Anti-scarring effect of rapamycin following filtering surgery in rabbit eyes / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of rapamycin on scar formation in rabbit eyes following filtering operation and explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Ninety-six healthy adult rabbits were subjected to trabeculectomy of the left eye and subsequently randomly divided into 4 groups (=24) for treatment with castor oil (control) or rapamycin (1%, 3%, or 5%) eye drops of the operated eyes 4 times a day. The morphology and function of the filtering blebs of the rabbits were compared at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the operation; at each of the time points, 6 rabbits from each group were euthanized for detection of expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the tissues in the surgical area using immunohistochemistry. Cultured rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts (RTFSs) were treated with different concentrations of rapamycin (0.06, 0.25, 1, and 4 mg/L) and the cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.@*RESULTS@#In the first, second and third weeks after the operation, the rate of functional follicle formation was significantly higher in the 3 rapamycin groups than in the control group ( < 0.05), and the number of α- SMA-positive fibroblasts decreased over time in the 3 rapamycin groups. In cultured RTFSs, treatment with rapamycin at different concentrations resulted in increased apoptosis of the cells, and rapamycin above 0.25 mg/L significantly increased the cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Rapamycin can inhibit hyperplasia of the filtering passage tissue, helps to preserve the functional filtering blebs and prolong their life span, and induces apoptosis of RTFS.

Anti-scarring effect of rapamycin in rabbits following glaucoma filtering surgery / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To study the anti- scarring effect of rapamycin in rabbits receiving glaucoma filtering surgery.@*METHODS@#Ninety-six Chinchilla rabbits were randomized equally into 3 rapamycin treatment groups and one control group. All the rabbits underwent trabeculectomy, after which the rabbits in the 3 rapamycin groups were treated with eye drops containing 1%, 3%, or 5% rapamycin in the operated eyes, and those in the control groups were given castor oil 4 times a day. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and inflammatory reaction in the treated eyes were observed, and the PCNA-positive cells in the filtering bleb were detected using immunohistochemistry. RTFs isolated from the Tenon's capsule of the rabbits were cultured , and the expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 in the fibroblasts were detected after treatment with different concentrations of rapamycin.@*RESULTS@#The IOP was significantly lower in rapamycin-treated group than in the control group after the surgery ( < 0.05). The counts of the PCNA-positive cells were significantly lower in rapamycin-treated rabbits than in the control group ( < 0.05). Rapamycin treatment dose-dependently increased the expressions of caspase-3 and caspase- 9 at both the mRNA ( < 0.001) and protein ( < 0.001) levels without causing significant changes in the expressions of caspase-8.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Rapamycin can inhibit excessive proliferation of the fibroblasts in the filtering bleb to reduce scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits. Rapamycin also increases the expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 to induce apoptosis of the RTFs.

The metastatic pattern of thoracic lymph nodes in 306 patients with lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To study the metastatic pattern of thoracic lymph nodes in patients with resectable lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 1992 to December 2000, radical lobectomy or pneumonectomy and systemic lymphadenectomy were performed in 306 patients with lung cancer. Number, size, colour and hardness of lymph nodes in each region were recorded and neoplastic metastasis was examined by pathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of 4 614 resected lymph nodes from 2 456 regions, 954 lymph nodes from 521 regions were confirmed to have metastasis. The metastatic rates of thoracic lymph nodes and mediastinal lymph nodes were 61.8% and 43.5% , respectively. The metastatic frequencies in regions around the hilar or root of lung (11,10,7,5,4) were higher than those of regions far from the root of lung (9,6,3,2,1). There was a remarkably higher metastatic rate of lymph nodes in small cell lung cancer than that in non small cell lung cancer (P < 0.01 ). The metastatic rate was closely related to size, colour and hardness of lymph nodes (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 , P < 0.001 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most of neoplastic metastasis of lymph nodes spreads from proximal to distal areas, lower to upper regions, and from the hilar to the mediastinal. A few mediastinal lymph nodes show a skipping pattern. It is necessary to perform systemic lymphadenectomy during pulmonary resection.</p>

Carinal resection and bronchial sleeve lobectomy in the treatment of central lung cancer: A report of 105 cases / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To summarize the experience of carinal resection and bronchial sleeve lobectomy in the treatment of 105 patients with central lung cancer from November, 1991, to November, 2001.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 105 patients with central lung cancer underwent pulmonary resection. Carinal resection and reconstruction was performed in 19 patients, bronchial sleeve resection in 81, and bronchial sleeve combined with pulmonary artery sleeve lobectomy in 5.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications such as anastomotic leakage, cardiac arrhythmia, asthma, pulmonary atelectasis occurred in 10.5% of total group. The 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates were 89.9%, 60.0% and 47.2%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Bronchial sleeve lobectomy and double-sleeve lobectomy are capable of excising pulmonary tumor as much as possible while remaining healthy lung tissues. Carinal resection and reconstruction is helpful to extend the surgical indication.</p>