OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anticonvulsion effect of 4-amino-2-methyl cantharidinmide (AMC) and its influences on epileptiform electroencephalogram (EcoG), contents of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABAB receptor. METHODS: Rat model of penicillin-induced-convulsion (PIC) was established by intracortical (ic) penicillin (PNC) injection in rat motor cortex. Valproate (VPA) was used as the positive control drug. Convulsion seizure latency and racine behavior study graduations were used as indexes to evaluate the efficacy. RM6240C multi-channel biological signal collection-processing system synchronously recorded EcoG of convulsive rats after intragastric (ig) administration of AMC (25.0, 100.0 mg · kg-1). The effects on convulsion and epileptiform discharge were analyzed. The contents of GABA and the expression of GABAB receptor in the cortex and hippocampus regions of rats were determined by immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: AMC at the two doses and VPA could reduce epileptiform activities and discharge and prolong the latencies of epilepsy seizure, compared with the PIC group (P < 0.01). In the rats treated with AMC at low dosage, the GABA contents in cortical and hippocampal regions were higher than those in normal control and model groups, but with no statistics significance (P > 0.05); compared with model control, the expression quantity of hippocampal GABAB receptor protein was significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the increase in cortex was not significantly different (P > 0.05). GABA expression quantity in groups of larger dosage AMC and VPA were respectively higher than that in the normal group and the model group, and the GABAB receptor protein expression quantity also significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION AMC can antagonize the convulsion seizure and inhibit the epileptiform discharge induced by penicillin in rats. The anti-convulsion mechanism of AMC is possibly related with increasing GABA content and GABAB receptor expression in cortex and the hippocampus. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Objective To observe the effects of 19 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aqueous extracts in vitro on the standard and clinical strains of propionibacterium acnes.Methods We collected lesion contents of acne vulgaris patients and conducted anaerobic cultivation of propionibacterium acnes at 35 ℃ for forty-eight hours.After tested by oxygen resistance experiment,Gram staining microscopy,catalytic test,nitrate test and sugar fermentation experiment,ANI anaerobic identification card,and VITEK fully-automatic microbe instrument,the strains were identified as propionibacterium acnes.We used AGAR dilution method to test the MIC values of various TCM aqueous extracts.Results The MIC values of Cortex phellodendri,Scutellaria baicalensis,and Rhiubarb were 25 mg/ml,respectively;the MIC values of Sophora flavescens and Honeysuckle were 50 mg/ml;the MIC values of Forsythia was 100 mg/ml.13 kinds of TCM aqueous extract did not produce bacteriostasis at the highest concentration of 200 mg/ml including Belvedere fruit,Chinese bulbul,Hedyotis diffusa,Houttuynia cordata,Purslane,Yerbadetajo herb,Radix isatidis,Lithospermum erythrorhizon,Folium isatidis,Taraxacum,Semen plantaginis,Angelica dahurica,and Fructus cnidii.Conclusions Aqueous extracts of Cortex phellodendri,Scutellaria baicalensis,Rhubarb,Sophora flavescens,Honeysuckle and Forsythia have good inhibitory effects in vitro on Propionibacterium acnes.

OBJECTIVE To investigates the effects of imperatorin on the oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS Transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model in male Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion. Imperatorin (1.25 and 2.5 mg·kg- 1) or vehicle were administered intraperitoneally at 1, 5 and 9 h after the onset of ischemia. At 24 h after reperfusion, the biomarkers of oxidative stress such as the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were observed. We also assessed the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and the NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) protein expression by Western blot. RESULTS As compared to vehicle-treated animals, imperatorin treatment significantly reduced the ROS, MDA, NO levels and iNOS activity, increased T-AOC and the activities of SOD and CAT. Furthermore, imperatorin treatment also significantly induced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, enhanced the protein expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that imperatorin can protect the brain against the excessive oxidative stress induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion through activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Objective To construct a detailed, 3-dimensional, anatomically accurate finite element (FE) model of lumbar L4-L5 segment from CT data with a new kind of computer aided design (CAD) method. Methods A modified "no-seed region segmentation" was done to extract the interest region in the CT scan images and produce a binary image. "Best cross-section planes" accounting for the preferential direction dictated by lumbar spine were placed on the initial iso-surface model, forming a "non-regular piecewise subspace". This subspace and the embedded iso-surface mode were transformed by local affine transforms to a "regular subspace", in which a surface mesh of high quality was generated quickly. Finally a reverse transform procedure was employed to recover the shape feature of the lumbar surface mesh of lumbar L4-L5 in the original 3-dimensional space, which was then imported into ANSYS for the 3-dimensional FE mesh construction. Results All complicated anatomical features of the L4-L5 segment were explicitly represented in the unprecedented finite element model. The predicted results for compression, flexion and extension correlated well with experimental data under similar loading configurations. Conclusion The presented CAD method containing advanced algorithm implements fast and accurate simulation of such complicated geometry with fine mesh representation for lumbar FE analysis.

Objective To investigate feasibility and validity of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of traumatic thoracic aortic injuries (TTAI).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data of 13 patients with TTAI.Pathological changes were evaluated by spinal CT angiography (CTA) preoperatively and re-evaluated by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in EVAR.CTA was performed again to confirm therapeutic effects at postoperative 3,6,12 months and annually thereafter.Results All patients had successful EVAR.Complete or partial cover of left subclavian artery was observed in four patients.Endoleak in angiography shortly after stent delivery was noticed in three patients.However,endoleak disappeared in one patient after short stent placement for twice; endoleak was evidently decreased in one patient after balloon dilation.Follow-up was performed for another patient with slight endoleak.A total of 12 patients were followed up,which showed no complications,such as endoleak,ischemia of left upper extremity,paralysis or stent-graft migration.Conclusion EVR is safe and effective in treatment of TTAI.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the data of angle variation on traction based on a finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature, and try to give experimental reference and suggestion in treating cervical spondylosis.

METHODSA 43-year-old female patient with straight cervical spine was chosen and the CT scan data were collected. By using specially designed modeling system, a high quality finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature is generated,which included ligament and muscle according to anatomy. After the model was confirmed, traction was loaded with angle 0 degree, anterior 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, to observe the data of distance change on between adjacent intervertebral foramen, processus articularis, uncovertedral joint, intervertebral discs, and stress of anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus.

RESULTSWhen the angle was 0 degrees-15 degrees, the distance between intervertebral foramen, Luschka joint and processus articularis posterioris was enlarged, the tensile stress was adequate and compressive stress was small. It met the clinical requests.

CONCLUSION0 degree-15 degrees anterior position is suggested for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Traction ; methods

Objective To develop a convenient reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR)method for identifying genotypes of human metapneumovirus(hMPV)from clinical samples.Methods According to the gene sequences of hMPV G with different genotypes,the A and B genotype specific primers were designed.A diplex RT-PCR was applied to identify different genotypes according to the molecular weight of PCR products in agarose gel.37 clinical samples were detected through this method.Results It was convenient to distinguish different genotypes of hMPV(383 bp for A and 284 bp for B)by the diplex RTPCR,and there was no non-specific amplification for common respiratory viruses.so it meant that the specificity of primers was good.The results of genotyping 37 clinical samples showed that 20 samples were identified as genotype A by both sequence analysis of M gene and diplex RT-PCR,whereas 17 samples were identified as genotype B by sequence analysis of M gene.but in these 17 samples 14 samples were identified as genotype B by the diplex RT-PCR and remaining 3 samples could not be genotyped because there was no PCR product after amplification.The consistency rate for these two methods Was 91.9%[(20+14)/37].Conclusion The method of diplex RT-PCR Was developed successfully and can be used for identify genotypes of hMPV.

Objective To investigate the metabolite features of chronic pancreatitis in rats in vitro by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Methods A total of 30 Spraque-Dawley rats were randomized into experimental group (n =20) and control group (n = 10). All the animals in experimental group were intravenously injected with 8 mg/kg body weight DBTC, and the animals in the control group received same amount of solvent. Pancreatic tissues were examined by histology and Van Gieson staining. Metabolic changes of chronic pancreatitis in vitro in rats were studied by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results 60 days after DBTC application, the pancreatic tissue was characterized by an extended interstitial fibrosis with infiltrating mononuclear cells. Compared with the control group, the signal intensities of phosphocholine (Pc) and glycerophosphocholine (Gpc), taurine (Tau), lactate (Lac) of chronic pancreatitis group increased. Oppositely, the signal intensities of betine (Bet), glutamic acid ( Glu ), alanine (Ala), ileucine (He), leucine ( Leu ) and valine (Val) decreased. The signal intensities of acetic acid (Ace) and choline (Cho) were not changed. Conclusions There were obvious metabolic features of chronic pancreatitis in rats, and it is helpful for the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in chronic pancreatitis in human studies.

Objective To study the effects of cooking practice education on their status of nutrient intake and blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over 60 years old.Methods Four-hour cooking practice education lecture was offered per month for 57 patients with T2DM over 60-year old based on balance diet and food exchange list,with features including requiring patients joining the lecture with their family members together,demonstration of raw and fresh dietary materials and cooked food,choice of food to eat by the patients themselves according to their own dietary regimen.Sixty patients with T2DM who were only educated by outpatient department of nutrition for 35 minutes were selected as control.After twelve months of education,indices such as scores of awareness of knowledge of food exchange list,status of nutrient intake and blood glucose control,and so on,were compared between the two groups to evaluate the effects of cooking practice education.Results After 12- month education,score of knowledge of food exchange list in the experiment group increased significantly,as compared to that in the control group.Intake of energy [(6304?826) kJ] and fat [(46?6) g] decreased significantly in the experimental group [(6921?860) kJ and (63?9) g,respectively],and fasting blood glucose [(7.1?0.8) mmol/L],postprandial blood glucose [(11.2?1.1) mmol/L] and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c [(6.2?0.5)%] were decreased significantly,as compared to those in the control group [(7.8?0.9) mmol/L,(12.4?1.2) mmol/L,and (6.5?0.7)%)],respectively.Conclusions Cooking practice education is effective to correctly use diet regimen and improve status of nutrient intake and control of blood glucoses for over-60-year patients with T2DM.

PURPOSE: The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the skeletal stability after orthognathic surgery for patients with cleft lip and palate. The soft tissue changes in relation to the skeletal movement were also evaluated. METHODS: Thirty one patients with cleft received orthognathic surgery by one surgeon at the Craniofacial Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Osseous and soft tissue landmarks were localized on lateral cephalograms taken at preoperative (T0), postoperative (T1), and after completion of orthodontic treatment (T2) stages. Surgical movement (T0-T1) and relapse (T1-T2) were measured and compared. RESULTS: Mean anteroposterior horizontal advancement of maxilla at point A was 5.5 mm, and the mean horizontal relapse was 0.5 mm (9.1%). The degree of horizontal relapse was found to be correlated to the extent of maxillary advancement. Mean vertical lengthening of maxilla at point A was 3.2 mm, and the mean vertical relapse was 0.6 mm (18.8%). All cases had maxillary clockwise rotation with a mean of 4.4 degrees. The ratio for horizontal advancement of nasal tip/anterior nasal spine was 0.54/1, and the ratio of A' point/A point was 0.68/1 and 0.69/1 for the upper vermilion/upper incisor tip. CONCLUSION: Satisfactory skeletal stability with an acceptable relapse rate was obtained from this study. High soft tissue to skeletal tissue ratios were obtained. Two-jaw surgery, clockwise rotation, rigid fixation, and alar cinch suture appeared to be the contributing factors for favorable results.
Cleft Lip ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Palate ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Succinates ; Sutures ; Taiwan