BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that osteoporosis often leads to a failure in pedicle screw fixation. Considering that the use of ordinary pedicle screw fixation cannot achieve a strong and stable fixation of the osteoporotic vertebra,special measures to strengthen the internal fixation is indispensable.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bone cement augmentation combined with expandable pedicle screw fixation on the fixation strength of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebrae.METHODS: Twenty osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral specimens were randomly divided into four groups: conventional pedicle screw group implanted with normal pedicle screw, and the other three groups implanted with expandable pedicle screw. Bone cement augmentation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and calcium sulfate was done in the PMMA group and calcium sulfate group, respectively, followed by expandable pedicle screw implantation. No bone cement was used in the expandable pedicle screw group. The maximum axial pull-out strength and yield energy absorption value of the unilateral pedicle were detected, and the maximum removal torque of the contralateral pedicle was determined. Bone cement leakage after augmentation was observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the conventional pedicle screw group, the other three groups showed a significant increase in the maximum pull-out strength, maximum removal torque and yield energy absorption values (P < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly higher in the PMMA and calcium sulfate groups than the expandable pedicle screw group and conventional pedicle screw group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the PMMA and calcium sulfate groups (P > 0.05). No leakage of bone cement was found in all the groups. To conclude, the combined use of expandable pedicle screw and can significantly enhance the stability of the osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebrae, and the PMMA and calcium sulfate cements have similar effects.

Objective To evaluate the safety of human purified Vero cell rabies vaccine(PVRV)after exposure in China by Meta-analysis.Methods With rabies,vaccine and safety as key words,a systematic search was performed in PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),supplemented by manual retrieval.A Meta-analysis was performed to analyze the incidence of adverse events of two immunization regimens Zagreb and Essen using Review Manager 5.4 software after literature screening and data extraction according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results A total of 12 studies were included,of which 7 were prospective studies and 5 were retrospective studies.Most included in the studies showed a low risk of bias.The incidence of adverse events in Zagreb regimen was significantly higher than that in Essen regimen[relative risk(RR)= 1.01,95% CI = 0.90 ～ 1.14;I2= 73.00%,P<0.05],but there was a high degree of heterogeneity.The incidence of fever,pain and induration in Zagreb regimen was significantly higher than that in Essen regimen(RR = 1.14,0.92 and 0.86,95% CI = 0.82 ～ 1.60,0.73 ～ 1.14 and 0.29 ～ 2.51;I2= 73.00%,P<0.05],but there was a high degree of heterogeneity.The incidence of fever,pain and induration in Zagreb regimen was significantly higher than that in Essen regimen(RR = 1.14,0.92 and 0.86,95% CI = 0.82 ～ 1.60,0.73 ～ 1.14 and 0.29 ～ 2.51;I2= 81%,65% and 92%,respectively,P<0.01).Conclusion Two regimens of PVRV vaccination after exposure showed good safety.However,when adopting Zagreb regimen,attention should be paid to the physical conditions of children and the elderly with relatively poor immunity to avoid adverse events.

The adverse reactions caused by traditional Chinese medicine have occurred frequently, but there is a lack of scientific,objective and standardized methods for safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine.In the process of preclinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine, it is imperative to form a set of scientific, standardized and feasible evaluation system of modem Chinese herbal drug.We established the preclinical safety evaluation system of modem Chinese herbal drug including the quality control system of samples for the preclinical safety evaluation, the toxicity evaluation system of modem Chinese herbal drug and its preparation and the evaluation management system, and standardized each research link of preclinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine.Whether from protecting patients' health and increasing the safety of clinical medication, or from enriching and improving traditional Chinese medicine science, developing traditional Chinese medicine and promoting mutual connection of traditional Chinese medicine and international medicine, it has important instructional significance and application value.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of fibrinogen molecule in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.

METHODSAn in vitro cell culture model was used. Methyl-(3)H Thymidine radiolabeled Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) ATCC 33277 were examined for their ability to adhere to and invade the confluent monolayers of human oral epithelial KB cells with or without exogenous human fibrinogens by scintillation spectrometry.

RESULTSThe addition of exogenous fibrinogens made more amount of and higher ratios of adhesive and invasive Pg, in contrast to the group without exogenous fibrinogen (P < 0.001). At different concentrations of exogenous fibrinogen, the amount and ratios of adhesive and invasive Pg varied significantly (P < or = 0.007). The higher concentrations of exogenous fibrinogen was added, the greater amount and ratios of adhesive and invasive Pg were found.

CONCLUSIONSFibrinogen promotes the adherence of Pg to human oral epithelial cells and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.

Bacterial Adhesion ; drug effects ; Fibrinogen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Mouth Mucosa ; drug effects ; microbiology ; Periodontitis ; etiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo examine modulations caused by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on altered microenvironments and overbalanced neurotransmitters in pilocarpine-induced epileptic status rats and to investigate possible mechanisms.

METHODSCelecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) was administered 45 min prior to pilocarpine administration. The effects of COX-2 inhibitors on mIPSCs (miniature GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents) of CA3 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus were recorded. Expressions of COX-2, c-Fos, newly generated neurons, and activated microgliosis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and expressions of alpha-subunit of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) activity were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSPretreatment with celecoxib showed protection against pilocarpine-induced seizures. Celecoxib prevented microglia activation in the hilus and inhibited the abnormal neurogenesis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus by inhibiting MAPK/ERK activity and c-Fos transcription. Celecoxib also up-regulated the expression of GABA(A) receptors. NS-398 (N-2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl-methanesulfonamide), another COX-2 inhibitor, enhanced the frequency and decay time of mIPSCs.

CONCLUSIONThe COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib decreased neuronal excitability and prevented epileptogenesis in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rats. Celecoxib regulates synaptic reorganization by inhibiting astrogliosis and ectopic neurogenesis by attenuating MAPK/ERK signal activity, mediated by a GABAergic mechanism.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Nitrobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Pilocarpine ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; biosynthesis ; Status Epilepticus ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Synapses ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on the clinical and electroencephalogram features in children with pharmacoresistant epileptic encephalopathy.

METHODThirty-one children (19 boys, 12 girls) aged 7 months to 7 years (mean 2 years 5 month) with epilepsy refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were included in this study. In addition to their original AED treatment, the children were assigned to different ketogenic diets based on their age. The prospective electro-clinical assessment was performed prior to the KD and then one week, one month and again 3 months after the initiation of therapy, respectively.

RESULTThe reduction of seizure frequency in 52%, 68% and 71% of all patients exceeded 50% one week, one month and three months after KD treatment respectively. KD is particularly effective in myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE; Doose Syndrome) and West syndrome with 100% and 81.25% of the patients having a greater than 50% seizure reduction, respectively. After 3 months of KD treatment, more than 2/3 patients experienced a reduction in interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and improvement in EEG background.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical and electroencephalographic improvement confirms that KD is beneficial in children with refractory epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diet, Ketogenic ; methods ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Lennox Gastaut Syndrome ; Male ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spasms, Infantile ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Syndrome ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEData accumulated over the past years have led to widespread recognition that neurogenesis, the emergence of new neurons, persists in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the adult mammalian brain, and can be increased by seizures in multiple models. Also, aberrant reorganization of dentate granule cell axons, the mossy fiber sprouting, occurs in human temporal lobe epilepsy and rodent epilepsy models. However a number of studies suggest that the immature brain is less vulnerable to the morphologic alteration of hippocampus after seizures. The goal of this study was to determine whether the seizures can induce dentate granule cell neurogenesis and mossy fiber sprouting in the immature rat.

METHODSSeizures was elicited by unilateral microinfusion of kainic acid (KA, 1 micro g) into the amygdula at postnatal day 15 (P15). Rat pups were given bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally on day 5 after KA administration and killed 7 d or 21 d later. The brains were processed for BrdU mitotic labeling combined with double-label immunohistochemistry using neuron-specific, early differentiation marker TuJ1 (betaIII tubulin) or granule-specific marker CaBP (calcium-binding protein calbindin D28k) as well as glia-specific marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Mossy fiber sprouting in intermolecular layer and CA3 subfield was assessed in Timm-stained sections both 1 month and 3 months after KA administration by using a rating scale and density measurement.

RESULTSThe dentate BrdU-immunoreactive cells of the KA-treated rats increased significantly compared with those of control rats on day 7 and 21 after BrdU administration (7 d: 244 +/- 15 vs. 190 +/- 10; 21 d: 218 +/- 19 vs. 133 +/- 12, P < 0.05). Approximately 80.2% and 78.7% of BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed TuJ1 in KA-treated rats and control rats on day 7 after BrdU respectively (P > 0.05). On 21 d after BrdU, 60.2% and 58.2% of dentate BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed GaBP in KA-treated rats and control rats respectively (P > 0.05). GFAP colocalized with 3%-5% dentate BrdU-labeled cells in the rats of both groups on day 7 and 21 after BrdU. It was also demonstrated that status epilepticus at P15 did not result in any detectable mossy fiber sprouting within the hippocampus both 1 month and 3 months after KA administration.

CONCLUSIONSKA induced seizures can increase granule cell neurogenesis in the immature rat. Most of newly appeared cells migrate from subgranular proliferation zone (SGZ) into granule cell layer, the hilus as well as the molecular layer, and there they can differentiate into granule neurons. These observations also indicate that there is an early developmental resistance to seizure-induced mossy fiber sprouting in the immature brain.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists ; adverse effects ; Kainic Acid ; adverse effects ; Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal ; physiopathology ; Neurogenesis ; physiology ; Rats ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between moderately and severely chronic periodontitis and coronary heart disease, as well as the role of fibrinogen in the mechanisms responsible for the correlation between periodontitis and coronary heart disease.

METHODS95 subjects who were systemic health or patients of coronary heart disease with or without periodontitis were enrolled. All the subjects were placed into 4 groups based on their periodontal status and cardiovascular health. The 4 groups were healthy control group (HC), moderately and severely chronic periodontitis group (MSP), coronary heart disease group(CHD), and MSP coexisted with CHD group (MSP+CHD). Clinical periodontal index were examined, at the same time, plasma fibrinogen levels and serological changes used in diagnosing of cardiovascular disease routinely were determined. ANOVA and ANCOVA were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTSFibrinogen levels of HC, MSP, CHD, and MSP+CHD group were (2.36+/-0.37), (3.63+/-0.73), (4.08+/-0.84), and (4.14+/-0.96) g/L, respectively. Fibrinogen levels of MSP and MSP+CHD group were significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P<0.01). The patients with moderately to severely chronic periodontitis were more likely to have coronary heart disease as compared to periodontally healthy controls (OR=2.527, P=0.047) after adjusted for blood pressure and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONModerately and severely chronic periodontitis maybe a risk factor of coronary heart disease and fibrinogen could be one of the biological basis which links periodontitis with coronary heart disease.

Chronic Periodontitis ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEIt is well documented that epilepsy can increase neurogenesis in certain brain regions and cause behavioral alternations in patients and different epileptic animal models. A series of experimental studies have demonstrated that neurogenesis is regulated by various factors including glucocorticoid (CORT), which can reduce neurogenesis. Most of studies in animal have been focused on adulthood stage, while the effect of recurrent seizures to immature brain in neonatal period has not been well established. This study was designed to investigate how the recurrent seizures occurred in the neonatal period affected the immature brain and how CORT regulated neurogenesis in immature animals.

METHODSNeonatal rats were subjected to 3 pilocarpine-induced seizures from postnatal day 1 to day 7. Then neurogenesis at different postnatal ages (i.e. P8, P12, P22, P50) was observed. Behavioral performance was tested when the rats were mature (P40), and plasma CORT levels following recurrent seizures were simultaneously monitored.

RESULTSRats with neonatal seizures had a significant reduction in the number of Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeled cells in the dentate gyrus compared with the control groups when the animals were euthanized on P8 or P12 (P<0.05); whereas there was no difference between the two groups on P22. Until P50, rats with neonatal seizures had increased number of BrdU-labeled cells compared with the control group (P<0.05). In Morris water maze task, pilocarpine-treated rats were significantly slower than the control rats at the first and second day, and there were no differences at other days. In probe trial, there was no significant difference in time spent in the goal quadrant between the two groups. Endocrine studies showed a correlation between the number of BrdU positive cells and the CORT level. Sustained increase in circulating CORT levels was observed following neonatal seizures on P8 and P12.

CONCLUSIONNeonatal recurrent seizures can biphasely modulate neurogenesis over different time windows with a down-regulation at early time and up-regulation afterwards, cause persistent deficits in cognitive functions of adults, and increase the circulating CORT levels. CORT levels are related with the morphological and behavioral consequences of recurrent seizures.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Glucocorticoids ; blood ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVENeurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus persists in brain of the immature and adult mammalian including human and it can be regulated by physiological and pathological events including nutritional status and seizures. The present study was designed to investigate the potential effects of malnutrition followed by status epileptics on hippocampal neurogenesis in the immature rat.

METHODSRat pups were divided into 4 groups: malnourished (M), nourished (N), malnourished plus seizures (MS) and nourished plus seizures (NS). The rat pups of group M and group MS were maintained on a starvation regimen from postnatal day 2 (P2) to P18. The status epilepticus of the rat pups in group MS and group NS was elicited by unilateral microinfusion of kainic acid (KA) into the amygdula at P15. Rat pups of the 4 groups were given bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally twice daily for 2 days beginning at P17. At P19, the rat pups were killed and the brains were processed for BrdU mitotic labeling combined with double-label immunohistochemistry using early neuron- or glia-specific markers TuJ1 (beta III tubulin) or GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the latent time of seizure between group M and group N [(12.4 +/- 2.6) min vs. (12.1 +/- 2.9) min, P < 0.05]. Histological assessment did not reveal any evidence of hippocampal cell loss after status epilepticus in either group. BrdU-labeled cells were significantly higher in the rats of group MS (374 +/- 18) than group M (303 +/- 20), group NS (312 +/- 24) than group N (269 +/- 18), respectively (P < 0.01). There was also significant difference between group M and group N, group MS and group NS, respectively (P < 0.01). No significant difference was seen between the rats of group NS and group M (P > 0.05). Approximately 60% of BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed TuJ1, and 5% approximately 10% of those co-expressed GFAP.

CONCLUSIONEarly malnutrition do not alter KA seizure susceptibility and the behavioral manifestations of seizures at P15. Although malnutrition and status epilepticus can increase the proliferation of newly developed cells in the immature rat respectively, malnutrition followed by status epilepticus further increases this proliferation. Furthermore, most of newly developed cells differentiate into early neurons.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Body Weight ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Malnutrition ; pathology ; Neurons ; chemistry ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Status Epilepticus ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Tubulin ; analysis