Objective To observe the effects of electrical acupuncture for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (DO) caused by spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods Twenty SCI patients with DO were included in this study. There were 18 males and 2 females;age ranged from 17 to 58 years. Patients were given electro-acupuncture treatment at the bilateral S3 foramen at the lateral position during the vidio-urodynamic investigation when the detrusor of the patients began to contract.The different intensities of electrical stimulation were used when the DO appeared during cystometry and the most effective intensity to inhibit DO was determined. Then, the bladder was emptied and the stimulation with selected intensity was used at the beginning of cystometry. The changes of parameters in the urodynamics, the urinary incontinence times per day and the pad used per day were recorded. The acute effects were observed. Ten days were set as one course and after 3 courses and 9 courses the patients underwent urodynamic test again. The long-term effects were observed.Results After treatment, the urinary incontinence times per day and the pad used per day decreased obviously (P<0. 05). The bladder capacity increased significantly and the maximum intravesical pressure decreased significantly. There were 3 patients having the long terms treatment. Conclusions The Chinese electro-acupuncture at S3 foramen in the SCI patients with DO is demonstrated effective. After the treatment bladder capacity could increase and the times of the urinary incontinence per week decrease.

The chitosan/PHEA-blended hydrogels were prepared from PHEA and chitosan in various blend ratios. The water contents of the hydrogels were in the range of 50%-80% (wt). The attachment and growth of fibroblast cells(L929) on the hydrogels were studied. The results indicated the PHEA content in hydrogels has great effect on cell attachment but has little effect on the growth of L929 cells.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; chemistry ; Mice ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

METHODSEighty-five patients [male 32, female 53; age (45.31+/-11.72) years] were given live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules 1260 mg/d t.i.d.x4 weeks. Syndrome scales were used to evaluate the efficacy in gastrointestinal syndrome. Fecal flora was also measured before and after the treatment. Six bacteria were cultured and the colony forming units were counted in stool. SPSS was used for data analysis.

RESULTSSeventy-four patients finished the follow-up. No side-effect was found. For treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, the effective rate of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules was 56.8% in the second week, 74.3% in the fourth week and 73.0% in the sixth week. Single symptom was improved, especially in abdominal pain and stool character. The probiotica containing live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus could increase bifidobacterium count (P<0.01) and lactobacillus count (P<0.05); decrease bacteroides count (P<0.05) and enterococci count (P<0.01); No obvious changes were observed in clostridium difficile colonitis and enterobacteriaceae (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe result of the study indicated that the administration of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus improved the symptom of irritable bowel syndrome and that there was a gradual increase of this effect. Thereafter conditions remained stable for 2 weeks. That improvement may be associated with alterations in gastrointestinal flora.

Adult ; Bifidobacterium ; Enterococcus ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Lactobacillus ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo compare the influence of propofol and isoflurane on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response to perioperative period of tongue cancer surgery.

METHODSTwenty-four adult patients undergone the operation of tongue cancer were assigned to two groups randomly, propofol group (Group P) and isoflurane group (Group I). In group P, anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2-3 microg/kg, propofol 2 mg/kg, atracurium 0.6 mg/kg and maintained with propofol 5-8 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) and inhalation of 50% nirous oxide (N2O:O2=50%:50%). In group I, anesthesia was induced with 3%-4% isoflurane, fentanyl 2-3 microg/kg, diazepam 0.06-0.1 mg/kg, atracurium 0.6 mg/kg and maintained with inhalation of 50% N2O and isoflurane (ended-tidal isoflurane was maintained at 0.6%), in two groups atracurium was given intermittently. Blood samples were taken from peripheral vein before anesthesia (TO), at the end of operation (T1), 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after operation for determination of serum IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and body temperature in two groups were recorded.

RESULTSIL-6 and IL-10 levels increased significantly in two groups at T1, T2 and T3 compared with T0 (P < 0.01). The increasing trend of IL-6 and IL-10 levels were similar in both groups, whereas the level of IL-6 at T1 in propofol group was lower than that of isoflurane group significantly (P < 0.01), however the level of IL-10 was much higher in propofol group than that of isoflurane group at T1 and T2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe influence of total intravenous anesthesia of propofol on post-operation inflammatory response is much gentler than isoflurane.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Cytokines ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Isoflurane ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Period ; Propofol

OBJECTIVETo express the L1 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in insect cell suspension culture system.

METHODSOptimized the conditions of suspension culture, recombinant virus amplification and protein expression. Determined the virus tilter by plague analysis and detected the target protein by SDS-PAGE and Western blot; The formation of VLPs by HPV16 L1 protein was observed with TEM.

RESULTSThe Sf9 cells could grow better in suspension culture with seeding density of 5 x 10-5 cell/mL and the maximum expression quantity was obtained by infection of cells with rBacV/HPV16L1 (MOI =10) and harvesting after 72-84 h. HPV16L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells observed with TEM.

CONCLUSIONThe conditions of cell culture, virus amplification and protein expression were optimized. HPV16 L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells, which would provide a foundation for further study of the vaccine and diagnosis kits.

Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Spodoptera ; Suspensions ; Virion ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVET To explore the relationship between the expression of SOX4 gene and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection.

METHODSSOX4 expression was detected immunohistochemically in 60 HCC patients including 30 with and 30 without early recurrence after curative resection, with 30 normal liver specimens as the control.

RESULTSThe expression of SOX4 was significantly higher in HCC than in normal liver (41.7% vs 16.7%, P<0.05), and in HCC tissues, the expression was significantly higher in early recurrent HCC after curative resection than in HCC without early recurrence (56.7% vs 26.7%, P<0.05). SOX4 expression was inversely correlated to the patients' gender, age, tumor size, HBsAg, and Edmonson grade (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOX4 is closely associated with early recurrence of HCC after curative resection, and its overexpression may contribute to early recurrence of HCC. SOX4 may serve as a new molecular indicator for evaluating the prognosis of HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics ; Prognosis ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence of post-operative delirium after oral and maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia in elderly patients, and to examine its association with plasma concentrations of beta amyloid protein 1-40 (Abeta1-40).

METHODSFifty patients underwent elective oral and maxillofacial surgery were divided into two groups: Group C (n=20) aged from 20 to 60 years old, and Group T (n=30) aged from 62 to 78 years old. The two group received the same general anesthesia. Delirium rating scale-revised-98 (DRS-R-98) was used as an instrument to diagnose and access the postoperative delirium of the two groups. The scores of DRS-R-98 were recorded before operation (T0) and at 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2), 72 h(T3) and 96 h(T4) after the operation. Serial measurements of serum concentrations of Abeta1-40 were also performed at the same time.

RESULTSThe incidence of post-operative delirium after oral and maxillofacial surgery in Group T was 20.0%. The concentrations of plasma Abeta1-40 in group T were much higher than group C at TO, T1, T2 and T3 significantly (P < 0.01). The concentrations of plasma Abeta1-40 at T1 and T2 were higher than those at TO in the same group (P < 0.05). The scores of DRS-R-98 in Group T at T3 and T4 were much higher than those at T1 and Group C significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe constant increase of plasma Abeta1-40 may be one of the important factors related to post-operative delirium in elderly patients underwent oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Aged ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Delirium ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; Surgery, Oral

Objective To explore the distribution of water with high level arsenic and prevalence of arsenism along Huai'he River and the surrounding area of Hong'ze lake in Huai'an of Jiangsu. Methods Wate rsamples were collected and tested in 2008 from 18 villages of 6 towns according to history data in 3 counties like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze. Samples having arsenic level higher than 0.05 mg/L were investigated by epidemiological method and the patients were diagnosed by Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsenism. Results All 5199 water samples were determined,and 260 water samples were exceeding the national drinking water quality level (0.05 mg/L) in 3 counties,the rates of exceeding diagnosis were 5.6%(247/4454),0.7%(4/597),6.0%(9/148) respectively. Total detected rate of endemic arsenic disease was 5.94%(128/2155). The detected rates of age group of 0 ～ ,20 ～,30 ～ ,40 ～ ,50 ～ ,60 ～ ,70 ～ ,80 ～ were 2.86%(1/35),2.11%(2/95),1.26%(3/239),3.10%(16/516),5.53% (32/579),10.07%(41/407),11.84%(27/228),10.71%(6/56) respectively. The detected rate of male (9.10%,78/857) was higher than that of female(3.85%,50/1298,χ~2 = 25.46,P < 0.01). Conclusions Huai'he River and the surrounding areas of Hong'ze lake like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze are identified existing endemic arsenic disease area. The prevention of arsenism should be strengthened in these areas.

Abdomen ; Hernia ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study causes of ineffectiveness of microvascular decompression (MVD) in treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS).

METHODSReoperative MVD was performed in 23 HFS patients with previous ineffective MVD. In the patients, the main causes of ineffectiveness included misjudgment of compressing vessels (7 patients), improper insertion of decompressing grafts (9), improper selection of grafts (5) and small grafts (2).

RESULTSSymptoms of HFS disappeared immediately after the second MVD in 21 patients and delayed in 2 patients (after 2 weeks, 6 weeks). No recurrence of HFS was noted during the follow-up period of 1.0 - 6.0 years (mean 3.4 years).

CONCLUSIONSMVD is an effective microsurgical method for treating HFS. Accurate judgement of compressing vessels and proper decompression are the key to surgical effectiveness.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemifacial Spasm ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Futility ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult