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To investigate tumor microenvironment of metastasis (TMEM) and the expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) in gastric cancer, and their relationships with hematogenous metastasis.Twenty-six pairs of cases with gastric cancer were enrolled, in which there were 26 cases with distant organ metastases and 26 cases of gastric cancer without organ metastases as controls. TMEM (by double-stained immunohistochemistry) and the expression of SPARC were determined in twenty-six pairs of cases. In addition, we selected 48 patients to detect the expression of SPARC, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and evaluated TAMs (tumor associated macrophages), MVD (the microvessel density), MPI (microvessel pericyte coverage index), and TMEM in gastric cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry.TMEM count was significantly higher in the metastatic gastric cancer tissues than that in non-metastatic cancer tissues in a case-control study (p0.01). On the contrary, SPARC expression was lower in the metastatic gastric cancer tissues than that in non-metastatic cancer tissues. TMEM count, TAMs, and MVD were significantly correlated with invasion depth, histological type and TNM stage (p0.05 or p0.01). Expression of SPARC and VEGF were significantly correlated with tumor histological types, invasion depth, differentiation and lymph node metastasis of patients (p0.05). SPARC and VEGF expression in stromal cells of gastric cancer tissues were significantly correlated with TAMs, MVD and MPI (p0.05). In addition, SPARC expression was significantly inversely correlated with VEGF expression in gastric cancer tissues (p0.05).TMEM was detected in initial gastric cancer resection and closely correlated with hematogenous metastasis. Furthermore, SPARC may be involved in gastric cancer metastasis by effecting on tumor microenvironment.

Background: The use of the pure blood pool ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco, Italy) with specific ultrasound imaging software has enabled the dynamic visualization of tumor microcirculation. Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the washout time of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlate it with angiogenesis parameters. Methods: Thirty-one surgically confirmed HCC cases were prospectively evaluated with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and parameters such as wash-in time, peak enhancement time and washout time were determined offline. We also calculated microvessel density and the percentage of microvessel area (MVA) and compared CEUS parameters between a well differentiated group and a poorly to moderately differentiated group. The Spearman rank order correlation method was used to analyze the relationship between washout time and angiogenesis parameters. Results: The washout time was longer in well differentiated HCC patients compared to those with poorly to moderately differentiated HCC (p < 0.05). In addition, the washout time of HCC was positively correlated with the percentage of MVA (r = 0.510). Conclusions: Given that the percentage of MVA was positively correlated with tumor blood volume, washout time may be associated with HCC blood volume.

Summary Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) is a pigmentary genodermatosis of autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by a mixture of hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules distributed on the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet. It is caused by mutations of the RNA-specific adenosine deaminase gene. We report the identification of a Chinese family with a three-generation pedigree of DSH, in whom a novel tyrosine substitution mutation in DSRAD was demonstrated: a heterozygous nucleotide AG transition at position 2879 in exon 10 of the DSRAD gene was detected.

Obesity has been associated with reflux esophagitis. However, the association of metabolic syndrome with reflux esophagitis remains unknown.A case-control study of 372 subjects undergoing upper endoscopy during health checkups was conducted (182 patients with reflux esophagitis vs 190 age and gender-matched controls). We further measured their height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting blood glucose. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with the presence of reflux esophagitis.Reflux esophagitis cases showed higher mean waist circumference (81.37 ± 0.68 vs 79.36 ± 0.70, P0.05), waist hip ratio (0.86 ± 0.01 vs 0.84 ± 0.01, P0.05) and fasting blood glucose (5.59 ± 0.10 vs 5.32 ± 0.08, P0.05) than those in controls. When adjusted for gender and age, multivariate analysis demonstrated that there was a positive dose-response relationship between reflux esophagitis and waist hip ratio (men: OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.52-7.62, women: OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.61-7.06), triglyceride (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.12-3.82), fasting blood glucose (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.12-2.94), and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.15-3.50), there was an inverse dose-response relationship between reflux esophagitis and high-density lipoprotein for men (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15-0.85).High waist hip ratio, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, and metabolic syndrome were associated with increased risk factors for reflux esophagitis while high high-density lipoprotein for men correlated with a reduced risk of reflux esophagitis.

To determine the features of the breast ultrasound image and its correlation with estrogen and progestogen level during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal women.Breast ultrasound was performed during luteal phase and late follicular phase in 50 women aged 25-45, with normal menstrual cycle and no distinct breast disease. Breast section thickness, ductal width, breast structure and blood flow were measured. Initial time and persistent days of the cyclic breast pain were recorded. Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay on the day of ultrasound performed.Breast glandular section was thicker (increasing by 7.3%) in luteal phase than that in late follicular phase and breast ductal was wider (increasing by 13%) in late follicular phase than that in luteal phase. However, both of them had no significant difference. Thirty women (60%) experienced cyclic premenstrual mastalgia, lasting 4 days. Twenty four women (48%) had breast structure changes, nineteen (63.3%) of 30 women with cyclic mastalgia, but only 5 (25%) of 20 women without breast pain had breast structure change (chi 2, P0.01). Average serum E2 level of women with or without cyclic breast pain in luteal phase were 365.0 pmol/L and 335.3 pmol/L respectively (P0.05), serum progesterone level were 73.3 nmol/L and 66.1 nmol/L respectively (P0.05). Serum E2 levels of women with or without cyclic breast pain in late follicular phase were 299.9 pmol/L and 385.8 pmol/L respectively (P = 0.05). Average serum E2 levels of women with or without breast structure change in luteal phase were 368.1 pmol/L and 322.7 pmol/L respectively (P0.05). Serum P levels were 78.8 nmol/L and 62.2 nmol/L respectively (P = 0.05); Estradiol levels in late follicular phase were 301.9 pmol/L and 364.2 pmol/L respectively (P0.05).Image of breast ultrasound changed following menstrual cycle in normal menstrual women. Breast structure changes is related to breast pain. Breast pain and breast structure changes may be caused by higher E2 and P level in luteal phase and lower E2/P ratio in late follicular phase.

To evaluate the vestibular's sensitivity to the stimulus of the cold and hot water.Forty volunteers are randomly divided into four groups, group one for maths calculation, group two for answering the questions (they are active alerting groups) and group three and four for listening to music and to stories respectively (they are passive alerting groups). Each group has ten volunteers, their left ears are separately stimulated with the cold and hot water, recording the nystagmus slow phase velocity for 20 s at the highest level with the nystagmography instrument of HB-3 ENG computer treatment system.There are significant differences between the two active alerting groups and the two passive ones (P0.01).In performing the vestibular's caloric test, it's more reasonable for clinic to use active alerting tasks.

Micronucleated exfoliated cell (MEC) of oral mucosa of 40 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 54 normal controls were observed by means of micronucleus test. The frequency of MEC of two groups were 9.56/1000 and 2.55/1000 respectively, and their difference was remarkably significant (P0.001). 22 cases were treated by TCM Qiang Ji Jian Li Capsule. The frequency of MEC after treatment fell from 14.38/1000 to 6.00/1000. The difference was significant (P0.002). The frequency of Spleen-asthenia group higher than that of non-Spleen-asthenia (P0.05). The results revealed that. The patients with MG had genotoxic damage. (2) The constitution with the Spleen-asthenia and the genotoxic damage was related. (3) Qiang Ji Jian Li Capsule of invigorating the Spleen and benefiting Qi could reduce the genotoxic damage.