OBJECTIVETo evaluate stress changes of intervertebral space and adjacent intervertebral space after artificial disc replacement with angles.

METHODSArtificial disc replacement with angles were designed according to existing data. Axial pressure, flexion/extension, lateral bending and torsion loading were applied on finite element models of normal cervical discs on C4,5 segments, C4,5 segments with 0 degrees artificial cervical discs and C4,5 segments with 10 degrees artificial cervical discs, then stress changes of C4,5 space was observed. The same loadings were applied on finite element models of normal cervical discs on C4-C6 segments, C4,5 segments with 0 degrees, C4,5 segments with 10 degrees, then stress changes of replaced segments space and adjacent segment space were observed.

RESULTSFor C4,5 segments, 80 MPa/0 degrees artificial discs and 80 MPa/10 degrees artificial discs had the similar equivalent shear stress (Se), and were both larger than that of normal discs, when lateral bending were performed, 80 MPa/0 degrees artificial discs were closed to normal discs when axial pressure and flexion/extension were carried out, while 80 MPa/10 degrees artificial discs had a larger Se than that of normal ones,when torsion loading were applied, Szx/Szy stress of 80 MPa/0 degrees and 80 MPa/10 degrees artificial discs were closed to normal ones. For C4-C6 segments, the axial pressure, flexion/extension and lateral bending of C5,6 were all lower than normal discs after C4,5 discs were replaced by 80 MPa/10 degrees artificial discs, while Szx/Szy of torsion loading were closed to normal ones.

CONCLUSIONArtificial discs with 10 degrees have less influences on stress of adjacent intervertebral space and closer to mechanical property after being implanted into intervertebral space.

Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Humans ; Stress, Mechanical ; Total Disc Replacement ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic variability of intestinal flora and endotoxins in rats with fulminate hepatic failure.

METHODSEstablishing the fulminate hepatic failure models by intraperitoneal injection of Galactosamine. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group A (n=10) were killed at the beginning of the experiment as control; while Group B (n=12) and C (n=18), the fulminate hepatic failure models, were killed 24 and 48 hours respectively after successful induction. Then, the contents of the jejunum, ileum and colon descendents were collected and a quantitative analysis was made about intestinal flora. Meanwhile, the concentrations of endotoxin in portal vein and right ventricle were determined and so were those in contents of ileums and colons.

RESULTSOur experiments showed that the livers of rats in group B were injured most seriously among three groups, and a minor recovery of hepatic function was observed in group C with the decrease of total bile acids (P< 0.05). Analysis on intestinal flora show: the intestinal enterobacteriacea increase and the lactobacillus decrease in group B (P< 0.01 in jejunum and ileum and P<0.05 in colon). The comparisons between group C and B showed that the enterobacteriacea in the former decreased in both jejunum and colon (P< 0.05) while the number of lactobacillus recovered in the jejunum of group C (P<0.05). Quantitative analysis on endotoxins showed that the ileum endotoxin increased in group B (P< 0.05) and in group C, endotoxins in ileum and colons also increased (vs. control, P<0.01); portal endotoxin in group B showed higher level than that in group A and C (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe alteration of intestinal flora was observed in fulminate hepatic failure rats. Abnormal intestinal flora might lead to incline of endotoxin in ileum, colon and portal vein, while the recovery of normal intestinal flora would decrease the level of portal endotoxin.

Animals ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Endotoxins ; analysis ; Intestines ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Failure ; microbiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEThis study investigated the clinical manifestations and renal pathological findings of 95 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in order to explore the relationship between clinical manifestations and renal pathology in HSPN.

METHODSAccording to clinical manifestations, 95 HSP patients were classified into six clinical groups: 1) normal urine analysis; 2) isolated hematuria or proteinuria; 3) proteinuria with hematuria; 4) acute nephritis; 5) nephrotic syndrome; 6) acute nephritis with over 50 mg/(kg.d) of proteinuria. The severity of the renal pathological findings was determined based on the classification of the International Study of Kidney Disease (ISKDC), including grades I-VI. The relationship between clinical manifestations and the severity of renal pathological findings was studied.

RESULTSNephrotic syndrome was the most common clinical diagnosis (26 cases), followed by proteinuria with hematuria (23 cases), normal urine analysis (20 cases), isolated hematuria or proteinuria (15 cases), acute nephritis with over 50 mg/(kg.d) of proteinuria (7 cases) and acute nephritis (4 cases). Twenty-five out of 26 patients with nephrotic syndrome had an ISKDC classification of grade III-IV. All of the four patients with acute nephrits had a classification of grade IIIb. The 7 cases of acute nephritis with over 50 mg/(kg.d) of proteinuria had a classification of grade IIIa-V. The 20 patients with normal urine analysis had a classification of grade Iia- IIIb. There were no significant differences in ISKDC classification among the patients with normal urine analysis, isolated hematuria or proteinuria, and hematuria plus proteinuria. As the course progressed, the degree of renal pathological changes in patients with isolated hematuria or proteinuria and hematuria plus proteinuria became more serious. Of all the 95 patients, 58% had co-deposition of immunoglobulins A, G and M. The percentage of co-deposition of immunoglobulins A, G and M was related to the disease course and the severity of renal pathological findings.

CONCLUSIONSHSPN children with nephrotic syndrome or acute nephritis with or without proteinuria had relatively severe renal pathological changes. The clinical manifestations were not always in parallel with the severity of renal pathological findings in HSPN children. With the course progressing, the renal pathological changes tended to be serious. The severe renal pathological manifestations came with co-deposition of immunogolobulins A, G and M in the glomerulin.

Adolescent ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Nephritis ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; complications ; immunology ; pathology

Objective To investigate carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the correlated risk factors in Han, Uygur, Hazakh residents over 35 years old of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Method Cross-sectional and cluster sampling random selected method was carried out for residents over 35 years old in Han, Uygur, Hazakh population of Xinjiang to investigate IMT and correlated risk factors. Results IMT of Han, Uygur, Hazakh residents over 35 years old of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was (0. 0761 ± 0. 0283 ) cm, (0. 0663 ± 0. 0262) cm, and (0. 0781 ± 0. 0274 ) cm, respectively. There were significantly difference between various nationality( all P ＜0. 05 ). IMT was thicker in male Han people than in female Han people [(0. 0807 ± 0. 0288 )cm vs. (0. 0717 ± 0. 0270 ) cm, P ＜ 0. 01] and in male Uygur than in female Uygnr residents [(0. 0706 ±0. 0270)cm vs. (0. 0633 ±0. 0252)cm, P ＜0. 01]and in male Hazakh and female Hazakh residents [(0. 0794 ± 0. 0280) cm vs. (0. 0768 ± 0. 0268 ) cm, P ＜ 0. 01].Linear correlation analysis showed that age ( r = 0. 176, P ＜ 0. 05 ), systolic blood pressure ( r = 0. 168, P ＜ 0. 05 ), diastolic blood pressure ( r = 0. 167, P ＜ 0. 05 ), fasting blood glucose ( r = 0. 053, P ＜ 0. 05 ), total cholesterol(r = 0.097,P ＜ 0.05) and ankle brachial index (r = 0.067, P ＜ 0.05) were significantly correlated with IMT. Conclusions Our results showed that IMT was thicker in Hazakh residents than in Han and Uygnr residents. IMT was closely related to known cardiovascular risk factors including age,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and ankle brachial index level.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Yixin Ningshen Tablet (YXNS) on comorbidity of myocardial infarction (MI) and depression in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups with 7 rats in each group according to their weights, including control, model, fluoxetine (FLXT, 10 mg/kg), low-dose YXNS (LYXNS, 100 mg/kg), and high-dose YXNS (HYXNS, 300 mg/kg) groups. All rats were pretreated with corresponding drugs for 12 weeks. The rat model of MI and depression was constructed by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery and chronic mild stress stimulation. The echocardiography, sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swim test were performed. Myocardial infarction (MI) area and myocardial apoptosis was also detected. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT), and norepinephrine (NE) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The proteins of adenosine 5'-monophosphate -activated protein kinase (AMPK), p-AMPK, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) in heart were detected by Western blot analysis. The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and kynureninase (KYNU) in hippocampus were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the cardiac function of rats treated with YXNS improved significantly (P<0.01). Meanwhile, YXNS effectively reduced MI size and cardiomyocytes apoptosis of rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05), promoted AMPK phosphorylation, and increased PGC-1α protein expression (P<0.01 or P<0.05). HYXNS significantly increased locomotor activity of rats, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, and increased the serum levels of 5-HT, NE, ACTH, and CORT (all P<0.05). Moreover, HYXNS decreased the mRNA expressions of IDO1, KMO and KYNU (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS YXNS can relieve MI by enhancing myocardial energy metabolism. Meanwhile, YXNS can alleviate depression by resisting inflammation and increasing availability of monoamine neurotransmitters. It may be used as a potential drug to treat comorbidity of MI and depression.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Animals ; Comorbidity ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Energy Metabolism ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Myocardial Infarction/pathology* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Tablets ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome