OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between surgical and conservative treatment for postoperative lumbar discitis.

METHODSFrom January 2004 to January 2009, 41 patients (17 males and 24 females ranging the age from 37 to 68 years with an average of 53.6 years) with postoperative lumbar discitis were retrospectively studied and divided into two groups. There were 19 patients in operation group, 22 patients in conservative group. Clinical data and features,image data, laboratory examinations, antibiotics utilization, hospital stays and sequelae were recorded and analyzed. Visual analogue scales system (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were applied to evaluate therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up over 2 years. Imaging revealed good bone fusion and no occurrence of discitis. VAS score and ODI at 1 month, 1 year and 2 years were significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). While VAS and ODI in operation group at 1 month were improved more than that of conservative group (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between two groups at 1 year and 2 years (P > 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSurgical and conservative treatment for postoperative lumbar discitis is effective. Surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment in a short time, while conservative treatment can achieve long-term satisfactory curative effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Discitis ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; drug effects ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nose Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo discuss the choice of surgical methods and the safety and efficacy of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) in elderly patients.

METHODSFrom Sept. 1997 to Feb. 2003, 63 cases over the age of seventy (including seventy) undertook OPCAB in our department. We compared the clinical data of those patients with that of 94 cases undertook conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at the same age group and that of 58 cases younger than seventy received OPCAB.

RESULTSThe clinical outcomes of OPCAB is better than that of CABG in elderly patients concerning inotropic drug, postoperative transfusion, re-operation, intubation time, complications incidence and in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, there is no significant difference of complication incidence and in-hospital mortality between the elderly OPCAB group and the younger OPCAB group.

CONCLUSIONSOPCAB is a safe and efficacious method of myocardial revascularization in the elderly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Transfusion ; statistics & numerical data ; Cardiotonic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; mortality ; standards ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of total saponins of Panax ginseng (TSPG) on the expression of granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from human endothelial cells and monocytes and the relationship between TSPG and human granulocytopoiesis and monocytopoiesis modulation.

METHODSAdopting the hematopoietic progenitor cells culture in vitro, hematopoietic growth factor biological assay, immunocytochemistry and nucleic acid in situ hybridization, the GM-CSF expression in the endothelial cells and monocytes were detected.

RESULTSThe conditioned cultural media of endothelial and monocytes induced and prepared by TSPG, could significantly promote the proliferation and differentiation of human colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM), and enhance the protein and mRNA expression of GM-CSF in endothelial cells and monocytes.

CONCLUSIONTSPG could possibly through direct or indirect route, promote hematopoietic, induce endothelial cells and monocytes in the microenvironment to synthetize and secrete GM-CSF, so as to further promote the proliferation and differentiation of human CFU-GM.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Panax ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish a new manufacturing method for Bletilla striata synthetic seeds, and provided a new way for rapid propagation of B. striata, the correlated influential factors were studied.

METHODThe synthetic seeds were manufactured by taking seeds of B. striata as materials which were beforehand germinated in 1/2 MS medium for 10 days, and the influential factors such as artificial endosperm components, episperm substances, storage conditions and germination groundmass impact on the germination rate and seedling rate of the synthetic seeds were evaluated.

RESULTCompound 4.0% sodium alginate + 0.2 mol x L(-1) CaCl2 + 0.4 mg x L(-1) penicillin + 0.3% carbendazim powder + 0.2% sodium benzoate served as the best episperm substances while MS + 1.0 mg x L(-1) NAA + 2.0 mg x L(-1) KT as the best endosperm components, in which, high germination rate and seedling rate were obtained. The synthetic seeds storing in the 4 degrees C for a long time was able to have still high vitality.

CONCLUSIONThe B. striata synthetic seeds manufacturing system was established successfully, while efforts should be taken to improve the sowing technique of the synthetic seeds in non-sterile conditions.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Germination ; Orchidaceae ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom March 2003 to December 2006, one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation were performed to treat 23 patients who suffered thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis. There were 15 males and 8 females with an average of 37.6 years (17-61 years). 4 cases' tuberculose focus were in thoracic vertebra, 8 cases in thoracolumbar, 11 cases in lumbar.

RESULTSThe average follow up period was 28.7 months (9-40 months). The symptoms of all patients had primarily relieved and the patients can ambulate at 2-3 weeks after treatment. At the 6th after operation, the X-ray showed interbody fusion. Frankel grading of 16 patients with incomplete paraplegia were improved averagely 1.62 grades. The major complications including 2 cases of temporary sinus formation, 1 case of fixtor breaking and 1 case of recurring (owing to an inadequate postoperative chemotherapy).

CONCLUSIONOne stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation can effectually resect focus, rebuild stability of spine, promote interbody fusion and recovery of incomplete paraplegia in treating thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Fusion ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the detection rate of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) 30 base pair deletion in extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma with that in chronic inflammation of nasopharynx and tonsillitis; and to analyze the prognostic significance of LMP1 deletion in extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction was used to detect the deletion of LMP1 in 55 cases of extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma and 19 cases of chronic inflammation of nasopharynx and tonsillitis. Follow-up information of 1 to 58-month duration was available in 33 patients.

RESULTSIn all the 55 extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma cases studied, 9 cases contained the wide-type or predominantly wide-type LMP1. On the other hand, 46 cases contained the deleted or predominantly deleted LMP1. In the non-lymphoma control group, 16 cases contained the deleted or predominantly deleted LMP1. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the detection rate of 30 base pair deleted LMP1 between extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma and control group (P > 0.05). The prognosis of deleted or predominantly deleted LMP1 in extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma was worse.

CONCLUSIONThough 30 base pair deletion of Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 may not be an important pathogenetic step in extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma, it may play some role in tumor progression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; genetics ; virology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; virology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngitis ; Nose Neoplasms ; genetics ; virology ; Sequence Deletion ; Survival Rate ; Tonsillitis ; genetics ; virology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biological mechanism for modulating granulocytopoiesis by Panax ginseng. The techniques of culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stromal cells in vitro, biological assay of hematopoietic growth factor (HGF), immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization of nucleic acid, immunoprecipitation and Western blot were used to explore the effect of total saponins of Panax ginseng (TSPG) on the expression of human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor alpha (GM-CSFRalpha). The results indicated that (1) bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC), thymocyte (TC), splenocyte (SC), endothelial cells (EC), and monocyte (MO) conditioned media prepared with TSPG (50 microg/ml) could significantly enhance the proliferation of CFU-GM; (2) the expressions of GM-CSF in protein and mRNA level in BMSC, TC, SC, EC and MO induced by TSPG (50 microg/ml) were much higher than that of the control; (3) the expression of GM-CSFRalpha protein in hematopoietic cells induced by TSPG (50 microg/ml) was stronger than that of the control; (4) TSPG (50 microg/ml) could stimulate the transient tyrosine phosphorylation of GM-CSFR and Shc protein. We speculate that TSPG may directly and/or indirectly promote the stromal cells and lymphocytes to produce GM-CSF and other cytokine and induce bone marrow hematopoietic cells to express GM-CSF receptors (GM-CSFRalpha), leading to the regulation of the GM-CSFR-mediated signals transduction pathway and the proliferation of human CFU-GM.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Panax ; chemistry ; Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo screen out main molecular target promoting human neural stem cells (NSCs) of ginsenoside Rg1 by using the gene chip technology.

METHODFirst, MTT assay was adopted to screen out the optimal concentration of Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation (120 mg x L(-1)). Then, on the 7th day after the Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation, the expression of target genes was observed by the gene chip technology. The most important target gene and signal transduction pathways were screened out through the data calculations.

RESULTOn the 7th day after the Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation, obtained 440 differential genes, 266 significantly upregulated genes and 174 significantly down-regulated genes. HES1 gene, CAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate)-PKA (protein kinase A) and PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase)-AKT signal transduction pathways were closely related to the NSC proliferation.

CONCLUSIONThe differentially expressed genes screened out by gene chip may provide new clues for studies on molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1-promoted NSCs proliferation.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the changes of intestinal mucosal tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) values and the degree of mucosal injuries in young rat model of colitis and thereby to explore if plasma DAO could be used as a potential index for monitoring intestinal mucosal injury.

METHODSOne hundred and four healthy young male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 5-6 weeks were randomly divided into three groups: zero time group (n = 8), model group (n = 48) and control group (n = 48). The model and control groups were further divided into 24 h, 72 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks subgroups, respectively, with 8 rats in each. The rats in model group were given 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBSA) via enema to induce colitis, while the rats in the control group were given normal saline (NS) solution in the same way and those in zero time group were not treated. TNF-alpha and DAO were measured by immunohistochemical technique and spectrophotometry.

RESULTSThe most serious enteric mucosal injury was seen 24 hours after giving TNBSA. Plasma DAO and TNF-alpha decreased as the intestinal mucosal injury was alleviated.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma DAO values may be used as a marker for intestinal mucosal injury. TNF-alpha is a factor for causing mucosal injury. Young rat colitis model can be used to study intestinal mucosal injury.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; blood ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; metabolism ; Colitis ; blood ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enema ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spectrophotometry ; Time Factors ; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism