Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Diarrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to keep a good cervical curvature for improving nerve symptom in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). It is verified that cervical anterior plate internal fixation implant is effective to restore the physiological curvature of cervical vertebra.OBJECTIVE: To assess the physiological lordosis of cervical vertebra in CSM patients after cervical anterior plate internal fixation implantation.DESIGN: Observational study.SETTING: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.PARTICIpANTS: Totally 72 CSM patients were enrolled at Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital,Nanchang University from February 2003 to January 2006, including 46 males and 26 females, aged 45-70 years,averagely 54 years, with the history of 2-6 years. Inclusive criteria included ①cervical spinal cord compression shown in MRI, and ②using autogenous iliac bone. The experiment was approved by Hospital Ethics Committee, and all patients signed the informed consent. Cervical anterior plate was Orion locking plate offered by Shufamo Company. There were single segmental discectomy group (n =32) and two-level segmental discectomy group (n =40) according to experimental requirement.METHODS: ①Anterior decompression plus autogenous iliac bone implant plus titanium plate internal fixation were utilized.The patients were in supine position; shoulder and back were blocked up; neck backward, and endotracheal tube was done under general anesthesia. Transverse or oblique incision was made at right anterior neck. Discectomy decompression was performed with Caspar vertebra ecarteur. Three-dimensional autogenous iliac bone was implanted in decompressed intervertebral space. Immediate stability was obtained after Orion locking titanium plate was fixed, with placement drainage, and then the incision was sutured. ②Postoperative daily activities were conducted with cervical gear, which was removed 8 weeks later. ③Lateral cervical vertebrae X-rays were taken before operation, immediately after operation, 6 and 12 months after operation. Lordosis of the fusion segment was measured with Cobb's angle, and lordosis of cervical vertebra was assessed with D value. These data were analysed by statistic software. ④Bone fusion of the patients was followed up for 12 months after operation. Vertebral fusion standards included no abnormity between two spinous processes of the fusion segment, no lucency between implant and vertebra, as well as bone trabecula across the interface between implant bone and vertebra. ⑤Biocompatibility between material and host was observed during follow-up.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Changes of Cobb's angle and D value at different time points before and after operation,and ②Bone fusion and rejection were followed up.RESULTS: Totally 72 patients were involved in the result analysis. ①Cobb's angle was larger and D value was higher immediately after operation, 6 and 12 months after operation than those before operation in the single segmental discectomy group and the two-level segmental discectomy group (P＜0.05). ②Findings of 12-month follow-up showed that bone fusion appeared in all patients of the two groups. ③No significant rejection was found after titanium plate internal fixation implantation. It was found that material and host had a good biocompatibility.CONCLUSION: It is satisfactory to restore physiological lordosis of cervical spine by using cervical anterior plate internal fixation plus autogenous iliac bone for CSM.

Background and purpose:As a tumor suppressor gene, ribosomal S6 kinase 4 (RSK4) plays important roles in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and inducing cell apoptosis. However, the proteins interacting with RSK4 are still unknown. This study aimed to screen proteins interacting with RSK4 in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by lfag-tag affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry).Methods:The pcDNA3.1/EGFP-RSK4-Flag eukaryotic expression vector was constructed by inserting full lengthRSK4 gene into vector pcDNA3.1/EGFP-Flag. And then the recombinant plasmids were transferred into MDA-MB-231 cells. Real-timelfuorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of RSK4 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS were applied to screen proteins interacting with RSK4, and the related action mechanism of RSK4 with its interacted proteins was detected based on bioinformatics gene ontology (GO) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA).Results:Twenty-four proteins, such as serine/threonine-pro-tein kinase 38 (STK38)/serine/threonine-protein kinase 38-like (STK38L), MOB kinase activator 2 (MOB2) and protein arginineN-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), were successfully identiifed by Flag-tag affnity puriifcation followed by LC-MS/MS analysis, which probably interacted with RSK4. Bioinformatics analysis of the identiifed proteins suggested the proteins interacting with RSK4 were involved in diverse biological pathways, such as apoptosis and cell migration. Conclusion:According to bioinformatics results of proteins interacting with RSK4 identiifed by affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS, biological networks of RSK4 are involved in apoptosis and migration in breast cancer cells.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the influence of age on the diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) with amino terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) ,and to explore the best cut‐off value of NT‐proBNP in the diagnosis of AHF .Methods Totally 457 inpatients suspected with AHF obtained a blood NT‐proBNP measurement within 24 hours when in charged ,including 194 patients with AHF .Patients were divided into three groups according to their age :≤50 years ,>50-70 years and >70 years . The relationship between NT‐proBNPand AHF was analyzed .The diagnostic value of NT‐proBNP was evaluated for AHF in differ‐ent age groups .Results The median NT‐proBNP levels of AHF in all age groups were significantly higher than those without (P<0 .01) .AUC of NT‐proBNP for AHF in ≤50 years ,>50-70 years and >70 years groups were 0 .95 ,0 .91 ,0 .88 ,the best diagnos‐tic cut‐off points were 1 100 ,1 800 ,3 000 pg/mL ,respectively .The diagnostic specificity was 88% ,76% and 73% ,respectively .O‐verall ,the specificity of NT‐proBNP cut‐off values for age group was higher than non‐age groups .Conclusion NT‐proBNP has a good value in the diagnosis of AHF in patients with different ages .According to the age group ,the different NT‐proBNP cut‐off values can be used to improve the specificity of diagnosis .

A total of 209 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:without,with mild to moderate,or severe diabetic lower extremity arterial disease based on the ankle brachial index value.60 healthy subjects were used as a control group.Retinol binding protein4 (RBP4),cystatin C,and biochemical parameters were determined in all subjects.The results showed that RBP4 and cystatin C levels were progressively raised with the increasing severity of lower extremity arterial disease in various groups,being significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild to moderate and severe arterial disease compared with control group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).RBP4 and cystatin C levels in groups with lower extremity arterial disease were significantly higher than those in the group without arterial disease (P＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that RBP4 level was positively correlated with total cholesterol,triglyceride,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,fasting serum insulin,body mass index,cystatin C etc while negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that serum RBP4 and cystatin C were significantly associated with lower extremity arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To investigate the effect of bifidobacterial adhesin (BA) on nuclear factor of κB (NF-κB) and cytokines of intestinal mucosa of stressed rats.Methods Forty-eight rats were divided into stress group (n =24) and BA group (n =24) using the stochastic indicator method.After the stressed rat models were established withfettering as the stress condition,the experiment lasted 8 days.Both groups were given enteral nutrition (EN) with heat 125.4 kJ/(kg · d) and nitrogen 0.2 g/(kg · d).The BA group was fed with EN plus 5 mg/ (kg · d) bifidobacterial adhesin,and the stress group was fed with EN plus equivalent volume of normal saline [5 mg/ (kg · d)].The levels of NF-κB,interleukin-10 (IL-10),tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α),and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured in both groups before modeling,after modeling,on the 3rd intervention day,and on the 8th intervention day.The changes in the morphology of intestinal mucosal were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results (1) Expression of NF-κB:The positive expression rate of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa was 0,79.2％,63.5％,and 66.7％ in the control group and 0,68.4％,55.7％,and 45.8％ in the BA group before modeling,after modeling,on the 3rd intervention day,and on the 8th intervention day.The expressions of NF-κB in both groups significantly increased after the modeling (both P =0.000).Even on the 3rd and 8th intervention days,the positive expression rates of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa were still significantly higher than the pre-modeling level (both P =0.000).Compared with the levels after modeling and in the control group,the expression of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa in the BA group on the 8th intervention day was significantly down-regulated (P =0.015,P =0.021).(2) Quantitative expressions of TNF-α and IFN-γ:Compared with the pre-modeling levels,the intestinal mncosa levels of TNF-α [stressed group:(154.63 ± 17.52) pg/g,(198.72 ±26.59) pg/g; BA group:(154.63 ±17.52) pg/g,(201.45 ±28.16) pg/g],IFN-γ [stressed group:(39.47 ±5.76) pg/g,(55.32 ±5.93) pg/g; BA group:(39.47 ± 5.76),(60.75 ± 7.68) pg/g] and the plasma levels of TNF-α [stressed group:(17.35±2.62) pg/g,(30.56±4.85) ng/L; BA group:(83.31 ±9.78) pg/g,(114.82±13.78) ng/L] and IFN-γ [stressed group:(17.35 ±2.62) pg/g,(28.73 ±4.17) ng/L; BA group:(17.35 ± 2.62) pg/g,(30.56 ± 4.85) ng/L] significantl increased (all P ＜ 0.05).On the 3rd and 8th intervention day,the intestinal mucosa levels of IFN-γ [(58.16 ± 7.38) pg/g,(56.37 ± 7.29) pg/g] and TNF-α [(215.76 ±31.54) pg/g and (211.83 ±33.61) pg/g] and plasma levels of IFN-γ [(29.35 ±4.76) ng/L,(30.25±3.67) ng/L] andTNF-α [(125.71 ±17.38) ng/L,(141.26±19.65) ng/L] in the stressed group were significantly higher than the pre-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05).On the 3rd and 8th intervention day,the intestinal mucosa levels of IFN-γ [(165.43 ± 24.58) pg/g,(171.57 ± 26.87) pg/g]and IFN-γ [(42.35 ±4.92) pg/g,(40.58 ±4.65) pg/g] and the plasma levels of TNF-α [(103.96 ±13.68) ng/L,(94.53±12.66) ng/L] and IFN-γ [(20.78±2.84) ng/L,(19.65±2.45) ng/L] in the BA group were significantly lower than the post-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05),whereas those of IL (intestinal mucosa:(62.82 ±8.34) pg/g,(75.16 ±9.65) pg/g; plasma:(43.32 ±5.28) ng/L,(55.64 ±6.87) ng/L] were significantly higher than the post-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the stressed group,the intestinal mucosa levels of TNF-α and IFN-γand plasma levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α significantly decreased while the IL-10 level significantly increased (all P ＜0.05) in the BA group.(3) Histomorphology showed that,compared that the ileal mucosal villi and crypt structure were recovered in the BA group on the 8th intervention day.Compared with the post-modeling conditions,the ileal mucosal villi and crypt structure were damaged in the stressed group,showing edema of the lamina propria,in which inflammatory cell infiltration was observed.Conclusions BA is helpful for the repair of the intestinal mucosa injury after stress by regulating the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines of intestinal mucosa.

Semisupervisedmakesfulluseoflargeamountsofunlabeledsamplestomakeuptheinsufficiency of labeled samples. Since it is difficult to obtain a large number of accurate labeled samples and it is a good way for modeling by using a small amount of labeled samples or a large number of inaccurate samples, we proposed a new method named as semi-supervised partial least squares ( SS-PLS) to optimize model based on semi supervised learning. We used 211 samples of tobacco near infrared spectrum and sensory evaluation for modeling and used SS-PLS method to optimize tobacco sensory evaluation model. In the optimized model, the coefficient of determination ( R2 ) can reach up to 90%, the ratio of performance to deviation ( RPD) can reach up to 3 . 0 , and the standard error of cross validation and the standard error of prediction ( SECV and SEP) are below 1. 0. We divided the original sensory evaluation and SS-PLS optimized data into three grades of excellent, medium and poor in accordance with the fixed threshold, the result using projection model of based on principal component and Fisher criterion ( PPF ) shows that the classification of SS-PLS optimized data is better than the original sensory evaluation data. The SS-PLS method can solve the data representation problem of using small sample set for modeling and provides a new chemometrics method for near infrared spectroscopy modeling in case of obtaining a large number of accurately labeled samples is difficult.

Objective:To choose the best vector for the expression of CS3 fimbriae. Methods: The CS3 operon was cloned into different plasmid vectors such as pUC19 and pTrc99A. The expression of CS3 was monitored by whole-cell ELISA and SDS-PAGE analysis. The assembly of CS3 fimbriae was detected with electron microscopy. Results:The expression level of CS3 fimbriae using plasmid pUC19 as carrying vector was the highest, and the insertion orientation of CS3 gene into the plasmid has a little effect on its expression level. The expression of CS3 fimbriae was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis and electron microscopy.Conclusions:The promotor of CS3 itself played the key role in the expression of CS3 fimbriae and the copy number of plasmid was the main factor to affect the expression level.

Objective To explore the application of diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) in diagnosis of viral encephalitis in children.Methods Conventional MR imaging(T2WI and T1WI) and DWI were performed on 20 patients with viral encephalitis diagnosed clinically.Location and number of lesions demonstrated on these imagings and percents in their abnormality were compared.Results Percen-(tage of abnormality) demonstrated on DWI was significantly higher than that on T1WI(?~2=4.44 P