BACKGROUND: At present, researches have been proved that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in repairing neural regeneration after spinal cord injuries. Poor ability of neural regeneration is related to lack of microenvironment for neuronal growth at local injured site. Whether electro-acupuncture can protect nerve after spinal cord injuries through increasing NGF level in injured spinal cord or not is lack of experimental data on the view of molecule.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture on motor function, morphology of spinal cord and mRNA expression of NGF in rats with experimental spinal cord injuries through morphology and hybridization in situ.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study.SETTING: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University; Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian from January 1999 to February 2002. A total of 15 male SD rats weighing (260±9.52) g were randomly divided into sham operation group, injured control group and acupuncture group with 5 in each group.METHODS: Models of spinal cord injuries were established in injured control group and electro-acupuncture group, and rats in sham operation group were just treated with resection of lamina of vertebra. Two hours after operation, rats in electro-acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture at Daczhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4), L2 Jiaji (Ex-B2-L2)and Huantiao (GB30), alternatively. Then, G6805 electro-acupuncture apparatus was used with distant wave, 0.8 Hz, 0.3-0.6 mA, and slight shake on muscle was regarded as proper response. The electro-acupuncture was performed every 30 minutes a day for 30 days. Rats in injured control group and sham operation group were not treated with any way, and motor functions 2 hours and 30 days after operation were observed with modified Tarlov scale and Rivlin method. ① Modified Tarlov scale: Pamplegia and irresponsivity of lower limbs during electro-acupuncture were scored from 0 to 6 points. ② Modified Rivlin method: Tiltboard was consisted of two rectangular alloy boards which was connected to one end through hinge.Board turned around axis at the beginning of horizontal position (0°) and the angle of ram could be measured. Rats faced towards front were put vertically as longitudinal axis of body to longitudinal axis of tiltboard.Angle was increased gradually when rats were not able to keep the primary position for 5 seconds, and the critical angle was recorded. Hybridization in situ assay: Amount of positive NGF cells was recorded under light microscope and photographs were completed at the same time.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scale of motor function (modified Tarlov score), critical angle of ram test (modified Rivlin method) and changes of amount of positive NGF mRNA cells in rats with spinal cord injuries.RESULTS: A total of 15 experimental rats were involved in the final analysis. ① Two hours after spinal cord injuries of rats in injured control group and electro-acupuncture group, score of motor function and critical angle of ram which was measured with modified Rivlin method were decreased remarkably; 30 days later, score of motor function measured with modified Tarlov scale and critical angle of ram were increased at various degrees, especially those in electro-acupuncture group were increased remarkably, and there was significant difference from those in injured control group [35.40±6.62, 27.80±1.10; (35.40±6.62)°, (27.80±1.10)°, P ＜ 0.05]. ② Thirty days after injury, pathological lesion of rats in electroacupuncture group was milder than that in injured control group, and morphological injury of spinal cord and amount of positive NGF mRNA cells were obvious as compared with those in injured control group (28.13±1.64,12.63±1.41, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture can improve mRNA expression of NGF in spinal cord, relieve morphological injury of spinal cord, accelerate recovery of motor function of rats with spinal cord injuries, and protect nerve through mRNA expression of NGF.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with spinal tuberculosis and explore its clinical effects with anti-TB drugs alone.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to July 2010, the data of 36 patients with spinal tuberculosis underwent conservative treatment of anti-TB drugs alone were analyzed. There were 19 males and 17 females with an average age of 73.5 years (ranged, 60 to 85). All patients were in the active phase with high ESR and CRP levels and were treated with 3HRZE/6-9HRE (course from 9 to 12 months). According to clinical symptoms, chemical examination, radiological image to adjust drug and depending on VAS score to evaluate pain.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 8 to 24 months with an average of 15 months. Tuberculose of 31 patients healed after chemotherapy from 9 to 12 months and ESR and CRP recovered normally. Levofloxacin and para-amino salicylic acid were used in 4 cases because of 4 cases occurred drug fast for RFP or INH, after 15 months, their obtained healing. Symptom of 1 case got worse during chemotherapy, and surgical treatment were performed, after 3 months, ESR and CRP recovered normally, X-ray and CT showed spinal osteosclerosis and fusion without significant kyphosis and internal fixation loosening. Cobb angle was respectively(17.6+/-2.3) degrees, (18.1+/-2.7) degrees before treatment and last follow-up (P>0.05). MRI showed abscess was absorbed and spinal inflammation subsidised. VAS score was respectively 6.5+/-1.7, 1.4+/-0.5 before treatment and last follow-up (P<0.05). Seven patients had complications relating with drug adverse reaction,after discontinuation and treated with clinical symptom,the patients recovered normally.

CONCLUSIONAnti-TB drugs alone can obtain satisfactory effects in treating early senile spinal tuberculosis, but strict supervision and individual administration should not be disregardful.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

The JC virus is a widely infected human polyomavirus. Recent foreign researches showed that the JC virus infection is correlated with tumors of nervous system and digestive system, while, and study on the relationship between JC virus infection and gynecological tumor is seldom reported. In this study, we first establish the nucleic acid detection methods and procedures for JC virus and its highly homologous BK virus. The JC and BK viruses infection was evaluated by detect the viral DNA in samples including biopsy tissues, serum as well as urine of myoma of uterus (98 cases), cervical cancer (84 cases), endometrial cancer (40 cases) and ovarian tumor (72 cases) patients. The BK viral DNA positive rate was significantly higher in urine samples than that of blood and biopsy samples, and there is no significant difference of the BK viral DNA positive rate among all patient groups. The JC viral DNA positive rate is almost 0 in serum samples and biopsy. tissues, however, viral DNA positive rate is more than 50% in urine samples. In fibroids group, the JC viral DNA positive rate is up to 65. 3% which is significantly higher than that in other patients groups and healthy control. Further gynecological tumor associated viruses detection showed that only human papilloma virus infection is associated with cervical cancer, the herpes simplex virus, EB virus and cytomegalovirus infection is extremely low in our patient groups. No synergistic effect on gynecological tumor caused by viruses co-infection was observed. Our study showed that JC virus infection is highly related to the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids.
Adult ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; virology ; Humans ; JC Virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Polyomavirus Infections ; virology ; Tumor Virus Infections ; virology ; Young Adult

AlM: To study an approach to visual acuity correction after intracapsular cataract extraction by phase - ll intraocular lens implantation through the individualized arcuate keratotomy.
METHODS: For demonstration, 48 postoperative patients ( 50 eyes ) receiving the intracapsular cataract extraction were gathered up. Each patient received a scleral tunnel major incision along the radial line of the maximum corneal refractive power determined by a cornea curvimeter, and a arcuate keratotomy was made opposite to the major one; through the major incision an iris-claw intraocular lens is implanted. Each patient was measured for their corneal astigmatism and uncorrected visual acuity before and after the surgery.
RESULTS: The results suggested the average corneal astigmatism before the surgery and that 3d, 1, 3, 6 and 12mo after the surgery as+3. 18±0. 68,-1. 56±0. 73,+0. 87± 0. 51, + 1. 21 ± 0. 70, + 1. 33 ± 0. 68 and + 1. 48 ± 0. 48 respectively. The uncorrected visual acuities 3d, 1, 3, 6 and 12mo after the surgery are 0. 5±0. 38, 0. 56±0. 23, 0. 55± 0. 24, 0. 52±0. 28 and 0. 51±0. 25 respectively.
CONCLUSlON: Phase-ll intraocular lens implantation witharcuate keratotomy is helpful to improve the postoperative visual acuity and reduce preoperative corneal astigmatism after the intracapsular cataract extraction aphakic eyes, lt is also a low-cost surgery, and easy to perform, with minor surgical injuries, particularly available for surgical visual acuity correction of the aphakic eye receiving intracapsular cataract extraction.

Objective To know the influence of gastrointestinal decontamination (including gastric lavage and activated charcoal treatment) on prognosis of asymptomatic presentation poisoning patients.Method six hundred and twenty seven asymptomatic presentation poisoning cases through January 1999 to December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively.Duration of ED stay and intubation requiring rate were compared between the intervention group and control group (patients treated only with supportive care),as well as complications associated with gastrointestinal decontamination intervention.Results Statistic analysis reveals no difference between the intervention group and the control group in rate of intubation (6.5 % vs 5.3 %,P=0.51) and emergency care unit admission (28.1% vs 26.6%,P=0.68).Meanwhile duration of ED stay is prolonged profoundly in prevention group [ (11.2?4.7) vs (8.9?5.0),P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of locking plate fixation through lateral deltoid approach for proximal humeral fracture combined with micro-invasive percutaneous plating (MIPPO) technique.

METHODSFrom April 2009 to March 2012,26 patients with proximal humeral fractures were treated with proximal humeral locking system plate fixation through lateral deltoid approach, including 17 males and 9 females with an average age of 58 years old ranging from 28 to 76 years old. The time from injury to operation was 3 to 10 days (averaged 5.6 days). According to Neer typing for the proximal humeral fractures, 7 cases had 2 parts of fracture,15 had 3 parts of fracture,and 4 had 4 parts of fracture. The Neer score for shoulder function was evaluated.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 10 to 21 months (averaged 13.6 months). All patients were achieved bony union,the average healing time was 12.5 weeks (ranged from 10 to 21 weeks). No humeral head necrosis and axillary nerve injury occurred. According to Neer scoring system,the total score was 88.36 +/- 7.82, pain 30.82 +/- 3.24, function 23.76 +/- 5.71, activity 17.59 +/- 5.36, anatomical position 7.03 +/- 2.39; the result was excellent in 18 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 2 cases, poor in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONLateral deltoid approach combined with locking plate fixation for treatment of proximal humeral fracture has advantages of small invasion,less blood lossing, short operative time, stable fixation, high rate of fracture healing, and satisfactory functional recovery.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the methods and therapeutic effects of trans-fibular anterior-lateral approach combined with external fixation in the treatment of Gustilo III distal tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2010,9 patients including 7 males and 2 females with the mean age of 40 years(ranging from 29 to 51 years). All patients received internal fixation of fibula after debridement on the first phase, external fixator were used to fix tibia across ankle joint, and removed after successful skin graft; The second phase tibia was used to fix through the lateral incision used in phase I. Early functional exercise was encouraged ,the union condition and functional results of the ankle joint was evealuated. The criteria of the AOFAS Foot and Ankle Surgery was used to evaluate the effects.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up,and the duration ranged for 8 to 37 months(averaged 21 months). Nine patients were achieved bony union, the average healing time was 24 weeks. No plate rupture or screw loosening was found. According to the AOFAS Foot and Ankle Surgery evaluation system, 3 cases got excellent results, 4 good cases and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONTrans-fibular anterior-lateral approach combined with external fixation for Gustilo III distal tibiofibula fractures can receive satisfactory reset, debond ankle joint eralier and imporove the clinical effects.

Adult ; Female ; Fibula ; Fracture Fixation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Tibia ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kanli Granule (KG) on myocardial mechanics in pressure overload induced diastolic heart failure (DHF) rats.

METHODSTotally 60 male Wistar rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the KG group, and the Valsartan group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The pressure overload induced DHF model was established in all groups except the sham-operation group using abdominal aortic constriction surgery. Totally 7 rats died after modeling (with the mortality of 10. 67%) , and the rest 53 finished the following test. Rats in the KG group were administered with KG extract (calculated as 6. 75 g crude drug/kg) by gastrogavage. Rats in the Valsartan group were administered with Valsartan (7.2 µg/g) by gastrogavage. Equal volume of double distilled water was administered to rats in the model group and the sham-operation group by gastrogavage. All rats were intervened for 32 weeks. The response of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus to isoprenaline (ISO) and adenylate cyclase (Forskolin) was respectively observed. The enhancement phenomenon after resting development force (DF) of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus, and changes of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were observed.

RESULTS(1) In the ISO response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF, ±df/dt, -df/dt were obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously lowered in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of ±df/dt was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.01). (2) In the Forskolin response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously reduced in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of DF was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05). (3) In post-resting DF enhancement test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplification of DF showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the model group, and they were obviously lowered at all time points (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplification of DF was gradually increasing along with prolonged resting time in the KG group. The amplification of DF at post-resting 240 s was obviously larger in the KG group than in the model group (P < 0.05). The amplification of post-resting DF still showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the Valsartan group, with increased amplifications of DF at post-resting 60 s and 120 s (P < 0. 05) (4) The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF were significantly elevated in different Ca²⁺ concentrations (1.75, 3.5, 7.0 mmol/L ) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, there was no statistical difference in amplification of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations in the KG group (P > 0.05). The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were significantly reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe ISO response and the Forskolin response were enhanced in isolated heart papillary muscle tonus of pressure overload induced DHF rats; enhanced post-resting DF was reduced; DF in different supra-physiologic levels of Ca²⁺ was still enhanced. KG could significantly improve excessive enhancement of pressure overload induced DHF rats in ISO response and Forskolin response, and improve enhancement of post-resting myocardium.

Animals ; Colforsin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; drug therapy ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To investigate the influence of sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein on the unspecific anti- tumor immunity in vitro.Methods:Ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were separately transfected with recombinant adenoviral vectors containing sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion gene,sCD80 gene,sCD40L gene or with control adenovirus.The expres- sion of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of SKOV3 cells was determined by ELISA.Dendritic cells(DCs)were cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with ovarian carcinoma.DCs and autologous T cells were co-cuhured and were exposed to different supernatants for 48 h. The allostimulatory effects of DCs on T cells were determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR).The unspecific kill- ing activities of induced T cells against SKOV3/K562 cells were measured by LDH-releasing assay.Results:ELISA assay showed that levels of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of transfeced SKOV3 cells were 2.791 ng/ml,1.956 ng/ml and 1.407 ng/ml,respectively.The fusion protein-exposed DCs ([0.382?0.053]vs[0.167?0.028],P

OBJECTIVEThe research aimed to analyze the significance of Pont Index in the dental crowding.

METHODSRespectively selected 91 normal occlusion persons and 101 dental crowding patients, measured every item of Pont Index of these two sample groups, and compared the results.

RESULTSThe premolar index and molar index of dental crowding patients were obviously bigger than that of normal occlusion, and there was apparent significant difference. There was no significant gender difference of Pont Index either in normal occlusion or dental crowding patients. Whereas there was significant gender difference of premolar arch width and molar arch width in normal occlusion.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of dental crowding is clearly related to Pont Index.

Bicuspid ; Cephalometry ; Dental Arch ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Molar