Objective To study the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) in brains of rats with drug refractory epilepsy.Methods Rat models based on the lithium-pilocarpine epileptic rats were induced with sodium phenobarbital (PB).Then,the rats were randomly divided into three groups:VNS group (n=7),sham-VNS group (n=6) and control group (n=6); VNS through stimulation device was given to the rats in the VNS group,stimulation device without VNS was given to the rats in the sham-VNS group,and rats in the control group were only given conventional feeding.Behavioral changes and number of seizures were recorded by continuous video monitoring during the whole process.And the amount of MRP1 over-expression in each group was detected following a four-week VNS.Results (1) The seizure frequency in VNS group (2.6±1.0 per week) was significantly decreased as compared with that in sham-VNS group (5.3±1.1 per week) or control group (5.2±1.3 per week) after a four-week VNS (P＜0.05).(2) The MRP1 expression in VNS group had significantly statistical differences as compared with that in the sham-VNS group and control group (the absorbance values:9120±1496,19556±1462 and 20231±1710,P＜0.05).Conclusion VNS can effectively decrease the seizures frequency through reducing the MRP1 over-expression.

Objective To study the acute effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on status epilepticus (SE) in rats.Methods Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:Group A (VNS preconditioning group),accepted VNS at 2 h before pilocarpine injection,Group B (VNS treatment group),accepted VNS immediately after pilocarpine injection,Group C (negative control group),implanted with electrode without stimulation,and Group D (SE model group),without electrode implantation (n=1 2).Lithium-pilocarpine was used to kindle the rats to establish SE models.Stimulation parameters used in the procedure of VNS were as follows:frequency,30 Hz; pulse width,0.5 ms; current,1 mA; and duty cycle,on-30 s,off-30 s.Behavior changes were observed and caspase-3 expression in dentate gyrus was detected 72 h after pilocarpine injection.Results (1) The seizure frequencies of grade Ⅳ and Ⅴ (Racine grading) in group A and B were significantly fewer than those in group C and D (P＜0.05); the seizure frequency of grade Ⅴ in group A was significantly fewer than that of group B (P＜0.05); SE latency in group A was significantly longer than that in other groups (P＜0.05).(2) Expressions of caspase-3 in the dentate gyrus of group A and B were significantly lower than those of group C and D (absorbancy values being 5854.7±856.5,6244.8±806.0,11957.0±1948.1 and 11543.2±1734.7,P＜0.05).Conclusion VNS has an acute seizure-suppressing effect on SE in rats and it can also reduce neuronal apoptosis induced by SE in hipocampus.

Objective To summarize the common causes and types of circuit failure after vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation,and analyze the available methods of resolving these problems.Methods Three patients with postoperative circuit fault in the 97 patients performed VNS implantation for drug refractory epilepsy in our hospital from October 2011 to January 2014,and three patients with postoperative circuit fault performed surgery in other hospitals at the same period were chosen in this study.The causes of circuit failure of these 6 patients were identified by performing system diagnostics and X-ray evaluation.A revision surgery may be necessary if a broken or damaged lead was suspected.Results In these 6 patients of device failure,two patients were due to the disconnection of the lead from the pulse generator;the lead impedance became normal after re-inserting the existing lead connector pins into the pulse generator following proper lead insertion techniques.Four patients performed lead revision surgery to replace or remove the existing lead;in 3 of them,the helices and associated scar tissues were removed from the vagus nerve under the microscope,and a new set of electrodes was placed;in one of them,the lead was transected as much as possible and the distal portion of the lead was severed at the neck following the removal of pulse generator.There were no complications such as hoarse voice,dyspnea,slow rhythm,subcutaneous hematoma or infection after the revision surgery.Five patients were followed up,indicating the devices work normally.Four patients had obvious improvement,and one patient had no significant improvement after the revision surgery.Conclusions The high lead impedance is the main manifestation of circuit failure after vagus nerve stimulator implantation.Surgical exploration is an effective method to identify and resolve these problems.

Objective To explore the insula sensory features and analyze its electrophysiological characteristics based on stereo-electroencephalograph (SEEG).Methods The clinical data of 16 drug-refractory epilepsy patients,admitted to our hospital from December 2013 to June 2016,were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were implanted with SEEG electrodes;totally,34 electrodes (257 contacts) located in insular lobe.Micro current stimulation was performed every adjacent two contacts to get the sensory mapping and the stimulus threshold of the insula.Results Of all the 257 contacts,160 presented clinical symptoms (positive contacts);there were 149 contacts with sensory manifestations,of which 72 were on the left side and 77 on the right.Sensory symptoms of insula mainly included both somatic sensation and visceral sensation.The threshold of somatosensory was (4.9±2.9) mA,and the threshold of visceral sensation was (6.0±2.9) mA,without significant difference (P＞0.05).No significant difference was noted between the left insula sensory ([6.2±3.1] mA) and the right insula sensory ([5.7±2.8] mA,P＞0.05).It showed sensation abnormal of larynx,lingua,face and limb when the middle and posterior short gyrus,as well as anterior and posterior long gurus,respectively,were stimulated;insula sensory showed anatomy distribution,with different stimulated sensitivities.The sensory function showed parallel distribution with the insular gyrus from the middle short gyrus to posterior long gurus,as laryngeal-lingual-facial (nasal and lips)-limb sensation,and the thresholds of the five insular gurus were (6.0±3.1) mA,(4.7±1.5) mA,(8.0±2.9) mA,(5.1±2.4) mA and (4.5±2.6) mA,respectively,with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05).Conclusions The sensitivity of somatic sensation and visceral sensation of the insula monitored by SEEG is similar,as well as the left and right side.The sensory threshold and sensory fan-shaped distribution play important roles in conforming insular symptoms and location for clinician.

Objective:To explore the effect of combining hand-brain perception training with hand-brain motor training based on mirror neuron theory on the recovery of upper limb function after a stroke.Methods:A group of 105 stroke survivors with upper limb dysfunction were randomly divided into a hand-brain perception (HP) group, a hand-brain motor (HM) group, and a combination (C) group, each of 35. In addition to conventional rehabilitation treatment (including exercise therapy, occupational therapy and physical factor therapy), the HP and HM groups were given hand-brain perception training and hand-brain motor training respectively, while group C was provided with both. Before the intervention and after 4 weeks, the upper limb motor functioning of all of the participants was assessed using the simplified version of the Fugl-Meyer upper limb motor function scale (FMA-UE). Sensory functioning was quantified using the tactile Semmes Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), and the modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to quantify the participants′ ability in the activities of daily living.Results:After the intervention the average FMA-UE, MBI and SWME scores of all three groups had improved significantly, with group C′s average FMA-UE and MBI scores significantly better than the other two groups′ averages. The average SWME score of group C was then significantly better than that of group HM.Conclusions:Hand-brain perception combined with hand-brain motor training based on mirror neuron theory can further promote the recovery of upper limb sensory and motor functioning of stroke survivors., Such therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application and recent development of orthognathic surgery in treating syndromic craniosynostosis. METHODS: The related literature at home and abroad in recent years was extensively reviewed, and the indications, routine procedures, and protocols of orthognathic surgery in the treatment of syndromic craniosynostosis were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: Craniosynostosis is a common congenital craniofacial malformation. Syndromic craniosynostosis usually involves premature fusion of multiple cranial sutures and is associated with other deformities. Orthognathic surgery is the necessary and effective means to improve the midfacial hypoplasia and malocclusion. Le Fort I osteotomy combined with sagittal split ramus osteotomy are the common surgical options. Orthognathic surgery should combine with craniofacial surgery and neurosurgery, and a comprehensive long-term evaluation should be conducted to determine the best treatment plan. CONCLUSION Orthognathic surgery plays an important role in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of syndromic craniosynostosis. The development of digital technology will further promote the application and development of orthognathic surgery in the treatment of syndromic craniosynostosis.
Humans ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Craniosynostoses/surgery* ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus

Objective: To investigate the expression of INPP4B in gastric cancer and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Methods: The expressions of INPP4B mRNA in fresh cancer tissues of 36 patients with gastric cancer and the paracancerous normal gastric mucosa tissues in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between July 2014 and December 2014 were detected by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expressions of INPP4B protein and its downstream molecule phosphorylation AKT (p-AKT) in paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and the corresponding margin tissues of 49 gastric cancer patients between January 2010 and December 2010 were detected by using immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression of INPP4B and clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. Results: RT-qPCR results showed that the expression level of INPP4B mRNA was 0.21±0.04 compared with adjacent cancer normal tissues (t = -2.208, P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that INPP4B protein was highly expressed in normal margin tissues and lowly expressed in tumor tissues. There was a statistical difference in the positive intensity score between the two groups (u = 4.70, P < 0.01). However, p-AKT protein was overexpressed in tumor tissues and underexpressed in normal margin tissues. There was a statistical difference in the positive intensity score between the two groups (u = 5.77, P < 0.01). The expression of INPP4B and p-AKT protein was negatively correlated (r = -0.644, P < 0.01). The positive expression rate of INPP4B protein in gastric cancer patients was 34.7% (17/49). There were no statistical differences of the positive expression rate of INPP4B protein in gender, age, pathological type, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (all P > 0.05). The median overall survival time of patients with INPP4B negative expression was 47 months, and that of patients with INPP4B positive expression was 48 months, and there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion The expression of INPP4B in gastric cancer tissue is low, which may play a role of tumor suppressor in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer by affecting the activity of AKT.