OBJECTIVEMuscle contraction may prompt glucose uptake through non-insulin-dependent ways, and it may be due to the enhanced activation of key proteins known to regulate glucose metabolism, like p38 and Akt. Our experiment focused on the impact of different contraction modes on the phosphorylation of the molecules, thus to explore effective ways to lower blood glucose.

METHODSIsolated muscle strips perfusion technique and Western blot analysis were employed to investigate the influence of different modes of contraction on the activation of the molecules.

RESULTSMuscle contraction led to an increase in p38 phosphorylation, with the greatest effect observed after 5 minutes of 10% DC (duty cycle) contraction and 5 minutes of 1% DC contraction. However, phosphorylation of Akt were not altered by the two contraction modes.

CONCLUSIONThe level of phosphorylation of p38 was higher at the optimal contraction modes, but these modes could not increase the level of phosphorlation of Akt.

Animals ; Glucose ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes in body fat distribution after gastric bypass in gastric cancer patients with metabolic syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to February 2010, 26 patients with gastric cancer and concurrent metabolic syndrome were prospectively enrolled and underwent gastric bypass surgery at the Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command. Body mass index(BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, insulin and insulin resistance index were measured before operation and at postoperative 1, 4, 12, 24, 48 weeks.

RESULTSAfter gastric bypass surgery, metabolic syndrome was improved including obesity, hypertension, disturbance of lipid and hyperglycemia. After 48 weeks postoperatively HOMA-IR decreased from 5.7 ± 1.5 to 3.4 ± 1.0 (P<0.05). BMI decreased from (27.1 ± 3.8) kg/m(2) to (22.6 ± 1.4) kg/m(2) (P<0.05). Indices for central obesity: waist circumference decreased from (95.3 ± 2.5) cm to (75.3 ± 1.1) cm, and visceral fat area decreased from(101.7 ± 13.8) cm(2) to (78.7 ± 11.2) cm(2) (P<0.05). There were no decline in peripheral obesity indices including hip circumference and subcutaneous fat area(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution of body fat after gastric bypass changes from central obesity to peripheral obesity. Improvement of insulin resistance after gastric bypass surgery is associated with the decrease in central obesity indices.

Adult ; Body Fat Distribution ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; metabolism ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; pathology ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyse the outcome of newly diagnosed adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with HAA (homoharringtonine, cytarabine and aclarubicin) regimen and explore the efficacy and safety of this regimen.

METHODSEighty patients were treated with HAA regimen. The complete remission (CR) rate was observed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate relapse free survival (RFS) rate and the differences were compared with 2-sided log-rank test.

RESULTSOf the 80 patients, 65 (81%) attained CR and the CR rate after the first course of induction was 75%. For the CR patients, the median follow-up was 26 (2 -69) months, and the estimated 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 51% and the estimated 3-year RFS was 53%. For the AML-M5 and AML-M /M2 patients the CR rate was 74% and 87% and 3 year RFS of CR patients was 75% and 37%, respectively. The CR rate of 100%, 83% and 20% was achieved in patients with favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetics, respectively. The 3 year OS for favorable and intermediate group was 76% and 50% respectively. The median survival time of unfavorable group was only 6 months.

CONCLUSIONHAA regimen is a safe, efficacious, and well-tolerable induction therapy for newly diagnosed AML.

Aclarubicin ; administration & dosage ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Harringtonines ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

To improve the after-sales service, a survey aimed at the after-serveis of 3 kinds of medical equipment is applied among 68 hospitals in Shanghai Area in 2008.The Stat. and analysis results are showed in the paper, which will certainly channel off suppliers to set up a harmonious market together.
China ; Consumer Behavior ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Collection ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients with gastric cancer received laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy, radical total gastrectomy were performed in 7 cases, proximal gastrectomy in 27 cases, proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy in 3 cases and distal gastrectomy in 68 cases.

RESULTSOne hundred and five cases had laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy successfully. The mean operation time was 381 +/- 91 (300 - 435) min for total gastrectomy, 279 +/- 73 (212 - 390) min for proximal gastrectomy, 312 +/- 64 (265 - 405) min for proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy, 281 +/- 69 (230 - 360) min for distal gastrectomy, respectively. The mean blood loss was 260 +/- 202 (20 - 900) ml in total gastrectomy, 200 +/- 153 (20 - 400) ml in proximal gastrectomy, 333 +/- 116 (200 - 400) ml in proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy, 140 +/- 82 (20 - 450) ml in distal gastrectomy, respectively. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 34.2 +/- 20.5 (8 - 83). The mean time for gastrointestinal function recovery was 3.5 +/- 1.4 (2 - 5) days, 3.0 +/- 1.6 (2 - 6) days for patients' taking normal activity, 4.9 +/- 1.7 (3 - 7) days for taking liquid food. The short-term efficiency was obvious.

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy is a feasible and safe surgical procedure combined with minimal trauma and fast recovery.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Splenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo introduce a compound external ear framework characterized by few complications, simplicity and very low rate of implant exposure or absorption.

METHODSA compound auricular framework, being composed of the ninth autogenous costal cartilage as ear rim and Medpor ear base, was used in one-stage total ear reconstruction. All patients were followed up postoperatively.

RESULTSNine cases have been performed clinically using this compound framework and all of them achieved satisfactory efficacies. The reforged ears looked natural and achieved superior cosmesis, and none of them experienced ear rim fracture or implant exposure or distortion.

CONCLUSIONThis compound auricular framework has advantages of practicability, simplicity and minimal complications. It may be an ideal framework for the reconstruction of total external ear at present.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cartilage ; transplantation ; Child ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polyethylenes ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sagittal morphological features of the spine and pelvis between L₅S₁ dysplastic spondylolisthesis and isthmus spondylolisthesis in adolescent. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 24 cases of adolescent L₅S₁ spondylolisthesis with complete imaging data from May 2002 to December 2016. Those included 8 males and 16 females, aged from 10 to 18 years old with an average of (13.4±2.0) years. Among them, 9 cases were diagnosed as dysplastic spondylolisthesis (dysplasia group) and 15 cases isthmic spondylolisthesis (ischemic group). Radiographic parameters including slippage distance, slippage degree, slippage angle, sagittal vertical axis(SVA), thoracic kyphosis(TK), lumbar lordosis(LL), L₅ incidence(L₅I), pelvic incidence(PI), pelvic tilt(PT), sacral slope(SS), sagittal pelvic thickness(SPT), lumbosacral angle (LSA), sacral table angle (STA) were measured on the spinal lateral X-ray of the standing position. Independent-samples t-test was used in the comparison of each variable between two groups. <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in slippage distance, slippage rate, slippage angle between two groups. In dysplasia group, SVA, L₅I, PT, SPT were (37.0±48.4) mm, (57.0±14.8)°, (42.3±15.4)°, (56.1±21.2) mm, respectively, and (-11.0±22.2) mm, (31.7±19.3) °, ( 15.5±10.2)°, (31.4±19.1) mm in ischemic group; and the differences between the two groups were significant(<0.05). In ischemic group, SS, LSA, STA were (44.1±12.6)°, (103.9±21.7)°, (92.7±9.9)°, respectively, and (25.9±20.2) °, (75.4±16.4) °, (75.4±9.7) ° in dysplasia group; and the differences between the two groups were significant(<0.05). There was no significant difference in TK, LL between two groups(>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Significant different from isthmic spondylolisthesis, adolescents with dysplastic spondylolisthesis present a different spino-pelvic sagittal alignment, characterized with trunk forward leaning and pelvic retroversion. In case of sagittal imbalance, early surgical intervention is required to restore a balanced spino-pelvic alignment.
Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Pelvis ; Postural Balance ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery

Purpose: This study investigated the value of synchronous tele-ultrasonography (TUS) for naive operators in thyroid ultrasonography (US) examinations. Methods: Ninety-seven patients were included in this prospective, parallel-controlled trial. Thyroid scanning and diagnosis were completed by resident A independently, resident B with guidance from a US expert through synchronous TUS, and an on-site US expert. The on-site expert’s findings constituted the reference standard. Two other off-site US experts analyzed all data in a blind manner. Inter-operator consistency between the two residents and the on-site US expert for thyroid size measurements, nodule measurements, nodule features, American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) categories, and image quality was compared. Two questionnaires were completed to evaluate the clinical benefit. Results: Resident B detected more nodules consistent with the on-site expert than resident A did (89.4% vs. 56.5%, P<0.001). Resident B achieved excellent consistency with the on-site expert in terms of ACR TI-RADS categories, nodule composition, shape, echogenic foci, and vascularity (all intra-class correlation coefficients [ICCs] >0.75), while resident A achieved lower consistency in ACR TI-RADS categories, composition, echogenicity, margin, echogenic foci, and vascularity (all ICCs 0.40-0.75). Residents A and B had excellent consistency in target nodule measurements (all ICCs >0.75). Resident B achieved better performance than resident A for gray values, time gain compensation, depth, color Doppler adjustment, and the visibility of key information (all P<0.05). Furthermore, 61.9% (60/97) of patients accepted synchronous TUS, and 59.8% (58/97) patients were willing to pay for it. Conclusion Synchronous TUS can help inexperienced residents achieve comparable thyroid diagnostic capability to a US expert.

Objective:To explore the anti-tumor molecular mechanism of berberine (BBR)by observing and analyzing its effect on proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy-related gene expression for HCCLM3 cells under high glucose condition. Method:HCCLM3 cells were added into low, medium or high-concentration groups of glucose. It was found in cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)that the high concentration of glucose had the most obvious effect on HCCLM3 cells proliferation. Based on the above experimental result, HCCLM3 cells treated with high concentration of glucose was selected and then different concentrations of berberine (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 μmol·L^-1) was added for in vitro intervention for 24 h. Then the effect of each drug group on the proliferation of HCCLM3 cells were studied. At the same time, the control group of metformin was arranged. After that, the changes of apoptosis rate were observed by flow cytometry, and the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)and autophagy genes Atg5, Beclin1 were detced by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Result:With the increase of glucose concentration, HCCLM3 cell had the strongest migration and proliferation ability in high glucose group (P<0.05). The inhibitory effect of BBR on the proliferation of HCCLM3 in high glucose culture was correlated with the concentration of BBR(5,10,20,30,40,50 μmol·L^-1), and the inhibition rate was 33.86%, 40.75% (P<0.05), 49.22%, 55.1%, 60.12%, and 61.42% respectively from low concentration to high concentration (P<0.01). The apoptosis rate was significantly increased with the increase of BBR concentration (P<0.01). The expression levels of Bcl-2, Atg5 and Beclin1 gene were significantly up-regulated in all intervening groups as compared with those in single high glucose group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:BBR could inhibit the proliferation of HCCLM3 cells in high glucose environment. Its inhibition effect for HCCLM3 cells might be achieved by inducing apoptosis of the cells, regulating Bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression levels of autophagy gene Beclin1 and Atg5.Thus BBR plays an anti-tumor role through promoting autophagy in high glucose environment.