99Tcm-DISIDA hepatobiliary imaging in evaluating gallbladder function in patients with spinal cord injury.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with increased prevalence of gallstones and acute acalculous cholecystitis. A possible explanation for the increased prevalence of gallstones in SCI patients is decreased gallbladder motility causing gallbladder stasis. In this study, we investigated gallbladder function in patients with SCI.

Reconstruction of finger pulp defect with reversed fasciocutaneous island flap from same finger.

Objective: To investigate the clinical curative effect of reconstruction of finger pulp defect by anastomosis of reversed fasciocutaneous island flap with dorsal branch of the digital nerve of the same finger.

Methods: The restoration of finger pulp defect with fasciocutaneous island flap from the same finger was conducted in 25 cases (30 fingers) from January 2002 to June 2003. Nine patients (11 fingers) whose flaps with dorsal branch of the digital nerve anastomosed with the digital inherent nerve around the surface of the wound were Group A and the others were Group B.

[Experimental study on expression of the purine P2Y2 receptor in rat nerve system].

Objective: To study the distribution of P2Y2 receptor in spine cord, dorsal root ganglia and sciatic nerve in rat, and to provide the basis for clarifying the mechanism of the effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the peripheral nerve regeneration.

Methods: Six specimens of the spine cord, dorsal root ganglia and sciatic nerve from SD rats were fixed rapidly in 4% paraformaldehyde which included DEPC, imbedded by paraffin and made into ultrathin section. According to the sequence of P2Y2 receptor's gene, DNA needle was adopted to detect the distribution of P2Y2 receptor by hybridization technique in section under the light microscope after they had been stained in NBT liquid(50 mg/ml) and BCIP liquid (75 mg/ml).

Effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes.

Objective: To study the proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes; and the effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production in the 3 cell types of rabbit flexor tendon.

Methods: Three cell lines of tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured. Cell culture media was added with chitosan.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its fetal liver kinase-1 receptor in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia after neurotomy of sciatic nerve in rats.

Objective: To investigate the expression and pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) receptor in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia after neurotomy of sciatic nerve in rats.

Methods: Forty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into a control group (n=5) and an experimental group (n=40). The bilateral sciatic nerves of the rats in the experimental group underwent neurotomy and the L4-L6 spinal cord and the corresponding dorsal root ganglia were harvested respectively at 8 hours, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days (8 subgroups with 5 rats each) after operation.

Spinal cord injury and cholelithiasis.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is found to be related to increased prevalence of gallstones and acute acalculous cholecystitis. In this study we assessed the prevalence of cholelithiasis in male patients with SCI and the correlation of cholelithiasis with age and weight of patients, level of injury, as well as severity and duration of SCI.

Methods: One hundred male SCI patients (58 patients rated ASIA A or B and 42 rated ASIA C or D) aged more than 20 years (average 46.

[Combined immunosuppression of FK506 and RS-61443 in rat limb allotransplantation].

Objective: To study the immunosuppressive effect of combined therapy with FK506 and RS-61443 in rat limb allotransplantation.

Methods: A total of 101 male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups and used as recipients, and 101 Wistar rats were used as donors. All SD rats were performed limb allotransplantation without using immunosuppressants in control group.