A case of corrosive digestive tract and lung injury caused by ingestion of pipeline dredging agent / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Ingestion of corrosive substances can severely burn the upper digestive tract leading to bleeding or perforation, and may even be life-threatening. Less commonly, damage to the trachea and bronchi is involved. In this paper, a case of corrosive digestive tract injury and lung injury after oral administration of pipeline dredging agent (the main components are hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hypochlorite, etc.) was analyzed. After active rescue treatment, the patient died of massive hemoptysis. It is suggested that serious complications may occur after ingestion of corrosive substances. Timely diagnosis and reasonable medical management are needed to improve the level of recognition and treatment of such diseases.

Comparison of the Nerve Regeneration Capacity and Characteristics between Sciatic Nerve Crush and Transection Injury Models in Rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To provide useful information for selecting the most appropriate peripheral nerve injury model for different research purposes in nerve injury and repair studies, and to compare nerve regeneration capacity and characteristics between them.@*METHODS@#Sixty adult SD rats were randomly divided into two groups and underwent crush injury alone (group A, n = 30) or transection injury followed by surgical repair (group B, n = 30) of the right hind paw. Each group was subjected to the CatWalk test, gastrocnemius muscle evaluation, pain threshold measurement, electrophysiological examination, retrograde neuronal labeling, and quantification of nerve regeneration before and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury.@*RESULTS@#Gait analysis showed that the recovery speed in group A was significantly faster than that in group B at 14 days. At 21 days, the compound muscle action potential of the gastrocnemius muscle in group A was significantly higher than that in group B, and the number of labeled motor neurons in group B was lower than that in group A. The number of new myelin sheaths and the g-ratio were higher in group A than in group B. There was a 7-day time difference in the regeneration rate between the two injury groups.@*CONCLUSION@#The regeneration of nerve fibers was rapid after crush nerve injury, whereas the transection injury was relatively slow, which provides some ideas for the selection of clinical research models.

Effect of Minocycline on Acute Closed Spinal Cord Injury in Rats / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To investigate the neuroprotective effect of minocycline on the secondary injury after acute closed spinal cord injury in rats. Methods:A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into saline group (n = 8), magnesium chloride group (n = 8) and minocycline group (n = 8). The closed spinal cord injury model was prepared with balloon compression in the dorsal spinal cord of rat, which was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. All rats were successively administered their own drugs for seven days after injury, respectively. They were assessed with BBB score two to 31 days after operation. Their motor-evoked potential and sensory-evoked potential were detected 31 days after operation, and then Luxol Fast Blue was used to observe the area of secondary injury. Results:Animal magnetic resonance imaging showed hypointense in T2 images in T10 spinal cord. BBB score was more in the minocycline group than in the saline group since 17 days after operation (P < 0.05). The amplitude of motor-evoked potential was higher in the minocycline group than in the saline group (P < 0.05), while the area of secondary injury was less (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Minocycline may protect the nerves from secondary injury after acute spinal cord injury.

An Experimental Study on the Optimal Timing for the Repair of Incomplete Facial Paralysis by Hypoglossal-facial 'Side'-to-side Neurorrhaphy in Rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the optimal timing for the repair of persistent incomplete facial paralysis by hypoglossal-facial 'side'-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 30 adult rats with crushed and bulldog-clamped facial nerve injury were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6 each) that were subjected to injury without nerve repair or with immediate repair, 2-week-delayed repair, 4-week-delayed repair, or 8-week-delayed repair. Three months later, the effects of repair in each rat were evaluated by facial symmetry assessment, electrophysiological examination, retrograde labeling, and axon regeneration measurement.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 3 months after injury, the alpha angle significantly increased in the group of rats with 4-week-delayed repair compared with the other four groups. Upon stimulation of the facial nerve or Pre degenerated nerve, the muscle action potentials MAPs were recorded in the whisker pad muscle, and the MAP amplitude and area under the curve in the 4-week-delayed repair group were significantly augmented at 3 months post-injury. Similarly, the number of retrograde-labeled motor neurons in the facial and hypoglossal nuclei was quantified to be significantly greater in the 4-week-delayed repair group than in the other groups, and a large number of regenerated axons was also observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of this study demonstrated that hemiHN-FN neurorrhaphy performed 4 weeks after facial nerve injury was most effective in terms of the functional recovery of axonal regeneration and activation of facial muscles.</p>

Advances in study of plant type Ⅲ polyketide synthases / 中国中药杂志

Polyketides are a large class of natural products with notable structural diversity and different biological activities. They have essential pharmacological value for human health. In plants, the enzymes responsible for the formation of phenolic metabolites backbone structures are collectively known as type Ⅲ polyketide synthases (PKSs), which are the key enzymes for the polyketides biosynthesis. The PKSs catalyze a series of condensation reactions of two-carbon acetate units with an acyl starter. A brief overview of this group of enzymes, including their reaction mechanisms, function modification, expression regulation, molecular evolution, and recent interesting findings are presented here.

The research progress of posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation techniques / 医学研究生学报

Atlantoaxial instability or dislocation is a common upper cervical disease which can lead to serious outcomes including sensory and motor deficit or even sudden death. Therefore, active surgical intervention is often recommended. The most popular surgical procedure for atlantoaxial instability is posterior bone graft and internal fixation. Posterior stabilization techniques mainly include wiring techniques, interlaminar clamp fixation, C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation (Magerl technique), screw-plate systems, and screw-rod systems. Each technique has its advantage and shortcoming. The screw-rod systems, along with various modifications, has become the most popular internal fixation technique for posterior atlantoaxial stabilization in clinic. This article reviews the evolution, characteristics and new advancement of some prevail posterior atlantoaxial fixation techniques in purpose of giving a reference for surgeons to have a better understanding of posterior fixation techniques and make a reasonable choice in clinical practice.

Role of Biology Based on Epigenetics in Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor, characterized by dysplasia of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow secreting large amounts of monoclonal immunoglobulin or fragments (M protein), resulting in damage in relevant organs or tissues. The biological complexity of MM is based on disrupted cancer pathways. Except the central role of cytogenetic abnormalities, epigenetic aberrations have also been shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of MM. Epigenetics of MM is mainly concentrated in the ways of DNA methylation, histone modifications and noncoding RNA, which have generated abnormal signaling pathways to regulate cell cycle and apoptosis of MM. In this article, advances of research on epigenetics of development, clinical diagnosis and treatments of MM are reviewed.

Enhanced radiosensitivity of H22 ascitic tumor to 12C6+ ions radiation in ultra-filtration extract mixture from Astragalus mongholicus-treated mice / 药学学报

This study was designed to investigate the impact of ultra-filtration extract mixture from Astragals mongholicus (UEMAM) o radiosensitivity of H22 ascitic tumor in mice to 12C6+ ions radiation. The H22 ascitic tumor model was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mL H22 ascitic cells. The animals were subsequently divided into 4 groups randomly, treated with normal saline, UEMAM, heavy ion beam radiotherapy and UEMAM plus heavy ion beam radiotherapy, respectively. The body weights, abdomen circumference of the mice were measured and the mouse behavior was monitored every day; survival time was recorded to evaluate life extension effect; flow cytometry technique was used to detect H22 cell apoptosis and cell cycle; protein levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved Caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blot; the single cell gel electrophoresis was used to detect the level of deoxyribonucleic acid damage (DNA damage). The results suggest that UEMAM significantly increased survival time, and decreased body weights and abdomen circumference over the saline control group. The treatment increased cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and DNA damage compared to the saline control group. UEMAM significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of heavy ion beam radiation in survival time, and decreased body weights and abdomen circumference in the tumor-baring mice. The combination increased cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and DNA damage compared to the radiotherapy group. The results of Western blot suggest that the treatment significantly enhanced p53-induced apoptotic signals. The experiment discovered that UEMAM could improve radiosensitivity of H22 ascitic tumor through activation of p53-mediated apoptotic signal pathway.

Prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio in gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the value of the metastatic to examined lymph nodes (rN) ratio in gastric cancer patients who underwent radical resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this retrospective study, data were collected from the medical records of 710 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy (R0) for gastric cancer from 1980 to 2006 in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the number of examined lymph nodes: Group 1 consisted of 327 patients with <15 examined lymph nodes and Group 2 consisted of 383 patients with ≥15 lymph nodes. rN categories staging and pN categories were divided separately according to the metastatic lymph node ratio and the examined lymph nodes. The prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate (Log-rank) and multivariate (Cox model) analysis methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median survival time was 74 months (95% CI:55.6-92.4 months) in Group 1 and 96 months (95% CI:77.8-119.2 months) in Group 2, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). On multivariate analysis, the N ratio remained as an independent prognostic factor in both Group 1 (P<0.01, RR=1.225, 95% CI:1.102-1.362) and Group 2 (P<0.01, RR=1.421, 95% CI:1.269-1.592). However, pN stage was an independent prognostic factor only in Group 1. When the rN ratio classification was applied, there were no significant differences between each categories (P>0.05). However, the overall survival of patients with pN1 disease in Group 1 was significantly shorter than that in Group 2 according to the pN stage classification (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The metastatic lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor of the prognosis of gastric cancer. The staging system based on metastatic lymph node ratio (rN) is more reliable than the system based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes in the prediction of the prognosis of gastric cancer.</p>

Experimental study on apoptosis induced by aqueous extract of Taxus chinensis in human pulmonary carcinoma cell A549 and its molecular mechanisms / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the apoptosis inducing effects of aqueous extract of Taxus chinensis (AETC) in human lung cancer cell A549 and its molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using MTT assay, the inhibition of AETC on the proliferation of A549 cells was detected. The apoptosis was detected by light and electron microscopy, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The expressions of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and survivin were analyzed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AETC could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Obvious apoptotic cells could be seen under light and electron microscope in AETC treated A549 cells. AETC's induction on the cell apoptosis was further confirmed by Annexin V-FITC/PI labeled quantitative detection. Western blot assay showed that AETC could decrease the survivin expressions. AETC showed no effects on ERK1/2 or JNK1/2 protein expressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AETC could significantly inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and induce the apoptosis, which was mainly achieved through regulating the expressions of survivin.</p>

Primary clinical application of traction reductor for lower limb fracture / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a traction reductor for the reduction of lower limb fractures during the minimally invasive surgery and explore its safety and efficacy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From February 2007 to March 2009, closed or limited open reduction plus percutaneous plate and screw internal-fixation were conducted in 34 patients with fracture of distal femur and tibia metaphysic, among which there were 3 distal femoral fractures (2 33-B, 1 33-C), 14 proximal tibial fractures (9 41-A, 3 41-B, 2 41-C) and 17 distal tibial fractures (9 43-A, 5 43-B, 3 43-C, 2 Gustilo I a), according to the Association for Osteosynthesis-Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO-OTA) classification. Besides, closed reduction plus interlocking intramedullary nailing on tibial shaft fracture were applied in 36 patients (7 42-A, 21 42-B, 8 42-C, 2 Gustilo I a). All the 70 patients, with an average age of 37.6 years (range: 17 to 63 years) and average time before surgery of 4.7 d (range: 0.7 to 12.0 d), underwent reduction by self-designed traction reductor for lower limb fracture in the surgery. The reduction duration and C-arm fluoroscopy time were recorded. Recovery of the force line of affected limbs after surgery was determined by whether the line from anterior superior iliac spine to the interdigit between the first and second toe-web passed the patella center. And the distance from bilateral anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus tip as well as the difference between lower limbs were recorded to determine the recovery of length after surgery. Meanwhile, the varus-valgus and anteroposterior angulations after reduction were measured by AP and lateral X-ray.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The reduction duration was 12.7 min (range: 7 to 31 min); X-ray fluoroscopy time, 1.3 min (range: 0.4 to 3.0 min); length difference between both lower limbs (6.5 ± 1.1) mm; and axial alignment difference (7.0 ± 1.8) mm. The X-ray result showed that varus-valgus angle was (2.75 ± 0.16)°; and anteroposterior angulation (5.13 ± 0.51)°.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The traction reductor for lower limb fracture could achieve satisfying fracture reduction in the minimally invasive surgery of distal femur, tibia metaphysic and tibial shaft fracture.</p>