Objective To explore the cause of and treatment for superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS). Methods Clinical data of 21 patients from 1992 to 2002 with SMAS were analyzed retrospectively. Results Three cases of SMAS recovered with nonoperative treatments, eighteen recovered after surgical therapy including lysis and downward movement of the ligament of Treitz and extensive mobilization of the duodenum in 4 cases (Type Ⅰ), lysis and Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy in 9 cases (Type Ⅱ), side to side duodenojejunostomy in one (Type Ⅲ), and Billroth-Ⅱ gastrectomy in 2 cases (Type Ⅳ), and anterior side to side duodenojejunostomy or Roux-en-Y reconstruction in 2 cases (Type Ⅴ). Conclusion Correct diagnosis and appropriate surgery for SMAS lead to satisfactory outcomes.

The application of 3D printing technology in medicine may greatly affect the surgical methods of spinal surgery. Currently, 3D printing technology has been applied to preoperative and intraoperative. Before surgery, 3D printing can be used to create precise anatomical models of spinal deformities. In addition, these anatomical models can be used to plan and simulate complex spinal lesions. 3D printed anatomical models can provide better understanding of anatomy than CT or MRI. During surgery, 3D printing has been used to create surgical guidance systems, create templates and customize specific shapes of implants. Although 3D printing technology still faces the challenge of expensive equipment and materials, this technology has many advantages such as improving patient prognosis and reducing the radiation dose of patients. This article mainly introduces the clinical application and future development of 3D printing technology in spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To develop the single-tube one-step methylation variable position (MVP) analysis technology-single-tube post-digestion PCR-melting curve analysis (PDP-MCA). METHODS: Based on differentially methylated region (DMR) reported previously as the model, a set of primers with different melting temperatures of products in the two sides of MVP were designed. By using the FastDigest methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme (MSRE), DNA digestion, multiplex amplification, MCA detection and MCA profiles were performed in a single reaction tube. Same samples (peripheral venous blood, semen, and vaginal fluid, 5 samples each type) were tested by single-tube one step MVP and traditional MSRE-PCR MCA technology. To verify the feasibility of this method, the results were compared with that of the traditional technology. The MCA/HRM profiles of different samples were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: When the melting temperature of the fragments had a differential of 2 degrees C, the MCA melting peaks separated well, and MCA detection after multiplex amplification was successful. The single-tube PDP-MCA assay was developed, which integrated multiple reactions (digestion, amplification and detection) into one tube. By this method, the sample-specific profiles and data were analyzed in 2 h, which is similar to that of the traditional method. The rapid classifications of the samples were also realized. CONCLUSION Multiplex MVPs can be analyzed in a single closed-tube. The single-tube PDP-MCA technology is a simple, fast, and automatable method. It can be used for detection of DNA methylation variations.
DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Methylation/genetics* ; DNA Primers/genetics* ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/standards* ; Nucleic Acid Denaturation

AIM: To investigate the effect of FAK - related non - kinase ( FRNK) on the expression of membrane - type matrix metalloproteinase -1 ( MT1 - MMP) in hepatic stellate cells ( HSC). METHODS:FRNK were trans-fected into HSCs by cationic liposome method. The protein levels of FRNK in HSC were assayed by Western blotting. The levels of MT1 - MMP were determined by RT - PCR for mRNA and by Western blotting for protein, respectively. RESULTS: The up -regulated expression of FRNK protein was observed and it was at 48 h after transfection that the FRNK protein content was the highest ( P < 0.05 ). The expressions of MT1 - MMP mRNA and protein were also up - regulated by the transfection of FRNK, and it was at 48 h after transfection that the MT1 - MMP protein content was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The mRNA and protein of FRNK were over - expressed in HSC transfected with the gene of FRNK. The inhibitory effect of FRNK on the collagen synthesis in HSC may be through the up - regulation of MT1 - MMP.

Objective:To investigate whether chemokine like factor (CKLF)-like myelin and lympho-cyte and related proteins for vesicle trafficking and membrane link (MARVEL)transmembrane domain-containing protein 2 (CMTM2)is involved in spermatogenesis in varicocele induced sub-fertility rats and to discuss the possible mechanisms.Methods:Forty male SD rats (body weight:220 -330 g,age:6 -7 weeks)were randomly divided into 4 groups:varicocele for 4 weeks,varicocele for 12 weeks,sham operation for 4 weeks and sham operation for 12 weeks,with 10 rats in each group.These rats were intro-duced by partially ligating left kidney veins for the experimental groups,and the sham surgery groups as controls were executed with exactly the same surgery as in the experimental groups except for the ligation. The rats in control and experimental groups for 4 and 12 weeks were killed after laparotomy at the end of 4 and 12 weeks,respectively,the left testes and epididymis were taken out for counting the sperm,ob-serving the seminiferous tubule change and immunochemistry for CMTM2.The changes included sperm density and motility,the outer diameter and inner diameter change and the changes of epithelium and the CMTM2 expression in immunochemistry.Results:Compared with the control groups,the sperm density [(63.9 ±7.1)×106 /mL vs.(74.3 ±5.0)×106 /mL]and motility[(58.7% ±7.9%)vs.(66.1% ± 4.3%)]were reduced slightly in group of varicoele for 4 weeks,respectively (t =1.432,1.563;P =0.076,0.059,respectively ).Varicocele significantly caused a decrease in sperm concentration [(40.5 ±7.2)×106 /mL vs.(71.1 ±4.5)×106 /mL]and motility [(35.2% ±8.5%)vs.(63.4% ± 4.1%)]at 12 weeks,compared with the related sham groups (t =3.754,3.933;P =0.004,0.002, respectively).Additionally,testis CMTM2 exhibited the same disparity,that is,the CMTM2 protein ex-pression in varicocele group was significantly reduced,with the ratio of sham group to varicocele group at the end of 12 weeks 2.3 ±0.4 (t =1.978;P =0.039).In the evaluation of seminiferous tubules diame-ter,the external [(198.2 ±10.2)μm vs.(255.8 ±12.7)μm,t =2.125,P =0.003]and epithelium diameter [(54.1 ±1.5)μm vs.(75.5 ±4.1)μm,t =2.246,P =0.021]were decreased compared with the sham-related groups and previous varicocele groups.In all the varicocele groups,all types of sperm motility decreased compared with the related sham-operated group (P <0.05).Conclusion:This study suggests varicocele has a detrimental effect on CMTM2 levels and decreases spermatogonia cell number,seminiferous tubules diameter,and sperm indices.CMTM2 is associated with sperm changes in rats with varicocele,and further studies are needed to study the mechanism.

Objective To explore the effect of Baihe Zhimu Tang(百合知母汤,BZT) on the airway inflammation in bronchial asthma rats.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized into control group,asthma model group,BZT group and dexamethasone (DX) group with 10 rats in each group.The bronchial asthma rat model was built by intraperitoneal injection of 10％ ovalbumin (OVA) and ultrasonic atomizing inhalation of 2％ OVA except for the control group.Thirty minutes before every ultrasonic atomizing inhalation,the BZT group was given BZT 3.68 g/(kg · d) by gastric perfusion;the DX group was administered DX injection 1.2 mg/(kg · d) by gastric perfusion;as for the control group and asthma model group,they were given normal saline of the same volume;all groups were intervened for 14 days.After that,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue,the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured,and the cell cycle and calcineurin (CaN) activity were observed in separated peripheral blood lymphocytes.Results For the asthma model group,there was a lot of inflammatory cell infiltration in the bronchial wall under light microscope,the content of IL-4 in the plasma was higher than that in the control group,while the content of IL-2 decreased,the proportion of G0/G1 phase lymphocytes decreased,the proportion of S phase and G2/M increased,and the CaN activity of lymphocytes increased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).For the BZT group,there was only a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue under light microscope,the IL-4 level in the plasma was lower than that in the asthma model group,while the IL-2 content increased,the proportion of G0/G1 phase lymphocytes increased,the proportion of S phase and G2/M decreased significantly,and the CaN activity of lymphocytes decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion BZT could reduce lymphocyte proliferation,decrease IL-4 level and reduce airway inflammation by reducing CaN activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of bronchial asthma rats.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical features of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in different age groups. METHOD: A total of 417 patients with CSDH were divided into 3 groups: 0 to 39, 40 to 59 and elder than 60 years. We analyzed the clinical features in different groups, including sex, trauma history, potential hemorrhage factors, trauma to symptoms interval, encephalatrophy, onset symptom and hematoma volume. RESULTS: The incidence of trauma, potential hemorrhage factors, encephalatrophy, consciousness disorders and paralysis increased with age, while the incidence of intracranial hypertension symptoms and seizures decreased with age (P<0.001). The trauma to symptom interval in the group elder than 60 was longer than in other groups (P<0.05) and the hematoma volume increased with age(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The clinical features of CSDH including onset symptoms, trauma history, potential hemorrhage factors, encephalatrophy, trauma to symptoms interval and hematoma volume vary in different age groups.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of the wounded in Wenchuan earthquake transported to our hospital and summarize therapeutic experiences. Methods Clinical data of 92 patients resulted from Wenchuan earthquake admitted into our hospital were reviewed and analyzed in aspects of general data,injury severity,therapeutic methods and clinical results. Results All pa-tients were free from infection,reamputation and fracture-related complication. Conclusion After the arrival of large number of the wounded in the station hospitals.efficient organization of station hospitals,comprehensive evaluation of the patients'condition,effective detailed therapeutic plans and careful man-agement of the medical complications can attain sound results.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wendan Xiezhuo method (WXM) on carotid arteriosclerosis and vascular endothelial diastolic function in essential hypertension (EH) patients with turbid-phlegm syndrome (TPS).

METHODSForty-three EH patients of medium and low risk with TPS were randomly assigned to two groups, the Wendan Tablet (WT) group (23 cases) and the placebo group (20 cases), they were treated with WT and placebo respectively on the base of amlodipine treatment to control the blood pressure. Carotid intimamedia thickness (IMT), atherosclerotic plaque score of carotid artery, endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of brachial artery after taking nitroglycerin were detected with ultrasonography before and after 6 months of treatment.

RESULTSAs compared with those in the placebo group, in the WT group after treatment, scores of TPS and carotid plaque were better, area of carotid plaque was lesser and IMT was lower significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between brachial artery EDD and carotid IMT in EH patients with TPS (r = - 0.596, P < 0.05). After treatment EDD was improved more significantly in the WT group than that in the placebo group, however, no significant difference was found in non-endothelium-dependent dilation between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONA negative correlation exists between brachial artery EDD and carotid IMT, and the latter could be aggravated by TPS in EH patients. WXM shows favorable effects in improving carotid plaque and EDD.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) in treating carotid atherosclerosis (CAS).

METHODSForty-one CAS patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the SBP group (31 cases) treated with SBP plus routine treatment and the control group (10 cases) with routine treatment only. Both were treated for 6 months. The changes of carotid atheromatous plaque (CAP), C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer and blood lipids, etc. were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, average number, total scores and area of plaque, as well as levels of CRP, FIB and D-dimer decreased significantly in the SBP group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and were lower than those in the control group after treatment respectively (P < 0.05). No severe adverse reaction occurred in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSBP is a safe and effective remedy for treatment of CAS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography