联合微创法个性化治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床研究

目的：探讨联合微创法经皮穿刺臭氧和射频热凝治疗腰椎间盘突出症的方法和效果。方法腰椎间盘突出症50例,均在CT引导下后外侧入路,经皮穿刺针进入椎间盘中后1/3突出物靶点,然后依据个性化耐受程度和椎间盘病变情况,注入臭氧为50μg/mL（10～20 mL）再行髓核射频热凝,设定最高温度为90℃,时间为4个周期。结果该组病例在治疗后1周、3个月及6个月随访,1周内腰腿疼痛生活自理明显改善;3个月疼痛及下肢酸麻以及神经刺激征象均显著改善,甚至该征象消失,无1例并发症。结论联合微创法臭氧髓核化学溶解和射频热凝是治疗腰椎间盘突出症安全有效的一种方法。     

Measurement of the elastic modulus of rabbit nasal septal cartilage during Nd:YAG (lambda = 1.32 microm) laser irradiation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to quantitatively measure changes in the elastic moduli of rabbit nasal septal cartilage during laser heating. While the efficacy of laser cartilage reshaping has been established for use in nasal surgery, few studies have investigated the temperature-dependent viscoelastic behavior of cartilage. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclic force versus displacement curves were generated during the Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1.32 microm, 10 second exposure time, 21.22 W/cm2) irradiation of cartilage specimens secured in cantilevered geometry. Samples were irradiated three times with 30 second cooling intervals between each laser exposure. Measurements were recorded before, during, and after laser irradiation, and then following complete rehydration in normal saline (NS) for 1 hour at 25 degrees C. Elastic modulus was calculated assuming linear viscoelastic behavior. RESULTS: The elastic modulus in native tissue decreased during and after successive laser exposures from about 6 to 3.5 MPa. After rehydration, the modulus returned to near-baseline value. Surface temperature reached a maximum of 65 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: The laser irradiation of cartilage using parameters similar to those used in reshaping does not produce significant irreversible changes in the mechanical properties of the tissue. Measurement of the elastic modulus is an effective means of characterizing alterations in cartilage mechanical behavior during and after laser heating.     

A Snapshot of Thermo‐Oxidative Degradation Products in Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

The products derived from thermo‐oxidation of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC) and their related degradation pathways are investigated. PC degradation is carried out at 300 °C in air. The oxidized products are analyzed for the first time by using direct electrospray mass spectrometry (MS) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight MS. Together with the formation of bisphenol A oligomers, several new structures containing biphenyl units, phenols, acetophenones, alcohols, acids, and xanthones molecules are detected. The use of thin films, instead of PC bulk, allows one to obtain precise information about mechanisms involved during thermo‐oxidative processes and to establish a new order of priorities among the renowned degradative reactions.     

New Thermoresponsive Luminescent Electrospun Nanofibers Prepared from Poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)]‐block‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/PMMA Blends

Novel luminescent electrospun (ES) polymer nanofibers were successfully prepared via a two‐fluid spinneret for thermo‐tunable colorimetric sensor applications. Binary blends of conjugated rod–coil poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)]‐block‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PF‐b‐PNIPAAm)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were used as the material system for preparing the ES nanofibers. In order to produce uniform ES nanofibers, the shell layer was injected with THF to retard the rapid solidification of core polymer blend solutions that occurred at the nozzle tip. The prepared ES nanofibers, with an average diameter of 500 nm, exhibited a reversible photoluminescence (PL) spectra‐shifting, as the temperature cycle varied between 20 and 40 °C. Such reversible PL switching resulted from the extended/compact structural transformation on the PNIPAAm segment, which led to different PF aggregation sizes. The thermo‐responsive sensing characteristics of the prepared ES nanofibers were significantly enhanced as the PNIPAAm coil length was increased. In particular, PF₇‐b‐PNIPAAm₅₁₆/PMMA ES nanofibers exhibited a blue luminescence color at 20 °C but this changed to a greenish‐blue luminescence color at 40 °C. On the other hand, the corresponding spin‐coated thin film from the blend remained in the blue luminescence. Furthermore, the temperature‐responsive wettability of the surface could be switched between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity via temperature variations. This study demonstrated that novel ES nanofibers exhibit both reversible thermo‐responsive luminescence characteristics and wettability, suggesting their potential for application as a new kind of sensory material.

     

清泉茶联合体外高频热疗法治疗慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征的临床研究

目的：观察清泉茶联合体外高频热疗法治疗慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征（CP/CPPS）的临床疗效。方法：将97例CP/CPPS患者随机分为观察组和对照组,分别采用清泉茶联合体外高频热疗法和体外高频热疗法进行治疗。结果：观察组50例NIH-CPSI总评分治疗前、后分别为28.16±6.32分和11.82±7.14分（P〈0.01）,平均降低16.34±6.39分;热疗组47例,NIH-CPSI总评分,治疗前、后分别为27.94±5.65分和18.43±7.77分（P〈0.01）,平均降低9.51±6.58分;两组总评分平均下降值比较差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。两组临床疗效,观察组50例总有效率92.00%,热疗组总有效率61.70%;两组总有效率比较差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。结论：清泉茶联合高频热疗仪综合治疗CP/CPPS,可显著改善病人的临床症状,不良反应少,是临床上治疗CP/CPPS的一种理想选择。     

Use of thermo‐coagulation as an alternative treatment modality in a ‘screen‐and‐treat’ programme of cervical screening in rural Malawi

The incidence of cervical cancer in Malawi is the highest in the world and projected to increase in the absence of interventions. Although government policy supports screening using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), screening provision is limited due to lack of infrastructure, trained personnel, and the cost and availability of gas for cryotherapy. Recently, thermo‐coagulation has been acknowledged as a safe and acceptable procedure suitable for low‐resource settings. We introduced thermo‐coagulation for treatment of VIA‐positive lesions as an alternative to cryotherapy within a cervical screening service based on VIA, coupled with appropriate, sustainable pathways of care for women with high‐grade lesions and cancers. Detailed planning was undertaken for VIA clinics, and approvals were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Regional and Village Chiefs. Educational resources were developed. Thermo‐coagulators were introduced into hospital and health centre settings, with theoretical and practical training in safe use and maintenance of equipment. A total of 7,088 previously unscreened women attended VIA clinics between October 2013 and March 2015. Screening clinics were held daily in the hospital and weekly in the health centres. Overall, VIA positivity was 6.1%. Almost 90% received same day treatment in the hospital setting, and 3‐ to 6‐month cure rates of more than 90% are observed. Thermo‐coagulation proved feasible and acceptable in this setting. Effective implementation requires comprehensive training and provider support, ongoing competency assessment, quality assurance and improvement audit. Thermo‐coagulation offers an effective alternative to cryotherapy and encouraged VIA screening of many more women.     

珍珠粉及其伪品的差热分析研究

用差热分析法对珍珠粉和其常见的伪品进行了测定。结果显示,珍珠粉和其各种伪品的热谱图具有明显的差别,表明差热分析法是鉴别珍珠和其伪品的较为理想的方法。     

Thermo‐Responsive and Emulsifying Properties of Poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) Based Graft Copolymers

Thermo‐responsive graft copolymers have been synthesized based on a poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) backbone and either hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or hydrophobic poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) side chains. The phase separation behavior of the graft polymers in water was studied by transmittance measurements and compared to that of the corresponding swollen segmented polymer networks and aqueous solutions of both polymers. The influence of the concentration and length of the grafts on the cloud point temperature (T_CP) has been demonstrated. PVCL‐g‐PTHF copolymers have been synthesized by using the macromonomer technique, i.e. the radical copolymerization of VCL with a PTHF macromonomer. A special feature of these amphiphilic graft copolymers is their ability to stabilize aqueous emulsions below the T_CP and to suddenly break them above the T_CP. PVCL‐g‐PEO copolymers were prepared by a grafting onto method. First, succinimide groups were introduced in the backbone, to which amino terminated PEO chains were grafted in the second step. This leads to di‐hydrophilic copolymers that become amphiphilic after heating their aqueous solutions above the T_CP.

     

Identification of the haemolytic activity of Malassezia species

Malassezia species are part of the normal skin flora and are associated with a number of human and animal skin diseases. However, the mechanisms that mediate infection and host–fungal interactions are poorly understood. The haemolytic activity of several microorganisms is considered a factor that contributes to pathogenicity of the organism to humans and animals. This virulence factor was previously identified in several pathogenic fungi that cause systemic mycoses, such as Aspergillus and Candida. In this study, the haemolytic activity of six major Malassezia species, including M. furfur, M. globosa, M. pachydermatis, M. restricta, M. slooffiae and M. sympodialis, was investigated. The haemolytic activity of these species was tested on tryptone soya agar with 5% sheep blood. All the examined Malassezia species produced a halo zone of complete haemolysis. A quantitative analysis of the haemolytic activity was performed by incubating sheep erythrocytes with the extraction from culture of each Malassezia species. Interestingly, M. globosa and M. restricta showed significantly high haemolytic activity compared with the other Malassezia species. In addition, M. globosa also exhibited stable haemolytic activity after treatment at 100 °C and in the presence of some proteases, indicating that this haemolytic factor is different from those of other fungi.