Effect of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf on myocardial cell apoptosis and Wnt/β-catenin/PPARγ pathway in arrhythmic rats / 中国中药杂志

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf on myocardial cell apoptosis and Wnt/β-catenin/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) pathway in arrhythmic rats. SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a low-dose(20 mg·kg~(-1)) group of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf, a medium-dose(40 mg·kg~(-1)) group of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf, a high-dose(80 mg·kg~(-1)) group of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf, a propranolol hydrochloride(2 mg·kg~(-1)) group, with 12 rats in each group. Except the control group, rats in other groups were prepared as models of arrhythmia by sublingual injection of 1 mL·kg~(-1) of 0.002% aconitine. After grouping and intervention with drugs, the arrhythmia, myocardial cells apoptosis, myocardial tissue glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), catalase(CAT), malondialdehyde(MDA), serum interleukin-6(IL-6), prostaglandin E2(PGE2) levels, myocardial tissue apoptosis, and Wnt/β-catenin/PPARγ pathway-related protein expression of rats in each group were measured. As compared with the control group, the arrhythmia score, the number of ventricular premature beats, ventricular fibrillation duration, myocardial cell apoptosis rate, MDA levels in myocardial tissues, serum IL-6 and PGE2 levels, Bax in myocardial tissues, and Wnt1 and β-catenin protein expression levels increased significantly in the model group, whereas the GSH-Px and CAT levels, and Bcl-2 and PPARγ protein expression levels in myocardial tissues reduced significantly. As compared with the model group, the arrhythmia score, the number of ventricular premature beats, ventricular fibrillation duration, myocardial cell apoptosis rate, MDA leve in myocardial tissues, serum IL-6 and PGE2 levels, Bax in myocardial tissues, and Wnt1 and β-catenin protein expression levels reduced in the drug intervention groups, whereas the GSH-Px and CAT levels and Bcl-2 and PPARγ protein expression levels in myocardial tissues increased. The groups of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf were in a dose-dependent manner. There was no significant difference in the levels of each index in rats between the propranolol hydrochloride group and the high-dose group of total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf. The total flavonoids of buckwheat flower and leaf inhibit the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, up-regulate the expression of PPARγ, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in myocardial tissues of arrhythmic rats, reduce myocardial cell apoptosis, and improve the symptoms of arrhythmia in rats.

Development and validation of a prognostic model based on SEER data for patients with esophageal carcinoma after esophagectomy / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To develop a nomogram to predict the long-term survival of patients with esophageal cancer following esophagectomy.@*METHODS@#We collected the data of 7215 patients with esophageal carcinoma from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during the period from 2004 and 2016. Of these patients, 5052 were allocated to the training cohort and the remaining 2163 patients to the internal validation cohort using bootstrap resampling, with another 435 patients treated in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Jinling Hospital between 2014 and 2016 serving as the external validation cohort.@*RESULTS@#In the overall cohort, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cancer-specific mortality rates were 14.6%, 35.7% and 41.6%, respectively. Age (≥80 years vs < 50 years, P < 0.001), gender (male vs female, P < 0.001), tumor site (lower vs middle segment, P=0.013), histology (EAC vs ESCC, P=0.012), tumor grade (poorly vs well differentiated, P < 0.001), TNM stage (Ⅳ vs Ⅰ, P < 0.001), tumor size (> 50 mm vs 0-20 mm, P < 0.001), chemotherapy (yes vs no, P < 0.001), and LNR (> 0.25 vs 0, P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors affecting long-term survival of the patients. The nomograms established based on the model for predicting the survival probability of the patients at 1, 3 and 5 years after operation showed a C-index of 0.726 (95% CI: 0.714-0.738) for predicting the overall survival (OS) and of 0.735 (95% CI: 0.727-0.743) for cancer-specific survival (CSS) in the training cohort. In the internal validation cohort, the C-index of the nomograms was 0.752 (95% CI: 0.738-0.76) for OS and 0.804 (95% CI: 0.790-0.817) for CSS, as compared with 0.749 (95% CI: 0.736-0.767) and 0.788 (95%CI: 0.751-0.808), respectively, in the external validation cohort. The nomograms also showed a higher sensitivity than the TNM staging system for predicting long-term prognosis.@*CONCLUSION@#This prognostic model has a high prediction efficiency and can help to identify the high-risk patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery and serve as a supplement for the current TNM staging system.

Effects of the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on liver, bile, and inflammatory indices and cholecysto-choledocholithiasis patient prognoses

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the effects of the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on liver function, bile biochemical indices, inflammatory reactions, and cholecysto-choledocholithiasis patient prognoses. METHODS: A total of 103 cholecysto-choledocholithiasis patients were stratified into control (CG; n=51; LC at 4-7 d after ERCP) and observation groups (OG; n=52; LC at 1-3 d after ERCP) using a random number table. RESULTS: The surgical time was shorter and intraoperative blood loss was less in OG than in CG, and the two groups were not statistically different in terms of time to the first passage of gas through anus, length of postoperative hospital stay, conversion rate to laparotomy, and stone-free rate. Four weeks after LC, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin (ALB), and glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels declined in both groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. Three days after LC, total bile acid (TBA) levels increased, and cholesterol (CHO), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), and TBiL levels were reduced in both groups, but were not statistically different (p>0.05). Three days after LC, interleukin (IL)-6, procalcitonin (PCT), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in the serum and bile increased in both groups and were lower in OG. The total incidence of perioperative complications was 1.92% in OG, which was lower than 15.69% in the CG. CONCLUSION: For cholecysto-choledocholithiasis patients, LC at 1-3 d after ERCP can shorten surgical times, reduce intraoperative blood loss, improve liver function and bile biochemistry, relieve inflammatory reactions, reduce complications, and improve prognoses.

Expert consensus workshop report: Guidelines for thermal ablation of thyroid tumors (2019 edition)

As a treatment option for cancer, thermal ablation has satisfactory effects on many types of solid tumors (such as liver and renal cancers). However, its clinical applications for the treatment of thyroid nodules and metastatic cervical lymph nodes are still under debate both in China and abroad. In 2015, the “Zhejiang Expert consensus on thermal ablation for thyroid benign nodules, microcarcinoma, and metastatic cervical lymph nodes (2015 edition),” was released by the Thyroid Cancer Committee of Zhejiang Anti-Cancer Association, China. To further standardize the application of thermal ablation for thyroid tumors, the Thyroid Tumor Ablation Experts Group of Chinese Medical Doctor Association has organized many seminars and finally produced a consensus to formulate the “Expert consensus workshop report: Guidelines for thermal ablation of thyroid tumors (2019 edition).”

Long-term high-fat diet inhibits hippocampal expression of insulin receptor substrates and accelerates cognitive deterioration in obese rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of long-term high-fat diet on the expressions of insulin receptor substrates in the hippocampus and spatial learning and memory ability of obese rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 100 4-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups and fed with common diet (CD group, n=40) or high-fat diet (HFD group, n=60) for 16 weeks. At 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks, 8 rats were randomly selected from each group for testing their spatial learning and memory function using Morris water maze. After the tests, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the metabolic parameters and detection of the expressions of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and IRS-2 mRNAs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in CD group, the rats in HFD group showed a prolonged escape latency, longer swimming distance, faster average swimming speed, and shorter stay in the platformat 12 weeks. In HFD group, the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting insulin were all significantly increased (P<0.05) and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (P<0.01) in comparison with those in CD group at each of the time points. No significant difference was found in fast glucose levels between the two groups (P>0.05), but the expressions of IRS-1 and IRS-2 mRNAs were significantly decreased in HFD group at 12 weeks (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In obese rats, long-term feeding with high-fat diet leads to insulin resistance, which interferes with hippocampal expression of insulin receptor substrates and insulin metabolism to cause impairment of the cognitive function and accelerate cognitive deterioration.</p>

Short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with vertebral arch bone grafting for thoracolumbar burst fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical effects of short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting in treating thoracolumbar burst fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2008 to March 2013, 62 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting. Including 40 males and 22 females, the age from 17 to 65 years old with an average of 38 years. According to AO classification, 34 cases were type A3.1, 7 cases were type A3.2 and 21 cases were type A3.3. Load-sharing scores were from 4 to 6 points with an average of 5.4 points. According to ASIA grade, 2 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D and 55 cases were grade E. Preoperative, postoperative at 3 d and final follow-up, the Cobb angle, the relative height of anterior vertebral body and the encroachment rate of spinal canal were measured by X-ray films and computed tomography (CT) scan, meanwhile, the information of bone healing and spinal nerves recovery were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up from 11 to 14 months with an average of 12.2 months. The duration of removing internal fixation were from 9 to 13 months (averaged, 11.5 months). One suffered from infection and was cured by debridement. Two cases had mild pain of back. At 6 months after operation, according to ASIA grade to evaluate never function, 1 case was grade C, 3 cases were grade D and 58 cases were grade E. X-ray and CT showed the fractures obtained good union at final follow-up. The Cobb angle, the relative height of anterior vertebral body and the encroachment rate of spinal canal had obviously improved at 3 days after operation (P<0.05); but there was no significant differences between postoperative at 3 d and final follow-up (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting is an effective method to treat thoracolumbar burst fractures. It can reduce the loss of postoperative correction and prevent the internal fixation failure.</p>

Clinical study of the characteristics of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the characteristics of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal cancer in order to provide evidence for the extent of lymph node dissection and the operation access.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was performed on the specimens of 72 patients who underwent radical operation of right transthoracic approach and the features of lymph node metastasis were explored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lymph node metastases were found in 48 of 72 patients (66.7%). In 1495 lymph nodes dissected, metastases was identified in 181 lymph nodes (12.1%). The rate of lymph node metastasis in the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 30.6% and 12.5% respectively. Lymph node metastasis was associated with tumor size and tumor invasion depth (both P<0.05), while tumor location and differentiation of tumor cells were not significant (both P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma can be easily found in the right recurrent laryngeal nerve. The best surgical approach of thoracic esophageal carcinoma is the right transthoracic approach.</p>

Disruption of reproductive development in male rat offspring following gestational and lactational exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and genistein

Studies of developmental effects of mixtures of endocrine disrupters on the male reproductive system are of great concern. In this study, the reproductive effects of the co-administration of di-2-(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and genistein (GEN) during pregnancy and lactation were studied in male rat offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged from gestation day 3 to postnatal day 21 with vehicle control, DEHP 250 mg/kg body weight (bwyday, GEN 50 mg/kg bwday, GEN 400 mg/kg bwday, and two combinations of the two compounds (DEHP 250 mg/kg bwday + GEN 50 mg/kg bwday, DEHP 250 mg/kg bwday + GEN 400 mg/kg bwday). The outcomes studied were general morphometry (weight, AGD), testicular histology, testosterone levels, and expression at the mRNA level of genes involved in steroidogenesis. Organ coefficient, AGD / body weight1/3 י, serum testosterone concentration and genes involved in steroidogenic pathway expression when exposed to DEHP (250mg/kg bwday), GEN(50mg/kg bwday) or GEN(400mg/kg bwday) alone were not significantly different from the control group. When exposed to (DEHP 250mg/kg bwday +GEN 50mg/kg bwday) together during pregnancy and lactation, serum testosterone concentration, epididymis coefficient and Cypal17a1,Scarb1 m RNA expression significantly decreased compared to the control and GEN(50mg/kg bwday). When exposed to (DEHP 250mg/kg bwday +GEN 400mg/kg bwday) together during pregnancy and lactation, AGD / body weight1/3 י, serum testosterone concentration, testis and epididymis coefficient and Star, Cypal17a1 mRNA expression appeared significantly decreased compared to the control and DEHP/GEN single exposure, together with developmental impairment of seminiferous tubules and seminiferous epithelium. Overall, co-administration of DEHP and GEN during gestation and lactation seem to acts in a cumulative manner to induce the most significant alterations in the neonate, especially with GEN at high dose, although the effect of the DEHP-GEN mixture on adult offspring should be observed further.

Validation of a Chinese version of the child perception questionnaire / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To translate the original English version of the child perception questionnaire (CPQ(11-14)) into Chinese version and to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version in order to use among the Chinese children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The original English version of CPQ(11-14) was translated into Chinese, and pre-tested and cross-cultural adapted. Subsequently, the Chinese version with a general questionnaire was administered to 218 children aged from 11 to 14, clinical data on caries status and malocclusion were collected through oral health examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Test-retest reliability was substantial (r=0.82, P<0.001). Cronbach's alpha of the translated scale was 0.79. The 16 items were divided into five domains by factor analysis. There was certain logical relation between the items in the same domains. There was highly significant association between perceived oral health status, perceived impact to quality of life by oral health and CPQ(11-14) score (P<0.0005). Significant relationships were identified between caries status and CPQ(11-14) scores (P<0.001), and between malocclusion and CPQ(11-14) scores in middle-school-group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The translated Chinese version of CPQ(11-14) demonstrated good reliability and validity. Its good psychometric properties provide the theoretical evidence for further use in Chinese population. It is available for use by researchers in oral health related quality of life studies in Chinese children.</p>

Screening of molecular markers of lung squamous cell carcinoma by microarrays / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify molecular markers of lung squamous cell carcinoma by cDNA microarray technique.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>cDNA expression profiles were examined by microarrays of 6 surgical specimens of stage I lung squamous cell carcinomas. Those genes, either up-regulated or down-regulated in every specimen studied, were identified. The expression levels of nm23 and BRCA2 by the squamous cell carcinoma of the lung were further examined by immunohistochemical techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 107 genes were identified, of which 26 were up-regulated and 81 were down-regulated in all six specimens. Immunohistochemical staining showed that, compared with normal lung tissues, the intensity of nm23 expression by the squamous cell carcinoma of lung was significantly increased while that of BRCA-2 was decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>cDNA microarrays can be used to identify gene expression profile of lung cancer, some of which may be used as markers of lung squamous cell carcinoma.</p>

Expression of GST-pi and MDR1 genes in operative specimens of ovarian cancer / 军事医学科学院院刊

Objectives:To study the expression of GST-pi and MDR1 genes in operative specimens of ovarian cancer,and to analyze the possible clinical role of GST-pi and MDR1. Methods:Eighteen frozen specimens of ovarian carcinoma and ten specimens of normal ovarian tissues from patients were examined for the expression of GST-pi and MDR1 genes by means of RT-PCR, and quantitative analysis was performed using β-actin as internal contrast.Results: Positive expression rate of GST-pi and MDR1 in ovarian carcinoma were 61.1% and 33.3%,respectively,and in contrast, 20% and 10% in normal ovarian tissues respectively. The level of GST-pi gene expression in ovarian carcinoma was obviously higher than that in normal ovarian tissue (P<0.05)and MDR1 gene also had high level expression in ovarian carcinoma, but had no statistical significantance. Four patients with ovarian carcinoma had GST-pi and MDR1 coexpression. Expression levels of GST-pi mRNA were lower than that of protein. Conclusions: (1) GST-pi and MDR1 had higher level expression in ovarian carcinoma than in normal ovarian tissues. (2) GST-pi and MDR1 may have same regulating factors but different mechanisms of action. (3)Processing after transcription and/or regulation of translation level may exist in GST-pi expression.

RESEARCH ADVANCES ON PSEUDORABIES NEW-TYPE VACCINES / 微生物学通报

Pseudorabies is an important infectious disease for many kinds of livestock and wild animals, and causes important economics losses for pig industry. Many kinds of vaccines including attenuated live viruses or inactivated are widely used for vaccination of pigs and other animals. In the present review, research advances on pseudorabies new-type vaccines such as subunit vaccine, DNA vaccine, recombination vaccine, deletion-mutant vaccine is presented and point out the further development of the vaccine.

THE DETECTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS IN ANIMAL TISSUE BY RT-PCR TECHNIQUE / 微生物学通报

A set of primers amplified the VP1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease vims (FMDV) was designed and synthesized. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique detected the RNA of FMDV was established after selecting the best purification method, reagents and reaction conditions. Samples of fresh milk, lymph node, spinal cord, vesicular skin, milk powder, cotton swab, mouse and meat in daughter-house were detected by RT-PCR, positive rates were41.4% (24/58), 13.33% (2/15), 20% (1/5), 100% (1/1), 100% (1/1), 37.5% (12/32), 100% (2/2) and 10% - 70%, respectively. However, positive rate of cockroach detected by RT-PCR was 0. The results showed that the established FMDV RT-PCR technique provided a more sensitive, specific and reliable method for diagnosis and epizootic study of the foot-and-mouth disease.