Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

To observe the clinical effect of Yisui decoction plus western medicine in treating multiple system atrophy patients, totally 65 patients from China-Japan Friendship hospital during 2008-2012 with complete clinical data and received consecutive traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine treatment for more than 3 months were observed changes of traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, part 1 of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale, orthostatic hypotension before treatment and after 3 months treatment. After 3 months treatment, total effective rate of traditional Chinese medicine symptom was 70.8%. Compared with before treatment, score of part 1 of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale was obviously reduced after 3 month treatment (P < 0.001). Ex- cept swallow function without significant improvement, the remaining projects of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale were im- proved obviously (P < 0.05), of which the most obvious differences were orthostatic symptoms, falls and intestinal function (P < 0.001). Orthostatic hypotension after 1 month treatment and 3 month treatment was obviously better than before treatment (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in orthostatic hypotension between 1 month treatment and 3 month treatment. The research results show that Yisui decoction plus western medicine has a certain effect on improving clinical symptoms of multiple system atrophy patients, especially has a significant effect on orthostatic hypotension, and can maintain a stable clinical effect in a certain period of time.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multiple System Atrophy ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To propose an evaluation and screening indicator for the reliability of emergency ventilators.Methods Firstly,a regression model was used to clean the data and remove noise to ensure the accuracy of regression analysis.Then,four groups of highly correlated data combinations,including inspiratory tidal volume-minute expiratory volume,peak airway pressure-minute expiratory volume,peak airway pressure-inspiratory tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)-mean airway pressure,were determined with the methods of curve fitting and transfer function,and the difference between the theoretical output and the actual output of the data combinations was regarded as an indicator to judge whether the ventilator functioned well or not;finally,the indicator proposed was applied to single and multiple ventilators,and the feasibility of the indicator was determined by the proportion of the ventilators functioning well.Results The evaluation results with a single ventilator showed the four groups of data combinations had the actual output fitted well with the theoretical output,and all the differences between the theoretical output and the actual output were lower than the threshold;the results with multiple ventilators indicated there were 71.49％ventilators functioning well,which was very close to the actual result that 72％ventilators behaved well.Conclusion The evaluation and screening indicator for emergency ventilators has high feasibility,and theoretical support is provided for reliability assessment and selection of series of emergency treatment equipment.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):8-16]

OBJECTIVETo investigate Caspase-3 expression and its role in neuronal apoptosis.

METHODSThe T13-L2 spinal cord of rats was injured by traction after the amplitude of P1-N1 wave, monitored by a cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP) monitor, decreased to seventy percent of that before operation. Then rats were killed in 6 h, 1 d, 4 d, 7 d, 14 d and 21 d respectively after operation. Flow cytometer terminal deoxynucleotldyl transferease-mediated biotinylated deoxynuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL), Caspase-3 activity assay and immunohistochemical method were applied to investigate Caspase-3 expression in the spinal cord tissue and to study neuronal apoptosis in rats.

RESULTSAfter spinal cord injury, apoptotic cells detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL-positive cells were significantly more, and positive immunohistochemical staining of Caspase-3 and Caspase-3 activity were significantly higher in Group injury than in Groups control and laminectomy, respectively (P > 0.05, P > 0.01). Similar trend of changes was noticed in apoptotic cells, TUNEL-positive cells and positive immunohistochemical staining of Caspase-3, all of which reached their respective peak 7 days after operation. Caspase-3 activity reached its peak, however, 4 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased expression and activity of Caspase-3 protein in neurons after tractive spinal cord injury is the biochemical signal of early spinal cell apoptosis. It is of great significance for understanding the mechanism of spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; analysis ; physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; enzymology ; pathology

In terms of management of Paget's disease of bone (PDB), early diagnosis and proper management achieving remission is essential with lifelong specialist follow-up. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman with PDB affecting mainly the distal extremities (ankle and wrist). The patient visited our hospital in 2012 with heel pain. Plain radiography revealed osteoporosis, and a bone scan revealed hot uptake. Initial laboratory investigations showed normal serum calcium, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone levels; however, osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, and bone alkaline phosphatase levels were elevated. A bone mineral density scan showed T- and Z-scores of −2.5 and −2.7, respectively, and bisphosphonate treatment was initiated. Biopsy performed on the calcaneal lateral wall revealed inconclusive findings. Follow-up biopsy on the left distal radius was performed 7 years later to investigate wrist pain, and this examination led to a final diagnosis as PDB. We suggest inconclusive biopsy result during the early phase of PDB and highly recommend follow-up evaluation in osteoporosis with atypical behavior.

Objective To improve first aid and mutual aid skills and quality of life in the elderly through the comprehensive community interventions and provide the theoretical basis for the establishment of the standardized education system and effectiveness evaluation study of first aid knowledge and skills in the elderly in community.Methods On the principle of convenience sampling,180 elderly people from 4 communities of Yuhang District in Hangzhou were selected,and all of them were investigated with the first aid knowledge questionnaire and self-efficacy scale for the elderly in community on the levels of first aid knowledge and selfefficacy.All participants received six-month community-based comprehensive interventions,and the levels of first aid knowledge and self-efficacy were compared between before the intervention,and 3 and 6 months after the intervention.In addition,the emergency situation and implementation effects of community-based comprehensive interventions within six-month interventions were investigated with the first-aid skills training followed up questionnaire.Results A total of 184 questionnaires were distributed and 184 valid questionnaires were returned,resulting in a response rate of 100％,and four elderly people were lost to follow up,180 valid questionnaires were finally obtained.Before the intervention,there were 77.8％ in 180 elderly people in the community who had not previously received training in first aid knowledge and skills,and 87.2％ elderly people who could not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Six months after the intervention,the score of first aid knowledge of the elderly in community increased from (48.06 ± 16.17) to (82.50 ± 15.28),the score of self-efficacy increased from (24.07 ± 6.62) to (30.86 ± 5.21),and there were significant differences between before and after the intervention (F =303.475,264.404,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).The scores of first aid knowledge and self-efficacy in each dimension in the elderly,who had different gender,age,educational level,living style,previous history of occupation and chronic diseases,increased when the intervention time was prolonged.Conclusions The first aid baseline survey finds that the level of first aid knowledge in community elderly is still far from satisfactory.The application of community-based comprehensive interventions can strengthen the first aid knowledge and improve the level of self-efficacy in the elderly.

Objective To investigate the effects of blue light on the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea in mice by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods Totally 40 mice were collected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group,with 20 mice in each group,and the experimental mice were raised in the blue light environment from 8 to 16 hours per day,while the controls were reared in normal environment.Then the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea in both groups were measured by OCTA before irradiation and one week,two weeks,one month,two months and three months after irradiation,respectively.Results Compared with pre-irradiation,the thickness of corneal epithelium of all regions did not change significantly in both groups at 1 week,2 weeks,and 1 month after irradiation,and the differences were not statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared with before irradiation,the corneal epithelium thickness of the control group at 2 months and 3 months after irradiation did not change significantly,and there was no significant difference (both P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the corneal epithelium at central,nasal 5 mm,inferior 5 mm,and temporal 5 mm regions in the experimental group were significantly thickened,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜0.05).Three months after irradiation,compared with the control group,the thickness of corneal epithelium in the central and inner regions of the cornea and nasal 6 mm and temporal 6 mm regions of the experimental group were significantly thickened,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant change in the corneal full thickness between the experimental group and the control group before irradiation and 1 week,2 weeks,1 month,2 months,and 3 months after irradiation,and the differences were not statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Furthermore,the difference in the extremum value of corneal epithelial thickness,namely the maximum and the minimum,was significantly different in both groups (P ＜ 0.05),but the difference in the extremum value of the full-thickness of the cornea was not significant in the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The blue light can change the thickness of corneal epithelium in mice,and the change of the central region is obvious,but the full-thickness of the cornea do not significantly change in a short term.

OBJECTIVESTo study the different expression of miRNA between pediatric and adult types of brainstem gliomas, and to provide the target miRNAs for explore the mechanism and miRNA interference of the malignant progression of pediatric BSG.

METHODSmiRNA expression profiles in orthotopic models which could simulate the BSG heterogeneity were examined by microarray and analyzed to obtain the aberrantly expressed miRNAs. The two types of human BSG tissue were utilized to verify the microarray data by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization for the putative causative miRNAs.

RESULTSThere were 216 miRNAs detected in both the pediatric BSG group and the adult BSG group, 39 miRNAs to be differential expressed in the pediatric BSG group versus adult group, including 10 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated. qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization indicated good consistency with that of the microarray method.

CONCLUSIONSAberrantly expressed miRNA may serve as putative causative involvement of malignant progression of pediatric BSG, thereby might be potentially novel targets for therapy.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; Brain Stem Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Child ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glioma ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a China made adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment for hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty patients with chronic hepatitis B who were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were randomly put into groups A or B, and 58 patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B were randomly put into groups C or D. During the first 12 weeks of the trial, 112 patients in group A and 115 patients in group B received 10 mg of ADV and a placebo once a day; 28 patients in group C received 100 mg of lamivudine (LMV) and 10 mg of ADV; 29 patients in group D received 100 mg of LMV and a placebo once a day. In the second trial period, all patients received ADV for 36 weeks. The primary checking criterion was the serum HBV DNA change during the treatment. The secondary ones were alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, HBeAg loss, and HBeAg seroconversion.

RESULTSAt week 12, the median serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level of group A (ADV-ADV) was reduced 2.8 log10 copies/ml, significantly greater than that of group B (placebo-ADV) of 0.3 log10 copies/ml reduction (P = 0.000). At week 48, the median serum HBV DNA level of group A and group B were reduced 3.6 and 3.4 log10 copies/ml respectively. At week 12, the median serum HBV DNA level of group C (LMV+ADV) was reduced 3.0 log10 copies/ml, significantly greater than that of the group D (LMV+placebo) of 0.16 log10 copies/ml reduction (P = 0.000). At week 48, the median serum HBV DNA level of group C and group D were reduced 3.6 and 3.8 log10 copies/ml respectively. Only 5.56% (16/288) patients had adverse events that were mild to moderate. There was no significant difference in the change of serum creatinine compared with their baseline levels.

CONCLUSIONIn our HBeAg positive lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients, 48 weeks of ADV treatment was safe and resulted in significant virological and biochemical improvements.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular genesis of medulloblastomas with cDNA array.

METHODSFour samples of medulloblastomas and 1 sample of normal brain tissue were collected freshly. After total RNA extraction, the (32)P targeted cDNA probes were converted and then hybridized with Atlas Human Cancer Array 1.2. The gene expression profiles were acquired through autoradiography. The discrepancy between the tumor and the normal brain tissue was analyzed with Atlas Image 1.01a.

RESULTSIn comparison with the genes in the normal brain tissue, 6 down-regulated and 35 up-regulated genes in the medulloblastomas were revealed by means of the microarrays and autoradiography, and were verified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. The regulatory trends of most differential expression genes were in compliance with the biological features of this tumor.

CONCLUSIONMedulloblastomas are diseases involving multiple genes with some molecular pathological mechanisms different from the astrocytic gliomas. There are complex interrelationships between these genes, which need to be further researched.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis