Objective To investigate the effects of tramadol hydrechloride pretreatment on the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium following acute myocardial is-chemia in the rats. Method Eighteen adult male SD rats weighing 270 to 300 g were randomly divided into three groups(n = 6, in each): group Ⅰ ,sham operation; group Ⅱ , myocardial isehemia, and group Ⅲ, tramadol hydrochloride pretreatment. The anterior descending branch of left coronary artery was occluded(CAO)for 3 hours in rats of group Ⅱ and Ⅲ. In group Ⅲ, tramadol hydrochloride 12.5 mg·kg~(-1) was injected through caudal vein 15 minutes before CAO. At 3 hours after myocardial ischemia, the hearts were removed for determination of CGRP protein content in ischemic and non-ischemie myocardium by immuno-histochemistry and enzyme immunometric as-say, and the expression of CGRPmRNA by RT-PCR. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. ResultsOnly β-CGRPmRNA was found in rats myocardium. In the ischemic myocardium, the average light density of CGRP(0.215 ± 0. 100), positive unit (36.95 ± 1.70), concentration (39.06 ± 1.86) and expression of β-CGRP mRNA 0. 946 ± 0. 019) were significantly increased in group Ⅱ compared with those in group Ⅰ (0. 139 ± 0.006), (25.01 ± 1.03), (20.80± 1.24), (0.734±0.025) (P <0.05), and decreased markedly in group Ⅲ(0.158+0.008),(28.53±1.21),(28.58±2.10),(0.872±0.024) (P < 0.05) In the non-ischemic my-ocardium, the average hght density of CGRP(0.156 ± 0.017), positive unit(28.57 ± 2.23), concentration (28.58 ± 1.12) and expression of β-CGRP mRNA(0.810 ± 0.021) were significantly increased in group Ⅱ com-pared with those in group Ⅰ (0.109+0.013, 20.91 ～2.14, 17.35+2.72, 0.701 ～0.018) (P < 0.05), and decreased markedly in group Ⅲ(0.120±0.008), (22.58±1.18), (23.26±2.41), (0.779±0.022) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Tramadol hydrochloride pretreatment can significantly inhibit increase in CGRP expression in myocardium elicited by CAO, which might imply that tramadol hydrochloride might take part in protection of my-ocardium against acute myocardial ischemia by means of pain-relief.

Objective To investigate the effects of morphine and tramadol pre-emptive use on the expressions of substance P mRNA (SPmRNA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNA (CGRPmRNA) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following acute myocardial ischemia in the rats. Method Twenty-four adult male SD rats weighing 270 to 300 g were randomly (random number) divided into four groups (n = 6, in each): group Ⅰ(sham operation), group Ⅱ (myocardial ischemia), group Ⅲ (morphine pre-emptive use) and group Ⅳ (tramadol pre-emptive use). The left anterior descending branch of coronary artery was occluded (CAO) for 3 hours in rats of group Ⅱ and Ⅳ.In group Ⅲ morphine 1.25 mg·kg-1 was injected through caudal vein 15 minutes before CAO.In group Ⅳ,tramadol 12.5 mg·kg-1 was daministered via caudal vein 15 minutes before CAO.In 3 hours after myocardial ischemia, the tissue of DRG (T1-5) were taken for detecting the expressions of SPmRNA and CGRPmRNA by using RT-PCR. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results In the tissue of DRG, the expressions of SPmRNA(0.93±0.02) ,α-CGRP mRNA(0.98±0.02) and β-CGRP mRNA(0.83 ± 0.02)were up-regulated in group Ⅱ compared with those in group Ⅰ (0.84±0.04),(0.86±0.01),(0.45±0.03) (P ＜0.05),and decreased markedly in group Ⅲ (0.88 ± 0.03) ,(0.90 ± 0.02), (0.67 ± 0.02) (P ＜ 0.05) and group Ⅳ (0.88±0.04) ,(0.90 ± 0.01),(0.66±0.01) (P ＜ 0.05), but showed no difference between group Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Morphine and tramadol pre-emptive use can significantly inhibit the expressions of SPmRNA and CGRPmRNA in rat's dorsal root ganglia after CAO.

CXCR4 has long been considered as the unique receptor of CXCL12,and CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays a prominent role in tumorigenesis.However,a novel receptor for CXCL12,named CXCR7,has been recently identified and also plays an important role in tumorigenesis.This review summarized current studies regarding the functions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in cancer and the recent therapeutic approaches that target these receptors or their ligands.

Objective To explore the application of the Ilizarov's principle on tension-stress in correction of adult severe talipes equinovarus. Methods From January 1996 to February 2003, 12 patients (13 feet) were corrected with this method, which involved 9 males and 3 females, whose average age was 26 years old (ranged from 20-36 years). The left foot was afflicted in 4 patients, and the right foot in 7, both side in 1. Among these patients, 3 were congenital, 6 were caused by the poliomyelitis, 1 by trauma, 1 by complication from encephalitic paralysis and 1 by radiotherapy for the cavernous hemangioma of the leg. The Ilizarov distraction apparatus of the ankle and foot joint were equipped in terms of the diseases preoperatively. During the operation, the release of the postero-medial soft tissue and the limited osteotomy of triple joints of the clubfoot were performed. According to the principles of Ilizarov, the wires were inserted and the fixator installed, the distraction devices of the ankle and foot joint which had corrective function in three-dimensional directions were applied to the tibia and foot, the telescopic rods on the apparatus were rotated one week after the operation. The deformity of talipes equinovarus, internal rotation and the drooping of the forefoot were gradually corrected, and the patients could bear weight and walked on the deformity foot during the course of distractive correction. Results All the 12 patients were available at follow-up with a mean duration of 15 months (ranged from 7 months to 4 years). There was no recurrence of the deformity and the feet function was good while walking on full weight-bearing. The mean duration of traction was 71 days. 10 patients (11 feet) could gain 0? in full weight-bearing, 2 patients preserved the drooping feet deformity at 15?-20? (because of shortness in the lower extremety). None of the complications occurred postoperatively, such as infection in the incision or pin tract, necrosis of the flap, neurovascular injury and nonunion. Conclusion Utilizing Ilizarov's principle on tension-stress to correct severe adult talipes equinovarus is a safe, minimally invasive and effective method.

Objective To analyze the genetic diversity of higher artemisinin-yielding Artemisia annua. Methods With the chemical investigation of artemisinin contents, RAPD analyses of selected plants from ten various habitats in China were carried out using arbitrary primers. Results The RAPD data clearly indicated the genetic diversity level in A. annua was relatively high with 53.6% polymorphic sites. UPGMA Analyses of RAPD and phytochemical trait data showed that the wide phytochemical diversity was included within the genetic diversity being present in at least four geographical regions. ConclusionArtemisinin has obvious inherited differentiation that further support the prospects for selection and breeding of superior artemisinin containing lines.

Objective To propose an automatic framework for segmentation of brain image in this paper. Methods The brain MRI image segmentation framework consists of three-step segmentation procedures. First, Non-brain structures removal by level set method. Then, the non-uniformity correction method is based on computing estimates of tissue intensity variation. Finally, it uses a statistical model based on Markov random filed for MRI brain image segmentation. The brain tissue can be classified into cerebrospinal fluid, white matter and gray matter. Results To evaluate the proposed our method, we performed two sets of experiments, one on simulated MR and another on real MR brain data. Conclusion The efficacy of the brain MRI image segmentation framework has been demonstrated by the extensive experiments. In the future, we are also planning on a large-scale clinical evaluation of this segmentation framework.

Objective To present a novel modified level set algorithm for medical image segmentation. Methods The algorithm is developed by substituting the speed function of level set algorithm with the region and gradient information of the image instead of the conventional gradient information. This new algorithm has been tested by a series of different modality medical images. Results We present various examples and also evaluate and compare the performance of our method with the classical level set method on weak boundaries and noisy images. Conclusion Experimental results show the proposed algorithm is effective and robust.

Objective To investigate the effects of rhubarb extracts, i.e. rhein and emodin, on the neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic transmission, and to further reveal the mechanism of the secondary brain damage. Methods The fluid percussion injury (FPI) rat model and extracellular recording method were used. The evoked field potentials by stimulating Schaffer collaterals were collected from the ipsilateral (impact side) and the contralateral hippocampal CA1 areas of rat in vitro. And the field potentials, including the field excitatory postsynaptic potential and the population spike, were analyzed. Results After the impact was performed on the rat parietal cortex, the evoked field potentials in the ipsilateral hippocampus CA1 area were enhanced obviously. Rhubarb extracts reduced the slope of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential and the number of the population spike significantly while rhein and emodin increased the latency of the population spike obviously. Conclusion Rhubarb extracts, i.e. rhein and emodin, can depress the neuronal hyperexcitability, which suggests that rhein and emodin play an important role in protecting the central nervous system from neuronal damage after traumatic brain injury. FPI produces hyperexcitability of hippocampal CA1 neurons, probably by enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission.

Objective 　To search the relative factors of cerebral damage, rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia(DCI) and hydrocephalus after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) by CT scans and clinical findings in acute phase. Methods　To analyse the relationship between cerebral damage after SAH and clinical findings: CT scans resulte, age, sex, blood pressure, hyponatraemia, therapeutic methods. Results　Cerebral damage were related to the pattern of distritution of SAH on brain CT and hyponatraemia. The high attack rate of rebleeding and DCI is related to presence of blood in the surface of brain, collection of blood in the ventricle, saccula aneurysms or cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) (P＜0.01). Conclusions　To forecast of cerebral damage after SAH by study of CT scans showing and clinical findings have clincal significance. According to these findings, we may take some therapeutics to prevent the cerebral damage after SAH.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of decompression in the treatment of large jaw cystic lesions.Methods 42 patients suffered from large jaw cystic lesions were randomly divided into two groups,21 patients in the control group performed the traditional curettage surgery;21 patients in the experiment group performed the decompression surgery.The intraoperative blood loss,operative time,the incidence rate of postoperative pain and postoperative infection,follow-up recurrence rate were compared between the two groups.Results The intraoperative blood loss,operative time,postoperative pain and postoperative infection rates of the experiment group were significantly better than the control group,the differences between two groups were significant(P ＜ 0.05).The recurrence rate of the control group and the experiment group was 24.0％,4.8％.The recurrence rate of the experiment group was significantly lower than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared to the traditional curettage surgery,decompression surgery can reduce blood loss,shorter operative time,reduce postoperative infection,reduce the risk of recurrence,then improve the clinical efficacy.