Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo summarize clinical application result of the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb.

METHODSFrom September 2003 to May 2007, 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb underwent reconstruction with the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap. The age of patients was from 16- to 45-years-old with an average of 32 years. Of them, the recipient sites of 5 cases were located on the arm region, 3 cases on the forearm.

RESULTSThe minor superficial infection of 1 case occurred on the recipient site after operation and the wound gradually healed by daily change dressings. All the flaps had survived completely and the postoperative course was uneventful with satisfactory clinical results. Follow-up period ranged for 9-38 months after operation (mean, 19 months). There was no remarkable donor site morbidity. All cases had good appearance on recipient site.

CONCLUSIONThe thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap is thin and suitable for repair of soft tissue defect on the ipsilateral upper limb.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Thoracic Arteries ; surgery ; Upper Extremity ; blood supply ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the burning characteristics of moxa stick.

METHODSA self-designed moxa stick burning temperature measuring device, which was assembled with ALTEC intelligence digital setter and SJ-600 thermocouple, was used to conduct next four experiences: 1) embedding a thermocouple inside a moxa stick to measure peak burning temperature; 2) pulling a thermocouple embedded in the moxa stick at the proper rate to detect combustion stability; 3) elucidating temperature distribution of transverse section by measuring the temperature in the center, radius midpoint and lateral; 4) drawing temperature-time-space curves by pulling the thermocouples in the former three observation points.

RESULTSThe experiment indicated that the burning temperature peak of three-year moxa stick (Hubei Herbal Medicine St. Qichun Technology Co., Ltd.) was 848 degrees C which had good combustion stability. Furthermore, the temperature in the center, radius midpoint and lateral of transverse section were 843 degrees C, 731 degrees C and 410 degrees C, respectively, and its burning temperature-time-space curves was drawn, which showed the real-time burning temperature and the peak burning temperature and were regarded as ultimate indice to integrate the formers.

CONCLUSIONThe measuring system elaborately reflecting the burning features of moxa stick may provide reference for manufacture industry of moxa stick quality criteria for its convenience and accuracy.

Humans ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Temperature ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo trace magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the rat livers by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSFeridex and DAPI labeled rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were injected via portal veins into carbon tetrachloride treated rats. MRI was performed with a clinical 1.5 T MRI machine immediately before the MSCs injection and at h 1, d 3, d 7, and d 14 after the injection, and then the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was measured. MRI findings were compared with the liver histopathologies after the slides were stained with fluorescence dye and Prussian blue.

RESULTSThe SNR for liver was 1.10+/-0.26 at hour 1, 8.18+/-1.55 at day 3, 11.08+/-1.30 at day 7, and 14.15+/-1.02 at day 14 respectively. Within 7 days after the MSCs transplantation, the SNRs of the livers were significantly lower than those before the transplantation (P less than 0.05). Histologically, the blue fluorescent particles under the fluorescence microscopy matched in distribution with the iron particles on the Prussian blue stained slides.

CONCLUSIONThe magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into livers give rise to an obvious signal decrease, and can be tracked with a 1.5 T clinical MRI machine for up to 7 days after MSCs transplantation.

Animals ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Liver ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Radioactive Tracers ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Humans ; Suture Techniques

Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; complications ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Fibula ; injuries ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; etiology ; Humans ; Ligaments, Articular ; injuries ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; complications ; Tibia

OBJECTIVETo summarize and compare the short-term and long-term clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent (PTBS) in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice.

METHODS210 cases of malignant obstructive jaundice underwent interventional therapy, of which 161 cases of drainage catheters placement and 49 cases of metallic stent implantation. Follow-up information was obtained through telephone review or check-up records.

RESULTSThe technical success rate of technique was 100%. At 3 - 5 days after treatment, the serum total bilirubin in 15 metallic stent-treated patients was decreased by (178.04 +/- 42.32) micromol/L, and direct bilirubin by (83.97 +/- 23.63) micromol/L. Compared with those of 28 cases treated with drainage catheters: (95.67 +/- 34.28) micromol/L and (49.84 +/- 28.21) micromol/L, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.017 and P = 0.035). At 6 - 9 days after treatment, the serum total bilirubin in 28 cases of metallic stent group was decreased by (188.22 +/- 79.90) micromol/L, and that in 126 cases of drainage catheter group decreased by (141.39 +/- 65.32) micromol/L. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.014). But the decline value of direct bilirubin had no significant difference. The median patency period and the median survival time of the drainage catheter group were 60 and 148 days, respectively, those of metallic stent group were 197 days and 245 days. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study indicate that the short-term and long-term efficacies of metallic stent implantation are better than those of catheter drainage technique.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; complications ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Drainage ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; complications ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; blood ; etiology ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; complications ; Stents ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human adenovirus p53 gene therapy (rAd-p53) in the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model using different interventional therapy approach.

METHODSThirty New Zealand rabbits implanted with VX2 tumor in the liver were randomized into five groups with six of each. The tumor volumes (V1) were measured by MRI and CT scan 11 days after tumors implanted. The interventional therapy scheme performed as below: intraarterial 0.9% saline solution perfusion in group A, transcatheter arterial embolization with 0.5 ml ultrafluid lipiodol in group B, intraarterial rAd-p53 gene perfusion in group C (1 x 10(6)/VP); intraarterial rAd-p53 gene perfusion (1 x 10(6)/VP) in combination with transcatheter arterial embolization (ultrofluid lipiodol, 0.5 ml) in group D and intratumoral rAd-p53 gene (1 x 10(6)/VP) injection in group E. The tumor volumes (V2) were measured by MRI and CT scan, and the tumor growth ratios were calculated 14 days after interventional procedures. Then all animals were sacrificed.

RESULTSThe tumor tissues were explanted for immunohistochemistry to observe the expressions of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and factor VIII. Microvessel density (MVD) of the tumor tissues was assessed by factor VIII immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, apoptotic index was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The tumor volumes before therapy were (79.4+/-8.2), (75.3+/-7.8), (74.6+/-6.6), (78.7+/-9.1), (75.8+/-8.4) mm(3) respectively, without differences found among them (F = 12.248, P = 0.0636). But the tumor volumes after therapy were (564.7+/-96.7), (176.5+/-83.2), (239.6+/-42.8), (159.8+/-58.6), (334.7+/-32.6) mm(3) respectively (F = 24.537, P = 0.0218). The tumor growth ratios were 6.9, 2.6, 3.1, 1.6 and 4.1 respectively. The mean apoptosis index were 12.0%+/-1.1%, 14.5%+/-2.1%, 17.6%+/-2.3%, 18.6%+/-2.3% and 19.6%+/-2.5% respectively. with significant differences in group E in comparison with the other four groups. Mean positive ratio of VEGF was 50.0%, 83.3%, 83.3%, 50.0% and 50.0% respectively, with significant differences observed in group B and group C compared with the other three groups (F = 7.84, P = 0.019). The differences of VIII factor positive expression ratio among each group were significant (F = 0.854, P = 0.018). Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between the expression of VEGF and MVD (r = 2.400, P = 0.0233).

CONCLUSIONThe rAd-p53 has effective treatment outcomes in VX2 rabbit liver cancer, and intra-arterial rAd-p53 gene perfusion in combination with transcatheter arterial embolization is the best approach in comparison with intra-arterial rAd-p53 gene perfusion, transcatheter arterial embolization and intratumoral rAd-p53 gene injection alone.

Adenoviruses, Human ; genetics ; Animals ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Therapy ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; therapy ; Rabbits ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Iodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; therapy ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Orchidaceae ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred ACI

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Hodgkin Disease ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PAX5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Young Adult