This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus.From April 2010 to January 2015,we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests,electrophysiological examinations,and clinical confirmation.Muscular branches of the radial nerve,which innervate the supinator in the forearm,were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function.Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis,as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip,were monitored.All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months,with an average of 27.5 months.Motor unit potentials (MUP) of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months,while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months.Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis,and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus.Furthermore,the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade Ⅲ at 21 months.Lastly,the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months.In conclusion,for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus,transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SS) in plasma of rats with severe scald injury at early stage and the effect of rheum on their changes.

METHODSEighty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC, n = 8), scald group (S, gavage of distilled water after full-thickness scald, n = 40), therapeutic group (T, gavage of rheum solution after full-thickness scald, n = 40). The blood samples were harvested from inferior vena cava at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 post scald hours (PSH) to determine the levels of MTL, SS, SP and VIP with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS(1) The levels of MTL and SP were (198 +/- 28), (61 +/- 10) ng/L, respectively, in NC group. The levels of MTL and SP in S group reached their minimum values [(110 +/- 15), (30 +/- 5) ng/L, respectively] at 6 PSH, then ascended slowly, peaked at 72 PSH but still lower than those in NC group (P < 0.05). The levels of MTL and SP slowly descended in T group, reached normal levels at 48 PSH, and obviously higher than those in NC group at 72 PSH [(232 +/- 32), (73 +/- 11) ng/ L, respectively, P < 0.05], which were higher than those in S group at 6 -72 PSH. (2) The levels of VIP and SS were (35 +/- 6), (30 +/- 5) ng/L, respectively, in NC group. The levels of VIP and SS in S group were (70 +/- 12), (49 +/- 9) ng/L at 6 PSH, which were obviously higher than those in NC group (P < 0.01), then descended slowly, but still higher than normal level at 72 PSH (P < 0.05). The levels of VIP and SS in T group ascended slowly, reached the normal level at 48 PSH, which were lower than those in S group at each time points, and VIP reached peak value at 12 PSH.

CONCLUSIONRheum may regulate secretion and release of gastrointestinal hormones to plasma in rats with severe scald injury at early stage.

Animals ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; Motilin ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Substance P ; blood ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction on amelioration of postburn intestinal injury in scalded rats.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. scald and treatment (T), scald control (S) and normal control (C) groups. The rats in T group were gavaged with the decoction consisting of tangshen, tuckahoe, large head atractylodes rhizome, glycyrrhizic and rhubarb in a dose of 2 ml twice daily, while the rats in C group were just gavaged with the same amount of distilled water. The rats were sacrificed according to the scheduled postburn observation timepoints. The contents of TNF, NO, MDA and ATPase activity in rat plasma and the intestinal mucosa and the S-IgA content in the intestinal mucus were determined respectively. The changes in histopathology of intestinal mucosa were observed. The samples from internal organ tissue and blood were obtained for bacterial culture.

RESULTSThe contents of TNF, NO and MDA in the intestinal mucosa tissue and the rat plasma in scalded rats were lowered significantly by Sijunzi decoction. Furthermore, S-IgA secretion from intestinal mucous cells was maintained by Sijunzi decoction. T cell count was recovered and intestinal mucous barrier injury were lessened, and the bacterial positive rate in the internal organs was decreased.

CONCLUSIONTraditional Chinese herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction might be helpful in alleviation of postburn intestinal injury and in the prevention of intestinal bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; drug effects ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of CD4CD29regulatory T cells (Treg) with tumor recurrence and survival time in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSFifty-nine patients with NSCLC treated with radical surgery were followed up for 5 years. Blood Treg cells were examined during the follow-up using flow cytometry (FCM). The sensitivity and specificity of Treg cells to predict recurrence of NSCLC were analyzed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with those of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin21-1 (Cyfra21-1). The influences of gender, age, occupation and radiotherapy on survival time of the patients were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSAmong the 59 patients, the shortest survival time was 23 months while the longest time was over 67 months. Nineteen patients had NSCLC recurrence, and 17 (28.81%) of them died of metastasis during the follow-up. The frequencies of blood Treg cells in patients who did not receive radiotherapy and in patients with tumor recurrence were significantly higher than those in patients receiving radiotherapy and in patients free of recurrence (P=0.000). ROC curves showed that the area under curve (AUC) lowered in the order of Treg cells, Cyfra21-1, CEA (P=0.002, 0.006 and 0.013, respectively) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.649-0.981, 0.621-0.936 and 0.584-0.944, respectively. At the cut-off value of 7.53%, the sensitivity and specificity of Treg cells to predict NSCLC recurrence was 91.42% and 87.59%, respectively. The five-year survival rate of the 59 patients was 71.18% (42/59), and Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a longer survival time in female patients (P=0.038), in patients below 50 years of age (P=0.013), in patients not engaging in mental work (P=0.029), and in patients receiving radiotherapy (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONTreg cells has a better efficiency than Cyfra21-1 and CEA to predict tumor recurrence in patients with NSCLC following radical surgery. The male gender, an age beyond 50 years, an occupation of mental work, and failure to receive radiotherapy are all risk factors for recurrence of NSCLC.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of serum from scalded rats on the cytoskeleton of colonic smooth muscle cells (CSMC) of rats cultured in vitro, and to probe the possible mechanism of gastrointestinal motility disorder after burn.

METHODSCSMC isolated from healthy adult Wistar rat were cultured and divided into scald serum group (SS) and normal serum group (NS) according to the random number talbi. Two normal Wistar rats were used, one of which was inflicted with deep partial-thickness scald. Serum was obtained from blood collected from these two rats respectively and diluted to 20% in concentration. Serum from scald and normal rats were respectively added to the culture of CSMC in SS and NS groups. The expression of actin and the relative content of β-tubulin in CSMC was respectively determined with flow cytometry and Western blot at post treatment hour (PTH) 1, 3, 6, and 12 (with 10 samples in each group at each time point). Data were processed with t test.

RESULTSFluorescence intensity of actin in SS group at PTH 1, 3, 6, and 12 was respectively 59 ± 4, 26 ± 6, 39 ± 6, and 42 ± 6, all significantly lower than those in NS group (95 ± 10, 91 ± 10, 102 ± 9, and 97 ± 9, with t value respectively 10.528, 18.069, 18.748, 16.647, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In SS group, the fluorescence intensity decreased to the nadir at PTH 3, and then increased persistently at PTH 6 and 12. (2) Relative content of β-tubulin in SS group at PTH 1, 3, 6, and 12 was respectively 14.44 ± 0.26, 8.61 ± 0.19, 11.76 ± 0.31, and 12.13 ± 0.29, all significantly less than those in NS group (22.37 ± 1.15, 21.87 ± 1.79, 23.24 ± 1.55, and 21.99 ± 2.02, with t value respectively 21.176, 23.365, 23.000, 15.273, P values all below 0.01). In SS group, the relative content of β-tubulin decreased to the nadir at PTH 3 and increased slowly at PTH 6 and 12.

CONCLUSIONSThe reduction of CMSC content which has the tendency of increasing later, can be attributed to the influence of scald serum in initial stage. This may be related to the tolerance and adaptation to scald serum and self-repair of CMSC.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon ; cytology ; Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubules ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serum

To implement the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government's strategic goal of building a"Chinese Hot Spring Province"in an all-round way, promote the development of Guizhou's"big health, big tourism, big poverty alleviation"and other industries, and enhance the development and utilization of Guizhou hot springs and their health and wellness value. With the support of the provincial Geological Prospecting Fund project Guizhou Province Physiotherapy Hot Springs(Geothermal Water)Survey and Evaluation, Guizhou Medical University was responsible for completing the topic"Study on the Physiotherapy Efficacy of Typical Hot Springs in Guizhou Province". Here, the background, study and design plan, quality control, and features and limitations of this project are briefly introduced.

Objective To explore the effect of typical hot spring bathing of Guizhou Province on dyslipidemia, which could provide scientific basis for clarifying the physiotherapy effect of hot springs. Methods The typical hot spring sites of three main types(hydrothermal hot spring, warm mineral hot spring and metasilicate hot spring)in Guizhou Province were selected as investigation sites. 189 residents with hyperlipidemia near the investigation sites were selected as subjects and were treated with hot spring baths for 4 weeks, once a day, 5 times a week and 40-50 minutes each time. The age and gender distribution of the subjects were obtained by a questionnaire. The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C in serum were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer at baseline and at the end of hot spring baths. The differences of the three kinds of hot spring baths on improvement rate of dyslipidemia, the changes of abnormal blood lipid indexes and their improvement rates were compared. Results After baths of hydrothermal hot springs, warm mineral hot springs and metasilicate hot springs, the improvement rates of abnormally elevated lipids were 15.6%, 40.4% and 47.9%, respectively. The improvement rates of abnormally elevated lipids after baths of warm mineral hot springs and metasilicate hot springs were significantly higher than that after hydrothermal spring baths(all P < 0.05). Compared with before hot spring bathing, the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and non-HDL-C in serum significantly decreased in all three kinds of hot springs. Moreover, the degree of decrease of TG in serum and the improvement rate of abnormal TG after baths of warm mineral spring and metasilicate hot spring were significantly higher than that after hydrothermal spring baths. The degree of decrease of LDL-C in serum and the improvement rate of abnormal LDL-C after baths of metasilicate hot spring were significantly higher than that after baths of hydrothermal spring and warm mineral spring(all P < 0.05). Conclusion The three types of typical hot spring baths in Guizhou Province can mitigate the elevation of blood lipid. Compared with hydrothermal spring, warm mineral spring and metasilicate hot spring may have better improvement effect on blood lipid elevation due to their more significant improvement effect on abnormal elevation of TG and LDL-C in serum.

Objective To explore the improvement effect of typical hot spring bathing on sleep and anxiety and its correlation with serum melatonin level in Guizhou province. Methods Five typical characteristic hot springs in Guizhou were selected according to the geological type of hot spring water. A total of 226 residents in these areas were selected for the survey and the self-rating scale of sleep(SRSS)and the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)were used to measure their scores before and after hot spring bathing, and the correlation between the changes of SRSS and SAS scores and the serum melatonin levels were analyzed. Results The SRSS and SAS scores of the respondents after hot spring bathing were lower than before, and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). Serum melatonin levels after hot spring bathing were significantly higher than before(P < 0.05), and there was a negative correlation between the changes of SRSS and SAS scores and serum melatonin levels(P < 0.05). Conclusion Typical hot springs in Guizhou Province can significantly improve the sleep quality and anxiety state, which are related to the elevation of serum melatonin level.

Objective To observe the intervention effect of typical hot spring bathing in Guizhou province on joint pain, serum anti-keratin antibody(AKA), anti-perinuclear factor antibody(APF)and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(CCP). Methods A total of 160 people with joint pain symptoms from five typical hot spring areas in Guizhou province were selected as the subjects. They were treated with hot spring bathing intervention for 4 weeks, once a day, 5 times a week, 40 to 50 minutes each time. According to the evaluation index of physiotherapy natural mineral water in the Code for Geological Exploration and Evaluation of Natural Warm Mineral Water Resources(GB/T 13727-2016)and geological types, the five typical hot springs were divided into three different types, namely water temperature type hot springs(water temperature > 36 ℃), metasilicate type hot springs(metasilicate > 50 mg/L)and warm mineral spring type hot springs(total dissolved solids > 1 000 mg/L). WHO pain grading standard was used to score the degree of joint pain before and after hot spring bathing intervention. Serum APF, AKA and CCP antibodies were detected by ELISA kit before and after hot spring bathing. Results The joint pain score of the subjects was 2.60±0.60, and the joint pain score of the total population decreased after intervention(0.61±0.57, P < 0.05). Before intervention, the joint pain scores of water temperature type, metasilicic acid type and warm mineral spring type were 2.78±0.96, 1.98±1.15 and 3.31±0.57, respectively. After intervention, the scores of joint pain of the three kinds of hot spring bathing patients all decreased(P < 0.05), and were 0.50±0.65, 0.48±0.74 and 0.85±0.90, respectively. Before intervention, AKA(ng/L)and CCP(μg/mL)antibody levels of the observed subjects were 34.89±16.06 and 107.58±10.40, respectively, which significantly decreased after intervention(both P < 0.05), namely 26.06±10.68 and 102.93±6.01, respectively. AKA(ng/L)was 35.04±20.01 before intervention, but decreased significantly after intervention(26.61±7.54, P < 0.05). AKA(ng/L)and CCP(μg/mL)were 31.09±17.26 and 106.51±10.13 before intervention, respectively. After intervention, the above two antibody indexes significantly decreased(all P < 0.05)to 24.53±13.98 and 98.57±5.68, respectively. Before intervention, the AKA(ng/L), APF(ng/mL)and CCP(μg/mL)antibody levels were 38.40±8.66, 349.46±118.43 and 104.96±9.66, respectively. After intervention, the above three antibody indexes significantly decreased(all P < 0.05). The values were 34.00±7.55, 269.38±127.55 and 101.65±3.04, respectively. Conclusion The typical hot spring bathing intervention in Guizhou province can relieve the symptoms of joint pain, and the three types of hot springs can reduce the levels of AKA, APF and CCP antibodies to different degrees, and the warm mineral spring type of hot spring is better than the other types of hot spring.

Objective To understand the influence of hot spring bathing intervention on population's antioxidation functions. Methods Three typical types of hot spring(metasilicic acid type, warm mineral type and temperature type)in Guizhou Province were selected for investigation. According to the inclusion-exclusion criteria, questionnaires and physical examinations results, 421 individuals were selected as observation subjects for hot spring bathing intervention, of which 311 subjects completed 40 to 50 minutes of intervention once a day, 5 days a week, and for 4 weeks. Two physical examinations before and after the intervention were conducted for the 311 subjects. The fasting venous blood samples on the mornings of two physical examinations were collected and the serum was separated. Levels of serum oxidative stress-related parameters including total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD), copper zinc superoxide dismutase(Cu-Zn SOD), glutathione sulfur transferases(GSTs)glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px), sulfhydryl(-SH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured by enzymatical methods. Results The overall comparison showed that compared with before the bathing intervention, the levels of antioxidant enzymes including T-SOD, Cu-Zn SOD, GSTs and GSH-px significantly increased in serum after the intervention(all P < 0.05). There was an increasing trend of serum -SH level after the intervention, but with no statistical differences were seen(P > 0.05). MDA, a product of lipid peroxidation, significantly decreased in serum after the intervention(P < 0.05). The results of classified comparison showed that the effects of different hot spring types on antioxidant enzymes were different. Metasilicic acid type significantly increased the activities of GSTs and GSH-px in serum(all P < 0.05), warm mineral type significantly increased the activities of T-SOD and Cu-Zn SOD in serum(all P < 0.05), and temperature type significantly increased the activities of T-SOD, Cu-Zn SOD and GSTs in serum(all P < 0.05). There were increasing trends of serum -SH levels after bathing intervention of all three hot spring types, but no statistical differences were seen(all P > 0.05). The serum MDA levels decreased significantly after bathing intervention of all three types of hot springs(all P < 0.05). Conclusion Overall, bathing intervention of hot springs can improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduce lipid peroxidation products in population. The results of oxidative stress parameters are slightly different in different types of hot springs. The subjects mainly show the elevation of glutathione related enzyme(GSTs and GSH-px)activities after intervention of metasilicic acid type, the elevation of superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities after intervention of warm mineral type and temperature type, and the decline of lipid peroxidation levels after intervention of all three types. It suggests that hot spring bathing may have certain effects on improving the body's antioxidation functions.