OBJECTIVETo explore the association between C825T polymorphism of G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene and different Hilit types of essential hypertension (EH) in the Uygur nationality of Xinjiang.

METHODSAccording to Uygur medical theories, EH patients (as the EH group) and non-EH patients (as the control group) were assigned to four Hilit groups. The C825T polymorphism of GNB3 was detected in 161 EH patients and 379 non-EH subjects of different Hilit types by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to explore the difference of the genotypes and allelic frequencies and hypertension.

RESULTS(1) In Xinjiang Uygur population, the distribution frequencies of GNB3 C825T polymorphism were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg (chi2 = 0.871, P = 0.647). (2) There was no statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles of GNB3 between the EH group and the control group (P > 0.05). (3) There was statistical difference in distribution frequencies of three genotypes between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (the sum of abnormal Sewda, abnormal Kan, and abnormal Balhem) (chi2 = 6.905, P = 0.032), especially between the abnormal Sapra and abnormal Balhem groups (chi2 = 10.404, P = 0.006), but there was no statistical difference in distribution frequencies of alleles between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) In 161 EH patients, there was statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (chi2 = 9.034, P = 0.011; chi2 = 4.701, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSBoth TT genotype and T allele of GNB3 C825T polymorphism might not be associated with EH patients in Xinjiang Uygur populations. However, they were correlated with hypertension patients of non-abnormal Sapra, indicating the pathogeneses of EH with different Hilit types might be different.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minority Groups ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Spinal biomechanics, especially the range of spine motion,has close connection with spinal surgery. The change of the range of motion (ROM) is an important indicator of diseases and injuries of spine, and the essential evaluating standards of effect of surgeries and therapies to spine. The analysis of ROM can be dated to the time of the invention of X-ray and even that before it. With the development of science and technology as well as the optimization of various types of calculation methods, diverse measuring methods have emerged, from imaging methods to non-imaging methods, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, from measuring directly on the X-ray films to calculating automatically by computer. Analysis of ROM has made great progress, but there are some older methods cannot meet the needs of the times and disappear, some classical methods such as X-ray still have vitality. Combining different methods, three dimensions and more vivo spine research are the trend of analysis of ROM. And more and more researchers began to focus on vivo spine research. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods utilized recently are presented through viewing recent literatures, providing reference and help for the movement analysis of spine.
Animals ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Radiography ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging

Objective:To explore the traits of gray matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in patients with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by magnetic resonance imaging technique (MRI).Methods:Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia,20 patients with OCD and 23 normal controls were recruited in this study.All of the patients satisfied diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ),patients and the normal controls were well matched for gender,age and years of education.All subjects received structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and resting functional MRI scans.The ANOVA and post hoe anolysis were used to compoare the GMV and Relto differences among the subjects.Results:Compared with the normal controls,patients with schizophrenia and OCD had common GMV loss in the right anterior cingulate (P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected),while lower ReHo in the left cuneus(P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected) and higher ReHo in the left upper medial frontal gyrus(P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected) respectively.Conclusion:It suggests that patients with schizophrenia and OCD share common structural changes and functional alterations,which could attribute so many similarities between the two diseases.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of total vertebral column resection combined with anterior mesh cage support in treating severe congenital kyphoscoliosis.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to April 2012,21 patients with severe congenital kyphoscoliosis were treated with total vertebral column resection and internal fixation through posterior approach combined with anterior mesh cage support. There were 8 males and 13 females with an average age of 19.4 years old (ranged from 10 to 35). And 6 cases were thoracic segments deformity,13 cases were thoracolumbar segments and 2 cases were lumbar segments, of them, 2 cases were accompanied with Chairs deformity, 6 cases with diastematomyelia, 4 cases with syringomyelia,and 1 case with neurofibromatosis. According to the Frankel grade system, 3 cases were grade C, 5 cases grade D and 13 cases grade E. Blood loss, operative time, and perioperative complications were recorded. Coronal and sagittal Cobb angle, apical vertebral offset distance, sagittal offset, the relative height of shoulders, razor back deformities were measured and analyzed before and after operation.

RESULTSThe average operative time was 5.2 h (3.5 to 6.5 h) and blood loss was 2,500 ml (1,400 to 4,900 ml). The 2nd day after operation, apical vertebral offset distance, sagittal offset, the relative height of shoulders, razor back deformities had obviously improved than preoperative (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in above items between postoperative on the 2nd day and final follow-up (P > 0.05). The corrective rate of kyphosis and scoliosis were (60.97 +/- 6.30)% and (62.24 +/- 5.82)%, respectively. On the first day after surgery,2 cases of Frankel grade E aggravated to grade D, and obtained recovery at 2 week after conservative treatment. And 1 case palinesthesia later,grade D aggravated to grade C and obtained recovery after revision surgery in time. One case complicated with permanent blindness of left eye, 1 case occurred injury of pleura and 2 cases had cerebrospinal fluid leak during operation. All patients were followed up from 9 to 31 months with an av- erage of 18.6 months. At final follow-up,all patients obtained bone union, Frankel grade D in 4 cases and grade E in 17 cases, no correction loss and internal fixation loosening was found.

CONCLUSIONTotal vertebral column resection combined with anterior mesh cage support can effectively correct kyphosis and scoliosis in severe congenital kyphoscoliosis and can avoid injury of spine cord by spinal crispation, but intraoperative position and neurologic complications should still be considered.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; complications ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spine ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huatuo Zaizao extractum (HTZZ) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) neurogenesis in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and its mechanism.

METHODTotally 55 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham operation group, the MCAO model group and HTZZ high, middle and low dose groups (5, 2.5, 1.25 g x kg(-1)), with 11 rats in each group, and orally administered with drugs. The focal cerebral ischemia model was established by performing a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion (once a day). The neurogenesis and expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were detected by the immunofluorescent staining. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

RESULTMCAO (90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion resulted in the significant increase in the number of penumbra cortex newborn neurons (BrdU(+) -NeuN(+)), which was accompanied by the growth of ERK and CREB phosphorylation and VEGF and BDNF levels. HTZZ could promote the generation of newborn neurons (BrdU(+)-NeuN(+)) and the ERK and CREB phosphorylation and increase VEGF and BDNF levels at the ischemic side.

CONCLUSIONHTZZ could promote the neurogenesis, which may be the interventional targets of effective traditional Chinese medicine Huatuo Zaizao extractum in promoting the self-repair function of the cerebral ischemic areas.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of the acupoint sticking therapy with Chuanfuling for preventing and treating asthma.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (normal saline, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline, spray inhalation), model group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), and acupoint sticking group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +acupoint sticking with Chuan fuling+normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), 10 rats in each group. The incubation period of nodding breath, symptom of asthmatic attack, expression level of interleukin-4 mRNA (IL-4 mRNA) and interferon-gamma mRNA (IF-gamma mRNA), as well as pathological changes on the middle leaf of right lung, were observed in each group.

RESULTS(1) Comparing with the control group, the model group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in the peripheral blood cells (PBMC) was increased, while hyperemia, edema and eosinocyte (EOS) invasion of lung tissue was more serious (P < 0.01). (2) Comparing with the model group, the acupoint sticking group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC was decreased, the incubation period of nodding breath was prolonged for induced asthma on the fifth and seventh time with lower frequency, while in the lung tissue EOS invasion was reduced (P < 0.05), but there were no significant changes on the hyperemia and edema (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking for treating asthma of model rats with Chuanfuling can inhibit the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC, and the release of the inflammatory mediator and cytokine from the EOS to the air passage, in order to reduce the injury of epithelial layer and high reaction on the air passage.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the mRNA expression of p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor) and the amount of neuronal cells apoptosis in lumbar-sacral spinal cord at different time points after the acute cauda equina compression in rats and to explore their correlation.

METHODSSixty adult female Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into the normal control group and the compression groups. The acute cauda equine compression model was established as placing a silicon gel rubber at L(3,4) level of the vertebral canal which represented about 70% to 80% compression to the cross section. The whole L(1,2) level of spinal cords were harvested at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28 d after operation in compression group. Tunel method was applied to observe cell apoptosis and RT-PCR was used to detect the p75NTR mRNA expression. SPSS 13.0 statistical software was adopted to help analysis.

RESULTSIn the compression group, both the nerve cells apoptosis and the p75 mRNA expression existed the trend of low-high-low synchronally compared with the control group, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) among comprssion groups at different time points,there was a significant difference in changes (P < 0.05). p75NTR of mRNA expression and lumbosacral nerve cells apoptosis was in a positive correlation.

CONCLUSIONAfter acute cauda equina compression, p75NTR mRNA expression is closely related to the neuronal apoptosis, which plays an important role in the molecular mechanism of the CES.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cauda Equina ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Polyradiculopathy ; etiology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; Spinal Cord Compression ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and their association with reactive astrocytes following spinal cord injury in adult rats.

METHODSAdult rats with compression injury of the spinal cord were divided into 7 groups (n=6) and examined at 1, 3, and 5 days and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the injury. The recovery of the locomotor function after the injury was evaluated with Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scale, and the degree and scope of the spinal injury were assessed using toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemistry, double immunofluorescent labeling and an image analysis system were employed to observe nestin and GFAP expression and cell proliferation in different regions of the spinal cord.

RESULTSThe bilateral hind limb locomotor function of the rats declined severely 24 h after the spinal cord injury and underwent substantial recovery in 1 or 2 weeks after the injury, but followed by rather slow recovery afterwards. Toluidine blue staining of the spinal cord 24 h after the injury showed significant pathological changes in the neurons. The extension of the tissue injury increased with time till 1 week after the spinal cord injury. The site of injury and the adjacent tissues presented with markedly increased nestin and GFAP expressions 24 h after the injury, and nestin+/GFAP(-) cells dominated in the ependymal region around the central canal, whereas nestin+/GFAP+ dominated in the in other regions, showing significant difference from the control group. Nestin and GFAP expression reached the peak level 3 to 7 days after the injury and declined gradually till reaching nearly the control level at 2 weeks.

CONCLUSIONCompression injury of the spinal cord induces up-regulated expressions of nestin and GFAP, and nestin expression is positively correlated to the reactive astrocytes, which, along with the neural stem cells, respond to spinal nerve injury and possibly play a role in repair of the central nervous system injury.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nestin ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVEQuantitative study of the effect of anti-human VEGF mAb E11 to VEGF level in serum of nude mice transplanted buccal carcinoma.

METHODSE11 was administered into BALB/c nu/nu mice which were transplanted human buccal carcinoma. The saline was administrated as negative control. Mice were killed at 18 days. The VEGF level in serum of mice was determined by improved indirect ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the VEGF level in serum of mice in saline group, it was dramatically decreased in E11 group. The VEGF level in serum of mice treated E11 by subcutaneous was lowest and only reached (1.17 +/- 0.13) microg/L.

CONCLUSIONIt demonstrated that the anti-human VEGF mAb could reduce the VEGF level in serum by binding VEGF, and block its biological activity. It indicates that VEGF in serum of malignant tumor patient is a new tumor marker.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma ; blood ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Objective To investigate the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate (NSCLP) who born in Gansu Province from 2010 to 2016, and to establish a predictive model for developing the strategies for the prevention and control of NSCLP. Methods Spatial epidemiological research method and geographical information systems (GIS) were used to conduct thematic mapping, spatial correlation analysis, high/low clustering analysis, hotspot analysis and Kirging interpolation prediction for NSCLP patients in Gansu Province from 2010 to 2016. Results From 2010 to 2016, the aggregation trend of NSCLP incidence in 89 counties in Gansu Province was different obviously, the southeast area was high and the northwest was low. Based on the data of the cumulative incidence of NSCLP from 2010 to 2016 in Gansu, the spatial distribution of NSCLP presented positive spatial correlation (Moran’I=0.274，Z=7.814，P<0.001) and the aggregation type was high-high cluster(Getis Gi=0.000 003，Z=4.381，P<0.001), with 22 hot spots. The Kirging interpolation prediction results showed that the main prevalence trend of NSCLP in Gansu extended from Longdong to Longxi and Longnan areas. Conclusions The geographical distribution of NSCLP had a positive spatial correlation and a high-high aggregation type in Gansu from 2010 to 2016. The high aggregation area is concentrated in Longdong, Longxi and Longnan of Gansu, which suggest that it is essential to focus on prevention and control in these areas.