Objective: To investigate the impact of essential oil (cinnamon oil) from Cinnamomum cassia (EOCC) on Clostridia flora IV and Bacteroides in gut of normal rats. Methods: SD rats were administered with EOCC (0.384 3 g/kg) for 30 d and the colon and rectal contents were sampled. The population, diversity, and distribution of Clostridium flora IV and Bacteroides in the samples were analyzed by the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) method based on the intestinal flora 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Results: Both the intestinal flora population, diversity, and distribution of Clostridia flora IV and Bacteroides changed significantly due to the injection, especially for Clostridia flora IV. Additionally, EOCC exerted the different effects on colon and rectal microflora. Conclusion: The effects of EOCC on Clostridia flora IV and Bacteroides in gut might be the functional mechanism of cinnamon oil in curing obesity and diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of posterior spinal transpedicular wedge osteotomy for kyphosis due to delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture in elderly.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to February 2014,26 patients with kyphosis caused by delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture were treated with transpedicular wedge osteotomy. There were 10 males and 16 females,aged from 55 to 75 years old with an average of 67 years. There were 1 osteotomy in thoracic vertebra,21 osteotomies in thoracolumbar vertebrae and 4 in lumbar vertebrae. Total 29 vertebrae were involved, 23 cases with single vertebral fracture and 3 cases with double vertebral fractures. Preoperative Cobb angles were 32°~51° with the mean of (42.00 ± 4.75) ° and VAS scores were 6 to 9 points with an average of (8.40 ± 0.75) points. According to the Frankel grade of spinal cord function, 4 cases were grade D and 22 cases were grade E. Intraoperative bleeding, operation time and perioperative complications were recorded, and improvements of Cobb angle were evaluated by X-rays. VAS score and Frankel grade were respectively used to evaluate the pain and nerve function.

RESULTSThe average operation time were 155 min (ranged, 120 to 175) and the mean intraoperative bleeding were 1 100 ml (ranged,800 to 1 500). Postoperative at 2 days, Cobb angle and VAS score were (9.60 ± 2.50) ° and (4.00 ± 1.00) points, respectively, ranged from 5° to 15° and 1 to 5 points. VAS score and Cobb angle improved obviously compared with preoperative (P < 0.05), and the improvement rate of Cobb angle was 76%. Frankel grade of 1 case changed from grade E to C, and the others did not become worse. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 24 months with an average of 16.4 months. At the final follow-up, Cobb angles and VAS score were (11.00 ± 3.50)° and (4.40 ± 1.25) points, respectively, ranged from 5° to 19° and 1 to 6 points. The patient whose Frankel grade E changed to C at 2 days after surgery and changed to grade D at the latest follow-up. Vertebral body fracture below the fusion level happened in 1 case at 3 months after surgery, vertebral body fracture above the fusion level happened in 1 case at 5 months after surgery, and their chest pain symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment and anti osteoporosis treatment. All osteotomy levels obtained fusion which confirmed by X-ray and no internal fixation loosening and breakage were found.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of posterior transpedicular wedge osteotomy for kyphosis due to delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture was satisfactory, but manipulation during the operation should be cautious and prevent adjacent vertebral body fracture should be pay attention to prevent.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of 360 degree circular decompression and transpedicle screw fixation to treat the ossification of thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament by posterior approach.

METHODSFrom December 2009 to November 2013, 18 patients with ossification of thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament ossification were treated with 360 degree circle decompression and transpedicle screw fixation by posterior approach. There were 8 males and 10 females,ranging in age from 32 to 67 years old, with an average of 51 years old. Four patients were accompanied with ligamentum flavum ossification. Longitudinal ossifications in 5 cases were located in the upper thoracic vertebra and 13 cases in the middle and lower thoracic vertebra. Five cases were typical type, 4 cases were segmental type, 6 cases were continuous type and 3 cases were mixed type. All the patients had the posterior spinal canal decompression combined with longitudinal ligament resection, interbody fusion with bone graft and internal fixation surgeries. The operation time,blood loss and complications were recorded. JOA score were applied to evaluate the neurological function recovery pre-surgery, 2 days post-surgery and the latest follow-up. The surgery effects were evaluated by Epstein-Schwall method.

RESULTSThe operation time ranged from 3 to 6 hours (mean, 4.2 hours). The blood loss ranged from 800 to 4 000 ml (mean, 1 800 ml). All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 months to 3 years, with a mean of 1.8 years. The JOA score increased from preoperative 4.30 ± 2.60 to 7.60 ± 2.40 2 days after surgery, and 7.80 ± 1.90 at the latest follow-up (t = 4.61, P < 0.001). The JOA scores between 2 days after surgery and the latest follow-up had no significant differences (t = 0.28,P = 0.78). The neurological recovery rate was 74% 2 days after surgery and 71% at the latest follow-up. There were 4 cases got an excellent result,10 good,3 fair and 1 poor according to Epstein-Schwall evaluation method. Four patients had cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 3 patients had intercostal nerve paralysis or pain, and 1 patient had superficial incision infection. The neurological function in 3 patients became worse in the second day posteratively , and among them, 2 patients were recovered at the latest follow-up and 1 patient had no changes. All the patients got fusion of bone graft and no internal fixation loosening and fractures occurred.

CONCLUSION360 degree circular decompression and transpedicle screw fixation can resect different types of thoracic longitudinal ligament ossification, and can achieve a good clinical effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery

Objective To determine the therapeutic effect of recombined rat insulin-like growth factory 1 gene and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-?_1)gene on anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)- induced osteoarthritis-like changes in NZW rabbit knee joints.Methods Eighteen NZW rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly after osteoanhritis was established by ACLT and another six rabbits were used as normal control group(group 1).Chondrocytes which had been transfected with IGF-1 gene,co-transfected with TGF-?_1 and IGF-1 gene(group 3,4)were injected into the rabbits knee joints.Experimental control group(group 2)only had ACLT bul was not transfected.After 4,8 weeks,rabbits were sacrificed and their joints were evaluated by morphological grades,histological examination,in situ hybridization examination,immunohistochemistry exami- nation,and transmission electron microscopy examination(TEM).Results The morphological grades showed that the normal control group had a very significant difference with the experimental control group(P

Electromagnetic Fields ; Magnetic Fields ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Television

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of total vertebral column resection combined with anterior mesh cage support in treating severe congenital kyphoscoliosis.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to April 2012,21 patients with severe congenital kyphoscoliosis were treated with total vertebral column resection and internal fixation through posterior approach combined with anterior mesh cage support. There were 8 males and 13 females with an average age of 19.4 years old (ranged from 10 to 35). And 6 cases were thoracic segments deformity,13 cases were thoracolumbar segments and 2 cases were lumbar segments, of them, 2 cases were accompanied with Chairs deformity, 6 cases with diastematomyelia, 4 cases with syringomyelia,and 1 case with neurofibromatosis. According to the Frankel grade system, 3 cases were grade C, 5 cases grade D and 13 cases grade E. Blood loss, operative time, and perioperative complications were recorded. Coronal and sagittal Cobb angle, apical vertebral offset distance, sagittal offset, the relative height of shoulders, razor back deformities were measured and analyzed before and after operation.

RESULTSThe average operative time was 5.2 h (3.5 to 6.5 h) and blood loss was 2,500 ml (1,400 to 4,900 ml). The 2nd day after operation, apical vertebral offset distance, sagittal offset, the relative height of shoulders, razor back deformities had obviously improved than preoperative (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in above items between postoperative on the 2nd day and final follow-up (P > 0.05). The corrective rate of kyphosis and scoliosis were (60.97 +/- 6.30)% and (62.24 +/- 5.82)%, respectively. On the first day after surgery,2 cases of Frankel grade E aggravated to grade D, and obtained recovery at 2 week after conservative treatment. And 1 case palinesthesia later,grade D aggravated to grade C and obtained recovery after revision surgery in time. One case complicated with permanent blindness of left eye, 1 case occurred injury of pleura and 2 cases had cerebrospinal fluid leak during operation. All patients were followed up from 9 to 31 months with an av- erage of 18.6 months. At final follow-up,all patients obtained bone union, Frankel grade D in 4 cases and grade E in 17 cases, no correction loss and internal fixation loosening was found.

CONCLUSIONTotal vertebral column resection combined with anterior mesh cage support can effectively correct kyphosis and scoliosis in severe congenital kyphoscoliosis and can avoid injury of spine cord by spinal crispation, but intraoperative position and neurologic complications should still be considered.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; complications ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spine ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To express the plasminogen activator(Pla) of Yersinia pestis and one of its gene fragments,and to detect their immunological reactivity.Methods The pla gene and its specific gene fragment pla-c were amplified by PCR using the EV76 strain as a template.PCR products were then ligated with the plasmid pET32a (+).The recombinant plasmids pET32a (+)-pla and pET32a (+)-pla-c were subsequently trausformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3).The expressed products were purified by HIS affinity chromatography,and their immunological reactivity was detected by Western blotting.Results The recombinant Pla(52.8 × 103) was expressed as inclusion bodies,and the recombinant Pla-c protein (24.0 × 103) was expressed in the soluble form.These two recombinant proteins reacted with anti-Yersinia pestis EV76 rabbit sera.Conclusions The recombinant Pla and its specific fragments have displayed immunological reactivity,and can be served as an alternative diagnosis method for Yersinia pestis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the growth and osteogenic property of cultured dog bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) by investigating the effects of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and ultrastructure of BMSCs into osteoblasts in vitro.

METHODSBMSCs osteogenic property was detected by improved Wright-Giemsa, Gomori and alizarin dyeing method. The proliferation and differentiation of the induced BMSCs with APS in different concentration and time were detected by MTT assay and the morphologic change of the induced BMSCs was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSBMSCs osteogenic property was detected with Wright-Giemsa deep-bluing, Gomori method blacking and with more mineral nodules alizarin dyeing method carmining. APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL can promote the proliferation of the induced BMSCs in short-term culture (1th, 3th day) and 50 mg/mL can decrease the effect through long-term culture (5th day). Observed by TEM (5th day), the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum increased and the extracellular matrix was excreted more in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL. However, not only the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum reduced but also the structure was swollen, degenerative, membrance damaged in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 50 mg/mL.

CONCLUSIONAPS with lower concentration in short-term culture may promote BMSCs proliferation and differentiation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; Dogs ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Polysaccharides

OBJECTIVETo examine modulations caused by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on altered microenvironments and overbalanced neurotransmitters in pilocarpine-induced epileptic status rats and to investigate possible mechanisms.

METHODSCelecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) was administered 45 min prior to pilocarpine administration. The effects of COX-2 inhibitors on mIPSCs (miniature GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents) of CA3 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus were recorded. Expressions of COX-2, c-Fos, newly generated neurons, and activated microgliosis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and expressions of alpha-subunit of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) activity were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSPretreatment with celecoxib showed protection against pilocarpine-induced seizures. Celecoxib prevented microglia activation in the hilus and inhibited the abnormal neurogenesis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus by inhibiting MAPK/ERK activity and c-Fos transcription. Celecoxib also up-regulated the expression of GABA(A) receptors. NS-398 (N-2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl-methanesulfonamide), another COX-2 inhibitor, enhanced the frequency and decay time of mIPSCs.

CONCLUSIONThe COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib decreased neuronal excitability and prevented epileptogenesis in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rats. Celecoxib regulates synaptic reorganization by inhibiting astrogliosis and ectopic neurogenesis by attenuating MAPK/ERK signal activity, mediated by a GABAergic mechanism.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Nitrobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Pilocarpine ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; biosynthesis ; Status Epilepticus ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Synapses ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential reporter gene assay for the detection of sodium channel-specific toxins in shellfish as an alternative for screening harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins, considering the fact that the existing methods including HPLC and bioassay are inappropriate for identifying HAB toxins which poses a serious problem on human health and shellfish industry.

METHODSA reporter plasmid pEGFP-c-fos containing c-fos promoter and EGFP was constructed and transfected into T24 cells using LipofectAMINE 2000. Positive transfectants were screened by G418 to produce a pEGFP-c-fos-T24 cell line. After addition of increasing neurotoxic shellfish poison (NSP) or GTX2,3, primary components of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), changes in expression of EGFP in the cell line were observed under a laser scanning confocal microscope and quantified with Image-pro Plus software.

RESULTSDose-dependent changes in the intensity of green fluorescence were observed for NSP in a range from 0 to 10 ng/mL and for GTX2,3 from 0 to 16 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONpEGFP-c-fos-T24 can be applied in detecting HAB toxins, and cell-based assay can be used as an alternative for screening sodium channel-specific HAB toxins.

Animals ; Biological Assay ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, Reporter ; physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; physiology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Shellfish ; analysis ; Sodium Channels ; Toxins, Biological ; chemistry ; toxicity