Fifteen min after adding nimodipine 50 ?mol/L, the contractility of the left atrial muscle decreased from 100 % of control to 55.5 +4.2 o/o and its inhibitory effect was equal to the effect of verapamil (25 ?mol/L ) . Nim at the same concentration inhibited strongly the positive staircase phenomenon but could not reverse it into the negative staircase phenomenon as verapamil 25 ?mol/L did. The same concentration of Nim suppressed significantly the post rest contraction. On the contrary, the post rest contraction was not affected by verapamil at 25 ?mol/L. In addition, Nim 50 ?mol/L reversed or prevented significantly the ouabain-induced arrhythmias in isolated left atria. These results suggest that the negative ino-trbpism of Nim may be related not only to the inhibition of Ca2 + influx to the cells and also to the decrease of the intercellular Ca2+ release and that Nim might present the possibility in treating arrhythmias or other heart disease

BACKGROUND:In vitro experiments have demonstrated that the biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon made of macromolecular materials has obvious advantage of anti-leakage, which is capable of maintaining calcium homeostasis, has no inhibitory effects on cel growth and on microscopic interdigitation formation between new bone and bone cement. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effects of biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon with calcium bone cement on vertebral fractures based on animal experiments. METHODS:The fracture model was established in 48 New Zealand rabbits, in which a bone dril was introduced after successful puncture at sites near left low extremity of the femur. These rabbit models were randomized into two groups: experimental group with calcium phosphate bone cement and biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon and control group only with calcium phosphate bone cement. Clinical parameters such as blood cel count, biochemistry, and CT/X ray were examined at 1, 3 and 6 months after implantation of the baloon and bone cement. After that, the specimens were fixed for pathological analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The operation was performed under general anesthesia with no eventful infusion of bone cement. The expansion of baloon was satisfactory without definite extravasation of bone cement in the experimental group. In the control group, cement diffusion was found with pulmonary embolism occurring in three New Zealand rabbits. No statistical significance for blood cel counts and biochemistry was found between pre- and postoperation or between two groups. The materials in the two groups had favorable biocompatibility with injured bones without obvious immunological response. In the experimental group, the baloon wal was thinned and partial bone tissues grew into the cement at 1 month; at 3 months, a large amount of bone tissues grew into the cement and cement volume diminished; at 6 months, the baloon disappeared and only a smal amount of cement left in the bone tissues. In the control group, it was difficult to determine when the cement degraded. The biodegradable mesh-like microporous baloon combined with calcium bone cement is superior to bone cement alone in the management of vertebral fractures.

ObjectiveToinvestigatethecorrelationofobstructivesleepapnea(OSAS)andsilentbrain infarction (SBI) in elderly population. Methods A total of 1658 old subjects aged 60 in Beijing and Qingdao w ere screened. Polysomnography (PSG) w as used to conduct the diagnosis and grade of OSAS. MRI w as used to diagnose SBI. Results In al elderly subjects, the prevalences of OSAS and SBI w ere 32.1% and 22.4%. There w ere significant differences in the constituent ratio of the patients w ith hypertension and diabetes, as w el as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), mean oxygen saturation and the low est oxygen saturation betw een the patients w ith OSAS of different severity and the control group. With the increased severity of OSAS, the incidence of SBI increased significantly. The incidences of patients w ith non-OSAS and mild, moderate and severe patients w ith OSAS w ere 13.2%, 30.5%, 43.5%, and 68.8%, respectively. There w as a significant difference betw een the 2 groups ( χ2 =13.365, P=0.004). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.254, 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.325 to 8.347;P=0.002), diabetes melitus (OR 1.893, 95%CI1.471-8.432;P=0.003) and AHI ≥15 times/h (OR 3.106, 95%CI 1.583-12.571; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for SBI in elderly population. Conclusions The incidence of OSAS w as higher in the elderly population aged over 60. The incidence of SBI in patients w ith OSAS w as significantly higher than that in patients w ith non-OSAS, and w ith the aggravation of OSAS, it show ed an increasing trend. Moderate to severe OSAS w as an independent risk factor for SBI in elderly population.

BACKGROUND:Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures can result in many complications, such as bone cement leakage and adjacent-level fractures.
OBJECTIVE:To verify the possibility of biodegradable mesh-like microporous polymer bal oon for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
METHODS:Biodegradable mesh-like microporous P(DLLA-CL) bal oons were fabricated by electrospinning technique. Coated bal oons with the same specification was fabricated by coating P(DLLA-CL) onto the same mould. Morphology of the bal oons was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The bal oon leakage was observed by eyes after the injection of water or cement. The initial strength and stiffness were measured by a universal testing machine. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cel s on the bal oons was determined by laser confocal microscope and cel counting kit-8 assays. The biodegradation of bal oons in simulated body fluid, porcine pancreatic lipase, and fresh human serum was studied by residual weighing and scanning electron microscopy observation. Burst pressure of bal oons was measured after the bal oon was placed into a hole in the vertebral bone. For the in vitro calcium release tests, the bal oons were fil ed with calcium cement, tied, placed into 6atm ultrapure water, and then the calcium concentration was regularly determined.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mesh-like microporous bal oons presented with good fiber morphology, thickness distribution, and the presence of pores;on the coated bal oon surface, there was absence of specific morphology and porosity. Compared with the coated bal oon, the mesh-like microporous bal oon showed better mechanical properties, liquid permeability and burst pressure, to prevent leakage of bone cement and promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation. In addition, the degradation of the mesh-like microporous bal oons was more uniform and stable than the coated bal oons, which may increase the calcium concentration in the injured vertebrae and wil be beneficial to the new bone growth and fracture healing.

Objective To observe the microstructural changes of olfactory mucosa in rat model with acute rhinosinusitis leading to olfactory dysfunction,and to provide foundation for further exploration of corresponding mechanism.Methods On the basis of prior successfully established rat model of acute rhinosinusitis through inoculation with Streptococcus pneumoniae and with the help of merocel strips,one hundred healthy SD rats were randomly divided into experimental group (80) and control group (20).After inoculation,every 20 rats in the experimental groups were sacrificed in first week,second week,third week and fourth week respectively; and all rats in the control group were sacrificed in first week after the inoculation.Before the rats were sacrificed,the method called “buffed food pellet test,BFPT” was adopted,which was advanced by professor Nathan,to measure the rats’ olfaction,and the time of every rat spending in finding out the food pellet was recorded and analyzed.BFPT showed that the rats in experimental group spent (402.9±9.3),(453.7 ±7.3),(351.9±8.9),(278.7 ±8.1) s respectively in searching the food pellet,which were more than the rats in the control group[ ( 178.3 ±6.6) s].Then the olfactory mueosa was collected under anatomic microscope from all the rats to make frozen section and detect the changes of mature olfactory receptor neurons (ORN) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) by immunofluorescence technique.Results The reduction of ORN in various degrees could be detected in the tissue samples of olfactory mucosa among all the rats in experimental group,with a tendency to become thinner in the thickness of epithelial lamina during the inflammation developing course.This kind of pathology was most marked in the second week and it gradually developed into the stage showing the lesion being the feeblest in the forth week following the beginning of modeling.Although the number of olfactory ensheathing cells appeared reduction in the first week following the beginning of modeling as well,it came to increase from the second week before olfactory receptor neurons and almost completely recovered to normal in the fourth week.In addition,some olfactory ensheathing cells could be detected in the tissue samples of olfactory mucosa among all the rats in experimental group.Conclusions Both mature olfactory sensory neurons and olfactory ensheathing cells appeared to reduction when sinonasal mucosa taken place acute rhinosinusitis.But the number of olfactory ensheathing cells increased faster than olfactory sensory neurons.In addition,some olfactory ensheathing cells could be detected in the olfactory epithelium.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of Staphylococcus aureus from infertile men on sperm motility and the relationship between virulence genes and the activity of spermatozoal immobilization.

METHODSWe collected 60 strains of non-repeated Staphylococcus aureus from the semen of 589 infertile males and analyzed the influence of Staphylococcus aureus on sperm motility using the computer-aided sperm analysis system. We selected the strains that apparently decreased sperm motility and detected their virulence genes by PCR.

RESULTSSperm motility was significantly decreased in 17 of the 60 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (P < 0.05). The main virulence genes in these strains were hlg (33.3%), scn (23.3%), cna (20%), hlb (20%), and clfA (18.3%), others including icaA, fnbA, tst, seb, hld, eta and sea. The scn gene carriers accounted for 47.1% in the spermatozal immobilization positive group, significantly higher than 14% in the negative group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the percentages of the carriers of the other virulence genes between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfections of Staphylococcus aureus in male reproductive system can lead to the decrease of sperm motility, which may be associated with the Staphylococcus complement inhibitor encoding gene scn.

Humans ; Infertility, Male ; microbiology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Semen ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Sperm Motility ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus ; pathogenicity ; Virulence ; genetics

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy by Qingying Huoxue Decoction (QHD) combined ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in treating patients with early and mid-term primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS Totally 78 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 39 in each group. All patients received basic treatment and took UDCA (at the daily dose of 13-15 mg/kg). Patients in the treatment group took QHD, one dose per day. The treatment course for all was 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT), alkaline phospatase (ALP), TBIL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS Totally 21 (53. 8%) patients obtained complete response in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (11 cases, 30. 8%). Levels of GGT, ALP, ALT, AST, and TBIL decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Levels of ALP, GGT, and TBIL were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQHD combined UDCA in treating early and mid-term PBC patients was superior to the effect of using UDCA alone. It also could improve patients' liver function.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; drug therapy ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:Percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty have become the mainstream clinical methods for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. However, both of them have several shortcomings such as bone cement leakage, spinal stenosis, nerve compression, pulmonary embolism and other issues. OBJECTIVE:To verify the possibility of bone filing mesh container prepared by polyethylene terephthalate for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. METHODS:The biological properties of bone filing mesh container were examined according to GB/T16886. After sample aging test, the tensile properties of the aged samples and the fresh prepared samples were compared. The expansion and bone cement leakage were evaluated by injecting bone cement into the bone filing mesh container and measuring the pressure. The initial strength and stiffness of the fresh pig vertebrae with calcium phosphate cement injection or with bone filing mesh container filed with calcium phosphate cement were compared. The in vivo bone tissue growth was periodicaly observed after the lumbar vertebra of 4-month-old pigs was implanted with the bone filing mesh container that was then ful of bone cement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The bone filing mesh container had good biocompatibility. Bone filing mesh containers after 2-year storage had the same tensile strength to the fresh bone filing mesh containers. At ambient conditions, after bone cement injection, bone filing mesh containers could be expanded at 5-10 atm and therefore could play the role of uplift; at 7-10 atm, bone cement could leak out from the bone filing mesh container and enter into the interspace between surrounding bone tissues, thus playing the role of adhesion and fixation. The vertebrae after bone cement injection with or without bone filing mesh containers had the same initial strength and stiffness and exhibited bigger initial strength and stiffness than untreated vertebrae. Thein vivo animal experiments proved that bone filing mesh container had no obvious effect on the vertebrae. These findings indicate that the bone filing mesh container can be used to restore the height and strength of the fractured vertebrae. Moreover, it may eliminate bone cement leakage and therefore increase the surgery safety.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of combined clonidine and sleep-deprivation induced seizures for ictal brain SPECT imaging in patients with epilepsy. Methods Fiftytwo epilepsy patients were given oral clonidine plus sleep-deprivation to induce seizures with video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) monitoring. Forty-seven patients were selected as control group, whose seizures were induced by sleep-deprivation only. 99Tcm-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) was injected within 30 s since a clinical sign and/or a typical EEG discharge of epilepsy was recognized. Brain SPECT was performed 30 min after 99TcmECD injection. X2-test was performed by using software SPSS 10. 0. Results One to two hrs after oral intake of clonidine plus sleep-deprivation, 75% (39/52) patients were induced seizures, including 92.3% (36/39) with subclinical seizures and 7.7% (3/39) with clinical seizures. Ictal brain SPECT localized the lesions with high uptake of 99Tcm-ECD in 37 (94.9%) patients. In control group, 38.3% ( 18/47) were induced epileptic seizures, including 77.8% (14/18) with subclinical seizures and 22.2% (4/18) with clinical seizures. The induction rate of epileptic seizures in clonidine plus sleep-deprivation group was significantly higher than that of control group (X2 = 13.614, P ＜ 0.01 ). However, there was no significant difference in clinical seizures between the two groups (X2 = 1.253, P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusions The combination of oral intake of clonidine and sleep-deprivation could increase the induction rate of epileptic seizures and it is effective for epilepsy SPECT imaging.