Arthroplasty, Replacement ; methods ; trends ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; trends ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; trends ; Spine ; surgery

Humans ; Osteotomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Scoliosis ; surgery

Animals ; Esophagus ; metabolism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stomach ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of bitter-cold herbs easing dampness method (BCHEDM) plus Sanhuang Yilong Decoction (SYD) combined with methotrexate (MTX) on expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome (ADHS).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2013 recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADHS at Department of Integrative Medicine on Rheumatoid Disease, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. They were assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) according to the random digit table produced by SPSS 11.5 Software. Patients in the treatment group were treated by heavy bitter-cold herbs plus SYD combined with MTX, while those in the control group were treated by MTX alone. Expressional levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before treatment, at week 2 and 4 after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were detected as well.

RESULTSAfter two or four weeks of treatment, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 in the treatment group were all lower than before treatment and those of the control group at corresponding time points with statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSYD combined MTX could play roles of improving inflammatory indices within 2 weeks, and inhibiting the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 within 4 weeks.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty as a new therapy for patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures of the lumbar and thoracic spine.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 38 consecutive patients (28 females, 10 males), whose ages ranged from 56 to 82 years (mean age 72 years). The symptom- and sign-positive spinal segment was identified by MRI. The time between onset of symptoms and surgical intervention ranged from 2 days to 1 year. 62 segments (36 thoracic, 26 lumbar) were treated in this cohort. The pain score estimated by Visual Analog Scale and activity degree were assessed immediately after operation and at 1-, 6-, and 12-month postoperative follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative anterior, midline vertebral heights in fractured vertebrae were measured on lateral radiographs to evaluate the effect of the procedure.

RESULTSThe method achieved a swift pain relief associated with an evidently increased weight-bearing ability. The pain score was reduced from 8.2 to 2.4 points. The anterior and midline vertebral heights in 62 fractured vertebral bodies increased up to 82.76%+/-26.84%, 88.82%+/-21.75% and the wedge decreased from 15 to 8 degrees. This effect persisted at least over a period of two years. The procedure did not induce narrowing of the spinal canal and no severe complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONSBalloon kyphoplasty can result in immediate clinical improvement of mobility and pain relief, increase vertebral body height, and quickly return patient's activity. The short-term results are approved excellent, and the long-term results need further judgment.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Pain Measurement ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of heat shock response (HSR) on circulatory collapse induced by hyperthermia.

METHODSTwo experiments were carried out: (1) Protective effects of HSR. Rats were divided into 2 groups: heat shock (HS) group, sham control (SC) group. After HS group was pretreated with heat shock and recovered for 20 h at room temperature, both groups were exposed to heat till death, and blood pressure, electrocardiogram were measured continuously during exposure. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), survival time etc were acquired through Chart software. (2) Mechanism of effects. Rats were divided into 3 groups: HS group, SC group and normal control (NC) group. The treatment in HS and SC groups was identical with that in the first experiment, but it would be terminated at 73 min after heat exposure. Systolic pressure (Ps), diastolic pressure (Pd) etc were recorded and content of NO and HSP70 in myocardium were measured.

RESULTS(1) The survival time in HS group [(102.3 +/- 11.4) min] was longer than that in SC group [(87.9 +/- 7.7) min] and shock revealed later (P < 0.01); (2) During early heat exposure MAP in HS group was not different from that in SC group, but after 60 min MAP in HS group were higher than that in SC group; (3) MAP, Ps, Pd, HR and HSP70 in HS group were significantly higher but content of NO was lower than those in SC group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHSR may induce upregulation of HSP70 and inhibit excessive production of NO in myocardium, thus result in relief of circulatory collapse induced by hyperthermia.

Animals ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; analysis ; Heat-Shock Response ; physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo review retrospectively the experience of surgical repair of sinus of valsalva aneurysm (SVA) in 70 patients.

METHODSBetween September, 1988 and October, 2003, Seventy patients with SVA underwent surgical repair by the aid of general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, comprised 1.4% (70/4960) of all open-heart operation. Forty-five were male and 25 female. Age ranged from 3 to 69 years old [mean (29 +/- 15) years]. The aneurysms ruptured into the right ventricle in 46 patients, right atrium in 23 and left ventricle in 1 respectively. The aneurysms originated from right and noncoronary sinus in 61 patients (87%) and 9 patients (13%) respectively. The most common associated cardiovascular lesions were ventricular septal defect (VSD, n = 34) and aortic valve incompetence (n = 21). Repairs were achieved through an incision in right atriotomy, right ventriculotomy or aortotomy only or both aortotomy and right atriotomy (or right ventriculotomy). The defects in the sinus of valsalva was repaired with either direct sutures (n = 43) or a patch (n = 27). The aortic valve was replaced in 6 patients.

RESULTSThere were no deaths in early time after repair. Postoperative hospital stay was 8 approximately 33 days [mean +/- standard deviation, (14.3 +/- 6.4) days] before 1997 and 6 approximately 15 days [mean +/- standard deviation, (9.1 +/- 2.6) days] after 1997 respectively. Complications included infection (n = 4), hemorrhage (n = 4), pneumothorax (n = 1), arrhythmia (n = 4) and residual shunt (n = 1) of VSD. Fifty-three (76%) patients (2 months approximately 13 years) were followed-up [mean +/- standard deviation, (6.6 +/- 3.8) years]. All patients survived except that one died of rupture of dissecting aortic aneurysm 7 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe ruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm and unruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm with ventricle septal defect or(and) aortic valve regurgitation should be repaired surgically as soon as the diagnosis was confirmed. Long-term results are associated with preoperative aortic valve regurgitation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Aneurysm ; complications ; surgery ; Aortic Rupture ; surgery ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinus of Valsalva ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEMannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a C-type serum lectin that plays a central role in the innate immune response. At present there is no a reference range of serum MBL levels for children in China. This study investigated serum MBL levels in preschool children from Shenzhen.

METHODSA total of 118 children (62 boys and 56 girls) at ages of 3-6 years and sampled randomly from three kindergartens of Shenzhen were enrolled in this study. Serum MBL concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe mean serum MBL concentration in these children was 779.07+/-268.98 ng/mL. There were no significant differences in the value of serum MBL between boys and girls (783.89+/-252.30 ng/mL vs 773.65+/-288.29 ng/mL) (P>0.05). Sixteen children (13.6%) had MBL concentrations less than 500 ng/mL (the low limited value used abroad), including 14 cases with 50-500 ng/mL and 2 cases with less than 50 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONSThis study provides a reference range of serum MBL concentration for preschool children. MBL may be a useful marker for the prevention of infection in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical application of spiral CT 3D reconstruction in forensic diagnosis of rib fracture. METHODS: Thirty-five cases of rib fractures were collectively studied by X-ray, regular CT scan, and adoptive 3D reconstruction with spiral CT. RESULTS: Clear and stereoscopic images of rib fractures without interference of the surrounding soft tissue were obtained in all of 35 cases examined. CONCLUSION Spiral CT 3D reconstruction could be a valuable means in forensic diagnosis of rib fracture.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rib Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Ribs/pathology* ; Thoracic Injuries/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed/methods* ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the clinical effects of stereotactic radiofrequency multitarget lesion on the treatment of senile dementia in patients with mental disorder. Methods Under the CT localization, 18 patients with mental retardation were treated by stereotactic surgery of multi-target lesion.Their therapeutic effects were evaluated by Scale and National Psychosurgery Cooperation Request on Modern Psychosurgery Operation Cure (protocol) in 1990. Results Postoperative follow-up was performed for 12-36 months; 9 patients progressed remarkably; 6 got improvement and only 3 showed no changes; the total effective rate was 83.3%. The scores of brief psychiatric rating scale, social disability screening schedule and scale for assessment of positive symptoms after the treatment were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P＜0.05). Mini-mental state examination showed no changes on the intelligence before and after the treatment (P＞0.05). Conclusion The stereotactic surgery of multi-targets lesion is an effective method in treating senile dementia in patients with mental disorder,with few complications and little influences on the intelligence.