Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of targeting arterial embolization before sacral chordoma excision and temporary balloon oc-clusion of abdominal aorta during sacral tumors surgery. Methods A total of 34 patients with sacral chordoma were recruited for this study and fol-lowed up. Totally 18 patients received bi-iliac artery,sacrococcygeal artery and other target arteryl embolization before excision(target arterial emboli-zation group),and the other 16 received temporary balloon occlusion of abdominal aorta during surgery(balloon occlusion group). The blood loss during operation,drained blood after operation,operation time and wound healing were recorded. Results The blood loss during operation,drained blood after operation and operation time in targeting arterial embolization group were less than balloon occlusion group. There was no statistical differ-ence in wound healing between the two groups. Conclusion Targeting arterial embolization can be more effective than temporary balloon occlusion of abdominal aorta in the control of blood loss.

Objective To evaluate the factors which might affect the successful reopening of occluded subclavian artery. Methods During the period of Jan. 1998-March 2007, endovascular stent placement was performed in 20 patients with occluded subclavian artery, including 12 males and 8 females, aged 17-74 years (mean 53 years). The procedures were carried out by using super-slippery guide wire via anterograde or bilateral access. Results Successful reopening of occluded subclavian artery was obtained in 14 cases and the treatment ended in failure in 6 cases. In 14 patients with successful results, the mean length of diseased artery was 3.00 cm and the mean course of disease was 9.83 months, which were 2.13 cm and 27.6 months respectively in 6 cases of failure. The successful reopening rate was 80% in arthrosclerosis cases, while it was 50% in aorto-arteritis obliterans. The successful reopening rate was 100% in those cases whose occluded artery showing a sharp stump, while the successful reopening rate was 33% in those cases whose occluded artery showing a round stump, with a statistically significant difference between the two (P< 0.05). The successful rate in cases performed via anterograde access was 65%, and it was only 43% in cases performed via bilateral access. Conclusion The etiology, the duration of disease and the shape of stump bear a close relationship to the successful reopening rate, while no obvious correlation exists between the length of diseased artery and the reopening rate. Higher reopening rate can be achieved when the procedure is performed via anterograde access.

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of 125Iodine seed implantation and gamma knife in treating portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to discuss their clinical applications. Methods Between January 2009 and May 2013, a total of 60 HCC patients associated with PVTT were encountered at authors’ hospital. The patients were divided into gamma knife group (n=30) and 125Iodine seed group (n = 30). Gamma knife treatment was carried out for the patients of gamma knife group. A total of 3 - 10 target points were designed. Single dose of 3 - 6 Gy per fraction was used and 2 - 5 times radiotherapy every week were conducted. The total treatment dose was 30 - 50 Gy. In designing the therapeutic scheme, 50%-70%of iso-dose curve contained PTV. 125Iodine seed implantation was performed for the patients of 125Iodine seed group. After the treatment, the change of PVTT size was assessed. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results Three months after the treatment, in gamma knife group complete remission (CR) was seen in 0 patient (0%), partial remission (PR) in 8 patient (26.6%), stable disease (SD) in 17 patients (56.7%) and progressive disease (PD) in 5 patients (16.7%). In 125Iodine seed group, CR was obtained in 3 patients (10.0%), PR in 19 patients (63.4%), SD in 7 patients (23.3%) and PD in one patient (3.3%). Statistically significant differences in responding the therapy existed between the two groups (P < 0.05), although no significant difference in the improvement of ascites and hepatic function existed between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the short-term efficacy of 125Iodine seed implantation is much better than that of gamma knife, although its long-term effect needs to be further studied.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of cognitive impairment in older people. With the aging of society is more and more serious, AD caused great burden to patients and society. A β is a classical biomarker of AD, which has been widely used in clinical diagnosis of AD patients. Compared with positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), near infrared fluorescence imaging has many advantages including highly sensitive, non-invasive, safety and inexpensive. Therefore, many research groups have focused on developing the molecular probes of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. In this article, we will review the progress of the probes of NIRF.

Objective To observe the morphology of embryonic stem cell-derived neurons after transplanted into A?-injured rat hippocampus. Methods Neural precursor cells (NPCs) were generated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) expressing EGFP with modified serum-free methods and then transplanted into the hippocampus of A?1-40-injuried rats. The morphology, neurotransmitter phenotypes and receptors of EGFP-positive donor cells were observed with immunofluorescene methods. Results The engrafted NPCs survived and differentiated into glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and expressed both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter receptors. Synaptophysin-positive dots were found surrounding somata and dendrites of transplanted neurons, suggesting the presence of presynaptic terminals adjacent to their membranes. Conclusion NPCs derived from ESCs can differentiate into excitatory and inhibitory neurons after grafted into Alzheimer's disease model rats, and maybe form synapse with the host neurons.

AIM: To observe the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) on the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), trkB and corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) in the hippocampus of arthritic rats.METHODS: The BDNF immunoreactivity (IR) and CRH-positive neurons were stained with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods, respectively.RESULTS: The BDNF-IR, CRH mRNA-positive neurons in the contralateral hippocampus of the arthritic rats were increased significantly, which was decreased markedly by intraperitoneal injection of ACTH. However, the effect of ACTH was attenuated after adrenalectomy (ADX).CONCLUSION: These results suggest that BDNF and CRH in the hippocampus of arthritic rats were involved in the modulation of chronic pain, ACTH produced its analgesic effect by inhibiting the increase in BDNF and CRF level. Adrenal is critical to the analgesic action of ACTH.

Investigation of simvastatin and its related substances was carried out using a reversed phase ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. The identification of impurities in simvastatin was performed with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source in the negative/positive ion mode. A total of 12 compounds were characterized in commercial samples, among which 2 impurities had never been reported. All the impurities were deduced based on the MS fragment pathways of simvastatin and the biosynthetic pathway of lovastatin. This work provides very useful information for quality control of simvastatin.

Objective To evaluate the effect rotation constancy static magnetic field(RCSMF) on the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) in fracture healing, and elucidate the possible mechanism of RCSMF promoting fracture healing.Methods A total of 80 rats with femur closed fracture were randomly divided into a magnetic treatment group (M) and a control group (C).The M group was given RCSMF treatment 30 minutes per day, 6 times per week, using 0.4 T 6 Hz magnetic field, while the C group was not given any intervention.Femurs and calluses were subjected to BMP-2, PDGF-A and PDGF-B immunohistochemistry assay at 2, 3, 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment.The integrated optical density (IOD) of positive staining was calculated.Two-factor variance analysis was used to compare the main effect of time, treatment and that of their interaction.Results For both groups, the IOD of immunoreactivity of BMP-2 at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the treatment was significantly higher than that 8 weeks after the treatment, and the value at four weeks after the intervention was also significantly higher than that at 2 weeks after it.There was a significant interaction effect of time × treatment of BMP-2 (F =3.17, P ＜ 0.05).Significant differences were observed in the IOD of positive staining PDGF-A at different time points for both groups : the value at 2 weeks after treatment was significantly higher than that at 3, 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment, and that at 3 and 4 weeks after treatment was also significantly higher than that at 8 weeks after the treatment.The IOD of positive staining PDGF-B of the M group (57.6 ± 2.1) was significantly higher than that of the C group (50.11 ± 2.22, P ＜ 0.05).There was significant difference in the IOD of positive staining PDGF-B (F =50.06 ,P ＜ 0.01) at different time points : the IOD of positive staining PDGF-B at 3 weeks after treatment was significantly higher than that at 2 and 8 weeks group after the treatment, and the value at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment was also significantly higher that at 8 weeks after the treatment.Conclusion RCSMF may elevate the expression BMP-2 and PDGF-B to promote fracture healing.

Objective To explore the optimal electrophysiologieal approach for detecting Riehe-Cannieu anastomosis(RCA),an anomalous anastomosis between the deep branch of ulnar nerve and the recurrent branch of the medial nerve in the palm of the hand,and to estimate its incidence. Methods One hundred subjects(56 male,44 female,mean age 37.8 years)without any hand motor or sensory dysfunction were selected randomly.The ulnar nerve was stimulated at both the elbow and wrist,and recordings were made from the abductor pollicis brevis,which is normally innervated by the medial nerve,to document any compound muscle action potentials(CMAP).CMAP recorded from both points during stimulation is an accepted indicator of RCA.Group A comprised 40 hands of 20 subjects,while group B included 160 hands of 80 subjects.Surface electrode stimulation was used in both groups.Surface and needle electrode recording was used in group A,while only needle electrode recording was used in group B.Results In group A,31 hands of 16 subjects were found to have RCA by means of surface electrode recording,but only 6 hands of 3 subjects were found to have RCA by means of concentric needle electrode recording.There was a difference of up t0 80.6% between results obtained by the 2 recording methods.In group B,35 hands of 20 subjects were found to have RCA.A total of 41 hands of 23 subjects among the 100 were found to have RCA when concentric needle electrode recording was used(20.5%incidence). Conclusion The type of recording electrode influences the accuracy of RCA examination.An accurate and reliable result can be obtained by using a concentric needle electrode.The abductor pollicis brevis can be anomalously innervated by the ulnar nerve because of RCA.When both the medial and ulnar nerve have been injured.RCA might result in anomalous clinical symptoms and electrophysiological findings.Thoroughly understanding this anomaly is of crucial importance in the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of medial or ulnar nerve injury,as well as to avoid mistakenly interpreting the electrophysiological data when Riche-Cannieu anastomosis is present.

AIM: To explore clinical significance of the serum changes of neuron-specific enolase (NSE)and S-100 ? protein (S-100 ?) during acute cerebral infarction. METHODS: 59 acute cerebral infarction patients were classified as total anterior circulation infarcts (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarcts (PACI), lacunar infarcts (LACI) and posterior circulation infarcts (POCI). Their serum NSE and S-100 ? concentrations were determinated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during stroke onset 6 d, and compared with 32 controls. RESULTS: The every time point serum NSE concentration of TACI was higher than controls (P