Objective To evaluate the outcome of dorsal double locking compression plate (LCP) in treatment of stretched unstable distal radial fractures.Methods Fourteen cases of stretched unstable distal radial fractures were treated by reduction and internal fixation using straight or L-shaped anatomic LCP via dorsal approach.Wrist functional exercise was conducted immediately after operation.Follow up was made after operation to assess motion pain,functional score of wrist,and complication incidence at postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks,and 1 year.Results Follow-up was lasted for 5-24 months.At postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks and 1 year,mean visual analogue scale (VAS) was (1.88 ±0.26) points,(0.87 ± 0.14) points and (0.37 ± 0.06) points respectively and wrist functional score (Gartland-Werley score) was (6.45 ± 1.72) points,(2.73 ± 0.52) points and (2.10 ± 0.31) points respectively.According to Garfland-Werley score in the latest follow-up,the results were excellent in 10 cases,good in two,and fair in two.Besides,one case was combined with myotenositis of extensor pollicis longus muscle tendon and another case with myotenositis of extensor tendon.Conclusion Dorsal double LCP is one of the effective methods for stretched unstable distal radial fractures that can reconstruct anatomical structure of the wrist efficiently and attain satisfactory functional recovery,with no obvious pain.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

This paper is to build a finite element model of brain with a real brain shapeon which simulation studies of electrical impedance tomography EIT in the brain is based. A curve of a real brain shape is simulated with the curve-fitting methods and EIT in the brain is finished with finite-element methods and Equipotential Lines Back-Projection algorithm.The locationarea and amplitude of the change of the resistivity are reconstructed accurately. But the image quality has to be further improved.This paper provides a basis for clinical applications of EIT in brain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of extract of Gingko biloba (EGb) on soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with early diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODSSixty-three patients with DN in early stage were randomly assigned to the control group (29 cases) and the treatment group (34 cases). Both groups were treated by routine treatment, and with EGb given to the treatment group additionally. The treatment course was 2 months. Serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were determined with ELISA before and after treatment, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum creatinine (SCr) and blood lipids, etc. were examined as well.

RESULTSThe levels of serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly lower in both groups after treatment than those before treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the decrement in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P < 0.01). And the levels of UAER, SCr and blood lipids decreased in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEGb could retard the development of early DN through decreasing the levels of serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1.

Aged ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo characterize the clinical, laboratory, imaging and pathological features of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and investigate the impact of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy on patient prognosis.

METHODSThe medical records of 22 patients diagnosed with PSC between 2002 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The PSC diagnosis had been made in patients with suspect biochemical abnormalities following evaluation by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Fibrosis and inflammation were assessed by immunohistochemical analyses of tissue biopsies. Outcome of patients treated with UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day, oral) were compared to that of patients without UDCA treatment by the X2 or corrected X2 tests.

RESULTSAmong the 22 PSC patients, the majority was male (n=15) and presented with fatigue, dark urine, and body weight loss (n=15). Four cases had ulcerative colitis. At admission, all 22 cases showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase[ALP: (348+/-184) U/L], 19 cases showed elevated alanine aminotransferase [ALT: (94.0+/-67.0) U/L] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST: (98.0+/-67.0) U/L], and 15 cases showed elevated levels of total bilirubin (99.0+/-115.0) mumol/L and direct bilirubin (74.4+/-92.4 mumol/L. ERCP examination showed segmental intrahepatic bile duct stenosis with expansion, and stiff and enlarged gallbladder bile ducts, but unclear findings for the common bile ducts and pancreatic ducts. MRCP showed beading of the intrahepatic bile duct, stiffness of the bile duct wall, and dilation of the common bile duct. Fibrosis and inflammation were observed in the bile ducts, along with hyperplasia and the typical features of "onion skin" fibrosis and fibrous obliterative cholangitis. Five of the 10 patients treated with UDCA improved, and seven of the 12 patients in the non-UDCA treatment group improved. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome between the groups (paired X2=0.333, corrected X2=0.083, P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPSC patients were predominantly male and the common clinical manifestations were fatigue, dark urine, and body weight loss. At admission, serum biochemical indicators of cholangitis were increased significantly and subsequent imaging studies confirmed the suspected diagnosis by showing obvious characteristic changes. UDCA treatment did not significantly improve patient prognosis.

Adult ; Cholangiography ; methods ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the classification criterion and surgical treatment strategy of intrathoracic esophageal injury caused by foreign body.

METHODSEighty-four patients with intrathoracic esophageal injury caused by foreign body in our department from January 1980 to April 2004 were divided into 4 grade: grade I was non-penetrated injury of esophagus (18 cases); grade II was esophageal perforation with mild mediastinitis (39 cases); grade III was esophageal perforation with severe intrathoracic infection (17 cases); grade IV was aortoesophageal fistula (10 cases). Based on the degree of esophageal injury and the extension of inflammation, operative procedures were selected including esophagotomy, esophageal reparation, esophagectomy, mediastinal drainage, reparation of fistula and replacement of aorta.

RESULTSPatients in grade I and II were all cured . One death occurred in grade III (1/17), the same in Grade IV was 9 (9/10).

CONCLUSIONSClassification of esophageal injury caused by foreign body is helpful to the decision of surgical treatment strategy. The prevention of aortoesophageal fistula is the key point of reducing of mortality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Esophageal Perforation ; classification ; etiology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Humans ; Infant ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of low-level lead exposure on neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) expression of primarily cultured hippocampal neurons.

METHODSWistar rats gestated at 18th day were anaesthetized and paunched to get the pups, the hippocampi of the pups were separated and the hippocampal neurons were primarily cultured. After co-cultivated with different dosage of PbCl(2), the NCAM expression of the neurons were tested with Western blotting at different culture time.

RESULTSNormally, the expression of NCAM at the 1st culture day was very low and its integral obsorbency density was 14; the climax expression time of NCAM of the cultured hippocampal neurons was 3rd to 5th cultured day, and their integral obsorbency density were 2 542 to 2 580; henceforth, the NCAM expression declined. NCAM expression was inhibited significantly by lead during the 2nd to 4th cultured day, and dose-response relationship was observed. The inhibition of lead weakened along with the cultured time prolonged, at 5th cultured day, it disappeared, and the NCAM expression of 10(-2), 10(-3) and 10(-4) mmol/L groups even exceeded the control groups. After that, the expression of NCAM in all groups began to decline, and the dose-response relationship of lead to the NCAM expression was observed again.

CONCLUSIONLow-level lead might significantly inhibit the NCAM expression of the primarily cultured Wistar rats' hippocampal neurons, and might delay the climax NCAM expression time.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lead ; toxicity ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study therapeutic effects between hook plate fixation and modified Weaver-Dunn surgery for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

METHODSForty patients with fresh acromioclavicular joint dislocations of type III according to Rockwood classification were reviewed. All the patients were divided into two groups: hook plate fixation group and modified surgery group. There were 20 patients in hook plate fixation group, including 13 males and 7 females, with an average age of (37.45 +/- 14.29) years old; 12 patients had injuries in the left and 8 patients had injuries in the right; preoperative Constant-Murley score was 40.75 +/- 10.40. And there were 20 patients in modified surgery group,including 11 males and 9 females, with an average age of (41.65 +/- 14.83) years old; 11 patients had injuries in the left and 9 patients had injuries in the right; preoperative Constant-Murley score was 42.75 +/- 8.18. The Lazzcano standard, Constant-Murley score and imaging changes were used to evaluate shoulder joint function before and after surgery.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 7 to 32 months,with an average of 24 months. According to Lazzcano evaluation, 16 patients got an excellent result,3 good and 1 poor in modified surgery group with no re-dislocation, and 1 patient had pain more than middle degree; while in hook plate fixation group, 9 patients got an excellent result, 7 good and 4 poor, 1 patient had re-dislocation, and 3 patients got pain more than middle degree. The therapeutic effects of modified surgery group were better than those of hook plate fixation group. Constant-Murley scores:preoperative 42.75 +/- 8.18 vs 93.40 +/- 4.04 at the latest follow-up in modified surgery group; preoperative 40.75 +/- 10.40 vs postoperative 88.40 +/- 4.81 and 92.05 +/- 4.49 at the latest follow-up in hook plate fixation group. The postoperative scores all improved compared to preoperative scores in two groups. And there was no statistical difference of scores at the latest follow-up between two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe surgery of allograft tendon transplantation combined with anchor fixation to strengthen coracoclavicular ligament, as well as part transposition of acromiocoracoid ligament and resection at the distal part of clavicle may got safety fixation and less postoperative complications compared with hook plate internal fixation.

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Clavicle ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Overexpression of procollagen gene can cause the extraordinary increase of collagen's synthesis and therefore lead to the keloid and hypertrophic scar. To utilize ribozyme to suppress the expression of procollagen genes, a eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmid containing a dual-ribozyme gene against alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) procollagen genes was constructed. The ribozyme from in vitro transcription was incubated with target transcripts from recombinant plasmids which separately contained the fragments of the second exons of pro alpha 1 (I) and pro alpha 1 (III) collagen genes under various experimental conditions. The results showed that the dual-ribozyme could efficiently catalyze the specific cleavage of the target RNAs at 37 degrees C, 42 degrees C, 50 degrees C and Mg2+ concentration from 10 mmol/L to 20 mmol/L. This work provided a basis for further study on the ribozyme to suppress the expression of procollagen genes and control the cicatrization.
Base Sequence ; Exons ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Procollagen ; genetics ; RNA ; metabolism ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Temperature

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.
Dendrobium ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history