Gastrointestinal motility disorders are commonly seen digestive system diseases in elderly subjects. During the process of normal aging,digestive tract experiences a series of degenerative changes,which is the foundation of many gastrointestinal motility disorders. Further study on gastrointestinal dysmotility and its mechanisms is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of related diseases in aging population. In this article,the advances in studies on effects of aging on motility of digestive tract( including oropharynx,esophagus,stomach,small bowel,colon and anorectum)and its mechanism researches were reviewed.

Objective To set up traumatic brain injury(TBI)in rats by the improved device of FEENEY ’s weight dropping model and to ex?plore the spirit behavioral changes of mental disorders caused by TBI. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(normal group,n=10),traumatic brain injury group(TBI group,n=10)and sham group(n=10). The improved device of FEENEY’s method was ad?opted to establish rat TBI model. For the following 15 days after TBI,open?field(OF)and forced swimming(FS)tests were carried out and the be?havior of the TBI rats within 5 minutes were recorded,the behavioral indexes,such as distance moved total(DMT),velocity mean(VM)and immo?bility time total(ITT),were analyzed. With above experiments,rats' fear response to environment,high alertness and anxiety and depression be?havior were evaluated. Results DMT and VM of TBI group rats(1 228.10±204.97 cm,4.09±0.68 cm/s)were significantly lower than those of the normal group(2 022.32±280.92 cm,7.28±1.80 cm/s)or sham group(1 660.01±332.09 cm,5.53±1.10 cm/s)(P<0.05).The ITT of TBI group (149.88±27.36 s,P<0.05)was longer than that of the normal group(106.10±29.03 s)or sham group(120.55±22.31 s)significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion TBI leads to rats' abnormal emotional and behavioral response.

Objective To evaluate the value of calcium-based quantitative spectral CT imaging in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods Totally 82 patients with 98 thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology underwent unenhanced and dual-phase enhanced spectral CT scans before operation.Thyroid nodules were divided into malignant group (61 nodules) and benign group (37 nodules),according to histopathologic results.Besides,contralateral normal thyroid tissue of 50 patients was selected as normal group.The calcium concentration of malignant,benign and normal group in non-enhanced scanning was analysed.The optimal threshold to predict malignancy and the corresponding diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were obtained by ROC curve.Results The calcium concentrations for malignant, benign and normal group in non-enhanced scanning were (5.52±2.72) mg/cm3, (10.72±4.68) mg/cm3 and (24.66±7.58) mg/cm3 respectively.There were significant differences statistically in any two groups (P<0.001).For malignant thyroid nodules, the best diagnostic threshold of calcium concentration was 6.065 mg/cm3,and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 65.6% and 91.9% respectively.Conclusion Spectral CT imaging can quantitatively assess the calcium concentration of thyroid nodules,which provides promising quantitative approach for distinguishing malignant thyroid nodules from benign nodules.

Objective To study the clinical efficacy and safety of posterior laminoplasty combined with foraminotomy in the treatment of mixed cervical spondylosis.Methods A total of 70 patients with mixed type cervical spondylosis from January 2012 to January 2014 in our hospital were randomly divided into observation group and control group.Patients in observation group received posterior laminoplasty com-bined with foraminotomy,and patients in control group received anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery.The operation time,intraoper-ative blood lossing,postoperative JOA scores and NDI scores between two groups were compared.The cervical curvature and range of motion were measured by X-ray.Results There was no significant difference in postoperative JOA scores,cervical curvature and range of motion be-tween two groups(P >0.05).The operative time and intraoperative blood loss of observation group was less than those of control group,the difference was no significance.The NDI scores of carrying and drive in observation group were higher than those in control group,while the NDI scores of other items between two groups had no significant difference(P >0.05).The incidence of complications in observation group was 10.81% (4 /37),the control group was 24.42% (8 /33),the difference between two groups was statistically significant,(χ2 =3.428, P <0.05).Conclusion The posterior laminoplasty combined with foraminotomy have good clinical effect for mixed type cervical spondylosis with advantages of a shorter operation time,simple operation,less intraoperative bleeding,lower incidence of complications,which is a kind of safe and effective surgical method.

Objective To study the effect of hypoxia on proliferation of cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and expression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. Methods The bovine RPE cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic chamber respectively. After 24 hours, the proliferation of RPE cells was evaluated by[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, MTT]-test. At the same time, anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was examined by immuno-histochemistry method. Results The A value in the hypoxia group was higher than that in the normal group after 24 hours (P

BACKGROUND:For vertebral compression fractures treated by bal oon vertebroplasty, there were stil controversies in biomechanical and clinical studies about adjacent vertebral fractures is the result of osteoporosis progress, or the result of vertebral intervention and strengthening by injecting bone cement. More accurate conclusions can be obtained through more in-depth research and long-term fol ow-up. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of bal oon vertebroplasty on biomechanical properties of vertebral body with compression fractures and unstrengthened adjacent vertebral body. METHODS:Total y 40 pig specimens with vertebral compression fractures were prepared and randomly divided into study and control groups. Specimens in the study group were subjected to bal oon vertebroplasty. Specimens in the control group only wrapped with normal saline gauze. The biomechanical properties (vertebral height, maximum load), stress, strain and displacement values of specimens under 500 N loading in these two groups were compared. The stress and strain values of unstrengthened adjacent vertebral body before and after the bal oon vertebroplasty in the study group were measured, and compared with the control group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the original height, specimens in the study group can restore to its original height after bal oon vertebroplasty, the differences were not significant (P>0.05). The former, back, left and right vertebral height in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). After the bone cement augmentation, the stiffness of vertebral body in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group, the maximum loading was significantly increased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Under a fixed loading of 500N, compared with the control group, the disc displacement value after the bal oon vertebroplasty was significantly reduced and the disc strain and stress values were significantly increased in the study group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the strain and stress values of the unstrengthened adjacent vertebral body before and after the bal oon vertebroplasty in the study group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the strain and stress values of the unstrengthened adjacent vertebral body after the bal oon vertebroplasty between study group and control group (P>0.05). These results suggest that vertebral maximum loading and stiffness recover wel after the treatment of bal oon vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures, which can achieve the effect of preventing vertebral fractures again. Meanwhile, bal oon vertebroplasty treatment can not alter the biomechanical properties of adjacent vertebrae, and it is difficult to influence and lead vertebral fractures again, with a better security.

Objective To evaluate the clin ical value of Multi-slice helical CT three dimensional angiography (3D-MSCTA) as first method for diagnosing intracr anial aneurysms. Methods We studied patients with clinical suspected intracranial aneurysms (13 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage among cases). All these patients under went 3D-MSCTA and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), 16 patients of them accepte d operation treatment. Row data was acquired by Multi-slice helical CT-AQUILION (Toshiba): scan speed 0.5 s/rot, image slice thickness 1.0 mm, helical pitch 3 .0/5.0. Contrast media (Angiografin) was injected intravenously (1.0-2.0 ml/kg) at spee d of 2.5-3.0 ml/s, delay time was 15-23 sec, reconstruction interval 0.5 mm, recons truction slice thickness 1.0 mm. Source images were processed using a workstation SGI-O2 , images post-processing software was ALATOVIEW,Version 1.21. The reconstructed images were then processed into shaded volume rendering (SVR) and maximal intensity projection (M IP) and Fly-through images. Entire brain DSA was performed obtaining anterioposteri or, lateral, and oblique images. Images of 3D-MSCTA and DSA were analysed by 3 radiologists and 2 neurosurgeons. Results 25 aneurysms were d etected by 3D-MSCTA. Aneurysms′s body, neck, source vessel and the relationship between the aneurysm and surrounding structures was clearly and surely displayed. 22 of 25 aneurysms were detected by DSA,another 3 were (1 anterior communicating artery aneurysm and 2 left middle cerebral artery aneurysm) was not detected. Sixteen of patients un derwent operation treatment, and the results of 3D-MSCTA corresponded very well to those of operation. Maximal diameter of aneurysms body was 14.0 mm and minimal diameter w as 1.7 mm. Conclusion 3D-MSCTA is a high sensitivity and rapid and no ninvasive method for detecting intracranial aneurysms. We suggest that 3D-MSCTA may be the first cho ice for diagnosing intracranial aneurysms.

Arterial blood gases,intraerythrocytic pH(pHi),2,3-diphosphoglycerate,standard P50(P50(aid))and in vivo P50(P50iv)were determined in 54 patients with cor pulmonale and in 23 normal subjects.It was found that there was no significant change of pHi but the difference between pHi and extraerythrocytic pH was decreased.P50aid was decreased(P

Objective To investigate the changes of liver histology and ultrastructure in aged Beagles dogs.Methods A total of fifteen healthy Beagles,1 .5 to 10.6 years old,were divided into middle-aged group (n=8,average (2.21 ±0.94)years old)and aged group (n=7,average (8.26±1 .52) years old)according to age.After intravenous anesthesia,the liver tissues of dogs were taken to compare number and morphology of hepatocytes and extra cellular matrix (ECM)of two groups under light microscope with hematoxylin-eosin staining.The number density, morphology and area fraction of mitochondria,the morphology and area fraction of endoplasmic reticulum,the changes of number density and morphology of microbody,the thickness of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell as well as the density and the diameter of fenestrae,the changes of morphology and number of lipofuscin in two groups were compared under electron microscope.Independent sample t-test was performed for comparison between two groups.Results Under light microscope,hepatocytes were arranged radially around the central veins,especially obvious in the middle aged group. Hepatocytes were circular or oval,most were mononuclear or binuclear.The cytoplasma of hepatocyte in middle-aged group was dense eosinophilic pink.Vacuolar lipid droplets were small and scanty.The cell boundary was clear.In aged group, cytoplasmic vacuolization of hepatocyte was more obvious,bigger vacuolated lipid droplets were observed, eosinophillic granules were scattered in the cytoplasma,cellular boundary was blurry and the number of hepatocytes significantly decreased when compared with middle-aged group ((75 .80 ±5 .76 )/high power field (HPF)vs (97.80 ±6.45 )/HPF,t = -2.510,P =0.026 ).There were no obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue of Beagles dogs in both middle-aged group and aged group.Compared with middle aged group, cell gap and ECM increased in aged group. Under electron microscope, mitochondria of normal hepatocyte was oval,round or horseshoe-shaped with double membranes,ridge was observed inside and distributed around nucleus.Compared with middle-aged group,the shape of hepatocyte mitochondria in aged group was varied,the number density of mitochondria significantly decreased (0.202±0.021 vs 0.248 ±0.040,t = -2.683,P =0.020)and the area fraction remarkably reduced (0.136 ±0.015 vs 0.202 ±0.019,t = -6.083,P <0.01 ).Endoplasmic reticulum was mesh laminated arranged,scattered flake distributed and was mostly seen around nucleus in flat or stacked shape.Compared with middle aged group,the area fraction of endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocyte in aged group was obviously reduced (0.006±0.001 vs 0.011 ±0.004,t=-3.338,P =0.005).Lipofuscin was shaped as round or irregular structure without membrane and pigment unevenly distributed inside.The number of lipofuscin in aged group was significantly higher than that in middle-aged group (0.028±0.025 vs 0.001 ±0.000,t=2.880,P =0.014).The number of microbody in aged group was slightly less than that of middle aged group and the difference was not statistically significant (P =0.603).The thickness of the liver sinusoidal endothelium in aged group significantly increased compared with that in middle-aged group ((0.242±0.047)μm vs (0.114±0.075)μm,t=3.881 ,P =0.002).The diameter and density of endothelial fenestration in aged group ((1 .895 ± 0.439 )μm and (0.260 ± 0.120 )/μm)obviously decreased compared with those in middle-aged group ((3.186±0.332)μm and (0.723±0.184)/μm,t=6.345 and -4.511 ,both P <0.01).Conclusions There were significant degradations of liver in quality and quantity among aged individuals.These degradations were the structure basis of decreased hepatic reserve function and involved directly or indirectly in high prevelance of hepatic diseases among elders.

Objective To assess ①the effect of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) on pulmonary injury induced by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) in septic rats; ②the biological effect of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 expression in pulmonary injury mediated by STAT in septic rats. Methods Sepsis of rats was induced by CLP. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control (n=8), CLP group (n=24), and inhibitor (rapamycin, RPM) of STAT pretreatment group (n=24). At serial time points in each group, animals were sacrificed. Then, pulmonary tissue and serum samples were harvested to determine IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein expression levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, pulmonary STAT-1 DNA-binding activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) . Activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) as well as histopathology were also evaluated. Results Compared to normal control, pulmonary STAT-1 activity at 6 h, 24 h and 48 h following CLP significantly elevated (P