Objective To report our surgical experience in treating 19 cases of solitary iliac aneurysms (SIA). Methods The clinical data of 19 consecutive patients with SIA between January 1985 and January 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 18 men and 1 woman, aging from 39 to 77 years ( mean 62 ± 7 years). Results There were 30 SIAs in the 19 patients, including 25 ( 83.3% ) common iliac aneurysms, 4 (13.3%) internal ihac aneurysms and 1 (3. 3% ) external iliac aneurysm. Eleven patients ( 57.9% ) had multiple ancurysms, with 9 patients ( 47.4% ) having bilateral SIA. Two patients had coexistent peripheral vascular occlusive disease. There were 2 patients suffering form ruptured SIA, one was saved by emergency operation and one died before an surgery could be attempted. Seventeen patients underwent successful open aneurysmectomy and artificial graft implantation leaving no ischemic complications of the pelvic organs. One patient with right common iliac aneurysm underwent endovascular repair without endoleak. There was no operative death during porioperative period. The surviving patients remained stable and had good patency of grafts during the follow-up period. Conclusions Early management of SIA is important, CT angiogarphy (CTA) is necessary not only to evaluate the SIAs, but also to detect multiple aneurysms or arterial occlusive disease. Close and long-term follow-up is mandatory for the early detection of the formation of new anearysms.

Objective To evaluate risk factors of the prognosis in acute arterial embolism of the upper extremities. Methods The clinical data of 62 consecutive patients admired in our hospital with the diagnosis of acute arterial embolism in the upper extremities, from July 1988 to January 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors including age, gender, cardiac function, location of embolism, embolectomy and duration of iaehemia were analyzed by cumulative Loots regression. Results There were 62 patients, 33 men and 29 worsen, with a mean age of 63. 5 years (35～86 years). Among them, 37 patients received Fogarty embolectomy and 25 patients received medical treatment including thrombolysis, anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy because of poor risk for surgery. The iachemic status meliorated in 55 patients (88.7%) with 2 patients receiving amputation and 2 patients dying during the peri-operative period. The result of cursulative Logits regression shewed that the duration of ischemia, cardiac function and embolectomy played the significant role on the prognosis (P < 0.01 ), but age, sex and the location of embolism did not show the significant role. In those only receiving the medical treatment, 23 patients restored blood flow to different degree. Conclusions Embolectomy with Fogarty catheter within 8 hours of onset was the most effective treatment for acute arterial embolism in the upper extremities. For peor-risk patients, early medical treatment including thrombolysis, antieoagulation and antiplatelet treatment, can also restore the blood flow in the isehemie limbs.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of sarcomatoid carcinoma(SC)of lung on chest radiography and CT and to improve knowledge of SC.Methods The chest plain films,CT images and clinical data of all 7 cases of pathologically proved lung SC were retrospectively analyzed.Results All cases presented with a spheroid solid lung mass ranged from 3 to 11 cm in diameter(average 7 cm).All the lesions were located in middle and lower fields of the lung:3 lesions in right lower lobe,2 in right middle lobe,and the other 2 in left lower lobe.Among the 7 cases:6 cases were of peripheral type and 1 case was of central type.The peripheral-typed lesions of 5 cases had clear margin and 3 of them were lobulated.Three massess were homogenous in density,and the other 4 were inhomogeneous in density with formation of central cavity or calcification.After intravenous contrast administration.Three lesions showed homogeneous enhancement,and the other 4 lesions had inhomogeneous enhancement.The lesions with diameter larger than 6 cm showed marginal or patch-like enhancement.Five cases had pleural or chest walls invasion.Two cases had mediastinal lymph nodes metastases.One case had multiple remote metastasis.Conclusion There are some relatively specific features of lung SC on chest radiography and CT,which may be helpful for diagnosis.

Background Scarring of the filtering bleb is a main cause of filtering surgical failure in glaucoma.It has been reposed that tetrandrine could suppress the proliferation of cultured human fibroblast of Tenons capsule in vitro and thus has the potential effect to prevent scarring after the filtering surgery. Objective Present study was to investigate the anti-cicatricial effect of tetrandrine drug delivery system(Tet DDS)during filtration surgery. Methods Filtration surgery was performed in bilateral eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits.The Tet DDS with 0.3 mg Tet,0.2 mg Tet or free-Tet were implanted subcunjunctially during the surgery.The filtering blebs were scored in 1 day,4,7,10,14 days after referring to the corneal thickness and bleb range under the slit-lamp biomicroscopy.The morphology of filtering bleb was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy in 7 and 14 days after operation.The filtering bleb specimen was prepared in 7 and 14 days for the histopathological examination. Results The filtering bleb scores in Tet DDS implantation groups were significantly higher than those in free-Tet DDS group from 4 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.01),and the scores showed a considerably increase in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group compared with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group from 7 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.05).The filtering blebs of Tet DDS implantation groups were found with distinct subepithelial cystic spaces under the light microscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy on the 7th day and 14th day after surgery.Compared with free-Tet DDS group,the numbers of subepithelial mierocysts were much more(P＜0.01)and the area of microcysts was larger(P＜0.01)in Tet DDS group.The filtering tissue presented with more subepithelial microcysts and larger microcysts range in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group than 0.2 mg Tet DDS group in 7 and 14 days after operation(P＜0.05).The inflammatory cell infiltration wag milder in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group in comparison with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group and free-Ted DDS group.Conclusion Tet DDS has strong inhibitory effects on inflammatory cells activity and fibroblagt activity the early stage after filtering surgery and therefore improve the surgery success rate.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of baicalin against rotenone-induced injury on PC12 cells, and the po-tential mechanism of action action was also explored.

METHODPC12 cells were injured by rotenone and were treated with different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 μmol x L(-1)) of baicalin at the same time. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT, and morphology was observed by phase-contrast microscopy. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The intracellular ROS level was determined by fluorescence microscope with DCF-DA staining. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTThe viability of PC12 cells exposure to rotenone for 24 hour was gradually decreased with dose escalating and 1.5 μmol x L was adopted to do the following experiment. Baicalin increased cell viability, improved cell morphology and decreased intracellular ROS level. Moreover, FACS indicated baicalin attenuated the apoptosis induced by rotenone significantly. Western blot showed that Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 expression in rotenone-induced PC12 cells was reversed by baicalin.

CONCLUSIONThis study has demonstrated that baicalin protects PC12 cells against rotenone-induced apoptosis, at least in part, by scavenging excessive ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrion-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Intracellular Space ; drug effects ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Rotenone ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Coloring Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rosaniline Dyes ; adverse effects ; Skin ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) administered at different pressures and different exposure time on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro.

METHODSThe cerebral cortices from newborn rats (0-3 days old) were sterilely collected, digested, and centrifuged. After removal of the supernatant, the cells were re-suspended with DMEM/F12 medium containing B27, bFGF and EGF. The NSCs of 2-3 passages were randomly divided into seven groups: a control (untreated) and 6 HBO treatment groups that NSCs were subjected to HBO treatment of different pressures (1, 2 or 3 ATA) and different exposure time (30 or 60 minutes). The differentiated NSCs were examined by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunocytochemistry 24 hrs later. Percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was assessed by fluorescent microscopy.

RESULTSThe percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was the highest in the HBO 2ATA-60 min group (9.17+/-0.50%) (P<0.01), followed by the HBO 3ATA-60 min (7.89+/-0.62%), HBO 2ATA-30 min (6.72+/-0.76%), HBO 3ATA-30 min (6.08+/-0.57%), HBO 1ATA-60 min (5.45+/-0.52%), HBO 1ATA 30 min (3.85+/-0.44%) and control groups (3.72+/-0.88%). In addition to the HBO 1ATA-30 min group, the other HBO treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the control group (P<0.01). Under the same pressure, the 60 min treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the 30 min treatment groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHBO treatment (2 ATA, 60 minutes) produces a best effect in the differentiation of NSCs into neurons.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Differentiation ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pressure ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Time Factors

Abstract: Viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is a continuous dynamic process, which can be divided into latent stage, initial stage, peak stage and decreasing stage according to the characteristics of viral shedding. After being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the infected person generally stays in the latent period for 1-3 days, which is characterized by continuous negative nucleic acid test results and no infectiousness, and the risk of infection for close contacts is very low. At the initial stage of viral shedding is characterized by a rapid decline in the Ct value of nucleic acid tests in a short time, and clinical symptoms gradually appear. The infectiousness of the infected person gradually increases during this period, and the risk of infection for close contacts also gradually increases, but it is still in the early stage of infection, the possibility of viral shedding is low, and the risk of infection of secondary close contacts is low. The peak of viral shedding is characterized by low Ct value in nucleic acid test and obvious clinical symptoms; during this period, the infected person is the most infectious, and the risk of infection of the contact is the highest, so the scope of close contacts should be expanded appropriately. The decreasing period is characterized by the gradual increase of Ct value of nucleic acid test and the gradual disappearance of clinical symptoms; during this period, the infectiousness of the infected person gradually decreases to disappear. In an outbreak, an infected person in the decreasing phase is more likely to be an early infected person in the transmission chain. If infected individuals in the decreasing phase are found in an area without a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, it suggests that the local outbreak epidemic has been spreading for some time and may be larger in scale. According to the characteristics of viral shedding, risk personnel can be determined more scientifically and accurately, so as to minimize the risk and reduce the waste of epidemic prevention resources.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among schoolchildren in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

METHODSUsing a cluster sampling method, an epidemiological survey of RHD was conducted in 16 682 primary and high school students by auscultation in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2006. Review of the clinical records, RHD survey in adults, and examination of the positivity rate of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) by throat swab cultures in the students aged between 9 and 12 years in the sampled schools were also carried out.

RESULTSNo RHD patient was found in the sampled population. In Xinjiang, the prevalence of RHD was 12.9/1000 among adults, higher than that (2.2/1000) in Guangdong Province. The GAS-positive rate in the schoolchildren in Xinjiang ranged from 9.8% to 12.6%, higher than that in Guangdong (2.3%-3.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe GAS-positive rate among children and incidence of RHD in adults are higher in Xinjiang than in Guangdong. The prevalence of RHD among the schoolchildren shows a reduction compared with that in 1994.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of anterior versus posterior surgical treatments of thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) were identified from MEDLINE (1966 - 2006.7), EMBASE (1966 - 2006.7), PubMed (1996 - 2006.7), Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2006).We hand-searched Chinese Journal of Orthopedics (from establishment to May 2006) and Orthopaedic Journal of China (from establishment to May 2006). RCTs and CCTs were included. Data were extracted by two reviewers with designed extraction form. RevMan 4.2.8 software was used for data analysis.

RESULTSTwo RCTs and four prospective clinical trials were included. The combined results showed that compare with posterior surgical management, anterior approach in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures proved the less incidence of complications; better neurologic recovery and corrected kyphosis angle; more complete and reliable decompression of the canal. However, there was not difference between the two groups in the general status outcomes.

CONCLUSIONSTo compare with posterior fixation system, anterior surgical managements in the thoracolumbar spinal trauma might be the optimal choices because the lower rates of complications and loss of corrected kyphosis angle; better neurologic recovery, also. Besides, due to the lack of Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of thoracolumbar spinal injuries, the results which indicated above need further study.

Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Treatment Outcome