Low back pain is becoming an important factor affecting people's quality of life, while the age of its onset is getting younger and younger, and the social and economic losses caused by low back pain are huge every year. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an important cause of low back pain. Due to multiple factors, biomechanical and structural changes occur in intervertebral disc tissue, including rupture of annulus fibrosus, protrusion of nucleus pulposus, which cause compression of spinal cord and nerve root, and lower back pain. Micro-RNA (miRNA) is a kind of single-stranded non-coding small molecule RNA, with 18-24 nucleotides in length, which exists widely in eukaryotes. As one of the important regulatory molecules of gene expression, it has been proved to play a key role in the initiation and progression of many diseases, and it may also play an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration. At present, the clinical treatment for IDD is mainly surgical treatment to alleviate clinical symptoms. Even if surgical treatment can achieve good results, it will bring great physical trauma and economic burden to patients. The role of miRNA in IDD is one of the hotspots in the current academic research. Studies have shown that miRNA has abnormal expression patterns in degenerative intervertebral disc tissues and participates in a variety of pathological processes of IDD. At present, some miRNAs have been proved to be related to a variety of pathological processes in IDD, including nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and proliferation, extracellular matrix degradation, autophagy, inflammation and cartilage endplate degeneration. The comparative study of gene chip showed that there were significant differences in the expression of some miRNAs between degenerative and normal nucleus pulposus cells. These differentially expressed miRNAs may be involved in the process of nucleus pulposus cell degeneration by regulating their respective upstream or downstream pathways. Most of the regulatory pathways are crossed and parallel, thus constructing a huge miRNA regulatory network. Understanding the target genes and mechanisms of miRNA in the pathogenic process can provide an important reference for the origin, development and prognosis of IDD. In this article, the important role of miRNA in IDD and the potential significance of clinical treatment are reviewed. With the in-depth study of miRNA and the molecular biological mechanism can provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of IDD, which is likely to become a new strategy for biological treatment of IDD.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the relativity between the time when the traumatic prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred and the change of the CT numerical value. METHODS: The CT numerical value of the vertebral pulp of herniation (denoted as A) and the CT numerical value of the vertebral pulp without herniation (denoted as B) were measured in for 198 patients and analyzed the relation between this parameter and the time when the prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred. RESULTS: It's found find out that there is relativity between the parameter and the time when the prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred, and this difference has the value for the statistics, when the parameter is at about -12 to -40 HU, the average value is -25.8 HU (A < B), it can be determined the prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred within 3 months ago. When the parameter is at about -13 to 0 HU, the average value is -6.6HU (A is similar with B), it can be determined the prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred at about 4-6 months ago. When the parameter is at about 37 to 289HU, the average value is 96.1 HU (A > B). It can be determined the prolapse of intervertebral disc occurred more than 12 months ago. CONCLUSION The approximate time can be determined when the prolapse of interverterbral disc occurred by the paremeter.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hernia/pathology* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/etiology* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To introduce a new technique for urethral coverage in Snodgrass hypospadias repair,and to evaluate its effectiveness and complications.Methods From April 2003 to February 2006, this new procedure was performed in 289 children with hypospadias aged 3 months to 12 years (mean age,2. 4 years).The native meatus of urethra was identified subcoronal in 78 cases,penile/shaft in 136,penoscrotal in 36 and scrotal in 16;and 23 cases had undergoneⅡstage operation and re-operation.The overlapping coverage with bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle was done in the new urethra by Snodgrass hy- pospadias repair in these children.Results All the cases were followed for 3 months to 2 years.Postoper- atively,urinary fistulas developed in 32 cases (11%).Of them,11 were cured spontaneously within 4 weeks. The incidence of actual urinary fistula was 7% (21/289).Of the 21 fistulas which were not cured,11 (5%) occurred in 214 cases of distal hypospadias;and 10 (13%) in 75 cases of proximal hypospadias,Ⅱstage and re-operation.No dehiscence and diverticulum was found.Combined with mucosal collar technique,the ventral skin of the penis was sewn on the midline.During the follow-up,excellent cosmetic results with normal-ap- pearing circumcised penis were achieved in most patients.Conclusions Bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle urethral coverage procedure is a reliable and effective method for preventing urethral cutaneous fistulas and dehiscence.This method can reconstruct a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the penis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the VMA/Cr and HVA/Cr of random urine in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma. METHODS: VMA/Cr and HVA/Cr were examined in 50 normal children and 11 cases of neuroblastoma (NB) aged 1 approximate, equals 5 years. The concentration of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-mandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in random urine collection were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and creatinine (Cr) analyzed by auto-biochemical analyzer. RESULTS: The normal range of VMA/Cr and HVA/Cr were <14.9 mmol/mol and <23.8 mmol/mol, respectively. The positive rate of VMA/Cr and HVA/Cr in NB patients was 90.9%. CONCLUSION: Determination of VMA/Cr and HVA/Cr in random urine collection can be used for NB diagnosis.

Objective To identify the association between body temperature and neurological outcome in post-arrest patients.Methods This was a multicenter,retrospective cohort study.In the period 1990-2011,a total of 184 patients resuscitated from IHCA with ROSC for more than 20 min were included.Data were collected according to Utstein style.The primary endpoint was hospital dis-charge with good neurological function (Cerebral Performance Category,CPC,1-2).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression was performed to determine the association between body temperature and neurologi-cal outcome.Results Among the 184 enrolled patients,37.0% (68/184)survived to hospital dis-charge,19.6% (36/184)survived to discharge with favorable neurological outcome(CPC,1-2).Mul-tivariate Logistic regression revealed that maximal body temperature between 35.5℃ and 38.4℃ was associated with favorable neurological outcomes (OR=8.986,95% CI 1.156-69.882;P =0.036). Conclusion For IHCA patients achieving spontaneous circulation, maximal body temperature between 35.5℃ and 38.4℃ in the initial 24 h following admission to ICU was associated with favora-ble neurological outcome.

Objective To report a three-generation Chinese family with freckle and to make a genetic linkage analysis in this family.MethodsGenetic linkage analysis was carried out in this family using microsatellite markers distributed over chromosome 4q and 1.Two-point logarithm of odds(LOD)scores were calculated using the Linkage program package(version 5.1),and haplotype was analyzed with Cyrillic version 2.01 software.Results Freckle was inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with a penetrance of99.9% in this family;linkage to chromosome 4q was ruled out however,supportive evidence was obtained for linkage to microsatellite markers D1S2635 and D1S2844 in chromosome 1q with a maximum LOD score of 1.50.Haplotype analysis in this family localized the locus of freckle to a 12 Mb region flanked by D1S2624 and D1S2799.Conclusions Freckle is a genetically heterogeneous disorder.The causative gene may be located in a 21.2 cM region on chromosome 1q22-24.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurring after renal transplantation.

METHODSWe reviewed a total population of 2045 adult kidney recipients between January 1998 and October 2012, 12 of which developed NHL. Their clinical features and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS12 patients with a median age of 52.5 (range: 30-68) years old, including 5 males and 7 females, were diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at a median interval of 84 (range: 12-253) months after transplantation. The incidences of developing NHL at 2-year, 5-year and 10-year were 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.44%, respectively. The locations of lymphoma were diverse, including central nervous system, stomach, liver, kidney, pancreas, uterus, ribs, sKin, soft palate and Waldeyer ring. After reduction of immunosuppression intensity, 3 cases received surgical therapy, 6 cases with chemotherapy, 1 case with surgery combined with chemotherapy, 1 case with chemotherapy combined with irradiation and 1 case without treatment. The overall response rate was 81.8%, including 8 cases with CR, 1 with PR and 2 with progression. During a median of 11.5 (range: 1 to 130) months follow-up, 3 patients died.

CONCLUSIONNHL was a rare but serious complication after renal transplantation occurred with bimodal distribution, which was symptomatic diversity and non- specificity. The most histopathological type was DLBCL. Reduction of immunosuppression intensity was not enough to get efficacy, and CHOP with or without rituximab was effective in the treatment of NHL after renal transplantation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the coil-and-glue method for the reduction of lung volume in rabbit emphysema model.Methods Sixteen rabbits of emphysema model were divided into the occlusion group(n=10),in which both anterior bronchi were occluded using the coil-and- glue method,and the control group(n=6).The maximal static pressure of airway(P_(max)),peak expiratory flow(PEF),end-expiratory volume(EEV)and pressure of oxygen(PO_2)were measured at ante- emphysema,post-emphysema,1 week and 4 week after occlusion respectively.The expectoration(or migration)of coil and collapse of lung were also investigated.Results P_(max)was(20.0?1.3)and(17.1? 1.4)cm H_2O(1 cm H_2O=0.098 kPa)in the occlusion group at ante-emphysema and post-emphysema respectively.P_(max)was(19.2?1.4)cm H_2O in the occlusion group in the 1 week after the occlusion,while (17.1?1.5)cm H_2O in the control group(F=6.68,P

OBJECTIVETo optimize the adsorption condition of cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP for separation and purification of anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from E. coli.

METHODSThe adsorption of the target protein for separation and purification by the cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP was tested using test tube method in balanced buffer solution with different pH values and ion concentrations. The adsorption effect was then verified by cation-exchange chromatography using 1-ml Streamline SP prepacked column and 28-ml Streamline SP self-assembly column.

RESULTSAccording to the experiment results of test tube method, the loading buffer with pH of 4.4 and ionic concentration of 100 to 600 mmol/L could achieve optimal target protein adsorption effect by cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP, as verified by cation-exchange chromatography with 1-ml SP prepacked column and 28-ml Streamline SP self-assembly column.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal condition of cation-exchange chromatography selected by test tube method can be applied for separation and purification of anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from E. coli.

Adsorption ; Cation Exchange Resins ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

To study the effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) on HL-60 cells in vitro and in vivo, MTT and colony forming assay were used to examine the effects of rhTNF-alpha on proliferation of HL-60 cells; AO/EB (acridine orange-ethidium bromide) staining, Annexin-V flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assay were used to detect apoptotic cells. The effect of rhTNF-alpha on xenograft growth of HL-60 cells was evaluated by tumor inhibition rate, histology, ultrastructure and TUNEL assay. The results showed that rhTNF-alpha inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Staining of cells with AO/EB revealed that rhTNF-alpha induced nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation. Positive Annexin V-FITC on cell membrane showed that rhTNF-alpha induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. TUNEL assay showed that the apoptotic percentage of HL-60 cells reached 37.5% when incubated with 3200 U/ml rhTNF-alpha for 48 hours. In vivo rhTNF-alpha inhibited xenograft growth of HL-60 cells with the highest inhibition rate of 60.33%. Pathologically it was found that there were necrotic areas in the tumors of groups treated with rhTNF-alpha. There were more apoptotic cells in treatment groups than in that control group by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TUNEL assay. It is concluded that rhTNF-alpha is able to inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells and to induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology