Objective To explore the microsurgical technique of ependymoma in conus medullaris and cauda equina. Methods Sixteen patients with ependymoma confirmed by pathology after operation in conus medullaris and cauda equina were analyzed retrospectively for their clinical manifestations, imaging features and microsurgical treatment. Results All patients conducted preoperative MRI, and total tumor resection was achieved in 14 patients and subtotal resection in 2 patients. The pathological examinations confirmed the tumor as myxopapillary ependymomas in 7 patients. Symptoms of fifteen patients were alleviated significantly after operation. One patient had urine retention after operation and was gradually restored 1 week after operation. All patients were followed up for 1-3 months, and there was no case of recurrence. Conclusions Ependymoma in conus medullaris and cauda equina is rare and easily misdiagnosed, with no specific clinical manifestations. MRI should be conducted as soon as possible to identify the diagnosis. Microsurgical treatment is an effective method for ependymoma in conus medullaris and cauda equina.

The recent research progress of photo-catalyzed degradation of organic pollutants by TiO2 is reviewed,the characteristics of hydrothermal method and the prepared processes of TiO2 were discussed,the photo-catalyzed mechanism under UV and visible light and the application of degradation of sewage using TiO2 nanomaterials from five aspects were described in this paper. The main problems existing in the studies of TiO2,the research directions,and the development prospects were also discussed.

Objective To assess the adequacy of decompression immediately in anterior cervical surgical procedures with epidurography, and to prevent from leaving compressive materials. Methods After completing primary decompression of anterior cervical intervertebral space by discectomy or corpectomy, posterior longitudinal ligaments were incised or resected, 5-10 ml Omnipaque 300 contrast medium was injected into upper and lower segments of decompressed area through a soft 18# injection needle. Distribution of the contrast medium in front of dura mater was observed by fluoroscopy so as to identify whether the spinal cords were decompressed completely. 64 patients suffered from cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and spinal cords were compressed respectively by giant intervertebral disc prolapse, osteophyte or short segmental OPLL. Intraoperative epidurography was performed after primary anterior decompression. If contrast medium in front of dura mater was discontinued by fluoroscopy, incomplete decompression was judged. 39 of 64 patients were followed up after operation, and in 18 patients of them MRI were taken within 1-12 weeks after operation. Neurological function was compared between preoperation, immediate postoperation and final follow-up by means of JOA scores. Results After completing primary decompression, epidurographs showed that the contrast medium were continuous in front of dura mater in 49 cases(77%), 11 patients of them were examined by MRI during follow-up and the images indicated that cervical cords were free of compression. In 15 cases (23%), the contrast medium was not continuous in front of dura mater, then decompression was performed further until the contrast medium no any interruption. 7 patients of them were confirmed by MRI that cervical cords were no more compressed. 39 patients were followed up postoperatively with a mean follow-up of 13 months. Neurological function was recovered immediately after operation by 52% and 61% at final follow-up. No neurological deficit progressed in all of them. Conclusion Intraoperative epidurography is effective and safe for assessment of decompression during anterior cervical surgical procedures.

Objective To screen the gene expression profiles of human bladder cancer cell line EJ,in which RNA interference was used to downregulate the EZH2 expression and to investigate the EZH2 molecular mechanism in cancer.Methods The vector expressing EZH2 shRNA was constructed and transfected into EJ cell line with Lipofectamine 2000.We used the gene chip to screen differential expression genes in EJ cells with transfection with EZH2 shRNA compared with untransfected EJ cells.The data were up-loaded to Passway miner serve((http://www.biorag.org/passway.htm))Results We found 436 differentiation genes,in which 257 genes upregulated and 179 genes downregulated.Bioinformation analysis showed that 115 genes locate in the known biological ways,including EGF,P53,proliferation,cell cycle,Notch and Wnt passway.EZH2 target genes such as WNT1,MYT1,CNR1,WT1 were upregulated,some of which were linked to tumor stem cell and cell differentiation.Conclusion The linkage between EZH2 expression and cell proliferation,which is induced by genes encoding cell differentiation.The research focusing on EZH2 regulating genes will explore its molecular mechanism in oncog-enesis.

Objective To present a new method of motor power control in order to realize the precise motor power control of medical equipment. Methods The power control method based on PWM Modulation circuit was proposed by researching the DSP microcontroller TMS320LF240x. Results The test results fully satisfied the design requirements. Conclusion The system has simple structure,good programming,and can use different control algorithms in different applications without the need for change in the external circuit,which is easy to upgrade and meet the needs of special occasions.

10% to 15% of patients with ischemic stroke may have hemorrhagic transformation.Its treatment is more complex,mainly includes blood pressure management,reversing coagulopathy,and treatment of complications (including increased intracranial pressure).The current research is mainly to find the therapeutic regimen of hemorrhagic transformation after anticoagulation and thrombolytic therapy in order to improve the prognosis in patients with stroke.

AIM: To investingate the potential role of apoptosis in the development of acute lung injury(ALI) following limbs ischemia-reperfusion(LIR) in rats and the effects of raurine. METHODS: The model of LIB injury in rats was made. By using TUNEL, electrophoresis, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry techniques, pulmonary apoptosis, Fas/FasL expressions and Ca~(2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS),the ratio of DNA double chain in tissue were detected in different groups.RESULTS: The rapid appearance of apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary vascular endothelial cells were observed after LIR in rats. The ratio of DNA double chain decreased and tissue Ca~(2+) increased. The expression of Fas/FasL mRNA and protein was up-regulated in lung tissue of rats after LIR, which was related to the elevation of alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary vascular endothelial cell apoptosis. Taurine decreased alveolar epithelial cell and pulmonary vascular endothelial cell apoptosis not by down-regulating expression of Fas/FasL system. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the excessive apoptosis and Fas/FasL system expression may play a role in the pathogensis of ALI following LIB in rats, and taurine decreases alveolar epithelial cell and pulmonary vascular endothelial cell apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found that nerve growth factors play an important role in the process of wound healing, but there is less research for the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor p75 and sortilin in fibroblasts, and no reports on whether there are differences in expression of p75 and sortilin in the scar fibroblasts and normal skin fibroblasts. OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of low-affility nerve growth factor receptor p75 and sortilin in the normal human skin fibroblasts and the human keloid fibroblasts. METHODS: The keloid fibroblasts and normal hunman skin fibroblasts were cultured in vitro, and the immortalized epithelial cells HaCaT were used as the positive control. The real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of the p75 and sortilin in the keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts, and western blot and immunocytochemical staining were used to detect the protein expression of p75 and sortilin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The real-time PCR and western blot results showed that in the protein and mRNA levels, p75 and sortilin showed positive expression in the keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts, and there was no significant difference in the expression of p75 between keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts, and the expressions of p75 and sortilin in the keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts were significantly lower than those in HaCaT. There was no significant difference of p75 expression between keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts, and the expression of sortilin in the keloid fibroblasts was significantly lower than that in the normal human skin fibroblasts (P < 0.05). Immunocytochemical staining result showed that the expression of p75 and sortilin in the keloid fibroblasts and normal human skin fibroblasts were distributed in the membrane and cytoplasm. Precursor nerve growth factor combined with high-affinity p75 receptor could promote the apoptosis of the cells with the help of sortilin, and the expression of sortilin in the keloid fibroblasts was significantly lower than that in the normal human skin fibroblasts, which may associated with the high proliferation of the keloid fibroblasts. The results provide a new target for the prevention and treatment of pathological scars.

AIM To evaluate the possible role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the development of lung injury after hind limbs ischemia reperfusion (LIR), and the effect of taurine on endogenous NO on the model of lung injury following LIR. METHODS Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group, ischemia reperfusion group (IR) and taurine+IR (Tau+IR). The changes of PaO 2 ,PaCO 2,lung index (LI) and lung permeability index (LPI) were observed. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), NO and endothelin (ET) in both plasma and the lung as well as the content of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and taurine in the lung were detected. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect level in the expression of NOS protein. RESULTS Taurine improved the pulmonary respiratory following LIR significantly, lightened lung edema, decreased the content of ET in both plasma and lung tissue, increased the content of NO in both plasma and lung tissue and promoted the level in the expression of NOS protein. CONCLUSION Using taurine may lighten lung injury following LIR and this protective effect may due to increasing the content of endogeneous NO and decreasing the level of ET.

Objective To observe the intervention effect of electro-acupuncture(EA) on mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) expression in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) newborn rats. Methods Seven-day-old SD rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups, namely sham-surgery group, HIE model group, and EA group. All of the groups were subdivided into 4 subgroups in terms of 4 time periods of 1, 3, 7 and 21 day(s). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used for the observation of histological changes in the affected cerebral region. Expression levels of cerebral mTOR were detected with Western blotting method. Results The results of HE staining showed that EA group at experimental day 21 had clear organizational structure, ordered arrangement of neurons, relieved cellular swelling, well cell integrity with clear nucleolus and proliferative glial cells. Compared with the sham-surgery group, mTOR level of the model group was dramatically increased on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 21st day(P<0.05), and the mTOR expression level of EA group was significantly higher than that in the model group at the above time points (P < 0.05). Conclusion EA can promote mTOR expression in brain tissue and can protect the brain of newborn rats from HIE.