Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of expression of angiogenic factor mRNA in the spinal cord of rats with protruded intervertebral disc and the effects of electroacupuncture , and to analyze the role of electroacupuncture in the spinal microvascular angiogenesis .Method Eighteen healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 3 groups:the electroacupuncture group , model group and sham-operated group .The protruded intervertebral disc models were generated by the left lateral and ventral spinal cord compression at T 13 using a self-made silicon sheet.Only the rats in the first group were treated by electroacupuncture once a day for consecutive 7 days.Spinal cord tissue samples were taken from the compression site at 7 days after operation .The mRNA levels of Ang-1, Tie-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, VEGF, Flt-1, caspase-3 and Tsp-1 were determined by RT-PCR, and the pathological changes of the spinal cord was examined using HE staining .Results The rats in the electroacupuncture treated group showed significantly im-proved hind leg function , a relatively complete spinal cord structure , and a clear boundary between grey and white matters . The expression levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, Tie-1, Tie-2, capase-3 and Tsp-1 in the spinal cord tissues of the model group were significantly higher than those of sham-operated group ( P<0.01 ) , but the levels of VEGF and Flt-1 between those two groups showed no significant difference (P>0.05).The expression levels of Ang-2, Tie-1, Tie-2, caspase-3 and Tsp-1 of the electroacupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01), while the expression levels of Ang-1, VEGF and Flt-1 were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).All the indexes be-tween electroacupuncture and sham-operated groups showed no significant difference ( P>0.05 ) .Conclusions Our re-sults demonstrate that mRNA expression of relevant angiogenic factors were abnormal after spinal cord compression , while electroacupuncture can down-regulate the expression of Ang-2, Tie-2,Tsp-1 and caspase-3, and modulate the promoting and inhibiting factors of angiogenesis to return towards normal , therefore , to create beneficial conditions for the repair of spinal cord injuries .

Objective To investigate the effects of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on neurologica severity score,brain edema,neuron apoptosis,and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) response after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods TBI rat models were established using modified Feeney's method.Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups with a random number table:sham operation group (Sham group),TBI group,Gln supplementation group (TBI + Gln group) and ERS inducer 2-deoxy-D-glucose group (TBI +Gln + 2-DG group).We measured the rats' neurobehavioral outcomes by modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) on day 1,3,7 and 14 after TBI.Neuron apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining.Brain water content was measured with wet-dry weight method.The apoptosis-related protein (caspase-12,caspase3,and Bcl-2) and ERS-related cytokines [inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1),C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)] expressions in TBI cerebral cortex were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot.Results Compared with the Sham group,the levels of brain edema,mNSS,apoptosis-related protein (caspase-12,caspase-3,Bcl-2) and ERS-related proteins (IRE-1,CHOP) were significantly increased in the other three groups (all P =0.00).Compared with the TB1 group,the TBI +Gln group showed significant lower brain water content [3 d:(81.39±0.59)％ vs.(83.54±0.52)％,P=0.04;7 d:(74.86±0.38)％ vs.(77.32±0.66)％,P=0.03],improved mNSS (8.63 ±0.22 vs.10.37±0.29,P=0.03),suppressed expressions of apoptosis-and ERS-related proteins (caspase-12,caspase-3,IRE-1,and CHOP)(P =0.01,P ＜ 0.01),and increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (P =0.02).Compared withthe TBI + Gln group,the expression of ERS-related factors (IRE-1 and CHOP),brain edema level,and neurological severity were increased in the TBI + Glu + 2-DG group.Conclusion Glutamine supplementation may have neuroprotection function,demonstrated as reducing brain edema and neuron apoptosis,and improving neurobehaviroal outcomes after TBI,possibly mediated by inhibiting TBI-induced ERS response.

Objective To investigate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on neuron apoptosis,brain edema,activation of microglia,inflammatory response and neural function after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats,so as to understand the protection of ω-3 PUFA in rats following TBI and its mechanism.Methods TBI model was established using Feeney's method.Ninety SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:sham operation group (sham group),TBI group,TBI + selective activator of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) anisomycin group (TBI + Aniso group),TBI + ω-3 PUFA supplementation group (TBI + ω-3 group),and TBI + ω-3 PUFA supplementation + JNK activation group (TBI + ω-3 + Aniso group).We measured rat behavioral outcomes by modified neurological severity score (mNSS) on day 1,3,and 7 after TBI.Brain water content was measured with wet-dry weight method.The neuron apoptosis and microglial activation (identified by specific marker IBA-1) in TBI cerebral cortex were determined by TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence.Inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin (IL)-1α,IL-1β,and IL-6] and the JNK signaling pathway (JNK,pJNK) were tested with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot,respectively.Results Compared with the sham group,the levels of brain cell apoptosis,brain edema,neuron apoptosis,and inflammatory-relatived factors (TNF-α,IL-1 α,IL-1β,and IL-6) were significantly increased in the other four groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the TBl group,ω-3 PUFA supplementation reduced brain water content following TBI,especially on day 3 after TBI [(78.14 ± 0.57) ％ vs.(82.31 ± 0.81) ％,P ＜ 0.01],and improved neurological function score (P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,ω-3 PUFA supplementation suppressed neuron apoptosis,the activation of microglia,and the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-1 β,IL-6).The activation of JNK signaling pathway was also inhibited by ω-3 PUFA.Conclusion ω-3 PUFA supplementation may markedly reduce brain edema,suppress neuron apoptosis,and improve neurological outcomes after TBI in rats,possibly mediated by inhibiting JNK signaling pathway and microglial activation,reducing microglia-induced cerebral inflammatory responses,demonstrated as down-regulated expression of TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-1β,and IL-6.

Objective To establish a canine model of intervertebral disc extrusion by surgery and observe the histological and microcirculatory changes of the spinal cord , in order to accumulate data for studies on the pathology and mechanism of treatment for intervertebral disc extrusion .Methods Normal healthy adult dogs were divided randomly into two groups:normal control group and model group .To simulate the intervertebral disc extrusion caused by spinal cord compression, 6Fr double lumen catheter with ballon was inserted into the spinal cord T 12-T13 and filled with about 5 mL Iohexol after the exposure of spinal cord L 1 by hemilaminectomy .The spinal cord blood flow ( SCBF) at the L1 level before and after compression was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry .Morphological changes of the compressed spinal cord at 14 days after compression was examined by histopathology .Results The ( Texas spinal cord injury score ) ( TSCIS) scores of the motor function of bilateral hind limbs were highly significantly decreased (P<0.01).The blood flow of spinal cord at the L1 level was significantly decreased (P<0.05) after compression than that before .Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed abnormal vacuolization in the white matter and the number of normal neurons in the ventral horn of gray matter was significantly lower ( P<0.01 ) .Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that canine models of intervertebral disc extrusion can be successfully established by balloon catheter compression , showing local impairment of microcirculation and histological changes in the spinal cord .This canine model may provide a useful model for evaluation of therapeutic effects of acupuncture and for mechanism studies .

Objective To study the relationship between bisphenol A and precocious puberty in 6-8 years girls. Meth-ods Atotal of 103 girls aged 6-8 years with precocious puberty in our Endocrine clinic from August to December 2012 were se-lected. According to the classiifcation standard of precocious puberty, girls are divided into idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) group (n=47) and permature thelarche (PT) group (n=56), 53 girls with no puberty development were chosen as control group. BPA concentrations were determined with HPLC-MS-MS, sex hormones were determined with chemiluminescence meth-od and Kisspeptin concentrations were determined with ELISA, then the differences among the three groups were compared and the relationships between bisphenol A and sex hormones and Kisspeptin were analyzed. Results The BPA relevance ratio and concentration in ICPP group were higher than those of PT group and control group (P<0.05). The peak concentration of LH and LH/FSH in ICPP group were higher than those of PT group (P<0.05). The concentration of E2 in ICPP group and PT group were higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The concentration of Kisspeptin in ICPP group was higher than that of PT group and control group (P<0.05). There were no relationship between the concentrations of bisphenol A and Kisspeptin and FSH peak con-centration (P>0.05). There were correlations between the concentrations of BPA and E2 and LH peak concentration and LH/FSH (P<0.05). Conclusions There is a certain correlation between the concentrations of BPA and ICPP.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for failures of intramedullary and extramedullary internal fixation in surgery of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 205 elderly patients with osteoporotic femoral intertrochanteric fracture who had accepted closed reduction together with intramedullary and extramedullary internal fixation between September 2005 and August 2014.They were 89 men and 116 women,from 65 to 98 year of age (average,78.8 years).By AO classification,137 cases were of types AI.1-A2.1 (stable fractures),and 68 of type A2.2-A3.3(unstable fractures).The incidence of internal fixation failure and Harris scores at the last follow-up were recorded.The factors possibly contributing to the failure were analyzed using the univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results Of the patients,192 obtained a mean follow-up of 39 months (from 14 to 60 months),but 13 were lost after a 10-month follow-up.Of the 205 patients,internal fixation failure occurred in 12 (incidence of 5.9％).Five failed cases received DHS fixation and 7 accepted PENA fixation.At the last follow-up when the 13 cases were lost after 10-month follow-up,the mean Harris hip score was 81.6 (from 57 to 92),and the excellent to good rate was 84.9％ (29 excellent cases,145 good ones,10 fair ones and 21 poor ones).The multivariate regression analysis revealed that tip-apex distance (TAD) ＞ 25 mm(OR ＝ 333.33),severe osteoporosis (OR =267.44),AO types A2.2-A3.3 (OR ＝ 22.24),functional reduction of fracture (OR =20.79),and concomitant medical diseases (OR =4.59) were independent risk factors for failures of internal fixation.Conclusions DHS and PFNA fixations are effective treatments for elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures.TAD＞ 25 mm,severe osteoporosis,unstable factures,functional reduction of fracture,and concomitant medical diseases may lead to internal fixation failure in surgery of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

Objective:The characteristics of lymph node metastasis were investigated to guide the range of lymph node dissection during the radical operation of distal gastric cancer. Methods:The clinical data of 773 patients with distal gastric cancer who under-went radical distal subtotal gastrectomy at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between February 2010 and September 2014 were reviewed and analyzed to infer the potential clinical mechanisms of lymph node metastasis. Results:Among the included patients, 423 (54.72%) had lymph node metastasis. The proportion of metastasis in the patients from the highest to the lowest rate was observed in group NO. 6, 3, 4sb, and 5 lymph nodes. The metastasis rates of the N1 lymph nodes from the highest to the low-est were observed in group NO. 3, 6, 5, and 4d lymph nodes, whereas those of the N2 lymph nodes occurred in group NO. 8a, 7, and 1 lymph nodes. Group NO. 8a lymph node with skipped metastasis was observed in 50.68%of the patients. Conclusion:During radical distal gastric cancer surgery, attention should be given to the possibility of metastasis in group NO. 8a lymph node. Appropriate exten-sion of the lymph node dissection should be conducted when necessary.

BACKGROUND:Nickel-titanium memory-shape compression anastomosis clip (Ni-Ti CAC) has been used in gastrointestinal anastomosis, but its efficacy and safety still remain controversial.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ni-Ti CAC in gastrointestinal anastomosis.METHODS:A computer-based online research of PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, and VIP databases was performed for articles published before January 15th, 2017 using the keywords of nickel-titanium, compression anastomosis clip, anastomosis, gastric, jejunum, ileum, small intestine, colon, rectum, and large intestine in English and Chinese, respectively. The randomized controled trials about Ni-Ti CACversus conventional methods for gastrointestinal anastomosis were included. Meta-analysis of the anastomosis time, time of exsufflation, and hospitalization time was performed, and sequential analysis was conducted on TSA v0.9 software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 18 eligible randomized controlled trials were enroled, involving 1860 patients. Ni-Ti CAC could reduce the anastomosis time [MD=-3.83, 95%CI(-6.48,-1.19),P=0.004] and time of exsufflation [MD=-0.14, 95%CI(-0.22,-0.05),P=0.002], but there was no significant difference in the hospitalization time [MD=-0.83, 95%CI(-1.82, 0.16), P=0.10]. The quality was ranked as low level based on GRADE system. The time of exsufflation of Ni-Ti CAC was superior to that of conventional method, which was confirmed by sequential analysis. One case of death was reported and incision infection was the most common adverse effects; additionaly, pulmonary embolism and abdominal pain occurred. To conclude, Ni-Ti CAC can facilitate gastrointestinal anastomosis, accelerate the time of exsufflation, and holds a good safety. However, more multicenter and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Shenqi fuzheng injection combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer.METHODS:Retrieved from PubMed,EMBase,Clinical Trials,Cochrane Library,CJFD,CBM,Wanfang database and VIP,RCTs about Shenqi fuzheng injection combined with chemotherapy (trial group) vs.chemotherapy alone (control group) in the treatment of colorectal cancer were included.Meta-analysis was performed by Rev Man 5.3 statistical software after data extraction and quality evaluation with Cochrane system evaluator manual.RESULTS:A total of 25 RCTs were included,involving 1 987 patients.Results of Meta-analysis showed that objective remission rate of trial group was significantly higher than control group [RR=1.19,95％ CI (1.02,1.39),P=0.02];the improvement of survival quality was significantly better than control group [RR=1.72,95％CI(1.49,1.99),P＜0.001];CD4VCD8+ was significantly higher than control group [MD=0.40,95％ CI (0.29,0.50),P＜0.001];the incidence of gastrointestinal reaction was significantly higher than control group [RR=0.59,95％CI(0.52,0.68),P＜0.001];the incidence of liver and renal injury was significantly lower than control group [RR=0.52,95％CI(0.41,0.67),P＜0.001],with statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS:Shenqi fuzheng injection combined with chemotherapy can improve objective remission rate of colorectal cancer patients,survival quality and immune function,and reduce the occurrence of toxic reation.

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety of Toutongning combined with flunarizine vs. flunarizine in the treatment of migraine,and to provide evidence-based reference in clinic. METHODS:Retrieved from PubMed,Cochrane library,Embase,Chinese Journal Full-text Database,Chinese Sci-tech Periodicals Database,Wanfang database and CBM,randomized controlled trials(RCTs)about therapeutic efficacy(total response rate,VAS score,blood potassium and blood magnesium concentration,CGRP level)and safety(the incidence of ADR)of Toutongning combined with flunarizine(trial group)vs. flunarizine in the treatment of migraine(control group)were collected. Meta-analysis of included trials meet inclusion criteria was conducted by using Stata 14.0 software,and trial sequential analysis(TSA)was conducted by using TSA 0.9 software after data extraction and quality evaluation with Cochrane 5.1.0 bias risk evaluation tool and Jadad scale. RESULTS:Totally 16 RCTs were included,involving 1 726 patients. Results of Meta-analysis showed that total response rate [RR=1.21,95%CI(1.16, 1.26),P<0.05],the decrease of VAS score [WMD=-1.04,95%CI(-1.42,-0.66),P<0.001],the decrease of blood potassium [WMD=-2.05,95%CI(-0.32,-0.18),P<0.001],the increase of blood magnesium [WMD=0.09,95%CI(0.04,0.14),P<0.001] and the decrease of CGRP [WMD=-2.22,95%CI(-3.25,-1.18),P<0.001] in trial group were better than control group,with statistical significance. The incidence of ADR in trial group was 2.27% in trial group and 2.89% in control group, without statistical significance(P>0.05). TSA showed that there were extract evidences for total response rate of Toutongning combined with flunarizine in the treatment migraine. CONCLUSIONS:Therapeutic efficacy of Toutongning combined with flunarizine is better than flunarizine in the treatment of migraine,and the ADR is not increased.