Objective To summarize the status of tumor stem cells investigations in gastrointestinal carcinoma. Methods Domestic and international publications online involving tumor stem cells of gastrointestinal carcinoma in recent years were collected and reviewed. Results There are a small quantity of cancer cells shown some stem cell characteristics. They are named tumor stem cell and play an important role in tumorigenesis, proliferation, metastasis and recurrence. And also, tumor stem cells can resist the effect of antineoplastic drugs and lead to tumor recurrence. These tumor-initiating cells are CD133-positive in the gastrointestinal carcinomas, especially in colorectal cancers. CD133-positive colorectal cancer cells have the abilities of clone, proliferation, differentiation and form metastases. And a high CD133 mRNA content was found in the blood of patients who suffered from bone metastases. Conclusion The characteristics of CD133-positive cancer cell and the mechanisms of stem cell-niche system are the basis of developing better methods to tumor diagnosis and treatment, and provide theoretical basis of new methods, such as targeted therapy.
Objective To explore application of preoperative examination in the colorectal cancer patients. Methods The preoperative examination data of patients diagnosed definitely as colorectal cancer at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from November 2006 to June 2007 was retrospectively study, and the application situation and relationship among all preoperative examination in the colorectal cancer patients were analyzed. Results According to the inclusion criteria, 438 colorectal cancer patients were included which involved 260 males and 178 females. Preoperative examinations included two to sixteen items, with an average of 10.61 items. According to correlation analysis, positive correlation existed among lung function and blood type ( r =0.161, P =0.001), tumor marker ( r =0.118, P =0.014), chest X-ray ( r =0.113, P =0.018), routine electrocardiogram ( r =0.198, P =0.000) , while lung function and immune and stress reaction exhibit a negative correlation ( r =-0.106, P = 0.027) with preoperative examinations. At the same time, immune and stress reaction had positive correlation to CT examinations of abdomen ( r =0.151, P =0.001) as well as endorectal ultrasound ( r =0.330, P =0.000). Using univariate analysis, the influence of tumor location ( P =0.012) and operative method ( P =0.004) on the number of examination items was significant. Conclusion Preoperative examination of colorectal tumor surgery mainly includes routine examination, neoplasm-related examination and important organs function detection. And three levels of preoperative menu can be set up in early stage. Establishment of normalization preoperative combined examination may be helpful to consummate preoperative evaluation and improve medical quality.
Objective To study the mechanism of immune hyporesponsiveness of allograft rejection induced by transfusion nonpufsed allopeptide syngeneic immature dendritic cell (imDC) generated from recipient bone marrow progenitors and to explore a possible strategy for liver allograft protection in clinic. Methods Forty experimental rats were randomly divided into 4 group: control group, cyclosporine A (CsA) group, mature DC (mDC) group and imDC group. In control group, Wistar rats only received liver transplantation. In CsA group, Wistar rats underwent liver transplantation plus CsA treatment 〔10 mg/（kg·d)〕. In mDC group, recipient-derived mDC 1×106 were infused intravenously through the penile vein to Wistar rats. In imDC group, ImDC with the dose of 1×106 were injected into Wistar rats via the dorsum vein of penile. In each group, five recipients were killed on the 10th day after transplantation, the other five recipients were left to observe survival time. The levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were detected. The acute rejection and the expression of FasL/Fas in the grafts were detected by HE and immunohistochemical staining. Western blot was used to detect Scurfin protein expression of CD4+ CD25+ T cells. Results The median survival time of the liver allografts in CsA group and imDC group were significantly longer than that in control group and mDC group ( P ＜ 0.05). The levels of ALT and TBIL in control group and mDC group were significantly higher than those in CsA group and imDC group ( P ＜ 0.05). Compared with CsA group and imDC group, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ were higher but the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were lower in control group and mDC group ( P ＜ 0.01). Slightly or no rejection reaction was found in CsA group and imDC group ( P ＜ 0.05). The Scurfin protein expressions of CD4+ CD25+ T cells of imDC group were significantly higher than those of other three groups. Conclusion Application of nonpufsed allopeptide syngeneic recipient-derived imDC is an effective way to induce immune hyporesponsiveness by blocking indirect recognition in rat liver transplantation model. Survival span is significantly prolonged by its protective effect. The mechanism of immune hyporesponsiveness induced by imDC transfusion might be involved in some aspects: T cell apoptosis, immune deviation of Thl/Th2 cytokine net and inhibition of T lymphocytes responsiveness by regulatory T cells.
Objective To investigate the effect of constitutively active Akt1 gene on rat engrafted islets in apoptosis and revascularization, and to explore potential method of gene therapy in the islet transplantation. Methods Rat islet which was transfected constitutively actived Akt1 gene via adenovirus vector using MOI=500. Thirty-six streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups complete randomly: Adv-CA-Akt1 group, Adv-LacZ group and simple transplantation group. Blood glucose and insulin were determined after operation. TUNEL was used to detect the apoptotic islet cells. HE and immunohistochemical staining of insulin were used to evaluate the histology of the islet grafts. The microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 immunohistochemical staining. Results The fasting glucose level in Adv-CA-Akt1 group restored to normal 2 days after transplantation. However, in Adv-LacZ group and simple transplantation group, it reduced but still kept being hyperglycemia. And the serum insulin level was higher than other two groups ( P ＜ 0.05). Compared to simple transplantation group and Adv-LacZ group, apoptotic rate decreased 25% in Adv-CA-Akt1 group, a large number of islet grafts were seen under the capsule of the kidney, which were positively stained by insulin antibody. In the other two groups, the islet groups mass were lighter, and few positively stained by insulin antibody. MVD showed lighter positive endothelial cells stained by CD31 antibody in the other two groups than Adv-CA-Akt1 group ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Constitutively activate Akt1 gene can prolong graft survival during early posttransplant period, and can accelerate the revascularization of islet grafts effectively.
Objective To investigate the relationship of p53 codon 72 polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric cancer in high incidence area of Hexi area of Gansu province. Methods The Arg/Pro polymorphism of p53 gene was detected by real-time PCR in 140 patients with gastric cancer, 110 patients with gastric precancerous lesion and 125 healthy controls; Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection was detected by Warthin-Starry silver method． Results The Pro allele frequencies of p53 gene in gastric cancer cases (0.543) were higher than those in gastric precancerous lesion (0.482) and controls (0.472). The Pro genotype had a more than 1.846 fold increased risk of gastric cancer 〔OR=1.846; 95% 〗CI (1.006-3.387); P =0.046〕． With statistical analysis， the genotype of p53 gene was correlated with location and Laurens histological type （ P ＜ 0.05）. A significantly higher risk of gastric cancer was also seen in cases with p53 Pro genotype, food, Hp infection, positive mind factor and positive family history． Conclusion There is a b correlation between the p53 gene codon 72 Arg/Pro polymophism and susceptibility to gastric cancer in Hexi area of Gansu province and the Pro/Pro genotype may be one of the major risk factors in patients with gastric cancer.
Objective To determine whether lymph node-targeted chemotherapy with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU affects expressions of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in gastric cancer tissues, metastatic lymph nodes and normal gastric mucosa. Methods Twenty-eight patients with gastric cancer in our department were divided into lymph node-targeted chemotherapy (LNTC) group and control group from October 2005 to August 2006. The patients were treated with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU before operation in LNTC group and those were operated directly in control group. The gastric cancer tissues, metastatic lymph nodes and normal gastric mucosa were collected after operation. The expressions of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in those tissues were determined by immunohistochemical technique. Results In LNTC group, the positive expression rate of bcl-2 in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly lower than those in control group (28.6% vs . 78.6% , 25.0% vs . 70.0% , P ＜ 0.05), the positive expression rate of bax (85.7% vs . 28.6% , 80.0% vs . 30.0% ) and caspase-3 (57.1% vs . 14.3% , 55.0% vs . 15.0% ) in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly higher than those in control group ( P ＜ 0.05). The positive expression rate of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in normal gastric mucosa was not significantly different between two groups ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion The lymph node-targeted chemotherapy with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU can down-regulate the expression of bcl-2 and up-regulate the expression of bax and caspase-3 in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes, and therefore by affecting the expression levels of these apoptosis molecules may be one of the ways to induce tumor cell apoptosis.
Objective To study the effect of knockdown of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 in vitro . Methods Specific shRNA plasmids to STAT3 were constructed, and then transfected into MKN-45 cells by lipofectamine methods. Cells were divided into three groups: control group, psiRNA-H1 transfected group as negative group and psiRNA-H1/STAT3 transfected group. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of STAT3 mRNA and protein, respectively. Proliferation and apoptosis of the transfected cells were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively. The invasion of the transfected MKN-45 cells was measured by Boyden chamber. Results Compared with the negative control cells, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the expressions of STAT3 mRNA and protein were down-regulated in the psiRNA-H1/STAT3 transfected group ( P ＜ 0.05) . The subcloned recombinant plasmid expressing shRNA effectively inhibited MKN-45 cell growth and proliferation while empty plasmid had no such specific effect. Cell apoptosis rate increased significantly in psiRNA-H1/STAT3 transfected group （ P ＜ 0.01）, and the invasion of MKN-45 cells was efficiently inhabited in psiRNA-H1/STAT3 transfected group as compared with control group and psiRNA-H1 transfected group( P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Recombinant plasmid psiRNA-H1/STAT3 shRNA significantly inhibits the proliferation and invasion of MKN-45 cells and promotes their apoptosis.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate video-assisted thoracic surgery（VATS）and minimal incision thoracotomy（MIT）lobectomy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients and the impact upon postoperative quality of life（QOL）. Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. From January 1, 2008 to December 10, 2011, the qualified patients with early stage NSCLC were recruited and randomized to VATS group （57 patients）and MIT group（49 patients）, totally 106 patients，57 males and 49 females, aged 57.60 years. The quality of life was assessed using Lung Cancer Symptom Scale （LCSS） before operation and at 1,3,6,9,12 months after operation. Results There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, sex, the location of tumor, tumor pathologic stage, pathological types, postoperative complications, tumor size, operative time, operative bleeding and air leak days. There were no symptoms after operation at the VATS group worse than the leve before operation. Five major symptoms, including appetit（1.04±0.71 vs.2.00±0.83, F=6.357，P=0.021）, fatigue （4.55±1.17 vs.10.19±2.10, F=4.721，P=0.043）, dyspnea（2.18±0.86 vs.10.26±2.05, F=10.020，P=0.005）, normal activity（5.16±1.70 vs.17.60±3.17, F=12.319，P=0.002）at the MIT group were deteriorated significantly at 1 month after the operation （P＜0.05）. Conclusion The VATS will lead to better quality of life for the patients with early stage NSCLC after surgery and lead to a smooth postoperative recovery.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate clinical outcomes of endoscopic vein harvesting （EVH）for coronary artery bypass grafting（CABG） in diabetic patients. Methods In this prospective non-randomized control study, patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent CABG from December 2010 to Febuary 2012 in West China Hospital were enrolled. Based on different vein graft harvesting technique, these patients were divided into two groups: an EVH group and a conventional vein harvesting（CVH）group. Perioperative complications were compared between the two groups. Interventional or CT coronary angiogram was used to evaluate bypass graft patency during follow-up. Results A total of 51 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study with 24 patients in the EVH group and 27 patients in the CVH group. There was no statistical difference in age, weight, and comorbidities between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time between the two groups （67.2±9.8 min versus 68.3±14.5 min, P＞0.05; 62.4±11.3 min versus 65.2±10.3 min, P＞ 0.05）. The vein graft harvesting time （35.6±6.4 min versus 45.2±11.4 min, P＜ 0.05）and rate of delayed leg wound healing（0.0% with 0/24 versus 18.5% with 5/27, P＜0.05） of the EVH group were significantly shorter or lower than those of CVH group.There was no statistical difference in major postoperative complications with respect to venous graft failure rate and chest pain during short term follow-up（9.1 months in the CVH group and 9.4 months in the EVH group） between the two groups. Conclusion EVH is a safe, effective, minimally invasive and quick vein graft harvesting technique for CABG in diabetic patients.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the effect of intramyocardial injection of slow release microspheres of tannic acid （TA） on ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction （AMI） in rats. Methods Slow release microspheres of TA were prepared and the release parameters in vitro were detected. AMI model in rats was induced. Eighty rats were enrolled and divided into 4 groups by random digital table：poly （lactic-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） microspheres injection （PLGA group， n=24）， PLGA-TA microspheres injection （PLGA-TA group， n=24）， TA injection group （TA group， n=16） and normal saline injection group （NS group， n=16）. Heart function was evaluated by echocardiography after the injection. The structure of cardiac extracellular matrix （ECM） in the infarcted borderline area was evaluated at 4th week after the injection. Collagen content in the infarcted area was evaluated by hydroxyproline colorimetry assay at 2nd and 4th week after the injection. Results TA release was maintained at a constant rate from the microspheres for one month in vitro. Two weeks after the injection， left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF）， left ventricular fraction shortening（LVFS）， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter（LVEDD） and left ventricular end-systolic diameter（LVESD） in PLGA-TA group and TA group were significantly better than those in the other two groups（P＜0.05）. Four weeks after the injection， LVEF， LVFS， LVEDD and LVESD in PLGA-TA group were significantly better than those in the other three groups （P＜0.05）. Four weeks after the injection， slow release microspheres of TA in the PLGA-TA group effectively improved the arrangement of ECM compared with TA group. Four weeks after the injection， collagen content in the infarcted area of PLGA-TA group was significantly higher than that in TA group（88.88±7.28 μg/mg dry weight vs. 72.43±9.02 μg/mg dry weight）， PLGA group（88.88±7.28 μg/mg drg weight vs. 71.97±6.06 μg/mg dry weight） and NS group（88.88±7.28 μg/mg dry weight vs. 68.86±7.55 μg/mg dry weight， F=7.162，P=0.003）， but there was no statistical difference in the collagen content of the infarcted area among TA group， PLGA group and NS group （P＞0.05） . Conclusion Intramyocardial injection of slow release microspheres of TA can maintain a constant release of TA for a comparatively long period， inhibit collagen matrix degradation， and effectively attenuate ventricular remodeling after AMI in rats.