AIM:The ultrastructure,the levels of NO - 2/NO - 3 were investigated in the myocardium of rats with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In order to establish a model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we injected rats with small dose streptozocoi (iv). Two weeks after the injection, the rats developed impaired glucose tolerance. Then, they were fed with high energy diet for eight weeks to form NIDDM. RESULTS: (1) The ultrastructures of cardiac myocytes of NIDDM rats were changed evidently, with swelled mitochondrion and widened intercalated-disk gap; (2) The levels of NO - 2/NO - 3 in the heart tissue of NIDDM rats were significantly lower than those of normal rats( P

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reason and strategy for failure of posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation on thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to December 2010,the clinical data of 18 patients with thoracolumbar fracture failed in posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 11 males and 7 females with an average age of 37.2 years (ranged, 19 to 63). The time from the first operation to complication occurrence was from 6 to 44 months with an average of 14.3 months. Of them,fusion failure was in 7 cases (combined with screw breakage in 4 cases), the progressive neuro-dysfunction was in 5 cases,the progressive lumbodorsal pain was in 6 cases. All 18 patients with kyphosis were treated with anterior internal fixation remaining posterior fixation (9 cases) and anterior internal fixation after posterior fixation removal (9 cases).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 18 to 50 months with an average of 30.5 months. No intetnal fixation loosening and breakage were found, moreover, X-ray and lamellar CT showed bone healing well. Preoperative, postoperative at 3 months and at final follow-up, ODI score was respectively 31.6+/-5.1, 8.6+/-5.7, 8.3+/-3.2; VAS score was respectively 7.2+/-2.3, 2.3+/-0.7, 2.1+/-1.1; kyphosis angle was respectively (-21.2/-+7.8 degreeso, (-5.3+/-6.8 degrees ), (-5.8+/-7.8 )degrees. Compared with preoperative data ,above-listed items had obviously ameliorated(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of thoracolumbar fracture with posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation may result in the complications such as bone nonunion ,internal fixation breakage and progressive kyphosis. Anterior reconstruction may be a good strategy for the failure of posterior operation.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

This study aims to investigate the effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) on the mRNA and protein expression of collagen type I and III of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and explore its anti-myocardial fibrosis molecular mechanism. Neonatal rat CFs were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats (1-3 d after birth). The expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The study showed that stimulation of neonatal rat CFs with 100 nmol.L-1 of Ang II for 72 h resulted in a significant increase of the expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein. The changes on the expression level were blocked by TFFC. The results demonstrated that TFFC can inhibit myocardial fibrosis induced by Ang II in rats, which is probably associated with the collagen type I and III mRNA and protein levels up-regulated by Ang II, and TFFC was shown to decrease the expression levels of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein.

Objective To establish an simple and convenient animal model of cardiac arrest for studying cerebral resuscitation.Method Clean male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group and experimental group.Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation and ice-cold 0.5 mol KCl with blood flow cut off for 5 minutes.Animals were resuscitated with external cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),mechanical ventilation,and epinephrine injection.Blood pressure,heart rate,successful ratio of resuscitation after 72 hours, time of cardiac arrest (T_(CA)) and return of spontaneous circulation (T_(ROSC)) were recorded.Neural deficit scores (NDS) and levels of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) in plasma were evaluated at 3,6,12,24,48,72 hours after ROSC.The damage score of cortex was measured by transmission electron microscope examination at 3 hours and 72 hours after ROSC.Results All the rats in experimental group had cardiac arrest rapidly.T_(CA) and T_(ROSC) were (137.3?10.2) seconds and (64.4?9.3) seconds,respectively,while the successful rate of resuscitation was 82.5%.The lowest NDS was at 3 hours after ROSC,while the NDS increased gradually.After CPR,the level of MDA in plasma increased significantly,slightly declined at 72 hours after ROSC,but still significantly higher than before the model.Electron microscope examination of cortex showed neuron slightly,organelle and astrocyte,but became better after 72 hours post ROSC.Conclusions The model of cardiac arrest was easy to establish,and the data provided was accurate,which is useful to study the mechanism of cerebral resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore an approach to distinguish avulsion fracture of articular portion from anatomic separated epiphysis. METHODS: 21 cases with suspicioned avulsion fracture of articular portion of tubular bone were reviewed. The cortical continuity of separate small bone and contiguous bone portion was investigated. The swell of soft tissue around these small bones was observed simultaneously. Then the configuration of the fracture was researched by injury mechanics. RESULTS: Continued bone cortex between separate small bone and corresponding bone was seen in 15 cases, so they were considered as a separate epiphysis. Sharp linear fracture between the separate small bone and corresponding bone were seen in 6 cases. The swell of soft tissue around the separate small bone was observed in all cases, so they were considered as a avulsion fracture. CONCLUSION The meticulous investigation of separated small bone at the articular portion by image observation is of important value for distinguishing avulsion fracture from anatomic separate epiphysis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries/diagnostic imaging* ; Epiphyses/diagnostic imaging* ; Epiphyses, Slipped/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

This study aims to investigate the effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) on the mRNA and protein expression of collagen type I and III of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and explore its anti-myocardial fibrosis molecular mechanism. Neonatal rat CFs were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats (1-3 d after birth). The expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The study showed that stimulation of neonatal rat CFs with 100 nmol.L-1 of Ang II for 72 h resulted in a significant increase of the expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein. The changes on the expression level were blocked by TFFC. The results demonstrated that TFFC can inhibit myocardial fibrosis induced by Ang II in rats, which is probably associated with the collagen type I and III mRNA and protein levels up-regulated by Ang II, and TFFC was shown to decrease the expression levels of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein.
Anacardiaceae ; chemistry ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy between elderly and non-elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 219 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute from April 2009 to October 2013 were included in this retrospective study. All patients were divided into elderly (≥65 years) and non- elderly (<65 years)groups. We compared these groups based on clinicopathological characteristics, postoperative morbidities, and survival. Results:Theelderly group showed higher ASA scores and higher number of preoperative comorbidities (P<0.05). The operative time, blood loss,and conversion rate did not differ significantly between the groups (all P>0.05). The mean time to first ambulation in elderly group was 2.2±2.3d while first ambulation time in the non-elderly group was 1.4±1.3d,which showed significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups in terms of postoperativemorbidities (34.8％ vs. 28.5％, P> 0.05) as well as 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival (P>0.05). However, the elderly patients withpostoperative morbidities experienced significantly poorer overall survival rate than non-elderly patients (44.5％ vs. 70.5％, P<0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy can be safely and successfully performed in an elderly population with acceptable short- and long-term outcomes.Enhanced perioperative treatment is necessary to improve postoperative outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo study the action mechanism of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR) and its disassembled recipes for treatment of alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) by observing their regulation on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and type 1 tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1).

METHODS130 male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (n=10), the CCI4 group (n=10), and the modeling group (n=110). Rats in the modeling group were intervened by complex factors dominated as alcohol. Eight weeks later they were randomly divided into 4 subgroups, i.e., the model group (n=25), the QGHXR group (n= 15), the Qinggan Recipe (QGR) group (n=15), and the Huoxue Recipe (HXR) group (n=15). Eight model rats were selected for pathological analysis to monitor the development of the modeling at the 4th, 8th, and 10th week of the experiment. The rest rats died during the modeling. Corresponding medicines were given to these treatment groups (at the dose of 4.75 g/kg, 1.50 g/kg, and 3.25 g/kg). All rats were killed at the end of the 12th week. The protein and mRNA expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were detected using Western blotting, fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 significantly increased in the model group (1.81 +/- 0.28 versus 0.53 +/- 0.04, 1.60 +/- 0.16 versus 0.45 +/- 0.05, 1.20 +/- 0.02 versus 0.35 +/- 0.07, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, QGHXR and its disassembled recipes all could decrease the protein and mRNA expressions of TIMP-1 (0. 56 +/- 0.05, 0.67 +/- 0.02, 0.70 +/- 0.02 versus 1.20 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05), increase the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (4.18 +/- 0.53, 2.70 +/- 0.40, 2.38 +/- 0.22 versus 1.81 +/- 0.28, 3.31 +/- 0.06, 2.56 +/- 0.20, 1.87 +/- 0.05 versus 1.60 +/- 0.16, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). QGHXR was superior to its disassembled recipes (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe action mechanisms of QGHXR and its disassembled recipes might possibly be correlated with regulating MMPs.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and 64 multi-slice spiral CT (64-MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Fifty-two patients with suspected or known CAD were included in the study. Each patient underwent both stress and rest MPI,MSCT as well as conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 month. The stress and rest MPI were scored by a 5-grade criteria (0 ～ 4) based on 17 coronary artery segments. The difference between summed stress and rest scores ＞ 1 was defined as myocardial ischemia. Stenosis in one main vessel or one main branch of the main vessel ≥50% was defined as myocardial ischemia by MSCT. CAG was used as the reference for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. 0 software. Kappa value was used to test the accordance of MPI and MSCT results. X2 test was used to evaluate the difference between MPI and MSCT results. Results The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT for the diagnosis of CAD were 86.7% (26/30), 77.3% ( 17/22),83.9% (26/31), 81.0% ( 17/21), 82.7% (43/52) and 83.3% ( 25/30), 86.4% ( 19/22), 89.3%( 25/28), 79.2% ( 19/24), 84.6% (44/52), respectively. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT were 74.5% (38/51), 81.0% (85/105 ), 65.5% (38/58), 86.7% ( 85/98), 78.8% ( 123/156 ) and 90.2% (46/51 ), 88.6% ( 93/105 ),79.3 % (46/58), 94.9% (93/98), 89.1% ( 139/156), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between MPI and MSCT for either patient or lesion-based diagnosis (X2 =0.44, 0.21, both P ＞0.05 ). 96.0% (24/25) patients with both abnormal MPI and MSCT positive were valified by CAG while 83.3% (15/18) patients with both MPI and MSCT negative were excluded by CAG. Conclusions Both MPI and MSCT are reliable diagnostic modalities for CAD. They also provide complementary diagnostic value to each other.