Clinical definition of the axillary vein and experience with blind axillary puncture

The prevalence of congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries (CAAs) is reported to be approximately 0.2-1.4% of the general population. Of them, The double right coronary artery (RCA) is one of the rarest coronary anomalies. Nonetheless, there is no consensus of the definition of a double RCA until now. Several concepts have been proposed in order to define what is and is not a double RCA. So far, it was been reported 37 times and in 44 cases after a comprehensive literature search through the PubMed database, using the keywords “double right coronary artery,” “duplicated right coronary artery,” “dual right coronary artery” and “split right coronary artery.” Most of the published articles (28 of 37 articles) used the name “double right coronary artery.” Nevertheless, some investigators contended that a split RCA is anatomically the same anomaly as the improperly named “double right coronary artery”. The debate between those who favor “double RCA” and those who favor “split RCA” indicate the need for a consensus regarding the nomenclature as well diagnostic criteria of such coronary anomalies. It is the time we need to reach a consensus of the nomenclature of this congenital coronary anomaly.     

The association between seven ERAP1 polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility: a meta-analysis involving 8,530 cases and 12,449 controls

Besides the MHC gene, HLA-B27, ERAP1 is one of the non-MHC genes which also play key roles in the pathogenesis of AS. It has been reported that there is an association between ERAP1 polymorphisms and AS Risk. However, the results were inconclusive. The aim of the current study was to determine the contribution of ERAP1 polymorphisms to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility. To derive a more precise estimation of the association, a meta-analysis was performed by searching the MEDLINE and EMBASE data base. The crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to access the strength of association between ERAP1 polymorphisms and AS risk. The pooled ORs were performed for minor allele versus major allele in all polymorphisms. Nine case–control studies consisting of 8,530 AS patients and 12,449 controls were identified in this meta-analysis. Except in rs27434 (P = 0.23), the significant correlation between ERAP1 polymorphisms and AS susceptibility has been detected in rs27044 (OR 1.57, P < 0.001), rs17482078 (OR 1.271, P < 0.001), rs10050860 (OR 0.772, P = 0.006), rs30187 (OR 1.348, P < 0.001), rs2287987 (OR 0.746, P < 0.001) and rs27037 (OR 1.257, P = 0.001). This meta-analysis demonstrates that the ERAP1 polymorphisms may play a significant role in susceptibility to AS. However, this result should be identified by more convincing experimental evidences in molecular level and population level.     

The Effect of Cell Cycle and Expression of Cyclin B1 and Cyclin C Protein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2 and SMMC-7721 after of Silencing β-Catenin Gene

Background/Aims: Abnormalities in cell cycle regulation are reported to be strongly associated with tumorigenesis and progression of tumors. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and cell cycle play key roles during the genesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current studies indicated that expressions of cyclin A, E and D1 were affected after silencing of β-catenin gene in HCC, but it is unclear if other cyclins are affected. Methodology: To determine the relation, small interference RNA (siRNA) against β-catenin was transfected into HCC cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721, and cell cycle and cyclin B1 and cyclin C protein expression were detected. Results: Cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 at 72h after transfection and the cell cycle began to transfer from G0/G1 to G2/M through S and had a trend to revert at 96h. In addition, β-catenin protein expression was decreased at both 72 and 96h, although the level was slightly higher at 96h than that at 72h. However, cyclin B1 expression decreased at 72h and increased at 96h, cyclin C expression increased at 72h and decreased at 96h. Conclusions: These findings suggest that silencing β-catenin gene may induce the changes of cell cycle and cyclin B1 and cyclin C protein expression. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway probably takes part in the genesis and development of HCC through regulating cell cycle and the expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin C.     

浙江省高校学生功能性消化不良流行病学调查及其与心理因素的关系

目的 了解浙江省高校学生功能性消化不良(FD)患病情况及其与心理因素的关系.方法 选取浙江省两所高校学生,采用多级分层随机整群抽样方法,以罗马Ⅲ成人功能性胃肠病诊断调查问卷(ROMEⅢ-DQ)及心理学症状自评量表(SCL-90)对其进行分析调查.统计学处理采用x2检验和t检验.结果 共调查浙江省高校学生1870名,FD患病率为5.78％;女性患病率高于男性(7.53％比4.14％,x2=9.884,P＜0.05);高校四年级学生FD患病率最高,各年级之间差异有统计学意义(x2=13.83,P＜0.05).FD亚型中餐后不适综合征明显多于上腹痛综合征;FD患者与其他功能性胃肠病重叠以功能性排便障碍和功能性便秘最多.SCL-90调查中FD组各项因子评分均高于健康对照组.结论 FD在浙江省高校学生中有较高的患病率,心理因素与其发病有相关性.     

Role of stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in remodeling during liver regeneration

Functional pluripotent characteristics have been observed in specific subpopulations of hepatic cells that express some of the known cholangiocyte markers. Although evidence indicates that specific cytokines, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSFs), and stem cell factors (SCFs) may be candidate treatments for liver injury, the role of these cytokines in intrahepatic biliary epithelium remodeling is unknown. Thus, our aim was to characterize the specific cytokines that regulate the remodeling potentials of cholangiocytes after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH). The expression of the cytokines and their downstream signaling molecules was studied in rats after 70% PH by immunoblotting and in small and large murine cholangiocyte cultures (SMCCs and LMCCs) by immunocytochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was a significant, stable increase in SCF and GM-CSF levels until 7 days after PH. Real-time PCR analysis revealed significant increases of key remodeling molecules, such as S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) and miR-181b, after SCF plus GM-CSF administration in SMCCs. SMCCs produced significant amounts of soluble and bound SCFs and GM-CSFs in response to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). When SMCCs were incubated with TGF-β plus anti-SCF+GM-CSF antibodies, there was a significant decrease in S100A4 expression. Furthermore, treatment of SMCCs with SCF+GM-CSF significantly increased matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) messenger RNA as well as miR-181b expression, along with a reduction of metalloproteinase inhibitor 3. Levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and miR-181b were also up-regulated in rat liver and isolated cholangiocytes after PH. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that altered expression of SCF+GM-CSF after PH can contribute to biliary remodeling (e.g., post-transplantation) by functional deregulation of the activity of key signaling intermediates involved in cell expansion and multipotent differentiation.     

Characterization of chicken secretin (SCT) and secretin receptor (SCTR) genes: a novel secretin-like peptide (SCT-LP) and secretin encoded in a single gene

Secretin and the secretin receptor have been reported to play an important role in regulating pancreatic water and bicarbonate secretion in mammals; however, little is known about their expression, structure, and biological functions in non-mammalian vertebrates including birds. In this study, the full-length cDNAs encoding secretin and secretin receptor have first been cloned from duodenum of adult chickens. The putative chicken secretin receptor (cSCTR) is 449 amino acids in length and shares high sequence identity (58-63%) with its mammalian counterparts. Interestingly, chicken secretin cDNA encodes not only the secretin peptide (cSCT), but also a novel secretin-like peptide (cSCT-LP), which shares high amino acid identity with chicken (56%) and mammalian (48-52%) secretin. Using a pGL3-CRE-luciferase reporter system, we further demonstrated that both cSCT (EC₅₀: 0.31 nM) and cSCT-LP (EC₅₀: 1.10 nM), but not other structurally-related peptides, could potently activate cSCTR expressed in CHO cells, suggesting that both peptides may function as potential ligands for cSCTR. Using RT-PCR, the expression of secretin and secretin receptor in adult chicken tissues was also examined. Secretin was detected to be predominantly expressed in small intestine, while the mRNA expression of cSCTR was restricted to several tissues including gastrointestinal tract, liver, testis, pancreas and several brain regions. Collectively, results from present study not only established a molecular basis to elucidate the physiological roles of SCT, SCT-LP and SCTR in chickens, but also provide critical insights into structural and functional changes of secretin and its receptor during vertebrate evolution.     

The development of a normalization method for comparing nerve regeneration effectiveness among different graft types

The inability to compare directly different nerve grafts has been a significant factor hindering the advance of nerve graft development. Due to the abundance of variables that exist in nerve graft construction and multiple assessment types, there has been limited success in comparing nerve graft effectiveness among experiments. Using mathematical techniques on nerve conduction velocity (NCV) autograft data, a normalization function was empirically derived that normalizes differences in gap lengths. Further analysis allowed for the development of the relative regeneration ratio (RRR). The RRR function allows researchers to directly compare nerve graft results based on the NCV data from their respective studies as long as the data was collected at the same post‐operation time. This function also allows for comparisons between grafts tested at different gap lengths. Initial testing of this RRR function provided confidence that the function is accurate for a continuum of gap lengths and different nerve graft types.     

个性化血管内治疗椎动脉瘤分析

目的回顾性分析63例椎动脉瘤的个性化治疗经验。方法本组2000—2011年共收治63例患者(均已经DSA证实,共65个椎动脉瘤)为分析对象,其中41例伴瘤颈和载瘤血管闭塞的椎动脉瘤患者置入弹簧圈;12例未破裂的椎动脉瘤患者或对侧椎动脉发育不全的动脉瘤患者置入支架和弹簧圈;10例未破裂的VA-PICA动脉瘤患者或对侧椎动脉发育不全破裂的VA-PICA动脉瘤患者,单独行支架置入。运用改良Rankin量表(mRS)对临床结果进行评分。结果 63例中5例(7.9%)患者在30d的治疗过程中出现恶化,且导致其中3例患者死亡;57例(90.5%)患者,实现独立活动(mRS 0～2级);63例患者中44例(69.8%)进行血管造影随访,其中39例(88.6%)可确诊完全或基本完全的血栓形成,3例患者观察到病灶轻微减小,2例(4.5%)患者存在显著的残留病灶。结论椎动脉动脉瘤病人的个性化血管内治疗长期效果良好。