Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic produced losartan potassium in aged patients with essential hypertension and hyperuricemia.Methods Eighty patients diagnosed with hypertension with hyperuricemia were randomly divided into treat-ment group ( n=40 ) and control group ( n=40 ).Patients in treatment group were given losartan potassium 50 mg· d -1 , and patients in control group given candesartan 4 mg · d-1.The treatment lasted for 8 weeks.Clinical efficiency , serum uric acid levels and blood pressure of the two groups were measured after treatment.Results After treatment , the total effective rate was equal 95.0%in treatment group and control group and the markedly effective rate were 55.0% and 57.5% respectively (P>0.05).After treatment, the reduction of systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) and diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) were ( 19.65 ±12.23 )/( 11.80 ±8.21 ) mmHg vs ( 24.78 ±15.38 )/( 13.93 ±10.60 ) mmHg in treatment group and control group ( P<0.05 ) , there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05 ).After treatment , the level of uric acid decreased apparently in treatment group was (435.04 ±53.57 )μmol L-1 , and (483.68 ±63.50 ) μmol· L-1 in control group and treatment group was significantly lower than control group and before treatment ( P<0.05 ).There was no adverse reaction in treatment group , 1 case in control group ( 2.5%) .There was no significant change in heart rate in two groups before and after treatment.Conclusion Domes-tic produced losartan potassium was proved to be a stable and effective antihypertensive medication with little adverse drug reactions.

OBJECTIVETFo compare the efficacy and complications rate of intramedullary (IM) nailing or K-wire versus plating fixation for clavicular fractures.

METHODSPubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, CNKI, VIP and Wangfang databases were searched to find all randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of clavicle fractures using plating versus IM nailing or K-wire. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed. After independent study selection by 2 authors ,data were collected and extracted independently. Outcomes of postoperative shoulder functional measurement, the efficacy and information of the operation and complications rate were meta-analyzed using RevMan 5 software.

RESULTSNine hundreds and seventy-six patients in 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 quasi-RCTs were involved in the meta-analysis,of which 5 studies compared the K-wire and the plating fixations and 8 studies compared the IM nailing and the plating fixations. The overall odds ratio(OR) (with 95% CI) of the operation efficacy for K-wire versus the plating was 3.79 (1.93, 7.46). The overall weighted mean difference (with 95% CI) of Constant Shoulder score for plating versus IM fixation was -1.39 (-3.43, 0.65) in 6 studies. The overall OR of the plating versus IM nailing was 9.34(2.70, 32.32) for the overall major complications in 5 studies and 5.04 (1.52,16.77) for the revision rate in 5 studies.

CONCLUSIONThe current limited evidences suggested that the IM fixation could reduce the incidences of the overall major complications and the revision surgery, while the post-operative efficacy of the plating was superior to the K-wire. More high quality RCTs are still needed in the future.

Bone Nails ; Bone Wires ; Clavicle ; injuries ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Drug resistant bacteria is an increasingly urgent challenge to public health. Bacteria adaptation and extensive abuse of antibiotics contribute to this dilemma. Active efflux of antibiotics is employed by the bacteria to survive the antibiotic pressure. Efflux pump is one of the hot spots of current drug related studies and ideal targets for the improvement of treatment. The efflux pumps and related mechanisms of action, regulation of expression and methodologies were summarized. Comparative genomics analyses were employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and evolution of efflux pump as exemplified by the Mycobacterium in our lab, which is a crucial re-emerging threat to global public health. The pathway and state-of-art drug development of efflux pump related drugs are included too.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; antagonists & inhibitors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; Ion Pumps ; antagonists & inhibitors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; physiology ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mycobacterium ; metabolism

Constructing eukaryotic expressing vector of pMT/Bip/V5-His A-HIV gp120 and transfecting S2 cells to establish stable gp120-expressing S2 cell line. The gp120 gene of HIV CRF07-BC epidemic in China was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from the recombinant vector PRSV-gp120 and confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. The DNA fragment of HIV gp120 was digested with the restriction endonucleases NcoI and XhoI, then inserted into eukaryotic expressing vector pMT/BiP/V5-His A. A selection vector containing the streptomyces griseochromogenes bsd gene conferring blasticidin resistance was cotransfected into drosophila S2 cells by Cellfectin II reagent. The stable cell line was established following repeated screening by blasticidin. HIV gp120 was purified by a Ni-NTA affinity column followed by molecular sieve chromatography. Recombinant protein was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA. The eukaryotic expressing vector pMT/BiP/V5-His A-HIV gp120 was constructed, stable expressing cell line was established, and protein was expressed and purified successfully. This result will contribute to functional study of gp120 and vaccine design against AIDS.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Drosophila ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Gene Expression ; HIV ; genetics ; metabolism ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; HIV Infections ; virology ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

Human transferrin receptor (TfR) was isolated from homogenates of placental tissues by affinity chromatography on transferrin-Sepharose, and then used to screen human scFv against it from a fully-synthesized phage scFv library. After verifying the specificity, gene fragment of one of the selected scFv was inserted into the plasmid pET22b(+) and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) . Expression of scFv in transformant was induced with 0.5mmol/L IPTG. ELISA assay on HeLa cells showed that scFv protein could recognize and bind to TfR on the surface of HeLa cells. The scFv was purified by one-step affinity chromatography with Ni+ -NTA agarose, and injected into Kunming mouse via tail veins. This scFv was detected in brain tissues 1h later by capillary depletion method, which indicates that scFv protein can permeate through the blood brain barrier by mediation of the TfR receptor. Our works lay the foundation for the treatment of tumors and central nervous system diseases.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Receptors, Transferrin ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transferrin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of refracture in patients suffering from osteoporosis-related fractures as well as effective interventions.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to January 2008, both out-patients and in-patients in our hospital who were over 50 years old and suffered from osteoporosis-related fractures were selected for this research. They were divided into fracture group and refracture group. The refracture rate was followed up for 2 years, during which 11 patients developed refracture, thus were included in the refracture group. Therefore, 273 patients, 225 first-fracture cases, aged (67.7+/-8.5) years, and 48 refracture cases, aged (72.7+/-9.5) years, were included in this study. General data including age and sex, fracture types, femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores tested by dual-energy X-rays absorptiometry (DEXA), Charlson index, time-frame between two fractures as well as mobility skill assessment were collected and analyzed by single-factor and multivariate statistical methods.

RESULTSFemales accounted for 70.2% of the fracture group and 77.1% of the refracture group. The most common refracture type was vertebral fracture for the first time and femoral neck fracture for the second time during the follow-up. The second fracture happened 3.7 years after the first one on average. The refracture rate was 2.12% within one year, and 4.66% within two years. Risk factors for a second fracture in osteoporotic fracture patients included age (larger than 75 years, HR equal to 1.23, 95%CI 1.18-1.29; larger than 85 years, HR equal to 1.68, 95% CI 1.60-1.76), female sex (HR equal to 1.36, 95%CI 1.32-1.40), prior vertebral fractures (HR equal to 1.62, 95%CI 1.01-2.07), prior hip fractures (HR equal to 1.27, 95%CI 0.89-2.42), BMD T-score less than -3.5 (HR equal to 1.38, 95%CI 1.17-1.72) and weakened motor skills (HR equal to 1.27, 95%CI 1.09-1.40).

CONCLUSIONSThe risks of second fracture among patients with initial brittle fracture are substantial. There is adequate time between the first and second fractures for interventions to reduce the risks of refracture, especially for the old women with a vertebral or hip fracture. Medication, motor functional rehabilitation and fall-down prevention training are helpful.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Skills ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; etiology ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDAbout 50% - 70% of patients with Chiari malformation I (CMI) presented with syringomyelia (SM), which is supposed to be related to abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow around the foramen magnum. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrospinal fluid dynamics at levels of the aqueduct and upper cervical spine in patients with CMI associated with SM, and to discuss the possible mechanism of formation of SM.

METHODSFrom January to April 2004, we examined 10 adult patients with symptomatic CMI associated with SM and 10 healthy volunteers by phase-contrast MRI. CSF flow patterns were evaluated at seven regions of interest (ROI): the aqueduct and ventral and dorsal subarachnoid spaces of the spine at levels of the cerebellar tonsil, C2 - 3, and C5 - 6. The CSF flow waveforms were analyzed by measuring CSF circulation time, durations and maximum velocities of cranial- and caudal-directed flows, and the ratio between the two maximum velocities. Data were analyzed by t test using SPSS 11.5.

RESULTSWe found no definite communication between the fourth ventricle and syringomyelia by MRI in the 10 patients. In both the groups, we observed cranial-directed flow of CSF in the early cardiac systolic phase, which changed the direction from cranial to caudal from the middle systolic phase to the early diastolic phase, and then turned back in cranial direction in the late diastolic phase. The CSF flow disappeared at the dorsal ROI at the level of C2 - 3 in 3 patients and 1 volunteer, and at the level of C5 - 6 in 6 patients and 3 volunteers. The durations of CSF circulation at all the ROIs were significantly shorter in the patients than those in the healthy volunteers (P = 0.014 at the midbrain aqueduct, P = 0.019 at the inferior margin of the cerebellar tonsil, P = 0.014 at the level of C2 - 3, and P = 0.022 at the level of C5 - 6). No significant difference existed between the two groups in the initial point and duration of the caudal-directed CSF flow during a cardiac cycle at all the ROIs. The maximum velocities of both cranial- and caudal-directed CSF flows were significantly higher in the patients than those in the volunteers at the aqueduct (P = 0.018 and P = 0.007) and ventral ROI at the inferior margin of the cerebellar tonsil (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002), as so did the maximum velocities of the caudal-directed flow in the ventral and dorsal ROIs at the level of C2 - 3 (P = 0.004; P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONSThe direction of CSF flow changes in accordance with cardiac cycle. The syringomyelia in patients with CMI may be due to the decreased circulation time and abnormal dynamics of the CSF in the upper cervical segment. The decompression of the foramen magnum with dural plasty is an alternative for patients with CMI associated with SM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syringomyelia ; etiology

Objective To improve the quality of personal dose equivalent measurement by exploring optimal annealing temperature conditions.Methods Totally 60 pieces of thermoluminescent detectors were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups.The 6 groups underwent 10-min annealing under 200,220,230,240,250 or 260 ℃ respectively,and then were cooled with the same conditions and went through measurement after irradiation by the calibrated radiation source.The above operation of annealing,cooling and measurement were repeated for 10 times,and the 6 groups were compared on dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve.Results Single test proved that under 240 ℃ the dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve gained optimal results comprehensively,while repeated tests showed that the dispersity had the optimal value under 250 ℃ and the sensitivity decreased significantly as the times of annealing rose.Conclusion Annealing conditions have to be selected according to the requirements of the thermoluminescent detector.

Animals ; beta Catenin ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cell Self Renewal ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Genome ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kinesin ; Luciferases ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells