Cauda Equina ; injuries ; Decompression, Surgical ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Emergency Medical Services ; methods ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion

Electrophysiologic examination of dorsal spinal cord injury (DSCI) is focused on transcranial magnetic stimulation induced motor evoked potentials. It were recorded at thenar muscles, exector spinae muscle, intercostals muscle, and internal oblique muscles. In complete spinal cord injury, the exector musle motor evoked potentials may occur although clinically that muscle shows no recovery. The ipsilateral exector and internal oblique muscles may be distributed by non-cross fibers in cerebrospinal tract. The progress in clinical sensory examination includes cutaneous electrical perceptional sensory threshold and quantitative sensory test. The former is more sensitive than two-points discrepentive test. Quantitative sensory test includes light touch threshold, vibration perceptual threshold, thermal threshold, pain, and cutaneous axon flare respone. It has been used in DSCI patients above and below the injury level. The thermal threshold elevates above the injury level in complete and incomplete DSCI patients.
Electric Stimulation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; methods ; standards ; Sensory Thresholds ; physiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; Thoracic Vertebrae

Objective To explore the bacteria relevance between index fingers and contactant' surfaces (mobile phone touch screen and desktop of personal office table). Methods Bacteria were collected from the index fingers, mobile phone touch screen and desktop of personal office table of 10 volunteers. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus(ERIC)-PCR fingerprint was established by PCR amplifi-cation technique of metagenome. Results There were 7 volunteers' ERIC-PCR fingerprints of index fin-gers matched that took from the mobile phone touch screens, and different from each other. There were 3 volunteers' ERIC-PCR fingerprints of index fingers matched that took from desk top of personal office table, and other 7 volunteers' ERIC-PCR fingerprints did not match perfectly with that took from desk top of personal office table,but had at least one similar band for both. Conclusion The bacteria on index finger shows individual specificity, which on mobile phone touching screen and personal desktop may be a new biological sample of forensic identification.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of pSilencer 1.0-U6-siRNA-STAT3 on the growth of PC3 and LNCaP cells.

METHODSThree pairs of DNA template coding siRNA were synthesized against STAT3 to reconstruct pSilencer 1.0-U6-STAT3-siRNA, which was transfected into PC3 and LNCaP cells. The STAT3 expression in PC3 cells and LNCaP were transfected with pSilencer 1.0-U6-siRNA-STAT3, and it was detected by Western blot and Northern blot. MTT and FCM were used to observe the growth-inhibiting ratio and apoptosis in PC3 cells.

RESULTSWestern blot and Northern blot analyses demonstrated that pSilencer 1.0-U6-siRNA-STAT3 could significantly inhibit the expression of STAT3 in PC3 and LNCaP cells; MIT and FCM results showed that it could suppress the growth of PC3 cells and LNCaP and induce apoptosis of PC3 cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONPSilencer 1.0-U6-siRNA-STAT3 could significantly inhibit STAT3 expression, suppress the growth of PC3 and LNCaP cells and induce the apoptosis of PC3 cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmids ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) and to analyse the efficacy-related factors in children with aplastic anemia (AA). Twenty five AA children treated with r-ATG [3.5 mg/(kg·d)×5 days] combined with CsA were analyzed retrospectively. The lymphocyte subgroups, CD4(+)/CD8 ratio and expression of CD55, CD59 on surface of neutrophils and erythrocytes in peripheral blood were detected by direct immunofluorescence method and flow cytometry; the responsive time, effective rate, adverse effects and infections after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) were analyzed; the distribution of T-lymphocyte subgroups in IST-effective and IST-uneffective groups was compared, and therapeutic efficacy-related factors were evaluated. The results showed that the response to treatments was found in 21 out of 25 cases, the total responsive rate was 84.0%; the response time was 3 - 6 months, average of 4 months; the effective rates in month 3, 6, 9, 12 after treatment were 56.0%, 72.0%, 80.0% and 84.0% respectively. The AA children with age ≥ 5 years old, course of disease < 6 months and absolute neutrophil value ≥ 1.5 ×10(9)/L on 30 days after IST had good curative effect; the effective rate in AA children with age ≥ 5 years old, course of disease < 6 months, high or reverse ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and absolute neutrophil value ≥ 1.5×10(9)/L after IST was higher than that in AA children with age < 5 years old, course of disease ≥ 6 months, normal ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and absolute neutrophil value after IST < 1.5×10(9)/L (94.4% vs 57.1%, 90.4% vs 50.0%, 94.1% vs 62.5%, 94.1% vs 62.5%) (P < 0.05). The high effective rate was observed in AA children with decrease of CD55 and CD59 expression, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) as compared with normal expression of CD55, CD59. It is concluded that the treatment using r-ATG (3.5 mg/kg·d × 5 d) combined with CsA is a safe and effective for children with AA. Age, course of disease and absolute neutrophil value on 30 days after IST are the main factors affecting curative affect.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo find out the optimum extract process for Ligusticum chuanxiong in Gan-ning Granule, and studyed the methods of concentration and dry for the extract.

METHODWith the yield of ferulic acid as the assessment index, to optimize the 80% alcohol totalling, extracting times and circumfluence time for extract process by the orthogonal design, to optimize the inlet-air temperature, feed speed and density of feed for spry drying by the orthogonal design.

RESULTThe optimum procedure was the ferulic acid were extracted for 1 hour with 3 times of 80% alcohol. While extracting times effected it most porminently. The optimal processing conditions of spry drying were inlet-air temperature 120 degrees C, feed speed 8.5 mL x min(-1) and density of feed 1.15, While feed speed effected it most porminently.

CONCLUSIONThe experimental results provide the basis for the extraction process and drying process of the ferulic acid in ligusticum chuanxiong.

Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of desmopressin (DDAVP) on coagulation factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in children with mild hemophilia A.

METHODSEighteen children with mild hemophilia A were enrolled. DDAVP (0.3 μg/kg•d) was injected intravenously for 5 days. Plasma FⅧ levels and APTT were measured before and after DDAVP treatment.

RESULTSIn 16 of 18 children with mild hemophilia A, the bleeding symptoms, including the articular or musclar hematoma, were significantly alleviated as a result of DDAVP treatment. The plasma FⅧ levels increased significantly to (27±4)% and APTT was shortened to (66±10)s 60 minutes after the first dose of DDAVP treatment. The plasma FⅧ remained at the levels of 25%-30% during 3-4 days of DDAVP treatment. Five days after DDAVP treatment, the plasma FⅧ levels decreased [(21±3)%], and APTT was prolonged when compared with 1-4 days of DDAVP treatment.

CONCLUSIONSDDAVP treatment can increase plasma FⅧ levels and shorten APTT in children with mild hemophilia A. DDAVP is effective in the treatment of mild hemophilia A. The duration of DDAVP therapy for mild hemophilia A is recommended as 3 to 4 days.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; therapeutic use ; Factor VIII ; analysis ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of augmentative plate fixation to increase stability in the treatment of femoral shaft nonunions subsequent to intramedullary fixation.

METHODSNine patients with femoral nonunions after intramedullary nail internal fixation were treated with augmentative plate internal fixation from April 1998 to Jane 2008, included 8 males and 1 female, with an average age of 32 years old ranging from 21 to 54 years. One case was upper 1/3 femoral fractures, 5 cases were middle 1/3 femoral fractures, 3 cases were lower 1/3 femoral fractures. The interspace of bone nonunion was more than 5 mm in 6 cases, of them, iliac bone grafting were applied in 4 cases, artificial bone combined with iliac bone grafting were applied in 2 cases; The interspace of bone nonunion was less than 5 mm in other 3 cases,artificial bone grafting was applied in 1 case, fitting bone callus were applied in 2 cases. All patients got protected weight loading preventing the main screw break.

RESULTSAll patients achieved radiological solid union at an average of 8 months (ranged 6 to 11 months ). The fixation was removed during 6 to 11 months after operation in 5 cases. Donor site pain of iliac occurrenced on 4 cases,3 cases relieved 1 month later and 1 case relieved 3 months later. No infection, fixation loosening or breaking was observed.

CONCLUSIONThe augmentative plate fixation can be applied at the fracture site to prevent the rotational instability. The technique is simple and does not require any special instrument, which facilitates an early weight bearing and gives a quick recovery from nonunion.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Femur ; pathology ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of polysaccharide fraction of Cordyceps sinensis (PSCS) on triptolide (TPL)-induced apoptosis in the HL-60 cells and the involved molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe cultured leukemia HL-60 cells were divided into three groups: control group, TPL group (cells were treated with 5 ng/ml TPL only), and PSCS+TPL cells group (cells treated with 5 ng/ml TPL and 100 microg/ml or 200 microg/ml PSCS for 18 h). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay and apoptotic cells were quantitatively measured by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double stain.The expressions of Caspase-3, 6, 7, 9 and NF-kappa B proteins were tested by Western blot.

RESULTMTT assay showed that different concentrations of PSCS inhibited the cell viability. Flow cytometry indicated that TPL markedly increased the apoptosis rate of the HL-60 cells, and PSCS enhanced the apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot showed that TPL did not inhibit the expression of the Caspase-3, 6, 7, 9 and NF-kappa B proteins, and when cells were treated with PSCS, the expression of proteins decreased with the PSCS concentration rising.

CONCLUSIONPSCS can enhance TPL-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells and inhibit the expression of NF-kappa B and Caspase 3,6,7,9,which might be the possible signaling pathway of inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the dosimetric variance in forward intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) based on 4D CT and 3D CT after breast conserving surgery.

METHODSSeventeen patients after breast conserving surgery underwent 3D CT simulation scans followed by respiration-synchronized 4D CT simulation scans at free breathing state. The treatment plan constructed using the end inspiration (EI) scan was then copied and applied to the end expiration (EE), and 3D scans and dose distribution were calculated separately. Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) parameters for the CTV, PTV, ipsilateral lung and heart were evaluated and compared.

RESULTSThe CTV volume difference was biggest between T0 and 3D CT, and the volume difference was 4.10 cm(3). Mean dose of PTV at EE was lower than that at EI (P = 0.019), but there were no statistically significant difference between 3D and EI, EE (all P > 0.05). The homogeneity index (HI) at EI, EE, 3D plans were 0.149, 0.159 and 0.164, respectively, and a significant difference was only between EI and EE (P = 0.039). The highest conformal index (CI) was at EI phase (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between EE and 3D (P = 0.758). The V(40) and V(50) of ipsilateral lung at EE phase were lower than that at EI (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in all the indexes for heart (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe breast deformation during respiration may be disregarded in whole breast IMRT. PTV dose distribution is significantly changed between EI and EE phases, and the differentiation of the lung high dose area between EI and EE phases may be induced by thorax expansion. 3D treatment planning is sufficient for whole breast forward IMRT, but 4D CT scans assisted by respiratory gating ensures more precise delivery of radiation dose.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Dose Fractionation ; Female ; Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography ; methods ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; Organs at Risk ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Respiration