BACKGROUND: Current commonly used bone graft materials include cancellous bone or bone blocks from ilium, tibia, fibula and others. There is no report of bone graft and fusion in cervical spine from manubrium sterni. OBJECTIVE: To measure lateral X-ray of cervical vertebrae with no degeneration and manubrium sterni samples to explore feasibility of autologous cancellous bone graft of manubrium sterni with pyramesh in anterior cervical spinal fusion surgery, so as to develop a new source of autogenous bone graft.METHODS: A total of 40 manubrium sterni specimens were selected and the length, maximum width and minimum width, thickness, anterior and posterior cortex thickness of manubrium sterni were measured. Manubrium sterni area was calculated: the length, maximum width and minimum width were 4 mm reduced from those of manubrium sterni, its thickness was 2 mm reduced from that of manubrium sterni. The formula of measuring the manubrium sterni volume is (maximum width of manubrium sterni + the minimum width of manubrium sterni)×length of manubrium sterni × thickness of manubrium sterni×1/2. Intervertebral height and vertebral height from C2 to C7 were measured from lateral cervical radiograph of 106 patients with cervical radiolopathy, and the length of pyramesh needed in anterior cervical spinal surgery for one, two, three discs resection, one vertebra plus two discs resection and two vertebrae plus three discs resection was calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The manubrium sterni volume was (17 735.51±5 234.92) mm3 and the volume of bone-grafting area was (8 982.83±2 427.76) mm3. The length of pyramesh and volume of bone used in operation were minimal for one disc resection, and maximal for two vertebrae plus three discs resection. The volume of bone graft in the pyramesh was significantly less than the donor area in any anterior cervical spinal fusion operation. Results show that autologous cancellous graft of manubrium sterni combined with pyramesh supporting can be used in anterior cervical spinal fusion surgery. Compared with autologous iliac graft, this method is simpler and does not influence early functional exercise or walking bearing weight.

Objective To explore the correlation of CT perfusion imaging with microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).Methods Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging was performed in 27 patients with HAE.Time-density curves(TDC) of the HAE peripheral area was drawn from the region of interest (ROI) with perfusion functional software.CT perfusion parameters including blood flow ( BF ),blood volume ( BV ),mean transit time(MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were calculated.MVD and VEGF expression of pathological specimens were examined by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD34,anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody.The CT perfusion parameters,MVD and VEGF were compared in different types of TDC with t test.The correlation of CT perfusion parameters with MVD and VEGF were analyzed with Spearman test.Results In this group,21 cases which TDC lower than that of the liver were classified as type Ⅰ,the others 6 cases TDC higher than the liver were of type Ⅱ TDC.TDC perfusion parameters of the two types were as follows,BF:( 111.7 + 27.6),( 158.9 + 39.5 ) ml · 100 g- 1 · min - 1,BV:( 15.1 + 6.2),(26.8+8.4) ml/100 g,MTT:(7.0+4.4),(7.7+3.1) s,PS:(51.7 +17.3),(51.0+20.5) ml·100 g-1 · min-1.The significant differences of BF,BV and MVD[ (20.5 +5.4)/HP,(37.2 ±7.5)/HP,respectively ] were found between two types ( t =- 7.897,- 18.783,- 5.223,P ＜ 0.05,respectively).There were no significant differences in MTT,PS and VEGF expression(2.1 ± 1.0,3.2 ± 1.0,respectively)between two types of TDC(P ＞0.05).The correlation was found between the MVD and BF and BV in the type Ⅱ TDC group( r =0.789 and 0.878,respectively) and no correlation was found between MVD and each CT perfusion parameters in the type Ⅰ TDC group ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was no correlation between the VEGF expression and CT perfusion parameters in two types of TDC ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion CT perfusion imaging with different type of TDC reflected different situation of angiogenesis in HAE peripheral area,which could be a potential technique to illustrate the microcirculation of this disease.

Calcinosis ; complications ; Decalcification Technique ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inhibitory effect of genistin combined with anastrozole on the growth and apoptosis of breast tumor tissue, and to study their anti-cancer mechanism by using the model of 7,12-dimethylbenz [alpha] anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors following ovariectomy in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSThe DMBA induced postmenopausal SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the genistein group, the anastrozole group, and the genistein combined with anastrozole group. The growth of tumors was observed in each group. The proliferation index and apoptosis index of tumor cells were determined. Moreover, estradiol (E2) and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA levels were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR respectively.

RESULTSThe tumor growth was inhibited in the genistein group and the anastrozole group. The inhibitory ratio was significantly higher in the genistein combined with anastrozole group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, levels of E2 and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA decreased more significantly in the genistein combined with anastrozole group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGenistein could suppress the growth of mammary tumors in postmenopausal rats. It showed synergistic effect when combined with anastrozole, which resulted in reduced levels of E2 and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA. It had inhibitory effect on the growth of breast tumors.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Nitriles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ovariectomy ; Postmenopause ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of integrative medical treatment (IMT) with serial Chinese recipes on quality of life (QOF) of rehabilitation stage in SARS patients.

METHODSEighty-five SARS patients of rehabilitation stage were enrolled in the clinical study. They were divided into the IMT group (62 patients received serial Chinese recipes and western medicine) and the control group (23 patients received western medicine alone). The serial Chinese recipes were given according to patients' syndrome, one dose per day for oral intake for 3 weeks. QOF scoring in patients was observed.

RESULTSQOF scoring in the IMT group before treatment was not significantly different from that in the control group. After 3 weeks treatment, it improved to some extent in both groups, but the improvement in the IMT group was superior to that in the control group in respect of total score and score of psychologic emotional factors.

CONCLUSIONSerial Chinese recipe could improve QOF of rehabilitation stage in SARS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Convalescence ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ofloxacin ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; rehabilitation

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

This study is to investigate the anti-tumor activities of a novel cyclophosphamide derivate 4, 6-diphenyl cyclophosphamide (9b) in vivo and in vitro, and its possible mechanism of action. The inhibitory effects of 9b on human hepatoma cell line HepG2, human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 and human myeloid leukemia cell line K562 were measured by MTT assay in vitro. Cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rate were evaluated by flow cytometry. To evaluate the anti-tumor effect of 9b in vivo, mouse model bearing inoculated H22 tumor was established. The results indicated that 9b could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2, MCF-7 and K562 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The ICo50 values of 9b were 32.34 micromol.L-1 to HepG2 cells, 87.07 micromol.L-1 to MCF-7 cells and 149.10 micromol.L-1 to K562 cells after incubation for 48 h. The results of flow cytometry indicated that after being treated for 48 h with different concentrations of 9b, the ratios of HepG2, MCF-7 cells at the Go/G1 phase and K562 cells at the G0/Gl phase and G2/M phase increased significantly compared with control group, and the apoptotic rate increased with the increase of the concentration of 9b. 9b could significantly reduce tumor weight of H22 solid tumor mouse model in vivo. To summarize, 9b showed significantly anti-tumor activity in vivo and in vitro, of which the mechanism might be associated with the change of cell cycle distribution and induction of tumor cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Background A main cause of visual impairment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment due to contraction of fibrovascular membrane.To explore the pathogenic mechanism of fibrovascular membrane is a new target for the prevention and management of PDR.Objective This study was to determine the change in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and pigment epithelium derived factor(PEDF) in the proliferative membranes of patients with PDR after intravitreal injection of avastin,an anti-VEGF agent.Methods This study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of Tianjin Medical College,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before enrollment.A prospective randomized-controlled study was designed.Twenty-six eyes of 24 patients with PDR scheduled for surgery were enrolled from January to June,2008 in Tianjin Medical College Eye Hospital.The patients were randomized into the simple vitrectomy group and avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,with matched gender,age and disease duration.1.25 mg (0.05 ml) of avastin was intravitreally injected prior to surgery,and vitrectomy was performed 10 days after injection in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,and only vitrectomy was given in the simple vitrectomy group.Preretinal membrane was collected during the surgery.Expression of VEGF,CTGF and PEDF in the preretinal membranes was assayed by immunochemistry.Results VEGF,CTGF and PEDF were expressed in the cytoplasm.The rate of VEGF expression in the preretinal membranes was 30.77％ in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,showing a significant reduction in comparison with the simple vitrectomy group(100.00％)(U =4.000,P＜0.01).The rate of expression CTGF was remarkable elevated in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group compared with the simple vitrectomy group (92.31％ vs.62.54％)(U=7.500,P=0.048).However,no significant difference was found in the expression rate of PEDF between the two groups(100.00％ vs.92.31％) (U =65.500,P =0.299).Conclusions The results suggest that intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs resulted in the decrease of VEGF expression and increased CTGF expression in proliferative membranes from patients with PDR.

Objective To explore the etiology,clinical manifestations of infantal viral pneumonia in Luzhou area.Methods Five viral specific serum IgM antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in acute period of viral pneumonia.Five kinds of virus were separated,as respiratory syncytial virue(RSV),influenza virus(IFV),adenovirus(ADV),cytonegalo virus(CMV),and parainfluenza virus(PIV).Serum specific IgM was positive,C-reactive protein(CRP) was less than 8 mg/L,and there was no(clini-)cal and laboratory proof of other pathogenic infection detected in 221 infants with pneumonia.Results 1.One hundred and four cases of viral infection were detected from 221 infants with pneumonia.The viral positive detected rate was 47.1%,and there were 75 cases of single viral infection(72.1%) and 29 cases of mixed viral infection(27.9%) among them.2.In the single viral infection,RSV was the first,IFV,ADV,PIV and CMV being the second,the third,the fourth,and the fifth respectively.3.The types of likely infection virus were different in different age-stage and seasons in infants.Conclusions The etiology of infantal pneumonia is complicated.The types of viral infection are various besides germ infection and the epidemic season peak;clinical manifestations are different.Earlier detection of(etiology) in infection will make clear the etiology and then take appropriate treatment measures to improve curative effect.