Novel methods of removing metallic foreign body from human soft tissue: a report of 7390 cases.

BACKGROUND: We studied methods of locating metallic foreign bodies in soft tissue of the human body. METHODS: Using a three-dimensional (3D) locator, we removed metallic foreign bodies precisely from soft tissue of 7390 patients through magnetic forceps between June 1999 and June 2009. RESULTS: In 7390 patients, we successfully removed 99.5% of all metallic foreign bodies by 3D locator and forceps. Average operation time was 5 min. CONCLUSIONS: Metallic foreign bodies can be located precisely and removed simply with few complications using our 3D location method. The method may lead to minor trauma, less suffering, and a high success rate.

Atorvastatin ameliorates experimental autoimmune neuritis by decreased Th1/Th17 cytokines and up-regulated T regulatory cells.

Statins have anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating properties. To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), an animal model of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), atorvastatin was administered to Lewis rats immunized with bovine peripheral myelin in complete Freund's adjuvant. We found that atorvastatin ameliorated the clinical symptoms of EAN, decreased the numbers of inflammatory cells as well as IFN-γ(+) and IL-17(+) cells in sciatic nerves, decreased the CD80 expression and increased the number of CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells in mononuclear cells (MNC), and decreased the levels of IFN-γ in MNC culture supernatants. These data provide strong evidence that atorvastatin can act as an inhibitor in EAN by inhibiting the immune response of Th1 and Th17, decreasing the expression of co-stimulatory molecule, and up-regulating the number of T regulatory cells. These data demonstrated that statins could be used as a therapeutic strategy in human GBS in future.

Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone ameliorates experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an abundant adrenal steroid in serum of humans, and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and certain immune-regulating properties. Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a Th1 cell-mediated animal model of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in humans. In the present study, DHEA was administered subcutaneously to Lewis rats immunized with bovine peripheral myelin (BPM) in Freund's complete adjuvant. Rats treated with DHEA displayed significant delay in onset, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the PNS. Benefit was associated with significant decreases in numbers of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha expressing cells in the PNS, BPM-stimulated T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha-secretion in the spleen cells. Only 2 mg DHEA-treated EAN rats decreased peak clinical score. No significant difference of supernatant IL-10 was found among the treatment and control groups. These results suggest that DHEA can ameliorate the severity of EAN by suppressing the proliferation of autoreactive T cell and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Value of 3-dimensional CT virtual anatomy imaging in complex foreign body retrieval from soft tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of 3-dimensional (3D) CT virtual anatomy imaging (VAI) in the complex foreign body (FB) retrieval of the soft tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and seventy-five patients with radiopaque FB(s) diagnosed by radiograph underwent contrast-enhanced 3D CT examination. VAI was reconstructed by volume-rendering opacity software, by sliding down the lowest threshold from -600 to 100 HU. The imaging was grouped into three groups: A (axial and multi-planar reformation [MPR] images), B (standard 3D imaging with axial and MPR images), and C (VAI with axial and MPR images). They were analyzed to reveal the type, size, number, location, complications, and the interventional removability of the object, with the comparisons in the management and clinical outcomes on the patient follow-up studies. The data were subjected to chi-square tests, with p value < 0.05 indicating significant statistical difference. RESULTS: The FB shape, size, number, site distribution and vessels around FB, as well as the FB-associated vascular complications and the FB interventional removability were assessed more accurately in Group C than in Group B or Group A (p < 0.005). There was no significant difference in disclosing the type and depth of the FB among the three groups (p > 0.75). On the basis of the 3D CT, especially the enhanced 3D CT VAI, the followings were processed: the recommendation of interventional removal in 286 (60.47%) and non-intervention in 187 (39.53%) of the 473 patients with soft-tissue FB(s); in 352 (56.50%) of the 623 radiopaque FBs patients, 258 (54.55%) patients accurately detected on 3D CT and the successful removal by intervention (343 FBs) or surgery (9 FBs) without any sequela; and 215 (45.45%) patients with 271 FBs lost in the follow-up, with their departure from the hospital. CONCLUSION: The 3D CT, especially 3D enhanced CT VAI, has great incremental value in further diagnosis and management of complex FB extraction from soft tissues.

[Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats].

AIM: To explore the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). METHODS: 21 female Lewis rats were randomly divided into DHEA 0.5 mg treatment groups, 2 mg treatment groups and control group ( n=7). Treatment groups were subcutaneously injected every day with DHEA and the control group with the same level of DHEA dissolvent from day 5 post immunization (p.i) with bovine peripheral myelin (BPM) in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). The effects were assessed in terms of of the number of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha positive cells in sciatic nerve sections, T-cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10) synthesis by draining lymph node and spleen cells at the height of clinical EAN. RESULTS: Rats treated with DHEA at different doses displayed significant decreases in numbers of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha expressing cells in the PNS (P<0.05), BPM-stimulated T cell proliferation (P<0.05), IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha secretion in draining lymph node and spleen (P<0.05) compared to control group. No significant difference of supernatant IL-10 was found among the different groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration with exogenous DHEA inhabits cellular immune response by suppressing the proliferation of autoreactive T-cell and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Lewis rats with EAN.

[Effect of valproate acid sodium on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells and its mechanism study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of valproate acid sodium(VPA) on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell BGC-823 and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Cell growth inhibition was examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate was detected by FCM with Annexin V/PI staining. The activities and protein expression levels of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 were examined by spectrophotometry and indirect immunofluorescence technique respectively. RESULTS: The growth inhibition rate and apoptosis rate of human gastric cancer cells, treated with 0.75-4.00 mmol/L VPA for 24 h and 48 h, elevated in time- and dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis rates of VPA 0.75 mmol/L 24 h and 48 h were (7.2 +/- 0.5)% and (9.2 +/- 1.0)%, of VPA 4.00 mmol/L 24 h and 48 h were (16.7 +/- 2.2)% and (20.4 +/- 1.6)% respectively, which were significantly different as compared to the control [24 h, (4.9 +/- 0.2)%, 48 h, (5.1 +/- 0.8)%] (P< 0.001). The activities and protein expression levels of caspase 3 and caspase 9 were up-regulated compared with the control group (P< 0.001), meanwhile the activity and protein expression of caspase 8 enhanced slightly after VPA treatment for 48 h. CONCLUSION: VPA can inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of BGC-823 cells mainly through the activation of caspase 9 pathway.

Effects of prolonged metoprolol treatment on neural remodeling and inducible ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Neural remodeling is part of the pathophysiology of ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we developed a rabbit model of MI to investigate the effect of the beta-blocker metoprolol on ventricular neural remodeling and susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in 30 rabbits, and sham operations were performed in 12 control animals. Metoprolol was then administered to 15 of the MI animals. After electrophysiological recordings, the expression of nerve markers was studied at the infarct border and the non-infarct left ventricle free wall (LVFW) by immunostaining or RT-PCR. RESULTS: Eight weeks after MI, the incidence of inducible ventricular arrhythmias was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the MI group than in the sham group. However, metoprolol treatment decreased incidence of post-MI ventricular arrhythmias (8.3%) compared to those without treatment (58.3%, P<0.001). The density of nerve fibers was increased in MI group (3889+/-521 microm(2)/mm(2)) compared to the sham group (1727+/-304 microm(2)/mm(2)). Treatment of MI rabbits with metoprolol resulted in a partial reduction (2725+/-283 microm(2)/mm(2)). However, the shape and imbalance of nerve fibers appeared to be normalized by the metoprolol treatment. The expression levels of TH mRNA were reduced (P<0.01) by metoprolol treatment. CONCLUSION: Metoprolol reduces post-MI ventricular arrhythmias, partly by altering the neural remodeling process.