BACKGROUND: The treatment of upper cervical spine disorders through a posterior pedicle fixation approach have been carried out in some domestic large hospitals, but this surgery is still considered as a difficulty of cervical spine surgery. In order to minimize the risk of surgery, the authors designed a program of individual operations, and combined with self-developed pedicle locating and directing speculum to determine precise intraoperative position of pedicle screws, and no report is found by searching related database in China.OBJECTIVE: To improve the one-time success rate of internal fixation screws, to investigate the biomechanical effect of the implant, to formulate a simple, practical, individual protocol for atiantoaxial pedicle screw-plate system based on related data. METHODS: A total of 31 patients were recruited from Department of Orthopaedics in the 251 Hospital of Chinese PLA, between January 2002 and September 2006. Under the guidance of self-made atlantoaxial locating and directing speculum, the entrance point and angle for screw insertion, as well as screw diameter and length were determined according to the results of X-ray and CT measurement. Atlas pedicle screw was inserted at left (19.93±1.32) mm, and right (19.16±1.3) mm; Atlas pedicle screw insertion angle to inside was left (23.72±2.09)°, and right (23.35±1.91)°; Atlas pedicle screw insertion angle to side of head was (9.00±1.20)°. Axis pedicle screw was inserted at left (13.14±0.82) mm, and right (13.85±0.79) mm; Axis pedicle screw insertion angle to inside was left (24.52±1.26)°, and right (20.42±1.42)°; Axis pedicle screw insertion angle to side of head was (25.00±3.00)°.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ①Totally 124 pedicle screws were implanted into 31 patients, and 122 screws were of one-time success. The precision rate was 98.39%. Two screws were secondly inserted because of cutting lateral cortical bone of pedicle for deviation of inward angle. ②Occipital neuralgia was found in 2 cases postoperatively and cured after one month of treatment;screws penetrated atlas left vertebral lateral wall in 2 cases, no spinal or vertebral artery injury was found. ③Radiographs showed that atlas was completely reduced in all patients, and apposition of dentoid process of axis fracture was good. CT films showed the screws a good location to the vertebrarterial spinal cord. ④The follow-up visit was averaged of 10.5 months. Bony fusion was found in all patients. No screw-plate breakage was found. No inflammatory or rejection reactions occurred.⑤By JOA scale, there were 16 cases of excellent, 12 cases of good, 2 cases of fine, and 1 case of poor. The excellent and good rate was 90%. It is suggested that the success rate of atlantoaxial pedicle screw-plate mplantation can be improved through a biomechanical angle.

Objective To conduct an in vitro study of the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus and Acin- etobacter spp.,and evaluate their response to various concentrations of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,interleukin (IL)-1?, and IL-6.Methods To monitor the growth of bacteria incubated with the cytokines TNF?,IL-1?and IL-6 that were added to RPMI 1640 medium in various concentrations (10,50.100,500 pg,1 and 10 ng) at 2,4 to 6,8 and 16-18 h.The bacterial concentration was estimated when the mixtures of cytokines and specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were in- cubated.Results We found that all three bacterial species showed concentration-dependent growth enhancement when incubated with one or more tested cytokines.Blockade by specific neutralizing cytokine significantly inhibited cytokine-induced growth. When compared with control,the 6 h growth response was maximal with IL-1?for Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter spp.,and with IL-6 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusions In this study we provide additional evidence for a newly de- scribed mechanism for bacterial proliferation in the presence of exaggerated and protracted inflammation.The effect that cyto kine-induced growth enhancement inhibited by specific neutralizing cytokine MoAbs may be useful for antimicrobial therapy.

The peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is a Mongolia folk medicine, mainly distributed in Helan mountain, inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. It has been used for the treatment of cardiopalmus, angina pectoris, and cardiopulmonary diseases for a long history. Contemporary research revealed the presence of major lignans, sesquitepenes, and essential oils, and showed myocardial ischemia related diseases. This review summarizes the plant origins, taxonomic disputes, phytochemical and pharmacological research progress, hopefully to provide reference for full medicinal utilization, clarification of biological effective substance, and drug development.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Syringa ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo identify whether SH3GL1 gene serves as a disease associated gene of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODSPositioning candidate cloning: "case-sibling or case-family control design" research scheme based on family constellation was designed. Fifty-six AIS patients (15 male and 41 female, mean age 15 years old, ranged from 8 to 22 years old, Cobb angle from 25 degrees to 110 degrees , average Cobb angle of 67.5 degrees ) from November 2007 to December 2008 were recruited. In all patients, blood preparation was collected, and genome DNA was extracted. According to nucleotide sequence of gene SH3GL1, primer pair for PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing with 10 exons as emphasis was designed. Sequence comparative analysis for exon sequencing result between sib pairs or family pairs, and that between sib pair or family pairs and NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) were conducted through Vector NTI Advance 10.3 software to judge whether basic group mutation occurred or not. Amino acid sequence comparative analysis for prediction was made.

RESULTSTen exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 were successfully amplified and cloned in genome DNA of an AIS sib pair and family pairs, and the sequencing obtained positive results. Twelve basic group mutations were found in 10 exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 of patients with AIS. These mutations were located in the second exon (3 mutations), the fourth exon (1 mutations), the fifth exon (4 mutations), the sixth exon (1 mutations), the eighth exon (1 mutations), and the tenth exon (2 mutations, noncoding region). If basic group in 515 of mRNA was mutated to T, termination codon(TAG) came into being and open reading frame was altered. The sequence of protein showed brachytmema protein was encoded, which could cause changes of primary structure.

CONCLUSIONSH3GL1 is possibly one of the disease associated genes of AIS.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Scoliosis ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Young Adult

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin (APN) on the expression of T-cadherin in cultured Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat cardiomyocytes injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Primary myocardial cells from neonatal rats were obtained by enzymatic digestion. The cells were divided into control group, H/R group and H/R+APN (3, 10, 20 and 30 μg/mL) groups. The H/R group was incubated in anoxic environment (anoxic solution saturated with high concentration N2) for 3 h, and then in the reoxygenation environment (the reoxygenation solution saturated with pure oxygen) for 1 h. The H/R+APN group was pretreated with different concentrations of APN for 24 h prior to the initiation of H/R. The content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured by chemistry chromatometry. Cellular apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of T-cadherin was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that, compared with control group, the apoptotic rate and release of LDH were significantly increased in the H/R group, whereas the expressions of T-cad mRNA and protein were decreased. Pretreating with APN significantly and dose-dependently decreased apoptotic rate and LDH release, and up-regulated T-cad mRNA and protein level in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes under H/R conditions. These results suggest that APN may protect cardiomyocytes against H/R-induced injury by up-regulating H/R-decreased T-cad expression.
Adiponectin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo understand the HBV infection rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from fetuses of HBsAg positive mothers, associated risk factors and to explore the clinical significance of detecting HBV infected PBMCs.

METHODSSixty eight pregnant women who were delivered at the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China from August 1995 to February 1997, and their newborns were studied. They were divided into two groups according to their status of HBV serological markers. The study group included 50 cases who were serum HBsAg positive and 18 cases without any HBV serum markers served as control group. All these cases had no symptoms of hepatitis, high risk premature labor, premature delivery and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy. Age and gestational age were matched in two groups. Blood samples (5 mL) were taken from the peripheral vein of pregnant women before delivery and from newborns within 24 h after birth, before inoculation of HBV vaccine (HBVac) and injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). PBMCs were isolated. The sera and PBMCs were stored at -80 degrees C. HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs were detected with nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers, the outer primer pair for first PCR and inner primer pair for second PCR, designed according to region S of HBV genome were synthesized by Shanghai Cell Biology Institute of Chinese Academy of Science.

RESULTSThe detection rate of HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs from HBsAg positive pregnant women was 60.0% (30/50) and 40.0% (20/50), respectively. The detection rate of HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs from newborns of HBsAg positive pregnant women was 46.0% (23/50) and 30.0% (15/50), respectively. Ten newborns were HBV-DNA positive in serum only, 2 were positive in PBMCs only and 13 were positive in both serum and PBMCs. In the control group, HBV-DNA was not detected in PBMC nor in serum. The positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs of newborns was significantly higher in the group of mothers who were HBV-DNA or HBeAg positive in serum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the positive rate was significantly higher in the group of mothers who were HBV-DNA positive in both serum and PBMC than that in the group of mothers who were serum HBV-DNA positive only (P < 0.01); and it was markedly higher in the group of mothers who were PBMC HBV-DNA positive than that in group of mothers who were HBV-DNA negative in PBMCs (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs of newborns was significantly higher in the group of newborns who were HBV-DNA positive in serum than that in the group of newborns who were HBV-DNA negative in serum (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs from newborns of HBsAg positive pregnant women was 30.0% (15/30). It was related to HBV viremia level and HBV-DNA status in PBMCs of mothers and newborns. Detection of HBV-DNA in PBMCs may be an important supplementary method to determine intrauterine HBV infection, and can predict the response to HBV vaccine.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; administration & dosage ; Infant, Newborn ; blood ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Male ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for the determination of serum level of Crebanine (Cre) and study on the pharmacokinetics of Cre injection in rabbits.

METHODTo sample blood serum from the rabbits' ears which were injected the Cre by 2.0 mg x kg(-1) at different time and use HPLC to determine the concentration of Cre in it, the pharmacokinetic parameters were accessed by the DAS software.

RESULTCre was fitted to a two compartment open pharmacokinetic model in rabbits. There was no signifiant difference between the male and female rabbits'pharmacokinetic by t-test. The mainly pharmacokinetic parameters were: t1/2alpha = (3. 246 +/-0.222) min, t1/2beta = (36.67+/-5.52) min, Cmax = (1.401 +/- 0.062) mg x L(-1), Vd = (5.928 +/- 0.877) L x kg(-1), Cl = (0. 051 +/-0.003) L x min(-1) x kg(-1).

CONCLUSIONThis experiment can objectively show the pharmacokinetics regularity of Crebanine injection in rabbits. Crebanine injection was a speeding disposition drug (t1/2 <1 h) and disposed extensively and rapidly in rabbits.

Animals ; Aporphines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Injections ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Stephania ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Deep venous thrombosis and blood loss are common complications after total hip arthroplasty in elderly patients. Thus, it needs to pick valid treatments to reduce the harm in the clinical treatment. OBJECTIVE: To compare and observe the effects of rivaroxaban and low molecular heparin on preventing deep venous thrombosis and blood loss after total hip arthroplasty in elderly patients. METHODS: 196 cases in Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Shuicheng Mining Group of Guizhou Province treated by unilateral total hip arthroplasty were enrolled between January 2015 and January 2017. They were randomly divided into observation group (98 cases) and control group (98 cases). The observation group was treated with oral rivaroxaban 6 hours after surgery for 2 consecutive weeks. The control group was subcutaneously injected with low molecular heparin injection 6 hours after surgery for 5 consecutive weeks. The coagulation index was measured by automatic coagulation analyzer at preoperative, 1 day, 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. Deep venous thrombosis was evaluated in the two groups. The caliber sizes of superficial femoral vein and popliteal vein were measured by color Doppler ultrasound before surgery, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery. Blood loss was recorded in the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The difference in serum D-dimer levels was statistically significant 1 and 2 weeks after surgery in both groups (P < 0.05). Serum D-dimer levels were lower in the observation group than in the control group. (2) The incidence of deep venous thrombosis was lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (3) The caliber size of superficial femoral vein and popliteal vein was significantly different 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery in both groups (P < 0.05). The caliber size of superficial femoral vein and popliteal vein was larger in the observation group than in the control group. (4) Hidden blood loss and total blood loss were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). The hidden blood loss and total blood loss were higher in the observation group than in the control group. (5) Results suggest that rivaroxaban has a positive meaning for prevention of deep venous thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty in elderly patients. However, hidden blood loss is worthy of attention.

Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the present status of water- improving delluoridation projects in the endemic fluorosis areas in Gansu Province. Methods According to "The National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control in 2004" for the water improving projects, water fluoride content was determined from fluorosis villages in 34 counties of 11 cities in Gansu Province. The fluoride content in drinking water was assessed by F-ion selective electrode. Results Water fluoride content was determined in 1576 fluorosis villages of 34 counties. Water fluoride content of 7829 water samples was determined, and the fluoride content of 1891 samples was over standard. Water fluoride content was ≤ 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 75.19%) in 1185 villages and 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 24.81%) in 391 villages; the highest water fluoride content was 6.78 mg/L Nine hundred and ninety three water-improving and defluoridation projects were determined. Water fluoride content of 867 water-improving and defluoridation projects was determined; 768 projects had water fluoride content ≤1.00 mg/L(accounting for 87.67%) and water fluoride content of 108 projects was 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 12.33%),with the highest water fluoride content being 5.27 mg/L. Water-improving and delluoridation projects mostly relied on drilling a well to obtain under-grand water. Abandoned projects accounted for 30%. Conclusions In 34 counties of 11 cites(prefecture), nearly 30% of the villages had water fluoride content exceeding the standard. The situation of endemic fluorosis control is still serious in Gausu Province, countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as soon as possible and surveillance of water-improving and defluoridation projects must be strengthened.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the application of condensed Chinese version of the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) in assessment of quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease,and to provide a scientific basis in rehabilitation of the patients.Methods Four hundred and twenty seven eases of adult patients with Kashin-Back disease and 419 healthy individuals randomly selected in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in 8 counties of Gansu province were surveyed with the SF-36.The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's α coefficient and the validity through principal component factor analysis and correlation analysis,etc.The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and univariate t-test.Results The split-half reliability of all the 8 dimensions was greater than 0.6 and the Cronbach's α coefficient was greater than 0.8; the pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were greater than 0.391.SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis.The score differences of quality of life in different ages of the patients,different stages of the disease were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck Disease.