[Construction and expression of the fusion protein DT389-hIL-13 and its cytotoxicity to glioma cell lines].

Objective: To construct a fusion protein toxin DT389-hIL-13 which comprises the N-terminal 389 amino acids of diphtheria toxin (DT389) and human interlukin 13 (hIL-13), and to explore its cytotoxicity on U251 glioma cells.

Methods: The cDNA of hIL-13 gene was amplified by PCR and linked with the 3'-terminus of the gene encoding the N-terminal 389 amino acids, which correspond to the enzyme domain and transmembrane domain of diphtheria toxin. The tandem constructed gene was then inserted into an E.

[Effect of binding pancreaticojejunotomy in prevention of post-operational anastomotic leakage: a clinical study of 200 cases].

Objective: To explore the effect of Peng's binding pancreaticojejunotomy (PBPJ) in prevention of pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage.

Methods: From 1996 to 2001, 200 patients, 139 males and 61 females, aged 32 approximately 80, with carcinomas of head of pancreas, ampulla, bile duct, duodenal papilla, descending partof duodenum, gallbladder, and body of pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, polyp of lower segment of bile duct, and gastric carcinomas that invaded the head of pancreas or recurred after operation, lithiasis of pancreatic duct, and islet cell carcinoma, underwent Peng's binding pancreaticojejunotomy, devised to prevent pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage from the needle holes of stoma, interspace between jejunal mucosa and pancreas, high pressure of jejunum, high tension and blood circulation deficiency of pancreaticojejunal stoma, etc. The clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct thrombi: analysis of surgical treatment.

Background/aims: To summarize the experience of surgical intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct thrombi, and to evaluate the influence on prognosis.

Methodology: From 1994 to 2002, 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and bile duct thrombi who underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed. The operative procedures included hepatectomy with removal of bile duct thrombi (n=7), hepatectomy combined with extrahepatic bile duct resection (n=4), thrombectomy through choledochotomy (n=3), and piggyback orthotopic liver transplantation (n=1).

[Role and significance of extrahepatic control of hepatic vein and inferior vena cava in difficult hepatectomies for patients with liver tumors].

Objective: To explore the role of extrahepatic control on blood flow of hepatic vein and inferior vena cava in hepatectomy, and observe its effect on minimizing hemorrhage.

Methods: From 2001 to April 2003, 33 patients who had liver tumors involving segment IV, VII, VIII or half liver underwent major hepatectomies that required exposure of the inferior vena cava and main trunks of hepatic veins, during which the major hepatic veins and inferior vena cava were isolated and taped to control blood flow when necessary.

Results: In 33 attempts, 32 were successful and all tumors were resected successfully.

[The role and significance of retrohepatic tunnel and the liver hanging tape passed through the tunnel in difficult hepatectomies].

Objective: To explore the role and significance of liver hanging tape passed through the retrohepatic tunnel developed by dissecting the tissue plane between anterior surface of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and caudate lobe, in order to be substitute for control of in- and out-flow blood vessels in difficult hepatectomies.

Methods: Retrohepatic tunnel was developed by dissecting the anterior surface of the retrohepatic portion of the IVC, 7 difficult hepatectomies were performed with the use of liver hanging tape and hemostatic plate.

Results: Liver hanging tape was placed successfully in 7 cases.

[The observation of bone mineral density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and histology during fracture healing at the femoral fracture site of rat].

Objective: To dynamically observe the bone mineral density and histology changes during fracture healing at the femoral fracture site, and to study the role of monitoring fracture healing by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Methods: 60 female 3-month-old SD rats were used to establish right femoral fracture model. The fractured and contralateral unfractured femorals were scanned by Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks postoperatively.

Surgical intervention for obstructive jaundice due to biliary tumor thrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This retrospective study in eight surgically treated patients with obstructive jaundice due to biliary tumor thrombus in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed to evaluate the role of surgical intervention. All biliary tumor thrombi were confirmed preoperatively or intraoperatively. Only two manifested intraluminal biliary obstructions due to a primary tumor that had not been found preoperatively.

Effects of glycine on plasma and liver tissue changes of TNF-alpha, ET-1 and nitric oxide contents in rats with obstructive jaundice.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of glycine on plasma and liver tissue changes of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) contents in rats with obstructive jaundice.

Methods: Ninety healthy Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 275+/-25 g were randomly divided into sham-operated, bile duct-ligated, and bile duct-ligated plus glycine-treated groups, the latter was performed with 5% glycine solution substituting for tap water drunk ad libium for 5 days before and 6 days after operation. Blood and liver tissue were sampled at the time of sacrifice on the 8th day post operation.

[Heparanase and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in non-small-cell lung cancer].

Objective: To study the clinicopathological significance of heparanase and VEGF expression in NSCLC.

Methods: Eighty-five lung samples were studied. Each sample was divided into two parts, one used for heparanase mRNA detection by reverse transcription PCR and the other for VEGF detection by immunohistochemistry.

[Chlamydia-like and coronavirus-like agents found in dead cases of atypical pneumonia by electron microscopy].

Objective: To explore the causative agents of the atypical pneumonia (also SARS) occurred recently in some regions of our country.

Method: Organ samples of 7 dead cases of SARS were collected from Guangdong, Shanxi, Sichuan Provinces and Beijing for electron microscopic examination. 293 cell line was inoculated with the materials derived from the lungs to isolate causative agent(s).

[Surgical intervention of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct thrombi].

Objectives: To summarize the experience of surgical intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct thrombi (BDT), and to evaluate the influence on prognosis.

Methods: From 1994 to 2002, 15 patients with HCC and BDT who underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The operative procedures included hepatectomy with removal of BDT (n = 7), hepatectomy combined with extrahepatic bile duct resection (n = 4), thrombectomy through choledochotomy (n = 3), and piggy-back orthotopic liver transplantation (n = 1).

[Genetic characterization of the non-structural protein NSP4 from epidemic strains of human rotavirus in China].

Background: To clarify the features of gene variation among epidemic strains of human rotavirus NSP4 in China.

Methods: SP4 genes from 27 epidemic strains of human rotavirus isolated in different area of China in recent years were amplified with RT-PCR, the resulted cDNAs were cloned and sequenced. The sequences of full length cDNAs were compared with 10 rotavirus NSP4 sequences available in the GenBank using the Clustal x 1.

[Establishment and preliminary characterization of hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against Prion Proteins].

Objective: To obtain monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) which can be widely used to detect mammalian prions (PrP) and to develop diagnostic tests for screening transmissile spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) as well as for studying pathogenesis of prion-related diseases.

Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized separately with bovine PrP peptide 29-48 (BoP1) and 89-108 (BoP2) coupled to keyhole limpt hemocyan. Two hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against these peptides were established by cell fusion and 2 to 3 rounds of cell cloning.

Early period of fracture healing in ovariectomized rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of osteoporosis on fracture healing through observing the histomorphological changes, bone mineral density of callus and expression and distribution of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 12 weeks and weighing 235 g on average) were randomly divided into an ovariectomized (OVX) group (n=30) and a sham-operated (SO) group (n=30). Ovariectomy was performed in the OVX rats and same incision was made in the SO rats.

[Application of spiral CT and post-image processing technique in the staging of central lung cancer].

Objective: To assess image processing techniques including multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), volume rendering technique (VRT) and spiral CT angiography (SCTA) in the staging of central lung cancer (CLC), with transverse image, pathology and findings on the operation table as comparison.

Methods: Forty-six suspected CLC received spiral CT examination, on basis of prospective randomization, by a Picker 6 000 scanner. Contrast medium was injected at a rate of 4 ml/s with a power injector.