MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Free running EMG and stimulus triggered EMG, including time, frequency, amplitude, muscle group were observed and recorded simultaneously. Never root functional injury and restoration after surgery were detected.RESULTS: 378 pedicle screws in 74 patients were monitored intraoperatively, and only 3 pedicle screw malposition (2 of L_4, 1 of L_5) was detected and then replaced with the help of C-arm fluoroscopic examination. Myoelectricity appeared when the current intensity was less than 10 mA. The correct rate of implantation was 99.2%. Nerve root impingement was found in two cases during laminectomy for L_5 and S_1 decompression and never root solution, which alerted the surgical team of critical neural structures. Nerve symptoms of the lower limb were aggravated after surgery and restored following 2-4 weeks of conventional treatment. The error injury rate of nerve root was 2.7%. In all reported cases, no irreversible neurological deficit was observed 2-4 weeks after operation.CONCLUSION: Intraoperative EMG monitoring can find improperly placed screws and detect impending nerve root injury promptly. Combined EMG and 3-D imaging modality monitoring is a reliable and practicable method that can be used to protect neural structures during complex lumbosacral surgery.

Objective To observe the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and surgical outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).Methods From January 2006 to December 2010,69 patients with DS had undergone PLIF by the same surgical team.According the BMD,the cases were divided into two groups.Normal group (T ≥-1.0) had 33 cases [Male 16 cases,Female 17 cases; mean age,(56.5±9.0) yrs; L,,5 20 cases,L5S1 13 cases].The osteopenia group (T ＜-1.0) had 36 cases [Male 13 cases,Female 23 cases; mean age,(60.5±7.8) yrs; L4.5 21 cases,L5S1 15 cases].Blood loss,surgical duration,intra-and post-operative complications were collected.The clinical improvement was quantified by measurement of pain (visual analogue scale,VAS) and Roland-Morris (RM) Disability Questionnaire.Between two groups,the differences of age,body mass index,blood loss,VAS improvement,and RM improvement were compared.The correlation between BMD and sex,age,segment,screw loose,nonunion,and cage subsidence was analyzed.Results In two groups,the difference between pre-and post-operative RM and VAS was significant respectively.The blood loss was 415.5± 105.8 ml in normal group,significantly less than 528.3±128.7 ml in osteopenia group.There was no significant difference in the duration between normal group (169.7±44.3 min) and osteopenia group (176.4±42.6 min).The improvement of VAS and RM between two groups had no significant difference.There was a negative correlation between the BMD and blood loss (r=-0.407,P=0.001).The other surgical outcomes (surgical duration,VAS improvement,RM improvement,cage subsidence,nonunion,screw loose and etc.) had no correlation with BMD.Conclusion There is a negative correlation between the BMD and blood loss in DS patients managed by PLIF.BMD has no effect on other surgical outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the positive rate of the bronchodilation test (BDT) in asthmatic children with normal forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV 1/FVC, so as to improve the recognition of the importance of the BDT test in asthmatic children with normal FEV 1, FVC and FEV 1/FVC. Methods:Children aged 5-14 who were diagnosed with asthma in the outpatient clinic of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from September 2018 to August 2019 and willing to receive pulmonary function and BDT examinations were enrolled.Data of pulmonary function of children with normal FEV 1, FVC and FEV 1/FVC were collected to analyze the rate of positive BDT results and the status of small airway function. Results:A total of 1 631 asthmatic children with normal FEV 1, FVC and FEV 1/FVC were enrolled in this study, including 1 414 children with normal pulmonary function and 217 children with small airway dysfunction.Fifteen minutes after the bronchodilator was inhaled, 127 children (87 males and 40 females) showed positive BDT results, accounting for 7.8%.Among these children, 62 cases (28.6%) with co-existing small airway dysfunction showed positive BDT results.The improvement rate of FEV 1 was 8.0% to 11.9% in 132 cases (8.1%). The FEV 1 before bronchodilator inhalation accounted for (98.5±10.3)% of the predicted value.Fifteen minutes after terbutaline sulfate inhalation, the improvement rate was 13.5% (12.5%, 16.2%). The improvement rates of forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC exhaled (FEF 50, r=-0.339, P<0.01), forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity exhaled (FEF 75, r=-0.400, P<0.01), maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF, r=-0.375, P<0.01) were negatively correlated with their baseline values.The improvement rate of FEV 1 was not associated with its baseline value ( r=-0.128, P=0.153), but negatively correlated with the baseline value of MMEF ( r=-0.231, P<0.01). Conclusions:BDT results are positive in some asthmatic children with normal FEV 1, FVC and FEV 1/FVC.It is recommended that BDT testing should be conducted as much as possible in the diagnosis and follow-up of children with typical or atypical asthma.In this way, the diagnosis can be confirmed and the current optimal results can be obtained.Meanwhile, small airway function testing is helpful for comprehensive assessment of asthma and its control level.

Objective To develop a safe,practical,disposable slide culture medium for fungi culture.Methods Based on the principle of traditional slide culture medium with small steel ring,a plate of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with high transparency was chosen as the bottom material of the new medium which held the size of the conventional slide (25.2 mm × 75.9 mm × 1.05 mm) with frosted design at both ends.The diameter of inoculation hole was 2.4 mm on the rounded culture dish which was designed with diameter of 19.4 mm and side height of 3.75 mm.The users could inject potato dextrose agar (PDA) or other medium into the culture dish as needed and then sealed it with a plug.The upper cover was prepared with toughened glass.The improved disposable slide culture medium should be kept in humidifying box with sponge strips in the water tanks of both sides and sealed with cap.The growth status,microscopic morphology and staining result of filamentous fungi in the totally enclosed slide culture medium were observed and the preservative status of the prepared medium was also monitored simultaneously.Results The effects of the improved slide culture medium were satisfactory in clinical practical application.The growing status of fungi could be observed visually and the pigment was clear.The original growth form of fungi could be monitored under microscope and dye material could be perfused directly to stain with good results.The appearance and the volume of packaged slide medium were unchanged after preservation at 4 ℃ for 3 months.Conclusion An improved slide culture medium was successfully developed,which should be easy to operate,high visible,satisfactory for sealing effects and reliable for culture performance with high biological safety.The growth status of fungi could be observed under microscope at any time,and the medium could also be monitored under oil immersion lens directly and stained with cotton blue.The improved medium could be used in morphological examination for fungi in different levels of medical laboratories since its favorable results in clinical application.

Composites containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) remineralize tooth lesions and inhibit caries. A recent study synthesized quaternary ammonium methacrylates (QAMs) with chain lengths (CLs) of 3–18 and determined their effects on a bonding agent. This study aimed to incorporate these QAMs into NACP nanocomposites for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralizing capabilities and to investigate the effects of the CL on the mechanical and biofilm properties. Five QAMs were synthesized: DMAPM (CL3), DMAHM (CL6), DMADDM (CL12), DMAHDM (CL16), and DMAODM (CL18). Each QAM was incorporated into a composite containing 20% NACP and 50% glass fillers. A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity. The flexural strength and elastic modulus of nanocomposites with QAMs matched those of a commercial control composite (n 5 6; P . 0.1). Increasing the CL from 3 to 16 greatly enhanced the antibacterial activity of the NACP nanocomposite (P , 0.05); further increasing the CL to 18 decreased the antibacterial potency. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 exhibited biofilm metabolic activity and acid production that were 10-fold lesser than those of the control composite. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 produced 2-log decreases in the colony-forming units (CFU) of total microorganisms, total streptococci, and mutans streptococci. In conclusion, QAMs with CLs of 3–18 were synthesized and incorporated into an NACP nanocomposite for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralization capabilities. Increasing the CL reduced the metabolic activity and acid production of biofilms and caused a 2-log decrease in CFU without compromising the mechanical properties. Nanocomposites exhibiting strong anti-biofilm activity, remineralization effects, and mechanical properties are promising materials for tooth restorations that inhibit caries.

This paper was to study the angiogenic inhibitory effect and the potential antitumor effect of the constructed recombinant DNA vaccine CRT/HPV6bE7 in vivo. The C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated respectively with recombinant CRT/HPV6bE7 DNA plamids. The inhibitory effects on angiogenesis of generated vaccines in vivo were evaluated by a bFGF-induced angiogenesis assay using the Matrigel kit. To investigate the potential antitumor effect, the mean tumor weights, sizes and tumor appearing times were measured in C57BL/6 mice treated with HPV6bE7-expressing B16 cells. The results indicated that the recombinants CRT180/HPV6bE7 and CRT180 showed strong anti-angiogenic effects in bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo. Moreover, CRT180/HPV6bE7 and CRT180 DNA vaccines could significantly inhibit the tumor growth in tumor challenge experiment, and CRT180/HPV6bE7 was superior to other vaccines in delaying tumor formation time, limiting tumor size and weight in tumor protection experiment. In conclusion, recombinant CRT180/HPV6bE7 DNA could elicit a most efficient anti-angiogenic effect and inhibit tumor growth in mice inoculated with DNA vaccines. The antiangiogenic activity of CRT were suggested residing in a domain between CRT 120-180 aa.
Animals ; Calreticulin ; genetics ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; therapy ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

Objective To investigate feasibility and clinical application value of improved percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal-external drainage (PTBIED).Methods Consecutive patients from April 2007 to April 2010 with malignant obstructive jaundice were diagnosed by medical imaging or pathological confirmation whenever possible.The patients with proximal malignant biliary obstruction and intact inferior common bile ducts ＞ 3 cm in length,and a bilirubin of 70 μmol/L or higher,were included in the experimental group.The control group included patients with low malignant biliary obstruction,and those who met the criteria for the experimental group but refused to receive the altered method of PTBIED.The patients underwent traditional PTBIED in control group.The patients in the experimental group received the procedure as following:according to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography,a biliary external drainage catheter was modified by adding side-holes.Then under fluoroscopic guidance,the loop tip of the modified biliary drainage catheter was positioned in the inferior common hepatic duct/common bile duct,while the additional side-holes were located in the expanded hepatic duct.Technical success rate,complications,hepatic function and white cell count (WBC) were recorded pre- and post-procedure.All patients were followed-up until death.A t-test was used to compare continuous variable data changes,the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variable data in two groups,and survival time was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results Forty-six patients were included in the study,with 21 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group.The procedures were successfully performed in all patients in the two groups.There was no procedure-related death in the two groups.Symptoms were improved similarly after procedures in the two groups.The mean quantity of drained bile per day [experimental group (521 +136) ml/d,control group (606 + 159 ) ml/d,t =1.930,P ＞ 0.05],decrease of the serum total bilirubin after the procedures [ experimental group (87 ± 51 ) μmol/L,control group( 105 ± 66 ) μmol/L ( t =1.061,P ＞ 0.05 ) ] and the median survival time ( experimental group 7.7 months,control group 6.9 months,x2 =0.610,P ＞0.05 ) of the patients showed no statistically significant difference between two groups.The mean WBC amount of patients was higher after the traditional procedure [ ( 10.9 ±5.2) × 109/L] than before the procedure [ (7.8 ±2.9) × 109/L] in the control group ( t =3.606,P ＜ 0.05 ),but the converse change occurred in the experimental group [ pre-procedure (8.2 ± 3.4) × 109/L ],post-procedure [ (7.4 ± 2.6) × 109/L] ( t =2.649,P ＜ 0.05 ).No reflux of duodenal juice was observed in all patients of the experimental group,and 1 patient had infection of biliary tract.The reflux was observed in 11 patients of the control group after conventional PTBIED.Of them,8 patients had infection of biliary tract.Incidence rate of infection of biliary tract in the control group was higher than that in the experimental group( x2 =5.381,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Improved PTBIED is convenient and feasible,and compared with traditional PTBIED,it can reduce the complications of infection of biliary tract.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and TCD-detected microembolic signals in patients with hypercoagulability related multiple acute cerebral infarcts within non-single arterial territories, and to explore the possi?ble underlying mechanisms. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on all clinical, laboratory, radiological and TCD monitoring records from patients with hypercoagulability related multiple acute cerebral infarcts within non-single arterial territories, who admitted to the neurology department in our hospital. Results The data from twenty-two cases were finally included in this study. All patients presented with acute-onset localized neurological dysfunction, e.g. hemi?paresis, aphasia, hemiparesthesia, dysarthria, hemianopsia and cortical blindness. Their hypercoagulability related diseas?es included 10 cases of systemic malignancy, 5 moderate to severe hyperhomocystynemia (HCY>50μmol/L), 2 nephrot?ic syndrome, 2 antiphospholipid syndrome, 1 ulcerative colitis, 1 polycythemia vera,1 paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobin?uria. In 18 cases, the hypercoagulability related diseases were diagnosed after their initial stroke onset. DWI showed mul?tiple disseminated acute cerebral infarcts in non-single arterial territories involving bilateral anterior or anterior plus pos?terior cerebral circulation simultaneously. Foci involved lobar cortex/subcortex of cerebral hemisphere in 22 cases, deep cerebral hemisphere in 12 cases, cerebellum foci in 10 cases,brainstem foci in 2 cases. TCD revealed microembolic sig? nals in ten of 22 patients monitored. Conclusions Patients with multiple acute cerebral infarcts involving non-single arte?rial territories, should be screened for hypercoagulability as in that hypercoagulability and microembolism might be in?volved in the etiology of cerebral infarction.

Objective To characterize the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings of patients with occult sys?temic malignant neoplasms, whose initial manifestation presented as multiple acute cerebral infarcts including coagula?tion function,radiological imaging and microembolic signals (MES) detection by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods All clinical records, laboratory hematological tests includ?ing hypercoagulable states measured by D-dimer levels, brain MRI including DWI, and TCD monitoring MES, the treat?ment and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed in 12 patients with multiple acute cerebral infarcts as the first manifes?tation of occult systemic malignancy. Results The clinical manifestations presented as localized neurological dysfunction, e.g. hemiparesis, aphasia, hemiparesthesia, dysarthria, vertigo and seizures, etc. DWI revealed multiple disseminated acute cerebral infarcts in multiple arterial territories such as the bilateral anterior or anterior plus posterior cerebral circu?lation in all patients. Eleven of 12 patients tested had elevated D-dimer. TCD detected MES in 5 of 7 patients. There were 12 patients diagnosed with occult systemic malignancy including 5 lung cancer, 3 pancreatic cancer, 1 gastric can?cer, 1 colon cancer, 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma and 1 metastatic poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma with unknown primary. Ten patients already had remote metastasis at diagnosis. The prognosis was usually poor and there were 7 cases with ischemic stroke recurrence, 4 cases with acute myocardial infarction, 3 cases died during hospitaliza?tion. Conclusions When patients present with multiple disseminated acute cerebral infarcts involving multiple arterial territories as initial manifestation, the underlying occult systemic malignancy should be considered. Hypercoagulopathy and MES might provide the clues to the diagnosis.

This study was aimed to explore the role and mechanism of AML1a in abnormal hematopoiesis in mice. Plasmids pMSCV-FLAG-AML1a-IRES-YFP and pMSCV-IRES-YFP together with envelope-encoding plasmid pECO and packaging plasmid pGP were respectively transfected into 293T cells by using a method of calcium phosphate precipitation to produce retrovirus. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) from male C57BL/6J mice were transfected with the retroviral vector MSCV expressing FLAG-AML1a fusion protein and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The cells were cultured in M3434 semi-solid medium for colony formation assay and in M5300 fluid medium containing murine IL-3 (mIL-3), IL-6 (mIL-6) and SCF (mSCF) for long-term culture. The results showed that transfection of AML1a into BMMNC enhanced colony formation, colony size of the AML1a group was significantly larger than that of the control group, and the colonies were mainly composed of CFU-E and CFU-GEMM. In the long-term culture, AML1a-transfected BMMNC showed differentiation block, while the control cells were in a more mature stage. It is concluded that AML1a may block the normal hematopoiesis at the stage of primitive progenitors. At the same time, AML1a also enhances the proliferation activity of primitive progenitor cells.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection