BACKGROUND: The treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) aims at sustaining the spinal cord compression and restoring the stability of the cervical vertebrae at most.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characters of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion and expansive open-door laminoplasty for MCSM.METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with MCSM were divided into two groups, and treated with anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (group A) or posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (group B). All the patients were followed up for 12 months, and the range of motion of cervical vertebrae, cervical curvature index were observed,as well as the Visual Analogue Scale and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were condueted. Moreover, the operation time, blood loss and adverse reactions were recorded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The loss of range of motion of the cervical vertebrae in the group B was significantly less than that in the group A (P < 0.05). (2) The cervical curvature index in the group A was significantly improved (P < 0.05), but the index had no significant change in the group B. (3) The axial systems were significantly improved in both groups, especially in the group A (P < 0.05). (4) The neurological function was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05), which showed no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). (5) The intraoperative blood loss in the group B was significantly more than that in the group A (P < 0.05). (6) The incidence of hoarseness and dysphagia in the group A was 19％. The incidence of wound infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and C5 nerve root palsy in the group B was 9％. (7) These results suggest that during choosing an appropriate method for MCSM,surgeons' skills and patients' situation should be considered.

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), malondialdehyde (MDA) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on them.

METHODSTotally 120 AS patients were assigned to two groups according to random digit table method, the XFC group (3 XFC pills each time, 3 times a day) and the SASP group (4 SASP tablets each time, twice a day), 60 in each group. All patients were treated for 3 months. Another 60 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. The expression frequency and activation levels of BTLA were detected using flow cytometry. Serum oxidative stress indices (such as SOD and CAT, TAOC, ROS, RNS, MDA) and contents of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10] were detected using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was detected using Westergren method. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) was detected using HITACHI 7060 type automatic biochemical analyzer. Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were assessed using VAS. Correlation analysis between scoring for quality of life and BTLA expression frequency was performed.

RESULTS(1) Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were significantly better in the XFC group than in the SASP group (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the healthy control group, BTLA expressions in the peripheral blood of AS patients decreased significantly (P <0. 05); SOD, CAT, and TAOC values significantly decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); ROS, RNS, and MDA values significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, and Hs-CRP values significantly increased (P < 0.01); IL-4 and IL-10 values decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (3) Compared with pre-treatment in the same group, BTLA/CD19 + B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-4, SF-36 [physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF), role limitation due to physical problems (RP), role limitation due to emotional problems (RE), body pain (BP), mental health (MH), vitality (VT), general health (GH)] were significantly elevated; ROS, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs- CRP, VAS, BASDAI and BASFI, BAS-G were significantly lower in the peripheral blood of the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Better effect was shown in the XFC group in elevating BTLA/CD19+ B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-10, BP, MH, VT, and SF; and lowering ROS, IL-1β, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, BASFI, and BAS-G (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (4) Pearson correlation analysis showed, BTLA/CD19 + B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, CAT, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, and SF (r = 0.431, 0.325, 0.318, 0.316, 0.348, 0.314, 0.358, 0.318, 0.326, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, VAS, and BASDAI (r = -0.342, -0.368, -0.334, -0.354, -0.324, -0.372, -0.342, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BTLA/CD24 B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, SF, RE, MH, VT (r = 0.358, 0.352, 0.372, 0.436, 0.435, 0.326, 0.352, 0.345, 0.326, 0.343, 0.332, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, RNS, MDA, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, and BASFI (r = -0.447, -0.336, -0.405, -0. 395, -0. 358, -0.436, -0.338, -0.425, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXFC could improve BTLA expression in the peripheral blood of AS patients, negatively regulate activation and proliferation of B cells, and reduce abnormal immune responses and oxidative stress injury, thereby effectively alleviating joint stiffness and pain.

B-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Quality of Life ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of alcohol on the synthesis of testosterone and the expression of androgen binding protein(ABP)mRNA in rat testis.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(10 rats each group)and received either distilled water(control group)or alcohol(alcohol-fed groups)for 5 months.Alcohol was administered by garage with a single daily dose : 5 g/kg(large dose group),2.5 g/kg(middle dose group)and 0.5 g/kg(small dose group).Testosterone content was measured by ELISA.mRNA levels of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors(PBR),PPARct and ABP were assayed by RT-PCR.Results Compared with control group:(1)ethanol feeding with daily doses of 5 g/kg,2.5 g/kg and 0.5 g/kg significantly decreased testosterone levels by 31.13%(P0.05)respectively,indicating that ethanol might impair testosterone synthesis;(2) mRNA levels of PBR were decreased in all three ethanol-treated groups(all P

Objective To investigate the effect of Shenfu injection on the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related factors oxygen-regulated protein 150 (ORP150),X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1),and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) mRNAs in cerebral cortical neurons after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats.Methods The 7 day-newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation,normal saline and Shenfu treatment (Shenfu injection,10 ml/kg per day,peritoneal injection,for 3 days) groups.They were redivided into 3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,3 d and 7 d subgroups at different time points after modeling (n =8 in each group).A HIBD model of the neonatal rats was induced.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expressions of ORP150,XBP1,and CHOP mRNAs in rat cerebral cortex.Results The expressions of ORP150,XBP1 and CHOP mRNAs of the sham operation group was very week.The expressions of ORP150,XBP1 and CHOP mRNAs in the normal saline group and the Shenfu treatment group were significantly upregulated compared to those in the sham operation group at 3 h after modeling (all P ＜0.05); the expressions of XBP1 and CHOP mRNAs reached the peak at 6 and 12 h,respectively.Then they decreased mildly and closed to the level in the sham operation group at day 7.The expressions of XBP1 and CHOP mRNAs in the Shenfu treatment group at 12,24 h and day 3 after modeling were significantly lower than those in the normal saline group (all P ＜0.05).The XBP1 mRNA expression was significantly positively correlated with the CHOP mRNA expression in the normal saline group (r =0.649,P ＜0.05).Conclusions HIBD in neonatal rats induces endoplasmic reticulum stress response.ORP150,XBP1 and CHOP may be involved in the delayed neuronal damage process after HIBD in neonatal rats.Shenfu injection downregulates the expression of XBP1 and CHOP mRNAs and inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress response.

BACKGROUND: The immature dendritic cell (imDC) can induce immunological tolerance and has widely application in the field of organ transplant. At present, the methods of inducing imDC are insufficient, so the new induction method is demanding.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on the maturation and immunological function of human peripheral blood-derived imDC.DESIGN: Controlled observation and in vitro cytological trial.SETTING: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.MATERIALS: Five samples of human peripheral blood were obtained from the healthy volunteers (aged 20-23 years) of Sun Yat-sen University, totally 500 mL. Then peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes were isolated within 2 hours.METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Medical Research Center of the Second Hospital Affiliated to Sun (1 mmol/L) was added for induction, while those supplemented with maturation promoting factor lipopolysaccharide (LPS)the beginning of induction, while LPS was added on the sixth day for second stimulation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cell morphological change, flow cytometry was used to detect DC phenotype,FITC-labeled Dextran was used to detect the endocytosis of DC, the production of IL-12 was determined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the proliferation of lymphocyte induced by DC was assayed with mixed lymphocyte reaction.expressions of CD80, CD83 and HLA-DR were significantly lower in the imDC of routine induction group following SB maturity promoting, compared with LPS group (P＜0.01). On the sixth day, LPS was added into the SB-induced imDC,Endocytosis of DC: The imDC of routine induction group possessed a significantly lower endocytic activity after induced by LPS, and there were extremely significant differences compared with blank control group and SB maturation Production of IL-12: The production of IL-12 in the mDC induced by LPS was significantly higher than that in control group, SB maturation promoting group and SB induction group, the mDC induced by LPS in routine induction group stimulated significantly stronger proliferation of lymphocyte (P＜0.01).

AIM: To investigate the immunological function of sodium butyrate-induced immature dendritic cells in vitro.METHODS: The human monocyte-derived dendritic cells were induced in the presence of human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), combined with sodium butyrate. The immunological function of sodium butyrate-induced dendritic cells was detected by the FCM, endocytic activity, T cells stimulatory proliferation capacity, and interleukin-12 (IL-12) production.RESULTS: Sodium butyrate could down-regulate the major histocompatibility complex(MHC) class II and costimulatory molecules of dendritic cells, increase the endocytic activity, induce a stage of T-cell anergey, and inhibit the T helper cell type 1-skewing factor IL-12 production. CONCLUSION: Sodium butyrate inhibits the maturation of dendritic cells and induces production of immature dendritic cells, which may help to explore the machenism of its epigenitic modification.

Objective To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of Periostin (POSTN) in craniopharyngi?oma. Methods Forty-two patients with pathologically diagnosed adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma involving the floor of 3rd ventricle were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between expression of POSTN and outcome was studied. Results POSTN was expressed in stroma of craniopharyngioma tissues. The expression of POSTN was not associated with the postoperative recurrence (Z=-0.236,P=0.813) while was associated with the degree of the adhesion between tumor and floor of 3rd ventricle (r=0.685, P<0.001), postoperative Hypothalamic Status Scale (r=0.569, P<0.001) and Body Mass Index (r=0.594, P<0.001). Conclusions POSTN may predict the degree of the adhesion between craniopharyngioma and 3rd ventricle floor. The high expression of POSTN may indicate the worse hypothalamus function.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of pain associated with chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in the rat model of prostatic inflammation.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were equally randomized to an experimental and a control group, the former injected with 50 μl of 3% λ-carrageenan into the ventral prostate to make the model of non-bacterial prostatic inflammation, while the latter with the same volume of sterile saline solution. At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the prostate, L6-S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord were harvested for examination of the expressions of the nerve growth factor (NGF), transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP in the prostatic tissue were all significantly increased in the experimental group as compared with the control (P <0.05), with a gradual decrease with the prolonging of time (P <0.05). In the L6-S1 DRG and spinal cord, the expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP exhibited no significant differences between the experimental and control groups at 1 week after modeling (P >0.05) and kept at high levels in the experimental group at 2 and 4 weeks, though not significantly different from those at 1 week (P >0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the expressions of the three proteins in the experimental rats among different time points (P <0.05), but not between the two groups at any time point (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular mechanism of CP/CPPS can be evaluated in the rat model of prostatic inflammation established by injecting λ-carrageenan into the prostate. TRPA1 may play an important role in connecting the upstream and down-stream pathways of CP/CPPS-associated pain.

Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; Chronic Disease ; Chronic Pain ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pelvic Pain ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; TRPA1 Cation Channel ; TRPC Cation Channels ; metabolism

Depression is a serious mental illness with a high incidence. At present, we do not fully understand the specific pathological mechanisms of depression, and the efficacy of drug treatments is very limited. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic changes that occur in specific brain regions may be a key mechanism by which environmental factors to interact with individuals to influence the risk of depression. Therefore, drugs that target epigenetic regulation may become a new direction for the development of antidepressants. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a class of compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase activity, which has been reported to be associated with depression; this article addresses the use of HDACi in preclinical studies, and their potential therapeutic role and limitations of use in depression.