BACKGROUND:Animal models can be used to study specific scientific problems of intervertebral disc biology.Model of disc degeneration is mainly used to resolve the relevant disease mechanisms and scientific and security issues of the treatment.OBJECTIVE:To summarize currently used experimental animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration study,and to dynamically observe and confirm the pathological process of disc degeneration based on disc imaging,morphology,biomechanics and bi(o)chemicel changes.METHODS:Using "intervertebral disc degeneration,animal models,in vivo,in vitro" in English as the search words,Cochrane Library (No.1 2009),Cochrane Library Database of Controlled Clinical Trials (No.1 2009),MEDLINE from 1990 to March 2009,EMbase from 1990 to March 2009,Current Controlled Trials,and the National Research Register were retrieved.Literature was limited to English language.The disc imaging,morphology,biomechanical end biochemical composition and other indicators,as well as the pathological process of disc degeneration served as the evaluation indices.The articles related to the intervertebral disc cell culture models,the whole disc tissue culture model,mechanical model,injury model,biological model,genetically modified models,spontaneous models were included.The repetitive researches and those unrelated to animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration were excluded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The establishment of a reliable animal model can provide favorable conditions for studying the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration,at the same time,provides a good experimental vehicle for various researches about the repair treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration can be divided into two categories:in vitro models and in vivo models of disc degeneration and repair.The former can be assigned into disc cell culture models and whole disc tissue culture model;the latter is assigned into mechanical models,injury models,biological models,genetically modified models,spontaneous models and so on.The above models are commonly used in the study of the occurring mechanism of disc degeneration,as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of a variety of treatments.However,there is still no generally accepted animal models as an ideal disc degeneration model,various types of models reported have their own advantages and disadvantages.

BACKGROUND:Spinal canal decompression and fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation has become the main method for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation. OBJECTIVE:To restore the vertebral height of the patients with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation who underwent subtotal resection and decompression through titanium cage packed with autologous cancel ous bone and pedicle screw fixation. METHODS:Thirty-one patients with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation treated in the Shanghai 6th People’ s Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from February 2007 to September 2011 were selected. Al the patients received subtotal resection, spinal canal decompression and titanium cage packed with autologous cancel ous bone and pedicle screw fixation. Imaging examination was performed before and after treatment to observe the recovery of vertebral sequence, vertebral height and Cobb angle, as wel as the recovery of nerve function. RESUTLS AND CONCLUSION:The patients were fol owed-up for 12 months, and al the patients healed wel after treated with titanium cage packed with autologous cancel ous bone and pedicle screw fixation, and there was no loosening, shedding or breakage after pedicle screw fixation. During reexamination, the grafts fusion, good deformity correction, basic recovery of vertebral height and good recovery of Cobb angle were observed. Seven cases had neurological function recovery, and among them, six cases raised for one degree, one case raised for two degrees, and another 22 cases without recovery. Case analysis and relative researches showed that subtotal resection and decompression and titanium cage packed with autologous cancel ous bone and pedicle screw fixation can reduce the loss of correction of the patients with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation, restore the vertebral height, and enhance the stability of the vertebral body.

Concepts and techniques of spinal fusion as a therapeutic modality may date back to the origins of spinal surgery. Spinal fusion has been considered as the standard treatment of progressive deformities,including instability,scoliosis and trauma. In this study,we shall attempt to define and review the bone graft materials,progress on the operative techniques,postoperative complications and related therapy,the latest dynamic fixation,and minimally invasive technique to lumbar spine fusion.

Facial Paralysis ; complications ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of four kinds of different contact strength on the three-dimensional displacement of an implant-supported fixed bridge using digital laser speckle photography method. An in vitro model of beagle mandible with an implant-supported fixed bridge in its right premolar region was developed. The bridge was Au-Pt metal-ceramic. The contact was recovered to four different tightnesses, named 0, 1, 2, and 3. Different axial concentrated static load was applied to abutments and bridge respectively. The three-dimensional displacement of the implant-supported fixed bridge was measured using digital laser speckle photographic method. The results demonstrated that the influence of contact tightness was mainly on the mesio-distal and buccal lingual parts. When the contact tightness reached number 3, the regularity of displacement distribution was changed. The present study proved that digital laser speckle photography was an effective method of measuring the micro-displacement. One of the criterions of contact recovering decreased the implant displacement effectively without changing the regularity of displacement distribution.
Animals ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Dogs ; Lasers ; Mandible ; Models, Animal ; Photography

The application of precision medicine in cancer treatment is becoming increasingly common as a result of the continuous advancement in basic research and physical techniques.The revolution of radiotherapy techniques, development of multimodal imaging technology, application of biological target dose carving and adaptive radiotherapy, availability of big data-based radiotherapy planning systems, and selection of chemotherapy regimen have all made the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma increasingly precise.The growing interaction between laboratory research and clinical practice not only underscores the importance of translational medicine, but also prompts the development of biological immunotherapy and screening of prognostic factors.As a result, these changes mark the beginning of a new era for the diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.This review provides a summary from 61 articles on the current progress in translational study and clinical application of precision medicine in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of breast carcinosarcoma.Methods Clinical data of 37 breast carcinosarcoma patients treated at Tianjin Cancer Hospital from 1974 to 2014 was analyzed retrospectively.Kaplan-Meier unvariate analysis was used to calculate the survival rate and compare the survival rates.Multivariate factors for survival were analyzed by COX proportional hazards regression model.Results 37 cases of breast carcinosarcoma were all female.The median age was 55 years.Among them 31 cases complained for painless mass,six cases had breast mass with skin ulceration.21 cases were three-negative breast cancer.Ten cases had axillary lymph node metastasis,ten cases had distant metastasis.The 5-year survival rate was 62.3％.Unvariate analysis showed that axillary lymphnodes metastasis (P =0.045) and therapeutic schedule (P =0.016) significantly influenced the oulcome of the patients.COX multivariate analysis validated that the therapy modality was an independent prognostic factor for breast carcinosarcoma(P =0.041).Conclusions Breast carcinosarcoma is rare and has a poor prognosis.ER,PR and HER-2 expressions in most cases are negative.If there is axillary lymph node metastasis,the prognosis is poor.A reasonable and comprehensive treatment can improve the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effects on brain tissue p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and neuroprotective effect of edarvone after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in mice.Methods A total of 196 healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups:a sham operation group,an ischemia-reperfusion group,a saline control group,and an edaravone group (n =49 in each group).A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mothod was used to induce a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model.At 2 h after ischemia,immediately after reperfusion in the edaravone group and the saline control group,edaravone (5 mg/kg) and the same volume of saline were injected intraperitoneally in mice,then repeated once every 24 h.At 2 h after MCAO,the brain water content and infarct volume at different time points after reperfusion (12 h,24 h,48 h,and 3 d) were measured respectively.At 24 h after MCAO,the expressions of AQP4 and p38 MAPK in the brain tissue of ischemic peripheral cortex were measured by Western blotting.Results The volumes of cerebral infarction (all P ＜ 0.01) and the brain water contents (all P ＜0.05) in the edaravone group were decreased than those in the ischemia-reperfusion group and saline control group at different time points,and they were most significant at 48 h.After 24-h reperfusion,the expression levels of AQP4 (0.985 ± 0.129,1.024 ± 0.117,0.713 ± 0.231) and phospho-p38 MAPK (1.123 ± 0.142,1.214 ± 0.096,0.986 ± 0.087) in the brain tissue of ischemic peripheral cortex in the ischemia-reperfusion group,the saline control group,and the edaravone group were upregulated significantly than those in the sham operation group (AQP4:0.265 ± 0.123;phospho-p38 MAPK:0.465 ±0.023;all P ＜0.01),but edaravone group were significantly lower than the ischemia-reperfusion group and the saline control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Edaravone can downregulate the expression level of AQP4 and effectively protect cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice,Its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway.

Left atrial myxoma is one of the rare causes of cerebral infarction.As the left atrial myxoma complicated artery embolization is more common in cerebral vessels,the first clinical manifestation of about 1/3 patients with left atrial myxoma was cerebral infarction.This article reports a 24-year young female without common vascular risk factors,including hypertension,diabetes,and hyperlipidemia.Multiple cerebral infarctions are the first symptom in patients with left atrial myxoma,and they are analyzed in combination with literature.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is a kind of protease family, its activity can be inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), especially by TIMP-3.OBJECTIVE: To fully isolate and purify natural TIMP-3, and to create enzyme-linked immunoassay of TIMP-3.DESIGN: Single-sample observation SETTING: Central Laboratory of Shenyang Medical College MATERIALS: Human placenta from Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fengtian Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College (Informed consent was obtained from the relatives of patients) and MMP-1 from Research Institute. Fuji Chemical Industries, Ltd.METHODS: This experiment was conducted in the Central Laboratory of Shenyang Medical College between March 2001 and May 2002. Firstly,4 mol/L urea Tris-buffer solution (pH8.0) was used to prepare homogenate solution of placenta. Secondly, homogenate solution was performed chromatography through CM52 positive ion-exchange resin and Sephacryl S200 gel filtration. Thirdly, relative molecular weight and purity were detected by SDS- polyacrylamidedel gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).Fourthly, Western blotting was used to identify the characters of purified protein. Fifthly, the inhibitory rate of TIMP-3 to MMP-1 was measured with immumofluorescence method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The relative molecular mass of protein showed by PAGE. ② Results of Western blot. ③ The inhibitory rate of TIMP-3 for MMP-1. ④ The recovery rate of TIMP-3 following purification.RESULTS: ①The isolated and purified TIMP-3 from human placenta consisted of non-glycosylated and glycosylated protein, with relative molecular mass of 24 000 and 27 000, respectively. ② The inhibitory concentration of non-glycosylated and glycosylated TIMP-3 was 1.1×1010 mol/L and 1.2×1010 mol/L respectively to MMP-1. The inhibitory concentration of placenta-derived TIMP-3 was significantly higher than that of recombinant TIMP-3 for MMP-1. ③ The recovery rate of TIMP-3 was 23.4% following two-step chromatography.CONCLUSION: Extracellular matrix of human placenta-derived TIMP-3 consists of non- glycosylated protein and glycosylated protein; Two kinds of purified TIMPs-3 have remarkable inhibitory concentration for MMP-1, and significantly higher in comparison with recombinant metalloproteinase inhibitory factor-3.