BACKGROUND: It has been reported that magnesium sulfate(Mg2SO4)treatment has a satisfactory effect on brain ischemia-reperfusion injury, but its effect on spinal cord ischemic injury remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intravenous administration of Mg2SO4 on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury and further probe into its mechanism.DESIGN: Randomized controlled repeatedly measuring design based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Central research laboratory of a university hospital.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Central Research Laboratory, Medical College of Xi' an Jiaotong University from April 2003 to June 2004. Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits with body mass of 1.9to 2. 5 kg were included. The rabbits were randomly divided into Mg2SO4group, normal saline group and sham-operation group with 9 rabbits in each group.METHODS: The lower segment of the kidney under abdominal aorta was occluded for 30 minutes and 48-hour reperfusion was performed to establish ischemia-reperfusion model of lumbosacral segment of spinal cord. Mg2SO4group (Group A, n = 9) received Mg2SO4 at the dose of 0. 25 mL/kg per hour throughout this procedure; the same volume of saline solution was used in normal saline group(Group B, n=9) . Animals of sham-operation group (Group C, n = 9) were anesthetized and received laparotomy without aortic occlusion. The somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) was detected before ischemia, 30 minutes after ischemia, and 1, 2, 8, 16 and 24 hours after reperfusion. Motor function score was assessed in Mg2SO4 and saline groups 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion. After reperfusion for 48 hours, the animals were killed and histopathological test was performed on the spinal cord.MAIN OUTCOM MEASURES: Motor function score, SEP monitoring and spinal histopathological test.RESULTS: The latency of SEP(Nt) was markedly longer 30 minutes after ischemia in Mg2SO4 group. It was obviously recovered during the first two hours after reperfusion compared with during ischemia, but was obviously prolonged after that. Waveform disappeared 30 minutes after ischemia in normal saline group. SEP amplitudes and latencies in sham-operation group did not change remarkably during the procedures and all the animals recovered without neurological deficits. At each reperfusion time point, the recovery of SEP(N1) latency was better in Group A than that in Group B( P ＜ 0.05). The average motor function score at 24 hours and 48 hours after reperfusion was significantly higher in Group A[ (3.7 ±0.5) and(3.4 ±0.7) points] than that in GroupB [(3.0±0.7) and (2.6±0.9) points](P ＜0.05). The normal nerve cell counting of spinal cord 48 hours after reperfusion in Mg2SO4 group(23. 4 ± 3. 4) was significantly higher than that in saline group (12.3 ±3.2)(P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Intravenous Mg2SO4 administration may reduce spinal cord injury and preserve neurological function in transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.

Objective To investigate the effect of suspended moxa stick moxibustion on points Shenshu(BL23) and Guanyuan(CV4) on the pituitary-adrenal axis and the pituitary-thyroid axis in rats with kidney yang deficiency. Method A rat model of corticosterone kidney yang deficiency was made by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone. The rats were randomized into model control and moxibustion treatment groups. A blank control group was set up. The moxibustion treatment group received suspended moxa stick moxibustion on points Shenshu and Guanyuan 20 min once daily, for a total of 14 times. After the completion of treatment, serum CORT, ACTH, T3, T4 and TSH contents were measured by ELISA and pituitary expressions of ACTH and TSH mRNA were determined by RT-PCR. Result There was no significant difference in serum CORT (P>0.05), there were significant differences in serum ACTH, T4 and TSH and pituitary ACTH and TSH mRNA (P<0.05) and there was a very significant difference in serum T3 (P<0.01) between the moxibustion treatment and model control groups. There were no significant differences in the above indicators between the moxibustion treatment and blank control groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Suspended moxa stick moxibustion on points Shenshu and Guanyuan produces a therapeutic effect on rat kidney yang deficiency by decreasing serum TSH content, down-regulating pituitary TSH mRNA expression, increasing serum ACTH, T3 and T4 contents and up-regulating pituitary ACTH mRNA expression.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of ginkgo leaf extracts on spinal cord after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rabbits and to find out its possible mechanism. METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, which were sham-operation group, untreated group and ginkgo leaf extracts-treated group. The locomotor scores of hindlimbs in rabbits after 24 and 48 h of reperfusion were evaluated, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in ischemia spinal cord were examined. The apoptotic index (AI) of neurons in spinal cord was detected by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were examined by streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. RESULTS: The locomotor scores of hindlimbs in rabbits after 24 and 48 h of reperfusion in the ginkgo leaf extracts-treated group were obviously elevated as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.05). The activity of SOD was higher and the level of MDA was lower in ischemia spinal cord in the ginkgo leaf extracts-treated group than those in the untreated group (P<0.01). The decreased neuron AI and the expressions of up-regulated Bcl-2 protein and down-regulated Bax protein were also observed in the ginkgo leaf extracts-treated group. CONCLUSION: The protective effects of the ginkgo leaf extracts against spinal cord injury induced by IR may be related to scavenging oxygen free radicals, reducing lipid peroxidation injury and inhibiting apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Xuebijing injection on coagulation function and prognosis in patients with sepsis. METHODS:50 patients with sepsis were randomly divided into control group and observation group according to the hospi-talization sequence,with 25 cases in each group. Control group received conventional treatment,and observation group was addi-tionally given Xuebijing injection(50 ml added into 5% Glucose solution or 0.9% Sodium chloride solution 250 ml intravenously, bid) on the basis of conventional treatment. Treatment course lasted for 7 d. The coagulation function,APACHE Ⅱscore after 7 days of treatment and 28 d mortality were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS:After 7 d treatment,the coagulation indexes were improved significantly in 2 groups compared with before treatment,and the APACHEⅡscores were decreased significantly in both groups;the observation group were significantly better than the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). After followed up for 28 d,the mortality rate of 2 groups were 16% and 28%,there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). CON-CLUSIONS:Xuebijing injection can inhibit blood clotting activation,correct the coagulation disorders,and improve the sepsis se-verity.

Objective To study the differential expressions of labour-associated genes,including interleukin-8 (IL-8),oxytocin receptor (OTR) and prostaglandin H synthase type-2 (PGHS-2)) between preterm labour and term labour myometrium and their clinical significance.Methods Seventeen cases of preterm labour (PTL) and 31 cases of preterm no labour (PTNL) of pregnant women were selected as study group,while 6 cases of term labour (TL) and 6 cases term no labour (TNL) of pregnant women were chosen as control.Lower myometrial tissue biopsies were collected to detect the expressions of IL-8,OTR and PGHS-2 by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) as well as Western blot analysis.The expression data were then statistically analyzed in combination with clinical data.Results In the lower myometrial tissues,the mRNA levels of IL-8 and PGHS-2 were significantly lower in PTL group than in TL samples (P0.05),but the PGHS-2 mRNA level was significantly higher in TL group than in TNL group (P0.05).Correlation analysis suggested that the mRNA level of IL-8 was significantly correlated with gestational age in PTNL group (r=0.294,P=0.042).Multiple linear regression analysis showed a mutual control effect of the expressions of IL-8,OTR and PGHS-2 in preterm but not in term labour group.Conclusion Our results show that there are significant differences of the expression of labour-associated genes in lower myometrum between preterm labour and term labour,which might becorrelated with the progression of preterm labour.

Objective To clinically observe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) before and after cerebrovascular disease attacking and find prevention ways.Methods Seventy cases of berebrovascular patients were observed the OSAS status and the clinic data were collected in the mean time.Results We found 70% patients with snore and suffocation,89% with day drowse before attacking.After attacking,82% in-patient cases appeared different degree lower ventilation or apnea during 1～7d sleeping,which the average paroxysm frequency were 79 times per night and the average time were 72s per paroxysm.The therapeutic effects were good through different measures.Conclusion The active measures should be taken on OSAS after cerebrovascular disease attacking,which has a high frequency of OSAS.

ObjectiveTo identify the pathogens causing complicated skin and soft tissue infection and their susceptibility to antibiotics.MethodsThe clinical data on and aetiological examination findings in 99 cases of complicated skin and soft tissue infection were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsTotally,99 bacterial strains were isolated,including 51 Gram-positive bacteria(29 community-associated,22 hospital-acquired)and 48 Gram-negative bacteria ( 13 community-associated,35 hospital-acquired).Of the Gram-positive bacteria,staphylococci were the most common bacteria,which showed a high resistance rate to erythromycin (95.45％),penicillin G(72.73％),clindamycin,oxacillin and levofloxacin,but a high sensitivity to teicoplanin,vancomycin,linezolid,fusidic acid and moxifloxacin.Besides,the community-associated staphylococci possessed a higher sensitivity to trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole,tetracycline and ciprofloxacin than the hospital-acquired staphylococci did(all P ＜ 0.05).Notably,11 of the 99 isolates were identified as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).The four predominant Gram-negative bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumonia,Escherichia coliand Acinetobacter baumannii.These Gram-negative bacteria,especially the hospital-acquired Gram-negative bacteria,exhibited high resistance to levofloxacin,trimethoprim + sulfamethox azole and gentamicin but favorable sensitivity to carbapenems,tobramycin,piperacillin and tazobactam.ConclusionsComplicated skin and soft tissue infection is caused by various species of bacteria with high resistance to common antibiotics.Therefore,the results of drug sensitive tests should serve as the basis for proper use of antibiotics in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infection.

ObjectiveTo explore the expression and significance of ER, PR,C-erbB-2,CylinDl, Rb in different precancerous lesions of breast. MethodsThe expressions of ER, PR, C-erbB-2, CylinD1, Rb in breast normal tissue,hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and early-stage breast cancer were examined by immunohistochemical technique. ResultsThe expressions of ER and PR were increasing time trend in the different precancerous lesions, and were related to the breast proliferative degree; the positive expression rates of ER and PR in atypical hyperplasia were 63.2% and 68. 4% respectively,significantly higher than those in normal breast tissue(31.3% and 37. 5% respectively) and in hyperplasia(37. 1% and 42.9% respectively). The positive expression rates of CylinD1 and C-erbB-2 were increasing time trend in the different precancerous lesions. The negative expression rate of Rb was the highest in early-stage breast cancer,and it was zero in normal breast tissue and hyperplasia. ConclusionThe five tumor markers are important factors in breast carcinogenesis, and the overexpression of ER, PR, C-erbB-2, CylinD1 and Rb protein low-expression may be one of the causes of breast neoplasms.

ObjectiveTo observe effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4) administration on ischemia reperfusion injury of the spinal cord in rabbits.MethodsNew Zealand White rabbits (n=27) were randomly divided into the group A (treated with MgSO4), group B (treated with saline) and group C (sham group) with 9 animals in each group. Ischemic model was established with midline laparotomy and clamping the aorta just distal to left renal artery and proximal to aortic bifurcation for 30 min followed by a reperfusion period of 48 h. Animals were treated with 0.25 ml/kg/h MgSO4 intravenous infusion in group A, treated with similar volume of saline as control in group B, and were anesthetized and subjected laparotomy without aortic occlusion in group C. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were monitored before ischemia, during ischemia and in the first 60 min of reperfusion. The neurological outcome was clinically evaluated up to 48 h post ischemia, and motor function was scored. The animals were sacrificed two days post ischemia, and spinal cords were processed for histopathological examination.ResultsSEP amplitudes and latencies in group C did not change during the procedures and all animals recovered without neurological deficits. The waves disappeared in group B and reduced to 29% of the initial amplitude at the end of the ischemia in group A. After 60 min reperfusion, SEP amplitudes returned gradually to 74% and 49% of the initial amplitude respectively (P<0.01) in groups A and B. The N1, P1 latencies returned gradually to (28.9±1.9) ms, (57.3±3.2) ms in group A and (30.7±0.9) ms, (61.2±2.9) ms in group B (P<0.05). The average motor function score in group A was significantly higher than that in group B at 24 h and 48 h after reperfusion (P<0.01).ConclusionMgSO4 intravenous infusion may relieve spinal cord injury and preserve neurological function in transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.

Objective To detect the impact of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) on mitochondrial morphology and distri-bution during mitosis.Methods A viral vector in which the fluorescence gene was specifically under the control of mito-chondrial promoter was constructed and confirmed through DNA sequencing and Western blotting.After transfecting HeLa s3 cell with packaged virus, the HeLa s3-COX4tp-EGFP cell line stably expressing the mitochondrial fluorescence signal was obtained.With immunofluorescent staining, the impact of ROS on the morphology and distribution of mitochondria dur-ing mitosis was inspected.Result The cell line constantly expressing mitochondrial fluorescence signals was successfully constructed.Meanwhile,it was found that H2 O2 treatment could significantly change the morphology and distribution of mi-tochondria during mitosis by confocal microscopy.Conclusion Our study demonstrates that ROS can affect the morphology and distribution of mitochondria during mitosis.This research help study the relationship between the mitochondrial function and the regulation of mitosis in the future.