Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Guinea Pigs ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Janus Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of Bryan disc replacement with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with cervical spondylopathy. Methods Sixteen patients underwent Bryan cervical disc replacement (A group), and 35 patients underwent traditional ACDF (B group) were included in the study. Patients were followed up at regular intervals. The JOA score, SF-36, neck disability index (NDI) score and the dynamic flexion-extension radiographs were used to evaluated the oucomes.Results All the patients were followed up for more than 6 years (mean, 73.5 months). There were no severe adverse events in both groups. In A group, there were no differences between postoperative and preoperative mobility of surgical segments (P＞0.05). All patients obtained bone fusions 6 month after surgery in group B.In both groups, the clinical symptoms relieved obviously after surgery. The postoperative scores of the JOA,SF-36 and NDI significantly improved compared with those of preoperative ones (P＜0.05). In B group, range of motion (ROM) was significantly decreased postoperatively (P ＜0.01); in A group, there were no significant differences between postoperative and preoperative ROM (P＞0.05). The difference between two groups regarding ROM was noted (P＜0.05). Conclusion The mid-term outcomes of Bryan cervical arthroplasty are satisfied. And the cervical arthroplasty which can maintain the mobility of the segment, and decrease the incidence of the postoperative neck axial symptoms is a viable alternative to cervical spondylopathy.

The PET tracer 5-([11C]methyloxy)-L-tryptophan (5-(11)CMTP) was prepared by nucleophilic fluorination and alkylation reaction via a two-step procedure in order to develop specific tumor probe. The biodistribution and microPET imaging of 5-(11)CMTP were executed. The results unveiled that the overall radiochemical yield with no decay correction was (14.6 ±7.2) %, the radiochemical purity was more than 95% and high uptake and long retention time of 5-(11)CMTP in liver, kidney and blood were observed but low uptake in brain and muscle were found, furthermore, high uptake of 5-(11)CMTP in tumor tissue was observed. It seems that 5-(11)CMTP will be a potential amino acid tracer for tumors imaging with PET.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radioactive Tracers ; Tissue Distribution ; Tryptophan ; analogs & derivatives

Adult ; Female ; Forearm ; surgery ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Cystatin B ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the protective effect of acetylcysteine against radiation pneumonia.MethodsTotal of 80 patients who were inoperable were randomly allocated into treatment group and control group.Using conformal radiation technology and the total dose was 65 ～ 75Gy.The patients in treatment group were given acetylcysteine and radiotherapy;the patients in control group were given radiotherapy only.ResultsAll patients were treated radiotherapy.The effective rate( CR and PR) of treatment group was 90％,and that of control group was 85％(P ＞ 0.05);The incidence of acute radiation pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis in treatment group were 15％ and 20％,respectively;and that of control group were 33％ and 45％ respectively.There was significant difference between the two groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionUsing acetylcysteine during radiotherapy could prevent radiation pneumonia in the non-small cell lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on the recovery of swallowing function in patients of dysphagia after acute stroke treated with acupuncture and functional electric stimulation.

METHODSSeventy-four patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus electric stimulation group (38 cases) and an electric stimulation group (36 cases). The functional electric stimulator was used in the two groups. The electric pads were placed on the hyoid bone, the upper part of thyroid cartilage, the masseter muscle and the mandibular joint. The treatment lasted for 30 mm each time. In the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, acupuncture was supplemented at motor area of Jiao's scalp acupuncture, lower 2/5 of sensory area, Baihui (CV 20), Lianquan (CV 23), Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13), 30 mm each time. The treatment was given once a day, 6 treatments for one session and there was 1 day at interval between the sessions, 4 sessions were required totally in the two groups. The dysphagia scale was adopted for efficacy evaluation before treatment and after 4 sessions of treatment in the two groups. The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was observed after treatment.

RESULTSThe dysphagia score was increased apparently after treatment compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, the dysphagia score was increased much more apparently than that in the electric stimulation group (8.01 +/- 1.25 vs 6.73 +/- 1.36, P < 0.05). The remarkably effective rate was 84.2% (32/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, better than 58.3% (21/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05). The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was 89.5% (34/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, which was higher than 50. 0% (18/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with electric stimulation achieves the much better efficacy on dysphagia after acute stroke and promotes the early removal of nasal feeding tube. The efficacy is better than that of the simple electric stimulation therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

The volatile components of roots and stems of Zanthoxylum nitidum were investigated by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO2) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Thirty-one and fifty-one compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts from roots and stems of Z. nitidum, respectively, and total twenty-seven compounds were the common constituents. Among them, the major constituents in root and stem supercritical extracts were spathulenol (18.49 and 26.18%), n-hexadecanoic acid (14.24% and 12.79%), ar-tumerone (6.95% and 8.88%), oleic acid (8.39% and 5.71%) and hexanoic acid (4.39% and 7.78%). The in-vitro MTT assay showed that the volatile components of roots and stems of Z. nitidum did not exhibited any cytotoxic activity against human cancer Huh-7 and normal IEC-6 cells. These results indicated the same nature of the volatile constituents in the root and stem of Z. nitidum. This investigation may provide further evidence for expansion of medicinal parts of Z. nitidum.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Objective To explore the protective effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons induced by L-dopa via JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Methods PC12 cells were induced to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons with 100 μg/L β-NGF; MTT assay was employed to identify the changes in the viability of PC12 cells following L-dopa treatment at 0, 10,20, 50, 100, 150 and 200 μmol/L, and the different concentrations of IGF-1 at 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 nmol/L with the same concentration of L-dopa (150 μmol/L); Western blotting was used to detect the levels of P-JAK2/P-STAT3 in PC12 cells treated with PBS (controls), L-dopa, L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 for 24 h, and then the apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry and Hchest33258 staining. Results Western blotting showed that the expressions of P-JAK2 and P-STAT3 were detected in the L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment groups but not in the control group or L-dopa treatment group; the expression of P-STAT3 in the L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment group was obviously lower than that in the L-dopa+IGF-1 treatment group (P<0.05). Hchest33258 staining indicated that L-dopa treatment group had the most obvious karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis,much more apoptotic bodies than the L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment groups. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate was significantly different among the 4 groups (F=180.991,P=0.000): as compared with the control group, the other 3 groups had a higher apoptosis rate (P<0.05);L-dopa treatment group (38.13 ±2.54 %) enjoyed the highest level, followed by L-dopa+IGF-1 +AG490treatment group (25.60±1.30 %) and L-dopa+IGF-1 treatment group (20.17±1.54 %). Conclusion L-dopa has toxic effect on PC12 cells; IGF-1 could protect the PC12 cells from the neurotoxic effect of L-dopa and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is activated in this procedure.