OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Xingnaojing(Traditional Chinese Medicine) injection on brain injury in rats.

METHODSSixty-three healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 21): sham operation group, model group, xingnaojing group. The model of traumatic brain injury model group and Xingnaojing group used the free fall impact injury method, the sham operation group underwent craniotomy, did not cause brain damage. Xingnaojing group in rats after 10 min by tail vein injection Xingnaojing injection 10 ml/(kg x d), model group and sham operation group were intravenously injected with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, three groups were administered continuously for 7 days. At administration of the seventh days compared the S-100B protein in the serum and neuro specific enolase (NSE) level, the water content of brain tissue, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content, and neurological function of rats among groups.

RESULTSCompared with the sham operation group, the nerve defect, brain water content, MDA, S100B protein and NSE levels were obvigusly increased in Xingnaojing group and model group; SOD, GSH-Px content decreased significantly; In Xingnaojing group nerve impairment and brain moisture were significantly lower than those of model group, the serum MDA, S-100B protein and NSE levels were significantly lower than those in the model group, the SOD, GSH-Px activity was significantly higher than that in the model group.

CONCLUSIONXingnaojing injection has protective effects on rat brain injury, and its mechanism may be related to reduce brain edema after traumatic brain injury and inhibit the reaction of oxygen free radical, protect nerve cells.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the safety of the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells(PBSC)by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)in elderly donors.Methods 28 peripheral arteriosclerotic occlusive disease(PAOD)elderly patients(aged≥60 years),and 29 healthy sibling young/adult donors(aged＜60 years)for peripheral allogenic stem cell transplantation were included.Blood samples were collected immediately before starting G-CSF and prior to PBSC collection to analyze the following parameters:the WBC counts,fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer (D-D),thrombin antithrombin complex(TAT),antithrombin(AT)and yon Willebrand factor antigen(vWF:Ag). Results It had a very significant increase in D-D and vWF:Ag and a very significant decrease of AT(P＜0.01),af- ter mobilization by G-CSF,and a increase in FIB and TAT were also observed(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in elderly group.In the young/aduh group,the increase in FIB was significant(P＜0.05).The elevating extent of D-D and TAT after G-CSF administration was significantly higher in elderly group than that in young/adult group(P＜0.05).Compared to young/adult group,there was a significant increase in thrombotic events and cerebrovascular ac- cident(P＜0.05).Conclusion In PBCS donorsreceiving G-CSF it reveals activation of both coagulation and en- dothelial cells and inhibition of anticoagulant system that can favor the developing of thrombotic events,which is more remarkable in elderly donors.Therefore a careful monitoring for coagulation system should be considered in those elderly cases.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role and function of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in stem cells migrating into injured brain area.

METHODSRat-derived nerve stem cells (NSCs) were isolated and cultured routinely. Transwell system was used to observe the migration ability of NSCs into injured nerve cells. Immunocytochemistry was used to explore the expression of chemotactic factor receptor-4 (CXCR-4) in NSCs. In vivo, we applied immunofluorescence technique to observe the migration of NSCs into injured brain area. Immunofluorescence technique and Western blotting were used to test expression level of SDF-1. After AMD3100 (a special chemical blocker) blocking CXCR-4, the migration ability of NSCs was tested in vivo and in vitro, respectively.

RESULTSNSCs displayed specific tropism for injured nerve cells or traumatic brain area in vivo and in vitro. The expression level of SDF-1 in traumatic brain area increased remarkably and the expression level of CXCR-4 in the NSCs increased simultaneously. After AMD3100 blocking the expression of CXCR-4, the migration ability of NSCs decreased significantly both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSSDF-1 may play a key role in stem cells migrating into injured brain area through specially combining with CXCR-4.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; pathology ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; analysis ; physiology ; Stem Cells ; physiology ; Tropism

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are a kind of pluripotent stem cells capable of relieving inflammation and edema in injured areas, promoting microvascular regeneration and improving wound healing. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs transplantation on acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and the effect on microvessel density of the rat brain tissue. METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, TBI model group and UC-MSCs treatment group (n=10 per group). TBI models were made in the rats by free fall method. US-MSCs (1.5×106) were infused through the cerebral ventricle in the rats. Neurological severity scores were assessed at 24 hours after cell transplantation. The microvessel density in the injured brain tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry method at 14 days after cell transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the TBI model group, the microvessel density value was significantly increased after UC-MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05), and the neurological severity score also became better in the UC-MSCs treatment group (P < 0.05). In summary, UC-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve became vascular remodeling and have a good neuroprotection in acute TBI rats.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer.

METHODSMRI findings and staging in 72 patients with cervical carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, and the size, location, signal intensity and invasion of the tumor were observed. MRI sequence included SE T1WI, (TSE)T2WI, T2WI/SPIR and contrast-enhanced T1WI.

RESULTSMRI identified uterus cervical cancer in all cases with the exception of only 1 case of IA stage. The tumor was represented by hypointensity and isointensity on T1WI, heterogeneous and homogeneous hyperintensity on T2WI, mildly heterogeneous enhancement after bolus intravenous GD-DTPA injection. MRI had an accuracy of 86% in localization of the tumor, but its accuracy in clinical staging was only 64% (chi2=6.453, P<0.05). The tumor volume measured by MRI was similar with that by pathological measurement (1.94-/+1.15 vs 1.94-/+1.11, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMRI can accurately describe the size and invasion of uterine cervical cancer, especially useful in detecting parametrial invasion, but for diagnosis of IA uterine cervical cancer, MRI findings are not sufficient without considerations of clinical findings and cellular examination.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Preoperative Care ; Reproducibility of Results ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo establish the method of cytological examination and the normal reference values for hypertonic saline solution-induced sputum of healthy children (age range from 5 to 15 years) with physical examination in Guangzhou.

METHODA total of 352 children, 5 to 15 years old, were enrolled from primary school and middle school in Guangzhou from January to December, 2010. All subjects completed a standardized questionnaire on the presence of respiratory, allergic symptoms and family history, the medical history and the physical examination was performed by doctors, lung function (forced expiratory volume at 1 s in predicted normal, FEV(1)%) was determined. There were 266 healthy children (137 males, 129 females) who were selected and undergone hypertonic saline solution induction of sputum, and cytological examination was performed. Hypertonic saline (5%) was nebulized and inhaled for 15 - 30 min. No expectoration within 30 min was defined as failure, and the procedure was terminated. The part of opaque and higher density sputum samples was detected by cytology. The proportion of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages and monocytes was calculated. This study was approved by the institutional Ethics Review Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College. Informed consent was obtained from the legal guardians of all participants following a detailed description of the purpose and potential benefits of the study.

RESULTThere were 175 subjects' induced sputum specimens (175/266, 65.8%), non-qualified sputum samples were obtained from 16 of the subjects. The proportions of median (IQR) of lymphocytes were 0.012 (0.020), 95%CI were ranged from 0.015 to 0.022; neutrophils 0.207 (0.330), 95%CI 0.266 - 0.356 macrophages 0.761 (0.327), 95%CI 0.607 - 0.699; eosinophils 0.004 (0.019), 95%CI 0.013 - 0.022. There were no significant differences in proportions of cytological findings of female or male, different age groups and second-hand smoking or not (all P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse event was 4.40% (7/159).

CONCLUSIONThe method and the preliminary data may be used for research, diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic cough and airway inflammation.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cough ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Male ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Reference Values ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; chemistry ; Sputum ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the complications and efficacy of self-made, antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacers in the treatment of the infected hip replacement.

METHODSBetween January 2006 and July 2016, 265 patients (266 hips) received a self-made, antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer as part of a two-stage protocol. Among those patients, there were 143 males(144 hips) and 122 females(122 hips). The cement articulating spacers with vancomycin and two Steinman pins were made by a self-made mold system. Meanwhile, another antibiotic was added to the spacers according to the drug sensitivity test. Record if the infected prosthesis was removed, related complication with spacer(breakage and dislocation), Harris score, and control rate of infection.

RESULTSThe mean age of two-stage revision operation was(57.4±14.2) years. Thirty-nine patients(14.7%) used extended trochanteric osteotomy(ETO) to remove the infected prosthesis. And 38 patients occurred mentioned complications(14.3%). Spacer breakage occurred in 28 cases(10.5%) and dislocation occurred in 10 cases(3.8%). The mean follow-up time was(83.4±14.6) months. The Harris hip score was from 47.56±14.23 preoperatively to 86.43±12.84 at final follow-up(<0.05). The infection of 256 cases(96.6%) got control after revision operation. However, during postoperative follow-up, 4 cases occurred re-infection, and they were reoperated, and the infections obtained effective control after the operation. Thus total infection control rate was 95.1%(252/265).

CONCLUSIONSAntibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer made by a self-made mold system is effective in controling infection caused by hip replacement. Related complication is less with spacer by a mould enclosing two Steinman pins. Using metallic internal fixation or allograft bone combined with spacer does not affect infection control.