OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of rectangle titanium cage (SynCage-C) in the anterior cervical spine fusion.

METHODSNineteen patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion using SynCage-C with average follow-up of 9 months.

RESULTSAll cases had cervical spondylosis with 13 cases of myelopathy and 6 cases of radiculopathy. One level fusion were 16 cases and two levels were 3 cases. The mean operation time was 40 minutes per level with average bleeding 60 ml. Patients were asked to wear a hard collar for average 8.5 weeks after the operation. The fusion was solid on lateral view X-ray films three months post-operation. Only 1 case had neck stiffness due to prolonged collar protection and another case had short term pain on bone dorner site. There were no other complications such as cage subsidence, displacement, milaligment and kyphosis of cervical spine.

CONCLUSIONThe SynCage-C can resort and maintain the intervertebral space effectively with the advantage of immediate stability, satisfactory fusion and easy to use.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Titanium ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Fibronectin containing extra domain A (EDA+ FN),a functional glycoprotein participating in several cellular processes,correlates with chronic liver disease.Herein,we aim to investigate the expression and secretion of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the underlying mechanisms.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN were determined by ELISA in clinical samples.Western blotting and flow cytometry were performed on L02 and HepG2 cell lines to analyze whether the levels of EDA+ FN were associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related cell death.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN in NAFLD patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects,and positively related with severity of ultrasonographic steatosis score.In cultured hepatocytes,palmitate up-regulated the expression of EDA+ FN in a dose-dependent manner.Conversely,when the cells were pretreated with 4-phenylbutyrate,a specific inhibitor of ER stress,up-regulation of EDA+ FN could be abrogated.Moreover,silencing CHOP by shRNA enhanced the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes following palmitate treatment,which was involved in ER stress-related cell damage.These findings suggest that the up-regulated level of EDA+ FN is associated with liver damage in NAFLD,and ER stress-mediated cell damage contributes to the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes.

A bacterial strain DN25, effective on cyanide-degradation, was isolated from contaminated soil and identified as Alcaligenes sp. on the basis of phenotype analysis and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It showed great tolerance to the cyanide, which can grow in the medium containing 500mg CN -/L. The suitable condition for the cell growth and boitransformation was pH8.0 and 30oC and the transformation rate for 500mg CN - /L could achieve 99% in 10 h. It has also been found that the screened strain had the ability of K 4Fe(CN) 6 transformation with 96% of transformation rate at 12 h for the concentration of 500 mg CN /L.

OBJECTIVETo identify the relative factors of recent discovered atrial fibrillation (AF) following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODSClassified the 649 cases undergoing isolated CABG from January 2005 to December 2006 to two groups according to whether AF appeared after operation. Collected the peri-operative data and operative strategy, then analyzed with single-factor analysis and Logistic regression.

RESULTSThe incidence of AF was 8.0% (52 cases), and 84.6% (44 cases) recovered sinus-rhythm leaving hospital. Age, standard European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE), ratio of high-operative-risk, left atrium diameter and ratio of left coronary artery dominance were higher in AF group than in non-AF group. Age, eject fraction, left atrium diameter, operative risk evaluation, left coronary artery dominance and anastomosis on right coronary artery were the relative factors of recent discovered AF following isolated CABG. But off-pump operation, prescription of adrenergic beta-antagonists pre-operatively and degree of coronary artery stenosis had no influence to AF.

CONCLUSIONSAF following CABG is a result of common influence by many factors. EuroSCORE might forecast partially the incidence of AF following CABG. Improve the myocardial protection and reduce the surgical damage during operative progress maybe the mostly approach to decrease the incidence of AF following CABG.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; etiology ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore the effects and related mechanism of nifedipine on vascular inflammation induced by cuff placement. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice ( 10 to 12 weeks of age)were assigned to control ( no cuff placement without nifedipine ) , cuff placement ( cuff placement without ( cuff placement without nifedipine) and treatment (cuff placement with nifedipine 1 or 5 mg · kg-1 · d-1) groups. Activity of NF-κB in injured artery was measured 5 days after operation. MCP-1 expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB were examined in injured artery 7 days after operation. Results DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was significantly increased in the injured artery 5 days after cuff placement which could be downregulated by nifedipine 5mg · kg-1 · d-1. MCP-1 mRNA expression in the injured arteries was increased 7 days after cuff placement and which could be significantly attenuated by nifedipine 5 mg · kg-1 · d-1. Cuff placement decreased the cytoplasmic level of p50, IκBα, IκBβ, and increased the nuclear level of p50. Nifedipine 5 mg· kg-1 · d-1 significantly attenuated these changes. Conclusion Our results suggest that high dose nifedipine could suppresse expression of MCP-1 induced by injured arteries via the inhibing NF-κB DNA binding activity, thereby attenuating vascular inflammation.

BACKGROUNDCervical arthroplasty is indicated to preserve cervical motion and prevent accelerated adjacent segment degeneration. Whether accelerated adjacent segment degeneration is prevented in the long term is unclear. This trial compared adjacent segment degeneration in Bryan disc arthroplasty with that in anterior cervical decompression and fusion five years after the surgery.

METHODSWe studied patients with single level degenerative cervical disc disease. The extent of adjacent segment degeneration was estimated from lateral X-rays.

RESULTSTwenty-six patients underwent single level Bryan disc arthroplasty and twenty-four patients underwent single level anterior cervical decompression and fusion. All patients were followed up for an average of sixty months. In the Bryan arthroplasty group, nine (17.6%) segments developed adjacent segment degeneration, which was significantly lower than that (60.4%) in the anterior cervical decompression and fusion group. Eleven segments in the Bryan arthroplasty group developed heterotopic ossification according to McAfee's classification and two segments had range of motion less than 2°. In the heterotopic ossification group, four (19.5%) segments developed adjacent segment degeneration, similar to the number in the non-heterotopic ossification group (16.7%). Adjacent segment degeneration rate was 50% in grade IV group but 11.8% in grade II to III.

CONCLUSIONSAdjacent segment degeneration was accelerated after anterior cervical decompression and fusion. However, Bryan disc arthroplasty avoided accelerated adjacent segment degeneration by preserving motion. Patients with grade IV heterotopic ossification lost motion, and the rate of adjacent segment degeneration was higher than that in patients without heterotopic ossification.

Adult ; Arthroplasty ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the establishment of synapses between the cortical neurons and the neuron-like cells difierentiated from the marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)in a simulated transplantation system in vitro.Methods The BMSCs from green fluorescent protein(GFP)transgenic mice(GFP-GM-BMSCs) were isolated, cultured and purified in vitro.The third passage of GFP-GM-BMSCs were co-cultured with primary cultured cortical neurons and gliai cells in a simulated transplantation system in serum-free medium conmining 2%B27 supplemented with 20 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)and 20 ng/mL epidermal growth factor(EGF).On day 10 of the co-culture,FM1-43,a fluorescent dye specific to active synaptic vesicles,was used to observe synapses formation between the cells under fluorescence microscope. Results The GFP.GM-BMSCsco-cultured with the neural cells in the Serum-free medium containing bFGF and EGF differentiated into neuron-like cells 7 days after the co-culture.On day 10 ofthe co-culture,FM1-43 dye-positive synaptic vesicles were foundin the cell culture,locating mostly in the cell body,processes and terminal sffuctures ofthe neuron-like cells. Conclusions The neuron-like cells derived from GFP-GM-BMSCs can form synapses with the coRical neurons in the simulated cell transplantation system in vitro.

AIMTo investigate the risk factors for prostatic inflammation extent and infection in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) so as to manage prostatic inflammation more efficiently.

METHODSSixty patients with BPH undergoing TURP between September 2005 and December 2005 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were studied. Prostate fluid (PF) was collected for the measurement of secretory IgA (SIgA) and complement 3 (C3). Prostate tissue were collected for testing bacterial 16S rDNA by real-time PCR, examining SIgA in the tissue and examining the inflammation. The possible clinical and immune risk factors for prostatic inflammation or infection were analyzed by using the logistic regression method.

RESULTSAbnormal white blood cell count in urinalysis, prostatic infection and a high concentration of C3 in PF are the risk factors for prostatic inflammation extent (P = 0.025, 0.034 and 0.035, respectively and odds ratio [OR] = 18.269, 8.284 and 1.508, respectively). Risk factors for prostatic infection include the C3 concentration and the concentration of SIgA in PF (P = 0.003 and 0.013, respectively, and OR=1.645 and 0.993, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe present study suggests that prostatic inflammation is associated with urinary tract infection, prostatic infection and the activated complement and that prostatic infection is associated with the activated complement and downregulated mucosal immunity in prostates of the patients with BPH. It is also suggested that individual immune regulation should be considered in the treatment of prostatic inflammation and infection of patients with BPH.

Bacteria ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Humans ; Infection ; etiology ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Patient Selection ; Prostate ; physiopathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

Objective To investigate the mechanism and function of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 (CXCL12 / CXCR4) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). Methods Western blot assay, immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of CXCL12/CXCR4 in 60 PHC and corresponding paracancerous tissue samples. Four kinds of hepatoma cells (Huh7, MHCC97h, HepG2 and Hep3B) and normal hepatocytes (7702) were routinely cultured, and then real-time PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expressions of CXCL12/CXCR4 in these cells to screen suitable experimental cells. CXCR4 interference plasmid (sh-CXCR4) and corresponding empty vector (sh-control) were transfected into MHCC97h to construct stable transfected cell lines. The ability of invasion, migration, and proliferation of the 2 groups of cells were detected by Tanswell invasion experiment, cell scratch test and MTT test. The stably expressed sh-control and sh-CXCR4 MHCC97h cells were taken into the subcutaneous of six nude mice, and the growth of the tumor was observed. Western blot assay was used to detect the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in sh-control and sh-CXCR4 MHCC97h cell lines and corresponding xenografts in nude mice, as the same in MHCC97h, which was transfected with CXCR overexpressed plasmid. Results (1) The results of Western blot assay, immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR showed that the expressions of CXCL12/CXCR4 protein and mRNA were significantly higher in liver cancer tissues than those of paracancerous tissues. (2) The expression levels of CXCL12/CXCR4 mRNA were higher in Huh7, MHCC97h, HepG2 and Hep3B cells than those of 7702 cells. MHCC97h was selected as the experimental cells. The ability of invasion, migration and proliferation of MHCC97h cells transfected with sh-CXCR4 were significantly lower than those of sh-control group. Meanwhile, the growth rate of nude mice transplanted with sh-CXCR4 MHCC97h cells was also significantly lower than that of sh-control group. (3) Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the expression of VEGF-C was lower in sh-CXCR4 group than that in sh-control group, and the expression of VEGF-C was obviously up-regulated after overexpression of CXCR4. Conclusion High expressions of CXCL12/CXCR4 are found in primary cancer tissues and hepatoma cells. CXCL12/CXCR4 may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells by regulating the expression of VEGF-C protein.