Objective To study the diagnostic and prognostic values by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and computed tomography(CT) for investigation of infantile spasms(IS).Methods Fourty-two patients with IS were retrospectively reviewed by CT scan and MRI T1W,T2W and inversion recovery (IR) and MRA techniques.Results Fourteen cases were found abnormal in CT,including encephalatrophy,hemorrhage,gross malformation and lesions with underlying calcification;MRI studies of 24/28 cases showed that MRI was the most appropriate imaging technique in diagnosis of the underlying substrate of patients with IS and other epilepsies,particularly in periventricular leuko malacia(PL),delayedmyelination(DM),hypxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE),kernicterus,tuberous sclerosis(TS),hippocampal sclerosis(HS),brainstematrophy,heterotopia,corpus callosum and vascular malformation,et al.MRI was also valuable for determining the prognoses of IS,but it should be combined with the clinical symptom and ages. Conclusions MRI and CT are highly important for the investigation and treatment of patients with IS; MRI is much more sensitive to exploration of neuropathology of infatile spasms,such as PL,DM,HIE,kernicteus,HS,heterotopias and focally cortical dysplasia.

Purpose Brain complications severely threaten the treatment and survival of children with leukemia. This paper aims to investigate the MRI manifestations and differences of brain complications in leukemia before and after chemotherapy for a clinical guidance.Materials and Methods The clinical data and MRI findings of 37 children with leukemia and brain complications were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-four of them underwent MRI scan twice or more, among whom 28 received contrast-enhanced MRI scan.Results Twenty-two patients were discovered with brain complications before chemotherapy, 2 of whom were with two kinds of complications. Meningopathy was found in 7 patients who showed widespread or localized meningeal thickening. Among them, 5 patients'' lesions reduced or disappeared after chemotherapy. Intracerebral multiple small and micro bleed was found in these 7 patients, 2 of them combined with hematoma. Three patients were found with intracranial tumor which all proved to be temporal bone tumor, 1 of whom combined with temporal lobe tumor and 1 had tumor disappeared after chemotherapy. The other complications before chemotherapy included leukoencephalopathy (n=2), subdural collection of fluid (n=2), meninges and parenchymal infiltration of leukemia (n=1), fungal infection (n=1) and cerebral infarction (n=1). On the contrary, 17 patients were discovered with brain complications after chemotherapy, 8 of whom were with two or more complications. Two patients had different kinds of complications before and after chemotherapy. Brain atrophy was observed in 13 patients. Leukoenphalopathy was found in 9 patients who presented high signal in white matter of double periventricular and/or semi-oval center on T2WI; the lesions of 4 patients were reduced or disappeared after withdrawal. Infectious diseases were diagnosed in 3 patients, including viral encephalitis in 2 cases, tuberculous meningitis combined with tuberculoma in 1 case. The other complications included intracranial tumor (n=2), sinus thrombosis (n=1), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (n=1) after chemotherapy. Conclusion The MRI findings of brain complications in childhood leukemia are various and demonstrate significantly different features before and after chemotherapy. The major complications before treatment include meningopathy and intra-cerebral hemorrhage;while after chemotherapy the main complications are brain atrophy, leukoencephalopathy and infectious diseases. MRI proves to be a valuable method to detect, observe and follow up these complications.

Growth patterns of trichome and contaminative bacteria in Spirulina sp. liquid culture were observed, and it was found that the number of neutral and alkalophilic bacteria was always 105～106 times of that of Spirulina sp. trichome. It would be very difficult to get real pure Spirulina sp. strain by classical methods of dilution plate, capillary and single trichome selecting methods. A great deal of contaminative bacteria was washed out by two pretreatment processes. Low speed centrifugation was designed to wash the strains which usually deposit at bottom, and filtration method was designed to treat the strains usually floating at surface. Sandwich plate and dilution plate were designed for the purification of the mobile strains and non-mobile strains, respectively. A lot of strains were purified by the above processes and pure single trichome formed pure colonies on plates.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of nifedipine(Nif) on experimental pulmonary hypertension(PH).Methods33 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group and Nif treatment group(n=11 for each group). Rats were given a single dose of subcutaneous monocrotaline(MCT,50 mg/kg) to induce the model of pulmonary hypertension, then treated with gastric infusion of normal saline or Nif respectively for 21 days. The parameters of pulmonary hemodynamics were monitored by Gould3400 polygraph system through the cannulation of polyvinyl tube. Right ventricle and left ventricle added with interventricular septum weight ratio, and the lung wet weight were measured.ResultsNif significantly inhibited the progression of pulmonary artery pressure(P<0.01), decreased the right heart index(P<0.01), but did not significantly reduce the lung wet weight(P>0.05).ConclusionChronic treatment with Nif may effectively reduce the development of PH induced by MCT and improve the heart function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

AIM: To establish an experimental model of high intraocular pressure in mice by laser photocoagulation and to prepare for future research.
METHODS: Experimental model of high intraocular pressure was induced unilaterally in 44 C57BL/6 mice. The fellow eye served as a control. TONO-PEN AVIA Tonomter was used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) to guarantee IOP value at 1, 2, 4, 8wk. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was performed throughout the period and the structural changes were assessed histologically. And then, their eyes were enucleated, postfixed, cryoprotected, and embedded in optimal cutting temperature medium. After hematoxylin and eosin stain ( HE stain ) , cryosections of the retina were observed under light microscope. TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labeling ( TUNEL ) was performed on the retinal sections to determine apoptosis rate.
RESULTS: IOP of laser-treated eyes was significantly higher than that of control eyes from 1-8wk (P<0. 05). The highest IOP was 31mmHg, but only one eye. The IOP was mainly around 20mmHg. In laser-treated eyes, the angle of anterior chamber were narrow. Number of cells in the inner nuclear layer and retial gangllion cell layer was slightly lower than that in control eyes at 2wk, but by 4 and 8wk the number of cells was significantly lower than that in the control contralateral eyes.
CONCLUSION: The laser photocoagulation of limbus causes chronic elevation of IOP and this method may be a promising experimental model for the investigation of biological mechanisms of glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell damage.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), compared with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR), improves outcomes in adult patients with cardiac arrest (CA). DATA RESOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and China Biological Medicine Database were searched for relevant articles. The baseline information and outcome data (survival, good neurological outcome at discharge, at 3–6 months, and at 1 year after CA) were collected and extracted by two authors. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: In six studies 2260 patients were enrol ed to study the survival rate to discharge and long-term neurological outcome published since 2000. A significant effect of ECPR was observed on survival rate to discharge compared to CCPR in CA patients (RR 2.37, 95%CI 1.63–3.45, P<0.001), and patients who underwent ECPR had a better long-term neurological outcome than those who received CCPR (RR 2.79, 95%CI 1.96–3.97, P<0.001). In subgroup analysis, there was a significant difference in survival to discharge favoring ECPR over CCPR group in OHCA patients (RR 2.69, 95%CI 1.48–4.91, P=0.001). However, no significant difference was found in IHCA patients (RR 1.84, 95%CI 0.91–3.73, P=0.09). CONCLUSION: ECPR showed a beneficial effect on survival rate to discharge and long-term neurological outcome over CCPR in adult patients with CA.

OBJECTIVETo summarize clinical application result of the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb.

METHODSFrom September 2003 to May 2007, 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb underwent reconstruction with the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap. The age of patients was from 16- to 45-years-old with an average of 32 years. Of them, the recipient sites of 5 cases were located on the arm region, 3 cases on the forearm.

RESULTSThe minor superficial infection of 1 case occurred on the recipient site after operation and the wound gradually healed by daily change dressings. All the flaps had survived completely and the postoperative course was uneventful with satisfactory clinical results. Follow-up period ranged for 9-38 months after operation (mean, 19 months). There was no remarkable donor site morbidity. All cases had good appearance on recipient site.

CONCLUSIONThe thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap is thin and suitable for repair of soft tissue defect on the ipsilateral upper limb.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Thoracic Arteries ; surgery ; Upper Extremity ; blood supply ; surgery ; Young Adult

Haizao Yuhu decoction (HYD) is a formula that has been used for approximately 500 years and famous for its efficiency in treating thyroid-related diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). HYD was first presented by Chen Shi-gong in a famous surgical monograph named Waike Zhengzong during the Ming Dynasty. We conducted the research to investigate the possible pharmacokinetic profile of different prescriptions of HYD in rats, in order to reveal the interactions of Haizao and Gancao drug pair with other herbs in HYD. Liquiritin, naringin, besperidin, peimine, peiminine liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid, hergapten, nobiletin, osthole, glycyrrhetinic acid in blood samples were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The result revealed tbat Haizao could enhance the peak concentration of glycyrrhizic acid. The other herbs in HYD may promote'the absorption of flavonoids in Gancao in normal rats, but inhibit the absorption of saponins and accelerate their metabolism. Gancao and Haizao drug pair could enhance the bioavailability of hesperidin, peimine, bergapten, nobiletin and osthole and prolong the elimination of peimine and naringin.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis, and to observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the level of IL-1beta and TNFalpha.

METHODSForty-three subjects received electroacupuncture treatment at Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. The intensity of pain, the ability of the movement of legs, the level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSAccording to VAS, the intensity of pain was (64.22 +/- 14.55) and (32.50 +/- 10.79) before and after treatment, respectively. The score of movement ability of affected legs was (7.38 +/- 2.01) and (9.05 +/- 1.89) before and after treatment, respectively. Thus, the intensity of pain and the ability of movement were significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). The level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were significantly decreased (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe short term therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis is better, it may result from that the electroacupuncture inhibit the activity of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood