DNA Damage ; DNA Glycosylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Dynesys system for the treatment of multiple segment lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease treated with Dynesys system from December 2008 to May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 16 males and 12 females, aged from 27 to 75 years old with an average of 49.1 years. Thirteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, including L3-L5 in 7 cases, L2-L4 in 1 case and L4-S1 in 5 cases. Fifteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar spinal stenosis, including L3-L5 in 10 cases, L4-L5 in 4 cases and L2-S1 in 1 case. The symptoms of lumbago and (or) intermittent claudication in all patients were treated with conservative treatments for more than 6 months and these methods did not work. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to analyze the lumbar and leg pain, imaging data were used to measure the intervertebral space height and intervertebral motion of fixed segment and upper adjacent segment, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate the clinical effect.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and the patients were followed up from 38 to 65 months with an average 50.6 months. At final follow-up, ODI and VAS of the low back pain and leg pain were (25.10±6.52)%, (1.25±0.70) points and (1.29±0.89) points, respectively and were decreased compared with preoperative (P<0.05). Postoperative intervertebral space heights were increased and intervertebral motions were decreased in fixed segment compared with preoperative (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intervertebral space heights and intervertebral motions of upper adjacent segment between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDynesys system may obtain long-term clinical curative effect in treating multiple lumbar degenerative disease. It can partially preserve the intervertebral motions of the fixed segments, have little effect on adjacent segments. The long-term clinical effect of Dynesys still need longer time follow-up observation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; pathology ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Analog Scale

In order to reaction the quality present situation, problems on the current quality of animal sources of drugs are summed up by using test data analysis, literature search and marketing research. This paper can also help the improvement of the quality management, the revision of the relevant department policy system and the improvement of standards.
Animals ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; standards ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries among the medical staff in an upper first-class hospital and its risk factors and to provide a basis for the infection control department of hospital and health administration department to establish the policies for safe injection.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was conducted in 800 healthcare professionals in an upper first-class hospital in Nanjing, China to investigate the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries in the past year. A total of 641 persons completed the questionnaire, including 239 doctors, 348 nurses, and 54 other healthcare workers. The obtained data were subjected to chi-square test and logistic analysis.

RESULTSNeedlestick and sharps injuries occurred in 373 of 641 healthcare professionals, with an incidence rate of 58.19%. There were significant differences in the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries among the medical staff of different types or in different departments (P < 0.01). The syringe needles, glass, scalp infusion needles, and suture needles were the major medical apparatus that caused needlestick and sharps injuries; the incidence rate of injury caused by suture needles in doctors (48.21%) was significantly higher than that in nurses (6.72%) (P < 0.01), and the incidence rates of injuries caused by syringe needles, scalp infusion needles, and glass in nurses (71.15%, 59.68%, and 49.04%) were significantly higher than those in doctors (46.43%, 6.25%, and 16.96%) (P < 0.01); compared with nurses, the doctors had higher incidence rates of injuries due to body fluid or tissue sample collection, wound flushing, suture, and cutting (P < 0.05); compared with doctors, the nurses had higher incidence rates of injuries due to injection, intravenous infusion, heparin cap sealing, intravenous infusion line connection, and venous or arterial blood collection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeedlestick and sharps injuries are common in medical staff. The results of the study on risk factors provide a basis for the infection control department of hospital and health administration department to establish the policies for safe injection.

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Needlestick Injuries ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of dynamic neutralization system (K-Rod) in treating multisegmental lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSFrom October 2011 to October 2013, 20 patients with multisegmental lumbar degenerative disease were treated with dynamic neutralization system (K-Rod). There were 8 males and 12 females with an average age of 45.4 years old (ranged from 31 to 65) and an average course of 3.8 years (ranged from 9 months to 6.25 years). All patients had the history of low back and legs pain. Among them, 10 cases were far lateral lumbar disc herniation, 7 cases were lumbar spinal stenosis, 3 cases were lumbar spondylolisthesis (degree I in 2 cases and degree II in 1 case). Every patient had only one responsible segment which causing the symptom would have to be rigidly fixed during operations, and the adjacent intervertebral disc of the responsible segments at least 1 segment has already obvious degenerated. All patients underwent the operation to relieve compressed nerves and reconstruct spinal stability with K-Rod system (the responsible segments were fixed with interbody fusion, and the adjacent segments were fixed with dynamic stabilization). Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical effects. Imaging data were used to analyze the range of motion (ROM), intervertebral disc height and intervertebral disc signal (according to modified Pfirrmann grading system) in degenerative adjacent segment.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for more than 1 year, and preoperative symptoms obviously relieved. There were significant differences in VAS, JOA, ODI between preoperative and postoperative (postoperative at 1 week and 1 year) (P<0.05). Radiological examination showed that all responsible segments had already fused, and no looseness, displacement and breakage of internal fixations were found. Postoperative at 1 year, the ROM of adjacent segments were decreased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intervertebral disc height between preoperative and postoperative at 1 year (P>0.05). According to modified Pfirrmann grading system to classification for the 25 disks of adjacent segment, 8 disks (32%) got improvement, 15 disks (60%) got no change and 2 disks (8%) got aggravation at 1 year after operation.

CONCLUSIONDynamic neutralization system (K-Rod) combined with interbody fusion could obtain short-term clinical effects in the treatment of multisegmental lumbar degenerative disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of transpedicular eggshell technique in treating thoracolumbar deformity.

METHODSFrom December 2008 to December 2011,36 patients with thoracolumbar deformity were treated with transpedicular eggshell technique. There were 20 males and 16 females with an average age of 45 years old (ranged from 20 to 58). Among them, 5 cases were congenital hemivertebrae deformity, 12 cases were secondary to tuberculotic deformity, 14 cases were post-traumatic deformity with pain, 5 cases were ankylosing spondylitis. Low back pain, living ability, scoliotic Cobb angle were analyzed according to VAS scoring, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), radiological examination.

RESULTSAverage operative time was 245 min and average bleeding was 1 900 ml in 36 patients. All patients were followed up more than 1 year and obtained bone fusion at 1 year after operation. Preoperative,postoperative at 1 week and 1 year, VAS scoring was 7.2 +/- 1.4, 2.5 +/- 1.0, 1.8 +/- 0.5, respectively; ODI was (72.50 +/- 10.80)%, (42.50 +/- 11.10)%, (22.50 +/- 7.90)%, respectively; kyphosis Cobb angle was (76.31 +/- 2.52) degrees, (23.66 +/- 1.16) degrees, (23.67 +/- 1.16) degrees, respectively; lumbar scoliosis Cobb angle was (71.86 +/- 4.02) degrees, (30.81 +/- 2.33) degrees, (30.82 +/- 2.32) degrees, respectively. Postoperative at 1 week and 1 year,above data had obviously improved than that of preoperative (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference in Cobb angle between postoperative at 1 week and postoperative at 1 year (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of thoracolumbar deformity with transpedicular eggshell technique could obtain effective correcting and clinical results.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPrevious investigations indicate that cooks are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from cooking oil fumes (COF). However, Emission of PAH and their carcinogenic potencies from cooking oil fumes sources have not been investigated among cooks.

AIMSTo investigate the urinary excretion of a marker for oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in different groups of cooks and different exposure groups, and to study the association between 8-OHdG and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a biological marker for PAH exposure.

METHODSUrine samples were collected from different groups of cooks (n = 86) and from unexposed controls (n = 36), all are male with similar age and smoking habits. The health status, occupational history, smoking, and alcohol consumption 24 hours prior to sampling was estimated from questionnaires. The urinary samples were frozen for later analyses of 8-OHdG and 1-OHP by high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSExcretion in urine of 8-OHdG were similar for controls (mean 1.2 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 36), and for those who had been in the kitchen room with exhaust hood operation (mean 1.5 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 45). COF exposed cooks without exhaust hood operation had increased excretion of 8-OHdG (mean 2.3 µmol/mol creatinine, n = 18). The difference between this group and the unexposed controls was significant. The urinary levels of ln 1-OHP and ln 8-OHdG were still significantly correlated in a multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONResults indicate that exposure to PAH or possibly other compounds in COF may cause oxidative DNA damage.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; urine ; Cooking ; DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Oils ; adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEto investigate pathological changes and mRNA expression of apoptosis genes bcl-2, bax and Caspase-3 in rat kidney tissue after rats are administrated with melamine for 28 days.

METHODS10 male SD rats and 10 female SD rats in each group were administrated with three doses of melamine (low dose, middle dose, high dose) by gavage for 28 days. The animals were divided into three experimental groups and one control group. The doses for male rats were 200, 400, 800 mg/kg, but for female rats they were 150, 300, 600 mg/kg. After melamine treatment the animals were sacrificed and the kidneys were taken out for pathological analysis and for detecting mRNA expression of bcl-2, bax and Caspase-3 with fluorescent quantitative PCR assay.

RESULTSthe tubular cylinders were observed in three experimental groups. The positive rates of tubular cylinders in three groups (from low dose to high dose) were 11/20, 13/20, 16/20, respectively. Additionally, melamine induced a significant decrease in mRNA expression of bcl-2 at low dose, middle dose or high dose, bcl-2 expression decreased by 20.58% - 49.51% in three groups treated with melamine. Furthermore, bax mRNA levels increased by 44.66% - 300.96% in groups treated with three doses of melamine, and Caspase-3 mRNA levels increased by 64.76% - 360.75% in groups treated with three doses of melamine.

CONCLUSIONSmelamine could induce pathological changes of rat kidneys, and it also induces a significant alteration of apoptosis Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in rat kidney tissue.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triazines ; toxicity ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hydroquinone (HQ) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxydase activities and the expression of human 8-oxo-guanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) mRNA in human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell strains.

METHODSA549 cells were treated with different concentrations of HQ. Cell survival was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Changes of ROS were detected by fluorescent probe. The contents of malonaldehyde and activities of antioxydase were determined through colorimetry. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess the level of hOGG1 mRNA.

RESULTSWith the increased concentration of HQ, the findings were as follows. (1) The absorbance value of A549 cell decreased. There was significant difference between 160 micromol/L (0.584+/-0.098) and 320 micromol/L (0.328+/-0.066) of HQ (q=5.56 and 9.07, P<0.05) with the control group (0.989+/-0.150), and the cell survival rate were less than 80%. (2) The ROS in A549 cell increased. 40 micromol/L (39.80+/-4.15) and 80 micromol/L (101.99+/-9.45) had statistical significance (q=10.74 and 30.32, P<0.05) with the control group (5.71+/-0.50). (3) It was found that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) decreased and malonaldehyde (MDA) increased. Compared with the control group [(25.62+/-0.28) U/mg prot and (38.97+/-2.61) U/mg prot], the activities of SOD and GSH-Px had a significant decrease (q=12.17 and 8.78, P<0.05) in 80 micromol/L [(22.93+/-0.56) U/mg prot and (25.60+/-2.31) U/mg prot]. And MDA had a significant increase (q=10.90 and 15.49, P<0.05) in 40 micromol/L [(1.07+/-0.01) nmol/mg prot] and 80 micromol/L [(1.19+/-0.08) nmol/mg prot] as compared with the control group [(0.77+/-0.04) nmol/mg prot]. The decrease of SOD (r=-0.95, F=20.00, P=0.04) and GSH-Px activities (r=-0.99, F=115.48, P=0.01) and the increase of MDA contents (r=0.96, F=21.31, P=0.04) all had a dose-response relationship. (4) RT-PCR results showed that the expression of hOGG1 mRNA decreased. The significant difference was observed between the expression of hOGG1 mRNA in 80 micromol/L (0.478+/-0.017) (q=11.70, P<0.05) with the control group (0.715+/-0.038).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that HQ could induce oxidative damage and changes of the expression of hOGG1 mRNA in A549 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Glycosylases ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

AIMTo study the preparation of bovine serum albumin nanoparticles surface-modified with glycyrrhizin(BSA-NP-GL) targeting to hepatocytes.

METHODSThe bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NP) were prepared by desolvation process. Glycyrrhizin (GL) was oxidized by sodium periodate to be conjugated to surface reactive amino groups (SRAG) of the BSA-NP. The SRAG were quantified by spectrophotometric method using 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS). Glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) hydrolyzed from GL, which was on the surface of BSA-NP-GL was assayed by HPLC after isolation by sephadex G-50. Both methods were used to verify the conjugation achieved. HPLC was used to determine surface density of GL on BSA-NP-GL.

RESULTSThe amount of SRAG of the BSA-NP-GL decreased by 19.6% compared with normal BSA-NP. The amount of GL molecule was 9.2% of the total determined SRAG of BSA-NP. The mean diameter of the BSA-NP-GL was 73 nm with round shape. The stability of BSA-NP-GL was constant when it was stored at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C during 10 days.

CONCLUSIONBSA-NP-GL was successfully prepared, which is considered to establish an experimental foundation for further research on its ability for targeting to hepatocytes.

Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods