OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of neurofilament contents in rat's spinal cord induced by 2, 5-hexanedione (2, 5-HD), and explore the molecular mechanism of n-hexane neuropathy.

METHODSMale Wistar rats were administered at a dosage of 400 mg/kg/day 2, 5-HD for 2, 4 and 8 weeks respectively. HD-induced neurological defects were detected and quantified using gait score, and the relative lev-els of NF-H, NF-M, and NF-L in spinal cords of rats were determined by Western Blotting.

RESULTSExposure to 2, 5-HD produced progressive gait abnormalities, which suggested that the rat model of 2, 5-HD-induced neurotoxicity was established successfully. Western-Blotting results showed that NFs content in spinal cord demonstrated a progressive decline as the intoxication continued. In the supernatant fraction, compared to the controls, NF-H con-tent decreased by 15.7%, 57.0%, and 58.0% respectively after 2, 4, and 8-week treatment with 2, 5-HD (P < 0.01); accordingly, NF-M decreased by 36.0%, 61.3%, and 65.2% respectively (P < 0.01); NF-L decreased by 20.8%, 43.9%, and 44.3% respectively (P < 0.01). In the pellet fraction, the contents of NF-H in groups of 4 and 8 weeks' exposure to HD decreased by 35.6% and 43.2%, respectively (P < 0.01), and those of NF-L decreased by 26.4% and 42.1%, respectively (P < 0.01) when compared to the control. Further-more, NF-M contents in groups of 2, 4 and 8 weeks' exposure decreased by 23.3%, 33.9%, and 63.7% respectively (P < 0.01). The NFs level in spinal cords was highly correlated with gait abnormality of treated rats as the intoxication went on. Multiple correlation coefficients of NF-H, NF-M, and NF-L content with gait score of HD-treated rat were 0.8912, 0.9282 and 0.8981 (P < 0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe declines of NFs are high-ly related to neurobehavioral abnormality of 2, 5-HD-treated animals, and involved in the development of n-hexane neuropathy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gait ; drug effects ; Hexanones ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Zygophyllumfabago, by phytochemical methods. The compounds were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies from the EtOAc extract. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic data (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS) and comparison with the literature. As a result, thirteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 1-hydroxyhinesol(1), hinesol(2), atractylenolactam(3), beta-eudesmol (4), 5alpha-hydroperoxy-beta-eudesmol(5), 12-hydroxy-valenc-1(10)-en-2-one(6), pubinernoid A(7), (6S,7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione(8), 3-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone (9), (3S,5R, 6S, 7E)-3, 5, 6-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(10), (6R,7E,9R)-9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one(11), (S)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone(12), and blumenol A(13). Compounds 1-7 were sesquiterpenoids and 8-13 were megastigmane type norsesquiterpenoids. All the compounds were obtained from Z. fabago for the first time, and compound 1 was a new natural product.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Zygophyllum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the possible etiological role of MLH1 gene 415G/C polymorphism in sporadic Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODSNinety-seven sporadic CRC patients and 138 normal controls were collected from Hubei Provincial Cancer Hospital and the People's Hospital of Wuhan University. In addition, five CRC families including 6 patients and their 19 first-degree relatives were also recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Gene mutation was analyzed by PCR-RFLP. MLH1 mRNA expression in colorectal mucosa was analyzed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe frequency of MLH1 gene CC genotype was significantly higher in sporadic CRC patients than that in controls (P=0.035, OR=5.29, 95% CI: 1.07-26.04). In the CRC families, the C allele frequency of CRC patients and their relatives was increased, compared with sporadic CRC patients and normal controls, respectively (P=0.003 and P=0.006). MLH1 mRNA expression of colorectal mucosa was similar in different genotypes.

CONCLUSIONMLH1 gene 415G/C polymorphism might be a risk factor to sporadic CRC in Chinese. The mutation does not affect the MLH1 mRNA expression. For first-degree relatives from CRC families, carriers of MLH1 415C allele have a high risk to CRC.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

This paper summarized the Chinese literatures in the previous 5 years about the pre-clinical animal researches on the application of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment for depression, searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The efficiency of EA treatment for depression and the mechanism of it were discussed, to shed light on new ideas and new fronts for the further research on depression in clinical or pre-clinical fields.

OBJECTIVETo compare the hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation via fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) with conventional orotracheal intubation via direct laryngoscope (DLS) in children under general anesthesia.

METHODSForty-three American Society of Anesthesiologist grade I-II children undergoing the elective plastic surgery and requiring orotracheal intubation were randomly allocated to either the DLS group (n = 20)or the FOB group (n = 23). After standard intravenous anesthetic induction, orotracheal intubation was performed using a DLS or a FOB. Noninvasive systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and rate-pressure product (RPP) were recorded before and after anesthetic induction, at intubation, and 5 minutes after intubation with 1 minute interval.

RESULTSIn the DLS group, SBP, HR, and RPP at intubation increased significantly compared to their postinduction values (P < 0.05),but blood pressure, HR and RPP at intubation didn't differ from their preinduction values. The maximal values of SBP, HR and RPP during the observation (from the beginning of intravenous anesthetic induction to 5 minutes after intubation) were significantly higher than their preinduction values (P < 0.05). In the FOB group, blood pressure, HR and RPP at intubation increased significantly compared to their preinduction and postinduction values (P < 0.05), and the maximal values of blood pressure, HR and RPP during the observation were significantly higher than their preinduction values (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood pressure and RPP at each time point during the observation between the two groups. The HR at intubation were significantly higher in the FOB group than in the DLS group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the HR values at other time points during the observation between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in the maximal values of blood pressure, HR and RPP or the times to reach their maximal values between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONGeneral anesthesia of clinical standard depth can not effectively inhibit the pressor and tachycardiac responses caused by fiberoptic orotracheal intubation in children. As compared with DLS, FOB has no special advantages in preventing the cardiovascular stress responses to orotracheal intubation in children.

Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Bronchoscopes ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Laryngoscopes ; Male ; Surgery, Plastic

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with pentazocine intravenous anesthesia in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly.Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed to analyze 63 elderly OVCF patients treated with PKP and admitted to Tianjin Hospital from June 2018 to December 2018.There were 20 males and 43 females,aged 65-86 years [(74.7 ± 1.1)years].There were 15 patients with thoracic compression fractures and 48 with lumbar compression fractures,in whom the vertebral height loss was ＜ 30％ without posterior ligament complex damage.Nineteen patients received local anesthesia with lidocaine (Group A),21 patients received intravenous anesthesia with pentazocin and propofol (1 mg/kg) (Group B),and 23 patients received intravenous anesthesia with pentazocin and DEX (0.5 μg/kg) (Group C).Heart rate,systolic blood pressure,respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) were recorded at 5 time points:at rest in the operating room (T0),after intravenous injection of pentazocine (T1),when the balloon dilated (T2),after the injection of cement (T3),and blinking after being called or at the end of the operation (T4).The levels of plasma cortisol were recorded before and at T3 in three groups.Visual analogue score (VAS) at T4 was recorded.The operation time,patient satisfaction and incidence of adverse reactions were recorded.The wake-up time and orientation recovery time of groups B and C were recorded.Results The heart rate,mean systolic blood pressure,respiratory rate in Group A at T2,T3 and T4 were higher than those in Groups B and C (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between Groups B and C (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in SPO2 at only time among the groups (P ＞ 0.05).No significant differences were found in cortisol between the three groups before surgery.The cortisol level of Group A at T3 was higher than those of Groups B and C with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05),but no significant difference was found between Groups B and C (P ＞0.05).The VAS in Group A was significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P ＜ 0.01).The operative time in Group A was longer than those in Groups B and C (P ＜ 0.05),but no significant difference was found between Groups B and C (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction between Groups B and C,and both of them were higher than Group A (P ＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).The wake-up time and orientation recovery time of Group C were shorter than those of Group B (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion For elderly OVCF patients,pentazocin combined with propofol or DEX can be applied in PKP,which has satisfactory analgesic effect,slight effect on respiratory and circulatory,less adverse reactions,and good patient feedback.DEX has more advantages of awakening and orientation recovery and is worthy of clinical application.

BACKGROUND: When conservative treatment of pure lumbar spondylolysis is ineffective, segmental fixation and bone grafting is a commonly used method. However, surgical methods are various, and have some controversies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of U-shape titanium screw-rod fixation system with bone grafting for pure lumbar spondylolysis. METHODS: Data from 15 patients with pure lumbar spondylolysis or without mild spondylolisthesis, who were treated with U-shape titanium screw-rod fixation system and bone grafting in the Department of Orthopedics of Jinan Military General Hospital from May 2012 to May 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage were observed. The lumbar spine X-ray, CT, Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index were compared before operation, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The operation time was (115.0±18.8) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was (280.0±84.3) mL, and the postoperative drainage was (61.0±19.6) mL. (2) By Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index during following-up, pain symptoms and function were significantly improved (P < 0.05). (3) No secondary spondylolisthesis, adjacent vertebral degeneration, internal fixation fracture, loosening, infection or nerve injury occurred during the follow-up. (4) All patients had bony union. The healing time range was 6-12 months, with an average of 8.2 months. (5) In summary, U-shape titanium screw-rod fixation system with bone grafting is a good choice for the treatment of pure lumbar spondylolysis.

AIM:To investigate the effect of ischemic postconditioning ( IPC) on autophagy induced by focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion ( I/R) in rats.METHODS:Healthy male SD rats were assigned randomly into sham-opera-tion (sham) group, I/R group and IPC group with 10 rats in each group.The rats in sham group were only exposed the right common , internal and external carotid artery surgically .The rats in I/R group were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by the modified Longa suture method for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion.The rats in IPC group were subjected to MCAO for 2 h followed by reperfusion of the ipsilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 10 s for 5 episodes, and then reperfusion for 24 h.Autophagy was obeserved by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The pro-tein levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p-mTOR and microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II in brain tissue of the rats were determined by Western blot .Pathological changes of brain tissue were observed by HE staining.RESULTS:The protein levels of mTOR and p-mTOR in IPC group were significantly higher than those in I/R group (P<0.05).The expression of LC3-II in IPC group was significantly lower than that in I/R group (P<0.01).The cerebral infarction area and brain water content in IPC group were significantly lower than those in I /R group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that neurons degeneration and necrosis in IPC group were significantly alleviated compared with I /R group.TEM observation showed that IPC revealed fewer autophagosomes , with much less severe cell damage than that in I/R group.CONCLUSION:IPC reduces brain ischemia reperfusion damage by decreasing autophagy of brain cells , which might be related to the activation of mTOR .

OBJECTIVETo assess the anti-tumor immune response to percutaneous cryoablation in patients with local prostate cancer.

METHODSWe treated 10 patients with local prostate cancer by percutaneous cryoablation, collected the blood samples before and 2 weeks after the treatment and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Protein lysates were made by biopsy from autologous prostate cancer or non-cancer tissues. The levels of serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL4 and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Th1/Th2 ratio was calculated by the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio. The number of IFN-gamma + T cells under the stimulation of different protein lysates was counted by enzyme link immunol spot (ELISPOT). And the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was detected by LDH assay.

RESULTSCompared with pre-treatment, the levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, the Th1/ Th2 ratio and the number of IFN-gamma + T cells induced by tumor protein lysates in PBMCs were increased significantly after cryosurgery (P < 0.01), while the levels of IL4 and IL-10 decreased slightly, and the non-tumor protein lysates induced no obvious changes in the number of IFN-gamma T cells. The cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against human prostate cancer cells LNCaP was markedly increased, but not that against renal cancer cells GRC-1. One case of recurrence was found during the 3-6 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous cryoablation for prostate cancer could induce a tumor-specific immune response.

Aged ; Cryosurgery ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood