AIM: To investigate the effects of prenatal stress (PS) on neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus in offspring rats, and to explore the role of the overproduction of oxidants. METHODS: One month male offspring rats were obtained to observe the neuronal number, neuronal ultrastructure and the number of nNOS -positive cell in hippocampus. RESULTS: The neuronal number of CA1 and CA4 subregions in late gestation stress (LS) offspring decreases significantly. The neuronal ultrastructure of CA1 subregion in MS (stress in 7-13 days of gestation) and LS offspring appeared bulgy mitochondria, unclear membrane and irregular electron density. Lipofuscin pigments increased; The number of nNOS-positive cell in CA1, CA2, CA3 subregions and DG of MS group and the whole hippocampus of LS group increased significantly. CONCLUSION: PS damaged the neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus of offspring rats. The damages were associated with the overproduction of oxidants.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic compression fracture of the upper thoracic spine.Methods The study enrolled 20 patients with osteoporotic compression fracture in 25 upper thoracic segments.The subjects (5 males and 15 females) aged at (71.0 ± 10.8) years (range, 57-89 years).Fracture occurred in 2 T1, 3 T2,5 T3 and 15 T4 segments.The subjects were submitted to puncture process via unilateral extrapedicular approach.Operation time, volume of infused bone cement, X-ray images and CT scan were recorded after operation.Visual analogue score (VAS), mobility score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed after operation.Results The procedure was successfully accomplished in all patients.Mean operation time was (39.7 ± 10.6)min.Infusion volume of bone cement was 2.0-6.0 ml [(3.3 ± 1.5)ml].Eighteen patients were available to the follow-up of 5.5-18 months [(7.6 ± 2.7) months].Three patients (15％) were associated with cement leakage into the epidural (n =1), paravertebral soft tissues (n =1) and disc (n =1) but remained asymptomatic.One patient (5％) had new fracture at the non-adjacent and non-operative segments within 15 days, and had no recurrence after PVP.No other serious complications such as rib fracture, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, vascular injury, spinal injury and infection were found.VAS, mobility score and ODI improved at 3 d, 1 month, 3 months and final follow-up compared to those at 1 d pre-operation (P ＜0.O1).Conclusions PVP is a safe and effective treatment for upper thoracic osteoporotic compression fracture, which is associated with few complications,reduced pain and improved mobility as well as quality of life.Rational surgical position and puncture approach are beneficial to a successful surgery.

BACKGROUND:Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor in children. Pediatric tumors are little affected by environmental factors, but closely related to child development. The suspension method is an effective and reliable method to harvest neoplastic stem cel s.
OBJECTIVE:To culture the cel clones of human neuroblastoma cel line SK-N-SH and to assess the biological properties of the cel clones.
METHODS:Using the suspension method with no serum media, tumor cel clones were obtained. Immunofluorescence method was used to identify whether tumor cel clones exhibit stem cel properties. SK-N-SH neuroblastoma was labeled by luciferase, and tumor cel clones and tumor cel s were seeded onto the back of nude mice to monitor cel proliferative properties in nude mice using in vivo imaging.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Using the suspension culture method, SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cel s could successful y develop into cloning bal s. Under serum-free culture, cloning bal s were immunofluorescently used to detect molecular markers that showed strong positive expression. Cloning bal s subcutaneously implanted into
nude mice showed the strong ability of self-renewal and differentiation as stem cel s. The cel clones cultured by the suspension method strongly expressed Nestin, but weakly expressed glial fibril ary acidic protein, neuron-specific tubulin, possessing stem cel characteristics and strong proliferation and metastasis in nude mice.

Objective:To compare drug policies in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICs), sum-marize the experiences from the process of implementation and provide some suggestions to further improve the national drug policy in China. Methods:National drug polices of BRICs and experiences in the implementation of essential medicine policy were summed up systematically by means of systematic review. Results:Essential medicine policy and popular phar-macy are implemented in Brazil;Pharmaceutical separation system is established in Russia;the mode of essential medicine policy in Delhi is typical in India;Government of South African focuses on procurement and distribution of drugs. Although drug policies of BRICs have their own characteristics, the objective is to increase the public access to low-cost, high-quality drugs. Conclusions:Despite the BRICs have attained some achievements, they still face serious challenges in deep-ening the health care reform. Hence, they need to explore the measures continuingly consisting with their national condi-tions, and learn from the experiences of developed countries to further consolidate and improve the national drug policies.

Aim To clone apoptosis-related genes from human MCF-7 breast cancer cells and to analyze the character of the method used in the process. Methods A poptotic cell model of MCF-7 cells was established with the apoptotic tumor cells induced by the all-trans-retinoic acid. The apoptotic gene was cloned from the model by improved PCR-based subtractive hybridization. Results 5 clones were identified to be related to apoptosis by reverse dot blot, 4 of them were known genes, and 3 were related to apoptosis. A novel gene， named apmcf-1, coded for 47 amino acid was identified. This gene was accepted by Genbank, the accession number was AF141882. Conclusion This improved PCR-based subtractive hybridization may be an efficient way in cloning differential expression gene.

OBJECTIVE: Apneagraph can be used to discuss which the best operation scheme is for OSAHS. Effects of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty can be assessed by Apneagraph in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. METHOD: Fifty-six patients with OSAHS received the modified UPPP operation were randomly selected in our hospital. The AG and PSG were applied for diagnosis and evaluation of operation effects. The sleepiness state was assessed by ESS (Epworth sleepiness scale) 6 months after the surgery, compared with the preoperative ESS scores using attest for statistical analysis. We used the SPSS19.0 software to carry our data analysis. RESULT: After 6 months, the evaluation of postoperative efficacy came out to be completely controlled in 42 cases (75%), significantly effective in 14 cases (25%), and uncured in 0 cases. Correlation between the transpalatal obstruction proportion and the AHI reduction percentage was significantly positive (r = 0.667). There were 38 patients with oropharynx obstruction percentage more than 73.35% presented completely controlled in 34 cases (89.47%), significantly effective in 4 cases (10.33%), and uncured in 0 cases. CONCLUSION AG has the dual functions of analyzing sleep-related respiratory disturbance events and determining upper airway obstruction sites. AG application in the postoperative evaluation of modified uppp has significantly objective guide significance. The modified UPPP for treatment of OSAHS can improve the operation effect. Patients with oropharynx obstruction percentage more than 73.5% don't need to receive the operation for treatment of retroglottal region.
Adult ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate ; surgery ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Sleep Stages ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility and safety of anterior pedicle screw (APS) fixation in treatment of lower cervical spine injuries.MethodsA total of 10 patients with lower cervical spine injuries were treated with APS fixation.All the patients received preoperative cervical CT scans,and then three-dimensional model was reconstructed by using Mimics software to measure the screw placement parameters (insertion point,screw placement angle,screw length and diameter).All APS fixations were performed through anterior cervical approach,and then centrums antetheca and bilateral outer edges were exposed to distinguish the vertebral end plates.Screw insertion was strictly operated under the fluoroscopic assistance and preoperative screw placement parameters.The postoperative efficacy of APS fixation was evaluated by radiologist and other orthopedist via anteroposterior and lateral radiation,CT scan,three-dimensional model reconstruction and MRI.A follow-up was carried out at 1,3,6 and 12 months after operation.ResultsExcept for one screw for C4 and one for C7,another 24 crews for C3-C7 were successfully inserted.Postoperative CT scan demonstrated four screws breaking the outer vertebral wall.Except for one patient suddenly died from acute myocardial infarction one week after operation,the other nine patients received follow-up.Of three trauma patients,one patient at Grade A did not get improvement but with no aggravation and two achieved improvement for 2-3 grades according to Frankel grade.Among six non-trauma patients,spinal function score by JOA was averagely elevated to 13.4 points,with improvement rate of 60.7％ according to Hirabayashi method.There were no serious complications except for two patients of dysphagia among the patients who were followed up. Conclusions APS fixation is feasible for lower cervical spine injuries.The keys to successful screw insertion are preoperative measurement of individualized screw insertion parameters and appropriate application of intraoperative fluoroscope technique.

Objective． Bone mineral density（BMD） was measured in normal Chinese women with single X-ray absorptiometry （SXA） and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry （DEXA）． These two methods were compared to evaluate the sensitivity in reflecting bone loss．Methods． Measurements were performed in 300 women aged 20～79（5 for each age）． The 8mm distal，1／4 distal， ultra distal site of the nondominant forearm were measured with SXA； the AP spine（L2-4）， right femoral neck（Neck）， Ward's triangle（Ward）and trochantor （Troch） were measured with DEXA． Ten women had 5 repeated measurements to evaluate the reproducibility of the equipments．Results． The BMD peak for Neck and Ward was found between age 20～29， for ultra distal and L2-4 at age 30～39， for 8mm distal， 1／4 distal and Troch at age 40～49． After reaching the peak values， BMD at all sites decreased with increasing age． The highest rate of yearly loss of BMD was at 8mm distal． Results of measurement showed significant correlation between SXA and DEXA． Comparing with premenopausal women， the bone loss rate in postmenopausal women was faster and highest up to 11～15 years and the highest rate was at the Ward．Conclusion． The present study gives the normal values of BMD at seven sites for normal Chinese women． The ages of BMD peak were different at seven sites． The yearly loss of BMD was highest at 8mm distal， it seemed to be the sensitive region for bone loss with age． The postmenopausal women had highly significantly loss bone mass than the premenopausal women． Comparing with premenopause， postmenopause BMD for Ward's triangle with DEXA seemed to be most sensitive to the effect of menopause．

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve the postoperative effect of modified UPPP, removing the partial pharyngeal muscle in surgery, we investigate the postoperative effect, the characteristics of pharyngeal cavity and the potential complications in OSAHS patients. METHOD: To choose 82 OSAHS patients with obstructive oropharyngeal plane diagnosed by Apneagraphy (AG), Fibre nasopharyngoscope combined with Müller examination and nasopharyngeal 3D-CT, which had completed clinical data inpatients in the anesthesia underwent of the partial pharyngeal muscles in the postoperative, divided into a control group of 26 cases, operating the H-UPPP surgery which did not remove partial pharyngeal muscle; The experimental group of 56 cases did a H-UPPP surgical which removed partial pharyngeal muscle of possible concurrent symptoms such as nasal regurgitation, Eustachian tube dysfunction and other follow-up study in six months after the monthly telephone follow-up or outpatient exams to understand the disease. Patients were evaluated the sleepiness by ESS(Epworth sleepiness scale) in 6 months after the surgery, compared with the preoperative ESS scores, do a t test for statistical analysis. AG can be used to evaluate effects of the UPPP after 6 months. By measuring uvula length (L1), extent from free edge of soft palate to postpharyngeal (L2) and stenosis of nasopharynx width (L3) mean, we investigate the characteristics of pharyngeal cavity using the multiple linear regression to do the hypothesis test and evaluate the association between measuring mean and effect. Using SPSS19.0 software do the preoperative contrast analysis. RESULT: After 6 months in surgery, 56 cases in the experimental group, effect in 50 cases (89.29%), effective in 6 cases (10.71%); ESS score: Preoperative 11.74 +/- 2.48, after the first 6 months 3.84 +/- 2.05. Twenty-six cases in control group,effect in 19 cases (73.08%), effective in 7 cases (26.92%); ESS score: Preoperative 11.91 +/- 2.40, after the first 6 months 6.92 +/- 2.47, t-test P value of less than 0.05 between the experimental group and the control group; There are no ear fullness, hearing loss, increase their own sound which reflect eustachian tube dysfunction and other complications in two groups; The function of pharyngeal cavity could be recovered normal lever after 6 months; After 6 months of the operation, in the experimental group and the control group L1 mean was respectively (5.91 +/- 3.38) mm and (6.20 +/- 3.76) mm (P>0.05); L2 mean was respectively (15.70 +/- 3.29)mm and (15.35 +/- 1.44) mm (P> 0.05); L3 mean was respectively (20.54 +/- 3.33) mm and (16.43 +/- 2.21) mm (P<0.05). Nasal fauces pitch mean was significantly widened. By the multiple linear regression analysis, the postoperative effect has the linear correlation between L2 and 1,3 residual mean with the negative correlation. Due to the standardized coefficient, L3 residual mean has the most influence on the postoperative effect. CONCLUSION Modified UPPP surgery removing the partial pharyngeal muscle is in favor of upgrading the postoperative effect with significantly increasing the width of postoperative nasal pharyngeal isthmus area, then there are not occur the eustachian tube dysfunction, the soft palate function, swallowing and articulation function disabled.
Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Uvula ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between puncture assisted by a "TINAVI" orthopaedic robot versus freehand puncture in vertebroplaty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF) of the upper thoracic vertebra.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 19 patients (20 vertebral bodies) with OVCF of the upper thoracic vertebra who had been treated at Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital from January 2018 to March 2019 by robotic vertebroplasty (robot group) and of another 21 counterpart patients (21 vertebral bodies) who had been treated by conventional vertebroplasty from January 2016 to December 2017 (freehand group). Puncture was conducted by a "TINAVI" orthopaedic robot in the robotic vertebroplasty but freehand in the conventional vertebroplasty. The robot group had 5 males and 14 females, aged from 62 to 88 years; the freehand group had 6 males and 15 females, aged from 64 to 83 years. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, bone cement volume, postoperative complications (cement leakage, infection and embolism), visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior height (AH) and kyphosis angulation (KA) of the injured vertebra at day 1 and last follow-up after surgery.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there were no significant differences between them in the preoperative general data ( P>0.05). Vertebroplasty via unilateral puncture approach was completed uneventfully in the 19 patients (20 vertebral bodies) in the robot group and in the 21 patients (21 vertebral bodies) in the freehand group. The 40 patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months (mean, 8.3 month). The operation time [(37.9±8.2) min], bone cement volume [(2.3±0.9) mL] and rate of cement leakage (10.0%, 2/20) in the robot group were all significantly less or lower than those in the freehand group [(46.2±9.4) min, (4.2±1.3) mL and 42.9% (9/21)] ( P<0.05). No infection or embolism was observed in either group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in VAS, ODI, AH or KA of the injured vertebra at day 1 or last follow-up after surgery ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In vertebroplaty for OVCF of the upper thoracic vertebra, compared with conventional freehand puncture, puncture assisted by a "TINAVI" orthopaedic robot can lead to satisfactory clinical efficacy because it reduces operation time, volume of bone cement injection, and thus incidence of bone cement leakage.