Objective To study the thalamic metabolic alterations and its correlation with cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods The cognitive function of 34 patients with CSVD and 26 matched volunteers were evaluated by Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA), and received single voxel 1H-MRS examination to detect the content of NAA,Cho and Cr,and record the ratio of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr on bilateral thalami.The differences of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr on bilateral thalami between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr and MoCA total score and its sub-items score in CSVD group were analyzed.Results ①The MoCA of total score as well as its sub-items such as visual space and executive ability,memory,attention and language for CSVD group were significantly lower than that for the control group(P<0.05);②NAA/Cr on bilateral thalami in CSVD group were both lower than that in the control group(left 1.57±0.18,1.68±0.17,t=2.46,P=0.02;right 1.66±0.21,1.78±0.19,t=2.23,P=0.03), the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);there were no significantly differences in the ratio of Cho/Cr between the two groups(P>0.05);③In CSVD group, the ratio of NAA/Cr on both bilateral thalami were significantly positively correlated with MoCA score (left r=0.83,right r=0.79,P<0.05)as well as visual space and executive ability(left r=0.65,right r=0.46,P<0.05), memory(left r=0.59, right r=0.50, P<0.05), attention(left r=0.42, right r=0.52, P<0.05),language(left r=0.52, right r=0.41, P<0.05), abstraction(left r=0.47, right r=0.40, P<0.05), orientation(left r=0.48,right r=0.42, P<0.05),Cho/Cr were not significantly correlated with MoCA total score and its sub-items(P>0.05).Conclusion The thalamic neuron has been damaged and dysfunctioned in patients with CSVD,and this metabolic abnormality may be related to a wide range of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate results of total knee arthroplasty using the long-stem tibial component combined with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis for the treatment of proximal defects.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to May 2013, 10 patients (11 knees) were treated with total knee arthroplasties using the long-stem tibial component with metallic tibial wedge of knee prosthesis. All the patients were female and the average age was 67 years old (ranged, 60 to 77 years old). All the patients were osteoarthritis. All the patients were classified as T2A style. The patients were evaluated according to knee score system (KSS).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12 months on average (ranged 3 to 29 months). The clinical outcome was assessed using KSS score, including knee pain score, knee stability score, knee range of motion score and knee walking score, knee stairs score. There were significantly differences at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months between pre-and postoperative KSS score.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanical stability of tibial fixation in primary TKA is significantly increased by using the long-stem tibial component with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis, even in the presence of poor proximal bone.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Knee Prosthesis ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tibia ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery

This paper reviewed the reports, published in recent years in China, concerning the mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), trying to find out its preponderant targets and links, for elevating the level of TCM for prevention and treatment of COPD.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy

Objective To explore the electrophysiological charaterstics of upper extremities nerves on the patients with Hirayama disease (HD),amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),and distal cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (DCSA).Methods The data of electrophysiological examination of the upper limbs of 87 patients with HD,83 with ALS and 28 with DCSA were reviewed retrospectively.Seventy-two patients with HD among 87 had unilateral upper limb's amyotrophy and the other 15 ones had bilateral amyotrophy.There were 30 patients had unilater upper limb's amyotrophy and 53 ones had bilateral amyotrophy from the group of patients with ALS; 20 patients with DSCA were affected unilaterally and 8 ones were bilaterally affected.Results Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) evoked by ulnar stimulation had a lower ampititude compared with that evoked by median stimulation in HD patients.In ALS cases that was just the opposite.However,the CMAPs were similar in DCSA cases.The mean ratio of CMAP amplitude by ulnar stimulation to by median stimulation was 0.58±0.40 in HD group; 2.28±1.25 in ALS and 1.31±0.63 in DCSA.The differences in the three groups were statistical significance.The U/M CMAP ratio was less than 0.6in 62 patients with HD,3 with ALS and 1 with DCSA,and more than 1.7 in 73 cases (57 ALS,12 HD and 4 DCSA).Conduction velocities (CV) of the sensory and motor nerves,the amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential in bilateral limbs,and the CMAP amplitude of the unaffected limb were normal in all cases.Conclusion This study could concluded that the severity of amyotropy in hypothenar mucles were higher than that in thenal muscles in patients with HD; there was just opposite in ALS cases and similar in DSCA.

Objective: To acquire recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide ( NAP) with high anticoagulant activity. Methods: Pichia pastoris GS115 strain was transformed with recombinant yeast expression vector pPICS. 5K-rNAP. Expression of rNAP was induced with methanol after the identification of positive strains. NAP expressed in the collected yeast culture supernatant was confirmed with SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The biological activity of the products was validated with PT (prothrombin time) , INR (international normalized ratio) and APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) , respectively. Results: The yeast strains expressing NAP were identified. The rNAP was secreted into culture supernatant with a molecular weight of about 10 kDa due to glycosylation, which is a little bigger than that predicted (8.7kDa). The anticoagulant efficiency of rNAP was confirmed with the in vitro assays. Conclusion: The recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide with high biological activity was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and can be used in the future development of novel anticoagulant agent.

AIM:To investigate the safety and effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with Cionni modified capsular tension ring (MCTR) implantation in the management of traumatic lens subluxation.METHODS: Totally 11 patients (11 eyes) with traumatic lens subluxation were divided into three groups according to the severity of lens dislocation, ranging from 90° to 120° (4 eyes), 120° to 180° (5 eyes) and 180° to 270° (2 eyes).The contact LenSx femtosecond laser cataract surgery platform was applied to create the capsulotomy, prepare nuclear fragmentation and make corneal wound creation.Anterior vitrectomy was performed in some patients during the surgery.After capsular retractors insertion and phacoemulsification, the MCTR was inserted to the capsular bag and fixed to the sclera.Finally, the IOL was implanted into the capsular bag.Postoperative visual acuity, intra-and post-operative complications, anterior capsular opening, IOL and MCTR position and intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed.RESULTS:The duration of follow-up was 2mo.All the operations were completed successfully.Five eyes underwent cataract surgery combined with anterior vitrectomy.Four eyes had been inserted with 2-eyelet MCTR and seven eyes with 1-eyelet MCTR.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after operation was better than 0.5 in 4 eyes, between 0.3 and 0.5 in 3 eyes, between 0.1 and 0.3 in 3 eyes, and less than 0.1 in 1 eye.Compared with preoperative BCVA, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).All the IOLs were stably centered and the eyelet of MCTR was fixated steadily between the iris and the anterior capsule.The common intra-and post-operative complications were subconjunctival hemorrhage, incomplete capsulotomy, residual cortex, secondary glaucoma and posterior capsular opacification.CONCLUSION:Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery can improve the success rate of capsulorhexis, and reduce the difficulty of nuclear fragmentation.Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery combined with MCTR implantation is an ideal surgical method for traumatic lens subluxation.

Objective To compare adductor canal block(ACB)with topical anesthesia for postoperative analgesia in the patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.Methods Sixty patients of both sexes,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ⅠorⅡ,scheduled for elective arthroscopic meniscectomy,were divided into 2 groups (n=30 each) using a random number table:ACB group and topical anesthesia group(TA group).In group ACB,0.2% ropivacaine 20 ml was injected into the adductor canal under the guidance of ultrasound at 30 min before operation to perform ACB.In group TA,0.25% ropivacaine 20 ml was injected into the articular cavity at 5 min before the end of operation.The development of effective analgesia (VAS scores ≤4)and weakened quadriceps femoris muscle strength(muscle strength 0-2 grade,post-operative muscle strength was assessed by using manual muscle testing),related complications(local anesthetic intoxication,bleeding at the puncture site and hematoma) and occurrence of postoperative nausea,vomiting and delayed emergence were recorded.Results Compared with group TA,the rate of effective analgesia within 12 h after surgery was significantly increased (P<0.01),and no significant change was found in the incidence of weakened quadriceps femoris muscle strength,nausea and vomiting in group ACB(P>0.05).Local anesthetic intoxication,bleeding at the puncture site,hematoma or delayed emergence was not observed in the two groups.Conclusion ACB produces better efficacy for postoperative analgesia than topical anesthesia in the patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

Objective To investigate the safety of left atrial appendage occlusion by silk thread ligation during open heart op‐eration in patients with rheumatic atrial fibrillation ,and to evaluate its effectiveness for prevention of cerebral embolism .Methods From April 2012 to March 2014 ,129 patients with rheumatic atrial fibrillation were undergone mitral valve replacement and left at‐rial appendage occlusion by ligation using two silk threads from the outside of the heart (ligation group) .The indexes related to the operation ,postoperative complications incidence ,and cerebral embolism incidence during the follow‐up period of ligation group were compared with the indexes of another 129 patients without ligation of left atrial appendage over the same period (control group) . Results The operation time ,the cardiopulmonary bypass time ,the clamp time ,the intensive care unit stay time ,the postoperative hospitalization time in ligation group were (235 ± 50)min ,(88 ± 24)min ,(57 ± 16)min ,(26 .5 ± 9 .3)h and (12 .4 ± 7 .5)d respective‐ly ,and significant difference was not found compared with control group (P>0 .05) .The thoracotomy for hemostasis(1 cases) ,low cardiac output syndrome(2 cases) ,acute renal failure(2 cases) ,pulmonary infection(3 cases) ,sternal wound dehiscence(2 cases) and other complications in ligation group had no significant difference ,compared with control group(P>0 .05);2 cases died in liga‐tion group ,3 patients died in control group ,the differences had no statistical significance(P>0 .05) .No cerebral embolism occurred in ligation group with 127 patients following‐up (23 .6 ± 11 .3) months ,but 5 patients suffered from cerebral embolism in control group with 126 patients following‐up (22 .9 ± 12 .1) months ,the difference had statistical significance(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Left atrial appendage occlusion by silk thread ligation during open heart operation in patients with rheumatic atrial fibrillation is simple and safe ,can reduce cerebral embolism incidence .

In silkworm moth the colleterial gland markedly enlarged due to the secretion and accumulation of glue like substances before adult emergence. However, the Ng mutant female moth only secreted little glue-like substance and laid loose eggs naturally. In the present experiment, it was extracted the proteins of secretory part of the variety E981 and its Ng mutant line and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. More than 700 protein spots were resolved both in two samples and most of the proteins were distributed in the area from 30 kD to 70 kD and pH 4 - 8. Through the comparison and analysis, it was found that 4 proteins were only expressed in E981 and 2 proteins were only expressed in Ng mutant. Furthermore, there are about 29 proteins were expressed higher in 981 and about 15 proteins expressed volume were higher in Ng mutant. These differential proteins may be have some relations with the Ng mutant form and directly lead to the Ng mutant can't secret the glue-like substance.
Animals ; Bombyx ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Exocrine Glands ; chemistry ; Female ; Insect Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the preventive effect different compatibilities of Ramulus Cinnamomi (RC) and peony in Guizhi Decoction (GD) on diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (DCAN).

METHODSTotally 60 male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the blank control DM group, the model group, the methycobal group, the 1:1 (RC/peony) Guishao group, the 2:1 Guishao group, and the 1:2 Guishao group, 10 in each group. Rats were pretreated with corresponding drugs for 1 week, and then induced diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Drugs were administrated by gastrogavage for 4 more weeks after STZ-injection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (CHAT), nerve growth factor. (NGF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in myocardial homogenates.

RESULTSAfter 4-week modeling, body weight (BW) was obviously lower, but blood glucose (BG) was higher in STZ rats than in rats of the blank control DM group. There was no statistical difference in BW or BG among the 5 groups (P >0.05). Compared with the blank control group, TH, TH/CHAT, and NGF in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased, CHAT and CNTF increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TH and TH/CHAT in left ventricle decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), CNTF in left ventricle increased (P < 0.05), CHAT in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the methycobal group. TH and TH/CHAT in left ventricle and ventricular septum decreased, CNTF in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), CHAT in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased (P < 0.01), NGF in ventricular septum decreased (P < 0.01) in the 1:1 Guishao group. TH/CHAT in left ventricle decreased (P < 0.01), CHAT and CNTF in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the 1:2 Guishao group. Compared with the methycobal group, CHAT in left ventricle decreased, TH and TH/CHAT in left ventricle increased in the 2:1 Guishao group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). TH and TH/CHAT in ventricular septum decreased (P < 0.05), CHAT and CNTF in left ventricle and ventricular septum increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the 1:1 Guishao group. Compared with the 1:2 Guishao group and the 2:1 Guishao group, CHAT in left ventricle increased, TH/CHAT in left ventricle decreased, TH and TH/CHAT in ventricular septum decreased, CHAT in ventricular septum increased, CNTF in left ventricle and ventricular septum also increased in the 1:1 Guishao group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSTZ model rats had autonomic neural injury, manifested as lowered vagal nerve activity and hyperactive sympathetic nerves. GD could effectively suppress hyperactive cardiac sympathetic nerves and protect the vagus. Besides, GD (1:1) showed the optimal effect in regulating the balance of cardiac autonomic nerves and could be used in early prevention of DCAN.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Male ; Myocardium ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Paeonia ; Rats ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase