Objective To explore a better method to diagnose the brachial plexus injury as pre-or post-ganglionic,which is quick,simple,quantitative,cheap and accurate.Methods Forty-five SD rats were divided randomly ino pre-or post-ganglionic brachial plexus injury models group,and the choline acetyl- transferase(CHAT)activity was detected by using the radioisotope after different days.Results The ChAT activity of two groups both fall day by day:in the pre-agnglionic group,it falls quickly,and reach 1/10 of nor- mal(675?258)cpm;in the post-ganglionic group,it falls slowly,and reach 1/2 of normal even after 90 days (4906?1119)cpm.Conclusion Intra-operative measure of ChAT can be used to differentiate pre-or post- ganglionic brachial plexus injury.

Objective　To investigate the effect of T-2 toxin on apoptosis of chondrocytes.Methods　Chondrocytes which were obtained from aborted fetal were cultured in vitro.Four days later,these chondrocytes were exposed to T-2 toxin in different concetrations for 16 hours.According to the concentratio ns,five experimental groups were divided:0,5,10,20,40 μg/L.Then TUNEL staining and Flowcytometry were used to detect the apoptosis of chondrocytes qualitativel y and quantitatively,the effect of T-2 toxin on proliferation of chondrocytes were also observed.Results　After being exposed to T-2 toxin,the body of chondrocytes shrinked obviously and there was a dose-dependent relationship bet ween the toxin concentration and the degree of shrink.The concentration of T-2 toxin changed from 0 μg/L to 10 ng/ml,the number of apoptosis increased.Conclusions　 T-2 toxin can inhibit the proliferation of chondroyte significantly in a dose-depenent manner. T-2 toxin can induce the apoptosis of chondrocyte and the numbers of apoptosis is proportionate to the concentration of T-2 toxin in particular range.

Humans ; Aortic Dissection/surgery* ; Aortic Rupture/surgery* ; Death ; Treatment Outcome

Aortic Dissection/complications* ; Aortic Rupture/etiology* ; Humans

Coronary Artery Disease/complications* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/etiology* ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia/diagnosis*

BACKGROUNDTourniquets used during total knee arthroplasty may lead to many complications. The aim of this study was to determine perioperative blood loss and its clinical relevance in total knee replacement surgery after applying a tourniquet.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to October 2009, 60 consecutive patients who underwent routine total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into two groups and were treated with or without a tourniquet (30 patients/group). There were no significant differences in patient baseline characteristics between the two groups. We compared the two groups of patients in terms of intra- and postoperative bleeding, invisible or visible bleeding, and total blood loss.

RESULTSNone of the patients showed poor wound healing, lower extremity deep venous thrombosis or other complications. The amount of blood loss during surgery was lower in the tourniquet group than in the control group (P < 0.01). However, postoperative visible bleeding (P < 0.05) and occult bleeding (P < 0.05) were significantly greater in the tourniquet group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the total amount of blood loss between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTourniquet can reduce bleeding during total knee replacement surgery, but is associated with greater visible and invisible blood loss.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Tourniquets

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of primary anterior radical debridement, bone autograft, and sacral rod fixation for the treatment of tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segment.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to November 2008,11 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segments received antituberculosis medications for 2 to 3 weeks before anterior radical debridement, autologous iliac bone grafting, and internal sacral rod fixation. Among the patients, 5 patients were male and 6 patients were female, with an average age of (44.45 +/- 8.50) years (ranged from 29 to 56 years). The average time from stage of onset to operation was 11 months (ranged from 8 to 15 months). All the patients presented with various degrees of lower back pain; one patient experienced preoperative lower extremity radicular pain, while 2 patients experienced saddle area anaesthesia. However, only 6 patients exhibited mild to moderate tuberculous toxic reactions. All the patients were evaluated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made with reference to clinical and radiological findings. Surgery was performed when the toxic symptoms of tuberculosis were controlled and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) decreased to (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h (25 to 54 mm/h). Lumbosacral angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, ESR, and neurological performance were assessed before and after surgery.

RESULTSAll surgical procedures were performed successfully without intra or postoperative complications. There were no instances of spinal tuberculosis recurrence. Patients were followed up for a mean of (19.64 +/- 5.43) months. The mean lumbosacral angle significantly increased from the preoperative mean (12.9 +/- 5.0) degrees to postoperative (21.5 +/- 6.1) degrees and at final follow-up (20.1 +/- 5.2) degrees (P < 0.001). The mean VAS scores and ESR significantly decreased from preoperative (7.3 +/- 1.2) score and (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h respectively to final follow-up (0.6 +/- 0.5) score and (10.5 +/- 2.3) mm/h respectively (P < 0.001). Bone fusion occurred in all patients at a mean of (9.0 +/- 1.9) months (ranged 6 to 12 months) after surgery. Three patients who had impaired neurological performance before surgery had normal neurological performance after surgery.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that anterior radical debridement, interbody fusion, and sacral rod fixation can be an effective treatment option for lumbosacral segment tuberculosis.

Adult ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sacrum ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety, medium-term and long-term efficacy of transradial percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery lesions with 6 French guiding catheter.

METHODSSixty-one patients with unprotected left main coronary artery lesions were treated by 6 French transradial percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2008 and December 2009. The mean age of patients was (66.03 ±10.02)years (44-87). Among 61 cases, 40 had hypertension and 14 had diabetes mellitus; 22 had a history of smoking. The average left ventricle ejection fraction was (62.96 ±12.15)% (range: 28-86) and the average plasma creatinine level was (82.92 ±18.30)μmol/L (range: 44-130). The major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after the procedure were evaluated.

RESULTSProcedural success was achieved in all cases. A total of 67 stents were implanted. No in-hospital death occurred. Mean clinical follow-up period was (26.25 ±5.92) months (range: 19-44 months). MACE developed in 6 cases (9.8%) during the follow-up period, including 2 death (3.3%) and 4 case of target lesion revascularization (6.6%). Compared with low-risk group (SYNTAX score<33), MACE was increased in the high-risk group (SYNTAX score>32).

CONCLUSION6 French transradial percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery lesions is safe and feasible procedure with desirable medium-and long-term outcomes.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; methods ; Radial Artery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of oxymatrine (Oxy) on arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) by Holter electrocardiogram and HRV indexes.

METHODSOne hundred and ten patients with CHD and frequent arrhythmia were randomly divided into the Oxy group and the propafenone group, 55 cases in each group. Changes of general conditions, 48 hrs Holter electrocardiogram, frequency of premature beats, P-R interval, R-R interval and 24 hrs HRV index in patients before and after treatment were evaluated.

RESULTSThe amount of both atrial and ventricular premature beats decreased markedly in both groups (P < 0.01). Propafenone showed better effect in reducing atrial premature beats than that of Oxy (P < 0.05), while the two had similar effect on ventricular premature beats (P > 0.05). HRV was elevated in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01), but the effect of Oxy was superior to that of propafenone after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could significantly improve HRV, and shows obvious effects on atrial and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with CHD.

Adult ; Aged ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Berbamine (molecular formular C37H40N2O6) is a bi-benzle-isoquinolyl alkaloid extracted from Berberis poiretil Schneid (genus of Berberis, family of Beridaceae), a kind of Chinese plants. In aspect of cardiovascular pharmacology, berbamine shows actions of anti-arrhythmia, anti-myocardial ischemia, vasodilatating to lower blood pressure, and antithrombosis, it could lower heart function and heart rate. Study on its anti-arrhythmia was the deepest one. The significant anti-arrhythmia action can be achieved by inhibiting ionic channels of sodium, potassium, calcium, etc., negative frequency and negative transduction, improving the diastolic excitation threshold of myocardium, prolonging effective refractory period of myocardium. As a direction of researches on new type of antiarrhythmic herbs and herbal drugs, the study on berbamine is worthy of further research and development.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; pharmacology ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Ion Channel Gating ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology