Ilizarov technology in China: a historic review of thirty-one years.

Purpose: To summarize the evolution of Ilizarov technology in China, highlight important milestones, introduce the atmosphere of the era concerning the first uses and development of this technology, and share Chinese modification and experience in this field.

Method: A thorough interview with senior ASAMI members of China and literature search and physical books in libraries was undertaken to summarize the history of Ilizarov technology in China.

Results: The formal development of Ilizarov technology began when professor Ilizarov himself came to Beijing (1991) and gave a speech.

Stat3-siRNA inhibits the growth of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Gastric cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies in the world. Despite new advances in treatment and diagnosis, patients with advanced gastric cancer are still difficult to cure resulting in a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is observed aberrant in multiple tumours, including gastric cancer.

[Treatment of equinovarus accompanied with ulcer using Ilizarov technology and limited operation].

Objective: To explore the surgical method and clinical curative effect of Ilizarov technique combined with limited surgical treatment for neurotrophic malnutrition equinovarus accompanied with weight-bearing area ulcer.

Methods: From July 2004 to December 2011, 21 cases of neurological disorders equinovarus with skin ulcer in weight-bearing area were treated including 14 males and 7 females with an average age of 21.3 years old ranging from 8 to 32 years.

Apoptotic effects of psiRNA-STAT3 on 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a Lipofectamine2000 (Life2000) Transfection Reagent transfected psiRNA-STAT3 plasmid on 4T1 breast cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: MTT was used to detect the cell proliferation of breast cancer 4T1 cells at different periods (0h, 6h, 8h, 10h); the cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry; variation of apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential was observed under a fluorescence microscope; immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of caspase-3 and cyclin-D1 protein.

Results: An obvious effect of inhibition to 4T1 cancer cells could be observed at 8h after the psiRNA-STAT3 was transfected.

Novel esophageal squamous cell carcinoma bone metastatic clone isolated by scintigraphy, X ray and micro PET/CT.

Aim: To establish a Chinese esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line with high bone metastasis potency using (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate ((99m)Tc-MDP) micro-pinhole scintigraphy, X ray and micro-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for exploring the mechanism of occurrence and development in esophageal cancer.

Methods: The cells came from a BALB/c nu/nu immunodeficient mouse, and oncogenic tumor tissue was from a surgical specimen from a 61-year-old male patient with ESCC. The cell growth curve was mapped and analysis of chromosome karyotype was performed.

Plasmid-based Survivin shRNA and GRIM-19 carried by attenuated Salmonella suppresses tumor cell growth.

Persistent activation of Survivin and its overexpression contribute to the formation, progression and metastasis of several different tumor types. Therefore, Survivin is an ideal target for RNA interference mediated-growth inhibition. Blockade of Survivin using specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) can significantly reduce prostate tumor growth.

[Effects of platycodin D in combination with different active ingredients of Chinese herbs on proliferation and invasion of 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines].

Objective: To investigate the effects of platycodin D in combination with different active ingredients of Chinese herbs under different therapeutic principles on proliferation and invasion of 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: The effective doses of platycodin D, Ophiopogon total saponins, curcumenol and osthole in inhibiting proliferation of breast cancer cell lines 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, respectively. Optimized combinations of platycodin D with Ophiopogon total saponins, curcumenol, or osthole were determined by uniform design method.

[Inhibitory effects of osthole, psoralen and aconitine on invasive activities of breast cancer MDA-MB-231BO cell line and the mechanisms].

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effects and to investigate the mechanisms of combined treatment of osthole, psoralen with aconitine on human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231BO.

Methods: The best inhibitory concentration of osthole, psoralen combined with aconitine on MDA-MB-231BO cells was obtained by stepwise regression analysis after adopting a uniform experiment design. The invasive activities were observed by transwell assays, and expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, Smad7, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANK) mRNAs were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Is XMRV a causal virus for prostate cancer?

The potential association between xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related gammaretrovirus (XMRV) and prostate cancer (PCa) has been documented since 2006. It is important for furthering our understanding of the biological mechanisms of PCa to ascertain whether this association is causal. To summarize the available information on the epidemiological and laboratory findings of the association, we conducted a literature search of the PubMed electronic database (from March 2006 to February 2011) to identify relevant published studies that examined the association between XMRV and PCa.

Tacrine and bis(7)-tacrine attenuate cycloheximide-induced amnesia in mice, with attention to acute toxicity.

Effects of tacrine and bis(7)-tacrine (0.25-20 μmol/kg, s.c.

Effective kinetics of schisandrin B on serum/hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in mice with and without the influence of fenofibrate.

Schisandrin B, an active ingredient isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis, increased serum and hepatic triglyceride levels in mice. In the present study, the effective kinetics of schisandrin B on serum/hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in mice without and with the influence of fenofibrate were investigated. Parameters on hepatic index (the ratio of liver weight to body weight × 100) were also analyzed.

Plasmid-based Stat3 siRNA delivered by hydroxyapatite nanoparticles suppresses mouse prostate tumour growth in vivo.

DNA vector-based Stat3-specific RNA interference (si-Stat3) blocks Stat3 signalling and inhibits prostate tumour growth. However, the antitumour activity depends on the efficient delivery of si-Stat3. The effects on the growth of mouse prostate cancer cells of si-Stat3 delivered by hydroxyapatite were determined in this study.

Tacrine treatment at high dose suppresses the recognition memory in juvenile and adult mice with attention to hepatotoxicity.

It is well established that cholinergic over-stimulation can interfere with memory processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tacrine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on recognition memory as well as the associated hepatotoxicity in juvenile (20-day-old) and adult (100-day-old) ICR male mice. Recognition memory was assessed by open-field test and step-through task without footshocks for three sessions between 08:00 and 13:00, with a 24-hr retention interval.

[Clinical analysis of 107 patients with foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida].

Objective: To analyze the incidence, clinical features, deformity categories and orthopedic treatment of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida.

Methods: The charts of the patients received surgical treatment between January 1990 and July 2009 were studied retrospectively, and the data were analyzed.

Results: One hundred and seven cases of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida received surgical treatment and were included.

[Analysis of middle-term outcome of the imaging characteristics after the percutaneous laser disc decompression].

Objective: To study the imaging findings outcome of the percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) and evaluate the middle-term safety and efficacy of PLDD.

Methods: The imaging data of 22 cases suffered cervical spondylosis or lumbar spondylosis and treated by PLDD more than 3 years were retrospectively reviewed. To observe the intervertebral space of the invasive disc and the intervertebral disc hernia before and after the operation on the lateral projection of X-ray and the axial view of the MRI.

Application of neural stem cells in tissue-engineered artificial nerve.

Objective: To observe the curative effect of neural stem cells (NSCs), which are used in tissue-engineered artificial nerve, on repairing rabbit 10-mm facial nerve defects.

Methods: Thirty-six Oryctolagus cuniculi were randomly divided into three groups (each group with 12 Oryctolagus cuniculi). In group A, chitosan conduit, collagen protein sponge, nerve growth factor (NGF), and NSCs were used.