OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes and managements of postoperative neurological complications in pedicle screw internal fixation for the treatment of degenerative scoliosis (DS).

METHODSThe data of 325 patients with degenerative scoliosis underwent pedicle screw internal fixation was retrospectively analyzed from February 2000 to April 2013. There were 22 patients with postoperative neurological complications. Of them, 16 cases complicated with numbness or pain of lower limb and 6 cases with obvious sensation and motor function decreasing in lower limb. The patients were treated with trophic nerve, dehydration, glucocorticoids, reoperation according to the causes of disease. Postoperative at 3, 6 months and 1 year later, according to VAS scoring and muscule power improvement,the recovery of nerve injury was assessed.

RESULTSPostoperative at 3,6 months and 1 year later,VAS scoring of 16 patients with slightly nerve injury was 2.81 +/- 0.66, 1.94 +/- 0.77, 0.63 +/- 0.62, respectively, and the symptoms had obviously improved than 1 week after operation (P < 0.05). Postoperative at 3 months, among 6 patients with severe nerve injury,muscule power improved in 2 cases and no-improved in 4 cases, with VAS scoring of 4.83 +/- 1.17; postoperative at 6 months,muscule power still had not improved in 3 cases,with VAS scoring of 4.17 +/- 0.75; both of the VAS scoring had not significant difference than 1 week after operation (P > 0.05). One year later, there was no muscule power improvement in 2 cases,with VAS scoring of 3.00 +/- 1.26, there was significant difference than 1 week after operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe causes of postoperative neurological complication in internal fixation for the treatment of dengenerative scoliosis includes: dragging and torsion injury of spinal marrow and nerve root because of excessive orthopedic of scoliosis; inderect injury of nerve root because of malposition of pedicle screw; nerve functional impairment caused by spinal cord ischemia. Avoiding the above factors could decrease the complication and early discovery and treatment could decrease the adverse outcomes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore MR perfusion imaging characteristics of rabbit liver.Methods MR perfusion imaging was performed in 10 New Zealand rabbits)weight:2.5～3.0 kg)respectively.The MR perfusion imaging protocol consisted of T1-weighted fast field echo(FFE)sequences with a field of view of 355 mm×75 mm,matrix 89×256,TR/TE of 4.3/1.4 millisecond,slice thickness of 5 mm,intersection gap of 1 mm,NSA of 1.This sequence was repeated 65 times,in 4 slices(in total,80 seconds).The original data were transmitted to PHILIPS workstation and formed MR perfusion images automatically.The MR perfusion images in different liver tissues were observed and analyzed.Results The rabbit liver profiles were depicted on hepatic blood flow(HBF)and hepatic blood volume(HBV)images.Time-intensity curves derived from ROIs drawn in abdominal aorta appeared as a type of rapid increase and decrease,gradually increase in hepatic vein and slowly increase and decrease in normal liver tissues.The peak of MR signal intensity of abdominal aorta,hepatic vein and normal liver tissues were 496±131,323±92,194±58 separately.Conclusion MR perfusion imaging can be performed for rabbit liver successfully by using MR TFE series.The rabbit liver profiles are depicted by HBF and HBV images.The hemodynamics of different liver tissues can be responded by time-intensity curves preliminarily.

Objective: To study the correlation between MR perfusion imaging and pathology after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using VX2 liver cancer model and to provide a theoretical basis to evaluate the curative effect of TACE. Methods; Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits (weight: 2.5-3.0kg) were randomly divided into three groups, with 5 in each group (group 1, pre-TACE; group2, 3 days after TACE; group 3,1 week after TACE). The rabbit VX2 hepatic carcinoma models were presented in all rabbits. All of the three groups received TACE at three weeks after the tumor was implanted. The MR perfusion imaging was performed before chemoembolization, at 3 days and 1 week after chemoembolization respectively for group 1, 2 and 3. Each animal was then sacrificed for pathology observation after MR examination. Results: The lesions assessed before TACE were hyperintense compared with the surrounding liver parenchyma on DWI images. The volume of neoplastic cells became large. Nucleus was hypertrophic with different size and shape. Phase of nucleous mitosis showed in many cells and necrosis was hardly seen. No obvious difference was found between the peripheral area and the core area. At 3 days after TACE, the heterogeneous hypo-intense was observed on DWI images. Many nuclear fragmentation and caryolysis appeared on pathology. Neoplasm necrosis was seen. At 1 week after TACE, the heterogeneous hypo-intense areas became larger. Light microscopy showed incomplete necrosis. There were increased karyopycnosis and nuclear fragmentation. Conclusion: MR perfusion imaging of VX2 liver cancer corresponds well with pathology and can reflect the outcome of liver cancer after TACE.

Objective To establish a TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect Vibrio vulnificus based on hemolysin gene(vvhA)that coding cytolysin.Method By using software Primer Express, the PCR primers and TaqMan probe,which located in the conserved region of vvhA gene sequence,were designed for establishment of a TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect 100 bp amplicon from V.vulnificus DNA.A recombinant plasmid pMD19-vvhA100 as a positive control during detection was constructed using gene cloning technique.Minimal amplification cycles(Ct value)and fluorescence intensity enhancement (△Rn value)were used as observing index to optimize the reaction conditions of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.The DNAs with different concentrations from V.vulnificus and other eight bacteria and pMD19- vvhA100 were applied as templates to determine the specificity,sensitivity and reappearance of the TaqMan real- time fluorescent quantitative PCR.ICR mice were intraperitoneally,subcutaneously and orally infected with V. vulnificus,respectively.The detection effect of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was measured using the specimens of peripheral blood,subcutaneous tissue and intestinal content collected from the infected mice.Results The established TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR showed positive results only for V. vulnificus DNA and pMD19-vvhA100.The detection effectiveness of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was as high as 0.01 ng of V.vulnificus DNA or 103 copies of pMD19-vvhA100.The SD values of the detection results repeated for three times using pMD19-vvhA100 with different concentrations were lease than 0.79. The detection results of TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were positive for all the specimens of peripheral blood and subcutaneous tissue.Conclusions The TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR established in this study for V.vulnificus vvhA gene detection has advantages such as quickness,stability, sensitivity and specificity,indicating this method can be used for clinical laboratory diagnosis of septicemia and wound infection caused by V.vulnificus.

Aim To evaluate the anti-tumor activity of the extract from the root of Actinidia chinensis planch in vitro and in vivo. Methods Active components from the root of Actinidia chinensis planch were isolated by traditional phytochemical techniques. The in vitro anti-tumor activity was determined by sulforhodamine B assay and the in vivo anti-tumor activity was evaluated using experimental mouse tumor models and human tumor xenografts in nude mice. Results Powdered air-dried roots of Actinidia chinensis planch were percolated with methanol at room temperature thrice. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness in vacuo and then was further extracted with ethyl acetate, n-butanol , and chloroform. The fraction extracted by chloroform displayed the most potent activity against several tumor cell lines including hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells, non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells, lymphoma Ramos cells, and breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Further more, the anti-tumor efficacy of the chloroform fraction was confirmed in Bel-7402 xenografts in nude mice with the percentage inhibition of 38.0 %. Conclusion The extract of the root of Actinidia chinensis planch has anti-tumor activity, and the active components are mainly in the fraction extracted by chloroform.

AIMTo study the effect of XW630 on expression of pro-oncogene c-myc in the long bones of fetal mice in vitro for postulating the mechanism by which XW630 exerts its effect on bone.

METHODSThe fetuses of pregnant mice were removed on day 16 of gestation, the long bones of the forelimbs of female fetal mice were freed of muscle and soft tissue and cultured in a specific device for 48 h in BGJb medium treated with 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-8) and 1 x 10(-9) mol.L-1 XW630 in the final medium. After cultured for 48 h, the long bones were harvested and immunohistochemical analysis was performed for determination of c-Myc protein expression in epiphyseal plates. The areas of positive cells in the resting zone, proliferative zone and hypertrophic zone in epiphyseal plate were determined under image analytic system.

RESULTSWhen the concentration of XW630 in the medium was 1 x 10(-9) mol.L-1, the area of c-Myc positive cells increased in the proliferative zone compared with 1 x 10(-9) mol.L-1 in the estrone group, significant increase was also observed in the resting zone compared with the control group. When the concentration of XW630 in medium was 1 x 10(-8) or 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1, stronger expression than that in the control group and the estrone group at the same concentration was observed in each of the three zones.

CONCLUSIONThe estrogenic effect of XW630 on bone was stronger than that of estrone. XW630 may promote proliferation and differentiation of chondroncytes by promoting c-Myc protein expression in chondroncytes. Thus, endochondral bone formation was enhanced.

Animals ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; Culture Techniques ; Estrone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fetus ; Mice ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Tetracyclines ; pharmacology ; Ulna ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish a TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect Vibrio vulnificus based on the hemolysin gene (vvhA) coding cytolysin.

METHODSPrimers and probes in the conserved region of the vvhA gene sequence were designed for the TaqMan real-time PCR to detect 100 bp amplicon from V. vulnificus DNA. Recombinant plasmid pMD19-vvhA100 was constructed and used as a positive control during the detection. Minimal amplification cycles (Ct value) and fluorescence intensity enhancement (DeltaRn value) were used as observing indexes to optimize the reaction conditions of TaqMan real-time PCR. The TaqMan assay for the detection of Vbirio vulnificus was evaluated in pure culture, mice tissue which artificially contaminated Vibrio vulnificus and clinical samples.

RESULTSThe established TaqMan real-time PCR showed positive results only for Vibrio vulnificus DNA and pMD19-vvhA100. The standard curve was plotted and the minimum level of the vvhA target from the recombinant plasmid DNA was 10(3) copies with a Ct value of 37.94+/-0.19, as the equivalent of 0.01 ng purified genomic DNA of Vibrio vulnificus. The results detected by TaqMan PCR were positive for the 16 clinical samples and all the specimens of peripheral blood and subcutaneous tissue of mice which were infected with Vibrio vulnificus.

CONCLUSIONTaqMan real-time PCR is a rapid, effective, and quantitative tool to detect Vibro vulnificus, and can be used in clinical laboratory diagnosis of septicemia and wound infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vibrio vulnificus ; isolation & purification

Derris eriocarpa, a traditional Chinese medicine belonging to the family of Leguminosae, is widely distributed mainly over Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou of China. Modern pharmacological researches on this herb showed that it had extensive bioactivities, such as promoting urination, removing dampness and cough and reducing inspissated mucus and other biological activities. The extensive studies on the chemical constituents of this plant have resulted in the isolation of triterpenoids, steroids, fatty acid and others, but the flavone compounds haven't reported before. In our further research on the ethyl acetate of this plant, nine flavone compounds were obtained by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, semi-prep HPLC, polyamide column chromatography and recrystallization for separation and purification. The structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including MS, NMR experiments and comparison with spectroscopic data in the literature, respectively, as diosmetin (1), 3, 3'-di-O-methylquercetin (2), afromosin (3), 6, 3'-dihydroxy-7, 4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (4), odoratin (5), 7, 3'-dihydroxy-8, 4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (6), 6, 4'-dihydroxy-7, 3'-dimethoxyisoflavone (7), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-3, 3', 5'-trimethoxyflavone (8), and alpinumisoflavone (9). All these compounds were isolated from Derris eriocarpa How for the first time. And the in vitro assays showed that compound 2 possessed moderate inhibitory activity against human cancer cells K562 and HEL.
Derris ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of IFN or oxymatrine in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSForty patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine were randomized to three groups: group A, 14 patients with addition of IFN alpha-2b 3MU to ongoing lamivudine, daily, one month, followed by the same dose given every other day, five months; group B, 15 patients with addition of injectable oxymatrine 60 mg daily, three months, followed by oral oxymatrine every day, three months, and group C, 11 patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine alone. The HBV DNA level in serum, HBeAg seroconversion, and ALT level were detected at the end of the treatment.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of treatment, HBV DNA became negative in 35.73% patients treated with combination with IFN, and in 13.3% patients treated with combination with oxymatrine. ALT level was normal in 85.71% or 86.66% of patients, respectively. In none of the patients under ongoing treatment with lamivudine alone HBV DNA or HBeAg became negative, and ALT level was normal in 36.36% of patients.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicated that IFN or oxymatrine in combination with ongoing lamivudine therapy provided effective antiviral therapy in patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV. The addition of IFN or oxymatrine to ongoing lamivudine therapy in lamivudine-resistant patients led to significant inhibition of viral replication and improvement in liver function after 6 months of therapy.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the infection of human parvovirus B19, human bocavirus (HBoV) and human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) in blood samples among patients with liver disease in Nanjing by molecular detection.

METHODSNested PCR assays were designed and validated to detect B19, HBoV and PARV4, respectively. The assays were used to screen three parvoviruses in blood samples from 95 patients with different liver disease in Nanjing. The parvovirus infection was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe detection limits were 10 copies of genomic DNA equivalents per reaction for each assays and the good specificity were observed. The frequency of B19 and HBoV were 2/95 (2.1%) and 9/95 (9.5%) in blood samples respectively. No PARV4 was detected. HBoV was detected in 3/5 patients with drug-induced hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONBoth B19 and HBoV infection were detected in blood from patients with liver disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Coinfection ; virology ; Female ; Human bocavirus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parvovirus ; isolation & purification ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viremia ; virology