Objective To study the effect ofβ?sodium aescinate on the expressions of aquaporin?4 and aquaporin?9 in rats with spinal cord inju?ry. Methods A total of 150 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham group(n=50),spinal cord injury(SCI)group(n=50)andβ?sodi?um aescinate group(n=50). The experimental animal models was established by modified Allen’s model. The Basso,Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB)locomotor rating scale and inclined plane test were used to evaluate rat behavioral consequences after injury.The immunohistochemical staining and western blotting assay were performed to observe the expressions of aquaporin?4 and aquaporin?9. Results Compared with sham group,BBB score and inclined plane test score of SCI group andβ?sodium aescinate group were significantly lower at each time point(P<0.05);however,the functional recovery was significantly better inβ?sodium aescinate group than in SCI group at each time point from 7 d after SCI(P<0.05). The aquaporin?4 and aquaporin?9 positive expressions of rats in sham group were lower significantly than rats in SCI group andβ?sodium aescinate group(P<0.05);however,the aquaporin 4 and aquaporin 9 positive expressions of rats inβ?sodium aescinate group was lower signifi?cantly than rats in SCI group at each time point(P<0.05). Conclusion β?sodium aescinate can protect the neurologic function in rats with spi?nal cord injury by decreasing aquaporin?4 and aquaporin?9 protein expression.

Objective To search different weeks′ gestation atrioventricular size and cardiac function change in Hb Bart′s fetal edema syndrome. Methods Color Doppler echocardiography was adopted to study 67 cases with Hb Bart′s fetal edema syndrome in different weeks′ gestation.Atrial and ventricular diameter and cardiac function were measured, and compared with those of normal fetuses in same weeks′ gestation.Results In the cases with Hb Bart′s fetal edema syndrome,the heart was enlarged from 25 weeks′ gestation,right atrial enlargement came earliest, along with gestation weeks′ followed with right ventricle,left atrium and left ventricle aggravated enlargement.From 29 weeks′ gestation left and right cardiac diastolic function was involved with complicated pericardial,pleural,peritoneal effusion the damage was clearer.During 33 weeks′ gestation,left and right heart systolic function was involved.From 25 weeks′ gestation,fetal foramen ovale began to enlarge,and the enlarged foramen was difficult to be differentiated from secondary atrial septal defect.Conclusions Echocardiography is sensitive to Hb Bart′s fetal edema syndrome,and provides reliable basis for early clinical intervention.

BACKGROUND:Poor implant anchorage in osteoporotic bone impacts its stability and requires the new solutions for the treatment. The augmentation technique with bone cements or bone substitutes is one strategy for the solutions. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the transient stability of pedicle screw augmented using calcium sulfate cement in osteoporotic vertebral body. METHODS:Fresh calf lumbar vertebrae were selected to measure bone density, and then classified into four groups:the group by pedicle screw in normal vertebral body;the group by pedicle screw augmented using calcium sulfate cement in normal vertebral body;the group by pedicle screw in osteoporotic vertebral body;the group by pedicle screw augmented using calcium sulfate cement in osteoporotic vertebral body. Pedicle screw of equal specification was twisted into the tested pedicle of vertebral arch. The maximum axial screw pul-out strength and the maximum energy required to failure were recorded so as to assess the transient stability of pedicle screw augmented using calcium sulfate cement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The maximum screw pul-out strength and the maximum energy required to failure were significantly less in osteoporotic vertebral body compared with normal vertebral body (P<0.05). The maximum screw pul-out strength and the maximum energy required to failure after augmentation using calcium sulfate cement were significantly increased (P<0.05). The maximum screw pul-out strength and the maximum energy required to failure after augmentation using calcium sulfate cement were identical between normal group and osteoporosis group. These results suggested that calcium sulfate cement could effectively increase the transient stability of pedicle screw. Calcium sulfate cement is effective in augmenting fixation in osteoporotic bone, and has potential in clinical application.

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of SNPscan and Sanger sequence which are both used to detect the common deafness gene mutations in non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in Gansu Province.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from Dongxiang, Yugu and Baoan people with moderately severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in Gansu province to extract genomic DNA.SNPscan was used to detect the 115 mutations in the common pathogenic GJB2 gene, SLC26A4 gene and mtDNA gene.Results We used the SNPscan to screen the mutation of GJB2 gene,mtDNA A1555G and mtDNA C1494T, SLC26A4 gene of sensorinural deafness patients from Gansu Province.The mutation rate of these three genes was 23.18% (35/151), and the mutation rate of Dongxiang, Yugu, Baoan was 21.31% (26/122), 54.54% (6/11), 16.67% (3/18), respectively.Compared with the Sanger sequence, the results were statistically insignificant(P>0.05).The detection rates in the three genes of SNPscan were 11.26% (17/151), 1.32% (2/151) and 0.66% (1/151),respectively , and the detection rates of Sanger sequence were 9.93% (15/151), 1.32% (2/151) and 0.66% (1/151) ,respectively.The results of the two methods were compared.The results were statistically insignificant (P>0.05).Time, cost and flux, SNPscan method is superior to Sanger sequencing.Conclusion Compared with the Sanger sequence, SNPscan is more lighter in workload, less time-consuming, higher-throughput, lower cost, and can get more meaningful mutations and reduce the false negative rates.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty is an effective measure to treat hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis.Ankylosing spondylitis patients have different degrees of anemia after total hip arthroplasty. The hidden blood loss accounts for a large proportion of perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty, and can affect the recovery of joint function.OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors of hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty in patients with hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis.METHODS: We studied a consecutive series of 70 hips in 60 patients with ankylosing spondylitis hip involvement who were converted to cementless total hip arthroplasty. The average age of surgery was 35.12 years. The hidden blood loss was calculated according to Cross formula linear equation. The effects of operation time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate,C-reactive protein, body mass index, Bath ankylosing spondylitis radiology index, allogenic blood transfusion, and osteoporosis on hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were analyzed. The patients were divided into the high blood loss group (≥ 480 mL) and the low blood loss group (< 480 mL) according to the high blood loss. Risk factors of high hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were analyzed by single factor analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis (SPSS 17.0).RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The hidden blood loss after primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis was (737.76±419.18) mL, and the total blood loss was (1312.83±487.41) mL, and the percentage of hidden blood loss was 51.48%. The high blood loss group included 41 hips, and the low blood loss group included 29 hips; and the ratio was 41:29. (2) Single factor analysis showed that the operation time, Bath ankylosing spondylitis radiology index and osteoporosis, allogenic blood transfusion, decrease of hemoglobin were significantly associated with high hidden blood loss. (3) Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Bath ankylosing spondylitis radiology index,allogeneic blood transfusion, and decrease of hemoglobin were significantly associated with high hidden blood loss. (4)Hidden blood loss is an important portion of total blood loss after primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Bath ankylosing spondylitis radiology index, allogeneic blood transfusion and decrease of hemoglobin are risk factors for high hidden blood loss.

BACKGROUND:The patients undergoing lumbar discectomy have a higher risk of recurrence. There are many different ways of reoperation, but there are few studies on spine-pelvis sagittal morphology of patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of discectomy and posterior lumbar interbody fusion on spine-pelvis sagittal morphology of patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation. METHODS:Sixty-one patients of recurrent lumbar disc herniation after discectomy were divided into discectomy group (n=30) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion group (n=31) according to the re-repair method. The height of intervertebral disc, lumbar lordosis and pelvic projection angle in the two groups before and after treatment were measured and compared based on standing spine lateral X-ray images. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After treatment, the height of intervertebral disc, lumbar lordosis and pelvic projection angle of patients in discectomy group were not significantly changed compared with before treatment (P> 0.05). After treatment, the height of intervertebral disc, lumbar lordosis and pelvic projection angle of patients in posterior lumbar interbody fusion group were significantly increased compared with those before treatment (P< 0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences in the height of intervertebral disc, lumbar lordosis and pelvic projection angle between discectomy and posterior lumbar interbody fusion groups (P > 0.05).After treatment, the height of intervertebral disc, lumbar lordosis and pelvic pelvic projection angle were significantly increased in the posterior lumbar interbody fusion group compared with the discectomy group (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that discectomy cannot significantly change the spine-pelvis sagittal morphology of patients subjected to re-operation, but compared with the discectomy treatment, posterior lumbar interbody fusion has a greater impact on spine-pelvis sagittal morphology of patients subjected to re-operation.

BACKGROUND:Jumonji domain-containing histone demethylase (JMJD) can promote osteoblast differentiation, and estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) can promote osteoblast differentiation and increase bone formation. However, little is reported on the association between postmenopausal osteoporosis andJMJD and ERRα. OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in the JMJD2 family expression in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: Postmenopausal patients with osteoarthritis of the hip scheduled for total hip arthroplasty, aged 50-70 years, were enroled, including 10 postmenopausal osteoporosis patients (experimental group) and 10 patients with no postmenopausal osteoporosis (control group). During the arthroplasty, the cancelous bone specimens from the femoral head were colected. Then, immunohistochemistry and western blot assay were used to detect expression of histone demethylase (JMJD2A, JMJD2B), histone methylation (H3K9me3, H3K36me3) and ERRα. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the experimental group, the expressions of JMJD2A, JMJD2B and ERRαwere from weakly positive to positive; these expressions were significantly lower in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.05). The expressions of H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the expression of JMJD2A and JMJD2B is consistent with the expression of ERRα in the patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, and JMJD is likely to serve as an antagonistic enzyme of osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Heart valve tissue engineering is aimed to construct heart valve grafts with the physiological function and biological activity by using engineering and life science principles and methods, but still in the animal experiment stage.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the commonly used tissue engineered heart valve, and to evaluate the reliability of different types of heart valve biomaterials.METHODS: Using "biological materials, heart valve, scaffolds, reviews, tissue engineering" in Chinese as the key words, a computer retrieval was performed for articles published from January 2000 to December 2010. Articles regarding the biomaterials in tissue engineered heart valve were included; the duplicated research or meta-analysis were excluded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 20 papers about the biomaterials and tissue engineering heart valve were screened out. Due to the superior biocompatibility and three-dimensional conformation, natural scaffold materials exhibit unparalleled bionic property compared with other materials. Synthetic biodegradable polymer materials with good mechanical properties and controllability has thus been highly favored by researchers, while the composite scaffold materials of natural materials and polymer materials provides a new strategy and direction for the investigations of tissue engineered heart valve, and has broad application prospects.

Objective:To explore the efifcacy and safety for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of left bundle branch guided by left bundle potential (LBP), X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System in canine model.
Methods:The RFCA of left bundle branch was conducted in 13 dogs. A mapping catheter was positioned in right atrium to record right-sided His-bundle (R-His) potential, and an ablation catheter via right femoral artery was retrograded to left ventriclefor LBP mapping and ablation. Meanwhile, EnSiteNavX System was used to identify R-His, L-His and LBP at the same time. The potential characteristics in dogs with successful ablation were observed, the PR interval, QRS shape and time limit, AH interval, HV interval, the A/V electro-gram ratio in ablationcatheter at before and after ablation were recorded. The procedural time and X-ray exposure time between LBP with X-ray image method and LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System method were compared.
Results: There were 9/13 dogs received successful left bundle branch ablation, 3 dogs failed and 1 suffered from complete A-V block. At the successful ablation target site, the LBP-V was (17.8 ± 2.6) ms with the range of (13-21) ms, and the A/V electro-gram ratio<1/10. The procedural time and X-ray expose time were signiifcantly decreased in LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System method than those in LBP with X-ray image method P=0.007 and P<0.001.
Conclusion:Under the LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System guidance method, left bundle branch could be safely and effectively ablated to establish left bundle branch block (LBBB) model in experimental canine.

Background It has found that ischemic postconditioning (IPO) might decrease pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion (I/ R) injury,which is one of the main reasons of lung injury caused by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).It was found that aquaporins (AQPs) play a role in the maintenance of fluid homeostasis.But it is still unclear whether IPO influences the expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1).This study was designed to investigate whether IPO can reduce CPB-related lung injury and affect the expression of AQP1 of lungs.Methods Twelve healthy dogs were divided into control group (C group) and ischemia postconditioning group (IPO group).CPB procedures were implemented.Ten minutes later,the left pulmonary artery was separated and blocked.Postconditioning consisted of two cycles of 5-minute pulmonary artery reperfusion/5-minute reocclusion starting at the beginning of reperfusion.The 2×4 cm tissues of both sides of pulmonary apex,superior,middle and inferior lobe were taken before CPB (T1),before occlusion and reopening of left pulmonary artery (T2,T3),and 2 hours after CPB (T4).Samples were used to evaluate lung injury degrees and to detect the expression of AQP1.At T1 and T4,blood was collected from femoral artery to calculate pulmonary function.Results At T4,each pulmonary function showed significant deterioration compared with T1.Lung injury could be found at the onset of CPB.However,the expression of AQP1 decreased and wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) increased after T2.In the left lung of C group,the worst pulmonary function and structures were detected.The slightest changes were discovered in the right lung of C group.A close relationship between W/D and lung injury score was found.The lung injury score was negatively related with the expression of AQP1.It was found that the expression of AQP1 was negatively connected with W/D.Conclusions In dog CPB models,lung injury induced by CPB was related with down regulated expression of AQP1.AQP1 is believed to be involved in the mechanisms of lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury caused by CPB.IPO increases the expression of AQP1,provides a protective effect on lung suffering from CPB,and alleviates CPB-related lung injury.