Objective To explore the influence on isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) from lumbar vertebras facet joint orientation (FJO) variation. Methods The lumbar vertebras of 60 patients scanned by 16-slices spiral CT were collected, 30 cases with IS was defined as isthmic group;30 cases with normal lumbar vertebras was defined as control group, the FJO at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 were measured in two groups. The difference between two groups were compared at three levels, the difference between both sides of the facet joint orientation also was compared;the measured data and the data of 60 patients from foreign literature were compared at three levels. Results The FJO in isthmic group were (47.9±6.3)° ,(37.5±7.3)° , (37.9±7.7)° at the right of L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 levels respectively,the FJO in control group were (53.1 ± 7.3)° , (40.5±6.3)° , (38.5±7.3)° respectively, the FJO in isthmic group were (48.1±6.0)° , (37.9 ± 7.4)° , (37.6 ± 7.6)° at the left of L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 levels respectively, the FJO in control group were (52.3 ± 7.6)° , (41.6 ± 6.0)° , (38.2 ± 7.2)° respectively. The significant difference was found at L3-4 and L4-5 levels (P < 0.05), the orientation was similar at L5-S1 level (P > 0.05). The difference between the both sides FJO of lumbar vertebras was not found at L3-4,L4-5 and L5-S1 levels (P >0.05). The same as the measured data and the corresponding data from foreign literature(P > 0.05 ). Conclusions It seems possible that the coronal FJO may be the phenotypic representation of the familial etiology of IS. It is helpful for the measurement of lumbar vertebras FJO to find IS early,it is important to reduce and release the IS.

Objective To investigate the effect of splenectomy on tau expression in rat hippocampus.Methods One hundred and five male SD rats aged 6 months weighing 350-400 g were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A control (n = 15); group B anesthesia (n =45) and group C surgery (n =45). The animals were anesthetized, intubated and mechanically ventilated. In group B and C the animals were anesthetized with 1.5% isoflurane for 2 h. In group C splenectomy was performed. The animals were killed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after anesthesia and surgery. The hippocampi were immediately removed for determination of IL-1 and TNF-α mRNA and protein expression, expression of total tau, phosphorylated tau at Thr-205 and Ser-396 and activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β). Results There was no significant difference in the expression of phosphorylated tau at Thr-205 and Ser-396 between control and anesthesia groups. Surgery significantly increased the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and induced rapid and massive hyperphosphorylation of tau at Thr-205 and Ser-396 epitope in the hippocampus and activation of GSK-3β. Conclusion Surgical trauma induces inflammatory response in hippocampus, activates GSK-3β and increases phosphorylation of tau.

OBJECTIVE: Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) is a special kind of cell population with totipotency and uninhibited self-renewal property. Researches on induced differentiation of ES cells were received and summed up to provide reasonable and constructive suggestions for clinical application of ES cells.DATA SOURCE: Papers published in Highwire press and Medline database were retrieved with keywords "Embryonic stem cell, differentiation, and induce" from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, papers published in Wanfang database were also retrieved with keywords "Embryonic stem cell" in Chinese from 2000 to 2004.STUDY SELECTION: Data were analyzed firstly in order to select papers related to induced differentiation. The inclusion criteria were selection of the original works, but the summaries and Meta analysis were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 369 papers were chosen according to correlation with keywords; among them, 364 papers were in foreign language. After reading through summaries of these papers, 15 papers thoroughly discussing induced differentiation of ES cells were chosen for further intensive reading. Papers discussed various kinds of differential models, neural cells, cardiac muscle cells, epithelial cells and hematopoietic cells.DATA SYNTHESIS: The induced differential models of neural cells, cardiac muscle cells, epithelial cells and hematopoietic cells from ES cells were introduced comprehensively in the seven literatures. Based on these references mentioned above and other references which introduced cell model separately, all data were generally studied, sorted out and summed up.CONCLUSION: ES cells can be induced to be various kinds of cell models such as neural cells, epithelial cells, cardiac muscle cells and hematopoietic cells, which may be used to clarify the mechanism of cellular development and differentiation to provide good respects for clinical cellular therapy and screening of medicines.

Adult ; Altitude ; Chordoma ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; surgery ; Paranasal Sinuses ; surgery ; Skull Base ; surgery ; Video-Assisted Surgery

Objective To compare the application of two different radial artery puncture and cannulation methods in septic shock patients. Meth-ods A total of 80 septic shock patients who need emergency operation were enrolled in this study. The shock index was>1.0. The patients were randomly divided into two groups:ultrasound group(group U)and palpation group(group A),with 40 cases in each group. For the patients in group U,Sonosite S-Nerve ultrasound in the wrist was used to determine the location of the radial artery puncture. For the patients in group A ,pal-pation method was used to determine the location of the radial artery puncture. The heart rate,blood pressure,first puncture success rate,total suc-cess rate,number of punctures,puncture time and complication rate of the two groups were monitored. Results The success rate of first puncture and total success rate of group U were higher than those of group A ,the number of puncture was less than that of group A ,the puncture time was shorter than that of group A,and the incidence of complications was lower than that of group A(P<0.05). Conclusion The application of ultra-sound for radial artery puncture and catheterization in septic shock patients is accurate ,and with higher first success puncture rate and total success rate,less number of puncture,shorter puncture time,and lower incidence of complications compared with palpation method.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the exon 4 gene polymorphism of TIM-1 and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Han population from Hubei province.Methods Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the ins/del polymorphism of the exon 4 of TIM-1 from RA population and the normal con- trols.Rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody and anti-keratin antibody (AKA) were also detected.Results Two alleles,a wild type del and a variant allele ins were identified in the TIM-1 exon 4.The genotype frequencies of del/del,ins/del and ins/ins were 0.650,0.280 and 0.070 respec- tively in the normal controls and 0.616,0.302,0.082 respectively in RA population.There was a significant correlation between the positive ratio of AKA and the genotypes of the exon 4.Conclusion The polymorphism of the exon 4 of TIM-1 is not associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Han population from Hubei Province of China.The genotypes of the exon 4 may have an effect on the expression of AKA.

Objective To study the expression and significance of Ezrin in triple negative breast cancer tissues .Methods We selected 102 cases ,including 24 ones of triple negative breast cancer ,58 ones of non‐triple negative breast cancer ,and 20 of benign breast disease .The expression of Ezrin in all the specimens was detected by SP immunohistochemistry .We observed whether there was any difference between the positive expression rates of Ezrin in the three groups . We also analyzed the correlation between Ezrin expression and clinicopathologic parameters of triple negative breast cancer .Results The positive expression rate of Ezrin in groups of triple negative breast cancer , non‐triple negative breast cancer , and benign breast disease was 15 .00% ,48 .28% and 75 .00% ,respectively . The difference between the three groups differed significantly ( P < 0 .01 ) . The high expression of Ezrin in triple negative breast cancer had relationship with histological grading and clinical TNM staging (P< 0 .05 ) , but not with patients' age , tumor size , or axillary lymph node metastasis ( P > 0 .05 ) . Conclusion Ezrin is highly expressed in triple negative breast cancer tissues ;therefore , it can be used as an important indicator of poor prognosis of triple negative breast cancer .

Objective To observe the activities of serum peroxidase capacity,and lipid peroxidation of children from Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) areas of Xinghai county in Qinhai province,and to explore the relationship between antioxidant capacity and KBD.Methods Sixty four KBD and forty six health subjects without KBD were chosen from KBD endemic areas,which included primary schools of Tangnaihai,Xialujuan and Qushian of Xinghai county in Qinghai province,and fifty nine age-matched healthy control subjects without KBD were from a non-KBD endemic area,Nanfan primary school of Chang'an county in Shaanxi province.Twenty patients with KBD and twenty control subjects from KBD areas and non-KBD area were extracted by simple random sampling method.2,3-DAN fluorescence technique was used to test the hair and blood selenium.The biochemical techniques were used to test the indicators of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde(MDA),antioxidant enzyme activities,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx).ResultsAll patients with KBD had significantly lower serum GSH-Px activities[ (59.53 ± 25.23)kU/L] and selenium levels in hair[ (67.64 ± 17.28)μg/L] and blood[(36.27 ± 13.29)μg/L],respectively,than that of control subjects from KBD areas [ ( 91.88 ± 22.99 ) kU/L,( 153.32 ± 24.31 ) μg/L,( 63.06 ± 13.66) μg/L ] and nonKBD areas[ ( 122.68 ± 41.74)kU/L,(242.35 ± 38.56)μg/L,(98.93 ± 17.18)μg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].Serum MDA levels in KBD patients[ (4.64 ± 1.11 )μmol/L] were significantly higher than that in control subjects from KBD [(3.31 ± 1.22)μmol/L] and non-KBD areas[ (3.43 ± 1.29)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].On the other hand,T-AOC,SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in both KBD[(19.80 ± 6.64),(55.80 ± 8.14),(16.45 ± 5.61 ) kU/L] and control subjects[ (21.71 ± 8.82),(57.45 ± 6.96),(15.63 ± 9.18)kU/L] from KBD areas than that of control subjects from non-KBD area[ (13.56 ± 5.38),(42.79 ± 8.10),(6.05 ± 2.71 )kU/L,all P ＜ 0.05 ].Hair selenium levels,blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity of control subjects from KBD areas were,respectively,significantly lower than that in control subjects from non-KBD area(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions These findings strongly confirm the evidence that KBD patients are susceptible to oxidative stress.The results also show the increase in antioxidant enzymes,which could probably be due to adaptive response to pro-oxidant in KBD state.Hence,there seems to be an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems in KBD patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of single heat stress treatment on spermatogenic cells in mice.

METHODSWe randomly divided 36 C57 male mice into a control and a heat stress treatment group and submerged the lower part of the torso in water at 25 °C and 43 °C, respectively, both for 15 minutes. At 1, 7, and 14 days after treatment, we obtained the testicular organ indexes, observed the changes in testicular morphology by HE staining, and determined the location and expression levels of the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) and synaptonemal comlex protein-3 (SCP-3) in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe testicular organ index was significantly lower in the heat stress treatment than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the controls, the heat shock-treated mice showed loosely arranged spermatogenic cells scattered in the seminiferous tubules at 1 day after heat stress treatment, atrophied, loosely arranged and obviously reduced number of spermatogenic cells at 7 days, and relatively closely arranged seminiferous tubules and increased number and layers of spermatogenic cells at 14 days. The number of SCP-3 labelled spermatocytes obviously decreased in the heat stress-treated animals at 1 and 7 days and began to increase at 14 days. The PLZF protein expression was significantly reduced in the heat stress treatment group at 1 day as compared with that in the control (0.19 ± 0.12 vs 0.64 ± 0.03, P < 0.01), but elevated to 0.77 ± 0.02 at 7 and 14 days, even remarkably higher than in the control animals (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHeat stress treatment can induce short-term dyszoospermia in mice, which can be recovered with the prolonged time after treatment.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Hot Temperature ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Seminiferous Tubules ; cytology ; Spermatocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastroscopy ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Tissue Embedding ; methods