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    15 July 2012, Volume 7 Issue 20 Previous Issue    Next Issue
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    Glial scar size, inhibitor concentration, and growth of regenerating axons after spinal cord  transection
    Weiping Zhu, Yanping Sun, Xuning Chen, Shiliang Feng
    2012, 7 (20):  1525-1533. 
    Abstract ( 193 )   PDF (314KB) ( 844 )   Save
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    Differential protein expression in spinal cord tissue of a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury
    Qi Gao, Yonghui Liang, Xiaoyu Yang, Guifeng Liu, Xiaoxue Li, Benqing Zhu, Jian Liu, Maoguang Yang, Weiwei Xia, Jian Dong, Jianhang Jiao
    2012, 7 (20):  1534-1539. 
    Abstract ( 272 )   PDF (143KB) ( 1056 )   Save

    New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into an ischemia group (occlusion of the abdominal aorta for 60 minutes), an ischemia-reperfusion group (occlusion of the abdominal aorta for 60 minutes followed by 48 hours of reperfusion) and a sham-surgery group. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis detected 49 differentially expressed proteins in spinal cord tissue from the ischemia and ischemia/ reperfusion groups and 23 of them were identified by mass spectrometry. In the ischemia group, the expression of eight proteins was up regulated, and that of the remaining four proteins was down regulated. In the ischemia/reperfusion group, the expression of four proteins was up regulated, and that of two proteins was down regulated. In the sham-surgery group, only one protein was detected. In the ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion groups, four proteins overlapped between groups with the same differential expression, including three that were up regulated and one down regulated. These proteins were related to energy metabolism, cell defense, inflammatory mechanism and cell signaling.

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    Nav1.7 protein and mRNA expression in the dorsal root ganglia of rats with chronic neuropathic pain
    Chao Liu, Jing Cao, Xiuhua Ren, Weidong Zang
    2012, 7 (20):  1540-1544. 
    Abstract ( 216 )   PDF (181KB) ( 1093 )   Save

    Neuropathic pain was produced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rats. Behavioral tests showed that the thresholds for thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia were significantly reduced in neuropathic pain rats 3-28 days following model induction. The results of immunohistochemistry, western blot assays and reverse transcription-PCR showed that Nav1.7 protein and mRNA expression was significantly increased in the injured dorsal root ganglia. These findings indicated that Nav1.7 might play an important role in the model of chronic neuropathic pain.

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    Improved C3-4 transfer for treatment of root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk Animal experiments and clinical application
    Lin Zou, Xuecheng Cao, Jing Li, Lifeng Liu, Pingshan Wang, Jinfang Cai
    2012, 7 (20):  1545-1555. 
    Abstract ( 224 )   PDF (708KB) ( 1392 )   Save

    Experimental rats with root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk were treated with the im-proved C3-4 transfer for neurotization of C5-6. Results showed that Terzis grooming test scores were significantly increased at 6 months after treatment, the latency of C5-6 motor evoked potential was gradually shortened, and the amplitude was gradually increased. The rate of C3 instead of C5 and the C4 + phrenic nerve instead of C6 myelinated nerve fibers crossing through the anastomotic stoma was approximately 80%. Myelinated nerve fibers were arranged loosely but the thickness of the myelin sheath was similar to that of the healthy side. In clinical applications, 39 patients with root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk were followed for 6 months to 4.5 years after treatment using the improved C3 instead of C5 nerve root transfer and C4 nerve root and phrenic nerve instead of C6 nerve root transfer. Results showed that the strength of the brachial biceps and deltoid muscles recovered to level III-IV, scapular muscle to level III-IV, latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major muscles to above level III, and the brachial triceps muscle to level 0-III. Results showed that the improved C3-4 transfer for root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk in animal models is similar to clinical findings and that C3-4 and the phrenic nerve transfer for neurotization of C5-6 can innervate the avulsed brachial plexus upper trunk and promote the recovery of nerve function in the upper extremity.

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    Corneal subbasal nerve fiber regeneration in myopic patients after laser in situ keratomileusis
    Shijing Deng, Mengmeng Wang, Fengju Zhang, Xuguang Sun, Wenbo Hou, Ning Guo
    2012, 7 (20):  1556-1562. 
    Abstract ( 188 )   PDF (393KB) ( 1092 )   Save

    A total of 26 myopic patients (52 eyes) underwent laser in situ keratomileusis. In vivo confocal mi-croscopy revealed that most of the regenerated corneal subbasal nerve fibers in the corneal flap originated from the stump of corneal subbasal nerve fibers outside the ablation zone and extended towards the center of the cornea in all patients. Meanwhile, new fibers were also found to directly regenerate from deep in the stroma in some cases. Approximately 94% of regenerated corneal subbasal nerve fibers (73/78 eyes) regrew vertically into the peripheral central 6-mm circle area 1 month after surgery, 78% (28/36 eyes) grew into the central 3-6 mm area at 2 months, and 23% into the central 3-mm circle area at 3 months. In addition, there was no significant difference in corneal subbasal nerve fiber regenerative capacity between the basic fibroblast growth factor group and the 20% (v/v) deproteinized extract of calf blood group. The majority of corneal subbasal nerve fiber regeneration occurred from the stump of corneal subbasal nerve fibers outside the corneal flap, and the remaining growth occurred deep within the stroma.

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    Preoperative functional MRI localization of language areas in Chinese patients with brain tumors
    Hechun Xia, Wei Huang, Liang Wu, Hui Ma, Xiaodong Wang, Xuexin Chen, Shengyu Sun, Xiaoxiong Jia
    2012, 7 (20):  1563-1589. 
    Abstract ( 225 )   PDF (222KB) ( 849 )   Save

    Ten Chinese patients with brain tumors involving language regions were selected. Preoperative functional MRI was performed to locate Broca’s or Wernicke’s area, and the cortex that was essential for language function was determined by electrocortical mapping. A site-by-site comparison between functional MRI and electrocortical mapping was performed with the aid of a neuronavigation device. Results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of preoperative functional MRI were 80.0% and 85.0% in Broca’s area and 66.6% and 85.2% in Wernicke’s area, respectively. These experimental findings indicate that functional MRI is an accurate, reliable technique with which to identify the location of Wernicke’s area or Broca’s area in patients with brain tumors.

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    Smoking and Alzheimer’s disease among Mongolian and Han Chinese aged 55 years and over living in the Inner Mongolia farming area of China
    Chunyu Zhang, Lin Da, Shigang Zhao, Desheng Wang, Guangming Niu, Huriletemuer
    2012, 7 (20):  1570-1577. 
    Abstract ( 190 )   PDF (167KB) ( 904 )   Save

    Residents aged 55 years or older from 27 communities and two settlements in Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia were selected for participation in an Alzheimer’s disease epidemiological investigation from June 2008 to June 2009, including 3 259 Mongolians and 5 887 Han Chinese. The Mongolian subjects in the Alzheimer’s disease group were at age of 55 years or older (on average), and more of them were male, illiterate and/or had a history of coronary artery disease and/or diabetes compared with the Mongolian subjects in the non-Alzheimer’s disease group. The Han Chinese subjects in the Alzheimer’s disease group were at age of 55 years or older (on average) and more of them were women, illiterate and/or had a history of coronary artery disease, and less of them had a history of alcohol consumption compared with the non-Alzheimer’s disease group. Non-conditional multivariate stepwise logistic regression identified that male gender, increasing age and having a history of diabetes and/or coronary heart disease were associated with higher odds of Alzheimer’s disease among Mongolians while having an educational background was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.259, 95%CI 0.174-0.386). Among the Han Chinese subjects, male gender, increasing age and having a history of coronary heart disease and/or hypertension was associated with higher odds of Alzheimer’s disease, while having an educational background was associated lower odds (OR = 0.271, 95%CI 0.192-0.381). The results also indicated that extremely heavy smoking may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in Mongolian males aged over 55 years. There was no significant difference in smoking habits between the Mongolian and Han Chinese subjects with Alzheimer’s disease.

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    Gait analysis of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy
    Xin Wang, Yuexi Wang
    2012, 7 (20):  1578-1584. 
    Abstract ( 200 )   PDF (113KB) ( 1520 )   Save

    An experiment was carried out in the key laboratory for Technique Diagnosis and Function As-sessment of Winter Sports of China to investigate the differences in gait characteristics between healthy children and children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. With permission of their parents, 200 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years in the kindergarten of Northeastern University were enrolled in this experiment. Twenty children aged 3 to 6 years with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy from Shengjing Hospital, China were also enrolled in this experiment. Standard data were collected by simultaneously recording gait information from two digital cameras. DVracker was used to analyze the standard data. The children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy had a longer gait cycle, slower walking speed, and longer support phase than did the healthy children. The support phase was longer than the swing phase in the children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. There were significant differences in the angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joint between children with cerebral palsy and healthy children at the moment of touching the ground and buffering, and during pedal extension. Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy had poor motor coordination during walking, which basically resulted in a short stride, high stride frequency to maintain speed, more obvious swing, and poor stability.

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    Common features in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage following superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass in steno-occlusive cerebrovascular disease
    Zhiqi Mao, Meng Li, Yan Ma, Yanfei Chen, Hongqi Zhang, Feng Ling
    2012, 7 (20):  1585-1590. 
    Abstract ( 196 )   PDF (211KB) ( 1236 )   Save

    Five patients treated for intracranial cerebral hemorrhage after superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass in Xuwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, from 2005-2011 were included in this study. Prior to superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass, all patients showed diminished cerebrovascular reactivity and an ipsilateral ischemic lesion. Intracranial cerebral hemorrhage developed within 1-4 days following superficial temporal ar-tery-middle cerebral artery bypass. Transcranial Doppler showed increased middle cerebral artery velocity of 50-100% in the operated hemisphere. These findings suggested that focal hyperperfusion, an ipsilateral ischemic lesion and diminished cerebrovascular reactivity are the important characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage following superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass in patients with steno-occlusive cerebrovascular disease.

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    Detection of cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome using mismatch negativity
    Xiaohui Wen, Ningyu Wang, Jinfeng Liu, Zhanfeng Yan, Zhonghai Xin
    2012, 7 (20):  1591-1598. 
    Abstract ( 220 )   PDF (135KB) ( 1111 )   Save

    In this experiment, 97 patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome were divided into three groups (mild, moderate, severe) according to minimum oxygen saturation, and 35 healthy subjects were examined as controls. Cognitive function was determined using the mismatch negativity paradigm and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The results revealed that as the disease worsened, the mismatch negativity latency was gradually extended, and the amplitude gradually declined in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Importantly, mismatch negativity latency in severe patients with a persistent time of minimum oxygen  saturation < 60 seconds was significantly shorter than that with a persistent time of minimum oxygen saturation > 60 seconds. Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between minimum oxygen saturation latency and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. These findings indicate that intermittent night-time hypoxemia affects mismatch negativity waveforms and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. As indicators for detecting the cognitive functional status of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients, the sensitivity of mismatch negativity is 82.93%, the specificity is 73.33%, the accuracy rate is 81.52%, the positive predictive value is 85.00%, the negative predictive value is 70.21%, the positive likelihood ratio is 3, and the negative likelihood ratio is 0.23. These results indicate that mismatch negativity can be used as an effective tool for diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients.

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