Objective To discuss the therapy modalities and their efficacy for Cobb's syndrome Methods Data from 14 cases of Cobb's syndrome were retrospectively reviewed of which diagnosis, management and follow-up were discussend. Results Follow-up period of the 14 cases was 4 months to 3 years, of them, no complete cure occurred, 12 cases improved, 2 cases deteriorated. Conclusions Early diagnosis and early treatment using in terventional and surgical method are the key point for this kind of in curable diseases.

Objective To observe the effect of bloodletting cupping on the serum insulin level in patients with simple obesity. Methods Fifty simple obesity patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 25 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by bloodletting cupping, while the control group was by oral administration of Sibutramine Hydrochloride. The efficacy for losing weight and the serum insulin level were evaluated and compared before intervention and after 2 treatment courses. Results The total effective rate was 88.0%in the treatment group versus 80.0%in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The serum insulin levels were changed significantly in both groups after intervention (P＜0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the serum insulin level between the two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Bloodletting cupping can significantly improve the serum insulin level in patients with simple obesity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cardiotoxicity of a widen-spectrum antineoplastic drug, gambogic acid, through quantitative multiple cellular phenotypic characterization. METHODS H9c2 cell line was used as a model with doxorubicin (Dox) and amiodarone (Ami) as positive controls, hypaconi?tine as negative control and 0.1% DMSO as normal control. An optimized protocol was established to identify the morphology and function of cell nuclei. The effect of drugs on cell viability, nuclear area (Hoechst33342), mitochondria mass (MitoTracker Deep Red) and cytoplasmic calcium ion mobilization (Rhod2 AM)was studied. EC50 and Z′values were calculated to evaluate the degree of toxicology and to estimate the precision and false-positive rate, respectively. RESULTS Dose-response analysis indicated that EC50 of Dox on cell viability, nuclear area, mitochondrial mass was 0.72, 0.014 and 1.21μmol · L-1, respectively. On the other hand, EC50 of Ami on the parameters of cell viability, nuclear area and mitochon?drial mass was 14.83, 6.72 and 4.54μmol·L-1, respectively with Z′value above 0.5. Hypaconitine decreased the SER ridge of mitochondria. Gambogic acid caused significant mortality of H9c2 cells and induced nuclear shrinkage as Ami did. The EC50 values of cell viability and nuclear area were 0.24 and 1.16 μmol · L- 1. Meanwhile,gambogic acid disturbed the mitochondrial function as indicated by the increased mitochondrial area (EC50=0.44 μmol · L-1), abnormal SER Ridge(EC50=0.99 μmol · L-1) and decreased mitochondrial mass(EC50=1.21 μmol · L- 1). Cellular calcium mobilization was lower than normal (EC50=0.41 μmol · L-1). CONCLUSION The EC50 values of positive controls calculated from our assessment are similar those reported in literature. A multi-parameter and simultaneous evaluation enables a comprehensive analysis of the morphology of nuclei and mitochondria of cardiomyocytes and a preliminary assessment of the mechanisms of toxicity.

Objective To investigate the effects of pretreatment with remifentanil on hemorrhagic shock (HS)-induced acute liver injury in rabbits.Methods Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits,weighing 2.0-2.5 kg,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each): sham operation group (group S) ; group HS,low-dose remifentanil group (group RL) ; high-dose remifentanil group (group RH).Remifentanil was infused at 0.66 and 1.32 μg· kg-1 · min-1 for 145 min in groups RL and RH respectively,while the equal volume of normal saline was infused in group C.HS was induced by withdrawing blood from the left femoral artery at 15 min after continuous infusion of normal saline or remifentanil and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced to 40 mm Hg.MAP was reduced to 35-45 mm Hg and maintained at this level for 120 min in groups HS,RL and RH.Blood samples were taken for determination of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities before administration (T0),immediately before blood letting (T1),and at 10,30,60 and 90 min after blood letting (T3-6).The animals were then sacrificed and the livers were immediately removed for microscopic examination.Results Compared with group S,the serum ALT activity at T5 and T6 and serum AST activity at T4-T6 were significantly increased in the other three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group HS,the serum ALT activity at T5 and T6,and serum AST activity at T4-T6 were significantly decreased in group RH,and no significant change was found in group RL (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group RL,the serum ALT activity at T5 and T6,and serum AST activity at T4-T6 were significantly decreased in group RH (P ＜ 0.05).The serum ALT activity at T5 and T6 and serum AST activity at T4-T6 were significantly increased in groups HS,R and RH than those at T0 (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The patho1ogical injury was attenuated in group RH compared with groups HS and RL.Conclusion Remifentanil pretreatment can attenuate HS-induced acute liver injury in rabbits,and the effect is related to the dose.

Background Pigmentary glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma are characterized by pigment dispersion in trabecular meshwork,and the dipersitional pigment probably contributes to the resistance of aqueous outflow pathway,irreversible damage of the trabecular meshwork and the remodeling abnormality of extracellular matrix.Researches determined that contents of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the aqueous humor are increased in glaucomatous eyes.However,the effects of TGF-β and fibronectin (FN) in the trabecular meshwork cells (TMCs) acted by iris pigmentary particles still are not elucidated.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of iris pigment particles on TGF-β1 and FN expression in bovine TMCs (BTMCs) cultured in vitro.Methods BTMCs were cultured in vitro by explant culture method and identified by morphological evaluation.The third generation of BTMCs were divided into normal control group and pigment group,and 100 μ1 PBS and 100 μl iris pigment suspension (final concentration of 1 × 107 particles/ml) were added into the medium for 24 hours,respectively.The expressions of TGF-β1 mRNA,FN mRNA and their proteins in the BTMCs were assayed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and ELISA,respectively.Results Cultured cells grew well and showed the fusiform,polygon and dendritic like in shape,with pigmented and round nuclei.The relative expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and FN mRNA in the cells were 2.98±0.27 and 0.36±0.10 in the iris pigment group,which were significantly higher than 1.00±0.00 and 1.00±0.00 in the normal control group (t =12.68,10.60,both at P =0.00).The concentrations of TGF-β1 protein and FN protein in the cell suspension were (156.60±9.74)ng/L and (59.29±15.79)mg/ml in the iris pigment group,showing significant differences in comparison with (65.46 ± 14.24) ng/L and (102.10 ± 12.14)mg/mlin the normal control group (t=9.15,P=0.00;t=3.72,P=0.02).Conclusions The expression of TGF-β1 is up-regulated and that of FN is down-regulated in BTMCs cultured by iris pigment,inferring that TGF-β1 and FN participate in the pathogenesis and development of pigmentary and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Burns ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis combined with femur head necrosis. Methods The clinical data of 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis combined with femur head necrosi were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis combined with femur head necrosi, male was in 5 cases, female was in 17 cases, age was 28-69 (56.3 ± 1.9) years, and the disease duration of rheumatoid arthritis was 4-30 (14.1 ± 1.2) years. All patients had ≥ 2 grade femur head necrosis, with bilateral femur head necrosis in 9 cases, right femur head necrosis in 9 cases and left femur head necrosis in 4 cases. Only 2 cases did not take glucocorticosteroid, and the other 20 cases used glucocorticosteroid in the long-term. The treatment was no standardized. The multiple fracture was found in 4 cases by X-ray examination (the patients had no history of trauma); 4 cases examined bone density, and the results showed they all were osteoporosis. Conclusions Rheumatoid arthritis combined with femur head necrosis is not uncommon. The majority of patients receive long-term glucocorticosteroid treatment. Treatment is not standardized, and some patients are combined with osteoporosis.

Objective To investigate the value of 3D-TEE,2D-TEE,CTA and X-ray contrast in assessing left atrial appendage (LAA) shape,size and guidance for the choice of occlusion.Methods Forty-three cases of left atrial fibrillation who were referred for LAA closure were performed TEE to measure the opening maximum diameter,and maximum depth of 2D-TEE at 0°,45°,90° and 135°.When LAA showed most clearly,the opening maximum and minimum diameter of LAA were measured by using 3D-ROOM mode,and the results were compared with those measured by CTA and X-ray contrast.Results There was no significant difference for opening maximum diameter of LAA measured by 3D-TEE,2D-TEE and X-ray contrast (all P＞0.05),but that of CTA statistically larger than 3D-TEE,2D-TEE,X-ray contrast (all P＜0.01).There were significant difference between 2D-TEE at 90°,135° and CTA,2D-TEE at 135° and X-ray contrast in assessing maximum depth of LAA (all P＜0.05).Opening maximum diameter of LAA measured by 3D-TEE was significantly correlated with each angle of 2D-TEE,CTA,and X-ray contrast (r=0.70-0.77,0.57,0.58,all P＜0.01),and the opening maximum diameter measured by 2D-TEE also correlated with CTA and X-ray contrast (r =0.57-0.71,0.45-0.51,all P＜0.01).Also the opening maximum diameter measured by 3D-TEE,2D-TEE,CTA and x-ray contrast were correlated with occluder size (r=0.93,0.70-0.77,0.57,0.47,all P＜0.01).Conclusion Compared with 2D-TEE,CTA and X-ray contrast,3D-TEE is more instructive for occluder selection.

Objective To identify interleukin 17 (IL-17) and B cell activating factor (BAFF) that could influence B cell biology by detecting the expression of BAFF in the serum and labial salivary glands from primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS) patients and to test the apoptosis rates of B cells cultured with Th17 cells which were transfected with IL-17-siRNA,BAFF-siRNA.Methods A total of 40 patients with pSS who were referred to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Anhui Provincial Hospital from June 2011 to June 2012 were enrolled into this study.The expression of BAFF on salivary gland and serum from pSS patients and healthy controls were detected by ELISA and immunohistochemical examination (22 patients with pSS).Flow cytometry was used to detect B cell's apoptosis,BAFF and IL-17 interfered with amplified Th17 cells,and co-cultured with B cells.Immunoblot was used to detect supernatant antibody in 5 patients with pSS.Independent samples t test was used for statistical analysis.Results In all pSS specimens,infiltrating inflammatory cells expressed BAFF,so did some ductual cells,but acinar cells did not express these markers.There was no expression of BAFF in the controls.BAFF-positive cell numbers in the labial salivary glands of pSS patients with focal infiltrating lymphocytes were more than that with non-focal infiltrating lymphocytes (888±372 vs 164±161,t=5.94,P＜0.05),and the percentage of BAFF-positive lymphocytes over the total infiltrating lymphocytes in the salivary glands of pSS patients with focal infiltrating lymphocytes [(0.18 ±0.08) ％] was higher than those with non-focal infiltrating lymphocytes [(0.09 ±0.07) ％] (t =3.03,P＜0.05).The level of soluble BAFF in patients with pSS [(6.0±2.8) ng/ml] was significantly higher than the controls [(3.8±1.7) ng/ml,t=3.26,P＜0.05].BAFF or IL-17 transfected group,B cell apoptosis rate [(24± 5)％,(23±5)％] were significantly higher than the non-transfected group [(7±4)％],t=4.6,4.4; P＜0.05].And there was no significant difference when compared with cultured B cells (P＞0.05).Compared with the controls,no antibody could be detected in the supernatants.Conclusion BAFF may be involved in the process of local inflammatory damage of the pSS,it may have a synergistic effect with IL-17 on abnormal B cell function.