Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopy in anterio r lumbar interbody fusion. Methods Twenty-three laparoscopic anterior lumbar int erbody fusions were performed in the period between December 2000 and December 2 002. There were 9 males and 14 females with a mean age of 52 years (range, 46 to 66 years). In this group, there were 18 of spondylolisthesis, 3 of lumbar spina l instability and 2 of degenerative disc treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion using Syncage and autograft with balloon-assisted endoscopic extraperiton eal gasless exposure. The main complaints were low back pain radiating to leg. 1 3 cases were fused at L4,5 and 10 at L5S1. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) w as recorded to evaluate the function preoperatively, and in the 2nd week, 3rd, 6 th and 12th month postoperatively. X-ray was taken to observe the fusion and the subsided cage. Results The operative time ranged from 50 to 180 min with a mean of 120 min, and the bleeding volume ranged from 50 to 300 ml with a mean of 80 ml. There were complications in 2 cases, one which was caused by laparoscopic mi sguidance, and the other was bleeding due to a small vessel injury. All the case s were followed-up from 12 to 24 months, with a mean of 16.6 months. The ODI was found with significant difference comparing preoperatively to at 2nd week, 3rd, 6th and 12th month postoperatively (P

Children allergic rhinitis, referred to as children allergic rhinitis (AR), is a kind of non-infectious inflammation of the nasal mucosa mediated by IgE with the main symtoms of paroxysmal sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal itching and nasal obstruction when the susceptible individuals contact the allergen. It is a high reaction disease of the respiratory mucosa common with childhood, which has serious implications to the Children's quality of life, study, rest and growth. The global sampling survey reveals that the morbidity is about 14%, of which 10% in our country and there is an upward trend year by year. At present, drug therapy is still one of the most important methods for children AR. Definite diagnosis, standardized drug therapy and the development of new specific immune therapy make children AR in a good control . This review updates the diagnosis and treatment for children AR, referring to the newest guide by WHO about allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA).
Asthma ; Child ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To investigate whether ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction(UMD) could enhance cationic liposome (CL) induced plasmid DNA delivery or not,and optimize the transfection conditions.Methods Multiple parameters were explored to obtain the optimal transgene efficiency by means of with or without serum in culture medium,various CL or nano-liposomal bubble(NB) concentrations,different time point of ultrasonic irradiation.The transfection efficiency was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometer,and cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.Results The serum could protect the cells but show little impact on transfection efficiency induced by CL.CL and plasmid DNA at a weight ratio of 4 ∶ 1 exhibited high transfection efficiency of (17.71-± 0.79)％ and high cell viability of (91.28 ± 0.76) ％.CL combining with ultrasonic irradiation at the time point of 1 hour could increase the transfection efficiency to (24.85 ± 0.78)％ (P ＜0.01).Higher transfection rate (32.47 ± 4.01) ％ was obtained by adding NB at the concentration of 10 ％ (P ＜0.05).Conclusions UMD accompanied with CL could enhance gene delivery effectively,which would provide a new method for gene therapy.

Objective To observe self-made cationic nanobubbles as non-viral gene carrier to transfer green fluorescent protein reporter gene into HepG2 cell in vitro.Methods Cationic nanobubbles(PNB) were prepared by sonicating liposomes、polyethylenimine and perfluoropropan.The surface potential and the size of nanobubbles were assessed by laser particle analyzer.HepG2 cells were incubated with DNA,nanobubbles with or without ultrasound exposure.The transfection efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometer and the cell viability by cell counting Kit-8.Results The mean diameter of PNB was (834.57 ± 6.4) nm and the surface charge was (4.15± 0.98)mV.The PNB-DNA complexes,which blocked by the Agarose gel electrophoresis,could effectively transfer HepG2 cells,and the ultrasound exposure could enhance the transfection efficiency further significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The new PNB could effectively combine with pDNA to enhance gene delivery and ultrasound exposure could improve its efficiency further in HepG2 cell in vitro.

The value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications by examining hemodynamic changes was discussed. Seventy-five patients with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) underwent CDFI. The following parameters were measured: peak systolic velocity (PS), resistance index (RI) and Doppler perfusion index (DPI) of the hepatic artery (HA), time average velocity (TAV) of portal vein (PV) and velocity of hepatic vein (HV) in different stages postoperation. And 11 patients of them received CEUS. Thirty healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. The results showed that: (1) In 23 patients without obvious complications, TAV of PV within 15 days post-operation was significantly higher than in controls (P<0.05), PS and DPI of HA within 7 days postoperation were lower, but RI was higher than in controls (P<0.05); (2) When the hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred, PS and DPI of HA were obviously decreased, but TAV of PV significantly increased like a high saw-tooth wave; (3) While rejection occurred, both TAV of PV and PS of HA were decreased with the increase in RI of HA, and the triphasic wave of HV disappeared and displayed as saw-tooth wave; (4) The incidence of biliary complications in liver transplantation was increased when DPI was reduced; (5) Seven cases of hepatic carcinoma relapse after OLT demonstrated hyperecho in the arterial phase and hypoecho in the portal and later phase on CEUS; (6) In 2 cases of HA thrombus, there was no visualized enhancement in arterial phase of CEUS, but enhancement during the portal vein and parenchymal phase. It was concluded that the hemodynamic changes of PV, HA and HV in the transplanted liver are valuable for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications on CDFI and CEUS.
Bile Ducts/pathology ; Contrast Media/*administration & dosage ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Artery/pathology ; Infusions, Intravenous/*methods ; Liver Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Liver Transplantation/*methods ; Liver Transplantation/ultrasonography ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Ultrasonography/*methods ; Ultrasonography, Doppler/*methods

This study examined the effect of P85 (a pluronic block copolymer) and microbubble (MB) ultrasound contrast agents under ultrasound irradiation on gene transfection and expression. The pEGFP plasmids that can encode enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) served as a report gene and were mixed with different concentrations of MB/0.05% (w/v) P85. Then the plasmids were transfected into human hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cells. The HepG2 cells treated with MB/P85 or without treatment were exposed to ultrasound (US parameters: 1 MHz, 1.0 W/cm(2), 20 s, 20% duty cycle). Twenty-four hours later, the transfection efficiency was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. The cell viability was evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion test. The results showed that the gene transfection efficiency in HepG2 cells under ultrasound irradiation was significantly higher than that without ultrasound irradiation. HepG2 cells in the MB or P85 group in the absence of ultrasound expressed less amount of green fluorescent protein. The expression efficiency reached (22.14±3.06)% and the survival rate was as high as (55.73±3.32)% in the 30% MB plus P85 group. It was concluded that MB and P85 in the presence of ultrasound can enhance gene transfection and expression.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a biofilm model of Haemophilus influenzae and observe the effect of ambroxol on biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae and bactericidal action. METHOD: Thirty strains of Haemophilus influenzae were isolated from adenoids of children with adenoidal hypertrophy. Two strains which could build stronger biofilms was selected in a 96-well plate. The effect of ambroxol on biofilms were determined by crystal violet, and the structure of biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The numbers of viable bacterial in biofilm after ambroxol treatmented determined by plate culture count. RESULT: Through crystal violet assay, significant difference (P < 0.01) between the two group after treatment was found when ambroxol concentration reached at 0.25 mg/ml and 0.49 mg/ml. The biofilms was destroyed by SEM. Ambroxol had the positive effect on bacterial killing by plate culture count,and the effect was in a dose dependent. CONCLUSION Ambroxol could destroy the biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae, and had bactericidal function in vitro.
Ambroxol ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Haemophilus influenzae ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Pharmacogenomics is the study of the impact of genetic variations or genotypes of individuals on their drug response or drug metabolism. Compared to traditional genomics research, pharmacogenomic research is more closely related to clinical practice. Pharmacogenomic discoveries may effectively assist clinicians and healthcare providers in determining the right drugs and proper dose for each patient, which can help avoid side effects or adverse reactions, and improve the drug therapy. Currently, pharmacogenomic approaches have proven their utility when it comes to the use of cardiovascular drugs, antineoplastic drugs, aromatase inhibitors, and agents used for infectious diseases. The rapid innovation in sequencing technology and genome-wide association studies has led to the development of numerous data resources and dramatically chan-ged the landscape of pharmacogenomic research. Here we describe some of these web resources along with their names, web links, main contents, and our ratings.

Objective To study the effect of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 ( MACC1 ) inhibition by small interference RNA( siRNA) on the formation of tumor cells that promote blood vessels, and to explore its possible molecular mechanism.Methods Synthesized MACC1 specific siRNA was transfected into human lung cancer cell lines XWLC-05. Then, the inhibitory effect of siRNA on the protein level of MET, MEK/p-MEK, ERK/p-ERK, and AKT/p-AKT was detected using Western blotting while the change in VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 protein level was detected using ELISA method. Results Western blotting results indicated that the expression level of MET, p-MEK and p-ERK was significantly decreased in the XWLC-05 cells transfected by MACC1 specific siRNA compared with control and nonsense siRNA groups, but the expression of total protein MEK and ERK did not change.Furthermore, the level of AKT and phosphorylated protein was not affected.ELISA results suggested that the secretion level of VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 was significantly suppressed at 48 h or 72 h compared with control and nonsense siRNA groups.Conclusion MACC1 may reduce the secretion levels of VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 via HGF/c-Met and MEK/ERK signal transduction pathways, and regulate angiogenesis of lung cancer.

Objective: To investigate the role of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase in the development of uterine cervical squamous carcinoma. Methods: From January 2008 to December 2008, 116 uterine cervical carcinoma specimens and 18 metastatic lymph node specimens from patients with CIN Ⅰ-Ⅲ and uterine cervical squamous carcinoma were evaluated for iDO expression by immunohistochemistry. Twenty normal cervical specimens and 20 normal lymph node specimens were used as the controls. Results: The expression of IDO was not found in normal cervix and CIN Ⅰ. In CIN Ⅱ, IDO expres-sion was weakly positive in 2 cases (2/10, 20%) and negative in 8 cases (8/10, 80%). In CIN Ⅲ, IDO expression was weak-ly positive in 8 cases (8/13, 61.5%), positive in 1 case (1/13, 7.7%) and negative in 4 cases (4/13, 30.8%). The positive ex-pression rate of IDO in cervical cancer stage Ⅰ -Ⅳ was 100% (83/83). In cervical cancer stage Ⅰ A and Ⅰ B, the positive ex-pression rate of IDO was significantly higher than that in CIN Ⅱ and CIN Ⅲ (P<0.01). The positive expression rate of IDO in cervical cancer stage Ⅱ A-Ⅳ B was significantly higher than that in Ⅰ A and Ⅰ B. IDO expression was associated with cervi-cal cancer progression (OR=0.807, P<0.01). IDO expression in primary lesions with lymph node metastasis was significant-ly higher than that in those without lymph node metastasis. IDO expression rate was 100% in metastatic lymph nodes. The IDO expression was not associated with cervical squamous carcinoma differentiation degree (OR=-0.139,P>0.05). Conclu-sion: In CIN Ⅱ, escape mechanisms that stimulate cervical squamous carcinoma progression is gradually developed. IDO expression in metastatic lymph nodes is possibly associated with immune tolerance. IDO expression is not associated with differentiation degree of cervical squamous carcinoma. IDO may be a prognostic factor for uterine cervical squamous carci-noma and a therapeutic target for treatment.