OBJECTIVESTo study the diagnosis and treatment for the injury of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament.

METHODSFrom 2001 to 2005, the clinical data of sixty-three patients with cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury were studied. Early treatment was done based on spinal cord injuries and spinal stabilities by X rays and MRI. Early operation was done in fifty-four cases and early non-operation in nine cases.

RESULTSThe follow-up time was six to forty-one months in all patients. The neurological recovery was found in two of eight complete SCI post-operation, thirty-one in thirty-nine incomplete SCI. Cervical collar or plaster orthotic were used in nine cases with four to six weeks. Evidence of instability was noted in four patients, who were operated with anterior decompression fusion. Neck chronic pain was found in two patients, anterior decompression and fusion was done in one with cervical spinal cord compression.

CONCLUSIONSMRI examination is the most value measure for the diagnosis of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury. Early anterior decompression and fusion was an important approach for cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; injuries ; surgery ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; injuries ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the phenylethanoid glycosides from root of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora.

METHODColumn chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of the plant and the structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTSix phenylethanoid glycosides were isolated and elucidated as: 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3) beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), scroside B (3), hemiphroside A (4), plantainoside D (5) and scroside A (6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 2 was firstly obtained from natural source.

Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Picrorhiza ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of long-time retaining of intradermal needles plus rehabilitation training in treating pharyngeal dysphagia after cerebral stroke.Method Sixty patients with pharyngeal dysphagia after cerebral stroke were randomized into treatment group 1,treatment group 2 and a control group,20 cases each.In addition to the basic treatment and nursing,the control group received rehabilitation (neuromuscular electrical stimulation plus swallowing training);treatment group 1 was given long-time retaining of intradermal needles based on the intervention given to the control group;treatment group 2 received electroacupuncture in addition to the intervention given to the control group.After 3-week treatment,the changes in Toshima Ichiro swallowing assessment of the three groups were observed,and the clinical efficacies were also compared.Result After the intervention,each group showed a significant change in the score of Toshima Ichiro swallowing assessment (P＜0.05).Treatment group 1 and group 2 were both significantly different from the control group in comparing the score of Toshima Ichiro swallowing assessment after the treatment (P＜0.05).The total effective rate was 95.0％ in treatment group 1,90.0％ in treatment group 2,and 60.0％ in the control group.The total effective rates in treatment group 1 and 2 were both significantly different from the rate in the control group (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in comparing the score of Toshima Ichiro swallowing assessment and total effective rate between treatment group 1 and 2 after the intervention (P＞0.05).Conclusion Long-time retaining of intradermal needles plus rehabilitation is an effective approach in treating pharyngeal dysphagia after cerebral stroke,and its efficacy is equivalent to that of electroacupuncture.

Objective To investigate the effects of dominant-negative truncation mutant?NTCF4, lacking the N-terminal form of TCF4 gene,on biological characteristics of renal cancer cell line GRC-I and explore the molecular mechanisms.Methods GRC-I cell was transfected with pCDNA3-?NTCF4 eukary- otie expression plasmid,pCDNA3 empty vector to construct the stable cell line GRC-I/?NTCF4 and GRC-I/ Mock respectively.The morphological changes of stable cells were observed and the cells growth curve was detected through light microscope.The cellular proliferation activities were determined using the MTT assay. The protein expression of Wnt pathway downstream target gene C-Myc and Cox-2 was evaluated by immuno- cytoehemieal method and Western Blot analysis.Results After the dominant-negative?NTCF4 gene was permanently expressed,the GRC-I/?NTCF4 stable cells morphologically showed that appearance changed from circular to long-spindle shape,growth rate decreased with less karyosehisis found,malignant pheno- types reversed to normal renal tubular cells.MTT assay revealed that the proliferation activities of GRC-1/?NTCF4 cells were inhibited by 11.2%-35.5% compared with GRC-I cells (P＜0.05),while the GRC- I/Mock cells have no difference with the control cells.Immunocytochemical analysis and Western Blot showed that the C-Myc and Cox-2 protein expression level of GRC-I/?ANTCF4 cells were significantly sup- pressed in comparison with that of GRC-I/Mock and GRC-I cells.Conclusions The dominant-negative truncation mutant?NTCF4 could partially inhibit the growth of renal cancer cells and down-regulate the pro- tein expression of Wnt pathway target gene C-Myc and Cox-2.These findings provide a experimental founda- tion for applying cell signal therapy to renal cell cancer by blocking the Wnt signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference silencing HMGA2 on proliferation and expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 in HL-60 cell line.

METHODSThe protein and mRNA expressions of HMGA2 in HL-60 cells transduced by recombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 gene short hairpin (shRNA) were examined by Western-blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis; The effects of the lentivirus on cell proliferation inhibiting rate, the ability of cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by soft agar colony formation assay and FCM, respectively; The protein and mRNA expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 were also examined by Western-blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSRecombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 shRNA was successfully constructed, which was identified by PCR and sequencing; Stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line was established by puromycin, its mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates were (80.66 ± 7.98)% and (76.35 ± 12.72)%, respectively. Silencing of endogenous HMGA2 resulted in efficient inhibition of the cellular proliferative activity, low and flat of the cell growth curve and the lack of typical character of exponential growth. FCM revealed significant more cell cycle G(2)/M arrest \[(30.00 ± 5.78)%\] in HL-60 cell line transfected specific shRNA than control group \[(13.90 ± 4.07)%\] (P < 0.05). The cyclin B2 mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates in stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line were (67.55 ± 7.69)% and (51.77 ± 4.81)%, respectively, while the expression of cyclin A2 had no significant change compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONRNAi silencing of HMGA2 down-regulated cyclinB2, significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced the accumulation of HL-60 cells in the G(2)/M phase. Thus, HMGA2 may be an important target for anti-leukemia therapy.

Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin A2 ; genetics ; Cyclin B2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; HL-60 Cells ; HMGA2 Protein ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of cyclosporine and simulect mono or combination therapy on cardiac allo-transplantation in rats. METHODS: Recipients with allografts were treated with different doses of cyclosporine and/or simulect after cardiac allo-transplantation. Graft survival time was observed; the histopathological examination of graft tissues was performed; and levels of serum IL-2 and IL-4 were determined. RESULTS: Mono or combination therapy with cyclosporine and/or simulect increased the survival of cardiac allografts. With the prolongation of survival time of the grafts, the rejection of grafts was moderated. The serum IL-2 level increased in acute rejected grafts; the serum IL-4 level increased evidently in long survival grafts. CONCLUSION Cyclosporine and simulect have an effect in the prolongation of cardiac allograft survival in rats, and the combination therapy shows an evident synergistic effect.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Basiliximab ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; Heart Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of allo heart and thymus transplantation by intrathymic inoculation of thymocytes. METHODS: Wistar recipients were given intrathymic injection of allo thymocytes (2 x 10(7)) 14 days before the heart and/or thymus transplantation. Graft survival, histopathology, levels and mRNA expressions of IL-2, IL-4 in serum and cardiac-grafts were investigated. RESULTS: Heart transplantation and heart-thymus composite transplantation with the treatment of CysA for 7 or 14 days prolonged graft survival. Heart transplantation and heart-thymus composite transplantation with intrathymic thymocytes injection induced the long-term survival of allo-grafts transiently immunosuppressed with CysA; IL-4 maintained at high levels but IL-2 kept at low levels in grafts in long-term survivals. CONCLUSION Intrathymic inoculation of allo thymoctyes can induce immune tolerance for both cardiac transplantation and heart-thymus combined transplantation in rats. Thymus graft may play a role in the induction and maintenance of central tolerance.
Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Heart Transplantation ; Immune Tolerance ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Yixinshu capsule on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) in SD rats.

METHODSixty healthy SD rats were randomized into six groups: sham group, MIRI model group, Xinsuning capsule group, low, middle or high dose Yixinshu capsule. Acute MIRI rat models were created by reperfusion for 120 min after anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min. The serum creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde(MDA), blood viscosity, and infarction area of myocardium were determined.

RESULTYixinshu capsule could reduce serum CK, LDH, AST and LDH activity, improve the blood viscosity, and reduced the myocardial infarct size.

CONCLUSIONYixinshu capsule can protect against MIRI in rats.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) and poliovirus receptor-related 1 exon3 (PVRL1exon3) polymorphisms in Han People of Jiangzhe area.

METHODSPVRL1exon3 was examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique in the 50 patients with NSCL/P and 85 healthy parents.

RESULTSNo W185X mutation was found in the PVRL1exon 3.

CONCLUSIONIt indicates that there is no relationship between NSCL/P and PVRL1exon3 in Han People in Jiangzhe area.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nectins ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical problems about posterior atlanto-axial internal-fixation and fusion for atlanto-axial instability or dislocation.

METHODSSurgical treatments of 138 cases with atlanto-axial instability or dislocation were reviewed. There were 62 cases of odentoid malformation, 54 cases of odentoid fracture or rupture of transverse ligament, 22 cases of subluxation and rotation. All cases were treated using Gallie's technique. Six cases were also fixed with transarticular screws, and protected with Philadelphia collar. Other patients were fixed with plaster paris brackets. The followed-up period was 1 to 12 years with an average of 3 year and 5 months.

RESULTSAccording to Sumi's criteria, excellent 70 cases (50.7%), good 40 cases (29.0%), fair 15 cases (10.9%), poor 13 cases (9.4%). 9 cases with bone graft postponed fusion were cured by enhance external-fixation. 2 cases with nonunion were treated with revision surgery. Complication of cord injury happened in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONGallie's fusion technique is an effective method to manage the atlanto-axial instability or dislocation. Skull distraction before operation and reliable external-fixation post operative are important assistant measures. Key points for successful operation are careful wiring or cable traversing, decortication of posterior arc of C1, and maintaining the physiological height between C1 and C2 posterior arc. Indications and objectives should be conformed before revision surgery for failure cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous