Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Motion Sickness ; genetics ; Rats

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Motion Sickness ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the acute and delayed killing effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on Echinococcus granulosus(E. granulosus)protoscolices in vitro.Methods E. granulosus protoscolices were treated with different dosage of effective power(0,25,50,100,200,250 W)and time(5,10,20,30,40,50,60 s)of HIFU in vitro to obtain the dosage-effect curves.Then the survival pmtoscolices were incubated,and the mortality of each group was counted daily.The protoscolicidal effects were investigated by trypan blue exclusion assay.Results Compared with the untreated group,the Vitality of E.granulosus protoscolices significantly decreased immediately after treated by HIFU of different dosage(F=5201.59 vs 1865.65,P＜0.05),there were the interaction both different dosage and time(F=214.50,P＜0.05).The protoscolices were broken into pieces by HIFU of 250 W×40 s,whereas the growth of the surviving protoscolices after exposed to HIFU was obvious suppressed.Both the acute killing effect and the delayed inhibitory effect showed a dosage-dependant manner.The inhibitory effect increased along with the increased dosage of HIFU(P＜0.05).The inhibitory effect in 50 W×10 s group was stronger than 25 W×20 s group(P＜0.05).The mortality was increased in parallel with the increase of HIFU dosage.Conclusions HIFU show an effective immediately killing effect,as well as a growth-inhibiting effect on the E.granulosus protoscolices in vitro.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed the important role of free radicals in renal damage induced by high-energy shock waves (HESW). This study aimed at investigating the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on free radical-mediated HESW-induced damage to renal tubules in a live rabbit model.

METHODSForty-five healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 15), sham group (n = 15), and herb-treated group (n = 15). Three days prior to HESW application, the controls received verapamil (0.4 mg/kg), the shams received physiological saline (20 ml), and the herb-treated animals received Astragalus membranaceus (2.4 g/kg) intravenously. HESW (1500 shocks, 18 kV) was applied to the right kidneys of all anesthetized rabbits. We measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels before and after shock treatment in blood and kidney homogenates. Histopathological changes were also observed.

RESULTSMDA levels increased and SOD activity decreased significantly in the sham group (P < 0.05 for both) after shock treatment. MDA levels showed a much less increase in the controls (P < 0.05) and did not increase to statistically significant levels in the group receiving Astragalus membranaceus (P > 0.05). SOD values were significantly higher in the controls than in the shams (P < 0.05). By contrast, SOD levels recovered rapidly in the rabbits receiving Astragalus membranaceus, reaching a nadir within 24 hours, and returning to baseline more quickly than in control and sham rabbits (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that renal tubular damage in the controls was less severe than in the shams, while damage in the Astragalus membranaceus group was even more mild, with rapid recovery in comparison with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides preliminary evidence indicating that Astragalus membranaceus has strong protective effects on free radical-mediated renal tubular damage induced by HESW and that these effects are superior to the effects of verapamil.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Free Radicals ; toxicity ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; adverse effects ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiological characteristics of liver diseases in a rural population in Southern Guangxi, China.

METHODSThe enzyme immunoassays was used to detect of HBsAg and AFP. AFP positive serum samples were further examined for concentration of AFP by using a radio immunoassays. Liver morphological changes were measured with ultrasonography of type B.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HBsAg in the studied population was 17.8% (2800/15,701). The prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, clonorchiasis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease were 1.1% (173/15,701), 0.4% (63/15,701), 299.3 per 100,000 (47/15,701), 6.6% (1036/15,701), 4.8% (754/15,701) and 0.3% (47/15,701), respectively. The positive rates of HBsAg and the prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, clonorchiasis, fatty liver disease in male were significantly higher as compared with those in female (5.98 < or = chi(2) < or = 394.78, P < 0.01). No difference was observed in the prevalence rates of liver cavernous hemangioma and hepatic cysts between male and female. The prevalence rates of intrahepatic bile duct stones was significantly higher in female than in male (chi(2) = 30.80, P < 0.01). The positive rates of HBsAg and the prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B and clonorchiasis were decreased with age. But the prevalence rates of cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, liver cavernous hemangioma, hepatic cysts and intrahepatic bile duct stones were increased with age.

CONCLUSIONThe rural areas in the southern Guangxi are high prevalence regions of liver illness, and the male resident are even at high risk.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; epidemiology ; Liver Diseases ; epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population

BACKGROUNDCervical arthroplasty is indicated to preserve cervical motion and prevent accelerated adjacent segment degeneration. Whether accelerated adjacent segment degeneration is prevented in the long term is unclear. This trial compared adjacent segment degeneration in Bryan disc arthroplasty with that in anterior cervical decompression and fusion five years after the surgery.

METHODSWe studied patients with single level degenerative cervical disc disease. The extent of adjacent segment degeneration was estimated from lateral X-rays.

RESULTSTwenty-six patients underwent single level Bryan disc arthroplasty and twenty-four patients underwent single level anterior cervical decompression and fusion. All patients were followed up for an average of sixty months. In the Bryan arthroplasty group, nine (17.6%) segments developed adjacent segment degeneration, which was significantly lower than that (60.4%) in the anterior cervical decompression and fusion group. Eleven segments in the Bryan arthroplasty group developed heterotopic ossification according to McAfee's classification and two segments had range of motion less than 2°. In the heterotopic ossification group, four (19.5%) segments developed adjacent segment degeneration, similar to the number in the non-heterotopic ossification group (16.7%). Adjacent segment degeneration rate was 50% in grade IV group but 11.8% in grade II to III.

CONCLUSIONSAdjacent segment degeneration was accelerated after anterior cervical decompression and fusion. However, Bryan disc arthroplasty avoided accelerated adjacent segment degeneration by preserving motion. Patients with grade IV heterotopic ossification lost motion, and the rate of adjacent segment degeneration was higher than that in patients without heterotopic ossification.

Adult ; Arthroplasty ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets at human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(Her2)proto-oncogenes,which can act on Her2 over-expression of tumor cells,inhibits tumor cells proliferation, differentiation,migration and other physiological activities,reduces the risk of tumor metastasis and extend the sur-vival time of patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of embolization of cerebral dural atreriovenous fistulas (cDAVF) of the eavemous sinus through the superior ophthalmic vein approach. Methods Twnety-seven patients with eDAVF of the cavernous sinus were embolized through the superior ophthalmic vein approach. Cerebral angiography and follow-up examination of the patients were performed to evaluate the effect ofernbolization. Results The fistulae showed complete angiographic disappearance in 15 patients, and 12 patients had blood velocity flow reduction at the fistula orifice. Ocular proptosis and chemosis deteriorated transiently in 11 patients after the procedure. The patients were followed-op for 3 to 48 months, and clinical cure was achieved in 17 patients, and 10 showed significant symptom relief. Conclusion cDAVF of the cavernous sinus can be effectively embolized through the superior ophthalmic vein approach.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of interleukin-10 (IL10) on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.

METHODSHSC were divided randomly into 4 groups. Group 1 served as a control. HSC were incubated with 1 ng/ml, 5 ng/ml, and 25 ng/ml IL-10 in groups 2, 3 and 4. RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of PDGF and MAPK protein ERK and p38 and alpha-SMA.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, expressions of ERK, p38 and alpha-SMA of groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower (F values were 240.47, 21.39, 28.86 respectively. IL-10 inhibited PDGF and MAPK protein ERK and p38 and alpha-SMA expression in a dose-dependent way.

CONCLUSIONIL-10 inhibits activation of HSC through the PDGF/MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Interleukin-10 ; pharmacology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

Although many studies have investigated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), sample sizes in the reported studies are usually small and different in outcomes in different T and N subgroups are seldom analyzed. Herein, we evaluated the outcomes of NPC patients treated with IMRT and further explored treatment strategy to improve such outcome. We collected clinical data of 865 NPC patients treated with IMRT alone or in combination with chemotherapy, and classified all cases into the following prognostic categories according to different TNM stages: early stage group (T1-2N0-1M0), advanced local disease group (T3-4N0-1M0), advanced nodal disease group (T1-2N2-3M0), and advanced locoregional disease group (T3-4N2-3M0). The 5-year overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) were 83.0%, 90.4%, and 84.0%, respectively. The early disease group had the lowest treatment failure rate, with a 5-year OS of 95.6%. The advanced local disease group and advanced nodal disease group had similar failure pattern and treatment outcomes as well as similar hazard ratios for death (4.230 and 4.625, respectively). The advanced locoregional disease group had the highest incidence of relapse and death, with a 5-year DMFS and OS of 62.3% and 62.2%, respectively, and a hazard ratio for death of 10.402. Comparing with IMRT alone, IMRT in combination with chemotherapy provided no significant benefit to locoregionally advanced NPC. Our results suggest that the decision of treatment strategy for NPC patients should consider combinations of T and N stages, and that IMRT alone for early stage NPC patients can produce satisfactory results. However, for advanced local, nodal, and locoregional disease groups, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is recommended.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult