OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short and long term results of discectomy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODSFrom 2000 to 2007, 400 patients (male 220 and female 180, the age was from 16 to 73 years old with an average of 42.3 years) with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation underwent discectomy by posterior mini-incision less than 5 cm and vertebrae plate was ectomized in 2 cm x 2 cm winder,and nerve root was compressied. The short and long term clinical result were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software.

RESULTSThree hundred and eighty patients were followed up in the short term (less than 2 years after operation), 308 cases obtained excellent result, 48 good, fair 24, the excellent and good rate was 93.7%. Three hundred and forty-eight patients were followed up in the long term (more than 3 years after operation), 244 cases obtained excellent result, 48 good, fair 56,the excellent and good rate was 83.9%. There was significant difference in follow-up between the short and long term (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of discectomy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation decreased with time lapse.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To establish an automatic synthesis method for 11C-carfentanil (CFN) as an novel opiate receptor radioligand and study its biodistribution in rats. Methods 11C-Triflate-CH3 was bubbled into 0.5 mg precursor desmethyl-CFN (which was dissolved in 0.15 ml DMSO) to generate 11C-CFN in a V-tube at room temperature. Sep-Pak C2 column was used for purification of 11C-CFN, which was eluted by 3ml binary system aqueous solution, 10 ml water thrice, and then I ml ethanol. The biodistribution (% ID/g) of 11C-CFN in SD rats was studied. SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Non-normal distribution data were analyzed using nonparametric test. Results The synthesis time for 11C-CFN was 20 min (end of bombardment, EOB). The synthesis yield was (35.5 ± 2.2) % on average (n = 12, uncorrected)with the radiochemical purity over 98%. Biodistribution study in rats showed that the tracer had a high brain uptake, rapid blood clearance, and a metabolic pathway via liver and kidney. The highest tracer uptake was in thalamus (4.26 ± 0.89) % ID/g and striatum (4.05 ± 1.08) % ID/g at 5 min after injection, followed by cerebral cortex (2.63±0.89) %ID/g, pons (2.26 ±0.57) % ID/g, hippocampus (2. 17 ±0.55) %ID/g and cerebellum (2. 15 ±0.39) %ID/g. Conclusions The automatic synthesis of 11C-CFN is fast and reliable, and this radioligand can be used for opiate receptor imaging.

OBJECTIVESTo study the change of telomerase activity in rat spermatogonia when the telomerase RNA was enclosed, and reactivity of the change to cytokine(SCF, TGF-beta 1).

METHODSThe antisense oligonucleotides(PS-ASON) of telomerase was transfected into proliferating spermatogonia in vitro with the liposomes as the vector. Then the cytokine, stem cell factor (SCF) or transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-beta 1), was added. The proliferative activity of the spermatogonia was determined before and after the inhibition by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide]assay. The change of telomerase activity was detected by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP).

RESULTS1 mumol/L PS-ASON obviously downregulated the telomerase activity and inhibited spermatogonia proliferation. When the inhibition was over, the activity recovered to some extent(P < 0.01). Growth factors can regulate the spermatogonia after inhibition, SCF may improve the activity of telomerase and the proliferation of spermatogonia. Adversely, TGF-beta 1 may inhibit the recovery of telomerase activity.

CONCLUSIONSTo inhibit spermatogonia telomerase activity antisensely can limit the proliferation of spermatogonia efficiently, which was regulated by cytokine. This method might be a new and efficient way in male birth control.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; pharmacology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Male ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Stem Cell Factor ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of the chloride channel dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on the cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells in the mouse.

METHODSTM4 Sertoli cells were cultured and treated with CFTR(inh)-172 at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L for 48 hours. Then the cytotoxicity of CFT(inh)-172 was assessed by CCK-8 assay, the expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub in the TM4 Sertoli cells detected by immunofluorescence assay, and those of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin determined by qPCR.

RESULTSCFTR(inh)-172 produced cytotoxicity to the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration of 20 μmol/L. The expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub were decreased gradually in the TM4 Sertoli cells with the prolonging of treatment time and increasing concentration of CFTR(inh)-172 (P < 0.05). The results of qPCR showed that different concentrations of CFTR(inh)-172 worked no significant influence on the mRNA expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin in the Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThe CFTR chloride channel plays an important role in maintaining the normal cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells. The reduced function and expression of the CFTR chloride channel may affect the function of Sertoli cells and consequently spermatogenesis of the testis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cytoskeleton ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; Thiazolidines ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of FICTION (Fluorescence Immunophenotyping and Interphase Cytogenetics as a Tool for the Investigation of Neoplasms) technique, combining immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), to detect genetic aberrations in multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSBone marrow samples were collected from 18 MM and 2 plasma cell leukemia (PCL) patients. Probes targeting IgH and MMSET were prepared using a Nick Translation Kit from Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. The immunophenotyping was achieved via the CD138 tyramide signal amplification (TSA)-mediated immunofluorescence, followed by FISH with the prepared probes \[t(4;14), t(11;14), t(14;16)\] and the commercial deletion probes (13q and p53) to detect common genetic aberrations in MM.

RESULTSAll the 20 samples were assayed with the probes mentioned above, and revealed 4 cases with t(4;14), 6 with t(11;14), 1 with t(14;16), 3 with p53 deletion; and 8 with 13q deletion. The remaining 4 cases had none of the 5 aberrations.

CONCLUSIONFICTION technique facilitates the detection of genetic abnormalities of MM in situ; enhances both efficiency and sensitivity of positive detection, thus, could be used as the screening test of molecular diagnosis of MM to guide coming-up risk-adapted therapy and evaluate prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo elucidate that diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) can be used to predict the injured regions of neonatal brain with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in the early phase of injury, and to measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the multiple regions of the brain.

METHODThe participants in this study were twenty-six infants with HIE from neonatology ward hospitalized between July 2006 and July 2009. Nineteen patients had severe HIE, and seven had moderate HIE. DWI and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed for each case within the first 72 hrs. The ADC values of eight regions of interest (ROIs) were measured in ten cases with severe HIE (ADC values group). ROIs included posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), ventrolateral thalami, basal ganglia, perirolandic cortex, occipital cortex, centrum semiovale, brainstem, and frontal white matter. Twelve neonates were enrolled as the control subjects.

RESULTSDuring the first 72 hrs, the conventional MRI of 26 patients showed subarachnoid hemorrhage in 5, subdural hemorrhage in 2, and mild high signal intensity in the cortex of only one patient. In the 19 cases with severe HIE, abnormal signal intensities were seen in ventrolateral thalami and perirolandic cortex of 17 patients (89%), and the remaining 2 infants showed abnormal cortex and subcortical white matter. In 7 cases with moderate HIE, 4 had abnormal signal intensity in the cortex and subcortical white matter, 2 had abnormal periventricular white matter, and only one showed abnormal signal intensity in the ventrolateral thalami and perirolandic cortex. In the ADC values group, the average ADC values of posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), ventrolateral thalami, basal ganglia, perirolandic cortex, occipital cortex, centrum semiovale, brainstem, and frontal white matter respectively were 0.68 (0.56 - 0.88), 0.73 ± 0.13, 0.67 ± 0.11, 0.78 ± 0.22, 0.90 ± 0.16, 0.87 ± 0.21, 0.73 ± 0.19, 1.32 ± 0.22 × 10(-3) mm(2)/S. In the control group, the average ADC values of posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), ventrolateral thalami, basal ganglia, perirolandic cortex, occipital cortex, centrum semiovale, brainstem, and frontal white matter respectively were 0.96 (0.95 - 1.02), 1.02 ± 0.90, 1.15 ± 0.99, 1.08 ± 0.07, 1.09 ± 0.08, 1.39 ± 0.20, 0.96 ± 0.05, 1.58 ± 0.18× 10(-3) mm(2)/S. There was statistically significant difference in the average ADC values between each of 8 ROIs of infants with HIE and healthy neonates (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the first days after birth, the major injured regions of severe HIE were ventrolateral thalami and perirolandic cortex, the minor injured regions were cortex and subcortical white matter. Multiple regions of moderate HIE were injured, including cortex with subcortical white matter, periventricular white matter, and ventrolateral thalami with perirolandic cortex. The ADC values of the regions with abnormal signal intensity decreased, also some regions with the normal signal intensity.

Brain ; pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of P-selectin (Ps), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in lung tissues of acute lung injury (ALI) rat model induced by oleic acid (OA) and to explore the protective effects of melatonin (MT) in lung tissues in rats.

METHODSAll rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, OA group, MT + OA group and SB203580 + OA group. Rat model of ALI was established by intravenous injection of oleic acid (OA). Lung coefficient was measured, lung tissues were imbedded by paraffin to observe morphological changes and the expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB in lung tissues by means of immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the lung coefficient increased significantly in OA group (P < 0.05). Alveolar septum thickened significantly in OA group, there had many infiltrated inflammatory cells and collapsed alveoli of lung; positive expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB were very obvious (P < 0.05); the administration of MT and SB203580 mitigated above changes significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMT possesses obviously protective effect on lung tissues during ALI, its protective mechanism might be related to the inhibition of the expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oleic Acid ; adverse effects ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo evaluate the neurobiological characteristics of human histio-amniotic mesenchymal (hAMCs) and effect of hAMCs transplantation into the brain to treat Parkinson's disease(PD) modle mice.MethodsThe expressions of mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, dopaminergic neurons and markers related to neurogenesis such as Vimentin, STRO-1, nestin, CD133, β-tubulin, TH, DAT, Ngn2 and mash-1 in hAMCs were evaluated through immunocytochemical stain; and the mRNA transcriptions of neural stem cell markers, Vimentin and nestin in hAMCs were detected by RT-PCR. The PD model was induced by MPTP(i.p.) in C57BL/6 mice transplanted with hAMCs into the right striatum. The therapeutical effect of hAMCs on PD mice was evaluated by spontaneous movement, rotating bar test and the immunohistochemistry of anti-human chondrosome and TH antibodies in striatum.ResultshAMCs induced by nerve cells culture medium, expressed mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, dopaminergic neurons and other specific markers related to neurogenesis mentioned above. The frequency of spontaneous movement in PD mice was significantly increased(P<0-05), and the time of rotating bar was obviously prolonged(P<0-05) after transplantation with hAMCs.ConclusionhAMCs possess the characteristics of nerve cells after cultured in vitro and can significantly recover the damage of motor function induced by MPTP after transplantation into striatum in PD model mice.

Objective To understand the correlation between the sleep duration and the dangerous self-injurious behaviors of junior school students in Shanghai.Methods By using systematic sampling methods, 21 junior schools were randomly selected from 17 districts in Shanghai.By using simple random sampling methods, 2 classes were randomly selected from each grade of students from each of the selected junior schools.By using the Survey Questionnaire for Health-related Behaviors of Teenagers in Shanghai(junior school students'edition), questionnaire surveys were performed to investigate the sleep duration and the related dangerous self-injurious behaviors of junior school students.Results A total of 6 414 students (of which male students occupied 49.1% and female students occupied 50.9%) were surveyed and the pass rate of questionnaires was 99.55%.The average age of the students surveyed was 13.28±1.84.21.1% of the students surveyed slept less than 7 hours every day, 69.6% thereof slept 7-8 hours every day and 9.3% thereof slept 9 hours or more every day.In the past 12 months, 47.2% of the students surveyed often felt lonely,71.3% thereof felt unhappy because of study stress or unsatisfactory school records and 9.3% thereof cancelled their daily activities for 2 weeks or more because of feeling sad and desperate.11.7% of the students surveyed conducted self-injurious behaviors, 11.9% thereof contemplated suicide, 6.9% thereof made plans for suicide.The sleep duration of the students surveyed was negatively correlated with the rate of psychological depression related to self-injuries as well as the self-injurious behaviors thereof.Conclusion Lack of sleep is common among junior school students in Shanghai, and sleep insufficiency is correlated with self-injurious psychology and behaviors.which suggests that it is very much necessary to provide junior school students with education that improves sleep.

OBJECTIVETo search the marker proteins of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-associated Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) by comparing the protein maps of GBS-associated C. jejuni strains with that of non-GBS-associated C. jejuni strains.

METHODSThe whole-cell proteins of eight GBS-associated and eight non-GBS-associated C. jejuni strains were separated using the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis respectively. The differentially expressed proteins between the two sets of strains were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) after in-gel tryptic digestion.

RESULTSTwenty differentially expressed spots were found with seventeen identified ones using MSCOT database. These proteins were identified as wlaX protein and some other proteins involving in energy metabolism (malate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase, Ni/Fe-hydrogenase small chain, cysteine synthase, branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase), cell process (heat shock protein, iron-uptake ABC transport system periplasmic iron-binding protein, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase), cell envelope (flagellin, UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvoylglucosamine reductase) etc.

CONCLUSIONWlaX proteins were probably associated with LPS biosynthesis or virulence of C. jejuni. WlaX protein and flagellin protein were the possible marker-proteins of GBS-associated C. jejuni strains.

Campylobacter jejuni ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Feces ; microbiology ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; microbiology ; Humans ; Proteomics