BAcKGROUND:In recent years,the pedicle screws fixation technique,which is used in fixation for atlantoaxial instability associated with trauma,severe degeneration and tumorectomy,has been developed.However,this kind of technique easily causes several complications,including malpositional screws,vascular injuries,and even vertebral artery injury.Based on the biomechanical characteristics of memory alloy and determination of atlantoaxial data,a neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook was designed to treat atlantoaxial instability.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanieal characteristics of the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook for atlantoaxial instability.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Repeated measurement analysis of variance test was performed in the Laboratory of Clinical Anatomy and Medical Biomechanics,Southern Medical University between March and April 2008.MATERIALS:Eight fresh adult craniocervical specimens(C0-C4)were provided by Department of Clinical Anatomy,Southern Medical University.Atlantoaxial neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook(50.8%-51.8%nickel and the remaining part was titanium)was fabricated by Shanghai Xinchang Memory Alloy Co.,Ltd.METHODS:The included eight C0-C4 specimens were used to test three-dimension ranges of motion(ROM)by fixation and neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation.Then,the positions of spine varying from no loading to the maximum loading status were scanned and analyzed using image processing software to determine the three-dimensional ROM under different statuses.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Three-dimensional ROM of tested specimens.RESULTS:Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation and Germany AESCULAP SSE hanger fixation had similar flexion-extension range of motion(P=0.595).Lateral bending three-dimensional ROM was greater in the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation group than in the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation(P< 0.05).The rotatory three-dimensional ROM was smaller in the neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation group than in the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation had comparative post-surgery immediate stability with the Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation.Neotype shape memory alloy cervical hook fixation produced a little worse biomechanical lateral bending stability and a little better biomechanical rotatory stability than Germany AESCULAP AAE hanger fixation.

AIMTo investigate the effect of Safflor yellow on the gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in neonatal asphyxia.

METHODS30 minutes after SY 7 g/kg weight intraperitoneally was administered on the neonatal rats. After asphyxia for 40 minutes,the neonatal rats were reoxygenated for 48 h, and the nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSNeuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were up in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) 48 h group, while both of them were down significantly in SY group, but no change was observed on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

CONCLUSIONThe protective of SY from brain damage induced by neonatal asphyxia might be associated with expression of NOSs mRNA.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Quinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To understand the situations of home establishments and the related domestic behaviors that causing injuries. Methods A total of 9760 families with regular residents in a community in Shanghai were investigated. Questionnaire was designed bascd on the Guidelines for Conducting Community Surveys on Injuries and Violence and International Classification of External Causes of Injuries. Results Inside the home settings, relative factors were found on issues as fire protection and using of electricity. In terms of household settings, 14.85% of the families had smoke alarm systems in the kitchen; 40.75% had no windows set for emergence. 50% to 70% of the residents had the idea of safe behaviors, including 35.93% of the families stored cleaning products,other chemicals or medical substances in alternative containers, such as used drinking bottle. Only 1.81% of the people being investigated thought that home was also a high risk place where injury might occur and it was placed number 9 in a multiple choice questionnaire. Data from the multiple level model analysis showed that factors as number of family members, space, education, profession etc. were closely related to the situation of home settings and their resident's behaviors. Conclusion Many injury related factors were found related to home establishments and people' s daily behaviors at home which called for interventions to be taken.

Objective To assess the feasibility of using PET molecular imaging to evaluate the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine FuZhiSan (FZS) on the model of aging Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. Methods Twenty aged AD rats (Sparague-Dawley rats,male) were randomly divided into FZS treated group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Another 10 healthy adult rats were as blank controls. Morris water maze record system was used for cognitive function assessment. Before and after FZS treatment 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11 C-2- [4'-(methylamino) phenyl] benzothiazol-6-ol ( PIB )PET imaging was undertaken. After post-treatment imaging procedures the brain tissues of all animals were taken for histochemical study,such as staining with HE,congo red,amyloid β (Aβ) immunofluorescence,5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescence and NeuN immunofluorescence. Paired t-test was performed with SPSS 13.0 software for the data analysis. Results The cognitive dysfunction of aging AD rats was improved after FZS treatment. The escape latency in FZS treated group was significantly shorter than that of control group ((32.5 ±10.8) s vs (102.6±8.8) s,t =15.7987,P=0. 0001). Diffuse neuronal loss and Aβ deposition were detected in the hippocampus and cortex in the aged AD rats. The imaging data showed that brain glucose metabolism was amended in FZS treated group while the abatement of amyloid deposition was not significant. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the neuronal proliferation was more remarkable in FZS treated group. Conclusions It may be feasible to use PET imaging as a method to evaluate the therapeutic effect in AD rats. FZS may ameliorate memory dysfunction of aged AD rats. Its mechanism may be partly contributed to the enhancement of the neuronal proliferation and survival.

Aging can cause degenerative changes in the function of multiple tissues and organs in the body. Gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal dysfunction are very common in the elderly people. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the total extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in natural aging mice, which will provide clues for further mechanism study. The natural aging mice model is established and animal experiments follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The overall health of the mice was evaluated by the "frailty index" scoring method. The intestinal absorption and transport function were measured by detecting intestinal glucose absorption capacity, transport time, lipase and amylase activities of aging mice. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by detecting inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in the intestines of aging mice were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and alizarin blue (AB) staining. The qRT-PCR method was used to explore the gene transcription level related with the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA were used to evaluate the composition of gut microbiota. The results showed that Astragalus had a tendency to reduce the "frailty index" of aging mice, but did not show a significant difference. In some indicators of aging phenotype, Astragalus has the most significant effect on hair loss and physical fitness. In terms of intestinal function, Astragalus could increase intestinal glucose absorption capacity, shorten intestinal transportation time and promote lipase secretion in aging mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-‍α) in the aging intestinal tissue were reduced after Astragalus administration. Astragalus also ameliorated the pathological degeneration of the intestinal tissue of aging mice by increasing the length of small intestinal villi, the thickness of colonic mucosa and goblet cell number. In addition, Astragalus elevated the expression of genes associated with the proliferation and differentiation in jejunum and modulated gut microbiota, especially restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae. Taken together, the above research results demonstrate the total extract of Astragalus as a key factor improving the intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis of aging mice.

Objective To explore the roles of frequency domain OCT in measuring the retinal thickness around the optic disc and optic disc parameters in early glaucoma diagnosis.Methods The optic disc parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the 40 healthy volunteers (control group) and 85 cases of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG),including 36 patients as the early glaucoma subgroup and 49 patients as the glaucoma evolutum subgroup,were measured by frequency domain OCT.Then,the correlation analysis of RNFL thickness,optic disc parameters and the mean deviation (MD) of visual field in each group was performed,and the area under the curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of RNFL thickness around the optic disc and optic disc parameters in the diagnosis of glaucoma.Results The RNFL thickness and the complete cycle mean RNFL thickness in the temporal,upper,nasal and inferior quadrant in the glaucoma patients were significantly lower than those in the controls (all P ＜ 0.05),and the above indexes in the glaucoma evolutum subgroup were significantly decreased compared with those in the early glaucoma subgroup (all P ＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the optic disc parameters between the groups except the optic disc area (all P ＜ 0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed the RNFL thickness and the complete cycle mean RNFL thickness in the temporal,upper and inferior quadrant were negatively correlated with the MD in the glaucoma patients (all P ＜ 0.05),and the parameter of optic cup volume and cup/disc area ratio were positively correlated with the MD (both P ＜ 0.05),and the rim area,rim volume and disc volume were negatively correlated with MD (all P ＜ 0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that the largest area under the curve of RNFL thickness in the inferior quadrant of the optic disc region was 0.886,and the specificity and sensitivity was 0.775 and 0.924,respectively.Moreover,the area under the curve of the optic cup/optic disc area was the largest,with sensitivity and specificity of 0.741 and 0.815,respectively.Conelusion OCT for measuring optic disc structure and RNFL thickness can be used for early diagnosis of glaucoma,and it has a high sensitivity and specificity.

The mechanics of a new shape memory alloy cervical hook for atlantoaxial instability was analyzed with finite element method on the basis of a three-dimensional model reconstructed from the images of CT scanning of an adult cadaveric upper cervical at 1-mm interval. The stress and displacement of every nodule and element in the course of deformation of the internal fixation were tested, and the results showed that the cervical hook was strong enough against tensile stress, which concentrates in the middle of the device. The pull was 237.58 N at the loading point. With such mechanical performance, this cervical hook can be reliable for correction of atlantoaxial instability.
Adult ; Alloys ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; Cadaver ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Memory ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices ; standards ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Radiography ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of endostar in controlling ascites tumor formation in mice.

METHODSMouse models bearing ascites tumors were established via intraperitoneal injection of H22 and S180 cell lines. Eighty-eight ICR mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups, namely the control group (0.9% normal saline) and 3 endostar groups with 8 mg/kg endostar administration daily, every other day or every two days. The peritoneal membrane permeability of the mice was assessed using Evan blue staining. The body weight curve of mice was drawn, and the cumulative ascites volume and number of red cells and tumor cells in the malignant ascites were determined. The survival of the mice was evaluated to assess the therapeutic effect of endostar.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the mice receiving daily endostar injection showed obviously lower ascites accumulation and peritoneal capillary permeability (P<0.05) with reduced count of ascites tumor cells and red cells and tumor burden of the abdominal cavity. The mice with daily endostar injection also showed longer survival than the control group.

CONCLUSIONSContinuous intraperitoneal injection can be the optimal means for endostar administration for treatment of malignant ascites.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor ; blood supply ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endostatins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

To observe whether bone marrow stromal cell line QXMSC1 (H-2(d)) engineered to secrete IL-3 and IL-6 can improved the hematopoiesis in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) mice, the stromal cell line QXMSC1IL-3/IL-6 was established by QXMSC1 cells transduced with the recombined retrovirus vector pL3SN containing mouse IL-3 cDNA and pL6SN containing human IL-6 cDNA. The lethally irradiated C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice were engrafted with bone marrow cells (1 x 10(7) cells/mouse BALB/c mice, H-2(d)) in which T cells were depleted by anti-Thy1.2 monoclonal antibody adding complement, and QXMSC1IL-3/IL-6 cells (5 x 10(5)/mouse) were co-infused at same time. The hematopoiesis of recipient mice was observed in 20 and 40 days post-transplantation. Blood RBC and WBC were counted, and nucleated cells, CFU-S, CFU-GM, CFU-E and CFU-GEMM were assayed in recipient bone marrow. Results showed that IL-3 and IL-6 were stably expressed in QXMSCQIL-3/IL-6 cells. Compared with BMT and co-infusion with QXMSC1 or QXMSC1 pLXSN cell groups, co-graft with QXMSC1IL-3/IL-6 cells increased the number of blood RBC and WBC in the recipients, and also significantly increased nucleated cells, CFU-S, CFU-GM, CFU-E and CFU-GEMM in recipient bone marrow. It is concluded that the marrow stromal cells transduced with IL-3/IL-6 cDNA improve the hematopoiesis in allo-BMT mice. Co-graft with QXMSC1IL-3/IL-6 cells has synergistic effect in accelerating hematopoietic reconstitution.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Interleukin-3 ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Stromal Cells ; physiology ; transplantation ; Transduction, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo verify the correlation between nasal contact point and headache and to discuss the significance of nasal endoscopic surgery through observation of clinical outcomes in patients with nasal mucosa contact point treated by endoscopic surgery.

METHODSForty-five patients diagnosed as nasal mucosa contact headache were treated by nasal endoscopic surgery. The results were analyzed retrospectively, including headache degree, headache frequency, lasting time and total time between before and 6, 18, and 24 months after operation. The data were processed by rank-sum test by SPSS 18.0 software.

RESULTS6, 18 and 24 months after operation, the headache degree (VAS scores were 1.50 [0; 4.00], 2.00 [0; 5.00], 3.25 [0; 5.75], respectively) was relieved (VAS score was 6.00 [5.25; 8.25] before operation) dramatically (Z value were -4.913, -4.070 and -3.095, respectively, all P < 0.01). The total time of headache 6, 18, 24 months after operation (It were 0.07 [0; 3.50], 0.26 [0; 7.77], 1.04[0; 17.15] h, respectively) was shortened (It was 25.20 [4.00; 186.00] h before operation) significantly (Z value were -4.368, -3.652, -2.500, respectively, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOne of the key causes of patients suffered from intractable headaches is mucosal contact in the nasal cavity. The pain in these patients could be relieved through surgical correction of intranasal anatomic abnormalities. Nasal mucosa contact might not be the only etiology of intractable headache since the mechanism of headache is complicated and variable. The effect of endoscopic surgery needs to be estimated by long-term follow-up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Headache ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; pathology ; Pain Measurement ; Retrospective Studies ; Turbinates ; Young Adult