SUMMARY A patient with previous L3 -4 posterior lumbar interbody fusion,pedicle screws instrumen-tation and L3 -4 decompression,was scheduled for left total hip arthroplasty.Two years ago,due to poor landmarks palpation,the patient experienced a failed lumbar puncture after multiple attempts before her-niorrhaphy.His plain radiography showed bilateral partial laminectomy at L3 -4 level,and between L3 and L4,two posterior pedicle screws connected by metal rods on both sides.This time,we used ultra-sound to locate L4 -5 interlaminar space in paramedian sagittal oblique view and identified the spine midline by transverse interlaminar view before puncture.According to this information,L4 -5 puncture point was verified and the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was performed in a paramedian approach. After withdrawing clear cerebral spinal fluid,15 mg hyperbaric bupivicaine was injected into intrathecal space.An epidural catheter was then inserted into the epidural space.The sensory block level was fixed at T10 to S within 10 minutes.Intraoperatively,the patient received 10 mL 2% (mass fraction)lido-caine through the epidural catheter in total.The surgery was uneventful.No neurologic complication was observed after the surgery.This case report demonstrates that ultRASound imaging can provide useful in-formation for neuraxial needle placement and can be a valuable tool in managing patients with anatomical change around the spine.

[Summary] In recent years , ultrasound guidance has been widely used in local anesthesia , particularly in peripheral nerve blockage .Ultrasound guided neuraxial blockage is also making progress .Previous studies have shown that pre-puncture ultrasound scanning could provide useful information on the correct intervertebral interspace , the midline of the spine , the optimal puncture point , the appropriate angle for needle insertion , and the distance from skin to the spinal canal .In this review, the ultrasonographic techniques and image analysis , as well as its clinical use , including pre-puncture scanning and real-time guidance for spinal and epidural anesthesia , were summarized .

Objective To investigate the changes of venous cord blood nitric oxide(NO) and endotnelin-1(ET-1) levels and to find out its relationship with umbilical arteries blood flow velocities in the pregnant women with diabetes mellitus.Methods 66 cases of the pregnant women with diabetes mellitus(DM) were selected at random,including 30 diabetes mellitus complicated with pregnancies(DMP) and 36 gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).36 cases of the normal pregnant(NP) women were selected as the control group.Venous cord blood samples were collected from all the subjects after delivery.Cord blood NO and ET-1 levels were detected by Griess assay and radioimmuno-assay respectively,and umbilical arteries blood flow velocities(S/D) were measured just before delivery.Results Compared with the control group,cord blood NO levels decreased and ET-1 levels increased and S/D increased in the DMP group significantly(P0.05).Conclusion Umbilical blood NO and ET-1 levels are abnormal in DMP,which induces the high resistance of fetal-placental circulation,and finally might cause adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective To investigate the residual functions in the hepatic lobe with deprivation of bile duct by observation of histomorphological and functional changes in the hepatic cells in a rat model. Methods The right hepatic bile ducts of rats were obstructed with cyanoacrylate and then ligated two weeks after the left and caudate lobes were removed. The lobus quadratus hepatis served as self-control with or without portal vein ligation. The venous blood from individualized liver lobe was examined and histological observation was done to examine the histomorphological and functional changes in the hepatic cells. Results Compared to the controls of both sham operation and untreated lobe, the hepatic lobe with bile ducts deprived did not undergo atrophy significantly with few ultrastructural changes. The hepatocytes of the hepatic lobe with bile duct deprived contained plenty of mitochondria, ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum when observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results of periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed normal glycogen metabolism in the hepatic cells. No significant decrease was detected in the serum albumin and fibrinogen concentrations by examination of blood collected from vein of this liver lobe with deprivation of bile ducts. Conclusions The liver lobes with bile ducts deprived retain most of the liver functions such as protein synthesis and nutrition metabolism, and show no atrophy during the observation period. It is suggested that the hepatic lobes with bile duct deprived still possess the value of preservation. The present study has founded a theoretic basis for remaining the remaining liver lobes with bile duct deprived or ligated in some emergency and specific clinical situations.

Objective To investigate the possible risk factors for lead poisoning in order to prevent the lead poisoning in children.Methods One thousand and fifty-five children aged 5 months to 16 years who were outpatients in Beijing children′s hospital were chosen. Blood lead was analyzed by 3010-B lead analyzer for each child.Also the risk factors were recorded by using a standardized questionnaire.Results The mean level of blood lead was(110.1?41.9) ?g/L with the occurrence of lead poisoning (blood lead ≥100 ?g/L) at 43.51%.No difference were found in blood lead level among different age groups.Several environmental and social factors were found to be related to lead poisoning in children,such as non-balanced diet,rarely hand washing,frequent eating crisp foods,not frequency of calcium and zinc supplementation and frequency of room decoration.Conclusion Unhealthy dietary and life styles contribute to lead poisoning in children.

Objective:To optimize the ethanol extraction process of Rhizoma Corydalis and Salvia miltiorrhiza, and study the effect of comminution degree of the medicinal materials on the effective constituent. Methods:Using the alcohol concentration, alcohol vol-ume, extraction time and extraction times as the impacting factors,the content of tetrahydropalmatine and salvianolic acid as the indi-ces, the extraction process was optimized by orthogonal test of L9(34). Results:The best extraction conditions were as follows:Rhizo-ma Corydalis was crushed into coarse powder, the material / liquid ratio was 1∶6 with 75% ethanol as the extraction solvent,extracting twice with 1. 5h each. Conclusion:The extraction method is appropriate and simple,and can be used in the industrial production.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32) for primary dysmenorrhea (PD) due to cold-dampness. Methods:A total of 58 cases with PD due to cold-dampness were randomly allocated into an observation group (n=29) and a control group (n=29). Patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture and suspended moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32), whereas patients in the control group were treated with routine acupuncture alone. After three courses of treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the symptom scores were significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.05), but there were no significant between-group differences in clinical efficacy and symptom scores (P>0.05). Conclusion: With fewer points and less pain, acupuncture-moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32) can obtain similar effect as routine acupuncture therapy for PD due to cold-dampness.

Objective To discuss the optimal imaging conditions of spatio-temporal image correlatin (STIC). Methods Conventional 2D fetal echocardiography and 3D STIC volume collection were performed in 130 fetuses. The images obtained using two methods were scored and compared. Results Complete 3D volume collection with the initial view of four chamber view were abtained in 121 fetuses, the successful rate was 93.13%. There was no significant differences in total score between the two methods. Significant difference was found between the score of different condition groups.The highest scores mostly appeared in lateral four chamber heart in both method groups. The highest scores mostly appeared in 25-29 gestational weeks with 2D ultrasound, while 20-24 gestational weeks with 3D ultrasound, scores in long axis views of vessels were statistically different. Conclusion STIC has advantages over conventional ultrasonography, but needs conditions control and analysis skills.

[Abstract ] Objective Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) can be induced to the differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells in many induction conditions.We sought to explore the possibility of the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into vascular smooth muscle cells by continuous cell culture in vitro. Methods Rat BMSCs were isolated from the bilateral tibial and femoral bones by the method of whole bone marrow adherence, followed by ex vivo expansion.BMSCs were identified by flow cytometry and three-lineage differentiation.After continuous five days'cell culture of BMSCs, the specific surface antigens of VSMCs were detec-ted by immunofluorescence, western blot and real-time PCR. Results BMSCs expressed CD29、90, in contrast, they did not express CD45、34、49d.After induction of osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis, alizarin red、oil red and alcian blue staining pro-duced a strong reaction in cells.The expressions ofα-SMA、Calponin1、SM-MHC and SM22 in the cells of experimental group were no-tably increased, which indicated that BMSCs were differentiating towards VSMCs. Conclusion In the absence of exogenous stimula-tion, BMSCs can be successfully induced to differentiate into VSMCs by continuous cell culture.

Objective To explore the effects of baicalin in the treatment of a preeclampsia (PE) rat model by detecting the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and cysteine containing aspartate-9 (Caspase-9) and observing the ultrastructure of mitochondria in trophoblast cells.Methods Forty-eight pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups:12 in the control group and 36 in the PE model group.The PE model was established with subcutaneous injection of l-nitro arginine methyl ester with 100 mg/kg per day from the 13th day of pregnancy.Beginning from the 16th day of pregnancy,the PE rats were injected with different doses of baicalin till cesarean section,and divided into three groups:non-intervention PE model group treated with saline (NIP group),low-dose baicalin intervention group (IDB group) at 50 mg/kg per day,and high-dose baicalin intervention group (HDB group) at 100 mg/kg per day.The rat tail artery blood pressure and 24-h urine protein level were measured at pregnant day 10,16 and 20.The levels of XIAP and Caspase-9 in placenta were measured by immunohistochemistry.The ultrastructure of mitochondria of trophoblast cells of the rat placenta was observed under electron microscope.T test,F test and LSD-t test were applied for statistical analysis.Results (1) On pregnant day 10,no significant differences were observed in rat tail artery systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and 24-h urine protein level between the control group and PE model group (all P＞0.05).On pregnant day 16 and 20,the systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and 24-h urine protein level of NIP,IDB and HDB groups were significantly higher than those of control group [pregnant day 16:systolic blood pressure:(137.74±5.21),(136.15±4.86),(138.28±4.79) and (110.57±3.79) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),diastolic blood pressure:(89.58 ± 5.50),(88.45 ± 8.59),(89.42 ± 6.29) and (80.28 ± 7.36) mmHg,24-h urine protein:(7.78 ± 0.45),(7.53 ± 0.54),(7.86± 0.57) and (6.45 ± 0.56) mg;pregnant day 20:systolic blood pressure:(145.26 ± 4.67),(131.28 ± 4.34),(130.93 ± 5.33) and (110.40 ± 6.92) mmHg,diastolic blood pressure:(89.87±6.55),(85.34±7.33),(84.64±7.36) and (80.19±7.34) mmHg,24-h urine protein:(11.18±0.42),(9.65±0.54),(9.06±0.56) and (6.31 ±0.45) mg] (all P＜0.01).On pregnant day 20,the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and 24-h urine protein level in IDB and HDB groups were significantly lower than in NIP group (all P＜0.05),but showed no significant differences between IDB and HDB groups (allP＞0.05).(2) Compared with NIP group,the expression of XIAP in control group,IDB and HDB groups were significantly increased(210.39±0.78,180.56±0.82,195.36±0.96 and 192.84± 1.06,all P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the expression of XIAP between IDB and HDB groups (P=0.66).The expression of Caspase-9 in control group,IDB and HDB groups were significantly decreased compared with NIP group (210.36±0.55,195.53±0.96,198.42± 1.01 and 185.25±0.64,all P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the expression of Caspase-9 between IDB and HDB groups (P=0.65).Ultrastructure of mitochondria in NIP group showed different degrees of damage,matrix swelling,and mitochondrial cristae bresk or disappearance.In IDB group,mitochondrial matrix swelling was not obvious,and mitochondrial cristae were visible.In HDB group,mitochondrial cristae were neat and clear.Conclusions Baicalin may play an important role in the treatment of preeclampsia by reversing the trophoblast apoptosis and improving the ultrastructure of mitochondria through its regulation of XIAP expression and downregulation of Caspase-9 expression.