Enhanced neuroprotection and improved motor function in traumatized rat spinal cords by rAAV2-mediated glial-derived neurotrophic factor combined with early rehabilitation training / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious neurological injury that often leads to permanent disabilities for the victims. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV2) alone or in combination with early rehabilitation training on SCI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SCI was induced on the T8-9 segments of the spinal cord by laminectomy in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Then besides the sham operation group, the SCI rats were randomly divided into four groups: natural healing group, gene therapy group, rehabilitation training group, and combination therapy group (gene therapy in combination with rehabilitation training). Motor dysfunction, protein expression of GDNF, edema formation, and cell injury were examined 7, 14, and 21 days after trauma.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The topical application of rAAV-GDNF-GFP resulted in strong expression of GDNF, especially after the 14th day, and could protect the motor neuron cells. Early rehabilitative treatment resulted in significantly improved motor function, reduced edema formation, and protected the cells from injury, especially after the 7th and 14th days, and increased the GDNF expression in the damaged area, which was most evident after Day 14. The combined application of GDNF and early rehabilitative treatment after SCI resulted in a significant reduction in spinal cord pathology and motor dysfunction after the 7th and 14th days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These observations suggest that rAAV2 gene therapy in combination with rehabilitation therapy has potential clinical value for the treatment of SCI.</p>

A Comparative Study of Three Echocardiographic Methods in Determining Left Ventricular Function / 第三军医大学学报

The left ventricular function of 103 normal subjects in the age range of 17 to 48 were examined with three echocardiographic methods, the Pombo's method (Method I), Fortuin's method (Method II) and Lalani's method (Method III), in order to evaluate their relative efficiency. The results were as following:( 1 ) The value of left ventricular end diastolic volume determined with Method II was larger than that determined with Method 1(123. 9?22.6vsl05. 43?26.0 ml, P0. 05).( 2 ) The values of stroke volume, stroke index, cardiac output, and cardiac index were the largest as determined with Method II, the second with Method I and the smallest with Method III. For instance, the value of cardiac index was 4.66 ?1.21 /m2/min wita Method 11,3.81?1.0 with Method I, and 2.96?0.8 with Method III(P0. 05).( 4 ) All the parameters obtained from Methods I and II were correlated with each other closely (r = 0.72 - 0.96, P0.05).( 5 ) Methods I and II are simple to operate and easy to reproduce and there have been a lot of parameters obtained with these two methodds. However the systolic mitral closure slope of Method III is rather difficult to determine and the parameters obtained with Method III are comparatively less in number.It is concluded that Methods I and I of the echocardiographic technique are the methods of choice in determining the left ventricular function of a normals-sized or nearly normal-sized heart since they are simple, effective and accurate.