BACKGROUND: Prognosis is determined by degrees of outside force and time of spinal cord compression after spinal cord injury. The former factor cannot be changed, but the latter one can be changed through relieving spinal cord compression as early as possible to promote nervous function recovery.OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of surgical intervention time on nervous function recovery within 72 hours and 10 to 14 days after cervical spinal cord injury.DESIGN: Randomized controlled and before-after controlled study.SETTING: Department of Spine Surgery of the Second Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 32 patients with cervical spinal cord injury were selected from the Department of Spine Surgery of the Second Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University from April 1998 to August 2001.All patients were divided into two groups according to randomly alternative criteria. There were 16 cases including 10 males and 6 females in early surgical group (within 72 hours) and there were also 16 cases including 12males and 4 females in delayed surgical group (within 10-14 days).METHODS: Patients in early surgical group were undertaken operation at 72 hours after hospitalization, and patients in delayed surgical group were at 10-14 days after hospitalization. Frankel grade, sensory and motor scores were recorded according to criteria set by American Spinal Injury Association before operation and within 24 months after operation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Sensory and motor scores before and after operation; ② Frankel grade before and after operation.RESULTS: ① Improved level of sensory score (difference before and after operation) was higher in early surgical group than that in delayed surgical group (42.6±20.2, 19.2±19.1, P ＜ 0.01). ② Improved level of motor score (difference before and after operation) was higher in early surgical group than that in delayed surgical group (39.7±17.8, 17.3±18.6, P ＜ 0.01). ③Improved level of Frankel grade in early surgical group was superior to that in delayed surgical group (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Nervous function recovery of patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury who were suffered from operation within 72 hours is superior to that of those within 10 to 14 days. Therefore, surgical intervention should be undertaken as early as possible in order to promote nervous function recovery after cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective Analyze the amino acids and acylcarnitines in the blood of patients first diagnosed with uremia using tandem mass spectrometry in order to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods 30 patients with uremia were selected as the research objects,while 15 cases of healthy person were served as the control. The values of 11 kinds of amino acids and 2 kinds of acylcarnitines in the two groups were detected using tandem mass spectrometry,and the data were analyzed and compared. Results The levels of alanine(Ala)and tyrosine(Tyr)in uremia group were significantly lower than those in control group(P < 0.05),while the levels of citrulline(Cit),glycine(Gly)and proline(Pro)were significantly higher in uremia group than in control group (P < 0.05). The differences were mainly in non-essential amino acids between the two groups. The levels of free carnitines and total carnitines in uremia group were significantly higher than those in normal group(P < 0.05). Conclusion For the patients first diagnosed with uremia(not treated with replacement therapy),the disturbance of amino acid metabolism mainly in non-essential amino acids were found in their blood,and the carnitine levels were higher than normal levels. The results could provide the basis for clinical nutrition therapy for patients with uremia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin(PCT) levels for differentiating Gram-positive and-negative bacteria infected critically ill patients in intensive care unit(ICU). METHODS Serum PCT levels were measured in 80 patients with sepsis and severe sepsis in ICU.Of the 80 patients,40 were infected with Gram-positive bacteria and 40 were infected with Gram-negative bacteria.Another 40 patients with fungi or viruses infection or non-infection from ICU were measured in parallel as control. RESULTS Serum levels of PCT in patients with Gram-negative bacteria were significantly higher than in those with Gram-positive bacteria and control ones(18.5?5.8ng/ml vs 3.9?2.1ng/ml and 0.3?0.2 ng/ml,respectively,P

Objective To explore the long term mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of endemic arsenism Methods The micronuclei and chromosomal aberration in peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected by conventional micro whole blood culture method among 112 subjects with endemic arsenism and 88 healthy residents as controls Results Significantly higher frequencies of chromosomal aberrations(1 0770‰?0 1953%) and micronuclei(0 8547‰?0 0567‰) of peripheral blood lymphocytes were observed in arsenic poisoned group compared with those(0 4286‰?0 1241%,0 3928‰?0 0368‰) of controls respectively ( P

AIM: To evaluate the effects of total flavonoid of chrysanthemum on the expressions of Fas and FasL in male rabbits with dry eye, and to investigate the therapeutic effects of the total flavonoid of chrysanthemum on dry eye.
METHODS: Totally 150 male Japanses white rabbits were divided into blank group ( group A ) , sham -operated group ( group B ) , model group ( group C ) , androgen control treatment group (group D), and total flavonoid of chrysanthemum treatment group ( group E ) . The dry eye model was established with orchiectomy on group C, D and E. Rabbits in group E were treated with total flavonoid of chrysanthemum. Rabbits in group D were treated with androgen intramuscular injection. Rabbits in the group A, group B, group C was treated with normal saline. All rabbits were detected with Schirmer's Ⅰ test and tear break-up time (BUT). Fas, FasL were checked on immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS:The Schirmer's I test values of group E was significantly higher than that of group C ( P<0. 01 ) and the BUT value of group E was significantly longer than that of group C ( P<0. 01 ). The quantity of positive expression of Fas in glandular tube cell and acinar epithelial celland apoptosis cells of group E after treatment at 1, 3, 5mo were significantly lower than that of group C, cell population of the positive expression of FasL was obviously higher than that of group C (P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION:The main component of chrysanthemum is flavonoid, which could significantly inhibit happening of dry eye in rabbit after androgen level lowered and lacrimal gland apoptosis and keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability.

Objective To analyze the electrocardiography(ECG)data of pressure overload-induced cardiac hy pertrophy rats.Methods Pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy was induced by abdominal aorta constriction. Echocardiogram and heart weight measurement demonstrated the occurrence of cardiac hypertrophy.Standardized ECG parameters of limb and chest were measured and statistically analyzed.Results Two weeks after hypertrophy models were established,echocardiogram showed greater LVPWTd,IVSTd,LVDd.ECG showed that left axis deviation and higher R waves in V_A,V_B,V_C(P

AIM: To evaluate the effects of the extract of Buddleja officinalis eye drops in basic tears secretory volume, tear film stability, expression of androgen receptors(AR) in castrated rats with dry eye, and to investigate the therapeutic effects of extract of Buddleja officinalis on dry eye caused by gonadal hormones level imbalance. METHODS:A total of 45 Wistar masculinity rats were divided at random into 9 groups, including normal group(A1,A2 and A3), model group(B1,B2 and B3), therapy group with extract of Buddleja officinalis eye drops(C1,C2 and C3). The "1" stood for being fed for 1 month, and "2" for 2 months, and "3" for 3 months. The dry eye model was established with orchiectomy on group B,C. Group C was treated with Buddleja officinalis extract eye drops for one month. All rats were checked with Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) and tear film break-up time (BUT). Expression of AR was analyzed by flow cytometer(FCM). RESULTS:The SⅠt value of group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P<0.01) and the BUT value of group C was significantly longer than that of group B (P<0.01), which indicated the eye drop could significantly keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability. And the expression of AR of group C was much higher than that of group B,which showed that available composition of the eye drops maybe display androgen-like activity.CONCLUSION:The main components of extract of Buddleja officinalis is the flavonoids which could significantly inhibit happening of dry eye of rat after androgen level lowered. Its mechanism is like androgen's and it could display androgen-like activity to keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability.

AIM: To explore the effect of Buddleia flavonoids drug-containing plasma and androgen receptor(AR) blocker on the expression of STAT1 phosphoprotein.METHODS: In vitro lacrimal gland epithelial cells were cultivated with H2O2 to establish the dry eye apoptosis state. Blank plasma group, Buddleia officinalis plasma total flavonoids interfere with drug-containing group, and the intervention group of testosterone propionate were set. The expressions of STAT1 phosphoprotein of each group were observed by Western blot and AR blocker flutamide was used to explore the intended androgen effect of Buddleia flavonoids.RESULTS: After the intervention of drug-containing plasma, the expression of STAT1 Phosphoprotein in Buddleja officinalis drug-containing plasma intervention group(0.353±0.494) and testosterone propionate intervention group(0.502±0.036) were enhanced and the differences between the two groups were significant (P<0.01). After using the AR blocker in all groups, the expression of STAT1 phosphoprotein in each group (0.268±0.061,0.283±0.106,0.213±0.071) had no difference.CONCLUSION: Buddleja officinalis drug-containing plasma total flavonoids can promote the expression of STAT1 phosphorylation.

Objective To measure the renal tissue texture or flexibility with virtual touch quantization (VTQ) and to tentatively examine its clinical application in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods A total of 750 patients (1500 kidneys) were performed with VTQ,including 400 cases in the control group,and 350 cases in the CKD group.A conventional ultrasound examination (two-dimensional,color Doppler) were first taken,and then the shear wave velocity (Vs) was measured which reflected the textural elastic.Results In both groups the Vs was the highest in renal cortex with significant difference (P<0.05); renal cortical region Vs in CKD group was lower than those in control group (P<0.05),while Vs of renal medulla and renal sinus had no significant difference in the two groups.The severity of renal dysfunction was increased along with a Vs decrease of renal cortex.Conclusion VTQ is helpful to assess renal function of patients with CKD.

Objective To observe serum and callus leptin expression in rats model with fracture and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 72 male SD rats were randomized equally into 4 groups: control, SCI group, fracture group, and fracture/SCI group. Rats were sacrificed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after fracture/SCI. Serum leptin was detected by radioimmunoassayat 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, and callus formation was measured radiologically at 14, 21 and 28 days. Callus leptin was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Results Serum leptin in the fracture group, SCI group and combined fracture/SCI group were all higher than in control group at the 1, 7, 14 and 21 day time-point (P < 0.05). Serum leptin in the combined fracture/SCI group was significantly higher than the fracture group at 7, 14 and 21 days (P < 0.05), and higher than SCI groups at 14 and 21 days after operation (P < 0.05). The percentage of leptin-positive cells in the fracture/SCI callus, and callus volume was significantly higher than the fracture-only group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Leptin expression increases in the recovery process after SCI, and the recovery of fracture becomes sooner.