OBJECTIVETo investigate the early clinical effects and radiological outcome of dynamic cervical implant (DCI) internal fixation in treating cervical spondylosis, and evaluate its safety and efficiency.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to December 2011, 19 patients with cervical spondylosis correspond to the indication of DCI internal fixation in the study, including 5 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 14 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. There were 8 males and 11 females, aged from 35 to 54 years with a mean of 43.2 years. Pathological segments included C3,4 in 1 case, C4,5 in 6, C5,6 in 6, C6,7 in 4, C3,4 and C5,6, C6,7 in 2. All patients were treated with anterior discectomy and decompression and DCI internal fixation, meanwhile, 2 cases of them with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plate fixation. Clinical evaluation included Modified Japanese orthopedics association (mJOA), neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score and patient satisfaction index (PSI) at pre-operation and final follow-up. Radiographic evaluation included flexion/extension lateral view at operative level and adjacent segment. The adjacent level degeneration was analyzed according to Miyazaki classification on MRI images.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 19.8 months. Preoperative mJOA score was 13.6±1.1 and at final follow-up was 16.3±1.2 with improvement rate of 85.0%. Preoperative VAS,NDI was 6.6± 1.4, 17.1±7.4 and at final follow-up was 1.4±0.8, 6.1±3.9, respectively; there was statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). Preoperative ROM at operation level was (7.6±1.9)° and final follow-up was (7.8+2.1)°; preoperative ROM at C2-C7 was (38.6±7.2)° and final follow-up was (39.9±6.4)°; there was no statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P>0.05). Preoperative DHI at operation level was (6.3±1.1) mm and final follow-up was (7.1±0.8) mm, there was statistical significance in DHI between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). No heterotopic ossification was found. All patients followed up MRI, degeneration of 3 segments aggravated 1 degree in 38 adjacent segments, without clinical symptom.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of cervical spondylosis with dynamic cervical implant can got satisfactory outcome in early follow-up. Activity of operative segment obtain reservation in some degree. The incidence of adjacent segment degeneration is lower and no adjacent segment disease occur. Nevertheless a longer follow-up time should be needed to assess the long term functionality of the DCI and the influence on adjacent levels.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) and its disassembled recipes on rats' neurogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia and to investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia model was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 90 min using the intraluminal filament model. Rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the BYHWD group, the qi supplementing group, and the blood activating group. Medication was performed by gastrogavage 24 h after ischemia for 14 successive days. 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) (at 50 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected, once per day for 14 successive days. The neurological function was assessed using modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and the corner test at day 1, 7, and 14 after ischemia. BrdU/Nestin, BrdU/NeuN, and BrdU/GFAP positive cells were examined by double immunofluorescence at day 14 after ischemia. The protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by Western blot at day 14 after ischemia.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the score of mNSS and the frequency of turning right significantly decreased in the BYHWD group and the qi supplementing group (P < 0.01), the number of BrdU/Nestin in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle, and BrdU/ NeuN and BrdU/GFAP positive cells in the peripheral ischemic cortex increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), protein expression of BDNF and VEGF increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the qi supplementing group, there was no statistical difference in BrdU/GFAP. But there was no statistical difference in each index of the blood activating group (P > 0.05). Compared with BYHWD group, the number of BrdU/Nestin, BrdU/ NeuN, and BrdU/GFAP positive cells significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the protein expression of BDNF and VEGF were significantly reduced in the qi supplementing group and the blood activating group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBYHWD could significantly improve neurogenesis and neurological function recovery after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Its mechanisms might be related to up-regulating protein expression of BDNF and VEGF. Drugs for qi supplementing and drugs for blood activating had synergistic effects.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) inducing angiogenesis on the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone and its mechanisms after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to mice for 30 minutes to establish the model. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, BYHWD group and endostatin group. BYHWD (20 g x kg(-1), ig) and endostatin (10 μg, sc) were administered 24 h after ischemia once a day for consecutively 14 days. At 14 d after ischemia, the density of micro-vessel and the number of neuroblasts in the ischemia border zone were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTCompared with the model group, BYHWD significantly increased the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the SDF-1 and BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). Compared with BYHWD group, endostatin significantly reduced the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), as well as the SDF-1, BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD could promote the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone via inducing angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, the mechanism may be correlated with up-regulating the expression of SDF-1 and BDNF.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology

AIMThrough studying local regulatory mechanisms in pulmonary arteries (PA) and thoracic aortae (TA) under simulated microgravity (SM), to collect some data for the researches of adaptive mechanisms in pulmonary and systemic arteries and for the mechanisms accounting for orthostatic intolerance after SM.

METHODSCardiopulmonary circulatory function during 7-day 6 degrees head down bed rest (HDT) in male young volunteers was measured with a XXH-2000 pulmonary circulation and cardiac function instrument. - 30 degrees C tail suspended (TS) rats were used as the model to simulate the physiological effects of M. The PA and TA changes of vasoreactivity were respectively observed by vitro vessel rings perfusion.

RESULTSThe changes in volume of PA and pulmonary vein during a cardiac cycle and the preload in left cardiac ventricle in men increased significantly in the initial HDT. The super-regulatory phenomena appeared in both pulmonary and systemic circulation, but earlier and more obviously in pulmonary circulation than systemic circulation during 96-144 h. The dilatory reactivity in TS7 PA increased significantly, tended to decrease in TS14. The dilatory reactivity of TA in TS7 had a significant increase, had a slight increase in TS14. The contractile reactivity of PA decreased slightly in TS7 from CON, and were attenuated significantly in TS14. The contractile reactivity of TA in TS14 decreased significantly. The responsiveness to KCl, phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside in VEC- removed PA had no differences among all groups.

CONCLUSIONThe differences in changes between pulmonary and systemic arteries under SM could be an important sign of depressed local regulatory function, which might be mainly due to dilatory function in VEC and contribute to the occurrence of orthostatic intolerance after SM.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Resistance ; Weightlessness ; Weightlessness Simulation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of liposome-mediated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene transfer in vivo on spinal cord motoneurons after spinal cord injury (SCI) in adult rats.

METHODSSixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into two groups: GDNF group and control group. The SCI model was established according to the method of Nystrom, and then the DC-Chol liposomes and recombinant plasmid pEGFP-GDNF cDNA complexes were injected into the injured spinal cord. The expression of GDNF cDNA 1 week after injection was detected by RT-PCR and fluorescence microscope. We observed the remaining motoneurons in the anterior horn and the changes of cholinesterase (CHE) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity using Nissl and enzyme histochemistry staining. The locomotion function of hind limbs of rats was evaluated using inclined plane test and BBB locomotor scale.

RESULTSRT-PCR and fluorescence observation confirmed the presence of expression of GDNF cDNA 1 week and 4 weeks after injection. At 1, 2, 4 weeks after SCI, the number of motoneurons in the anterior horn in GDNF group (20.4+/-3.2, 21.7+/-3.6, 22.5+/-3.4) was more than that in control group (16.8+/-2.8, 17.3+/-2.7, 18.2+/-3.2, P<0.05). At 1, 2 weeks after SCI, the mean gray of the CHE-stained spinal motoneurons in GDNF group (74.2+/-25.8, 98.7+/-31.6) was less than that in control group (98.5+/-32.2, 134.6+/-45.2, P<0.01), and the mean gray of ACP in GDNF group (84.5+/-32.6, 79.5+/-28.4) was more than that in control group (61.2+/-24.9, 52.6+/-19.9, P<0.01). The locomotion functional scales in GDNF group were higher than that in control group within 1 to 4 weeks after SCI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGDNF gene transfer in vivo can protect motoneurons from death and degeneration induced by incomplete spinal cord injury as well as enhance locomotion functional restoration of hind limbs. These results suggest that liposome-mediated delivery of GDNF cDNA might be a practical method for treating traumatic spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Injections, Intralesional ; Liposomes ; Locomotion ; physiology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; drug effects ; Nerve Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Primary Prevention ; methods ; Probability ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Reference Values ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; prevention & control ; therapy

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the third-generation instrumentation including TSRH, CD and ISOLA in the treatment of adult scoliosis. Methods:Thirty-five adult patients with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis who received treatment with third-generation instrumentation (TSRH,CD and ISOLA) between July 1999 to January 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean preoperative cobb angle of major curves of the frontal plane was 58.1°(42°-95°). The patients received a combined anteroposterior approach or a single posterior procedure. The mean follow-up time was 20 months(10-48 months). Preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles of the frontal plane and sagittal plane and the distance between C7 and CVLS were measured. The subjective assessment was judged by questionnaire. Results: Postoperative clinical appearance of all patients improved significantly. Mean correction of major curves of the coronal plane was 53.2%. Mean loss of correction of the coronal plane in the last follow-up was 4.3°. The distance between the midline of C7 and CVSL was corrected from 2.6 cm to 0.24 cm. The results of follow-up showed that 89.3% patients were satisfied with the outcome. Pneumatothorax and haematothorax occurred in 2 patients. Three patients still complained of low back pain one year after operation because of adjacent degeneration in 2 patients and pseudoarthrosis in the remaining 1 patient. Conclusion: Imageologic findings and subjective assessment of the patients showed that the third-generation instrumentation can achieve good correction and trunk balance in the treatment of adult scoliosis with fewer complications.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb..METHODS The ethyl acetate fraction of 95％ ethanol extract from C.japonicus was isolated and purified by silica,Sephadex LH-20,ODS and PHPLC column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Ten compounds were isolated and identified as p-hydroxyphenethyl (1),diisooctanephthalate (2),diisobutylphthalat (3),umbelliferone (4),ursolic acid (5),7α-hydroxysitosterol (6),chloranthalactone E (7),chloranthalactone B (8),apigenin (9),3-Sitosterol (10).CONCLUSION Compounds 1-3,6 are isolated from genus Chloranthus for the first time,compounds 4,5,9 are first isolated from this plant.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the third-generation instrumentation including TSRH, CD and ISOLA in the treatment of adult scoliosis. Methods:Thirty-five adult patients with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis who received treatment with third-generation instrumentation (TSRH,CD and ISOLA) between July 1999 to January 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean preoperative cobb angle of major curves of the frontal plane was 58.1°(42°-95°). The patients received a combined anteroposterior approach or a single posterior procedure. The mean follow-up time was 20 months(10-48 months). Preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles of the frontal plane and sagittal plane and the distance between C7 and CVLS were measured. The subjective assessment was judged by questionnaire. Results: Postoperative clinical appearance of all patients improved significantly. Mean correction of major curves of the coronal plane was 53.2%. Mean loss of correction of the coronal plane in the last follow-up was 4.3°. The distance between the midline of C7 and CVSL was corrected from 2.6 cm to 0.24 cm. The results of follow-up showed that 89.3% patients were satisfied with the outcome. Pneumatothorax and haematothorax occurred in 2 patients. Three patients still complained of low back pain one year after operation because of adjacent degeneration in 2 patients and pseudoarthrosis in the remaining 1 patient. Conclusion: Imageologic findings and subjective assessment of the patients showed that the third-generation instrumentation can achieve good correction and trunk balance in the treatment of adult scoliosis with fewer complications.

Female ; Household Articles ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Spondylosis ; therapy ; Traction

OBJECTIVETo treat oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors with radioactive seed implantation and observe the therapeutic results and side effects.

METHODSThirty-six patients with oral and maxillofacial malignancy were treated by radioactive seeds implanting (operation and seed implantation or seed implantation only). The treatment plans were designed before implanting by treatment plan system (TPS). All patients were followed up for 6 - 36 months with an average of 14 months and the results evaluated.

RESULTSIn 3 patients treated only by seed implantation, the tumor size reduced obviously and the symptoms alleviated in 2 patients with advanced disease, and the tumor got complete remission in one patient with tongue cancer. In the other 33 patients who were implanted after operation, no recurrence was seen in the target area, but recurrence or lymph node metastasis was found outside the target area in 3 patients. There were no unusual complaint and external radiotherapeutic side effects except for skin hyperemia occurred in 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONSRadioactive seed implantation is very effective for preventing recurrence and metastasis of oral and maxillofacial malignancy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brachytherapy ; methods ; Facial Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaw Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult