Objective: To compare the transfection efficiency of electroporation and chemical transfection agents in multidrug-resistant (MDR) gastric cancer cells.
Methods: MDR gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells were transfected with plasmids bearing tumor suppressor gene WTX through electroporation method and two chemical agents (Lipofectamine2000 and Attractene), respectively. Then, the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the WTX mRNA in the cells after transfection were examined.
Results: Results of eGFP analysis showed that in SGC7901/VCR cells compared with the parental non-drug-resistant SGC7901 cells, the transection efficiencies of both chemical methods were significantly decreased (both P<0.05), but the transfection efficiency of electroporation exhibited no significant decrease (P>0.05), which was significantly higher than that of either chemical agent (both P<0.05). Results of RT-PCR showed that the WTX mRNA expression level in SGC7901/VCR cells undergoing electroporation transfection was significantly higher than that in those transfected by the two chemical agents (both P<0.05).
Conclusion: In MDR gastric cancer cells, electroporation transfection will not be influenced easily by their cell membrane components, and can maintain its transfection efficiency.

Objective: To evaluate the clinic value of using the technique of “laparoscopic meticulous dissection of Calot’s triangle via cystic artery approach” for preventing bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: The clinical data of 2 200 patients undergoing LC with this technique from June 2010 to June 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The essential feature of the technique was namely “cystic artery first”, and full exposure of the relationship of the three biliary ducts after meticulously dissecting out the contents of Calot’s triangle. Results: LC procedure was successfully completed in 2 152 patients, without bile duct injury occurring in any of them, and the other 48 patients (2.18%) were converted to open surgery due to Mirizzi’s syndrome, cholecystoduodenal fistula or gallbladder cancer The operative time was 20 to 55 min, with an average of 35.5 minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was 5 to 50 mL, with an average of 15.5 mL, and the length of postoperative hospital stay was 3 to 5 d, with an average of 3.5 d, respectively. Follow-up performed for 3 to 12 months, and no complications such as biliary stricture, bile leakage or intraperitoneal abscess occurred. Conclusion: Using the technique of “laparoscopic meticulous dissection of Calot’s triangle via cystic artery approach” can effectively prevent bile duct injury during LC, and it can be recommended as a standard procedure.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of primary closure versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for common bile duct stones. Methods: The clinical data of 142 patients with common bile duct stones undergoing LCBDE from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, 75 cases received primary closure of the common bile duct and 67 patients were subjected to T-tube drainage after choledochotomy. The relevant clinical variables between the two procedures were compared, and the risk factors for postoperative complications were also analyzed. Results: Between patients undergoing the two different procedures, all preoperative variables, except the gender ratio that was of a statistical difference (P=0.028), exhibited no significant difference (all P>0.05); the operative time, and incidence of postoperative complications, surgical death and stone recurrence also showed no significant difference (all P>0.05), but the length of postoperative hospital stay in patients undergoing primary closure was significantly shorter than that in patients undergoing T-tube drainage (P<0.05). Biliary fistula was the main postoperative complication for either procedure, which occurred in 7 cases (9.3%) in patients undergoing primary closure and in 8 cases (11.9%) in those undergoing T-tube drainage, respectively. No risk factors for postoperative biliary fistula was detected by comparison of the relevant variables between patients with and without postoperative biliary fistula (all P>0.05). Conclusion: LCBDE with primary closure of the common bile duct is an effective and safe procedure for common bile duct stones, and it has similar clinical efficacy but reduced length of postoperative hospital stay compared with post-LCBDE T-tube drainage. The determination of risk factors for biliary fistula still requires big data analyses and further randomized controlled trials.