Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; anatomy & histology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the feasibility and reliability of laparoscopic assisted thyroidectomy. Methods A transversal 2.0 cm incision was made at the site 1.0 cm above the sternal notch. By using a harmonic scalpel under a 5 mm laparoscope, the thyroid glands and involving blood vessels were dealt with by either “coagulation-dissection-suction” technique or “dissection-coagulation-disconnection” technique to complete thyroid enucleation or lobectomy. Results There were 20 cases of adenoma (nodule) excision and 6 cases of unilateral lobectomy. The operation time was 80~130 min (mean, 100 min). The intraoperative blood loss was 10~40 ml (mean, 20 ml). No surgical complications occurred. Follow-up checkups in 23 cases for 1~)20 months (mean, 9 months) found a satisfactory cosmetic result and no recurrence. Conclusions Thyroidectomy under laparoscope is safe and reliable. This procedure offers a shorter incision, less invasion and better cosmetic results as compared with conventional thyroidectomy.

Objective To explore the safety and invasion of endoscopic thyroidectomy(ET).Methods A total of 156 cases of benign thyroid diseases were surgically treated from January 2003 to December 2005,including 64 cases of endoscopic thyroidectomy(Endoscopic Group) and 92 cases of traditional thyroidectomy(Traditional Group).The operation time,hemorrhage volume,length of incision,Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) scores for pain severity and cosmetic appearance,analgesic requirements,postoperative hospital stay,hospitalization costs,wound infection rate,and recurrent rate were compared between the two groups,respectively.Results The operation was successfully completed in both of groups.No hemorrhage,hoarseness,or hypocalcemia was encountered.Wound hydrops occurred in 4 cases in the Traditional Group.As compared with the Traditional Group,the Endoscopic Group had less blood loss(15?10 ml vs 20?15 ml;t=-2.330,P=0.021),lower VAS pain scores(2.5?1.0 vs(5.0?)1.6;t=-11.079,P=0.000),higher VAS cosmetic scores(8.0?1.5 vs 2.0?1.2;t=27.696,P=0.000),and less analgesic requirements(10 cases vs 28 cases;?~2=4.493,P=0.034),but longer operation time(80?20 min vs 70?30 min;t=2.330,P=0.021) and higher hospitalization costs(5 352.7?978 yuan vs 4 738.5?672 yuan;t=4.651,P=0.000).Follow-up observations for 2~30 months(mean,13 months) revealed recurrence in 2 cases in the Endoscopic Group and 3 cases in the Traditional Group.Conclusions As compared with traditional operation,endoscopic thyroidectomy has advantages of minimal invasion,early recovery,short hospitalization time,and high safety,being an ideal option for benign thyroid diseases.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To observe the immunologic effect of lactoferrin on repeated respiratory infection(IRRI) in children.Methods Ninety-eight cases of IRRI were divided into two groups randomly.The control group (48 cases)were treated with routine therapy.The treatment group(50 cases) were treated with lactoferrin based on routine therapy for 2-3 months.T cell subgroup,immunoglobulin and complements were determined before and after treatment.Results Total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 86% and 22.9% respectively.The therapeutic efficacy in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group(P

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis ; Thoracoscopy

Objective To explore the protective effect of rosiglitazone on insulin resistance( IR)induced by high glucose in vascular endothelial cells and its possible mechanism. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells( HUVECs) was divided into 3 groups:the normal control group cultivated in DEME medium with 5. 5 mmol·L-1 glucose;the high glucose group( HG)cultivated in DEME medium with 33 mmol · L-1 glucose for 24 h after the IR model was set up;the rosiglitazone group cultivated in DEME medium with 33 mmol·L-1 glucose and 10 μmol·L-1 of rosiglitazone for 24 h after the IR model was set up. The cell viability,nitric oxide(NO),endothelin-1(ET-1),mitochondrial membrane potential,reactive oxygen species ( ROS),p-IKK and IkBa protein levels were detected. Results Compared with the normal control,the cell viability,the level of NO and the mitochondrial membrane potential were decreased,levels of ET-1 and ROS increased,p-IKK expression was up-regulated,and IκBα expression was down-regulated in HG group(all P〈0. 01). Rosiglitazone reversed these changes in a time-dependent manner(P〈0. 05). Conclusion Rosiglitazone has the protective effect on insulin resistance induced by high glucose in vascular endothelial cells via inhibiting ROS/IKK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reversing effect of NF-kappaB inhibitor MG-132 on chemoresistance of gastric cancer cells to vincristine.

METHODSIn vincristine-resistant human gastric cancer cells (SGC7901/VCR) and the parental sensitive clone (SGC7901), NF-kappaB-DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoreses mobility shift assay (EMSA). The inhibition level of kappaB (IkappaB-alpha) expression was measured by cellular-ELISA. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the translocation of p65 and chemosensitivity of the cells was determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSCompared with the parental SGC7901 cells, both the baseline and VCR-induced NF-kappaB-DNA binding activities in various concentrations were all higher in the SGC7901/VCR cells. Pretreatment with MG-132, the NF-kappaB inhibitor, for 30 minutes remarkably reduced the NF-kappaB activation, IkappaB-alpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65. As to the SGC7901/VCR cells and the parental sensitive SGC7901 cells, the IC(50) values for VCR were 40.03 mg/L and 0.26 mg/L, respectively. MG-132 (2.5 micromol/L) significantly enhanced the toxicity of VCR in SGC7901/VCR cells and decreased the resistance index from 154.0 to 16.5. However, MG-132 did not show an obvious effect on the VCR sensitivity in sensitive SGC7901 cells.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that inhibition of NF-kappaB activation in gastric cancer cells may reverse the drug resistance to VCR in the cancer cells and increase the efficiency of chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leupeptins ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the roles of magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS) in the diagnosis of meningiomas. Methods 98 patients with meningiomas underwent conventional pre-contrast MR and contrast MR. Among them, 28 cases had two dimensional single voxel or multi voxel 1 H-MRS simultaneously both in the lesion's region and the contralateral side. Results On precontrast MR images of 98 cases, T1 WI showed 58.1% (61/105) isointensities, 31.4% (33/105) faintly low intensities and 10. 5% (11/105) mixed intensities; T2WI showed 40. 0% (42/105) isointensities, 41.0%(43/105) hyperintensities, 10.5% (11/105) faintly low intensities and 8.5% (9/105) mixed intensities. After administration of Gd-DTPA, the solid part of the tumors exhibited various enhancement in all the 98 cases.28 cases of MRS exhibited specific different spectral peaks, including increased of choline-containing compounds(Cho), absent or decreased of acetylaspartate(NAA), and the unchanged of creatine(Cr). The value of NAA, Cr, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho in the tumor center of meningioma were 0. 09 ± 0.06,0.31 ± 0. 22, 0.46 ± 0. 16, 0.33 ± 0. 42, 1.50 ± 0. 68, 0. 15 ± 0.08, compared with the contralateral normal region, Cr has no significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05), NAA, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho had significantly differences(P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Conventional pre-contrast MR and contrast MR is the most important dignostic means for meningiomas, 1H-MRS combined with MRI can improve the diagnostic accuracy of meningiomas.

Objective To prepare a thrombus-targeted ultrasonic contrast agent and to investigate its targeted ability to fresh blood clots. Methods We first synthesized FITC-KGDS-Palm compound, and then prepared thrombus-targeted microbubbles using "ultrasound & high speed shearing method".Fluorescence labeling thrombus-specific peptides and KGDS,directed at the activated glycoprotein(GP)Ⅱb/Ⅲa receptor of platelets were attached to the surface of lipid microbubbles. The concentration and size of TUCA were measured by Malvern Zeta Sizer Nano-ZS590 and Coulter counter.Immunofluorescence was applied to confirm the conjugation.The conjunct ratio was assessed by flow cytometer (FCM).Results The KGDS-TUCA was straw yellow turbid liquor,and the concentration was 1.5×10~9/mL,and the average size was 1.5 μm. The targeted microbubbles conjugated with the thrombus-specific peptides showed bright green rings by fluorescence microscope.FCM demonstrated that the wavelength of shell of KGDS-TUCA changed greatly,and the conjunct ratio was 90.04%.In vitro study showed KGDS-TUCA remained stable for 48 h at 4 ℃ and target-attached to blood clots and showed good stability.Conclusion The ultrasound & high speed shearing method to prepare TUCA is easy and in favor of purification.KGDS-TUCA has high specific biological activity.The conjunct ratio and stability of KGDS-TUCA are excellent.