OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of oral Propranolol in the treatment of infantile subglottic hemangioma.

METHODSEleven children (6 females and 5 males) with a median age at onset of treatment being 4 months were included in this study. Propranolol was given after laryngoscopy and a CT scan with contrast of the trachea confirming the presence of a subglottic hemangioma. The starting dose of Propranolol was 0.5 mg/kg per day, given in 2 or 3 divided doses. Heart rate and blood glucose were monitored during the treatment. If no side effects occurred, the dose was increased to 1 mg/kg per day at the third day and to 2 mg/kg per day at the sixth day. Treatment was continued at home after 10 days of inpatient treatment and the children were reevaluated monthly.

RESULTSAfter 24 - 48 hours of treatment, all of the children had improvement in their airway obstruction which was confirmed by fibro-laryngoscopy. The diameter of the subglottic stenosis from the hemangioma decreased from 3.9 - 5.0 mm to 1.5 - 2.0 mm,and the color was also lighter than before. In 3 children with cutaneous hemangioma, there was also significant improvement in the cutaneous lesions after treatment, with the color becoming lighter. There were no significant ECG, blood pressure or blood biochemical changes during the treatment. Two of the children had hypoglycemia at the first dose, but improved after blood transfusion and changing their diet. In five children, the treatment was stopped after 6 to 11 months when the obstructive symptoms improved. None of the children in this group had any evidence of recurrence. In the 5 children who stopped treatment, the obstructing mass in the subglottis was less than 10% of the diameter.

CONCLUSIONOral propranolol is a safe and effective treatment for infantile subglottic hemangioma. It may be used as a first-line therapeutic modality.

Female ; Glottis ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Propranolol ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the association of the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist gremlin and vascular calcification in radial arteries of patients with stage 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods Radial arteries of 40 patients with stage 5 of CKD were collected as specimens of the study group,which were trimmed off during arterial venous fistula operations.Splenic trabecular arteries were collected as specimens of the control group,which were removed from 38 patients with simple traumatic splenic rupture.All the arteries were examined histologically for calcification with yon Kossa stain.Expressions of gremlin and BMP-2,-7were detected by immunohistochemistry and their serum concentrations were detected by ELISA.Images of histological sections were semi-quantitatively analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0.SPSS 19.0software was used to perform statistical analysis.Results Significantly positive von Kossa stain was found in radial arteries from 12 of 40 patients (30％) in study group,which located in the layer of medial smooth muscle cells.However,there was no obvious positive stain in control group.Additionally,in study group,significant expressions of gremlin and BMP-2 were detected in those radial arteries of positive yon Kossa stain,which also located in the layer of medial smooth muscle cells.Positive correlations were found among gremlin expression level,BMP-2 expression level and yon Kossa stain intensity.However,the BMP-7 expression intensity in arteries of study group was much weaker as compared to control group.Conclusions Both gremlin and BMP-2 may be involved in the process that the smooth muscle cells of radial arteries in patients with stage 5 of CKD phenotypically transform into osteoblast-like cells.However,BMP-7 possibly prevents this process.

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.
Dendrobium ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history

ObjectiveTo investigate the histological features as well as the factors influencing liver disease progression in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MethodsA total of 102 CHC patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy between August 2007 and May 2010 were recruited. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and transmission route of recruited patients were recorded. Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), HCV genotypes, HCV viral load and liver histological changes were detected. Statistical analysis was done by t test and Logistic regression. ResultsThe serum levels of ALT and AST in CHC patients with histological activity index (HAI) ≥4 were much higher, while platelet (PLT) counts were lower than those with HAI ＜4(t=2.209, 2. 298 and 2. 565, respectively; all P＜0.05). Likewise, in patients with F≥3, the serum levels of ALT and AST as well as the mean age and the duration of infection were significantly elevated compared with F ＜ 3 group ( t = 3.497, 2. 758, 2. 340 and 2. 570,respectively; all P＜0. 05), while PLT counts were much lower (t = 2. 761, P=0. 007). The unvariate predictors for HAI≥4 were female, ALT＞1 × upper limits of normal (ULN), AST level,F≥3, HCV RNA≥6 lgIU/mL and PLT counts. By mutivariate analysis, the Ishak stage score was the only independent predictor for HAI≥4 (OR 3.098, 95％CI 1.884-5. 092; P＜0.01). Finally,the univariate predictors for F≥3 were age, BMI≥24 kg/m2 , ALT＞1 × ULN, AST level, HAI≥4,PLT counts and duration of infection≥ 15 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR 1. 074,95％CI 1.006-1. 146; P=0.033), ALT level (OR 1. 035, 95％CI 1.015－1.055; P＜0.01), ASTlevel (OR 0. 969, 95％CI 0. 948－0. 990; P=0. 005), the duration of infection ≥15 years (OR 37. 215, 95％CI 5. 816－238. 127; P＜0.01) and HAI≥4 (OR 1. 939, 95％CI 1. 426－2. 636; P＜0.01) were independent predictors for F≥ 3. ConclusionAge, ALT level, AST level, duration of infection≥15 years, HAI≥4 are independent predictors for liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect and indication of bone graft and impaction on posterior interbody fusion for lumbar instability.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to July 2008, 95 patients with lumbar instability were treated by bone graft and impaction on posterior interbody fusion. Including 41 males and 54 females, the age from 45 to 76 years old with an average of 59 years. There were 68 cases with single level, 22 cases with two-level, 5 cases with three-level in patients, which were 127 intervertebral space altogether. The neural canal and affected side nerve root were decompressed thoroughly during operation. Resected the disc from the affected side and erased the cartilage to plate extensively combined with pedicle screw fixation, and impaction on interbody fusion with the excisional vertebral plate bone was achieved. To assess the improvement of the patients' symptom, sign, and JOA scores pre and post operatively. Meanwhile, the changes of intervertebral height from the lumbar radiographs were measured and the degrees of interbody bone fusion were evaluated according to SUK method.

RESULTSAll the 95 patients were followed up from 12 to 90 months with the mean of 44.8 months. All the clinical symptom were improved significantly or disappeared completely. All the 127 intervertebral space achieved good bone fusion. There was no displacement of bone graft and severe complication happened. According to the radiograph, all the intervertebral heights were increased obviously. The mean JOA score improved from 11.3 +/- 3.3 preoperative to 25.1 +/- 2.8 at 8 weeks postoperative; achieved 24.8 +/- 3.2 with followed up at the last time (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONBone graft and impaction on posterior interbody fusion was one of the most effective methods for the lumbar instability. It has extensive range of application, and it's suitable for senile lumbar degeneration instability especially.

Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Spinal Fusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine optimum culture conditions for the seed embryo culture and rapid propagation of Dendrobium candidum.

METHODSeed embryos of D. candidum were incubated in the medium containing a combination of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), potato extract, banana extract and activated carbon in order to induce seed embryo germination, protocorm differentiation, plantlet propagation and plantlet rooting.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe maximum embryo germination percentage was obtained in the 1/2 MS media supplemented with 20% potato extract. The 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg x L(-1) BA and 0.1 mg x L(-1) NAA was very beneficial to the protocorm differentiation and propagation of D. candidum. The highest protocorm propagation index was obtained from the medium containing the activated carbon. The highest root numbers and length were observed in plants growing in 1/2 MS medium containing 0.5 mg x L(-1) NAA.

Benzyl Compounds ; Carbon ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Dendrobium ; growth & development ; Germination ; drug effects ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Purines ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of vascular bundle implantation in autogenous bone graft on angiogenesis.

METHODSThirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were evaluated in this study. A portion of bilateral radial bones of a rabbit were removed as free bone grafts, whose periostea were peeled off. In test group, the external maxillary artery bundle was passed through the marrow cavity of the bone. In control group, there was no vascular bundle implantation. Each bone was placed in masseter muscle separately. The rabbits were sacrificed and the specimens were procured at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery for histological observation, Chinese ink perfusion and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed in order to evaluate angiogenesis of autogenous bone grafts.

RESULTSThe bone grafts were found revascularization in 3 days after surgery in the test group, whereas at 2 weeks in the control group. In 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, the MVD of test group was significantly higher than that of control group. In 4 weeks after surgery, angiogenesis of test group reached to peak.

CONCLUSIONVascular bundle implantation improved angiogenesis in non-vascularized autogenous bone graft in this study.

Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Bone and Bones ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of using iron oxide nanoparticles as gene vector and the effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection.

METHODSIron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by alkaline precipitation of divalent and trivalent iron chloride. The surface of iron oxide nanoparticles was modified by self-assembled poly-L-lysine to form particle complexes (IONP-PLL). Transfection was determined by delivering reporter gene, PGL2-control encoding luciferase, to different cell lines using IONP-PLL as vector. The effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection was determined using Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet.

RESULTSForeign gene could be delivered to various cell lines by IONP-PLL and expressed with high efficiency, but the transfection efficiency and time course varied in the different cell lines studied. Magnetic field could enhance the efficiency of transfection by 5 - 10 fold.

CONCLUSIONIONP-PLL can be used as a novel non-viral gene vector in vitro, which offers a basis for gene delivery in vivo.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Ferric Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Genetic Vectors ; Magnetics ; Polylysine ; administration & dosage ; Transfection ; methods

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Although the comprehensive control of cardiovascular disease risk factors has achieved remarkable progress in recent years, the incidence of cardiovascular events is still high after the control of traditional risk factors such as low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose, collectively referred to as cardiovascular residual risk. Inflammation is a central driver of atherosclerosis and the ultimate rupture of plaque, as well as an important cause of residual cardiovascular risk. Therefore, this article reviews the formation, assessment and treatment of residual inflammatory cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics of human calicivirus (HuCV) infection in infants with diarrhea in Guangzhou city and to study genotype of the virus.

METHODSThe authors collected fecal specimens from 22 children with acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis from November to December, 2001. HuCV was detected from the specimens by RT-PCR. The PCR products were cloned into the PMD18-T cloning vector and sequenced.

RESULTSHCV was detected from the specimens of 2 cases (9%, 2/22). The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the virus strains belonged to genotype 2 of Norwalk-like viruses.

CONCLUSIONHuCV is one of the pathogens causing diarrhea in infants and young children in Guangzhou area. HuCV infection occurred sporadically in autumn and winter.

Base Sequence ; Caliciviridae ; genetics ; Caliciviridae Infections ; complications ; virology ; China ; DNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Diarrhea, Infantile ; etiology ; Dysentery ; etiology ; Feces ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid