Objective: To compare the effects of Na2CO3 and NaCl + Na2CO3 at different concentration on the seed germination and seedling physiological characteristics of Astraglus membranaceus var. mongholicus, analyze the stress degrees of the both two on A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, and search for the effective ways for improving the resistance of seeds and seedlings under salt stress. Methods: Several physiological indexes of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus seeds under different salt treatments, such as the germination vigor (Gv), germination rate (Gr), relative germination rate, and relative salt damage rate were measured. And other indexes of the seedlings like chlorophyll contents, soluble protein contents, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) were also measured. Results: Na2CO3 and NaCl + Na2CO3 at lower concentration could promote the seed germination but inhibit the seed germination at higher concentration. The inhibition was increased with the concentration increasing. The germination indexes of each treatment had the significant differences compared with the control (P < 0.05). With the salt concentration increasing, the contents of chlorophyll and the soluble protein decreased, which was negatively correlated with the concentration. The content of MDA was increased and positively correlated with the concentration. The change trend of SOD activity showed the first increase and then decreased with the salt concentration increasing, which was similar to that of POD. The activities of both SOD and POD reached the peak at 50 mmol/L. Conclusion: The stress of NaCl + Na2CO3 is higher than that of Na2CO3 on the seeds and seedlings of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Computer-Aided Design ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microsurgery ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Starch ; chemistry ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Osteogenesis

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of surgery in 121 patients with spinal metastases.Methotds A retrospective analysis of clinical data from April 2009 to March 2013 was performed in 121 patients with spinal metastases.From 37 to 65 years,69 males and 42 females with mean age of 55.6 years.Primary tumor origin:Lung 35(28.9％),Breast 26(21.4％),Renal 17 (14.0％),Prostate 20 (16.5％),Thyroid 14 (11.6％),Liver 2 (1.7％),Colon 1 (0.8％),other 6 (5.0％).All patients received surgery.Follow-up and survival time were analyzed.In preoperation and postoperative 3 month,pain levels were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS),neurologic deficit was evaluated by Frankel Grade and functional impairment was classified by Karnofsky Score.The quality of the life was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.Survival analysis was evaluated by Kaplan-meier.Results The period of follow-up ranged from 5 to 35 months with the average of 15.9 months.The mean survival was 14.5 months.1-year survival was 53.5％.2-year survival was 36.5％.In patients with lung cancer,the mean survival was 8.5months.1-year survival was 14.3％.2-year survival was 11.4％.In patients with breast cancer,the mean survival was 31 months.1-year survival was 57.7％.2-year survival was 46.2％.In preoperation and postoperative 3 month,the VAS showed statistical significance (t=21.6,P＜0.01) ;Post-operatively,80.3％ of all patients had functionally useful Frankel Grade D or E compared with 43.5％ pre-operatively.KPS score (80-100) percentage was 75.6％ postoperatively compared with 33.4％ preoperatively.In 1month postoperatively,35 of 75 patients who were sphincteric dysfunction preoperatively were improved.The EORTC QLQ-C30score was 83.39±7.23 in preoperation and 51.34±14.27 in postoperaion.The quality of life was impoved significantly (t=12.6,P＜0.01).Conclusion Surgical treatment was effective in improving quality of life by providing better pain control,enabling patients to regain or maintain mobility,and offering improved sphincter control.In all patients,the number of patents with spinal metastases from breast and lung cancer is higher.Compared with spinal metastases from breast cancer,the proportion of lung cancer origin received surgery is higher.

ObjectiveTo investigate the roles of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and 9 in herpes zoster (HZ).Methods Venous blood samples were collected from 40 patients with HZ and 16 normal human controls. Flow cyometrywas usedto detect the expressionsof TLR3and TLR9inperipheralblood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from these subjects.ResultsThe percentages of PBMCs expressing TLR3 and TLR9 were significantly higher in patients than in normal human controls(both P ＜ 0.01).The expression levels of TLR3 and TLR9 in PBMCs were negatively correlated with the age of onset(r =-6.23,-5.88respectively,both P ＜ 0.01 ),but uncorrelated with gender or age.There was a significant difference in the expression levels of TLR3 and TLR9 in PBMCs between different age groups ( ＜ 40 years,40-50 years,＞ 50 years) of patients with HZ(F =3.410,P ＜ 0.01 ),with the strongest expression observed in patients younger than 40 years.ConclusionTLR3 and TLR9 may participate in the pathogenesis of HZ.

OBJECTIVEIn order to get the method for improving the salt resistance of Lycium ruthenium seeds and seedlings under NaCl stress, the seed germination and physiological characteristics of L. ruthenium seedlings was studied.

METHODSeveral physiological indexes of L. ruthenium seeds under NaCl stress, such as the germination rate (Gr), germination vigor (Gv), germination index (Gi), vigor index (Vi), and relative salt damage rate were measured. Other indexes of the seedlings like relative water contents (RWC) , chlorophyll contents, soluble protein contents, electrolyte leakage, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxidase (POD) were also measured.

RESULTNaCl at lower concentration could promote the seed germination but inhibit the seed germination at higher concentration. After the treatment by CaCl2 at the different concentrations, all germination indexes were increased. With the increase of salt concentration, the relative water contents and the contents of chlorophyll were decreased, the content of MDA and electrolyte leakage were increased. The change trend of POD activity showed the first increase and then decrease with the increase of salt concentration, which was similar to that of the soluble protein. After the treatment by CaCl2, relative water contents, chlorophyll and POD activities were decreased more slowly, and also electrolyte leakage and MDA contents increased slowly.

CONCLUSIONThe CaCl2 could significantly alleviate the damages to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium under NaCl stress, and promote the salt resistance to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium.

Calcium ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; Lycium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of combined treatment with subtotal corpectomy and radiofrequency ablation(RFA) for spinal metastases. MethodsFrom April 2009 to March 2010, 29 patients with spinal metastases who received subtotal corpectomy were analyzed. Sixteen patients (7 men and 9 women) with an average of 57.8 years having received subtotal corpectomy alone were selected for comparison (the subtotal corpectomy group). Thirteen patients (7 men and 6 women) with an average of 58.3 years having received subtotal corpectomy combined with RFA were chosen as subjects of this study (the RFA combination group). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the patient's age, gender, and Tomita type. Pain levels pre-and post-procedure were assessed by the visual analogue scale(VAS), and neurologic deficit were evaluated by the Frankel scale. ResultsThe VAS in RFA combination group were 8.88±0.36, 3.76±0.33, 3.35±0.38 in preoperation, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively, respectively. The VAS in subtotal corpectomy group were 8.96±0.39, 3.81 ±0.48, 3.41 ±0.42 in preoperation, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively, respectively. The VAS in both groups showed statistical significance at each time point, there was no statistically difference between the two groups. The operate time in RFA combination group and subtotal corpectomy group were(216.54±113.77) min and(302.50±80.44)min, respectively. The blood loss of the two groups were (1084.62±539.82)ml and (1625.00±724.34)ml, respectively. The recurrent rate of the two groups were 30.8％ and 75.0％, respectively. The RFA combination group were lower in operate time, blood loss and recurrent rates than subtotal corpectomy group. Conclusion Compared with the subtotal corpectomy, the RFA combination can reduce the blood loss, operation time, and the recurrent rates.

Objective To examine the expression and analyze the significance of autophagy-related gene microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP1-LC3,LC3),p62 and lysosorne-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP-2) in pancreatic tissues of mice with acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods Twenty mice were randomized into AP group and control group,and the number of mice was equal between two groups.AP group was intra-peritoneally injected by 20％ L-arginine solution (two injections of 4 g/kg body weight,every 1 h) in the dosage of 4 g/l kg twice every 1 hour to establish AP model,while control group was administered with equal volume of normal saline by intra-peritoneal injection.All the mice were euthanized at 24 hour after the last injection.Pancreatic histopathological changes were measured.In addition,the protein expressions of LC3,p62 and LAMP-2 were detected by Western blot.Results No obvious pathological changes were observed in control group.Pancreatic acinar edema,structure destruction,missing,the obvious widening of interlobular septum,small interlobular septum and acinar septum,and the necrosis of acinar cells at different degrees were observed in AP group.The pathological score for tissue edema,hemorrhage,necrosis and inflammation in AP group was 3.13 ± 0.50,2.83 ± 0.32,3.25 ± 0.46 and 3.16 ± 0.47,respectively,which was all 0 in control group.The differences were statistically significant between AP group and control group (P ＜ 0.01).In AP group,the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,p62 and LAMP-2 protein in pancreatic tissue were 1.16 ± 0.08,0.94 ± 0.04 and 0.35 ± 0.04,respectively,which were 0.24 ± 0.02,0.34 ± 0.03 and 0.95 ± 0.03 in control group.The ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p62 protein in pancreatic tissue in AP group were much higher than those in control group,while LAMP-2 in AP group was lower than that in control group,and there was statistically significant difference between two groups (all P ＜0.01).Conclusions Intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine could induce acute pancreatitis,and autophagy is impaired,which was associated with decreased LAMP-2 protein expression.

Objective To evaluate the roles of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2),TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in immune recognition and immune mediation in sporotrichosis by detecting their expressions in skin lesions of sporotrichosis.Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from the skin lesions of 19 patients with sporotrichosis and normal skin of 12 healthy human controls.Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of TLR4 and MyD88,and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to quantify the expressions of TLR2 and MyD88 mRNAs.Data were expressed as mean ± standard error.Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS17.0 software.Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the parameters between the lesional and control specimens.A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results TLR4 and MyD88 were mainly observed in the whole epidermis except the stratum corneum as well as plasma cells and lymphocytes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in lesional skin.However,TLR4 was nearly absent and MyD88 was weakly expressed in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in normal skin.The expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly higher in the lesional skin than in the control skin (TLR4,63.767 ± 3.829 vs.5.167 ± 3.246,t =4.82,P ＜ 0.05; MyD88,57.236 ± 4.744 vs.10.588 ± 1.640,t =3.30,P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the lesional skin showed significantly stronger expressions of TLR2 and MyD88 mRNAs compared with the normal skin (TLR2,1.974 ± 1.452 vs.1.430 ± 1.073,P ＜ 0.05; MyD88,2.028 ± 2.061 vs.0.688 ± 0.422,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Sporothrix may induce the development of sporotrichosis by interacting with host immune system via TLR signaling pathways.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of laminectomy combined with vertebroplasty in spinal metastases from rapid-growth tumors. Methods:Clinical data of 23 patients with spinal metastases of lung cancer, who were admitted to the Cancer Hospital from July 2008 to May 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen male and ten female patients, with an age range from 40 years to 65 years and a mean age of 51.5, were examined. All patients received posterior laminectomy to relieve spinal cord compression. Afterward, vertebroplasty combined with radiofrequency ablation was conducted, followed by the internal fixation of vertebrae (instrumental fixation). Operation time, blood loss, and bone cement leakage rate were analyzed. One month before and after the operation, pain measurement was conducted using visual analog scale (VAS) and neurologic deficit (spinal cord injury) by Frankel Grade. Functional impairment was classified by Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score. Quality of life was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results:The mean operation time was 163±87.36 min. Blood boss was 430±130.35 mL. Bone cement leakage rate was 21.7%. One month before and after surgery, the VAS showed statistical significance (t=25.6, P<0.01). After surgery, 78.3%of all patients exhibited functionally satisfactory Frankel Grade D or E, compared with 43.5%of patients before the operation. KPS score (80 to 100) percentage was 69.6%after surgery compared with 34.8%before surgery. One month after the operation, remission of various degrees was seen in 10 of 18 patients who had sphincteric dysfunction before surgery (55.6%). The EORTC QLQ-C30 score was 85.39±8.99 before and 52.78±15.17 after operation. The quality of life improved significantly (t=11.6, P<0.01). Conclusion:Posterior laminectomy and vertebroplasty combined with radiofrequency ablation for spinal metastases from lung cancer is safe and effective. The treatment can improve pain, function, and life quality of patients with lung cancer spinal metastases.