Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of one stage surgery of release and bone reduction by posterior approach to treat basilar invagination (BI) with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation (IAAD),and to explore the indications and crucial techniques of posterior approach.Methods All of 17 Consecutive patients (8 males and 9 females) with BI and IAAD who underwent release and reduction by posterior approach from July 2000 to June 2015 were enrolled in the present study,the mean age was 35.2±13.8 years with a range of 12-56 years.The clinical symptoms and signs was recorded,and preoperative imaging examination,including anteroposterior,lateral,dynamic films,MRI and CT of cervical spine,were performed to identify the series.There were 14 cases with atlanto-occipital fusion,7 cases with C2,3 fusion,6 cases with Chiari malformation,6 cases with Syringomyelia,and 8 cases with myelomalacia.The clinic symptoms include occiput/neck pain in 15 cases,cervical movement limitation in 13 cases,short neck in 9 cases,torticollis in 12 cases,Paresthesia in 14 cases,weakness in 13 cases,tendon reflexes hyperfunction in 16 cases and ataxia in 13 cases.The postoperative X-rays,MRI or CT were used to observed the results of decompression,fixation and fusion.Neurological function was assessed by JOA scale and Ranawat's score before,after surgery and at final follow-up.Pre-and post-operative Chamberlain (CL),Wackenheim (WL),McGae (ML),atlantodental interval (ADI) and cervico-medullary angle (CMA) were analyzed by student t-test.Results The average operation time was 145 mins (90-210 mins) and blood loss was 175 ml (150-350 ml).The average follow-up was 44.47 months (9-94 months).JOA score was increased from 8.06 preoperatively to 15.20 postoperatively,the improvement rate was 77.2％.Preoperative Ranawat's score was Ⅱ in 1 case,Ⅲla in 12 cases,ⅢB in4 cases.Postoperative score was Ⅰ in 13 cases,Ⅱ in 4 cases.The preoperative CL,WL,ML,ADI and CMA were (12.52±5.17) mm,(6.59±3.04) mm,(6.96±4.32) mm,(9.88± 1.93) mm,115.35°± 12.40°,respectively.and the postoperative CL,WL,ML,ADI and CMA were (2.0±3.67) mm,(-3.06±1.85) mm,(-1.76±2.88) mm,(1.17± 1.18) mm,136.76°±11.44°,respectively.The perioperative complications were discovered in 2 cases,including 1 case of infection and1 case of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) leakage.Conclusion Primary surgery of nerve release and bone reduction by posterior approach may be safe and efficient for the treatment of BI and IAAD.Preoperative evaluation,proper surgical indications and advanced surgical techniques are important for treatment results.

miRNAs were discovered less than a decade ago, and have emerged as important regulators of gene expression in mammals. A large number of miRNAs have been identified to be located within the intronic regions of protein-encoding genes(host genes) and called intronic miRNAs. The intronic miRNAs may play a key role in regulating the expression and function of their host genes due to the fact that most of them are co-expressed with the host genes. In this paper, the recent advances on the research on potential relationship between intronic miRNAs and their host genes are reviewed.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of compositive treatment on cerebral palsy children with rapid acupoint acupuncture at passive position.Methods37 children were treated with compositive treatment including acupoint acupuncture and physical training.Other 21 who treated with medicine were included as control.Results3 cases were cured and 33 cases were markedly effective in treatment group,which was better than that of control(P<0.05).ConclusionThe therapy composed of rapid acupoint acupuncture and physical training can significantly improve the function of children with cerebral palsy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of one-stage posterior wedge osteotomy ffor correction ot kyphosis or kyphoscoliosis in children with healed stages of spinal tuberculosis.Methods From January 2002 to December 2012,we retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with tuberculosis of the spine in healed stages which underwent one-stage posterior wedge osteotomy.There were 6 males and 12 females,whose average age was 8.2 (4 to 15) years and average followed-up time was 37.1 (10 to 120) months.The apical vertebrae were located at cervicothoracic segment in 2 cases,thoracic segment in 10 cases,thoracolumbar segment in 5 cases and lumbar segment in 1 case.The lesions involved 2 segments in 3 cases,3 to 5 segments in 9 cases and more than 5 segments in 6 cases.There were 6 cases with neurological dysfunction whose Frankel' s classification was C in 2 cases and D in 4 cases.The coronal and sagittal Cobb angels,thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis,sagittal trunk shifts,number of fixation and fusion segments and bony union were measured on the standing AP and lateral radiographs before,after surgery and at the final follow-up.Results The Cobb' s angels in the sagittal plane were corrected from 71.6° to 14.5°,representing 79.7％ correction rate.The Cobb' s angels in the coronal plane were corrected from 9.4° to 0.7°.Sagittal trunk shift was obviously improved from 3.7mm to 0.5mm.The average fixation segment was 9.6 (5 to 17) segments while the average fusion segment was 4.4 (2 to 8) segments.The neurological function had all been improved at final follow-up.Perioperative complications consisted of fixation loosening in 4 cases,gastrointestinal dysfunction in 2 cases,pleura injury in 5 cases,and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 3 cases.Conclusion One-stage posterior wedge osteotomy is a safe and effective surgical technique for correction of kyphosis or kyphoscoliosis in children with healed stages of spinal tuberculosis.Both the selection of fusion levels and the appropriate technique of osteotomy are crucial to good outcomes.

To ascertain current situation of wild Marsdenia tenacissima resources in Honghe, Yunnan province, the distribution, habitat characteristic and resources reserves of M. tenacissima were surveyed based on interviews and investigation. The results showed that M. tenacissima was found in 7 counties such as Jinping, Mengzi etc, and distributed mainly on the mountainsides from 800 m to 1 200 m. And distribution was affected by many factors, such as light, heat, topography, soil, and vegetation. M. tenacissima grew well in distribution areas. M. tenacissima had averagely a weight of 2.8 kg per plant. Resources reserve of M. tenacissima in Honghe was estimated to 1 300 tons by now but it reduced rapidly in resent years, the wild resources reserve may not meet demand of market. Resources protection and wildlife tending would be conducted to deal with increasing medication requirements.
China ; Ecosystem ; Marsdenia ; classification ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZDD) on mRNA and protein expressions of transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 5 (TRPV5) in Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)-infected rat semens and spermatogenic cells, and to explore the pathomechanism of UU-infected infertility and the intervention of ZDD.

METHODSTotally 45 were randomly selected from 60 4-5 months old SD rats. UU testicular infected animal models were set up after bladder inoculation of UU suspension. The remaining 15 rats were simultaneously injected with normal saline as a normal control group. After a successful modeling, UU infected model rats were randomly divided into the model group, the azithromycin group, and the ZDD group, 15 in each group. Rats in the ZDD group were administered with ZDD at the daily dose of 1 g/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the azithromycin group were administered with azithromycin suspension at the daily dose of 0. 105 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily for 21 successive days. Testes and epididymis were extracted after rats were killed and UU positive rates were compared among all groups. Sperm cells were separated using a mechanical separation technique. Sperm motility parameters were detected using color sperm motion detection system. mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe UU positive rate was obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group [(86.7% (13/15 cases) vs. 0] P < 0.05). It was lower in the ZDD group [33.3% (5/15 cases)] and the azithromycin group [26.7% (4/15 cases)] than in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, class A and B sperms were reduced, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly lowered, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermated genic cells significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, class A and B sperms were increased, linear and curve velocities and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group and the azithromycin group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with azithromycin group, class A and B sperms were increased, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZDD could fight against UU infection and elevate semen quality, which might be associated with up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Testis ; Ureaplasma Infections ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

Objective To explore the peripheral blood circulating microRNA expression profile of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients by using microRNA array. Methods The whole blood of 3 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 3 patients with cerebral hemorrhage and 3 healthy volunteers were collected for whole blood RNA through Norgen exosome isolation kit, and then underwent quality and density measurement through PCR. The miRNAs expression profile was studied through μParaflorTM microRNA. All the data were analyzed by associated software and statistics methods. Results 8 miRNAs associated with cerebral stroke in ischemia stroke patients and cerebral hemorrhage patients were discovered, and showed significant difference (P<0.05). 11 differential expression miRNAs were found between ischemia stroke patients and control group, and 24 were found between hemorrhage patients and control group. However, after up-regulation, no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). Conclusions Different expression profiles of miRNA between ischemic stroke patients and hemorrhagic stroke patients may provide insights into their roles in the pathogenesis and progression of stroke. The study of miRNA can contributes to elucidate the epigenetics molecular mechanism of acute stroke.

OBJECTIVETo study the phylogeny relationship and molecular identification of 10 species from Huperzia (Huperziaceae) based on matK gene sequences data.

METHODTotal DNA of nine species from Huperzia was extracted; matK gene sequence was amplified by PCR. PCR product was directly sequenced after purification.

RESULTThe chloroplast matK gene nucleotide sequences from 9 species of Huperzia species were sequenced. The matK gene nucleotide sequences length was 1 589 bp. Analysis with Huperzia lucidula matK gene nucleotide sequences (download from GenBank) and taking Lycopodiella cernua as outgroup, Maximum Parsimony, Neighbor-Joining analyses and genetic distances were conducted using MEGA 3.1 software. 35 variable sites and 35 parsimony informative sites have been found. Pairwise genetic distances among 10 species of Huperzia was 1.59% - 0.25%.

CONCLUSIONThe results were consistent with the taxonomy in morphological of Huperzia. But H. longipetiolata and H. serrata were resolved into in different clade. There are 19 different sites of matK gene sequences between H. longipetiolata and H. serrata, the genetic distances is 0.121%. It is suggested H. longipetiolata should be as an independent species.

DNA, Chloroplast ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; Endoribonucleases ; genetics ; Huperzia ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleotidyltransferases ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

The purpose of this study is to explore depression metabolic markers in rat hippocampus and to investigate the anti-depressant effect of genipin and its mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabonomics. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was conducted to establish the depressive rat model. At the beginning of the third week, genipin low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)), middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)), high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)), and venlafaxine (50 mg x kg(-1)) were given to the CUMS rats separately once daily for two weeks except control and model groups. Rat hippocampus was analyzed by 1H NMR based metabonomics after drug administration for 2 weeks. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of rat hippocampus of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed with metabolic effects of CUMS including decreasing in glycine and N-acetylaspartate, increasing in inositol, glutamate, lactate, glutamine, taurine and alanine. Genipin showed ideal antidepressive effects at a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1) in rats, decrease of inositol, glutamate, lactate, alanine were observed, while glycine and N-acetylaspartate were increased. Important influence has been found on normal nervous system function of these significant changed metabolites, which suggests that the antidepressant effect of genipin may be played by enhancing the activity of neurons in hippocampus, repairing and improving the function of the neuron. The metabonomics approach is an effective tool for the investigation of the anti-depressant effect and pharmacologic mechanisms of genipin.
Alanine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Glycine ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley