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.

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

The case-based teaching method which is applied to the teaching of Science of Meridians, Collaterals and Acupoints is discussed in this paper, in which the typical cases such as the growth of the acupuncture-moxibustion eminent physicians, the application of acupoints by the eminent physicians and the experiences in the acupoint combination are integrated. The students are instructed to launch the clinical practical activity through establishing the clinical base of Science of Meridians, Collaterals and Acupoints, in association with the true cases. It is proved that the case-based teaching method can promote the training of the manipulation techniques of the students and the inheritance of the experiences of eminent physicians in higher education.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Meridians ; Students ; Teaching

OBJECTIVETo investigate the modification of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) excretions in workers under different exposure levels.

METHODSFour hundred and forty-seven occupationally exposed workers from two coking plants and 220 control workers from a wire rod plant were genotyped to analyze the modification of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms on urinary 1-OHP excretions.

RESULTSThe urinary 1-OHP concentration in exposed group was much higher than that in control group (4.61 vs 0.34 µmol/mol Cr, P < 0.05). Occupational exposure levels and cigarette smoking were of the dominating factors affecting 1-OHP excretions in urine. After controlling potential confounders, decreased excretion of urinary 1-OHP was associated with GSTP1 I105V AG + GG genotype in coke oven workers (single-gene model, P = 0.012; multi-gene model, P = 0.011) and with GSTT1 null type in the analysis including all subjects (P = 0.055 in both single-gene and multi-gene models). GSTT1 and GSTP1 were interacted on the urinary concentrations of 1-OHP.

CONCLUSIONUrinary 1-OHP concentrations can be modified by GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms, indicating that these genes are involved in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Control Groups ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pyrenes ; analysis ; Urinalysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of electroacupuncture compound anesthesia in radiofrequency ablation for hypertrophic inferior turbinate.

METHODSThe patients confirmed to the enrolled criteria were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 30). The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture at Sibai (ST 2), Xiaguan (ST 7), Hegu (LI 4) and Zhigou (TE 6) on the left side and routine local anesthesia on the right side. The control group was treated with routine local anesthesia on the both side. The feelings of pain, circulatory index and operation effect were observed and compared.

RESULTSDuring radiofrequency ablation, the pain grade of two measurements on the left side and the 2nd measurement on the right in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). In the observation group, the pain grades on the left side were lower than that on the right side (P<0.05), and the systolic blood pressure and the heart rate were lower than that in the control group when undergoing the 2nd radiofrequency ablation on the right side and on the left side, respectively (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in operation effect between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture compound anesthesia can meet the analgesia requirement of radiofrequency ablation for treatment of hypertrophic inferior turbinate, and would be helpful to prevent cyclic fluctuation during the operation at the same time.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Anesthesia ; Catheter Ablation ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Turbinates ; surgery ; Young Adult