Objective To compare the effect of conservative and operative treatment for cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation (CSCIWFD)and to detect mechanism of injury as well as its relationship to outcome.Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 688 patients with CSCIWFD treated from August 1994 to March 2013.There were 155 patients managed conservatively (conservation group) and 533 surgically (operation group).Neurological function improvement was compared between two groups to detect the correlation of patents' age and treatment methods with outcome.Results The patients were followed up for mean 17.9 months (range,3-36 months).Neurological function was estimated using Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score:(1) the recovery rate of patients aged over 40 years in operation group was better than that in conservation group (P ＜0.05) ; (2) the recovery rate in patients aged under 39 years was unsatisfactory in both groups,with insignificant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Different age of patients with CSCIWFD has different injury mechanism,injury severity and outcome.Surgery provides better results than conservative treatment for patients aged over 40 years,but both results are poor for patients aged under 39 vears.

Objective To investigate the coverage of a recombinant protein vaccine based on pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) from both family 1 and family 2.Methods One hundred and fifty-nine Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, including 47 invasive strains, were isolated from children in Nanjing Children′s Hospital.Cell lysates were prepared and reacted with three antibodies recognizing PspA -RX1, PspA-3296 and PspA-5668 for PspA typing by ELISA .Results Among 47 invasive isolates of 9 different serotypes, 10.7%were PspA family 1 and 89.3%were PspA family 2.Among all of 159 clinical isolates, 10.1% were identified as PspA family 1, 88.0%were family 2, while 1.9%of strains could not be typed by ELISA and PCR assays .None of strains belonged to PspA family 3.Conclusion The recombinant pro-tein vaccine based on PspA from both family 1 and family 2 has a broad coverage among clinical isolates and is potentially protective against both invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal diseases .

Objective To investigate the effects of early hemofiltration combined with traditional Chinese medicine on nasal feeding on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. Methods Seventy four patients were divided into traditional Chinese medicine group (group A, 35 cases) and traditional Chinese medicine+hemofiltration group (group B, 39 cases). In group A, patients were given a serious of procedure including fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, fluid resuscitation, inhi-bition of pancreatic secretion, antibiotic prophylaxis, parenteral nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine on nasal feeding;In group B, patients received continuous veno-venous hemofiltration treatment(also called Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy,CRRT) in addition to the procedures receiving by group A. On admission and the first, 3rd, 7th days post-treatment, the scores of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHEⅡ), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were recorded. Length of hospital stay, local and systematic complications, surgical inter-vention, mortality and hospitalization expenses were compared between two groups. Results On admission, no statistical significance was seen in the hematocrit, white blood cell count, lactic acid dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, blood glu-cose, APACHEⅡscore, Ranson’s score and classification of etiology between these two groups (P>0.05). But APACHEⅡ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 were decreased significantly in group B than in group A, after the first, 3rd, 7th days post-treatment (P＜0.05). Compared with group A, the length of hospital stay, local complications, systemic complications, surgical interven-tion, mortality and hospitalization expense were lower in group B. Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine on nasal feed-ing combined with early hemofiltration could effectively reduce complications, incidence of organ dysfunction and could im-prove the prognosis of SAP patients.

Objective To construct a gene recombinant lentiviral vector pCMV -G -U6 -hHGF and detect its expression in C2C12 myoblast cells .Methods hHGF gene fragments were obtained and purified by RT -PCR method ,and were cloned to pCMV -G&NR -U6 ,then the restructured lentiviral vector was transformed into e . coli DH5 alpha ,the positive colonies were identified by BamHI and Hind Ⅲ enzyme digestion .The selected positive colonies were tested by PCR and sequencing analysis .The expression plasmids and packing plasmids were co -trans_fected into 293 T cells ,and virus titer was observed under the fluorescence microscope .Furthermore ,transfected C2C12 cells with lenti virus ,and the expression of HGF was detected by PCR and WB methods .ResuIts PCR and sequencing analysis showed that the lentiviral vector was constructed correctly and successfully ,the virus titer was above 1 x 109 IU/mL .The results of PCR and WB showed that HGF expression level in the lentiviral vector group was much higher than those of in blank control and negative control groups ,and yet the expression was stable after 72 hours .ConcIusion The lentiviral vector pCMV -G﹠NR -U6 -hHGF has been successfully constructed ,and stable expressed in C2C12 cells .It provides references for experimental study in the fields of the denervated skeletal muscle fibrosis and nerve regeneration treatment .

Objective To determine the effect of deferoxamine administration on autophagy in a rat model of blast-induced brain injury.Methods Thirty-nine male SD rats were allotted to shamoperated group,injury group and deferoxamine group with 13 rats in each,according to the random number table.Feeney's method was applied to establish the model.Deferoxamine group received deferoxamine of 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally.Sham-operated and injury group were injected with saline intraperitoneally.All treatments were started two hours postinjury at 12 hour interval for up to 28 days.Hemoglobin,rectal temperature,blood glucose and mortality were detected at 1,3,7,14 and 28 days.Morris water maze was conducted.Rats were killed later for detecting the brain defect volume and level of Beclin 1 at the site of injury.Results There were no significant differences among the three groups with respect to hemoglobin,rectal temperature and blood glucose (P ＞ 0.05).Mortality in injury versus deferoxamine groups did not differ significantly (P ＞ 0.05).Volume of defected brain in deferoxamine group was (115.35 ± 13.70) mm3,smaller than (209.99 ± 16.70) mm3 in injury group (P ＜ 0.05).In Morris water maze test,the time spent in the searching the platform and latency to reach the platform were improved in deferoxamine group compared to those in injury group [(3.13 ± 0.35) vs (2.13 ± 0.64);(36.15 ± 26.63) s vs (110 ± 47.34) s respectively] (P ＜ 0.05).Both immunohistochemisty and western blot showed dramatically increased level of Beclin 1 after injury,but treatment with deferoxamine significantly reduced the Beclin 1 expression.Conclusion Level of Beclin 1 is significantly upregulated after blast-induced brain injury in rats,resulting in elevated autophagy postinjury,but the treatment with deferoxamine is neuroprotective possible by lessening autophagy damage.

Objective: To investigate the effects of domestic bivalirudin on plasma intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: Sixty PCI candidates were randomly divided into heparin group (n =30) and bivalirudin group (n =30).They were respectively treated with intravenous heparin and domestic bivalirudin as the anticoagulants during PCI.ICAM-1 in blood was measured before PCI and in 2h, 1d and 7d after PCI, respectively.Results: In heparin group, ICAM-1 level decreased significantly in 2 h after the intravenous injection when compared with that before the injection and that in bivalirudin group at the same time point (P＜0.05).No significant differences in ICAM-1 level were found on the 1st and 7th day after PCI in the two groups when compared with that before the administration (P＞0.05).Mild bleeding occurred in three patients receiving heparin and one patient receiving bivalirudin,but there was no significant difference after PCI.Conclusion: Compared with bivalivudin, heparin has a short inhibitory effect on the expression of ICAM-1 during PCI.It is beneficial to the patients with kidney disease or stroke during PCI.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (BHR) on inhibiting vascular calcification (VC) in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats by regulating BMP-2/Runx2/Osterix signal pathway, and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, and the BHR group, 10 in each group. Rats in the model group and the BHR group were administered with 250 mg/kg adenine suspension by gastroagavage and fed with 1.8% high phosphorus forage, once per day in the first 4 weeks, and then gastric administration of adenine suspension was changed to once per two days in the following 5-8 weeks. Rats in the BHR group were administered with BHR at the daily dose of 55 g/kg by gastrogavage in the first 8 weeks, once per day. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group by gastrogavage for 8 weeks. Histological changes in renal tissue and aorta VC were observed by HE staining and alizarin red staining respectively. Levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in serum were detected. Protein expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2), Runt related transcription factor (Runx2) , and Osterix were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSHE staining showed that compared with the normal group, disordered glomerular structure, tubular ectasia and dropsy, intracavitary inflammatory cell infiltration, dark brown crystal deposition in kidney tubules, renal interstitial fibrosis, and decreased number of renal blood vessels in the model group. Compared with the model group, normal glomerular numbers increased more, reduced degree of tubular ectasia, decreased number of inflammatory cells, and reduced adenine crystal deposition in the BHR group. Alizarin red staining showed that compared with the normal group, calcified nodes could be found in the model group, with extensive deposition of red particle in aorta. Compared with the model group, calcified nodes were reduced in the BHR group. Compared with normal group, serum levels of P, SCr, BUN, and iPTH significantly increased, serum Ca level significantly decreased, protein expressions of BMP-2, Runx2, Osterix also increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, serum levels of P, SCr, BUN, and iPTH levels significantly decreased, serum Ca level significantly increased, protein expressions of BMP-2, Runx2, Osterix also decreased in the BHD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBHD could improve renal function, Ca-P metabolism, and renal histological changes in CHF rats, down-regulate the expression level of BMP-2/Runx2/Osterix signal pathway in vascular calcification of CRF, which might be one of the mechanisms for inhibiting VC in CHF.

Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vascular Calcification ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEAs the intrauterine environment can affect childhood growth and development, this study aims to understand the relationship between birth gestational age, birth weight and physique development in 9 to 15-year-old children by a cross sectional investigation in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province.

METHODSA total of 7194 9 to 15-year-old school children were classified according to birth gestational age and birth weight: small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Their heights and weights were measured. Parents completed a questionnaire.

RESULTSThe prevalence of SGA was 6.23% (448 cases), and 5.13% of children in the SGA group did not undergo "catch-up growth" (lower than -2 SD). The mean height in these children at various stages was significantly lower than in the AGA group (P<0.05). The prevalence of LGA was 18.06% (1299 cases). A total of 179 children (13.78%) were found to be overweight and 57 children (4.39%) were found to be obese in the LGA group. The mean weight in the LGA group at various stages was significantly higher than in the AGA group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHeight and weight development in children born SGA and LGA are different from normal children. More attention should be given to aspects of height and weight development in these school children.

Adolescent ; Birth Weight ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; growth & development ; Male

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a new class of therapeutics composed of a monoclonal antibody and small cytotoxin moieties conjugated through a chemical linker. ADC molecules bind to the target antigens expressed on the tumor cell surfaces guided by the monoclonal antibody component. The binding ADC molecules can be internalized and subsequently the toxin moieties can be released within the tumor cells via chemical and/or enzymatic reactions to kill the target cells. The conjugation combines the merits of both components, i.e., the high target specificity of the monoclonal antibody and the highly potent cell killing activity of the cytotoxin moieties. However, such complexities make the pharmacokinetic and metabolic studies of ADCs highly challenging. The major challenges should include characterization of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, investigation of underlying mechanisms, assessment of pharmacokinetic- pharmacodynamic relationship, and analytical method development of ADC drugs. This review will discuss common pharmacokinetic issues and considerations, as well as tools and strategies that can be utilized to characterize the pharmacokinetic and metabolic properties of ADCs.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacokinetics ; Cytotoxins ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Immunoconjugates ; pharmacokinetics ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein detected by microspincolum method for judgment of treatment response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

METHODSTwenty eight patients with HCC undergoing TACE follow-up in hospital were recruited. AFP and AFP-L3 were measured in all the patients before and after TACE, and correlations were analyzed between AFP-L3% and response to treatment.

RESULTSAmong the twenty eight patients with HCC undergoing TACE, 8 out 11 case in AFP-L3% descent group had well treatment response, 5 out 17 case in AFP-L3% elevated group had well treatment response(Chi2 = 4. 858, P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSThe detection of AFP-L3 by microspincolum method is useful to judgment of treatment response in patients with HCC undergoing TACE.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemistry ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemistry ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis