Objective To discuss the application of Apofix interlaminar clamp for the treatment of atlantoaxial instability. Methods From April 2000 to July 2004, 30 patients with atlantoaxial instability were treated with posterior atlantoaxial fusion and Apofix fixation. There were 24 males and 6 females. The mean age of the patients was 41 years (range, 19 to 67 years). The patients included 5 with atlantoaxial dislocation, 25 with odontoid fracture (including fresh fracture for 21, old fracture and nonunion for 4; Anderson Ⅱ for 23 and Anderson Ⅲ for 2). After reducted by skull traction, atlanto-occipital space, arcus posterior atlantis and axial laminar were exposed during operation, upper and lower hooks were inserted. The iliac bone graft was inserted into the space of C1 and C2, the connecting rod of the clamp was compressed and fixed. Results The follow-up of all cases ranged from 8 months to 3 years and 10 months (with the mean of 27 months). There were 28 cases with complete reduction of fracture and dislocation, 2 cases in incomplete reduction. The operation time was 70 to 150 minutes, and the average blood loss was 65 ml. Patients could sit up 3 days (2 to 6 days) after surgery with soft collar. The mean off-bed time was 7 days (2 to 10 days) after operation in the patients without or less spinal cord injury. All cases obtained solid bony fusion 3 months postoperatively. No severe complications such as injuries of vertebral artery, nerve root and spinal cord or aggravation of spinal cord injury occurred. Conclusion Apofix interlaminar clamp has advantages of convenience in operation, provided reliable and safe stability for atlatoaxial segment. The results suggested that this technique is an efficient, reliable segmental posterior fixation.

Objective To investigate the causes and prevention on complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP). Methods Forty three cases with 64 vertebrae were performed PVP from May 2001 to October 2003. The incidence of complication was 13 cases (30.2%). Leakage of polymethylmethacry (PMMA) without symptoms occurred in 4 cases. Leakage with pain occurred in 3 cases. No leakage but with pain occurred in 4 cases after the procedure. Fracture of adjacent vertebrae occurred in 2 cases. All cases were followed up from 3 to 29 months (in average of 13.2 months). Results There wasn′t severe complications in 7 leakage cases. The pain in 7 cases was relieved and disappeared at 2-7 days after the procedure. The symptoms of pain in 2 cases of adjacent vertebrae fracture were relieved. Conclusion If sufficient preventive measures are applied before or during the procedure of PVP,the complications may be reduced effectively.

Aim To investigate the protective effects of echinacoside ( ECH ) on oxidative stress injury in vascular dementia rats. Methods Vascular dementia model was duplicated by means of permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid artery at two times intervals for three days. Biochemical methods was used to detect the GSH, NO, GSH-Px, NOS in each group rat’ s cor-tex and hippocampus. The change of the tissue struc-ture in CA1 area of hippocampus in each group was ob-served and analyzed by microscope after HE staining. Results Compared with sham group, the content of GSH and activity of GSH-Px in the rats of the model group were decreased significantly ( P<0. 01 ) , while the content of NO and activity of NOS were increased obviously (P<0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile, in tis-sue structure of rat’ s hippocampal CA1 area, the num-bers of cells were reduced, cell arrangement was sparse and in disorder, cell form was not intact and cell struc-ture was not normal, cytoplasm, nucleus and cyto-plasm were blurry, nuclei were hyperchromatic and in contraction, and were changed to triangular or irregular shape, lacking nucleoli, and proliferation of glial cells appeared. Compared with the model group, the content of GSH and activity of GSH-Px in the rats of the treat-ment groups were increased significantly ( P<0. 05 , P<0 . 01 ) , while the activity of NOS was decreased ob-viously (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). Meanwhile, in rat tis-sue structure of hippocampal CA1 area, the rat cells in each treatment group were arranged in order, the form of structure was normal, the nuclei were less hyper-chromatic and contracted. Compared with Gal group and sham group, the rats of ECH high dosage group were not different in every part of experiment ( P >0. 05 ) . Conclusion ECH exerts protection on oxida-tive stress injury in vascular dementia rats.

Aim To investigate the influence of echi-nacoside ( ECH ) on monoaminergic neurotransmitter extracellular of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in rat model of Alzheimer′s disease ( AD) , and ultimately to provide a theoretical basis for ECH′s improving the ability of learning and memory. Methods 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group : sham operation group, model, ECH groups of low, medium and high doses (10, 20, 40μg ·g-1 ·d-1 ) , and Hup A ( Huperzine A, 0. 02 μg· g-1·d-1) group. The AD rat model was established by abdominal cavity injection with D-galactose and uni-laterally injected with amyloid beta-protein fragment 25-35 ( Aβ25-35 ) into the right hippocampus. Morris wa-ter maze test was used to study the animals′ ability of spatial learning and memory. The synchronous dual-probe dual-channel brain microdialysis sampling tech-nology was applied to collect dialysates from different encephalic areas continuously, and combined with HPLC electrochemical detection were used to measure the extracellular levels of norepinephrine ( NE) , dopa-mine (DA), 5-serotonin (5-HT). Results 1. Com-pared with the sham operation group, the mean escape latency of the model group was significantly prolonged ( P<0. 05 ) , and the time that rats were in the plat-form quadrant was significantly shortened ( P<0. 05 );on the contrary, compared with the model group, the mean escape latency of ECH groups were significantly shortened ( P<0. 05 ) , and the time that rats were in the platform quadrant was significantly extended ( P<0. 05). 2. Compared with the sham operation group, the contents of NE,DA and 5-HT were significantly de-creased in the model group ( P <0. 05 ) . However, compared with the model group , ECH could improve the concentrations of NE, DA, 5-HT in the hippocam-pus and cerebral cortex, and these monoamine levels of the brain regions were restored to near control. Con-clusion ECH can effectively improve the ability of learning and memory of rats with AD, giving a rise to the monoamine neurotransmitter both in hippocampus and cortex, exerting a positive effect on treatment of cognitive dysfunction . The ECH low dose group is sig-nificantly lower than the ECH groups of medium and high doses and Hup A group in improving the ability of learning and memory.

OBJECTIVE Toexplorethecredibityoftwoimprovedmodelsofsyntheticvascular dementia(VD)rats.METHODS OneimprovedmodelofVDratswasestablishedbyligatuingthebilat-eral common carotid artery twice at 3 d (improved 2-VO),while the other was established by blocking the middle cerebral artery on the left side by separating pterygopalatine arteria (i mproved MCAO/R). The learning and me mory ability was determined by escape latency in Morris water maze directional navi-gation test and cross-over ti mes in target areas in spatial probe test and the search strategy.The organi-zational structure in CA1 area of the hippocampus was observed and analyzed under a microscope after HEstaining.RESULTS Thelearningandmemoryabilitydecreasedsignificantlyin2modelgroupsat 20 d after the operation.The escape latency was much longer in improved 2-VO group and improved MCAO/R group than that in sham group(P<0.05)especially in improved 2-VO group.41 d after the operation,no difference between MCAO/R and sham group (P <0.05 ).The differences between improved 2-VO group and sham group remained significant(P<0.01 ),and difference between improved 2-VO group and improved MCAO/R group was significant(P<0.01 )at 41 d.The cross-over times in the target area in spatial probe test decreased more significantly in 2 model groups than in sham group. 41 d after the operation,improved MCAO/R group was not different from sham group(P<0.05). Search strategy results showed that swimming trajectory in the improved 2-VO groupwas mostly edge and random type,but was of tendency type and straight type in the improved MCAO/R group.In the organization structure of hippopal CA1 area of rats,the nu mber of cells was reduced,their arrange ment was sparse and chaotic,the morphology of cells was inco mplete,the structure of cells was abnormal, cytoplasmwasscarce,andnucleoliwereinconspicuous.CONCLUSION TwoimprovedVDmodelscan lead to behavior and pathological changes in rats.The i mproved 2-VO model,si mple and stable,is suitable for drug efficacy research.The improved MCAO/R model is the ideal short-term efficacy study.

Objective To compare the clinical value of three visual rating scales (VRS) for white matter lesions (WML) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods Totally 184 subjects (including 107 AD patients,47 MCI patients and 30 normal controls)were recruited.All subjects underwent comprehensive neuropsychological tests and were examined with a standard protocol of MR imaging.WML burden was rated with the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) rating scale,Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale (CHIPS) and Fazekas scale.Consistence of the three rating scales were analyzed,and detection results of WML in AD/ MCI/NC group with the three rating scales were compared.The relationship between WML and cognitive function in AD and MCI groups were explored.Results ARWMC rating scale,CHIPS and Fazekas scales were moderately to highly correlated with WML (r=0.61-0.78,all P＜0.01).ARWMC showed that WML were in the left and right frontal lobes in AD and MCI groups and in the right frontal lobe and left temporal lobe in NC group,which had significant differences (F=4.20,4.69,4.69,3.36,respectively,all P＜0.05).WML in the left temporal lobe had a significant difference between MCI group and NC group (F=3.36,P＜0.05).CHIPS showed that WML in the front left side of centrum semiovale in AD and MCI groups had significant difference as compared with that in NC group (F=4.88,P＜0.05),and WML in the rear right side of low external capsule had a significant difference between AD and NC groups (F=3.04,P＜0.05).Fazekas scale showed that there was no difference in WML among AD,MCI and NC groups.ARWMC showed that scores of WML in right temporal lobe were positively correlated with concentration and visual construction,and bilateral basal ganglia were negatively correlated with the concentration.Fazekas scale showed that scores of WML in periventricular were negatively correlated with concentration,MMSE and orientation,scores of WML in deep white matter were negatively correlated with concentration,abstraction and judgment,and the whole scores were negatively correlated with concentration.CHIPS showed that the scores of WML in the rear left side of low external capsule were negatively correlated with short-term memory in MCI group.Conclusions The three rating scales well consistent with each other.ARWMC rating scale and CHIPS can detect the differences in WML between AD,MCI and NC groups.The scores of CHIPS in WML are related with cognition in MCI group,while scores of ARWMC and Fazekas scale in WML are correlated with many aspects in cognitive function in AD group.In general speaking,CHIPS in MCI patients and ARWMC rating scale in AD patients show more advantages in the detection of WML and have better correlation with cognitive function.

Aim To investigate the effects of echina-coside ( ECH ) on the learning and memory capacities and brain level of oxygen free radicals of rats with de-mentia induced by amyloid β-peptide. Methods Six-ty Sprague Dawley rats, weighing (300±10) g, were randomly divided with 10 rats pergroup into 6 groups:sham operated group, model, ECH high dose (40 mg ·kg-1·d-1), ECH middle dose (20 mg· kg-1· d-1), ECH low dose (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) and Hup A (Huperzine A, 0. 02 mg·kg-1·d-1) group. Mor-ris maze tests were conducted for evaluating the learn-ing and memory ability. Content of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and activities of superox-ide dismutase ( SOD) and NO synthase ( NOS) in the hippocampus and cortex were detected. ResultsAβ25-35 induced significant learning and memory im-pairment in the rats. Compared with the rats in model group, those treated with ECH at different doses all manifested alleviation of learning and memory impair-ment ( P<0 . 01 , P<0 . 05 ) . Cotents of MDA of ECH treatment group were obviously decreased, while SOD activities were obviously increased, and significantly reduced the release of NO and NOS in the hippocam-pus and cortex brain tissue ( P <0 . 01 , P <0.05 ) . Conclusion ECH can enhance the learning and mem-ory ability in rats with AD, which is presumably relat-ed to accelerating the cleaning of oxygen free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in brain of AD rats.

Aim Tostudytheeffectsofechinacoside on striatal and hippocampus extracellular fluid of mono-amine neurotransmitter in Parkinsonˊs disease rat, and discuss the possible mechanism of the ECH effect on brainprotection.Methods Doublepointinjectionof 6-hydroxy dopamine damaged was adopted to make PD model, the corresponding drugs or normal saline were intraperitoneally injected for 4 consecutive weeks, mi-cro-dialysis program in double targets was taken after treatment, the dialysate was injected into HPLC-EDC, and striatal and hippocampus extracellular fluid of DA, DOPAC, HVA, NA, 5-HT levels of each group were measured. Results Compared with control group, striatal and hippocampus extracellular fluid of DA, DOPAC, HVA, NE, 5-HT levels were significantly re-duced in model group ( P <0. 01 ); compared with model group, striatal and hippocampus extracellular fluid of DA, DOPAC, HVA, NE, 5-HT levels were significantly increased in treatment group ( P <0 . 05 , P<0. 01 ) , and the content of five kinds of substances in ECH high dose group was similar to that in MD group.Conclusion ECHcouldincreaseextracellular monoamine neurotransmitters in striatum and hippo-campus, ECH has a therapeutic effect on PD, and echinacoside is possible mechanisms of the brain pro-tective effect of PD rats.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of echinacoside (ECH) on cholinergic neurotransmitter extracellular of hippocampus and striatum and its possible mechanisms of neuro-protective effect against vascular dementia rats. In this study brain microdialysis technique combined with HPLC-IMER-ECD (high-performance liquid chromatography-immobilized enzyme reactor-electrochemical detector) was used. The bilateral common carotid arteries occluded in two times operation at 72 h interval for vascular dementia model rats were used and the successful vascular dementia model rats were examined by Morris water maze. The content of acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) of microdialysate extracellular of hippocampus and striatum was determined by HPLC-IMER-ECD and the AChE activity in the hippocampus was measured. The results showed that the success rate of vascular dementia model was 83.08% after six weeks; the results also showed that echinacoside and galantamine could increase the content of ACh and reduce the content of Ch extracellular of hippocampus and striatum significantly and the AChE activity increased significantly compared with that of the model group. The results suggested that echinacoside could promote the recovery of cholinergic neurotransmitter levels in vascular dementia rats' brain, which may be one of the mechanisms of neuro-protection.

Objective: To explore the clinical application of individualized design of facial artery perforator flap for the repair of midfacial defect caused by tumor resection. Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, a total of 36 cases of midfacial defect were repaired by individualized designed facial artery. Flaps were designed and harvested according to the location and size of the midfacial defect resulted from tumor resection, including propeller flaps, droplet flaps and swallowtail-shape flaps. Flap size was between 1.3 cm × 1.6 cm and 2.0 cm × 4.2 cm with the donor site being sutured in the first stage. Results: During the 6 months to 3 years of postoperative follow-up, no tumor recurred. All the 36 cases of individualized designed facial artery perforator flaps survived well. Furthermore, flaps being designed according to the wound defect had a good appearance, the flaps matched the color and texture of the surrounding skin and had a favorable appearance. Besides, flaps had a certain degree of sensory recovery while there was no obvious scarring presented in the donor area. Conclusions Individualized design of facial artery perforator flap has great advantages of simple and flexible, easy manipulation, reliable flap blood flow and minimal donor injury, which render it valuable for clinical application.