Objective To explore the application value of diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography in the benign lesion of spinal cord.Methods 30 cases with the benign lesions of spinal cord and 10 healthy volunteers underwent MRI and DTI scanning by 1.5T MR.Results Compared with normal control group,ADC values [(1.29±0.24)×10 -3 mm2/s]of extramedullary group-Ⅰwere increased slightly,and FA values (0.46±0.06)were decreased slightly(P <0.05).In extramedullary group-Ⅱ,ADC values [(2.03±0.19)×10-3 mm2/s]were significantly increased and FA values (0.37±0.03)decreased in the lesion level (P <0.05).The ADC values [(1.71±0.24)×10 -3 mm2/s]of intramedullary group was significantly elevated,and the FA values (0.30±0.06)was obviously reduced (P <0.05 ).The fiber tracts showed the abnormality of the white matter,including compression,sparseness, grow downwards,interruption and other changes.Conclusion The changes of the FA and ADC values,diffusion tensor imaging of the bundle can quantitatively evaluate the severity of spinal cord damage and stereo display fiber bundle damage.

Objective To observe the efficacy and toxicities of RF transparent heating (RTH) combined with transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced primary hepatic carcinoma. Methods In a randomized manner, 69 patients with advanced primary hepatic carcinoma were divided into two groups: study group (TACE+RTH) 34 cases and control group (TACE alone) 35 cases, the control group were treated with DDP 80mg, FU 1000mg and E-ADM 60mg, E-ADM was used with iodized oil embolism 10ml. Results The total effective rate in the near future were 70.59% and 45.71%, the overall survival rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 years were 82.35%, 73.53%, 58.82%, 38.24% in study group and 74.29%, 75.14%, 45.71%, 22.86% in control group, respectively. Toxicities were similar comparing with the two groups. Conclusions RTH combined with TACE in the treatment of advanced primary hepatic carcinoma is better than TACE alone, at the same time TACE +RTH method is no increasing toxicity and is an effective safe combined one.

This study is to investigate the effect of Vam3, a dimeric derivative of resveratrol, on SNP-induced apoptosis and its potential mechanism in rat articular chondrocytes. Isolated rat articular chondrocytes were treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis percentage was evaluated by Annexin V-PI and nucleus fracture was examined by DAPI staining. Level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected using 2, 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) as a fluorescence probe by fluorescence microplate reader. The change in mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by TMRE staining. Expressions of SIRT1, acetylated p53 (ac-p53), cleaved caspase 9 and cleaved caspase 3 were determined by Western blotting. It showed that Vam3 up to 10 micromol x L(-1) could significantly reduce SNP-induced rat articular chondrocytes apoptosis (P < 0.01) and nucleus fracture, inhibit the increase of intracellular ROS level (P < 0.01) and reverse the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01). Simultaneously, Vam3 could upregulate the expression of SIRT1, deacetylate p53, and inhibit the cleavage of caspase 9 and caspase 3 (P < 0.01) of rat articular chondrocytes exposed to SNP. This study indicates Vam3 could protect rat articular chondrocytes against SNP-induced apoptosis, perhaps through the upregulation of SIRT1 and deacetylation of p53.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arabidopsis Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Qa-SNARE Proteins ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

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Objective To present the initial experience and results of laparoscopic transvaginal radical cystectomy (LATRC) with orthotopic ileal neobladder. Methods Six female patients with muscle invasive bladder carcinoma underwent LATRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder. The mean age was 61 years (range 55 to 73 years) . The LATRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder consisted of 4 major steps, namely laparoscopic cystectomy, operation on vagina, extracorporeal formation of ileal pouch and laparoscopic urethral pouch anastomosis. With 5 trocars, the bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed first The ureters were dissected just outside the bladder. Assisted by the uterine manipulator and the LigaSure system, total bladder, uterus and appendage were dissected by the laparoscopic approach. In the transvaginal step, the specimen was removed through the incision of the anterior and posterior vaginal fornix apex and the neovagina was created by the visualized suture. A 30-40 cm ileal loop was taken from the abdominal cavity, isolated, de-tubularized and reconfigured into W shaped pouch with running suture. The anti-refluxing ureter implantation was performed by inserting the 1 cm ureter into the pouch and suturing in place. The urethra neobaldder anastomosis was done under the laparoscope. Results The mean duration of surgery was 6.2 h(range from 4 to 8 h). The estimated blood loss was 665 ml (range from 400 to 1200 ml). All patients achieved urine control and had neither obstruction nor reflux proved by the intravenous pyelography 1-3 months after surgery. The mean value of neobladdermaximum capacity was 427 ml. No vesicovaginal fistula or other serious complication occurred The mean follow-up was 16 months (9-30 months). During the follow-up, there was no mortality. One patient with lymph node involvement developed liver metastasis 8 months post-operatively. Conclusions The LATRC is feasible and effective for the female patients with invasive bladder cancer. Using uterine manipulator and the transvaginal procedure makes the laparoscopic manipulation easier and simpler. The visualized incision and suture on vagina is good for recovery and reducing postoperative vesicovaginal fistula.

AIMTo study the effects of indomethacin on interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rheumatoid arthritic patients' synoviocyte.

METHODSFibroblast-like cells (FLS) from rheumatoid arthritic patients' joint tissue were cultured for 24 h and incubated 24 h with LPS (1 mg.L-1) or the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated by LPS (1 mg.L-1). After indomethacin or dexamethasone added into the supernatant of U937 cells, FLS was incubated with the super natant for 24 h. The expression of IL-6 protein was detected by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was accessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSLPS did not obviously affect the growth of FLS, and the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 were not changed in FLS treated with LPS. The IL-6 secretion and IL-6 mRNA expression were significantly increased in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell treated with LPS. Indomethacin at concentrations of 1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 obviously inhibited the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell stimulated with LPS, and the inhibitory effects increased as the concentrations of indomethacin increased.

CONCLUSIONIndomethacin can inhibit the increase of IL-6 expression caused by supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS in FLS.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; pathology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transumbilical single-site single-port with that of transumbilical single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the treatment of varicocele in adolescents.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 80 varicocele patients aged 10 - 16 years to two groups of equal number to receive transumbilical single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy, respectively. We compared the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, incisional pain, complications and satisfaction with the abdominal cosmetic outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed. The double-port group showed a significantly higher score on the Visual Analogue Scale than the single-port group (4.8 +/- 1.4 vs 3.6 +/- 1.1, t = -4.986, P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time ([29.8 +/- 4.2] vs [31.2 +/- 4.6] min, t = 1.383, P = 0.171), postoperative hospital stay ([1.95 +/- 0.7] vs [1.82 +/- 0.8] d, t = -0.784, P = 0.436), complications (0 vs 0) and scores on the satisfaction with abdominal cosmetic outcomes (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 4.8 +/- 0.5, t = 1.253, P = 0.214). No recurrence, umbilical hernia, hydrocele and orchiatrophy were found in the two groups of patients at 6 months after operation, and no visible scar was observed on the abdominal surface.

CONCLUSIONWith strict surgical indications, single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomies have similar clinical effects in the treatment of varicocele, which leave no scar on the abdominal surface. Single-site double-port laparoscopy needs no special instruments and therefore is worthier of wide clinical application.

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Umbilicus ; surgery ; Varicocele ; surgery

Full-length NS5A gene of the hepatitis C virus was amplified by PCR using plasmid pBAC25 containing HCV nonstructural gene as template. The amplified fragment (about 1.34 kb) was cloned into plasmid pQE32, and the recombinant plasmid pQENS5A was expressed in JM109 strain. The NS5A protein was purified by NiSO4 metal chelating resin, and characterized by Western-blot. Its antigenecity was determined by ELISA. The positive detection rate of anti-NS5A was 75% (69/92) in ninety-two clinic sera. The positive rate of anti-NS5A was 82.5% (33/40) in fourty positive standand sera, and the negative rate of anti-NS5A was 100% (40/40) in fourty negative standand sera. The results showed that the Full-length NS5A proteinn had the higher sensitivity and specificity in the detection of HCV antibody in sera, we suggested that NS5A protein was a useful antigen for blood screening.

SARS-CoV is a newly discovery pathogen causing severe acute respiratory problems.It has been established that the S protein in this pathogen plays an important rule in the adsorption and penetration of SARS-CoV into the host cell by interaction with the ACE2 receptor.To determinant which functional motif of the S protein was involved in the interaction with ACE2,seven truncated S proteins deleted from the N or C terminal were obtained by an E.coli expression system and purified by column chromatography to homogeneity.Each truncated S protein was fixed on to the well of an ELISA plate and an interaction was initiated with the ACE2 protein.The adsorption were quantified by ELISA,and the results indicated that amino acids from 388 to 496 of the S protein was responsible for the interaction with the ACE2 receptor,and the interaction could be completely disrupted by an antibody specific to these amino acids.Deletions adjacent to this domain did not appear to have a significant impact on the interaction with ACE2,suggesting that the S protein of SARS-CoV could be developed as a vaccine to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV.

The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the adenosine derivative N6-(3-hydroxylaniline) adenosine (WS070117M1) on cigarette smoke plus LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice and its mechanism. COPD model was established by exposing male BALB/c mice to cigarette smoke and challenged with LPS inhalation. Supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-β1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay). The number of total white blood cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was counted separately. Lung tissue was stained with Mayer 's hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic examination. pAMPKa protein expression and distribution of lung tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemistry method. In vitro, levels of AMPKα phosphorylation in phorbol-12- myristate-13-acetate (PMA) differentiated THP-1 cells was detected by immunohistochemistry, IL-8 level in supernatants of cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells was measured by ELISA. The results showed that WS070117M1 treatment significantly activated AMPKa in the lung tissue. It also resulted in down regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-β1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and IL-8 level in cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells. In addition, WS070117M1 could inhibit the recruitment of total white blood cells and neutrophils. These results suggest that WS070117M1 may alleviate the airway inflammation by activating AMPK in the lung tissue.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Adenosine ; analogs & derivatives ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Tobacco ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism