Objective To investigate the optimal scan time of MRI using the imaging probe alphamethyl-L-tryptophan(α-MTrp)-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) for localizing temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) foci.Methods α-MTrp-SPIONs were injected into rat models of TLE through the tail vein during the acute and chronic stages (72 h and 8 weeks after status epilepticus,respectively).MRI was performed before and 1,2,4,8,24 h after the injection in all animals,and the T2 values of the epileptogenic regions were measured.One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis.Results Compared with the T2 values before the injection of α-MTrp-SPIONs,the T2 signal of epileptogenic regions after the injection had a negative increased change.The T2 values before and 1,2,4,8,24 h after the injection in acute stage were 112.08±5.85,107.83±6.59,105.08±6.79,95.58±5.14,100.92± 5.81,105.17±6.31 respectively,and those in chronic stage were 112.08±7.53,107.75±7.10,102.75± 5.50,96.17±5.01,97.75±4.37,102.92±4.74.The T2 values after the injection were significantly different from those before the injection (both P＜0.01).The T2 value at 4 h after the injection decreased mostly.Conclusions α-MTrp-SPIONs can precisely localize epileptogenic regions of TLE on MRI.The optimal scan time is 4 h after the injection.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of dorsal double locking compression plate (LCP) in treatment of stretched unstable distal radial fractures.Methods Fourteen cases of stretched unstable distal radial fractures were treated by reduction and internal fixation using straight or L-shaped anatomic LCP via dorsal approach.Wrist functional exercise was conducted immediately after operation.Follow up was made after operation to assess motion pain,functional score of wrist,and complication incidence at postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks,and 1 year.Results Follow-up was lasted for 5-24 months.At postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks and 1 year,mean visual analogue scale (VAS) was (1.88 ±0.26) points,(0.87 ± 0.14) points and (0.37 ± 0.06) points respectively and wrist functional score (Gartland-Werley score) was (6.45 ± 1.72) points,(2.73 ± 0.52) points and (2.10 ± 0.31) points respectively.According to Garfland-Werley score in the latest follow-up,the results were excellent in 10 cases,good in two,and fair in two.Besides,one case was combined with myotenositis of extensor pollicis longus muscle tendon and another case with myotenositis of extensor tendon.Conclusion Dorsal double LCP is one of the effective methods for stretched unstable distal radial fractures that can reconstruct anatomical structure of the wrist efficiently and attain satisfactory functional recovery,with no obvious pain.

An analytical method of fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides was established by ion pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography(IP-RP-HPLC) which was improved by optimizing the effects of triethylamine-acetic acid(TEAA)(0-0.15 mol/L), pH(4.5-7.0) and gradient. Comparing the retention of 5, 10 and 15-mer unlabeled oligonucleotides with that of 5'-carboxyfluorescein(5'FAM) labeled oligonucleotides, the mechanism of fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides retention was studied. In addition, TaqMan~(TM) probes as wellas other common fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides were concerned. The results showed that the best resolution of different length fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides was observed under the condition of 0.01 mol/L TEAA and pH 7.0. The retention behavior of fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides was different from that of unlabeled oligonucleotides significantly, and therefore they can be separated completely. The results indicated that the retention of unlabeled oligonucleotides enhanced with the increase of the length of molecule. In contrast, the retention of fluorescent dye-labeled oligonucleotides was reduced with the increase of the length of molecule. For the hydrophobicity of fluorescent dyes made a great impact on the retention, a longer retention time the labeled oligonucleotides would take while the hydrophobicity of fluorescent dyes was higher. However, the effect of the hydrophobicity was limited as the length was increased to a certain level.

BACKGROUND:It remains controversial about the clinical outcomes of bone fil ing mesh containers (BFMCs) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in pain relief, kyphosis correction, vertebral height restoration and reduction of cement leakage. OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical outcomes of BFMCs and PKP for osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture. METHODS:A total of 90 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture were equivalently randomized into two groups, fol owed by treated with BFMCs or PKP, respectively. During a more than 3-month fol ow-up, pain relief, kyphotic angle, the vertebral height and cement leakage were observed in the two groups to assess the therapeutic effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Pain in al patients was relieved at 24 hours after operation. There was no significant difference in pain relief between two groups (P>0.05). PKP was more effective to restore the vertebral height (P<0.05), while BMCFs significantly reduced the leakage rate of bone cement (P<0.05). These results suggest that BFMCs and PKP have their own advantages in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture, but both exert analgesic effects.

Animals ; Biofilms ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Yersinia pestis ; genetics ; metabolism

The motivation of the brain-computer interface (BCI) research and its potential applications are introduced in this paper. Some of the problems in BCI-based medical device developments are also discussed.
Artificial Intelligence ; Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; trends ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Evoked Potentials ; physiology ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation ; instrumentation ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

Objective To observe the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects of Dilmang Heji(DHHJ),a compound traditional Chinese medicinal preparation,in patients with multiple sclerosis(MS)and explore the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods Forty MS patients were randomized into prednisone treatment and prednisone+DHHJ group for the corresponding treatments.Another 20 surgical patients without immune or inflammatory diseases undergoing lumbar anesthesia served as the control group.Glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and S100B levels in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and the peripheral blood of these subjects were detected using ennzynle-linked immtmosorbent assay(ELISA), and the numbers 0f CD4+ and CD8+ cells were detected by flow cytometry.The ambulation index(AD,expanded disability status scale(EDSS)and 9-hole PEG test (9HPT)were used to assess the patients'clinical symptoms.All the patients were followed up for3 years to record the number of times of MS relapse. Results GFAP and S100B levels in the CSF were significantly higher in the MS patients than in the healthy subjects,but lower in MS patients treatedwith prednisone plus DHHJ thanin those with prednisone treatment only(P<0.05).In the MS patients,AI and 9HPT scores were correlated to the GFAP and S100B levels in the CSF.Irednisone plus DHHJ treatment was associated with significantly reduced MS relapse in comparison with prednisone treatment alone(P<0.05).Before the treatment,the MS patients showed increased CD4+ cell number and decreased CD8+ cell number especially in the CSF;atter the treaRnents,the CD4+ ceils decreased and CD8+ cells increased,and this effect was stronger with prednisone plus DHHJ treatment(P<0.05).Conclusions DHHJ produces anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting glial cell activation and modulating immune balance in MS,thus alleviating the symptoms of MS and reducing MS relapse.DHHJ may provide anideal adjuvanttherapy for MS.

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between emergency and non-emergency operation for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Method A retrospective analysis of 184 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University College of Medicine, admitted from Dec 2008 to Sep 2009, was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of operation to be done earlier. The patients were divided into 2groups according to the time of surgery. In the early operation group ( n = 102), the patients were operated on within 3 days of rupture of aneurysms, and in the delayed operation group ( n = 82), the patients were operated on after 3 days. The comparison in the rate of rebleeding before surgery, rate of complete occlusion of the ruptured aneurysm and rate of major complications such as cerebral infarction and hydrocephalus between two groups was made. The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) scores of these patients were also evaluated by 6- 12 months follow-up after operation. Results Preoperative re-bleeding happened in 2 patients of the early operation group and in 7 patients of the delayed operation group. The rates were significantly different ( P ＜ 0.05). The complete occlusion rate in the early operation group was 91.2 % ( 93/102 ), while was 80.5 % ( 66/82 ) in the delayed operation group (P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in post-operative cerebral infarction rate, post-operative hydrocephalus rate or GOS scores on follow-up between two groups. Conchusions Early operation can significantly reduce the re-bleeding before surgery, reducing the risk of death and disability. In early operation, the continuous lumbar drainage by cannulation and other methods can be used to reduce intracranial pressure, significantly increasing the rate of complete occlusion, and promoting rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inhibitory effect of recombinant adenovirus carrying human endostatin gene (Ad-endo) on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma xenograft in nude mice.

METHODSThe expression of endostatin in human pancreatic carcinoma Capan-2 cells was examined by RT-PCR after infection with Ad-endo. The supernatants of Capan-2 cells were collected after 48 h of infection with Ad-endo as the conditioned medium for human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), whose proliferation in vitro was assayed. Capan-2 cell xenografts were established to determine the antitumoral effects of Ad-endo in vivo. The intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using CD31 staining.

RESULTSThe expression of endostatin gene was detected by PT-PCR in infected Capan-2 cells. The conditioned medium from Ad-endo-infected cells significantly inhibited HUVEC proliferation (P<0.05). Ad-endo significantly suppressed the growth of Capan-2 tumor xenografts in nude mice (P<0.05), and the MVD decreased significantly in the treated tumor (P<0.05) as compared with that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAdenovirus carrying human endostatin gene produces inhibitory effects on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma tumors in nude mice.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; pathology ; therapy ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology

Adnexa Uteri ; surgery ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Melanosis ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; secondary ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; secondary ; Teratoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery