Objective To investigate the effect of depression symptoms on surgical outcome of posterior decompression among cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients. Methods Between October 2006 and October 2011 in our hospital, lami?nectomy or laminoplasty was performed in 396 cases that were enrolled in the study. There were 132 males and 264 females with an average age of 60.2 years(ranged,39-84 years). All patients were divided into depression group and non?depressed group by the 21?item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in age, sex, smok?ing status, duration of symptoms, and employment status (whether in the current working). The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, Neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared after 1.5 months postoperatively. Re?sults All of 396 cases were followed up. The mean follow up duration was 32 months (range,24-50 months). There were no statistically significant differences in the CCI decline (7.1%±2.1% versus 6.8%±1.5%), expansion degree[(130.9±7.0) mm2 versus (150.8 ± 5.2) mm2] and the drift?back distance of the spinal cord [(5.7 ± 1.2) mm versus (6.2 ± 0.8) mm]. However, pa?tients with continuous depression showed poorer improvement than non?depressed patients in the surgery outcome: JOA im?proved (1.42±0.56 versus 6.76±3.12); NDI declined (7.31±2.18 versus 21.11±11.36); and VAS lightened (16.08±19.76 versus 23.85±20.79). Conclusion Depression contributed a dissatisfied surgery outcome after posterior decompression on functional re?covery, disability index and pain scores among patients of the cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective To study the role of complement C3a receptor (C3aR) in cognitive impairment in rats with sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods Totally 132 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (sham group) and sepsis group (CLP group). The initial number of each group was 66 animals, and 22 animals were set at each time point. The SD rat CLP animal model was constructed, and serum and brain (hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) samples were collected at day 1, day 15 and day 30 after operation. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the samples were determined by ELISA. Western blotting detected Tau protein (Tau), phosphorylated Taup-Tauand C3aR expression in brain samples. Totally 66 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, sham operation group, CLP group and C3aR antagonist(C3aRa) intervention group. On 15th, 17th, and 19th days after CLP, C3aRa intervened in rats, and they received inhibition avoidance test and object recognition test 30 days after CLP. The expressions of C3aR, lonized calcium binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1), GFAP and p-Tau in the hippocampus were detected by immunofluorescence. Results Compared with the sham group, the serum and brain tissue (TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6) of rats in the CLP group first increased and then decreased within 30 days after CLP. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of CLP group, Tau phosphorylation was significantly enhanced at day 30 and day 1 and 15 after surgery, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the sham group, C3aR protein levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats in CLP group increased significantly at day 15 and 30 after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the CLP group, the endogenous C3aR content decreased significantly after C3aRa intervention (P<0.05), and Iba1, GFAP and p-Tau immunostaining were significantly inhibited (P<0.05). The C3aRa intervention in CLP rats reversed the cognitive impairment. Conclusion C3aR plays an important role in the development of biochemical and behavioral changes commonly associated with the onset of sepsis-induced neurodegenerative processes. C3aRa can be injected into the hippocampus to counteract the neurodegenerative process induced by sepsis.

The dried rattan stem of the Fibraurea Recisa Pierre plant contains the active ingredient known as fibrauretine (FN). Although it greatly affects Alzheimer's disease (AD), the mechanism of their effects still remains unclear. Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis methods were used in this study to determine the mechanism of FN in the treatment of AD. AD model is used through bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ1-40. After successful modeling, FN was given for 30 days. The results showed that FN could improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD model rats, reduce the expression of Aβ and P-Tau, increase the content of acetylcholine and reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enriched differentially expressed genes and proteins are involved in signaling pathways including metabolic pathway, AD, pathway in cancer, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway. Transcriptomics and proteomics sequencing resulted in 19 differentially expressed genes and proteins. Finally, in contrast to the model group, after FN treatment, the protein expressions and genes associated with the PI3K-AKT pathway were significantly improved in RT-qPCR and Western blot and assays. This is consistent with the findings of transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Our study found that, FN may improve some symptoms of AD model rats through PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVESTo explore the proliferative capacity of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and the function of T helper (Th) lymphocytes of patients with immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP).

METHODSTwenty-five untreated IRP patients, 15 IRP patients in complete remission (CR) and 10 normal controls were studied for in vitro yields of CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC). The mRNA expressions of IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma and IL-2 genes in unstimulated BMMNC from 25 untreated IRP patients,15 IRP patients in CR, 19 patients with other hematological diseases presenting pancytopenia and 10 normal controls were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of the yields of CFU-E, CFU-GM or BFU-E among the untreated, and in CR IRP patients and normal controls (P > 0.05). The mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 of Th2 cells were significantly higher in untreated IRP patients than in the other groups. The mRNA expressions of IFN-gamma and IL-2 of the Th1 cells in all IRP patients were not higher than those in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe cytopenia of IRP patients was not caused by the qualitative abnormality of the hematopoietic stem cells but by the destruction or suppression of hematopoietic stem cells from certain extrinsic insults. The imbalance of Th lymphocytes subtypes and overfunction of Th2 lymphocytes played important roles in the pathogenetic mechanism of IRP leading to increased and overfunctional B lymphocytes, which produced autoantibodies destructing or suppressing hematopoiesis in IRP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; physiology

OBJECTIVESTo explore the category, quantity and clinical significance of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with immunorelated cytopenia and evaluate the sensitivity of direct antiglobulin reaction (Coombs test ) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC).

METHODSThe category and the positive rate of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, nucleated erythrocytes, granulocytes in 32 patients with uncertain immunorelated cytopenia were investigated by using BMMNC-Coombs test and double immunofluorescence flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic cells tested by flow cytometry was 90.63% which was higher than that by BMMNC-Coombs test (50.0%) (p < 0.05). In 29 positive cases, IgG autoantibody accounted for 6.90%, IgM13.8%, IgG+IgA 3.4%, IgG+IgM 31.0%, and IgG+IgM+IgA 44.8%. Of the 29 Patients, 25 (86.2%) with IgG autoantibody, 26 (89.7%) with IgM and 14 (48.3%) with IgA. The patients with IgG autoantibody alone had the lowest hemoglobin levels, and those with IgM autoantibody might have intravascular hemolytic findings. The response time of patients with IgG and IgG+IgM was shorter than that of the other patients. 91.3% of the patients had autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and showed pancytopenia, and 50% of the patients had autoantibodies on nucleated erythrocytes and granulocytes. Eleven of 13 patients with negative BMMNC-Coombs tests had autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells detected by FACS. There was no significant difference of the quantities of the three categories of autoantibodies of nucleated erythrocytes and stem cells. The quantities of IgA on granulocytes were lower than that of IgG and IgM. There was no significant difference between IgG and IgM on granulocytes. The quantity of IgA on hematopoietic stem cells was significantly higher than that on nucleated erythrocytes or granulocytes.

CONCLUSIONSThe sensitivity of double immunofluorescence flow cytometry assay was higher than that of BMMNC-Coombs test for detecting autoantibodies. In immunorelated cytopenia patients, the predominant autoantibody was IgM which could cause intravascular hemolysis, and the second one was IgG which could cause severe anemia. Most immunorelated cytopenia patients had autoantibodies on hematopoietic stem cells and showed pancytopenia. IgA was more easily seen on the hematopoietic stem cells.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; classification ; metabolism ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Child ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin M ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo ascertain an accurate approach to inserting the pedicle screw into C3-C7 segments of the cervical vertebra.

METHODSAnatomic morphology of lateral mass and pedicle, and their anatomic relationship with the adjacent tissue were observed on C3-C7 segments of 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides).

RESULTS1) The inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the inferior edge of the pedicle were connected with each other on 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides). The transverse section which passed through the median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, and the transverse section which passed through the central axis between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the pedicle, were in the same horizontal plane. The superior and inferior position of placing the pedicle screw was determined by this transverse section, which passed through the median point between the superior and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process. 2) There was a directed internal-downwards "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process. The anterior wall of the triangular sulcule was the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the posterior wall was the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process, and the bottom of the sulcule was connected with the interior edge of the pedicle. The vertical length between the top of triangle and the planes of inferior edge of the pedicle was (2.78+/-1.71) mm. The inferior edge of the cervical pedicle could be detected using a blunt probe along the "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process in surgical operation. 3) The lateral fovea of the articular process was observed on all lateral masses (50 sides). The internal and external position of the entrance point could depend on anatomic landmarks: the lateral edge of the lateral fovea of the articular process. The horizontal length between the lateral fovea of the articular process and the entrance point was (3.14+/-1.45) mm. 4) The diameter of pedicle screw, about (2.78+/-1.71) mm, was the transverse diameter of the cancellous bone of the greatest narrow part of the cervical pedicle.

CONCLUSIONSThe median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the lateral fovea of the articular process, and the triangular sulcule between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of inferior articular process, are easy to be exposed and identified in surgical operation. The pedicle screw can be precisely inserted through this method.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans

A novel reaction-enzymatic ammonolysis discovered in the mid of 1990s has been demonstrated to be a very promising alternative in the preparation of optically pure compounds. The effects of organic solvent, initial water activity, temperature and additives on lipase Novozym435-catalyzed enantioselective ammonolysis of racemic phenylglycine methyl ester were investigated systematically in this paper. Enzymatic reaction of ammonolysis showed higher activity and enantioselectivity than the corresponding reaction of hydrolysis and alcoholysis.
Alcohols ; Ammonia ; Catalysis ; Dimethylformamide ; pharmacology ; Esters ; Glycine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Hexoses ; pharmacology ; Hydrolysis ; Lipase ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Organic Chemicals ; Solvents ; Surface-Active Agents ; pharmacology ; Temperature ; Water

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on H2O2-stimulated primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and related mechanism.

METHODSPrimary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with various concentrations of H2O2 (10, 100, 1000 µmol/L) for 24 h to establish the oxidative stress-induced cell injury model after 3 days' conventional culture. In addition, different concentrations of NaHS (1, 10, 100 µmol/L) were added to cardiomyocytes in the absence and presence of 100 µmol/L H2O2 for 24 h. The viability of cardiomyocytes was measured by MTT assay. The SOD vitality was measured by xanthine oxidase method and MDA content was determined by thiobarbituric acid colorimetric method. LDH activity was measured by chemical colorimetric method. The percentage of apoptotic cells was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was analyzed by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiomyocytes was measured by DCFH-DA staining and photofluorography.

RESULTSCell viability and SOD vitality were significantly reduced while MDA content and LDH activity were significantly increased with increasing H2O2 concentrations. These effects could be partly reduced by cotreatment with H2O2 in a concentration-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the DCF fluorescence intensity significantly increased in the 100 µmol/L H2O2 group (P = 0.003), which could be attenuated by NaHS in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with control group, the MMP significantly decreased in the 100 µmol/L H2O2 group (P = 0.000), which could be partly reversed by cotreatment with NaHS in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, H2O2 treatment also significantly reduced 100 µmol/L H2O2 induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONH2S protects primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes against H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury through inhibition of H2O2 induced overproduction of ROS, dissipation of MMP and apoptosis.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct a eukaryotic expression vector of CD99 gene for transfection into Hodgkin lymphoma L428 cells.

METHODSThe full-length cDNA of CD99 gene was amplified from Jurkat cells by RT-PCR and cloned into the pcDNA3.1(+) vector and transfected into L428 cell line using Lipofextamine 2000. The sequence of CD99 mRNA in the transfected cells was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing, and the expression of CD99 protein was identified using immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSA gene fragment of 558 bp was amplified from the transfected cells and the sequence was verified by DNA sequencing. Immunocytochemistry identified the presence of CD99 expression in the transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONA eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)-CD99 is successfully constructed and stably expressed in L428 cell line.

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hodgkin Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ACTH syndrome.

METHODSClinical data of 32 cases of ectopic ACTH syndrome, recruited from January 1990 to April 2003 in our hospital, was analyzed.

RESULTSAll of the 32 cases presented with clinical and biochemical evidences of Cushing's syndrome. Ten cases were definitively diagnosed as ectopic ACTH syndrome by finding ectopic tumors; 4 cases were highly suspected as ectopic ACTH by blood sampling from femoral vein and infra-petrosal vein and 18 cases were suspected as ectopic ACTH by imaging examinations. Fifteen cases (47%), without identified source of ectopic hormone, were treated with bilateral or unilateral total adrenalectomy, with 1-year survival rate of 60%. Seven cases (22%), with possible source of ectopic hormone, underwent no intervention, with 1-year survival rate of 0. Ten cases underwent radical resection of tumor, 6 of which were bronchial carcinoids and 4 of which were thymic carcinoids, with 1-year survival rate of 60%.

CONCLUSIONIt is very difficult to localize the tumor of ectopic ACTH syndrome patients. Bilateral adrenalectomy followed by hormonal replacement is effective for most of the patients without identifying source of ectopic hormone.

ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adrenalectomy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate