Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of local injection of botulinum toxin A (BTXA) and oral baclofen in hemifacial spasm (HFS).Methods Sixty-six patients with HFS were divided into BTXA treatment group (33 patients) and baclofen treatment group (33 patients) by random digits table.The patients in BTXA treatment group was given local multipoint target muscle injection of BTXA,and the patients in baclofen treatment group was given oral baclofen.The therapeutic effect was assessed after treatment of 2 weeks and 4 weeks.Results The scores of spasticity before treatment had no significant difference between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment of 2 weeks and 4 weeks,the scores of spasticity in BTXA treatment group and baclofen treatment group were significantly decreased [BTXA treatment group:(1.80 ±0.70),(1.57 ± 0.17) scores vs.(3.15 ±0.43) scores;baclofen treatment group:(2.14 ±0.60),(1.14 ± 0.70) scores vs.(3.00 ± 0.48) scores] (P ＜ 0.01).The scores of spasticity in BTXA treatment group after treatment of 2 weeks and 4 weeks were significantly lower than those in baclofen treatment group (P ＜0.05 or ＜0.01).After treatment of 4 weeks,the grades of spasticity between two groups had significant difference (P ＜0.05).The rate of adverse reaction in BTXA treatment group [15.15％ (5/33)] was significantly lower than that in baclofen treatment group [51.52％ (17/33)] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Local injection of BTXA and low dose oral baclofen in treatment of HFS can reach the obvious relief.But BTXA treatment has rapid onset,Iess adverse reaction and high compliance of the patients,and also symptoms improve more completely after BTXA treatment.BTXA can be used as preferred method of treating HFS.

BACKGROUND:Previous therapies for diabetic foot are not ideal with large cost, and moreover, amputation is often required. OBJECTIVE: To perform the Ilizarov bone transport in the treatment of patients with diabetic foot (Wanger grades 3-4), and to observe the limb salvage conditions. METHODS: Eighteen patients with diabetic foot, Wanger grades 3-4, admitted in the Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from December 2013 to June 2015 were enroled in this trial. Al of patients were subjected to Ilizarov bone transport. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Al the 18 patients were folowed up for 3 to 20 months, and presented with ulcer healing. Scores on ankle-brachial index and 10-g nylon line test were both increased significantly in the patients after treatment, but the visual analog scale scores were reduced. These findings indicate that the Ilizarov bone transport is an effective method for treating ulcer of diabetic foot at Wanger grades 3-4.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) expression in caricinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer.

METHODSWe studied MMP-7 expression and microvessel density (MVD) in adjacent mucosa and primary foci of 113 cases of gastric cancer by streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method using anti-MMP-7 and anti-CD34 antibodies. MMP-7 expression and mean MVD were compared with clinicopathological features of gastric cancer, with the relationship between MMP-7 expression and MVD concerned in gastric cancer.

RESULTSMMP-7 showed positive expression in adjacent mucosa of gastric cancer (29.20%, 33/113), less than that in gastric cancer (69.03%, 78/113). MMP-7 expression in primary foci of gastric cancer was positively correlated with tumor size, invasive depth, metastasis and TNM staging (P<0.05), but not with differentiation or growth pattern of gastric cancer (P>0.05). Positive correlation of mean MVD with tumor size, invasive depth, metastasis and TNM staging was found (P<0.05), despite no relationship between mean MVD and differentiation of gastric cancer (P>0.05). Mean MVD was dependent on MMP-7 expression in gastric cancer (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONUpregulated expression of MMP-7 played an important role in carcinogenesis and progression by participating in growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer. MMP-7 expression could be regarded as an effective and objective marker to reflect the biological behaviors of gastric cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of the gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Cx43 can be regulated by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy) is an E3 SUMO ligase for its target proteins. However, whether Cx43 is a target protein of PIASy and whether Cx43 SUMOylation plays a role in I/R-induced arrhythmias are largely unknown. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with PIASy short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) using recombinant adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (rAAV9). Two weeks later, the rats were subjected to 45 min of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h reperfusion. Electrocardiogram was recorded to assess arrhythmias. Rat ventricular tissues were collected for molecular biological measurements. RESULTS: Following 45 min of ischemia, QRS duration and QTc intervals statistically significantly increased, but these values decreased after transfecting PIASy shRNA. PIASy downregulation ameliorated ventricular arrhythmias induced by myocardial I/R, as evidenced by the decreased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and reduced arrythmia score. In addition, myocardial I/R statistically significantly induced PIASy expression and Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by reduced Cx43 phosphorylation and plakophilin 2 (PKP2) expression. Moreover, PIASy downregulation remarkably reduced Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by increased Cx43 phosphorylation and PKP2 expression after I/R. CONCLUSION PIASy downregulation inhibited Cx43 SUMOylation and increased PKP2 expression, thereby improving ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic/reperfused rats heart.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Connexin 43/genetics* ; Sumoylation ; Down-Regulation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy* ; Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism*