Morphine and ketamine inhibit immune function of gastric cancer patients by increasing percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in vitro.

Background: There is conflicting evidence regarding effects of anesthetic and analgesic drugs on immune function of cancer patients. This study was designed to observe changes of T cell subpopulations in the gastric cancer (GC) patients and to assess effects of morphine and ketamine on the CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) populations obtained from the GC patients in vitro.

Methods: The peripheral blood samples from 20 GC patients and 20 healthy volunteers were obtained.

[Influence of artificial insemination with donor sperm on the pregnancy outcomes and safety of the offspring].

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing the pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID), improve the pregnancy rate, and evaluate the safety of the offspring.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 7,761 cycles of AID for 5,109 infertile couples performed between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2013 in the Center of Reproductive Medicine of Shenyang No 204 Hospital, the outcomes of pregnancy, and the incidence of birth defects.

Results: Totally, 2 252 clinical pregnancies were achieved by AID, in which the pregnancy rate per cycle was 29.

Expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 and CXCR7 ligand receptor system in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine that is expressed in some cancer cells and is involved in tumor cell migration and metastasis. CXCR7, a novel receptor for SDF-1, has been identified recently. Research has demonstrated that SDF-1/CXCR7 interaction could play an important role in cancer progression.

Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis in non-immunocompromised patient treated by Whipple's procedure: a case report.

PANCREATIC tuberculosis (TB) is a rare disease and its diagnosis is difficult because of the lack of specific clinical manifestations. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have some diagnostic values in this disease, but it is easy to misdiagnose pancreatic TB as a pancreatic tumor.1 In this article, we present a case of non-immunocompromised patient developing an isolated pancreatic TB, report the CT and MRI findings, and the surgical procedure for it.

Identification of genes and candidate agents associated with pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm originating from transformed cells arising in tissues forming the pancreas. A major challenge in current cancer research is biological interpretation of complexity of cancer somatic mutation profiles. It has been suggested that several molecular alterations may play important roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

A comparative proteomic study identified calreticulin and prohibitin up-regulated in adrenocortical carcinomas.

Background: Identifying novel tumor biomarkers to develop more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with ACC is urgently needed. The aim of the study was to compare the proteomic profiles between adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) and normal adrenocortical tissues in order to identify novel potential biomarkers for ACC.

Methods: The protein samples from 12 ACC tissues and their paired adjacent normal adrenocortical tissues were profiled with two-dimensional electrophoresis; and differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry.

CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.

CYP3A5 is a cytochrome P450 superfamily member which is involved in the metabolism of drugs, steroid hormones, and other xenobiotics. Emerging evidences suggest that CYP3A5*3 (rs776746 A>G) polymorphism may play a role in the etiology of carcinogenesis and affect an individual's susceptibility to cancer in humans, but individually published studies showed inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aimed to derive a more accurate estimation of the correlation between CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and cancer risk.

Expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 and CXCR7 in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine that is expressed in some cancer cells and is involved in tumor cell migration and metastasis. CXCR7, a novel receptor for SDF-1, has been identified recently. Researches demonstrated that interaction between SDF-1 and CXCR7 could play an important role in cancer progression.

Nanoparticle-mediated local delivery of an antisense TGF-β1 construct inhibits intimal hyperplasia in autogenous vein grafts in rats.

Background: Intimal hyperplasia is one of the most important causes of vascular graft failure. Numerous studies have correlated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) with extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, a hallmark of intimal thickening.

Principal Findings: In the present study, we performed immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot to examine the dynamic expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 receptor type I (TGF-β RI), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) during intimal hyperplasia in grafted veins of a rat model generated by grafting a portion of the right internal jugular vein to the ipisiliary carotid artery.

Prevention of pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy with separate internal drainage of bile and pancreatic fluid.

Objective: To introduce a new reconstructional procedure to decrease the complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: Separate internal drainage of bile and pancreatic fluid in pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 256 patients. The digestive tract was reconstructed with Child method, with invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy using a long silastic tube to drain pancreatic fluid internally, an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy and an end-to-side duodenojejunostomy or gastrojejunostomy.