To evaluate the feasibility of optimal surgery for breast cancer in elderly patients. The clinical data of 481 patients aged 70 years and above who were treated in our hospital from 1995 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on their general conditions and clinical stages, 481 patients were divided into three groups to received different surgical procedures including modified radical mastectomy (MRM group, n=256), tumor extended resection (ER group, n=173), and simple mastectomy (SM group, n=52). The overall 5-and 10-year survival rates were 63.77%and 46.71%, respectively, and the 5-year (p=0.956) and 10-year (p=0.977) survival rates were not significantly among these three groups. However, patients in the ER group had significantly shorter hospital stay, smaller surgical wound, earlier recovery and less complications. It is feasible for female breast cancer patients over 70 years old choose the optimal surgical procedures according to their general conditions and clinical stages.

To evaluate application value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in differentiating brain radiation-injuries and glioma recurrence. Totally 23 patients [18 men and 5 women aged 32 to 67 years (mean: 47 years)] with previously resected and irradiated glioma were examined by using a 3.0T MR Scanner, including conventional and diffusion weighted image (DWI) sequences. All the cases were proved by pathology or clinical follow-up. Postprocessing of ADC maps was performed by using Functool software (AW 4.3, GE Healthcare), and the regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn on ADC maps in the area corresponding to the contrast-enhancing area on post-contrast axial T1-weighted images, avoiding the hemorrhage or necrosis. The ADC values were calculated automatically. ADC values were measured 10 times in order to reduce errors, and mean ADC value, maximum ADC value, and minimum ADC value were acquired. Both recurrent glioma and irradiated necrosis tended to have hemorrhage, necrosis, and edema. The mean ADC value and maximum ADC value were lower in the recurrent tumor group than in the radiation-injuries group, but no statistical difference was achieved. However, the minimum ADC value was significantly lower in the recurrent tumor group than in the radiation-injuries group (P=0.016). The minimum ADC value can be used as an useful tool in differentiating tumor recurrence from radiation-injuries.

Weightless environment is a rare phenomenon on the ground where the interactions among cells and internal cellular structures disappear or become weakened. Studies on the biological features and molecular expression of tumors cells in weightlessness condition may provide new clues to the tumor initiation, process, diagnosis, and therapy.

TAR DNA binding protein-43(TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma protein (FUS/TLS) have been found to be associated with two neurodegenerative diseases - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mutations in TDP-43 and FUS/TLS lead to abnormal protein expressions, which result in altered RNA processing. The pathological changes of TDP-43 and FUS/TLS-associated ALS and FTD are similar. Although the interactions between ALS and FTD remain unknown, it is speculated that TDP-43 and FUS/TLS-associated neurodegenerative diseases may share similar pathogenesis.

To explore the relationship between the T cell subsets and glucose level and first-phase insulin secretion function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We determined the oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), insulin release test(IRT), body mass index(BMI), glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), T lymphocyte subsets (CD4(+),CD8(+)), and activity of natural kill(NK) cell and ⊿I(30)/⊿G(30) in 78 newly diagnosed T2DM patients, 60 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) patients, and 60 normal controls. DM and IGT patients had significantly lower levels of CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+)ratio, activity of NK cell, and ⊿I(30)/⊿G(30) and significantly higher levels of HbA1c and CD8(+)compared with normal controls(all P<0.05). Patients in DM group had significantly lower level of CD4(+),⊿I(30)/⊿G(30) and significantly higher levels of FBG and HbA1c compared with IGT group. There was no significant difference in terms of CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+)ratio, and activity of NK cell between IGT and DM groups, whereas CD4(+) T cells were negatively correlated with FBG and HbA1c and positively with ⊿I(30)/⊿G(30) . Multiple regression stepwise analysis showed that CD4(+) was independently associated with HbA1c and ⊿I(30)/⊿G(30). T2DM patients tends to have disorders in cellular immunity, which is correlated with blood glucose level and the insulin secretion function.

To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in thoracic spinal decompression surgery. Ten patients with confirmed thoracic spinal stenosis underwent thoracic spinal decompression in our center from August 2009 to December 2010. The appearance of the compressed section of spinal cord was observed with IOUS. Before and after the decompression operation, the diameters of dural sac and the spinal cord were recorded respectively. The location and nature of the compression-causing mass were confirmed. IOUS clearly showed the shape of the normal and the compressed sections of dural sac and spinal cord. In the 14 thoracic spinal cord sections of these 10 patients, the anteroposterior diameter, horizontal diameter, and their ratio were bigger than those before decompression. The values of anteroposterior diameter and anteroposterior/horizontal diameter ratio showed significant differences(the P value of dural sac anteroposterior diameter comparison was 0.008, which of spinal cord was 0.007; the P values of these two structures ratio comparison were both 0.002 before and after decompression), while the horizontal diameter presented no significant differences (the P values of both structures were 0.270 and 0.195 respectively before and after decompression). IOUS can clearly show the morphological changes of the dural sac and spinal cord before and after the decompression. In addition, it helps surgeons to locate and specify the nature of the compression-causing mass on the ventral side of dural sac. Furthermore, IOUS can suggest whether the decompression is sufficient in a real-time manner.

To establish a rat model of low calcium diet related hyperoxaluria and explore its features. By means of randomized blocks design, totally 24 SD male rats were divided into low calcium diet group, medium calcium diet group, and high calcium diet group. Each group was sequentially fed on different calcium diets for 3 days. The urinary volume within 24 hours was recorded, the consistency of urinary oxalate by high-efficiency liquid chromatography, and the consistency of urine creatinine by automatic biochemical analyzer. The consistency was corrected to the output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours, and the results were evaluated by repeated measurement of variance analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. The output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours varied with time (F=7.893, P0.05). The output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours varied with group division (F=3.565, P<0.05). The output of urinary oxalate in 24 hours in three groups on the third day was significantly higher than that on the first day (P<0.05). By controlling the calcium intake, we successfully established the model of low calcium diet related hyperoxaluria in rat.

To evaluate the association of Pro12Ala polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) gene with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Chinese Han population. The present investigation was carried out using the keywords "PPARgamma", "pparg", "Pro12Ala", "type 2 diabetes", and "Chinese. The odds ratios (OR) for Ala12 used as the metric of choice were calculated in the dominant and additive model separately. The Meta-analysis was conducted by software STATA 11.0. (1) We identified 22 studies, of which 17 studies involving 3927 type 2 diabetes cases and 3364 controls fell into the inclusion criteria. The analysis indicated no significant inter-study heterogeneity and publication bias. (2) The frequencies of the minor allele Ala12 in type 2 diabetes and control groups were 4.8% and 4.6% respectively. (3) The combined overall OR of dominant and additive model calculated by fix-effects meta-analysis for type 2 diabetes and the Pro12Ala polymorphism, were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.12) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.09) respectively. In this meta-analysis, the Pro12Ala gene variant (rs1801282) is not found to be associated with the susceptibility for type 2 diabetes in Chinese Han population.

To study the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) during the biosynthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-mediated progesterone in primary granulosa cells. The expressions of phosphorylated and general forms of ERKS in primary granulosa cells after the treatment of FSH were detected by Western blot analysis. The subcellular localization of ERK5 was observed by confocal microscopy. The effect of ERK5 on FSH-mediated progesterone biosynthesis in primary granulosa cells was analyzed using recombinant adenovirus vectors. ERK5 activation was induced by FSH in a time-dependent manner in primary cultured granulosa cells, although the general ERK5 protein level decreased also in a time-dependent manner. The treatment of FSH showed no remarkable effect on the subcellular distribution of endogenous ERK5, which was mainly in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells. The co-infection of Ad-caMEK5 and Ad-wtERK5 increased the progesterone production and StAR expression in primary cultured granulosa cells, whereas inhibition of ERK5 activation suppressed the FSH-stimulated progesterone production. ERK5 may stimulate FSH-mediated progesterone production in primary cultured granulosa cells.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is believed to be an essential factor for the development of cervical cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia can effectively inhibit the future progression. HPV late 1 protein possesses epitope that can identify and adhere to host cells, and thus may play an important role in HPV infection and cervical carcinogenesis.