Objective To study the feasibility of minimally invasive procedure for the management of dumbbel tumors of the cervical vertebral canal. Methods Fourteen cases of dumbbel tumors of the cervical vertebral canal were treated by the approch of semi-laminectomy. Results Twelve cases underwent total resections, one case underwent subtotal resection, another case underwent great part of resection. The vertebral artery was preserved well during the operation. Nine out of fourteen cases had followed up for 6～18 months. Neurological function was improvement in all cases. No recurrence or instability of spine was found. Conclusions The approch of semi-laminectomy has the advantages of minimal invasion, less bleeding, and no influence on stability of spine. It is a good choice for dumbbel tumors of the cervical vertebral canal

BACKGROUND:Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) can crosslink at room temperature, andβ-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has good biocompatibility, but PPF/β-TCP composite bone cement has not yet been systematical y studied. OBJECTIVE:To prepare PPF/β-TCP composite bone cement and to explore its in vitro bioactivity and degradability. METHODS:β-TCP and PPF were respectively synthesized by liquid-phase precipitation and a two-step method, and PPF/β-TCP composite bone cement was prepared through mixing PPF withβ-TCP. The in vitro bioactivity of PPF/β-TCP was compared with the commercial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) through the ability of forming hydroxyapatite after immersed in simulated body fluid for 7 days. The in vitro degradability of PPF/β-TCP was studied via investigating the transformation of pH values, water uptake and mass loss, compressive strength and morphology at each time point. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were hydroxyapatites formed on the PPF/β-TCP material, but none on the commercial PMMA material. The pH values of the PPF/β-TCP were stable in PBS for 63 days, indicating its degradation is moderate;the mass loss was up to 13.5%after 84 days. Scanning electron microscope displayed the degraded PPF/β-TCP surface, and its compressive strength was decreased gradual y, which good for the integrity and sustainability of mechanical properties during degradation. These results suggest that PPF/β-TCP bone cement holds mineralization and degradability in vitro.

Objective: To assess the clinical results and value of retroperitoneal laparoscopic varicocele ligation. Methods: Sixty-eight cases of retroperitoneal laparoscopic varicocele ligation were analysed retrospectively. Results: Successful surgery was achieved in 67 cases,with average operation time of 30.5 minutes and mean post-operation hospital stay of 3 days.Two cases of recurrence were found during a 3-9 months follow-up. Conclusion:Retroperitoneal laparoscopic varicocele ligation is effective and minimally invasive.

Objective To study the effect of chronic restraint stress on the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and FasL in hippocampus of the offsprings during the pregnancy. Methods Restraint stress was performed three times each day of pregnant women from day 13 to day 19 (each time for 45min). After delivery, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and FasL in hippocampus of one-month-old female and male rats were respectively examined by immunohistochemical method. Results Compared with the control group, the expression level of Bax in stressed group is higher (P 0.05). Conclusion Restraint stress during the pregnancy can upgrade the expression of Bax and degrade the expression of Bcl-2 of the offsprings; no effect was found on the expressions of Fas and FasL of the offsprings.

With the development of minimally invasive surgical technology, laparoscopic cholecysteeto-my, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanereatography, endoscopic sphincterotomy and choledochoscopy were applied increasingly in the clinical practice. Based on the domestic and foreign literatures, this article re-viewes these minimally invasive surgical technologies.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of sodium ferulate (SF) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm delivery and intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD). METHODS Pregnant Kunming mice were subcutaneously pretreated with SF (25 or 50 mg · kg-1) from gestational day (GD) 10 to GD 15 and with the single injection of LPS (150μg·kg-1, ip) on GD15.5. The incidence of preterm delivery and IUFD was observed. HE staining was used for uterine and placental histological evaluation. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected in the maternal liver, placenta, and fetal liver using commercial kits. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in amniotic fluid were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS For LPS group, the incidence of preterm was 47.8%, delivery time was (17.5 ± 1.3) d, and the pups′survival rate was only 42.6%. Compared with LPS-treated group, SF 50 mg · kg-1 group showed a lower incidence of preterm (14.3%, P<0.01), longer gestational days (18.4 ± 0.5, P<0.05), and a higher pups′survival rate (75.6%, P<0.01). SF 50 mg · kg-1 restored the LPS-induced GSH both in the maternal and fatal liver (a tendency without statistical significance), GST activity〔(163±82) kU·g-1 protein vs (95±90) kU·g-1 protein, P<0.01)〕in the placenta, TBARS content〔(2.5±0.4)μmol·g-1 protein vs (3.1±0.6)μmol·g-1 protein, P<0.01〕in the fetal liver, and TNF-αlevel〔(11±8) ng·L-1 vs (20±8) ng·L-1, P<0.01〕in the amniotic fluid. SF also attenuated LPS-induced placental congestion and neutrophil infiltra?tion in the uterus. CONCLUSION SF may protect against LPS-induced preterm delivery and IUFD, and anti-oxidation as well as anti-inflammation may contribute to these effects.

Objective: To explore the development trajectory of coping strategy and gender difference during childhood. Methods: A total of 355 children in grade 3 from 2 primary schools in Zhongshan of Guangdong Province and Dazhou of Sichuan Province were assessed with cooping strategy and followed up for 2 years. Results: Positive and negative coping strategies have different developmental trajectories during childhood, with non-linear upward trend in positive coping strategies (eta11=0.11, 0.02, P>0.05) and non-linear downward trend in negative coping strategies (eta12=-0.70, -0.08, P<0.01). The development of positive coping strategies during childhood showed no significant gender difference (△χ2=5.19, df=4, P>0.05). While the initial average negative coping strategies was significant higher in boys(β=-0.56, P<0.01), and the decreasing velocity was faster than the girls(β=0.33, P<0.01). Conclusion The coping strategy during childhood shows great plasticity, with positive and negative coping strategy develops in different trajectory. The developmental trajectories of negative coping strategies during childhood illustrate significant sex difference, while it is not the case for positive coping strategy.

Objective: To explore the development of children’s loneliness and their gender differences, and to provide references for elementary school students’ mental health education. Methods: The Children’s Loneliness Scale was being used in this research. 771 students in grade 3 and 4 were investigated and followed for 2 years, a total of 5 waves of data were collected. Results: The scores of pupils s loneliness in 5 times were(33.96±12.77)(31.13±12.82)(29.66±12.65)(28.67±11.97)(27.60±11.63) respectively. Feelings of loneliness decline rapidly in mid-childhood(eta1=-2.61, P<0.01), but in late childhood, it showed a significant upward trend(eta2=0.27, P<0.01). In the middle and late childhood, the level of loneliness of boys was significantly higher than that of girls at different points in time. But there was no significant gender difference in the pace of loneliness during childhood(β1=0.06, β2=0.01, P>0.05). Conclusion Childhood loneliness presents non-linear curve,decreasing with age during early childhood, but tends to increase in later childhood.

Objective To investigate the effects of 20 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with different intensities on neurobehavior and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral infarction,so as to explore the probable mechanism. Methods Forty-three rats were randomly divided into a blank control group( n =7 ),a model control group( n =7),a sham stimulation control group(n =8) and a rTMS group (n =21) ; the rTMS group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups:80％ MT subgroup,100％ MT subgroup and 120％ MT subgroup,with 7 rats in each subgroup.The cerebral infarction model was established by right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in each group except the blank control group.The 3 rTMS subgroups were given 14 successive blocks of 20 Hz rTMS with corresponding intensity.The sham stimulation control group received sham treatment (without any output).The model control group was given no stimulation,and the blank control group did not receive any special treatment.Functional assessments were performed at 3 different time points.After 14-day treatment,the expression of GFAP proteins in ischemic penumbra were detected by immunohistochemistry technique. Results Functional outcome reflected from 3 behavioral tests in 100％ MT subgroup after 14-day stimulation was better than 1 day after operation,while in the other rTMS subgroups functional outcomes were just better in 2 behavioral tests.The expressions of GFAP in 3 rTMS subgroups were all less than that in model control group. Conclusions The 20 Hz rTMS with 80％ MT and 100％ MT might be safe and effective to improve the functional outcome in rats with acute cerebral infarction,especially 100％ MT.Decrease of expression of GFAP in ischemic penumbra might be one of the mechanisms of beneficial effects of rTMS in ischemia brain injury.

Objective To investigate the effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at different intensities on the ultrastructure of an ischemic brain penumbra and the expression of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods Forty-two rats were randomly divided into a blank control group,an MCAO model control group,a sham stimulation control group and an rTMS group.The rTMS group was divided further into 3 subgroups:an 80％ of motor threshold (MT) subgroup,a 100％ of MT subgroup and a 120％ of MT subgroup.The cerebral infarction model was established by right MCAO.rTMS treatment was given 24 hours after the MCAO model was successfully established.The rTMS group and sham stimulation control group were given 20 Hz rTMS with the planned intensities.The MCAO model control group was not given any stimulation.After 14 days of treatment,transmission electron microscopy,immunohistochemical and Western blotting ( WB ) methods were used to investigate the ultrastructure of the ischemic penumbra and the expression of BDNF.Results Damage reflected in the ultrastructure in the 3 rTMS subgroups was less than in the model control group and the sham stimulation control group.Expression of BDNF protein increased significantly in 100％ of the MT group and blank control group rats as compared with that in the sham stimulation control group,while the blank control group and the 3 rTMS subgroups had no statistically significant difference in comparison with the MCAO model control group.The expression of BDNF protein had no statistically significant difference between any of the groups.Conclusion 20 Hz rTMS might,especially at 100％ of the MT,promote the recovery of the ultrastructure of neural tissues in the ischemic penumbra after acute cerebral infarction and enhance the expression of BDNF in the ipsilesional hemisphere.This may be one of the important mechanisms of rTMS's effectiveness in the treatment of ischemic stroke.