Objective To evaluate the causes,clinical manifestations and diagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Methods Operation was performed for 18 patients ( 21 sides) with tarsal tunnel syndrome. Preoperative Takakura index was 3-7 points with an average of 6.4 points. Ganglion was found in 15 cases (17 sides), varicosity in 2 cases (3 sides) and lipoma in 1 case. Results The symptoms disappeared without recurrence in 0.5 to 17 years' follow-up (average 7.3). Postoperative Takakura index was 9-10 points (average 9.7). Conclusion Tarsal tunnel syndrome is rare in the clinical practice with varied causes and different clinical manifestations. Operation can be performed with satisfactory results for the patients unsuitable for conservative treatment.

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) can provoke the apoptosis of retinal cells and downregulate the expression of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in the retina.Capsaicin promotes the release of CGRP and elicits protective effects on human organs.However,whether CGRP protects retinal cells in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is still unclear.Objective The study was designed to examine the effect of capsaicin on the apoptosis of retinal cells in diabetic rats and its relationship with CGRP.Methods Forty clean healthy adult male Sprague-Dawey rats were randomly divided into the diabetes group,capsaicin pretreated group,streptozocin (STZ)control group,capsaicin control group and plain control group,with 8 rats per group.The diabetic model was established by the intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg in all rats except those of the plain control group.0.4 mL of a 1％ capsaicin injected at 20 mg/kg was subcutaneously injected for 3 consecutive days prior to model establishment in the capsaicin pretreated group,after which 1.2 mL of STZ was intraperitoneally injected on the fourth day.Rats from the STZ control group were administered intraperitoneally 1.2 mL of 0.1 mol/L,pH 4.5,citrate buffer.The capsaicin control group received subcutaneous injections of 0.4 mL of 1％ capsaicin at 20 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days,after which 1.2 mL of 0.1 mol/L,pH 4.5,citrate buffer was administered intraperitoneally.The rats were sacrificed at the tenth week after model establishment and retinal specimens were prepared for the apoptosis assay by TUNEL staining and the quantitative analysis of caspase-3 activity.Expression of CGRP in the retina and serum was detected using ELISA.The use of experimental animals followed the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results Retinal cell apoptosis was mainly localized to the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer.The apoptosis rate of RGCs was (43.4±5.0)％ in the DR model group and (30.0±5.1)％ in the capsaicin pretreated group,showing a significant difference (t =5.930,P＜0.01).Compared with the DR model group and capsaicin pretreated group,the apoptosis rates of the DR control group (12.4±9.9) ％ and the capsaicin control group (17.6-±6.1) ％ were significantly lower (t =8.800,t =4.925,P＜0.01).The apoptosis rate of the plain control group was (16.2±6.9)％,exhibiting significant differences in comparison with the DR control group and capsaicin control group (t =-0.989,t =0.951,P＞0.05).The specific activity of caspase-3 was (2.19±0.86) in the DR model group and (1.96±0.56) in the capsaicin pretreated group,presenting a significant difference (t =-0.515,P＜0.05).Those of the DR control group and capsaicin control group were (1.47±0.14) and (0.74±0.27),respectively,with considerable decline in comparison with the DR model group and capsaicin pretreated group (t=2.142,t=2.797,P＜0.05).The retinal and serum CGRP levels were (424.4±44.2)and (148.8±39.1) ng/L,respectively,displaying significantly lower levels than (543.2±74.4) and (237.5±78.7) ng/L (t =3.070,2.359,P＜0.05) from the capsaicin pretreated group.Conclusions Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells occurs in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.Pretreatment of capsaicin reduces retinal cell apoptosis,which may be associated with an increase of CGRP in the retina.

Esophageal Atresia ; complications ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory System Abnormalities ; complications ; Trachea ; abnormalities ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula ; complications

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Ivermectin ; analogs & derivatives ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Morphine Dependence ; metabolism ; Neurotrophin 3 ; metabolism ; Prosencephalon ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic versus open omental patch repair for perforated peptic ulcer. Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients who underwent omental patch repair for perforated peptic ulcer were analyzed retrospectively. There were 74 cases in the laparoscopic repair group (LR group) and 53 cases in the open repair group (OR group) respectively. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss,postoperative pain at 1 d and 3 d.time to first flatus and resumption of diet, time to drainage removal,surgical site infections (wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess),systemic complications and length of postoperative hospital stay were compared. Results LR group experienced less intraoperative blood loss[(32.7 ±25.6) ml], lower postoperative pain at 3 d[(2.8 ±1.5) scores], earlier time to first flatus [ (25.8 ± 20.1) h] and resumption of diet [ (2.7 ±2.1) d ], shorter time to drainage removal [(2.0±1.5) d], less wound infection (0) and shorter hospital stay[(4.8 ±2.3) d] than those in OR group [(53.2±30.0) ml, (36.9±27.9) h, (3.7±2.0) scores, (3.6±2.3) d,(2.9±2.2) d,9.4%(5/53), (6.6±4.0) d](P< 0.01 or <0.05). There were no significant differences in operative time,postoperative pain at 1 d, incidence of intra-abdominal abscess and systemic complications between the two groups. There were no suture-site leakage, reoperation and death in two groups. Conclusions Laparoscopic omental patch repair for perforated peptic ulcer is safe and efficacious. It has significant advantages over open approach with respects of less postoperative pain,earlier return of bowel function,less wound infection and shorter hospital stay.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of blood purification combined with fasudil in elderly cardiac surgery patients with postoperative acute kidney injury.Methods Fifty elderly cardiac surgery patients with postoperative acute kidney injury were divided into control group and study group by random digit table method with 25 cases each.The 2 groups were treated with routine drug and blood purification,the study group was additionally given fasudil injection 30 mg + 0.9％ sodium chloride injection 50 ml vein pumping,1 time/12 h,for 7 d.The urine volume,urine N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG),urine γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP),urine α 1-microglobulin (α 1-MG),serum creatinine (SCr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr) were observed,and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ score was computed.Results There were no statistical differences in the indexes before treatment between the 2 groups (P＞ 0.05).The urine volume after treatment 3,5,7 d in study group was more than that in control group [(38.72 ± 2.68) ml/h vs.(31.68 ± 2.52) ml/h,(47.24 ±3.73) ml/h vs.(40.24 ± 2.52) ml/h、(63.80 ± 2.50) ml/h vs.(56.60 ± 3.30) ml/h],urine NAG,urine α 1-MG,urine γ-GTP,SCr and BUN were lower than those in control group [NAG:(25.05 ±5.44) U/L vs.(28.04 ± 5.21) U/L,(24.06 ± 3.43) U/L vs.(27.23 ± 6.43) U/L,(22.08 ± 3.25) U/L vs.(26.23 ± 4.41) U/L; α 1-MG:(24.05 ± 3.65) mg/L vs.(26.74 ± 6.74) mg/L,(22.98 ± 3.58) mg/L vs.(25.57 ± 3.58) mg/L,(20.95 ± 3.78) mg/L vs.(25.48 ± 3.45) mg/L; γ-GTP:(8.2 ± 0.4) U/L vs.(10.8 ± 3.8) U/L,(7.3 ± 0.2)U/L vs.(10.5 ± 2.5) U/L,(6.5 ± 1.4) U/L vs.(9.7 ± 2.6) U/L; SCr:(206.52 ± 6.72) μ mol/L vs.(255.16 ±6.75) μmol/L,(182.98 ±6.26) μmol/L vs.(252.23 ±9.53) μmol/L,(33.25 ±7.95) μmol/L vs.(170.75 ± 7.94) μ mol/L; BU N:(19.61 ± 3.23) mmol/L vs.(20.25 ± 3.25) mmol/L,(16.76 ± 2.06) mmol/L vs.(18.32 ± 4.84) mmol/L,(12.28 ± 2.26) mmol/L vs.(14.27 ± 4.54) mmol/L],CCr was higher than that in control group [(18.66 ± 3.89) ml/min vs.(13.28 ± 3.25) ml/min,(27.76 ± 4.36) ml/min vs.(16.23 ± 4.18)ml/min,(33.79 ± 5.58) ml/min vs.(22.12 ± 4.65) ml/min],there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The APACHE Ⅱ score before treatment and after treatment 5,7 d in control group were (32.20 ±4.51),(26.38 ±5.28) and (21.43 ±4.22) scores,in study group were (33.05 ±3.82),(22.15 ±3.42) and (13.25 ± 2.15) scores.There was no statistical difference in the APACHE Ⅱ score before treatment (P ＞ 0.05),the APACHE Ⅱ score after treatment was improved,furthermore APACHE Ⅱ score after treatment 5,7 d in study group were better than those in control group,there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The treatment effect of blood purification combined with fasudil is remarkable in elderly cardiac surgery patients with postoperative acute kidney injury.At the same time,it has high security and very important clinical significance.

Objective To detect NF1 gene mutations in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing were performed to detect mutations of the NF1 gene in a patient with NF1,his parents and 100 unrelated healthy controls.Results A novel frameshift mutation (c.3822delC) was identified in the patient,but not found in his parents or the unrelated healthy controls.Conclusion The novel frameshift mutation (c.3822delC) found in the patient is not a rare single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP),and may be a causative mutation for NF1 by affecting the function of the NF1 gene.

In order to study the effects of ethyl pyruvate on cardiomyocyte apoptosis following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in vitro and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, isolated rat hearts were perfused in a Langendorff model. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 in each group): control group was perfused for 120 min. In the I/R group, after 30 min stabilization the injury was induced by 30 min global ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) group was set up with the same protocol as I/R group except that it was supplied with 2 mmol/L EP 15 min before ischemia and throughout reperfusion. Myocardial malonaldehyde (MDA) content was measured. Myocardial apoptotic index (AI) was tested by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax in cardiac myocytes was detected by immunohistochemistry. As compared with control group, the content of MDA, myocardial AI and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax proteins were increased significantly in I/R group, but the content of MDA, myocardial AI and the expression of Bax protein were decreased obviously and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was up-regulated in EP group (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that EP could inhibit apoptosis of cardiac myocytes possibly via alleviating oxidative stress, up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating Bax proteins.
Apoptosis ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Malondialdehyde/pharmacology ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/*metabolism ; Pyruvates/*pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; Tissue Distribution ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/*metabolism

Objective:To investigate the changes and significances of serum cystatin C and transforming growth factor-β1 levels for the neonatal asphyxia.Methods:Forty-six asphyxia newborns were chosen as the asphyxia group,and thirty healthy newborns were selected as the control group.The TGF-β1,CysC,BUN,Scr,and GFR levels of both groups were detected on the 1st,3rd,7th day after hospitalization.According to the renal injury,the 46 newborns were divided into normal group and asphyxia group,and the serum indexes were detected and analyzed.Results:On the 1st,3rd,7th day after hospitalization,the TGF-β1,GFR of asphyxia group was obviously increased and was lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05);the level of CysC,BUN,Scr in both groups were decreased,and the change degree in asphyxia group were higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05);the CysC,BUN,Scr in renal injured group were higher than those of normal group,and TGF-β1,GFR were much lower (P＜0.05).Additionally,TGF-β1 level of renal injured group was negatively correlated to the BUN and Scr,and positively correlated with the GFR (P＜0.05).The level of serum CysC in renal injured group was positively correlated to BUN and Scr and negatively correlated to GFR (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The serum TGF-β1,CysC in asphyxia newborns had significant changes compared with the healthy newborns and was correlated to the renal injured indexes,which had clinical directive significance on the early diagnosis,condition judgment,and prognosis of neonatal asphyxia with renal injury.