Meta-analysis of the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin for burn sepsis in adults.

OBJECTIVE: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) reflects the infection status of the organism and the severity of the infection. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the diagnostic value of serum PCT for burn sepsis in adults and to provide a factual basis for future clinical diagnosis and decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On August 16, 2022, six databases were searched in this study and a total of 856 studies were found. The retrieved literature was comprehensively evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the valid data were extracted and included for analysis. The number of true positives, false positives, true negatives and false negatives were used as indicators to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum PCT for burn sepsis in adults. RESULTS: In total, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed a combined sensitivity of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.84), a combined specificity of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.91), a combined positive likelihood ratio of 5.17 (95% CI: 3.25-8.25), a combined negative likelihood ratio of 0.26 (95% CI: 0.19-0.37), and a combined diagnostic ratio of 19.63 (95% CI: 10.17-37.90). The AUC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT provides good early diagnostic benefits for burn sepsis in adults. More high-quality studies are required to clarify its specific early diagnostic value.

[Construction of a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on pyroptosis-related genes].

Objective: To study the construction of a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs). Methods: HCC patient datasets were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and a prognostic model was constructed by applying univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkages and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. According to the median risk score, HCC patients in the TCGA dataset were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, and nomograms were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the prognostic models. Functional enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were performed on differentially expressed genes between the two groups. Finally, two HCC datasets (GSE76427 and GSE54236) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were used to externally validate the prognostic value of the model. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis or Wilcoxon tests were performed on the data. Results: A total of 366 HCC patients were included after screening the HCC patient dataset obtained from the TCGA database. A prognostic model related to HCC was established using univariate Cox regression analysis, LASSO regression analysis, and seven genes (CASP8, GPX4, GSDME, NLRC4, NLRP6, NOD2, and SCAF11). 366 cases were evenly divided into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the survival time between patients in the high-risk and low-risk groups in the TCGA, GSE76427, and GSE54236 datasets (median overall survival time was 1 149 d vs. 2 131 d, 4.8 years vs. 6.3 years, and 20 months vs. 28 months, with P = 0.000 8, 0.034 0, and 0.0018, respectively). ROC curves showed good survival predictive value in both the TCGA dataset and two externally validated datasets. The areas under the ROC curves of 1, 2, and 3 years were 0.719, 0.65, and 0.657, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk score of the prognostic model was an independent predictor of overall survival time in HCC patients. The risk model score accurately predicted the survival probability of HCC patients according to the established nomogram. Functional enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis showed that the immune status of the high-risk group was significantly decreased. Conclusion: The prognostic model constructed in this study based on seven PRGs accurately predicts the prognosis of HCC patients.

[Establishment and preliminary application of a recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay-based multiplex nucleic acid assay for detection of three Echinococcus species].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex nucleic acid assay for rapid detection of Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus based on the recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay (RAA) and to preliminarily assess its diagnostic efficiency. METHODS: The mitochondrial genomic sequences of E. multilocularis (GenBank accession number: NC_000928), E. granulosus (GenBank accession number: NC_044548) and E. shiquicus (GenBank accession number: NC_009460) were used as target sequences, and three pairs of primers were designed based on the RAA primer design principle and synthesized for the subsequent multiple RAA amplification. The genomic DNA of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus at different concentrations and the recombinant plasmids containing the target gene at various concentrations were amplified to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of the multiplex RAA assay, and the genomic DNA of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus, E. shiquicus, Taenia multiceps, T. saginata, T. asiatica, Dipylidium caninum, T. hydatigena, Toxocara canis, Fasciola hepatica, T. pisiformis, Mesocestoides lineatus and Cryptosporidiumn canis was detected using the multiplex RAA assay to evaluate its specificity. In addition, the reaction condition of the multiplex RAA assay was optimized, and was then employed to detect the tissues with echinococcosis lesions, simulated canine fecal samples and field captured fox fecal samples to examine its application values. RESULTS: The multiplex RAA assay was effective to specifically amplify the mitochondrial gene fragments of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus within 40 min at 39 °C, with sequence lengths of 540, 430 bp and 200 bp, respectively. This multiplex RAA assay showed the minimum detection limits of 2.0, 2.5 pg/µL and 3.1 pg/µL for detection of the genomic DNA of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus, and presented the minimum detection limit of 200 copies/µL for detection of the recombinant plasmids containing E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus target genes. This multiplex RAA assay was effective to simultaneously detect single and multiple infections with E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus, but failed to amplify the genomic DNA of T. multiceps, T. saginata, T. asiatica, D. caninum, T. hydatigena, T. canis, F. hepatica, T. pisiformis, M. lineatus and C. canis. In addition, the optimized multiplex RAA assay was effective to detect all positive samples from the tissue samples with echinococcosis lesions, simulated canine fecal samples and field captured fox fecal samples, which was fully consistent with the detection of the single PCR assay. CONCLUSIONS: A sensitive and specific multiplex nucleic acid assay for rapid detection of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and E. shiquicus has been successfully established.

[A multicenter prospective randomized controlled clinical study of 5-fluorouracil in different mass concentrations combined with triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of 5-fluorouracil in different mass concentrations combined with triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids. Methods: From March 2018 to March 2019, 29 patients with 31 keloids receipted in the Department of Plastic Surgery of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 11 patients with 20 keloids receipted in the Department of Dermatology of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area Hospital, and 9 patients with 9 keloids receipted in the Fuzhou Heisey-Dea Aesthetic Clinic were included in this prospectively randomized control study, with 27 males and 22 females, aged (30±9) years. According to the random number table, the keloids were divided into low mass concentration group (19 keloids, 17 patients), medium mass concentration group (21 keloids, 19 patients), and high mass concentration group (20 keloids, 17 patients). Then 5-fluorouracil at mass concentrations of 0.5, 5.0, and 12.5 mg/mL combined with triamcinolone acetonide were injected respectively, once every 4 weeks, for a total of 3 times. Before the first treatment and in 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance of keloids was evaluated by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and pain and pruritus of keloids were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Then the score differences before and after the treatment were calculated. In 6 months after the last treatment, the patients' efficacy satisfaction was evaluated by efficacy satisfaction rating scale. Adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded. In the follow-up of one year after the last treatment, the recurrence rates of keloids were counted. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, paired sample t test, least significant difference t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, or Fisher's exact probability test. Results: Before the first treatment, the appearance VSS scores of appearance of keloids in the three groups were similar (F=0.039, P>0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (t=2.267, 4.086, P<0.05 or P<0.01). In 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group, medium mass concentration group, and high mass concentration group were significantly decreased compared with those before the first treatment (t=18.222, 44.272, 22.523, P<0.01). The differences of appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (t=-4.096, -6.357, P<0.01), and the differences of appearance VSS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in high mass concentration group (t=-2.368, P<0.05). Before the first treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in the three groups were similar (χ2=0.149, P>0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (Z=2.191, 4.386, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in high mass concentration group (Z=2.276, P<0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group were significantly decreased compared with those before the first treatment (Z=-3.904, -3.844, P<0.01). The differences of pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (Z=-4.265, -6.104, P<0.01). In 6 months after the last treatment, the efficacy satisfaction scores of the corresponding patients of keloids were (88±8) points in high mass concentration group, which were significantly higher than (76±8) points in medium mass concentration group and (60±8) points in low mass concentration group (t=-3.820, -6.675, P<0.01), and the efficacy satisfaction scores of the corresponding patients of keloids in medium mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in high mass concentration group (t=-2.984, P<0.05). There was only statistically significant difference in pain within the 3 groups (P<0.01). In the follow-up of one year after the last treatment, the recurrence rate of keloids in high mass concentration group was significantly lower than that in low mass concentration group (χ2=8.313, P<0.01), and the recurrence rate of keloids in medium mass concentration group was similar to the recurrence rates in low mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (P>0.05). Conclusions: After treating keloids with high mass concentration of 5-fluorouracil combined with triamcinolone acetonide, the symptoms were significantly improved, the efficacy satisfaction of patients was increased, with no obvious adverse reactions but long lasting efficacy. Their overall effects are better than treatment using medium and low mass concentrations of 5-fluorouracil, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Clinical and biological impact of LINC02544 expression in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of breast cancer and cancer tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) may be helpful to find new biomarkers. It is known that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the carcinogenic pathway and drug resistance of breast cancer. Our aim was to determine the role of LINC02544 in the behavior and outcome of post-nCT breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of LINC02544 in breast cancer and its effect on the survival time of patients were predicted by lnCAR database. In vitro, EdU, Wound-healing and transwell assays were used to detect the effects of LINC02544 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells, and the related regulatory networks were analyzed by the database. Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of LINC02544 in 147 cases of nCT before and after treatment, and the relationship between the expression of LINC02544 and survival time and clinicopathological features was analyzed. RESULTS: LINC02544 was highly expressed in breast cancer and led to poor prognosis. Overexpression of LINC02544 promoted proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. Compared with the residual tumor after nCT with low expression of LINC02544, the high expression of LINC02544 in the residual tumor after nCT was significantly correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it is suggested that LINC02544 has a potential application prospect as a biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer patients and neoadjuvant therapy patients.

[Effect of partial cricotracheal resection and extended cricotracheal resection for severe laryngotracheal stenosis].

Objective: To assess the outcomes of partial cricotracheal resection (CTR) and extended cricotracheal resection (ECTR) for severe laryngotracheal stenosis. Methods: From November 2009 to September 2017, 18 patients underwent CTR and ECTR at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University for severe laryngotracheal stenosis were reviewed retrospectively. There were 12-male and 6-female patients, with the age ranged from 4 to 56 years (median 25 years). The causes were postintubation in 11 cases, cervical trauma in 4, idiopathic in 3. The stenosis located in subglottic and tracheal (n=12), glottic and subglottic and tracheal (n=3), subglottic (n=2), and glottic and subglottic (n=1). Two patients had concurrent unilateral vocal cord palsy.One patient had undergone previous endoscopic balloon dilation and 8 patients had previous laryngotracheal reconstruction. The stenosis was graded according to modified Myer-Cotton classification as follows: Ⅲb (n=1), Ⅲc(n=1), Ⅳa (n=2), Ⅳb (n=12), Ⅳc (n=2). The surgical outcomes and complications were recorded. Results: Among 18 patients,11 of the 12 patients undergoing CTR were decannulated. Five of the 6 patients undergoing ECTR were decannulated. Resected airway length ranged from 1.5 to 4.0 cm (median 2.8 cm). Surgical complications included infection of incision wound in 2 cases, anastomotic granulation in 2, cervical subcutaneous emphysema in 1, aspiration in 1, and unilateral arytenoid prolapse in 1. No recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or tracheoesophageal fistula occurred. The median follow up was 11 months. Conclusions: CTR is efficient for severe subglottic and upper tracheal stenosis while ECTR is efficient for subglottic stenosis extended to the glottis. Both procedures also provide a salvage therapy for patients with previous failed treatments.

[The application of thyroid alar cartilage in the reconstruction of subglottic stenosis for children].

Objective: To explore the application value of thyroid alar cartilage(TAC) in the laryngotracheal reconstruction of subglotticstenosis in the paediatric population. Methods: Twelve patients(7 males,5 females; range from 2.3 to 12.0 years) with subglotticstenosis who had undergone laryngotracheal reconstruction procedures at our hospital fromSeptember 2016 to July 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.The degree of stenosis was classified according to Myer-Cotton classification system:grade Ⅱ(n=4),grade Ⅲ(n=6) and grade Ⅳ(n=2). The stenosis planes were subglotticbut did not exceed the 3rd tracheal cartilage ring. Results: Of all 12 patients, 11 were decannulated and 1 failed. All patients with grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients were decannulated at one procedure. There were no severe complications such as tube dislogement,asphyxia and unhealed wound. Conclusions: The TAC for widening laryngotracheal lumen is relatively simple and reliable for laryngotracheal reconstruction in the pediatric population with subglottic stenosis. This would't cause any structural damage to the laryngeal cavity.

[Management of laryngeal stenosis after laryngeal cancer surgery].

Objective:To evaluate the surgical methods and outcomes of laryngeal stenosis after laryngeal cancer surgery. Method:Nineteen patients with laryngeal stenosis caused by partial laryngectomy were retrospectively analyzed.Two cases were treated by endoscopic laser resection. Seventeen were treated by open surgery. Among them 15 used the sternohyoid myocutaneous flap and 1 thyroid alar cartilage and 1 hyoid bone as grafts. Result:Sixteen patients were decannulated and the overall decannulation rate was 84%. A silicone T tube was remained in place from 3 to 18 months, mean 10 months. Follow-up was obtained from 11 months to 8 years. Conclusion:Vertical partial laryngectomy easily lead to laryngeal stenosis. The sternohyoid myocutaneous flap is the major approach for laryngeal stenosis. Endoscopic laser resection is effective for mild stenosis.

Identification of the novel HLA-A*11:141 allele in a Chinese bone marrow donor.

HLA-A*11:141 has 1 nucleotide change from HLA-A*11:01:01 at position 470G>C.

[Sternohyoid myocutaneous flap in pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis treatment].

Objective:To assess the indications and outcomes of laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) using the sternohyoid myocutaneous flap (SMF) in pediatric patients with laryngotracheal stenosis. Method:Twenty patients (15 males, 5 females; mean age, 9 years old, range 3 to 14) with laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent SMF procedures at Tangdu Hospital between August 1991 and October 2014 were analyzed. Stenosis was classified according to the Myer-Cotton grading system. Four patients were grade Ⅱ, ten were grade Ⅲ, and six were grade Ⅳ. The mean length of stenosis was 1.8 cm (rang, 0.3-4.0 cm). Three patients had concomitant unilateral vocal paralysis and 2 had bilateral vocal paralysis. Result:Fourteen of 20 patients (70%) were decannulated. The prevalence of decannulation for grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ was 100%, 70%, and 50%, respectively. There were no severe complications. Conclusion:The SMF is a relatively simple and reliable method for LTR but should be used cautiously if employed in severe cases such as grade Ⅳ with long-segment stenosis.

[Management of subglottic stenosis in children with endoscopic balloon dilation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic balloon dilation for subglottic stenosis. METHODS: The clinical outcomes of 9 pediatric patients treated with balloon dilation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 male and 1 female. Their age ranged from 7 months to 7 years (mean 2.5 years). The degree of stenosis was classified according to Myer-Cotton classification as follows: grade Ⅱ (n=7) and grade Ⅲ (n=2). The causes of the stenosis were postintubation lesions (n=8) and laryngeal penetrating trauma (n=1). RESULTS: The patients had undergone 1 to 3 dilations with an average of 1.8 procedures per patient. Six (66.7%) patients were decannulated. Among them, 4(44.4%) were decannulated after one dilation procedure. Pneumothoraces occurred in 2 children postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic balloon dilation is an effective, relatively safe and minimally invasive surgical method for patients with low-grade subglottic stenosis.

[Viability of extended distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the body or tail].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the viability of extended distal pancreatectomy and the associated prognostic factors. METHODS: The data of 57 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent standard distal pancreatectomy(DP) or extended distal pancreatectomy(EDP) from January 2011 to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-five patients were performed with DP and 22 with EDP. Operation safety and survival benefit between DP and EDP were compared by t-test or χ(2) test.Cox regression analysis was used to explore the prognostic indicators. RESULTS: Compared to DP group, operation time((255±91)min vs.(208±80)min)(t=2.066, P=0.044) and ratio of blood transfusion (50.0% vs.17.1%)(χ(2)=12.836, P=0.008) were greater in EDP group, respectively.There were no significant differences in amount of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative duration of hospitalization. Delayed gastric emptying was greater in EDP(22.7% vs.2.9%)(Z=-2.251, P=0.027), while other complications had no differences. Mortality and ratio of relaparotomy also showed no differences. Median survival following DP was 13.1 months compared to 8.2 months following EDP. There was no difference in survival between DP and EDP. According to the results of multivariate analysis, tumor size(RR=1.275, P=0.03)and perioperative blood transfusions(RR=2.673, P=0.04) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Though patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who undergo EDP have a worse pathologic staging, they will gain a comparable long-term survival to the patients undergo DP. Tumor size and perioperative blood transfusions are independent prognostic factors.

[Segmental tracheal resection and anastomosis for the treatment of cicatricial stenosis in cervical tracheal].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of segmental tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis for cicatricial cervical tracheal stenosis. METHODS: The clinical outcomes of 40 patients treated with tracheal resection were retrospectively reviewed. There were 28 male patients and 12 female patients with the age ranged from 6 to 64 years (mean 33.7 years). The degree of stenosis was classified according to Myer-Cotton classification as follows: grade Ⅱ (n=7), grade Ⅲ (n=22) and grade Ⅳ (n=11). The stenosis extension ranged from 1.0 to 4.3 cm (mean 2.5 cm). The causes of the stenosis were postintubation (n=33), cervical trauma (n=6) and resection of tracheal neoplasm (n=1). RESULTS: Thirty-four(85.0%) patients were decannulated and 6 failed. Of the 6 patients failed, 4 were decannulated after reoperation with the sternohyoid myocutaneous flap or thyroid alar cartilage graft. Complications occurred in 10 patients. In 8 patients granulation tissues formed at the site of the tracheal anastomosis, which needed endoscopic resction, and in 2 patients anastomosic dehiscence occurred. No injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve or trachoesophageal fistula occurred. CONCLUSION: Segmental tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis is an effective surgical method for tracheal stenosis, which has a higher successful rate for primary operation and shorter therapeutic period.

Identification of a novel HLA-B*40 allele, HLA-B*40:210, in a Chinese individual.

The newly detected HLA-B*40:210 allele has two nucleotide changes in exon 2 compared to B*40:49 allele.

Identification of a novel HLA-A*02 allele, HLA-A*02:06:13, in a Chinese individual.

The novel HLA-A*02:06:13 allele shows one nucleotide difference from A*02:06:01 in exon 4 at nucleotide position 657 (T→C).

Identification of SNP markers for inferring phylogeny in temperate bamboos (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) using RAD sequencing.

Phylogenetic relationships among temperate species of bamboo are difficult to resolve, owing to both the challenge of detecting sufficiently variable markers and their polyploid history. Here, we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to identify candidate loci with fixed allelic differences segregating between and within two temperate species of bamboos: Arundinaria faberi and Yushania brevipaniculata. Approximately 27 million paired-end sequencing reads were generated across four samples. From pooled data, we assembled 67 685 and 70 668 de novo contigs from partial overlap among paired-end reads, with an average length of 240 and 241 bp for the two species, respectively, which were used to investigate functional classification of RAD tags in a blastx search. Analysed separately by population, we recovered 29 443 putatively orthologous RAD tags shared across the four sampled populations, containing 28 023 sequence variants, of which c. 13 000 are segregating between species, and c. 3000 segregating between populations within each species. Analyses based on these RAD tags yielded robust phylogenetic inferences, even with data set constructed from surprisingly few loci. This study illustrates the potential for reduced-representation genome data to resolve difficult phylogenetic relationships in temperate bamboos.

In vivo 2-deoxyglucose administration preserves glucose and glutamate transport and mitochondrial function in cortical synaptic terminals after exposure to amyloid beta-peptide and iron: evidence for a stress response.

Mild metabolic stress can increase resistance of neurons in the brain to subsequent more severe insults, as exemplified by the beneficial effects of heat shock and ischemic preconditioning. Studies of Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders indicate that dysfunction and degeneration of synapses occur early in the cell death process, and that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are central events in this pathological process. It was recently shown that administration of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG), a nonmetabolizable glucose analog that induces metabolic stress, to rats and mice can increase resistance of neurons in the brain to excitotoxic, ischemic, and oxidative injury. We now report that administration of 2DG to adult rats (daily i.p. injections of 100 mg/kg body weight) increases resistance of synaptic terminals to dysfunction and degeneration induced by amyloid beta-peptide and ferrous iron, an oxidative insult. The magnitude of impairment of glucose and glutamate transport induced by amyloid beta-peptide and iron was significantly reduced in cortical synaptosomes from 2DG-treated rats compared to saline-treated control rats. Mitochondrial dysfunction, as indicated by increased levels of reactive oxygen species and decreased transmembrane potential, was significantly attenuated after exposure to amyloid beta-peptide and iron in synaptosomes from 2DG-treated rats. Levels of the stress proteins HSP-70 and GRP-78 were increased in synaptosomes from 2DG-treated rats, suggesting a mechanism whereby 2DG protects synaptic terminals. We conclude that 2DG bolsters cytoprotective mechanisms within synaptic terminals, suggesting novel preventative and therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative disorders.

Secreted form of amyloid precursor protein enhances basal glucose and glutamate transport and protects against oxidative impairment of glucose and glutamate transport in synaptosomes by a cyclic GMP-mediated mechanism.

Synaptic dysfunction and degeneration are believed to underlie the cognitive deficits that characterize Alzheimer's disease, and overactivation of glutamate receptors under conditions of increased oxidative stress and metabolic compromise may contribute to the neurodegenerative process in many different disorders. The secreted form of amyloid precursor protein (sAPPalpha), which is released from neurons in an activity-dependent manner, can modulate neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, and neuron survival. We now report that sAPPalpha can enhance glucose and glutamate transport in synaptic compartments. Treatment of cortical synaptosomes with nanomolar concentrations of sAPPalpha resulted in an attenuation of impairment of glutamate and glucose transport induced by exposure to amyloid beta-peptide and Fe2+. The protective effect of sAPPalpha was mimicked by treatment with 8-bromo-cyclic GMP and blocked by a cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, suggesting that protective action of sAPPalpha is mediated by cyclic GMP. Our data suggest that glucose and glutamate transport can be regulated locally at the level of the synapse and further suggest important roles for sAPPalpha and cyclic GMP in modulating synaptic physiology under normal and pathophysiological conditions.

[The use of laser ignited mini-explosive technique in treating 100 cases of gastric bezoars].

The experience of breaking gastric bezoars endoscopically with a laser ignited mini-explosive head was reported. After successful application of this technique in vitro and in experimental animals, we began to use it clinically in January 1988. In a period of more than four years, we treated 100 cases of gastric bezoars, 80 cases being male and 20 female, aged from 5 to 65 years. 70 cases were cured after one treatment, 24 after two and the remaining 6 cases after three times of treatment. The cure rate was 100%. Except one case complicated with gastric perforation, no other complications were observed. The etiology and prevention of gastric bezoars, as well as the new method and experience in treating this disease were discussed.

Suppressive effect of high energy shock waves on tumor cells.

Suppressive effect on tumor cells of high energy shock waves (HESW) has aroused the interest of physicians in recent years. We assessed experimentally the cytotoxic effects of HESW on tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo and determined whether a Chinese domestic lithotriptor is capable of generating effective HESW, which has the potential to break tumor cells, reduce cell viability, retard cell growth, delay doubling time, impair cell attachment and cell clonogenicity. In nude rats, HESW was able to delay tumor growth and reduce tumor size without evidence of metastasis. The nature of HESW in the induction of cell damage and its clinical application need to be further investigated.