OBJECTIVE: To observe the strength of thigh muscles after reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament by autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. METHODS: Twenty-three patients, 9 males and 14 females, were followed up one year after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. Through arthroscope, no intra-articular derangement was found. The strengths of isometric and isotonic contractions of the quadri ceps and the hamstrings muscles of the affected and contralateral thighs were recorded. RESULTS: The donor side for autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft showed significant decrease (P lt; 0.01), but no effect on that of the hamstrings muscle(P gt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: To reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament, harvest of the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft as a reparative material may markedly lower the strength of the quadriceps femoris muscle.
Objective To investigate the early change of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in denervated red and white muscles and the regeneration of nerves innervating the muscles and to discuss the effect of the target organs on regeneration of the injured nerves.Methods Forty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. The sciatic nerves in 4 groups were sheared to make the models of the denervated muscles and the other one as control group. The amount of BDNF in muscles was measured with immunohistochemistry 1 day, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after injury. The models of the regeneration of the nerves were made in another 15 rats whose sciatic nerves were disconnected with forceps. The nerve conduction velocity and electromyogram were tested with neuroelectrophysiology7 days and 14 days after injury. Results The expression of BDNF in soleus increased significantly on the 1st day, the 3rd day and the 7th day (P＜0.01); theexpression ingastrocnemius was lower, but there was no significant difference(P＞0.05) on the 1st day, the 3rd day,the 7th day and the 14th day when compared with control group. After 14 days of injury in the nerves innervating GAS and SOL, the nerve conduction velocities and the amplitudes of wave M recovered to (36.60±7.40)% and (19.9±6.4)% of normal value, and (42.50±3.50)% and (13.7±4.0)% of normal value respectively; there were no significant differences between the two muscles(P＞0.05).Conclusion There is- difference in BDNF amount between the denervated red and white muscles, but the recovery of the two kinds of the motornerves is similar,and the neurotrophism of denervated muscles was determined by all kinds of neurotrophic factors.
Objective To observe the influence of the transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) on the denervated mouse musclederived stem cells（MDSCs） producing the connective tissue growth factor（CTGF）at different time points in vitro. Methods MDSCs from the primarycultureof the denervated mouse skeletal muscle were isolated and purified by the preplate technique, and they were identified before the culture and after the culturein vitro with TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) for 24 hours. Then, MDSCs were randomlydivided into 6 groups (Groups A, B, C, D, E and F) according to the different time points, and were cultured in vitro with TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, respectively. The levels of CTGF mRNA in MDSCs were measured by the real time RT-PCR and the expression of CTGF protein was detected by the CTGF Western blot. Results The immunohistochemistry revealed that before the adding of TGF-β1, MDSCs highly expressed Sca-1, with a positivityrate of 96%; however, after the adding of TGF-β1, the positive expression of Sca-1 decreased greatly, with a negativity rate gt;99%. The Western blot test showed that the ratios of CTGF to the average absorbance of βactin in Groups A-F were 0.788±0.123, 1.063±0.143, 2.154±0.153, 2.997±0.136, 3.796±0.153 and 3.802±0.175, respectively. In Groups AD，the absorbance increased gradually, with a significant difference between the abovementioned groups (Plt;0.05). However, in Groups D-F, there was no significant difference between the groups as the promotive tendency became less significant (P＞0.05). The RT-PCR test showed that the △Ct values in GroupsA-F were 1.659±0.215, 1.897±0.134, 2.188±0.259, 2.814±0.263,2.903±0.125 and 3.101±0.186, respectively. In Groups A-D, the increase in the △Ct value was gradual, but the differences were significant between the groups (Plt;0.05). But in Groups E and F, the promotive tendency became less significant（Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion TGF-β1 can promote the production of CTGF inthe mouse MDSCs cultured in vitro and the time-dependent relation exists for 3-12 hours.
Objective To observe the expressions of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in muscle satell ite cells in situ of normal and cardiotoxin-intoxicated muscle tissues so as to further investigate the molecular mechanism involving inmuscle regeneration such as progressing muscular dystrophy (PMD) for seeking the way to cure muscle retrogression. Methods The muscle injured model of 12 C57 male mice was made by injecting cardiotoxin (5 μg per mouse) in left quadriceps femoris, their right quadriceps femoris was used as control without any injection. The histological, immunohistochemical analysis and RT-PCR were done to investigate the expression of CXCR4 in the quadriceps femoris in situ after 1 day, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. Results HE staining results demonstrated that the muscle tissues experienced the process from muscle injury, repair to regeneration. The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of CXCR4 in injured muscle tissue were 1 955.6 ± 150.3, 2 223.2 ± 264.3, 2 317.6 ± 178.7, 3 066.5 ± 269.6, 1 770.9 ± 98.7 and 1 505.7 ± 107.1 at 1 day, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after injection of cardiotoxin, there was significant difference when compared with normal muscle (640.3 ± 124.0, P lt; 0.001). The RT-PCR showed that the expressions of CXCR4 mRNA in injured muscle tissue were0.822 ± 0.013, 0.882 ± 0.025, 1.025 ± 0.028, 1.065 ± 0.041, 0.837 ± 0.011 and 0.777 ± 0.015 at 1 day, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after injection of cardiotoxin, there was significant difference when compared with normal muscle (0.349 ± 0.006, P lt; 0.001). Conclusion CXCR4 may be the critical protein in the process of muscle impairment and reparation.
our patients with brachial plexus root arulsion, who had undergone various nerve operationswith no functional recovery of the limb, were treated with transfer of sternocledomastoid muscle toreconstruct the function of elbow fleaion. The sternocleidomastoid muscle was datached from itsincertions and was lengthened by fascia lata graft from the thigh , and then , was transferred under theclavicle to the radiai shaft just distal to the radial tuberosity. After the recostruction, The potient...
Objective To evaluate the application value of repairing the defects of the chest wall with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis. Methods From January 2002 to June 2005, five patients with defects in the chest wall underwent the prothesis with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis under general anesthesia. Focal cleaning was performed first; then, the skin flap was designed and taken (15 cm ×10 cm); and finally, the defects of the chest wall were repaired with the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis. Results Of the 5patients, 4 had the flap healing by the first intention, and 1 had the delayed healing, with no complication. The skin flap had a good appearance, without edema orpigmentation. The X-ray examination showed that the shadow of the sternal sequestrum disappeared. There was no recurrence or complication during the follow-upfor 1-3 years (average, 18 mon). Conclusion The repairing of the defects in the chest wall with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis is a simple and effective surgical treatment for defects of the chest wall around the sternum, and this kind of treatment is worth applying extensively in clinical practice.
The rectus femoris muscles of rabbits were used as muscle model. The electrical stimulation which resembled the normal motor-unit activity was used to observe its effects on free transferred muscle. After three months, the moist muscle weight (MW), its maximum cross-section area, its contractility and its histochemical characteristics were examined. The results showed that the function and morphology of the muscles were well preserved. These findings might encourage its clinical application.
Objective To study the quantitative changes of ubiquitin l igase MAFbx mRNA and protein expression, muscle atrophy and muscle function following free muscle transplantation and to explore relationshi ps among them. Methods Thirty-six female SD rats, SPF grade, weighing (250 ± 25) g, were used. One hind l imb of the rat was randomly selected as experimental side to receive in situ free gracil is muscle transplantation, and the counterlateral hind l imb underwent no operation serving as control side. General condition of the rats was observed after operation. Muscle contractivecapacity and muscle wet weight maintenance rate of the experimental and the control side were detected 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, and 30 weeks after operation, and 6 rats were killed at each time point. Meanwhile, HE staining was performed to observe muscle fibre cross-sectional area, real-time quantitative PCR was appl ied to detect relative expression of MAFbx/Atrogin-1 mRNA, and Western blot test was used to observe MAFbx protein expression. Results All rats survived till the end of the experiment, all incisions healed well, and no dysfunction occurred in the experimental sides. The value of muscle contractive capacity, muscle wet weight maintenance rate, muscle’s maximal force of single contraction, and muscle’s maximal force of tetanic contraction in the experimental sides dramatically decreased in the first 4 weeks after operation and increased gradually over 4 to 30 weeks. The MAFbx mRNA expression of the experimental sides peaked and was seven times greater than the control sides 2 weeks after operation, then the value gradually decreased over 15 to 30 weeks after operation and was 1.1 to 1.5 times greater than the control sides, and significant difference was evident between the experimental sides and the control sides at each time point (P lt; 0.05). Significant difference was evident between the experimental sides and the control sides in terms of MAFbx protein expression of the muscle 1 to 15 weeks after operation according to the Western blot result (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was noted at 30 weeks (P gt; 0.05). The correlation coefficient between muscle wet weight maintenance rate and muscle’s maximal force of single contraction maintenance rate was 0.95, between muscle wet weight maintenance rate and muscle’s maximal force of tetanic contraction maintenance rate was 0.75, between muscle fibre cross-sectional area recovery rate and muscle’s maximal force of single contraction maintenance rate was 0.93, and between muscle fibre cross-sectional area recovery rate and muscle’s maximal force of tetanic contraction maintenance rate was 0.68 (P lt; 0.05). The correlation coefficient between MAFbx mRNA expression and the parameter of muscle wet weight maintenance rate, muscle fibre cross-sectional area recovery rate, muscle’s maximal force of single contraction maintenance rate, and muscle’s maximal force of tetanic contraction maintenance rate was — 0.62 (P lt; 0.05), — 0.45 (P gt; 0.05), — 0.72 (P lt; 0.05) and — 0.78 (P lt; 0.05), respectively; the correlation coefficient between MAFbx protein relative expression and the parameter of muscle wet weight maintenance rate, muscle fibre cross-sectional area recovery rate, muscle’s maximal force of single contraction maintenance rate, and muscle’s maximal force of tetanic contraction maintenance rate was — 0.95 (P lt; 0.05), — 0.82 (P lt; 0.05), — 0.89 (P lt; 0.05), and — 0.54 (P gt; 0.05), respectively. Conclusion Decrease of muscle function after transplantation correlates closely with muscle atrophy. The high expression of MAFbx mRNA and protein, especially their persistent increases from 4 to 15 weeks after nerve reinnervation, is a junction between the muscle atrophy and thedecrease of muscle function.
Objective To investigate the effect of Ligustrazine on the expressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 indenervated skeletal muscle atrophy rats. Methods Fifty-four 8-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly dividedinto 3 groups: normal control group (group A, n=6), denervated control group (group B, n=24), and Ligustrazine interventiongroup (group C, n=24). After the denervated gastrocnemius models were established in the rats of groups B and C, sal ine andLigustrazine [80 mg/(kg·d)] were given every day by intraperitoneal injection, respectively. However, no treatment was donein group A. At 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after denervation, the wet weight of gastrocnemius was measured to calculate the ratio ofwet weight. The mRNA and protein expression levels of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 were detected by RT-PCR and Westernblot. Results The ratio of gastrocnemius wet weight decreased with time after denervation in groups B and C, showingsignificant differences when compared with that of group A (P lt; 0.05), and group C were significantly higher than that of groupB at 7, 14, and 28 days (P lt; 0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 in groups B and Cwere significantly higher than those in group C at 7, 14, and 28 days (P lt; 0.05), and group C was significantly lower than groupB (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Ligustrazine may postpone denervated skeletal muscle atrophy by reducing mRNA and proteinexpressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1.
Objective To provide the anatomical basis of contralateral C7 root transfer for the recovery of the forearm flexor function. Methods Thirty sides of adult anti-corrosion specimens were used to measure the length from the end of nerves dominating forearm flexor to the anastomotic stoma of contralateral C7 nerve when contralateral C7 nerve transfer was used for repair of brachial plexus lower trunk and medial cord injuries. The muscle and nerve branches were observed. The length of C7 nerve, C7 anterior division, and C7 posterior division was measured. Results The length of C7 nerve, anterior division, and posterior division was (58.8 ± 4.2), (15.4 ± 6.7), and (8.8 ± 4.4) mm, respectively. The lengths from the anastomotic stoma to the points entering muscle were as follow: (369.4 ± 47.3) mm to palmaris longus, (390.5 ± 38.8) mm (median nerve dominate) and (413.6 ± 47.4) mm (anterior interosseous nerve dominate) to the flexor digitorum superficialis, (346.2 ± 22.3) mm (median nerve dominate) and (408.2 ± 23.9) mm (anterior interosseous nerve dominate) to the flexor digitorum profundus of the index and the middle fingers, (344.2 ± 27.2) mm to the flexor digitorum profundus of the little and the ring fingers, (392.5 ± 29.2) mm (median nerve dominate) and (420.5 ± 37.1) mm (anterior interosseous nerve dominate) to the flexor pollicis longus, and (548.7 ± 30.0) mm to the starting point of the deep branch of ulnar nerve. The branches of the anterior interosseous nerve reached to the flexor hallucis longus, the deep flexor of the index and the middle fingers and the pronator quadratus muscle, but its branches reached to the flexor digitorum superficials in 5 specimens (16.7%). The branches of the median nerve reached to the palmaris longus and the flexor digitorum superficial, but its branches reached to the deep flexor of the index and the middle fingers in 10 specimens (33.3%) and to flexor hallucis longus in 6 specimens (20.0%). Conclusion If sural nerve graft is used, the function of the forearm muscles will can not be restored; shortening of humerus and one nerve anastomosis are good for forearm flexor to recover function in clinical.