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The experiment was to study the effect of replacing soybean meal with different proportions of whole plant fermentated hybrid tree on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and nutrient apparent digestibility of finishing pigs. A total of 48 healthy 'Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire' crossbred finishing pigs with an initial weight of (60.44±2.51) kg were randomly divided into four groups, with three replicates in each group and four pigs in each replicate. The finishing pigs in group A (control group) were fed with basal diet, and the finishing pigs in group B, group C and group D were fed with experimental diet with 3%, 5% and 7% whole fermented hybrid tree instead of soybean meal, respectively. The pre-test lasted for 10 d, and the formal test lasted for 45 d. The results showed that compared with group A, the average daily gain of finishing pigs in group B was increased by 2.78% (P>0.05), the eye muscle area, intramuscular fat content and protein content of finishing pigs in experimental groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). The apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, calcium and phosphorus in diets of finishing pigs in group C and group D were significantly increased (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that using 3% whole plant fermented hybrid tree instead of soybean meal has better effect on growth performance, meat quality and apparent digestibility of finishing pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the heat-transfer character and flow of liquid gallium, a natural convection flow of liquid gallium was numerically simulated by using single phase method on the heat transfer of liquid gallium in a two dimensional enclosure. The effects of boundary condition and Grashof number on the flow and the convective heat transfer behavior are investigated. The numerical results which include temperature and velocity graph are compared with the experimental data and reasonable agreement is achieved. In a case that thermal conductivity takes a leading part, when Grashof number goes up, convection will gradually play a more important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for early gastric cancer., Methods: A total of 204 patients with early gastric cancer undergoing laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy or open radical gastrectomy between October 2004 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients were divided into laparoscopic group(LAP, n=78) and open group (OPEN, n=126). Operative time, blood loss, time to passage of flatus, postoperative hospital stay, complications and pathologic findings were compared between the two groups., Results: Compared to the OPEN group, operative time in the LAP group was significantly shorter[(202.9±45.6) min vs.(219.8±45.2) min, P<0.05], blood loss was less[(144.5±146.5) ml vs. (245.0±146.4) ml, P<0.05], time to passage of flatus was shorter[(3.1±1.1) d vs.(4.5±1.6) d, P<0.05], postoperative hospital stay was shorter[(10.8±1.2) d vs. (12.4±3.8) d, P<0.05]. However, the two groups were comparable with regard to postoperative complication rate(10.3% vs. 12.7%, P>0.05), proximal resection margin[(4.0±1.9) cm vs. (4.2±1.7) cm, P>0.05], distal resection margin [(3.6±1.7) cm vs. (3.5±1.8) cm, P>0.05], number of harvested lymph node(13.1±6.5 vs. 14.5±8.2, P>0.05). The median follow up was 22(2-64) months. There were no tumor recurrences or metastases in the LAP group. In the OPEN group, only 1 patient died from peritoneal metastasis. Total hospital costs between the two groups were similar(P>0.05)., Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is a safe, feasible, effective, and less invasive surgery for early gastric cancer.

Background: Few studies evaluate the cost-effectiveness issues of laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. This study evaluates direct and indirect costs of LAR and its long-term survival rate in rectal cancer patients., Material/methods: This prospective nonrandomized controlled trial included 2 endpoints (direct and indirect costs, and disease-free survival). From January 2003 to May 2005, rectal cancer patients admitted to our center were assigned to 2 groups: 87 patients underwent LAR (LAP), while 86 cases received open anterior resection (OPEN). The direct costs were prospectively evaluated. Main indirect cost is productivity loss. The data of direct costs, indirect costs, and the total costs were collected for the minimal cost analysis., Results: Disease-free survival at 65 months in the LAP group and the OPEN group was 78.2% and 74.7%; there was no significant difference between the groups. Median direct costs were not significantly different between the LAP and the OPEN groups. Indirect costs of the LAP group were significantly lower than those of the OPEN group, while total costs were not significantly different. Cost percentage for operations, medications, and hospitalization were 75.90%, 11.28%, and 2.18% in the LAP group; while in the operation group, they were 54.50%, 29.09%, and 3.35%., Conclusions: Total economic budget for a patient receiving LAR was not significantly increased compared with the conservative method owing to its technical predominance, oncologic safety, as well as frequent bed turnover.

Objective: To explore the relationship between gamma-synuclein gene expression and CpG island demethylation in colorectal cancer(CRC), and the relationship between the demethylation and clinicopathological factors of CRC., Methods: The expression of gamma-synuclein mRNA was examined in 30 pairs of tumor tissues and tumor-matched non-neoplastic adjacent tissues(NNAT) by RT-PCR. CRC cell lines including COLO205, LoVo, and SW480 were used and treated with a demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine(5-aza-C). Before and after the treatment, the expression of gamma-synuclein mRNA in the cells was determined by RT-PCR, and bisulfite sequencing PCR was also used to analyze methylation status of CpG island. The methylation status of gamma-synuclein was then examined in 67 CRC samples and 30 NNAT samples by nested methylation-specific PCR (NMSP) and real time methylation-specific PCR(real-time MSP). The relationship between the demethylation of gamma-synuclein in CRC and clinicopathological factors was analyzed., Results: The mean gamma-synuclein mRNA expression was 0.66+/-0.34 in CRC samples, which was much higher than 0.45+/-0.26 in NNAT samples(P=0.011). 5-aza-C could induce expression and demethylation of gamma-synuclein in COLO205, LoVo and SW480 cells. gamma-Synuclein gene was demethylated in 80.0%(24/30) of the CRC samples and 50.0%(15/30) of the NNAT samples. The demethylated status of gamma-synuclein was much higher in CRC samples than that in NNAT samples(P=0.030), and was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis of CRC(P<0.05)., Conclusion: The upregulation of gamma-synuclein expression in CRC is primarily attributed to the demethylation of CpG island, which may be used as a marker for prognosis.

Objective: To evaluate laparoscopic surgery for gastric and small intestinal stromal tumors., Methods: The clinical data of patients with laparoscopic resection of gastric and small intestinal tumors, admitted to our center from Dec. 2003 to Jul. 2006, were retrospectively analyzed. The data included the surgical procedure, operative time, blood loss, length of incision, time for passage of flatus, postoperative length of stay, operative complications, pathology and the results of follow-up., Results: All the 33 patients with gastric and small intestinal stromal tumors were treated by laparoscopic procedures successfully, including 8 laparoscopic gastric wedge resections, 8 laparoscopic transgastric tumor-everting resections, and 17 laparoscopic segmental resections of small intestine. The mean operative time was (73.1+/-27.0) min, the mean blood loss was (19.8+/-14.0) ml, the mean length of incision was (3.3+/-1.1) cm, the mean time for passage of flatus was (2.2+/-1.0) d and the postoperative length of stay was (8.1+/-2.0) d. The bleeding of intestinal anastomosis and gastric mucosa occurred on 3 patients (9.1%), who were healed with conservative therapy. No recurrence was found during 2-33 months follow-up., Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is an effective, safe, less invasive procedure for treatment of gastric and small intestinal stromal tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical use of laparoscopy in diagnosis and surgical treatment in small intestinal tumors., Methods: Clinical data of 42 patients with small intestinal tumor undergoing laparoscopic diagnosis and surgical procedure from Sep. 2003 to Dec. 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The operative time, blood loss,length of incision, time for passage of flatus, post-operative hospital stay and operative complications were evaluated., Results: All the patients were diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic procedure successfully, including 4 laparoscopic local resection of the tumors, 36 laparoscopy-assisted partial intestinal resections, 1 right hemicolectomy, and 1 laparoscopic exploration. The mean operative time was (73.1+/-32.9) min, the mean blood loss was (20.7+/-31.2) ml, the mean length of incision was (3.7+/-1.2) cm, the mean time for passage of flatus was (2.2+/-0.8) d, and the post-operative hospital stay was (8.0+/-3.1) d. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (4.8% ) including anastomosis bleeding and adhesive intestinal obstruction in one case respectively. After follow-up from 3 to 30 months, no recurrent tumor was found except one patient with advanced intestinal carcinoma., Conclusion: Laparoscopic exploration can diagnose small intestinal tumors accurately, and laparoscopy-assisted surgical treatment is safe with less trauma and fast recovery.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of the laparoscopic salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer., Methods: Seven cases with recurrent rectal carcinoma treated by laparoscopic salvage surgery from February 2004 to July 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, four were males and 3 females, and the median age was 60 years (range 37-74). Three cases of recurrence were after conventional anterior resection, 2 after laparoscopic-assist anterior resection, 1 after laparoscopic-assist Parks' procedure, and 1 with pars sacral fistula after per-sacral-local resection for three times. Image examination (CT scanning) was taken preoperatively to evaluate the locally recurrence and exclude the distant metastases. The laparoscopic-assist procedure with or without a hand-assist technique was used in this study., Results: Six cases with the recurrent lesion of central type were treated by salvage surgical procedure as follows: 3 laparoscopic-assist anterior resection, 1 laparoscopic-assist abdominoperineal resection, 1 laparoscopic-assist posterior exenteration, and 1 laparoscopic-assist proctocolectomy with a terminal ileum stoma. All of them were R0 resection confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. The other one with the lesion of combination type was treated with the procedure of laparoscopic-assist sigmoid colostomy. A hand-assist technique was used in 2 cases. The mean operation time, bleeding and hospital day was (211 +/- 13) min, (200 +/- 91) ml, and (15 +/- 10) d, respectively. No conversion and complication occurred., Conclusion: Laparoscopic salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer is safe and feasible when taken by experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon to the cases with the recurrent lesion of central type.

Objective: To demonstrate expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of human kallikrein 10 (KLK 10) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to correlate the KLK 10 expression level with clinicopathological factors of CRC., Methods: KLK 10 expression in 63 cases of tumoral and nontumoral colorectal tissues at the mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT) and Western blot methods. KLK 10 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry. The KLK 10 genomic DNA from 16 cases of paired normal and cancerous colorectal tissues was PCR-amplified and examined for SNP by direct sequencing., Results: The KLK 10 mRNA expression was detected by qRT in 61 of 63 (97%) CRC specimens. The KLK 10 expression was much higher in tumor tissue than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue at the mRNA and protein levels. The KLK 10 mRNA expression level significantly correlated with the lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05) and clinical stage of CRC (P < 0.05). No mutations or polymorphisms were detected in exon 1, 2 and 5 of KLK 10 gene in CRC. A SNP in codon 50 of exon 3, GCC (alanine) to TCC (serine) was identified. The genetic changes of exon 4 were located at codon 106 [GGC (glycine) to GGA (glycine)], codon 112 [ACG (threonine) to ACC (threonine)], codon 141 [CTA (leucine) to CTG (leucine)], and codon 149 [CCG (proline) to CTG (leucine)]. All these SNP were identical in tumor as well as the corresponding normal tissue DNA from the same individuals., Conclusions: The KLK 10 expression is up-regulated in CRC and higher expression of KLK 10 closely correlate with advanced disease stage, which predicts a poorer prognosis, however, further follow-up study is needed.

Objective: To evaluate the value of urinary normal and modified nucleosides in diagnosis and surgical monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: Between October 2002 and July 2003, 52 consecutive patients with pathological confirmed CRC were included in this study. Spontaneous urine samples were collected 1 d before and 8 d after surgery and 14 kinds of urinary nucleosides in the samples were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method. Another 62 healthy volunteers were also enrolled as controls. The routine clinical tumor markers, including serum CEA, CA199, CA125 and AFP levels of CRC patients were evaluated by electrochemical-luminescence immunoassay simultaneously., Results: The mean levels of pseudouridine (Pseu), adenosine (A), cytidine (C), 1-methyladenosine (m1A), 1-methylinosine (m1I), 3-methyluridine + 5-methyluridine (mU), 2,2-methylguanosine (m22G), inosine (I), 1-methylguanosine (m1G), N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), N6-methyladenosine (m6A) among 14 kinds of determined urinary nucleosides in CRC group were much higher than those of controls (P < 0.05). Based on principal component analysis, 76.9% of CRC patients were correctly identified, which was much higher than that of CEA (38.5%), CA199 (40.4%), CA125 (15.4%), and AFP (17.3%) (P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis of m1G, and Pseu showed good sensitivity-specificity profiles to CRC. Two classification equations, Y(normal) = -3.009 + 0.0272 x Pseu + 4.918 x m1G and Y(CRC) = -8.057 + 0.0667 x Pseu + 8.258 x m1G, were established by Bayes stepwise discriminate analysis for predicting carcinogenesis of CRC. The elevated levels of Pseu, C, U (uridine), m1A, m1I, m1G, ac4C, A, m22G dramatically decreased after curative resection of 40 cases of CRC. And our data also showed that the preoperative levels of Pseu, m1G, m1A and m22G were positively related with tumor size and the preoperative levels of m1A, m22G and ac4C were positively related with Duke's staging of CRC (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Normal and modified urinary nucleosides may become additional tumor markers which are feasible in the clinical setting and will prove helpful in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of CRC, and Pseu and m1G may be more promising for clinical application.

Aim: To evaluate the anti-tumor effects and possible involvement of anti-tumor immunity of electrochemotherapy (ECT) employing electroporation and bleomycin in human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice, and to establish the experimental basis for clinical application of ECT., Methods: Forty nude mice, inoculated subcutaneously human colon cancer cell line LoVo for 3 wk, were allocated randomly into four groups: B+E+ (ECT), B+E- (administration of bleomycin alone), B-E+ (administration of electric pulses alone), and B-E- (no treatment). Tumor volumes were measured daily. The animals were killed on the 7th d, the weights of xenografts were measured, and histologies of tumors were evaluated. Cytotoxicity of spleen natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells was then assessed by lactic dehydrogenase release assay., Results: The mean tumor volume of group B+E+ was statistically different from the other three groups after the treatment (F = 36.80, P<0.01). There was one case of complete response, seven cases of partial response (PR) in group B+E+, one case of PR in group B+E- and group B-E+ respectively, and no response was observed in group B-E-. The difference of response between group B+E+ and the other three groups was statistically significant (chi2 = 25.67, P<0.01). Histologically, extensive necrosis of tumor cells with considerable vascular damage and inflammatory cells infiltration were observed in group B+E+. There was no statistical difference between the cytotoxicity of NK and LAK cells in the four treatment groups., Conclusion: ECT significantly enhances the chemosensitivity and effects of chemotherapy in human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice, and could be a kind of novel treatment modality for human colon cancer. The generation of T-cell-dependent, tumor-specific immunity might be involved in the process of ECT.