ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).Methods32 C57BL/ 6 male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Model group was administrated with 16 mg/kg MPTP (i.p., four times, 2 h interval); Sham group was treated with saline; EGCG treatment group was given EGCG (5 mg/kg) after MPTP administration; normal group was just given EGCG (5 mg/kg) as treatment group. After given EGCG for 3 weeks, behavioral tests, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry staining and the HPLC for dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were used.ResultsThe present results indicated that oral administration of EGCG significantly improved the behavioral impairement in mice induced by MPTP (P<0.05). And in the EGCG treatment group, there were more TH-positive neurons than in model group. In addition, levels of DA and its metabolites in striatum decreased significantly in MPTP group (P<0.05). Though the concentration of DA and its metabolites in EGCG treatment group tended to increase, however, there was no significance between EGCG treatment and model group.ConclusionEGCG could improve the behavioral impairment in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP and protect against the loss of the dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN).

Objective To study the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and the mi- crovessel density (MVD) and their relationship in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Forty-six specimens of resected, paraffin embedded esophageal specious of squamous cell carcinoma were examined by immunohistochemical technique for the MVD and expression of bFGF and TSP-1.Results Of the 46 patients,the positive rate of bFGF and TSP-1 were 60.9% (28/46) and 37.0% (17/46),respectively.The mean value of MVD was (56.59?28.97)/mm~2.The depth of invasion had a significantly positive corre- lation with positive expression of bFGF and TSP-1.TNM stage had a significantly positive correlation with positive expression of TSP- 1.The value of MVD was closely associated with histological grade,lymph node metastasis and the expression of bFGF.Conclusion bFGF,TSP-1 and tumor microvessel play important roles in development and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. bFGF is a important regulator of tumor angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood quality of blood banks.

METHODSHBsAg, Anti-HCV, Anti-HIV were detected by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Treponema pallidum was detected by Trust or rapid plasma regain card test (RPR) before August 2001 and ELISA was used afterwards. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was detected by Reitman-Frankel before December 1999 and by continuous monitoring assay afterwards. Results were compared between (1) sampling and spot check, (2) different determent methods, (3) two kinds of reagents with different antigen coating.

RESULTSSeventy-two (8.28 per thousand ) of the 8,699 plasma samples were found unqualified with levels of anti-HCV, ALT, HBsAg, Treponema pallidum and anti-HIV 24 (2.76 per thousand ), 19 (2.18 per thousand ), 16 (1.84 per thousand ), 7 (0.80 per thousand ), 6 (0.69 per thousand ), respectively. There were significant differences between different determent methods and different reagents, but only ALT showed significant difference in the sampling and spot check.

CONCLUSIONThe unqualified samples were associated with testing methods, quality of reagents as well as ability and responsibility of the staff.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Blood Banks ; standards ; Blood Donors ; Blood-Borne Pathogens ; isolation & purification ; China ; D-Alanine Transaminase ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Seropositivity ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; Quality Control

Adult ; Cutis Laxa ; complications ; diagnosis ; Emphysema ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To retrospectively compare the image quality and radiation dose for coronary CT angiography obtained with a prospectively gated transverse (PGT) CT technique and a retrospectively gated helical (RGH) CT technique. Methods Coronary CT angiography obtained with 256-slice CT were retrospectively evaluated in 177 patients. The main branches of coronary arteries were divided into 9 segments. The image quality was evaluated with a four-point grading scale. The assessability of coronary artery segment, image quality score and radiation dose for prospective and retrospective CT angiography were compared with student t test. Results The PGT technique was used in 86 patients. The routine RGT technique was used in 91 patients. The percentage of assessable coronary artery segments was 98. 8% (765 of 774)with PGT technique versus 99. 6% (816 of 819) with RGH technique (t = 2. 51, P = 0. 01 ). In patients with heart rates under 75 beats per minute, the image quality of coronary artery branches was similar between PGT and RGH techniques (99. 8% versus 99. 7%, t = 1.90, P > 0. 05 ) . In patients with heart rates above 75 beats per minute, the image quality with RGH technique was better than that with PGT technique (99.0% versus 93. 6%, t = 3.57, P < 0. 05 ). Effective dose with prospective CT angiography was 60. 0% lower than that with retrospective CT angiography [ (4. 4 ± 0. 5 ) vs ( 10. 3 ± 1.5 ) mSv, t = 33.4,P <0. 05 ]. Conclusions Prospective CT angiography can reduce effective radiation dose obviously. The PGT technique offers the similar image quality with RGH technique in patients with heart rates under 75 beats per minute and RGH technique has better image quality in patients with heart rates above 75 beats per minute.

Objective To explore the dynamic changes of glutamate in the cortex of cynomolgus monkeys during cerebral ischemia.Methods Proximal M1 segment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 1 h in 3 young cynomolgus monkeys (7.3 ± 1.5 years old) to induce cerebral ischemia.Magnetic resonance imaging and neurologic deficit scoring were used to evaluate the ischemia and observe the manifestations,respectively.Fast Analytical Sensing Technology (FAST) was applied to record the content of cortex glutamate in the same site of ipsilateral primary motor cortex in the periods of pre-,during,and post-occlusion,and at 1 and 2 weeks after surgery.Results Compared with pre-occlusion,the content of glutamate was increased significantly in the process of occluding in the MCA M1 (P =0.003);No significant difference was observed in the content during occluding and post-occlusion (P--0.877).The content in the first week was decreased obviously as compared with post-occlusion (P--0.004),but it showed no statistical difference with that in the second week (P =0.085).Conclusion Cerebral ischemia may potentially accelerate the extra-cellular glutamate release in the cortex,but reperfusion may ameliorate or balance off the glutamate release.

Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of clinical application of stand-alone MC+PEEK cage in anterior cervical fusion.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2014,50 patients were treated with the MC+PEEK cage filled with autogenous cancellous illic-bone graft after anterior cervical discectomy. There were 22 patients with cervical spondylosis,26 patients with traumatic cervical disc herniation, 2 patients with cervical instability in these patients. There were 32 males and 18 females, aged from 30 to 79 years old with an average of 53.30 years old. There were 32 patients with single segment, 15 patients with double segments and 3 patients with three segments. Cervical AP and lateral and the flexion-extension X-rays were regularly taken in order to assess the cervical physiological curvature, the graft fusion and internal fixation related complications. Nerve function, clinical effect and bone fusion were respectively evaluated according to Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA), Otani grade and Suk method.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months with an average of 20 months. No correlated surgical complications were found and all patients obtained bony fusion with an average time of 4.30 months. JOA score had significantly improvement after surgery (P < 0.05). The JOA score was 10.60 ± 3.00 before surgery and 16.10 ± 2.20, 16.40 ± 2.35 at one week and six months after surgery respectively. According to Otani grade,40 cases got excellent results, 9 good, 1 fair. No significant dysphagia and internal fixation related complications such as displacement of cages were found during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONUsing this cage in anterior cervical fusion can obtain satisfactory clinical effect with less operation injury and reduce the complications. It is a better fusion method in anterior cervical fusion.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods