BACKGROUND:Methylene blue can hinder abnormal pain conduction via the sensory nerve, and its mechanism is to block bradykinin-induced hyperalgesia and eliminate pain caused by local tissue inflammation.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the influence of methylene blue solution on the lumbar spinal cord and spinal ganglia function of rats, and to investigate whether methylene blue is safe for treating discogenic low back pain.
METHODTotal y 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groupthree experimental groups, a saline control group and a blank control group, n=24 in each group. Lumbar segmental dura was exposed in rats. In the three experimental groups, 0.2, 1, and 2 mL methylene blue were injected epidural y, respectively. The saline control group was subjected to the epidural injection of 1 mL saline. In the blank control group, there was no treatment. Six rats from each group were selected randomly and perfused at 30 minutes, 2 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours after injection, respectively. Then, the corresponding segments of the spinal cord and ganglions were removed. Hematoxylin eosin staining was used for comparing histological and structural changes under light microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that at 30 minutes, 2 hours, 24 hours and 72 hours after injection of methylene blue, the spinal dorsal side exhibited the structural integrity, clear boundaries between the white matter and gray matter, dense nerve fibers in the white matter, and round or oval nuclei of glial cells among fibers;dense nerve fibers in the posterior horn of gray matter;light-colored neuronal nuclei with prominent nucleoli;a bundle of nerve fibers among cellpopulations. There was no significant change in tissue structure of lumbar spinal cord and spinal ganglia between the experimental groups and the saline control group or between the experimental groups and the blank control group. Thus, the epidural injection of 1%methylene blue has no significant effect on the spinal cord and spinal nerve structures.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods Sixty PSD patients were randomly divided into an rTMS group and a control group, each of 30 patients. In addition to conventional treatment, rTMS group members were given high-frequency rTMS treatment for 10 d while the control group were given sham stimulation. In order to test the efficacy, the two groups were compared using the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) before and after 10 and 30 days treatment. Results After 10 days of treatment the rTMS group had significantly lower HAMD scores than before treatment, and average HAMD scores differed significantly between the rTMS group and the controls, with the former performing significantly better. There was no obvious difference in HAMD scores after 30 days of treatment between the two groups. Conclusions High-frequency rTMS is a safe and effective treatment for PSD.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-Ⅰ(sTNFR-Ⅰ) in the serum of patients with acute tuberculosis. Methods: The levels of soluble TNFR-Ⅰ in serum were measured in 11 patients with acute tuberculosis. Concentration of sTNFR-Ⅰ were measured by using enzyme-linked immunological binding assay. Results: In patients with acute tuberculosis, especially severe tuberculosis, serum levels of sTNFR-Ⅰ increased significantly (P<0.01), compared with those of control. After antituberculosis therapy, serum levels of sTNFR-Ⅰin patients with acute tuberculosis decreased by various degrees. Conclusion: Measurements of sTNFR-Ⅰ in serum of patients with acute tuberculosis could be an important index in the judgement of the outcome of the disease.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer

Information Services ; Information Systems ; standards ; Public Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Public Health Informatics

OBJECTIVETo study the results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for medial meniscal tear in late middle-aged adults.

METHODSFrom October 2010 to October 2012,49 patients meeting inclusion criteria were treated with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for medial meniscal tear. There were 31 males and 18 females,with an average age of (55.3±2.8) years old. There were 22 left knees and 27 right knees. The average flexion angle was (116.01±12.03)°. The pre-operative HSS Knee Score was 48.73±8.43, and the Lysholm score was 63.95±5.45. The patients were followed up and evaluated. All the patients received a standard surgery, in which the torn tissue was removed, and the anterior part of the meniscus was left in situ.

RESULTSAll the surgeries were successful with no serious complications. All the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months. All the patients had 5 degrees of muscle strength. The average flexion angle was (136.77±18.56)°. There was significant difference between the two angles before operation and after operation. The pre-operative HSS Knee Score was 90.17±4.10, and the Lysholm score was 87.84±5.16. Statistically, the difference between preoperative score and the postoperative score was significant.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a good option for medial meniscal tear in late middle-aged adults. Operative indication is crucial and the excellent surgical technique is also critical for the good clinical outcome. All the patients could get good clinical results, although there are some patients with motion restrictions in the early stage after operation.

Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells therapy plays an important role in cancer adjuvant treatment.Researches show that the number of peripheral blood immunocytes will change if patients with cancer accept the treatment of CIK cells.The changes of T cell subsets,regulatory T cells are relatively obvious,which may be one of the standards that can evaluate the curative effect of CIK cells.

Objective:To investigate effect of curcumin on serum gelatinases level in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Methods:A total of 80 UAP patients admitted from January 2010 to September 2010 were enrolled and randomly divided into curcumin treatment group (n=40) and routine treatment control group (n=40). Serum levels of gelatinases [contain matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9] of the two groups were measured before and 30d after treatment.Results: Compared with before treatment , after treatment, serum levels of gelatinases significantly decreased [MMP-2:(52.64±6.77)ng/ml vs.(32.65±1.67)ng/ml,MMP-9:(56.75±7.34)ng/ml vs.(35±1.88)ng/ml]in curcumin treatment group (P<0.01), and they were significantly lower than those of routine treatment control group[MMP-2:(32.65±1.67)ng/ml vs.(37.78±2.76)ng/ml,MMP9:(35±1.88)ng/ml vs.(40.23±1.95)ng/ml]],P<0.05. Conclusion:Curcumin could decrease serum levels of gelatinases in patients with unstable angina pectoris, and possesses effect stabilizing coronary artery plaque.

BACKGROUND:It is controversial whether anterior approach alone, or combined anterior and posterior approaches were used for high level and multiple segments of severe ossification of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the difference of anterior approach versus combined anterior and posterior approaches for the treatment of high level and multiple segments of severe ossification of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament.
METHODS:A total of 21 cases of high level and multiple segments of severe ossification of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament were included in this study. There were 9 males, aged 56-72 years, and 12 females, aged 58-70 years. We used anterior decompression and titanium mesh bone graft fusion in 11 cases which lesion located between C2-5 vertebra, and ossification excision, combined anterior (titanium mesh plate and screw) and posterior (lateral mass screw) approaches in 10 cases which between C3-7 vertebra. Japanese Orthopaedic Association score system was used to evaluate the results. The excellent and good rate and improvement rate were calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The excellent and good rate was 90%and improvement rate was 82%in 10 cases using combined anterior and posterior approaches. The excellent and good rate was 73%and improvement rate was 73%in 11 cases using anterior treatment alone. Significant differences in the excellent and good rate and improvement rate were detected between the two groups (P<0.05). These suggested that combined anterior and posterior approaches for high level and multiple segments of severe ossification of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament is a better operative procedure.

This article analyses the pre-management methods and measures for the youth science fund projects granted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.Systematic procedures include mobilization,preliminary research preparation,professional training and counseling,modifying the application,form and content examination,which can improve efficiency of the National Natural Science Foundation of China youth science project management.