OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of keyhole partial laminectomy and tapping technique combined blindly transpedicular screw placement in cervical spine.

METHODSKeyhole partial laminectomy and tapping technique combined blindly transpedicular screw placement, was introduced. It was performed in 40 patients. The fusion and screw position were observed in postoperative X-ray and CT, and the breach of pedicle were evaluated. Neurological improvement was followed up.

RESULTSThirty-one cases were followed up, the mean follow-up period was 35 months. 28 cases screw fixation firmly and fusion completely, 3 cases fusion partly and no screw loosening. only 6.74% had a critical breach. Neurological function were improved in 29 cases of spinal cord injuries, only critical complication in one case.

CONCLUSIONSKeyhole partial laminectomy and tapping technique. combined blind placement is one of most usefull, feasible and safe procedures in transpedicular screw placement of the cervical spine.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of biopsy and Kyphoplasty in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture nonunion, and to explore the clinical characteristics of the disease.

METHODSFrom July 2005 to May 2010, the clinical data of 8 patients with nonunion of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures were studied. There were 3 males and 5 females, with the mean age of 73.5 years (range, 65 - 86 years). The fracture vertebrae were 3 cases in T(12), 4 in L(1), and 1 in L(2). All cases received radiography, CT and MRI examination. All patients were treated by using Kyphoplasty. Five patients were performed bone biopsy successfully, 3 patients were failed. The curative effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), anterior vertebral height restoration at preoperative, postoperative and followed-up time.

RESULTSAll patients tolerated the procedure well with immediate relief of back pain after Kyphoplasty. No severe complications were found in all patients. Three cases had the pathologic appearance of sequestrum, 2 cases were sparse cancellous bone, 3 cases were abortive to biopsy. All the patients were followed up of 22.6 months (range, 3 - 37 months), the VAS was 9.5 before operation, 2.1 at the third day postoperatively, there were significant difference between the two phase (P < 0.05), and 2.3 at last follow-up, there were no difference between postoperation and follow-up phase (P > 0.05). And the height of compressed body recovered markedly. The vertebral height had a recovery rate of 67.2% postoperatively, 64.1% and at last follow-up, there were no difference between the two phase (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSKyphoplasty is an effective and safe method in the treatment of osteoporotic throacolumbar vertebral fracture nonunion. Bone biopsy can play a further role of differential diagnosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo research and appraise the method and long-term effects of trigeminal neuralgia by the operation of retrogasserian combing.

METHODSFrom 1994 to 2000, fifty cases of trigeminal neuralgia were treated through posterior fossa microsurgery, 30 of which received both microvascular decompression and retrogasserian combing while 20 only by retrogasserian combing.

RESULTSOf the 50 cases, forty of trigeminal nerves were found to be compressed by arteries, while 28 of them were the superior cerebellar artery, and 12 the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. All the cases were cured through the operations. Fifty patients were followed up for 4 to 8 years, and then 2 recurrent patients were found and other 48 patients had no recurrence. Nine out of fifty patients have facial insensitivity, others facial sense perceptions are right.

CONCLUSIONSThe effect of the operation of retrogasserian combing is sure. This operation was applicable to any case of trigeminal neuralgia, especially to the cases that no vascular compression was found in the operations.

Adult ; Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigeminal Nerve ; surgery ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the possible relationship between coronary artery lesions and fibrinogen Bbeta-148 C/T polymorphism in children with Kawasaki disease.

METHODSFast blood samples were taken from 36 children with Kawasaki disease (21 had coronary artery lesions) and 49 age- and gender-matched healthy children (control group). Plasma levels and molecular reactivity of fibrinogen were measured with Assist Plasma Fibrinogen Activity Assay System. Polymerize chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion were used to detect the genotypes of fibrinogen Bbeta-148C/T gene polymorphism.

RESULTSThe plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with coronary artery lesions were significantly higher than those in patients without coronary artery lesions and in the control group. T allele frequency in patients with Kawasaki disease was significantly higher than that in the control group. The patients with coronary artery lesions had more increased T allele frequency compared with the patients without coronary artery lesions.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma fibrinogen levels and fibrinogen Bbeta-148C/T polymorphism are associated with coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease.

Child, Preschool ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism in the formation of unstable plaques.

METHODSThe cDNA microarray E-MTAB-2055 was downloaded from ArrayExpress database to screen the differentially expressed genes in 24 ruptured plaques against 24 stable plaques. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to define the biological processes and pathways involved in disease progression. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed to identify the risk modules with close interactions. Five pairs of carotid specimens were used to validate 3 differentially expressed genes of the risk modules by real-time PCR.

RESULTSA total of 439 genes showed differential expression in our analysis, including 232 up-regulated and 207 down-regulated genes according to the data filter criteria. Immune-related biological processes and pathways were greatly enriched. The protein-protein interaction network and module analysis suggested that TYROBP, VCL and CXCR4 might play critical roles in the development of unstable plaques, and differential expressions of CXCR4 and TYROBP in carotid plaques were confirmed by real-time PCR.

CONCLUSIONOur study shows the differential gene expression profile, potential biological processes and signaling pathways involved in the process of plaque rupture. TYROBP may be a new candidate disease gene in the pathogenesis of unstable plaques.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Disease Progression ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; genetics ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; Vinculin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of fast track surgery (FTS) management in gastric cancer undergoing D2 gastrectomy.

METHODSEighty gastric cancer patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy were recruited prospectively. Patients were assigned to receive FTS management (n = 40) or conventional perioperative care (n = 40). The FTS care included shorten preoperative fasting time, no nasogastric decompressing tubes and abdominal drainage placed, early postoperative oral feeding, multimodal analgesia, and early mobilisation. The length of postoperative hospital stay, medical cost, nutritional status, gut function, and postoperative complications in the two groups were recorded and compared.

RESULTSFTS group was associated with a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay compared with conventional care group [(5.6 +/- 1.3) d vs. (9.4 +/- 1.9) d, P < 0.05]. Medical cost was less [(18 620 +/- 2360) Yuan vs. (20 370 +/- 2440) Yuan, P < 0.05] and duration of intravenous infusion [(3.5 +/- 1.4) d vs. (5.8 +/- 1.9) d, P < 0.05] was also shorter. First passage of flatus was earlier in FTS group than in conventional care group [(4.3 +/- 0.4) d vs. (5.5 +/- 0.9) d, P < 0.05]. Loss of body weight in the postoperative period was less in FTS group [(3.2 +/- 0.8) kg vs. (4.3 +/- 1.6) kg, P < 0.05]. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONFTS in D2 gastrectomy is safe and efficient, and it can shorten postoperative hospital stay and hasten return of gut function.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical outcomes and losses of correction for posterolateral fusion on low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis.

METHODSFrom October 2001 to July 2008, 37 patients with a mean age of 60.1 years (range, 27 - 88 years) with low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis treated with posterolateral fusion, including 9 males and 28 females, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). The fusion status and loss of correction were assessed using plain radiographs and CT.

RESULTSAll the 37 patients had got complete follow-up for 14 - 96 months (average 36.4 months); post-operative reduction rate was 76.4%, and 34 patients (91.9%) showed loss of correction with a mean loss rate 5.8% (range, -3.0% - 25.8%). The percentage of slip of pre-operative, post-operative and final follow-up indicated significant difference (P < 0.05)compared with each other; post-operative intervertebral disc height indicated significant difference in comparison with that of pre-operatively and at final follow-up (P < 0.05); lumbar lordosis angle at final follow-up showed significant difference when compared with that of pre-operatively and postoperatively (P < 0.05); VAS and ODI at final follow-up indicated significant difference in contrast to that of pre-operative (P < 0.05). Upon final follow-up, the complications were found in 2 cases who presented degenerative scoliosis at 15 and 17 months after the surgery, in 1 case with cranial adjacent segment retrolisthesis at the 14 months after the surgery, in 1 case with cut-out and breakage of screws at the 24 months after the surgery, and in 1 case with postoperative infection which were cured after debridement.

CONCLUSIONSFor mid-term follow-up of low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis, posterolateral fusion shows loss of correction in most cases, but presents good clinical outcome and fusion rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the complex differences between high metastatic and low metastatic cells of the Adenoid cystic Carcinoma.

METHODSGene expression patterns were examined in high metastatic cell ACC-M strain and low metastatic ACC-2 strain with the method SSH (suppression subtractive hybridization).

RESULTSalthough extensive similarity was noted between the expression profiles, twelve genes were highly expressed of, in low metastatic cell ACC-2 tester, compared with driver, high metastatic cell ACC-M. These genes were cysteine-rich angiogenic-inducer protein (cyr61), chromosome7 clone RP11-52501, G protein, was family member Iferritin heavy polypeptide I, jumping translocation breakpoint, eukaryotic translation elongation, folate receptor, ribosomal proteins L7a, S21, P0 and other two novel genes-ACC metastasis-associated RNH and ACC metastasis-associated suspected protein. GenBank accession number were AF522024 and AF522025 respectively.

CONCLUSIONSthe result suggests that the obtainment of the ability of metastasis is related to the low expression or mutation of these genes. These data provide insight into the extent of expression differences underlying metastasis-related genes that may prove useful as diagnostic or prognostic markers.

Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo establish a HPLC-MS-MS determination method of artemether (ARM) and active derivatives DHA, and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of ARM after transdermal and oral administration.

METHODThe mice were divided two groups (transdermal and oral) by parallel design. ARM and active derivatives DHA in plasma of mice at different sampling time were determined. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 and by statistic analysis.

RESULTcompare oral administration, the pharmacokinetic parameters of ARM after transdermal, Cmax Tmax , AUC(0-t) MRT, had significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe artemether patch has long-releasing property.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Artemisinins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

AIM:To investigate the effects of baicalein on pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)induced by monocrotaline(MCT)in rats,and its molecular mechanism was further explored.METHODS: Male SD rats(n=28) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, MCT group, MCT+baicalein 50 mg/kg group and MCT +baicalein 100 mg/kg group.The PAH model was established by subcutaneous injection of MCT.After 2 weeks of modeling,the rats in baicalein treatment groups were gavaged baicalein 50 and 100 mg· kg -1· d-1for 14 d,the rats in control group were administered with saline.After 4 weeks of modeling,right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP),right ventricular hypertro-phy index(RVHI)and right ventricular mass index(RVMI)were detected.Masson staining was used to detect the degree of lung fibrosis.The pathomorphological changes of the pulmonary vessels were observed by HE staining.Western blot was used to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in the lung tissue and the phosphorylation p 38,ERK and JNK in the artery.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,RVSP, RVHI and RVMI increased significantly in the MCT group(P<0.01).Pulmonary fibrosis and the thickening of pulmonary artery wall were observed.α-SMA was up-regulated and p38,ERK and JNK was activated significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the MCT group,baicalein(50 and 100 mg/kg)significantly decreased the RVSP,RVHI and RVMI(P<0.01).Lung fibrosis was reduced and the vas-cular wall thickening was decreased in baicalein-treated groups.Baicalein(50 and 100 mg/kg)inhibited the phosphoryla-tion of p38,ERK and JNK compared with the MCT group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Baicalein ameliorates MCT-in-duced PAH by the inhibition of pulmonary artery wall thickening at least partially via MAPK signaling pathway.