OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention of Dachengqi Granule (DG) on the apoptosis of small intestine smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and its mechanisms.

METHODSHealthy 100 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group (n =20), the MODS model group (n =40), and the DG group (n =40).E. coli suspension was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group and the DG group to establish bacterial peritonitis induced MODS model. DG at 1 mL/100 g was administered by gastrogavage to rats of the DG group, twice daily for 3 successive days. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the proximal segment of intestine was taken and stained by using terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry. Changes of apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and cytochrome c protein (Cyt c) in mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c protein significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly decreased in the MODS model group (P <0.01). Compared with the MODS model group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c proteins significantly decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly increased in the DG group (allP <0.01).

CONCLUSIONDG could inhibit apoptosis of SMCs through suppressing activation of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in intestinal SMCs, thus promoting the recovery of the gastrointestinal motility function in rats with MODS.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intestine, Small ; physiopathology ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:The effects of both conservative and traditional open reduction and internal fixation are dissatisfactory in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, however, minimal-invasive percutaneous pedicle screw-rod systems provide a new available method.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effect of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation using Sextant minimal-invasive system in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.
METHODS:A total of 55 patients, who had undergone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation using Sextant system (25 patients) or open pedicle screw fixation (30 patients) for single-level vertebral body compression fractures in Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from February 2011 to January 2013, were enrol ed in this study. They showed no neurological signs and symptoms. The operative time, intraoperablood loss, postoperative drainage amount, length of hospital stay, pre-and post-operative Cobb angle and anterior vertebral body height ratio were recorded and compared between two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Except two patients in open pedicle screw fixation group were lost after discharge, al other patients were fol owed up for 8-14 months. There were significant differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage amount and length of hospital stay between two groups (P=0.000 0). The post-operative Cobb angle was significantly lower while anterior vertebral body height ratio was significantly higher at one week than those before fixation in two groups (P=0.000 0). No significant difference was found in correction loss between two groups at 8 months after operation. Experimental findings indicate that, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation using Sextant system has a satisfactory outcome in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. However, understanding the correct indications is very important for clinical application.

Objective To report the functional reconstruction and rehabilitation for a patient who under- went allograft for both of his forearms and hands.Methods One male patient underwent allograft for both of his forearms and hands in October 2002 in our department to reconstruct his hand functions.The allografted hands were intervened with an integrated rehabilitation program,which involved administration of immunosuppressants,post- operative monitoring,postoperative functional training,massage,physiotherapy,orthosis,performance training, sensation training,secondary operation and mental rehabilitation.The patient was followed up for 4 years.Results The forearms and hands of the patient were in good shape and regained nearly normal sensation.The distance of two-point-discrimination was 2.5 cm to 4.0cm.The TAM (total active motion) of fingers was fine.The patient could look after himself well and were healthy in psychology.Conclusion An integrated rehabilitation program can yield satisfactory results in the management of allografted forearms and hands.

BACKGROUND:Though the effects of conservative or traditional open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures are reliable and satisfactory for most cases, two methods also have shortages. Minimal-invasive percutaneous pedicle screw system provides a new available method. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effect of Sextant percutaneous pedicle screw system in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS:A total of 55 patients, who had undergone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation using Sextant system (25 patients) or traditional open internal fixation (30 patients) for single-level vertebral body compression fractures in Department of Orthopedics of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from February 2011 to January 2013, were enrol ed in this study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Except two patients in traditional open internal fixation group were lost after discharge, al other patients were fol owed up for 8-14 months. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage amount and hospital day were better in percutaneous pedicle screw fixation group than in the traditional open internal fixation group (P<0.05). Compared with preoperation, the sagittal Cobb angle, visual analogue scale and Oswestry disability index after operation were significantly lower (P<0.05), while anterior vertebral body height ratio was significantly higher in each group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in terms of correction loss and Oswestry disability index between two groups at 8 months after operation (P>0.05). The results show that percutaneous pedicle screw fixation using Sextant system has a satisfactory outcome in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. However, obeying indication strictly is very important for clinical application.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Dizziness ; therapy ; Headache ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; therapy

Objective To investigate the correlation between ankle-brachial index and ultrasonography in lower ex- tremities vascular in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods 218 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled,and ankle-brachial index(ABI)measurements and uhrasonography in lower extremities vascular were performed in all patients.Lower extremi- ties vascular disease(LEVD)were divided into six species according to the uhrasonography results and scored in accord- ante with its serious degree,then investigate the correlation between ABI and uhrasonography results score.All patients were divided into deferent groups according to uhrasonography results and ABI range,and then compared their deference. Results The lower the ABI,the more serious of the LEVD showed by ultrasonography.ABI and ultrasonic inspection score was significantly negatively correlated(r=-0.65,P

Objective To study the roles of micheliolide on ovarian cancer cells. Methods Firstly, human ovarian cancer cell lines HeyA8, SKOV3 and A2780/DDP were treated with different concentration of micheliolide (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50 μmol/L) for 72 hours, then methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used wo detect the growth of the human ovarian cancer cell lines and the stongest inhibited cell line were selected for the following test. Secondly, after HeyA8 cell line was treated with different concentration (5, 10, 20μmol/L) of micheliolide for 24 hours, the HeyA8 cell apoptosis was measured byflow cytometry. Thirdly, the expression of RelA mRNA in HeyA8 cell was detected through real-time PCR, the expressions of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signal pathway related protein RelA and the activited cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase-9) were detected by western blot analysis. Results (1) The growth of HeyA8, SKOV3 and A2780/DDP cells were all significantly inhibited after being treated with different concentration of micheliolide for 72 hours and the roles of inhibition were all concentration dependant (P<0.05). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HeyA8, SKOV3 and A2780/DDP were (9.8±2.2), (12.0±2.1) and (12.8±1.8)μmol/L, respectively. We chose HeyA8 cell to do the following expreriments because of its best inhibited effect. (2) After HeyA8 cell was treated with micheliolide of different concentrations, as the concentration increased (20 and 0μmol/L, for example), the apoptosis rate of HeyA8 cell raised from (7.2±1.0)%to (17.4±1.1)%, the percentage of survived cells reduce from (92.8 ± 1.3)% to (82.6 ± 1.4)%,and the relative mRNA level of RelA decreased from 1.00 ± 0.13 to 0.18 ± 0.00 (P<0.01); furthermore, the expression of RelA protein was weaken and the activited caspase-9 protein expression was increased gradually. Conclusions Micheliolide plays a significantly inhibited role in HeyA8, SKOV3 and A2780/DDP cells. The inhibited role of micheliolide inovarian cancer cells might through inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-кB) signaling pathway, and inducing the expression of activited caspase-9 protein to promoting apoptosis of HeyA8 cell.

We studied the wall motion characteristics of the ascending aorta by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in primary hypertension patients. The ascending aortas both in 30 patients with primary hypertension and 30 normal controls were examined by Acuson sequoia 512 equiped with VVI. The maximum velocity (Vs, Ve) of every point on the anterior wall of ascending aorta both in systole and diastole was measured. The aortic diameter was wider in the hypertension patients than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The movement amplitude of the anterior wall of the ascending aorta in long axis view in the hypertension patients was lower than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The motion and time to peak in systole of each point of the ascending aorta in the healthy subjects had no significant difference (P>0.05). The velocity curves of the anterior wall of ascending aorta both in the hypertension and healthy subjects were regular, and the curve in systole was named S wave and that in diastole named E wave. The velocity of S wave and E wave was slower in the hypertension patients than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The time to peak of S wave on the anterior wall of ascending aorta in systole was shorter in the hypertension patients than in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). VVI could be used to accurately and directly observe the movement character of the ascending aorta walls, which would help us understand the elasticity of great arteries in patients with hypertension.
Aorta/pathology ; Aorta/*physiopathology ; Aorta/ultrasonography ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Elasticity ; Hypertension/pathology ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Vectorcardiography/*methods ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology ; Young Adult

Background Scarring of the filtering bleb is a main cause of filtering surgical failure in glaucoma.It has been reposed that tetrandrine could suppress the proliferation of cultured human fibroblast of Tenons capsule in vitro and thus has the potential effect to prevent scarring after the filtering surgery. Objective Present study was to investigate the anti-cicatricial effect of tetrandrine drug delivery system(Tet DDS)during filtration surgery. Methods Filtration surgery was performed in bilateral eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits.The Tet DDS with 0.3 mg Tet,0.2 mg Tet or free-Tet were implanted subcunjunctially during the surgery.The filtering blebs were scored in 1 day,4,7,10,14 days after referring to the corneal thickness and bleb range under the slit-lamp biomicroscopy.The morphology of filtering bleb was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy in 7 and 14 days after operation.The filtering bleb specimen was prepared in 7 and 14 days for the histopathological examination. Results The filtering bleb scores in Tet DDS implantation groups were significantly higher than those in free-Tet DDS group from 4 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.01),and the scores showed a considerably increase in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group compared with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group from 7 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.05).The filtering blebs of Tet DDS implantation groups were found with distinct subepithelial cystic spaces under the light microscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy on the 7th day and 14th day after surgery.Compared with free-Tet DDS group,the numbers of subepithelial mierocysts were much more(P＜0.01)and the area of microcysts was larger(P＜0.01)in Tet DDS group.The filtering tissue presented with more subepithelial microcysts and larger microcysts range in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group than 0.2 mg Tet DDS group in 7 and 14 days after operation(P＜0.05).The inflammatory cell infiltration wag milder in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group in comparison with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group and free-Ted DDS group.Conclusion Tet DDS has strong inhibitory effects on inflammatory cells activity and fibroblagt activity the early stage after filtering surgery and therefore improve the surgery success rate.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical outcome of submucosal inferior turbinectomy and outfracture surgery of inferior turbinates. METHODS All patients receiving two different operations were measured by acoustic rhinometry and questionnaire of QOL at preoperative 1 week and postoperative 12 months, seperately. RESULTS Forty-seven patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were enrolled in this study. Evaluation of SNOT-20 discovered both surgeries could improve patients' QOL with similar outcome. Preoperative '5 important items' in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were 'lack of a good night's sleep', 'need to blow nose', 'thick nasal discharge', 'fatigue' and 'dizziness'. Postperative '5 important items' were 'postnasal discharge', 'runny nose', 'sneezing', 'reduced concentration' and 'reduced productivity'. Both surgeries could make acoustic rhinometry parameters change obviously, such as minimal cross-sectional area, 0-5 cm nasal volume(NV) and 2-5 cm NV. Furthermore, submucosal inferior turbinectomy produced more volume in nasal cavity than outfacture surgery, (7.28±2.01)cm3 vs (6.01±1.22)cm3, (5.99±1.87)cm3 vs (4.23±1.08)cm3(P<0.05), seperately. There was no correlation between the data of SNOT-20 and acoustic rhinometry. CONCLUSION We recommend outfracture surgery of inferior turbinate as the preferred surgical choice for patients with mild inferior turbinate hypertrophy.