Objective To investigate clinical features of lower motor neuron lesion (LMNL) caused by the single level lower thoracic disc protrusion (LTDP),and to observe clinical outcomes of surgical treatment.Methods Between January 1997 and December 2009,17 patients with LMNL caused by single level LTDP underwent en bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation in our hospital.MRI and CT scans were taken to confirm lesion levels:T10-11 in 4 patients of whom 3 had patellar clonus and ankle clonus,T11-12 in 5 patients of whom 4 had ankle clonus,and T12L1 in 8 patients who only had positive Babinski sign.The neurologic status was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system.The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior was assessed using the Manual Muscle Test (MMT).Sagittal Cobb angle and cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximal compression in MRI were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 22 to 76 months (average,48.6 months).The mean JOA score increased from preoperative 5.88±1.11 to 9.53±0.94 at final follow-up (t=16.143,P＜0.05).The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior recovered to more than grade 4 in all patients.Postoperative Cobb angle was unchanged compared with that before operation.MRI indicated that the cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximum compression increased from preoperative 35.8±7.3 mm2 to postoperative 132.9±6.5 mm2 (t=70.78,P＜0.05).Conclusion LMNL can be caused by LTDP.The eu bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation can provide a satisfactory decompression effect and marked recovery of neurological function.

Drug Design ; Genomics ; methods ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

AIMTo prepare liposomes of nosiheptide and study its ability to inhibit hepatitis B virus HBsAg and HBeAg secreted.

METHODSLiposomes of nosiheptide was prepared by sodium deoxycholate dialysis and sonication. Nosheptide was determined by HPLC and partical size was determined by using laser light scattering instrument. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the morphology of liposomes. Its actions to inhibit hepatitis B virus HBsAg and HBeAg secreted was studied by a HBV-transfectted cell line (HepG2 2. 2. 15 ).

RESULTSEncapsulation efficiency of liposomes by chloroform:methanol (2:1, v/v) was higher than that by dioxane. With the increase of the ratio of nosiheptide: PC (W/W), the encapsulation efficiency of liposomes decreased with the increase of ratio of sodium deoxycholate: PC, the liposomes partical size decreased. The liposomes kept stable at -20 degrees C after 2 years. The drug concentrations of liposomes that inhibit HBsAg secreted by (46.9 +/- 2. 6) %, (55.4 +/- 1.2) %, (65 +/- 3) % and HBeAg secreted by (15.1 +/- 2.3) %, (36.2 +/- 1.7) %, (36.8 +/- 2.5) % were 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 microg x mL(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONLiposomes of nosheptide can be prepared by sodium deoxycholate dialysis and sonication, which ability to inhibit hepatitis B virus HBsAg and HBeAg secreted is better than nosheptide.

Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Stability ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Hepatoblastoma ; virology ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Liver Neoplasms ; virology ; Particle Size ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

The silent information regulator protein 2 (Sir2) and its homologues play an important role in the regulation of cellular physiological processes such as survival, apoptosis, and aging. SIRT1, the mammalian Sir 2 homologue, has been shown to deacetylate a wide range of non-histone substrates and histone substrates. It has been constantly reported that SIRT1 may be associated with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, genomic homeostasis, tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases. Calorie restriction may mitigate many major diseases in rodent models by SIRT1-mediated deacetylase activity and prolong the life expectancies in these animals. Therefore, SIRT1 may be emphasized as a new therapy target for many different diseases.
Animals ; Caloric Restriction ; Humans ; Longevity ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Substrate Specificity

Objective To develop a tracking monitor for patient vital signs after CT and MRI enhanced scanning so as to execute auto alarm in case of patient discomfort and allergic reactions.Methods The monitor composed of a sub machine,a principal machine and a large-screen display used ultra-low power digital blood oxygen plate LPDSPO2V1.4 and fingertip sensor to acquire data on blood oxygen saturation and heart rate,the acquired data were transmitted to the principal machine with NRF24L01 wireless transmission module, and then the principal machine executed data auto analysis, storage, auto alarm for out-of-limit data and sent the data to the display.Results The monitor could be used for checking blood oxygen saturation and heart rate as well as implement early warning against allergic reactions.One-year trials proved that there were no death in case 87 cases of minor allergic reactions and 3 severe ones occurred.Conclusion The monitor proves its safety and efficiency by decreasing the incidence rate of severe reactions after CT and MRI enhanced scanning,and thus is worthy promoting clinically.

Objective To investigate the effect of seafood intake on the urinary iodine level in women for exploring an alternative to iodine supplementation.Methods Healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women, aged 20～40 years,were selected during their health examination in local women'S health care in 2006.The types of seafood and its intake frequency were recorded from these women.and urine and kitchen salt samples were collected for iodine determination.Results A total of 198 women including 148 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant women were recmitod for this study;they had a median level of urine iodine of 87.51 mg/L.The median levels of urine iodine of83.49,91.52,166.45μg/L in three group women classified as hardly,seldom and often intake of see food showed significant difference(X2=6.202,P<0.05).Urine iodine level in non-pregnant women taking seafood (90.94μg/L)was higher than that in pregnant women(84.79μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=3318.00,P<0.05).The urine iodine in pregnant women with seldom intake of seafood(94.46 μg/L)was significantly higher than that in the hardly intake women(83.28 μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=1257.5,P<0.05).During late period of gestation,the urinary iodine in the women ofthree statUS of hardly. Seldom and often intake of seafood were 81.93,97.97 and 140.18 μg/L,respective,with significant differences among them.Conclusions A certain amount of seafood taken every week Can increase urine iodine levels,and a direct relationship Was observed.Therefore,we suggest that it is necessary to advocate taking seafood to pregnant women for prevention of cretinism,particularly in the air.as where iodized salt was difficult to implement.

Amylosporus sulcatus sp. nov. is described from Nonggang Nature Reserve, southern China, on the basis of morphological and molecular data. The morphological description and illustrations for the new species are provided. The species is characterized by pileate and stipitate basidiocarps. The pileus surface is obviously concentrically and radiately sulcate and tomentum, and the pore surface is snow white. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA confirmed it to be a new species.
China* ; Classification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Snow

Two new species of Fulvifomes are described from specimens collected in rainforests of Nonggang Nature Reserve of southern China, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nLSU) sequences. Fulvifomes nonggangensis sp. nov. is characterized by perennial, sessile and solitary basidiocarps, applanate pileus, small cystidioles of 9.9–15.4 Â 2.9–3.5 lm, large pores of 5–6 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores of 4.3–5.3 Â 3.3–4.2 lm. F. tubogeneratus sp. nov. is characterized by perennial, sessile, and imbricate basidiocarps, a duplex context, small pores of 7–8 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system, and ovoid to subglobose basidiospores of 5.72 Â 5.00 lm.

Two new species of Fulvifomes are described from specimens collected in rainforests of Nonggang Nature Reserve of southern China, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nLSU) sequences. Fulvifomes nonggangensis sp. nov. is characterized by perennial, sessile and solitary basidiocarps, applanate pileus, small cystidioles of 9.9–15.4 Â 2.9–3.5 lm, large pores of 5–6 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores of 4.3–5.3 Â 3.3–4.2 lm. F. tubogeneratus sp. nov. is characterized by perennial, sessile, and imbricate basidiocarps, a duplex context, small pores of 7–8 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system, and ovoid to subglobose basidiospores of 5.72 Â 5.00 lm.

OBJECTIVETo establish an effective laboratory examination system for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A (HA).

METHODSTwenty-five carriers of severe HA were directly detected by long-distance PCR (LD-PCR) in search of the factor FVIII (FVIII) gene inversion. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out using pregnant woman's venous blood sample, husband's venous blood sample and fetal navel venous sample at 20-24 weeks of gestation. The plasma coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) was detected by one-stage method. The concentration of von Willbrand factor (Vwf) was assayed by ELISA. Prenatal diagnosis was finally made by LD-PCR. The results of LD-PCR were proved by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSEight out of 25 cases were diagnosed as having FVIII geneinversion. Four of these 8 carriers underwent the LD-PCR for prenatal diagnosis, and 2 of them had to terminate pregnancy because their fetuses were diagnosed as having HA. The other two carriers were finally diagnosed to have normal fetuses by combined use of LD-PCR with plasma FVIII:C, vWF in pregnant woman's venous blood, husband's venous blood and fetal navel venous blood, and the one-year follow-up study demonstrated that the babies were normal and living well.

CONCLUSIONLD-PCR technique was adopted in this study to detect the factor VIII gene inversion; it could accurately and rapidly diagnose the severe cases of HA and could be used for the HA carriers in need of pregnant diagnosis.

Factor VIII ; genetics ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results