The Application of the Posterior Atlanto-Occipital Membrane Tension Release Technique for Surgical Exposure of the Horizontal Part of the Vertebral Artery's Third Segment: An Anatomical and Clinical Investigation.

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the anatomical principles governing the surrounding venous structures (VS) of the horizontal part of the third segment of the vertebral artery (V3h) and develop a safe and bloodless surgical technique for exposing V3h.

Methods: This study used 10 formalin-infused cadaveric head specimens. The dissections were performed stepwise to simulate the far lateral approach process, exposing the V3h with a novel technique.

Regulatory roles of RpoS in the biosynthesis of antibiotics 2,4-diacetyphloroglucinol and pyoluteorin of FD6.

The rhizosphere microbe FD6 possesses beneficial traits such as the production of antibiotics like pyoluteorin (Plt) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG). The alternative RpoS (σ factor), as a master regulator, activates or inhibits the transcription of stationary phase genes in several biocontrol organisms. Here, we investigated the complicated function and regulatory mechanism of RpoS in the biosynthesis of 2,4-DAPG and Plt in strain FD6.

Redox-sensitive MAPK and Notch3 regulate fibroblast differentiation and activation: a dual role of ERK1/2.

Myofibroblastic transformation, characterized by upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin in response to profibrotic agents such as TGF-β1, is considered as a major event leading to fibrosis. The mechanistic basis linking myofibroblast differentiation to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the disease treatment remain elusive. In this study, we studied roles of MAPK, Notch, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the differentiation of IMR-90 lung fibroblasts at basal level and induced by TGF-β1.

[Effect of cycloxygenase 2 inhibitor on levels of prostaglandin E2 in plasma and in local infiltrated fluid after functional endoscopic sinus surgery].

Objective: To examine the time course and clinical relevance of changes in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to pain and outcome in surgical drainage, and circulating blood after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Methods: Thirty-seven patients scheduled to undergo FESS were randomized to receive celecoxib 400 mg(n=16) one hour before anesthesia induction and celecoxib 200 mg, q12 h for five consecutive days after surgery or nothing for patients in control group(n=21). Surgical site drainage and venous blood were collected up to 48 hours after surgery to test PGE2 level.

[Development of vestibular system in children with/without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

Objective: To investigate the development of vestibular system function in 7 to 14 years old normal boys and the ADHD boys;

Methods: The present study involved two groups of subjects: 148 ADHD boys (age range 7 years to 14 years) diagnosed with DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and 148 normal boys with the same age. Each group was divided into 4 clusters according to two years gap. All subjects were tested for the vestibular system function by the Vestibular Function Test System 2000/ ENG-V600 with the eye movement index.

[Effects of centrifuge training on mRNA expression in different rat tissues].

Objective: To demonstrate the tissue specific expression of five rat genes related to centrifuge training and the relationship between expression change and duration of training.

Method: mRNA was extracted from hearts, brains, kidneys, lungs and intestines of rats after different durations of training. Five genes obtained by SSH from centrifuge-trained rats were labeled by Dig-11-dUTP as probes.

[High Gy induced vestibular disorders in guinea pigs and its countermeasure by preconditioning].

Objective: To explore if high G exposure can cause vestibular disorder in guinea pig and the possibility of preventing it by preconditioning with exposure to a low hypergravity environment before high G stimulus.

Method: A total of 86 guinea pigs were divided into 4 groups: 1) 28 were treated with a stimulus of +10 Gy for 5 min (+10 Gy group); 2) 28 were preconditioned by exposure to 2 G environment for 8 d before the +10 Gy stimulus (preconditioning group); 3) 20 were exposed to 2 G environment for 8 d, but without +10 Gy stimulus (2 G group); the rest 10 served as control. Their vestibular related behaviour, including vestibulo-spinal reflex (VSR) and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) such as head tremble, head deviation, spontaneous nystagmus, eye deviation, body tilt or looping, were observed directly, the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in VNC (vestibular nucleon complex) in brain stem were investigated by immunohistochemistry technique, and the relative gamma in each group were analysed.