Objective: To investigate the value of the trigeminocervical response (TCR) for revealing bulbar involvement in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Methods: Thirty patients with SBMA and 30 healthy male controls were included in this study. In all of the normal controls, stimulation of the infraorbital nerve on one side produced bilateral short latency waves consisting of a positive/negative wave, p19/n31, the mean latency of which was measured. The mean square root of the ratio between the amplitude of p19/n31 and the mean rectifi ed surface electromyography (EMG) activity preceding the stimulus, the A value, was estimated. The parameters of the TCR were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the patients with SBMA, 21 (70.0%) had delayed latencies of p19/n31 (P < 0.01) and all (100%) had reduced A values (P < 0.01) relative to the normal controls. Conclusions: All parameters of the TCR were signifi cantly different between the patients with SBMA and the normal controls. T

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic hepatectomy for regional hepatolithiasis.MethodsThe clinical data of 81 patients with regional hepatolithiasis who received laparoscopic hepatectomy at the Southwest Hospital from March 2007 to March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.Based on the classification of the Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatolithiasis 2007 version and indications for open surgery,hepatic lobes with calculi,biliary stricture or dilated bile ducts were resected laparoscopically after preoperative examination.Bile ducts of the remnant hepatic lobes were explored using fiber choledochoscope or electronic choledochoscope for the prevention of residual stones. Results Laparoscopic hepatectomy was successfully performed on 72 patients,and the other 9 patients were converted to open surgery. Left lateral lobectomy ( segments Ⅱ,Ⅲ ) was performed on 20 patients,left hemihepatectomy ( segments Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ ) on 30 patients,right posterior lobectomy ( segments Ⅵ,Ⅶ ) on 11 patients,right anterior lobectomy ( segments Ⅴ,Ⅷ ) on 6patients,right hemihepateetomy (segments Ⅴ,Ⅵ,Ⅶ,Ⅷ ) on 9 patients,hepatic Ⅲ segmentectomy on 2 patients and hepatic Ⅵ segmentectomy on 3 patients.Gallbladders were resected,and intermittent portal triad clamping was performed on 15 patients.Hepateetomy combined with biliary exploration and stone removal was performed on 57 patients.The mean operation time and operative blood loss were (328 ± 80)minutes and (451 ±288) ml,respectively.No operative mortality was observed.Sixteen patients had postoperative complications,including pulmonary infection in 2 patients,pleural effusion in 4 patients,encapsulated effusion in the resection margin in 6 patients,abdominal infection and abscess in 2 patients and wound infection in 2 patients.Of the 16patients with complications,9 were cured by medicine,6 by pleural or abdominal drainage and 1 by wound debridement.The mean duration of hospital stay was ( 13 + 6)days.The intraoperative stone clearance rate was 96％ (69/72),and the residual stone in 3 patients were removed by choledochoscopy.Sixty-nine patients were followed up for 7-55 months,7 patients had symptoms of cholangitis and 2 patients had common bile duct stone recurrence.ConclusionsLaparoscopie hepatectomy is sate and effective for regional hepatolithiasis.Accurate positioning of the stones and lesions pre- and intra-operatively,reasonable designing of the parenchymal transection plane,and anatomical liver resection are the key points for achiving good therapeutic effects.

Objective To investigate the indications, techniques and results of laparoscopic hepatectomy. Methods The clinical data and follow-up results of 463 patients who received laparoscopic hepatectomy at our institute were retrospectively analyzed. Results From March 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, 463 cases of laparoscopic hepatectomy were successfully carried out. Of the 463 patients,165 were with primary liver cancer, 29 with metastatic liver cancer, 143 with hepatic hemangioma, 81with hepatolithiasis and 45 with other benign liver diseases (including hepatic angiomyolipoma, hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia and chronic liver abscess). The surgical approaches included laparoscopic left lateral lobectomy (93 cases), left hepatectomy (71 cases), extended left hepatectomy (4 cases), right hepatectomy (29 cases), right posterior lobectomy (24 cases), hepatectomy of segment Ⅵ (56 cases), extended right hepatectomy (2 cases), central hepatectomy (8 cases) and hepatectomy of segments Ⅶ/Ⅷ, Ⅳa, caudate lobe and the junction of segment Ⅵ and Ⅶ (41 case).Nonanntomic and wedge resection were performed on 121 patients, and combined resection on 14 patients. The mean operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay and incidence of postoperative complications were (244.71 ± 105. 07) minutes, (460. 26±425.81) ml, (15.51 ±4.36) days and 9.29%, respectively. And no operative death occurred. In the 194 cases with malignant liver lesions,185 cases were followed up for 2 to 50 months. The 1 year and 3 year overall and disease free survival rate were 90. 8% and 87.9% , 84.2% and 73. 7% respectively. Conclusions As a means of minimally invasive surgical approach, laparoscopic hepatectomy can be selectively adopted for the treatment of all kinds of liver diseases which located at different parts of the liver, with the advantages of smaller trauma, quick recovery and cosmetic benefits. The short-term results of laparoscopic hepatectomy is superior to and its long-term results is equal to that of open surgery. Benign liver diseases, small hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer are the good indications for laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Objective To evoke cerebral potentials by stimulating nociceptive fibers with contact heat evoked potentials stimulator (CHEPS)and estimate the nerve conduction velocities of peripheral nerve fibers mediating these responses.Methods Subjects were set in supine position.A heat-foil technology with a rapid rising speed at 70 ℃/s was used to elicit pain and contact heat evoked potentials(CHEP).Contact heat was delivered via one circular thermode (diameter 27 mm,area 573 mm~2).Thermal stimuli were sent at two intensity levels (49.5 ℃ and 54.5 ℃) to three body sites:thenar eminence,the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forarm.Contact heat evoked potentials were recorded from Cz and Pz.A systemic effect between stimulus intensities and pain rating were observed,the main components of this evoked potential were observed.Nerve conduction velocity was calculated from latency difference of CHEP and center to center distance of distal and proximal stimulus arrays.Results The pain intensity rating was 3.2?0.3 and 4.4?0.5 when thenar eminence was stimulated at the temperature of 49.5 ℃ and 54.5 ℃ respectively;the rating was 6.3?0.8 and 7.2?0.5 when the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forarm were stimulated at the temperature of 54.5 ℃ respectively.Three components,Cz/N550,Cz/P750 and Pz/P1000,were found in the evoked potentials.Nerve conduction velocities of the fibers were (12.9?7.5) and (1.7?0.4) m/s respectively,which were corresponding to those of A8 fiber and C fiber.Conclusions CHEPs can be elicited reliably and stably.Velocities of peripheral nerve fibers demonstrate that A8 fiber and C fiber mediate the response.

Objective To establish the method of contact heat evoked potential(CHEP)and to explore the value of this evoked potential in pain testing of patients with cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 100 healthy volunteers and 30 patients were examined.The healthy volunteers were divided into 3 groups according to the length of their arms:(Group A:56.0～65.0 cm ;Group B :65.5～74.0 cm ;Group C :74.5～83.0 cm).A recently de- veloped heat-foil technique with a rapid temperature rising rate at 70℃/s was used to elicit pain and contact heat e- voked potentials.Contact heat was delivered via one circular thermode(diameter 27 mm,area 573 mm~2)and set at two intensity levels(49.5℃and 54.5℃)to three body sites:the thenar eminence,the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forearm.The subjects were asked to rate the pain with numerical rating scale after each stimulus and CHEP was recorded from Cz and Pz.The association between stimulus intensities and pain rating was explored,the main compo- nents of the evuked potential were watched.CHEP,sensory conduction velocity(SCV)and somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP)were performed in patients with hemi-anesthesia caused by cerebral infarction.Results The pain intensity ratings were 3.2?0.3 and 4.4?0.5 at thenar eminence,5.0?0.7 and 6.3?0.8 at the dorsum of hand and 5.3?0.6 and 7.2?0.5 at the proximal volar forearm when the temperature of 49.5℃and 54.5℃was applied, respectively;Three components,Cz/N550,Cz/P750 and Pz/P1000,were identified in the evoked potentials.Cz/ N550 and Cz/P750 appeared when the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forearm were stimulated.In contrast,Pz/ P1000 could be identified when nociceptors of thenar eminence and proximal volar fbrearm were excited.In the pa- tients with cerebral infarction,CHEP disappeared or became abnormal on one side,while SCV and SEP were normal on that side.Conclusion It was suggested that CHEP could be elicited reliably in the controls.CHEP is helpful in the assessment of analgesia in patients with cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect and safety of circumcision stapler in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe treated 120 patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis using circumcision stapler and another 60 by conventional dorsal-incision circumcision. We observed intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain, wound healing time, cosmetic appearance of the penis, and postoperative complications and compared them between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSStapler circumcision showed obvious advantages over the conventional method in intraoperative blood loss ([2. 3 ± 1. 3] vs [15.6 ± 2.9] ml), operation time ([7.1 ± 1.4] vs [22.6 ± 4.6] min), wound healing time ([12.0 ± 2.9] as [16.3 ± 3. 1] d), postoperative pain score (1. 9 ± 1. 3 vs 5. 2 ± 1. 7), incision edema, and cosmetic appearance of the penis (all P <0. 05). Besides, stapler circumcision exempted the patients from stitch-removal pain. However, the incidence rate of postoperative local ecchymosis was significantly higher in the circumcision stapler group than in the conventional circumcision group (20. 8% vs 8. 3% , P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCircumcision stapler, with its advantages of easier manipulation, shorter operation time, better cosmetic penile appearance, less pain, and fewer complications, is superior to conventional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ecchymosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Surgical Staplers ; adverse effects ; Wound Healing

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the structure-activity relationship of anti-tumor activity of diosgenin derivatives in vitro. Study has found that diosgenin can inhibit the reproduction of tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and the main target spot of this effect is Bcl-2. Based on the characteristics of pharmacophoric points' of the three-dimensional pharmacophore for Bcl-2 inhibitors, we have docked lots of diosgenin derivatives with Bcl-2, then synthesized 31 compounds of them, finally assessed the anti-tumor activity of the diosgenin derivatives in vitro against A375, A549, HepG-2 and K562. Preliminary studies of SAR have indicated that the aliphatic esters, and aromatic esters of diosgenin without F ring have no anti-tumor activity in vitro. The triazole bromides of diosgenin all achieve fairly good anti-tumor activity in vitro, and those with larger hydrophobic group have the better activity. The stronger is the hydrogen bonding interaction and dipole-dipole interaction of the heterocyclic of diosgenin and diosgenin without F ring and the acid ester of diosgenin without F ring, the better is the activity of derivatives.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Diosgenin can inhibit the growth of A375 and K562 cell lines and induce their apoptosis with an effect on pro-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family. To study the SAR of diosgenin derivatives, and to improve the anti-tumor activity of diosgenin, a series of novel diosgenin derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their anti-tumor activities in vitro were evaluated. The results revealed that most of the new derivatives had potent effects against K562, A375 and A549 (three tumor cell lines) in vitro, and had no or less effect against H293 and L02 (two normal cell lines). Particularly, some compounds (e.g. 1, 6-8) showed excellent activities on K562 with IC50 values ranging from 1.96 to 4.35 micromol x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Design ; Humans

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents of the bulbs of Fritillaria wabuensia.

METHODSChromatography techniques were used to isolate the chemical constituents. EI-MS, 1HNMR, 13 CNMR and DEPT were used to determine the structures of the isolated constituents.

RESULTSThree alkaloids were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria wabuensia, and were identified as imperialine (I), imperialine-beta-N-oxside (II), isoverticine-beta-N-oxide (III).

CONCLUSIONIsoverticine-beta-N-oxide was isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria wabuensia for the first time. Isoverticine-beta-N-oxide is a new alkaloid.

Cevanes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cyclic N-Oxides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) in the dorsal horn of spinal cord induced by plantar inflammation in the rat.

METHODSAll the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control group, simple electroacupuncture group, formalin group, formalin plus ipsilateral electroacupuncture group and formalin plus contralateral electroacupuncture group. The acute inflammation animal model was made by injection of 100 microL of 4% formalin into the right posterior foot pad. Electroacupuncture was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 min, with sparse-dense waves, frequency 2-15 Hz, and intensity 2-3 mA. One and a half hours latter, the rats were killed under anesthesia, and pERK1/2 expression in the lumbar dorsal horn were investigated with immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe positive cells were rarely seen (6.45 +/- 1.05) in the superficial spinal cord in the control group; a few cells (14.07 +/- 3.19) in ipsilateral superficial spinal cord were found in the electroacupuncture group. The number of pERK1/2-positive neurons (26.57 +/- 4.93) in lamina I - II0 of the ipsilateral dorsal horn in the formalin group increased significantly. After electroacupuncture at ipsilateral Zusanli (ST 36), the number of positive cells (20.79 +/- 5.21) had a tendency to decrease, but with no statistically significant difference. However, after electroacupuncture at contralateral Zusanli (ST 36), the number of positive cells (14.75 +/- 3.03) significantly decreased as compared with the non-acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the spinal cord dorsal horn by electroacupuncture is possibly involved in acupuncture analgesic effect.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Posterior Horn Cells ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley