BACKGROUND:Some scholars suggest that the nerve root palsy after cervical spinal stenosis treated with
decompression and implant internal fixation is related with the cervical stability and cervical lordosis, but there is controversial.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the C 5 nerve root palsy and stability after cervical spinal stenosis treated with posterior laminectomy lateral mass fixation and single-door decompression laminoplasty.
METHODS:Twenty-nine cervical spinal stenosis patients were selected and treated with posterior
decompression and implant internal fixation. Posterior laminectomy lateral mass fixation for the treatment of
cervical spinal stenosis:C3-6 lateral mass and C7 pedicel screw internal fixation was performed and caused rough surface on the facet joint;the unstable segment was confirmed according to the preoperative anteraposterior
plain film and dynamic radiographs combined with MRI and CT images, and then the corresponding segments were treated with lateral mass internal fixation, single-door decompression laminoplasty and laminoplasty.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al the 29 cervical spinal stenosis patients were fol owed-up for 8 months to 2.3 years. Among them, 14 cases were treated with posterior laminectomy lateral mass fixation, two cases had nerve root palsy in the early stage after implantation, three cases had incomplete paralysis after long-term symptom recurrence and treated with second surgery of scar remove and decompression;15 cases were treated with single-door decompression
laminoplasty, and one case had C 5 never root palsy and shoulder abduction dysfunctionafter treatment, no preoperative symptom recurrence. The nerve root palsy wil restored in 6 weeks for shortest and 9 months for longest. As the limitation of the case number, it is not clear whether there were significant differences in the correlation between C 5 nerve root
palsy and segmental stability, cervical lordosis, spinal decompression degree and the range for spinal cord shift, as wel as the nerve root palsy degree and the cervical spinal stenosis recurrence caused by forward scar between two
treatment methods, so accumulation observation of the cases and clinical experience are needed.

AIM: To investigate the action of testosterone on atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. METHODS: 37 male cholesterol-fed rabbits were divided into five groups: castration group: castrated rabbits without exogenous testosterone administration; testosterone Ⅰ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 0.25 mg?kg -1?d -1; testosterone Ⅱ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 2.5 mg?kg -1?d -1; testosterone Ⅲ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 12.5 mg?kg -1?d -1. The sham operation group was also set. Three months later, the levels of testosterone, blood lipids (including TG, HDL-C, LDL-C), PAI activity, nitric oxide (NO) content, endothelin (ET), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) in blood were detected. RESULTS: It showed that testosterone in castration group was the lowest. There was no significant difference of TG or LDL-C between castration group and the other four groups. HDL-C in castration group was lower than that in other four groups. NO content of castration group was lower than that in others, but PAI activity, ET and AngⅡ concentration were higher than that in other groups. CONCLUSION: Testosterone is a protective factor against atherosclerosis in male rabbits.

AIM:To determine the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant adenovirus containing hyper-interleu-kin-6 (HIL-6) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (Ad-HGF-HIL-6) on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in rats u-sing that of recombinant adenovirus HIL-6 or HGF ( Ad-HIL-6 or Ad-HGF) for comparison.METHODS:The rat model of ACLF was established and the model rats were randomly divided into model group, Ad0 group, Ad-HGF group, Ad-HIL-6 group and Ad-HGF-HIL-6 group.The sera and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, pathological and molecular bio-logical examinations.RESULTS:Compared with Ad0 group, prothrombin time ( PT) and the serum levels of alanine amin-otransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) were markedly reduced in the ACLF rats treated with Ad-HGF, Ad-HIL-6 and Ad-HGF-HIL-6, and similarly, reduced he-patic damages and apoptotic activity, reduced Bax at protein level, and increased expression of Ki67 and Bcl-2 at protein levels were observed.Among them, treatment with Ad-HGF-HIL-6 showed the most significant therapeutic efficacy without obvious side effects.CONCLUSION:The therapeutic efficacy of Ad-HGF-HIL-6 is more potent than that of Ad-HGF or Ad-HIL-6 alone on ACLF rats with no significant side effects.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of ProGRP, TPS and NSE in diagnosis and therapy monitoring in small cell lung cancer patients. Methods The levels of serum ProGRP, TPS and NSE in 51 SCLC patients (SCLC group), 60 benign pulmonary disease patients (benign disease group ) and 60 healthy people (healthy group ) were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay, ELISA and electrochemiluminescent immunoassay respectively. Blood samples were collected and detected prior to therapy, before the second course of chemotherapy and the third course of chemotherapy consecutively in all the 51 SCLC patients. Results The serum ProGRP, TPS and NSE concentrations prior to chemotherapy in limited stage SCLC (LSCLC) were 136. 9(22.8-631.7)ng/L, 78. 2(56.4-114.6) U/L and 28.1(20.9-46.1)μg/L, respectively; And in extensive stage SCLC patients (ESCLC) were 1 106.6(41.2-2161.1) ng/L, 230. 9( 143.5-259.0) U/L and 81.1 (34.3-140.0)μg/L, respectively. The serum concentrations of the 3 markers in benign disease group were 19. 7 ( 9. 5-29. 1 )ng/L, 48. 7 ( 17.9-95.4) U/L and 12. 1(1.2-13.9) μg/L; and in healthy group were 20.3(10.7-30.6) ng/L, 50.3(19.5-70.7) U/L and 11.7 (1.1-13.4)μg/L, respectively. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significantly statistical difference in different groups of the 3 tumor markers, Chi-Square were 51. 368,36. 532 and 81. 645( P ＜0. 01 ). Significant statistically differences showed when the concentrations of the 3 marks of the 2 control group were compared with that of the LSCLC group ( U =491, 827, 609 and 476, 831, 585,respectively, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Differences were also statistically significant when the 2 control group compared with that of the ESCLC group ( U = 314,532,456 and 302,553,430, respectively, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The AUC of ProGRP was 0.832 +0.029(95% CI:0.774-0.890). When cutoff value of ProGRP set as 37.7 ng/L, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Youden's index were 71% (36/51), 97% (116/120), 90% (36/40), 89% ( 116/131 ) and 67%, respectively; show good detection performance. The sensitivity increased to 92%, 86%, 92% and 88%, when combination detection of ProGRP + TPS + NSE, ProGRP + TPS, ProGRP + NSE and TPS + NSE were used, and the specificities were 77%, 77% , 92% and 77% accordingly. The Fridman test showed significantly statistical difference in the 3 tumor markers at different stages of treatment, x2 were 49. 120, 10. 614 and 44. 392, P ＜0. 01. After the first chemotherapy course, all the tumor marker levels except TPS decreased significantly in comparison with the pretreatment concentrations. However, only ProGRP levels showed a progressive drop during the two consecutive courses of therapy, and the median concentrations were 68.0 ( 18. 6-158.4 ) and 21.0( 14. 9-63.5) ng/L (compared to the level before therapy,Z=-4. 889 and -5. 594, P ＜0. 01 ). The median of serum TPS increased slightly to 105.2 (54. 1-181.2 ) U/L after the first chemotherapy course (Z=-1.248, P＞0.05), and decreased significantly to 79.0(48.7-155.3) U/L after the second chemotherapy course (Z=-2.484, P＜0. 05 ). As to the NSE, the median concentration decreased to 11.8(8.0-16.0)μg/L after the first chemotherapy course ( Z= - 5. 568, P ＜ 0. 01 ). However, the median was 10. 6(9.0-12.7)μg/L, which showed no significant decrease after the second chemotherapy course (Z=-1.851, P＞0.05).Forty-six SCLC patients evaluated as clinical remission ( 3 CR and 43 PR) after the second chemotherapy course, among them there were 38 patients (83%) with normal serum ProGRP, TPS and NSE level ( 19 patients) or with only 1 abnormal tumor level ( 19 patients). There were only 2 patients with all abnormal serum ProGRP, TPS and NSE level, and both patients were evaluated as clinical PD. Two patients with 2 abnormal tumors results were classified as SD, the only 1 patient without therapy evaluation also had 2 abnormal tumor marker results. Conclusions The serum ProGRP, TPS and NSE are valuable tumor markers for diagnosis and treat monitoring of SCLC, particularly the ProGRP + NSE shows the highest clinical value. Combing detection of the 3 tumor markers are valuable for therapy monitoring and prognosis in SCLC patients.

Chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract of Illicium burmanicum were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods,including Silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, C18 reverse-phased silica gel, Preparative TLC and Preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectral analysis including NMR and MS data. Fourteen compounds were separated from I. burmanicum and their structures were identified as 7S,8R-erythro-4,7,9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan (1), 7R,8R-threo-4,7, 9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3 '-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan(2) ,polystachyol(3), (-) -massoniresinol(4), angustanoic acid F (5), trans-sobrerol(6), (3S,6R) -6,7-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydrolinalool (7), (3S, 6S) -6,7-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydrolinalool (8), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-allyl-phenol (9), 3,5-dihydroxy4-hydroxy benzaldehyde (10), 3-hydroxy4-methoxybenzaldehyde (11), methyl vanillate (12), shikimic acid ethylester (13) and beta-sitosrerol (14). Except compound 14, the rest thirteen compounds were separated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Illicium ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

The change of the effective components (liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin) contents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) before and after compatibilities in Sini decoction was studied in this paper. Taking single GRR decoction, GRR-Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (ALRP) decoction, GRR-Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR) decoction and Sini decoction as test samples, the contents changing of the four effective components of GRR were measured by HPLC. The results showed that the contents of the four effective components of GRR in the single GRR decoction was higher than that in other samples, and the sequence was single GRR decoction > GRR-ZR decoction > GRR-ALRP decoction > Sini decoction. The contents of liquiritin were 11.18, 9.89, 9.67, 9.17 mg · g(-1); the contents of glycyrrhizic acid were 20.76, 15.58, 11.30, 8.52 mg · g(-1); the contents of liquiritigenin were 0.66, 0.57, 0.45, 0.24 mg · g(-1); the contents of isoliquiritigenin were 0.14, 0.07, 0.03, 0.01 mg · g(-1). Therefore, the effective components of GRR decreased obviously after GRR compatibility with ZR providing scientific basis for GRR relieving the strong nature of ZR. The effective components of GRR decreased sharply after GRR compatibility with ALRP providing scientific support for the material foundation research of GRR reducing the toxicity of ALRP. The effective components of GRR decreased further in Sini decoction indicating that the three medicines in Sini decoction were interactional, which reflecting the scientific connotation of the mutual-restraint/mutual-detoxication, mutual-promotion/mutual-assistance compatibilities in Sini decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective:To construct the Escherichia coli (E. coli)expression system for preparation of the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2)with collagen-binding domain (CBD),and to study the methods and conditions for expression, purification and renaturation of CBD-BMP2.Methods:CBD sequence was cloned into the N-terminal of BMP2 sequence, the recombinant vector pet21b/CBD-BMP2 was constructed and transformed into E.coli BL21.The expression of recombinant protein was induced using isopropylβ-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at 37 ℃.Ni-NTA chelate chromatography was used to purify CBD-BMP-2.Denaturing CBD-BMP2 was refolded by dilution method using ultrapure water.The refolding CBD-BMP2 was filtered through a 0.22μm microfiltration membrane for degermation.The recovery rate was calculated by the ratio of the protein concentration before and after degermation. The expression, purification, and renaturation of recombinant protein were detected by SDS-PAGE method.The concentration of CBD-BMP2 was detected by BCA assay.Results:The recombinant vector pet21b/CBD-BMP2 was successfully transformed into E.coli BL21,and the recombinant protein was expressed as inclusion bodies in E.coli.The SDS-PAGE results showed denaturing protein was dissolved in supernatant of lysis buffer with 8 mol·L-1 urea and the purified recombinant protein existed in elution buffer B with relative molecular mass about 14 000.Two bands (14 000 and 28 000)were seen in the SDS-PAGE picture,which indicated that the monomer was successfully refolded into dimer by dilution method.The concentrations of recombinant protein before and after degermation were 110 and 80 mg · L-1 , respectively, and the recovery rate was about 73%. Conclusion:The recombinant vector pet21b/CBD-BMP2 is transformed into E.coli BL21 successfully,and the recombinant CBD-BMP2 is expressed and refolded efficiently. The methods of prokaryotic expression system for preparing recombinant CBD-BMP2 protein are established.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a Chinese herbal prescription on collagen I in rat's femur under simulated weightlessness.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: blank control group (10 rats), tail suspension group (TS, 10 rats), TS with Chinese medicine group (10 rats). Rats in TS with Chinese medicine group took a Chinese herbal prescription (contains Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Concha Ostreae prepared by acetic acid)by oral administration. After 1 week adaption and 3 weeks tail suspending, rat's left femur was colleced, and collagen I in femur neck was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCounts and integral optical density (IOD) of collagen I coloration decreased significantly in TS group (P < 0.001), but no significant change in TS with Chinese medicine group (P > 0.05), as compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONGeneration of collagen I become weaken under simulated weightlessness, while the Chinese herbal prescription is effective to prevent the change, thus biochemistry environment of bone calcium deposition may be improved by this Chinese herbal prescription under simulated weightlessness.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Femur ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the induction and culture of adventitious root of Panax notoginseng.

METHODThree ways, induction from the explants of three-year-old P. notoginseng. The explants of regenerated shoots and calluses, were used to induce adventitious roots. The effects of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and naphthylacetic acid on adventitious root induction were investigated respectively. The effects of four modes of separating adventitious roots from the parent tissues on culture in vitro were compared.

RESULTAdventitious roots were successfully induced by three methods, of which the young flower bud callus was the best material for the induction of adventitious root. Indole-3-butyric acid possessed the strongest potency for induction. The liquid culture system was established by continuous culture of adventitious roots together with their parent tissues before separated.

CONCLUSIONThe acquisition and culture in vitro in liquid culture system of adventitious roots of P. notoginseng lay a foundation for the next investigation.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; pharmacology ; Panax notoginseng ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Zuogui pills from the Kidney-tonifying and Nourishing Yin formula, in combination with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix, affected the ovarian local oxidative stress response in decreasing ovarian reserve (DOR) mice. All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the guidelines and standards established by Jinan University's Experimental Animal Management Committee. Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-treated DOR mice were given Zuogui pills, cetrorelix, or a combination of the two drugs intragastrically. After treatment, there were changes in the estrous cycle, serum sex hormone levels, oxidative stress-related indexes, growth biochemical factor levels, and SIRT1/P53/P21 expression. In comparison to the model group, the Zuogui pills and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had significantly prolonged estrous periods and shortened interestrous periods, and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had a significantly shortened cycle length. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased and estradiol (E₂) increased in all treatment groups compared to the model group, oxidative stress indexes nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased, growth biochemical factors brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) concentrations increased significantly, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) showed no significant change. SIRT1/P53/P21 immunohistochemical results revealed that, when compared to the model group, the expression of SIRT1 increased while the expression of P53 and P21 proteins decreased in all treatment groups, with the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group having the largest decrease, with significant differences in all indicators. We conclude that cetrorelix combined with Zuogui pills for kidney nourishing and Yin recipe improved the oxidative stress response in the follicle by regulating the SIRT1/P53/P21 pathway, reducing peroxide product production, protecting ovarian function, and regulating ovarian hormone secretion, and its efficacy is superior to that of cetrorelix or Zuogui pills alone.