Analysis and forecast for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections among liver transplant recipients.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) has become an important pathogenic bacterium with specific epidemic features in the intensive care unit. We explored the epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Ab infections among liver transplant recipients at the Liver Transplantation Center, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Methods: Seventeen multidrug-resistant Ab strains were isolated from the sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens of 249 liver transplant recipients from January 2007 to December 2009.

Plasma ghrelin concentrations are negatively correlated with urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Background: Aging is associated with a decrease in appetite, energy intake and glucose tolerance. Experimental studies have suggested that ghrelin and obestatin play a role in glucose homeostasis and in the regulation of energy metabolism. However, few studies have been performed on the role of ghrelin and obestatin in middle-aged and old adults.

Quantitative analysis of APC promoter methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognostic implications.

The present study aimed to quantitatively determine the aberrant methylation signal of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate whether hypermethylation of the APC promoter could be a prognostic biomarker for HCC. Taqman probe-based quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the APC promoter methylation levels in 57 HCC and corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues. In the present study, the methylation level of the APC promoter was upregulated by 4.

Case report: living donor liver transplantation for giant hepatic hemangioma using a right lobe graft without the middle hepatic vein.

Hepatic hemangioma patients with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome have reportedly been cured by liver transplantation. However, liver transplantation as a potential cure for a stable patient without Kasabach-Merritt syndrome remains debatable. We report the case of a 27-year-old female patient with a giant hepatic hemangioma.

Aspects on gallbladder cancer in 2014.

Purpose Of Review: To discuss some key issues involved in the management of gallbladder cancer (GBC).

Recent Findings: The decline in incidence and mortality of GBC began decades before the introduction of laparoscopic surgery. In consecutive autopsies and in cases in which cholelithiasis was present, the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma is 3-4%.

Protocol for serial cultivation of epithelial cells without enzymes or chemical compounds.

Deriving keratinocytes from epidermis or oral mucosa is a critical first step in the construction of cell-based tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. It would be advantageous to develop a methodology to grow adult somatic cells with maximum plasticity in a rapid fashion and in large numbers with minimal manipulation. With routine methods, keratinocytes are cultured in standard amount of medium and passaged with enzymes, and the confluence of the monolayer induces differentiation and eventual cell death.

Effect of nicotine on L-dopa-induced dyskinesia in animal models of Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

L-dopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) are abnormal involuntary movements (AIM) that develop with long-term L-dopa therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we used these tools to describe the efficacy of nicotine reduced LID in animal models of PD. Studies were identified by electronic searching of six online databases up to September of 2013 to identify preclinical trials involving nicotine for LID in animal model.

Hypermethylation leads to bone morphogenetic protein 6 downregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In the liver, bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) maintains balanced iron metabolism. However, the mechanism that underlies greater BMP-6 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue than adjacent non-cancerous tissue is unclear. This study sought to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms of BMP-6 expression by analysing the relationship between the DNA methylation status of BMP-6 and the expression of BMP-6.

Implementing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine solutions in medical implants.

Background: Surgical implants are widely used in the medical field but their long-term performance is limited due to failure of integration with tissues. This manuscript describes very well-known problems associated with implants and discusses novel solutions used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that can be implemented in this uncommonly discussed medical area.

Sources Of Data: General and medical literature describing modifications of medical and surgical implants, biofunctionalization, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Association of a common variant at 10q26 and benign prostatic hyperplasia aggressiveness in han chinese descent.

Recent studies reported that rs2252004 at 10q26 was significantly associated with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in a Japanese population and was subsequently confirmed in a Chinese population. We aimed to assess the relationship between this locus and risk/aggressiveness of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The current study included 426 BPH cases and 1,008 controls from Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai, China.

Comparison of fixed- and mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty with a mean five-year follow-up: A meta-analysis.

Controversy exists regarding the clinical and radiological differences in outcomes between fixed-bearing (FB) and mobile-bearing (MB) total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) at the mid- or long-term follow-up. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have evaluated FB and MB TKAs. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase.

Quantitative analysis of RASSF1A promoter methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognostic implications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and is caused by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in regulatory genes. In this study, we used methylight to detect the methylation status of the RASSF1A promoter in 87 paired HCC samples and analysed the relationship between methylation status and clinicopathological parameters, including prognosis after surgery. We found that the methylation level of the RASSF1A promoter in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in the corresponding non-tumorous tissues (p<0.

Genetic variants in 2q31 and 5p15 are associated with aggressive benign prostatic hyperplasia in a Chinese population.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease prevalent in elderly men. However, the genetic determinants of BPH remain unclear. Because BPH and prostate cancer (PCa) share some common pathological characteristics, we investigated whether susceptibility loci for PCa contributed to BPH risk and BPH aggressiveness in Chinese men.

LILRA3 is associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia risk in a Chinese Population.

A recent prostate cancer (PCa) genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified rs103294, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located on LILRA3, a key component in the regulation of inflammatory inhibition, to be significantly associated with PCa risk in a Chinese population. Because inflammation may be a common etiological risk factor between PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the current study was conducted to investigate the association of rs103294 with BPH risk. rs103294 was genotyped in a Chinese population of 426 BPH cases and 1,008 controls from Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai, China.

Comparative genome-wide gene expression analysis of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are complex diseases. Studies and treatment of RA and OA have mainly focused on individual factors. However, there is still no clear understanding of their causes and adequate treatment alternatives are still being sought.

SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 are associated with treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia with the combination of 5α-reductase inhibitors and α-adrenergic receptor antagonists.

Purpose: Common treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia include 5α-reductase inhibitors and α-adrenergic receptor antagonists. However, these treatments can only partially decrease the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia progression. SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 are 5α-reductase inhibitor targets.

Total knee arthroplasty using navigation system for severe osteoarthritis with extra-articular deformity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a computer-assisted navigation system for treating osteoarthritis with extra-articular deformity.

Methods: Between January 2006 and January 2009, computer-assisted navigation TKAs were performed on eight knees in eight patients, who had severe osteoarthritis with an ipsilateral extra-articular deformity. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 24 months.

A comparison of 4D time-resolved MRA with keyhole and 3D time-of-flight MRA at 3.0 T for the evaluation of cerebral aneurysms.

Background: A subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm (CA) is a devastating event associated with high rates of mortality. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), as a noninvasive technique, is typically used initially. The object of our study is to evaluate the feasibility of 4D time-resolved MRA with keyhole (4D-TRAK) for the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the detection and characterization of cerebral aneurysms (CAs), with a comparison of 3D time-of-flight MRA (3D-TOF-MRA) by using DSA as a reference.

Influence of irrigation on incision and coagulation of 2.0-μm continuous-wave laser: an ex vivo study.

Background: Several lasers are suitable for laparoscopic surgery but with remarkable smoke formation, which compromises surgical visibility and safety. Slow irrigation eliminates laser smoke efficiently, but gives rise to the concern of reducing the laser incision and coagulation efficiency.

Methods: Canine kidney specimens were manually cut with a 2-μm continuous-wave Thulium-YAG laser.

Treatment outcome of patients with stages I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma after late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy alone.

Objectives: To follow up the efficacy and incidence of radiation-induced complications of late course accelerated fractionation (LCAF) radiotherapy in early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: From December 1995 to November 2002, 158 patients with stages I-II NPC were admitted for radiotherapy alone. For the first two-thirds of the treatment, 2 daily fractions of 1.

Ocular surface deficits contributing to persistent epithelial defect after penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To determine the ocular surface deficits contributing to persistent epithelial defect (PED) after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).

Methods: Four ocular surface deficits that contribute to PED and their corrective measures were reviewed in 11 eyes of 11 patients with PED after PKP.

Results: Among these 11 eyes, PED developed early in 8 eyes and late in 3 eyes after PKP.

Frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles in China: clinical outcomes of two and three multicellular embryos transfers.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles when two or three multicellular embryos were transferred in Chinese women.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze 980 FET cycles performed between January 2007 and October 2010. Two (785 cycles) or three (195 cycles) multicellular embryos were transferred.