OBJECTIVETo explore different frequency electroacupuncture in acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia on analgesic effect and immune function in the pulmonary resection patients in order to recommend the best electroacupuncture frequency in acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-three patients scheduled for pneumonectomy were randomly divided into group A (n = 31), B (n = 34), C (n = 32), D (n = 34) and E (n = 32). Houxi (SI 3), Zhigou (TE 6), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) were selected in the five groups. Group A was treated with sham acupuncture by pasting needles without needle bodies at acupoints and electroacupuncture at the needle handle, and group B with 2 Hz electroacupuncture, and group C with 2 Hz/ 100 Hz electroacupuncture, and group D with 100 Hz electroacupuncture, and group E with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation, and general anesthesia was produced in all the groups followed by 30 min electrical stimulation and the stimulation was lasted till the end of operation. The dosages of the anesthetics and the changes of surface antigen of leukomonocyte (CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+) and natural killer (NK) cell were observed at 1 day before surgery, intraoperative and 1 day after surgery.

RESULTSIn comparison with group A, the dosages of Propofol in group B and D were decreased, Fentanyl in group B, D and E were decreased. CD3+ and CD4+ in 5 groups increased at first and then decreased over time (all P < 0.01), and group E and C could inhibit the decrease of CD3+ and CD4+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). CD8+ in 5 groups has no change in different times (all P > 0.05), and group E and D could inhibit the decrease of CD8+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). CD4+/CD8+ in 5 groups has no change in different times (all P > 0.05), and group E and C could inhibit the decrease of CD4+/CD8+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). NK cells of 5 groups were increased gradually in different times (all P < 0.01), with the similar regulation of NK cells (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with 2 Hz and 100 Hz electroacupuncture together with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation have the best analgesic effect, and 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation and 2 Hz/100 Hz electroacupuncture have the best regulation of immune function. Acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation is recommended for that it can not only decrease the dosages of the anesthetics, but also significantly improve the immunosuppression in patients undergoing pneumonectomy.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lung Diseases ; immunology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the nutritional status between pancreaticojejunostomy(PJ) and pancreaticogastrostomy(PG) following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODSA retrospective clinical analysis was performed on 37 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) for duodenal carcinoma and pancreatic non-epithelial tumor with PG(n=19) and PJ(n=18) in the First Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2006 to December 2010. All the patients had a needle catheter jejunostomy inserted at the conclusion of laparotomy. Postoperative early enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition was performed for all the patients. Nutritional status of two groups was compared in body mass index (BMI), serum nutritional parameters such as albumin, transferrin and prealbumin before surgery and on 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between PG and PJ groups in operative time, blood loss, pancreatic fistula, perioperative death, or postoperative length of hospital stay. One month after surgery, there were no significant differences in BMI [(17.1±7.0) vs. (19.0±4.8) kg/m(2), P>0.05], albumin [(30.1±0.5) vs. (32.1±1.3) g/L, P>0.05], transferrin [(1.89±0.57) vs. (2.01±0.61) g/L, P>0.05] and prealbumin[(0.18±0.05) vs. (0.18±0.09) g/L, P>0.05]. These parameters were decreased at 1 month after surgery, and gradually recovered to baseline or higher than the preoperative levels at 6 months after surgery. However, the differences were still not statistically significant between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe influence of PJ and PG on the postoperative nutritional status are comparable.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Pancreas ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreaticojejunostomy ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of X-ray film and MRI in the posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS).Methods X-ray film and MRI data of 72 cases with posterior ankle pain were analyzed retrospectively.Passive plantar flexion test and diagnostic blocking were used as the diagnostic criteria.72 patients with posterior ankle pain were divided into PAIS group and non PAIS group.X-ray film and MRI findings in the PAIS group and non PAIS group were compared,and features which had differential diagnostic value were selected for calculating and comparing the efficacy of X-ray film and MRI in diagnosing or excluding PAIS.Results There was no significant difference for X-ray film findings such as os trigonum osteosclerosis(χ2 =2.947,P =0.086),os trigonum cystic changes(χ2 = 3.031,P =0.082)and posterior ankle soft tissue swelling(χ2 = 1.610,P =0.205 )between the PAIS group and the non PAIS group.There was significant difference for MRI features such as os trigonum or posterior talus bone marrow edema(χ2 =38.868,P =0.000 ),edema around os trigonum(χ2 =39.919,P =0.000 )and tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus (χ2 =8.854,P =0.003)between the PAIS group and the non PAIS group.There was no significant difference for MRI features such as posterior ankle synovitis(χ2 =2.534,P =0.119)and posterior ankle ligament thickening(χ2 =1.515,P =0.218)between the PAIS group and the non PAIS group.Conclusion Using passive plantar flexion test and diagnostic blocking as the gold standard,the diagnostic efficacy of MRI on PAIS is obviously higher than that of X-ray film.MRI can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of PAIS,and avoid unnecessary diagnostic blocking.

AIM:To evaluate the effect of α2-macroglobulin(α2M) against X-ray induced obstacle on osteo-genic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMMSCs). METHODS:hBMMSCs were cultured in vitro. The 4th generation of hBMMSCs was irradiated with 8 Gy X-ray,then induced osteogenic differentiation and trea-ted with different concentrations of α2M(0.5 and 1.0 g/L). The alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and the mRNA ex-pression of runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) were detected on day 7 after osteogenic induction. The protein ex-pression of osteoglycin (OGN) was evaluated by Western blot on day 14 after osteogenic induction. The formation of calci-um nodules was detected by alizarin red staining on day 21 after osteogenic induction. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the protein expression of MnSOD of irradiated hBMMSCs with 8 Gy X-ray were determined at 24 h after α2M treatment. RESULTS:Compared with 8 Gy X-ray group,the activity of ALP,the mRNA expression of RUNX2,the pro-tein expression of OGN and MnSOD,as well as SOD activity were higher than those in the hBMMSCs treated with α2M at 0.5 and 1.0 g/L after 8 Gy X-ray irradiation,and the calcium nodules were also increased. CONCLUSION:α2M signifi-cantly improves the osteogenic differentiation ability,the SOD activity and MnSOD protein expression of hBMMSCs after ra-diation injury.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of photoselective vaporization treatment on benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)in the elderly over 70 years old.Methods From August 2004 to December 2005,a total of 126 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH underwent photoselective vaporization of the prostate(PVP)with an 80 W quasicontinuous KTP laser.The patients aged between 70 and 96 years,(median 78.0),with 46 cases above 80 years. Prostatic volume was 24～86 ml,in an average of 47.0 ml,with 46 cases above 60 ml.Results The mean operative time was 46.8 min(range from 30 to 100 min).After operation,the catheter was pulled out in 69 cases within 24 hours and the patients generally urinated well.At three-months follow-up,the mean I-PSS decreased significantly from(25.0?3.7)to(16.3?2.0)(P＜0.01), while the Qmax increased from(5.8?2.7)ml/s to(16.3?4.8)ml/s(P＜0.01).Complications consisted of 4 cases of hematuria,6 urinary infection and 1 acute epididymitis.Conclusions The study indicates that PVP,a minimal invasive surgical procedure,is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of BPH in the elderly.

We studied a family with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. The novel mutations of our cases were located on the 21st exon of the PTCH1 gene (c.3450C>G). The father, who received a strategic 56-day vismodegib treatment for disease control, was the first patient with Gorlin syndrome treated with the hedgehog inhibitor in Taiwan. The lesions regressed gradually, with scar formation, and were subsequently removed via a wide excision. Further details are provided below.
Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome* ; Cicatrix ; Exons ; Fathers ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of spleen preservation on the outcome of radical resection for cardia cancer.

METHODSData of 108 cardia cancer patients(Siewert types II and III ), undergone radical resection with D(2) or D(3) lymphadenectomy between July 1994 and December 2003 in our department, were analyzed retrospectively. Survival status was ascertained on December 2004. Of these 108 patients, 38 underwent splenectomy and 70 splenic preservation. Clinicopathological features and outcomes of the splenectomy and non-splenectomy groups were compared.

RESULTSSeventy-four patients (68.5%) had lymph node involvement; 18 patients (16.7%) had involvement of lymph nodes in the splenic hilus. Postoperative morbidity in two groups was similar. Overall 5-year survival rate in the non-splenectomy group was significantly higher than that of the splenectomy group (38.7% vs 16.9%, P=0.008). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that tumor invasion (P=0.009) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.001) were independent prognostic factors rather than splenectomy. Although splenectomy was associated with survival, it was not an independent prognostic factor (P= 0.085).

CONCLUSIONSSplenectomy does not improve survival of patients undergone curative resection for gastric cardia cancer. Thus, the spleen should be preserved in patients without direct cancer invasion of the spleen.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore role of MIER3 gene in the development and progression of human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and analyze the proteins that interact with MIER3 using bioinformatic techniques.

METHODSMIER3 mRNA and protein expressions were detected in 8 CRC biopsy samples and paired adjacent tissues using real-time PCR and Western blotting. A recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-MIER3 was constructed and its effect on the proliferation and invasion of CRC cells were tested using CCK8 assay and Transwell migration assay. Bioinformatic methods were used to predict and analyze MIER3-interacting proteins.

RESULTSMIER3 was obviously down-regulated in the 8 CRC tissues as compared with the paired adjacent tissues. In human CRC cell line DLD1, MIER3 overexpression induced by transfection of the cells with pcDNA3-MIER3 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and suppressed cell invasiveness in vitro. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that NAT9 was a potential MIER3-interacting protein and MIER3 was probably associated with tumor susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONMIER3, which is obviously down-regulated in CRC tissues, is closely associated with the proliferation and invasion of CRC, and NAT9 protein is a probable MIER3-interacting protein.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinicopathological characteristics and analyze the prognostic factors of young patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSA total of 99 patients with the age less than or equal to 40 were admitted in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from August 2001 to December 2009. Their clinicopathological and follow-up data were compared with middle-aged and elderly patients with the age more than 40.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences in gender, tumor location, Borrmann type, histological type, differentiated histology, depth of invasion, peritoneal metastasis between young patients and elder ones. The 5-year survival rates of young and elder patients were 49.1% and 44.4% respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that TNM stage (P=0.014) and surgical methods (P=0.012) were independent predictive factors of survival for young patients. For the young patients, the 5-year survival rate was 56.7% after curative resection, 11.1% after palliative resection. Those who underwent palliative surgery or biopsy alone died within 1 year after surgery. The difference between difference surgical procedures in survival were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAs compared to elder patients, young patients with gastric cancer have special clinicopathological features. However, no significant difference of survival rate is found between the young and the elder patients. TNM stage and surgical methods are independent prognostic factors of young patients with gastric cancer. Radical resection appears to confer the only chance of prolonged survival.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of silencing PRL-3 expression by miRNA interference in gastric cancer growth.

METHODSRNA interference mediated by recombinant lentivirus expressing artificial PRL-3 miRNA was employed to knockdown PRL-3 expression in human SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. MTT assay and tumor implantation experiment were conducted to determine the role of PRL-3 in the proliferation of SGC7901 cells and the tumor growth.

RESULTSTransfection of recombinant lentivirus expressing artificial PRL-3 miRNA significantly suppressed the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in vitro. The implanted tumor size of the PRL-3 transfection group was (1.92 +/- 0.18) cm3, significantly smaller than those in control groups [(4.74 +/- 0.39) cm3] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSilencing of PRL-3 significantly suppressed the proliferation of SGC7901 cells and tumor growth in vivo. PRL-3 could be a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Transfection ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays