ABSTRACT
Objective To observe efficacy of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) and its correlation with plasma levels of β-endorphine and substance P in patients suffering from protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc (PLIVD). Methods Seventy-eight patients with PLIVD were randomly divided into two groups, one group (40 patients) treated with PLDD and the other (38 patients) treated with lumbar spine traction and physical therapy as control. Their peripheral plasma levels of β-endorphine and substance P were measured before the procedure and one day, one week and four weeks after it, respectively.Meanwhile, the visual analogue scale (VAS)was applied to assess their pain index. Results Plasma level of substance P was (186±66) ng/L and (419±82) ng/L, and (127 +83) ng/L and (322 +47) ng/L,in treatment and control groups, one day and one week after the procedure, respectively, and that of β-endorphine was (313 ±27) mg/L and (187 ±56) mg/L, and (364 + 18) mg/L and (211 +39) mg/L,one day and one week after it, respectively ( all P ＜ 0. 01 ), with its clinical efficacy of 90% (36/40)and 66% (25/38) one week after it, respectively ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . Four weeks after it, plasma level of substance P was (64 ±50) ng/L in treatment group as compare to that in controls (93 ±75) ng/L, and that of β-endorphine was (410 ± 21 ) mg/L and (317 ± 42 ) mg/L, respectively, with efficacy of 95% (38/40) and 84% (32/38), respectively. Conclusions Plasma level of substance P can be reduced and that of β-endorphine can be increased by PLDD in patients with PLIVD, thus relieving their pain.Measurements of substance P and β-endorphine can be used as objective indicators to evaluate clinical efficacy of PLDD.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of valsartan on the expression of acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase-1(ACAT-1) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma(PPAR-?) in atherosclerotic plaques on rabbit aortic wall.Methods Twenty-four male Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups(8 each): control group,valsartan group and high cholesterol feeding group.All rabbits were fed according to the experimental protocol for 12 weeks.Blood samples were taken from vein for measurement of serum lipids.The ratio of intima/media thickness of the aorta was measured.ACAT-1 mRNA/protein and PPAR-? mRNA/protein were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blotting,respectively.Results After 12 weeks,the levels of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyeride(TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) in valsartan group and cholesterol group were significantly higher than those in control group(P0.05).The intima thickness and the ratio of intima/media in carotid arteries in cholesterol group were significantly higher than those in control group and valsartan group(P