The treatments for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are still not effective, which partially due to its unclear patho?genesis. Interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis is a significant immunologic pathway which has attracted much attention in the past few years. This article reviewed the role of IL-23/IL-17 axis in genetic and immunological pathogenesis of AS, and intro?duced the recent progresses in treatments of AS using anti-IL-23 or anti-IL-17 antibody. The important role of IL-23/IL-17 axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of AS indicates its potential use as a new therapeutic target.

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of early postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 159 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy from March 2005 to October 2010 was analyzed retrospectively.The related factors of early postoperative complications were analyzed.ResultsThe incidence rate of early postoperative complications was 30.8％ (49/159).Univariate analysis showed that preoperative fasting blood glucose level,total serum bilirubin level,serum albumin level,high density lipoproteins level and intraoperative bleeding were closely correlated with early postoperative complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (P ＜ 0.05),but gender,age,preoperative jaundice,history of diabetes mellitus,operation time and whether portal vein reconstruction were no significantly associated with early postoperative complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative fasting blood glucose level( ≥6.1 mmol/L),total serum bilirubin level ( ≥ 171 μ mol/L) and serum albumin level( ＜ 35 g/L) were the important independent risk factors of early postoperative complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.ConclusionThe risk factors of pancreaticoduodenectomy should be fully recognized and dealt with promptly.

Objective To study the mechanism of male infertility. Methods Forty sperms from 8 normal males as control and 60 sperms from 12 males with infertility were observed by SEM.The ultrastructure of acrosomes was analyzed and compared. Results Spermatozoa with obscure ringed rips in infertile group acounted for 66.7%(40/60),serrate 65.0%(39/60);but in control group,the proportions were 10.0 % (4/40) and 5.0%(2/40),respectively.The ratios of acrosome to head in infertile group were ( 70.0 ?8.0)%,greater than controls (57.7?6.4)%.The ratios of acrosome membrane which was not intact were 70.0%(42/60) in infertile group and 22.5%(9/40) in control group.Acrosomes with rough surface were 68.3%(41/60) and 20.0%(8/40) respectively in the 2 groups;Acrosomes with particles adhesive to the surface were 65.0%(39/60) and 27.5%(11/40) respectively. Conclusions Abnormal acrosome structure is one of the causes of male infertility.

Objective To explore a practicable method of serial sections of whole CNS in the rat, in which both neurons and nerve fibers were showed at the same section. Methods After perfused fixation and quick freezing, the tissues of whole CNS were cut into serial sections with cryostat followed by hematoxylin stain. Results The nerve fibers were stained in blue color while the neurons were showed black-blue and the background was light-yellow.Conclusion Our method was feasible to show both neurons and nerve fibers at the same section with quick freezing, freezing serial sectioning and improved hematoxylin staining.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of flupentixol and melitracen(Deanxit) in treatment of non-erosive reflux disease(NERD) and non-responding to proton pump inhibitor. Methods Fifty eight NERD pa-tients were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group (n = 29) and control group (n = 29). Patients in control group were given esomeprazole 40 mg qd. Patients in the treatment group were given the same drug plus Deanxit 1 Tab qd. The clinical effect was evaluated and scored by Hemihon Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) after 4 weeks. Results The total efficacy rate of the treatment group was higher than control group (P < 0.01),and HAMA was lower in the treatment group than in control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions Adjuvant treatment of Deanxit combined with esomeprazole is effective to NERD patients who did not respond to proton pump inhibitor, can greatly improve anxious disorders.

The incidence of spinal cord injury is becoming higher and higher, of which more than half are cervical spinal injury. The main cause of death in high cervical spinal injury is respiratory function failure. The patients who survived must rely on ventilators to sustain life. In view of the shortcomings of ventilators, many researchers tried to use diaphragm pacing technology instead of ventilator to reconstruct the function of respiratory. This article introduced the application of diaphragm pacing technology in patients with cervical spinal injury.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of Shenlong decoction(main ingredients consisted of ginsent root,radix polygonimultiflori,Pheretima,Ligusticum wallichii,Fructas Alpiniae oryphyllee etc.)on the treatment of cerebral vascular dementia (VD)in the elderly patients.Methods VD in all the patients(age:72.1?5.3 years old)was diagnosed according to the APA criteria, and the cerebrovascular diseases were confirmed by CT or MRI.68 patients were divided into 2 groups randomly.The experimental group consisting of 36 patients was given Chinese traditional medicine,Shenlong decoction,orally 500ml q.i.d.for 3 months,and the other 32 patients were given acetamide pyrrolidone(piracetam)orally 1.6g,tid for 3 months as a control group.The MMSE(Mini Mental State Examination)and BBS(Bless Behaviour Schedule)were used to evaluate the cognitive function and the daily activity in those patients be- fore and after treatment.Results After treatment,the scores of cognition and daily activity were improved in all the patients with VD. The effective rate in the Shenlong group was 52.8%,and 53.13% in the piracetam group.There was no significant difference in the im- provement of the short time memory and orientation ability between the two groups.However,compared with the control group,the score of daily activity was significantly improved in the Shenlong decoction group only(P

The endothelial cells activated by tumor cells are genetically stable and regress easily. Moreover, at the surface there are specific markers, which are easily accessible by system administration. This report review the studies of tumor treatment targeting at the activated endothelial cells.

Objective To study the iatrogenic risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).Method A meta-analysis was carried out on 15 clinical studies which included more than 100 patients published in the medical literature in the last twenty years.Result When the risk factors were analysed,OR for endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was 3.75 (95％CI 3.01-4.68),OR for papillae precut was 2.17 (95％CI 1.76-2.67),OR for biliary sphincter balloon dilation was 1.66 (95％CI 1.16-2.39),OR for pancreatic contrast injection was 2.79 (2.31-3.37),OR for sphincter of Oddi manome try was 5.86 (95％CI 5.04-6.80),OR for pancreatic stenting was 2.57 (95％CI 2.09-3.17).Conclusion The analysis indicated EST,papillae precut,balloon dilation,pancreatic contrast injection,Oddi manometry,non-prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting were the risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Objective To study the metabolic characteristics of temporal lobe injury during the radiotherapy in the elderly with nasopharyngeal carcinoma through 1H- magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods The 15 aged and 23 young cases among 80 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma confirmed clinically and receiving radiotherapy for the first time were involved in the same period of July 2006 to May 2009. Conventional MRI scanning and bilateral temporal MRS were performed before and during radiotherapy at radiation dosages of 20 Gy, 40 Gy, and 60 Gy respectively. The spectroscopy morphology and the ratios of the three main metabolites were compared and analyzed. Results The values of N-acetylasparate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) was lower and choline-containing compound (Cho)/Cr ratio was higher in aged group than in young group before radiotherapy (P＞0.05). The spectroscopy morphology stepped down, NAA, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho decreased to some extent along with the adding of radiation dosages in the course of radiotherapy. At the end of radiotherapy, the decreased amplitude of NAA/Cr value was larger in aged group than in control group (P＜0.01), and the amplitude of Cho/Cr value was lower than other group. Conclusions The neurons of aged patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a weak tolerance to the radiation, brain injury occurs earlier and heavier in aged patients than in young patients. It is necessary to prevent neuron injury early.