Objective To investigate the morphological changes, apoptosis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA(BDNF mRNA)expression in rat conus medullaris induced by cauda equine compression, and to discuss the possible mechanisms. Methods Ninety male SD rats were divided into 3 groups: normal control, sham operation,and cauda equine compressed. The animals were sacrificed and took samples in 30 min, 2 hours,4 hours,8 hours,1 day,3 days,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks after cauda equine compression model were created. The morphological study concerned with cauda equina and conus medullaris was done under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. TUNEL staining and in situ hybridization staining were used to investigate apoptosis and BDNF mRNA expression changes. The positive cells in 1mm2 were calculated,and the data were disposed through one way analysis of variance. Results Histological observation showed notable alteration of cauda equina and neurons in conus medullaris. The positive cells of TUNEL and BDNF mRNA in situ hybridization staining increased in 8 hours and 4 hours after cauda equina compressed,and both reached the climax in 3days after cauda equina compressed. At the time 3weeks after cauda equine compressed, the positive cells were still much higher than that of the control groups. Conclusion The compression of cauda equina will result in neurons morphological changes and apoptosis in medullary cone,and cause central neuron un-reversible injury. It might be one of the reasons why the prognosis is poor in cauda equina syndrome. Neurons and glial cells may produce BDNF by themselves to survival from cauda equina compression.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the treatment of transplanted renal artery stenosis (TRAS)-induced renal dysfunction and hypertension. Methods Between July 1998 and January 2007, PTA was performed on 16 patients with RTAS. Color Doppler uhrasonography preceded the intra-arterial angiographic investigation,with false-negative results in 18. 75 % of patients. Sixteen cases of TRAS were examined at 1 st week,6th month and 13 years after PTA. Hypertension improvement was defined as mean arterial pressure decrease of at least 15 % from the pre-PTA value. Graft function was evaluated by SCr levels, and the improvement was defined as a 20% change. Results Angioplasty was technically feasible in 100 %.Sixteen patients with RTAS were cured clinically. During the follow-up period, graft function was improved in 81.25 %, 68. 75 %, 62. 5 %, 56. 25 %, 50 % of patients respectively at 1st week, 6th month and 1-3 years after PTA. The blood pressure was decreased in 62. 5%, 75 %, 75 %,56. 25 %, 50 % of patients respectively, but no patient remained hypotensor medication free.Conclusion PTA improved renal dysfunction and hypertension induced by TRAS, and it is a safe and effective treatment for TRAS.

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and their receptor-3(VEGFR-3)in patients with colorectal cancer and their clinicopathological value.Methods Eighty specimens of the colorectal cancer and thirty normal adjacent bowels were stud- ied.The expression of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins and mRNAs in specimens of colorectal cancers and normal colorectal tissues was studied by Strept-avidin-biotin complex method and RT-PCR. Clinicopathological data and survival of each patient were recorded and analyzed.Results①The staining of brown or filemot in cytoplast were observed as the positive expression of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins.The positive rate(48.8%,56.3%,38.8%)and mean value(1.09?1.20,1.13?1.09,0.90?1.19)of VEGF-C,VEGF-D,VEGFR-3 expressions in specimens of colorectal cancer were significantly higher than those of the normal bowel tissues(P＜0.05).The expression of VEGF- C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 mRNAs by RT-PCR was correlated with that of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins in colorectal carcinomas and normal bowel tissues.②Significant correlation between VEGF-C(P=0.0069),VEGF-D(P=0.0024)and VEGFR-3 expression was observed in colorectal cancers;moreover,no correlation between VEGF-C and VEGF-D.③The expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 in colorectal cancers was not correlated with age,gender,site and dimension of lesion,types of gross and histological,degree of differentiation and liver and pulmonary metastasis,but correlated significantly with Dukes' stage(P=0.0234,P=0.0003,P=0.0429)and lymph node me tastasis(P=0.0059,P＜0.01,P=0.0068).The increased death rate(P=0.0374,P=0.0127) and poor survival(P＜0.01,P＜0.01)were observed in the colorectal cancer patients with positive ex- pression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 when comparing with the patients of the negative expressions,but the expression of VEGF-D in colorectal cancers was not correlated with prognosis of the patients.Con- clusions Colorectal cancer cells may secrete lymphangiogenetic growth factors VEGF-C,VEGF-D and their receptor VEGFR-3,which induce the growth of lymphatic vessel endothelium and lymphangiogene- sis by VEGF-C,VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 signaling pathway,further accelerate lymphatic metastasis of colo- rectal cancers.VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 might be acted as molecular phenotypes of lym- phangiogenesis in coiorectal cancers and important markers for evaluating lymphatic metastasis and prog- nosis in patients with coloreetaI carcinoma.

Objective To discuss the short-term clinical effect including functional change of lipiodol- arsenic trioxide emulsion on the primary hepatic carcinoma.Methods Fifty-two patients undergone arterial chemoemblization were selected and then randomly divided into two groups:treatment group(n=27)and control group(n=25).Patients in treatment group were treated with lipiodol-arsenic trioxide,while those in control group treated with mitomycin,epirubicin,cisplatin or lipiodol.Clinical symptoms and six liver function parameters were observed and analized.Results The clinical symptoms of patients in treatment group improved much better than those in control group,and the liver function impairment of patients in treatment group also decreased more than those in control group.Conclusions Lipiodol-arsenic trioxide is an effective and safe intervention-therapeutic embolization material for primary hepatic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo study the genotoxicity of components of diesel engine exhausts with ethanol-diesel blending fuel. To provide scientific arguments to find more economical and less polluted fuels.

METHODSAmes test, comet assay and GC-MS technique were used to test the genotoxicity and 16 kinds of PAHs on diesel engine exhausts with different proportions of ethanol (E0, E5, E10, E20).

RESULTSBoth Ames test and comet assay were positive. It shows that diesel engine exhausts can lead to mutation and DNA damage, especially in pure diesel oil. But the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level decreased in exhausts of E5. With the increase of ethanol proportion in diesel oil, the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level increased.

CONCLUSIONCompared with pure diesel oil and high proportion of ethanol fuel, E5 can reduce the genotoxicity and the brake specific exhausts of PAHs.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; Carbon Monoxide ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Gasoline ; toxicity ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Particulate Matter ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

BACKGROUND: Panel reactive antibody (PRA) can mediate hyperacute rejection, and lead to decrease in success rate of transplantation and survival rate of renal graft in highly sensitized recipients compared to non-sensitized recipients.OBJECTIVE: According to human leucocyte antigen (HLA) cross-matching standards to select suitable donors for sensitized recipients and to evaluate the incidence of acute rejection and survival rate of renal allografts.DESIGN: Case observation.SETTING: Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: 136 sensitized recipients with positive PRA underwent renal transplantation in Department of Organ Transplantation, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University between January 1997 and December 2003 were selected, including 41 males and 95 females, aged (45±9) years. Recipients of first, second, third, and fourth transplant were 115, 18, 2 and 1 case, respectively. The informed consent was obtained from all patients. The protocol was approved by Hospital Ethics Committee. Lambda antigen tray (LAT) and LAT-Mix were purchased from One Lambda, Inc, USA. Special monoclonal tray -Asian HLA class Ⅰ (SMT72R) and Micro SSP Generic HLA Class Ⅱ (DRB/DQB) were also purchased from One Lambda, Inc, USA.METHODS: Pre-operative PRA levels and specificity of recipients were detected by ELISA test with Lambda antigen tray (LAT). Donor and recipient HLA class Ⅰ typing was performed with special tray - Asian HLA class Ⅰ (SMT72R), and HLA class Ⅱ gene typing with Micro SSP Generic HLA Class Ⅱ (DRB/DQB) (Micro-SSP). HLA-matching between donor and recipient was performed according to HLA cross-reactive group (CREG) standards by UNOS and class Ⅱ antigen permissible mismatch. The incidence of acute rejection and survival rate of renal allografts were evaluated within 1, 3 and 5 years.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①PRA levels and specificity of sensitized recipients before and after transplantation; ②HLA-matching between donor and recipient; ③Incidence of acute rejection and survival rate of renal allografts after transplantation.RESULTS: 136 PRA positive sensitized recipients were all included in final analysis. ① There were 104 recipients with anti-HLA class Ⅰ IgG antibody, 76 with anti-HLA class Ⅱ IgG antibody, and 44 with both anti-HLA class Ⅰ and Ⅱ IgG antibodies in 136 recipients. ②The number of cases of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mismatch (MM) was 7, 26, 47, 39 and 17, respectively by the standard of conventional HLA antigen matching; However, the number of the recipients with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4MM was 31, 53, 36, 16, and 0, respectively according to the principle of HLA CREG matching. ③By the principle of HLA CREG matching, rates of acute rejection in sensitized recipients with 2MM and 3MM HLA-CREG were significantly higher than those with 0MM (P < 0.05). Renal allograft survival rate in sensitized recipients with 0MM was significantly higher than those with 2MM and 3MM (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: ①HLA CREG matching can significantly improve the ratio of well-matched. ② Good HLA matching can reduce the incidence of acute rejection in sensitized recipients and increase the survival rate of renal grafts.

Objective Toobservetheindication, safetyandefficacyofanew immunosuppressant Rituximab in kidney transplantation. MethodsFive patients, who were diagnosed as antibody mediated rejection (AMR) from December 2010 to June 2011, were treated with single dose of Rituximab (500 mg) and followed up for 6 months. The clinical data, such as age, gender, onset of illness, induction therapy, maintaining therapy, allograft function, change of PRA, opportunistic infection and other complications were collected and retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Rituximab used in AMR patients. ResultsAfter Rituximab therapy, all the patients had improved renal function measured by sera creatinine level: 4 cases retumed to normal, and 1 keep stable. Series of allograft biopsy demonstrated obviously reduced C4d deposition in nephridial tissue after treatment. One patient developed CMV viremia, another had urinary infection, but no one had lifethreatening infection during the follow-up period. The survival rate of human and allograft was both 100 ％. Conclusion Rituximab has a good efficacy and safety in treatment of AMR after renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between UNC5b gene expression and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSIn situ hybridization was performed to detect the expression of UNC5b mRNA in HCC samples, paracarcinomatous liver tissues samples and normal liver samples. The relationship between UNC5b mRNA expression and the HCC clinicopathological features were also analyzed. Human umbilical artery endothelial cells were isolated and stimulated with HCC tissues homogenate, vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Then RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of UNC5b mRNA in normal HUAEC as well as activated HUAEC.

RESULTSIn situ hybridization results showed that UNC5b mRNA expression was detected majorly in endothelial cells of all normal liver tissues, and partial PCLTs but was weak or even undetectable in endothelial cells of the corresponding HCC tissues. The expression levels of UNC5b gene in PCLTs were significantly correlated with capsular formation of HCC. Furthermore, RT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of UNC5b mRNA in activated HUAEC were significantly higher than those in normal HUAEC.

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulation of UNC5b gene expression is related to angiogenesis of HCC, which may be associated with the progression of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics

Zanthoxyli Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, muscle and bone pain, fall fracture, hernia, sore throat, toothache and other diseases. Due to possessing many excellent and mild pharmacological properties, there are lots of reports about Zanthoxyli Radix worldwide. At present, more than 100 bioactive components have been extracted and purified from Zanthoxyli Radix. Nitidine chloride (NC), one of the most important alkaloids in Zanthoxyli Radix, has the activities of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, etc. In this review, we summarize the chemical components of Zanthoxyli Radix, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of NC to provide references for further research and utilization of Zanthoxyli Radix.

OBJECTIVETo analysis the early complications of tibial fracture and its related factors, and propose a solution.

METHODSFrom December 2003 to December 2013,38 patients with early complications of tibial plateau fracture after operation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 3 females, aged from 37 to 69 years old (averaged 42.3 years). According to Schatzker classification, 3 cases were classified as type II, 2 cases as type III, 2 cases as type IV, 19 cases as type V, 12 cases as type VI. The intervals between injury and operation ranged from 9 hours to 9 days, 26 cases within 3 days. Fifteen cases were treated with internal fixation of plates and 23 were treated by plate fixation and bone transplantation. Early complications included skin necrosis in 15 cases, infection in 6 cases, osteofascial compartment syndrome in 3 cases, common peroneal nerve injury in 2 cases, the superficial peroneal nerve injury in 3 cases, popliteal artery injury in 2 cases, loss of reduction in 7 cases.

RESULTSThe wound of 14 cases healed at the first stage and 24 cases healed delay. Hospitalization days ranged from 7 to 67 days (averaged 25.6 days). All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with an average of 16.4 months. The fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months (averaged 6.9 months). According to Merchant knee function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 12, fair in 5 and poor in 2.

CONCLUSIONEarly complications of tibial fracture after operation is closely associated with the severe fracture complexity and related with preoperative preparation, surgical timing, operation incision selection and surgical technique. Early detection and timely processing reduce damage.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery