Objective To observe enhancing effect of nerve regeneration on peripheral nerve defect models bridged by silicone tube idled with valproic acid (VPA). Methods In present research we demon-strate the effect of VPA on peripheral nerve regeneration and recovery of motor function following sciatic nerve transaction in rats. An 8-mm sciatic nerve deficit was created in a rat mode land bridged by a 1-cm silicone tube.Then, 10 lad of 8% VPA were perfused into the silicone chamber in the VPA group. The same volume of normal saline was delivered in the control group. Results Each animal was observed sciatic nerve function index (SFI) at 2-week intervals and studied electrophysiology at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks. Histological and morphometrical analyses were performed at the end of the experiment, 12 weeks after operation. Using the digital image-analysis system, thickness of the myelin sheath was measured, and total numbers of regenerated axons were counted. There was a significant difference in SFI, electrophysiological index (motor-nerve conduct velocity, MCV), and morphometrical results (regenerated axon number and thickness of myelin sheath) in nerve regeneration between the VPA group and controls (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion The results demonstrated that VPA is able to enhance sciatic nerve regeneration in rats, suggesting the potential clinical application of VPA for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury in humans.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of absorbable self-enhancing cartilage nails in the treatment of radial head fractures.Methods Data of 22 patients with radial head fractures,who had undergone open reduction and internal fixation with absorbable self-enhancing cartilage nails from January 2008 to December 2011,were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,data of 18 patients were complete,including 10 males and 8 females.According to the Mason classification,there were 14 cases of Mason Ⅱ,3 cases of Mason Ⅲ and 1 case of Mason Ⅳ.Two patients were combined with radial neck fractures,9 with osteochondral fractures of capitellum,and 1 with posterior dislocation of the elbow and olecranon avulsion fracture.The radial head fractures were temporarily fixed with Kirschner wires after open reduction,then absorbable self-enhancing cartilage nails with length from 16 to 24 mm and diameters of 1.5 mm were applied to reach final fixation.The heads of nails were right underneath of cartilages without penetrating bone cortexes on the contralateral side.The radial neck fractures were reduced and fixed with T-plates or anatomical plates after the radial head fractures were fixed with cartilage nails.Four cases of osteochondral fracture of capitellum were fixed with absorbable sutures to external epicondyle of humerus.For other 5 cases of osteochondral fracture of capitellum,the bone fragments were removed due to too small to fix.Results All 18 patients were followed up for 6 to 54 months (average,31.3 months).All fractures achieved bone union,and the healing time ranged from 5 to 12 weeks (average,8.7 weeks).There were no complications,such as internal fixation failure,nonunion,hematoma,sinus formation,osteolytic changes of radial heads and so on.According to the Broberg-Morrey elbow performance score,13 cases were excellent,4 good,and 1 fair,with the total excellent and good rate of 94.44％ (17/18).At final follow-up,the elbow range of motion was 90° to 150° (average,123.8°),and the range of forearm rotation was 130° to 180° (average,152.5°).Conclusion Absorbable self-enhancing cartilage nails can be used to treat various kinds of radial head fractures,and the results are satisfactory.

Objective To establish a rabbit model of facial skin lifting and to evaluate the skin lifting effects of absorbable soft tissue plastic belt, and to provide experimental basis for clinical application of this plastic belt.Methods 36 Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into model control group (n=6) and plastic belt lifting group (n=30). The model control group received only facial skin resection surgery, while the plastic belt lifting group had facial skin resection and plastic belt implantation.The changes of rabbit general status, skin lifting effects, performance of plastic belt and pathological changes of subcutaneous tissue after implantation were determined during the 4 weeks after surgery. Results The rabbit skin wound was healed within 3-7 days after surgery without infection.Meanwhile, the plastic belts did not show shifting or rupture, and only whitening around the perforations was observed in the two groups.Compared with the model control group, the MA and MB distances in the plastic belt lifting group were significantly lower ( P<0.01 ) , while the biological tension of plastic belts in the facial skin lifting rabbit models was significantly increased with the extension of time after implantation (P<0.01), and the biological tension was 18.62 N at 4 weeks after transplantation. In addition, the tensile intensities of perforations and plate in the two groups were significantly reduced at 4 weeks postoperatively (P<0.01), the tensile intensity of perforations and plate in the two groups were maintained at 35.07 N and 53.31 N, respectively, and the perforations/plate tensile intensity ratio of the two groups remained unchanged during 4 weeks after transplantation ( P >0.05 ) .Moreover, the molecular weight ( Mw ) , peak molecular weight ( Mp ) , Z molecular weight (Mz) and viscosity were gradually decreased along with the time passing after implantation (P<0.01), and its dispersion Mz/Mw ratio was also gradually decreased from 2 weeks after implantation (P<0.01), and no obvious pathological changes were found after subcutaneous implantation of the plastic belts.Conclusions We have successfully established a facial skin lifting rabbit model, and the plastic belt can obviously lift the facial skin fascia system and keep intact more than 4 weeks in the body.Therefore, this plastic belt can be applied for anti-wrinkle facial soft tissue lifting against the skin damage caused by aging.

OBJECTIVETo determine the possible myocilin molecular genetic defect underlying POAG in China and to identify the pathogenic mutation causing the disease.

METHODSThe majority of 1 branch of a large Chinese POAG family were personally examined by two senior ophthalmologists. The diagnoses were made by both doctors according to the signs of elevated intraocular pressure, glaucomatous optic neuropathy and glaucomatous visual field defect. All coding sequences of the myocilin gene plus the flanking sites were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genomic DNA from all examined family members followed by sequencing of the PCR products. One hundred normal control subjects were screened by single strand confirmational polymorphism analysis for the mutation.

RESULTSThis Chinese pedigree exhibited autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The onset age ranged from 26 to 59 years. A novel disease-causing missense mutation T455K in the third exon of the myocilin gene was identified in all affected family members, all glaucoma suspects and 4 individuals who have not shown apparently signs of glaucoma. None of the subjects without the mutation had glaucoma. Affected individuals with the T455K mutation showed variable onset between 26 and 59 years of age. Filtering surgery was performed on all of 7 affected family members. The T455K mutation in myocilin gene was not found in the normal controls. A previously reported polymorphism IVS2+35(A to G)was detected in 4 individuals.

CONCLUSIONThe novel myocilin sequence alteration T455K that is highly associated with the development of glaucoma and locates in a very conserved residue is proven to be a disease-causing missence mutation. All affected individuals and all POAG suspects in this family are identified to have this mutation. The mutation in this family is associated with a phenotype characterized by mix-onset open angle glaucoma and associated with a high penetrance. It is important for the mutation screening and periodical checkups of presymptomatic individuals belonging to the family of a POAG patient with T455K mutation.

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; genetics ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

We report two patients with unilateral vertical retraction syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits of the two cases showed similar size and location of the orbital structure, but with dramatically different strabismus type. MRI sagittal reconstruction of the orbits suggested that abnormal muscle tissue arised from the inferior rectus, which might be associated with retraction and narrowing of the palpebral fissure and atypical strabismus as well.
Child ; Eyelids ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Oculomotor Muscles ; physiopathology ; Orbit ; pathology ; Strabismus ; pathology ; Syndrome

BACKGROUNDWith the technical advances, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now sensitive enough to detect subtle structural abnormalities of ocular motor nerves arising from the brainstem and orbits of living subjects. This study was designed to delineate the MRI characteristics in patients with special forms of strabismus.

METHODSA total of 29 patients with special forms of strabismus underwent orbital and intracalvarium MRI. Imaging of the ocular motor nerves in the brainstem was performed in 0.8 mm thickness image planes using the three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) sequence. Nerves to extraocular muscles (EOMs), EOMs and their associated connective tissues were imaged with T1 weighting in tri-planar scans by dual-phased coils within 2.0 mm thick planes.

RESULTSPatients with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles exhibited hypoplasia of the oculomotor (CN3), abducens (CN6), trochlear (CN4) nerves, and the EOMs; hypoplasia of CN6 in the brainstem and an extra branch of the inferior division of CN3 to the lateral rectus were the most common but not the only presentation of Duane's retraction syndrome. Hypoplasia of CN6, facial (CN7) and hypoglossal (CN12) nerves were revealed in patients with Möbius syndrome. In a rare case of bilateral synergistic convergence and divergence, an enlarged branch of CN3 to the medial rectus and a questionable branch of CN3 to the inferior rectus bilaterally were found.

CONCLUSIONMRI can reveal subtle structures of the ocular motor nerves and their corresponding EOMs. This can provide valuable information regarding pathogenesis in some special forms of strabismus.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cranial Nerves ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Oculomotor Muscles ; pathology ; Prospective Studies ; Strabismus ; pathology

Positive-sense RNA viruses modify intracellular calcium stores, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus (Golgi) to generate membranous replication organelles known as viral factories. Viral factories provide a conducive and substantial enclave for essential virus replication via concentrating necessary cellular factors and viral proteins in proximity. Here, we identified the vital role of a broad-spectrum antiviral, peruvoside in limiting the formation of viral factories. Mechanistically, we revealed the pleiotropic cellular effect of Src and PLC kinase signaling via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 signaling leads to Golgi-specific brefeldin A-resistance guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (GBF1) phosphorylation and Golgi vesiculation by peruvoside treatment. The ramification of GBF1 phosphorylation fosters GBF1 deprivation consequentially activating downstream antiviral signaling by dampening viral factories formation. Further investigation showed signaling of ERK1/2 pathway via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 activation leading to GBF1 phosphorylation at Threonine 1337 (T1337). We also showed 100% of protection in peruvoside-treated mouse model with a significant reduction in viral titre and without measurable cytotoxicity in serum. These findings highlight the importance of dissecting the broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics mechanism and pave the way for consideration of peruvoside, host-directed antivirals for positive-sense RNA virus-mediated disease, in the interim where no vaccine is available.