BACKGROUND: Temperature-responsive magnetic pluronic nanoparticles possess the capacity of drug release controlled by body temperature and can penetrate blood brain barrier.OBJECTIVE: To detect the capacity of magnetic pluronic nanoparticles to carrying ganglioside-1(GM-1) and its capacity of drug release in vivo, as well as its effects on repair of spinal cord injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the key laboratories of Beijing Institute for Neuroscience, Capital Medical University and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences between June 2006 and February 2007.MATERIALS: GM-1 loaded magnetic pluronic nanoparticles were prepared by Laboratory of Separation Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. GM-1 was provided by Trb Pharma S.A of Argentina.METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawiey rats were developed into acute complete spinal cord injury models and were then evenly MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavior evaluation and quantitative analysis (nerve fibers and glial cells) at 4 weeks post-surgery.were significantly greater in the treatment group than in the remaining 3 groups (P < 0.05), the control groups exhibited greater numbers of nerve fibers than the sham-operation groups, and the control group 2 had higher levels compared with the control compared with the remaining 3 groups (P < 0.05). In the rostral areas, the control groups exhibited higher area ratio of glial cells than the sham-operation group (P < 0.05), and in the caudal areas, control group 2 displayed higher levels compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Magnetic pluronic nanoparticles possess drug-carrying and drug-releasing capacities. GM-1 loaded magnetic pluronic nanoparticies can repair spinal cord injury and promote nerve regeneration.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the pathological and clinical features of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in west Guangdong province.

METHODSThe pathological type and clinical features of 120 patients with IgAN were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSMesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were the most frequent features of IgAN. IgM deposit could be found in half of the IgAN patients, especially in the IgAN patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of IgAN may vary between different regions. Clinically, misdiagnosis of other renal diseases as IgAN may often occur. The nature and severity of glomerular immunoglobulin deposition can be related to the pathogenesis and progression of IgAN.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; pathology ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Myxomas are the most frequent, cardiac benign cardiac tumors which often present with stroke caused by tumorous orthrombotic emboli. The treatment of embolic stroke due to cardiac myxoma is still a clinical and technical challenge. A 61-year-old man who had an embolic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery was admitted to the Third Poeple′s Hospital of Huizhou. The initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 16. He received endovascular thrombectomy after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) one hour after stroke onset. No intracranial hemorrhage developed. Pathological study of embolus showed a myxoma. A cardiac mass was found in the left atrium and removed surgically three weeks after stroke. Pathological study of the tumor showed a myxoma. At the one-month follow-up after excision of myxoma, the NIHSS score was 1 and the modified Rankin scale score was 0. No recurrence of embolism occurred after surgical resection. Endovascular thrombectomy after intravenous rt-PA (bridging therapy) for embolic stroke due to cardiac myxoma is safe and effective, and early resection of atrial myxoma can effectively avoid recurrence of cerebral infarction.

Objective: To apply the semi-quantitative risk assessment model in the Technical Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazardous Factors in the Workplace to assess the occupational health risk of electroplating enterprises and explore its applicable conditions and characteristics. Methods: Three electroplating enterprises were selected as the research objects. Occupational hygiene survey and hazard factor detection were conducted on the spot. Three semi-quantitative risk assessment methods were used to assess the risk, and the evaluation results were compared. Results: The consistency between the contact index method and the comprehensive index method was strong. The weighted Kappa value was 0.946 and the P value was less than 0.001, but the consistency between the contact ratio method, the contact index method and the comprehensive index method was poor. The weighted Kappa value was 0.345 and 0.391, and the P value was 0.009 and 0.004, respectively. When the contact concentration is less than 50% OELs, the evaluation results of the contact ratio method are lower than those of the exponential method and the comprehensive exponential method. The consistency of the three methods was the highest when the contact concentration (>50%) and (OELs, the results of the contact ratio method are higher than those of the index method and the comprehensive index method. Conclusion Contact ratio method is suitable for occupational health risk assessment under the condition of incomplete occupational health information and for enterprise managers to identify key control points of health risk through self-assessment; Contact index method is suitable for hazard risk assessment of occupational hazards without sampling test conditions or OELs, and pre-assessment of occupational hazards of construction projects without access to analogical test data. The index method is suitable for occupational health risk assessment with available testing data and complete occupational health information.

This study was purposed to investigate the serum levels of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and their clinical significance. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect sVCAM-1, IL-18 and VEGF in serums of 30 patients with AA and 25 normal controls. The results showed that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in patients with AA [(839.08 +/- 173.97) ng/ml, (380.35 +/- 47.76) pg/ml] were significantly higher than those in normal controls [(538.16 +/- 91.21) ng/ml, (256.39 +/- 59.52) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in severe AA patients [(969.94 +/- 182.54) ng/ml, (388.96 +/- 46.06) pg/ml] were higher than those in chronic AA patients [(709.26 +/- 165.32) ng/ml, IL-18 (352.21 +/- 47.08) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF in AA patients [(69.63 +/- 27.42) pg/ml] was lower than that in the normal controls [(125.62 +/- 32.15) pg/ml] (p < 0.01)]. The level of VEGF in severe AA patients [(51.30 +/- 29.86) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in chronic AA patients [(80.02 +/- 25.14) pg/ml] (p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in AA patients after treatment were lower than those before treatment (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the high levels of sVCAM-1, IL-18 and low level of VEGF in serum may be involved in the pathogenesis and progress of AA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of various cytokines on megakeryocytes expansion in vitro from human cord blood CD34(+) cells in order to establish an optimal culture system for MK expansion. Mononuclear cells were obtained by Ficoll-Hapaque density gradient separation. CD34(+) cells were positively isolated using a CD34 progenitor cell isolation kit. CD34(+) cells were placed into 24 well plates at a concentration of 2 x 10(4) per well. Each well contained 1 ml of IMDM with the present of effective MK cells growth cytokines. Clonogenic potentials of MK progenitor were assayed using a methylcellulose cultures system. The results suggested that four cytokines (IL-3 + IL-6 + TPO + FLT3L) culture system could effectively induce and expand cord blood CD41(+) MK cells. The number of CD41(+) cells expanded 154.67 +/- 32.21-fold on day 7, and 193.23 +/- 25.24-fold on day 14. In conclusion, established expansion system in vitro for MK cells provides experimental foundation for recovery of platelets after cord blood transplantation.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Membrane Proteins ; pharmacology ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; analysis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of combined treatment with gamma-globulin, corticosteroids, immunosuppressor and Chinese medicines on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients characterized by hypoplastic bone marrow (HBM).

METHODSNineteen patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the treated group (10 cases) received combined therapy of prednisone and cyclophosphamide (CTX) plus Chinese medicine Langchuang Recipe after being treated impactively with gamma-globulin. The control group (9 cases) was treated with prednisone and CTX. Changes of hypoplastic bone marrow, peripheral white blood cell (WBC), complement C3, 24 h urinary protein excretion, and lupus activity index (LAI) were observed, and a follow-up was carried out for one year.

RESULTSAfter one-month treatment, the bone marrow hypoplasia was relieved significantly in the treated group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), showing an improvement superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); after three months treatment, the level of complement C3 increased (P < 0.01), while the 24 h urinary protein excretion and LAI decreased in the treated group (P < 0.05), showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the follow-up period, 3 cases withdrew from the trial because of infection and 4 cases manifested full moon-face and acne in the control group, while no adverse reaction was found in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine could effectively improve bone marrow hypoplasia, alleviate the clinical symptoms, suppress the activity of lupus in patients, and reduce the adverse reaction of treatment, showing a superiority to the treatment with prednisone combining with CTX.

Adult ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; complications ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; gamma-Globins ; therapeutic use

Objective To observe the effect of dexmedetomidine on liver and kidney function in patients undergoing spinal surgery.Methods Sixty patients (31 males and 29 females,aged 49-78 years)of BMI 19-30 kg/m2and ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ who underwent surgery for posterior lum-bar interbodyfusion under general anesthesia from December 2016 to May 2017 in our hospital were selected as the research object.Patients were randomly divided into dexmedetomidine group (group D)and control group (group C)(n=30 each).In group D,DEX was infused over 10 min with the loading dose 0.5-1.0 μg/kg and followed by 0.2-0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1as a maintenance dose.Group C received the same volume of saline.The blood samples were obtained from the patient at 30 min be-fore anesthesia induction (T0),the end of the operation (T1)and 2 days after operation (T2)for re-cording monitoring index and determination of the levels of plasma CysC,Cr,UREA,ALT and AST.The dosages of remifentanil and propofol,hospital stay and the adverse reactions after the sur-gery (such as postoperative hypotension or cardio-cerebral vascular events)were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with T0,the levels of ALT,AST,Cr and UREA in the two groups were significantly reduced at T1(P<0.05),the levels of ALT,UREA of two groups and the levels of AST of group D were significantly reduced at T2(P<0.05).The levels of ALT,AST,U-REA at T1,T2and the levels of Cr at T1in group D were significantly lower than group C (P<0.05).Compared with group C,the urine volume of group D increased significantly (P<0.05),and there was a significant decrease in the dosage of remifentanil and propofol in group D (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions and hospitalization time be-tween the two groups.Conclusion Spinal surgery patients during general anesthesia using dexme-detomidine,significantly reduce the amount of intraoperative anesthetic,protect liver and kidney function and increase the safety during anesthesia.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features and therapeutic approach of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by transverse myelitis (TM).

METHODSThe clinical characteristics, laboratory examinations, treatment and prognosis of 6 SLE cases with TM were retrospectively analyzed with review of the literatures.

RESULTSThe 6 patients consisted of 5 females and 1 male aged 14 to 36 years (mean 23 years). The mean duration from symptom onset of SLE to TM was 8 months (1 to 13 months). All the patients had lower limb hypodynamia, and 3 of them developed upper limb hypodynamia. MRI scanning of the spine identified lesions in the cervical spinal cord in 2 cases, thoracic lesions in 3 cases, and multiple involvement of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar cord in 1 case. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid yielded no specific findings except for leukocytosis in 1 case and hypoglycemia in another. Five cases were treated with high-dose MP+CTX, and the other case was treated with MP (80 mg/day)+CTX. Five patients responded favorably to the treatment, while the other showed no obvious improvement.

CONCLUSIONTM is a rare complication of SLE affecting mostly young patients and occurring in the early stage of the disease. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment might improve the prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Myelitis, Transverse ; complications ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONThe properties of a tumor itself were considered the main factors determining the survival of patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). However, recurrent tumors were mainly evaluated by using the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, which was modeled on primary tumors and did not incorporate the tumor volume. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic values of the primary tumor location and tumor volume, and to determine whether evaluating these parameters could improve the current staging system.

METHODSMagnetic resonance (MR) images for 229 patients with locally recurrent NPC who underwent IMRT were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe skull base, parapharyngeal space, and intracranial cavity were the most common sites of tumors. There was a difference in the survival between patients with T1 and T2 diseases (77.6% vs. 50.0%, P<0.01) and those with T3 and T4 diseases (33.0% vs. 18.0%, P=0.04) but no difference between patients with T2 and T3 diseases (50.0% vs. 33.0%, P=0.18). Patients with a tumor volume≤38 cm3 had a significantly higher survival rate compared with those with a tumor volume>38 cm3 (48.7% vs. 15.2%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSA new staging system has been proposed, with T3 tumors being down-staged to T2 and with the tumor volume being incorporated into the staging, which may lead to an improved evaluation of these tumors. This new system can be used to guide the treatment strategy for different risk groups of recurrent NPC.

Carcinoma ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden