SUMMARY To summarize the experience of managing substernal goiter by totally endoscopic procedure and evaluate the curative effect , we analysed eight patients diagnosed as substernal goiter type Ⅰ and treated with totally endoscopic technique via central routing approach during March 2011 to June 2013 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital retrospectively .The feasibility , safety and curative effect of this surgical tech-nique were estimated .All the cases were successfully operated with the totally endoscopic procedure , and the pathological result showed that 6 were goiter and the other 2 were minimal papillary carcinoma .None of the patients suffered from any complication , and the median follow up time was 6 months ( 1 -28 months) .The totally endoscopic technique is a feasible , safe and cosmic one for managing substernal goiter type Ⅰ.

Astrocytes can regulate synaptic transmission by releasing gliotransmitter, and also can promote synaptogenesis and neurogenesis by releasing estrogen, thrombospondins, IL-1beta and IL-6. Astrocytes may play critical roles in neural nutrition and neuroprotection, so that it might be a new target for treatment of certain central nervous system diseases.
Astrocytes ; physiology ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Neurogenesis ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Synaptic Transmission ; physiology ; Thrombospondins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo summarize clinical results of the microdecompression for the treatment of intraforaminal lumbar disc herniations.

METHODSFrom September 2005 to May 2013,16 patients( 12 males, 4 females)with intraforaminal lumbar disc herniations underwent microdecompression, ranging in age from 32 to 56 years old with a mean of 38.6 years old. The lumbar disc herniations were located at L(3,4). in one patient, L(4,5) in 10 cases and L5S1 in 5 cases.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 20 to 48 months, with a mean period of 36 months. According to Macnab evaluation, 12 cases got an excellent result, 4 good. No apparent complications related to the technique occurred. Satisfactory clinical results were obtained in this series.

CONCLUSIONMicrodecompression may be particularly useful in the treatment of intraforaminal lumbar disc herniations. The microdecompression procedures are more likely to be well tolerated by older patients.

Adult ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To summarize the experience of totally endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) in treating differentiated thyroid carcinoma and to evaluate its feasibility, safety and the therapeutic result.Methods The clinical data of 25 cases of thyroid carcinoma treated with TET via the areola of breast or by axillary approach from November 2004 to July 2009 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Result TET procedures were successfully performed in all 25 cases. Postoperative pathology confirmed that 23 cases were of papillary cancer and the other 2 were follicle cancer. Lobectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy were performed in 11and 14 cases respectively. In 7 cases additional lymph node dissection was performed.All the cases were followed-up, ranging from 5 to 58 months, with a median of 28 months. No recurrence was found during this period. There was no morbidity nor major complications and patients were all satisfied with the cosmetic effect. Conclusion Totally endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) is curative, safe and cosmetic therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Complete healing of the intestinal mucosa is the most ideal goal in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The intestinal mucosa healing not only significantly alters the course of the disease and relieves clinical symptoms, but also markedly reduces the occurrence of complications and prevents recurrence of IBD. As chronic inflammation associated with peptic ulcer damage is the main pathological feature of IBD, clinical treatment is mainly based on anti-inflammatory therapy, but such therapy cannot promote the healing of the intestinal mucosa of patients. Therefore, how to achieve long-term remission of IBD is still an urgent challenge. In the process of intestinal mucosal repair, the polarization of macrophages maintains the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment, which is a representative process that promotes mucosal inflammatory-repair. It is a key part of initiating tissue regeneration that should not be underestimated. In this paper, we reviewed the literature of the past decade, focusing on the promotion of intestinal mucosal healing in IBD. The discussion will highlight the importance and feasibility of regulating macrophages to promote intestinal mucosal repair. Following this thought, we discuss the shortcomings of current clinical treatments and summarize the relevant drugs which have potential to promote intestinal mucosal repair. The aim is to provide effective potential drugs and therapeutic targets for the treatment of IBD.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of wrist-ankle acupuncture on functional states of the vegetative nerve in the recruit.

METHODSSixty recruits with the vegetative nerve balance index y > +0.56 determined with "Wenger-Chong Zhong Zhong Xiong"'s vegetative nerve balance factor assay were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture and the control group with nothing.

RESULTSAfter treatment, 24 cases with y < +0.56 was found in the treatment group and 16 cases in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWrist-ankle acupuncture can better improve functional state of the vegetative nerve in the recruit.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Humans ; Nerve Tissue ; Wrist

This study was purpose to examine the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Tween 80 on the growth and viability of stromal cells (BMSC), colony-forming units for granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) and bone marrow endothelial cell line (BMEC) from murine bone marrow in vitro, and to analyze the concentration-effect relationship. The colony yields of colony-forming units fibroblastic (CFU-F) and CFU-GM were assessed in the murine bone marrow cell cultures at various concentrations of DMSO or Tween 80 and in the control groups. The MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion were used to determine the cell viability and percentage of survival in BMSC and BMEC cultures with or without either of these organic solvents. The results showed that the colony yields of both CFU-F and CFU-GM were decreased significantly (p<0.05 or <0.01) at the concentrations (v/v final) of 2% DMSO or 0.005%-0.01% Tween 80 respectively, as compared with control. The cell viability and percentage of survival of BMSC and BMEC cultures were significantly reduced (p<0.05 or <0.01) at 0.5%-1.0% DMSO or 0.002%-0.005% Tween 80, as compared with control. With the increase of volume fractions of these solvents, the decreased percentages of corresponding measurements were increased by degrees. It is concluded that when the concentration of DMSO or Tween 80 goes to a certain level in cell culture medium, either of the organic solvents has an inhibitory action or/and cytotoxicity on the growth and viability of BMSCs, CFU-GM and BMECs. The growth inhibition and cytotoxic response are more significant at higher concentrations of these solvents.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Polysorbates ; pharmacology ; Solvents ; pharmacology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore if power frequency magnetic field (PFMF) can act as cancer promoter or be synergistic with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) in cancer promotion, the effects of 50 Hz MF on gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) of astrocytes were observed.

METHODSFluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was adopted to observe the recovery of fluorescence intensity in the bleached cells thus to estimate intercellular communication by gap junction. Comparative fluorescence intensity recovery rate (CFIRR) was as evaluation index. The effects of 50 Hz MF alone or with TPA on GJIC of astrocytes were studied.

RESULTSAfter 3 ng/ml TPA treatment for 1 hour, M(d) of CFIRR was 4.53%/min, whereas that in the control group was 9.74%/min (H = 12.084, P < 0.005). After exposure to 0.8 and 1.6 mT magnetic field for 24 hours respectively, M(d) of CFIRR was 8.25%/min and 6.68%/min respectively, no significant difference from that of control (H = 32.617, P > 0.05). After exposure to 0.8 and 1.6 mT magnetic field for 23 hours then combined with 3 ng/ml TPA treatment for 1 hour, M(d) of CFIRR was 3.32%/min and 2.85%/min respectively, also no significant difference from that in the group treated with 3 ng/ml TPA alone (H = 2.589, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION50 Hz MF (within 0 - 1.6 mT) alone could not inhibit GJIC of astrocytes; with TPA, could not enhance the inhibition of TPA on GJIC of astrocytes. But with MF intensity increasing, the inhibition of MF on GJIC showed elevated tendency.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Cell Communication ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Gap Junctions ; radiation effects ; Ornithine Decarboxylase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish a long-term proliferation culture system for mouse spermatogonial stem cells.

METHODSTestis tissues were obtained from 30 newborn male ICR mice on postnatal day 2-6. Testis cell suspension was collected by two-step enzymatic digestion prior to culture. The dissociated cells were aliquoted into tissue culture plates and cultivated with a modified system composed of serum-free defined medium on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) feeders. Their proliferation was determined by the BrdU incorporation test and the cultured cells identified by alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR assay.

RESULTSThe cultures remained in a steady state and continued to generate germ cell colonies. The undifferentiated state was confirmed by strong positivity for AP activity, immunofluorescent staining of GFRalpha-1+ /Oct-4+ /VASA+ /SCP3- and GFRalpha-1+ /Oct-4+/SCP3- at the gene expression levels.

CONCLUSIONMouse spermatogonial stem cells could be expanded in our defined culture system and passaged steadily in vitro. The harvested cells remained in an undifferentiated state, which has provided a good platform for the study of spermatogenesis in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the time dependent antioxidation changes of serum and sciatic nerve in rats intoxicated with acrylamide.

METHODSMale Wistar rats weighing 180 to 220 g were given acrylamide dissolved in physiological saline (40 mg/kg ip 3 days/week). The control groups received normal saline. The gait was observed and antioxidant indexes of rat serum and sciatic nerve were determined on 0, second, fourth, sixth, 10th week.

RESULTSWith the extension of the intoxication period, compared with the control, the contents of glutathione in serum and sciatic nerve gradually decreased (P < 0.05; after 6 and 10 weeks to 92% and 77%; after 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks to 92%, 82%, 67% and 66%); the levels of malondialdehyde gradually increased (P < 0.05; after 4, 6 and 10 weeks to 113%, 118% and 120%; after 4, 6 and 10 weeks to 153%, 167%, 174%); the abilities of the resistance to reactive oxygen species gradually decreased (P < 0.05; after 10 weeks to 82%; after 6 and 10 weeks to 76% and 71%); the activities of glutathione peroxidase gradually increased (P < 0.05; after 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks to 122%, 130%, 160% and 124%; after 4, 6 and 10 weeks to 134%, 152% 164%); the activities of glutathione reductase increased at early stage (P < 0.01; after 4 and 6 weeks to 300% and 217%; after 4 weeks to 142%) and decreased later (P < 0.01; 6 and 10 weeks to 59% and 33% in sciatic nerve); the activities of superoxide dismutase increased primitively (P < 0.05; after 2 weeks to 110%; after 4 weeks to 124%) and decreased later (P < 0.05; after 10 weeks to 85% in serum). The changes of antioxidant indexes in serum and sciatic nerve according to gait score were similar. The level of MDA in serum was in high correlation (P < 0.01) with that in sciatic nerve. The regression coefficients were 0.99 and 0.96 according to the administration time and gait score respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe changes of the antioxidant indexes in serum and sciatic nerve of rat treated with acrylamide are time dependent. The changes in serum and sciatic nerve are similar but those in sciatic nerve are more remarkable.

Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Glutathione ; blood ; metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase ; blood ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood ; metabolism ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism