Objective To eveluate the result of the use of prosthetic disc nucleus (PDN) for treatment of degenerative disc diseases in the lumbar spine. Methods Twenty-two patients with degenerative disc diseases were treated with PDN replacement after the removal of the degenerated intervertebral disc. Results The patients were followed-up for an average 12 months (4-18 months). Both lumbago and leg pain disappeared in all the 22 patients who resumed their work and normal life one month after the operation. PDN translocation was found in 2 out of 10 patients in the early period, but no PDN translocation was found in the remaining 12 patients in the later period. Conclusion PDN could restore disc height and flexibility after nucleotomy. Artificial nucleus replacement was a good option for the treatment of degenerative lumbar disc disease.

Objective Using solid dispersion technique to prepare Silymarin Dropping Pill to accelerate dissolution and to improve bioavailability. A central composite design-response surface method was employed to select the optimum formulations. Methods Independent variables were Poloxamer 188 content and silymarin content, while dependent variables were disintegrating time and percent of silymarin dissoluted at a definite time. Linear, two and three order quadratic models were used to estimate the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Response surfaces were delineated according to best-fit mathematic models and optimum formulations were selected there from. Prediction was carried out through comparing the observed and predicted values. Results Three order quadratic equation was the best-fitted mathematic models to describe the relationship between dependent and independent variables, with a regression coefficient of 0.998. Bias between observed and predicted values of disintegrating time and dissolution percentage of optimum formulation dropping pill were negligible, indicating the high predictability of the fit models. Percent dissolution of Silymarin Dropping Pill at 60 min was 19 times as that of conventional tablets. Conclusion Dissolution speed of silymarin can be effectively improved through incorporating into dropping pills. It shows that the optimum mathematic model is highly predictive. The central composite design-response surface method can be fairly used in formulation screening.

Objective To investigate the effects of motilin on the voltage dependent potassium channel and L-type calcium channel currents in rat proximal colon smooth muscle cells (PCSM) and to explore its mechanism in increasing colonic motility.Methods PCSM were isolated by collagenase.The voltage dependent potassium channel transit outward current (IKA ) and delayed rectifier current (IKdr) and L-type calcium currents (ICa(L)) were measured by whole cell patch clamp technique.Groups were analyzed by paired t-test.Results There was no significant effect of motilin on IKA and IKdr.L-type calcium channel was dose-dependently activated by motilin from 0.5 × 105 mmol/L to 10.0 ×10-5 mmol/L.At 6 × 10-5 mmol/L motilin and under - 10,0 and 10 mV stimulating voltage,maximum current density increased by 154.61％,62.69％ and 21.02％ respectively and activation kinetics curve obviously left shifted.Half activation voltage decreased from (2.740±1.211) mV prior administration to ( - 25.290 ± 0.614) mV (t =8.534,P =0.007 ) and there was no significant difference in slope factor. Conclusions Motilin increases colonic smooth muscle contraction by promoting calcium influx. However the frequency of colonic smooth muscle contraction could not change with frequency of equilibrium potential and action potential of colonic smooth muscle.

Aim To investigate the effects of emodin on the contraction of gallbladder smooth muscle(GBSM)and the L-type calcium current in GBSM cells.Methods Gallbladder muscle strips were obtained from adult guinea pigs and the resting tension was recorded.Gallbladder smooth muscle cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion,and calcium current was recorded by the whole-cell patch clamp method.Results Emodin-induced contraction of GBSM was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with nifedipine.Emodin increased the L-type calcium current in a dose-dependent manner.When 10 ?mol?L-1 emodin was applied to GBSM cells,the amplitude of L-type calcium current at +10 mV was enhanced by(45.2?2.26)%.In the presence of PKC inhibitor,staurosporine,emodin did not significantly affect the calcium current.Conclusion Emodin enhances L-type calcium current via PKC-dependent pathway and promotes gallbladder contraction.

Purpose To observe the action time of parthenolide (PTN) as selective nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) inhibitor in heart of rats.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into control(CON) group,PTN group,dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) group,lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group and PTN+LPS group.The first day:PTN group,DMSO group and PTN+LPS group rats were respectively injected interapertoneally PTN(500 μg/kg) and DMSO; other groups rats were injected interapertoneally equivalent saline.The second day(in equivalent to 24 h after injecting PTN):in LPS group and PTN+LPS group LPS(12.5 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously; other group rats were injected subcutaneously equivalent saline.Every heart was obtained in equivalentce to 1 h after injecting LPS to measure the expression of NF-κB p50 in nucleus,inhibitory kappaB(IκBα) and phosphorylation inhibitory kappaB(p-IκBα) in cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes through Western blotting.Results Compared with CON group,the expression of NF-κB p50,IκBα and p-IκBα had no difference in PTN and DMSO group.And in LPS group and PTN + LPS group,the expression of NF-κB p50 up-regulated significantly(P＜0.05),IκBα down-regulated(P＜0.05) and p-IκBα up-regulated significantly(P＜0.05).Conclusion LPS can activate NF-κB in 1 h and PTN in rats after 24 h has few effect.

Objective To evaluate the characters of respiratory function in children with chronic cough and explore the correlative association between cough variant asthma(CVA) and etiology of chronic cough.Methods One hundred and forty patients with chronic cough were divided into 2 groups based on peak expiratory flow(PEF) or forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1).Ninty-three cases were done exercise test and 47 cases were done bronchoditor rest.The parameters included forced vital capacity(FVC),FEV1,PEF,forced expiratory flow at 50% and 75%(FEF50,FEF75).Results The measurement 35 cases with positive bronchoditor rest,and 30 cases with positive exercise test were found.The PEF and FEV1 variation rate were(18.30?10.50)%,(18.78?9.44)% in exercise test groups,and(30.36?27.27)%,(36.13?26.83)% in bronchoditor rest groups,respectively.Conclusions FEV1,PEF may be used as markers for the reversibility of airway obstructe in children with CVA.There is significant correlation between PEF and FEV1.Respiratory function mensurate may reflect the change and degree of inflammation in the airway of children with chronic cough.

Objective To explore the application of nurse-administered psychological assessment scale for patients early after trauma in the wounded after Wenchuan earthquake.Methods The clinically commonly used self-rating scales (integrated SCL-90,SDS and SAS,and mental status scale in non-psychiatric settings),clinician-administered scale (nurse-administered psychological assessment scale for patients early after trauma)and diagnostic criteria in psychiatric settings(CCMD-3)were employed to assess the mental status of 21 patients after Wenchuan earthquake,and the recovery rates of these scales were analysed.Results All the 21 patients suffered from psychological disturbance to some extent, while none met the criteria of mental diseases.The recovery rate of the integrated SCL-90,SDS and SAS was only 9.5%, while those of the nurse-administered psychological assessment scale for patients early after trauma and mental status scale in non-psychiatric settings reached 100%.Conclusion The nurse-administered psychological assessment scale for patients early after trauma and mental status scale in non-psychiatric settings with fewer items are more suitable for the wounded early after earthquake,with a favourable confidence and efficacy.The diagnostic criteria in psychiatric settings can not be universally used in the wounded after earthquake.

Child ; Collagen Type IV ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; diagnosis ; pathology

0.05).Conclusion Low dose mifepristones increase the number of CD_(56)~+ NK cells and the percentage of CD_3~-CD_(56)~+ CD_(16)~-NK subset,which might result in the disturbance of human endometrial immuno-mieroenviromnent during receptive phase and lead to imolantation failure.

As a kind of additive in feed of monogastric animals, the application of natural phytase is limited due to its disadvantages. In this paper, the strategies of phytse reform was introduced. Furthermore, the research and progress on protein engineering of feed phytase was reviewed, including phytase over-expression, phytase thermostability, catalytic efficiency and optimum pH.