OBJECTIVETo analyze the reasons why anterior decompression and titanium mesh fusion for cervical spondylosis always show poor therapeutic effects, and to investigate the clinical effects of anterior revision surgery in these patients.

METHODSFrom January 2004 to December 2011, 16 patients underwent anterior decompression and titanium mesh fusion for cervical myelopathy were treated with anterior revision surgery. There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 61 years old (ranged from 46 to 75 years), including 11 cases with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, 2 cases with nerve root cervical spondylosis and 3 cases with mixed type cervical spondylosis. Average duration from the first operation to reoperation was 7 years(ranged from 4 to 12 years). In the first operation, titanium mesh segment located in C3-C5 (2 cases), C4-C6 (8 cases), C4-C7 (2 cases), C5-C7 (4 cases), and one of them, titanium mesh implantation in C4 and C5,6 intervertebral disk removal and cage fusion. After the first operation, symptom of 13 patients recurred after improvement or disappearance, 2 patients did not show obvious improvement, and 1 patient aggravated. Cervical spine radiography, CT scan and MRI were performed in all patients before re-operation. There were 12 patients with compression of the spinal cord or nerve root caused by degenerative changes in adjacent segments of fusion segments, 4 cases in upper segments, and 8 cases in lower segments; 3 patients with compression of the spinal cord or nerve root caused by vertebral posterior osteophyte of decompressed segments; 1 patient with compression of the spinal cord caused by incomplete anterior decompression. JOA, NDI and Odom classification were used to assess the clinical effects.

RESULTSAll anterior revision surgery were successful with a mean time of 110 min (80 to 150 min) and mean bleeding of 160 ml (30 to 200 ml). There was 30 ml clear drainage fluid in 1 patient suspected of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. But the 2nd day after operation, the tube was removed and the drainage opening was sutured, and the suture incision healed in grade A after 10 days. Other patients had no complications such as dysdipsia, hoarseness, and laryngeal edema, etc. All patients were followed up for 12 to 28 months with an average of 16 months. Two months after operation and at last follow-up, JOA scores and ODI index had obviously improved than preoperation (P < 0.01), and there was significant difference between postoperative 2 months and last follow-up (P < 0.01). At the final follow-up, improvement rate of JOA was (72.9 +/- 0.2)%. According to the standard of Odom, 12 cases got excellent results, 3 good, 1 fair.

CONCLUSIONAfter surgery of cervical decompression and bone graft fusion with titanium mesh, the patients need re-operation because of incomplete decompression, degenerative changes in adjacent segments or newly formed compression factors, and complications caused by implants. Anterior revision surgery can obtain good clinical effects.

Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Surgical Mesh ; Titanium

The study was aimed to investigate the strategy of transfusion of allogeneic hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HS/PC) into marrow cavity of mouse model in sensitized transplantation. A sensitized BALB/c mouse model was established by repeated transfusion of allogeneic spleen cells. The normal BALB/c mice were used as non-sensitized controls. The non-sensitized or sensitized recipients were transplanted by transfusion of allogeneic HS/PCs into bone marrow cavity. The survival rate and hematopoietic recovery were monitored. Moreover, non-sensitized and sensitized sera were obtained and incubated with allogeneic HS/PC respectively, the percentage of dead cells was calculated using complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) tests. The results showed that non-sensitized recipients got long-term survival after the transfusion of HS/PC into marrow cavity, and the hematopoietic recovery increased along with time. However, among the sensitized recipients, one mouse died of anesthetic accident, the other 9 mice (9/10) died within 2 weeks after the transfusion of HS/PC in marrow cavity, and the hematopoietic recovery declined along with time. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that the sensitized recipients died of bone marrow failure. The results of CDC tests showed that the percentage of dead cells in non-sensitized and sensitized group was 7.80 ± 1.93% and 50.80 ± 3.12%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating sensitized sera were capable of impairing allogeneic HS/PC. It is concluded that the strategy of the marrow cavity transfusion of HS/PC can not enhance engraftment of allogeneic donor cells in sensitized recipients.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transplantation, Homologous

Objective To determine the cardiac and renal arteriole pathological changes in autopied elderly hypertensive patients with left vcntricular hypertrophy (LVH).Methods Autopsy samples from 25 essential hypertension (EH) patients with LVH aged over 60 years and age-matched 8 controls were analyzed.LVH was further divided into three degrees from Ⅰ to Ⅲ according to left ventricular free wall thickness in EH patients.Quantitative measurements of arteriolar morphometric parameters in heart and kidney were performed under light microscope with computer image analysis post HE and Maeson staining.The lesion index and plasma albumen infiltration of arteriole were evaluated by the semiquantitative method.Results The inner diameter (ID) and lamina] cross-sectional area (LCSA) were significantly decreased while wall thickness (WT),wall cross-sectional area (WCSA),ratio of WCSA to LCSA (WCSA/LCSA) and ratio of WT to ID (WT/ID) were significantly increased in EH patients in proportion to LVH degree.Both cardiac and renal arterioles WCSA/LCSA and WT/ID were significantly decreased with increasing outer diameters (OD).Under the same OD rang,the pathological changes were more significant in the renal arterioles compared to those in the cardiac arterioles (P＜0.05).The arterio]ar lesion index and the plasma albumen infiltration index of cardiac and renal arterioles in EH group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01) and the arteriolar lesion index and the plasma albumen infiltration of arteriole in the renal tissue were significantly higher than those in the cardiac tissue (P＜0.01).Conclusion Concentric remodeling occurs in the cardiac and renal arterioles of EH patients in proportion to LVH degree and renal arterioles lesions were significantly severer than that of cardiac arterioles in EH patients with LVH.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the roots of Stellera chamaejasme.

METHODThe chemical constituents were separated and purified by chromatographic method after solvent extraction and were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTTwo phenolic compounds were obtained and determined as stelleranol (1) and umbelliferone-7-O-glucoside (2).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new compound, and compound 2 was isolated from this plant for the first time.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of an external film of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the rats wound healing.

METHODSForty-eight SD rats were randomly separated into eight groups of 6 rats each. Bilateral dorsal cuts were performed on each rat, left wound was used as the experiment with HA external film and right wound was used as the control only with normal saline. The process of healing was observed histologically following 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days postoperatively.

RESULTSInflammation was lighter and epidermal healing was faster in the experimental group than those in the control. The fibroblasts degenerated and the collagen fiber changed to slim and loose bunches in the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that HA external film could have powerful infiltrating activity at the early stage of wound healing, it could accelerate the healing of epidermis and delay the formation of keratinization layer.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Routes ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hyaluronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu province, China.

METHODSUsing identical protocol and questionnaire, an epidemiological study was carried out in a population of 5888 adults in 12 counties in Jiangsu. Anthropometric test and blood sampling were conducted at the time of interview. IDF (2005) was used as the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome . The prevalence and age-standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify associated risk factors.

RESULTSThe prevalence and age-standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu were 19.07% (11.10% in males and 25.72% in females) and 17.48% (11.49% in males, 22.86 % in females), respectively. Among the potential risk factors of metabolic syndrome as gender, age, education level, occupation, income, physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking, disease family history, data from univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that gender (OR = 1.91), age (OR = 1.15), physical inactivity (OR = 1.94), with hypertension family history (OR = 1.99) and with obesity family history (OR = 6.24) could significantly increase the risk of disease development.

CONCLUSIONMetabolic syndrome has become a significant public health problem among the adults in Jiangsu province.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cycloartane triterpenoids, which exist widely in nature, are mainly distributed in Astragalus (Leguminosae) species, Trib. Cimicifuga (Ranunculaceae) and Thalictrium (Ranunculaceae) species and possess various bioactivities. Along with the development of isolation techniques of phytochemistry, more and more this kind of compounds are isolated and identified. However, bioactivity researches on the compounds are relatively lagged behind. Most researches are still in screening level, deficient in mechanism elucidation, short of action proven in vivo and SAR analysis. The author summarized the bioactivity of this kind of compounds from all aspects: anti-tumor, anti-virus, antibacterial, anti-inflammation, immune-regulatory, cardiovascular system, hepatic protection and so forth. This will be benefit for the further research and development of the compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Thalictrum ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

AIM: Accommodation is one of the most important functions of human eye, while its mechanism is still under discussion. This paper aimed to study accommodation mechanism with numerical simulation.METHODS: A simulation model was constructed to study the mechanism of accommodation based on the experimental data derived from published resources. The displacement and pressure are applied on the model to study the deformation of lens during accommodating.RESULTS: The simulation showed that, as the eye was accommodating, the thickness of the lens increased linearly,and the lens diameter decreased linearly. The optical power of the lens increased as the accommodation increased. This result was accord with the public facts in accommodation.Furthermore, the pressure was found to have a great influence on the shape of the lens and the optical power. The lens became thinner and flatter as the pressure increased and the pressure caused a remarkable increase of lens' optical power.CONCLUSION: The outcome of this paper is consistent with the Helmholtz's hypothesis on accommodation to some extent. The analytical model presented in this paper can be used in the theoretical study of the accommodation mechanism of the human lens.

Objective To study the effects of coal burning related endemic fluorosis on body development and intelligence levels of fluorosic children in Zhijin county.Methods One hundred and seventy-six fluorosic children and 50 healthy(without fluorostic teeth) children aging 7-12 years who were sampled in cluster sampling were examined for urine fluorosis,physical examination and intelligence tests in Zhijin county,with coal burning pollution related fluorosis.Results Physical development of sick children and the children in control group were in low levels. The intelligence levels and the leves of urine fluorosis in study group were lower than those in control group and there was a significant difference(P

Objective To investigate the expression and correlation of NKG2D and sMICA in lung cancer patients. Methods By collecting 30 lung cancer patients as the test group,and taking 30 healthy volunteers as the contrast group, the expression of NKG2D and sMICA in the two groups were examined separately by FACS and ELISA method. Results The expressions of NKG2D in the two groups were (81.56±8.78) %, (85.63±6.62) %. The lung cancer patients were high remarkable. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P <0.05). The expression of sMICA in the two groups were (354.13 ±80.575) pg/ml,(216.53±48.175) pg/ml. The lung cancer patients were low remarkable. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P <0.01). There was a significant relation between the two groups (r =-0.349, P =0.006). Conclusion The expression of NKG2D and sMICA may provid one of the immune targets for diagnosing that can forecast the immune state and malignant metastasis of the lung cancer patients. The significant relation between NKG2D and sMICA may take on main role in the immune escaping of tumor. It may provide the suitable target of the patients for tumor organisms and immune treatment.