OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of nucleus pulposus after in vitro culture of rabbit whole intervertebral disc and spinal motion segment.

METHODSTwenty-one New Zealand white rabbits which were randomly divided into organ group with 8 rabbits and segment group with 13 rabbits. Fifty intervertebral discs and 50 spinal motion segments were harvested respectively under aseptic conditions from two groups. These specimens were maintained in organ culture with hyperosmotic media (410 mOsm/kg), then 10 discs of the two groups were observed respectively by HE staining, immunohistochemistry of collagen type III, proteoglycan content and cells viability of nucleus pulposus before culture and at 3, 7, 14, 21 days after culture.

RESULTSHE staining showed the intervertebral disc tissue structure remained intact after culture of 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group,but there was severely degenerated of 21 days segment group. The intensity value of type II collagen immunohistochemical staining in the nucleus pulposus were not changed significantly between 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group (P > 0.05), but the staining of segment group at 21 days became shallower, there was significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05). PAS/AB staining of proteoglycan of nucleus pulposus showed that there were not decrease of tinting strength of two groups within 7 days, but the strength weakened slightly of two groups at 14 days, and the tinting strength became weaker at 21 days segment group, the change is more obvious than the organ group. The intensity value of fluorescence staining of nucleus pulposus cells was not changed significantly within 7 days of two groups (P > 0.05), the intensity value decreased slightly at 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group, but there were no significant difference compared with before time points (P > 0.05) however at 21 days segment group the intensity decreased as cells viability of nucleus pulposus decreased,and there was a significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is not obviously degenerated of the discs of organ group cultured within 21 days and segment group cultured within 14 days, but there was significant degeneration of the intervertebral disc of segment group after cultured 21 days, so the rabbit spinal motion segment can be used on research about the biomechanics of intervertebral disc as a vitro experimental model within 14 days.

Animals ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Rabbits

Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; pathology ; Male ; Spine ; pathology

Objective There have been few research on the relationship between expression of HDAC4 and chemotherapy resistance in human lung adenocarcinoma.The present study aims to investigate the expression and clinical significance of HDAC4 in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues.Methods We selected 72 tissues in lung adenocarcinoma patients with docetaxel-resistant from January 2006 to December 2007 in Department of Oncology and Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, then evaluated the recent efficacy according to the RECIST criteria and divided the tissues into sensitive(n=32, included complete remission and partial remission) and insensitive(n=40, included stability and progress) groups.The expression of HDAC4 in tissues≥the HDAC4 optimal relative expression cut-off value(78.7) was high level HDAC4 group(n=35), otherwise it was low level HDAC4 group(n=37).QRT-PCR analysis was performed to detect the HDAC4 expression levels in sensitive group and insensitive group.Analyzed the progression free survival in high level HDAC4 group and low level HDAC4 group.Results The expression of HDAC4 was significantly higher in the insensitive group compared with the sensitive group [(1.42±0.30) vs (0.60±0.15), P<0.01].The median progression free survival was significantly shortened in the high level HDAC4 group compared with the low level HDAC4 group (10.2 months vs 5.8 months, P<0.05).ConclusionThe expression of HDAC4 increased in docetaxel-resistant lung adenocarcinoma patients, and it is expected to be a predictive indicator of the resistance of docetaxel.

AIM To study the effect of 17?-estradiol(E 2) on apoptosis of macrophages at certain concentration.METHODS Fluorescent microscopy and scanning eletron microscopy(ESEM) were used to detect apoptosis changes of macrophages induced by E 2 at relatively high concentration and intracellular Ca 2+ and matochontrial transmembrane potential were examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM). RESULTS Apoptosis of macrophages was induced by high concentration of E 2 (≥1 ?mol?L -1). Intracellular Ca 2+ elevated and matochontrial transmembrane potential decreased after E 2 treatment. CONCLUSION Apoptosis of macrophages is induced by certain concentration of E 2 (≥1 ?mol?L -1) and this may be related to elevated intracellular Ca 2+ and decreased matochontrial transmembrane potential.

AIM:To analyze the effect 17?-estradiol on activated macrophages and possibility of being a target of screening drugs for endometriosis. METHODS: Using scanning electron microscope, the surface of macrophages was observed. Nitric oxide (NO) in supernatant was determined by Griess's reagent. TNF-? was measured by MTT via L929 cells. Using Fluo-3/AM, i was measured by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). RESULTS: (1) Increased size, extension of more microvilli, expression of retraction fibers and elaboration of membrane ruffles were detected in 17?-estradiol treated macrophages. (2) 17?-estradiol induced NO release from peritoneal macrophages. (3)The more TNF-? was made by macrophages under the induction of 17?-estradiol. (4)Intracellular Ca 2+ elevated 39.8% in peritoneal macrophages after 17?-estradiol (100 nmol/L) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Macrophages were activated by 17?-estradiol at a certain concentration. Activated macrophages by 17?-estradiol may participate in endometriosis and may be a target of screening drugs for endometriosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and safety on lung resection surgery with the combined method of microinjection acupuncture (MIA) and intravenous anesthesia instead of compound traditional acupuncture and drug anesthesia (ADA).

METHODSNinety cases of lung resection surgery were randomized into a general anesthesia group, a MIA group and a ADA group, 30 cases in each one. In the general anesthesia group, before surgery, the intramuscular injection of atropine 0. 5 mg was used; during surgery, the anesthesia induction was followed with intravenous injection of fentanyl citrate, propofol and rocuronium bromide and the dosage was increased accordingly; after surgery, the analgesia pump was applied. In the MIA group, on the basis of general anesthesia, before anesthesia induction, the acupoint catgut embedding was applied to Jiaji (EX-B 2) of T4 , T6 and T, , Feishui (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15) and Geshu (BL 17) on the affected side and bilateral Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36); after surgery, the analgesia pump was applied. In the ADA group, on the basis of general anesthesia, before! anesthesia induction, electroacupuncture (EA) was applied to Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6) , Houxi (SI 3) and Zhigou (TE 6) for 30 min; during surgery, EA and intravenous medication were combined at the same acupoints as those before surgery; after surgery, moxibustion and the analgesia pump were applied in combination for analgesia. In each group, the biological indices were monitored during surgery at 11 time points named T. (before anesthesia I induction), T1 (intubation in general anesthesia induction), T2 (skin incision), T3 (rib exposure in muscular incision) T. (chest open), T, (lung removal), T6 (drainage tube implantation), T7 (chest closure), T (muscular stitching), T, (skin stitching) and T0 (extubation). The actual dosage of anesthetics during surgery and the, dosage of fentanyl citrate in analgesia pump were quantified after surgery. Results (1) In the MIA group and ADA group, the increased dosage of fentanyl citrate was less than that in the general anesthesia group [(1. 23±0. 28) µg . kg-1 . h-1 vs (2. 4±0. 54µg. kg-1 . h-1, (1. 1±0. 38µg . kg-1 . h-1 vs (2. 4±0. 54µg. kg-1 . h-1 , both P<0. 05]. The increased dosage of propofol and rocuronium bromide was not different during surgery among the groups (all P>0. 05). (2) In the MIA group and ADA group, after surgery, the increased dosage of fentanyl citrate was less than that in the general anesthesia group [(11. 0±1. 04)µg/kg vs (15. 4±1. 52µg/kg, (11. 5±1. 38µg/kg vs (15. 4±1. 52µg/kg, both P<0. 05], reducing by 25% in comparison. (3) The differences in heart rate and blood pressure at 11 time points during surgery were not significant among the three groups (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONn The combined method of MIA and intravenous anesthesia significantly reduces the dosage of intravenous anesthetics during and after lung resection surgery as compared with ADA, presenting the similar analgesic effect as simple intravenous medication and the good safety. The combined method of MIA and intravenous anesthesia is much

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lung ; surgery ; Lung Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Microinjections ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the effect of preoperative chemotherapy for children with malignant extragonadial germinoma. Methods Twenty patients with malignant extrogonadal germinoma had been treated with preoperative chemotherapy from Mar.2003 to Mar.2007.Protocol 1 of chemotherapy was to improve PEB:(cisplatin plus etoposide plus bleomycin A5);Protocol 2 was VAC(vincristine plus actinomycin D plus cyclophosphamide) the average time span of the chemotherapy was 16 weeks.Upon completion of chemotherapy,tumor resection was performed.The content of alpha fetoprotein(AFP) was determined before operation and compared with the content before chemotherapy.Re-gular follow-up procedure was taken after operation. Results All 20 patients received chemotherapy and underwent operation.The removal rate of resection operation was 100%,the process of operation was smooth.The volume of tumors in 14 patients decreased over 50% compared with those before chemotherapy.The response rate was 70%.The content of AFP decreased significantly in 15 patients(75%).Fifteen patients had been living without tumor for up to 2 years,for 5 cases the survival time went beyond 5 years. Conclusions Malignant extrogonadal ger-minoma in children grow infiltratively,bring detrimental effects to neighboring organs,and bring obstacles to resection operation.Chemotherapy for children with malignant extragonadal germinoma before operation can reduce volume of tumor and bleeding during operation,raise the resectability rate and lower the content of AFP.It will enhance the effectiveness of operation and improve prognosis.Therefore,it can be used as a conventional clinical method.

Objective To study the present situation of legionella pneumophila(Lp) infection of low respiratory tract infection in children less than 5 years old.Methods Three hundred hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of low respiratory tract infection were enrolled in the study,191 males,109 females,aged 27 d to 5 years old,course from 1 d to 6 months.Serum antibody(IgM,IgG) of Lp serogroup 1-7 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results In the patients,17 cases were positive,and the positive rate was 5.67%.Of the 17 children,the males(n=11) and females(n=6) did not significantly influence the positive rate(5.76% vs 5.50%).Four of them were between 27 days and 1 year old;7 were 1 to 3 years old,6 were 3 to 5 years old.The positive rates were significantly different among the 3 groups(2.53% vs 7.37% vs 12.77%) and tendentially increased following the increase of age(?2=7.8164 P