OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of discs large homolog 4 (DLG4) protein in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of rats and evaluate postsynaptic density in heroin dependence. METHODS: The rat heroin dependent model was established by increasing intraperitoneal injection of heroin. DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of heroin dependent 9, 18, 36 days rats were detected with immunohistochemical staining and compared with that in the control group. RESULTS: DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex were gradually reduced with extension of heroin dependent time. CONCLUSION Heroin dependence can affect postsynaptic density of hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex. The changes become more apparent with extension of heroin dependence time.
Amygdala/metabolism* ; Animals ; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein ; Frontal Lobe/metabolism* ; Heroin/pharmacology* ; Heroin Dependence ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Rats

The importance and feasibility was analyzed of the teaching BBS for aiding classroom teaching based on campus network. The design, technique, content, advantages and deficiencies were presented of agricultural microbiology teaching BBS. The prospect also was discussed of teaching BBS based on campus network in this paper.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of human swine streptococcosis occurred in some areas of Jiangsu Province from late summer to autumn since 1998.Methods The epidemiologic and clinical features of 42 cases were collected and analyzed.The bio- chemical features of strains isolated from patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested,and the homogeneity were compared among 15 Streptococcus suisⅡ.Results All patients had acute infection toxe- mic symptoms such as chill,fever,headache and malaise etc.Toxic shock syndrome or meningitis syndrome were the major clinical manifestations.Forty two cases of human swine streptococosis were classified into 3 types:the rates of general,shock and meningitis type were 7.1% (3/42),38.1% (16/42) and 54.7%(23/42),respectively.Ten patients were died of shock type,32 were cured.Strain isolated from patients was identified as Streptococcus suisⅡby API-Strep,the biochemical reactional code was 0641473,and appraised result was 99.9%.There was highly homogeneity in the strains of Streptococcus suisⅡisolated from patients and sick pigs identified by genomic fingerprinting.Com- bined therapy of large doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone was effective in these patients.Conclusions Human swine streptococosis is zoonosis caused by Streptococcus suisⅡand the clinical manifesta- tions are variable.In the cases of shock type,the onset of disease is stormy and the fatality rate is very high.While the prognosis of general and meningitis type is good and the majority of the cases are cured by effective antibiotic therapy.

Due to the complicated pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmia, the safe and effective therapeutic strategies for cardiac arrhythmia remain an urgent medical problems in the recent years. In this paper, we introduced the research practice of anti-arrhythmic agents targeting on potassium ion channel. The research progress of anti-arrhythmic agents in up-to-date literatures were also reviewed and prospected.
Amiodarone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydantoins ; Imidazolidines ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Molecular Structure ; Piperazines ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects

Objective To explore the advantages and disadvantages of magnetic resonance susceptibility effect applied clinically and countermeasures. Methods The application range of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) technique and the harm of susceptibility artifact were introduced with considerations on MRI clinical application and experiences, and then some countermeasures were put forward accordingly. Results SWI technique could be used for the diagnoses of multi diseases, and susceptibility artifact could be suppressed by sequence, parameter and corresponding techniques. Conclusion Susceptibility effect contributes to extending the clinical application of MRI, and references are provided for the development and reform of other new techniques.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the surgical treatment of the giant aneurysms of middle cerebral artery.

METHODSClinical data, surgical methods and outcomes were analyzed in 17 giant aneurysms of middle cerebral artery treated from January 2001 to March 2008. CT scan, CTA, MRA, DSA and 3D-DSA were performed before operations so that we could comprehend the location, size, and shape of aneurysms and compensatory circulation of collateral branches to design the individualized treatment options. All patients had been surgically treated mostly by modified pterional approach, of which, direct clipping of the aneurysms was accomplished in 4 patients, aneurysms trapping or removal after trapping in 4, aneurysms excision or trapping combined with vessels reconstruction in 7, and aneurysms wrapping in 2 cases.

RESULTSCT and MRI revealed the shape and size of aneurysms clearly, while DSA and 3D-DSA could demonstrate the aneurysm's neck and relationship with the adjacent structure. Postoperative neurological function was evaluated according to Glasgow Outcome Scale when patients were discharged. Twelve patients had excellent neurological outcomes. However 4 patients were moderately disabled and one were severely disabled. No patient was dead postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSIt is necessary to perform elaborate imaging before operations for individualized surgical planning. The temporary occlusion of the parent artery and elimination of intra-aneurysmal thrombus are helpful to clipping the aneurysmal neck. Vessels reconstruction is a new and effective method of treating the giant aneurysms of middle cerebral artery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of BMP-2 gene therapy on vascularization in repairing bone defects.

METHODSThe isolated rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSC), after being transfected by adenovirus carrying BMP-2 gene (Ad-BMP-2) and seeded on xenogeneic bone scaffolds, were used to repair 1.5 cm-long radius bone defects. Five methods were in use in the experiments: Ad-BMP-2 infected rBMSC plus antigen-free bovine cancellous bone (BCB, Group A), rBMSC-BCB plus reconstructed hBMP-2 (Group B1), Ad-LacZ infected rBMSC-BCB (Group C), rBMSC-BCB (Group D) and only BCB scaffolds (Group E). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of the operations, capillary vessel ink infusion, vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) immunohistochemical staining and histological examination were conducted.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks of the operations, usually in Group A one newly formed artery was found in every pore between the trabeculae of the BCB. The density of these intraosseous vessels was high in the periphery and decreasing towards the center of the grafts; by transmission electron microscopy, osteoblasts were always next to vascular endothelial cells and gradually developed into osteocytes with the increase of capillary vessel; VEGF expression were apparently enhanced in mesenchymocytes.

CONCLUSIONSBMP-2 gene therapy, by up-regulating VEGF expression, indirectly induces vascularization of grafts and is of great value to the treatment of bone in union and bone defects.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Cattle ; Forelimb ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Genetic Therapy ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Rabbits ; Radiography ; Tissue Engineering ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of experimental osteoporosis (OP) on bone healing of autologous iliac crest graft around dental implants in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. Bilaterally ovariectomy was performed on experimental group and control group received sham-operation. Twelve weeks later, femoral bones were examined for bone mineral density (BMD) to verify OP status. Then bone defects were made in the proximal metaphysis of the tibiae and autologous iliac crest grafts with simultaneous implant placement were performed. The animals were killed at 8 and 12 weeks after bone graft surgery. Undecalcified sections were prepared and examined histologically and histomorphometrically.

RESULTSOsteoporotic status caused by ovariectomy was verified by significantly decreased BMD in experimental group (P < 0.001). At 8 and 12 weeks after bone graft surgery, osseointegration was observed in both groups. However, thickness of cortical bone (TCB), bone volume in cancellous area (BVC), implant-bone contact rate (IBCR) at bone graft area all significantly decreased in experimental group when compared with control group (P < 0.01). Newly formed bone was also less in experimental group than that in control group.

CONCLUSIONAlthough experimental OP may not delay osseointegration of dental implants in autologous iliac crest graft, it certainly promotes resorption of bone grafts, decreases cancellous bone volume and implant-bone contact rate. Therefore it may be an important risk factor for patients receiving autologous bone graft with simultaneous implant placement.

Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Implants ; Female ; Ilium ; transplantation ; Osseointegration ; Osteoporosis ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and therapeutic effects of monosegment pedicle instrumentation in treating incomplete thoracolumbar burst fracture.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted on 56 inpatients with incomplete thoracolumbar burst fracture (AO classification: A3.1 and A3.2) from April 2005 to January 2010. There were 28 cases were fixed with monosegment pedicle instrumentation (MSPI), 28 cases were fixed with short segment pedicle instrumentation (SSPI). The operative time, blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS) and vertebral kyphotic angle (VK) before and after surgery were evaluated.

RESULTSIn the group of MSPI, the mean operative time was (93 ± 20) min; the intraoperative blood loss was (184 ± 64) ml; the VK angle was 17° ± 10° before operation, 7° ± 7° at one week after operation, and 10° ± 7° at latest follow-up; VAS score was 7.6 ± 1.5 before operation, 2.4 ± 0.8 at one week after operation, and 1.5 ± 0.9 at latest follow-up; no adjacent segment degeneration was found. In the group of SSPI, the operative time was (102 ± 30) min; the intraoperative blood loss was (203 ± 88) ml; the VK angle was 17° ± 9° before operation, 7° ± 7° at one week after operation, and 8° ± 5° at latest follow-up; VAS score was 6.8 ± 1.3 before operation, 3.1 ± 0.5 at one week after operation, and 1.2 ± 0.7 at latest follow-up. One case of adjacent segment degeneration was found in 36 months after operation. There were no significantly statistical differences between two groups in operative time, blood loss, VAS score and VK angle before and after surgery (P > 0.05). The VAS score and VK angle at one week after surgery and latest follow-up all decreased obviously than preoperative ones in both groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMSPI for incomplete thoracolumbar burst fracture is effective and safe. The operative blood loss, the mean operative time, the improvement of VAS score and the VK angle in group MSPI are equal to those in group SSPI.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of Parkinson's disease (PD) with cigarette smoking.

METHODSOne hundred of fourteen PD patients were compared with 205 control subjects who were matched by gender, race and residency. A previously validated questionnaire including smoking, alcohol/tea consumption as well as some other environmental exposure data was administered.

RESULTSWith never-smokers as the reference category, we observed reduced risk for PD among ever smokers (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.79) current smokers (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.86) and ex-smokers (OR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.96). When ever smokers were stratified by years of smoking, there was an inverse correlation between those whose smoking history was longer than 20 years (OR=0.40 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.81) and an even mild protective correlation between those who smoked less than 20 years (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.99). Those who had quitted smoking for more than 20 years were less likely to have the disease than never smokers, and those who had quitted for less than 20 years were least likely to have PD, while those who were current smokers were still least likely to have the disease. We found significant inverse gradient with pack-day smoking (trend P<0.05), and the inverse correlation between cigarette smoking and PD was not confounded by alcohol/tea consumption and other confounding bias.

CONCLUSIONSThe inverse correlation between Parkinson's disease risk and smoking as well as the trend of gradient dose response is again observed in our study. More future researches are needed to confirm these correlations and to explore further biochemical evidence.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Parkinson Disease ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects