BACKGROUND:Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is one of the most important factors of lumbar spinal stenosis, but the molecular mechanism is stil not very clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of basic fibroblast growth factor, connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 in hypertrophy of the lumbar ligamentum flavum. METHODS: The ligamentum flavum samples were divided into three groups according to different diseases: control group (acquired from the patients with lumbar spinal canal tumor,n=6), lumbar disc herniation (LDH) group (acquired from the patients with LDH,n=6) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) group (acquired from the patients with LSS,n=6). Then the mRNA expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, transforming growth factor β1 and colagen I, III, V of the ligamentum flavum were detected using real-time quantitative RT-PCR method. The roles of basic fibroblast growth factor, connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 were explored. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression of basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA in the LSS group was significantly higher than that in the LDH and control groups (bothP < 0.05); the expression of connective tissue growth factor mRNA was not found statisticaly different among the three groups, although it was slightly higher in the LSS group (P> 0.05); the expression of transforming growth factor β1 mRNA was significantly higher in the LSS group than in the LDH and control groups (bothP < 0.01). The colagen I mRNA expressed significantly higher in the LSS group than the LDH and control groups (bothP < 0.05), but both the colagen III and V mRNA showed no significant difference among the three groups (P> 0.05). This study indicate that both basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 play important roles in the formation process of the lumbar ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and the main type of the colagen in the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum is colagen I.

The HPLC-MS/MS method was developed to profile the dynamics of abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE) after cloning glycosyltransferase enzyme family gene AtUGT71C5 into Arabidopsis thaliana. By constructing over-expression lines (OE) and down-expression lines (DN), we acquired mutant strains to analyze the function of AtUGT71C5. The multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for quantitative determination in negative mode. The transition was m/z 263.1-153.0 for ABA ([M-H]t), m/z 425.1-263.0 for ABA-GE ([M-H]t), and m/z 321.0-152.0 for chloramphe-nicol. The linear range was 0.8684-217.1 ng/mL for ABA and 0.3920-196.0 ng/mL for ABA-GE. The accuracy was 88.0-109.0% for ABA and 86.6-113.0% for ABA-GE; the inter-day and intra-day precisions were less than 5.4%for ABA and 8.9%for ABA-GE, respectively. This method is simple and sensitive enough for determination of ABA and ABA-GE in A. thaliana leaves. All the evidence confirmed the speculation that AtUGT71C5 can mediate abscisic acid homeostasis.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment in solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions.Methods:From June 201 2 to February 201 4,1 2 cases (24 lesions)with symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions were accepted for the endovascular treatment. The distributions of the tandem lesions were as follows:the common carotid artery and internal carotid ar-tery (1 case),the internal carotid artery and the proximal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment (3 ca-ses),the internal carotid artery and the distal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment (4 cases),the in-tracranial segment of internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery M1 segment (2 cases),the first segment of vertebral artery and intracranial segment of vertebral artery (2 cases).All of these cases were treated from distal lesions to proximal lesions except for tandem lesions in the internal carotid artery and the distal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment in order to obtain better support.Tandem lesions were treated in the same operation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia.The procedures of the 1 2 cases retrospectively were analyzed and the peri-operation complications and responsibility region recurrent is-chemic stroke incidents observed.Results:All tandem lesions were solved successfully all at once.There were no peri-operation complications or recurrent ischemic stroke incidents.There were no recurrent is-chemic stroke incidents or stent restenosis cases in the follow-up.Conclusion:It is safe and effective for selective endovascular treatment in solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions at the same time, but we should take careful preoperative evaluation and improve the operation plan.

This study examined the association of pregnancy with urolithiasis and provided new insights into urolithiasis in pregnancy. A total of 462 subjects were studied from January 2004 to December 2009 in Foshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, China. Among the 462 subjects, 162 cases of urolithiasis during pregnancy (UPG) were selected as the observation group, 150 cases of no urolithiasis during pregnancy (NUPG) served as pregnancy control group, and 150 cases of no pregnancy (NPG) at reproductive age who took part in physical examination were randomly assigned into non-pregnant control group. At the same time, the patients in observation group were divided into the following sub-groups: no symptomatic urinary calculus (NSUC) and symptomatic urinary calculus (SUC) groups; SUC group was further divided into surgical intervention (SI) and conservative management (CM) groups. The general information and the data of blood and urine were collected and compared among the groups. The results showed that the incidence of urinary calculi in pregnant women was lower than that in non-pregnant women, the formation of urinary stone was associated with the change of metabolism of protein and sugar in pregnant women, and the surgical intervention was a practicable alternative to treat the clinical intractable symptomatic urinary calculi in pregnancy.

Objective:To anslysis the hemodynamic states of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia based on computational fluid dynamics technique.Methods:The original DICOM format image data from a patient with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD), were imported by the Mimics software directly,and the 3D Objects were constructed.The simulation of model was made with Ansys software, the hemodynamic pa-rameters such as streamlines, wall shear stress( WSS) and wall pressure were described.Results:There was stable laminar flow in proximal basilar artery and was no blood flow mixed by bilateral vertebral arter-y.However, Spiral flows were appeared in distal tortuous basilar artery.The low WSS regions in the ver-tebra-basilar junction section and inferior segment of basilar artery were coincide with the high wall pres-sure regions.It could be speculated the initial growth regions might be located in the vertebra-basilar junction section and inferior segment of basilar artery.Local regions with low WSS and high wall pressure might be associated with the occurrence and development of VBD.Conclusion: CFD numerical simula-tion maybe can provide a theoretical basis for the role of hemodynamic factors in occurrence and develop-ment of VBD.

Objective:To analyze correlation factors of hemodynamic damage after carotid artery stenting.Methods:In this study, 66 cases (71 lesions) who undertook carotid artery stenting were col-lected and the correlation factors of hemodynamic damage were analyzed .Results:Hemodynamic damage emerged in 23 cases (32.4%), of which, 11.3%developed hypotension.The distance between bifurca-tion and lesions (P=0.002 0), plaque distribution (P=0.000 2), plaque character (P=0.001 9), post-dilation ( P =0.002 6 ) were associated with hemodynamic damage by single factor analysis . However, only eccentric plaque (P=0.015 3) and calcified plaque (P=0.009 7) were associated with hemodynamic damage by multiple factors analysis .All the patients could reach stable circulation by drugs during operation , and no cerebral ischemic events ( transient ischemic attack or stroke ) and cardiovascu-lar ischemic events happened .Conclusion: The distance between bifurcation and lesions , eccentric plaques, calcified plaques are correlation factors of hemodynamic damage .

This study examined the association of pregnancy with urolithiasis and provided new insights into urolithiasis in pregnancy.A total of 462 subjects were studied from January 2004 to December 2009 in Foshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital,China.Among the 462 subjects,162 cases of urolithiasis during pregnancy (UPG) were selected as the observation group,150 cases of no urolithiasis during pregnancy (NUPG) served as pregnancy control group,and 150 cases of no pregnancy (NPG) at reproductive age who took part in physical examination were randomly assigned into non-pregnant control group.At the same time,the patients in observation group were divided into the following sub-groups:no symptomatic urinary calculus (NSUC) and symptomatic urinary calculus (SUC) groups;SUC group was further divided into surgical intervention (SI) and conservative management (CM) groups.The general information and the data of blood and urine were collected and compared among the groups.The results showed that the incidence of urinary calculi in pregnant women was lower than that in non-pregnant women,the formation of urinary stone was associated with the change of metabolism of protein and sugar in pregnant women,and the surgical intervention was a practicable alternative to treat the clinical intractable symptomatic urinary calculi in pregnancy.

Objective To observe the effects of different dosages of ginsenoside Rb1 preconditioning on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, and the possible mechanism. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12), model group (n=12), and 10 mg/kg (D10, n=12), 20 mg/kg (D20, n=12), 40 mg/kg (D40, n=12) and 80 mg/kg (D80, n=12) drug groups. Spinal cord ischemia for ten minutes and reperfusion model was established, and the drug groups were injected ginsenoside Rb1 intraperitoneally in their dosages 30 minutes before modeling. They were assessed with BBB score 48 hours after reperfusion, and then were sacrificed for HE staining, TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry staining of survivin.Results The BBB score was more in the drug groups than in the model group (P<0.05), and was the most in D40 and D80 groups. The expression of survivin was more in the drug groups than in the model group (P<0.05), and was the most in D40 and D80 groups. The apoptosis of neurons was less in the drug groups than in the model group (P<0.05), and was the least in D40 and D80 groups.Conclusion The ginsenoside Rb1 could promote the expression of survivin, inhibit apoptosis of neurons, to protect the neural function, in dose-dependent manner somehow.

Objective: To detect the presence of HPV associated antibodies in the serum of patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Chaoshan region and to provide data that could possibly be used as reference for the monitoring of patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: The pSecTag recombinant vectors containing the HPV16 E6/E7 and HPV18 E6/E7 genes were constructed respectively to express HPV16 E6/E7 and HPV18 E6/E7 fusion proteins in 293 cell line after transfecting the cell line. Immunoenzymatic method was employed with the fusion proteins as antigen to detect IgG antibody against HPV in serum of 76 esophageal cancer patients and 149 normal persons undergoing health checkup. In addition, the same sera were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using L1 as antigen. Results: Only one esophageal cancer patient’s serum presented as positive for IgG by immunoenzyme technique when E6/E7 was used as antigen. However, when the L1 was used as antigen in ELISA assay, 37 of the 76 cases of esophageal cancer patients (48.7%) were HPV antibody-positive. Among the 149 health checkup persons, 79 (53.0%) were HPV antibody-positive. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion HPV related antibodies in the serum remain inapplicable as a screening tool for serological detection of esophageal cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role and diagnostic applications of HPV infection in esophageal cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of different extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) bypass modes on the prognosis of patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) during lung transplantation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 44 CPFE patients who underwent lung transplantation, and they were divided into the venous-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) group (30 cases) and the venous-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) group (14 cases). The preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and follow-up related indicators of two groups were compared. Results Compared with the VV-ECMO group, the patients in the VA-ECMO group were younger, had higher pulmonary artery pressure before surgery, fewer posterolateral incision types, longer operation times, and higher incidence of postoperative bronchopleural fistula (all P<0.05). The pulmonary artery pressure decreased after surgery in both groups, with a greater decrease in the VA-ECMO group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative survival rates between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Both VA-ECMO and VV-ECMO are safe and effective in lung transplant patients with CPFE. The bypass mode has no significant impact on the short and medium-term prognosis of the patients. VA-ECMO is more suitable for patients with higher preoperative pulmonary artery pressure.