Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, microsurgery feasibility and postoperation comprehensive treatment strategy of callosal gliomas, so as to improve the prognosis of patients. Methods: The clinical manifestations, diagnoses, microsurgical approaches, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and prognoses of 82 callosal gliomas patients, who were treated in our hospital during January 1995 and December 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal surgical approach and resection strategies were chosen preoperativety according to the imaging features of tumors. Resections were performed and the navigational orientation was used during operation in 8 cases, type-B ultrasonic supervision was used in 4 cases, and cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) was used in 5 cases. Patients with tumors above grade U underwent chemotherapy (temposide + semustine) and radiotherapy designated individually according to the pathological grades and involvement of gliomas. The follow-up study was conducted by telephone, mail or outpatient department visits. Results: The clinical manifestations of the 82 patients included headache and vomiting (n=44), epilepsy (n=16), mental symptoms (n=12), and mild plasy (n=20). Resections were performed via the longitudinal fissure approach in 44 cases, via the transcortical approach in 24 cases, and via the longitudinal fissure and transcortical combined approach in 5 patients; 7 patients received stereotactic biopsy and 2 patients only received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Six patients had tumors found in the rostrum of corpus callosum, 36 in the genu of corpus callosum, 30 in the body of corpus callosum, and 10 in the splenium of corpus callosum. Total surgical resection was performed in 45 cases, subtotal in 13 cases, and partial in 15 case. Pathological findings confirmed astrocytoma in 48 cases, oligodendroglioma in 11 cases, ependymoma in 2 cases, and glioblastoma in 19 cases. The follow-up of 61 patients indicated that 89% patients survived for over 1 year, 71% survived for over 2 years, 62% survived for over 3 years and 39% survived for over 5 years, with a median survival time being 47 months and the longest survival time being 140 months. COX regression analysis found that elder age, higher pathology grade and incomplete resection were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion: The callosal gliomas locate at especial position, and the anatomic characteristic, adjacent structure, blood supply should be fully understood before operation. Accurate surgical approaches assisted by appropriate therapeutic strategies can improve the prognosis of the patients. The longitudinal fissure approach is commonly used. The proficient microsurgical technique combined with navigation and type-B ultrasonic can improve the resection outcome and prognosis of patients.

Atrioventricular Node ; physiopathology ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To study the X-ray signs of forearm and leg in skeletal fluorosis and its diagnostic value,aim at finding the easy examination parts.Methods One thousand four hundred and forty subjects were examined using developed shield,darkroom and other portable dedicated device combined with a small X-ray machine.A total of 384 cases were diagnosed skeletal fluorosis.All patients were divided into different groups and the time,degree and range of X-ray to the forearm and calf elbow,knee,and long bone were compared.Results The X-ray change in the forearm elbow was earlier than that of the leg knee,and trabecular bone change was the earliest indicator,197 cases and 157 cases,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =28.006,P ＜ 0.01).Membrane ossification of forearm backbone was earlier than that of the leg,and most of them were degree Ⅰ photos,213 cases and 126 cases respectively.The difference was statistically significant (x2 =17.626,P ＜ 0.01).The direction of the interosseous membrane ossification was from the forearm radius to the ulna,then to the fibula and tibia,and was accompanied by changes in the aggravation of forearm.A variety of indicators were observed,especially the membrane ossification in bone and joint trabecular bone and the long bone was the most active,and the forearm was more sensitive,obviously than that of the calf.Conclusion In the X-ray screening or detection of endemic fluorosis,the forearm radiography is a simple,economical,and effective diagnostic method.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Guizhi Tang on the inflammatory cytokines in myocardial ischemia and hyperlipidemia rats.

METHODThe early changes of hyperlipid and atherosclerosis are caused by utilizing multiple factors including feeding hyperlipid and propylthiouracil and high doses of vitamin D3 for 12 weeks. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided in to 5 groups: control group, model group, simvastatin group, low-dosage Guizhi Tang group, high-dosage Guizhi Tang group. At the end of six weeks treatment, pituitrin(pit) is abdominal cavity injected every 24 hours for a total of three times. Detecting the serum levels of SES, CRP, NO, SOD, MDA and the content of cardiac muscle tissue SOD, MDA, The expression of TNF-alpha in cardiac muscle tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTGuizhi Tang significantly decreased levels of SES, CRP and MAD, increased levels of NO and SOD, Guizhi Tang markedly decreased the level of protein expression of TNF-alpha in cardiac muscle tissue.

CONCLUSIONGuizhi Tang may inhibit the proinflammatory factors and oxidation in myocardial ischemia and hyperlipidemia rats.

Animals ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Myocardial Ischemia ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEPrepare konjac glucomannan-hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) compression coated tablets and study the effects of the formulation, technics and in vitro dissolution condition on drug release behavior to elevate the colon-specific effects of preparation.

METHODBerberine hydrochloride core tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique and konjac glucomannan-HPMC mixture as the coating layer were used with compression coated technique. The effects of the formulation and technics on drug release behavior were investigated by dissolution test. The erosion of coat layer during dissolution test was investigated.

RESULTDrug almost not released in dissolution medium stimulating gastric and intestinal condition, and released completely by coating layer erosion and rupture by enzyme in stimulating colonic condition. Drug release decreased with decreasing the ratio of konjac glucomannan-HPMC and increasing coat weight (P < 0.05), compression force was not found to be a significant factor on drug release. Drug release increased with increasing the concentration of beta-mannase in dissolution medium (P < 0.05), rotation speed has no effect on drug release. The release of drug was correlative with erosion of coat layer. The mechanism of drug release were diffusion and erosion.

CONCLUSIONThe konjac glucomannan-HPMC compression coated tablets was a promising delivery system for drugs to be delivered to the colon.

Administration, Oral ; Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hypromellose Derivatives ; Mannans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated

Objective To explore the impact factors for post-thaw embryo survival rate and clinical pregnancy rate in frozen-thawed embryo transfer program. Methods The clinical data of 573 cycles of frozen-thawed embryo transfers were retrospectively analysed. Groups were divided according to the pre-freeze embryo quality, pre-freeze embryonic developmental stage, frozen-thawed embryo quality and cryopreservation technique, respectively, and post-thaw embryo survival rates and/or clinical pregnancy rates were compared among groups. Results The clinical pregnancy rate of high quality pre-freeze embryo was significantly higher than that of low quality pre-freeze embryo (31.8% vs 20.0%) (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in the post-thaw survival rates and clinical pregnancy rates between embryos frozen at day 2 of ferrtilization and those frozen at day 3 of ferrtilization(79. 1% vs 82.9% and 25.5% vs 31.2%, respectively) (P>0.05). The clinical pregnancy rates of the transfer cycles only with fully intact embryos and with mixed embryos were significantly higher than that only with partially damaged embryos(36.7% vs 24.1% and 29.2% vs 24.1%, respectively)(P<0.05). The post-thaw survival rate and post-thaw high-quality embryo rate were significantly higher in those processed with modified cryopreservation technique than in those processed with original cryopreservation technique (82.0% vs 66.3% and 50.0% vs 27.5%, respectively)(P<0.05). Conclusion Pre-freeze embryo quality, post-thaw embryo survival rate and post-thaw embryo quality have a positive correlation to subsequent clinical pregnancy rate. Favorable cryopreservation technique may ensure the success of post-thaw embryo recovery and transfer.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of puerarin on activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured with oxidized free radical (OFR), to explore the effect of puerarin on metabolic mechanism of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).

METHODSHUVECs of the 3rd - 6th passage cultured with modified Jaffe's method were divided into 4 groups, the blank control group cultured with DMEM medium, the OFR group cultured with DMEM medium containing 0.1 mmol of OFR per liter, the puerarin group 1 and 2 cultured with DMEM medium containing 0.1 mmol of OFR per liter as well as 0.5 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml of puerarin respectively. After being incubated for 24 h, activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), contents of nitric oxide (NO), ADMA, endothelin (ET), and L-citrulline (L-cit) in the supernate were measured, and DDAH protein expression in the lysate was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with those in the blank control group, ADMA and ET contents were higher, while the levels of NO and L-cit and the activity of NOS were lower markedly, but the DDAH expression changed insignificantly in the OFR group. These abnormalities were restored significantly in the puerarin groups.

CONCLUSIONThe increase of ADMA in OFR injured HUVECs was correlated with the reduction of DDAH activity and irrelevant to DDAH expression. Puerarin could promote ADMA metabolism through increasing DDAH activity, and improve NOS activity, thus to reduce the impairing of OFR on endothelial function.

Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Free Radicals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Nitrites ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors in high prevalence district of birth defects (BD) to provide evidence for intervention development.

METHODSQuantitative analysis had been carried out based on the investigation at three counties in Shanxi province. 491 useable questionnaires had been collected with a response rate as 94.6%. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the risk factors of BD.

RESULTSData from logistic regression analyses revealed that factors as: the status of family income, knowledge on healthy birth and rearing, behavior and illness during pregnancy were influencing the occurrence of BD, with OR values as 0.535, 3.265, 0.403 and 1.379 respectively. Better family income and knowledge on BD were negatively (P values are 0.000 and 0.001 respectively), while illness during pregnancy and alcohol intake of the husbands were positively correlated (P values are 0.005 and 0.012 respectively) to the occurrence of BD.

CONCLUSIONMeasures as accelerating the development of local economy, providing education on BD knowledge to the couples, changing negative life style and improving the health status would reduce the risk of BD. Preconceptional-periconceptional care seemed to be the new idea for healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; economics ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Income ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs).

METHODSThirty-two 10-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs) were assigned randomly into four groups: left stellate ganglion block group(Group LS), right stellate ganglion block group(Group RS), captopril group(Group D) and control group(Group C). Arterial systolic blood pressure(SBP) was measured, and endothelin (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in blood vessels were detected by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSCompared with baseline value, the blood pressure of Group LS gradually increased significantly (P<0.05 or P <0.01); however, the blood pressure of Group RS was stable(P >0.05) and increased only at week 2(P <0.05).The blood pressure of Group D decreased significantly at week 2 and week 4, and it remained stable compared with baseline value (P<0.05). The blood pressure of Group C gradually increased at weeks 2-10, compared with baseline values (P <0.01). Compared with Group LS and Group C, the expression of eNOS in blood vessels of Group RS significantly increased (P <0.05), and ET-1 decreased (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe right stellate ganglion block can significantly lower blood pressure, down-regulate ET-1 and up-regulate eNOS protein expression.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nerve Block ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Stellate Ganglion

BACKGROUNDPodocyte has inflammatory role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an anti-inflammatory agent, can suppress macrophage infiltration and reduce renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), another renal protecting agent, can decrease podocyte loss in DN. In this study, we detected the expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nephrin to evaluate podocyte's role in inflammatory reaction in DN, observe and compare the effect of MMF alone and in combination with valsartan, on preventing podocyte loss in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetic model was constructed in uninephrectomized male Wistar rats by single peritoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). The successfully induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups: diabetes without treatment group (DM), valsartan treated group (DMV), MMF treated group (DMM), and combined therapy group (DMVM). Normal rats of the same sibling were chosen as control (NC). At the end of the 8th week, serum biochemistry, 24-hour urinary protein (UP) and the ratio of kidney weight/body weight (RWK/B) were measured. The rats were sacrificed for the observation of renal histomorphology through light and electron microscope. Nephrin, desmin and MCP-1 levels were detected by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical assays. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of nephrin and MCP-1.

RESULTSCompared with group NC, serum glucose level, 24-hour UP and RWK/B in group DM were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the nephrin mRNA level in DM group was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The nephrin mRNA expression levels in group DMV, DMM and DMVM were all higher than that of DM group (P < 0.05) and no significant differences were found among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05). Treatment with MMF, valsartan or their combination could significantly decrease the 24-hour UP and RWK/B, and suppress glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrotic lesions in diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, the high expressions of desmin and MCP-1 in kidney were suppressed by valsartan, MMF or their combination.

CONCLUSIONSPodocytes are involved in the inflammatory reaction of diabetic rats. MMF could suppress MCP-1 and desmin expression, enhance nephrin expression, and attenuate proteinuria in diabetic rats. The combined therapy of valsartan and MMF did not show any superiority over monotherapies on renal protection. MMF may have renoprotective effect in early stages of diabetic nephropathy through preventing podocytes loss and anti-inflammatory activity.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Desmin ; analysis ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan