Since loss of oligodendrocytes and consequent demyelination of spared axons severely impair the functional recovery of injured spinal cord, it is reasonably expected that the reduction of oligodendroglial death and enhanced remyelination of demyelinated axons will have a therapeutic potential to treat spinal cord injury. Amelioration of axonal myelination in the injured spinal cord is valuable for recovery of the neural function of incompletely injured patients. Here, this article presents an overview about the pathophysiology and mechanism of axonal demyelination in spinal cord injury and discusses its therapeutic significance in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Moreover, it further introduces the recent strategies to improve the axonal myeliantion to facilitate functional recovery of spinal cord injury.
Animals ; Demyelinating Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

The applicator therapy is a unique method to treat infant diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicines and widely applied in clinical practice. Currently, many researchers have proved the rationality of the therapy based on the traditional Chinese medicine mechanism and on the data from clinical practice, but its action mechanism is uncertain at present. In this study, with the assistance of pediatric practitioners, the automated ribosomal intergenic-spacer analysis (ARISA) was adopted to study the effect of the adjuvant therapy with Dingguier umbilical paste on intestinal flora of diarrhea infants, in which Dingguier umbilical paste served as the adjuvant therapy in oral traditional Chinese medicines and fecal samples of infants with different diarrhea symptoms were collected and used as the study materials. The results showed that the adjuvant therapy had a significant effect on the shift of intestinal flora, which was associated with the decrease in the similarity difference to the normal control group and the increase in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) shared with the normal control group. Additionally, adjuvant therapy with Dingguier umbilical paste also showed long action duration and increased OTUs number. These results indicated that Dingguier umbilical paste has the effect in restoring the micro-ecosystem of unbalanced intestinal bacteria. Intestinal flora may be one of major targets for the applicator therapy for the infant diarrhea, but not for the single oral traditional Chinese medicine for infant diarrhea.
Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; therapeutic use ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines ; drug effects ; microbiology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Ointments ; Treatment Outcome ; Umbilicus

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of urotensin II (UII) on the lung of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with congenital heart disease and investigate the meaning of this phenomenon.

METHODThirty eight patients with CHD were divided into three groups according to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) measured in cardiac catheterization and surgery: normal pulmonary pressure group (N group, PASP < 30 mm Hg, n = 10), mild PH group (M group, PASP ≥ 30 mm Hg, n = 15), severe or moderate PH group (S group, PASP ≥ 50 mm Hg, n = 13). The expression of UII protein and UII mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were measured separately by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis and in situ hybridization (ISH) analysis.

RESULT(1) The results of UIIIHC staining: The UII protein expression of group M was higher than that of group N (20.22 ± 3.58 vs. 14.34 ± 2.18, P < 0.01), but less than group S (20.22 ± 3.58 vs. 28.92 ± 3.22, P < 0.05). (2) The results of UIIISH mRNA staining were similar to IHC staining, the A value of group M was higher than group N (12.51 ± 2.02 vs. 8.85 ± 1.41, P < 0.05), less than that of group S(12.51 ± 2.02 vs. 25.35 ± 4.33, P < 0.01). (3) Correlation study: there was a positive correlation between the A values of UIIIHC and pulmonary hypertension (r = 0.64, P < 0.01, n = 38), a positive correlation between the A values of UIIISH and pulmonary hypertension (r = 0.58, P < 0.01, n = 38).

CONCLUSIONThere was the expression of Urotensin II protein and mRNA in the lung of pulmonary hypertension patients with congenital heart disease, and these expression may involve the formation of pulmonary hypertension of congenital heart disease.

Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infant ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Severity of Illness Index ; Urotensins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHX) on the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible action mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred 3- month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (control, castrated, BPH model, and BSHX). BPH models were made by subcutaneous injection of testosterone following castration; the rats in the BSHX group were treated intragastrically with BSHX at 2.34 g/ml after modeling, while those in the other two groups with equal volume of saline, all for 37 days. On the 38th day, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostates harvested for detection of the distribution of TGF-beta1 and alpha-actin and the count of positive cells in the prostatic ductal system by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was determined by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the rats of the BSHX group as compared with the BPH models in both the proximal prostatic duct ([15.28 +/- 4.30]% vs [36.42 +/- 8.10]%, P < 0.01) and the distal prostatic duct ([4.42 +/- 2.07]% vs [8.71 +/- 2.28 ]%, P < 0.05), while the expression of alpha-actin in the proximal duct was remarkably higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the models ([28.14 +/- 7.43]% vs [18.28 +/- 4.07]%, P < 0.01), but lower than in the control animals ([33.57 +/- 6.85]%, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the BPH models and BSHX-treated rats both exhibited markedly decreased apoptosis of epithelial cells in the proximal prostatic duct ([39.42 +/- 9.20]% vs [3.86 +/- 1.34]%, P < 0.01, and [31.14 +/- 5.64]%, P < 0.01) and distal prostatic duct ([17.60 +/- 4.86]% vs [3.07 +/- 1.14]%, P < 0.01, and [12.37 +/- 2.25]%, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was significantly higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the BPH models (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the expression of TGF-beta, BSHX can suppress the reduction of smooth muscle cells in the proximal prostatic duct, promote the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus effectively inhibit benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of leukoaraiosis on conscious disturbance in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODSA follow-up study including 138 patients with acute cerebral infarction matched with the diagnostic criteria of the Forth Cerebrovascular Disease Conference, were carried out. Patients were divided into two groups, using MRI to estimate the white substance process around cerebral ventricle, including 78 of them with leukoaraiosis and 60 without leukoaraiosis were followed up using Glasgow coma scale scores and England OCSP classification in 1 month, 3 month and 6 month after onset.

RESULTSThe independent factors of conscious disturbance included leukoaraiosis (OR = 5.294, 95% CI: 1.451-19.318), and OCSP classification (TACI and POCI especially) (OR = 14.489, 95% CI: 4.121-50.934). At the initial, the first month and the third month of the stroke episodes, significant difference (P < 0.05) was noticed when using Glasgow coma scales, and the scales in leukoaraiosis group was lower than the control.

CONCLUSIONTACI and POCI in OCSP classification were independent risk factors of conscious disturbance, and leukoaraiosis was also the independent factor. The incidence of conscious disturbance after stroke in patients with leukoaraiosis were lower than in that without leukoaraiosis. On the other hand, the degree of conscious disturbance was more serious and slower than those without leukoaraiosis, suggesting that the effect of leukoaraiosis was duplicate for conscious disturbance. Because patients with leukoraiosis had tolerance of chronic cerebral ischemia. The number of patients with conscious disturbance after stroke was fewer relatively. Leukoaraiosis had inactive effect for amelioration of conscious disturbance after three months of the episode. The grouping of OCSP played a primary while leukoaraiosis playing a secondary role, despite the patients with or without conscious disturbance after stroke.

Aged ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Consciousness Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukoaraiosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; complications

AIMTo study the effect of the recombined human growth hormone(rhGH) on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), epidermal growth factor (EGF) in rats with obstructive jaundice.

METHODSSixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, sham-operated (group A), common biliary duct-ligated (group B), biliary duct-ligated plus rhGH-treat for one week (group C), biliary duct-ligated plus rhGH-treat for two weeks (group D), each group had 15 rats. Except group A, the rats of other groups were operated with biliary duct-ligated. Until two weeks after operation, the rats of group A and B were killed. After operation, the rats of group C were treated with rhGH hypodermic injection (0.75 U x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for one week, and then killed. The rats of D group were treated with rhGH hypodermic injection (0.75 U x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for two weeks, and then killed. All procedures were performed aseptically. Total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), prealbumin(PA), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), sIgA, EGF were measured.

RESULTSCompared with group A, in group B, C, D, serum level of PA, IGF-1 and sIgA, EGF level of gastric and intestinal juice were lower, but TB, ALP were higher, there were significant difference. Compared with group B, the rats with treatment of rhGH in group C and D had higher sIgA and EGF and lower intestinal bacterial translocation.

CONCLUSIONIn objective jaundice rats, rhGH can protect their hepatic function, intestinal physical-barrier function and immune-barrier function, and reduce intestinal bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; metabolism ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVECombine olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) implantation with ex vivo non-viral vector-based neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene therapy in attempting to enhance regeneration after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSPrimary OEG were transfected with cationic liposome-mediated recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-NT3 and subsequently implanted into adult Wistar rats directly after the thoracic spinal cord (T9) contusion by the New York University impactor. The animals in 3 different groups received 4x10(5) OEG transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-NT3 or pcDNA3.1(+) plasmids, or the OEGs without any plasmid transfection, respectively; the fourth group was untreated group, in which no OEG was implanted.

RESULTSNT-3 production was seen increased both ex vivo and in vivo in pcDNA3.1(+)-NT3 transfected OEGs. Three months after implantation of NT-3-transfected OEGs, behavioral analysis revealed that the hindlimb function of SCI rats was improved. All spinal cords were filled with regenerated neurofilament-positive axons. Retrograde tracing revealed enhanced regenerative axonal sprouting.

CONCLUSIONNon-viral vector-mediated genetic engineering of OEG was safe and more effective in producing NT-3 and promoting axonal outgrowth followed by enhancing SCI recovery in rats.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Tissue Transplantation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Recombinant ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Graft Survival ; genetics ; Growth Cones ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Nerve Regeneration ; genetics ; Neuroglia ; metabolism ; transplantation ; Neurotrophin 3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Olfactory Bulb ; cytology ; transplantation ; Paralysis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; genetics ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Up-Regulation ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of interferon therapy after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus.

METHODSSixty-two patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus was randomly divided into 2 groups. Thirty-one cases were treated with TACE and Interferon. Thirty-one cases with TACE only. HBV DNA, clinical effect, intrahepatic tumor recurrence rate and survival rate were studied.

RESULTSOf the 31 patients in TACE+IFN group, 17 (54.8%) were negative for HBV DNA at the end of treatment. None of TACE group was negative for HBV DNA. The intrahepatic tumor recurrence rate at 1 year and 2 years in TACE+IFN group was 16.1%, 29.0%, compared with 38.7%, 61.3% in TACE group (chi-square = 3.97, chi-square 6.51, P < 0.05). The survival rate in the former was 83.9% and 74.2% respectively, compared with that of 61.3% and 38.7% in the latter (chi-square = 3.97, chi-square = 7.94, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInterferon therapy after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization resulted low recurrence and long survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus. This method showed fewer side effects and should be recommended.

Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; mortality ; therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; epidemiology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Adult ; Blood Platelets ; chemistry ; CD40 Antigens ; blood ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the CT findings of Madelung's disease in the head and neck region,and to evaluate the value of CT in demonstrating the Madelung's disease in the head and neck region.Methods CT findings of Madelung's disease in the head and neck region in 7 cases were analyzed retrospectively.All were males,with the age from 36 to 60 years,mean 51 years.All patients were underwent CT native scan,and enhanced CT scan was performed on 3 of them.Results CT images in the neck of all patients showed accumulation of nonencapsulated fat within the subcutaneous tissue and(or) deep to the platysma,and(or)within the spaces between the muscles.The fat deposits were ill-defined and symmetrical.In most cases the fat deposits involved the anterior part of the neck(infrahyoid and suprahyoid),submandibular region,the subcutaneous tissue of the nape and deep to the stenomastoid muscles.Conclusions Madelung's disease in the head and neck region have characteristic CT findings,and CT has great value in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis in Madelung's disease.