Objective To confirm the association between the“Tip-Apex Distance (TAD)”and cut-out of the lag screw from the femoral head.and to analyze other factors leading to the cut-out.Methods The complete radiographic and clinical data of 106 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures were available for this study. They were 65 men and 41 women,with an average age of 52.4 years (range,20 to 83 years).According to Evans classification.19 cases belonged to typeⅡ.25 to typeⅢ,32 to typeⅣ,29 to typeⅤ,and one to type R.The bone quality was classified by Singh rating system:44 cases were rated as typeⅥ.34 as typeⅤ,23 as typeⅣand five as typeⅢ.They were treated with open reduction and fixation with 135?dynamic hip screw (DHS).According to the finding of Baumgaertner that“TAD”beyond 25 mm would grcatly increase the risk of cut-out,the patients could be divided into two groups:59 cases with“TAD”less than 25 mm and 47 greater than 25 mm.Results The mean duration of follow-ups was 14.45 months (range,4.5 to 28.0 months).Of the 15 cases whose“TAD”was more than 30 mm,one had the cut-out.Of the seven cases whose“TAD”was more than 40 mm,two had the cut-out (P=0.000). The average age of the three patients was 78.7 years (range:75 to 83 years) and 27.1 years older than that of the 103 patients whose fracture healed (P=0.000).They belonged to the unstable intertrochanteric fracture of the femur (two to Evans type V and one to type R).The reduction was assessed as excellent in 43 cases,good in 47 cases,fair in nine cases (of whom one had the cut-out),poor in seven cases (of whom two had the cut-out). Conclusions The cut-out of the lag screw from the femoral head can be caused by age,fracture type and stability of reduction and“TAD”.The greater the“TAD”value,the greater possibility of cut-out.

Cardiac Catheterization ; Child ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart Septal Defects ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the role of different lymphadenectomy in the treatment of selected clinical-stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSAll 115 postoperative patients admitted from January 1997 to May 2002 with pathologic-stage T1 who had been preoperatively diagnosed as clinical-stage I A non-small cell lung cancer were divided into a radical systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy (LA) group and a mediastinal lymph node sampling (LS) group. Impacts on morbidity, N staging, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated in each group respectively. Associations between clinical-pathological parameters (age, sex, tumor location, tumor size, pathological type and lymph node metastases) and OS, DFS were analyzed. The cumulative OS and DFS was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Log-rank test.

RESULTSThe mean number of dissected lymph nodes was (15.98 +/- 3.05) in LA group and (6.48 +/- 2.16) in LS group with a significant difference (P < 0.01). No statistically significant difference existed in modification of N staging, OS and DFS between LA group and LS group. However, for patients with lesions of a diameter more than 2 cm, 5-year OS in LA group was significantly higher than that in LS groups (LA vs. LS = 78.2% vs. 54.5% ,P < 0.05), also 5-year DFS was significantly higher (LA vs. LS = 75.1% vs. 51.3%, P < 0.05). For patients with lesions of 2 cm or less, 5-year OS and 5-year DFS were similar in both groups. The early surgery-related parameters (duration of surgery, drain secretion and morbidity) indicated a slighter invasion in LS group. In addition, patients with large cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma were associated with significantly poor 5-year OS (P < 0.05) , and patients with lymph node metastases were associated with poor 5-year OS as well as 5-year DFS (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAfter being intraoperatively identified as T1 stage, patients with lesions of more than 2 cm in clinical-stage IA non-small cell lung cancer should be performed with LA to get a better survival, and patients with lesions of 2 cm or less should be performed with LS to decrease invasion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo construct an eukaryotic expression plasmid containing gp120 gene of HIV-1 subtype B and obtain gp120 gene expression in HepG2 cells.

METHODSAccording to the published gp120 gene sequence in Genbank, a pair of primers was designed and synthesized. The PCR amplification product of gp120 gene was cloned into pMD-18T vector using TA cloning followed by BamHI and XhoI digestion and sequence analysis. The target gene was then subcloned into a highly efficient eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+). The recombinant plasmid was sequenced and identified by restrictive endonuclease digestion, and transfected into HepG2 cells via liposome. The expression of gp120 gene was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSRestriction endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis verified successful construction of the recombinant vector pcDNA3.1(+)/gp120. The target fragment gp120 was identical with U26942 in Genbank, and the expression of gp120 gene was detected in the lysate of the transfected HepG2 cells by RT-PCR and Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONThe eukaryotic expression plasmid for gp120 has been constructed successfully, which is capable of stable expression in HepG2 cells.

AIDS Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; Rural Population ; Urban Population

Aim To explore the effect of Klotho (KL) gene transfection on the apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteo-blasts induced by dexamethasone(DEX). Methods MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were transfected by recombinant adenovirus containing KL gene(Ad-KL) and recombi-nant adenovirus containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene(Ad-GFP). The apoptosis model was con-structed. The transfection efficiency of Ad-KL and Ad-GFP in cells were observed using inverted fluorescent microscope, and the level of KL mRNA and protein was detected by qPCR and Western blot,respectively. The cell viability after different concentrations of DEX acting on the cells and the viability of every research group were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptotic rate was evaluated by flow cytom-etry. The level of mRNA and protein was analyzed by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The level of caspase-9 protein was detected by immunofluorens-cence assay. Results Cells were transfected by Ad-KL and Ad-GFP successfully. KL group and KL +DEX group had higher level of KL mRNA and protein than that in other groups. The optimum concentration of DEX was 2.0 mmol·L-1. When DEX acting on the cells, the cells viability decreased and apoptotic rate increased obviously in DEX group and GFP + DEX group. The level of Bax mRNA and protein presented a upward trend in DEX group and GFP +DEX group, while the level of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein was oppo-site. But after KL transfecting MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, the markers described above in KL group had more dramatic improvement than in DEX group and KL +DEX group. Conclusions High-dosage DEX can in-duce the apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, and the pro-apoptosis effect of high-dosage DEX in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts can be suppressed by up-regulating KL gene expression level, suggesting that the glucocorticoid-in-duced osteoporosis might be improved by up-regulating KL gene expression level, and it may be a new target for the treatment of latrogenic osteoporosis induced by high-dosage glucocorticoid in clinic.

The RET(REarranged during transfection) gene as a novel has broken the therapeutic deadlock in the last two years, whith is attributed to the rapid approval of targeted therapies and inclusion in treatment guidelines, bringing more hope for the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Usually, the main activation of the RET proto-oncogene contributes to the development of lung cancer via somatic rearrangements. Thus, this study reviews the biological characteristics of RET gene, the classification of RET fusion in lung cancer and the detection of RET fusion. Meanwhile the pathological and clinical features, targeted therapies, drug resistance, prognosis of lung cancer patients with RET fusion were further discussed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of monitoring therapeutic effect of adenovirus vector containing IL12-IRES-CKb gene on a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model by using phosphorous-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS).

METHODSA total of 18 healthy New Zealand White rabbits were used to generate animal models by implanting VX2 tumor chips into livers through laparotomy. Tumor-bearing animals were randomly divided into three groups and were injected with AdCMVIL12-IRES-CKb, AdCMV-Empty and saline respectively via ear veins. 31P MRS scan was performed after animals were fed with creatine solution for five days. Animals were euthanized thereafter and tumors were removed for pathological examination, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and protein analysis (Western blot).

RESULTSThe intrahepatic and seral expressions of creatine kinase (CKb) and IL-12 were detected only in AdCMVIL12-IRES-CKb group. Tumor diameters pre- and post- treatment in three groups were 1.63+/-0.04 vs 1.62+/-0.03 in AdCMVIL12-IRES-CKb group (P = 0.229), 1.59+/-0.05 vs 1.84+/-0.11 in AdCMV-Empty group (P = 0.003) and 1.60+/-0.02 vs 2.07+/-0.12 in saline group (P = 0.001), respectively. Pcr Changes between pre- and post- treatment among the three groups were compared (F = 6.235, P value is less than 0.05). PCr increased significantly in AdCMVIL12-IRES-CKb group as compared to AdCMV-Empty (P = 0.004) and saline group (P = 0.049), whereas no change found between AdCMV-Empty and saline group (P = 0.153).

CONCLUSION31P MRS, an effective and non-invasive functional imaging method, can be used to monitor the therapeutic effect of adenovirus vector containing IL12-IRES-CKb gene on rabbit VX2 liver tumor model through detecting metabolic product of imaging reporter gene CKb (pCr).

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo determine the optimal thread pitch for an experimental cylinder implant in Ansys Work-bench Design Xplorer environment.

METHODSFinite element models of segment jaw bone with a V-shaped thread implant were created. The thread pitch (P) was set from 0.5 mm to 1.6 mm. The maximum Equivalent stresses (EQV stresses) in jaw bone and in implant were evaluated.

RESULTSUnder axial load, the amplification of maximum EQV stresses in cortical bone, cancellous bone and implant were 7.1%, 123.4% and 28.7% respectively. Under bucco-lingual load, the amplification of maximum EQV stresses in cortical bone, cancellous bone and implant were 2.8%, 28.8% and 14.9% respectively. When P exceeded 0.8 mm, the response curve curvature of maximum EQV stresses in jaw bone and in implant to P was ranged from -1 to 1.

CONCLUSIONStresses in cancellous bone are more sensitive to thread pitch than in cortical bone. Stresses in jaw bone under axial load are easier affected by thread pitch than under bucco-lingual load. Thread pitch plays a greater role in protecting dental implant under axial load than under bucco-lingual load. Thread pitch exceed 0.8 mm should be the optimal design in a cylinder implant, but oversized pitch should be avoided too.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Dental Implants ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Finite Element Analysis ; Mandible ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation among serum levels of manning-binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine proteases-2 (MASP-2), complement Cand high-sensitive C reactive protein (HsCRP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFasting venous blood were collected from 50 RA patients (25 in active stage and 25 in remission) and 40 healthy subjects for detecting serum levels of MBL, MASP-2, complement Cand HsCRP using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immune turbidity assay.

RESULTSThe serum levels of MBL and MASP-2 were significantly lower and HsCRP level was significantly higher in patients with RA (in both acute stage and remission) than in the healthy control group (P<0.05), but complement Clevel was similar between the RA patients and control group. Bivariate Pearson correlation analysis showed that in RA patients, MBL was positively correlated with MASP-2 level (r=0.550, P=0.001) and negatively with HsCRP (r=-0.323, P=0.022) but not correlated with C(r=-0.022, P=0.882); MASP-2 was negatively correlated with HsCRP (r=0.453, P=0.453) and was not correlated with C(r=0.049, P=0.738). ROC curve analysis revealed the largest area under curve (AUC) of HsCRP (0.844, P=0.001) and smaller AUCs of MBL (0.025, P=0.001) and MASP-2 (0.266, P=0.001). HsCRP had a much higher sensitivity (84%) than MBL (10%) and MASP-2 (40%) in the diagnosis of RA.

CONCLUSIONIn RA patients, MBL and MASP-2 are negatively correlated with HsCRP level. Serum MBL and MASP-2 levels decrease with the progression of joint injury in RA patients, suggesting their involvement in the pathological process of RA; but due to their low sensitivity, they are not appropriate indicators for evaluating the disease activity of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood ; Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases ; analysis