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

OBJECTIVE: To develope an easy to use, rapid and accurate test for detecting buprenorphine based on the principle of competitive immunoassay. METHODS: Monoclonal antibody against buprenorphine was conjugated with colloidal gold and dispensed on the glass fiber. The complete antigen Buprenorphine-BSA and the goat anti-mouse IgG polyclonal antibody were separately sprayed on the nitrocellulose membrane as the test line (T line) and the control line (C line). The rapid test kit was the final assembled product of test strip with the plastic cover. RESULTS: A total of 100 urine samples were tested for buprenorphine by immunochromatographic and GC/ MS methods. The accuracy was 99.0%. It is found the test kit can only detect by cross reaction with other 45 kind drugs. CONCLUSION Rapid test kit can detect buprenorphine in the samples in 5 minutes. The cut-off value of the test is 100 ng/mL.
Analgesics, Opioid/urine* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology* ; Buprenorphine/urine* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods* ; Gold Colloid ; Humans ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alleles and genotype frequency of 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS101, HPRTB and DXS7423) on the X chromosome in Luoba ethnic group of China.

METHODSThe eight X chromosome STR (X-STR) loci were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by polyacylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain.

RESULTSAmong 96 unrelated Luoba individuals, the numbers of alleles in the 8 X-STR loci (DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS101, DXS7424, DXS7132 and HPRTB) were 5, 8, 7, 5, 8, 8, 8 and 5, respectively. The genotype frequencies in females were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONThe eight X-STR loci are appropriate for individual identification, paternity testing involving a female child and studies on related diseases.

China ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adult ; Castleman Disease ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo reveal the allelic frequencies and haplotype frequencies of fourteen Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a Tibetan population.

METHODSThe Y-chromosomal STR loci were analyzed from 126 healthy unrelated autochthonous male individuals of Chinese Tibetan using a multiplex PCR system. Allele and haplotype frequencies for these loci were determined by the AmpFISTR Y filer PCR Amplification kit.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-one alleles were detected from the 14 STR loci. The allele diversity values (DP) for each locus ranged from 0.4104 (DYS391) to 0.9489 (DYS385a, b), the DP value of these loci were higher than 0.5 except for that of DYS391. A total of 105 haplotypes were identified in the Y-STR loci, among which 103 were unique, while two occurred more than once. The overall haplotype diversity for the Y-STR loci was 0.9998, and the discrimination capacity was 0.9898.

CONCLUSIONThe 14 STR loci above belong to loci of high discriminating ability, the haplotypes are highly polymorphic.

Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Tibet

AIMThe structure of the human penile venous system has been well studied, but disappointing outcomes of penile venous surgery in certain patients have called into question on the anatomy. We planned to extend the anatomic knowledge with the ultimate goal of improving operative success.

METHODSThirty-five patients, who had undergone penile venous surgery, complained of poor erection developed gradually 6 months to 7 years postoperatively. Cavernosography was performed again during their return visit. Seven new patients underwent spongiosography followed by immediate cavernosography. Eleven male cadavers were carefully dissected. The anatomical findings were applied to venous surgery in 155 patients, who were then followed with the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5).

RESULTSImaging observation demonstrated that the deep dorsal vein served as a common vessel of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. A prominent cavernosal vein was found coursing along each corpus cavernosum distally to the glans, in contrast to its reported description as a short segment at the penile hilum. All cadavers had two sets of para-arterial veins sandwiching the dorsal artery. In 148 men available for follow-up, their mean IIEF-5 score was 9.3 preoperative and increased to 22.7 after the operation. The 88.5% (131/148) of the patients believed that venous stripping was a worthy treatment modality. Five cases required sildenafil to maintain their potentia, which was not working preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe failure of penile venous surgery has traditionally been ascribed to penile vein regeneration. However, our finding of a long and independent cavernosal vein and an independent set of para-arterial veins may be the principal cause in patients experiencing poor postoperative results.

Aged ; Dissection ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Phlebography ; Veins ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

This article discussed the possible physiological mechanism of "treating waist by abdominal massage therapy" from the perspectives of TCM and modern medicine, and analyzed the effects of abdominal massage from the nerve, fascia, visceral, muscle and other aspects, with a purpose to elucidate that the occurrence of relevant diseases may be caused by a variety of factors, and different massage techniques have different effects on the body.

OBJECTIVETo investigate and compare the effect of radio-frequency (RF) field exposure on expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in three human glioma cell lines (MO54, A172, and T98).

METHODSCells were exposed to sham or 1950 MHz continuous-wave for 1 h. Specific absorption rates (SARs) were 1 and 10 W/kg. Localization and expression of Hsp27 and phosphorylated Hsp27 ((78) Ser) (p-Hsp27) were examined by immunocytochemistry. Expression levels of Hsp27, p-Hs27, and Hsp70 were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe Hsp27 was primarily located within the cytoplasm, p-Hsp27 in both cytoplasm and nuclei of MO54, A172, and T98 cells. RF field exposure did not affect the distribution or expression of Hsp27. In addition, Western blotting showed no significant differences in protein expression of Hsp27 or Hsp70 between sham- and RF field-exposed cells at a SAR of 1 W/kg and 10 W/kg for 1 h in three cells lines. Exposure to RF field at a SAR of 10 W/kg for 1 h slightly decreased the protein level of phosphorylated Hsp27 in MO54 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe 1950 MHz RF field has only little or no apparent effect on Hsp70 and Hsp27 expression in MO54, A172, and T98 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; radiation effects ; Glioma ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neuroglia ; radiation effects ; Protein Transport

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure on cerebral micro vascular permeability in rats.

METHODSThe whole-body of male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed or sham exposed to 200 pulses or 400 pulses (1 Hz) of EMP at 200 kV/m. At 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 12 h after EMP exposure, the permeability of cerebral micro vascular was detected by transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using lanthanum nitrate and endogenous albumin as vascular tracers, respectively.

RESULTSThe lanthanum nitrate tracer was limited to the micro vascular lumen with no lanthanum nitrate or albumin tracer extravasation in control rat brain. After EMP exposure, the lanthanum nitrate ions reached the tight junction, basal lamina and pericapillary tissue. Similarly, the albumin immunopositive staining was identified in pericapillary tissue. The changes in brain micro vascular permeability were transient, the leakage of micro vascular vessels appeared at 1 h, and reached its peak at 3 h, and nearly recovered at 12 h, after EMP exposure. In addition, the leakage of micro vascular was more obvious after exposure of EMP at 400 pulses than after exposure of EMP at 200 pulses.

CONCLUSIONExposure to 200 and 400 pulses (1 Hz) of EMP at 200 kV/m can increase cerebral micro vascular permeability in rats, which is recoverable.

Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; Capillary Permeability ; physiology ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Electrophysiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley