Objective To summarize reasonable therapeutic measures by analyzing the characteristics of tardive intestinal malrotation in childhood. Methods Clinical data of 23 definitely diagnosed cases of intestinal mal-rotation from 1998 to 2008 were studied retrospectively. Results All of 23 patients were processed through plain ab-dominal radiograph;9 were examined with barium meal;2 were examined with barium enema;20 were examined by abdominal Doppler and 13 were examined by abdominal computer tomography. There were 18 patients who got final diagnosis preoperatively and the rate of final diagnosis was 78.3%. All of the cases were cured with Ladd's operative method. Conclusion Because tardive intestinal malrotation has various clinical manifestations,it is more difficult to diagnose than congenital intestinal malrotation in children. The main causes of death are intestinal volvulus and/or necrosis. At present,surgery is a traditional therapeutic way. Ladd procedure is the main traditional way to treat mal-trotation.

Objective To observe and evaluate the clinical effect of submental island myocutaneous flap(SIMF) and free skin graft(FSG) for the reconstruction of buccal defect resulted from the buccal carcinomas .Methods Forty-four aged aging patients di-agnosed with the buccal carcinomas were operated by the total dissection of primary tumor and selective neck dissection and recon-structed simultaneously with SIMF(19 cases) and FSG(25 cases) .The degree of postoperative cheek shape ,limitation of mouth o-pening ,speech sound ,and function of chewing were observed and analyzed .Results Eighteen SIMFs were completely survived .The residual muscle flap had a good blood supply after the debridement of skin island in one case ,the successful rate of flaps was 94 .7%(18/19) while 100% (25/25) .The donor site of SIMF was sutured directly .Follow-up was taken in 12 months for all patients .In SIMF group ,the degree of postoperative cheek shape ,limitation of mouth opening ,speech sound ,and function of chewing were bet-ter than those of FSG group in FSG group(P<0 .05) .There was no significant difference between 2 groups in the field of recur-rence and metastasis although the recurrence adjacent to the primary tumor had happened in FSG group in 5 months after operation (P>0 .05) .Conclusion The submental island flap is an excellent choice for the reconstruction of cheek defects in aging patients af-ter resection of buccal carcinoma .With acceptable cosmetic ,functional results and reasonable oncological saftety ,SIMF has a prom-ising prospect in head and neck surgery .

OBJECTIVETo observe the time course of interleukin (IL)-21 and related cytokines expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

METHODSAntigen was prepared with an emulsion of porcine cardiac myosin in complete Freund's adjuvant, plus Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra strain. EAM model was made by hypodermic injection of myosin in hind legs of Lewis rats.mRNA expression of IL-21 and related cytokines (IL-21R, IL-17, TGF-β, IL-6) in different tissues (heart, liver, spleen, kidney) were determined at 2 weeks after immunization by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, the time course of IL-21 and related cytokines expression in the acute phase of EAM (2 w, 3 w, 4 w) was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and IL-21, IL-17 protein expression was determined by Western blot and ELISA. The location of IL-21R was examined by immunohistochemistry at 2 w after immunization.

RESULTSHistopathology examination evidenced abundant mononuclear cells in the myocardium of 2 weeks EAM rats. Fibrosis and multinucleated giant cells were observed in the myocardium of 3 weeks EAM rats. Inflammation was reduced and large amount of fibrosis could be found in 4 weeks EAM rats. The heart weight/body weight ratio in normal, EAM 2 w, 3 w, 4 w group was (3.011 ± 0.117) mg/g, (4.736 ± 1.279) mg/g, (7.200 ± 0.308) mg/g and (4.622 ± 0.978) mg/g respectively. IL-21 mainly expressed in heart and spleen, IL-21R, IL-17, TGF-β mainly expressed in spleen, and IL-17, IL-6 mainly expressed in heart of EAM rats. IL-21R mainly distributed in cardiomyocytes of 2 weeks EAM rats. In line with pathological EAM course, the expression of IL-21 and related cytokines peaked at 2 weeks and then returned to normal at 4 weeks after immunization.

CONCLUSIONIL-21 and related cytokines were involved in the pathological process of EAM, upregulated IL-21 expression might promote Th17 cell differentiation and enhance Th17 cell secretion.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-17 ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Interleukins ; immunology ; Male ; Myocarditis ; immunology ; pathology ; Myocardium ; immunology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Th17 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; immunology

BACKGROUND:Cauda equina syndrome often induces skin hypoesthesia in the perineal area, poor urine-stool control, and impairs male function. After peripheral nerve fiber injury, apoptosis of neurons appeared. This is associated with the nature of the injury, the types of neurons, the species of animals, the age, and the distance between neurons. OBJECTIVE:To explore the motor neuron apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-associated protein in the anterior horn of the spinal cord after acute cauda equina compression. METHODS:A total of 27 canines were randomly divided into three groups. In the compression and control groups, models of cauda equina compression were established. In the normal group, no models were established. Compression group received water sac compression for 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours, with three models in each group. In the control group, only water sac was implanted, but water was not injected. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase TdT-mediated biotin dUTP nick end-labeling assay was used to detect the apoptosis of neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 protein expressions were measured by immunohistochemical staining (strept avidin-biotin complex). Gray values of positive cels of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein expressions were detected using Qwin550Cw image colection and analysis system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The apoptosis of motor neuron occurred in the compression groups. At 12 hours of compression, positive cels were detected, and the number of positive cels reached a peak at 72 hours. Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression was smal in the normal group. Caspase-3 protein expression was not detected in the normal and control groups. Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly increased at 8 hours, peaked at 72 hours and reduced to a normal level at 168 hours. The increased range of Bax protein expression was bigger than that of Bcl-2. Caspase-3 protein began to express at 12 hours, peaked at 72 hours and reduced to a low level at 168 hours. Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression peaked at 72 hours, and Bcl-2 protein expression was not obviously increased. These findings verified that after acute cauda equina compression, the apoptosis of neurons occurred in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression showed an antagonistic action. In the Bax/Bcl-2 complex, Bax protein in a high expression promoted apoptosis, induced Caspase-3 protein expression, and neuronal apoptosis.

Objective To assess the impact of respiratory motion on the displacement of target area and to analyze the discrimination between free breathing and active breathing control (ABC) in patients with gastric cancer treated with post-operative radiotherapy. Methods From January 2005 to November 2006, 22 patients with post-operatively confirmed gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. All diseases were T_3/ N +, staging Ⅱ - Ⅳ. Patients were CT scanned and treated by radiation with the use of ABC. Image J software was used in image processing, motion measurement and data analysis. Surgical clips were implanted as fiducial marks in the tumor bed and lymphatic drainage area. The motion range of each clip was measured in the resultant-projection image. Motions of the clips in superior-inferior (S-I), right-left (R-L) and anterior-posterior (A-P) directions were determined from fluoroscopy movies obtained in the treatment position. Results The motion ranges in S-I, R-L and A-P directions were 11.1 mam, 1.9 mm and 2.5 mm (F = 85.15, P = 0. 000) under free breathing, with 2.2 mm, 1.1 mm and 1.7 nun under ABC (F = 17.64, P = 0. 000), and the reduction of motion ranges was significant in both S-I and A-P directions (t = 4.36, P = 0. 000;t = 3.73,P = 0.000). When compared with under free-breathing, the motion ranges under ABC were kept unchanged in the same breathing phase of the same treatment fraction, while significant increased in different breathing phase in all three directions (t = - 4.36, P = 0. 000; t = - 3.52, P = 0.000; t =-3.79, P = 0. 000), with a numerical value of 3.7 mm, 1.6 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively (F = 19.46, P = 0. 000) . With ABC between different treatment fractions , the maximum displacements were 2.7 mm, 1.7 mm and 2.5 mm for the centre of the clip cluster (F =4.07,P =0. 019), and were 4.6 mm, 3.1 mm and 4.2 mm for the clips (F =5.17 ,P =0.007). The motion ranges were significant increased in all the three directions (t = - 4.09, P=0.000 ; t =-4.46, P = 0.000 ; t = - 3.45, P =0.000). Conclusions In the irradiation of post-operative gastric cancer, the maximum displacement of organ motions induced by respiration is in S-1 direction and the minimum in R-L direction under free breathing. The use of ABC can reduce the motions significantly in S-I and A-P directions, and the same changes exist in both inter-and intra-fraction treatment.

Aim To explore the protective effects of lithium chloride ( LiCl ) on neurous injuries and phos-phorylation of tau protein at serine262 induced by okada-ic acid( OA) . Methods The neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells were differentiated by all-trans-retinoic acid ( AT-RA) . The differentiated SK-N-SH cells were treated with OA to establish the Alzheimer′s disease cellular model. SK-N-SH cells′ viability and proliferation were measured by SRB test. Giemsa staining was used to observe cell morphology. The neurite length of SK-N-SH cells was measured by Image-Proplus software. Syn-aptophysin and phosphorylated tau protein at serine262 expression levels were tested by Western blot. Results The SK-N-SH cells which were treated with 10 μmol ·L-1 ATRA for 7 days displayed mature neuronal fea-tures. The synaptic length of SK-N-SH cells became longer. And the levels of serine262 phospho-tau was sig-nificantly elevated. 20~100 nmol·L-1 OA effectively inhibited the viability of differentiated SK-N-SH cells in a concentration-dependent manner and in a time-de-pendent manner. The OA treatment induced obvious synaptic atrophy in differentiated SK-N-SH cells. And the phosphorylation level of tau protein serine262 also greatly increased. The pretreatment with 10 mmol · L-1 LiCl significantly ameliorated the synaptic atrophy, the decrease of synaptophysin expression and the in-crease of tau phosphorylation at serine262 induced by OA in differentiated SK-N-SH cells. Conclusion LiCl could effectively inhibit OA-induced synaptic atro-phy in differentiated SK-N-SH cells, and it could also result in the increase of synaptophysin expression and the decrease of the phosphorylation of tau protein at serine262 .

Aim The effect of tetrandrine on TGF-?1 mRNA expression in glomerulosclerosis rat was observed. Methods The rats were randomly divided into four groups, such as the normal control group (sham operative rat), glomerulosclerosis model group,tetrandrine group and amlodipine group. The expression of TGF-?1 mRNA was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. Results The expressions of TGF-?1 mRNA in two treating groups were much lower than untreated model group. There were no difference between these two treating groups. Conclusion Tetrandrine can decrease the expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in glomerulosclerosis rat induced by unilateral renctomy plus adriamycin.

Foreign Bodies ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; urine ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Urinary Bladder ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Urinary Retention ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; urine

BackgroundThe relationship between lipids and coronary artery disease has been well established. However, this is not the case between lipids and heart failure. Ironically, high lipid levels are associated with better outcomes in heart failure, but the mechan-isms underlying the phenomenon are not fully understood. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that reduced intestinal lipid absorption due to venous congestion may lead to low lipid levels.MethodsWe collected data of clinical characteristics, echocardio-graph, and lipid profile in 442 unselected patients with congestive heart failure. Correlations between lipid levels[including total cho-lesterol(TCL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and triglycerides(TG)]and right ventricle end diastolic diameter (RVEDD), left ventricle end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), right atrium diameter (RA), left atrium diameter (LA), or left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed using Pearson correlation and partial correlation. RVEDD, LVEDD, RA, and LA were indexed to the body surface area.ResultsThere was a significantly inverse correlation between TCL le-vels and RVEDD (r=-0.34,P<0.001) and RA (r=-0.36,P<0.001). Other lipids such as LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG had asimilar inverse correlation with RVEDD and RA. All these correlations remained unchanged after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, physical activity levels, comorbidities, and medication use.ConclusionsLipid levels were inversely correlated to RVEDD in patients with congestive heart failure; however, because this was an observational study, further investigation is needed to verify our results as wellas identify a causal relationship, if any.

A series of new coumarin-based benzotriazole derivatives were successfully synthesized via a multi-step sequence of cyclization, etherification and N-alkylation, and were confirmed by 1H NMR, IR, MS spectra as well as elemental analyses. All these synthesized coumarin compounds were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activities against four Gram-positive bacteria, four Gram-negative bacteria and three fungi by two fold serial dilution technique. The bioactive assay showed that all these prepared coumarin benzotriazoles could inhibit the growth of the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Title compounds 11a-11e and 13a-13c were more active than chloromycin on Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6896. Coumarin benzotriazoles 11a and 11b displayed comparable antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 in comparison with reference drug chloromycin. Compared to fluconazole, compounds 11a-11d displayed stronger inhibition on Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 96918. Moreover, coumarin-based benzotriazoles in combination with antibacterial chloromycin or antifungal fluconazole, showed notable antimicrobial efficacy with less dosage and broader antimicrobial spectrum. More importantly, fluconazole-insensitive A. fumigatus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus N 315 (MRSA) were sensitive to these combined drugs.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; drug effects ; Chloramphenicol ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Fungi ; drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; drug effects ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Triazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology