Tumor thermal ablation therapy using alkali metals as powerful self-heating seeds.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate a new tumor thermal ablation therapy, which might lead to a highly economic, safe and efficient heating of target tissues. The alkali metals, usually seen as hazard mediums in daily life, were proposed for the first time as perfect self-heating seeds which can significantly raise the temperature of the tumor tissues. Owing to the tremendous heat released at only the target site during reaction between the metal and the intrinsically existing wet environment of the biological body, the tumor tissues can be efficiently ablated without causing thermal damage to the surrounding healthy tissues.

[Analysis of survival rate and risk factors of liver retransplantation].

Objectives: To analyze the survival rate of orthotopic liver retransplantation (Re-OLT) and identify the variables predicting the outcome.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 74 Re-OLT patients from January 1999 to December 2005 was performed. The univariate analysis of Kaplan-Meier model was used to investigate the relativity between the factors and survival rate, and COX regression model was used in multivariate analysis to identify the prognostic factors for survival.

Feasibility study on using an infrared thermometer for evaluation and administration of cryosurgery.

Successful performance of cryosurgery relies heavily on a quick, efficient, safe and economic imaging way to monitor the surgical advancement and then to evaluate the curative effect. However, there is currently a lack of such an imaging modality. As for the commonly adopted imaging devices such as X-CT, MRI and PET, in addition their high cost and complexity in operation, they often induce additional scathe to the patients due to their potential radiation effects.

[Clinical study of liver re-transplantation].

Objective: To report experiences of liver re-transplantation.

Methods: The cause of re-transplantation, the pre-operative MELD score, timing of re-transplantation, technical considerations, 1 year survival rate and the causes of death of the patients receiving liver re-transplantation in First Central Hospital of Tianjin between January 1999 and December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: One year survival rate of re-transplantation was 71.

Novel cyclic and linear oligopeptides that bind to integrin beta1 chain and either inhibit or costimulate T lymphocytes.

There is a redundancy of cellular beta1 integrin (very late antigen or VLA) receptors that mediate interactions between different extracellular matrix proteins (ECMP) and T lymphocytes. This suggests that antagonists targeted at individual VLA receptors may be of limited therapeutic efficacy in T cell-mediated diseases and that agents such as monoclonal antibody 4B4, which bind to the common integrin beta1 chain and inhibit interactions between effector T cells and a range of ECMP, may be of greater therapeutic interest if toxicity can be avoided. We have therefore sought proof of principle as to whether small molecules that interact with the integrin beta1 chain at or near the 4B4 binding site can modulate T cell costimulation and adhesion in the presence of type I collagen or fibronectin (FN).