Objective To describe a new surgical approach to treatment of scapular neck and body fractures and evaluate the clinical outcomes. Methods From December 2002 to October 2004, 13 cases of the scapular neck and body fractures including 9 males and 4 females with age range of 22-48 years (mean 31 years) were admitted into our hospital. There were seven cases with neck fractures, two with associated clavicle fractures, six with mere body fractures, seven with associated subluxation of humeral head and three with associated rib fractures. Internal fixation and open reduction reconstruction using titanium plate and screws were for treatment of scapular neck and body fractures in all 13 cases by making straight incision along lateral border of the scapula. Results The operation lasted for 40-80 minutes, with intraoperative blood loss for 30-80 ml. The follow up for 4-24 months showed average fracture healing time for 6-8 weeks and satisfactory results in 10 cases. Conclusion The surgical approach with straight incision along the lateral border of the scapula can attain perfect reduction and internal fixation of scapular neck and body fractures as well as satisfactory functional recovery with minor (trauma.)

0.05). The mean operation time of the LAVH group was significantly shorter than that of the TLH group [(95.6?18.2) minutes vs (112.9?24.5) minutes, t=-4.883, P=0.000]; whereas, the blood loss in the LAVH group was significantly more than the TLH group [(73.8?50.8) ml vs (49.8?26.9) ml, t=2.926, P=0.004]. Conclusions Laparoscopic hysterectomy is safe and feasible. Both LAVH and TLH have advantages. TLH is more suitable to experienced doctors.

The introduction of problem-based learning techniques into the teaching of anatomy has been subject to great contro- versies.This paper debates the rationale behind this concept using the example of the curriculum of Harvard Medical School.The anatomy curriculum is covered during the eight first weeks of the medical studies,and is an original combination of discussions of clinical cases in small groups,and work in gross anatomy,histology and radiology laboratories.The lectures are reduced to the minimum and emphasize general concepts.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of cordycepin,an effective component of cordyceps militaris, on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and its related eIF2α/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

METHODFirstly, 15 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups,the control group (Group A), the model group (Group B) and the cordycepin-treated group (Group C). After renal interstitial fibrotic model was successfully established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the mice in Group C were intraperitoneally administrated with cordycepin(5 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) and the ones in Group A and B were administrated with physiological saline for 5 days. At the end of the study, the obstructed kidneys were collected and detected for the pathological changes of RIF, and the mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the kidney by Northern blot. Secondly, after renal tubular epithelial (NRK-52E) cells cultured in vitro were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF) -β with or without cordycepin, the mRNA expressions of Col I and collagen type IV( Col IV) by Northern blot, and the protein expressions of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), phosphorylated eIF2α ( p-eIF2α), Smad2/3 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) were tested by Western blot.

RESULTIn vivo, cordycepin alleviated RIF in model mice, including improving fibrotic pathological characteristics and mRNA expressions of Col I and α-SMA. In vitro, cordycepin induced the high expression of p-elF2α, and inhibited the expressions of p-Smad2/3, Col I and Col IV induced by TGF-β in NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONCordycepin attenuates RIF in vivo and in vitro, probably by inducing the phosphorylation of eIF2α, suppressing the expression of p-Smad2/3, a key signaling molecule in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and reducing the expressions of collagens and α-SMA in the kidney.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Deoxyadenosines ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) in neonatal rats after bilateral common arteries occlusion.

METHODSNinety-six 3-day-old Sparuge-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: ischemia and control. Rats in the ischemia group were subjected to bilateral common arteries occlusion and the rats in the control group were sham-operated. All rats were administrated with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) (50 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 35 days after ischemia. Using brain paraffin sections and immunofluorescence assays, the number of newborn cells in the SVZ was counted. Newborn neural stem cells and oligodendrocytes in the SVZ were observed, and then double marked with BrdU and nestin or osmium tetroxide (O4).

RESULTSThe number of BrdU+ cells (neural stem cells) in the SVZ in the ischemia group was greater than in the control group 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after ischemia, and reached a peak at 4 days after ischemia (253.1+/- 49.3 vs 133.5+/- 17.7; P< 0.01). By 35 days after ischemia, the number of BrdU+/O4+ cells (oligodendrocytes) in the corpus callosum (56.0+/- 7.2 vs 17.0+/- 6.4; P< 0.01), the septal nuclei (45.0+/- 11.9 vs 20.5+/- 5.0; P< 0.01), the striatum (34.5+/- 4.2 vs 14.5+/- 5.8; P< 0.01) and the olfactory bulb (46.5+/- 6.6 vs 23.5+/- 8.4; P< 0.01) in the ischemia group increased significantly as compared to the control group (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBrain ischemia can activate the proliferation of neural stem cells in the SVZ and promote neural stem cells differentiation into oligodendrocytes. The immature brain may have the capacity for self-repair after ischemic brain injury.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cerebral Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Female ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of close reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating proximal humerus fractures in the aged.

METHODSFrom February 2012 to December 2013,39 patients with proximal humerus fractures were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO group, 21 cases) and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF group, 18 cases). Including 17 males and 22 females in the study, and aged from 67 to 88 years old with an average of (71.8 ± 5.2) years old. In MIPPO group, there were 11 males and 10 females with an average age of (70.0 ± 5.3) years old;and in ORIF group, there were 10 males and 8 females with an average age of (72.0 ± 4.2) years old. Operation time, blood loss during operation, fracture healing time and postoperative complications were recorded. The functions of the shoulder joints were assessed according to Constant-Murley score at final follow-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 11 to 27 months with an average of 18.1 months. The mean blood loss of the MIPPO group was (176.0 ± 57.4) ml,while the ORIF group was (356.0 ± 66.9) ml (t = 7.22,P = 0.01). The operation time of the MIPPO group was (47.4 ± 14.9) min, while the ORIF group was (92.7 ± 15.8) min (t = 0.79, P = 0.03). Fracture healing time in the MIPPO group and ORIF group was (17.6 ± 5.8), ( 21.7 ± 4.9) weeks, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean Constant-Murley score at final follow-up was 89.7 ± 14.5 in MIPPO group, and 81.8 ± 13.2 in ORIF group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMIPPO has advantages of little trauma, less blood loss, rapid recovery, less vascular damage and so on and can effectively treat the proximal humerus fracture in the aged.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Shoulder Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from n-BuOH portion of ethanolic extract from the stem of Luculia pinceana.

METHODThe column chromatographic techniques were applied to isolate constituents. A combination of IR, FAB-MS, NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy was used to identify structures.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction and their structures were elucidated as vogeloside (1), epi-vogeloside (2), loganoside (3), loganin (4), cincholic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (5), cincholic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (6), cincholic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-7 were isolated from the genus for the first time.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Whennearinfraredspectroscopyisappliedtoon-linemonitoringandcontroloftobaccoflavors,the variation in temperature can severely deteriorate the predictive performance of near infrared spectroscopic calibration models and results in a significant increases of the root mean square error value for the main constituents in syrup samples from 2. 4% to 29. 0%. In this paper, near infrared spectroscopy has been incorporated with an advanced calibration transfer method-loading space standardization to effectively eliminate the deteriorate effects of temperature variation on quantitative results and finally realize the fast and accurate on-line quantitative monitoring and control of tobacco flavors. The root mean square error value for the main constituents in syrup samples is successfully retained at a satisfying low level of 3 . 8%. The results of this paper will provide technical support for the preparation, preservation and use of tobacco flavors, and realize on-line process quality control of cigarettes.

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To study the in vitro effect and mechanism of Ginkgo biloba Extract 50 (GBE50) for inhibiting beta-amyloid (Abeta)-induced oxidative stress in rats' hippocampal neurons.

METHODSThe primary hippocampal neurons were cultured in vitro and divided into 4 groups, i. e. the normal control group (Ctrl), the Abeta group, the propanediol control group (PDO), and the six GBE50 concentrations groups (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 microg/mL). Excepted the Ctrl group, neurons were induced to oxidative stress by 20 gmolLAbeta25-35. The MTT and fluorescent probes labeling were used to observe the effect of GBE50 with different concentrations on the cell viability and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neurons. Furthermore, Western blot was used to detect the cytoplasmic/total cytochrome C (Cyto C) ratio and total intracytoplasmal Cyto C, and the effect of the expression of oxidative stress-related protein Cyto C and activated Caspase-3 in three GBE50 concentrations groups (25, 50, and 100 microg/mL).

RESULTSCompared with the Ctrl group, the cell vitality was obviously lowered and intracellular ROS generation significantly increased after induction of 20 micromol/L Abeta25-35 (both P < 0.05). Compared with the Abeta group, the cell vitality was evidently improved after treated with different GBE50 doses. Except for 10 microg/mL, the cell vitality could be obviously elevated along with increased drug concentrations (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the intracellular ROS generation decreased significantly in each GBE50 dose groups (P < 0.05). Abeta could increase the cytoplasmic/total Cyto C ratio and enhance the activated Caspase-3 expression significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with the Abeta group, among the three concentrations of GBE50, the Cyto C ratio was obviously lowered in the 100 microg/mL GBE50 group (P < 0.05), and the expression of activated Caspase-3 significantly decreased in 50 microg/mL and 100 microg/mL GBE50 groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS20 micromol/L Abeta25-35 could induce the generation of intracellular ROS in hippocampal neurons. GBE50 could inhibit Abeta induced intracellular oxidative stress of neurons through lowering the cytoplasmic/total Cyto C ratio and inhibiting the activation of apoptosis protein Caspase-3 expression.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This article presented our experience on transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein embolization (PVE) before hepatic resection for huge hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis.The preoperative future liver remnant/total estimated liver Volume (FLR/TELV) ratios of 5 patients were less than 40％,and preoperative TACE was implemented 3 weeks after PVE.In all these patients,right hepatectomy was successfully implemented.Preoperative TACE and PVE expanded the indication of hepatectomy,increased the safety of surgery and improved the curative rate.