Objective To explore different treatment choices for unilateral cervical facet locking. Methods The study involved 32 patients with cervical unilateral facet locking. Successful reduction by the skull traction was done in eight patients, of whom three were fixated by the head and neck chest plas-ter after a month of traction. Five patients were treated with anterior decompression and internal fusion fixation. The other 23 patients resulted in failure of traction and then were treated with anterior reduction, discectomy and internal fusion fixation in 14 patients, subtotal vertebral decompression and bone graft fix-ation in three, posterior open reduction and anterior bone graft fixation in one, posterior reduction, fixation and internal fusion fixation in three and posterior reduction and decompression plus anterior discectomy decompression and bone graft fixation in two. Due to misdiagnosis, one patient was treated with anterior decompression and fusion eight months after injury. Results A follow-up for average 18 months showed cervical instability in two patients who were treated with only traction, without fusion. The patients treated with anterior cervical fusion obtained bone union after 12 weeks, with satisfactory cervical physiological curvature and vertebral height. There were no internal fixation complications or neurological complications. Conclusions The treatment of lower cervical unilateral facet locking needs a compre-hensive considerations on whether there associates with disc injury, posterior column fractures or spinal cord injuries. As for patients with lower cervical unilateral facet locking combined with traumatic cervical disc herniation, the anterior reduction and decompression is the choice of treatment. While for those with-out disc herniation, traction or posterior open reduction and fixation can be carried out directly.

Objective To study the feasibility and clinical effect of percutaneous C2 pedicle lag screw in treatment of Hangman's fracture and define the indications of the technique. Methods There were 9 patients including 5 males and 4 females at average age of 36 years (26-68 years). According to a Levine and Edwards System, there were 5 patients with type Ⅰ hangman' s fracture, 3 with type Ⅱ hangman' s fracture and 1 with type Ⅱ A hangman' s fracture. According to American spinal injury association (ASIA) system, the spinal cord function was ranked at Type D in 2 patients and Type E in 7. All patients achieved anatomic reduction by skull traction. Under general anesthesia, 9 patients were fixed with percutaneons C2 pedicle lag screw. The whole procedure was done under monitoring of "C"-arm fluoroscopy for safety and accuracy. Results All patients obtained bony fusion within 2-3 months, with no infection, neurological deficits, vertebra artery injury or other complications. CondusionsThe percutaneous C2 pedicle lag screw fixation is minimally invasive and effective for treatment of Hangman's fracture. During the course of treatment, the function of upper cervical spine remains unaffected.

Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To study the methods and clinical effects of joint expansion of double fascia flaps wrapping the Medpor to perform full-ear reconstruction on congenital microtia deformity.Methods 60 patients with congenital microtia deformity were selected.including 22 left ears and 38 right ears.Majority had loss of ear auricle or only partial earlobe.Phase Ⅰ procedures included:temporal-parietal branch was used for the vascular pedicle,and mastoid area behind the ear was moved and expanded for fascia flap.Phase Ⅱ included:the joint expansion of double fascia flap wrapped Medpor to do full-ear reconstruction.Results Flaps survived and no complications for all 60 patients.Reconstructed ears had lifelike appearance and clear anatomical structures.Auriculocephalic angulars positions and sizes were consistent with the healthy ears.None of them had exposed prosthesis and scar contraction.Three-dimensional shapes were good.Conclusions Joint expansion of double fascia flap wrapping Medpor could avoid the chest wall deformity and exposed prosthesis.The fine structure of the reconstructed ear is satisfactory.

Objective To study the methodology and effect of auricle reconstruction with prefabricated expanded fascial flap in temporal and parietal area and skin flap in mastoid area, covered on the Medpor support. Methods Thirty cases of congenital vestigial auricle were involved in this study. The operations were divided into two stages: in the stage I,the temporal and parietal superficial fascia flap was cut with a vascular pedicle in the parietal and temporal superficial area, which was implanted under the skin of mastoid, and then both layers of those were expanded at the same time; in the stage II, this fascial skin flap was cut down and covered on the whole Medpor support to rebuild the man-made auricle. Results Thirty cases were successful after following-up for 6 months to 3 years. Their auricle shapes were vivid; their skin color was normal, and it had no any difference from all around skins, or no any appearance of the support. Conclusions With best understanding the biological characteristics of the Medpor support and choosing the suitable procedures and using the prefabricated expanded support, we could minimize the surgical complications in this operation. The results show that this procedure is satisfactory, without any necrosis of flap, swelling of contour, or appearance of the support. The combination of two flaps is the best method for the auricle reconstruction.

The development status of acupuncture and moxibustion in Tunisia is introduced in this article. Although acupuncture and moxibustion only has a history of more than 30 years in Tunisia, it is very popular among the local people. Until now, there is one acupuncture and moxibustion center aided and built with the help of the Chinese government. Acupuncture and moxibustion clinical department has been set in some of the hospitals, and acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice is also carried out in some private clinics. Cost of acupuncture and moxibustion in public hospitals has already been covered by medical insurance. As for education of acupuncture and moxibustion, training courses were set up in medical colleges of Tunisia by Tunisian government which is lectured by Chinese acupuncture experts. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been used to treat many diseases in Tunisia and is warmly welcomed by Tunisian.
Acupuncture ; economics ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; economics ; history ; trends ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; economics ; history ; trends ; Tunisia

OBJECTIVE: To research the relation between the time-dependent appearances of myotibroblasts during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat and wound age determination. METHODS: A total of 35 SD male rats were divided into the control and six injured groups according to wound age as follows: 12 h, 1 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury. The appearances of myofibroblasts were detected by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Masson's trichrome staining was utilized to examine collagen accumulation in the contused areas. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that α-SMA+ myofibroblasts were initially observed at 5 d post-injury. The average ratio of myofibroblasts was highest at 14 d post-injury, with all samples, ratios more than 50%. In the other five groups, the average of α-SMA positive ratios were less than 50%. The collagen stained areas in the contused zones, concomitant with myofibroblast appearance, were increasingly augmented along with advances of posttraumatic interval. CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical detection of myofibroblasts can be applied to wound age determination. The myofibroblasts might be involved in collagen deposition during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat.
Animals ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Contusions/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the quinoline derivative PQ1 combined with cisplatin on the proliferation and gap junction communication of prostate cancer PC3 cells.

METHODSWe cultured in vitro prostate cancer PC3 cells and divided them into DMSO blank control, cisplatin control, and cisplatin (10 mg/ml) plus PQ1 (1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 μmol/L) groups. We measured the proliferation of the prostate cancer PC3 cells, determined the expressions of the connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA and protein by RT-PCR and Western blot, and compared the indexes among different groups.

RESULTSCisplatin combined with PQl at 1 - 10 μmol/L significantly inhibited the proliferation of the PC3 cells and the inhibition rate rose in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, from (48.72 ± 0.98)% vs (50.33 ± 0.62)% at 0 μmol/L to (77.38 ± 1.12)% vs (83.50 ± 1.05)% at 15 μmol/L at 24 and 48 hours (P < 0.05). Compared with the cisplatin control, cisplatin combined with PQ1 at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 μmol/L increased the expression of Cx43 mRNA from 0.379 ± 0.113 to 0.669 ± 0.031, 0.831 ± 0. 127, 0.769 ± 0.100, 0.532 ± 0.086, and 0.475 ± 0.134, respectively (P < 0.05), and cisplatin combined with PQ1 at 1, 2, 5, and 10 μmol/L elevated that of Cx43 protein from 0.138 ± 0.146 to 0.263 ± 0.111, 0.306 ± 0.152, 0.415 ± 0.280, and 0.643 ± 0.310, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe quinoline derivative PQ1 can promote the gap junction communication of prostate cancer PC3 cells and enhance the killing effect of cisplatin on PC3 cells by upregulating the expressions of Cx43 mRNA and protein.

Aminoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Time Factors

Objective To study the methodology and results of the auricle repair with expanded skin flap in mastoid process area and Medpor support in children with congenital malformation.Methods Thirty cases of congenital malformation were enrolled with age ranged from 5～16 years old.Whole auricles were all reconstructed with an expanded skin flap in mastoid process area and Medpor support.Resuits In all successful cases.their repaired auricles had the natural complexion and profile,and the positions were symmetric with healthy one,but in 2 cases(age group of 11-16 years),the expanded skin flap had less skin grafting.Conclusion It is suggested that optional operation time might be selected before 10 years old,because their psychological trauma could be avoided owing to microtia and in that age the size of the expanded flap is larger enough to reconstruct the ear as their auricle iS well-developed.

OBJECTIVEN-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a sulfhydryl donor molecule with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. A major role has been described for inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in several inflammatory liver diseases. NAC attenuates NO generation following lipopolysaccharide injection in rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NAC against lipopolysaccharide injury in hepatocytes of neonatal mice and the molecular mechanisms by which NAC influences inflammatory responses of the hepatocytes.

METHODSThe liver of neonatal mouse was digested by collagenase to dissociate the hepatocytes. The hepatocytes were cultured and isolated. After 7 days of culture the normal hepatocytes were divided into two groups: LPS group and NAC group. In LPS group, 10 microg/ml LPS was added into the culture medium. In NAC group, 5 mmol/L NAC was added into the culture medium firstly, 10 microg/ml LPS was added after 1 h of culture. There were 12 mice in each group. The cell supernatants and the hepatocytes were collected at 0, 6 and 12 hours after adding LPS. The cell supernatants were taken to measure the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and nitric oxide (NO) production by the biochemical methods. The cells were taken to analyze the gene expression of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by the RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn LPS group, the levels of ALT, NO and iNOS mRNA increased significantly at the time points 6 h and 12 h compared with the time point 0, (P < 0.01). Compared with the LPS group, the levels of ALT, NO and iNOS mRNA of NAC group were lower at the time points 6 h and 12 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNAC may play a protective role in the hepatocytes injury caused by LPS in the neonatal mice. The protective mechanism works partially through the inhibition of iNOS activation by LPS.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism