Objective To investigate the efficacy and optimal dose of adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) in treatment of infantile spasms (IS).Methods Sixty patients with IS were randomly divided into group A (ACTH 20 IU/d,n =20),group B (ACTH 40 IU/d,n =20) and group C (Depakine syrup,n =20) in a prospective randomized study.Patients in group A and group B were given ACTH in the dose of 20 IU/d and 40 IU/d for 2 weeks,respectively.After 2 weeks of treatment,ACTH administration was replaced by oral prednisone if the seizure frequency decreased by 50.0％ or less.Patients showing incomplete control of epilepsy(seizure frequency reduction less than 50.0％) or failing to respond to treatment were continuously treated with the original amount of ACTH for another 2 weeks,then ACTH was replaced by oral prednisone.Patients in group C were treated with the combination regimen of oral clonazepam and Depakine syrup routinely.All participants were followed up by 0.5-3.0 years.The differences in clinical efficacy,changes in electroencephalogram(EEG) and adverse reactions in 3 groups were compared and analyzed.Results Mter 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rates (TER) and EEG remission rate (ERR) in group A [TER:75.0％ (15/20 cases),ERR:40.0％ (8/20 cases)] and group B [TER:70.0％ (14/20 cases),ARE:45.0％ (9/20 cases)] were significantly higher than those in group C [TER:30.0％ (6/20 cases),ERR:10.0％ (2/20 cases)] (x2 =10.011,6.624,all P ＜ 0.05),respectively,while no significant difference was found between group A and group B as for seizure control,hypsarrhythmia EEG resolution,and cognitive function restoration (x2 =0.125,0.000,t =1.95,all P ＞ 0.05).During follow-up study,the TER and ERR in group A [TER:30.0％ (16/20 cases),ERR:35.3 ％ (6/17 cases)] and group B [TER:30.0％ (6/20 cases),ARE:37.5％ (6/16 cases)] were also significantly higher than those in group C [TER:5.0％ (1/20 cases),ARE:5.9％ (1/17 cases)] (x2 =4.329,6.455,all P ＜ 0.05),respectively.The incidence of adverse reactions in group A was lower than that in group B (x2 =3.956,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions ACTH proves to be an effective drug for the treatment of IS.Administration of ACTH in the dose of 20 IU/d for 2 weeks seems to be an optimal treatment recipe with remarkable efficacy with fewer adverse effects and may be worthy of clinical trials in a larger cohort.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; instrumentation ; Device Removal ; Humans ; Male ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Vena Cava, Superior

Objective To study arterial distribution of rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap and to evaluate whether it can be divided into several units for reconstruction. Methods The arteries of the rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap were studied on 60 sides of cadavers by dissection and angiography. Results The superior epigastric artery (SEA) and the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) continued in a longitudinal direction. Most of their branches took on a typical spiral configuration and communicated with each other within muscle above the level of umbilicus. Many perforating arteries penetrated through the anterior rectus sheath to get to the overlying skin, but the highest concentration of major perforators were in the paraumbilical area. The inferior epigastric artery was more significant than superior epigastric artery in supplying the skin of the musculocutaneous flap. Based on thefstudies of the vascular anatomy of muscles, we could classify arterial distribution into 3 types: type Ⅰ (SEA 26.5 %, IEA 34.6%) revealed a single main intramuscular artery: type Ⅱ (SEA 64.7 %, IEA 48.1%) had two major intramuscular branches; type Ⅲ (SEA 8.8%, IEA 17.3 %) revealed three intramuscular branches. Our anatomic studies showed that the superior and inferior epigastric artery bifurcated or divided into more than two main branches in the majority of cases (SEA 73.5%, IEA 65.4%). Conclusion The rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap could often be divided into several regions for breast construction which is based on the distribution of each branch of the artery.

Objective To investigate the expressions of TRIM59,Twist and E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significance. Methods The expressions of TRIM59,Twist and E-cadherin protein were tested by immunohistochemistry in 80 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas and the adjacent paracancerous tissues. Results The positive rate of TRIM59 in hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher than that in the adjacent paracancerous tissue(76.3%vs. 8.0%,P<0.05). Significant difference was also observed in the expres-sion rate of Twist between the hepatocellular carcinomas and the paracancerous tissue(66.3%vs. 6.0%,P<0.05). The positive rate of E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly lower than that in the adjacent para-cancerous tissue(27.5%vs. 90.0%,P<0.05). The differences of the expression of TRIM59 in hepatocellular carci-noma of pathological grading,tumor differentiation,vascular invasion and clinical TNM stage were significant(P<0.05). The differences of the expression of Twist in hepatocellular carcinoma of pathological grading ,differentia-tion,vascular invasion and clinical TNM stage was also significant(P<0.05,respectively). The differences of the expression of E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma of pathological grading,differentiation,vascular invasion and clinical TNM stage were also significant(P<0.05,respectively). Significantly positive correlation was also found between TRIM59 and Twist by using spearman correlation analysis(P<0.05). Negative correlations were observed between TRIM59 and E-cadherin(P < 0.05),and between Twist and E-cadherin(P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that TRIM59 expression was an independent prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion TRIM59,Twist and E-cadherin protein expression might be associated with the development,invasion,and metas-tasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. TRIM59 may become a new target gene for the treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the effects of oxycodone combined with incision infiltration with ropivacaine on postoperative outcomes in the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Eighty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 33-64 yr,weighing 45-88 kg,scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia,were divided into 2 groups (n=40 each) using a random number table:patient-controlled intravenous analgesia group (group P) and oxycodone combined with incision infiltration group (group O).In group P,fentanyl 1-2 μg/kg was intravenously infused after cholecystectomy,and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed with sufentanil at the end of surgery.In group O,oxycodone 0.05-0.10 mg/kg was intravenously injected after cholecystectomy,incision infiltration was performed with 0.5％ ropivacaine before suturing,and visual analog scale score was maintained ≤ 3.The emergence time,time to first flatus,time to liquid diet,first ambulation time,length of hospital stay after operation and adverse reactions were recorded.Results Compared with group P,the time to first flatus,time to liquid diet,first ambulation time and length of hospital stay after operation were significantly shortened,the incidence of urinary retention and nausea and vomiting was decreased (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the emergence time in group O (P＞0.05).Conclusion Combination of oxycodone and incision infiltration with ropivacaine can promote postoperative outcomes in the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective To evaluate the significance of ST/TP relative value in electrocardiogram in diagnosis of hypocalcemia.Methods ST/TP relative value in electrocardiogram in 61 children with hypocalcemia and 31 normal children were detected by NIHOH KOHDEN CardiofaxQ ECG-9130P electrocardiogram machine designed by Japanese futian company.Calcium ion was checked out by clinic electrolyte equipment.Results There was significant difference of ST/TP relative value between patients with hypocalcemia and normal children(P

Background Vitronectin is a glycoprotein that has a variety of functions.Its expression was markedly higher in the retina of oxygen induced mice,which was confirmed in our animal model,and also increased in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (人 UVECs) that were cultured in high glucose.However,there was no evidence that showed vitronectin was involved in retinal neovascularization.Objective This study was to observe the influence of vitronectin on cytoskeleton remodeling,cell migration and blood vessel formation in 人 UVECs conditioned by high glucose.Methods 人 UVECs were cultured in high glucose and the expression of vitronectin was knocked down using RNA interference technology.The experiments were divided into the high glucose group (人 UVECs were conditioned with DMEM medium that contained 50 mmol/L glucose),negative interference group (人 UVECs were transfected with control siRNA in advance,and then were conditioned with DMEM medium that contained 50 mmol/L glucose) and positive interference group (HUVEC were transfected with vitronectin siRNA in advance,and then were conditioned with DMEM medium that contained 50 mmol/L glucose).The protein expression of vitronectin was measured by Western blot,and the microfilament cytoskeleton of 人 UVECs was examined by immunofluorescence cytochemical staining followed by fluorescence microscopy.Cell migration ability in a scratch wound assay and blood vessel formation ability in a matrigel assay of 人 UVECs were evaluated.The general differences were analysed by One-Way ANOVA ;further contrasts of the two groups were analysed by the LSD-t test.Results The differences in vitronectin expression of the three groups were not obvious at 0 hour (F=1.064,P＞0.05).After 24 hours,vitronectin expression was highest in the high glucose group,lower in the negative interference group,and the lowest in the positive interference group,and the differences were significant (F =15.519,P＜0.05).After 48 hours,vitronectin expression of the three groups displayed the same pattern,and the differences were also significant (F=37.521,P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence showed that the cytoskeleton structure was most obvious in the high glucose group,moderate in the negative interference group,and was the least obvious in the positive interference group,after both 24 hours and 48 hours.In the scratch wound assay,the cell migration ability of the high glucose group was the highest,lower in the negative interference group,and the lowest in the positive interference group after 24 hours,and the differences were significant (F=90.685,P＜0.05).After 48 hours,the cell migration abilities of the three groups displayed the same pattern,and the differences were also significant (F=67.880,P＜0.05).In the matrigel assay,after 6 hours,the number of blood vessels formed in the high glucose group was more than that in the negative interference group,and the least amount was found in the positive interference group.The differences among of them were significant (F =86.653,P＜0.05).The number of blood vessel formed in the positive interference group was also the lowest after 12 hours,and the differences were also significant (F=18.992,P＜0.05).Conclusions Vitronectin can bring about cytoskeleton remodeling,increase in cell migration,and enhancement of blood vessel formation in 人 UVECs conditioned in high glucose.It may be one of the important influence factors of diabetic retinopathy.

Background Hypoxia is the main factor of retinal neovascularization and is closely associated with retinal ganglial cells (RGCs) degeneration.However, the study of retinal neural tissue lesions is rare.Objective This study was to investigate the influence of hypoxia environment on the expression of annexin A2 (ANXA2) in mouse RGC-5 cells and explore the mechanism of RGCs damage induced by hypoxia.Methods Immortalized mouse RGC-5 cells were cultured in high glucose DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were identified by detecting the expression of Thy-1 ,a specific biomarker of RGCs.CoCl2 was added into the medium at the final concentrations of 50,100,200 and 300 μmol/L, and the cells without CoCl2 served as the control group.Cell viability (absorbance) was assayed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method in 12,24 and 48 hours after addition of CoCl2.The hypoxic cell models were established in DMEM with 100 μmol/L CoCl2 and divided into the hypoxic 3-hour group, hypoxic 6-hour group, hypoxic 12-hour group and hypoxic 24-hour group,with the normal cultured cells as the normal control group.Apoptotic cells were determined by using hoechst 33342 stain.The expression levels of ANXA2 mRNA and protein in the cells were detected by real-time quantification PCR and Western blot,respectively.The expression and location of ANXA2 in the cells were examined by using immunofluorescence technique.Results The cultured cells grew well and showed the fusiform and polygonal shape,with positive expression of Thy-1 protein.Compared with the normal control group, the viabilities of the cells were insignificantly changed in the 50 μ mol/L CoCl2 group and 100 μmol/L CoCl2 group (all at P＞0.05) ,but the cell viabilities were significantly reduced in the 200 μμmol/L CoCl2 group and 300 μmol/L CoCl2 group in various time points (all at P＜0.05).Hoechst 33342 staining showed that the apoptotic cells with nuclear condensation and high green fluorescence intensity were obtained in the hypoxia groups.The relative expression levels of ANXA2 mRNA were significantly lower in the hypoxic groups than those in the normal control group (all at P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression levels of ANXA2 protein were significantly lower in the hypoxia 3-,6-, 12-and 24-hour group than those in the normal control group (all at P＜ 0.05).Apoptotic cells were seen in the hypoxic 3-hour group, hypoxic 6-hour group, hypoxic 12-hour group and hypoxic 24-hour group compared with the normal control group, showing the bright blue fluorescence in cellular nucleus for hoechst 33342.The relative expressing levels of ANXA2 mRNA in the cells were 0.80±0.14,0.67±0.33, 0.49±0.17 and 0.39±0.02 in the hypoxic 3-hour group,hypoxic 6-hour group, hypoxic 12-hour group and hypoxic 24-hour group, which were significantly declined in comparison with the normal control group, with a statistically difference among the groups (F=434.354, P =0.000).The relative expression values of ANXA2 protein were 0.552 6±0.012 3,0.425 9± 0.033 4,0.344 9 ± 0.017 8 and 0.382 7 ± 0.022 1 in the hypoxic 3-hour group, hypoxic 6-hour group, hypoxic 12-hour group and hypoxic 24-hour group,which were remarkably lower than 0.602 1 ±0.001 4 in the normal control group, showing considerably difference among the groups (F =3.057, P =0.000).ANXA2 proteins were highly expressed in the cellular nucleus and less expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm in the normal cells.Compared with the normal control group, the ANXA2 protein showed weak expression in the hypoxia group and primarily in the cytoplasm.Conclusions The expression of ANXA2 down-regulates in hypoxic mouse RGC-5 cells,which may participate in the apoptosis process of RGCs in high glucose environment.

Humans ; Vision Disorders/etiology* ; Visual Acuity

Objective To evaluate the echocardiographic findings and clinical application in the rupture of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm(SVA).Methods Typical transthoracic echocardiographic appearance of 62 patients with SVA and accompanied abnormality were reviewed and compared with operative results.Results Fifty-eight (93.5%) cases SVA were preoperatively discovered by echocardiography, while 2 (3.2%) misdiagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot and tricuspid regurgitation and 2 (3.2%) missed diagnosis.Accompanying teratisms included frequently ventricular septal defect (VSD) (33 cases, 53.2 %) and aortic valve dysplasia(11 cases, 17.7%).The rupture site and the drainage chamber were essentially consisted with surgery,while the size of VSD measured by echocardiography was significantly smaller than that measured in operation.Conclusions Transthoracic echoeardiography is valuable in diagnosing of the site, drainage chamber and the accompanied abnormality of SVA.