Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug that inhibits hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase to control elevated cholesterol,or hypercholesterolemia.Previous studies have shown that simvastatin may attenuate inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis.Herein,we hypothesized that simvastatin may prevent rats from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock.In our study,rats were divided into a saline group,an LPS group and an LPS plus simvastatin group.Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with simvastatin (1 mg/kg) for 30 min before the addition of LPS (8 mg/kg),with variations in left ventricular pressure recorded throughout.Ninety min after LPS injection,whole blood was collected from the inferior vena cava,and neutrophils were separated from the whole blood using separating medium.The neutrophils were then lysed for Western blotting to detect the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).In addition,mesentery microcirculations of inlet diameter,outlet diameter and blood flow rate were measured in all three groups.The results indicated that simvastatin significantly promoted heart systolic function and increased the level ofuPA while simultaneously inhibited the expression of PAI-1 as compared with LPS group.Moreover,simvastatin reversed the LPS-induced inhibition of mesentery microcirculation.Taken together,it was suggested that simvastatin can effectively protect the rats from LPS-induced septic shock.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the degree of muscle relaxation on motor-evoked potential elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation in patients undergoing spine surgery.

METHODSSixty ASA I or II patients undergoing spine surgery were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=12). After an initial intubation, continuous cisatracurium infusion was administered with continuous monitoring of T1. The infusion dose was adjusted according muscle relaxation monitoring, and different muscle relaxation degrees were maintained in the 5 groups. The band and latency of D1 in motor-evoked potential was observed with also subjective assessment of the muscle relaxation.

RESULTSSignificant differences in the band and latency were noted in groups I and II compared with the reference values, but not in groups III, IV and V. Subjective assessment revealed significant differences between groups IV and V and groups I and III in terms of the number of cases with poor muscle relaxation.

CONCLUSIONT1 value between 10% and 15% is sufficient for MEP monitoring and allows the maintenance of good muscle relaxation during spine surgery.

Atracurium ; therapeutic use ; Electric Stimulation ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Humans ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; therapeutic use ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Spine ; surgery

Objective To provide a solution to improve the radiation shielding for medical accelerator room with clay bricks.Methods According to the basic shielding equations provided by the relevant national standards and international reports,equations for shielding reconstruction calculation were derived to calculate the required thickness of clay bricks wall,which reached the reference dose rate control level.The dose rates at reference points after reconstruction were also estimated based on the measured dose rates at reference points before reconstruction of accelerator room,calculated distance correction factors and transmission factors of added clay bricks wall.Results The measured dose rates satisfied the requirement of reference dose rate control level.The estimated dose rates were slightly higher than the measured values.Conclusion The radiation shielding requirement of medical accelerator room is fulfilled with the presented shielding reconstruction method by building clay bricks wall,measured dose rates could be conservatively predicted with the dose rates calculated by derived equations.

italic>Schisandra chinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of reinforcing deficiency, strengthening, and inducing astringency, appliable to treat the chronic cough and deficiency in breath, palpitation, and insomnia, etc. A hybrid mass spectrometry scanning strategy (high-definition data-independent/data-dependent acquisition, HDDIDDA), enabling the ion mobility separation and alternating data-independent acquisition/data-dependent acquisition, was established, which, in combination with in-house library-driven automatic peak annotation workflows facilitated by the UNIFI software, was utilized to systematically characterize the multi-classes of chemical components from S. chinensis. The use of an HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm), 0.1% formic acid in H₂O-acetonitrile as the mobile phase running at the flow rate of 0.3 mL·min^-1, and column temperature at 35 ℃, could enable good separation of the S. chinensis components within 42 min. HDDIDDA scan in both the positive and negative ion modes was employed for data acquisition. Based on the automatic peak annotation, reference standards comparison, MS² data interpretation, and literature analysis, we were able to identify or tentatively characterize 105 compounds in the S. chinensis decoction, involving 56 terpenoids, 42 lignans, five glycosides, one organic acid, and one flavonoid. HDDIDDA scanning can improve the coverage of data acquisition and improve the accuracy of identification, while CCS prediction analysis provides the possibility to distinguish isomers by the ion mobility technology. The results provide reference for the intelligent material basis research of TCM.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the intermediate-term results associated with the use of Zweymtiller hip system.

METHODSReview the 116 cases (142 hips) who were treated with total hip replacement from 1996 to 2002 by a single surgeon using cementless Zweymüller hip systems.

RESULTSSixty-one cases (77 hips) were followed up, 50 cases (64 hips) were evaluated both clinically and radiographically while 5 cases (6 hips) and 6 cases (7 hips) were only evaluated clinically and radiographically respectively. The average follow-up period was 7.3 years (range 5 to 11 years). The mean preoperative Harris Hip Score was 46 while the mean postoperative Harris Hip Score was 93. Distal cortical hypertrophy and medullary sclerosis were observed in 30 hips (42.3%) and 33 hips (46.5%) respectively. Heterotopic ossification arose in 45 hips (63.4%). Radiolucent lines occurred in 27 stems (38.0%) but in no cups. Radiolucent lines were mostly observed in Gruen zones 1. Osteolysis occurred in 7 cups (9.9%) and 18 stems (25.4%). Osteolysis was mostly observed in Delee Zone 3 and Gruen zone 7. In the distal Gruen zones 3, 4 and 5, no radiolucent line or osteolysis was observed. No hips had been revised, 3 cups needed revision surgery because of aseptic loosening.

CONCLUSIONThe 5-11 years follow-up results are satisfactory, but osteolysis is common.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the use of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages to treat multi-segmental cervical myelopathy.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to March 2010, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages were performed on 45 patients who suffered from multi-segmental cervical myelopathy, among of them there were 23 male and 22 female, aged from 32 to 67 years (average 53 years). Recording the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores and SF-36 scores in the protocol time point, in order to investigate the clinical outcome, meanwhile, accumulating the pre-operation and postoperation X-ray films of cervical spine for measuring the height of intervertebral space, whole curvature of cervical spine and the rate of fusion by repeated measures analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time was 28.4 months (24 - 35 months). JOA scores ascended from preoperative 6.5 ± 3.1 to postoperative 13.4 ± 1.7 (F = 17.84, P = 0.001), the 7 scores of SF-36 improved significantly after operation (t = 1.151 - 12.207, P < 0.05), but mental health not. The fineness rate was 91.1%. Height of disc space ascended from preoperative (5.5 ± 1.8) mm to postoperative (8.3 ± 0.8) mm (F = 11.71, P = 0.043), globle curvature of cervical spine ascended from preoperative 5° ± 7° to postoperative 10° ± 14° (F = 234.53, P = 0.000), the change of the two index was significantly, respectively. Fat necrosis in one case and hematoma in another case at the bone donor-site were found, both of the two cases were cured by physiotherapy. All of the 45 cases (111 segments) achieved bone fusion.

CONCLUSIONThe use of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with self-locking cages to treat multi-segmental cervical myelopathy possess many advantages as follows: satisfactory clinical outcome, minimally invasive, higher fusion rate, higher orthopaedic ability.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, S-methyl thiocarbamate (SMT), on proteoglycan metabolism in repaired articular cartilage in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 8 months and weighing 2.5 kg+/-0.2 kg, were used in this study. Cartilage defects in full thickness were created on the intercondylar articular surface of bilateral femurs of all the rabbits. Then the rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 in each group). The defects in one group were filled with fibrin glue impregnated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2, BMP group), in one group with fibrin glue impregnated with rhBMP-2 and hypodermic injection with SMT (SMT group) and in the other group with nothing (control group). All the animals were killed at one year postoperatively. The tissue sections were stained with safranine O-fast green and analyzed by Quantiment 500 system to determine the content of glycosaminoglycan through measuring the percentage of safranine O-stained area, the thickness of cartilages and the mean gray scale (average stain intensity). Radiolabelled sodium sulphate (Na(2)(35)SO(4)) was used to assess the proteoglycan synthesis.

RESULTSAt one year postoperatively, the percentage of safranine O-stained area, the mean gray scale and the cartilage thickness of the repaired tissues in SMT group were significantly higher than those of BMP group (P<0.01) and the control group (P<0.05). Result of incorporation of Na(2)(35)SO(4) showed that the proteoglycan synthesis in SMT group was higher than those of BMP group and the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSMT, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, can significantly increase the content of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis, and computer-based image analysis is a reliable method for evaluating proteoglycan metabolism.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cartilage Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cartilage, Articular ; drug effects ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isothiuronium ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Probability ; Proteoglycans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical outcome of unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus single cage interbody fusion through spatium intermuscular of multifidus by Quadrant system.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to April 2009, 47 patients underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus single cage interbody fusion through spatium intermuscular of multifidus. There were 22 males and 25 females with the mean age of 58.2 years (range, 46-74 years). Among them 12 cases had far-lateral lumbar disc herniation, 7 cases had post-discectomy recurrence, and 28 cases had degenerative instability. Thirty-seven cases were treated with lumbar interbody fusion through transforaminal approach, 10 cases through posterior approach. After surgery, the radiography was carried out to demonstrate the fusion status, and the Nakai criterion was used for assessment.

RESULTSThe average skin incision length was 3.2 cm (range, 3.0 to 3.5 cm), the average operative time was 90 min (range, 70 to 160 min), and the average blood loss was 130 ml (range, 90 to 360 ml). All cases were followed up for 8 - 20 months (average 13.6 months). Postoperative radiography showed no evidence of instrument failure, and 43 cases got bone fusion, 4 cases got suspicious fusion. At final followed-up the average leg pain VAS decreased from 7.4 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 2.4 ± 1.3 postoperatively, the average low back pain VAS decreased from 6.7 ± 1.3 preoperatively to 1.8 ± 1.5 postoperatively. According to Nakai criterion, 31 cases were rated as excellent, 11 cases as good, and 5 cases as fair with the total excellent and good rate of 89.4%.

CONCLUSIONSUnilateral pedicle screw fixation plus single cage interbody fusion through spatium intermuscular of multifidus has some advantages of minimal invasiveness, less blood loss, less complications and reliable curative effect. It is a satisfactory lumbar fusion method under suitable indication.

Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Muscle, Skeletal ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish a RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of total quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in rat plasma after oral administration of Folium Mori extract (FME).

METHODSAfter a single dose of FME (110 mg/kg) was taken, rat plasma samples were collected. The samples were hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid (c=3.0 mol/L), the mixed solution was extracted with ether acetone mixture. The total quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in plasma samples were determined by HPLC, pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 3.0 software.

RESULTSThe method was linear over the concentration ranges of 0.0545-8.70, 0.0954-14.7 and 0.0545-8.55 μg/ml for quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, respectively (r=0.9979, 0.9993, 0.9981). The absolute recoveries were 85.3%-86.1%, 79.4%-86.7% and 62.8%-89.7%, respectively and the assay recoveries were all from 94.7% to 107%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra-and inter-day were less than 9.5% and 9.8%, respectively. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: T(1/2z) was 92.7, 67.9 and 54.2 h; Tmax was 0.400, 0.400 and 3.87 h; AUC(0-∞) was 68.0, 67.5 and 32.8 mg/h/L; MRT(0-∞) was 128, 85.2 and 72.0 h for quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method established in this study is accurate, reliable and reproducible, and can be applied for determination of total quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in rat plasma after oral administration of FME; the pharmacokinetic studies showed that the distribution of drugs is rapid and elimination is very slow.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavonols ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Kaempferols ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; Quercetin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Clara cell secretory protein(CCSP) in the Kunming mouse model of n-hexane long-term inhalation, and to discuss the functions of Clara cell in injury lung induced by n-hexane.

METHODS24 healthy mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: one control group and three n-hexane groups (4 w, 8 w and 12 w), 6 each group. Primary concentration of n-hexane was 17.6 g/m3, 8 hours per day, 6 d per week. After inhalation, n-hexane concentration of blood from celiac artery was detected. The lungs were embedded with paraffin and HE staining in the routine. The ratio of Clara cells with CCSP reaction in bronchiole and the number of macrophage cells with lysozyme reaction were determined by immuno-histochemistry.

RESULTSIn the poisoning groups, the average n-hexane concentration of blood was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). There were apparent pathologic damages in lungs of the poisoning mice. In poisoning 4 w, 8 w and 12 w groups, the ratio of Clara cells was significantly decreased [(73.33 +/- 4.21)%, (60.98 +/- 4.94)%, (34.04 +/- 2.33)% in terminal bronchiole, and (75.44 +/- 7.91)%, (58.54 +/- 4.86)%, (33.35 +/- 2.67)% in respiratory bronchiole] as compared with the control mice [(80.26 +/- 6.43)% and (81.74 +/- 7.75)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01], meanwhile the numbers of macrophage cells were gradually increased [(21.39 +/- 7.41), (28.54 +/- 10.73), (48.97 +/- 19.55) per microscopic field at 200x] in poisoning mice than those in control mice [(7.84 +/- 3.12) per microscopic field at 200x, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONIn injury lungs after n-hexane inhalation, Clara cells are the target cells of n-hexane toxicity effect. Clara cells play an extensive protective role in lung inflammation.

Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Hexanes ; toxicity ; Inhalation Exposure ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism