The coumarin-pyrazole dye for detection of hydrogen sulfide in cells.

Fluorescent probes for H2S are often interfered by other thiols. In this work, a coumarin-pyrazole dye with 2,4-dinitrosulfonyl group was designed for the detection of H2S. The probe exhibits weak fluorescence in water due to the photo induced electron transfer (PET) by 2,4-dinitrosulfonyl. After the sulfonyl group is cleaved off by H2S, strong fluorescence appears. The probe can specifically detect H2S without being interfered by other biological thiols, and shows a wide applicable pH range, low detection and wide detection range. The excellent detection properties of the probe can also be used to detect endogenous and exogenous H2S in cells. In addition, the probes can be made into portable test paper for the detection of H2S in solutions and can detect H2S in different water samples.

Correlation between ovarian neoplasm and serum levels of osteopontin: a meta-analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum osteopontin (OPN) levels in ovarian neoplasm in patients, with the goal of building a novel diagnostic score model. By searching the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, Google Scholar, CBM, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, we conducted a meta-analysis. Studies were pooled, and the standardized mean difference (SMD) and its corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Subgroup analyses and publication bias detection were also conducted. Version 12.0 STATA software was used for statistical analysis. We performed a final analysis of 1,653 subjects altogether (822 patients with psoriasis and 831 healthy controls) from 15 clinical case-control studies. The meta-analysis results showed a positive association between serum OPN levels and ovarian neoplasm (SMD = 2.60, 95 %CI 1.88-3.32, P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis by ethnicity detected that high levels of serum OPN may be the main risk factor for ovarian neoplasms in Asians (SMD = 2.91, 95 %CI 2.38-3.45, P < 0.001), but not in Caucasians (P > 0.05). The present meta-analysis indicated that serum OPN levels were generally elevated in ovarian neoplasm patients, and thus, serum levels of OPN could be useful in diagnosing ovarian neoplasm.

Laparoscopic splenectomy for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Since the first laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) was reported in 1991, LS has become the gold standard for the removal of normal to moderately enlarged spleens in benign conditions. Compared with open splenectomy, fewer postsurgical complications and better postoperative recovery have been observed, but LS is contraindicated for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis in many institutions owing to technical difficulties associated with splenomegaly, well-developed collateral circulation, and increased risk of bleeding. With the improvements of laparoscopic technique, the concept is changing. This article aims to give an overview of the latest development in laparoscopic splenectomy for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Despite a lack of randomized controlled trial, the publications obtained have shown that with meticulous surgical techniques and advanced instruments, LS is a technically feasible, safe, and effective procedure for hypersplenism secondary to cirrhosis and portal hypertension and contributes to decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and less impairment of liver function. It is recommended that the dilated short gastric vessels and other enlarged collateral circulation surrounding the spleen be divided with the LigaSure vessel sealing equipment, and the splenic artery and vein be transected en bloc with the application of the endovascular stapler. To support the clinical evidence, further randomized controlled trials about this topic are necessary.

[Efficacy analysis of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the treatment of obesity-related comorbidities].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for the treatment of obesity and related diseases. METHODS: Clinical data of 67 patients who underwent LSG between December 2006 and July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Improvements in body mass index(BMI), percentage of excess weight loss(EWL), type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other comorbidities were observed at one year postoperatively. RESULTS: Laparoscopic procedures were completed in 67 patients without conversion. The operative time was(78±17) min. The postoperative hospital stay was(5.0±1.7) d. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and there were no perioperative death or severe postoperative complication. Sixty-four patients(95.5%) had a postoperative follow up of 1 year. One year after LSG, BMI decreased by(10.4±3.7) kg/m(2) from (37.7±4.1) kg/m(2) preoperatively and EWL was(80.2±27.7)%. In 13 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus, 7 patients (53.8%, 7/13) were weaned off hypoglycemic agents or insulin. In 11 cases of hypertension, 5 required no medications(45.5%, 5/11). The remission rate was both 100%. There was significant resolution or improvement of other obesity-related comorbidiities, including hyper-triglyceridemia(n=51), hyperuricemia(n=42), sleep apnea syndrome (n=2), osteoarticular disease (n=9), and acanthosis (n=8). CONCLUSIONS: LSG is safe and feasible for the treatment of obesity and can cure or improve type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other obesity related comorbidities.

[Application of serum protein fingerprint in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To establish serum protein fingerprint model for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and bioinformatics techniques. METHODS: A total of 73 samples were analyzed in this study, including 31 cases of pancreatic cancers, 22 cases of pancreatitis and 20 healthy individuals. Samples were first analyzed by SELDI-TOF-MS and two patterns of differentiation model were constructed with support vector machine arithmetic method. RESULTS: The pattern 1 model differentiating pancreatic cancer patients from healthy individuals had a specificity and a sensitivity of both 100.0%. The pattern 2 model differentiating pancreatic cancer from pancreatitis had a specificity of 95.5% and a sensitivity of 93.5%. CONCLUSION: SELDI-TOF-MS technique combined with bioinformatics can facilitate to identify biomarkers for pancreatic cancer.

[Clinical study of gastrointestinal stromal tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST). METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 84 patients with GIST undergone resection between April 1997 and June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively, and the prognosis was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 84 cases, 42 tumors located in stomach, 24 in small intestine, 18 in other sites. Tumor sizes ranged from 0.5 to 25 cm(average 5.6 cm). Positive rate of CD117 expression determined by immunohistochemical methods was 96.4%. Seventy-nine cases underwent complete tumor resection, while 5 cases received palliative resection or biopsy. Seventy-eight patients were followed up and their 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 92.0%, 79.2%, 72.0% respectively. The Fletcher's classification of malignancy risk groups for GIST was related to the survival rates(P=0.001). The differences of survival rate among very low risk group, low risk group and high-risk group were significant(P=0.003, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Complete tumor resection in the initial operation of GIST should be emphasized. The Fletcher's classification of malignancy risk groups for GIST is related to the survival rate. Extended surgical resection is required for GIST of higher malignancy risk.

[Surgical treatment for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a report of 73 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and prognosis of surgical treatment in primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 73 patients with primary GIST underwent operation from April 1997 to December 2007 was retrospectively analyzed, and the prognosis was evaluated too. RESULTS: Among the 73 cases, 68 cases received complete tumor resection, among which 12 cases underwent laparoscopic operation; while palliative resection and biopsy only were carried out in the other 5 cases. There was significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.000). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of the 66 cases had been followed up was 91.0%, 78.2% and 74.1%, respectively. The malignancy risk grades of GIST was related to the survival rates on statistical analysis (P = 0.002). Significant differences were found in the survival rates between the patients with very low grade, low grade and high grade malignancy tumors (P = 0.012, 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Complete tumor resection should be emphasized in primary GIST, and more attention should be paid to the initial surgical treatment. Extended surgical resection is required for tumors of higher malignancy risk. The indications of laparoscopic surgery in GIST should be selected with caution for tumor complete resection.

Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Since the first laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in 1991, LS has become the gold standard for the removal of normal-to-moderately enlarged spleens in benign conditions. Compared with open splenectomy (OS), fewer postsurgical complications and better postoperative recovery were observed, but it is contraindicated for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis owing to technical difficulties associated with splenomegaly, well-developed collateral circulation, and increased risk of bleeding. With the improvements of laparoscopic technique, the concept is changing. METHODS: OS and LS performed for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis at our institution were analyzed. Relationships between postoperative increases in platelet counts, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and liver function were examined. Perioperative data of LSs were compared with those of OSs, including operative time, blood loss, excised spleen weight, complications, and hospital stays. RESULTS: A total of 216 splenectomies (135 OS and 81 LS) were performed from April 1999 to March 2007. Five laparoscopic cases were converted to open surgery owing to operative bleeding or bleeding of splenic fossa. The other 76 patients were performed LSs successfully. No major operative complications occurred. There was no operative death. Excised spleen weight >400 g was present in 56% of cases in this series. At 7 days postoperatively, the platelet counts, white blood cell counts, and hemoglobin significantly increased after open and laparoscopic surgeries, and increase of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and directed bilirubin of LS were significantly different with open cases. Operation times of LS and OS were 2.9+/-0.7 hours and 2.6+/-0.6 hours, respectively. Blood losses were 150.6+/-135.4 mL and 633.8+/-340.3 mL (P<0.01), excised spleen weights were 585.7+/-184.6 g and 591.1+/-153.4 g (P>0.05), and hospital stay were 8.2+/-2.0 days and 11.9+/-3.8 days (P<0.01). Operative associated complications were noted in both LS and OS. Less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and less impairment of liver function were observed in LS than OS. CONCLUSIONS: LS is feasible, effective, and safe procedures for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and contributes to less impairment of liver function, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stay.