ObjectiveTo analyze and summarize the feasibility and characteristics of the posterior spinal canal reduction and fixation in treating mid-upper thoracic spine facture.MethodsA retrospective study was made on 17 patients with mid-upper thoracic spine facture to record the complication, compare the functions of the patients with complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries before and after surgery and examine the iatrogenic injury in patients without spinal cord injuries.ResultsNo complication happened after surgery.Incomplete injury was found in six patients, whose ASIA scales were found to be increased for 1-3 levels during the follow-up.While the complete injury was found in eight patients,whose ASIA scale remained unchanged during the follow-up.The sensory scores of both the incomplete injury group and complete injury group were processed with variance analysis and the results showed a significant difference between pre-operation and post-operation (F = 476.47, P = 0.000).The mean value between complete injury group and incomplete group was with high statistical difference (F = 31.46, P =0.000).The variance analysis of the motor scores showed a significant difference between before and after operation (F=46.75, P =0.000) and the mean value between complete and incomplete injury groups was with statistical difference (F = 158.59, P = 0.000).There were three patients with normal spinal cord function, with no decrease of ASIA scale or no change of the sensory and motor scores.ConclusionsFor patients with mid-upper thoracic spine fracture, posterior spinal surgery is conducive to the recovery of spinal function, for it can safely and effectively avoid worsening the thoracic and other combined injuries and release spinal pressure including the pressure in front part of the spinal cannal.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To detect levels of IL - 4 and INF - ? in induced sputum dynamically in children with mycnplasma pneamo-niae pneumonia( MPP), and to analyze the function of Th1 /Th2 cell factor immune response in the genesis and development of MPP, so as to evaluate the clinical value of induced sputum method in MPP research. Methods There were 38 cases who were diagnoses as MPP using 3% high osmotic pressure of saline water to ultrasonic atomizing inhalation for inducing sputum. ELISA was used to detect IL-4 and INF-?. Results The content of IL-4 in acute stage was higher than that in convalescence stage in induced sputum of MPP children. Severe stage was higher than mild stage. However, the comparison between acute and convalescence stage didn't have statistics difference in the content of INF-?, neither did the comparison between severe and mild stage. IL- 4/INF- ? in acute stage was higher than that in convalescence stage. Severe stage was higher than mild stage. In convalescence stage, the comparison of INF - ?, IL - 4, IL - 4/INF - ? between the severe and the mild didn' t have statistic significance. Conclusions IL-4 and INF - ? have participated in the monogenesis of MPP. The disequilibria of Th1 /Fh2 is existed in MPP and Th2 reaction predominates. So induced sputum analysis can be a better way to judge the light or heavy press degree of MPP practically, conveniently and sensitively.

ABSTRACT:Objective To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector harboring fusion gene NT4p53(C22)Ant and study its killing effect on HepG2 tumor cells.Methods Using molecular cloning technology,the rAVV-NT4p53(C22)Ant was produced by homologous recombination.Then we collected virus supernatant and measured its titer after it was amplified by PCR.The effect of this fusion gene on HepG2 tumor cells was evaluated by IHC, MTT assay,PI staining and flow cytometry.Results The recombinant adenovirus was successfully constructed. The p53 expression rate in rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant group was (44.88±2.45)%.MTT assay showed that rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant could strongly suppress the growth of HepG2 tumor cells.Flow cytometry showed that rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant could induce obvious apoptosis of HepG2 tumor cells.Conclusion The recombinant adenovirus vector encoding gene NT4p53(C22)Ant has been successfully constructed and expressed in this experiment,and it can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 tumor cells.

Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Tunica Intima ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

Objective To evaluate the value of the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules under the background of Hashimoto' s thyroiditis (HT) using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).Methods Ninety-three single thyroid nodules with HT confirmed by operations and pathology were given CEUS examination,and time-intensity curves were drawn by using TomTec analyzing software.The parameters as follows:rise time (RT),time to peak (TTP),mean transit time (mTT) and maximum intensity(IMAX) were compared by independent-samples t test,and the diagnostic value of parameters were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results In 93nodules,there were 56 benign thyroid nodules,and 37 malignant thyroid nodules.(1) After injection of contrast media,the enhancement and wash-out in benign nodules were mostly the same with peripheral gland,as well as the enhance intensity.Malignant nodules presented lower enhancement,with later rise time and earlier wash-out compared to peripheral gland.(2) mTT was longer,while IMAX was higher in benign nodules than those in malignant nodules (P ＜0.05).But there were no significant differences in RT or TTP between the two groups.(3) The cut-off value in diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules with HT assessed by ROC curve were mTT 21.70 s,IMAX 86.41％.When mTT,IMAX,and combination of the two parameters were used for the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules with HT,the sensitivity were 86.5 ％,83.8 ％,97.3 ％ and the specificity were 69.6 ％,75.0 ％,48.2 ％,respectively.Conclusions CEUS is helpful to identify the benign and malignant thyroid nodules under the background of HT.

To study the antiviral effect of Hypericum perforatum L. extract (HPE) on influenza A virus (IAV) (H1N1) in vitro and in vivo. Cytopathic effect (CPE) and neutral red (NR) dye uptake were used to examine the antiviral effect of HPE on Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells which were infected with IAV in vitro. HPE was effective against influenza A virus (IAV) in vitro, with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 40 μg/mL. The mean 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) in the MDCK used in these experiments was 1.5 mg/mL. Ribavirin was run in parallel with EC50 values of 5.0 μg/mL; the mean CC50 for ribavirin was 520 μg/mL. Oral gavage administrations of HPE or ribavirin to mice infected with the IAV were highly effective in preventing death, slowing the decline of arterial oxygen saturation, inhibiting lung consolidation and reducing lung virus titers. The minimum effective dose of HPE in these studies was 31.25 mg/kg/day, which was administered twice daily for 5 d beginning 4 h prior to virus exposure. Below a dosage of 2000 mg/kg/day, almost all treated mice survived, which suggests that HPE is of low toxicity. Ribavirin's minimum effective dose was 40 mg/kg/day with the LD50 determined to be 200 mg/kg/day. Delay of the initiation of either HPE or ribavirin therapy, using approximately 1/3 LD50 dose each time, could still be protective as late as 48 h after exposure to the IAV. While both agents appeared to have similar efficacy against IAV infections, HPE was considered to be less toxic and may warrant further evaluation as a possible therapy for influenza.

Objective To explore in vitro the best time window for using sinusoidal electromagnetic fields to promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Methods BMSCs were isolated and cultured from 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (male and female,80-120g).The BMSCs (from passage 3) were exposed 0,1,4 or 8h/d for 7d,14,or 28d,respectively,to 15Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields with a maximum amplitude of lmT.Those exposed 0h/d served as the control.The relative expressions of runt related gene-2 (RUNX2),bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) were determined using real-time,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs).The level of RUNX2 protein was determined by Western blotting after 14d.Alizarin red staining was used to compare calcium distribution in each group.Results Obvious promotion of differentiation to osteoblasts was observed after 7 days of exposure to the15 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields,most obviously manifested by an outstanding increase of the early osteogenic index RUNX2 in those exposed 4h/d.After 14 days of intervention,the 1h/d exposure showed to be most effective,especially in inducing the changes of the late osteogenic index OPN.The trends of changes in RUNX2 protein were similar in all groups.After stimulating 1h/d for 14 and 28days,calcium deposition increased to the greatest extent.Conclusions Exposure to sinusoidal electromagnetic fields induces osteogenic differentiation to osteoblasts in rat BMSCs in vitro.There is an apparent window effect.The best results are observed with more days of exposure and shorter exposure time (1h) every day.

Objective To investigate the different roles of two-dimensional,color Doppler ultrasound and real-time ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).Methods One hundred and forty-one patients clinically diagnosed as HT underwent traditional ultrasound and elastography.The patients were classified into three groups,the hyperthyroidism group,the hypothyroidism group and the euthyroidism group.One hundred and eight volunteers with normal thyroid functions were enrolled as control group.Ultrasonic characteristics (size,echo,accompanied nodules,blood flow distribution of thyroid) and thyroid elastic parameters were recorded and analyzed.Results ①Focal hypoechoic pattern was mainly seen in the group of HT hyperthyroidim,diffuse hypoechoic pattern was mainly seen in the groups of HT euthyroidism,diffuse hypoechoic pattern with heterogeneous linear hyperechoic and nodular changes were mainly seen in the HT hypothyroidism group.②Blood flow reduced according to the order by the hyperthyroidim group,euthyroidism group and hypothyroidism group.③Patients with HT hyperthyroidism had elastic image pattern Ⅰ.Patients with HT euthyroidism had pattern Ⅰ and pattern Ⅱ.Patients with HT hypothyroidism had pattern Ⅱ and pattern Ⅲ.④There were significant differences (P＜0.05) between the mean elastic strain and the ratio of the blue area in each group.Conclusions Real-time ultrasound elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of HT.

Objective To study the feasibility of defining the internal gross tumor volume (IGTV) of hepatocellular carcinoma applying the enhanced four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images with deformable registration technology.Methods Ten HCC patients who accepted radiation therapy were selected in this study.The 4DCT in free breathing,non-enhanced 3DCT and arterial phase enhanced 3DCT in end inspiration breath holding associated with active breathing coordinator were acquired sequentially.4DCT were sorted into ten series CT images according to breath phase,and named CT00,CT10..…CT90.Gross tumor volume (GTV) were contoured on different CT series and the IGTV1 was merged by ten phases GTVs of 4DCT.The GTV of enhanced 3DCT was registered to different CT series of 4DCT and the IGTVDR was obtained by merging the GTVs after deformable registration.The target volumes differences were compared by paired t-test.Results The edge of tumor was difficult to define on 4DCT and non-enhanced 3DCT images.The enhanced 3DCT image showed clearer tumor edge,and the GTV increased by mean 37.99％ compared to GTV on 4DCT different series images and non-enhanced 3DCT image (P =0.002).The GTV after deformable registration on 4DCT different phase images increased by mean 36.34％ (P =0.011),which were similar to GTV on enhanced 3DCT image (P =0.632).The IGTVDR increased by 19.91％ (P =0.017),compared to IGTV1.Conclusions The contrast-enhanced 4DCT image which was obtained by combining enhanced 3DCT and 4DCT images with deformable registration technology could raise the position precision of the HCC IGTV effectively.