Objective To investigate relationships between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods Forty hcalthy controls and 40 patients with TIA were enrolled in the present study.ABCD2 score was used to evaluate risk for future stroke.Serum ADMA levels were measured with ELISA analysis.Results Serum level of ADMA was higher in TIA group than that in control group [(0.52 ± 0.06) mmol/L vs (0.23 ± 0.04) mmol/L,P ＜ 0.05].In TIA subgroup,19 cases(47.5％)developed cerebral infarction and 23 cases(57.5％)had no stroke history.There is positive correlation between serum ADMA levels and ABCD2 score in both cerebral infarction subjects (r =0.560,P =0.013),and no stroke history cases(r =0.602,P =0.002).TIA subjects were,then,divided in to two groups based on ABCD2 score as 0-3 group and ≥ 4 group.In general linear model analysis,ADMA level was associated with ABCD2 score (F =4.39,P =0.043) after adjusted for age and gender.This situation hold true for subjects within cerebral infarction group (F =7.327,P =0.017) or non-previous stroke group(F =12.300,P =0.002).No association could bc found between ADMA level and ABCD2 score grouping in subjects with non-infarct (F =0.523,P =0.675) or stroke history (F =0.274,P =0.609).Conclusions Elevated ADMA is associated with occurrence of TIA.Endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TIA.

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 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 intensively investigate sporadic CMT patients, we have analyzed the LMNA gene in this study in a series of 32 unrelated CMT patients. Methods: Twelve exons of the LMNA gene were amplified from genetomic DNA. PCR products of each exon were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Results: No abnormal SSCP pattern, suggesting no mutation in our CMT patients, was detected. Conclusion: The CMT diseases resulted from the mutations of LMNA gene were rare.

The curriculum construction of medical students' occupational career planning has its own character. Principles of curriculum construction siuh as practical object, professional content and target-oriented organization should be sticked to and four aspects of curriculum construction such as target,content, organization and evaluation. are discussed in detail.

The paper analyzes the difference of higher stomatological education in China and abroad and the weakness in the teaching system of China,and proposes some reform consideration based on our real situation.

Objectives To detect the cord blood vitamin D level in neonates and to determine the association between the cord blood vitamin D level and neonatal outcomes. Methods A total of 223 eligible mother-and-singleton-offspring pairs were recruited. The information of mothers' pregnancy was collected by questionnaires. The weight, length, and head circumference of neonates were measured. The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood of neonates and in blood of late pregnancy mothers were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 20.7 nmol/L, and 82.1% of neonate had vitamin D deficiency, and 12.1% had severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 nmol/L). The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was consistent with that in blood of late pregnancy mother. The distribution of concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was significantly different in neonates in different seasons of birth (P<0.05). There were more cases <10 nmol/L in winter and spring. The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood had no significant associations with the incidences of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) (P>0.05). After the variables of sex, gestational age and birth season are controlled, the birth weight and head circumference were significantly different in neonates with different concentrations of 25(OH)D in cord blood (P<0.05). Conclusions The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood in term neonates was generally lower. The vitamin D status in neonates was consistet with that in their late pregnancy mothers. Cord blood 25(OH) D levels were associated with neonates' birth weight and head circumference, but it should be confirmed by larger sample size in the future.

bThis study explored whether the transplantation of modified marrow stromal cells (MSCs) has angiogenic effects in a left middle cerebral artery occlusion infarction/reperfusion (MCAO I/R) rat model and preliminarily examined the mechanism of angiogenesis following cerebral infarction. MSCs were isolated by using a direct adherent method and cultured. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was transfected into MSCs by employing the liposome transfection. The transfection efficiency was measured by the optical density method. The protein expression of VEGF gene before and after transfection was measured by Western blotting. SD rat model of transient occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery was established by using an approach of intra-luminal occlusion. Tetrazolium (TTC) and HE staining were performed to observe the cerebral infarction. ELISAs were used to measure the levels of VEGF in the rat cerebral tissues. The expression patterns of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and CD34 in cells surrounding the area of infarction were immunohistochemistrically observed. Ang-2 protein expression in the tissue surrounding the area of infarction was measured by Western blotting. VEGF expression in the MSCs increased after transfection at a rate of approximately 28%±3.4%. ELISA showed that the expression of VEGF in the cerebral tissue was significantly increased after induction of infarction, peaking on the 4th day and decreasing to the levels of the sham surgery group (normal) within 7 to 10 days. The VEGF level was significantly higher at each time point in the VEGF-MSC and MSC groups compared to the model group. Moreover, the VEGF level was higher in the VEGF-MSC group than in the MSC group and stayed relatively high until the 10th day. The immunohistochemical results showed that 10 days after the infarction, the number of Ang-2 and CD34-expressing cells in the area surrounding the infarction was significantly higher in the VEGF-MSC group and the MSC group compared to the model group. Moreover, the VEGF level was higher in the VEGF-MSC group than the MSC group. A similar trend in Ang-2 protein expression was revealed by Western blotting. In the MCAO rat model transfected with modified MSCs over-expressing VEGF, compared to the MSC transplantation group, the concentration of VEGF was significantly increased in the brain tissue after cerebral infarction. In addition, the level of Ang-2 was up-regulated, with angiogenesis promoted, the blood supply to the areas surrounding the cerebral infarction increased, and neurological function improved. We are led to speculate that the synergistic effects of VEGF and Ang-2 may be responsible for the angiogenesis following cerebral infarction.

Objective To explore the significance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H- MRS)in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Methods Single-voxel1 H-MRS was carried on the preeentral gyri in 110 patients with ALS and 24 patients with lower motor neuron syndrome (LMNS) compared with 89 healthy controls.The upper motor neuron involvement of the patients was assessed by upper motor neuron(UMN)signs and the reflex scale,and the disease severity was evaluated by the AIJS function rating scale(ALS-FRS)and APPEL ALS rate scale(AARS).Results Compared with the healthy controls(1.62±0.18),the NAA/Cr of patients with ALS(1.40±0.25)remarkably decreased (t= -5.007,P=0.000),however,it did not change in patients with LMNS(1.60±0.17)as compared with that of the controls.The NAA/Cr of patients with ALS was also lower than that of patients with LMNS(t= -2.660,P=0.009).Furthermore,the NAA/Cr of patients with definite ALS was lower than those of patients with probable and possible ALS(definite vs probable:t=-2.626,P=0.010;definite vs possible: t=-2.537,P=0.013).On the other hand,patients with pronounced UMN signs had a lower NAA/Cr ratio than those with probable UMN signs(t=-2.827,P=0.006).In patients with asymmetric clinical presentation,the NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower in the precentral gyrus contralateral to the clinically predominantly affected side(t=-2.652,P=0.011).The NAA/Cr was correlated with the reflex scale scores,ALS-FRS score,and AARS and its sub-items(P＜0.05). Conclusions 1H-MRS is useful in studying ALS.The marker NAA/Cr of precentral gyrus may reflect the UMN degeneration in ALS,which is related to the disease severity and progression.However,it might not be helpful in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.

bThis study explored whether the transplantation of modified marrow stromal cells (MSCs) has angiogenic effects in a left middle cerebral artery occlusion infarction/reperfusion (MCAO I/R) rat model and preliminarily examined the mechanism of angiogenesis following cerebral infarction. MSCs were isolated by using a direct adherent method and cultured. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was transfected into MSCs by employing the liposome transfection. The transfection efficiency was measured by the optical density method. The protein expression of VEGF gene before and after transfection was measured by Western blotting. SD rat model of transient occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery was established by using an approach of intra-luminal occlusion. Tetrazolium (TTC) and HE staining were performed to observe the cerebral infarction. ELISAs were used to measure the levels of VEGF in the rat cerebral tissues. The expression patterns of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and CD34 in cells surrounding the area of infarction were immunohistochemistrically observed. Ang-2 protein expression in the tissue surrounding the area of infarction was measured by Western blotting. VEGF expression in the MSCs increased after transfection at a rate of approximately 28%±3.4%. ELISA showed that the expression of VEGF in the cerebral tissue was significantly increased after induction of infarction, peaking on the 4th day and decreasing to the levels of the sham surgery group (normal) within 7 to 10 days. The VEGF level was significantly higher at each time point in the VEGF-MSC and MSC groups compared to the model group. Moreover, the VEGF level was higher in the VEGF-MSC group than in the MSC group and stayed relatively high until the 10th day. The immunohistochemical results showed that 10 days after the infarction, the number of Ang-2 and CD34-expressing cells in the area surrounding the infarction was significantly higher in the VEGF-MSC group and the MSC group compared to the model group. Moreover, the VEGF level was higher in the VEGF-MSC group than the MSC group. A similar trend in Ang-2 protein expression was revealed by Western blotting. In the MCAO rat model transfected with modified MSCs over-expressing VEGF, compared to the MSC transplantation group, the concentration of VEGF was significantly increased in the brain tissue after cerebral infarction. In addition, the level of Ang-2 was up-regulated, with angiogenesis promoted, the blood supply to the areas surrounding the cerebral infarction increased, and neurological function improved. We are led to speculate that the synergistic effects of VEGF and Ang-2 may be responsible for the angiogenesis following cerebral infarction.
Angiopoietin-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism