OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To report the outcome of emergency repair of severe complex defect in forearm by transplantation of free flap and simultaneous functional reconstruction.Methods From Mar.1994 to Aug.2003,4 cases with severe complex defect in forearm was repaired by transplantation of free skin flap, free skin flap combined with fibula flap,or fibula osteocutaneous flap in emergency.Simultaneously the flexion and extension function were repaired by muscle transfer and/or tendon grafting,tenonectomy.Results All the cases were successful.Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 3 years postoperatively.The blood-supply,tex- ture and elasticity of transferred flaps were excellent with good bone healing.Opposition of thumb with four fin- gers was good.Sensory recovery of the hand was satisfactory.Conclusion Transplantation of free flap com- bined with simultaneous functional reconstruction is an ideal method in emergency repair of severe complex de- fect in forearm.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hypoxia on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF).

METHODSHPDLF were cultured in α-minima essential medium (α-MEM) and subcultured at confluence. In the hypoxic groups, cells were incubated in a humidified atmosphere of 1%O(2), 5%CO(2), 94%N(2) at 37°C for 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively. In the normoxic control group, cells were incubated under normoxic conditions of 20%O(2), 5%CO(2), 75%N(2). The mRNA expression of MMP and TIMP was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The data was analyzed by Student's t test, one-way ANOVA and LSD test with SPSS 13.0 software package.

RESULTSThe expression of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA in the hypoxia groups was higher than that in control. The expression of MMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups showed a significantly increasing trend. There was significant difference between the hypoxic group and the normoxic control group in the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.01). The expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups of 12 h was momentarily increased. There was significant difference between the hypoxic 12 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). However, with prolonged hypoxia time, the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups showed a significantly declining trend, there were significant differences between the hypoxic 12, 24 and 48 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of TIMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-1 mRNA in hypoxic groups of 12 h was momentarily decreased and then increased after 24 h of hypoxia. There were significant differences between the hypoxic 48 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of MMP-1 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between the hypoxic 12 h group and the normoxic control group in the ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1 mRNA (P < 0.05). The ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA in the hypoxia group significantly increased compared with normoxic group. There were significant differences between the hypoxic group and the normoxic control group in the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHypoxia could change the expression of MMP and TIMP mRNA and other relevant growth factors and also lead to the imbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA expression. It is suggested that the imbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 expression may be closely correlated with the occurrence and development of periodontal disease and play an important role in the process of periodontal tissue destruction in periodontitis.

Adolescent ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo explore the effects of different doses of tyrosine modulation on behavioral performances in open field test of psychological stress rats.

METHODSThe animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for 21 days. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) as follows: control group (CT), stress control group (SCT), low, medium and high-doses of tyrosine modulation stress groups (SLT, SMT and SIT). The changes of behavioral performances were examined by open-field test. Serum levels of cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine were also detected.

RESULTSThe levels of serum cortisol were all increased obviously in the four stress groups, and their bodyweight gainings were diminished. The behavioral performances of SCT rats in open-field test were changed significantly in contrast to that of CT rats. However, The behavioral performances of SMT and SHT rats were not different from that of CT rats. In addition, the serum levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were downregulated obviously in SCT and SLT groups, and no differences were observed in other groups.

CONCLUSIONPsychological stress can impair body behavioral performances, and moderate tyrosine modulation may improve these abnormal changes. The related mechanisms may be involved with the changes of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Dopamine ; blood ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tyrosine ; therapeutic use

AIMTo evaluate the effects of different doses of zinc on the expression of metallothionein isoforms in stressed hippocampal neurons in vitro.

METHODSThe cell stress model was developed by corticosterone. The cultured hippocampal neurons were assigned to seven groups as follows: control group, zinc deficiency group, and their corresponding stressed groups, as well as three different levels of zinc complementarity groups.

RESULTSIn zinc deficiency group, the expressions of metallothionein and MT-1 mRNA, MT-3 mRNA were downregulated. On the other hand, inductions of metallothionein and it's mRNAs in stressed zinc complementarity group were increased. In addition, the levels of supernatant IL-6 and NO were increased clearly in zinc deficiency group and corticosterone stressed groups.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that zinc deficiency may decrease while zinc complementarity increase the expressions of metallothioneins and MT-1 mRNA, MT-3 mRNA in stressed hippocampal neurons in vitro.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Metallothionein ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Zinc ; pharmacology

AIMTo observe the impairment of homocysteine (Hcy) on neurons in vitro and the related mechanisms.

METHODSWe examined the consequences of treatment of cultured rat cortical and hippocampal neurons with Hcy and detected the neurons' apoptosis, calcium influx, DNA damage and oxidative injury.

RESULTSPrimary cortical and hippocampal neurons were treated with Hcy (250 micromol/L) for 4 h resulted in apoptosis time-dependently. S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) could significantly, but MK-801, an NMDA receptor inhibitor, couldn't repress the Hcy induced neuron apoptosis. Hcy could induce neuron calcium overload through activating the NMDA receptors. The DNA of neurons was damaged by Hcy because the methylation reactions were inhibited. Hcy treatment also induced MDA level significantly increased, but did not affect the neurons' T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that Hcy compromises neuronal homeostasis by multiple, divergent routes, including DNA damage, neuron exitotoxicity, and oxidative injury. Hcy mediated neuron apoptosis was mainly due to DNA damage.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Homocysteine ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To report our experience with retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy with excision of a bladder-cuff for renal pelvic and ureteral tumors.Methods Thirty-five patients (21 women and 14 men;mean age,67 years;age range,49 -82 years) with upper urinary tract tumors underwent retro- peritoneal laparoscopic nephrourcterectomy with excision of a bladder-cuff.Of the 35 cases,15 had pelvic tumors and 20 had ureteral tumors;19 cases had the tumors on the right side and 16 on the left.Two cases had ureteral tumors combined with bladder tumors.One case had bilateral ureteral tumors then concomitantly had bladder tumors.The needle electrode was used to circleround incise the bladder thoroughly 0.5 cm away from the ureterostoma.Three trocars in the waist were used for dissecting the kidney;and the ureter was dis- sected as far distally downward.Then an incision of 5-9 cm was created in the lower abdomen to allow dis- section of the distal ureter and bladder-cuff and intact specimen extraction.Results The operation was successful in all 35 patients.The mean operative time was 3.1 h ( range,1.5-6.0h).The mean estimated blood loss was 166 ml (range,20-1600 ml).Four cases received blood transfusion.The patient's activity re- covered in 20-32 h after operation.Postoperative pathology showed transitional cell carcinoma in 30 cases, poorly differentiated adenocareinoma in 2 (ureter),squamous cell carcinoma in 1 (ureter),leiomyosarcoma in 1 (ureter),xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in 1.Duodenal leakage occurred in 1 patient who had had dialysis a drainage catheter was placed on the third d after operation,and the patient died of heart failure af- ter 2 months.Postoperative vesical irrigation was performed to prevent tumor recurrence.The mean hospital stay was 11 d.During a mean follow-up of 14 months(range,1-32 months),1 patient developed pelvic me- tastasis and was alive with the tumor.The other 33 patients survived free of tumor to date.No patient had re- current transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.Conclusions Our data demonstrate that retroperitoneo- scopic nephroureterectomy for renal pelvic and ureteral tumors has shorter incision and more rapid postopera- tive recovery compared with open surgery.Using resectoscope to resect the termination of ureter allows more complete excision of the ureter.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal and lymphoid tissues constitute an important part of intestinal immunity, which plays an important regulatory role in spleen deficiency and hydronephrosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on T lymphocyte subsets in lymph nodes of rats with spleen deficiency, and to investigate the correlation of spleen deficiency with intestinal immunity and the mechanism of acupuncture for spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: model, acupuncture and blank control groups. The rat model of spleen deficiency was established by fatigue-induced spleen injury plus abnormal diet for 31 days. Afterwards, the rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at Zusanli(ST 36).Urine D-xylose excretion rate was detected during modeling and treatment.Then, the mesenteric lymph nodes were removed, and the changes in T lymphocyte subsets in the mesentericlymph nodes were observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Urine D-xylose excretion rate under spleen deficiency in the modeling and acupuncture groups was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); after acupuncture, the urine D-xylose excretion rate was significantly increased compared with the modeling group (P < 0.01), but still lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+T lymphocytes, count of CD8+T lymphocytes and ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes were ranked as follows: blank control group >acupuncture group>modeling group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).These results suggest that acupuncture at Zusanli can improve the urine D-xylose excretion rate, regulate the balance of T lymphocyte subsets in mesenteric lymph node of rats with spleen deficiency, thus improving the intestinal immune function, spleen deficiency systems, disorder of intestinal digestive function, intestinal digestion and absorption, as well as anorexia, loose stool, diarrhea and other symptoms of the digestive system.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor immunity of the non-replicating recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins.

METHODSC57BL/6 mice were immunized by non-replicating recombinant vaccinia virus (NTVJmE6E7), and then specific CTLs were determined. Immune protection effects were evaluated by challenges of different doses of TC-1 tumor cells. Immunotherapeutic effects in form of recurrence were evaluated on the tumor-removed mice.

RESULTSMice immunized by NTVJmE6E7 could generate TC-1 cell specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL). Mice boosted with NTVJmE6E7 could tolerate the challenge of 1 x 10(4) TC-1 cells. NTVJmE6E7 could effectively prevent the tumor recurrence in the tumor-removed mice.

CONCLUSIONNTVJmE6E7 can be taken as a candidate of therapeutic vaccine for HPV-associated tumors and their precursor lesions.

Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Immunotherapy ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; immunology ; therapy ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Recombination, Genetic ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccinia virus ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines

OBJECTIVETo discuss the prevention and management of the neurological complications during treatment for severe scoliosis.

METHODSSeventy-one patients with the coronal Cobb angle more than 80 degrees underwent operation. The average coronal Cobb angle was 96.6 degrees (80 degrees - 135 degrees ), and 31 patients combined with kyphotic deformity with average sagittal Cobb angle 83.0 degrees (52 degrees - 145 degrees ). Fourteen patients were treated with posterior pedicle screw fixation alone, 21 combined with posterior wedge resection, 34 with staged operation, and 2 with combined anterior and posterior approach. Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) monitoring and wake up test were used in 61 cases, and wake up test was used alone in 10 cases.

RESULTSThe average coronal curve correction was 59.2% (average 39.6 degrees ) and sagittal curve correction was 61.6% (average 31.9 degrees ). Thirty-nine patients were followed up with average 51 months (5 - 81 months). Among them, 33 patients achieved solid spinal fusion and the rate of correction loss was 2.1%. Two patients underwent reoperation because of the breakages of the internal fixation. Among 8 patients with neurological dysfunction pre-operatively, 3 patients obtained complete recovery, 1 patient incomplete recovery, and the rest had not recovered because of post-poliomyelitis syndrome. Four of 5 patients developed neurological dysfunction post-operatively obtained complete recovery and 1 partial recovery.

CONCLUSIONSHalo-pelvic distraction and apical vertebra osteotomy are useful for increasing the correction rate and decreasing the neurological dysfunction. Intraoperative SEP monitoring combined with wake up test can call attention to early nerve injury. Early using of glucocorticoids and dehydration therapy promptly post-operatively is benefit to prevent neurological complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Scoliosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Traction ; methods