The epidural venous plexus is considered as a cause of low back and leg pain but has been neglected for a long time. As an auxiliary drainage system of the vena cava, the epidural venous plexus plays an important role in the circulation of body fluids, and its tortuous expansion may lead to clinical symptoms similar to a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, by compressing nerve roots or dura. Due to the lack of specificity of imaging findings, it is difficult to distinguish accurately from disc herniation or spinal stenosis. The epidural venous plexus is tortuous and thin-walled, which is easy to be broken during the operation that resulted in obscuring the surgical field and leading to other complications such as postoperative hematoma. Despite researches of epidural venous plexus have been carried out for years, details are still left unknow. We hereby reviewed the latest research progress of the epidural venous plexus including anatomical structure, morphological characteristics, clinical significance and imaging examination.

Objective To study improvement of neural function by stereotaxic transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) into lateral cerebral ventricle after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats and its mechanism. Methods ADSC were cultured and proliferated in vitro, which had been marked with Brdu for 48 h before transplantation. The rat caudate nucleus hemorrhage (ICH) models were divided into 2 groups. ADSC were stereotaxically transplanted into the right lateral ventricles in ADSC group, and equal volume of saline was transplanted into control group. The score of neurological behavior were evaluated at modeling and 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 days after transplantation respectively.Double-staining immunofluorescence technique was used to detect Brdu-positive cells and the differentiation of neurons and astrocytes. In accordance with the instructions of TUNEL kit, cell apoptosis, and the expression of VEGF and angiogenesis were assayed. Results In vitro ADSC expressed undergo osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Compared with the control group, ADSC group had better motor function at 3, 7, and 14 days (P＜0. 05). Double-staining immunofluorescence showed mostly grafted Brdu-reactive ADSC had migrated to the hematoma zone, and some survivedand expressed Neun of Gfap. TUNEL analysis revealed that, 3 days after transplantation, the number of apoptotic cells in ADSC group was significantly less than in the control group (P＜0. 05). Three days after transplantation, VEGF expression levels in ADSC group were significantly higher than in the control group (P＜0. 05). Conclusion ADSC stereotaxially transplanted into the lateral ventricle can survive and differentiate into neuron-like cells. ADSC transplantation may reduce apoptosis and secret VEGF to promote the angiogenesis, and improve neural functional in intracerebral hemorrhage rats.

Objective To establish an automatic warning program which accommodates to the test procedures in medical laboratory centerand and to put into operation.Methods Based on laboratory information management system (LIS),automatic warning program was established,which composed of maintenance of warning rules,feedback of vulnerabilities in rules,solutions of feedback targets and evaluation of ride-effectiveness.The results of performance were assessed after operation for six months in Guangzhou Kingmed Medical Laboratory Center.Results An automatic warning program containing 13 kinds of rule templates was successfully established.The multi-point warning program via asynchronous structure for six specialized testing procedures was realized.A total of 1 523 warning rules were included in the rule bank and 24 000 reports were verified on average each day.The average passing rate of reports was 70.2％ and the passing rate of single test was 83.9％.The approval time for reports was reduced by 10 to 40 minutes compared with that without using the automatic warning program.The efficiency for report approval was improved by 25 percent.Conclusion Automatic warning program may ensure the high quality of test reports,ease pressure on staff and improve work efficiency.

BACKGROUNDIt was reported that combination of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enalapril could reduce proteinuria, improve renal function, and down-regulate diabetes-induced macrophage recruitment and expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in diabetic renal tissue. But there are no compelling data available for the combination of MMF and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) for suppressing tubulointerstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney diseases. The present study was to disclose the effect of MMF combined with benazapril on delaying tubulointerstitial fibrosis and its possible mechanisms in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.

METHODSFifty male SD rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NX) were randomized into the following groups: NX (5/6 nephrectomized rats, distilled water, n = 10), MMF (MMF 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o., n = 10), Ben (benazepril 10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o., n = 10), MMF/Ben (MMF 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o., and benazapril 10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o., n = 10). They were monitored for proteinuria and systolic blood pressure every two weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were assayed and pathological damage to the kidney were evaluated. Renal expression and serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metaloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA methods.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of treatment, 24-hour proteinuria, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were significantly lower in treated groups compared with the untreated rats. MMF and benazepril combination therapy had a greater effect than either drug alone. MMF alone had no effect on systolic blood pressure, but benazapril and MMF/benazapril could significantly reduce blood pressure. Rats that underwent 5/6 nephrectomy had greater tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen accumulation than sham-operated rats; all treatments, especially MMF/benazepril, ameliorated these effects. Tubules in 5/6 nephrectomized rats expressed higher levels of PDGF-BB and TIMP-1 and lower MMP-9 compared with sham-operated rats. MMF and benazepril similarly reversed these phenomenons and combination therapy almost completely restored the expression of these cytokines in renal tissue and their plasma concentration.

CONCLUSIONSMMF, especially combined with benazepril, can reduce proteinuria, improve renal function, ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. These effects might be, in part, associated with down-regulation of PDGF-BB and TIMP-1, and MMP-9 up-regulation in renal tissues.

Animals ; Benzazepines ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Nephrectomy ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study on needling safe depth of Fengfu (GV 16) with CT, so as to provide reference for safe needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16) in clinical acupuncture treatment.

METHODSForty-one adult volunteers were divided into 3 groups, a thin person group, a moderate person group and a fat person group according to Luo's indexes, and computer-aided tomography (CT) was used to measure the needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16).

RESULTSThe safe depths of perpendicular needling of Fengfu (GV 16) were different for persons of different somatotypes. The safe needling depth was (27.73 +/- 3.45) mm for the thin person group, (30.78 +/- 2.90) mm for the moderate person group, and (33.39 +/- 4.27) mm for the fat person group.

CONCLUSIONThe safe needling depth < or = the dangerous depth x 75% can be used for reference for the safe needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16) for different somatotypes persons.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Somatotypes ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of intracellular acidification (IA) on drug resistance of leukemia cells with high P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, and to provide a new method for the reversing of multidrug resistance (MDR).

METHODSReal-time PCR was used to determine the expression level of mdr1 gene, and the leukemia cells with high P-gp expression were selected. The specific inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchanger 1 and the "high K+" buffer were used to acidify the cells, and the confocal laser microscopy was used to determine the intracellular pH (pHi) and effect of IA on the accumulation of doxorubicin. The MTT method was used to determine the effect of IA on the cell viability. The flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of IA on the P-gp function, and Western blotting was used to determine the effect of IA on the expression of P-gp.

RESULTSThe pHi was decreased to 7.0, and compared with that of control the mdr1 mRNA expression was decreased to (53.2+/-11.0)% after 1 h, and to (16.6+/-7.0)% after 3 h treatment. The P-gp expression was decreased to (56.0+/-9.0)% of the control after 3 h treatment. The accumulation of Rh123 was 71.03+/-0.47 at pHi 7.0, which was increased obviously as compared to the control group 20.07+/-0.39. The increased accumulation of doxorubicin was also observed by confocal laser microscopy.

CONCLUSIONThe expression and function of P-gp on the patients cells are inhibited by IA.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Guanidines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; drug effects ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Sulfones ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This study was aimed to investigate whether the inhibition of NHE1 activity and intracellular acidification can reverse resistance of leukemia cells to the imatinib and to explore downstream signal molecule networks of BCR/ABL in the cells of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) patients. The mRNA and protein expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and the drug accumulation were assayed after acidifying the primary leukemia cells of patients or K562/DOX and K562/G01 cells. The effects of intracellular acidification of primary leukemia cells on the phosphorylation level changes of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were analyzed by Western blot. The results showed that the intracellular concentration of drugs in the advanced patients increased and the sensitivity of K562/DOX and K562/G01 cells to imatinib was enhanced after intracellular acidification or treatment with NHE1 inhibitor cariporide. With downregulation of intracellular pH, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK decreased in advanced patients and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 increased within 3 min and then decreased after 30 min. SB203580, the specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, displayed a synergistic effect with the inhibitor of NHE1 to downregulate the mRNA and protein expression of Pgp. It is concluded that the inhibiton of NHE1 can significantly decrease the protein expression of Pgp in K562/DOX and K562/G01 cells, increase the accumulation of Rhodamine123 and doxorubicin in the cells of advanced patients and enhance the sensitivity of cells to imatinib in which the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathways involves.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Cation Transport Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger 1 ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effect of different gargling liquid on colony number in air during oral ultrasound scaling for patients with periodontitis.Methods Patients with mild (n=54), moderate (n=54), and severe chronic periodontitis (n=54) were selected, then patients with same degree of periodontitis were randomly divided into three groups, with 18 in each group. Before scaling, patients in each group of mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis were given honeysuckle liquid (gargle A), 3％ hydrogen peroxide (gargle B), and normal saline (gargle C) respectively. Bacterial culture and identification of air specimens were conducted at 0 and 30 minutes after the beginning of ultrasonic scaling as well as 10, 20 minutes after the end of ultrasonic scaling.Results Variance analysis of three-factor factorial design data showed that degree of periodontitis, types of gargling liquid, and sampling time had interaction (F=2.666, P=0.002). Comparisons of air colonies: At the beginning of scaling, there was no significant difference in colony number of air around patients using different gargling liquid in mild, moderate and severe groups (all P＞0.05). Among patients using the same gargling liquid at 30 minutes after the beginning of scaling, colony number of air was the lowest around patients with mild periodontitis and the highest around patients with severe periodontitis, colony numbers of air around patients with gargle A and B were lower than that of patients with gargle C. Comparison of each sampling points showed that colony number of air around the right side of patients' head was highest, differences were all statistically significant (all P＜0.05). 20 minutes after the end of scaling, there was no significant difference in colony number among groups compared before scaling (all P＞0.05). The main isolated strains in the air were Streptococcus viridans (32.53％), coagulase negative staphylococcus (24.56％), and filamentous fungi (18.48％).Conclusion There are variety of opportunistic pathogens in the air during oral ultrasound scaling, and the number of colonies is positively correlated with the degree of periodontitis. honeysuckle liquid has a good effect on reducing the number of air colonies during and after scaling.

Aim To investigate whether and how Huy- izhenbao tablets regulated osteoarthritis pain.Methods We transected the meniscotibial ligament of mice, which caused osteoarthritis by destabilizing the medial meniscus ( DMM).Different doses of Huyizhenbao tablets (12.5,25,50 mg • kg-1) were administered intragastrically.Dynamic and static mechanical allo- dynia were measured.The spinal cord slices were pre¬pared to record miniature excitatory postsynaptic cur-rents (niEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mlPSCs) by using patch clamp electrophysi¬ological recordings.The phosphorylation of NMDA re¬ceptor ( N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors) (rluNl sub- unit at S897 residue ( pS897-GluNl ) was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results Huyizhenbao tablets dose-dependently attenuated the dynamic and static mechanical allodynia induced by DMM, reduced the frequency of niEPSCs and inhibited the pS897-GluNI level.Huyizhenbao tablets had no effects on mlPSCs.Conclusions Huyizhenbao tablets effectively alleviate osteoarthritis pain by blocking the presynaptic release of excitatory transmitter glutamate and inhibiting the phosphorylation of NMDA receptor in spinal cord dorsal horn.

BACKGROUNDA multi-center large scale study is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of domestic peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Some researchers believe that 6 L/d is enough for adequate dialysis, but there is no multi-center prospective study on Chinese population to confirm this. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of domestic PD solution (Changfu) and its difference between 6 L and 8 L dosage.

METHODSAdult PD patients who had taken PD therapy for at least one month were selected and divided into four groups according to two dialysis solution brands and two dialysis dosages, i.e., 6 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, 6 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution, 8 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, and 8 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution. After 48 weeks, the changes of primary and secondary efficacy indices were compared between different types and different dosages. We also analyzed the changes of safety indices.

RESULTSChanges of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of creatinine clearance rate (Ccr). Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of net ultrafiltration volume (nUF) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Changes of nPCR from baseline to 48 weeks between 6 L and 8 L showed no statistical differences; so did those of nUF and eGFR. The decline of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks in 6 L group was more than that in 8 L group. Change of Ccr was similar. During the 48-week period, the mean Kt/V was above 1.7/w, and mean Ccr was above 50 L×1.73 m(-2)×w(-1). More adverse events were found in Changfu group before Changfu Corporation commenced technology optimization, and the statistical differences disappeared after that.

CONCLUSIONSThe domestic PD solution (Changfu) was proven to be as effective as Baxter dialysis solution. During 48-week period, a dosage of 6 L/d was enough for these patients to reach adequate PD. Clinical study promotes technological optimization, further helps to improve the safety indices of the medical products.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dialysis Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Young Adult