BACKGROUND:Lumbar spine MRI and electrophysiological test are reliable methods for evaluating nerve root injury caused by lumbar disc herniation.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze the correlation between the MRI-based grading system and the latency and frequency of F wave as wel as latency and amplitude of H-reflex in patients with lumbar disc herniation.
METHODS:MRI imaging of the lumbar spine was performed with a 3.0-T imager and a dedicated TCL coil to classify lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression. F wave and H reflex were detected on the patient bilateral tibial nerves using Oxford myoelectricity evoked potential instrument.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Spearman correlation analysis showed that the MRI-based grading of patients with lumbar disc herniation had a negative correlation with F wave frequency (r=-0.594 0, P<0.000 1), and a positive correlation with F wave latency (r=0.825 6, P<0.000 1) and H-reflex latency (r=0.875 0, P<0.000 1), but no correlation with H-reflex amplitude (R=0.117 4, P=0.257 3). With MRI grading increased, F wave frequency was decreased, and F wave and H-reflex latency were prolonged gradual y, indicating aggravating nerve root compression.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been proved to accelerate the proliferation of intervertebral disc cells and extracellular matrix production in healthy rats. For the degenerative intervertebral disc, whether exercise also has positive effects on its cell proliferation, extracellular matrix production or pain relief remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of exercise on the extracellular matrix production in a rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration.METHODS: A rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration was prepared by Freund's complete adjuvant injection into the intervertebral disc at L5-6 levels. Then, the model rats were allowed to have a rest for 2 weeks. All rats were then randomly divided into exercise and control groups. Rats in the exercise group were forced to run every day, while the controls allowed free activities in the cage. The behavioral tests were performed at 7, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after modeling; meanwhile, the intervertebral disc samples were collected used for alcian blue staining and immunohistochemical staining to detect the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the intervertebral disc cells, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Vocalization threshold on the rat back of punctured disc was significantly decreased, while grooming and wet-dog shaking were significantly increased at 7 days after modeling compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), suggesting that Freund's complete adjuvant injection successfully induces disc degeneration, hyperalgesia and abnormal behaviors. Further, the vocalization threshold and wet-dog shaking in the exercise group showed significant improvement compared with the control group after 14 days of exercise (P < 0.05), while the grooming was significantly reduced until the 28th day (P < 0.01), indicating that exercise can alleviate pain caused by disc degeneration in model rats. At 21 days after modeling, the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were significantly decreased compared with the baseline (P < 0.01), indicating the occurrence of disc degeneration. After 14 days of training, the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan, and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in the exercise group were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, after 8-week exercise, the level of proteoglycan in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in the exercise group was increased by 4-5 times compared with the control group, and levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus in the exercise group also was increased by 3-4 times compared with the control group. To conclude, exercise can promote extracellular matrix increased by production by increasing the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan, and collagen type II in the degenerative intervertebral disc.

BACKGROUND:Microencapsulated cels are commonly used as a tool to overcome immune rejection after subarachnoid transplantation. However, the effect of microencapsulation on the secretion of human pheochromocytoma cels is unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the growth and secretion of primarily microencapsulated cultured human pheochromocytoma cels in artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
METHODS: The human pheochromocytoma tissues were digested successively to isolate human pheochromocytoma cels that were then cultured in artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Primary cels were covered with alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsules, and then the cel morphology was observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. Levels of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine in cel culture medium were detected by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We used cel counting kit-8 colorimetric assay to obtain the growth curve of human pheochromocytoma cels in artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Microcapsulated human pheochromocytoma cels were in suspension and the process outgrowth increased slowly. Compared with non-microcapsulated cels, the proliferation rate of microcapsulated cels increased significantly. ELISA results revealed a significant increase in the levels of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine secreted from the microencapsulated cels compared to the non-microcapsule group. There was a wide variation in contents of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine from different tumors. These findings indicate that microencapsulated human pheochromocytoma cels can survive wel and have good secretion function in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and human pheochromocytoma cels from different tumor tissues have stable secretory function.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the risk factors associated with severity of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted to study determinants of severe forms of juvenile recurrent onset respiratory papillomatosis. The patients were separated into different groups based on the onset age, the first recurrence of age, the first recurrence of period, gender and incision of tracheal respectively. The relationship among the lesion severity score,the involvement of the subregion, operation period and the next operation period were also explored. RESULT: It was observed that some children who recurred before 4 years old required more surgery, shorter operation period(the average, longest or shortest operation period) than those elder children, the differences were statistically (P=0. 029, 0. 003, 0. 010, 0. 039, respectively). The severity score of lesion was correlated positively with the involvement of the subregion and negatively with operation period (r=0. 914, -0. 451, respectively). Some children who diagnosed before 4 years old had to endure more severity score and shorter operation period than those older children, the differences were statistically (P= 0. 036, 0. 000, respectively). 8 cases accepted incision of tracheal, they accepted more surgery too. But the differences in the onset age, the first recurrence of age, and the operation period were not statistically. CONCLUSION The results showed that the clinical course of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis was closely related to the first recurrence age and period, while the severity of disease was associated to the onset age and the involvement of the subregion.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Papilloma ; Papillomavirus Infections ; classification ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; classification ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Trachea

A reversed-phase HPLC method for simultaneous determination of gatrorrhizine, columbamine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine and berberine in Coptis chinensis was developed. Analysis was carried out on an Xtimate C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile-30 mmol x L(-1) ammonium bicarbonate solution (including 0.7% ammonia and 0.1% triethylamine) by gradient elution. The detective wavelength was 270 nm, the column temperature was 30 degrees C, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). By the above method, the linear ranges of gatrorrhizine, columbamine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine and berberine were 0.85-16.96 (r = 0.9997), 1.25-24.96 (r = 0.999 5), 2.05-40.96 (r = 0.999 9), 3.65-72.96 (r = 0.999 9), 2.88-57.60 (r = 0. 999 8),13.25-264.96 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 6), respectively. The average recoveries (n = 6) of the six alkaloids were 101.6% (RSD 1.3%),102.5% (RSD 1.5%), 100.8% (RSD 1.9%),102. 6% (RSD 1.2%), 97.80% (RSD 1.3%), 99.01% (RSD 1.5%), respectively. The determined results demonstrate that there is a significant difference in the contents of six alkaloids and total alkaloids among the tested samples. The method is accurate, reliable and repeatable for simultaneous determination of gatrorrhizine, columbamine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine and berberine in C. chinensis.
Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Berberine Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

OBJECTIVETo establish a RRLC-UV method for simultaneous determination of oxypeucedanin hydrate, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, cnidilin and oxypeucedanin in Angelica dahurica var. formosana.

METHODThe analysis was carried out on a Agilent Zorbax SB-C, (4.6 mm x 100 mm, 1.8 microm) column eluted with the mobile phases of methanol (A)-water (B) in gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and the UV detection wavelength was set at 310 nm.

RESULTAll calibration curves of six coumarins showed good linearity regression within test ranges (r > 0.9998), and the overrall recoveries were in the range of 99.42%-101.4%, with RSD less than 2.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, sensitive, reliable and reproducible which can be used for the quality study of Angelica dahurica var. formnosana.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; methods ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Objective To retrieve the research or comparison of systematic nursing intervention and routine nursing intervention on breast cancer patients with chemotherapy and cancer related fatigue.Methods We searched from the database of Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP database.All literature had been taken Jadad scale to evaluate evidence quality, and utilized statistical software Stata and SAS to do meta-analysis for telling the differences of systematic nursing intervention and routine nursing intervention. Results This study involved 14 researches and 1 392 patients, in which were 697 cases of systematic nursing and 695 cases of routine nursing.Systematic nursing intervention was better than routine nursing intervention to cope with fatigue caused by cancer [OR(95%CI) =3.497(2.838-4.310);P<0.01], and presented the same trend at improving quality of life (SMD>0;P<0.05).Conclusions Systematic nursing intervention is worthy to promote in clinic.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effect of intranasal corticosteroids-gelatin sponge and saline-gelatin sponge in the treatment of nasal adhesion.METHODS A total of 208 noses(170 patients) with nasal adhesions after receiving the endoscopic sinus surgeries from July,2012 to December,2015 were selected.All the cases were divided randomly into two groups:the treatment group and the control group.Both groups received separation treatments of the nasal adhesions.The intranasal corticosteroidsgelatin sponges were used as the separation material for the treatment group,while saline-gelatin sponges for the control group.The severity score and the time of treatment were evaluated as the indicators for curative efficacy of the treatment in each case.The differences of efficacy between two groups were analysed statistically.RESULTS The severity scores of the two groups after the treatment were both substantially lower than those before the treatment;The after-treatment severity scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group;the times of treatment in the treatment group were substantially lower than those of the control group.The differences stayed for 3 months,and they became insignificant after 3 months.CONCLUSION The intranasal corticosteroids-gelatin sponge can be a quicker and more effective treatment of nasal adhesion in comparison with saline-gelatin sponge.

Objective:To study the effects of gantry acceleration limitations of a linear accelerator (linac) on the dosimetry of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans, machine efficiency, and dose verification result of VMAT plans and to explore the optimal selection of gantry motion models in the Pinnacle treatment planning system.Methods:Ten cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, sigmoid adenocarcinoma with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast were each selected for this study. Then two models were set up in the Pinnacle v9.10 treatment planning system, namely the one allowing gantry acceleration and the one limiting gantry acceleration. The same field arrangement, optimized target parameters, and optimized weights of VMAT plans were adopted in the two models, in order to analyze the dosimetric variations in targets and organs at risk (OARs) and compare the differences in treatment time and gamma passing rates.Results:The treatment time of the enrolled patients under the model allowing gantry acceleration was significantly lower than that of the patients under the model limiting gantry acceleration was adopted ( t=-6.751, -0.209, -19.523, -28.999; P< 0.05) and decreased by 15.27%, 18.07%, 19.71%, and 28.75%, respectively. Meanwhile, the conformity and uniformity of target areas were affected, while there was no statistical significance in the gamma passing rates in the validation of VMAT plans ( P>0.05). For the cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the maximum dose to brainstem PRV increased by 1.25%. For the cases of lung cancer, the maximum dose to the spinal cord and lung V20 increased by 1.19% and 1.21%, respectively, while lung V5 decreased by 1.21%. For the cases of sigmoid adenocarcinoma with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, the mean doses to bilateral kidneys, livers, small intestine, and colon all increased. For the cases of breast cancer, lung V10 on the opposite side of cancer increased by 1.66% and the mean dose to the lungs on the same side of cancer decreased by 7.45%. Conclusions:The model allowing gantry acceleration allows the treatment time to be significantly shortened and the treatment efficiency improved. Although this model had the shortcomings such as affecting the conformity and uniformity of target areas to a certain extent and increasing the doses to some OARs, clinical requirements for dosimetry were still met. Therefore, it is recommended to use the model allowing gantry acceleration in the Pinnacle planning system.

Objective:To explore the radiological damage to cells induced by the delayed particles of 9C-ions for heavy ion therapy, as well as the microdosimetric distribution and biological effects of these particles on a single model of V79 Chinese hamster lung cells. Methods:The Monte Carlo program was employed to simulate the endonuclear absorbed doses of α particles with various energies (3-10 MeV) transported in cells (cell radius RC = 10 μm, nucleus radius RN = 5 μm). Then, the result were compared with the S values ( SN←N, SN←Cy, and SN←CS) derived using the medical internal radiation dose (MIRD) method to demonstrate the feasibility of Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, the energy deposition of the delayed particles of 9C-ions generated at three sites (i.e., on the surface and in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the V79 cell model) during their transport in targets was simulated, and the result ing cell surviving fraction was analyzed. Results:Monte Carlo and MIRD method yielded differences in S values of 1.91%-4.95% for SN←N (nucleus to nucleus), 1.48%-5.11% for SN←Cy (cytoplasm to nucleus), and -1.99% to 0.80% for SN←CS(surface to nucleus), indicating highly consistent S values derived using both method(differences < 6%). When a 9C-ion decayed on the surface of the V79 cell model and the produced secondary particles entered the cell, the average endonuclear absorbed dose was 10 -2 Gy orders of magnitude, with a cell surviving fraction of about 88%. In the case where decay occurred in the cytoplasm, the cell surviving fraction was about 80%. However, when the 9C ion decayed in the nucleus, α particles had short ranges and deposited most of their energy in the cell (mean endonuclear absorbed dose: 0.1 Gy). In this case, severe cell damage was induced, with the cell surviving fraction reducing to about 53%. Conclusions:9C-ions emit secondary charged particles due to decay, among which α particles cause great damage to cells when entering the nucleus and trigger evident biological effects.