Objective To investigate 4 variants single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein(ALOX5AP) in lipoxygenase pathway and in cytochrome P450 pathway as susceptibility genes for stroke in a southeastern Chinese population,and evaluate the associations between susceptibility genes and cerebral infarction,to find whether gene-gene interactions increase the risk of cerebral infarction.Methods By case-control study,two hundred and ninety-two patients with cerebral infarction and 259 healthy control subjects were included.Eight variants in 5 candidate genes were examined for stroke risk,including the SG13S32 (rs9551963),SG13S42 (rs4769060),SG13S89 (rs4769874),and SG13Sl14 (rs10507391) variants of the ALOX5AP gene,the G860A (rs751141) variant of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (EPHX2) gene,the A1075C (rs1057910) variant of the CYP2C9 *2 gene,the C430T (rs1799853) variant of the CYP2C9* 3 gene,and the A6986G (rs776746) variant of the CYP3A5 gene.Gene-gene interactions were explored using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR)methods.Results There were no statistically significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes of the 8 candidate genes.The GMDR analysis showed a significant gene-gene interaction between SG13S114 and A6986G,with scores of 10 for cross-validation consistency and 9 for the sign test (P =0.011).These genegene interactions predicted a significantly higher risk of cerebral infarction (adjusted for age,hypertension,and diabetes mellitus;OR =1.804,95％ CI 1.180-2.759,P =0.006).Conclusions A two-loci gene interaction confers significantly higher risk for cerebral infarction.The combinational analysis used in this study may be helpful in the elucidation of genetic risk factors for common and complex diseases.

Objective To investigate effects of magnetic stimulation on apoptosis of nerve cells and the production of inducible nitric oxidate synthase (iNOS) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Thirty-two SpragueDawley male rats were randomly divided into a magnetic stimulation group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16).SCI models were established by spinal cord transection in both groups. Rats were sacrificed at the 6th, 12th, 24th and 72nd hour post-injury, but the rats in the stimulation group received magnetic stimulation before being sacrificed.Apoptosis index (AI) and iNOS-positive cells rate were recorded at each time point. Results Apoptotic cells could be observed by the 6th hour post-injury, and were elevated from the 24th to the 72th hour. iNOS-positive cells were few at the first two time points, but had increased significantly at the 24th and 72nd hour post-injury. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis index of the stimulation group decreased a little at the 6th and 12th hour, but not significantly. The difference was quite significant at the 24th and 72nd hour, however, and the AI in the stimulation group decreased much more than that in the control group. There was little difference in the rate of iNOS-positive cells between the control and stimulation groups at any time point. Conclusions Magnetic stimulation could inhibit neural apoptosis and protect neurons from secondary SCI, but it has little effect on iNOS production.

0.05).Conclusion There may be no significant difference in sensory block,motor block and prevalence of adverse effects between injection rates of 0.27 mL/s and 0.04 mL/s in spinal anesthesia with 20 mg isobaric ropivacaine.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound(CE-TRUS) in the perineal prostate biopsy. Methods A total of 116 patients was undergone prostate biopsy through the perineum under the direction of tansrectal ultrasound. Prostate biopsy standard was based on 2007 CUA revised guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of urological diseases.Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to check the prostate and to learn the prostate focal lesion,size, number and echo color Doppler flow characteristics. Of the 116 cases, 43 patients was undergone contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound. Results The biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of prostate cancer was 64 cases, Benign prostatic hyperplasia was 52 cases. Of 43 cases who undergone contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound, Prostate cancer and Benign prostatic hyperplasia were 25 and 18 cases, respectively. CE-TRUS group and TRUS group showed no statistical difference between two groups. Analyzed the cases with PSA≤30 ng/ml, CE-TRUS group had a higher positive rate of biopsy (P=0.046). Conclusion TRUS guided transperineal biopsy of prostate might be an method for the diagnosis of prostate cancer with a higher accuracy rate. CE-TRUS can improve the biopsy positive rate of prostate cancer.

Spinal cord injury is a difficult medical problem and need to be solved urgently.Application of tissue engineering to repair spinal cord injury has gradually become a hot spot.It is important to prevent the development of scar tissue while inducing cells' regeneration by using scaffold.Nanotechnology has improved the performance of scaffold because of its superiority.Nanoscaffold has obvious advantages compared with the traditional scaffolds.New scaffold materials can be obtained by nanotechnology.Nanoscaffold can also serve as a good drug carrier,and it may have beneficial effects on biological behaviors of seed cells on its surface,such as differentiation,proliferation and migration,which may promote tissue regeneration and functional recovery and get good results in repairment of spinal cord injury.This article summarized the research progress in recent years in nano spinal cord engineering scaffolds in order to provide a reference for research in related fields.

Objective To determine the effect of mild hypothermia on neonatal piglet cardiac hemodynamic function after hypoxia-ischemia (HI).Method Twenty five 7-day-old piglets were used for hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model by the method of temporary occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries and followed by mechanical ventilation with low concentration of oxygen (FiO_2=6%) for 30 minutes.The piglets were randomly divided into three groups:group A (normothermia with body temperature to 39℃,n=9),group B (body temperature to 36℃for 72 hours,n=8),and group C (body temperature to 34℃for 72 hours,n=8).Mild hypothermia was initiated at 4 hours after HI,the systolic and diastole function were evaluated by Doppler echocardiography at pre-HI,post-Hi 4 hours and post-HI 72 hours.Results There were no significant differences in left ventrieular ejection time/left ventrieular ejection time (LPEP/LVEF),right ventricular ejection acceleration time/right ventricular ejection time (RACT/RVET) and CO at post-HI with hypothermia 72 hours in three groups,but the heart rate decreased in B and group C group.Compared with nonnothermia,mild hypothermia treatment showed no significant differences in MAP,LPEP/LVET,RACT/RVET,CO,SV at post-HI with hypothermia 72 hours.Conclusions Body temperature decreased by 3～5℃for 72 hours will not aggravate hemodynamic abnormity.

Objective To investigate surgical technique and clinical efficacy of Sky bone ex- pander kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures.Methods Eighteen cases with osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures were treated with Sky bone expander kyphoplasty from August 2004 to November 2005.Under the local anesthesia,3.5-5ml of bone cements were injected into each pathologic vertebral body through unipedicle approach after reduction procedure was done with Sky bone expander.Results The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 to 11 months, with an average of 4.5 months.Back pain was effectively relieved after the operation in all cases.No complications occurred.Conclusion The Sky bone expander kyphoplasty has the advantages of safe- ty,easy operation,minimal invasion,effective restoration of the vertebral body height and fast relief of pain.

Background Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)is a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)hereditary disease,so it is significant to understand the influence of DNA mutation on the occurrence of LHON.Objective This survey was to evaluate the role of mtDNA mutation in the development of LHON.Methods This survey study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command and written informed consent was obtained from each subject before the relative medial examination.Seventy-two matrilineal relatives from a family with LHON were collected for a pedigree analysis and mutation screening.Regular eye examination was performed on 11 patients,13 mutant gene carriers and 49 individuals with normal phenotype,and the degree of visual damage was graded as follows: ＞0.3 was normal,0.1-0.3 was mild damage,＜0.05-0.1 was moderate damage,＜0.02-0.05 was severe damage and ＜0.01 was very severe damage.Clinical characteristics of LHON was evaluated.The periphery blood sample of 2-4 ml was collected from individuals to separate the mononuclear cells,and the mtDNA was extracted by modified high salt method.MtDNA was amplified by PCR and the mutation loci was sequenced.Results PCR amplification product sequencing of mutant gene showed that both G11778A and T14502C mutations were detected in 24 of 72 matrilineal relatives,but only 11 of 24 carriers developed LHON.No abnormal clinical findings were seen in the 13 carriers,showing a less 50％ penetrance in this family.There was no G11778A or/and T14502C mutation in the normal phenotype individuals of this family.The onset age for vision impairment in 11 affected matrilineal relatives varied from 8 to 50 years old,with the mean age of 24.36 years old,showing a significantly lower age than that of the 13 carriers (5-72 years old,mean 40.38 years old) (t =2.102,P=0.049).Conclusions This study suggests that the Gl1778A and T14502C mutation in mitochondrial DNA is one of causes in the development of LHON.The primary G11778A mutation together with T14502C mutation in mtDNA is a factor for the occurrence of LHON,hut it is not sufficient to the development of LHON.An effective “second hit” process will play an inducing role for LHON.

Objective Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon" passive autoimmune disease, which is associated with transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. It is often misdiagnosed as intrauterine infection or sepsis. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to summarize its clinical manifestations related with pathogenesis.Methods Data of all the NLE neonates, including clinical manifestations, immunochemical evidence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibody to Ro/Sjogren's syndrome A ( anti-Ro/SSA), antibody to La/Sjogren' s syndrome B (anti-La/SSB) and anti-dsDNA antibodies in both infants and mothers, and images from head ultrasound and CT scans were analyzed. Follow-up was performed until one and half years of age or when all the clinical abnormalities had been resolved.Results Totally 8 cases (3 males and 5 females ) seen between September 2003 and February 2006 met the diagnostic criteria of NLE, in whom 4 were small for gestational age and one was born prematurely. Mean gestational age was (38.1 ± 1.9 ) weeks, mean birth weight (2605 ± 420) g, mean admission age (22.4 ± 27.7 ) days (2 hours-72 days) and mean age of onset (9.4 ± 12. 1)days (0-28 days). The common clinical manifestations included cutaneous lupus lesions (8 infants ), neural system abnormalities (2 infants ) and congenital heart block (2 infants). Annular, erythematous or desquamative lesions were seen in skin and all disappeared before 6 months of age. One patient presented with third degree atrio-ventricular block and was delivered by cesarean section because of " fetal distress" He did not recover by the end of one and half years follow-up. One infant was hypotonic with delayed neuro-motor development initially and during follow-up with both abnormal neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) and imaging findings. Brain CT scan showed generalized low density involving periventricular and deep white matter at one week of age. At the age of one and a half years, he presented with normal mental development index determined by Child Development Center of China (CDCC) infant intelligence mensuration. Other abnormal clinical findings such as hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, cholestasis and elevated liver enzyme activities were all resolved before 6 months of age. Only 3 mothers of the NLE infants were diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) before parturition and only one received partial therapy. At least anti-Ro/SSA antibody or anti-La/SSB antibody or ANA was found in the affected patients. Seven cases had circulating anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies in the mothers and in the newborns, while ANA was positive in seven newborns and in all mothers. All the clinical symptoms disappeared before 18 months ot age except for congenital heart block. No special intervention was applied.Conclusions Serum auto-antibodies should be investigated to rule out NLE when a newborn infant has congenital heart block or rashes or thrombocytopenia, although there is no maternal history of SLE. Central nervous system abnormalities in NLE are likely to be a transient phenomenon and whether it will cause long-term sequelae is uncertain.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen on the scar formation at the rabbit ears at an early stage.

METHODS16 New Zealand rabbits were used to establish the hypertrophic scar model on the ears, 4 wounds on each ear. The rabbits were randomly divided into hyperbaric group(n = 8) and control group (n = 8). The rabbits in the hyperbaric group received hyperbaric oxygen treatment, inhaling oxygen for 1 hour daily under 2ATA circumstance until the wounds were healed. The wound healing and the scar size, thickness, color and hardness in the ears were recorded. After healing, the scar was taken for histologic study with HE staining, Masson staining and trinitrophenol sirius red staining.

RESULTSIn hyperbaric oxygen group, the healing time of 64 wounds was (16.7 +/- 1.8) d, while it was (20.2 +/- 2.3) d in the control group, suggesting a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The incidence of hyperplastic scar was lower (38/64, 59. 4% ) in hyperbaric oxygen group than that (52/ 64, 81.2%) in control group with significant difference between them (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the hyperbaric oxygen group had thicker corium layer and less fibroblasts, well-arranged but rare collagen and less collagen nodus and vortex-like structure under microscope. The hyperplastic index of scar was 3.48 +/- 0.94 in hyperbaric oxygen group and 4.65 +/- 0.76 in control group respectively (P < 0.01). The density of fibroblast in two groups were 186.5 +/- 27.3 (hyperbaric oxygen group) and 246 +/- 41.6 (control group) with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the area density of collagen fiber were (31.42 +/- 5.36)% in hyperbaric group and (43.62 +/- 7.36)% in control group (P < 0.05). The amount of collagen I and III was (71.42 +/- 5.36)% and (28.58 +/- 5.36)% in hyperbaric oxygen group, (62.46 +/- 7.32)% and (37.54 +/- 7.32)% in control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of collagen I to III was 2.499 in hyperbaric oxygen group, which was similar to the ratio (4:1) in normal skin, compared with the control group (1.664).

CONCLUSIONSThe hyperbaric oxygen can promote wound healing and effectively inhibit the early hyperplastic scar in rabbits ears.

Animals ; Cicatrix ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ear ; pathology ; Female ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Rabbits ; Wound Healing