OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms involved in the ligustrazine alleviation of the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) during exacerbation.

METHODSSeventy patients of COPD and CCP with acute exacerbation were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. The control group received standard treatment with antibiotics, antiasthmatic and expectorant medications, and oxygenation; and the ligustrazine treatment group received ligustrazine treatment (80 mg/d; i.v.; for 2 weeks) in addition to the standard treatment. Before and at the end of 2 week treatment, the clinic responses of the two regimens were evaluated, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), outflow tract of right ventricle (RVOT), and internal diameter of right ventricle (RV) were measured.

RESULTSGood clinic benefits were achieved in both the standard and ligustrazine regimens, plasma level of ET-1, values of mPAP, RV and RVOT decreased significantly, plasma level of NO and PaO2 values decreased (all P < 0.01 vs pre-treatment to all parameters). Compared with the control group, ligustrazine greatly enhanced the clinic efficacy from 77.1% to 97.1% (P < 0.05), and also resulted in more significant changes of all these parameters (P < 0.01 vs control group for all parameters). For both groups, the levels of plasma ET-1 were positively correlated with values of mPAP, RVOT, and RV (r = 0.710, 0.853, and 0.766, respectively, all P = 0.000), and negatively correlated with plasma NO and PaO2 (r = - 0.823, and - 0.752, respectively, all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine is effective in treating pulmonary artery hypertension during acute exacerbation of COPD and CCP in patients from the plateau area. The observed changes in the plasma levels of NO and ET-1 in response to ligustrazine treatment suggest that ligustrazine may act through the selective effect on pulmonary blood vessels to enhance the synthesis and release of NO and suppress those of ET-1 from lung vascular endothelial cells, thus reducing pulmonary artery pressure and decreasing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Altitude ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Respiration

OBJECTIVETo study the effective method of microsurgical resection of the recurrent craniopharyngiomas.

METHODSMicrosurgical resection underwent in 40 cases with the recurrent craniopharyngiomas that accounted for 24 men and 16 women with mean age 35.1 year old. Visual deterioration was mainly complained in 25 patents, headache of symptoms in 9 patients, defect of visual field in 2 patients, amenorrhea in 2 patients, hyposexuality in one patient and diabetes insipidus in the one. Average history was 2.9 years. The superior sellar tumors on MR imaging grew in 19 cases, the superior-inferior sellar mass in 9 cases, intra-sellar in 5 cases and the tumors into the third ventricle in 7 cases. The huge calcification tumors were found in 5 cases, cystic tumors in 21 cases, and solid tumors 2 cases. Hydrocephalus presented in 12 cases. Evolution of tumor residuum was revealed in 31 cases after initial surgery and recurrent tumor after completing total removal of the tumor in 9 cases. The pterional approach was employed in 33 cases. The longitudinal fissure to the corpus callus approach in 2 cases was available for resection of the third ventricular tumor through the fornix column and septum pellucidum spaces.

RESULTSIn 33 cases with the pterional approaches, total removal of the tumors were completed in 22 cases, subtotal removal of tumors in 9 cases, and partial removal in 2 cases. In 5 cases with subfrontal approach, 4 patients the total removal of tumors obtained in 4 cases and one subtotal removal of tumor in one. Of 2 cases with the longitudinal fissure to the corpus callus approaches, one case was achieved with the total removal of tumor and the other with subtotal removal of tumor. The pituitary stalk was preserved in 8 cases, the pituitary stalk was severed in 9 cases and the pituitary stalk was not identified in 23 cases when surgery. 17 patients experienced diabetes insipidus and 12 patients had the hypothalamic hypofunction after surgery. One death occurred from the hypothalamic hypofunction 35 day after surgery. By follow-up from 3 months to 3 years, 22 patients returned normal life, 11 patients can carry out their self-life, and 6 patients need care.

CONCLUSIONSThe desirable removal of recurrent craniopharyngioma could be completed in the majority of patients although the reoperation of the tumors was performed very difficulty owing to the tumor adhesive to the surrounding hypothalamic structures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Carotid Arteries ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; blood supply ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

Objective To explore the fire prevention management to ensure the operating of the data room in the hospital. Methods The hidden risks in the fire prevention of the data room were pointed out in auto fire fighting system,precision air-conditioning equipment, UPS and battery pack, compatibilization and expansion, high-voltage power supply circuit, lightningproof grounding and etc.It's indicated that the maintenance staff had deficiency in mastering related knowledge on gas fire-extinguishing system.Results The maintenance had to be strengthened for the auto fire fighting system,precision air-conditioning equipment,UPS and battery pack,and the detection should be reinforced for the high-voltage power supply circuit and lightningproof grounding system. It's suggested that standardized construction be executed during data room compatibilization and expansion,corresponding management system be established,and the knowledge be mastered on the composition,operation and announcements.Conclusion The fire prevention management of the data room is enhanced in the hospital,and the hidden risks are eliminated for fire fighting.

OBJECTIVETo explore the best methods and skill for the removal of difficult and high risk tracheobronchial foreign body under bronchoscope.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed between August 1995 to August 2012. There were 4217 children with tracheobronchial foreign body, among them, 272 were diagnosed as high-risk, highly difficult tracheobronchial foreign bodies confirmed by clinical manifestations, foreign body type and bronchoscopy.

RESULTSIn 271 children, the tracheobronchial foreign body was removed under bronchoscope, the success rate was 99.6%; only one child with a pen cap blocking the left lower lobe bronchus was transferred to the department of thoracic surgery, and the foreign body was finally removed by thoracotomy. Eighty-five children (among them, 82 children were under 1 year of age) had II-II degree laryngeal obstruction, the emergency surgery was performed to remove the foreign body and to relieve the laryngeal obstruction. Twenty-six children had lung infection and 27 children had failed foreign body removal surgery before, in all these children, the foreign body was removed after infection control. There were 17 children with the pen cap as the tracheobronchial foreign body, direct removal was successful in 12 children with the history less than two weeks; in 4 children, the foreign body was removed after 0.1% epinephrine saline flush, and 1 case with the homemade bronchial foreign body hook remove. There were 26 children with the whistle as the foreign body, and 32 children had large and sharp foreign bodies. In these cases, the foreign bodies were removed together with the bronchoscope. Forty-two children had multiple or fragile foreign bodies, and 16 children had subsegmental bronchial foreign bodies. In these cases, the foreign bodies were removed with forceps under direct vision and intraoperative bronchial lavage.In This series, 129 children received intraoperative bronchial lavage, among them, 127 children showed normal X-ray changes one week after operation. Two children with a history of more than 1 month complicated with pulmonary consolidation. After bronchial lavage, pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema occurred, which recovered after treatment. No glottic edema, asphyxia, and other complications were found, the complication rate of surgery was 0.7%.

CONCLUSIONFor the removal of highly difficult and high risk tracheobronchial foreign bodies, preoperative analysis and discussion should be sufficient, appropriate surgical skill and surgical instruments may improve the success rate of the surgery and prevent the operation complications.

Adolescent ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Trachea

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have the potential of differentiation into alveolar epithelial cells in vitro, but so far no study has indicated that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) can be differentiated into alveolar epithelial cells through long-term Transwell co-culture. OBJECTIVE: To observe whether rat lung epithelial-T-antigen negative cell lines (RLE-6TN) can induce rat ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells by long-term Transwell co-culture. METHODS: Three SPF health female Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors to separate, extract, culture and identity ADSCs. The experimental group was subjected to the Transwell co-culture of ADSCs and RLE-6TN, while the control group was subjected to the culture of ADSCs alone. The morphological changes of ADSCs were observed by the inverted phase contrast microscope at 21 days after co-culture. Immunofluorescence staining using surfactant protein C (SP-C) was performed on the co-cultured ADSCs. The fluorescence staining was observed using the inverted fluorescence microscope. Integral optical density (IOD) analysis was conducted by Image pro plus 6.0 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: RLE-6TN cells were identified by fluorescence staining with stable expression of SP-C protein (red fluorescence) in the experimental group, and there was no red fluorescence in the control group. After 21-day co-culture, the cell shape in the experimental group was transformed from the long spindle shape into oval or polygon shape gradually, while the cell shape in the control group remained fibroblast-like. These results show that RLE-6TN can induce ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells after a long-term (21 days) co-culture.

OBJECTIVETo approach the clinical curative effect of treatment of the disease of vertebral column by the arc-track private lock pedicle orthopedics fixation system (ALPF II).

METHODSEighty-six cases were treated by useing ALPF II. The average age of the cases was 36.8 years (range from 18 to 69 years),the male was 39 cases and the female was 37 cases. The results were evaluated and all the cases were followed-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed-up for 9 to 30 months. The amelioration of patients nerve function,spinal motion, low back pain and leg pain was 94.1%, 65.9%, 92.1% and 87.4% respectively. The height of anterior and posterior border after operation were improved greatly than that before operation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The X-ray films showed that the angle of kyphosis was also improved significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTo treat spinal column disease, ALPF II is a kind of operation safety simple, easy control, reset good, curative effect credibility, the complications little of treatment method.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biomechanical performance of the spinal universal fixation system(GSPS) in treating the diseases related to spinal instability.

METHODSFour instable models and 4 fracture models were made of fresh pig's thoracolumbar specimens (T10-L3). Self-designed GSPS were used in the simulated operation. Axial loading test and torsion test were made. The stress-strain relation of the GSPS was observed. The extracting force of link bar from elastic jig was tested.

RESULTSThe strain value of each tested point changed linearly when the axial load changed from 0 to 600 N. There was linear relation between the torsion and the torsion angle. The latter was less than 6 degrees when the former reached 300 N x cm. The minimum extracting force of the link bar from the elastic jig was more than 3 300 N.

CONCLUSIONThe GSPS has high energy and high elasticity on anti-axial and anti-torsion load. It is stable to use elastic link bar.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Spinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo clone the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) from the mouse testis, construct the eukaryotic expression vector and transfect this vector into Sertoli cells in order to use the gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer to cultivate spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs).

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from the testes of normal mature mice and gdnf was cloned and amplified using RT-PCR, inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into sertoli cells (TM4 cell line). Immunofluorescence with anti-GDNF antibodies was performed at 40 h following the transfection.

RESULTSgdnf cDNA was cloned successfully, and GDNF expressed after transfected into Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides a basis for culturing SSCs with gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer.

Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sertoli Cells ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation for treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation.

METHODSSixteen patients with atlantoaxial dislocation were treated from Dec. 2005 to June 2007, included 10 males and 6 females, aged from 38 to 45 years old (means 40.5 years). Among them 12 patients combined with nerve injury, according to ASIA grade: there were 3 cases in grade B, 5 cases in grade C, 4 cases in grade D. All patients received preoperative CT, radiograph and skull traction. Intraoperative posterior approach general spine pedicle screw-rod orthopaedics fixation system used and iliac bone block were implanted in space of posterior atlantal arch and axial vertebral plate. The outcome and complications were observed in the near future.

RESULTSThere was no vascular or neural injury found. The patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months (means 18 months). All head pain, acid storm symptoms were improved after operation. According to the Odom's clinical efficacy evaluation standard, 12 cases were excellent, 4 were good. Eleven cases of 12 with nerve injury recovered significantly. By ASIA classification: 1 cases was in grade B, 2 cases were in grade C, 5 cases were in grade D, 4 cases were in grade E. No looseness or breakage of screw occurred. Bony fusion was achieved in all cases.

CONCLUSIONPosterior approach atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation have the advantages of direct screw placement, short-segment fusion, intraoperative reduction, fixation reliable, high fusion rate, and it can restablish the upper cervical vertebrae stability and help to recover the spinal cord and nerve function.

Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome