Objective To investigate the effects of different afferent nerve injury on development of neuropathic pain and its relationship with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in rats. Methods Twenty-four male SD rats aged 2 months weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 3 groups:group Ⅰ sham operation (group S); group Ⅱ sural nerve injury (group SUR) and group Ⅲ gastrocnemius-soleus nerve injury (group GS). Sural nerve and gastrocnemius-soleus nerve were transected in group SUR and GS respectively. Paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament stimulation was measured the day before and at day 3 and 7 after operation. The animals were killed at postoperative day 7 after the measurement of paw withdrawal threshold. The ipsllateral L5 DRG and L5 segment of the spinal cord were removed. BDNF expression in the spinal dorsal horn was determined. The percentage of BDNF positive neurons and ATF-3 positive neurons in the total DRG neurons and the percentage of BDNF positive neurons in the damaged neurons (ATF-3 positive) were calculated. Results Mechanical hyperalgesia developed after transection of gastrocnemius-soleus muscle in group GS. Mechanical pain threshold was sinificantly lower, while BDNF expression in the spinal dorsal horn and the percentage of BDNF positive neurons in total DRG neurons were significantly higher in group GS than in group S and SUR (P ＜ 0.01). There was no significant difference in all variables between group SUR and S (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in the percentage of ATF-3 positive neurons in the total DRG neurons between group GS and SUR (P ＞ 0.05), but the percentage of BDNF positive neurons in the damaged neurons (ATF-3 positive) was significantly higher in group GS than in group SUR (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Transection of the afferent nerve innervating muscle can produce neuropathic pain through up-regulation of BDNF expression in spinal dorsal horn and DRG in rats, while transection of the afferent nerve innervating skin can not.

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective Toanalyzetheclinicalcharacteristicsandtreatmentoutcomesofspinalfilum terminalevascularmalformation.Methods Theclinicaldataof6patientswithfilumterminalevascular malformation diagnosed and treated from January 2008 to December. 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The definition of filum terminale vascular malformation is anterior/posterior spinal artery feeding arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous malformation and located below conus medullaris,and does not complicate with spinal vascular lesions in the other part. The Aminoff & Logue score and MRI of spinal cord function were performedatoneyearaftermicroneurosurgeryand/orendovascularembolization.Results Allpatients were males. Their clinical presentations were the weakness of both lower extremities and sphincter disturbance. The mean course of disease was 17. 1 ± 5. 2 months. The pathological type of the 6 patients were all arteriovenous fistulas. The feeding arteries included lumbar artery,internal iliac artery,and median sacral artery. Two of the 6 patients underwent Onyx glue embolization,3 were treated with microneurosurgery,and 1 was treated with embolization in combination with microneurosurgery. They were all achieved anatomic cure. The Aminoff & Logue scores were improved after 1 year (3. 8 ± 1. 9 scores before procedure,2. 8 ± 2. 0 scores after procedure),there was no significant difference (P >0. 05). The myodynamia scores were improved in 3 patients,2 did not change,1 got worse. The urinary and bowel functions were improved in 2 patients,and4didnotchange.Conclusion Filumterminalevascularmalformationisararevascular malformation of spinal cord. Both embolization and surgical treatment can achieve anatomic cure. Although the spinal cord function can be only partially restored,but continuous deterioration can be prevented.

Objective To investigate the effects of remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPoC) on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods One hundred and twenty-eight male adult SD rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n =32 each):sham operation group (group S),group I/R,group I/R + RIPoC and remote I/R group (group RI/R ).Global cerebral I/R was induced by four-vessel occlusion.Group I/R + RIPoC received 3 cycles of 15 min reperfusion followed by 15 min ischemia in bilateral femoral arteries at the beginning of cerebral reperfusion.The rats were sacrificed at 24 and 48 h of cerebral reperfusion,and brains were removed for determination of neuronal apoptosis (by TUNEL method) in hippocampal CA1 region and the parietal cortex,Bcl-2 and Bax expression (by Western blot) in hippocampal CA1 region.The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in hippocampal CA1 region and the parietal cortex were also measured at 48 h of cerebral reperfusion.Morris water maze task was used to test the learning and memory function at 4 d of cerebral reperfusion,and the rats were sacrificed at 7 d of cerebral reperfusion,and brains were removed for determination of neuronal density in hippocampal CAl region and the parietal cortex.Results Cerebral I/R significantly increased the number of apoptotic neurons and MDA content,upregulated Bcl-2 and Bax expression,decreased neuronal density,SOD and CAT activity and learning and memory function in group I/R as compared with group S.RIPoC significantly attenuated these cerebral I/R-induced changes.Conclusion RIPoC could protect brain against global cerebral I/R-induced injury,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting lipid peroxidation,regulating the balance between Bcl-2 and Bax and inhibiting apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of GreenLight 120-W laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) versus transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP for randomized control trials and their references addressing 120-W PVP versus TURP in the treatment of BPH. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently accomplished the screening, quality assessment, and data extraction of the identified studies and performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.2.

RESULTSTotally, 6 randomized control trials were included in this analysis, involving 703 cases, 351 treated by PVP and 352 by TURP. Compared with TURP, PVP showed significantly decreased time of catheterization (by 32. 55 hours, 95% CI 15.3 -49.8, P < 0.01), hospital stay (by 1.85 days, 95% CI 1.2-2.5, P < 0.01), and intraoperative blood loss (by 15.6 g/L, 95% CI 10.0-21.2, P < 0.01), but increased time of operation (by 9.37 minutes, 95% CI 5. 1-13.6, P < 0.01). There was also a significant reduction in blood transfusion, TUR syndrome, and capsular perforation in the PVP group. At 12 months after surgery, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the improvement of maximum urinary flow rate, IPSS, postvoid residual, and sexual function.

CONCLUSIONGreenLight 120-W laser PVP is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of BPH, with similar effectiveness to TURP but less blood loss, shorter time of catheterization and hospital stay, and lower incidences of blood transfusion, TUR syndrome and capsular perforation.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Prostate ; surgery ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

This paper presents the preliminary investigation on chondromalacia patella at our department in recent years. A random cluster sampling survey covering 2743 normal persons was carried out. The prevalence rate is 36.2%. It was found that, applying transmission electron microscope and immunohistochemical methods on to cartilage tissues of the abnormal region, articular cartilage necrosis was in direct proportion with the abnormal pressure, while the restoration capability of local chondrocytes was in inverse proportion with pathological changes and the pressure. The chondromalacia patella was produced by repeated abnormal stress acting on the carilage. The stress derived from the uncongruency and the decreasing in the contact area of patellofemoral joint when the subluxation or tilt of patellae was caused by the abnormal anatomical and biomechanical relationship. The initial lesion was at the matrix of cartilage,the collagen network was disrupted, then proteoglycan was lost. The microenvironment of chondrocytes was changed with degradation of matrix. So the chon drocytes became degenerative and necrosis from superficial to deep layer, then feed back the matrix again. Finally, the total cartilage layer might disappear, and the bone under cartilage might proliferate. At late stage, the cartilage was completely destroyed and had no self-restorative ability. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary. It is highly suggested axis radiograph of the knee with the tibiae tuberositas localization are helpful to early diagnosis. Furthermore, JKY-Muscle Rehabilitation Instrument is invented for non-operative therapy. It enhances muscle power by selective training of the vastus medialis muscle using electrical stimulator to relieve pain and correct subluxation of patella with 90% efficiency (63% of excellent-effective rate) . In late stage, patellofemoral replacement is recommended. The excellent-effective rate is 86.3%.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of de novo malignancy after liver transplantation (LT) and compare with those among the general Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 466 patients who had a minimum follow-up time of 6 months were enrolled in the study. All data of medical records and follow up were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of de novo malignancy was 3.0% (14 in 466 patients). The median elapsed time from transplant to the diagnosis of de novo malignancy was 42 months (range, 6 to 106 months). The cumulative risk for development of de novo malignancy was 1.6%, 2.7%, and 8.2% at 3, 5 and 10 years after LT, respectively. The patients were all male. The types of de novo tumors included digestive system tumor (8 in 14), lung cancer (2 in 14), urologic neoplasm (2 in 14), and hematologic malignant tumor (2 in 14). Over a mean follow-up of 24 months after diagnosis of de novo malignancy, 7 patients (50.0%) died; the overall 5-year patient survival rate was 54.5%. The relative risk of malignancy following LT was 9.5 folds higher than the general Chinese population. CONCLUSION: The relative risk of malignancy following LT was much higher than the general Chinese population. Digestive system tumor is the most common type of de novo malignancy after LT in China.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Transplantation* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation ; Urologic Neoplasms

FIZZ/RELM is a new gene family named "found in inflammatory zone" (FIZZ) or "resistin-like molecule" (RELM). FIZZ1/RELMα is specifically expressed in lung tissue and associated with pulmonary inflammation. Chronic cigarette smoking up-regulates FIZZ1/RELMα expression in rat lung tissues, the mechanism of which is related to cigarette smoking-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. To investigate the effect of exercise training on chronic cigarette smoking-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and up-regulation of FIZZ1/RELMα, rat chronic cigarette smoking model was established. The rats were treated with regular exercise training and their airway responsiveness was measured. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of lung tissues were performed to detect the expression of FIZZ1/RELMα. Results revealed that proper exercise training decreased airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary inflammation in rat chronic cigarette smoking model. Cigarette smoking increased the mRNA and protein levels of FIZZ1/RELMα, which were reversed by the proper exercise. It is concluded that proper exercise training prevents up-regulation of FIZZ1/RELMα induced by cigarette smoking, which may be involved in the mechanism of proper exercise training modulating airway hyperresponsiveness.
Animals ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; physiopathology ; Smoking ; physiopathology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVEGas-containing encephalo-meningitis is very rare. There have only been a few cases reported in the literature. The majority of neonatal cases reported in literature died. We report a case of a 5-day-old neonate who developed diffuse pneumocephalus from Enterobacter cloacae septicemia and intracranial infection.

METHODThis neonate was initially treated with penicillin and mezlocillin. He also received phototherapy, intravenous infusion, correction of acidosis and other supportive therapy. Complete blood count, C-Reactive protein, cranial CT scan, blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid culture and biochemistry were tested repeatedly.

RESULTSThis neonate's condition deteriorated after admission. He developed respiratory distress, increased muscle tone and decreased level of consciousness. His WBC and C-reactive protein were elevated, while blood gas, electrolytes, liver enzymes and renal function were within normal range initially. Cranial CT scan was done which demonstrated diffuse pneumocephalus. He was transferred to a higher level hospital for further management at the request of the family. Blood culture done in our hospital subsequently showed growth of Enterobacter cloacae. The infant developed seizures and further deterioration in level of consciousness after transfer. Antibiotics were switched to penicillin and ceftizoxime. Cranial CT scan repeated 2 days after transfer showed hydrocephalus and some resolution of pneumocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was aspirated from the lateral ventricles two weeks after admission. CSF culture also showed growth of Enterobacter cloacae. Antibiotic was switched to imipenem according to antibiotic sensitivity. His general condition was improved. Blood and CSF cultures were negative 1 month after admission. His head circumference at discharge was 34.6 cm. Repeat cranial CT scan at 4 month of age demonstrated severe hydrocephalus, diffuse leukomalacia and calcification. This infant suffered significant neurodevelopmental deficit. Muscle tone was diffusely increased. Head circumference at 9 month of age was 48.4 cm.

CONCLUSIONThis case suggests the importance of Enterobacter cloacae infection in the newborns. Our analysis of 34 cases of Enterobacter cloacae infection showed that 93.75% - 100% were sensitive to quinolones, 94.12% were sensitive to imipenem, 73.33% were sensitive to gentamicin, 50% were sensitive to piperacillin-tazobactam. Enterobacter cloacae is generally not sensitive to penicillin, first and second generation cephalosporins (0 - 21.4%). Enterobacter cloacae septicemia and intracranial infection in neonates have a high mortality rate and can result in severe neurodevelopmental deficit in survivors.

Enterobacter cloacae ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis ; microbiology ; Pneumocephalus ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible roles of adenosine and the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) in rats.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups A (ABP), B (ABP + theophylline intervention), C (sham) and D (blank control). ABP models were established by injecting Escherichia coli 0157 into the prostate, and those in group B were treated by intraperitoneal injection of theophylline immediately after modeling. At 4 and 14 days, the prostate tissues of the rats were collected for detection of the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-10 by immunohistochemistry and the concentration of adenosine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSAt 4 and 14 days, the concentrations of adenosine were significantly higher in group A ([48.38 +/- 17.27] and [26.54 +/- 11.22] microg/g) than in C ([0.45 +/- 0.25] and [0.46 +/- 0.29] microg/g) and D ([0.41 +/- 0.23] and [0.43 +/- 0.27] microg/g) (P < 0.05), and so were the expressions of TNF-alpha in A (0.23 +/- 0.08 and 0.21 +/- 0.03) than in C (0.07 +/- 0.03 and 0.07 +/- 0.01) and D (0.07 +/- 0.06 and 0.07 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.05), and those of IL-10 in A (0.13 +/- 0.03 and 0.25 +/- 0.01) than in C (0.07 +/- 0.03 and 0.07 +/- 0.03) and D (0.07 +/- 0.01 and 0.07 +/- 0.02) (P < 0.05). Compared with group A, the rats in group B showed significant increases at 4 and 14 days in the severity of inflammation, concentration of adenosine ([86.64 +/- 32.87] and [51.17 +/- 22.96] microg/g, P < 0.05) and expression of TNF-alpha (0.37 +/- 0.08 and 0.32 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05), but exhibited no remarkable difference in the expression of IL-10 (0.12 +/- 0.06 and 0.15 +/- 0.06, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdenosine may affect the progression of inflammation by regulating the expressions of the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-10 in ABP rats through the adenosine receptor signaling pathway.

Adenosine ; physiology ; Animals ; Escherichia coli O157 ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Male ; Prostate ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Theophylline ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism