OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical manifestation and diagnosis of ganglioneuroma in spine and investigate the clinical effect of surgical treatment.

METHODSThe clinical data of 6 patients underwent a surgery for ganglioneuroma in spine from January 2008 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 4 males and 2 females, aged from 2 to 63 years old with an average of 34.6 years. The courses of disease were from 3 days to 17 years. Five patients complicated with superficial hypesthesia in correlative level of tumor, and the muscle strength under tumor plane had decreased at different levels, with the strength of grade II-IV. Two cases complicated with hypermyotonia and positive bilateral Hoffmann's and Babinski sign. Five cases were sporadic lesion in correlative spinal canal and one case complicated with the giant occupying lesion in thoracic cavity.

RESULTSSix operations had been performed including 5 en bloc and 1 subtotal resection. Postoperative pathological results showed tumor cells scattered or fasciculated inserted into Schwann cells in the stroma. In 2 patients complicated with radiculalgia before operation, 1 case was relieved and 1 was invariant after operation. All 4 patients with preoperative dyscinesia in the limbs obtained improvement after operation. All the patients were followed up from 0.3 to 6.8 years with an average of 2.5 years. At the final follow-up, according to ASIA grade, 5 cases were good and 1 case was invariant. During the follow-up, only 1 patient experienced chemoradiation because of merging ganglioneuroblastoma and receiving subtotal resection. No recurrence in other 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONGanglioneuroma is a benign and rare tumors in spine. Clinically, radicular pain and sensory-motor disorders are the main manifestations. Its diagnosis depends on pathological examination. Prognosis of surgical treatment is good.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglioneuroma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single cervical disc herniation.

METHODSFrom August 2011 to June 2012,30 patients with single cervical disc herniation were treated with ACDF using zero-profile implant in one motion segment. There were 18 males and 12 females with a mean age of 55.3 years old (ranged, 36 to 68). Incidence of dysphagia, height of intervertebral space and condition of bone fusion were observed after operation. Spinal nerves function and clinical results were assessed according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Odom criteria.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 15.9 months. The mean intraoperative blood loss was (85.3 +/- 14.2) ml (70 to 120 ml) and operative time was (90.0 +/- 12.8) min (70 to 120 ml). Preoperative, postoperative at 3 months and 1 year, JOA score was 8.72 +/- 2.36 (5.0 to 13.0), 14.72 +/- 1.66 (11.5 to 17.0) and 15.65 +/- 1.03 (13.5 to 17.0), respectively. One year after operation, according Odom criteria to assess, 22 cases got excellent results, 7 good, 1 fair. All dysphagiaes vanished completely at 3 months after operation. The lost height of intervertebral space was (0.34 +/- 0.13) mm (0.1 to 0.6 mm) and (0.39 +/- 0.15) mm (0.2 to 0.7 mm) at 3, 12 months after operation, respectively. All patients obtained bone fusion at 1 year after operation.

CONCLUSIONThe zero-profile implant is a valid alternative to anterior cervical plate in treating single cervical disc herniation with ACDF, it has advantages of convenient procedure, satisfactory effect, lower incidence of postoperative dysphagia, reliable stability and less implant-related complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Safety ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Clara cell secretory protein(CCSP) in the Kunming mouse model of n-hexane long-term inhalation, and to discuss the functions of Clara cell in injury lung induced by n-hexane.

METHODS24 healthy mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: one control group and three n-hexane groups (4 w, 8 w and 12 w), 6 each group. Primary concentration of n-hexane was 17.6 g/m3, 8 hours per day, 6 d per week. After inhalation, n-hexane concentration of blood from celiac artery was detected. The lungs were embedded with paraffin and HE staining in the routine. The ratio of Clara cells with CCSP reaction in bronchiole and the number of macrophage cells with lysozyme reaction were determined by immuno-histochemistry.

RESULTSIn the poisoning groups, the average n-hexane concentration of blood was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). There were apparent pathologic damages in lungs of the poisoning mice. In poisoning 4 w, 8 w and 12 w groups, the ratio of Clara cells was significantly decreased [(73.33 +/- 4.21)%, (60.98 +/- 4.94)%, (34.04 +/- 2.33)% in terminal bronchiole, and (75.44 +/- 7.91)%, (58.54 +/- 4.86)%, (33.35 +/- 2.67)% in respiratory bronchiole] as compared with the control mice [(80.26 +/- 6.43)% and (81.74 +/- 7.75)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01], meanwhile the numbers of macrophage cells were gradually increased [(21.39 +/- 7.41), (28.54 +/- 10.73), (48.97 +/- 19.55) per microscopic field at 200x] in poisoning mice than those in control mice [(7.84 +/- 3.12) per microscopic field at 200x, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONIn injury lungs after n-hexane inhalation, Clara cells are the target cells of n-hexane toxicity effect. Clara cells play an extensive protective role in lung inflammation.

Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Hexanes ; toxicity ; Inhalation Exposure ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the selective strategy of the internal fixation methods in treating intertrochanteric femoral fracture by comparing the different methods.

METHODSData of 326 cases of intertrochanteric femoral fractures treated with different internal fixation methods were concluded. One hundred and sixty-five cases were treated with the dynamic hip screws (DHS group), 78 male, 87 female, age 38 to 98 years. One hundred and three cases were treated with the anatomical plates of proximal femur (AP group), 48 male, 55 female, age 39 to 89 years. Fifty-eight cases were treated with the fixation expandable proximal femoral nails (PFN group), 31 male, 27 female, age 41 to 92 years. According to Evans classification of intertrochanteric femoral fractures, fractures were divided into type I, II, III, IV and retro-intertrochanteric type. The cases of each type of three groups were DHS(12, 35, 61, 42, 15); AP(9, 23, 38, 25, 8); PFN (6, 13, 21, 13,5). Data of each group was collected for statistical analysis on the following aspects: operation time,blood loss, fluoroscopy exposures, drainage, clinical healing time of fracture, post-operative restored function and the total complications.

RESULTSThe difference of operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy exposures, drainage, clinical healing time of fracture, post-operative restored function were of statistical significance (P < 0.01). In comparing with group DHS and AP, group PFN was of less operation time, blood loss, drainage, clinical healing time of fracture, but more fluoroscopy exposures, and the post-operative restored function of group PFN was more satisfied. The difference of operative complications were of no statistical significance (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe fixation expandable proximal femoral nail is a good choice for intertrochanteric femoral fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the effects of mild-warm moxibustion on PICC-related upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in gastrointestinal cancer patients.Methods Totally 117 patients with PICC were randomly assigned into the experimental group and the control group.All patients received routine PICC care,the control group was given normal saline for sealing tubes,the experimental group was given mild-warm moxibustion and normal saline.Incidence of thrombosis and indicators of hemorheology were compared between two groups.Results For incidence of thrombosis:7 days after placement,incidence of thrombosis in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).For indicators of hemorheology:the whole blood viscosity at low shear and high shear,erythrocyte aggregation index,whole blood viscosity,and hematocrit were significantly lower in the experimental group than the control group.Conclusion Mild-warm moxibustion can effectively prevent thrombotic formation in gastrointestinal cancer patients with PICC by influencing hemorheology.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jianpi Liqi Recipe (JLR) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) relevant metabolic enzymes and CYP3A4 (the same enzyme of many chemotherapeutics) of mice with human gastric cancer transplanted tumor.

METHODSTotally 80 mice were randomly divided into the model group, the chemotherapy group, the JLR group, and the combination group (using chemotherapy combined JLR), 20 in each group. The human gastric cancer transplanted tumor mouse model was duplicated by hypodermic inoculating MKN-8 tumor cell suspension from the left armpit. Physiological saline or JLR was given to those in the model group or the JLR group at 0.25 mL each time, twice daily by gastrogavage from the 2nd day after transplantation. Mice in the chemotherapy group were given 0.25 mL physiological saline, twice daily by gastrogavage 2 days after transplantation, for 5 days in succession, and then they were peritoneal injected with 5-FU at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg, once daily for 5 days in succession from the 7th day of transplantation. Those in the combination were given 0.25 mL JLR, twice daily by gastrogavage, for 5 days in succession, and then they were peritoneal injected with 5-FU at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg, once daily for 5 days in succession from the 7th day of transplantation. The mRNA expressions of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and CYP3A4 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the model group and the chemotherapy group, mRNA expressions of TP and CYP3A4 obviously increased, mRNA expression of DPD obviously decreased in the JLR group and the combination group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in mRNA expressions of TP, DPD, and CYP3A4 between the JLR group and the combination group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJLR could promote the activation of 5-FU, suppress the decomposition and inactivation of 5-FU in the tumor tissue of mice, and improve the chemotherapeutic efficacy through up-regulating mRNA expressions of TP and CYP3A4, and suppressing the mRNA expression of DPD.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Thymidine Phosphorylase ; genetics ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Castanopsis fordii Hance.METHODS The 80％ ethanol extract from C.fordii leaves was isolated and purified by Sephadex LH-20,MCI,silica and semi-preparative column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by spectral data.RESULTS Nine compounds were isolated and identified as quercetin (1),quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2),myricetin 3-rhamnoside (3),myricetin-3-O-(2"-O-galloyl)-α-rhamnopyranoside (4),quercetin 3-O-(2"-O-galloyl)-α-rhamnopyranoside (5),kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (6),3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxy-(2R,3R)-flavanonol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7),astilbin (8),isastilbin (9).CONCLUSION Compounds 2,3 are isolated from this plant for the first time,compounds 1,4-9 are first obatined from genus Castanopsis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of andrographolide (AD) on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric cells line BGC-823.

METHODSMTT assay, flow cytometry and Annexin-V/PI double-staining flow cytometry assay were used to evaluate the effect of AD on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of BGC-823 cells respectively. Optical microscope and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the cell morphological changes.

RESULTSA time- and concentration-dependent proliferative inhibition effect of AD was demonstrated in BGC-823 cells. AD concentration lower than 7.5 mg/L possessed weak inhibitory effect,while concentration between 15.0-60.0 mg/L possessed higher inhibitory effect. The concentration higher than 60.0 mg/L had no significant increase of inhibitory effect. IC50 of AD at 24, 48 and 72 h was (35.3±4.3), (25.5±3.5) and (18.2±2.7) mg/L respectively. Compared with the negative control group, the number of G0/G1 phase cells increased significantly (P<0.05), while the number of S and G2/M phase cells decreased after incubation with AD for 48 h, and the alteration was in a concentration-dependent manner. AD arrested BGC-823 cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. After incubation with 7.5, 10.0 and 15.0 mg/L AD for 24 h, the early apoptotic rates of BGC-823 cells were (19.3±4.7)%, (29.4±4.1)% and (52.7±6.7)% respectively, and the late apoptotic rates were (10.8±1.8)%, (10.9±4.7)% and (14.7±4.8)% respectively. Both the early apoptotic rates and the late apoptotic rates increased significantly compared to the control group (all P<0.05),and the alteration was in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONAndrographolide can inhibit BGC-823 cells proliferation, arrest BGC-823 cells in G0/G1 phase and induce apoptosis, and may be a potential traditional Chinese medicine with anti-cancer effect.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) can convert farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to amorpha-4, 11-diene, a precursor of artemisinin. ADS plays an important role in the biosynthesis of artemisinin. This review summarizes the molecular biology and metabolic engineering study of ADS in recent years. The genomic DNA and its cDNA sequences of amorpha-4, 11-diene synthase were cloned from Artemisia annua L. The cDNA encoding amorpha-4, 11-diene synthase contains a 1 641 bp open reading frame coding for 546 amino acids. ADS shows a broad pH optimum and an absolute requirement for divalent metal ions as cofactors. The specificity of ADS to the substrates and products is not high and the formation of amorpha-4, 11-diene by ADS from FPP is achieved by an initial 1, 6-closure with subsequent 1, 10-closure. The ADS cDNA cloned from Artemisia annua L, or totally synthesized by PCR, was introduced into different hosts including E. coli, S. cerevisiae, Nicotiana tabacum L. Arabidopsis thaliana and A. nidulans resulting in varied engineering microorganisms and cells producing amorpha-4, 11-diene. The way to improve the production of amorpha-4, 11-diene was investigated by two strategies such as improving the supply of substrate and directing FPP flux to amorpha-4, 11-diene production from competing pathways.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimalarials ; metabolism ; Arabidopsis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Artemisia annua ; enzymology ; genetics ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Aspergillus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Metabolic Engineering ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tobacco ; enzymology ; genetics