0.05),while we found significant difference in hospital duration between more than 60 days group and less than 30 days group(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of using polytetraflouroethylene (e-PTFE) tube with self-Schwann cells implanted to repair facial nerve defect.

METHODSEnzymatic digest method was used to get pure Schwann cells in short time. The e-PTFE membrane tube was used to bridge the 1.0 cm defect of facial nerve and pure self-Schwann cells were injected into the tube. As control group, the e-PTFE tube without self-Schwann cells was used in the same way. Electric physiological and histological examinations were taken in different times.

RESULTSThe effect of nerve regeneration of the experimental group was better than control group at any time. The nerve conduction velocity of the experimental group was 29.70 m/s in the 16th week, while the control groups was 23.00 m/s respectively at the same time.

CONCLUSIONIt is possible to obtain sufficient active Schwann cells by enzymatic digest method. Using e-PTFE tube to bridge the defect of facial nerve with self-Schwann cells implanted can get effect of nerve regeneration.

Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Nerve Regeneration ; Schwann Cells

Aged ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy

Objective To compare the clinical value of three visual rating scales (VRS) for white matter lesions (WML) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods Totally 184 subjects (including 107 AD patients,47 MCI patients and 30 normal controls)were recruited.All subjects underwent comprehensive neuropsychological tests and were examined with a standard protocol of MR imaging.WML burden was rated with the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) rating scale,Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale (CHIPS) and Fazekas scale.Consistence of the three rating scales were analyzed,and detection results of WML in AD/ MCI/NC group with the three rating scales were compared.The relationship between WML and cognitive function in AD and MCI groups were explored.Results ARWMC rating scale,CHIPS and Fazekas scales were moderately to highly correlated with WML (r=0.61-0.78,all P＜0.01).ARWMC showed that WML were in the left and right frontal lobes in AD and MCI groups and in the right frontal lobe and left temporal lobe in NC group,which had significant differences (F=4.20,4.69,4.69,3.36,respectively,all P＜0.05).WML in the left temporal lobe had a significant difference between MCI group and NC group (F=3.36,P＜0.05).CHIPS showed that WML in the front left side of centrum semiovale in AD and MCI groups had significant difference as compared with that in NC group (F=4.88,P＜0.05),and WML in the rear right side of low external capsule had a significant difference between AD and NC groups (F=3.04,P＜0.05).Fazekas scale showed that there was no difference in WML among AD,MCI and NC groups.ARWMC showed that scores of WML in right temporal lobe were positively correlated with concentration and visual construction,and bilateral basal ganglia were negatively correlated with the concentration.Fazekas scale showed that scores of WML in periventricular were negatively correlated with concentration,MMSE and orientation,scores of WML in deep white matter were negatively correlated with concentration,abstraction and judgment,and the whole scores were negatively correlated with concentration.CHIPS showed that the scores of WML in the rear left side of low external capsule were negatively correlated with short-term memory in MCI group.Conclusions The three rating scales well consistent with each other.ARWMC rating scale and CHIPS can detect the differences in WML between AD,MCI and NC groups.The scores of CHIPS in WML are related with cognition in MCI group,while scores of ARWMC and Fazekas scale in WML are correlated with many aspects in cognitive function in AD group.In general speaking,CHIPS in MCI patients and ARWMC rating scale in AD patients show more advantages in the detection of WML and have better correlation with cognitive function.

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of WT1 gene in acute luekemia (AL) patients.Methods WT1 gene level was detected by real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients.Then the expression levels of WT1 gene in different subtypes of AML were compared,and the correlation between gene expression and disease courses and prognosis were observed.Moreover,the relationship between disease courses and WT1 expression in patiens after receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation were analyzed.Results Among 66 cases,WT1 expression positive rate was 87.5 ％ (14/16) in AML and 76.0 ％ (38/50) in ALL.In AML,the expression level in M3 showed the lowest than that in any other subtypes (compared with M1,M2,M4,M5,P value was 0.040,0.007,0.006 and 0.01,respectively).The expression level of WT1 was closely correlated with leukemia disease courses.The expression level in complete remission (CR) group showed a significant lower expression level than that in non-remission group (P =0.018) and relapse group (P =0.003),and the re-increase of WT1 expression level could predict relapse as early as 1.5 months.Moreover,WT1 expression also showed an close relationship with prognosis of patients receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.Patients whose WT1 was undetectable had a better prognosis than those with persistent expression,and increase again after becoming undetectable.Conclusion WT1 has a high expression level in AL,which can represent minimal residual disease.The expression level in M3 was lowest than that in different AML subtypes,and its expression level has a close correlation with clinical disease course and prognosis of AL.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic femoral head necrosis is caused by local vascular injury and blood-supply insufficiency. There exists no optimal treatment for the ischemic femoral head necrosis. Thus, the improvement of the blood supply to the femoral head seems to be a key point for the treatment. OBJECTIVE: To verify the curative effects of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation induced vascular regeneration on the improvement of ischemic femoral head necrosis via animal experiments and clinical observations. DESIGN: Contrast animal experiment and self-controlled clinical observation.SETTING: Cell Therapy Center, the 463 Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS AND PARTICIPANTS: ① Animals: Twenty Japanese white rabbits in either gender and weighing 3.0-4.0 kg were purchased from Animal Experimental Center, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA. The animal experiments were coincident with the ethical standards. ② Participants: 188 patients with ischemic femoral head necrosis (335 hips) having whole following-up data were selected from Cell Therapy Center, the 463 Hospital of Chinese PLA from July 2004 to July 2007. There were 113 males and 75 females, and their ages ranged from 18 to 72 years. Diagnosis was done by using X-ray photographs, nuclide scanning, MRI and CT examinations. All patients provided the informed consent, and the study was approved by the local research ethics committee. METHODS: ① Animal experiments: The experiment was carried out at the Animal Experiment Center, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January to June 2004. Ischemic femoral head necrosis models were established at both hindlimbs by using liquid-nitrogen refrigeration. The right side was regarded as transplantation group and the left one as control group. Mononuclear cells extracted from bone marrow were poured in the right femoral artery, while saline was poured in the left femoral artery. ②Clinical observations: Mononuclear cells were separated from autologous bone marrow of patients with ischemic femoral head necrosis after density gradient centrifugation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Four weeks later, angiogenesis at both femoral arteries was observed by arteriography by using digital subtraction anglography (DSA). Moreover, bilateral femoral head samples underwent pathological sections to observe bone regeneration and repair of femoral head 4 and 12 weeks later. ②Items including hip pain, walking distance and gait, abduction and internal rotation function changes of hip joint were observed in 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after stem cell transplantation in media femoral circum flex artery, lateral femoral circum flex artery and obturator artery. In 6 months after stem cell transplantation, angiogenesis and blood supply of femoral head were observed by using arteriography. In 6, 12 and 24 months after stem cell transplantation, morphological and ischemic changes of femoral head were observed by using CT, X-ray and MRI examinations. Harris scores were used to evaluate function of hip joint before and in 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after stem cell transplantation.RESULTS: Animal experiment: Twenty rabbits were involved in the final analysis. ① DSA-arteriography results: In 4 weeks after transplantation, blood-supply arteries in femoral head of right hindlimb in the transplantation group were more than those in the control group. ② Pathological results: In 12 weeks after transplantation, cartilage, lamellar bone and bone trabecula in the left femoral head were repaired remarkably, but left femoral head necrosis was not improved. Clinical observations: 188 patients were involved in the final analysis. ① Improvement of symptoms: Among 188 patients, 164 (87.3%) had remission of hip pain, 147 (78.4%) had function improvement, and 150 (80.0%) had elongation of walking distance. ② Imaging changes: At 6 months after transplantation, DSA-arteriography in 12 patients demonstrated that blood-supply arteries in femoral head were increased and thickened remarkably as compared with those before transplantation, and the blood flow was rapid. At 12-24 months after transplantation, lesion of bone matrix in 24 patients was improved under the X-ray, CT and MRI examinations. ③ Harris scores of hip joint: The scores at 6, 12 and 24 months after transplantation were significantly higher than those before transplantation (t= -3.423, -6.714, -9.039, P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can effectively improve and treat ischemic femoral head necrosis.

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the role of foods such as fish juice, pickles, bacon, salted fish, smoked food, fruit and vegetables in the etiology of esophageal cancer in Chaoshan region of China. Method： A large case-control study was conducted to investigate 1248 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and 1248 controls matched by sex and age. Results： After adjusting for the effects of occupation, areas of residence, income, alcohol, cigarette and tea, a strong association with a clear dose-response was observed between the frequencies of fish juice eating and esophageal cancer (P<0.01), and the relative risk for women was 23.5 and for men was 3.1, respectively. The results for pickles were similar to fish juice. A protective effect of fruits on esophageal cancer was observed both in women (OR=0.13) and in men (OR=0.46), and the risk was decreased (P< 0.01) as frequencies of fruits eating was increased. The risks were significantly higher in bacon and salted fish consumers than that in non-consumer, but the dose-response relationship was not significant. No significant effects, however, were detected in vegetables and smoked food consumption. Conclusions:To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on relationship between the fish juice and high risk of esophageal cancer in population. Further epidemiological and experiment study are required to find a biological causal relationship between them.

AIMTo investigate the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expressions in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the effect of beta-radiation.

METHODSTGF-beta1 and bFGF expression was studied by means of an immunohistochemical method in nine normal prostatic (NP) tissues, 15 hyperplastic prostatic tissues and 35 hyperplastic prostatic tissues treated with 90Sr/90Y.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta1 expression in the epithelium and stroma of normal prostatic tissues was 68.2 % +/- 10.5 % and 29.7 % +/- 4.6 %, respectively, while it was 64.8 % +/- 9.3 % and 28.6 % +/- 4.1 %, respectively, in hyperplastic prostatic tissues. Compared with the controls, TGF-beta1 expression in the epithelia and stroma of BPH treated with 90Sr/90Y increased significantly (P <0.01). The bFGF expression in epithelia and stroma of normal prostatic tissues was 17.4 % +/- 3.7 % and 42.5 % +/- 6.8 %, respectively, and was 46.3 % +/- 8.2 % and 73.2 % +/- 12.1 %, respectively, in hyperplastic prostatic tissues. Compared with the controls, expressions of bFGF in the epithelia and stroma of BPH treated with a 90Sr/90Y prostatic hyperplasia applicator decreased significantly (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONExposure of beta-rays had noticeable effects on BPH tissues, enhancing TGF-beta1 expression and inhibiting bFGF expression.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Beta Particles ; Case-Control Studies ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; radiotherapy ; Strontium Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Yttrium Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo analyze the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and determine its influencing factors in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with pegylated-interferon alpha (peg-IFNa)-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

METHODSA total of 194 CHC patients were treated with peg-IFNa-2a and RBV for 48 weeks. Development of thyroid dysfunction was recorded. Clinical and biological factors from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment were statistically analyzed to determine correlation with thyroid dysfunction in this patient population.

RESULTSFifty-two (26.80%) of 194 peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-treated patients developed thyroid dysfunction. Dysfunction severity ranged from hyperthyroidism (n = 1, 0.52%) and hypothyroidism (n = 10, 5.15%) to subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 4, 2.06%) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 37, 19.07%). The dysfunction rate was significantly higher after peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment (26.80% vs. 12.37% at baseline, x2 = 12.829, P less than 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 0.386, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.226-0.657), in females (33.00% vs. 20.21% in males, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.016-3.040), and in thyroid auto-antibody positive patients (64.29% vs. 23.89% in negative patients, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.681-36.183). Early virological response did not have any significant effect on dysfunction rate (23.00% vs. 30.85% no early virological response, x2 = 1.522, P more than 0.05) nor did end of treatment response (27.19% vs. 26.25% no response at end of treatment, x2 = 0.021, P more than 0.05). Patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had higher interleukin (IL)-6 at baseline (i.e. before peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment) (27.08+/-14.90 vs. 11.65+/-5.46 in patients who maintained normal thyroid function, t = 3.127, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 5.28-25.58). IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the two groups at 24 weeks (6.30+/-2.47 vs. 6.81+/-2.80, t = 0.352, P more than 0.05). IL-6 levels before and after 48 weeks of treatment in normal thyroid function patients were 27.08+/-14.90 and 6.30+/-2.47, t = 3.632, P less than 0.05, and in thyroid dysfunction patients were 11.65+/-5.46 and 6.81+/-2.80, t = 1.997, P more than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONPeg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may cause thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism, in CHC patients. Female sex and thyroid auto-antibody positivity may put CHC patients at higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV therapy. Elevated IL-6 may be a predictive marker of peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has become a popular procedure for painful vertebral osteoporotic fracture (VOF), with immediate pain relief and improved mobility; however, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) injected into the vertebral body is not absorbable and little information is available concerning the long-term results. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the long-term clinical results and radiological changes after PVPs for VOFs.

METHODSFifty-one patients with VOFs were treated by PVPs with PMMA between 2000 and 2004. After > 7 years of follow-up, eight patients had died from causes unrelated to the intervention and 12 patients were lost to follow-up, thus leaving 31 patients available for evaluation with an average length of follow-up of 9.2 years (follow-up rate, 72.1%). Among these 31 patients, the PMMA was injected at 43 levels with a mean volume of 4.3 ml per level (range, 2 - 6 ml). The pain was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS), and the mobility was graded as walking without difficulty (grade 1), walking with assistance (grade 2), and bedridden (grade 3). Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) were obtained and assessed pre-operatively, immediately post-operatively, and after 7 years of follow-up. The PMMA, vertebral height, and Cobb angle were assessed and compared.

RESULTSAll of the patients experienced pain relief and improved mobility after intervention and during the follow-up period. Cement leakage was detected in post-operative CT scans in 9 of 51 patients, but without neurological compromise. For the 31 patients followed up over 7 years, the VAS decreased from 8.3 ± 2.6 pre-operatively, to 2.1 ± 1.6 immediately post-operatively, and 1.0 ± 0.9 at the final follow-up evaluation, with significantly improved mobility. Additional compression fractures occurred at adjacent levels in three patients, and there were no new fractures at the augmented vertebrae. Based on a review of the radiographs, neither loose nor displaced cement was detected. The changes in vertebral height and Cobb angle were not significant. On CT scans, the cement closely contacted or infiltrated the trabecular bone. The boundary between the cement and trabecular bone was indistinct and there was no evident radiolucent gap between the cement and trabecular bone.

CONCLUSIONSAt an average follow-up of 9.2 years, PVPs provided sustained pain relief and improved mobility in patients with VOFs. The PMMA injected into the vertebral body combined closely with the host trabecular bone without adverse reactions.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Vertebroplasty ; methods