Objective To explore the clinical effects and application value of microendoscopic discectomy via spinal posterior access in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Methods Microendoscopic intervertebral space discectomy was performed for 152 patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. The follow-up of clinical effects was carried out. Results 113 patients were followed up for 3 to 19 months. By Macnab standards, the rusult was excellent in 86 patients, good in 21, fair in 4, and poor in 2. The excellent and good rate was 94.6%. Conclusion Microendoscopic discectomy is an ideal method to treat lumbar disc herniation if the indications are suitable, for it is minimally invasive, and provides rapid postoperative recovery, good operation safety, as well as reliable effects.

Objective This study was designed to describe the localization and the extent of lumbar disc herniations (LDH) by three-dimensional radiological classification and to investigate their potential correlation with symptom and function evaluation.Methods The study retrospectively analyzed 261 patients (284 segments of herniated discs) who were diagnosed with LDH by computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from January 2006 to April 2010.There were 162 males and 99 females,with an average age of 42.1 years old (range,14-67 years) and the mean duration of history is 14.6 months (range,1-38 months).There were 35 cases of heavy manual workers,133 cases of moderate manual workers,and 93 cases of comfortable manual workers.The data were consisted of 188 MRI and 73 CT reports.The three-dimensional radiological classification was applied to describe the localization and the extent of LDH.Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores,Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and visual analogue scores (VAS) were applied to evaluate the vertebral symptom and function.The relationship between three-dimensional radiological classification and their functional status was probed.Results Herniations of lumbar discs located mainly sagittally at Level Ⅰ (151 segments,53.2％) and Level Ⅲ(122 segments,43.0％); horizontally at Area 2 (209 segments,73.6％)and Area 3 (61 segments,21.5％); and frontally at Area b (162 segments,57.0％),Area a (78 segments,27.5％) and Area c (41 segments,14.4％).The ODI scores at visit were 56.91％±13.62％,ranging from 20％ to 90％;JOA scores were ranging from 0 to 24 (mean,13.57±4.68); while VAS scores were ranging from 3 to 10 (mean,6.09±1.89).There was no significant difference on ODI scores,JOA scores and VAS scores between different herniation locations.Conclusion According to the three-dimensional radiological classification,most of the lumbar disc herniations located at Level Ⅰ sagittally,Area 2 horizontally,and Area b frontally.Clinical symptoms and lumbar function did not depend on the location of the lumbar disc herniations by the three-dimensional classification.

Thirty-two cases of calcaneodynia were treated with high-energy vibration wave combined with external application of Shuangbo Ointment (Group 1) and other 32 with high-energy vibration wave only (Group 2) as control. The results showed that the markedly effective rates of short-term treatment (3 weeks) and long-term treatment (3 months) were 56.25% and 84.37% in Group 2, and 81.25% and 93.75% in Group 1 respectively. It is suggested that high-energy vibration wave combined with external application of Shuangbo Ointment exerts a better effect for calcaneodynia, and can decrease the occurrence of hematoma and periosteum stripping induced by high-energy vibration wave.

AIM:To study the effects of astragali radix extract(ARE)on renal resistance to atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)in rats with experimental nephrotic syndrome.METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control,adriamycin nephropathy(ADR),ADR treated with ARE(2.5 g? kg-1? d-1)and ADR treated with benazepril(10 mg? kg-1? d-1).After 6 weeks,rats received intravenous infusion of 2% body weight isotonic saline.Urinary cGMP excretion(UcGMPV),plasma ANP level,renal PDE5 activity and protein expression were also detected.RESULTS:ARE increased UNaV while ACEI was not natriuretic.Nephrotic rats had a blunted natriuretic response and reduced rate of UcGMPV after volume expansion despite higher plasma ANP concentration.ARE increased UcGMPV and restored partly natriuretic response to volume expansion.The activity and protein abundance of renal PDE5 were high in nephrotic rats.ARE significantly reduced the PDE5 activity and protein expression.CONCLUSION:ARE may ameliorate the renal resistance to ANP in rats with adriamycin nephropathy by inhibiting the PDE5.

OBJECTIVE To establish a method for detecting adenovirus type 7 by cells culture combined with real-time fluorescent RT-PCR.METHODS After purified adenovirus was dissociated from nasopharyngeal secretion in A549 cells,ADV7 E1A genes were detected by real-time RT-PCR assay and sequence analysis of cells infected with 0.1,0.5,5.0 and 10.0 MOI ADV7 at 3,6,12 and 24 h postinfection.Then the adenovirus in nasopharyngeal secretion was detected with the similar method.RESULTS Early transcription of E1A genes of adenovirus type 7 could be detected by real-time RT-PCR at 3 h postinfection with 0.5MOI virus;or at 6 h postinfection with 0.1MOI virus;Early transcription of E1A genes could be detected at 6 h postinfection in nasopharyngeal secretion.CONCLUSIONS The method by cells culture combined with real-time fluorescent RT-PCR is sensitive,specific and rapid.It can be applied in clinics for diagnosis of adenovirus type 7 infection.

The hydrophilicity of the normal decoction pieces (NDP) of Indigo Naturalis is not good, therefore, it is not suit for decoctions. In this paper, powder modification technology is used and some NDP and alcohol are ground together in the vibromill to prepare the hydrophilic decoction pieces (HDP) of Indigo Naturalis. Initially, the properties of NDP, ultrafine decoction pieces (UDP) and HDP are compared, the hydrophilicity of UDP was promoted slightly, that of HDP is promoted dramatically. Then, three batches of Indigo Naturalis are prepared to HDP separately, but there is no obvious difference in the contact angle. Furthermore, the size distribution, surface area and micro-shape of HDP are bigger than that of UDP and smaller than NDP. The contents of indigo and indirubin in three decoction pieces are the same, as well as the species of inorganic substance, although there is a little difference in the proportion of five inorganic substances. The fact suggests the change of physical state and the qualitative and quantitative change of organism and inorganic substances are not the main factors to influence the hydrophilicity. In addition, hydroxyl, methylene and methyl can be identified at the wavenumber of 3 356 cm(-1) and 1 461 cm(-1) in infrared spectrum; the content of alcohol in HDP is 0.67% measured by gas chromatogram. The stability of HDP in the heating condition is studied, the fact suggests the hydrophilic effect of HDP at 40 degrees C is relatively stable. All above research suggests that the alcohol is the main factor to influence the hydrophilicity and maybe the intermolecular force which fixed alcohol molecule on the surface of Indigo Naturalis is the basic principle to produce the hydrophilicity.

BACKGROUND:Tauroursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic bile acid derivative that has neuroprotective effects in a variety of neurological disease models.However,there are few reports on the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on apoptosis of spinal cord neurons under hypoglycemic and hypoxic conditions,as well as the effect on recovery of motor function in mice after spinal cord injury. METHODS:(1)In vitro experiment:Primary spinal cord neurons were isolated from C57 BL/6 mouse embryos at 13.5 days of gestation.After 72 hours of culture,the cells were divided into three groups.In the normal group,cells were cultured in Neurobasal complete medium that was incubated in a CO2 incubator(5%CO2 + 95%air)for 24 hours.In the oxyglucose-deprived group,sugar-free Neurobasal medium was added and incubated in a triple-gas incubator(94%N2+5%CO2+1%O2)for 12 hours,and then the medium was replaced with Neurobasal complete medium and incubated in a CO2 incubator for 12 hours.In the experimental group,the treatment procedure was approximately the same as that in the oxyglucose-deprived group,except that taurodeoxycholic acid was added along with the sugar-free Neurobasal medium.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis,cell counting kit-8 assay was applied to detect cell activity,and immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect cellular β-microtubule protein expression.(2)Animal experiment:Sixty C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,spinal cord injury group and experimental group,with 20 mice in each group.Animal models of T9-T10 spinal cord injury were established using Allen's percussion method in the spinal cord injury group and the experimental group.Starting from the 1st day after modeling,taurodeoxycholic acid solution was given by gavage in the experimental group and normal saline was given by gavage in the sham-operated and spinal cord injury groups once a day for 14 consecutive days.Spinal cord tissue repair was assessed using behavioral and histological methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In vitro experiment:TUNEL staining,cell counting kit-8 and immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the normal group,the number of apoptotic cells was higher(P＜0.01),while cell activity and β-microtubule protein expression were lower in the oxyglucose-deprived group(P＜0.01);compared with the oxyglucose-deprived group,the number of apoptotic cells was lower(P＜0.01),while cell activity and β-microtubule protein expression were higher in the experimental group(P＜0.01).Animal experiment:The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores in the open field test and hind limb footprint experiments showed that the mice in the experimental group had better recovery of walking and motor functions than those in the spinal cord injury group.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that significant deformities and cavities were observed at the site of spinal cord injury and the number of nerve cells was significantly reduced in the spinal cord injury group.Compared with the spinal cord injury group,the experimental group showed a significant reduction in the area of spinal cord injury,less spinal cord deformity,fewer cavities,and an increase in the number of nerve cells.Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of neuronal nucleus-labeled neuronal cells in the spinal cord injury group was less than that in the sham-operated group(P＜0.01),and the number of neuronal nucleus-labeled neuronal cells in the experimental group was higher than that in the spinal cord injury group(P＜0.01).To conclude,tauroursodeoxycholic acid could effectively reduce glucose/oxygen deprivation-induced apoptosis of spinal cord neurons and axonal loss,and promote the recovery of motor function in mice with spinal cord injury.

Traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) are currently gaining attention in disease prevention and health care plans. However, their general bitter taste hinders their use. Despite the development of a variety of taste evaluation methods, it is still a major challenge to establish a quantitative detection technique that is objective, authentic and sensitive. Based on the two-bottle preference test (TBP), we proposed a novel quantitative strategy using a standardized animal test and a unified quantitative benchmark. To reduce the difference of results, the methodology of TBP was optimized. The relationship between the concentration of quinine and animal preference index (PI) was obtained. Then the PI of TCH was measured through TBP, and bitterness results were converted into a unified numerical system using the relationship of concentration and PI. To verify the authenticity and sensitivity of quantified results, human sensory testing and electronic tongue testing were applied. The quantified results showed a good discrimination ability. For example, the bitterness of Coptidis Rhizoma was equal to 0.0579 mg/mL quinine, and Nelumbinis Folium was equal to 0.0001 mg/mL. The validation results proved that the new assessment method for TCH was objective and reliable. In conclusion, this study provides an option for the quantification of bitterness and the evaluation of taste masking effects.

Phyllanthi Fructus is a highly unique medicine and food homologous item, which exhibits distinctive flavor, notable nutritional value, and abundant pharmacological activity. It has enormous potential in the creation of health products and pharmaceuticals. However, due to the unique laws of quality formation and transfer of Phyllanthi Fructus, its appearance, shape, chemical compositions, nutrients, and sensory flavors are frequently greatly influenced by botanical resources, the processing and storage conditions. As a result, the current quality evaluation model is difficult to meet the needs of Phyllanthi Fructus as a medicine and food homologous item in the development of diversified products. This paper constructs the hierarchical utilization mode of Phyllanthi Fructus based on its unique quality formation and transmission laws, explores the quality evaluation model for food-oriented use and medicinal-oriented use, respectively, and systematically describes the quality evaluation idea under diversified application scenarios. This paper aims to serve as a reference for the construction of a quality evaluation model suitable for the medicine and food homologous item of Phyllanthi Fructus.