Objective To examine supine fulcrum pressurized radiograph to predict spinal flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods 1. Empirical study: put two points (A and B) on one side of the plastic stick and one point on the other side ( C), pressurize on the plastic stick when point C is in the middle of A and B, and then measure the projection shifting of point A. Repeat the pressure test when the distance between A and C doubled. Analyze the effect of increasing distance on diminishing pressure. 2.Clinical study :45 patients ( 16 males and 29 females) underwent standing anteroposterior radiograph ,fulcrum lateral flexion radiograph, supine lateral flexion radiograph. The Cobb's angles were measured and the flexibility ratio was determined on preoperative fulcrum radiograph. Results (1) If the length of A and C was 25 cm, pressurize on point C, when pressure quantitative scale number located 1 scale and 2 scale of the rule, projection shifting of point A were 5 cm and 10 cm. If the length of A and C was 50 cm, pressurize on point C, when pressure quantitative scale number located 1 scale and 2 scale of the rule, projection shifting of point A were 8 cm and 15 cm. The longer the distance, the lesser the pressure force of plastics stick. (2)The Cobb angles and curve flexibility provided by fulcrum lateral flexion radiograph had significant difference from that provided by supine lateral flexion radiograph in male group and female group. Cobb angles of male group was 28. 6°± 4. 1 °, 16. 7°± 4. 6° respectively (t= 7. 438, P ＜ 0. 01 )and curve flexibility was 47. 6% ±8. 1% ,69. 4% ± 8. 5% respectively( t = 7. 438, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Cobb angles of female group was 24.5°± 2. 7°,12. 6°±2. 4° respectively(t = 17. 540,P ＜0. 01 )and curve flexibility was 53.4% ±5.2% ,76. 0% ±4. 7% respectively(t = 17. 54, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The flexibility of spinal main curve of female patients was obviously higher than male patients. Conclusions Supine fulcrum pressurized technique can make up for the insufficiency of supine lateral flexion technique, and provide a convenient, safe, precise and useful method for evaluation of spinal flexibility in AIS.

Objective To explore early diagnosis and treatment of congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.Methods Clinical data of 11 patients with congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula were analyzed retrospectively.Definite diagnoses were made for all cases in 24 hours through making an esophagus opacification with acetrezoic acid or iodinated oil.And an esophagus anastomosis outside pleura was made.Some experience of diagnosis and therapy were summarized.Results All of the 11 cases underwent operation.Among them,9 cases were cured (81.8%),and 2 cases died(18.2%).Anastomosis stenosis of esophagus was found in 1 case after operation,which was cured through esophagus dilatation.Tracheoesophageal fistula was found in another case after operation and it was cured through combined treatment including anti-infection, nutritional support and sufficient draining.Conclusion Early diagnosis and surgical treatment, postoperative care,prevention and cure of complication are very important to improve the survival rate of the patients with congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

AIM:To investigate the effect of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase ( SCAD) on collagen expres-sion and proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and to explore the relationship between SCAD and cardiac fibrosis . METHODS:The model of proliferation and collagen expression of rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II was es -tablished.After treatment with siRNA-1186, the expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels , fatty acids beta oxida-tion rate, ATP, the enzyme activity of SCAD and free fatty acids in the rat cardiac fibroblasts were determined . RESULTS:The mRNA and protein expression of SCAD was decreased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II compared with the control cells , and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly upregulated .Com-pared with negative control group , SCAD expression and activity , fatty acid beta-oxidation rate and ATP significantly de-creased in siRNA-1186 group, but the content of free fatty acids were obviously increased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts , and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly up-regulated.CONCLUSION:The expression and synthesis disorder of collagen may be triggered by down-regulation of SCAD .SCAD may be a promising therapeutic target for myocar-dial fibrosis .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hearing change when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated and the affect of prognosis due to hearing change.

METHODSThe pure tone threshold and acoustic immittance were used for every case in the acute aggravation of chronic tinnitus (AACT) group, and for some of AACT group members the auditory brainstem response (ABR), distort-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), electrocochleogram (EcochG), glycerin test and MRI were used at the same time for further diagnosis. For the chronic tinnitus, the patients accepted the intervention of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) both for the AACT group and the control group. As for the recent hearing loss appeared in the AACT group members, the patients were treated the cases as the sudden deafness, and then the hearing characteristic of the AACT group was analyzed and the effect of the chronic tinnitus both for the AACT group and control group after the TRT for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months was evaluated.

RESULTSThree kinds of hearing changes appeared when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated. Based on the dated high frequencies hearing loss ranged 4-8 kHz, recent hearing loss appeared in 1-2 middle frequencies near the impaired high frequencies; Based on the dated single middle frequency hearing loss, another middle frequency hearing impaired near the dated hearing loss frequency, the sawtooth-like audiogram changed to groove-like audiogram; Hearing fluctuation in low frequency area, hearing threshold increased 10-30 dB in 125-1000 Hz but kept unchanged in the high frequency area. The recent local frequency hearing loss healed after the vasodilator and neurotrophic drugs therapy, but the dated hearing loss can't rehabilitate. Along with the rehabilitation of recent local hearing loss, 25 of 32 cases chronic tinnitus victims get to habituation; this finding showed that the experience of tinnitus aggravation and relief accelerated the habituation. Until the 12 months after the TRT, the curative effect difference between AACT group and control group showed statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSWhen the chronic tinnitus acute aggravated, 3 kinds of local area hearing impaired. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment had brought not only hearing rehabilitation but also promotion to habituation of chronic tinnitus.

Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Threshold ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the fingerprint of Zedoary Turmeric Oil (ZTO) as the bulk drug of Kingkong Elemene for making it safe, effective, stable, and controllable.

METHODSFingerprints were detected by gas chromatography. β-elemene peak was regarded as reference peak (S). The relative peak area of each common peak and the relative retention time were calculated. With a total of modes for reference, the fingerprints of 10 batches of Kingkong ZTO were detected, and their similarity was calculated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fingerprint similarity calculation software.

RESULTSThe determination method was stable and reliable. Totally 19 common characteristic peaks of Kingkong ZTO was found. The fingerprint similarity of these batches of Kingkong ZTO were not lower than 0.96.

CONCLUSIONSGas chromatography for detecting the fingerprint of Kingkong ZTO was reliable and repeatable. The established fingerprint of Kingkong ZTO could guarantee the quality stability and safety of different product batches.

Chromatography, Gas ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a multiplex RT-PCR-based reverse dot blot hybridization technique to detect influenza viruses.

METHODSObtain the HA nucleotide sequences of seasonal influenza H1N1, seasonal influenza H3N2, influenza H1N1 and human avian influenza H5N1 from GenBank. Design primers in conservative district and probes t in high variable region respectively, after analyzing the HA nucleotide sequences of influenza virus through the Vector NTI 9.0. Establish and optimize multiple RT-PCR system by comparing amplification efficiency and specificity at different primer concentrations. Establish the reverse dot hybridization system after optimizing the concentration of probes. To compare the sensitivity and specificity of this technique and the general RT-PCR Method through extracting the viral RNA of the mentioned influenza virus which are to be the reference substance.

RESULTSSuccessfully establish a multiplex RT-PCR-based reverse dot blot hybridization technique for detecting influenza viruses. This technique is 100-1000 times more sensitive than gel electrophoresis method, and it has a good specificity.

CONCLUSIONSuccessfully established multiplex RT-PCR-based reverse dot blot hybridization technique for detecting influenza viruses.

Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of calorie restriction on the high fat diet rats mRNA expressions of liver forkhead box O1(FoxO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) and to explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS24 normal 6-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal chow group (NC, n = 7), high fat diet group (HF, n = 9) and calorie restriction group (CR, n = 8). They were fed for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and their fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (INS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Their visceral fat (VF) and body weight (BW) were also measured and VF/BW was calculated. Gene expression was investigated by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR methods. Liver histology was studied with HE stained slides.

RESULTSCompared with the NC group, HF group rats developed visceral obesity which was accompanied by higher FBG, plasma INS, TG, and TC. The levels of FoxO1, PEPCK, and G-6-P increased by 18.9%, 33.8%, and 24.6%, respectively (P less than 0.01). Liver steatosis was observed with microscopy. The BW, VF FBG, INS, TG and TC of the CR group rats were lower in comparison to those of the HF group. The levels of FoxO1, PEPCK and G-6-P were lower by 26.6%, 35.0%, 34.3% (P less than 0.01). Meanwhile, liver steatosis was also milder.

CONCLUSIONCalorie restriction can inhibit the expressions of FoxO1, PEPCK and G-6-P, strengthen insulin signal conduction, suppress gluconeogenesis and thus regulate glycometabolism.

Animals ; Caloric Restriction ; Dietary Fats ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gluconeogenesis ; genetics ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEStudying on G6PD polymorphism from Hakka population in Guangdong province.

METHODSIdentifying the variants of G6PD gene and determining the frequencies respectively with the use of amplified refractory mutation system(ARMS), polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and ABI 3100 DNA sequencing technologies.

RESULTSMutations of G6PD gene in cDNA 1388 (G-->A), 1376 (G-->T), 95 (A-->G), 392 (G-->T), 1024 (C-->T), 1311 (C-->T) have been found.

CONCLUSIONG6PD cDNA 1388 (G-->A), 1376 (G-->T), 95(A--> G), 392 (G-->T), 1024 (C-->T) and 1311 (C-->T) accompanied with intron 11 (93 T-->C) are the common mutations in Chinese population. cDNA 1388 (G-->A), cDNA 1376 (G-->T) are the most popular G6PD gene variants in Hakka population. In this study, no new type of G6PD gene mutation was found in the Hakkas of Guangdong.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; ethnology ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between complex 1311 mutation of C-->T in exon 11 and 93 T-->C in intron 11 of G6PD gene and the G6PD deficiency.

METHODSUsing NBT paper strip method to screen and quantitative NBT method to confirm G6PD deficiency. PCR-SSCP technique was used to find the abnormal exon 11 and the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) to identify 1311 mutation, and DNA sequencing to identify the complex mutation at 1311 in exon 11 and 93 in intron 11.

RESULTSAbnormal band in exon 11 was found in 12 cases. DNA sequencing showed that they were 1311 mutation together with 93 mutation.

CONCLUSIONThis complex mutation may be the cause of reduced activity of G6PD enzyme.

Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects on ribbon synapse of inner hair cells after superpulsed CO2 laser-assisted cochleostomy in SD rats.

METHODSEighteen SD rats were randomly divided into laser-assisted surgery groups (2 W group and 5 W group), sham-operated group and control group. Ten of those were performed a cochleostomy using superpulsed CO2 laser with a corresponding power. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were measured pre-and postoperatively. The ribbon synapses at apical and middle cochlear turns were observed under laser scanning confocal microscope and then were quantified with 3ds Max software.

RESULTSThe postoperative ABR thresholds of the 2 W and 5 W groups were larger than the preoperative case (t = -5.65, P < 0.01; t = -4.97, P < 0.01). The synapse number at the middle turn decreased significantly in 5 W group (F = 17.15, P < 0.01), while no significant changes were noted at the apical turn (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in 2 W group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe superpulsed CO2 laser-assisted cochleostomy with high-power is accompanied by a synaptic injury, while no obvious effects after the low-power laser surgery, which might be a safe strategy to preform cochleostomy.

Animals ; Cochlea ; surgery ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner ; radiation effects ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Gas ; adverse effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synapses ; radiation effects