BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a gold standard to treat degenerative cervical syndrome. However, with the increasing application and follow-up data of ACDF, its adverse effects have been shown. In the past 20 years,artificial cervical disc replacement has been widely used in clinic, and the therapeutic effect is favorable.OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of cervical disc replacement versus ACDF for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy.METHODS: A computer-based online search of Medline (1966/2009-06), Embase (1966/2009-06), CBM (2009-06) and CNKI(2009-06), as well as Cochrane Back Group, and Cochrane library were performed to collect randomized controlled trials of cervical disc replacement versus ACDF. Data were evaluated by RevMan4.2.2 for Meta analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 15 studies were included. Meta-analysis indicates that no differences were found in the mean operation time, mean blood loss, mean hospital stay, satisfaction rate, and complication between two groups; the reoperation rate of the disc replacement group was lower than ACDF group in two years postoperation; disc replacement group was more efficient in improving cervical function indexes than ACDF group, and the postoperative SF-36 scores were significantly more than ACDF group. Moreover, postoperative motion range of affected segment was significantly greater in the disc replacement group than the ACDF, and the motion rage of adjacent segment was significantly increased in patients underwent ACDF compared with disc replacement treatment. However, there may be bias, more randomized controlled trials are required.

Objective To investigate the influence of high-level of glucose on the expression of ghrelin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods After 12 h glucose free culturing, the effects of different concentrations of glucose and different incubation times on expressions of ghrelin were observed in HUVECs. ( 1) The cells were treated with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L glucose for 2 h, then ghrelin mRNA expression levels were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of ghrelin were detected by ELISA. (2) The cells were treated with 10 mmol/L glucose for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 12 hours, ghrelin mRNA and protein levels were detected respectively. Results (1) The expression levels of ghrelin mRNA and protein decreased along with increased glucose concentrations, which showed no obvious changes when the glucose was above 15 mmol/L. (2) The expression levels of ghrelin mRNA and protein decreased with the prolonged incubation time. But more than 6 h culturing time showed no further effect on reducing the expression level of ghrelin. Conclusion High levels of glucose can inhibit the expression level of ghrelin, which may be one of the mechanisms of atherosclerosis.

Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Paranasal Sinuses

Objective To establish rat models with Alzheimer's disease(AD) induced by ?-amyloid,and to observe the effects of nicotine on learning and memorizing ability of the rats. Methods Aggregated A?1-40 was injected into the bilateral basal forebrain of the rats.Learning and memorizing ability of the rats were inspected through Morris water maze test.The effects of nicotine on learning and memorizing ability of the rats induced by ?-amyloid peptide were observed. Results The learning and memorizing ability of AD animal models injected aggregated(A?1-40) for 2 weeks decreased(P

BACKGROUND:With the development of technology,electromagnetic irradiation has been applied in many fields;meanwhile,health of people could be threatened by electromagnetic exposure.Reproductive system of males is the major target of electromagnetic irradiation.But under the condition of electromagnetic exposure,the change of testosterone and its mechanism remain unknown. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of electromagnetic irradiation on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR) and cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage(P450scc) in the tissues of the testis of the adult rats,and to preliminarily reveal the molecular mechanism of electromagnetic radiation that affects the synthesis of testosterone. DESIGN:A randomized controlled study. SETTING:Department of Nuclear Medicine and Staff Room of Labour Hygiene, Institute of Field Surgery,Daping Hospital of the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. PARTICIPANTS:The study was completed in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Staff Room of Labour Hygiene, Institute of Field Surgery,Daping Hospital of the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from June 2003 to May 2004.A total of 75 male Wistar rats of clean degree II,weighing 180 to 220 g,were randomly divided into 5 groups:control group,and groups of 3,6,24,72 hours after electromagnetic irradiation with 15 rats in each group. INTERVENTIONS:The rats were exposed to microwave with the peak power of 90 W/cm2 for 15 minutes successively,and all the rats survived the irradiation.The serum contents of testosterone of rats in the groups of 3,6,24,72 hours after electromagnetic irradiation and control group were measured by using radioimmunoassay(RIA) respectively;meanwhile the levels of the StAR and P450scc mRNA in testis tissue were also determined with RT-PCR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Serum contents of testosterone in the groups of 3,6,24,72 hours after electromagnetic irradiation and control group;the expression levels of the StAR and P450scc mRNA in testis tissues. RESULTS:The serum contents of testosterone,the StAR and P450scc mRNA levels at the point of 3 hours after electromagnetic irradiation were significantly lower than those in the control group,and they were decreased by 83.1% ,57.3% and 53.6% respectively(P< 0.01).At the point of 6 hours, although those were increased a little, but were still obviously lower than those of the control group, and they were decreased by 52.6%, 17.9% and 29.2% respectively(P< 0.01,0.05) compared with the control group, and were recovered to the normal level at the point of 24 hours, but the contents of testosterone, the StAR and P450scc mRNA levels were significantly reduced again after 72 hours, and they were decreased by 57.6% , 39.5% , 53.5% respectively compared with those in the control group(P< 0.01). CONCLUSION:Electromagnetic irradiation can affect the expression of StAR and P450scc mRNA in the Leydig's cells of the adult rats, thereby decreasing the synthesis of testosterone.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of the Standardized Bedside Swallowing Assessment (SSA)and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines(SIC)for bedside dysphagia screening of patients after acute cerebral infarction(ACI). Methods Eighty-six ACI patients within 24 h of stroke onset were enrolled in the study.Within 48 h after hospitalization,swallowing function assessments and dysphagia screenings were carried out with the SSA and SIG,as well as video fluroseopic swallowing studies(VFSSs).The SSA and SIG assessments generated sensitivities,specificities,positive predict values(PPVs),negative predict values(NPVs),positive likelihood ratios (PLRs)and negative likelihood ratios(NLRs).These were compared with the VFSS results. Results The SSA showed a sensitivity of 89.1%,specificity of 75%,PPV of 0.804,NPV of 0.833,PLR of 3.56,NLR of 0.15,and Kappa of 0.648 compared to the VFSS results.The SIG showed a sensitivity of 60.9%,specificity of 82.5%,PPV of 0.800,NPV of 0.647,PLR of 3.44,NLR of 0.47 and Kappa of 0.425 compared to the VFSS.The sensitivity of of the SIG.Both assessments correlated well with the VFSS results. Conclusions Both the SSA and the SIG are elfective in dysphagia screening.The SSA is more sensitive than the SIG and is more suitable for early screening.The SIG is helpful in guiding dysphagia management and evaluating curative effects.

Objective To discuss the role of leukocyte activation and inflammatory processes in the disease of chronic venous insufficiency(CVI).Methods The relevant literatures about the role of leukocyte activation and in- flammatory reaction in CVI were reviewed.Results The role of inflammatory reaction in occurrence and develop- ment of venous diseases has been studied a lot in recent years.It was found that the leukocyte activation and inflam- matory reaction are involved in the structural remodeling of venous valves and walls,leading to valvular incompe- tence and formation of varicose veins.Conclusion Leukocyte activation and inflammatory processes take important roles in the occurrence and progression of CVI.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of nitrile was performed under mild conditions and afford high efficiency and selectivity,thus being highly potential for the synthesis of optically active carboxylic acids and their derivatives.The type of nitrile-hydrolyzing enzymes and hydrolysis reactions,reaction characteristics,factors influencing the hydrolysis and the prospect for its application to industrial production were reviewed in this paper.

Animals ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, p16 ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, ras ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; pathology