ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of intramedullary spinal cord tumors(IMSCT) in children.MethodsThe clinical data including sex,age,pathohistology,clinical manifestations and medical check-up collected from 16 children diagnosed as IMSCT in Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University,were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe study subjects inclu-ded 11 male and 5 female,with an average age of(8.55?4.28) years old,ranged from 15 months to 14 years old.The interval lasted 1 day to 9 years from onset of the syndrome to confirmed diagnosis of IMSCT.The first clinical manifestation was mostly pain.The main clinical mani-festations included limb dyskinesia in 14 cases,pain in 12 cases,urine and stool disturbance in 9 cases,gait irregularity in 8 cases,extremity atrophy in 3 cases.Medical check-up included abnormal tendon reflex in 14 cases,abnormal superficial reflex in 9 cases,sphincter dilatation in 6 cases,positive Babinski's signs in 5 cases,spinal deformity in 4 cases,region masses in 3 cases,paraesthesia in 2 cases,inequality of lower limb in 1 case,dermai sinus in 1 case,pigmentation in 1 case.The cases were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging,which presented thickened spinal cord and intramedullary abnormal signals in all the cases.Pathological types: teratoma in 5 cases,dermoid cysts in 2 cases,epidermoid cyst in 2 cases.Misdiagnoses included urinary tract infections in 2 cases,rheumatoid arthritis in 1 case,and lumbar disc protrusion in 1 case.ConclusionsThe main pathohistology of pediatric IMSCT is congenital tumor.First clinical manifestation is pain.MRI can show a reliable evidence for the diagnosis.It is important to improve the outcomes of pediatric IMSCT by establishing the diagnosis and administering proper management as early as possible.

Objective To investigate the application value of human papillomavirus (HPV) combined with thinprep cytology test (TCT) detection in screening of cervical cancer. Methods 276 patients were enrolled to have HPV and TCT tests at Department of Gynecology, Shanxi Cancer Hospital from January to December in 2014. Pathological examine was applied to the patients with abnormal results of HPV and TCT. The diagnostic value of HPV, TCT and their combinations was evaluated by the diagnostic sensitivity and the rate of coincidence with the pathological examine results. Results The sensitivity of HPV and its coincidence with the pathological examine results were 81.52 % (225/276) and 79.56 % (179/225), respectively, while those of TCT were 87.68%(242/276) and 76.86%(186/242), respectively. The coincidence rate between the combination method and the pathological examination was higher (94.71%, 197/208) than the individual test. Conclusion HPV combined with TCT detection can reduce the misdiagnosis rate and improve the diagnostic accuracy rate, indicating that this method is of great value in the cervical cancer screening.

Objective To observe the effect of Wenxiao Granule on the expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? in experimental atherosclerosis rabbit, and explore its mechanism in treating atherosclerosis. Methods Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were randomized to four groups: control group, Wenxiao granule group, Simvastatin group. They were fed a high-fat diet except normal group until the mature atherosclerotic plaques formed. The rabbits in two drug-treated groups were treated with respective drug for 8 weeks. All rabbits were sacrificed. The morphology and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in aortic roots were examined. The expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results The expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? in plaque of Wenxiao Granule group and simvastatin group were significantly dereased compared with the model group (P 0.05). Conclusion Wenxiao Granule can inhibit the expression of MCP-1 and TNF-?, which may stabilize plaque of atherosclerosis.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Workplace

BACKGROUND: How to effectively treat recurrent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the elderly over 65 years has become an issue of attention in the clinic. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement for treating elderly recurrent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS:Twenty-four patients with elderly osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were divided into polymethylmethacrylate bone cement group (minimaly invasive group) and conservative treatment group on a voluntary basis (n=12 per group). Visual analog scale score for low back pain, Oswesty dysfunction index, ratio of the anterior/posterior margin height of the injured vertebra, Cobb angle and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The 12-month folow-up was completed in al the patients. There was one case of bone cement breakage during treatment in the minimaly invasive group and one case of lower limb deep venous thrombosis in the conservative treatment group at 1 month after treatment. Compared with the conservative treatment group, the visual analog scale score, Oswesty dysfunction index, and Cobb angle were significantly lower, but the ratio of the anterior/posterior margin height of the injured vertebra was significantly higher in the minimaly invasive group at 3 days, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement for elderly recurrent osteoporotic vertebral fractures can strive for short-term pain relief and long-term recovery of the vertebral height and spinal Cobb angle, thereby significantly improving patient’s quality of life.

Background The protective effects against reperfusion injury of cardioprotective drugs have recently been evaluated and found to be inadequate. Guanxinshutong (GXST), a combination of the traditional herb and Mongolian medicine, is effective and safe in treating angina pectoris in clinical trials. We assess the cardioprotective effects of GXST against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) injury in rats and explore its possible mechanism. Methods Forty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: non-MI/R group (Sham, n = 15), MI/R group treated with vehicle (Control, n = 15) and MI/R group treated with GXST (Drug, n = 15). MI/R was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 minutes, followed by 2/24 hour reperfusion in the Control and Drug groups. In the Sham group, the LAD was exposed without occlusion. GXST powder (in the Drug group) or saline (in the Control and Sham groups) were administered via direct gastric gavage from 7 day prior to surgery. Blood samples were collected from the carotid artery (10 rats each group) after 2 hours of reperfusion, to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The animals were then sacrificed and the hearts were harvested for histopathology and western blot analysis. Infarct size was measured in the remaining five rats in each group after 24 hours reperfusion. Results GXST significantly decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, ICAM-1, apoptosis index (AI) and infarct size. GXST also obviously inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity when compared with the Control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions GXST is effective in protecting the myocardium against MI/R injury in rats. Its possible cardioprotective mechanism involves inhibition of the inflammatory response and apoptosis following MI/R injury.

Objective To explore the effect of recombinant pEGFP-N3-APC vectors carrying various APC functional domains on the expression of β-catenin in human colorectal cancer cells HT-29.Methods The recombinant plasmids were transfected into HT-29 cells mediated by lipofectamine~(TM) 2000, and detected by green fluorescence and RT-PCR. Western blot was applied to detect β-catenin expression level in HT-29 cells after transfection, and gray scales of electrophoresis strips were analyzed by SPSS 13.0.Results Green fluorescence and RT-PCR made clear that all 5 recombinant plasmids were successfully expressed in HT-29 cells. Western blot showed that β-catenin expression level in HT-29 cells was not affected after being transfected with pEGFP-N3-APC1, pEGFP-N3-APC2 and pEGFP-N3-APC3, and was distinctly affected after being transfected with pEGFP-N3-APC4 and pEGFP-N3-APC5, especially the later one. Conclusion The selected APC5 gene fragment with 15-amino acid repeats and SAMP repeats, which is relatively short, can degrade β-catenin level in HT-29 cells and may be applied in the gene therapy.

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the formulation of azithromycin sustained-release vaginal suppository(ASVS).METHODS:The ASVS was prepared using S-40 as suppository base,HPMC as sustained-release material and glycerine as humectant.The formulation of ASVS was optimized by orthogonal design with accumulated release percentage and hardness as indexes and the amount of 8% HPMC and glycerol as factors;meanwhile,a verification test and the fitting of in vitro drug release model were performed.RESULTS:The optimized formulation ASVS was as follows:azithromycin 6 g,8% HPMC 23.52 g,glycerol 29.40 g,ethanol absolute 3 g,ethylparaben 0.59 g,and S-40 294 g.Three batches of suppositories prepared under the optimized formulation reached a mean content of 99.5%,with hardness up to the standard,showing good reproducibility and homogenicity in drug release in vitro.The accumulative release rates of all samples were greater than 98% at 180 min,and the release dynamics in vitro were in line with Higuchi equations.CONCLUSION:The optimized ASVS is feasible in formulation,stable and reproducible in preparation technology and up to the standard for sustained-release preparation.

Objective To observe the effect of Wenxiao Decoction in treating the patients with carotid atherosclerostic (CAS) plaque and assess the safety. Methods Sixty patients with CAS plaque were randomly allocated to treatment group (33 cases) and control group (27 cases). The control group was given routine therapy, and the treatment group was given Wenxiao Decoction additionally. And they were further divided into half-year treatment group and half-year control group, 1-year treatment group and 1-year control group. Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound and hepatorenal function were examined before and after treatment. Results Compared with the control groups after therapy, the average numbers of plaques, maximal plaque thickness, Crouse plaque integral were decreased both in 1-year and half-year treatment groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The plaque stability of 1-year treatment group was better than that of half-year treatment group. The average numbers of plaques, plaques size and Crouse plaque integral increased in control groups after routine therapy (P<0.05, P<0.01). Bilateral common carotid artery diameter, intima-medial thickness (IMT) and hepatorenal function had no statistical difference between before and after treatment both in treatment and control groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Wenxiao Decoction is effective and safe in treatment of CAS plaque, and plaque stability is more obvious with the extension of treatment time.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-channel multislice spiral computed tomography(MSCT) in subjects with presentations suggestive of stable angina or acute coronary syndrome. Methods: Subjects received both 64-channel MSCT and coronary angiography, from Feb. 2006 to Feb. 2007, were enrolled for retrospective analyses. Results of the quantitative coronary angiography were used as the "Golden criteria", accuracy of 64-channel MSCT were evaluated in the overall sample, as well as in subjects suspected of stable angina and acute coronary syndrome. Results: A total of 120 subjects were enrolled in the analyses. On the patient level, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 64-channel MSCT in detecting significant stenoses were 92.5%, 50%, and 87.5%, respectively. The overall ROC area under curve was 0.71. On the artery level, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and ROC area under curve of 64-channel MSCT were 69.9%, 83.8%, 81.1%, 73.7%, and 0.77, respectively. Further analyses showed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and ROC area under curve of 64-channel MSCT in subjects presenting as stable angina and in subjects presenting as acute coronary syndrome were as follows: 70.2% vs 69.2%, 76.2% vs 86.0%, 74.7% vs 85.6%, 71.9% vs 69.9%, and 0.73 vs 0.78. Conclusion: The accuracy rates of 64-chanel MSCT in subjects presenting as stable angina and in subjects presenting as acute coronary syndrome were similar.