Repair effect of Schwann cells modified by microgene pSVPoMcat on injured spinal cord in rats

OBJECTIVE: To observe the repair effect of Schwann cells (SCs) modified by microgene pSVPoMcat on injured spinal cord in rats. METHODS: Semi-transection injury at the level of T(8) of spinal cord was made with cutting method on 120 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Then 40 rats implanted with SCs modified by microgene pSVPoMcat were taken as Group A, 40 rats implanted with simple SCs as Group B and the other 40 rats were taken as the control group (Group C). The functional recovery of the rats was observed through combined behavioral score (CBS) and cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP), and the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was measured with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. At 3 months after operation, the rats were examined with magnetic resonance image (MRI), and the neurofilaments (NF) of the axons were stained with immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: GFAP expression in Group A was significantly lower than that of the other 2 groups. MRI showed that the spinal signals in the injured area recovered fundamentally in Group A, didn't recover in Group B and malacia focus was found in Group C, which was same as the results of NF staining. Wave amplitudes in incubation periods in Group A and Group B tended to recover. It recovered to the normal level in Group A, which was similar to the results of CBS. CONCLUSIONS: SCs modified by microgene pSVPoMcat can inhibit GFAP expression, improve the growth of the axons and the functional recovery of neurons after spinal cord injury.     

人工假体置换治疗高龄老年人不稳定股骨粗隆间骨折

目的　分析及评价应用人工股骨头置换治疗老年股骨粗隆间不稳定骨折的方法及疗效。方法　应用人工股骨头置换治疗老年股骨粗隆间不稳定骨折 32例 ,男 8例 ,女 2 4例 ,年龄 74～ 92岁 ,平均 82 3岁。骨折类型Evans分类 :ⅢA :11例 ,ⅢB :8例 ,Ⅳ :7例 ,Ⅱ :6例。结果　 32例 30例进行短期随访 ,平均随访时间 6个月 (2～ 12个月 ) ,无 1例病人因手术并发症死亡。入院至手术时间 2～ 7d ,平均 4 5d。手术时间 5 5～ 16 5min (平均 85min)。术中补血 0～ 12 0 0ml (平均 6 0 0ml)无术中休克或死亡。伤口均一期愈合 ,无 1例感染。住院时间 10～ 2 1d (平均 14d) ,2 6例病人髋关节功能满意。结论　应用人工股骨头置换是治疗老年股骨粗隆间不稳定骨折的有效手段 ,但应严格掌握其适应证目的　分析及评价应用人工股骨头置换治疗老年股骨粗隆间不稳定骨折的方法及疗效。方法　应用人工股骨头置换治疗老年股骨粗隆间不稳定骨折 32例 ,男 8例 ,女 2 4例 ,年龄 74～ 92岁 ,平均 82 3岁。骨折类型Evans分类 :ⅢA :11例 ,ⅢB :8例 ,Ⅳ :7例 ,Ⅱ :6例。结果　 32例 30例进行短期随访 ,平均随访时间 6个月 (2～ 12个月 ) ,无 1例病人因手术并发症死亡。入院至手术时间 2～ 7d ,平均 4 5d。手术时间 5 5～ 16 5min (平     

The mouse as a model for the study of penile erection: moving towards a smaller animal

We evaluated erectile haemodynamics in mice and characterized the corpus cavernosum morphologically. Four-month-old male BALB/c mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The following stimulation parameters were tested to achieve maximal erectile responses: voltage, 1-6 V; frequency, 6-24 Hz; pulse width, 1 msec; duration, 1 min (n = 7 per group). In a separate group of mice and rats (n = 10 per group), we measured systemic arterial pressure by use of either a 24-gauge angiocatheter or smaller calibre PE-10 tubing. Cavernous tissues from mice, rats or patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction were stained for factor VIII, alpha-actin and Masson trichrome. Electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve in mice produced voltage-dependent erectile responses of up to 5 V, with the highest response at a frequency of 12 Hz. The maximal intracavernous pressure recorded at this stimulation parameter was comparable with that in rats. A PE-10 catheter was more reliable for measuring systemic arterial pressure in mice than was a 24-gauge angiocatheter, and the values recorded were similar between mice and rats. The content of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and collagen was similar between mice and rats. However, the cavernous tissue of both animals contained lesser amounts of smooth muscle cells and greater amounts of collagen than that of humans (p < 0.01). These results suggest that the mouse is a useful and technically feasible model for the study of penile erection and has functional and structural properties similar to those of rats.     

Radiofrequence ablation of liver cancers

Primary and secondary malignant liver cancer are some of most common malignant tumors in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not very effective against them. Surgical resection has been considered the only potentially curtive option, but the majority of patients are not candidates for resection because of tumor size, location near major intrahepatic blood vessels and bile ducts, precluding a margin-negative resection, cirrhotic, hepatitis virus infection or multifocial. Radiofrequence ablation (RFA), which is a new evolving effective and minimally invasive technique, can produce coagulative necrosis of malignant tumors. RFA should be used percutaneously, laparascopically, or during the open laparotomy under the guidance of ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. RFA has lots of advantages superior to other local therapies including lower complications, reduced costs and hospital stays, and the possibility of repeated treatment. In general, RFA is a safe, effective treatment for unresectable malignant liver tumors less than 7.0 cm in diameter. We review the principle, mechanism, procedures and experience with RFA for treating malignant liver tumors.