ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship of microRNA (miRNA) to metastasis and invasion of breast cancer. MethodDomestic and international publications involving the relationship of miRNA to breast cancer were screened and reviewed. ResultsmiRNA played a key role in the process of breast cancer metastasis. According to its function, it could be distinguished from cancer-promoting gene (such as miR-21, miR-10b, etc.) to suppressor gene (such as miR-31, let-7, etc.). ConclusionThe more detailed experimental studies about the relationship of miRNA to metastasis and invasion of breast cancer need to be researched in order to provide a new method for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer metastasis and invasion.
The success of staged Fontan palliation for patients with single ventricle is related to low pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The complications of high PVR in Fontan physiology are numerous, such as low exercise tolerance, low cardiac output, ventricular function failure and protein-losing enteropathy; eventually it leads to failing Fontan. Therefore, a low PVR is crucial in Fontan patients. Now, targeted therapies decreasing PVR has been an advanced research hotspot in Fontan patients. In this review we present an overview of the safety and efficacy of the therapy with bosentan or sildenafil on elevated pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in Fontan patients.
Abstract Precision medicine is an ideal medical paradigm which combines modern scientific methods with traditional medical methods to diagnose, treat and evaluate the physical function and nature of diseases more precisely, and to maximize health benefits and minimize the risk of individuals and society with the most effective, safest, and the most economical medical service. Evidence-based medicine is necessary to verify the precision of diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we clarified the conception of precision medicine and the relation between precision medicine and evidence-based medicine. Moreover, we reviewed the application of precision medicine in the field of cerebrovascular disease. We pointed out that such new technologies as genetics, bioinformatics, molecular imaging and management provided tools to realize the idea of precision medicine, and high-quality evidence-based studies provided a guarantee for the clinical practice of precision medicine. In summary, precision medicine is an individualized medical mode that based on the context of a patient's genetic information, living environment and clinical data, etc. to provide precise treatment strategies for the prevention and treatment of disease, but still the promotion of precision medicine should be based on clinical validation under the guidance of evidence-based medicine. Thus, long-term exploration and unremitting efforts are required to achieve the idea of precision medicine.
ObjectiveTo explore optimal intensity of oral anticoagulation for patients with prosthetic heart valves in Northeast China. MethodsA total of 856 patients in Northeast China who underwent prosthetic heart valve replacement in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery,Second Hospital of Jilin University from January 2005 to June 2013 were enrolled in this study. There were 406 male and 450 female patients with their age of 45.2±13.3 years. All the patients received low-intensity oral anticoagulation [international normalized ratio (INR) 1.5-2.2,aortic valve replacement (AVR):1.5-1.8,mitral valve replacement (MVR):1.8-2.2]. Patients were followed up after discharge,and the incidence of anticoagulation-related complications was summarized. ResultsThese patients were followed up for 1-78 (18.3±12.2) months,and the follow-up rate was 75.4%. Twelve patients (1.86%) had thromboembolic complications and 10 patients (1.55%) had hemorrhagic complications. Average warfarin dosage was 3.4±0.8 mg/day,and average INR was 1.94±0.54 during follow-up. ConclusionFor patients with prosthetic heart valves in Northeast China,low-intensity anticoagulation can produce satisfactory clinical outcomes to reduce the incidence of anticoagulation-related thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications.
In order to establish the best procedure to store the femur samples from the biomechanical viewpoint, we compared the effects of different storage methods on the mechanical properties of mouse femurs. We obtained femurs surgically from twenty C57BL/6J female mice, 12 weeks old, and randomly divided them into 5 groups, i.e. fresh control group, 4% paraformaldehyde fixation group, 4℃ storage group, -20℃ storage group and -80℃ storage group, respectively, with five mice in each group. For the three low-temperature storage groups, each group was stored for 1 week, 2 months, 6 months at their respective temperatures. After rewarming, three-point bending test was performed to test the load and deflection changes. The results showed that both the elastic modulus and deflection decreased significantly in the 4% paraformaldehyde group. The maximum load and elastic modulus of the samples in the 4℃ group after one week storage was significantly reduced; The mechanical properties were close to the fresh control group in the -20℃ group stored for 2 months but the maximum load was also reduced after 6 months. However, mechanical properties, such as elastic load, maximum load and elastic modulus, were not changed obviously in the -80℃ storage group. Accordingly, -80℃ cryopreservation had little influence on the mechanical properties of bone tissues, which proved that the temperature -80℃ is a suitable one for long-term preservation.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of excision and reconstruction of bone tumor by using operation guide plate made by variety of three-dimensional (3-D) printing techniques, and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different 3-D printing techniques in the manufacture and application of operation guide plate. MethodsBetween September 2012 and January 2014, 31 patients with bone tumor underwent excision and reconstruction of bone tumor by using operation guide plate. There were 19 males and 12 females, aged 6-67 years (median, 23 years). The disease duration ranged from 15 days to 12 months (median, 2 months). There were 13 cases of malignant tumor and 18 cases of benign tumor. The tumor located in the femur (9 cases), the spine (7 cases), the tibia (6 cases), the pelvis (5 cases), the humerus (3 cases), and the fibula (1 case). Four kinds of 3-D printing technique were used in processing operation guide plate:fused deposition modeling (FDM) in 9 cases, stereo lithography appearance (SLA) in 14 cases, 3-D printing technique in 5 cases, and selective laser sintering (SLS) in 3 cases; the materials included ABS resin, photosensitive resin, plaster, and aluminum alloy, respectively. Before operation, all patients underwent thin layer CT scanning (0.625 mm) in addition to conventional imaging. The data were collected for tumor resection design, and operation guide plate was designed on the basis of excision plan. Preoperatively, the operation guide plates were made by 3-D printing equipment. After sterilization, the guide plates were used for excision and reconstruction of bone tumor. The time of plates processing cycle was recorded to analyse the efficiency of 4 kinds of 3-D printing techniques. The time for design and operation and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency were recorded. Twenty-eight patients underwent similar operations during the same period as the control group. ResultsThe processing time of operation guide plate was (19.3±6.5) hours in FDM, (5.2±1.3) hours in SLA, (8.6±1.9) hours in 3-D printing technique, and (51.7±12.9) hours in SLS. The preoperative design and operation guide plate were successfully made, which was used for excision and reconstruction of bone tumor in 31 cases. Except 3 failures (operation guide plate fracture), the resection and reconstruction operations followed the preoperative design in the other 28 cases. The patients had longer design time, shorter operation time, and less fluoroscopy frequency than the patients of the control group, showing significant differences (P<0.05). The follow-up time was 1-12 months (mean, 3.7 months). Postoperative X-ray and CT showed complete tumor resection and stable reconstruction. Conclusion3-D printing operation guide plates are well adapted to the requirements of individual operation for bone tumor resection and reconstruction. The 4 kinds of 3-D printing techniques have their own advantages and should be chosen according to the need of operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the applicated value of carbon nanoparticle lymphatic tracer in laparoscopic assisted radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. MethodsForty-two patients with advanced gastric cancer who were admitted to the Department of General Surgery in The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March to September in 2014, were collected prospectively and randomly divided into two groups (carbon nanoparticle group and control group), each group enrolled in 21 cases. After improving relevant auxiliary inspection, subserosal injection of carbon nanoparticle around the tumor was performed via venous infusion needle laparoscopically at the beginning of surgery in carbon nanoparticle group, while the patients routinely underwent laparoscopic assisted radical gastrectomy in control group. Comparison of the results of harvested lymph nodes and its detection time between the two groups was performed, and the perioperative complications were also evaluated. ResultsA total of 678 lymph nodes were detected in carbon nanoparticle group and 447 lymph nodes were detected in control group. The number of harvested lymph nodes in carbon nanoparticle group (32.28±4.10) was significantly higher than that of control group (21.28±2.74), P < 0.05. The mean harvest time in carbon nanoparticle group was shorter than that of control group[(24.09± 3.58) min vs. (32.76±4.76) min, P < 0.05]. The proportion of harvested small lymph node (≤5 mm) in carbon nanoparticle group was higher than that of control group[71.68% (486/678) vs. 48.99% (219/447), P < 0.01]. The number of black-dyed harvested lymph node was 506 (74.63%) and the metastasis rate of black-dyed lymph node was 26.28% (133/506) in carbon nanoparticle group, that the metastasis rate of black-dyed lymph node group was significantly higher than those of without black-dyed lymph node group[6.40% (11/172)] and control group[19.24% (86/447)], P < 0.05. No serious side effect caused by carbon nanoparticle was observed. ConclusionsThe application of diluted carbon nanoparticle lymphatic tracer has a good effect in the dissection of lymph nodes in laparoscopic assisted radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. It improves the detection rate of lymph nodes, especially the small lymph nodes, and it is safe and feasible.