OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Ruiqi tablet on mitochondrion activities in the cerebral cortex neurons of fetal mice.

METHODThe cerebral cortex of fetal Wistar rats after 16- 17 gestation days were collected and randomized into Ruiqi tablet group and blank control group after 4-5 days' culture. Laser scanning confocal microscope was adopted to determine the changes in the mitochondrion activities of the primary cultured cerebral cortex neurons of fetal rats after addition of Ruiqi tablet solution.

RESULTRuiqi tablet can increase the mitochondrion activities of the cerebral cortex neurons. No significant change in the mitochondrion activities of the cerebral cortex neurons was found in the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONRuiqi tablet can increase the mitochondrion activities of the neurons and it has certain application prospects in treatment of some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease and so on.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fetus ; chemistry ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; physiology ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo identify factors that predictive of quality of life after microsurgical removal of petroclival meningiomas.

METHODSA consecutive series of 71 cases of petroclival meningiomas received microsurgical removal between July 1991 and April 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Quality of life was measured using Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Complete pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up data were obtained from all 71 patients including 18 male and 53 female patients with the mean age of (47 ± 11) years (aging from 15 to 68 years). The duration between onset of symptoms and diagnosis ranged from 1 week to 180 months with the mean duration of (32 ± 30) months. And the tumor size was 15-72 mm with the average of (44 ± 11) mm. Main presentations included headache, unsteady gait, hemiparesis, dysphagia, hoarseness, facial numbness or pain, Bell's palsy, hearing impairment etc. The preoperative KPS was 40-100 with the average of 69 ± 11. The retrosigmoid (-transtentorial) approach was performed in most cases (91.5%). Intergroup χ² test and logistic regression analysis were conducted for prognostic factor characterization.

RESULTSThe gross total resection (all were Simpson gradeII) reached in 48 cases (67.6%) and 1 case died postoperatively. The main new neurological dysfunctions were cranial nerve paralysis and hemiplegia with the postoperative KPS of 20-100 with the average of 73 ± 16.Sixty-four cases were followed for 4-132 months with the average of (61 ± 48) months. Seven patients died during follow-up, tumor recurrence and progression were identified in 6 and 8 cases, respectively. The KPS at the last visit ranged from 50 to 100 with the average of 83 ± 13. The extent of tumor resection (OR = 0.280, 95% CI: 0.081-0.967, P = 0.044), preoperative brainstem edema (OR = 0.100, 95% CI: 0.027-0.372, P = 0.001), relationships between tumor and neurovascular structures (OR = 0.288, 95% CI: 0.084-0.985, P = 0.047) and depth of invasion into cavernous sinus (OR = 0.254, 95% CI: 0.061-1.057, P = 0.048) had significant correlations with the prognostic quality of life.

CONCLUSIONSWith regard of the choice of surgical approaches, the extent of tumor resection, the protection of neurovascular structures surrounding the tumor and the management of perioperative period, the therapeutic strategies for each patient should be customized to achieve better prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult