Objective To explore the causes and treatment of gastrointestinal complications after anterior approach for thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 153 cases with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation undergone anterior approach from Jan- uary 1999 to October 2003.Postoperative gastrointestinal complication was seen in 15 cases including sev- en with dynamic intestinal obstructions,three with stress ulcer,three with intestinal bacteria imbalance, one with tuberculosis peritonitis resulted from dissemination of primary tuberculosis,and one with acute relapse of chronic appendicitis.Results All patients were effectively cured by using corresponding methods in regard of different causes.Conclusions(1)Gastrointestinal complications following ante- rior approach for thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation are mainly resulted from following causes,ie,se- rious primary trauma,primary gastrointestinal vegetative nerve injury or that caused by surgical operation, intraoperative contusions of abdominal viscera,postoperative retroperitoneal hematoma,acute lesion of gastric mucous membrane as well as imbalance of intestinal flora.(2)Correct treatment of primary trau- ma,meticulous operation,reasonable utility of antibiotics and appropriate management can effectively prevent and control gastrointestinal complications.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Gushen Peiyuan Recipe (GPR) on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA in Shen-yang-deficiency (SYD) rats suffering from cochlea apoptosis, thus providing a theoretical basis to the treatment and prevention of sensorineural hearing loss and fill Chinese medine's theory of kidney-ear-correlation with new substance.

METHODSRats were induced into experimental SYD animal models by injecting cetacort into their buttocks. Rats in the blank and model groups were given 10 mL/kg normal saline by gastrogavage, and 31 g/kg, 15.5 g/kg and 7.5 g/kg GPR were given to the rats in the high, medium and low dose groups by gastrogavage respectively. RT-PCR was adopted to detect the mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax.

RESULTSLevels of Bcl-2 mRNA expression and Bcl-2/Bax enhanced, and mRNA expression of Bax attenuated in the model rats after GPR treatment, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased, showing insignificant difference when compared with the blank control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGPR plays a significant role in regulating the mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax, therefore improving the hearing of SYD rats and protecting the structure and function of cochlea.

Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of pulmonary complication in patients with cervical spine fiactures and concurrent cervical cord injury in Wenchuan earthquake. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among the 9 patients with cervical spine fractures and cervical cord injuries treated in our department between May 12 to August 6, 2008. Results All the patients received surgical treatment for cervical spine fractures and cervical cord injuries. Six of the patients developed pulmonary complications 5 days after the injury, including 3 patients with pneumonia, 2 with ventilation disorder, and 1 with lung edema and hemopnenmothorax. Aggressive respiratory management was administered in these patients, and the pulmonary complications were effectively controlled. Conclusion Patients with cervical spine fractures and concurrent cervical cord injury often experience severe pulmonary complications during the acute phase (<5 days), which can be more likely in patients with high level injury, chest trauma, old age, preexisting pulmonary illnesses or smoking history. Early detection of the complications results in better therapeutic effect with conservative therapy.

The study was aimed to investigate the expression of stromal cell derived factor (SDF-1) in bone marrow (BM) and its relation with apoptosis of BM CD34(+) cell and angiogenesis in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 40 patients with MDS were divided into low-risk group and high-risk group according to IPSS score system. BM samples were collected. SDF-1 levels, the apoptosis of CD34(+) cells and microvessel density (MVD) of BM were detected by ELISA, flow cytometry and immunochemistry, respectively. The results showed that the SDF-1 level in MDS patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls(p < 0.05), and SDF-1 level in low-risk group was significantly higher than that in high-risk group. Apoptosis of CD34(+) cells significantly increased in low-risk group compared with other groups (p < 0.05). MVD in BM biopsy significantly increased in high-risk MDS group (p < 0.05), compared with low-risk MDS group which also had higher MVD than the control group (p < 0.05). Positive correlation was found between apoptosis of CD34(+) cells and SDF-1 levels in low-risk group, and SDF-1 level and MVD in high-risk group. It is concluded that the expression of SDF-1, apoptosis of BM CD34(+) cells and MVD were significantly abnormal in MDS patients, especially in different risk group, suggesting that SDF-1 level is related to cell apoptosis and angiogenesis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of SHP-1 promoter methylation on the pathogenesis and progression in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and its related mechanism.

METHODS63 MDS patients were divided into low-grade (LG) group and high-grade (HG) group according to IPSS score system. Bone marrow samples were collected. Methylation specific-PCR (MSP) were used to detect the status of SHP-1 promoter methylation in bone marrow (BM) samples from different risk MDS patients and MDS cell line, SKK-1. Western blot was used to detect signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT3) activation in SKK-1 cell line and MDS patients.

RESULTSNo SHP-1 promoter methylation could be detected in healthy controls BM. Partially methylation was found in SKK-1 cell line. Methylation rate of SHP-1 gene promoter was found in BM of 24.2% of low-grade MDS patients and 63.3% of high-grade MDS patients, the difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05); Patients were divided into different groups according to WHO subtype, chromosomal karyotype and blast cells in bone marrow, methylation rates of SHP-1 were significantly higher in RAEB-II, poor karyotype group and samples with 0.11-0.19 blast cells (P < 0.05); The phosphorylation protein of STAT3 was detected in SKK-1 cell line. The expression of phosphorylation STAT3 was significantly higher in HG group than in LG group (66.7% vs 18.2%) (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between SHP-1 promoter methylation and STAT3 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal methylation of SHP-1 gene promoter might have tentative role in the pathogenesis and progression of MDS, which may be involved in STAT3 activation. Detection of SHP-1 promoter methylation may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of MDS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of insulin on vascular endothelial cells of rats at early post-burn stage,and its mechanism.

METHODSAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: i. e, sham scald group (n = 7), scald group (n = 7) and treatment group (n = 7). The rats in the latter 2 groups were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness burns with 94 degrees C water, and the sham scald rats were treated with 37 degrees C water. Intra-peritoneal injection of 40 ml/kg isotonic saline solution and subcutaneous injection of 3 units/kg insulin were given to the rats in treatment group after being subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness burns. Subcutaneous injection of equal amount of isotonic saline was given to the sham and burn groups. The changes in vascular endothelial cell structure were observed with electron microscopy at 24 post-scald hours(PSH). Meanwhile, the blood glucose contents, the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) were determined with oxidase method and colorimetric method, respectively.

RESULTSThe injury of arterial endothelial cells in the treatment group was obviously alleviated compared with that in burn group. The blood glucose content in the treatment group (7.1 +/- 0.7 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that in scald group (8.2 +/- 1.0 mmol/L, P < 0.05), though it was much higher in both groups than that in sham scald group (4.9 +/- 0.8 mmol/L, P < 0.01) at 24 PBH. The serum content of NO, total NOS and cNOS in treatment group were obviously higher than those in scald group (P < 0.01), but there was no obvious difference in iNOS content between the two groups(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInsulin exhibits protective effect on vascular endothelial cells in severely scalded rats at the early post-burn stage, and it is attributed to its promotion of cNOS level leading to NO production.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Anus, Imperforate ; surgery ; Colon ; abnormalities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Ischium ; abnormalities ; Treatment Outcome ; Twins, Conjoined ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effects of insulin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation of vascular endothelial cells induced by burn serum and its correlative mechanism.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and divided into 5 groups: blank control group (BC, ordinary culture without any stimulation), normal serum control group (NS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% healthy human serum), burn serum stimulation group (BS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum), burn serum+insulin treatment group (BI, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum and 1x10(-7) mol/L insulin), inhibitor pretreatment group [IP, pretreated with 50 micromol/L protein kinase B (Akt) specific inhibitor LY-294002, then cultured with the same medium as used in BI group 30 minutes later] according to the random number table. Six hours later, the injury and apoptosis of HUVECs was respectively observed by the scanning electron microscope and determined by the flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B-alpha (p-IkappaB-alpha) and Akt (p-Akt) in cytoplasm, and the content of NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were determined with Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with those in BC group, HUVECs in BS group shrank obviously with irregular nuclear structure, and intercellular links jagged or vanished. Slight change was observed in HUVECs structure in NS and BI groups, with the cell ductility and nuclear structure much better than those in BS group. (2) The apoptosis rates of HUVECs in BS group [(28.5+/-2.3)%], BI group [(22.3+/-1.8)%], and IP group [(29.7+/-2.4)%] were all obviously higher than that in BC group [(15.7+/-2.2)%, F=14.288, P<0.05 or P<0.01]. There was no significant statistical difference between NS group [(17.0+/-2.5)%] and BC group in apoptosis rate (F=14.288, P>0.05). The apoptosis rate of HUVECs in BI group was obviously lower than that in BS group (F=14.288, P<0.05). (3) Compared with those in BC group, the protein expressions of p-IkappaB-alpha in cytoplasm and NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were up-regulated, and the protein expression of p-Akt in cytoplasm was down-regulated in BS and IP groups. The expression levels of the three proteins in NS and BI groups were close to those in BC group.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin could inhibit the IkappaB phosphorylation, and then restrict NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and improve the vascular endothelial cells function accordingly through regulating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway.

Apoptosis ; Burns ; blood ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Serum ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the supernatant of heat injured keratinocytes (KC) on biological behavior of the dermal fibroblasts (Fb).

METHODSHuman dermal Fb were isolated and cultured. A model of heat injured KC (HaCaT) was reproduced in vitro. Supernatant of normal KC and the supernatant of KC culture 12 hours after heat injury were collected and diluted with non-serum DMEM in 1:1 volume ratio to make normal KC conditioned medium (NKCM) and heat injury KC conditioned medium (HKCM) respectively. Fb was respectively treated with non-serum DMEM and 2 kinds of conditioned medium. (1) The proliferation of Fb was detected with MTT method at post culture hour (PCH) 12, 24, 36, 48. (2) The apoptosis of Fb was determined by flow cytometry at PCH 12 (Fb were heat injured in advance; Fb without heat treatment was used as control). (3) At PCH 24, expression of a-SMA in Fb cytoplasm was determined with immunofluorescence method; expression of a-SMA mRNA in Fb was determined with real-time quantified PCR. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, and pairwise comparison among groups with LSD-t test.

RESULTS(1) The proliferation of Fb: the absorbance value of Fb cultured with HKCM at PCH 12, 24, 36, 48 was respectively higher than that of Fb cultured with non-serum DMEM (with t value respectively 1.89, 2.35, 2.02, 1.94, and P values all below 0.01). There were significant statistical differences between the absorbance values of Fb cultured with HKCM and those of Fb cultured with NKCM at PCH 12, 24, and 48 (at PCH 12, t = 1.83, P < 0.01; at PCH 24, t = 2.91, P < 0.05; at PCH 48, t = 1.83, P < 0.05). (2) Apoptosis of Fb cultured with HKCM was diminished as compared with that of Fb cultured with NKCM and of Fb without treatment (t = 3.31, P < 0.05; t = 1.47, P < 0.01). (3) The expression of alpha-SMA (red fluorescence) in Fb cultured with non-serum DMEM or NKCM was less as seen under fluorescence scope, and it was obviously increased in Fb cultured with HKCM. (4) The relative expression amount of alpha-SMA mRNA in Fb cultured with HKCM was 1.32 +/- 0.06, which was higher than that both in Fb cultured with NKCM (1.14 +/- 0.07, t = 2.51, P < 0.05) and in Fb cultured with non-serum DMEM (1.00 +/- 0.09, t = 1.77, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe supernatant of KC 12 hours after heat injury can obviously promote the proliferation of Fb, inhibit its apoptosis and accelerate transdifferentiation of Fb to myofibroblasts.

Actins ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Heat Stress Disorders ; Hot Temperature ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect over-expression of AChR-gamma mRNA in rhabdomyosarcoma tissues by duplex RT-PCR and discuss its potential in diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.

METHODSDuplex RT-PCR was applied to the simultaneous detection of AChR-alpha and gamma subunit messenger RNA in 17 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (9 ERMS, 6 ARMS, 2 PRMS). 20 cases of non-rhabdomyosarcomous small round cell tumors (6 poorly differentiated synovial sarcomas, 6 ES/PNET, 6 lymphomas, 2 neuroblastomas) and three normal muscle samples were also detected for AChR-alpha and gamma mRNA by the same method.

RESULTSAChR-alpha and AChR-gamma mRNA were expressed in all the cases of rhabdomyosarcoma. The rate of quantity in both transcripts was AChR-gamma/AChR-alpha >or= 1, but the rate for three normal muscle samples was < 1. Cases of non-rhabdomyosarcomous small round cell tumors were all negative for AChR-gamma.

CONCLUSIONAChR-gamma mRNA expression detected by molecular genetic methods is useful in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Protein Subunits ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; diagnosis