Objective To explore the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment for the pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis. Methods From July 1999 to August 2003, 12 patients with pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis were involved, 7 males and 5 females, aging from 13 to 61 years, with an average of 36.6 years. The pain in the thoracolumbar area was early in the beginning, the temperature was above 39 ℃, and there was no redness and swelling, but the pain on deep pressure and percussion. The spinal movement was limited, but without any symptoms from compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina, and the sphincter function remained normal. The white cell count, ESR, X-ray and MR imaging were analyzed. Among 12 patients, the ESR above 60 mm/1 h in 10,28 mm/1 h and 50 mm/1 h in each 1 respectively. The white cell count of 2 patients increased (1.0?109/L). Transpedicular core biopsy was taken in 4 cases with doubtful diagnosis,the positive rates were 75%. The antibiotics was administrated intravenously for at least 6 weeks in hospital, then succeeded orally for about another 6 weeks. The ESR of 11 of patients decreased more than 50% after 1 month treatment. The conservative treatment was effective in 91.7% cases. Results 9 of 12 patients were available at final follow-up, the mean duration was 2 years and 2 months (ranged from 6 months to 4 years). Among these 9 patients, 7 patients were free of symptoms, 1 patient had slight back pain, 1 patient had chronic severe back pain who was operated because of the relapse after the conservative treatment. Among 7 patients who underwent MR imaging,2 still had destruction in their vertebra and disc. The extent of T1-weighted low signal decreased, while T2-weighted high signal was obvious, but they had no back pain. Conclusion ESR is a more sensitive index than the white cell count for the diagnosis of pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis. MR and pathologic examination are of important significance for the diagnosis of the disease. After the sequential intravenous and oral antibiotic treatment for 1 month, the decrease of ESR is hallmark of the success of conservative treatment, while the failed cases should be treated with surgery.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Secretio bufonis injection on the carcinostatic activities in mice bearing intraperitoneal H22 tumor. Methods Secretio bufonis injection (1.5 mL) was injected into the abdomind cavity of mice once 5 d for 3 times. Cyclophosphamide (0.5 mg/0.5 mL) was injected into other groups. NS (0.5 mL) was injected into control groups. Each group were 20 mice. TNF and survival time of mice were observed. Results Mean survival times of mice bearing intraperitoneal H22 tumor were (28.2?5.8)d for Secretio bufonis group,(27.9?9.7)d for Cyclophosphamide group,(20.7?4.2)d for control group. The content of TNF in mice bearing intraperitoneal H22 tumor were 2.53?0.14 for Secretio bufonis group,3.02?0.14 for Cyclophosphamide group,3.32?0.2 for control group. The survival times of mice bearing intraperitoneal H22 tumor were prolonged in the groups of Secretio bufonis (P

Objective To investigate the ability of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and MRI in detecting skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Sixty-one patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma received whole body and skull-base tomography SPECT, and nasopharynx and skull-base MRI before radiotherapy. The results were double-blind compared and evaluated. Results The overall positive rates of skull-base invasion detected by SPECT and MRI were 51% and 46% (P=0.508). In paitents with headache, cranial nerve palsy or both, the rates were 83% and 86% (P=1.000) ,80% and 80% (P=1.000), 88% and 94% (P=1.000), respectively. In patients with T1+T2 and T3+T4lesions,the rates were 22% and 0(P=0.031) ,74% and 82% (P=0.250) ,repectively. In patients with N0+N1and N2+N3lesions,they were 50% and 48% (P=1.000) ,53% and 40% (P=0.500) ,respectively. The conformation rate between SPECT and MRI was 85%. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that T stage was a risk factor for positive SPECT(χ2=4.23,P=0.040, OR=3.04). Headache tended to be a risk factor for both positive SPECT and positive MRI (χ2=3.13, P=0.077, OR=4.54;χ2=3.64,P=0.056,OR=12.00). Conclusions The detection sensitivity of SPECT in skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is equivalent to that of MRI. The consistency between SPECT and MRI is good. Moreover, there is a good correlation between SPECT and symptoms, signs and stage. SPECT of skullbase tomography is necessary for patients with severe headache, negative CT and those who can not receive MRI. When SPECT result is positive,skull-base should be considered to be invaded and should be defined as gross tumor volume in radiotherapy planning.

Objective To elucidate the role of renal progenitor-like tubular cells in the repair process after acute tubular necrosis(ATN)induced by ischemia. Methods Rat ATN was developed by clamping left kidney artery for 60 minutes,and bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU),a cell division and proliferation marker,was administrated one hour before rats were sacrificed.Kidneys were isolated at 1,3,5,7,14,21,28 days after injury.The proliferative and apoptotic cells were determined by immunostaining using anti-BrdU,Pax2(an embryonic renal marker),vimentin(an immature mesenchymal cell marker),and activated caspase-3(a cell apoptosis marker). Results Cell death was found in tubules at day 1 after ischemia and reperfusion injury.BrdU-positive cells were dramatically increased and reached peak at day 3 after injury.In addition,the number of BrdU positive cells in the contralateral kidney was significantly increased compared to sham operated group.Double immunostaining showed that BrdU-positive cells co-expressed Pax2 or vimentin,but not activated caspase-3. Conclusions Renal progenitor-like tubular cells may play a predominant role in repair process following ATN in rats.They may dedifferentiate,proliferate,and then redifferentiate into mature tubular cells.Growth factors may regulate the repair process.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Superfine Cordyceps militarisv Powder on the immune functions of the mice,and to provide basis for improving the utilizable ratio of Cordyceps militaris.Methods:A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into negative control group,low dose (0.166 5 g·kg-1),middle dose (0.333 3 g·kg-1),and high dose (0.999 9 g·kg-1) of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups,and there were 10 mice in each group.The mice in different doses of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups were administered with the Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder for 30 d by intragastric infusion respectively,whereas,the mice in negative control group were administered with the same volume of water for 30 d by intragastric infusion.The body weights,the spleen indexes and thymus indexes of the mice in various groups were measured;the lymphocyte transformation abilities of the mice in various groups were observed by lymphocyte transformation experiment;the levels of delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of the mice were examined with toe incrassation;the number of antibody forming cells,phagocytic rate and phagocytic index of chicken erythrocytes phagocytized by peritoneal macrophages of the mice were detected.Results:Compared with negative control group,the body weights,the spleen indexes a nd thymus indexes of the mice in different doses of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups had no significant differences (P>0.05).The lymphocyte transformation abilities of the mice in middle and high doses of Superfine Cordyceps militarisPowder groups were higher than that in negative control group(P<0.05).The levels of delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of the mice in middle and high doses of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups were higher than those in low dose of Superfine Cordyceps militaris powder group and negative control group(P<0.05).The numbers of antibody forming cells of the mice in low,middle and high doses of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups were higher than that in negative control group(P<0.05).The phagocytic rates and phagocytic indexes of chicken erythrocytes phagocytized by peritoneal macrophage of the mice in low,middle and high doses of Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder groups were higher than that in negative control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Superfine Cordyceps militaris Powder can strengthen the immune functions of the mice,and the recommended doses are 0.333 3 and 0.999 9 g·kg-1.