Embolic stroke of undetermined source ( ESUS ) refers to non-lacunar brain infarcts without definite proximal arterialstenosis or major cardioembolic sources.Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may be the most important cause of ESUS, thus anticoagulation may be more effective than antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention to this group of patients.This paper reviews the latest progress on the definition, epidemiology, diagnostic approach, relation to atrial fibrillation and management of ESUS.

Objective To investigate the changes in small-diameter sensory neuron (SNS)/ peripheral nerve type 3(PN3) Na+ channel transcript and in tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na+ current in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. Methods Eighteen rats were divided into 6 groups of 3 animals each. Chronic constriction injury model was established after Dib-Hajj et al. Pain threshold was significantly lowered after CCI as compared with that in control group. The animals were deeply anesthetized and rapidly decapitated 14 days after surgery. The L4-5 DRG of the operated side was removed and crushed and total RNA was extracted with trizol reagent. The DRG of the contralateral side was used as control. The change in SNS/PN3 Na + channel expression was determined by semi-reverse transcriptase-PCR. The DRG neurons were isolated enzymatically and the change in voltage-gated TTX-R Na+ current was recorded using whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results Sensory neuron specific TTX-R Na+ channel transcript SNS/PN3 was down-regulated by 60% 14 days after CCI as compared with that in control group. TTX-R Na+ current density was significantly reduced but its activation and steady state inactivation were unchanged. Conclusions Na+ channel SNS/PN3 is involved in the hyperextability of the primary sensory neurons after CCI.

Benzene ; toxicity ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Objective To report the clinical outcome of dual plating in treating humeral intercondylar fractures. Methods From February 2002 to June 2003, 22 cases of humeral intercondylar fractures were treated with dual plating. It involved 15 males and 7 females, whose average age was 42.2 years with a range from 19 to 67 years. According to the AO classification, 5 cases were of type C1, 11 of C2 and 6 of C3. The posterior midline approach was selected, and the intercondylar fracture ends were exposed through the trans-olecranon osteotomy. The intercondylar fragments were fixed first, in 6 cases with C3 type fractures, the auto-grafting from the iliac bone was performed because of comminution, then the supracondylar fracture was fixed with dual plating. The semi-tubular plates was applied on the medial epicondylar crest of the humerus; and the reconstruction plate was implanted on the postero-lateral side, the two plates were kept in 90? with each other. The osteotomized ends were fixed with tension band. Results All the 22 patients were followed up for 13-29 months ( mean, 20.2 months ). By the end of the first postoperative month, the elbow flexion averaged 86.2?( range, 80?-105?), and the loss of extension averaged 40.7?(range, 30?-45?). But at the 12th month, the flexion improved to 117?(range, 95?-135?), and the extension loss decreased to 23.2?( range, 10?-35?). The averaged union time was 15.7 weeks with a range of 12 to 20 weeks. Assessed by the Jupiter scoring system, 3 cases were rated as excellent, 15 as good and 4 as fair. Complications included 4 cases of incision exudation, 3 K-wires withdrawal, 1 ulnar neuropathy and 3 heterotopic ossification. But no incision necrosis, deep infection, loosening or breakage of the internal fixators occurred. Conclusion The dual plating is able to provide stable and durable fixation for the humeral intercondylar fractures. In addition, it can prevent malunion or nonunion effectively, and decrease the related complications significantly. This method is helpful to improve the functional recovery of the elbow joint satisfactorily.

Though lack of definite evidences,closed suction drainage after arthroplasty is routinely employed by the majority of orthopaedic surgeons with the aim of preventing the formation of wound haematoma,reducing delayed wound healing and the risk of deep infection.But the optimal time to remove drains is controversial.The usual time to remove drains is 48~72 h after operation when the volume of drains is less than 50ml within 24 h.But some scholars find that the time of draining more than 24 h increases the risk of wound infection.This paper reviews the literature of draining time,and concludes that the optimal time to remove drains is 24 h after the primary arthroplasty.

The effects of ketamine on the hemodynamics in the postshock stage in 10 severely burn patients were observed.Their average burn area was 53.7?14% TBSA.Anesthesia was inducedwith 2 mg/kg of ketamine and then maintained with 50?g/kg/minute of ketamine.All the patients kept on spontaneous breathing.Measurements were performed before anesthesia,5 and 30 minutes after the induction of anesthesia.and 20 minutes after the discontinuation of ketamine.Our findings indicate that the severely burn patients in the postshock stage were in a state of active hemodynamics with increased cardiac output and decreased peripheral resistance.The plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were apparently increased.A small dose of ketamine could further increase the release of epinephrine,which is beneficial to the restoration of normal cardiovascular functions.

Objective:To explore the diagnosis and treatment of small intestine leiomyosarcoma. Methods:Ten patients with small intestine leiomyosarcoma in Changhai Hospital from 1993 to 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:Radical resection was performed in 6 cases with the shortest survival time being over 1 year and the longest being 8.5 years (still in good health). One case received extirpation operation with the survival time being over 4 years.Partial resection was performed in 3 cases,and the 3 patients died 1,2,3 years after operation respectively.Conclusion:The small intestine leiomyosarcoma is rare and its diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of clinical feature. Final diagnosis should be based on pathology.The disease is not very sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy,which makes surgical treatment the choice.

Neovascular glaucoma is a rare and severe complication of hypoperfusion retinopathy.The appearance of hypoperfu- sion retinopathy complicating neovascular glaucoma in ophthalmolscopy and fundus fluorescein angiography shows a special feature. Neovascular glaucoma occurs when new fibrovascular tissues proliferate onto the chamber angle and obstruct the trabecular meshwork. The stenosis or occlusion of internal carotid artery is the most common reason of hypoperfusion retinopathy in elder people.Early recog- nition and treatment of patients with carotid occlusive diseases may prevent more serious complications.

Insulinoma-glucagonoma clone 20 can express at least 6 isoforms in human cells.These isoforms can affect cell apoptosis and proliferation through apoptosis related signaling pathway,such as TRAIL or TNF signaling pathways.Furthermore,insulinoma-glucagonoma clone 20,as a GTP-GDP exchange factor,participates in the transportation of nerve synaptophysins.

Cao reported that melagenine extracted from human placenta was effective in the clinical treatment of vitiligo, to elucidate the possible mechanism involved, melagenine and placenta peptide were added to melanocytes in the culture, and the culture without melagenine as control. The results obtained by MTT showed that melagenine can stimulate melanoeyte proliferation, its promoting rate was 42.5%, while placenta peptide got a promoting rate of 5.9%, the difference was significant (P