Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of second sacral alar-iliac (S2AI) technique utilized in patients with tuberculosis of Lumbosacral spine.Methods 24 cases (15 male,9 female,aged 36-73 years old,average 47.1 years) of tuberculosis of Lumbosacral spine were collected for surgery using spinal and pelvic fixation system (S2AI or IS) between January 2014 and May 2016.Lumbosacral pain and restricted movement were noticed in all cases,of which 9 cases with radiating pain of lower limb and 7 cases with intermittent claudication,2 cases with saddle anesthesia.Formal anti-tuberculosis medicine treatment was given for at least 2-3 weeks before operation.All patients with lumbosacropelvic fixation were compared by recording with ESR/CRP,preoperatively,postoperatively and the last following-up.The clinical effect oswestry disability index (ODI) score,visual analogue scale (VAS),ambulatory status,SF-36 scale and related complications of 2 groups were also compared.Results The average follow-up period was average 23.4 months in the two groups.The results show that operative time,blood loss,drainage time,hospitalization days and fusion time were not statistically significant;the recording of ESR,CRP,ODI,VAS scores and ambulatory status scores between S2AI and IS groups showed no significantly different,preoperatively,postoperatively and the last following-up.Comparisons within each group were improved at postoperatively and the last following-up related to preoperatively;The difference of the SF-36 scales in each group was statistically significant between preoperatively and the last following-up;There was no statistically difference in recurrence,sinus,pseudarthrosis between two groups,but The S2AI technique was associated with lower rates of symptomatic screw prominence compared to the IS technique.Conclusion Application of S2AI screw technique in the treatment of lumbosacral tuberculosis can achieve solid fixation and satisfactory clinical effect,and reduce the complications of traditional IS screws,which is an alternative method of posterior structure reconstruction of lumbosacral tuberculosis.

Objective To determine the effect of iron deficiency on hemoglobin A2(HbA2) expression in patients with β-thalassemia.Methods The participants were recruited from the out-patient clinics of the Pediatrics Department and Obstetrics Department of Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College and from some β-thalassemia major families.Blood samples from the participants were used for blood smear tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis and to analyze serum ferritin (SF),3 alpha-globin gene deletions,and 17 beta-globin point mutations.Results Of the 408 individuals,304 were assigned to group A (normal controls),26 to group B (iron deficiency),56 to group C (β-thalassemia),and 22 to group D (β-thalassemia combined with iron deficiency). The results for the comparison of the mean HbA2 values among pairs of groups were as follows: group A vs group B,q=5.074 7,P<0.05; group A vs group C,q=37.650 8,P<0.05; group A vs group D,q=16.043 0,P<0.05;group C vs group D,q=7.682 9,P<0.05; Group B vs group D,q=15.806 6,P<0.05. There were no significant correlation between SF and HbA2 in all 4 groups.Conclusions Iron deficiency decreased the HbA2 level in both controls and individuals with β-thalassemia. HbA2 levels decreased significantly in individuals with both β-thalassemia and iron deficiency as compared with β-thalassemia group alone. However,they remained significantly higher than both the control and iron-deficient groups. Therefore,the elevation of HbA2 could be used to diagnose β-thalassemia reliably even in the presence of iron deficiency.

OBJECTIVETo extract tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) from MKN-45 gastric cancer which is similar to "muddy phlegm" in Chinese medicine and observe influences of MKN-45 tumor interstitial fluid (MKN-45 TIF) intervention on metastasis of gastric cancer and on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain containing receptor (KDR), epithelial-cadherin (E-cad), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and telomerase genes and proteins in primary tumor tissue.

METHODSAn MKN-45 tumor-bearing model was established in 50 nude mice. The modeled animals were equally randomized to 5 groups: the simple tumor-bearing group (model group), the normal saline (NS) via tail vein injection (i.v.) group (NS i.v. group), MKN-45 TIF i.v. group (TIF i.v. group), NS intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group (NS i.p. group), and MKN-45 TIF i.p. group (TIF i.p. group). The TIF and NS intervention groups received injection (i.p. or i.v.) of MKN-45 TIF or NS twice a week, 0.2 mL at a time. After 8 weeks, the primary tumors were removed, weighed and HE stained to observe tumor metastasis. The primary tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR to detect expressions of VEGF, KDR, E-cad, COX-2, ICAM-1, and telomerase genes and proteins in different groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in tumor weight between TIF intervention groups and the model and NS intervention groups. Tumor metastasis was observed in all 5 groups, but the tumor metastasis rate in TIF intervention groups was significantly higher than those in the model and NS intervention groups. The gene and protein expressions of gastric cancer-related factors VEGF, KDR, COX-2, ICAM-1 and telomerase were unregulated while the gene and protein expressions of E-cad were downregulated in TIF intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONSTIF promotes tumor growth, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. These findings provide preliminary experimental clues for verifying the hypothesis of "tumor-phlegm microenvironment".

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Fluid ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMolecular hydrogen, as a novel antioxidant, has been proven effective in treating many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hydrogen saturated saline in treatment of a rat model of diabetes mellitus and a rat model of insulin resistant.

METHODSA rat diabetes mellitus model was established by feeding a high fat/high carbohydrate diet followed by injection of a small dose of streptozotocin, and an insulin resistant model was induced with a high glucose and high fat diet. Hydrogen saturated saline was administered to rats with both models conditions on a daily basis for eight weeks. A pioglitazone-treated group and normal saline-treated group served as positive and negative controls. The general condition, body weight, blood glucose, blood lipids, and serum insulin levels of rats were examined at the 8th week after treatment. The oxidative stress indices, including serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated after eight weeks of treatment using the commercial kits.

RESULTSHydrogen saturated saline showed great efficiency in improving the insulin sensitivity and lowering blood glucose and lipids. Meanwhile, the therapeutic effects of hydrogen saturated saline were superior to those of pioglitazone. Hydrogen saturated saline markedly attenuated the MDA level and elevated the levels of antioxidants SOD and GSH.

CONCLUSIONHydrogen saturated saline may improve the insulin resistance and alleviate the symptoms of diabetes mellitus by reducing the oxidative stress and enhancing the anti-oxidant system.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Hydrogen ; therapeutic use ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Sodium Chloride ; chemistry ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDThe association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

METHODSEighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions (identified by coronary angiography and ECG) were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups: VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) and non-VH-TCFA plaque.

RESULTSPlasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA ((1489+/-715) pg/ml vs (2163+/-1004) pg/ml). Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONSt-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of HCV genotype on the IFN treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe genotypes of HCV virus were determined in the patients enrolled into the Randomized, opened and controlled trial of Peg-IFN alpha-2a (Pegasys) treatment, controlled with IFN-alpha-2a (Roferon-A), on chronic hepatitis C patients in China. The serum ALT levels and HCV RNA concentration of the patients were detected in the time of before treatment, the end of therapy and follow-up. The influence of HCV genotype on the IFN treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C was analyzed in intention to treat (ITT) population.

RESULTSThe HCV genotypes of 202 cases were determined. 158 (78.2%) cases infected with genotype 1 HCV and 44 (21.8%) cases with genotype non-1. For overall patients, the viral response at the end of treatment (ETVR) and sustained viral response (SVR) rates were 53.8% and 25.3% respectively in patients with genotype 1 HCV, but in genotype non-1 patients those was 61.4% and 43.2%, and the difference of SVR between genotype 1 and non-1 was significant (P=0.021). After grouped by the used drugs, in the patients given Pegasys treatment, the ETVR rates of patients with genotype 1 and non-1 HCV infection were 76.8% and 81.0%, the difference was not significant (P=0.686), but the difference of SVR rates, which were 35.4% and 66.7%, of the patients was significant (P=0.01). The viral relapse rate of genotype 1 was 55.6%; it was significant higher than that of genotype non-1 (23.5%) (P=0.02). In Roferon-A group, the ETVR and SVR rates of patients with genotype 1 HCV were 29.0% and 14.5%, which were lower, but not significant, than those of patients with genotype non-1 (43.5% and 21.7%). The viral relapse rate of genotype 1 was 72.7% and higher, but not significant, than that of genotype non-1 also (50.0%) (P=0.21).

CONCLUSIONHCV genotype could affects the efficacies, mainly the sustained responses, of IFN treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and the effects of IFN were related to the kinds of drugs and therapeutic course.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence

BACKGROUNDPain has a substantial impact on patients' activities and overall quality of life, but current conventional drugs have debilitating side effects, including gastrointestinal disorders. Thus there is a pressing need for new therapies with fewer side effects to alleviate cancer pain. We recently developed a topical herbal formula Xiaotan Tongluo analgesic gel (XTTL gel) based on the principles of traditional Chinese herbalism, and we have received positive feedback from bone cancer pain patients. The aim of this study was to determine the analgesic effects and explore the mechanisms of XTTL gel in a rat model of bone cancer pain.

METHODSThe rat model of bone cancer pain was established by inoculating Walker-256 rat carcinoma cells directly into the right tibial medullary cavity of Wistar rats. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10 per group): (1) sham bone cancer control (sham group): vehicle (PBS) inoculation without carcinoma cells plus topical administration of blank gel; (2) Sham treatment control (vehicle group): Walker-256 cell inoculation plus topical administration of blank gel; (3) XTTL gel treatment (treatment group): Walker-256 cell inoculation plus topical administration of XTTL gel. XTTL gel treatments were applied daily for 7 days starting on day 14 following inoculation. Outcomes were assessed 21 days after inoculation by mechanical allodynia, histological staining, and by measuring concentrations of type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in serum.

RESULTSFourteen days after cancer cell incubation, significant mechanical allodynia in the ipsilateral hind paw and tumor growth in proximal end of the tibia were observed in the vehicle and treatment groups but not in the sham group. At day 21, mechanical withdrawal thresholds in treatment group rats were significantly higher ((4.8557 +/- 0.8336) g) compared with those of the vehicle group ((1.8630 +/- 1.4369) g, P < 0.05). ICTP and BAP levels increased significantly in vehicle group rats ((101.5176+/- 11.0694) U/L and (370.7838 +/- 12.8273) U/L, respectively) compared with those of the sham group ((11.7553 +/- 1.1885) U/L and (185.7338 +/- 3.6761) U/L, respectively; P < 0.05). XTTL gel decreased the level of blood serum ICTP ((41.8998 +/- 6.4970) U/L, P < 0.05) but had little effect on blood serum BAP ((365.5338 +/- 18.5361) U/L, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTopical use of XTTL gel may have an analgesic effect on bone cancer pain, an effect mediated by lowering of ICTP levels and inhibiting bone resorption.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Collagen Type I ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Pain ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Peptides ; Procollagen ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in preterm infants aged 26-31(+6) weeks with respiratory distress syndrome after ventilator weaning.

METHODSA total of 161 preterm infants were randomly divided into two groups after ventilator weaning: HHHFNC treatment (n=79) and nCPAP treatment (n=82). The two groups were subdivided into 26-28(+6) weeks and 29-31+6 weeks groups according to the gestational age. The treatment failure rate, reintubation rate within 7 days after extubation, incidence of complications, and mortality during hospitalization were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe treatment failure rate and reintubation rate showed no significant differences between the HHHFNC and nCPAP groups. The preterm infants aged 26-28(+6) weeks in the HHHFNC group had a significantly higher treatment failure rate than those in the nCPAP group (P<0.05), while the reintubation rate showed no significant difference. As for the preterm infants aged 29-31(+6) weeks, the treatment failure rate and reintubation rate showed no significant differences between the two groups. The incidence of complications and mortality showed no significant differences between the HHHFNC and nCPAP groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn preterm infants aged 29-31(+6) weeks, HHHFNC has a similar efficacy as nCPAP after ventilator weaning, while in those aged less than 29 weeks, HHHFNC should be used with great caution if selected as the first-line noninvasive respiratory support.

Catheters ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Ventilator Weaning

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and investigate the influencing factors of the interferon (IFN) retreatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsed after a previous IFN treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was designed to analyze the retreatment with IFN of 60 relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were from a randomized, opened and multi-center clinical trial about the efficacy and security of PEG-IFNalpha-2a compared to CIFNalpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. There were 35 patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a and 25 with CIFNalpha-2a. The main parameter to evaluate the efficacy was sustained viral response (SVR) rate. The influence of viral concentration in serum, genotype and drug categories on the responses to IFN were analyzed.

RESULTSFor all the patients, the end of treatment virus response (ETVR) and SVR rates were 55.00% and 35.00% respectively. ETVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was significantly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (74.29% and 28.00% respectively, P < 0.01). SVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was also markedly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (45.71% and 20.00% respectively, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the high and low viral load groups. Among the patients with genotype 1, ETVR and SVR rates of PEG-IFNalpha-2a (75.00%, 45.83%) were significantly higher than those of CIFNalpha-2a (22.22%, 11.11%), (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively), but in patients with genotype non-1, there were no such differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSome relapsed patients were not responsive to the IFN retreatment. The efficacy of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was superior to CIFNalpha-2a. The conventional IFN was not suggested to be used in the relapsed cases with genotype 1. The viral load was not associated with the efficacy of IFN retreatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of pravastatin on platelet-derived nitric oxide system in hypercholesterolemia (HC) and atherosclerosis (AS) in rabbits, and the relationship between these changes and atherosclerosis courses.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, 12 in group A, 12 in group B, and 6 in group C. All of them were fed daily with cholesterol-rich food during the first 12 weeks. In addition, in group A, pravastatin (10 mg) was orally administered daily. At the end of the 12th week, 6 in group A and B were killed randomly and their aortas were removed and the pathologic changes were observed. In the following 12 weeks, food enriched with cholesterol was substituted with normal food in all three groups. Pravastatin treatment was continued or started in the remaining members of group A and group B, but not in group C. At the end 24th week, all rabbits were killed and their aortas were examined for the fatty-streaks or atherosclerotic plaques. The expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNA and inducible NOS (iNOS ) mRNA, NOS activity, NO production and the level of the serum lipids were measured at 0, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th week.

RESULTSThe expression levels of platelet-derived NOS mRNA, eNOS mRNA ratio in group A had no difference at above time points, while in group B were reduced significantly at 6th week and 12th week compared with at 0 week (P <0.01), and increased at 18th week and 24th week compared with 12th week (P <0.05). The expression levels of eNOS mRNA in group C were reduced at 6th, 12th and 18th, 24th week compared with 0 week (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively), and were reduced in groups B and C compared with group A at 6th ,12th week (P < 0.05) and increased in group A and B compared with group C at 18th, 24th week (P <0.01). The expression levels of iNOS/mRNA among the three groups had no difference. Pathologic finding of the arteries: AS was not found in group A from the 12th to 24th week. While in group B, there were a lot of fatty-streaks on the entire intima of all large arteries at the 12th week. There were also fatty-streaks in the ascending aorta, but were improved at the 24th week. In group C, there were marked plaques in the entire aorta at the 24th week.

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of platelet-derived eNOS mRNA, NOS activity, NO production are decreased in HC or AS rabbits. Pravastatin can up-regulate expressions of platelet-derived eNOS mRNA, NOS activity, leading to preventing or improving the pathological courses of AS.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; pathology ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; genetics ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits