Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of periradicular compound betamethasone injections into the periganglionic space in the treatment of radicular pain.Methods Periganglionic compound betamethasone infiltrations were performed in 76 patients with lumbar radicular pain under MSCT guidance.All patients were divided into two groups including group 1(31 cases of lumbar disc herniation)and group 2(45 cases of lumbar degenerative disorders).The total and two groups scores of VAS were compared after the therapeutic procedure with evaluation of the efficacy.Results 88%(69/76)of patients showed significant pain reduction,with the score of VAS 6.5?2.0(before therapy)dropping to 3.4?1.8(after 1 week)and 3.8?1.9(after 3 month).Differences in improvements before and after the therapy were statistically significant.Differences between one-week and three-month follow-up were not statistically significant.Differences between the two groups demonstrated no statistical significance.Conclusion Periradicular compound betamethasone injection under CT guidance is safe and useful in the treatment of lumbar radicular pain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sodium alginate gels on marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice.

METHODSIn the present study, effects of different sterilization methods and concentrations of sodium alginate gels were examined. Marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) were isolated from mice and cultured. Cells were cultured with sodium alginate gels and MTT assay was applied to determine the cell viability. Mice spinal cord injury was induced by spinal cord transection. mMSCs were transplanted into the cavity of injured spinal cord with sodium alginate gels. The effects of sodium alginate gel were assessed by BMS scales and immunofluorescence staining for NF-200.

RESULTSCompared with liquid form, solid form sodium alginate gel prepared with high pressure vapor sterilization had a better effect on cell viability. SCI mice treated with 10 % sodium alginate gel and mMSCs achieved higher score in BMS scale as well as higher expression of NF-200 compared with the untreated SCI group.

CONCLUSIONSodium alginate gel prepared with solid form sterilization induces mMSCs proliferation and thus can be used as the carrier of stem cell in treatment of SCI.

Alginates ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gels ; Glucuronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hexuronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the necessity of No.14v lymph node dissection in D2 lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 131 cases of advanced gastric cancer receiving D2 or D2+ plus No.14v lymph node dissection were reviewed retrospectively. Clinicopathological factors associated with No.14v lymph node metastasis were analyzed and prognostic value of No.14v lymph node metastasis was evaluated.

RESULTSOf the 131 patients, 24 (18.3%) had positive No.14v lymph node. The incidence of 14v metastasis was associated with tumor location, tumor size, depth of invasion, N staging, TNM staging, No.1, No.6, and No.8a lymph nodes metastasis. Tumor location and N staging were independent risk factors for No.14v metastasis (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate was 8.3% and 37.8% in patients with and without No.14v metastasis respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that metastasis of No.14v was an independent prognostic factor for advanced gastric cancer after D2 lymphadenectomy (P=0.029, RR=1.807, 95%CI:1.064-3.070).

CONCLUSIONSFor advanced middle and lower gastric cancers, especially those with larger size, serosa invasion and possibility of No.6 lymph node metastasis, it is necessary and feasible to remove the No.14v lymph node.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on autophagy in bEnd.3 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).Methods The bEnd.3 cells were divided into normal group(conventional culture),model group(OGD model),HSYA group(OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA),3-methyladenine(3MA)group(5 mmol·L-1 3MA+OGD model)and 3 MA+HSYA group(5 mmol·L-1 3 MA+OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA).The level of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL fluorescence staining;Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagy,blood brain barrier(BBB)related proteins;real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for determining the expression of sirtuin-1(SIRT1)and forkhead box protein O3a(FOXO3A)mRNA.Results In the normal group,model group,HSYA group,3MA group and 3MA+HSYA group,the positive cells selected for TUNEL staining were 5.00±1.00,28.00±2.00,21.00±3.00,35.33±2.51 and 29.67±2.52;the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ(LC3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ)were 0.90±0.20,1.34±0.10,1.95±0.14,0.76±0.15 and 1.14±0.09;sequestosome 1(P62)were 0.99±0.02,0.60±0.02,0.38±0.01,0.67±0.04 and 0.54±0.01;occludin were 1.39±0.17,0.62±0.15,1.00±0.09,0.40±0.13 and 0.80±0.15;zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)were 1.63±0.20,0.64±0.06,0.98±0.14,0.37±0.14 and 0.87±0.04;SIRT1 mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.75±0.07,1.69±0.09,0.31±0.02 and 0.56±0.01;FOXO3A mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.80±0.05,1.47±0.09,0.40±0.01 and 0.62±0.09,respectively.Significant differences were found between model group and normal group,HSYA group and model group,3MA+HSYA group and 3MA group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion HSYA may enhance autophagy levels in bEnd.3 cells after OGD through the SIRT1/FOXO3A pathway,inhibit cell apoptosis and alleviate BBB damage.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the necessity of para-aortic lymph nodal dissection in D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer in N3 stage.

METHODSA total of 278 gastric cancer patients staged N3 who underwent gastrectomy between January 2003 and December 2007 were enrolled. There were 180 male and 98 female patients, and the patients' age were 26-93 years (median was 61 years). All patients had undergone surgical treatment. There were R0 resection in 246 cases and R1 resection in 32 cases. Lymph node dissection included D1 lymphadenectomy with 125 cases, D2 lymphadenectomy with 109 cases and D2+para-aortic lymph nodal dissection(PAND) with 44 cases. The surgical approach were total gastrectomy (98 cases) and subtotal gastrectomy (180 cases). Potential prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe lymph node metastasis of each station was high in gastric cancer patients staged N3 and 34.1% patients had the para-aortic lymph nodal metastasis. Borrmann type (HR = 1.350, 95%CI: 1.018-1.790, P = 0.037), curability (HR = 1.580, 95%CI: 1.076-2.322, P = 0.020), depth of invasion (HR = 1.697, 95%CI: 1.005-2.864, P = 0.048), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.631, 95%CI: 1.261-2.111, P = 0.000), extranodal metastasis (HR = 1.336, 95%CI: 1.027-1.738, P = 0.031), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 1.312, 95%CI: 1.015-1.696, P = 0.038), extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.488 and 2.114, P = 0.054 and 0.000) and number of retrieved lymph node (HR = 1.503 and 2.112, P = 0.025 and 0.000) were found to be factors correlated to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only Borrmann type (HR = 1.399, 95%CI: 1.050-1.863, P = 0.022), metastatic lymph node ratio (HR = 1.353, 95%CI: 1.016-1.802, P = 0.039) and extent of lymphadenectomy (HR = 1.725, 95%CI: 1.111-2.678, P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage.

CONCLUSIONSPatients in N3 stage should at least have 30 lymph node examined. D2 lymph node dissection plus PAND may improve the overall survival for gastric cancer patients in N3 stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate