OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps, as well as the management of donor site defects.

METHODS17 free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps were applied for the traumatic defects or deformities on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg, respectively. The donor site defects were closed directly or covered by paraumbilical island flaps.

RESULTSThe 17 flap size ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 19 cm x 14 cm. 16 flaps survived completely except 1 flap with partial necrosis, which was closed by free skin graft. The donor site defects were closed directly in 10 cases, and covered by paraumbilical island flaps in 7 flaps without no flap necrosis. The abdomen had a good appearance.

CONCLUSIONSGood appearance can be achieved with free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps for the defects on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg. Paraumbilical island flap can be used for the donor site defects.

Arteries ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplant Donor Site ; surgery ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo prepare a sustained-release formulation of traditional Chinese medicine compound recipe by adopting time-controlled release techniques.

METHODShuxiong tablets were chosen as model drug. The prescription and technique of core tablets were formulated with selecting disintegrating time and swelling volume of core tablets in water as index. The time-controlled release tablets were prepared by adopting press-coated techniques, using PEG6000, HCO and EVA as coating materials. The influences of compositions, preparation process and dissolution conditions in vitro on the lag time (T(lag)) of drug release were investigated.

RESULTThe composition of core tablets was as follow: 30% of drug, 50% MCC and 20% CMS-Na. The T(lag) of time-controlled release tablets was altered remarkably by PEG6000 content of the outer layer, the amount of outer layer and hardness of tablet. The viscosity of dissolution media and basket rotation had less influence on the T(lag) but more on rate of drug release.

CONCLUSIONThe core tablets pressed with the optimized composition had preferable swelling and disintegrating properties. The shuxiong sustained-release formulations which contained core tablet and two kinds of time-controlled release tablets with 3 h and 6 h of T(lag) could release drug successively at 0 h, 3 h and 6 h in vitro. The technique made it possible that various components with extremely different physicochemical properties in these preparations could release synchronously.

Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Castor Oil ; analogs & derivatives ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hardness ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Povidone ; analogs & derivatives ; Tablets

BACKGROUND: The size of artificial disc is not exactly identical to cervical vertebral endplate. However, the effect of implant size on cervical disc replacement has not yet been clearly identified. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Bryan disc size on cervical artificial disc replacement. METHODS: Totally 71 patients with cervical degenerative disease underwent single-level Bryan disc replacement from December 2003 to December 2007 were enrolled. The average age was (45.90±8.12) years old, and all patients were followed up for more than 10 years. The artificial disc size was measured using lateral X-ray films, and expressed as (Bryan artificial disc's footprint sagittal diameter×2) / (upper endplate sagittal diameter + lower endplate's sagittal diameter)×100%. X-ray films were photographed to measure motion range of the treated segment before surgery, 3 months after surgery, and during final follow-up. Clinical outcomes, including Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, Neck Disability Index and Odom's scores, were evaluated before and after operation. Observational indexes of different disc sizes (≥95% and <95% groups) were compared and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There were 49 patients in the ≥95% group and 22 patients in the <95% group. (2) At 3-month follow-up, range of motion was significantly smaller in the <95% group than in the ≥95% group (P < 0.01). At the final follow-up, range of motion was significantly smaller in the <95% group than in the ≥95% group (P < 0.05). (3) At final follow-up, improvement rate of Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was (70.65±32.58)% in the <95% group and (68.83±38.85)% in the ≥95% group, and no significant difference was detected between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) At final follow-up, Neck Disability Index decreased by (10.82±7.50)% in the <95% group, and (12.61±8.51)% in the ≥95% group, and no significant difference was detected between the two groups (P > 0.05). (5) At final follow-up, Odem's score results showed excellent in 10 cases (45%), good in 9 cases (41%) and average in 3 cases (14%) in the <95% group; and excellent in 26 cases (53%), good in 20 cases (41%) and average in 3 cases (6%) in the ≥95% group, and no significant difference was detected between the two groups (P > 0.05). (6) Results suggest that different sizes of artificial disc replacement have obtained good functional recovery, but small artificial disc may impact the range of motion. We should try to avoid placing the artificial disc smaller than 95%.

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP),and discuss the action of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a control group,a model group and an acupuncture group by using the random number table.Rats in the model and acupuncture groups received intramuscular heroin injection for successive 8 d at a progressively increased dose.Afterwards,the injection was suspended for 5 d for withdrawal.The heroin relapse rat model was established by repeating the drug addiction and withdrawal process for 3 times.The control group followed the step of the model establishment,but was given intramuscular injection of normal saline at the stage of addiction and no intervention at the stage of withdrawal;the model group was given intramuscular heroin injection at a progressively increased dose at the addiction stage and no intervention at the withdrawal stage;the acupuncture group was dealt in the same way as the model group at the addiction stage,but received acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) at the withdrawal stage,with the needles retained for 30 min each time,1 session a day,for successive 5 d.On the 39th day,brain tissues were extracted from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the three groups of rats.The apoptosis of brain nerve cells was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling (TUNEL).The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin (Ub),ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) and 26S were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results:Compared with the model group,rat's hippocampus and VTA in the acupuncture group showed significantly fewer cells positively stained by TUNEL staining (P＜0.01),and its mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3,26S were significantly lower (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Reducing nerve cell apoptosis and regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3 and 26S in rat's hippocampus and VTA are possibly one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.

Objective To observes the change of early effective biomarkers of endothelial injury with lowarsenic exposure in drinking water. MethodsNinety rurad residents, who had lived in Yanhe village, Xuyi county and Jiangsu province for at least 10 years, were recruited by simple random sampling in this study. The level of arsenic in their household shallow well were divided into three groups, which were ＜ 10 (32 people), 10 - 50(28 people) and ＞ 50 μg/L(30 people). Blood samples from individuals were collected. Malondialdehyde(MDA) in human plasma, which is considered as the most important marker for monitoring lipid peroxidation, was determined as conjugate with tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate(TBA). The level of anti-superoxide anion radical(O-·2),C-reactive protein(CRP) and NO in human plasma was measured with colorimetry, turbidimetry and nitric acid reductase, respectively. The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells(CEPCs) in peripheral blood was analyzed by CD133+/KDR+ antibodies and flow cytometry. Results Ninety cases underwent questionnaires. Between the groups, the difference of the levels of MDA (61.1, 65.5, 67.5 μmol/kg), O-·2 (4774.6, 5143.3, 4736.0 U/kg) ,CRP[(5.92 ± 2.44), (5.11 ± 2.40), (5.55 ± 2.96)mg/L], and NO[(659.8 ± 387.5), (667.4 ± 486.6), (762.1 ±763.2)μmol/kg], was not statistically significant (F =0.00, 0.46, 0.80, 0.47, all P ＞ 0.05). The difference of the number of CEPCs in different groups of arsenic in drinking water was statistically significant(0.96 x 10-5, 0.77 x 10-5,1.59 x 10-5, F=5.08, P＜ 0.05), where ＜ 10, 10 - 50 μg/L groups were significantly lower than ＞ 50 μg/L group (q =4.58, 6.65, all P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsThe number of CEPCs in peripheral blood changes significantly with lower-arsenic exposure, whereas there are no obvious changes with the markers of oxidized damage and inflammation. This is the first human demonstration showing that lower-arsenic exposure may cause endothelial injury.

Objective To observe the effects of penetrance,different time of onset and mutation sites on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study.A total of 88 patients with LHON and 1492 relatives of the maternal relatives (gene carriers) who received treatment in People's Liberation Army General Hospital from 2015 to 2017 were included in the study.Among the 1492 family members,there were 694 males and 798 females.Peripheral venous blood was extracted from all subjects for mitochondrial DNA testing,and penetrance was calculated.A total of 117 patients underwent BCVA and SD-OCT examinations,including 82 patients and 35 gene carriers.The BCVA examination was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart,which was converted into logMAR visual acuity.The thickness of RNFL,ganglion cell complex (GCC) and inner limiting membrane (ILM)-RPE were measured with OCT instrument.The mean follow-up was 50.02± 86.27 months.The disease course was divided into 6 stages including ≤3 months,4-6 months,7-12 months and ＞ 12 months.The thickness of RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE in patients with different time of onset and mutation sites were comparatively analyzed by covariance analysis.Categorical variables were expressed as a percentage,and the x2 test was used for comparison among multiple groups.Results Among the 1492 family members,285 were diagnosed with LHON and highly suspected clinical manifestations (19.10％),including 190 males (21.98％) and 95 females (11.90％).The total penetrance rates of 11778,14484 and rare mutation sites were 19.84％ (228/1149),20.50％ (33/161),and 13.19％ (24/182) respectively;male penetrance rates were 28.87％ (153/530),27.28％ (20/72),and 18.48％ (17/92) and female penetrance rates were 12.12％ (75/619),14.61％ (13/89) and 7.78％ (7/90).There was no significant difference in total (x2=4.732),male (x2=4.263) and female (x2=4.263) penetrance between different mutation sites (P=0.094,0.110,0.349).Compared with non-pathogenic carriers,the thickness of the RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE were all different in the four stages (≤3months,4-6 months,7-12 months and ＞12 months).The thickness ofRNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE decreased with the time of onset (P=0.000).There were significant differences in the thickness of each of the GCC and ILM-RPE layers in the macular area of LHON patients with different mutation sites (P＜ 0.05).Among them,the site 11778 and 3460 had the most severe damage in all quadrants of macular GCC and ILM-RPE layer,followed by 14484 site,and the rare site had the least damage in all quadrants.Conclusions The penetrance of LHON patients is 19.10％.With the extension of the onset time (within 1 year),the RNFL layer of the optic disc and all quadrants of the macular GCC and ILM-RPE layer gradually thinned.Compared with 11778 and rare site,14484 site,and the rare site had the lighter damage on the thickness of RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of Shehuang Paste (SHP) to the hemodynamics, endotoxin, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites.

METHODSFifty-nine cases of refractory cirrhotic ascites were randomly assigned to two groups, 32 cases in the treatment group and 27 cases in the control group. The basic treatment was the same for both groups, including liver protecting medicines, diuretics and supportive drugs, but SHP navel sticking was applied for the treatment group additionally once a day. A course of one month of treatment was applied and the general efficacy on ascites was observed by the end of the therapeutic course. Before and after the treatment, examinations by limulus lysate chromogenic test was conducted to measure plasma endotoxin content; colorimetry to measure plasma content of NO indirectly, radioimmunoassay to measure plasma ET-1 content; and color Doppler ultrasonography to measure the blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein. The relationship between the blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein and endotoxin, NO and ET-1 in the treatment group was analyzed as well.

RESULTSThe total effective rate on ascites was 84.4% in the treatment group, and 48. 1% in the control group, with significant difference shown between them (P<0.01). In the treatment group the blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein, contents of endotoxin, NO and ET-1 all got significantly reduced after treatment ( P<0.05 or P<0.01); while these indexes in the control group were not significantly changed ( P 0.05). Moreover, it was found that in the treatment group, the blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein had a positive correlation to the levels of NO, ET-1, and endotoxin, either before or after treatment.

CONCLUSIONApplication of SHP navel sticking could clearly reduce the blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein, and lower the content of endotoxin, NO and ET-1. The blood flow of portal vein and splenic vein in the treatment group showed a positive correlation with the contents of endotoxin, NO and ET-1. liver cirrhosis, refractory ascites, vasoactive substance, hemodynamics

Adult ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Portal Vein ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Regional Blood Flow ; drug effects ; Sodium ; metabolism

PURPOSE: Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychostimulant. It is often adopted as a tool to modulate brain activations in fMRI studies. However, its pharmaceutical effect on task-induced deactivation has not been fully examined in fMRI. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine on both activation and deactivation under sustained attention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Task fMRI was acquired from 26 caffeine naive healthy volunteers before and after taking caffeine pill (200 mg). RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed an increase in cognition-load dependent task activation but a decrease in load dependent de-activation after caffeine ingestion. Increase of attention and memory task activation and its load-dependence suggest a beneficial effect of caffeine on the brain even though it has no overt behavior improvement. The reduction of deactivation by caffeine and its load-dependence indicate reduced facilitation from task-negative networks. CONCLUSION: Caffeine affects brain activity in a load-dependent manner accompanied by a disassociation between task-positive network and task-negative network.
Brain ; Caffeine* ; Eating* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efferent pathway from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the inner ear.

METHODSEleven adult cats weighing 2.0 - 3.0 kg were used. The animals had no middle-ear disease and their auricle reflex was sensitive to sound. They were divided into experimental group (8 cats) and control group (3 cases). The fluorescent tracer cholera toxin subunit-B (CTB) was injected into cat cochlea and the CTB-labelled neurons of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were identified using an immunofluorescence technique after a survival period of 7 days. For studying other fluorescence labelling, the sections containing CTB-labelled neurons were divided into four groups and incubated in antisera directed against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin (5-HT), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine B-hydroxylase (DBH), respectively. Single-and double-labelled neurons were identified from the DRN.

RESULTS(1) A subpopulation of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurons were intensely labelled with CTB and these CTB-labelled neurons were densely distributed in a dorsomedial part of the DRN; (2) Four immunolabelling, TH, 5-HT, GABA and DBH were presented throughout the DRN. Of the total population of CTB-labelled neurons, 100% were TH-labelled neurons (double labelling) and no double-stained neuron with 5-HT, GABA and DBH was observed in the DRN.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a projection from DRN to the inner ear and this pathway might be a dopaminergic projection.

Animals ; Cats ; Ear, Inner ; innervation ; metabolism ; Efferent Pathways ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Raphe Nuclei ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the alterations of saliva nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis.

METHODSParotid saliva and whole saliva were collected from 33 patients and 34 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in saliva were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Follow-up observation was performed on 10 patients after treatment. The data were statistically analyzed with independent-samples t test or paired-samples t test at alpha = 0.05.

RESULTSThere was significant increase of the concentrations and secretion rate of parotid saliva nitrate in patient group as compared with controls: (49.70 +/- 0.50) vs (21.51 +/- 0.60) mg/L (t = 2.692, P = 0.009) and (27.71 +/- 0.50) vs (12.55 +/- 0.60) microg/min (t = 2.554, P = 0.013), respectively. Significantly increased concentrations and secretion rate of nitrate and nitrite [nitrate: (6.46 +/- 0.94) vs (1.11 +/- 0.70) mg/L (t = 3.792, P = 0.000); nitrite: (8.48 +/- 0.58) vs (3.39 +/- 0.53) mg/L (t = 2.888, P = 0.005); nitrate secretion rate: (10.57 +/- 0.91) vs (2.10 +/- 0.74) microg/min (t = 3.464, P= 0.001); nitrite secretion rate: (13.91 +/- 0.55) vs (6.42 +/- 0.58) microg/min (t = 2.397, P = 0.020)] were revealed in whole saliva of patients group. Significantly decreased nitrate and nitrite levels were also observed in patients after treatment, especially the changes of parotid saliva nitrate secretion rate [(37.50 +/- 0.50) vs (14.34 +/- 0.64) microg/min (t = 3.142, P = 0.012)], whole saliva nitrate [(14.29 +/- 1.01) vs (2.59 +/- 1.03) mg/L (t = 3.475, P = 0.007)] and whole saliva nitrate secretion rate [(25.97 +/- 0.93) vs (4.12 +/- 1.00) microg/min (t = 3.922, P = 0.003)].

CONCLUSIONThe present study revealed the significant increase of salivary nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis is considered to be associated with the host defense reaction.

Adult ; Aged ; Candidiasis, Oral ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; Nitrites ; metabolism ; Saliva ; secretion ; Young Adult