OBJECTIVETo explore the operative skills and effect of unilateral pedicle screw combined with contralateral percutaneous transfacet screws fixation in treating degenerative low lumbar disease.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to December 2011,22 patients with degenerative low lumbar disease were treated with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, during the operations, unilateral pedicle screw and contralateral percutaneous transfacet screw fixation were performed. There were 16 males and 6 females, aged from 32 to 71 years old with an average of (51.1 ± 10.6) years, including single segment in 20 cases and two segments in 2 cases. Clinical effects were evaluated according to visual analogue score (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 1 to 2.5 years with an average of 18 months. One case complicated with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid after operation and 1 case with lower limb pain of decompression-side on the 3rd day after operation. Twenty-two patients got bony fusion. There were no instability and evidence of instrument failure during follow-up. The VAS and ODI score decreased from preoperative 8.24 ± 0.72, 36.72 ± 6.84 respectively to 3.18 ± 0.66, 4.36 ± 1.12 at the final follow-up (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUnilateral pedicle screw combined with contralateral percutaneous transfacet screw fixation is safe and feasible surgical technique in treating low lumbar degenerative disease. It has advantages of little trauma, rigid fixation, high fusion rate, and less complication. etc.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

OBJECTIVE ToexplorethepossiblemechanismoractiontargetsofT-2toxinembryo toxicity by observing the effect of T-2 toxin on mitochondrial function of differentiated murine e mbryonic stemcells(mESCs).METHODS Duringdifferentiationat24,72and120h,ESCswereexposedto T-2 toxin 0.5 μg·L-1 .Meanwhile,mESCs were pre-treated with antioxidant Trolox (200 μmol·L-1 )for 30 min and exposed to T-2 toxin (0.5 μg·L-1 )for 72 h.The mitochondrial ultrasture of differentiated mESCs was observed under a transi mission electrical microscope (TEM).The differentiated ESC mito-chondrial function,including respiratory control ratio (RCR),ATP synthase activity and mitochondrial membranepotential(MMP),wasmeasuredat144hafterdifferentiation.RESULTS Significant decrease of the mitochondrial number,deformation of mitochondrial structure,and lack of complete mito-chodrial crest were observed through TEM in the groups of T-2 toxin exposed for 72 and 1 20 h,respec-tively.Compared with the normal control group,RCR declined by 49.5% and 55.1%,ATP synthase activity decreased by 84.9% and 89.3%,and MMP decreased by 23.2% and 35.2% in T-2 toxin 0.5 μg·L-1 exposure 72 and 1 20 h group,respectively.However,the inhibition of mitochondrial function by T-2 toxin in differentiated mESCs recovered significantly in the presence of the antioxidant Trolox. CONCLUSION T-2toxininducesoxidativestressandinhibitsmESCsmitochondrialfunctionindifferenti-ated mESCs,and ROS-induced mitochondrial malfunction plays an i mportant role in T-2 toxin e mbryonic toxicity mechanis m.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSWe transfected the lentivirus vector STIM1-pGCSIL-GFP carrying STIM shRNA into human hormone-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells, and 3 days later observed the transfection efficiency by fluorescence microscopy. At 7 days after transfection, we determined the expression of STIM1 in the PC-3 cells by RT-PCR and Western blot and those of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, survivin and activated Caspase-3 by Western blot.

RESULTSAt 3 days, inverted microscopy revealed a transfection efficiency of > 80%. At 7 days, the STIM1 expression was significantly inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels. The Bcl-2/Bax rate was remarkably decreased as compared with that of the control group (0. 31 vs 1.24 ) , and the survivin expression was markedly reduced, 0. 14 times that of the relative expression in the control. However, the Caspase-3 cleavage was significantly activated, 1.52 times that of the control (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTIM1 can be regarded as an oncogene in prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Inhibition of its expression can induce PC-3 cell apoptosis by reducing the Bcl-2/Bax rate, decreasing the survivin expression, and activating the Caspase-3 pathway.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: It is still a problem to achieve early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, and delayed treatments often occur in a large number of patients because of late diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Therefore, the development and improvement of related bioanalytical methods are of great importance for the biomarker detection of Alzheimer's disease which is still lack of means that are sensitive, efficient and low-cost. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the diagnostic methods and related biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, and to sum up the research progress in novel biomimetic receptors for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. METHODS: PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases were used to search articles related to the biomarker studies of Alzheimer's disease and relevant studies about methods of biomarkers detection published from 2000 to 2016. The key words were "Alzheimer's disease, biomarkers, detect/detecting/detection" in Chinese and English, respectively. Finally 40 articles were obtained for the review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At present, the bioanalytical methods used for biomarker detection of Alzheimer's disease mostly utilize antibodies as recognition and capture elements of biomarkers, but there are some limitations using traditional antibodies as detection receptors. Thus, novel biomimetic receptors can be substituted for conventional antibodies. Novel biomimetic receptors have high specificity, small size, low production costs and high product stability, and their chemical modification process is relatively convenient. Biomimetic receptors developed for protein analysis include aptamers, polypeptide receptors, peptoid receptors, molecularly imprinted polymers, nanobodies, gelsolin and cucurbit urils. Detection of biomarkers with novel biomimetic receptors instead of conventional antibodies will be more accurate and timely in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To explore the roles of serum TLR-4, TNF-αand IL-6 in neonates with preterm birth. Methods A total of 120 neonates from neonatology department in the Xingtai People's Hospital were selected and divided into full-term group (n=40), premature rupture of fetal membranes (n=40) and idiopathic preterm group (n=40) based on the gestational age. The peripheral venous blood was collected within 30 minutes when the infants were born, and the supernatant was reserved after centrifuged. The levels of serum TLR-4, TNF-αand IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The levels of TLR-4, TNF-αand IL-6 in idiopathic preterm and premature rupture of fetal membranes were signiifcantly higher than that in full-term group and showed positive correlation. Conclusion Cytokines TLR-4, TNF-αand IL-6 maybe closely related to the preterm birth.

Objective To evaluate clinical significance of direct antiglobulin testing(DAT)in anemia in patients with severe chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods Red blood cell(RBC)-related parameters detection and DAT were performed among 30 healthy persons,30 CHB patients,and 50 severe CHB patients,clinical factors related to posi-tive DAT were analyzed.Results RBC count,hemoglobin (Hb)concentration,and hematocrit(HCT)level in severe CHB patients were all lower than CHB patients and healthy group(P <0.05),RBC distribution width(RDW)in severe CHB patients were all higher than CHB patients and healthy group(P<0.05);the positive rate of DAT in patients with se-vere CHB,CHB,and healthy group were 62.82%,13.33% and 0 respectively.RBC count,Hb concentration,and HCT level in severe CHB patients with positive DAT were all lower than severe CHB patients with negative DAT (all P <0.05),while RDW was higher than the latter (P=0.001);after RBC was separated through capillary,positive intensity of DAT of aged RBCs was higher than young RBCs in severe CHB patients (P <0.001);among severe CHB patients, DAT-positive and-negative patients differed in gender,age,alanine aminotransferase,total bilirubin,complement C3, C-reactive protein,and complication of diabetes(all P≤0.05).Conclusion Anemia in severe CHB patients may be re-lated to immune hemolysis of aged RBCs induced by antibody adsorption.

AIMTo study the effect of Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) on transient outward potassium (I(A)) in rat cerebral cortical neurons and its kinetic mechanism.

METHODSThe effects of N/OFQ on I(A) were investigated by using the whole cell patch clamp technique in acutely dissociated rat cerebral cortical neurons.

RESULTS(1) At the voltage of + 60 mV, 0.1 micromol/L N/OFQ made I(A) decreased from (5356.1 +/- 361.6) pA to (4113.3 +/- 312.7) pA (P < 0.01, n = 10) and the percent inhibition was 23.2% +/- 2.2%. (2) (N/OFQ made I-V curve of I(A) decreased significantly (P < 0.01, n = 10).(3) 0.1 micromol/L N/OFQ shifted the activation curve of I(A) to positive potential from (-9.2 +/- 2.5)mV to (30.6 +/- 3.7) mV (P < 0.01, n = 8) and changed the slope factor(kappa) of the activation curve from (20.4 +/- 2.3) mV to (22.6 +/- 2.1) mV (P > 0.05, n = 8). (4) 0.1 micromol/L N/OFQ caused a significant hyperpolarizing shift of the inactivation curve from (-64.1 +/- 3.2) mV to (-55.9 +/- 1.9) mV (P < 0.05, n = 5), without significant effect on kappa of the inactivation curve.

CONCLUSION0.1 micromol/L N/OFQ has a significant inhibition on I(A) and shift the activation and inactivation curve to depolarization in cerebral parietal cortical neurons of rats.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Opioid Peptides ; physiology ; Parietal Lobe ; physiology ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE: To verify the therapeutic effect and adverse reactions of ?-receptor blocker, domestic urapidil, on severe hypertension. METHODS: Observation was carried out in a multi-center, random sampling and controlled pattern. Drug was iv injected first and then infused. At the same time, the patients' systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, heart rate, EKG, blood & urine routine, serum GPT and urea nitrogen were measured and examined.RESULTS: Of 41 cases in this series. 16 satis- factory(39.0%), 23 improved (56.1%), 2 unsatisfactory(4.9%) .The total effective rate was 95.1%. After drug administra- tion, systolic pressure was lowered by 43 .97mmHg(P

Objective To study the routine examination of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai and determine the contents of lappacontine and ranaconitine; To provide basis for establishing the quality standard of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai.Methods Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai were collected from different areas.A method of TLC was used for qualitative discrimination. The methods in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were adopted for the determination of moisture content, ash content and extractives. Determination of lappacontine and ranaconitine were performed by HPLC. Results The TLC showed that the spots were clear and the separation was good. Individual provisional standards:the moisture,total ash and acid-insoluble ash content of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai were not more than 11.0%, 12.0%, and 7.0%, respectively; water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives were not less than 18.2% and 10.6%,respectively.The content of ranaconitine and lappacontine in Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai were not less than 0.125% and 0.815%, respectively. Conclusion The method established by the study is accurate and reliable,and can be used for quality evaluation of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai.

OBJECTIVETo identify radiographic predictors of residual low back pain (LBP) after laminectomy for lumbar canal stenosis (LCS).

METHODSClinical results and radiographic findings in 69 patients who underwent single level laminectomy for LCS were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had an improvement in LBP scores evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system during the follow-up periods were classified as the recovery group, and others were classified as the non-recovery group. Patients'clinical data and radiographic parameters like lordosis angle, range of motion and intervertebral rotational angle were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis to detect factors significantly related with the occurrence of residual LBP.

RESULTSThe average preoperative JOA score of 14.8+/-5.05 improved to 21.59+/-5.51 at the final follow-up. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that significant predictors of residual LBP were preoperative lumbar lordosis angle and range of motion.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that patients with flat back and limited lumbar mobility before surgery tend to have poor results in terms of LBP. Therefore, these sagittal radiographic parameters should be taken into account when choosing laminectomy as the surgical option for LCS.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Low Back Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging ; Treatment Outcome