Long-term observation of respiratory function after unilateral phrenic nerve and multiple intercostal nerve transfer for avulsed brachial plexus injury.

Background: Phrenic nerve transfer (PNT) or multiple intercostal nerve transfer (MIT) alone are reported to have no significant impact on pulmonary function in the short or medium term, but it has rarely been reported whether the combination of PNT-MIT could influence respiratory function in the long term.

Objective: Respiratory function was evaluated after PNT and PNT-MIT 7 to 19 years (mean, 10 years) postoperatively.

Methods: Twenty-three adult patients with brachial plexus avulsion injuries who underwent PNT-MIT were compared with 19 corresponding patients who underwent PNT.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells up-regulate acetylcholine receptor delta subunit through NRG/ErbB3-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

To investigate the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the expression of acetylcholine receptor delta subunit (AChRd), the murine skeletal muscle cell line Sol8 were grown in DMEM with 20% fetal bovine serum added with (conditional medium group) or without (control group) conditional medium of BMSC cells for 48 hours. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to access the mRNA and protein levels of AChRd in Sol8 cells, respectively. Western blot was used to detect total and phosphorylated protein levels of Ras, Raf-1, Mek1/2, and Erk1/2, respectively.

Partial ipsilateral C7 transfer to the upper trunk for C5-C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.

Background: Ipsilateral whole C7 root transfer has been reported in treating C5-C6 avulsion. To minimize donor deficits, partial ipsilateral C7 (PIC7) transfer was developed.

Objective: To investigate the long-term results of PIC7 transfer to the upper trunk in treating C5-C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.

Combined nerve transfers for repair of the upper brachial plexus injuries through a posterior approach.

The upper brachial plexus injury leads to paralysis of muscles innervated by C5 and C6 nerve roots. In this report, we present our experience on the use of the combined nerve transfers for reconstruction of the upper brachial plexus injury. Nine male patients with the upper brachial plexus injury were treated with combined nerve transfers.

An anatomical study of the full-length phrenic nerve and its blood supply: clinical implications for endoscopic dissection.

For surgeries aimed at the dissection of full-length phrenic nerve, a full appreciation of its trajectory, blood supply and correlation with adjacent anatomical structures is necessary, especially for endoscopic manipulations. A fresh cadaver study was conducted with the purpose of avoiding surgical complications and ensuring further efficacy and efficiency of endoscopic manipulations. Ten fresh adult cadavers were dissected.

Modification of the pull-in suture technique for mallet finger.

Introduction: Mallet finger injuries are common and involve disruption of the terminal extensor mechanism overlying the distal interphalangeal joint. Many operative techniques have been advocated. The pull-in suture technique is a useful surgical procedure for the treatment of mallet finger.

[Establishment of animal model for research of first molar mesial movement in rat].

Purpose: To establish an animal model for research of first molar mesial movement in rat.

Methods: Forty 7-weeks-old SPF female Wistar rats were chosen in this experiment, which were divided into two groups. In each group, the two central incisors were used as anchorage to move the maxillary first molars mesially.

Synthesis and catalytic properties of Au-Pd nanoflowers.

Reduction of Pd ions by hydroquinone in the presence of gold nanoparticles and polyvinylpyrrolidone resulted in the formation of nanoflowers with a Au core and Pd petals. Addition of HCl to the synthesis halted the reduction by hydroquinone and enabled the acquisition of snapshots of the nanoflowers at different stages of growth. TEM images of the reaction after 10 s show that the nanoflower morphology resulted from the homogeneous nucleation of Pd clusters in solution and their subsequent attachment to gold seeds coated with a thin (0.

Endoscopy-assisted cubital tunnel release under carbon dioxide insufflation and anterior transposition.

Purpose: The optimal treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome is widely debated. The purpose of this study is to describe the technique of an endoscopic-assisted ulnar nerve decompression using carbon dioxide insufflation in association with subcutaneous anterior transposition and to assess the success or failure of the method of treatment.

Methods: In all, 8 male and 4 female patients with an average age of 42 years (range, 25-56) who presented signs, symptoms, and abnormal neurophysiological studies of cubital tunnel syndrome were recruited in the retrospective study.

Contralateral C7 nerve root transfer in treatment of cerebral palsy in a child: case report.

A 4-year-old girl who sustained the hemiplegic cerebral palsy and subsequent spasticity in the left upper extremity underwent the C7 nerve root rhizotomy and the contralateral C7 nerve root transfer to the ipsilateral middle trunk of brachial plexus through an interpositional sural nerve graft. In a 2-year follow-up, the results showed a reduction in spasticity and an improvement in extension power of the elbow, the wrist, and the second to fifth fingers. Scores from both Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test and Modified Ashworth Scale tests had been significantly improved during follow-up.

Phrenic nerve end-to-side neurotization in treating brachial plexus avulsion: an experimental study in rats.

The aim of this study was to extend the clinical application of phrenic nerve neurotization in treating brachial plexus avulsion injury, reducing the possible damage on the diaphragm function. Fifty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats and 9 transgenic rats were used in this study. Evaluations including behavioral observation, histology, and electrophysiology study were performed postoperatively.

Anterior Z-plate and titanic mesh fixation for acute burst thoracolumbar fracture.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome, effectiveness, and security of the surgical management of acute thoracolumbar burst fracture with corpectomy, titanic mesh autograft, and Z-plate fixation by anterior approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Many surgical methods were adopted to treat acute burst thoracolumbar fracture.

Randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial of clenbuterol in denervated muscle atrophy.

Objectives. β(2)-adrenergic agonists, such as clenbuterol, have been shown to promote the hypertrophy of healthy skeletal muscles and to ameliorate muscle wasting in a few pathological conditions in both animals and humans. We intended to investigate the clinical efficacy of clenbuterol on attenuating denervation-induced muscle atrophy.

Dynamic evaluation of cervical disc herniation using kinetic MRI.

We investigated the effects of cervical disc herniation on kinematics of adjacent segmental motion by evaluating 407 patients using kinetic MRI. For each patient, measurements for translational motion (mm), angular variation (degrees) and disc height (mm) were obtained at each segment from C2/C3 through C7/T1. The results show that the spinal levels above the disc herniation experienced, on average, a 7.

Transoral reduction of irreducible posteriorly displaced odontoid fracture.

A case of type II odontoid fracture with irreducible posterior dislocation is presented. Cervical traction was employed but reduction could not be achieved with up to 15 kg of traction. The patient was treated with intraoperative transoral open reduction combined with anterior-posterior fixation.

Combined application of neutrophin-3 gene and neural stem cells is ameliorative to delay of denervated skeletal muscular atrophy after tibial nerve transection in rats.

Examination of the therapeutic efficacy of neural stem cells (NSCs) has recently become the focus of much investigation. In this study we present an insight of the effects of combined application with neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and NSCs that derived from rat embryo spinal cord on delaying denervated skeletal muscular atrophy after tibial nerve was severed. NT-3 gene was amplified by PCR and subcloned into lentiviral vector pWPXL-MOD to construct a lentiviral expression vector pWPXL-MOD-NT-3.

Intraoperative decision making by electrophysiological detection of the origin of thoracodorsal nerve in the C7 nerve root transfer procedure.

The objective of this article is to discuss the significance of predicting the injury degree of the thoracodorsal nerve by intraoperative electrophysiological examination in the C7 nerve root transfer for brachial plexus injury. Each trunk of the brachial plexus followed by each bundle of C7 was stimulated before the contralateral C7 was disconnected. The ratio of the origination of thoracodorsal nerve controlling the latissimus dorsi muscle was evaluated.

Phrenic nerve transfer for elbow flexion and intercostal nerve transfer for elbow extension.

Purpose: To explore long-term recovery of elbow flexion and extension after transferring the phrenic nerve and intercostal nerves, respectively, in adults with global brachial plexus avulsion injuries.

Methods: Seven adults with global brachial plexus avulsion injuries had the phrenic nerve transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve (or to the anterior division of upper trunk) and intercostal nerves transferred to the triceps branch of the radial nerve at our hospital 7 to 12 years ago. The results of elbow motor strength testing using the Medical Research Council grading scale, and electrodiagnostic findings using electromyogram examinations, were studied retrospectively.

Sensory restoration in cortical level after a contralateral C7 nerve transfer to an injured arm in rats.

Background: The restoration of sensory and motor function in brachial plexus root avulsion patients is a difficult challenge. The central nervous system plays an important role in sensory recovery after peripheral nerve injury and repair.

Objective: To investigate the sensory restoration process after surgery at the cortical level in rodent models with a contralateral C7 nerve transfer.

[Effect of terbutaline on sodium transport in alveolar type I and type II cells].

Objective: To explore the effect of terbutaline on sodium transport in rat alveolar type I (ATI) and type II (ATII) cells of rats.

Methods: The whole cell currents were recorded from ATII cells isolated from rat lungs perfused with or without amiloride (inhibitor of epithelial sodium channel) and ZnCl(2) (inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel) in the whole cell recording mode using the patch-clamp technique. The effect of terbutaline on the currents was examined.