OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Dynesys system combined with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in treating multiple lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of 46 patients with multiple lumbar degenerative diseases treated by Dynesys system combined with PLIF from September 2010 to May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 29 females, aged from 38 to 68 years old with an average of (56.38±11.63) years. Operation section was in L2-L5 of 16 patients (6 with fusion of L4,5 and 10 with fusion of L4,5,L5S1) and in L3-S1 of 30 patients (11 with fusion of L5S1 and 19 with fusion of L4,5,L5S1). Patients were followed up for three times: postoperative 3 months, 1 year and final follow-up. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess clinical symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively. All patients underwent flexion/extension radiographs examinations before surgery and at final follow-up. Range of motion (ROM) and disc height index (DHI) were recorded.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 16 to 48 months with the mean of (23.23±7.34) months. At third follow-up after operation, ODI and VAS of lumbago and leg pain were significant improved than that of preoperative (P<0.01). DHI of fusion segment was significantly increased than that of preoperative (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adjacent non-fusion segment between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05). Postoperative ROM of fusion and non-fusion segments were obviously decreased than that of preoperative. There was no significant difference in ROM of upper adjacent non-fusion segment between 3 months and 1 year after operation (P>0.05), but at final follow-up, the ROM was increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary clinical results of the Dynesys system combined with PLIF in the treatment of multiple lumbar degenerative diseases are satisfactory. It can be determined in fusion or non-fusion according to the individual needs and can reserve the some intervertebral motion, prevent the early degeneration of adjacent segments. However, its long-term clinical efficacy should be verified with long time.

Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Visual Analog Scale

K88ac genes, heat-stable enterotoxin I (ST1) mutant genes and heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) genes from plasmids of Escherichia coli C83902 were amplified by PCR. The recombinant expression plasmid pXKST3LT5 containing K88ac-ST1-LTB fusion gene was constructed by recombinant DNA technique and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The K88ac-ST1-LTB fusion protein was highly expressed in recombinant strain BL21 (DE3)(pXKST3LT5) and the expression level of the K88ac-ST1-LTB fusion protein was about 75.53% of total cellular protein by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer gel scanning analysis. More importantly, mice immunized with crude preparation containing the fusion protein inclusion bodies or inactivated recombinant strain produced antibodies that were able to recognize ST1 in vitro. These sera antibodies were able to neutralize the biological activity of native ST1 in the suckling mouse assay. Hence the fusion protein was nontoxic and immunogenic, the constructed recombinant strain could be used as a candidate of vaccine strain.
Animals ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; methods ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; Mice ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Recombination, Genetic ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Metabonomics is a new method to study on the metabolic network and the relationship between body and environment, which conforms to the way of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In the study process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, effectively conjunction with metabonomics method will facilitate the integration of TCM with modern biological science and technology, and promote the modernization of TCM. This paper introduce the application of metabonomics in the research of toxicity mechanism of TCM, compatibility mechanism of TCM formula, pharmacology effect of TCM and processing mechanism of TCM. This paper summarize the problems in the TCM metabonomics research and prospect its bright future.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Metabolomics ; methods ; trends

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of Th17/Treg cell in patients with psoriasis arthritis (PA) and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in PA patients (n=35) and healthy controls(n=30). The frequencies of Th17 and Treg in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy controls, Th17/Treg in peripheral blood were significantly increased (p<0.05), Th17-related cytokine IL-17 significantly increased (p<0.05), and TGF-β1 significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the PA patients.

CONCLUSIONTh17/Treg cell and the related cytokines IL-17 and TGF-β1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PA.

Aged ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; blood ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

Objective: To explore the value of videofluoroscopy in assessing the capsule swallowing ability of stroke survivors. Methods: Twenty-seven stroke survivors with functional oral intake scale ratings of 4-7 with no aspiration were selected as a patient group, while 16 healthy subjects were chosen as a control group. All swallowed capsules filled with barium sulfate with water while being monitored videofluoroscopically. The success rate of capsule swallowing was recorded along with oral transit time, stage transition time (STT), pharyngeal transition time, the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening time, delay time (DT), superior hyoid bone movement, anterior hyoid bone movement and UES opening diameter for each swallowing. Results: The swallowing success ratio was 78.3% in the patient group, significantly lower than in the control group. Swallowing failures manifested as hindered transport and retention of the capsule in the oral or pharyngeal cavity. Significant differences were found in STT and DT between the two groups. Conclusion Even if eating and swallowing ability recover somewhat after a stroke, survivors still have difficulty swallowing oral medication. Clinical assessment for ability to take oral medication is crucial and videofluoroscopy can be one useful tool.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after D2 dissection on survival for patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSRandomized clinical trials (RCT) that compared adjuvant chemotherapy after D2 dissection with D2 dissection alone for gastric cancer were searched with Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase and CBM databases. Eligible trials published between 1990 and 2012 were included in the study. The quality of RCTs was assessed by the Jadad scale. Data synthesis and statistical analysis were performed by RevMan 5.1 software.

RESULTEight RCTs with 3633 patients were included in this study. Among them, 1824 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 1809 patients didn't. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a significant benefit in terms of overall survival (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.84), disease free survival (RR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.66-0.80) and recurrence rate (RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.62-0.77).

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant chemotherapy was associated with survival benefit for gastric cancer after D2 dissection.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) and transsternal extended thymectomy (TET) for myasthenia gravis (MG).

METHODThis study included 21 patients undergoing VATET through the "three holes" approach on the right chest and 32 undergoing TET with sternum dissection. The thymus was excised and the anterior mediastinum adipose tissue removed in both groups.

RESULTSVATET was associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss and longer operative time without the use of postoperative analgesics; very few patients were admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU), showing significant differences from the TET group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in tracheal tube removal time, length of stay in ICU, closed thoracic drainage removal time, and postoperative hospital stay, total hospital stay, postoperative complications, total hospitalization costs, or the rate of remission and improvement (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with TET, VATET requires only a small incision without leaving metal foreign body in the body, and the patients experience less postoperative pain and rapid recovery, with similar mid- and long-term clinical outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thymectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between leptin gene promoter methylation and serum leptin concentrations in patients with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSMethylation status of leptin gene promoter was determined with methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Serum leptin concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSAmong three groups of individuals with different levels of glucose, the methylation rates of leptin gene in IGR and T2DM groups were 43.6 % and 31.5 %, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of healthy subjects (59.2%; Chi-square=22.499 and 5.109, respectively, P<0.05). A lower methylation rate was also observed in T2DM group compared with IGR group (Chi-square=3.962, P<0.05). Leptin levels in both T2DM and IGR groups were elevated compared with normoglycemic subjects, but only T2DM group was significantly higher (q=6.81, P<0.01). Linear regression analysis indicated that serum leptin concentrations has increased along with declining of DNA methylation rate (r=-0.95, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONLower levels of leptin gene promoter DNA methylation and serum leptin concentrations are associated with the development of diabetes. Measurement of the methylation status of leptin gene promoter and expression can facilitate early intervention of the disease.

DNA Methylation ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glucose ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; analysis ; Cyclin A ; analysis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.

METHODSModels of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; Glycosides ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium