The fresh conidia powder of Beauveria bassiana SGBB8702 produced with diphasic technology was dried using 36-h procedures of vacuum-freeze drying (VFD) or vacuum drying (VD). The VFD and VD procedures reduced water content of the fresh conidia powder from 58.56% to 3.97% and 4.26%, resulting in preparations containing 1.29, and 1.25?10 11 conidia/g. The VFD or VD conidia had the same viability (≥98%) as the fresh ones but germinated slightly more slowly than the fresh ones. The estimates of LC 50 s for the fresh, VFD, and VD conidia against Myzus persicae on day 7 after inoculation were 1.15, 5.89, and 2.95?10 4 conidia/ml, respectively. At the concentration of 10 6 conidia/ml, the LT 50 of the fresh conidia against M. persicae was estimated as 3.6 d, corresponding to 3.9 d and 4.4 d for the VFD and VD conidia, respectively. Due to much lower cost, the VD procedure was of greater potential for drying B. bassiana conidia in mass production though the VFD procedures resulted in slightly better quality of conidia powder. The viability and virulence of the VFD conidia were assessed periodically during 12-mon storage at 4℃ and 20℃, respectively. No viable conidia stored at 20℃ were detected 255 d after storage whereas those stored at 4℃ had a viability of 90.15% and an LT 50 of 4.7 d at the end of 12-mon storage. The results showed that storage of B. bassiana conidia powder at ambient temperature was unable to maintain shelf life at commercially acceptable level even though its water content was reduced to

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck Dissection ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; Lead ; toxicity ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Compared with smooth titanium, titania nanotubes cannot only induce mesenchymal stem cels osteogenic differentiation and promote bone integration, but also be used as drug nanocarriers. OBJECTIVE:To prepare dexamethasone-loaded titania nanotube system and to test its drug release characteristics. METHODS:Titania nanotubes were prepared by electrochemical anodic oxidation, and dexamethasone was dripped onto the prepared titania nanotubes. Subsequently layer by layer self-assembly technology was employed to fabricate gelatin/chitosan multilayered structure on the prepared samples. Scanning electron microscope and contact angle test were carried out during the process of building the gelatin/chitosan multilayered structure. The drug release was measured by a ultraviolet spectrophotometer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the scanning electron microscopy, the fabricated titania nanotubes had integral structure with even tube size of about 70 nm and arranged regularly, and the nanotubes were completely covered and sealed by the gelatin/chitosan multilayered membrane. Contact angle test results showed that ever since the fifth layer, contact angles changed alternately and displayed a zigzag profile. Ultraviolet spectrophotometer test results showed that when cultured for 3 hours, the cumulative drug release was about 32.7% and demonstrated an initial burst folowed by sustained release. When cultured for 24 hours, the cumulative drug release about 52.3%. However, after cultured for 7 days, little drug release was detected. And there was about 8.0%-10.0% dexamethasone of initial loading preserved in nanotubes.

OBJECTIVETo explore effectiveness and safety of segmental anterior cervical decompression in treating multi-level cervical myelopathy.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with four levels of cervical myelopathy were treated with segmental anterior cervical decompression (reservation of middle vertebrae, bone graft and plate-screws fixation). Among patients, there were 15 males and 9 females aged from 47 to 75 (averaged 57.9) years old. Preoperative, postoperative at 1 week and the latest following-up AP and lateral X-rays were used to observe bone union, displacement of implant, adjacent segment degeneration, changes of Cobb angle of fusion segment. JOA scoring were applied for evaluate recovery of nerve function.

RESULTSAll operations were completed successfully, 2 cases ocurred hoarseness, and improved after treated symptomatically. Nineteen patients were followed up from 3.1 to 5.3 years with an average of 3.9 years. Bone union time ranged from 3 to 7 (averaged 4.5) months. No screw loosening and displacement occurred. Nine patients occurred titanium mesh subsidence in different degrees, and 4 of them subside >3 mm; four patients ocurred adjacent segment degeneration. Postoperative Cobb angle of fusion segment at 1 week (10.40±2.94)° was improved from preoperative (5.76±4.16)°, but decreased at the latest follow-up (8.57±2.82)°, and had significant meaning compared with preoperative (P<0.01). JOA score at the latest follow-up (14.6±1.1) was higher than that of before operation (8.2±1.9), and had siginificant differences (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSegmental anterior cervical decompression for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy has a high clinical operability, and plays an important role in recovering cervical curvature and nerve function based on completely decompression.

Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects and operative options for the treatment of Forestier disease.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to May 2012, 8 patients with progressive dysphagia due to Forestier disease were treated through anterior approach, their clinical data were retrospective analyzed. There were 6 males and 2 females, aged from 65 to 83 years old with an average of 73 years. Among the patients, osteophytes removal was performed in 3 cases, osteophytes removal with discectomy and fusion was performed in 2 cases, osteophytes removal with corpectomy and fusion was performed in 3 cases. According to Bazaz dysphagia score to assess the improvement of the patients' symptoms before and after operation.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 40 months with the mean of 18.5 months. Seven cases were asymptomatic and 1 case had mild symptom in the last follow-up. Radiographs showed the space enlargement between vertebral body and trachea.

CONCLUSIONIt is effective to treat patients with progressive dysphagia due to Forestier disease through surgical method. And the operative options depend on the stability of cervical spine and the neurological symptoms of the patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male

This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of hepatic resection combined with radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection (HR) alone for the treatment of multifocal hepatoeellular carcinomas (HCC).A literature search was conducted from the database including MEDLINE,Embase,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and China Biology Medicine (CBM) disc.The primary outcomes included the 1-,3-,5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rate.The secondary outcomes contained the intraoperative parameters and postoperative adverse events (AEs).These parameters were all analyzed by RevMan 5.3 software.After carefully screening relevant studies,four retrospective studies of high quality involving 466 patients (197 in the combined group and 269 in the HR group) were included in this study.The pooled results showed that the 1-,3-,5-year OS rate in the combined group were comparable with those in the HR group (OR=0.77,0.96,0.88;P=0.33,0.88,0.70,respectively).Similarly,there was no significant difference in 1-,3-,5-year DFS rate between the combined group and the HR alone group (OR=0.57,0.83,0.72;P=0.17,0.37,0.32,respectively).And the intraoperative parameters and postoperative AEs were also comparable between the above two cohorts.However,two included studies reported that tumor often recurred in the ablation site in the combined group.The present meta-analysis indicated that the HR combined with RFA could reach a long-term survival outcome similar to curative HR for multifocal HCC patients.And this therapy may be a promising alternative for these patients with marginal liver function or complicated tumor distribution.Furthermore,high quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are imperative to verify this conclusion.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment group by random digit table, 10 in each group. A chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model was prepared by one step 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with CS powder solution at the daily dose of 2 g/kg, once per day. Equal volume of double distilled water was intragastrically administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication lasted for 12 weeks. The general condition of rats, their body weight, blood pressure, 24 h proteinuria, urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), serum creatinine (SCr) , and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed before surgery, at week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 10 after surgery. Pathological changes of renal tissues were observed under light microscope. Morphological changes of mitochondria in renal tubular epithelial cells were observed under transmission electron microscope. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including reduced glutathione (GSH), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh renal tissue homogenate were detected. Mitochondria of renal tissues were extracted to detect levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS). And expressions of cytochrome-C (Cyto-C) and prohibitin in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the renal cortex were also measured by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the sham-operation group, body weight was significantly decreased at week 2 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure increased at week 4 (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, body weight was significantly increased at week 12 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure decreased at week 8 (P < 0. 01) in the treatment group. (2) Compared with the sham-operation group, 24 h proteinuria, urinary NAG, blood SCr and BUN significantly increased in the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, blood and urinary biochemical indices all significantly decreased in the treatment group (all P <0. 01). (3) Results of pathological renal scoring: Glomerular sclerosis index, scoring for tubulointerstitial fibrosis, degree of tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltration were all obviously higher in the model group than in the sham-operation group (all P <0. 01). All the aforesaid indices were more obviously improved in the treatment group than in the model group (all P <0. 01). (4) Compared with the sham-operation group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px were significantly reduced, but MDA contents obviously increased in the renal cortex of the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01), but MDA contents obviously decreased in the renal cortex of the treatment group (P <0. 01). (5) Compared with the sham-operation group, the mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased, but ROS levels significantly increased in the model group (all P <0.01). Compared with the model group, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased in the treatment group, thereby inhibiting the tendency of increased production of ROS (both P < 0. 01). (6) Results of Western blot showed that, compared with the sham-operation group, expression levels of mitochondrial Cyto-C and Prohibitin were significantly reduced in the renal cortex (P <0. 01), but significantly elevated in the cytoplasm of the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, each index was obviously improved in the treatment group with statistical difference (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONCS powder had renal protection, and its mechanism might partially depend on in- hibition of oxidative stress and protection for mitochondria.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cordyceps ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney Diseases ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; Nephrectomy ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Proteinuria ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss on the effect of cervical spondylotic myelopathy before and after surgery and assess its indications and efficacy.

METHODSFrom June 2002 to June 2006, 125 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were analyzed retrospectively involving 58 anterior routine and 67 posterior routine, of which 71 cases of males, 54 cases of females, aged from 28 to 69 years (average 53.4 years). The course was 0.5 to 48 months (means 14 months). According to JOA score system preoperative and postoperative nerve function were analyzed, summarized anterior and posterior cervical spine surgery.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for from 6 to 30 months (average of 18 months). According to JOA score criteria: anterior cervical surgery preoperative JOA score was (8.78 +/- 2.43) points, postoperative JOA score was (14.68 +/- 2.37) points, the results were excellent in 40 cases, good in 10 cases, effective in 6. Posterior surgical group preoperative JOA score was (8.49 +/- 2.58) points, postoperative JOA score was (14.26 +/- 2.83) points, the results were excellent in 42 cases, good in 12 cases, effective in 8. Invalid operation occurrenced in 6 cases included 2 of anterior, 4 of posterior. The postoperative symptoms had worsed in 1 case of posterior operation. The two groups had no statistical difference in efficacy, but there were differences statistically in the same approach comparing preoperative and postoperative.

CONCLUSIONBoth anterior and posterior approaches have fine effect to the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). But the selection of the indication is very important, the patients with the pressure from anterior, the short-level changes, and the main symptoms of pyramid trac compression, adopt anterior approach on principle. While the patients with the pressure of spinal cord from posterior, multilevel changes, main symptoms of sensory disturbances, and accompanied by cervical spine canal stenosis mainly is introduced posterior approach.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; surgery