Objective: To investigate the protective effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on axon degeneration. Methods: Cultured rat superior cervical ganglia were treated with DMSO (100%, 10 μl) per well to disconnect axons from the cell bodies. SCGs in DMSO control group were treated with a mixture of DMSO (10 μl) and medium (2 ml) per well; in positive control group were transfected with herpes simplex virus over-expressing Wlds protein and the cell body was eliminated; and in blank control group were treated with 10 μl PBS. The separated axons were fixed with 4% poly formaldehyde at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after treatment with DMSO for immunostaining with specific antibody to microtubulin. Thus, the changes of axonal structure were investigated. The axonal protein was collected and the degeneration of neurofilament was detected by Western Blotting. Results: In DMSO disconnected group, the axonal morphology and structure showed no obvious change at 12 h post disconnection, but slight degeneration was observed at 24 h post disconnection. The degradation of microtubulin was obviously slowed down and their axonal structures maintained intact 12 h later. The neurofilament could be detected 12 h after disconnection. The above changes in disconnected group were similar to those in positive control group. No obvious protective effects on axonal degeneration were observed in blank and DMSO control groups. Conclusion: Local high concentration of DMSO can delay axonal degeneration, which indicates that DMSO can be used for adjuvant treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effect and possible mechanisms of lute-olin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide (LGU) against focalcerebral ischemic injury. METHODS The focal cerebral ischemic injury model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group,model group(MCAO),LGU group(0.24,0.72 and 2.16 mg·kg-1)and positive control group(Edaravone at 5 mg·kg-1).LGU was injected intravenously 30 min after MCAO.Neurological severity score,infarct volume and brain water content were detected 24 h after MCAO and the levels of Na+-K+ATPase,Ca2+ATPase,TNF-α and IL-1β were detected to explore the possible mechanisms.For the therapeutic time window test,LGU(0.72 mg·kg-1)was injected intrave-nously 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h respectively after MCAO. To evaluate motion behavior, LGU were injected intravenously 30 min after MCAO and once per day during detection period. The changes of motor coordination were detected by rotating rod method and grip strength analysis, and the changes of gaits were detected using DigiGait Imaging System. RESULTS LGU improved the neurological severity score, infarct volume ratio and brain water content. The therapeutic time window of LGU for cerebral infarction and brain edema was at least 6 h and for neurological dysfunction was 12 h.LGU also prolonged the latency on rotarod, increased the forelimb tension and improved 8 gait parameters, including stance duration,stride length,stance width,paw area,paw area variability,gait symmetry,ataxia coefficient and tau propulsion.Furthermore,LGU increased Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase levels in the cortex and hippocampus in the ischemic side,reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum. CONCLUSION LGU has a significant neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemic injury via improving energy metabolism and reducing inflammation.

OBJECTIVETo study the multi-row detector CT angiography (MDCTA) for preoperative evaluation of nourished vessels of flaps.

METHODSPreoperative MDCTA was performed to obtain the anatomic information about the nourished vessels of flaps, including ceassel course, localization, diameter and number of perforator artery. Then the flaps were designed according to the MDCTA results. The postoperative results were observed.

RESULTSFrom Aug 2006 to Aug 2007, 24 flaps (in 16 cases) were performed, including 10 flaps with deep inferior epigastric artery, 4 flaps with descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, and 10 flaps with thoracodorsal artery. The primary preoperative flap design was chaged according to the MDCTA results in 3 flaps. The distribution of the nourished vessels of flaps were exactly the same as the results of MDCTA. All the flaps were survived with satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONSMDCTA is a convenient and reliable technique for preoperative detection of nourished vessels of flaps. The MDCTA results can provide right and direct anatomic information for preoperative flap design to make sure the safety and good results of surgery.

Adult ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the transmission process of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate the infectiveness of SARS patients in different periods of disease epidemics.

METHODSStandardized questionnaire was used to conduct case investigation and contact tracing by combining the field investigation and telephone interview. Transmission process, infectivity, transmission chain and contact history of SARS were studied through data analyses.

RESULTSOn 25th March 2003, a 91 year old man was admitted to Hospital J in Beijing with stroke and fever. He died on 30th March. From 31st March, there was an outbreak of SARS among his contacts in the family and in the hospital he was admitted to. Contacts would include his relatives, other co-patients and health care workers in the Hospital J. Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program trainees conducted an investigation of the outbreak. Among the 207 contacts of the index cases through different generations, there were 36 cases of SARS (attack rate 17%) patients with one death. There were 12 cases having directly contact with the index case and 13 cases with one secondary case. The transmission chains of this outbreak could clearly be depicted. All the cases had close contacts during the symptomatic period of their index patients. Among the relatives, 85% of the cases had 3 - 5-day contact with their index patients after the onset of the illnesses. There was no significant difference between the two attack rates-70% for whose who had contact with the patient before and after illness onset) and 67% for those who only had contact after the onset of the illness. Out of the 44 social acquaintances and 38 of the family members who had contacts with the index patients during the incubation period, no one was found ill. Among the close contacts at the hospital who had no protection when providing care to the patient, the attack rate was found over 80%.

CONCLUSIONSAll the secondary cases of this outbreak had a history of direct and close contacts to the index patients after the onset of the illness. There was no evidence indicating that SARS cases were infectious during their incubation period.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical results between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar(mini-TLIF) and posterior open surgery in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.MethodsFrom March 2008 to August 2010,a total of 49 cases with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed,including 23 cases with mini-TLIF and 26 with open surgery.Operation time,intra-operative bleeding,and radiation exposure times were recorded.Pre- and postoperative back pain was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS),and lumbar function was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI).The clinical results were assessed by Macnab criterion,and the pre and postoperative radiologic parameters were compared.ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 11 months(ranged,9-22).Both groups got good clinical results and satisfactory radiologic parameters.The group of mini-TLIF was superior to the group of open surgery in intra-operative bleeding,VAS of the second day postoperatively and the willingness of reoperation(P＜0.05).The ODI in the patients with open surgery were decreased from 31.2％±8.2％ to 16.1％±6.8％ corresponding to the pre-oporation and the final follow-up.The ODI in the patients with mini-TLIF were decreased from 34.4％±11.7％ to 15.3％±4.3％ corresponding to the pre-operation and the final follow-up.There is no significant difference of the change of ODI between two groups (t=0.673,P=0.412).The group of mini-TLIF need more operation time and were exposed to more X-ray when compared to the open surgery group(P＜0.05).ConclusionMini-TLIF and open surgery can both get satisfactory clinical outcomes in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.Mini-TLIF was superior to open surgery in intra-operative bleeding and VAS of the second day postoperatively,but it needs more operation time and radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in children with neurological symptoms at disease onset. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 88 children with the initial symptoms of the nervous system, such as transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion, who were finally diagnosed with VVS or POTS. RESULTS: Of the 88 children, there were 35 boys (40%) and 53 girls (60%), with an age of 4-15 years. The peak age of onset was between 10 and 13 years. All the children had the initial symptoms of transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion. Nervous system diseases were excluded by electroencephalography, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and cranial MRI. Of the 88 children, 53 (60%) were confirmed with VVS, and 35 (40%) with POTS, according to the results of head-up tilt test (HUTT). Five children with the initial symptom of transient loss of consciousness were misdiagnosed with epilepsy. Predisposing factors were determined for 59 children (67%), and prolonged standing was the most common factor, followed by change in body position and strenuous exercise. Premonitory symptoms were observed in 66 children (75%), among which chest discomfort was the most common symptom, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) and pale complexion. All 88 children received health education and exercise for autonomic nerve function, among whom 53 children with VVS were given oral rehydration salts and 35 children with POTS were given oral rehydration salts and metoprolol. All 88 children were followed up for 18 months, and the response rates to the above treatment at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months of follow-up were 87%, 93%, 93%, and 90% respectively. CONCLUSIONS In addition to nervous system diseases, functional cardiovascular diseases including VVS and POTS should be considered for children with the initial symptoms of transient loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, and convulsion. HUTT can be used to make a confirmed diagnosis, and the early treatment can achieve a good outcome.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ; Posture ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Tilt-Table Test

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) of a major intracranial artery, including middle cerebral artery (MCA),basilar artery, is the most common causes of stroke and is associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke in China. The difficulty to treatment these high-risk disease is to identify high-risk stroke subgroups and to develop more effective treatments (aggressive medical therapy/endovascular therapy). With the benefits, including non-invasive, in vivo, and no-ionizing radiation, 3.0 Tesla high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR MRI) could be used to stratify high-risk patients, monitor progression of disease, and evaluate clinical efficacy, based on MCA wall structure and plaque characteristic. HR MRI has the latency of predicting high-risk patients benefit from endovascular therapy, having a broad application prospect during psot-SAMMPRIS era. The current research on MCA stenosis using HR MRI focuses on methodoiogy, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, etiology, and lacks of clinical efficiency evaluation and prognostic analysis of ICAD treatment, especially lacks the research on in-stent restenosis, which needs further investigation.
Brain ; China ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Prognosis ; Stroke ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo assess whether hepatocyte growth factor recruits bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells into blood circulation to participate in postnatal angiogenesis and endothelium repair.

METHODSThe adenovirus vector encoding HGF gene (Ad-HGF) were intravenous administrated into BALB/c mice, and then serum HGF was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the number of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood was assayed by flow cytometry, and the nucleated cells in peripheral blood were isolated, cultured and the endothelial cell colonies were characterized by staining with antibodies against tie-2, vWF. The carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage model of female mice was established. The peripheral blood nucleated cells of Ad-HGF treated male mice were intravenous administrated into these mice, and 4 weeks later, in situ hybridization for the sry gene was used to identify the implanted cells in the damaged tissues.

RESULTSIntravenous administration of Ad-HGF resulted in significant elevation of serum hepatocyte growth factor level and induced profoundly increase of endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood, which were characterized by their ability to form endothelial cell colonies in culture and expression of CD34, tie-2, and vW factor. HGF-mobilized endothelial progenitors could incorporate into sites of neovascularization in a liver regeneration model.

CONCLUSIONHepatocyte growth factor could markedly recruit bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells into blood circulation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo track the translocation of water soluble taurine multi-wall carbon nanotubes (14C-tau-MWCNTs) in lungs of the Kunming mice and evaluate the acute lung toxicity of intratracheally instilled tau-MWCNTs in Kunming mice.

METHODSHealthy adult Kunming mice were randomly grouped by their body weight (5 mice in each group). The lungs of mice were intratracheally instilled with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg of water soluble tau-MWCNTs and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as negative control. After exposure of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the blood and lung tissue were collected. Blood were assessed by using biochemical biomarkers of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Lung tissues were assessed by histopathology. The intratracheal instillation of 14C-tau-MWCNTs was conducted in the same way, after 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days, 14C-activity of the samples was counted in several organs, tissues, blood and feces etc.

RESULTS14C-activities were detected only in lungs, and with the exposure time proceeding the radioactivity descending from (80 +/- 7.7)% of the 1st day to (22 +/- 6.9)% of the 28th day. Activity of all groups of ALP and LDH went to the highest level on the 7th day postexposure, and back to the control level on the 28th day post-exposure, but LDH of 1 mg/kg group[(14.18 +/- 1.70) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1)] was still higher than that of control [(10.95 +/- 3.51) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1)] after 28 days' exposure. There was no significant changes observed in the activity of ACE. Histopathology found that lungs of all groups presented significant increase in pulmonary inflammation, lung cell proliferation. Many tau-MWCNTs were clearly found in some alveolar macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONIntratracheal instillation of water soluble tau-MWCNTs could induce slight bio-effects on lungs of Kunming mice.

Animals ; Instillation, Drug ; Lung ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Taurine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Trachea

AIMTo study the clinical effects of a disposable circumcision device in treatment of male patients of different ages with either phimosis or excess foreskin.

METHODSOne thousand two hundred patients between the age of 5 and 95 years underwent circumcision using this procedure in the 2-year period between October 2005 and September 2007. Of these cases, 904 had excess foreskin and 296 were cases of phimosis.

RESULTSIn 96.33% of the cases the incision healed, leaving a minimal amount of the inner foreskin with no scarring and producing good cosmetic results. There were no incidents of device dislocation or damage to the frenulum. The average operative time was 2.5 min for excess foreskin, and 3.5 min for phimosis. During the 7 days of wearing the device, mild to moderate edema occurred in 10.08% of cases with excess foreskin and in 2.58% of those with phimosis. Edema in the frenulum was seen in 1.67% of patients, and only 0.67% had an infection of the incision. A total of 86.25% of patients reported pain due to penile erection. After removal of the device, 0.58% of the cases had minimal bleeding around the incision, and 2.42% had wound dehiscence.

CONCLUSIONThe new device can be applied to an overwhelming majority of patients with phimosis and excess foreskin. This technique is relatively simple to perform, and patients who underwent this surgery had very few complications. Antibiotics were not required and patients reported less pain than those who were circumcised using conventional methods. Circumcision with this device requires minimal tissue manipulation, and is quicker and safer than circumcision using conventional techniques.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Pain, Postoperative