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.

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.

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*

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

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of valsartan on expressions of myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA2), protein kinase A (PKA) and protein phosphatase 1 alpha (PP1alpha) in a rabbit model of heart failure.

METHODSRabbits were divided into sham-operated group, heart failure group (volume overload by aortic valve destruction induced aortic insufficiency plus pressure overload induced by abdominal aortic banding) and heart failure plus valsartan (20 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), n = 6 each). Seven weeks later, echocardiography examination was performed and SERCA2, PKA, PP1alpha protein and mRNA expressions were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the with sham operated rabbits, LVMI and LVEDP in heart failure rabbits were significantly increased while left ventricular shorten fraction (LVFS) and ejection fraction (EF) were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05), these changes could be significantly attenuated by valsartan treatment (all P < 0.05). SERCA2, PKA expressions at protein and mRNA levels were significantly downregulated and PP1alpha expressions significantly upregulated in heart failure rabbits than sham operated rabbits (all P < 0.05) and these changes could be significantly attenuated by valsartan (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONValsartan improved cardiac function in volume and pressure overload induced heart failure rabbits possibly by upregulating expressions of myocardial SERCA2, PKA and downregulating expression of myocardial PP1alpha.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Protein Phosphatase 1 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

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

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

BACKGROUNDTo study characteristics of peripheral T cell subsets in 94 children with chronic hepatitis B and to elucidate its relationships with clinical status and hepatic pathology.

METHODSPeripheral T cell subsets were detected using flow cytometric analysis with specific monoclonal antibodies staining in 94 patients with HBV infection. The authors simultaneously detected their serum ALT, markers of HBV infection and examined liver biopsy material for pathological changes.

RESULTSIn patients with serious liver lesion, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells was significantly higher than those with mild lesion (1.41+/-0.54 vs 1.08+/-0.35, P less than 0.05), which seemed to be associated with the various liver lesions among the patients. In female cases, the levels of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells were higher than their counterpart in male cases (33.1+/-5.39 vs 28.8+/-6.28, 1.28+/-0.32 vs 1.02+/-0.36, P less than 0.05), but the level of CD8+ T cells was lower than those in males (26.79+/-4.66 vs 30.51+/-7.17, P less than 0.05). There was no obvious correlation between T cell subsets and circulating HBV viral load, the size of spleen among the HBV-infected children.

CONCLUSIONThe characteristics of peripheral T cell subsets probably suggests the immune disorder occurred in these children with hepatitis B compared with healthy controls and its mechanism needs further investigation.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology