AIM:To investigate the effect of flavonoids from stem and leaf of Scutellaria baicalonsis Georgi(SSF)on paired helical filament(PHF)abnormality and the regulatory mechanism of protein phosphatase(PP)in rats' brain induced by okadaic acid(OA).METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were microinjected with OA(200 ng/kg)by the lateral ventricle to establish a memory impairment model.Morris water maze was used to screen the memory impairment model.The successful model rats were continuous intragastric infusion(ig)SSF for 36 days.The relative pro-tein expression of PHF,PP1,PP2A-Cα,PP2A-Cβ,PP2CA and PP2CB in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus were detected by Western blot.GinKgo biloba leaf flavonoids(GLF)were used as positive control drug.RESULTS:Compared with the sham-operated rats ,the relative protein expression of PHF in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and PP 1 in cor-tex of model rats were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of PP2A-Cα,PP2A-Cβin the cere-bral cortex and hippocampus and PP2CB in the hippocampus were decreased(P<0.05),while the relative protein expres-sion of PP2CA and PP2CB in the cortex were significantly increased(P<0.01).SSF reversed the abnormality in the pro-tein expression of PHF,PP2A-Cαand PP2A-Cβin rat cortex and hippocampus and PP1 in rat cortex induced by OA(P<0.01),which had no significant effect on the relative protein expression of PP 2CA and PP2CB.GLF also showed similar results to SSF.CONCLUSION:SSF significantly reduces the abnormal formation of PHF in rats ' brain induced by OA ,which may be related to the regulation of PP 1,PP2A-Cαand PP2A-Cβexpression,but not with PP2CA and PP2CB ex-pression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate retrospectively the clinical effects and recurrence rate of 143 cases who underwent one level discectomy and followed up more than 10 years. To evaluate the outcome of patients in groups of different operating age and extents of disc herniation, and analyse whether difference exists in each group.

METHODSThere were 143 patients (operation time from January 1996 to December 2000) including 80 males and 63 females, aged from 18 to 66 years old with an average of 37.85 years. The followed-up time was 10 to 15 years with an average of 12.7 years. Patients were divided into 3 groups depends on operating age: < 30 years old, 30 to 50 years old and > 50 years old; 87 patients who's pre-operative CT scan could be collected among 143 cases were divided into 3 groups depends on extents of disc herniation: I degree, II degrees, and III degrees. The final followed-up was obtained in 2011, to evaluate each group and the holistic clincal outcome with JOA scores and ODI scores, and observe whether there were difference between every groups; to judge the effects by patient himself with modified Macnab Criteria.

RESULTS(1) JOA scores pre-operation and final followed-up was 5.11 +/- 2.02 and 12.51 +/- 2.35 respectively; ODI scores pre-operation and final followed-up was 33.98 +/- 7.42 and 13.39 +/- 6.79 respectively. There were significant differences between pre-operative and final followed-up in JOA and ODI (P < 0.01). The excellent-good rate was 83.2% (119/143 ) according to modified Macnab Classification with recurrence rate of 6.3% at final follow-up. (2) Obvious difference was found in JOA scores in group who's age at operation less than 30 years old compared with other 2 groups at followed-up time, and no significant difference was found in JOA scores between other two groups ; no significant difference was found in ODI scores among the three groups. (3) Significant difference was found in JOA and ODI scores in group with III degrees lumbar disc herniation group compared with other 2 groups, and no statistical difference was found in clincal scores between other 2 groups.

CONCLUSION(1) Long-term followed-up of 143 cases prove mono-level lumbar discectomy is an option for disc herniation with good curative effect and lower recurrent rate, the technique should be the prior selection in dealing with patients with lumbar disc herniation. (2) 51% patients (19/37) in group under 30 years old endure persistent low back pain. (3) The long-term clinical effects in patients with severe disc protrution who underwent lumbar discectomy is worse than those patients with mild lumbar disc herniation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Laminectomy ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo establish a restriction endonuclease pattern which could detect and differentiate four major human herpesviruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequence analysis.

METHODSA pair of primer, which was designed according to sequences in well-conserved regions of the DNA polymerase gene in human herpesviruses, was designed to amplify herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSVI/II), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Sequences of the primers are as follows: P(1) (5'-CGACTTTGCCAGCCTGACC-3') and P(2) (5'-AGTCCGTGTCCCCGTAGATG-3'). DNA of four strains of standard herpesviruses were amplified by PCR, and further studied by DNA cloning, sequence analysis and RFLP. At last, the authors established the PCR-RFLP technique to differentiate the four different herpesviruses. Meanwhile, 75 clinical blood specimens from infants with suspected viral infection and 38 blood specimens from healthy children were evaluated for herpesviruses DNA or virus-specific IgM antibody by PCR-RFLP or by ELISA.

RESULTSThe PCR amplified products of four human herpesviruses were from 510 bp to 592 bp in length and were analyzed for herpesvirus types with restriction endonuclease technique. The specificity and sensitivity of this PCR-RFLP were examined. There was no cross-reaction with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis B virus (HBV), Clostridium neoformans and human-genomic DNA and the lowest detection level was 0.1 fg DNA. Among 75 specimens, 23 were positive by PCR and the positive rate was 30.7%, including 13 for CMV, four for EBV, five for HSVII and one for HSVI after restriction enzyme digestion with BamHI and BstUI, while 10 were positive by ELISA and positive rate was 13.3%. All ELISA-positive specimens were likewise positive by PCR. Thirteen of 65 specimens that were ELISA-negative were tested positive by PCR. An infant with CMV infection was determined with viral DNA and virus-specific IgM antibody in blood at 3, 4 and 6 months after birth, respectively. The result showed that she was still CMV DNA-positive in blood whereas IgM antibody was positive only at month 3 after birth. None of the 38 control blood specimens was positive for herpesvirus by this PCR-RFLP or by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONSThis PCR-RFLP technique was specific, sensitive, rapid and accurate in diagnosing herpesviruses infection in infants, and it could detect herpesviruses DNA in specimens which were negative for IgM antibody by ELISA.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of increasing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) flow volume in improving outcome of patients with carotid artery stenosis performed coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure.

METHODSFifty-one patients data collected from January 2006 to March 2008 and divided into two groups (A and B) based on the degree of the carotid artery stenosis diagnosed by ultrasound. Group A included 15 cases with one or both carotid artery stenosis more than 50%, 14 male and 1 female, aged (68.5 +/- 7.7) years old, 14 with hypertension, 2 with diabetes, 6 with myocardial infarction, 3 with cerebral infarction. Group B included 36 cases with stenosis less than 50%, 34 male and 2 female, aged (62.4 +/- 10.2) years old, 28 with hypertension, 7 with diabetes, 20 with myocardial infarction. Increasing CPB flow volume in A group to compare cerebral blood flow (CBF) within procedure in both groups.

RESULTSCPB flow volume in group A was much higher than it in group B (P = 0.001). Mean arterial blood pressure in group A was (67.0 +/- 9.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), higher than group B (59.0 +/- 7.1) mm Hg (P = 0.009). There was no significant difference of CBF within procedure and neuropsychologic performance in both group as result.

CONCLUSIONFor the patients presenting with carotid artery stenosis undergoing the procedure of CABG with CPB, increasing CPB flow volume could improve significantly diseased side cerebral blood flow and might reduce neurological complications.

Aged ; Brain ; blood supply ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; methods ; Carotid Stenosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prognosis ; Regional Blood Flow ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of different age and short or long segments of pedicle screw fixation to the clinical efficacy of early single thoracolumbar fracture.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to June 2008, 27 patients of early single thoracolumbar fracture were treated using short or long segments pedicle screw instrumentation, fracture vertebral (AO classification: type A1 or A2) was between T11 or L2. All patients were divided into A or B group according to age. A group: 12 cases mean age (32.6+/-10.7) years old (range, 16-55 years old). B group: 15 cases mean age (66.8+/-9.2) years old (range, 56-78 years old). All patients were treated with bony autograft by transpedicular of fracture vertebral and internal fixation by pedicle instrumentation. Pedicle screws were inserted in the pedicles of above and lower adjacent vertebral body of fracture vertebral, and others were inserted in the pedicles of above and lower two vertebral bodies of injured vertebral. Recorded operation time, blood loss and occurrence of complications. All patients took X radiograph plane examination (anterior-posterior position and lateral position) before operation and during 1 week of post operation and more than 1 year of follow up. Measured percentage of anterior compression vertebral high and kyphosis angle of the fracture vertebral by the same one group doctors.

RESULTSMean follow up time was (29.6+/-9.1) months (range, 10 - 34 months). The patients using short segments pedicle screw fixation in A and B group, mean operation time were (102+/-16) min and (118+/-24) min (P=0.072), mean volume of loss blood were (315+/-87) ml and (331+/-87) ml (P=0.064) respectively. The patients using long segments pedicle screw fixation in A and B group, Mean operation time were (138+/-22) min and (159+/-31) min (P=0.052), Mean volume of loss blood were (446+/-102) ml and (482+/-148) ml (P=0.055) respectively. There was no statistic different significantly between A and B group. The patients using short segments fixation, preoperative, during one week of post operation, one year of follow up, in A group the percentage of anterior compression vertebral high were 41.3+/-14.0, 5.4+/-1.0, 13.6+/-1.1, and 38.5+/-11.2, 8.3+/-2.1, 21.4+/-5.2 in B group. The patients using long segments fixation, at some time of preoperative, during one week of post operation and one year of follow up the percentage of anterior compression vertebral high were 40.8+/-11.5, 4.6+/-1.2, 8.3+/-1.0 in group A, and 44.3+/-10.2, 9.7+/-2.1, 11.2+/-3.0 in group B. In group A and B the kyphosis angle of fracture segment was 17.5 degrees+/-1.0 degrees and 16.3 degrees+/-3.1 degrees before operation, 4.2 degrees+/-1.0 degrees and 6.0 degrees+/-1.1 degrees in one week of postoperation and 11.5 degrees+/-1.0 degrees, 13.4 degrees+/-3.0 degrees in one year later postoperation. All the compression vertebral high was recovered and kyphosis was corrected significantly during one week and one year after operation (P<0.05), but there was some loss of kyphosis correction rate in follow up.

CONCLUSIONThere is better clinical efficacy of short segments pedicle instrumentation for treating early thoracolumbar fracture in the young group, but long segments fixation of pedicle instrumentation is more suitable for the older group.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti atherosclerosis effect and related mechanisms of total flavone of radix puerariae (TFRP) on atherosclerotic plaques in apoE gene deficiency (apoE-/-) mice.

METHODSapoE-/- mice were treated with saline, TFRP 15 mg . kg(-1). d(-1) or TFRP 85 mg . kg-1. d-1 (n = 8 each group) respectively per gavage for 12 weeks. The apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques were then detected by TUNEL analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM). The expression of CD-68, SMA and Caspase-3 were determined by immunochemical methods.

RESULTSEarly macrophage apoptosis signs were observed under TEM, TUNEL-positive and CD-68 positive cells were found in lipid cores of atherosclerotic plaques. TFRP significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in a dose-dependent manner [(0.38 +/- 0.17)%, (1.95 +/- 1.02)%, (10.50 +/- 5.89)%, respectively, P < 0.01] in atherosclerotic plaques. TFRP treatment also significantly reduced the immune expression of Caspase-3 protein in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONTFRP significantly attenuated the development of advanced atherosclerotic plaques in a dose-dependent manner which might related to down-regulated expression of Caspase-3 protein and reduced macrophage apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques post TFRP treatment.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavones ; pharmacology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Pueraria ; chemistry

Objective To analyze the influencing factors for intraventricular hemorrhage in the very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and extremely low birth weight infants(ELBWI).Methods The clinical data of all VLBWI and ELBWI in the Second Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from Jan.1,1999 to Dec.31,2011 were retrospectively collected.They were divided into the intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) group and non-IVH group,which included mild and severe IVH in IVH group,and then the differences of perinatal factors were analyzed in the different groups.The severity of IVH was graded based on Papile classification,and SPSS 16.0 statistical software was used for the data processing and analysis.Results A total of 925 cases were collected,and the incidence rate of IVH was 12.6％ (117/925 cases),in which the severe IVH accounted for 58.4％ (66/113 cases).Factors like maternal hypertension,maternal age ≥ 30 years,gestational age,birth weight,male,small for gestational age,severe asphyxia,placental abnormalities (including placental abruption,placenta praevia,placenta adhesion,small placenta,aging of placenta),pneumonia,neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,pulmonary hemorrhage,invasive mechanical ventilation,using pulmonary surfactant (PS),chronic lung disease (CLD),necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were significantly different between 2 study groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis identified that gestational age ＜ 28 weeks (AOR 2.583 ; 95 ％ CI:1.357-4.916,P =0.004),maternal age ≥ 30 years (A OR 1.638 ; 95 ％ CI:1.061-2.530,P =0.026),invasive mechanical ventilation (AOR 2.098 ;95 ％ CI:1.262-3.488,P =0.004),NEC (A OR 3.064 ;95 ％ CI:1.391-6.750,P =0.005),using PS(AOR 1.794;95％ CI:1.057-3.045,P =0.030),pulmonary hemorrhage(AOR 3.372;95％ CI:1.138-9.989,P =0.028),subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (AOR 4.936 ;95 ％ CI:1.717-14.184,P =0.003),periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) (AOR 3.157 ;95％ CI:1.294-7.701,P =0.012),hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD)(AOR 3.777;95％ CI:1.637-8.716,P =0.002) increased the risks of IVH.Invasive mechanical ventilation increased the risk of severe IVH(AOR 4.333 ;95％ CI:1.861-10.088,P =0.001).Conclusions Anong infants with birth weight ＜ 1 500 g,many prenatal,perinatal and postnatal factors are associated with incidence of IVH.Gestational age ＜ 28 weeks,maternal age ≥ 30 years,invasive mechanical ventilation,NEC,exogenous PS,pulmonary hemorrhage,SAH,PVL and HIBD are risk factors for IVH.Cranial ultrasound plays a key role in the early recognition of IVH.

Objective To observe the expression of NOD2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins in podocytes in high glucose environment,and explore the molecular mechanism of NOD2 involved in EMT.Methods The human glomerular podocytes were the subjects of study.α-SMA and Nephrin expressions were detected by immunofluorescence;the mRNA and protein expressions of NOD2,Snail and EMT related proteins (α-SMA,Desmin,E-cadherin,Nephrin) were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting.The podocytes were stimulated by high-glucose after shRNA interfering the of NOD2 expression,and the expressions of Snail and subsequent EMT-related proteins were detected by Western blotting.Prior to the activation of NOD2 by muramyl dipeptide (MDP),shRNA was used to interfere with the expression of Snail.E-cadherin,Nephrin,Desmin,and α-SMA were detected by Western blotting.Results After 24 hours of high glucose stimulation,PCR and Western blotting results showed that the expressions of NOD2 and Snail were significantly increased;the expressions of epithelial phenotype proteins E-cadherin and Nephrin were down-regulated;and the expressions of interstitial phenotype proteins Desmin and α-SMA were increased (all P ＜ 0.05);while there was no significant change in the hypertonic control group.After interference with NOD2,the abnormal expression of Snail and EMT related proteins were all recovered.After interference with Snail expression,Compared with the MDP group,the protein expressions of E-cadherin and Nephrin were significantly increased (all P ＜ 0.05);the expressions of Desmin and α-SMA were significantly decreased.Conclusions High glucose can induce NOD2 expression in podocytes,and promote podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition by upregulating Snail expression.Gene intervention targeting the NOD2/Snail/EMT pathway can reduce high-glucose-induced podocyte injury and may provide new ideas for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective To evaluate and study percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) related factors in the treatment of renal calculi caused postoperative fever and its prevention measures. Methods Making a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 150 patients who underwent PCNL, including age, gender, diabetes history and previous ipsilateral renal surgery, stone type, stone size, whether the complication of upper ureteral stones, preoperative urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis, preoperative renal fistula, postoperative centering vein pressure, intraoperative perfusion and the operation time from January 2015 to June 2017. After the operation, the patients were divided into two groups: fever group and non-fever group, and analyzed the related factors of the fever. Results Among the 150 cases, fever occurred in 27 cases after PCNL, taking up 18%. Gender, history of diabetes, staghorn calculi or staghorn stone, stone size, with ureteral calculi, preoperative urine leukocyte count, renal abscess, preoperative renal fistula, postoperative central venous pressure, intraoperative perfusion and operation time between the two groups, the differences that were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Logistic that multivariate analysis showed that female patients with upper ureteral calculi, perfusion, intraoperative volume,preoperative pyonephrosis, long operation time are independent risk factors of fever after operation (OR^>1, P<0.05). Conclusion Routine bacterial culture of urine should be performed before percutaneous nephrolithotomy, urinary tract infection and kidney empyema should be treated thoroughly. The reasonable shorter operative duration and perfusion fluid volume could significantly reduce the incidence of fever after PCNL.

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of CD55 and CD59 in patients with hyperlipidemia and the effects of atorvastatin on it, and to identify the possible influential factors.

METHODSWe selected 67 patients with hyperlipidemia, and 24 healthy people matched in terms of age, sex and body weight as control. The expressions of CD55 and CD59 on white blood cells were detected by flow cytometry, and their relationships to blood lipids, complement activation indexes (C(5a), sC(5b-9)), inflammatory factors (high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), TNF-alpha, IL-6 were analyzed. 24 patients with hyperlipidemia were treated with atorvastatin for 8-12 weeks and the expressions of CD55 and CD59 were measured before and after atorvastatin therapy.

RESULTSThe mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD55 lymphocytes and monocytes were decreased in patients with hyperlipidemia compared with control (2.07 +/- 0.28 vs 2.29 +/- 0.44 and 3.45 +/- 1.02 vs 4.33 +/- 2.32, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CD55 positive lymphocyte MFI was negatively correlated with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, hsCRP and C(5a). C(5a) was negatively correlated with the MFIs of CD55 positive lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and positively with TG and diastolic blood pressure. After atorvastatin therapy, the MFIs of CD59 positive lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes increased (4.34 +/- 1.16 vs 3.69 +/- 0.76, 4.52 +/- 1.36 vs 3.91 +/- 0.89, 5.67 +/- 1.72 vs 4.56 +/- 1.03, P < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively), which were not correlated with changes of blood lipids.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of CD55 is down-regulated in hyperlipidemia, which might be influenced by obesity, abdominal distribution of adipose tissue and inflammatory status of hyperlipidemia, but not by blood lipids. The expression of CD55 is related with complement activation; The expression of CD59 is up-regulated after atorvastatin treatment independently of blood lipids.

Aged ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; CD55 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD59 Antigens ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement Activation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use