Animals ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Vitamin E ; blood

Background and purpose: Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycophosphoprotein that is expressed by numerous human cancer cells. The function of OPN in skeletal modeling and remodeling, bone resorption, angiogenesis and tumor cell metastasis and progression through binding with integrin and CD44 receptors were studied. Our purpose of the study was to detect the level of osteopontin(OPN) and CD44 variant isoforms(CD44v6) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, and to explore the relationship between OPN and CD44v6 with the progress of MM. Methods: 32 MM patients were admitted to our hospital from Sep. 2007 to Dec. 2008. The patients were divided into two groups, group A (untreated and relapsed MM patients) and B (stable MM patients), and the control group including 15 subjects were the benign anemia patients or healthy people who suffered bone fracture. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from MM patients and subjects were investigated as potential OPN and CD44v6 producers. The level of OPN and CD44v6 of the conditioned media from MM patients and subjects were analyzed by ELISA. Results: The OPN level in group A (19 cases) was significantly higher than group B (13 cases) and control group (P<0.05). The CD44v6 level of 14 patients in group A was significantly higher than that of 10 cases in group B and control group (P<0.05); The OPN level of MM patients was correlated with the level of CD44v6 (r=0.52, P=0.000), the percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow (r=0.74, P=0.000), M protein (r=0.53, P=0.014), and β2-microglubin (r=0.62, P=0.002). Conclusion: The increase of OPN and CD44v6 is associated with progress and pathogenesis of MM,and may be involved with tumor burden, stage and tumor invasion.

OBJECTIVETo establish a rabbit model of orbital hypertelorism for plastic and reconstructive surgery and evaluate the surgical effects.

METHODSOrbital osteotomies and medial translocation was performed in 16 New Zealand rabbits (4 to 6 months old) by combined intracranial-extracranial approach. The interorbital distance (IOD) and bone healing between the orbits were evaluated with gross measurement. X-ray and histological examinations were performed immediately and 12 weeks after the operation.

RESULTSThe average IOD of the rabbits was 0.74 cm after completion of the operation, but increased to 0.96 cm 12 weeks after the operation, showing significant relapse of orbital hypertelorism (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe IOD can be decreased successfully in this rabbit model.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hypertelorism ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Rabbits ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgery, Plastic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo introduce a method to reduce the volume of medial gastrocnemius for calf reduction.

METHODSTibial nerve and nerve branches were dissected and explored at popliteal region for morphometry in 20 cadaver-legs. The length, width and the origination position of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius were measured and recorded. During surgery, the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle were explored and cut off. The circumference and the shape of the leg were measured and recorded.

RESULTSThe nerve innervating the medial gastrocnemius originates from the tibial nerve which lies in the fat tissue of popliteal space. In 8 cases (40%) there is only 1 branch to the medial gastrocnemius, and in 4 cases (30%) there are 2 branches. In other 4 cases (30%) the medial sural cutaneous nerve originate from the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius. The nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle branch off at (- 6.6 +/- 13.7) mm; the width is (2.3 +/- 0.4) mm; the length is (42 +/- 12) mm. Neurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius was performed in 16 cases. After operation, the circumference of the leg was reduced (3.5 +/- 1.1) cm averagely and the curve of the medial line of the calf was reduced. There is no obvious swelling in these cases and the patients were able to walk immediately after operation. The function of the leg was not obviously influenced.

CONCLUSIONSNeurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle was a safe and effective method for calf reduction.

Adult ; Bariatric Surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; surgery ; Male ; Muscle Denervation ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; Sural Nerve ; surgery ; Young Adult