OBJECTIVETo investigate whether blood stasis is one of the main causes in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODSThe clinical manifestation of blood stasis syndrome were comprehensively scored in sixty postmenopausal osteoporosis patients, their vascular endothelial function and platelet activating capacity were also detected, and compared with those in 30 healthy women as control.

RESULTSThe molecular indexes as vascular endothelial function and platelet activating capacity, as well as comprehensive scores of clinical manifestation of blood stasis syndrome in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients were significantly different to those of healthy women (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere is objective molecular pathologic change of blood stasis syndrome in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Blood stasis plays an important role in pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Aged ; Blood Viscosity ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; blood ; etiology ; Platelet Activation ; physiology

A CT 3-D image is reconstructed based on a lot of 2-D slice images. A new 3-D image reconstruction method, presented in this paper, is to use the helical scan continuity, sufficient condition of image reconstruction and the raw data from a few helical scan cycles to reconstruct,by a direct interpolation algorithm, 2-D images and then 3-D images.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have compared single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of this study was to compare SPECT with EBCT in detection of CAD in patients with no MI.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-seven patients with suspected CAD underwent stress-rest (99)mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99)mTc-MIBI) myocardial SPECT, cardiac EBCT and coronary angiography (CAG) within one month. Of them, 73 patients (aged 52.6 +/- 10.6 years old) with no history of MI were included in this study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was defined as a CT value >or= 130 HU within the boundary of coronary artery on EBCT.

RESULTSThere were 35 and 38 patients with or without CAD according to CAG. Ninety-six percent of the patients with abnormal SPECT and CAC had a coronary arteries stenosis >or= 50%, and 90.9% patients with normal SPECT and EBCT showed no CAD. The sensitivity of SPECT and EBCT in detection of CAD was comparable, and the specificity of SPECT (92.1%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (55.3%) (P < 0.005). For the detection of individual coronary artery stenosis, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (75.0% and 93.7%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (53.3% and 76.7%) (P < 0.025 and P < 0.005, respectively). In patients without chest pain, the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (76.9% and 91.4%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (23.1% and 69.0%) in detection of a coronary artery stenosis of >or= 50% (P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively). However, in patients with chest pain, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT were comparable to those of EBCT. In patients or= 50% (P < 0.005), and the specificity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT. In patients > 45 years old, the specificity of SPECT (94.3%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (70.5%) (P < 0.005), and the sensitivity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT.

CONCLUSION(99)mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT has higher accuracy than that of EBCT in detection of CAD in patients without MI.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Calcium ; blood ; Chest Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Vessels ; chemistry ; Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum, and find the suitable stage, in which seed growth and development furtherly.

METHODOne-year old seedlings were chosen and planted in field. Plant height, branching number, fruit number per plant, 1000 grains weight were measured during growth and development period, respectively.

RESULTThe treatment of top pruning postponed in turn the flowering date, lowered the plant heights and the fruit number per plant, increased the branching number and influenced significantly on 1000 grains weights.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable stage of top pruning for producing seeds was from June 20th to July 5th.

Crops, Agricultural ; growth & development ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate an ideal method for finger reconstruction with extended the second toe flap transfer.

METHODSThe second toe free flap was created, combined with an pedicled skin flap from the fibular side of the great toe inlaid in the ventral side of the second toe, a double-wing flap and the distal part of the metatarsal bone. The composite free flap was transferred by vascular anastomosis for finger reconstruction.

RESULTSThe reconstructed finger exhibited nice looking and better function. The procedure had little influence to the appearance and function of the donor foot.

CONCLUSIONThis method is effective in ameliorating the appearance and function of the reconstructed finger with the second toe transfer.

Adult ; Female ; Fingers ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Toes ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of gastric mucosa apoptosis in the stress of ischemic stroke, and to discuss the relationship between gastric mucosa apoptosis and gastric barrier.

METHODSTen dogs were artificially made ischemic stroke by operation (IS group), and another 10 shamly-operated dogs were served as control group. Sucrose permeability were measured after the operation. All dogs were sacrificed 24 hours after operation to measure the gastric mucosal apoptosis index, gastric gross classification, and histological score.

RESULTSThe gastric mucosal apoptosis index in the IS group were significantly higher than in the control group (14.83 +/- 4.41 vs. 5.60 +/- 2.61, P < 0.05). The gastric mucosal apoptosis index were correlated with the sucrose permeability (r = 0. 89, P < 0.05) , gastric gross classification (r = 0. 87, P < 0.05), and histological score (r = 0.92, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAlthough ischemic stroke will not cause the obvious damage in the respiratory and circulatory system, it is responsible for the apoptosis of epithelial cell in the gastric mucosa and gastric barrier dysfunction. The apoptosis index is closely correlated with the damage of the function and morphology of the gastric barrier, indicating that the epithelial cell apoptosis acceleration in the gastric mucosa may result in the damage of gastric barrier function.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Dogs ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Random Allocation ; Stroke ; pathology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDThis study evaluated the efficacy of percutaneous nucleoplasty using coblation technique for the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP), after 5 years of follow-up.

METHODSFrom September 2004 to November 2006, 172 patients underwent percutaneous nucleoplasty for chronic LBP in our department. Forty-one of these patients were followed up for a mean period of 67 months. Nucleoplasty was performed at L3/4 in 1 patient; L4/5 in 25 patients; L5/S1 in 2 patients; L3/4 and L4/5 in 2 patients; L4/5 and L5/S1 in 7 patients; and L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1 in 4 patients. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively. Pain was graded using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the percentage reduction in pain score was calculated at each postoperative time point. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess disability-related to lumbar spine degeneration, and patient satisfaction was assessed using the modified MacNab criteria.

RESULTSThere were significant differences among the preoperative, 1-week postoperative, and 3-year postoperative VAS and ODI scores, but not between the 3- and 5-year postoperative scores. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or preoperative symptoms between patients with effective and ineffective treatment, but there were significant differences in the number of levels treated, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc degeneration, and provocative discography findings between these two groups. Excellent or good patient satisfaction was achieved in 87.9% of patients after 1 week, 72.4% after 1 year, 67.7% after 3 years, and 63.4% at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough previously published short- and medium-term outcomes after percutaneous nucleoplasty appeared to be satisfactory, our long-term follow-up results show a significant decline in patient satisfaction over time. Percutaneous nucleoplasty is a safe and simple technique, with therapeutic effectiveness for the treatment of chronic LBP in selected patients. The technique is minimally invasive and can be used as part of a stepwise treatment plan for chronic LBP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxiracetam in the treatment of neurological deficits resulting from brain injury through the comparison of oxiracetam for injection and piracetam for injection in clinical trials. Methods A multiple-center, randomized, double-blind,parallel study was performed on 239 patients; these patients were divided into experimental group (oxiracetam for injection, n=120) and control group (piracetam, n=119). National institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), myodynamia grading, mini-metal state examination (MMSE) were employed to evaluate the therapeutic effects; electrocardiogram and laboratory examination were performed, and the side effects were also observed. Results The scores of NIHSS,GCS and myodynamia grading after treatment in the 2 groups were all significantly higher than those before treatment (P＜0.05); however, no significant differences on these scores were noted between the experimental group and control group (P＞0.05). No serious adverse events were noted in both groups.Conclusion Oxiracetam, the same as piracetam, is safe and effective in the treatment of neurological deficits secondary to brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively investigate the effects of Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (1%～80%) on biphasic compound action potentials (AP) from frog sciatic nerve trunk, and their recoveries from alcohol effects. METHODS: Individual segments of frog sciatic nerve trunk with a length of 6 to 8 cm were prepared. Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (0%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, 32%, 48%, 64% and 80%) was applied onto the segment of the trunk between the stimulus and ground electrodes via an agent reservoir which was newly armed in a nerve trunk shielded chamber for 5 minutes. The nerve trunk was respectively electro-stimulated to generate the biphasic compound AP which was recorded using the experimental system of BL-420F. This was followed by 5 times washout plus 5 min administration with Ringer's solution before recovery recording of AP. RESULTS: Compared to normal Ringer's solution, Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≤4% did not have dramatic impacts on the AP amplitude and conduction velocity, while Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≥8% there was significant decrease in these two parameters. Ringer's solution with alcohol at the conentrations of 16%, 32% and ≥48% could prevent a small proportion (30%), a large proportion (90%) and all (100%) of sciatic nerve trunks, respectively, from generating AP. Washout with normal Ringer's solution after alcohol application at the concentration of ≤32%, AP could totally recover to normal status. While alcohol at the concentration of 48%, 64% and 80%, the probabilities to regenerate APs were 90%, 40% and 0%, and the AP amplitudes were decreased to 60%, 36% and 0%, respectively. After washout, AP conduction velocity showed no difference with alcohol at the concentration of ≤8% when compared with that before washout, while it could not be recovered to normal under alcohol at ≥16%. CONCLUSION Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol exerts different effects on biphasic compound AP amplitude and conduction velocity. Hopefully, our findings could be helpful for the alcoholic usage and its recovery from alcoholic damage.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Anura ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Ringer's Solution ; pharmacology ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects

Six new (1-6) and seven known depsidones (7-13) were isolated from the culture of an ant (Monomorium chinensis)-derived fungus Spiromastix sp. MY-1. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including high resolution MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The new bromide depsidones were obtained through supplementing potassium bromide in the fermentation medium of Spiromastix sp. MY-1. All isolated compounds showed various bioactivities against the tested phytopathogenic bacteria. Particularly, new bromide compound 4, named spiromastixone S, exhibited the strongest activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae with a MIC value of 5.2 μmol·^-1.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ants ; Bromides ; Depsides ; Fungi ; Lactones ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure