Podoplanin expression and clinical prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the Podoplanin expression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and to find out the relationship between Podoplanin expression and tumor embolus, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation as well as prognosis, and to provide clinical evidence for reducing the recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and prolonging the disease-free survival and overall survival. Methods    A retrospective analysis of 70 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in our hospital from June 2010 to June 2012 was conducted, including 39 males and 31 females, with a mean age of 63.6 years. Positive diagnosis of tumor thrombus was achieved in 35 patients and negative in 35 patients. Postoperative pathological specimens were examined and normal esophageal tissues (esophageal tissue more than 5 cm from the edge of the tumor) of patients were excised as a control group. Results    The positive rate of Podoplanin was 34.2% in normal esophageal tissues and 62.8% in tumor tissues. The positive rate of Podoplanin expression was 77.1% and 48.6% in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with or without tumor embolus, respectively. The positive rate of Podoplanin expression in tumor cells of patients with positive and negative lymph node metastasis was 71.9% and 23.1%, respectively (P<0.05). The mean disease-free survival of patients with Podoplanin expression-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 15.2 months, which was significantly longer than that of patients with Podoplanin expression-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05).  Conclusion    Podoplanin expression in the tumor cells and vessels can be an important reference index to the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Correlation of Twist expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with clinical prognosis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To observe the expression of Twist in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyze the relationship between positive expression of Twist and disease-free survival, and to provide clinical evidence for reducing tumor recurrence, prolonging disease-free survival and improving prognosis. Methods    Retrospective analysis of 70 ESCC patients receiving thoracic surgery from June 2010 to June 2012 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital was done, including 39 males and 31 females with an average age of 63.6 years. The expression of Twist in normal esophageal tissue, tumor tissue and vascular tumor emboli was observed by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin specimens. Results    The positive rate of Twist in normal esophageal tissues was 42.9%, and in tumor tissue was 77.1% (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of Twist in tumor cells was 74.3% in patients with vascular tumor emboli and 80.0% in patients without vascular tumor emboli (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of Twist in tumor cells and in vascular tumor emboli was 74.3% and 71.4%, respectively (P>0.05). The expression of Twist in lymphatic vessels and blood vessels of patients with vascular tumor emboli was 56.0% and 72.0%, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusion    Twist expression in esophageal cancer tissues is significantly higher than that in normal tissues, but there is no significant difference in the positive expression of Twist between tumor cells and the mean disease-free survival (P>0.05). At present, Twist expression can not be used as a prognostic indicator of esophageal cancer, and more researches need be further implemented.

Effects of puerarin on lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial dysfunction in isolated rat hearts

Myocardial dysfunction is a serious complication induced by sepsis. Puerarin is an oriental medicine that possesses therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-myocardial dysfunction effects of puerarin in isolated rat hearts induced iby lipopolysaccharide- and compare the myocardial protective effects between the different concentrations of puerarin. Isolated hearts were attached to a Langendorff apparatus and perfused with lipopolysaccharide [LPS] and different concentrations of puerarin. The hemodynamic parameters of heart rate [HR], left ventricular end systolic pressure [LVESP], +dp/dt[max], and -dp/dt[max] were recorded. The biochemical indexes of lactic dehydrogenase [LDH], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], and creatine kinase [CK] in the coronary effluent were measured at 40, 90, and 120 min of perfusion. TNF-a in myocardial tissues was measured after perfusion was completed. As a result, puerarin [0.24 mmol/L-0.48 mmol/L] significantly increased LVESP, +dp/dt[max], -dp/dt[max], and HR in isolated rat hearts that were declined by LPS during perfusion periods. Puerarin could protect against increased LDH, CK, and TNF-alpha in coronary effluent of isolated rat hearts by LPS during perfusion periods. Treatment of 0.48 mmol/L puerarin significantly decreased the TNF-alpha in coronary effluent of isolated rat hearts compared with the treatment of 0.12 and 0.24 mmol/L puerarin, but the TNF-a values were not reverted to baseline levels. However, the difference of TNF-alpha in myocardial tissue in the three puerarin-combined groups was statistically significant. This study confirms that puerarin can improve LPS-induced contractile dysfunction in isolated heart and inhibit LPS-stimulated myocardial TNF-a production

P2X7 receptor mediates activation of microglial cells in prostate of chemically irritated rats

Purpose Evidence shows that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is involved in the transmission of multiple chronic pain via P2X7 receptor. This study was to investigate the P2X7 and microglial cells in the chronic prostatitis pain. Materials and Methods Rats were divided into control group and chronic prostatitis group (n = 24 per group). A chronic prostatitis animal model was established by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to the prostate of rats, and the thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) was detected on days 0, 4, 12 and 24 (n = 6 at each time point in each group). Animals were sacrificed and the pathological examination of the prostate, detection of mRNA expression of P2X7 and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1) and measurement of content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal horn of L5-S2 spinal cord were performed on days 0, 4, 12 and 24. In addition, the content of TNF-α and IL-1β in the dorsal horn of L5-S2 spinal cord was measured after intrathecal injection of inhibitors of microglial cells and/or P2X7 for 5 days. Results The chronic prostatitis was confirmed by pathological examination. The expression of P2X7 and IBA-1 and the content of TNF-α and IL-1β in rats with chronic prostatitis were significantly higher than those in the control group. On day 4, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines became to increase, reaching a maximal level on day 12 and started to reduce on day 24, but remained higher than that in the control group. Following suppression of microglial cells and P2X7 receptor, the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β was markedly reduced. Conclusion In chronic prostatitis pain, the microglial cells and P2X7 receptor are activated resulting in the increased expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the L5-S2 spinal cord, which might attribute to the maintenance and intensification of pain in chronic prostatitis. .

Effect of curcumin on growth and function of fibroblast in human hyperplastic scar / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To seek an effective drug for treatment of human hyperplastic scar through studying the effects of curcumin on fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fibroblasts derived from scar tissue and from normal epidermal tissue were isolated and cultured separately with tissue-block method, their morphology were observed under invert phase contrast microscope, their growth curve was drawn respectively to determine the speed of growth. Then, fibroblasts from scar were stimulated with curcumin in different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 micromol/L) for detecting the inhibitory effect of curcumin on growth of fibroblasts using MTT methods and that on activity of procollagen alpha-1 gene transcription in fibroblast was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell growth curve showed that double-multiplying time was 5 days in fibroblasts from scar and 4 days in those from normal dermis, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.05). MTT showed that curcumin in 12.5 micromol/L showed a cell proliferation enhancing trend, and its absorbance value was significantly higher than that in the normal group, but the effect turned to inhibition when concentration increased to over 25-100 micromol/L, and became significant inhibition at concentration of 50 and 100 micromol/L. Besides, curcumin also showed markedly inhibition on collagen type I synthesis in fibroblasts (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High concentration curcumin can inhibit effectively the fibroblast proliferation and collagen I synthesis in hyperplastic scar, therefore, may has therapeutic effect on the disease in human being.</p>

Testis homotransplantation: a report of 12 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of testis homotransplantation in the treatment of androgen deficiency and infertility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 12 cases of testis homotransplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Surgical success was achieved in 11 cases, all with a significantly increased level of serum testosterone, and markedly improved secondary sex characteristics and sexual function.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Testis homotransplantation is highly effective for the treatment of androgen deficiency in males, but has little effect on spermatogenesis.</p>