Objective: To investigate microRNA-25 (miR-25) expression in rectal carcinoma cells and its action. Methods: The miR-25 expressions in several different rectal cell lines were determined, and then the changes in biological behaviors in rectal cancer cells after up- or down-regulation of miR-25 expression with miR-25 precursor (pre-miR-25) or miR-25 inhibitor (anti-miR-25) transfection were examined. Results: Compared with normal rectal mucosal tissue, the miR-25 expressions in all tested rectal cancer cells were significantly increased with varying degrees (all P<0.05). In rectal cancer HR-834 cells with relatively low miR-25 expression after pre-miR-25 transfection and in rectal cancer SW-837 cells with high miR-25 expression after anti-miR-25 transfection, the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis showed no significant change (all P<0.05), but the invasion and migration abilities in HR-834 cells were increased, and SW-837 cells were decreased significantly (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The miR-25 expression is elevated in rectal cancer cells, and its degree of increase is closely related to the invasion and migration abilities of rectal cancer cells.

Objective: To observe the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac with lateral umbilical fold reinforcement in inguinal hernia repair through an animal experiment.
Methods: Sixty-four healthy male New-Zealand rabbits (having congenital defect at the internal inguinal ring) were randomized into experimental group and control group. Rabbits in experimental group received laparoscopic right high ligation of the hernia sac with lateral umbilical fold, while those in control group underwent laparoscopic right high ligation of the hernia sac only. On postoperative day (POD) 7, 15, 30, and 60 respectively, 8 rabbits in either group were randomly picked up to observe the abdominal conditions under laparoscope and then to determine the level of anti- abdominal pressure at the repaired internal inguinal ring.
Results: No animal death occurred during the experiment. No intra-abdominal complication was observed in either of the groups, and the lateral umbilical fold was well integrated with the original peritoneum in rabbits of experimental group. After operation, the level of anti-abdominal pressure at the repaired inguinal region in both groups of rabbits were continuously increased as time went on, and both approximately reached a maximum on POD 30, but the level of anti-abdominal pressure at each predefined postoperative time point in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: Laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac with lateral umbilical fold reinforcement for inguinal hernia is safe and effective in rabbits, which may provide an experimental basis for its clinical use.

Objective: To analyze and compare the influences of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) on cerebral perfusion in patients with carotid stenosis during perioperative period by means of whole brain computed tomography perfusion (WBCTP). Methods: According to the criterion of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), 32 patients with carotid stenosis that was confirmed by whole brain angiography were selected. Of the patients, 11 cases underwent CEA, and 21 cases underwent CAS. All patients underwent WBCTP examination before and one week after operation, and the cerebral perfusion data were recorded. The changes and degrees of the changes in the perfusion parameters that included regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and regional mean transit time (rMTT) of the two groups of patients were analyzed and compared. Results: Compared with preoperative data, rCBF, rCBV and rMTT were all significantly improved in either group (all P<0.05), but the degrees of the changes in all parameters showed no significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Both CEA and CAS procedures can improve the cerebral perfusion in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and they also exhibit similar efficacy.