Objective To investigate the approach and safety of minimally invasive surgical procedures treating symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi. Methods Clinical data of 21 cases with symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve females and 9 males aged 22 to 57 years old. The average diameter of caliceal diverticulum was 3.7 cm (2.5-7.0 cm) and average diameter of calculi was 2.3 cm (0.8-3.5 cm). The patients underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy, PCNL or mPCNL, laparoscopic techniques and laparoscopy-assisted transperitoneal PCNL, respectively. Four cases underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy. PCNL (2 cases) or mPCNL(5 cases)were performed in 7 cases. Nine cases underwent laparoscopic techniques. Laparoscopyassisted transperitoneal PCNL was performed in 1 case. Results The operations were performed successfully in 21 cases. No case need to transfer to open surgery during the operation and no major complications like perforation or organic injury were noted. One case with iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula of the kidney after 1 week postoperative was cured by delayed hemorrhage 2 days later, while clinical symptoms of 2 cases with residue calculi relieved. 19 cases without residue calculi were followed up for 6 to 12 month without recurrence. Conclusions After handling indication of treatment efficiently and creating advisable therapeutic decision-making, minimally invasive surgical procedures treating symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi appears to be effective and safe.

AIM:To investigate the effects and mechanism of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) assisted pars plana vitrectomy ( PPV) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR) . ·METHODS: A total of 92 patients ( 92 eyes ) with PDR treated by PPV were divided into the simple PPV group (41 patients with 41 affected eyes) and the combined treatment group ( 51 patients with 51 affected eyes ) according to whether the patient underwent intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab ( IVR) . The combined treatment group was treated with IVR at 5-7d before PPV. The surgical time, times of electrocoagulation, silicone oil filling rate, the incidence of postoperative complications, LogMAR BCVA of affected eyes, levels of VEGF and pigment epithelium derived factor ( PEDF ) in aqueous humor and vitreous body were compared between the two groups. ·RESULTS:The surgical time was shorter, the times of electrocoagulation was less, the silicone oil filling rate and the incidence rates of iatrogenic retinal hole and vitreous body hematocele were lower in the combined treatment group than in the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). Levels of VEGF and PEDF in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the combined treatment group during PPV were lower than those in the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). The LogMAR BCVA of the affected eyes of the combined treatment group in 3mo after surgery was better than that of the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). ·CONCLUSION:IVR combined with PPV can reduce the perioperative levels of VEGF and PEDF, reduce the times of electrocoagulation and the incidence of iatrogenic retinal hole and vitreous body hematocele, and improve the visual acuity of patients with PDR.

Objective To investigate the change of cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTn Ⅰ),interleukin (IL)-6 in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement and compare the degrees of fentanil,sufentanil,and remifentanil on myocardial protection and inhibiting effect of inflammatory.Methods Forty-eight patients,undergoing cardiac valve replacement,were randomly divided into three groups (n =16):remifentanil (group R),sufentanil (group S),and fentanil (group F).All the patients were total intravenous anesthesia of midazolam,opioid,vecuronim,and propofol.Different opioids were used in each group.Group R was induced with remifentanyl 1 ～2 μg/kg and maintained at a rate of 1 ～4 μg/(kg · min).Group S was induced with sufentanyl 1 ～2 μg/kg and maintained at a rate of 1 ～4 μg/(kg · h).Group F was induced with fentanyl 5 ～ 10 μg/kg and maintained at a rate of 10 ～30 μg/(kg · h).Blood samples were taken before anesthesia (T0),twenty minutes after aortic declamping (T1),the end of operation (T2),6 h (T3),and 24 h (T4) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for determination of plasma concentration of troponinⅠ and IL-6.Results Compared to T0,cTn Ⅰ and IL-6 in three group at T1,T2,T3 were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05),cTn Ⅰ reached the peak level at T4 (P ＜ 0.05),IL-6 reached the peak level at T3 (P ＜ 0.05).Compared to group F,cTn Ⅰ and IL-6 in groups S and R at T1,T2,T3,and T4 decreased significantly (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Compared to fentanil,sufentanil and remifentanil had comparative advantages on lessening myocardial injury and inhibiting effect of inflammatory for patients who are undergoing cardiac valve replacement.

OBJECTIVEObserve the effects of Goutengsan on SOD, MAO-B, GSH-PX, NO, LDH, index of brain, rate of death and so on in rats to study therapeutic effects and mechanism of Goutengsan on Alzheimer dementia (AD) model.

METHODOne hundred and twenty rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 3 experimental groups of which were daily administrated with Goutengsan extract whereas the model and control groups were given NS (0.01 mL x g(-1)). Aniracetam at 0.1 g x kg(-1) served as a positive control. At the 5th day after administration, all groups except the control were administrated (ip) with AlCl3 (100 mg x kg(-1) ) for successive 50 days at 1 day interval. After administration, the death rate, body weight, training scores, brain index, MAO-B, SOD, GSH-Px in brain and NO, LDH in serum were determined.

RESULTThe brain index, SOD, GSH-Px activities as well as NO content of drug-treated groups were strikingly higher that of model group, and had not obvious difference from that of normal group except content of LDH was higher.

CONCLUSIONGoutengsan could increase the brain index, cut down the rate of death, stable increase of body weight, promote the endogenous antioxidant activity, enhance the clearance of lipid peroxide and other metabolic waste, inhibit the MAO-B activity, reduced the leakage of LDH and maintain the content of NO at a normal level. Therefore Goutengsan could protect cells, delay senile, improve symptoms of AD.

Aluminum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chlorides ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pyrrolidinones ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the evaluation method for self-emulsifying drug delivery system of volatile oil from rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong (VOC SEDDS).

METHODThe self-emulsifying ability, the efficiency of self-emulsification, the properties of emulsion, the dissolution of volatile oil from Rhizome of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and the stability of the emulsion were determined.

RESULTThe optimized formulation can fully emulsify in 5 min and the particle sizes were around 102 nm. Zeta potential was about -30 mV. The O/W emulsions were stable through centrifugation with high reproducibility. In vitro dissolution test indicated that over 80% of drug dissolved in 30 min and VOC SEDDS was stable under light and high temperature in 10 d.

CONCLUSIONVOC SEDDS has strong self-emulsifying ability, fine stability and high dissolution rate in vitro.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Stability ; Emulsions ; Light ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry ; Temperature ; Time Factors

Objective To screen the active components of Bushen Huoxue Decoction ( BSHXD) involved in promoting the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( MSCs). Methods BSHXD and its subdivisions were extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, water-free ethanol and water respectively. MSCs were isolated and cultured by the bone marrow adherent method. At the third passage, MSCs were identified by the specific surface markers with immunofluorescence, and their osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were tested by alizarin red staining and oil red “O” staining. After treated with the extracts of BSHXD and its subdivisions at gradient concentrations for 24 hours, cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay for the screening of active components and optimal concentration. MTT assay was used to describe the growth curve of MSCs treated with the most effective components, and cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the blank control group, the extracts of BSHXD and its subdivisions could protect MSCs from death to various degrees. Of all the extracts, the ethyl acetate extract of Bushen Division ( BSD) , ethyl acetate extract of BSHXD, ethyl acetate extract of Huoxue Division ( HXD) had the strongest effect, and the effect was dose-dependent, 100 μg/mL being the optimal active concentration while having no any cytotoxic reaction. The results of MTT assay revealed that BSD extracts promoted the proliferation of MSCs significantly and was the most effective component, and then came BSHXD. The results of flow cytometry indicated that BSD extract had the most strongest effect on increasing the amount of MSCs at proliferative phase, and then came BSHXD. Conclusion BSD ethyl acetate extract is the active component of BSHXD for promoting the proliferation of MSCs, showing an effect on increasing the proportion of MSCs at proliferative phase.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the molecular mechanism of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy(ALD) in Chinese.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction in exon 1, exon 5 and their flanking sequences and direct DNA sequencing of ALD gene were performed in four patients, their mothers and twenty normal individuals as controls.

RESULTSA splice mutation was identified in the interface of exon 5 and intron 5 (1875 G-->A). This splice mutation in 5' end of intron 5 might lead to abnormal splice in exon 5 and exon 6 and bring about unstable and abnormal ALD protein; the lignoceryl CoA ligase could not transport very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) into peroxisome and could not function normally; consequently, defective beta-oxidation of VLCFA in peroxisome could result in an accumulation of VLCFAS in the central nervous system, adrenal gland and blood.

CONCLUSIONThe splice mutation in 5' end of intron 5 leading to abnormal splice in exon 5 and exon 6 appears to be one of the causes of X-linked recessive adrenoleukodystrophy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family D, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adrenoleukodystrophy ; genetics ; pathology ; Alternative Splicing ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo clone an A3IP gene and investigate its cellular and histological localization based on previous research which has identified part of A3IP sequence interacting with carboxyl-terminal of ataxin-3.

METHODSBioinformatic and Northern blotting were applied to clone the A3IP gene and detect the expression of its transcripts in various human tissues and brain regions. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect expression of A3IP protein in cultured cells. Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to study the expression of A3IP protein in various human tissues and brain regions.

RESULTScDNA cloning of A3IP gene's reading frame and its sequence assembly were completed. Three transcripts (1 kb, 1.35 kb and 6 kb, respectively) of A3IP were found to express in various human tissues and brain regions. A3IP pEGFP expresses in cytoplasm of cultured COS-7 cells and various human tissues and brain regions including cerebral cortex, cerebellum, muscle, peripheral nerve, liver and kidney.

CONCLUSIONThe cloned A3IP gene encodes A3IP, a novel ataxin-3 interacting protein. Three transcripts of A3IP are expressed in various human tissues and brain regions. A3IP is a cytosolic protein.

Ataxin-3 ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Transport ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Welder's siderosis was traditionally described as "benign pneumoconiosis" because of the absence of associated symptoms, functional impairment or pulmonary fibrosis. Although several authors have reported evidence of fibrosis in the lungs of welders, siderosis with local massive fibrosis has been rarely described. In this paper, we present a case of Welder's siderosis with local massive fibrosis mimicking lung cancer.
Fibrosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Siderosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To study the localization of the foramen of Monro on magnetic resonance image (MRI) and its clinical significance.Methods Cranial MRI was observed for 30 normal healthy subjects to study their location,shape and size of the foramen of Monro,as compared to those in 22 patients with hydrocephalus and 14 cases with tumor around their foramen.Results The the foramen of Monro is located between the fornix and the anterior part of thalamus in the normal healthy subjects,with a transverse diameter of 2.8 mm and a vertical diameter of 2.1 mm in average on MRI.Y-shaped structure is formed between their bilateral the foramen of Monro and the 3rd cerebral ventricle.Very obvious changes in shape and size of the foramen of Monro can be observed in patients with hydrocephalus,which sometimes can integrated with the 3rd cerebral ventricle and lateral ventricle,forming a"rabbit-head sign".Meanwhile, imaging of the foramen of Monro varied in patients with tumor around the foramen,depending on its location and size.Conclusions The foramen of Monro has a relative constant position in the brain.Changes in its position,size and shape are important signs suggesting intracranial lesions.An individualized operation plan for a patient should be determined based on those changes.