Objective To develop a method for dynamically observing the biological efficacy of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) and to investigate the dose-effect relationship between BTX-A dosage and muscle strength.MethodsFifty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 9 groups.Groups 1-7 were injected intramuscularly with 0.1 ml BTX-A (0.01 U to 4.0 U) into the gastrocnemius on the right side.Rats in group 8 were injected intramuscularly with an equal volume of saline solution as the control group,and group 9 was used to determine the location of injection.Gastrocnemius muscle strength was evaluated using a self-made evaluation system before and after the toxin injection and on the 3rd,7th,14th,21st,30th,45th,60th and 75th day following.ResultsMuscle strength reached its lowest level on days 3 to 7,with a significant difference in the decline of muscle strength between the test groups and the control group up to day 60.With the lower BTX-A doses (0.01 U,0.1 U,0.5 U,1.0 U),muscle strength had decreased significantly on the 21st day,but recovered to its initial levels in all groups at the same time.There was no significant difference among the 1.0 U,1.5 U,2.0 U and 4.0 U groups.ConclusionsStandardized gastrocnemius injection combined with neuromuscular functional evaluation can establish a model of BTX-A dosage and muscle paralysis which can be used to assess the evolution of the biological efficacy of BTX-A.

Objective To analyze the clinical techniques of renal artery control in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.Methods 211 relative living renal transplantations were performed from June 2003 to June 2012,and 136 donors underwent laparoscopic donor living nephrectomy (LDN) since 2007.Forty donors were subjected to the Hem-o-lock clips for renal artery control by open surgery,87 donors to the Hem-o-lock clips for renal artery control by laparoscope,5 donors to the Endo GIA stapler for renal artery control by laparoscope,and 4 donors to the Hem-o-lock clips by laparoscope combined with hand-assisted suture transfixion for renal artery control.Results The warm ischemia time of renal artery control was shortest (1.1 ± 0.3 min) by Hem-o-lock clips in open surgery,and longest (3.2 ± 0.8) min by the Hem-o-lock clips with laparoscope.There was significant difference in the warm ischemia time of renal artery between open group and other groups,the differences (P＜0.05).The comparison of prognostic factors in the transplant renal outcome showed no significant difference among groups.The renal arterial stump-rrhexis-caused massive secondary bleeding occurred in 1 case subject to Hem-o-lock clips for renal artery control by laparoscope,with conversion to open surgery urgently,the operation was successful at last.Other renal artery control ways were all safe without any adverse reaction.Conclusion The warm ischemia time of renal artery control by Hem-o-lock clips in open surgery was shortest in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.The renal artery control way by Endo GIA stapler in laparoscope or by Hem-o-lock clips with hand-assisted suture transfixion is safest.The utilization of Hem-o-lock clips should be careful in high risk population such as severe atherosclerosis etc.

No abstract available.
Angiography* ; Glomus Tumor* ; Multidetector Computed Tomography*

OBJECTIVETitanium, by far one of the oldest materials in medical implants used for hard tissue replacement and rehabilitation, was used widely as implant material. The objective of the present study was to fabricate the TiN modified layer on the surface of medical pure titanium and improve its surface properties. Thus the wear resistance, biocompatibility and antisepsis were improved.

METHODSA continuous-wave 2 kW Nd: YAG laser was used to irradiate the sample in the environment of N2 with concentration of 99.995%. Titanium nitride surface coatings had been extensively used as corrosion resistant and biocompatible layers on titanium and its alloys. The microstructure and composition of the laser nitrided coating were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Microhardness of the modified sample was also analyzed by micro-hardmeter.

RESULTSTiN modified layer with the thickness of about 400 microm was obtained. TiN distributed gradually from surface to the substrate. There was a good metallurgical bonding between the nitrided layer and the substrate. The hardness of the modified layer was reduced from the surface to the inside.

CONCLUSIONWith optimum process parameters, a compact laser modified gradient coating reinforced with fine TiN was achieved on the surface of medical titanium.

Biocompatible Materials ; Corrosion ; Lasers ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of Paroxetine combined with electro-acupuncture (EA) in treating depression.

METHODSForty-two patients with depression were randomly assigned to the observation group (22 patients) treated with EA combined with Paroxetine, and the control group (20 patients) treated with Paroxetine alone, and the therapeutic course for both groups was 6 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated with scores by Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and treatment emergent symptoms scale (TESS), respectively.

RESULTSHAMD scores determined at the end of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of the treatment course were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The significant improvement rate evaluated at the end of the 6-week treatment was remarkably higher in the observation group than that in the control group (72.7% vs 40.0%). No significant difference of TESS scores was found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONEA combined with Paroxetine has better clinical efficacy than that of Paroxetine alone, with milder adverse reaction and quicker initiation of effect.

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Depression ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paroxetine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the study is to establish a new method of quality evaluation and validate its feasibilities by the simultaneous quantitative assay of four lignanoids in Schisandra chinensis. A new quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS), was established and validated with Schisandra chinensis. Four main lignanoids, schisandrin, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin and gamma-schizandrin, were selected as analytes and schisandrin as internal reference substance to evaluate the quality. Their contents in 13 different batches of samples, collected from different bathes, were determined by both external standard method and QAMS. The method was evaluated by comparison of the quantitative results between external standard method and QAMS. No significant differences were found in the quantitative results of four lignanoids in 13 batches of S. chinensis determined by external standard method and QAMS. QAMS is feasible for determination of four lignanoids simultaneously when some authentic standard substances were unavailable, and the developed method can be used for quality control of S. chinensis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cyclooctanes ; analysis ; Dioxoles ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Lignans ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polycyclic Compounds ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of using MTT assay for detecting the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells following chemotherapy.

METHODSThe osteosarcoma cells derived form surgical specimens were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% calf serum. Chemotherapeutic agents were administered in the cell culture, and MTT assay was used to observe the cell apoptosis under optical microscope.

RESULTSMTT staining accurately identified apoptosis of the osteosarcoma cells, and the apoptotic cells were easily distinguished from normal cells and dead cells.

CONCLUSIONMTT staining is convenient and practical for detecting osteosarcoma cell apoptosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo introduce a rapid colorimetric method for assessing the viability of osteosarcoma cells after chemotherapy.

METHODSColorimetric assay and automatic microplate scanning spectrophotometer were used for assaying the viability of osteosarcoma cells.

RESULTSClose correlation was found between the absorbance at 570 nm of the formazan products and the number of viable osteosarcoma cells.

CONCLUSIONAn effective, sensitive and convenient colorimetric assay has been established to assess the survival of osteosarcoma cells following chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Formazans ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tetrazolium Salts

Objective:To explore the protective effect of rapamycin and the role of autophagy on podocyte injury induced by pu-romycin amino nucleoside.Methods:The mice podocytes cell 5(MPC5)were randomly divided into four groups:Control group,PAN group(50 μg/ml PAN);rapamycin group(RAP group,100 ng/ml,200 ng/ml,300 ng/ml rapamycin)and PAN+rapamycin group (PAN+RAP group,treated with rapamycin before PAN).The apoptosis of podocytes were detected by Annexin V/PI.Transmission electronic microscopy was used to observe the formation of autophagosome.The expression of autophagic markers,LC3,p62,and 4EBP1,P70S6K,mTOR were detected by Western blot.Results: The podocyte apoptotic rate was significantly decreased when the podocytes were treated with rapamycin compared with PAN group.Further,more autophagosomes appeared in cytoplasm of podocytes in RAP and PAN+RAP group compared with PAN group.And the expression of LC3Ⅱ was significantly increased in rapamycin treated podocytes,whereas the expression of p62 was decreased markedly.Phosphorylation of mTOR,4EBP1 and P70S6K was decreased rapamycin treated groups.Conclusion: Podocyte autophagy was inhibited by PAN, and the apoptosis of podocytes was promoted.Rapamycin protect puromycin amino nucleoside induced podocyte injury by upregulating autophagy and it may be concerned with mTOR 4EBP1 and P70S6K signaling pathway.

Bone marrow cells in cultures were divided into four groups and cultured with various cytokines in vitro. These four groups are: control, IL-2 group, CD3-AK group, and CIK group. The morphological (cell volume, nucleus/plasm) changes of bone marrow cells in culture were observed. Immunophenotype analysis (CD34, CD38, CD3, CD56) were done before and after culture in all groups. Cytotoxicity against fresh acute leukemia cells were detected by modified MTT methods. The cell volume became larger with increased nucleus/plasm ratio in IL-2 group, CD3-AK group and CIK group. The plasm filled with PAS positive granules in most of cells in CD3-AK group and CIK group. The positive ratio of CD3, CD56, CD38 in CD3-AK or CIK group increased markedly after culture (P < 0.05), but no significant difference between the two groups. The CD56(+) cell increased in IL-2 group. CD34(+) cells decreased in all groups and there were no significant differences among those four groups. The cytotoxicity to fresh leukemia cells: CD3-AK group and CIK group > IL-2 group > control group. There was no significant difference between CD3-AK group and CIK group. This experiment showed different effect on bone marrow cells by different cytokine combination. The cytokine combination of CD3-AK group or CIK group can make immunocytes of bone marrow proliferating and retained certain amount of stem/progenitor cells.