High tumor-associated macrophages infiltration is associated with poor prognosis and may contribute to the phenomenon of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to the progression and poor prognosis of carcinoma through multiple mechanisms. Both inflammation and changing of epithelium have a close relationship with tumorigenesis of gastric cancer. However, the relevance between EMT and TAMs is still unclear in gastric cancer and needs more scientific research. This study is designed to explore the relationship between EMT and TAMs in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of EMT-related proteins and TAM markers in cancer tissues and normal gastric tissues. RESULTS: High levels of EMT and TAMs infiltration are related to aggressive features and independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer, respectively. In addition, expression of the two indicators is associated with expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1). Infiltration of TAMs is also associated with EMT-related marker in gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that high levels of EMT and TAMs infiltration are related to aggressive features and independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer, respectively. A correlation was found between EMT- and TAM-related indicators, which may be associated with TGF-ß signaling pathway. The level of TAMs infiltration plays an important role in gastric cancer, the markers of which can be used as prognostic indicators.

Comparison of high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein combined with foam sclerotherapy versus conventional surgery for the treatment of superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein (GSV) trunk combined with foam sclerotherapy with conventional surgery for the treatment of superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity. One hundred and thirty eight patients with primary or secondary superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity were included. 60 underwent conventional surgery and 78 were treated with high ligation and stripping of the GSV trunk and foam sclerotherapy of GSV branches, spider veins, and reticular veins. Surgical time and amount of bleeding of single limb, recurrence of varicose vein, complications and patients satisfactory were recorded. Compared with the conventional surgery group, the GSV trunk stripping and foam sclerotherapy group had a significantly lower surgical time (P < 0.05), amount of bleeding and duration of hospital stays (P < 0.01). No statistically significant difference with respect to the wound infection, local discomfort, postoperative recurrence rates of varicosity and patients satisfaction score was observed (P > 0.05). GSV trunk stripping and foam sclerotherapy group at a 6 months of follow up had a higher recurrence rate of varicosity as compared to the conventional surgery group (P < 0.05). High ligation and GSV trunk stripping combined with foam sclerotherapy prior to conventional surgery for patients with superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity with a shorter surgical time, fewer bleeding, duration of hospital stays and higher patients satisfactory scores.

[Analysis of X-rays of cervical imbalances syndrome before and after the treatment of osteopathy and traction intervention in 187 youth cases].

OBJECTIVE: To observe X-ray features of before and after treatment of cervical imbalance syndrome with osteopathy and traction intervention in youth patients, then to investigate the clinical effect of the treatment of the cervical imbalances syndrome in youth by osteopathy. METHODS: From September 2007 to December 2010, one hundred and eighty-seven students of 19 to 22 years (means 21 years) with neck pain as the main symptom in Beijing university of Chinese medicine were selected and divide them into osteopathy group and traction groups randomly. In osteopathy group, there were 94 patients including 40 males and 54 females; in traction group, there were 93 patients including 42 males and 51 females. The treatment of osteopathy group lasted for 3 weeks,three times per week; traction group by traction treatment three weeks,three times a week, too. X-ray before treatment and 3 weeks after treatment were collected. RESULTS: The osteopathy group:94 cases, before treatment, abnormal curvature in 57 cases, spinous position change in 45 cases and angular displacement in 44 cases, vertebral sliding in 15 cases, Ruth Jackson line intersect proneness change in 70 cases,stretch change in 47 cases; after treatment, abnormal curvature in 35 cases, spinous position change in 24 cases and angular displacement in 18 cases, vertebral sliding in 3 cases, Ruth Jackson line intersect proneness change in 41 cases, extension change in 33 cases; X-Ray measurement results: cervical curvature improved from (7.070 +/- 4.629) degrees before treatment to (7.660 +/- 4.156) degrees after treatment, angular displacement improved from (13.790 +/- 2.590) degrees before treatment to (11.050 +/- 2.560) degrees after treatment; vertebral sliding improved from (3.770 +/- 0.350) mm before treatment to (3.160 +/- 0.485) mm after treatment. The change of angular displacement and vertebral sliding were so significant before and after treatment in this group, there were statistical defferences between before and after the treatment (P < 0.01) in osteopathy group. The traction group: 93 cases, before treatment,abnormal curvature in 60 cases, spinous position change in 39 cases and angular displacement in 39 cases, vertebral sliding in 15 cases, Ruth Jackson line intersect proneness change in 70 cases, stretch in 47 cases; after treatment,abnormal curvature in 50 cases, spinous position change in 29 cases and angular displacement in 17 cases; vertebral sliding in 3 cases, Ruth Jackson line intersect proneness change in 41 cases, stretch in 33 cases; X-Ray measurement results: cervical curvature improved from (5.590 +/- 4.639) degrees before treatment to (5.990 +/- 4.330) degrees after treatment, angular displacement improved from (13.360 +/- 2.064) degrees before treatment to (11.210 +/- 1.872) degrees after treatment; vertebral sliding improved from (3.790 +/- 0.339) mm before treatment to (3.480 +/- 0.332) mm after treatment. The change of angular displacement and vertebral sliding were also so significant in traction group before and after treatment, there were statistical defferences between before and after the treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: (1) Pathological changes can be called youth cervical imbalance syndrome. (2) Stress points, angular displacement, cervical vertebral slip, curvature straightened, spinous position change are main X-ray performances. (3) Both osteopathy and traction intervention on are efficient in youth neck pain. (4) Youths cervical vertebra imbalance is early but reversible performance.

[Multiple linear regression analysis of X-ray measurement and WOMAC scores of knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To perform Multiple Linear Regression analysis of X-ray measurement and WOMAC scores of knee osteoarthritis, and to analyze their relationship with clinical and biomechanical concepts. METHODS: From March 2011 to July 2011, 140 patients (250 knees) were reviewed, including 132 knees in the left and 118 knees in the right; ranging in age from 40 to 71 years, with an average of 54.68 years. The MB-RULER measurement software was applied to measure femoral angle, tibial angle, femorotibial angle, joint gap angle from antero-posterir and lateral position of X-rays. The WOMAC scores were also collected. Then multiple regression equations was applied for the linear regression analysis of correlation between the X-ray measurement and WOMAC scores. RESULTS: There was statistical significance in the regression equation of AP X-rays value and WOMAC scores (P<0.05), while there was no statistical significance in the regression equation of lateral X-ray value and WOMAC scores (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: 1) X-ray measurement of knee joint can reflect the WOMAC scores to a certain extent. 2) It is necessary to measure the X-ray mechanical axis of knee, which is important for diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis. 3) The correlation between tibial angle,joint gap angle on antero-posterior X-ray and WOMAC scores is significant, which can be used to assess the functional recovery of patients before and after treatment.

[Case-control study on therapeutic effects between bone-setting and herbal fumigation for the treatment of the obsolete malleolus joint sprains].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of bone-setting technique and herbal fumigation for the treatment of the obsolete malleolus joint sprains. METHODS: From March 2008 to May 2011, 76 patients were divided into treatment group (39 cases) and control group (37 cases). In the treatment group: 15 males and 24 females; the age ranged from 20 to 59 years with an average of (42.97 +/- 9.21) years; the course of disease ranged from 1 to 60 months; the average score of ankle joint function was (71.27 +/- 4.50). In the control group: 11 males and 26 females; the age ranged from 25 to 57 years with an average of (41.29 +/- 8.77) years; the course of disease ranged from 1 to 36 months with an average of (8.47 +/- 7.37) months; the average score of ankle joint function was (71.45 +/- 4.61). The patients in the treatment group were treated with bone-setting technique two times a week, and the patients in the control group were treated with herbal fumigation once a day. The ankle joint function scores and treatment effects of the two groups were compared after 3 weeks by using Baird-Jackson ankle function score. RESULTS: After 3 weeks of the treatment, the average score of ankle joint function of the treatment group was (93.44 +/- 4.91), and in the control group was (85.8 +/- 16.57), the difference has statistical significance. The treatment group score was better than that of the control group. Before and after treatment,the average ankle score of the treatment group was (71.27 +/- 4.50) and (93.44 +/- 4.91), the difference has statistical significance. Before and after treatment, the average ankle score of the control group was (71.45 +/- 4.61) and (85.81 +/- 6.57), the difference has statistical significance. In the treatment group, 16 cases got an excellent result, 18 good, 3 fair, 2 poor; in the control group, 9 cases got an excellent result, 14 good, 5 fair,9 poor. The difference has statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The bone-setting techniques and herbal fumigation treatment of obsolete malleolus joint sprains both have a certain effect, and the former is better than the latter.

[The clinical application of infrared imaging technology in teenagers with cervicodynia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the temperature distribution of both sides of shoulder, provide objective reference for the application thermoview in the diagnosis of cervicodynia in teenagers. METHODS: Forty-five adolescents with cervicodynias from March 2009 to December 2009 were collected. There were 23 males and 22 females, with an average age of 21 years (ranged from 19 to 22 years). The course of disease ranged from 2 to 20 weeks (averaged 13 weeks). C7 horizontal line were used to divide the back into the neck area and shoulders area, and the midline to subdivide the chosen area into left and right area. Thermal infrared imaging was used to observe the temperature both sides of neck and shoulders, the data was analyzed by the computer. RESULTS: The temperature of shoulder was higher than neck. There were significant differences in the highest and average temperature both of the left and right side of neck and shoulder (P < 0.05), but no difference in the lowest temperature both of left and right side of neck. CONCLUSION: The thermal infrared imaging is important for diagnosing cervical imbalance syndrome, finding the sign of abnormal muscle metabolism of shoulder and providing the basis for prevention.

5-Hydr-oxy-1,7-bis-(1H-indol-3-yl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one hemihydrate.

The title compound, C(23)H(18)N(2)O(2)·0.5H(2)O, a derivative of the biologically active compound curcumin, crystallizes with two organic mol-ecules and a solvent water mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit. Each of the two independent mol-ecules is close to being planar (the dihedral angles between the indole ring systems are approximately 9 and 12°) and each exists in the keto-enol form. There is an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond between the keto and enol groups. In the crystal, the components interact by way of N-H⋯N, N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.