ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic effects of percutaneous cervical discectomy (PCD group),percutaneous cervical disc nucleoplasty(PCN) and the association of them (PCDN) for the treatment of cervical intervertebral disk displacement and instability of cervical vertebral column.Methods From February 2003 to April 2011,171 consecutive patients with cervical disc herniation have presented at the authors' hospital and were retrospectively studied.The average age of patients was 47.8 years(ranged,21-74).Ninety-seven cases were treated with PCD,50 cases with PCN,and the other 24 cases with PCDN.Clinical result and the stability of cervical vertebral column after operation were evaluated and compared among the 3 groups.ResultsAll cases had been followed up for a median of 4.1 years.There was significant difference in the pre- and post-operation the Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) scoring system on within 3groups (PCD:t=21.85,P＜0.05; PCN:t=14.50,P＜0.05; PCDN:t=8.56,P＜0.05).All cases had been successfully operated.There was no significant difference between groups among the 3 groups in terms of the clinical outcomes(The recovery rate of JOA standard evaluation,F=2.19,P=0.12).According to Odom criteria,the excellent and good rate are as follows:81.35％ in PCD,82.44％ in PCN,83.19％ in PCDN,respectively.There was no significant difference between groups among the 3 groups in terms of the clinical success rate (P＞0.05).There was no instability of cervical vertebral column cases in 3 groups after operation(P＞0.05),and no significant difference was found in terms of cervical vertebral column stability in pre- and post-operation in each group.ConclusionAll the three operations including PCN,PCD and PCDN are safe,minimally invasive spine surgery for the treatment of cervical intervertebral disk displacement; they achieve good clinical outcomes and there are no difference on the stability of cervical vertebral column between preoperation and postoperation.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value of dual-source CT(DSCT)in the diagnosis of coronary artery fistula(CAF)before and after surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 15 cases of patients with CAF,11 cases of which was treated by surgery during extracorporeal circulation. Results CAF arose from right coronary artery in 8 cases and left coronary artery in 7 cases,with the latter including 3 cases of ramus nodi sinuatrialis fistula,2 cases of anterior descending branch fistula,and 2 cases of left circumflex fistula. CAF entered into right atrium(6 cases),right ventricle(5 cases),left ventricle(4 cases)and left atrium(1 case). There were dilatation of coronary artery in 8 cases,localized aneurysm in 4 cases,normal coronary artery in 3 cases,single fistula orifice in 11 cases,and multiple fistula orifice in 4 cases. 11 patients underwent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).The postoperative imaging revealed fistula has been sutured in 10 patients with no residual fistula,including fistula vascular ligation in 3 cases,the proximal imaging and distal occlusion in right coronary artery angioplasty in 1 case,and pseudo diverticulum in 2 cases. Conclusion DSCT examination has significant value in preoperative diagnosis and postoperative follow-up for CAF.

Heavy alcohol consumption results in alcoholic liver disease(ALD)with inadequate therapeutic options.Here,we first report the potential beneficial effects of ginsenoside Rk2(Rk2),a rare dehy-droprotopanaxadiol saponin isolated from streamed ginseng,against alcoholic liver injury in mice.Chronic-plus-single-binge ethanol feeding caused severe liver injury,as manifested by significantly elevated serum aminotransferase levels,hepatic histological changes,increased lipid accumulation,oxidative stress,and inflammation in the liver.These deleterious effects were alleviated by the treatment with Rk2(5 and 30 mg/kg).Acting as an nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3)inhibitor,Rk2 ameliorates alcohol-induced liver inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the liver.Meanwhile,the treatment with Rk2 alleviated the alcohol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction via enhancing NLRP6 inflammasome in the intestine.Our findings indicate that Rk2 is a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of ALD and other NLPR3-driven diseases.

Objective To explore the influences of extracellular matrices (ECM) secreted by ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation of and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in HaCaT cells. Methods Fibroblasts were irradiated with UVB of 15 mJ/cm2 once daily for 5 days to induce premature senescence, which was identified by SA-β-gal staining 72 hours after the last irradiation.HaCaT cells were divided into 3 groups and inoculated into plates coated with extracellular matrices secreted by non-senescent (PRE-ECM) or senescent fibroblasts (SIPS-ECM) or into uncoated plates (NON-ECM), fol-lowed by additional culture. U0126, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, was used to treat the HaCaT cells 1 hour before inoculation. Then, MTT assay was carried out to detect the proliferation of HaCaT cells after a 3-day culture,Western blot to assess the phosphorylation of ERK at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours after the inoculation, flow cytometry to analyse cell cycle and apoptosis after 24 hours of culture. Results The most rapid and intense phosphory-lation of ERK was observed in SIPS-ECM group. Inhibiting the activation of ERK pathway with U0126 could completely suppress the promoting effect of ECM from senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation of HaCaT cells.After the blocking of ERK activation, the proportion of HaCaT cells in S and G2/M phase decreased from 37.40%, 41.34% and 43.31% to 29.41%, 36.48% and 39.96%, respectively, in NON-ECM, PRE-ECM and SCIP-ECM group. Conclusion The ECM produced by UVB-induced senescent fibroblasts promote the prolifera-tion of HaCaT cells via inducing the phosphorylation of ERK.

AIMTo develop the chemical characteristics of Panax notoginseng in order to control its quality.

METHODSThe samples was extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and analyzed by HPLC-DAD. The data were evaluated using the "similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM" software (version 2004A).

RESULTSThe chromatographic characteristics of 28 Panax notoginseng from different places were established using HPLC-DAD, and 8 peaks among 13 typical ones in the chromatograms were identified by comparing with their reference compounds. The similarity of different samples was high (0.982 +/- 0.008, RSD = 0.78%).

CONCLUSIONThe chromatographic characteristics are useful to control the quality of Panax notoginseng.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo explore the level of serum uric acid (UA) in children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODBetween Sep. 2008 and Mar. 2010, 138 children with OSAHS were enrolled in study group. Sixty-five children with accessory auricle or ptosis of upper lid were enrolled into the control group. Furthermore, according to apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) or obstructive apnea index (OAI) the study group was further divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate and severe group). At last, the study group and control group were divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI), separately. The fasting serum UA level was compared among the different groups. Then the correlation between the serum UA level and AHI, BMI, oxygen desaturation index, least arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) and the percentage of total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation < 0.92 was also analyzed in OSAHS children with or without overweight and obesity respectively.

RESULTThe difference of serum UA level between the study group and control group (z = -0.443), and the difference among the three groups (χ(2) = 1.241) was not significant(P > 0.05). The serum UA level in overweight and obese children [study group, 273.0 (238.3 - 357.3); control group, 298.0 (253.0 - 336.0)] was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI [study group, 246.5(215.8 - 300.0); control group, 266.0 (224.0 - 303.3)] (z = -2.084, -2.214, P < 0.05). That serum UA level did not correlate with the above index of OSAHS was observed in children with or without overweight and obesity in study group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFindings of higher serum UA level were not observed in children with OSAHS. There was no correlation between serum UA level and the above indices of OSAHS. The serum UA level in overweight and obese children was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; Uric Acid ; blood

To establish a new amino acid structure descriptor that can be applied to polypeptide quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies, a new descriptor, SVRDF, was derived from a principal components analysis of a matrix of 150 radial distribution function index of amino acids. The scale was then applied in three panels of peptide QSAR that were molded by partial least squares regression. The obtained models with the correlation coefficients (R2(cum)), cross-validation correlation coefficients (Q2(cum)) were 0.766 and 0.724 for 48 bitter tasting dipeptides; 0.941 and 0.811 for 21 oxytocin analogues; 0.996 and 0.919 for 20 thromboplastin inhibitors. Satisfactory results showed that information related to biological activity can be systemically expressed by SVRDF scales, which may be an useful structural expression methodology for the study of peptides QSAR.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Dipeptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Models, Chemical ; Oxytocin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Principal Component Analysis ; methods ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Thromboplastin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore operative clinical outcomes of proximal humeral fracture with rotator cuff tear in elderly patients.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to August 2014,54 elderly patients with proximal humeral fractures with rotator cuff tear were performed operation, including 30 males and 24 females aged from 68 to 83 years old with an average of 71.5 years old. Thirty patients were caused by falling down, 24 cases were caused by traffic accident. According to Neer classification, 3 cases were part I, 11 cases were part II, 21 cases were part III and 19 cases were part IV. All patients were operated with open reduction and plate internal fixation, 46 cases suffered from rotator cuff tear and carried out repair of rotator cuff; 8 cases were not suffered from rotator cuff tear. Postoperative Neer evaluation of shoulder's function were used to assess clinical results.

RESULTSForty-six patients with rotator cuff tear were followed up from 8 to 21 months with an average of 11 months. All fractures were obtained bone union. No incision infection, axillary nerve injury,loosening screw, plate breakage, shoulder joint dislocation and humeral head osteonecrosis were occurred. According to Neer evaluation of shoulder's function, total score was 88.60 ± 5.12, and 30 cases got excellent results, 7 cases good, 7 cases moderate and 2 cases poor.

CONCLUSIONFor osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures with rotator cuff tear in elderly patients' plate with rivet repair at stage I is an effective stable method, and provide advantages for earlier exercise of shoulder joint, then receive good clinical effects in further.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rotator Cuff Injuries ; Shoulder Fractures ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the transverse preputial island flap technique (Duckett's procedure) for hypospadias repair.

METHODSA total of 356 patients with hypospadias were treated by Duckett's procedure from March 1995 to December 2010, of whom 324 (91.0%) were younger than 14 years. The length of urethra repair ranged from 1.5 to 10 cm.

RESULTSThe total success rate of Duckett's procedure was 91.0%. Urethra fistula occurred in 30 cases, external orifice stricture in 1, and urethral anastomosis stricture in another. There were no significant differences in the rate of complications among either different age groups or different surgical times (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDuckett's procedure remains the first choice for the one-stage repair of hypospadias, especially applicable to hypospadias with chordee.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Foreskin ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Infant ; Male ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

To study the chemical constituents of Cymbopogon citratus, isolation and purification of constituents were carried out on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and prepatative HPLC. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicchemical properties and spectral data analysis. Eight compounds were isolated and identified as 3beta-methoxy lanosta-9(11)-en-27-ol (1), 3beta-hydroxylanosta-9 (11)-en (2), (24S) -3beta-methoxylanosta-9(11), 25-dien-24-ol (3), 8-hydroxyl-neo-menthol (4), (2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,7-octadiene-1, 6-diol (5), (+)-citronellol (6), 7-hydroxymenthol (7) and ethyl nonadecanoate(8). Compounds 1 is a new one. Compounds 2-3 are obtained from C. citratus for the first time.
Cymbopogon ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Triterpenes ; chemistry