N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are a group of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which are in close contact with the synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in the cerebral cortex or the hippocampus. This article reviewed the recent development in this field.

Objective To study clinical effects and complications of minimal invasive neurosurgery for pituitary adenoma through superciliaryarch-keyhole approach. Methods 127 cases pituitary adenoma in three hospitals in Shangdong province from May. 2006 to Sept. 2009 confirmed by surgery were analyzed. Patients were treated by different operative approaches, 53 cases using surgery through superciliaryarch-keyhole approach and 74 cases through conventional subfrontal approach. Clinical parameters were compared in patients undergoing surgery through different approaches. Results There were no differences in two groups, in aspects such as resection rate, improvment of endocrine hormone secretion and acuity of vision with campus visualis, electrolyte disturbances, hypothalamus damage (P ＞0.05). Significant differeces reside in average hospitalization days, subcutaneous fluidify, psychiatric symptom and circumscribed cerebral ischemia ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion Advantages of minimal invasive neurosurgery through superciliary arch approach such as less trauma, better expose,shorter hospitalization days, less subcutaneous fluid accumulation and psychiatric symptoms in terms of this apporach are suitable for removing hypophyseal adenomas that grow on or around sella turcica.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of cervical vertebral reconstruction using titanium mesh and nano-hydroxyapatite and polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) mesh as two different kinds of artificial vertebrae. Methods From January 2008 to June 2009 had surgically treated 37 cases of cervical spondylosis with anterior corpectomy for decompression, and artificial vertebrae implanted combined platescrews fixation for cervical reconstruction and fusion. As a vertebral substitution, titanium mesh were implanted in 25 cases ( group A ), and the others (12 cases, group B) were implanted with n-HA/PA66 mesh. The height of fusion space immediately postoperatively and the implanted condition were observed. The fusion rate and the JOA score were recorded to compare the clinical outcomes. Results Two groups received 6-20 ( 15.4 ±4.2 )months follow-up. When follow-up to the end grafts were already fusion. The preoperative JOA score in group A,B [(8.40 ±0.96) scores vs. (8.33 ±1.07) scores(P ＞ 0.05)] were increased to (14.36 ±0.86)scores and (14.83 ±0.71) scores after postoperatively (P＞ 0.05),but there were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative each group (P＜0.05). There were 6 cases artificial vertebrae in group A and 1 case in group B subsided asymptomaticly with 100% choiceness rate. Conclusion These two kinds of artificial vertebrae could show similar outcomes in cervical vertebral reconstruction, but the n-HA/PA66 mesh has a lower subsidence rate.

Objective To discuss the effects of Modic II changes on clinical outcomes of discectomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with low back pain associated with unilateral sciatica. Methods Sixty-five cases of LDH with low back pain associated with unilateral sciatica received single segment discectomy during January 2007 to January 2009.There were 30 cases with Modic Ⅱ changes in group A, 35 cases without Modic Ⅱ changes in group B. Assessed the clinical outcomes by using MacNab analyzing system and visual analog scale (VAS). Results Two groups of the postoperative clinical symptoms had significant relief, the follow-up of 12 - 36 months, average (20.6 ± 7.5) months. MacNab efficacy evaluation by group A of optimal 10 cases (33.33%), good 17 cases (56.67%), general 3 cases (10.00%). Group B optimal 28 cases (80.00%), good 5 cases (14.29%), general 2 cases (5.71%), there was significant difference in fine rate (P<0.05). Preoperative group A VAS was ( 8.67 ± 0.30) scores, group B was (8.60± 0.32 ) scores (P>0.05). Postoperative group A VAS was (2.63 ± 1.30) scores,group B was (1.09 ±0.50) scores (P< 0.05). Conclusion Modic Ⅱ changes may be one of the reasons which cause the residual low back pain after the discectomy for LDH.

OBJECTIVETo predict and identify B-cell linear epitopes of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).

METHODSThe B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg were predicted using the software provided by NCBI Database and Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) and synthesized by a solid-phase method followed by conjugation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The KLH conjugates were used for immunization of New Zealand white rabbits, and the immune response of the rabbits was monitored by direct ELISA using a bovine serum albumin conjugate of the predicted epitopes. RESULTS Four new B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg were identified, namely (1)MDIDPYKEFG(10), (37)LYREALESPEHCSP(50), (74)SNLEDPAS(81) and (127)RTPPAYRPPNAPIL(140). The rabbits immunized with the KLH conjugate showed an antibody titer over 1:512 000. The antisera of B-cell linear epitopes collected could specifically react with HBeAg as shown by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONFour B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg have been confirmed using bioinformatics methods, which provides new evidence for further functional studies of HBeAg in hepatitis B.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Rabbits

Objective:To investigate the relationship between painful tonic spasm (PTS) and spinal cord injury in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).Methods:The clinical data, serum AQP4-IgG antibody levels and magnetic resonance data of 138 patients with NMOSD were analyzed. Those with spinal cord involvement were assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) to investigate the relationship between PTS and spinal cord injury.Results:The prevalence of PTS among the NMOSD patients was 36% (51/138), and all of the 51 NMOSD patients with PTS showed spinal cord lesions, an incidence significantly different from those without PTS. However, there were no significant differences in the age of onset, gender, disease duration, AQP4-IgG levels, lesion location, range of spinal cord lesions, or AIS grade between the NMOSD patients with and without PTS.Conclusion:PTS is a prevalent concomitant of NMOSD. As a common symptom of remission and recurrent remission, PTS is associated with myelopathy. This study failed to find any correlation between PTS and the affected spinal cord site or segment range. There was also no correlation between PTS and AIS grading among these subjects.

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells in tumors that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation properties. CSCs play a vital role in tumor formation, progression, relapse, and therapeutic resistance. B7-H3, an immunoregulatory protein, has many protumor functions. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying the role of B7-H3 in regulating gastric cancer (GC) stemness. Our study aimed to explore the impacts of B7-H3 on GC stemness and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: GC stemness influenced by B7-H3 was detected both in vitro and in vivo . The expression of stemness-related markers was examined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Sphere formation assay was used to detect the sphere-forming ability. The underlying regulatory mechanism of B7-H3 on the stemness of GC was investigated by mass spectrometry and subsequent validation experiments. The signaling pathway (Protein kinase B [Akt]/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2] pathway) of B7-H3 on the regulation of glutathione (GSH) metabolism was examined by Western blotting assay. Multi-color immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used to detect the expression of B7-H3, cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), and Nrf2 on human GC tissues. Student's t -test was used to compare the difference between two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between two molecules. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: B7-H3 knockdown suppressed the stemness of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo . Mass spectrometric analysis showed the downregulation of GSH metabolism in short hairpin B7-H3 GC cells, which was further confirmed by the experimental results. Meanwhile, stemness characteristics in B7-H3 overexpressing cells were suppressed after the inhibition of GSH metabolism. Furthermore, Western blotting suggested that B7-H3-induced activation of GSH metabolism occurred through the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, and inhibition of AKT signaling pathway could suppress not only GSH metabolism but also GC stemness. mIHC showed that B7-H3 was highly expressed in GC tissues and was positively correlated with the expression of CD44 and Nrf2. Importantly, GC patients with high expression of B7-H3, CD44, and Nrf2 had worse prognosis ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS B7-H3 has a regulatory effect on GC stemness and the regulatory effect is achieved through the AKT/Nrf2/GSH pathway. Inhibiting B7-H3 expression may be a new therapeutic strategy against GC.
Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms