Matrine had obviously inhibitory effect on proliferation of SW480 cells in a time- and dose-dependant manner. The expression of APRIL was strong in SW480 cells. When treated with 50,100,200 ug/ml of FU, the APRIL mRNA levels in SW480 cells raised gradually and reached the highest levels at 72 h after treatment, which were significantly higher than those in blank control group (all P value<0.001). When treated with 0. 5,1.0, 2.0 mg/ml of matrine, the APRIL mRNA levels in SW480 cells increased at 24 h after treatment, which were significantly higher than those in blank control group (all P value<0. 001), and then decreased gradually and almost equal to level of blank control group at 72 h. Conclusion In treatment with FU, the survival cells.may have stronger ability of proliferation due to higher expression of APRIL in SW480 cells. Anti-APRIL therapy might be an important assistant treatment to counter the impact of APRIL. Matrine will not cause persistent increase of APRIL mRNA levels in SW480 cells, so it might be a helpful drug in anti-tumor theraphy.

Objective To investigate the value of emergent endoscopy in the acute nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods Retrospective analysis was done in patients with melena or haematemesis in the ward from Jan 1st 2003 to Dec 31st 2007.For emergent group,the patients took endoscopy in 48 h after bleeding.For selective group,the patients took endoscopy after 48 h.Medical outcomes and resource utilization were compared between two groups.Results The average age of 332 patients(246 males and 86 females)was(45.9?18.8)years old.In the median and low risk patients,the length and the cost of hospitalization,blood transfution and the use of PPI were lower in the emergent group than in the selective group.In the high risk patients,the above variables had no statistical difference.Conclusion For the patients whose Rockall Score were less than 5,emergent endoscopy could decrease the length and the costs of hospitalization,the transfusion volumes and the use of PPI.However,for the patients whose Rockall Score were more than 5,the advantage of emergent endoscopy need further discussion.

AIM: To elucidate the pattern of 5-fluorocytosine(5-FC) induced apoptosis and its role in gene therapy for human pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The human pancreatic cancer SW1990 cells(CEA-producing) were infected with recombinant adenoviruses(Adex1CEA-prCD or Adex1CEA-prZ).Cytosine deaminase(CD) expression was examind by western blot. Apoptosis induced by 5-FC in human pancreatic cancer SW1990 cells genetically modified to express cytosine deaminase was investigated by applying electron microscopy, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis techniques. RESULTS: The SW1990 cells infected with Adex1 CEA-prCD were treated with 5-FC at 100 ?mol?L -1 for 48 h, cell apoptosis occurred. Typical apoptosis morphological feature appeared and DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis. Apoptosis peak was also showed by flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells accounted for 34.6% of the cell population. Cells in G 1, S and G 2/M phase of cell cycle were 64%, 11% and 7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis induced by 5-FC may be a primary mechanism in CD gene therapy for pancreatic cancer.