Histopathological classification and location of consecutively operated meningiomas at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Meningioma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, but there are not many detailed studies on the sex, age, subtypes and locations of large series. This study was a retrospective analysis of the characteristics of meningioma cases consecutively operated on at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study investigated the demographic background of 7084 meningioma cases, and the subtypes and locations of the tumors. Sex and age distributions were analyzed, and the pathological subtypes were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The location of the meningiomas was also categorized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The female:male ratio of the 7084 cases was 2.34:1. The mean age was 51.4 years (range, 11 months-86 years). The mean age of cases of WHO grade I meningioma was significantly older than that of grade II or III meningiomas (P < 0.001, Fisher's Least Significant Digit test). There was a significantly higher female:male ratio in WHO grade I meningiomas than in grade II or grade III meningiomas (2.57, 1.03 and 0.76, respectively; P < 0.001, χ(2) test). Meningothelial (n = 2061) and fibrous meningiomas (n = 3556) were the most common subtypes, comprising 79.3% of all meningiomas. All meningioma cases were classified into 23 locations in this study, with the cerebral convexity the most common site (38.33%, n = 2722). Cases with uncommon locations such as extra-cranial and sylvian fissure meningiomas were also present in this series.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Female predominance was found for benign meningiomas, while malignant subtypes showed male predominance. The mean age of patients with WHO grade I meningiomas was older than that of patients with higher-grade tumors. Meningothelial and fibrous meningiomas were the most common subtypes. The cerebral convexity was the most common meningioma location.</p>

Preoperative surgical planning for intracranial meningioma resection by virtual reality / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The Dextroscope system by Volume Interactions (Singapore) had been applied to minimally invasive neurosurgery in many units. This system enables the neurosurgeon to interact intuitively with the three-dimensional graphics in a direct manner resembling the way one communicates with the real objects. In the paper, we explored its values in pre-operation surgical planning for intracranial meningiomas resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Brain computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) were performed on 10 patients with parasagittal and falcine meningiomas located on central groove area; brain CT, MRI and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were performed on 10 patients with anterior skull base meningiomas and 10 patients with sphenoid ridge meningiomas. All these data were transferred to Dextroscope virtual reality system, and reconstructed. Then meningiomas, skull base, brain tissue, drainage vein and cerebral arteries were displayed within the system, and their anatomic relationships were evaluated. Also, the simulation operations were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For parasagittal and falcine meningiomas, the relationships of tumor with drainage vein and superior sagittal sinus were clearly displayed in the Dextroscope system. For anterior skull base and sphenoid ridge meningiomas, the relationships of tumor with bilateral internal carotid arteries, anterior cerebral arteries, middle cerebral arteries and skull base were vividly displayed within the virtual reality system. Surgical planning and simulation operation of all cases were performed as well. The real operations of all patients were conducted according to the simulation with well outcomes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>According to the virtual reality planning, neurosurgeons could get more anatomic information about meningioma and its surrounding structures, especially important vessels, and choose the best approach for tumor resection, which would lead to better prognosis for patients.</p>

Preparation of sinomenine microemulsion and its transdermal absorption / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen the optimum formulation and prepare O/W sinomenine microemulsion and investigate its in vitro transdermal delivery ability.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The microemulsions were prepared with the formulation containing oleic acid-tween 80-dehydrated alcohol-water by the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The permeation flux of sinomenine was determined in vitro by Franz diffusion cell fitted with rat skin. The sinomenine was determined by HPLC. The transdermal characteristics of sinomenine microemulsion were compared with that of sinomenine gels.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The steady state flux of sinomenine microemulsion was significantly higher than that of sinomenine gels. The average permeation rate of sinomenine microemulsion was 116. 44 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1) in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicated that the studied microemulsion system with high permeation rate may be a potential vehicle for the transdermal delivery of sinomenine.</p>

Elemental contents in organs and tissues of Chinese adult men / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basis of reference values for relevant parameters of Chinese Reference Man.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen kinds of major organ or tissue samples, including muscle, rib, liver, and so on, were obtained from 4 areas (Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, and Sichuan provinces) with different dietary patterns in China in autopsy of 16 healthy adult men, who had just encountered sudden deaths. At the same time, whole blood samples were collected from 10 volunteers living in each of these areas. The concentrations of 56 elements in these samples were detected by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) techniques. Based on obtained concentrations and reference values of these organ or tissue weights for Chinese Reference Man, the relative elemental burdens in these organs or tissues as well whole body were also estimated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentrations of 56 elements in 18 main organs or tissues were determined all together and their elemental organ or tissue and whole body burdens were estimated. Furthermore, the distributions of important elements for radiation protection in these organs or tissues were emphatically discussed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By summing with past related results, the total results obtained from the series of research may provide more reliable and better representative basis of these reference values for Chinese Reference Man than before.</p>

Role and mechanism of rosiglitazone on the impairment of insulin secretion induced by free fatty acids on isolated rat islets / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Prolonged exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to fatty acids increases basal insulin secretion but inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Rosiglitazone is a new antidiabetic agent of the thiazolidinediones. However, the relationship between thiazolidinediones and insulin secretion is highly controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the effect and mechanism of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of islets under chronic exposure to free fatty acids (FFA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pancreatic islets were isolated from the pancreata of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the collagenase digestion and by the dextran gradient centrifugation method. The purified islets were cultured in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone and palmitate for 48 hours. The insulin secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2) and insulin were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cell cytotoxicity assay was measured by cell counting kit-8.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Islets exposed to elevated palmitate for 48 hours showed an increased basal and a decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P < 0.01). The mRNA level of UCP-2 was increased by 3.7 fold in the 0.5 mmol/L concentration of palmitate. When islets were cultured with palmitate (0.5 mmol/L) in the presence of rosiglitazone (1.0 micromol/L), both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion reversed to a pattern of control islets (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The addition of rosiglitazone in the culture medium decreased the mRNA level of UCP-2 by 2.2 fold, having a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) as compared with islets cultured with palmitate alone. The cell viability was not affected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The protective effects of rosiglitazone on insulin secretion of isolated pancreatic islets under chronic exposure to palmitate might be mediated through the downregulation of UCP-2 expression.</p>