BACKGROUND: Nowadays, it is reported that vessel structural abnormity is the main morphological basis of vertigo due to vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency abroad, but the report of vascular structural abnormality in vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency is rare at home.OBJECTIVE: To observe the manifestation and clinical significance of vessel structural abnormity tested by digital substraction angiography (DSA)in patients with vertigo induced by vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency.DESIGN: Case analysis.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Wuxi Second Hospital (Wuxi Municipal Second People's Hospital) Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and Department of Neurology, Huaihua Hospital Affiliated to Nanhua University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 57 patients, who were diagnosed as having episodic vertigo with or without nausea or vomiting, and hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Huaihua Hospital Affiliated to Nanhua University from August 2003 to May 2004 and Wuxi Second Hospital (Wuxi Municipal Second People's Hospital) Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between October 2004 and May 2005, were enrolled.METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with vertigo induced by vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency hospitalized in the recent two years were treated with digital subtraction radiography in aortic arch and aortocranial angiography:Applying retrograde angiography of femoral artery puncture, Optiray nonionic contrast agent with syringe pattern to perform aortic arch angiography. Digital subtraction machine displayed bilateral carotid artery, vertebral artery, ranged from carotid artery to siphon of carotid artery from multiple angles. Measurement and evaluation were conducted by 2 doctors from department of neurology.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type, distribution and proportion of vesselstructural abnormity of aortic arch, carotid artery and vertebrobasilar system.RESULTS: Of the 57 patients, 1 patient was dropped out, because the left vertebral artery (LVA) could not be entered. A large area cerebral infarction was occurred in another patients during aortic arch angiography was performed, and the operation was stopped. Totally 55 patients were involved in the result analysis. It was found that 71%(39/55) of patients had vessel structural abnormity in cervical part and intracalvarium, 11%(6/55)of patients with simple anterior circulation lesion, 60% (33/55) of patients with posterior circulation lesion, of which 9 cases (16%) with compound lesion of anterior circulation abnormity. Two or above vessels in 24 cases (24/55,44%) were involved. Vertebral artery complicated with other angiostegnosis was the most common, and there was no vessel structural abnormity in other 16 cases (16/55,29%).CONCLUSION: Various types of vessel structural abnormity are the main etiological factors of vertigo induced by vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency. Gold standard of diagnosing vertigo due to vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency is DSA.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with sham operation, only incision on local skin; rats in the remaining groups were made into cervical spondylosis models. After model establishment, rats in the control group and model group received fixed treatment under identical condition; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Dazhui" (GV 14), 30 min per treatment; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam tablets. Treatments were both given once a day, and 14 days were taken as one session; there was an interval of 2 days between two sessions, and totally two sessions were given. After the treatments, immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expression of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin in annulus fibrosus cells; western blot was used to test the expression of P-β-catenin.

RESULTSIn the control group, there were more positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were intensively distributed, deeply colored, and strongly positive; In the model group, there were less positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were sparsely distributed and weakly positive. The expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the model group was less than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the EA group and medication group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin was not significantly different between EA group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may be related to EA inhibiting signal pathway of Wnt-β-catenin.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Spondylosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

This paper presented the conventional methods for signal detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and their applications, the research progress in ADRs signal mining based on healthcare big data, and briefed the methods and uses of ADRs prediction using machine learning technology in the era of healthcare big data.The conclusion was that deep learning, as a fast growing tool in machine learning, will become hotspot of research, expected to help with ADRs signal mining and rational clinical drug use.

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 investigate the effects of cytokines on the expression of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in rats. Methods Primary cultured VSMCs from SD rat thoracic aorta were cultured in serum-free DMEM for 24 h, and then in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for another 12 h. The cultured VSMCs were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =6 each): control group (group C); 10% cytokine group (group L); 50% cytokine group (group N); 100% cytokine group (group H) and L-arginine methy ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) group. In group C, the cellswere cultured continuously for 12 h. In L, N and H groups, 10%, 50% and 100% cytokines (IL-1β 50 ng/ml +TNF-α 100 ng/ml + IFN-γ 500 ng/ml) were added to the culture medium respectively and the cells were then incubated for 12 h. In group L-NAME, 100% cytokines + L-NAME 5 mmol/L were added to the culture medium and the cells were then incubated for 12 h. The expression of AT1R mPNA and protin was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.Results Cytokines down-regulated AT1R mRNA and protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). L-NAME reversed cytokines-induced changes in AT1R mRNA and protein expression ( P ＜ 0.01). Conclusion Cytokines can down-regulate the expression of AT1R in rat VSMCs and the mechanism is related to the NO synthesis.

Objective To explore the protective effect of folic acid supplementation in different ways on lipopolysaccharide-induced external malformations and skeletal malformations in mice.Methods The pregnant mice were divided into six groups randomly,including saline control group,FA control group,LPS group,LPS+FAig group,LPS+FAip group,and LPS+FAdw group.All dams were medicated on gestational day 8～12,and then sacrificed on gestational day 18,for each litter,the number of live fetuses,dead fetuses,resorption fetuses and external malformations of live fetuses were all counted.All fetuses were subsequently evaluated the skeletal malformations.Results A low dose of LPS injection during the second trimester resulted in external and skeletal malformations.Exencephaly and encephalomeningocele were two of the most common external malformations,skeletal malformations consisted mainly of the incompletion of supraoccipital ossification,sternal malformation and rib malformation.FA supplementation by three ways all attenuated the external and skeletal malformations.And the best protective effect was by oral administration.The incidence of external,sternal and rib malformation was all decreased.Conclusions Three ways can prevent the mice during the second trimester from the external and skeletal malformations caused by LPS injection,and the best protective effect was by intragastric administration.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum level of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in military pilots. Methods Sixty male military pilots hospitalized in Airforce General Hospital having coronary angiography examination(CAG) from March 2005 to May 2015 were involved then were divided into CHD group (n = 24) and control group (n = 36) according to the results of coronary angiography (CAG). The patients with CHD were divided into low score group (Gensini score ≤ 20) and high score group (Gensini score > 20) according to Gensini score. Results There were significant increase of the level of TG, GGT and decrease of the level of HDL-C in CHD group than those in control group(P<0.05);there was no significant difference with the level of GTT between high score group and low score group (P > 0.05); logistic regression analysis showed that serum GGT was an independent risk factor of CHD in military pilots (OR = 1.168, P < 0.01). Conclusion Serum GGT is associated with CHD in military pilots and is the independent risk factor of CHD in the pilots.

Objective To explore the value of manganese-enhanced MRI in locating the rat visual nuclei.Methods The visual nuclei of thirty-six rats were located by 3 different ways including individual MEMRI locating (group A,n= 1 6),anatomical atlas locating (group B,n=1 6)and direct puncture by using the data obtained in MEMRI (group C,n=4).After unilateral intra-vitreal injection of MnCL2 (30 mmol/L×3 μL)in group A,the brain MRI was performed 24 h later.The location coordinate of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and superior colliculus (SC)were recorded individually.The nuclei injections (3% fluorogold solution,1 μL)were performed by using different location coordinate in groups A and B.The rat’s retinas were examined under fluorescence microscope 5 days later,and the results were compared between the two groups.After brain nucleus puncture injection (30 mmol/L MnCL2 solution,0.5 μL),MRI was performed 1 h later in group C.Results The success rate was 93.8% (1 5/1 6)in group A,and 65.5% (10/1 6)in group B.The difference between groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).All the injection locations of C group were agreed with atlas.Conclusion MEMRI in the visual nucleus stereotactic can improve the accuracy of location.

This study was to improve the way for selecting ura5 mutants of Cryptoccocus neoformans Cap59 capsule-deficient strains.They were induced by Diethyl Sulfate. Ura5 mutants were screened by 5-fluoroorotic acid counter selection method. Using the new method, we obtained two ura5 mutants of Cryptoccocus neoformans Cap59 capsule-deficient strain.A easy method that was used to screen ura5 mutants of Cryptoccocus neoformans has been established.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Mor-platin, a novel mitochondrial platinum complex, on proliferation and migration of human hepatoma carcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods:Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to analyze cell proliferation of Mor-platin and classic anticancer drugs, particularly cisplatin, in HepG2 cells. A laser confocal microscope was used to observe whether Mor-platin can target mitochondria. The morphological changes in cellular mitochondria after treatment with Mor-platin were ob-served on a transmission electron microscope. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry, and cell invasion was evaluated by three-dimensional tumor spheroid model. Results:Mor-platin can inhibit cell proliferation and is dose dependent. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Mor-platin is lower than that of cisplatin. Laser confocal images showed that Mor-platin can target cell mito-chondria and enrich cell mitochondria. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that cell mitochondrial morphology changed after Mor-platin treatment. Furthermore, cell mitochondrial membrane is incomplete and mitochondrial cristae are reduced. Cell apoptosis caused by Mor-platin is dose dependent. The three-dimensional tumor spheroid model showed that the cell areas of the group subjected to Mor-platin treatment are smaller than those of the control group. Conclusion:Mor-platin can target cell mitochon-dria, change the cell mitochondrial morphology, inhibit cell proliferation, and thus promote cell apoptosis. It also showed better anti-cancer effects than cisplatin. Furthermore, Mor-platin can inhibit three-dimensional tumor spheroid invasion. These results suggest that Mor-platin is a potential antitumor drug.