OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Dynesys system combined with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in treating multiple lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of 46 patients with multiple lumbar degenerative diseases treated by Dynesys system combined with PLIF from September 2010 to May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 29 females, aged from 38 to 68 years old with an average of (56.38±11.63) years. Operation section was in L2-L5 of 16 patients (6 with fusion of L4,5 and 10 with fusion of L4,5,L5S1) and in L3-S1 of 30 patients (11 with fusion of L5S1 and 19 with fusion of L4,5,L5S1). Patients were followed up for three times: postoperative 3 months, 1 year and final follow-up. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess clinical symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively. All patients underwent flexion/extension radiographs examinations before surgery and at final follow-up. Range of motion (ROM) and disc height index (DHI) were recorded.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 16 to 48 months with the mean of (23.23±7.34) months. At third follow-up after operation, ODI and VAS of lumbago and leg pain were significant improved than that of preoperative (P<0.01). DHI of fusion segment was significantly increased than that of preoperative (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adjacent non-fusion segment between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05). Postoperative ROM of fusion and non-fusion segments were obviously decreased than that of preoperative. There was no significant difference in ROM of upper adjacent non-fusion segment between 3 months and 1 year after operation (P>0.05), but at final follow-up, the ROM was increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary clinical results of the Dynesys system combined with PLIF in the treatment of multiple lumbar degenerative diseases are satisfactory. It can be determined in fusion or non-fusion according to the individual needs and can reserve the some intervertebral motion, prevent the early degeneration of adjacent segments. However, its long-term clinical efficacy should be verified with long time.

Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Visual Analog Scale

Abstract: Occupational epidemiology aims to explore the effect of occupational hazards on the health of workers and understand ， their mechanisms. It plays an important role in occupational health and occupational medicine.Currently occupational ， ， exposures in the workplace are complex and diverse and multiple factors affect workers´ health at the same time. Therefore it is important to elucidate the pathogenesis of occupational disease caused by occupational hazards and implement early - - intervention. System epidemiology collects data on multi level exposure and multi omics information to conduct network analysis - on the relationship amongrisk factors. and to study the mechanisms of exposures and health outcomes based on multi level data. ， ， ， ， Using the study design of system epidemiology occupational environmental lifestyle and social factors are combined as a ， system to evaluate the health of workers which can better evaluate the adverse health effects caused by occupational hazards. - ， ， The studies base on multi omics design will explore the pathogenesis of occupational diseases at the molecular cellular and tissue levels to evaluate the impact of occupational hazards on workers´ health and to explore interventions from multiple - perspectives to reduce the occurrence of occupational or work related diseases.

Objective To preliminarily evaluate the value of color power doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of sacroiliitis in ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods Fifty-seven sacroiliac joints in 31 patients with active AS and 40 sacroiliac joints in 20 volunteers were detected by color power doppler ultrasonography.The color flow signs inside the sacroiliac joints were observed,and the resistance index(RI) was measured. Results In active AS,color flow signs were seen in 55 joints,and the mean RI value was 0.53?0.08 in 45 joints,while the other 10 color flow signs represented reversed phase in diastolic phase on pulse doppler ultrasonography.In the volunteers,color flow signs were seen in 16 joints,and the mean RI value was 0.97?0.01 in 6 joints,while the other 10 color flow signs represented reversed phase in diastolic phase on pulse doppler ultrasonography. Conclusion The abnormal flow signs at the sacroiliac joints can be detected by color power doppler ultrasonography.Low RI values provide diagnosis evidence for active AS.

Objective　To investigate the prognostic influencing factors and recovery of CD4+ T lymphocytes in elderly HIV/AIDS patients after antiviral therapy by analyzing basic data and clinical follow-up data of elderly HIV/AIDS patients. Methods　The clinical data of 3 618 elderly AIDS patients aged ≥50 yeas who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV ART sites in Liuzhou City from 2005-2015 were collected. The data, including basic information, CD4+ T cell count, WHO clinical stage, infection route and follow-up, were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the differences in patient survival, multivariate Cox regression to analyze the independent influencing factors influencing the risk of death, and to compare the recovery of CD4+ T cell counts during follow-up of patients of different genders. Results　During the follow-up period, the 5-year cumulative survival rate up to the observation endpoint was 0.82 (female) and 0.66 (male). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors affecting the effect of antiviral treatment were age (OR=1.909, 95%CI:1.474-2.464, P<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (OR=0.744, 95%CI: 0.574-0.965, P=0.026), opportunistic infections (OI) (OR=1.223, 95%CI:1.028-1.454, P=0.023), gender (OR=0.692, 95%CI:0.503-0.952, P=0.023) and baseline CD4+ T lymphocytes count (OR=0.563, 95%CI:0.429-0.739, P<0.001). Recovery of CD4+ T lymphocyte counts showed when baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte counts were less than 200 cells/mm3, older women with HIV/AIDS had higher CD4+ T lymphocytes than men at all times of ART treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions　Older women have a higher survival rate than older men after five years of antiviral therapy. Age, BMI, gender, OI and baseline CD4+T lymphocyte count may be important indicators that affect the survival of elderly HIV/AIDS patients. Older women showed better recovery of CD4+ T lymphocytes than older men during the 4-year follow-up period after ART.

A total of 180 type 2 diabetic patients with negative anti-thyroid autoantibodies were recruited.According to the levels of serum 25-OH vitamin D [25 (OH) D],these patients were divided into four groups:sufficient group (≥ 30 ng/ml),insufficient group (20-＜30 ng/ml),deficiency group (10-＜20 ng/ml),and severe deficiency group(＜ 10 ng/ml).The results showed that compared with sufficient vitamin D group,the group with severe deficient vitamin D had higher TT3,FT3,FT3/FT4,and TSH (all P＜0.05).The serum 25(OH) D level was negatively correlated with TSH values (r =-0.207,P＜0.05) after adjustment for gender,age,and body mass index.Multivariate regression analysis indicated that serum 25 (OH) D level was an independent influencing factor for TSH value (β =-0.201,P＜0.05),suggesting that serum 25 (OH) D level seems to be correlated with thyroid function in type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sub-acute oral effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on the oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in blood, liver, intestine, and colon in rats. METHODS: Twenty four 4-week-old clean-grade Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly devided into 4 groups by body weight (n=6, control, low, middle, and high), in which the rats were orally exposed to TiO₂ nanoparticles at doses of 0, 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 28 consecutive days separately. Food intake, body weight and abnormal behaviors during the experiment were recorded. The rats were euthanized on the 29th day. The blood was collected via abdominal aortic method and centrifuged to collect the serum. Tissues from liver, intestine and colon were collected and homogenated. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microwell plate methods were used to detect oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total mercapto (T-SH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malomdialdehvde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the serum, liver, intestine and colon in the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, no significant differences in body weight, food intake and organ coefficients were observed in all the three groups after TiO₂ gavage. No significant changes in GSH, GSH-Px, T-SH, and IL-6 were observed. Compared with the control group, significant increase of SOD activity in serum in high dose group, signi-ficant increase of GSSG concentration in intestine in middle and high dose group and significant increase of MDA concentration in liver in low and high dose group were observed. Compared with the control group, a significant increase of TNF-α in liver in middle and high dose group was observed. CONCLUSION TiO₂ nanoparticle can increase antioxidant enzymes activities in blood, increase oxidative biomarkers in liver and intestine, increase inflammatory cytokines in liver in rats after a 28-day sub-acute orally administration. Among blood, liver, intestine, and colon, liver is most sensitive to the toxicity induced by TiO₂ nanoparticles, followed by intestine, blood, and colon in sequence.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype in 5 cities of Fujian province and the clinical implications of distinct genotypes in HBV-related liver diseases.

METHODSHBV genotype was determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in patients with chronic HBV infection in 5 cities of Fujian province. The relationship between HBV genotype and its clinical implications was studied by multinomal logistic regression and correspondence analysis.

RESULTSOf the 431 HBV DNA positive patients detected by PCR, 275 (63.8%) belonged to HBV genotype B, 100 (23.2%) to genotype C, 51 (11.8%) to genotype D and D-mixed genotype. Genotype A, E and F were not found. Multinomal logistic regression showed that genotype B was more prevalent in Quanzhou and Sanming cities than in Fuzhou (P = 0.002, P = 0.006), and genotype B appeared significantly more common in asymptomatic carriers (ASC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and severe hepatitis (SH). Genotype C was most prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) (47.0%) than in those with ASC (14.5%) and SH (14.7%) (P = 0.009, P < 0.001). The positive rate of hepatitis B e antigen was higher in patients with genotype C than in those with genotype B and genotype D (56.0% vs. 52.4%, P = 0.008, and 56.0% vs. 30.8%, P = 0.051, respectively). By correspondence analysis, genotype D and D-mixed genotype seemed to be correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The major popular genotypes of HBV were B, C and D in Fujian. (2) Data of our study suggested that the geographic distribution of genotype B and C might be different in some cities of Fujian. (3) Genotype B might have a tendency to lead to SH in younger patients with chronic hepatitis B and the development of LC might be associated with genotype C among the elder patients. (4) Genotype D appeared to associate with development of HCC, which called for further study to confirm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Biomonitoring can be applied to assess internal exposure and environmental exposure by exposure markers with providing internal exposure to biological characterization and individual exposure information, which is a key tool to evaluate the risk exposure to disease by biological alternation information. With the development of high throughput, broad spectrum and high efficiency screening and detection technology, biomonitoring is defined as traditional biological monitoring (targeted monitoring) and non targeted monitoring analysis (exposomic approaches). An exposomic approach differs from traditional biomonitoring in that it can theoretically include all exposures of potential health significance, whether they are derived from exogenous sources. Both traditional and nontraditional biomonitoring methods should be used to understand the complexity of exposures faced throughout the lifespan. Through hybrid approaches, emerging techniques and the integration of bioinformatics, and developing the detection methods for low abundance chemicals, improving the differentiation ability between endogenous and exogenous chemical, the health outcomes and exposures can be widely recognized and characterized, which can finally contribute to improving the precise prevention and intervention for diseases under the new exposomic model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pinggan-qianyang (PGQY), a Chinese medicine, on hypothalamic proteome in the hyperthyroid rats with hyperactivity of liver-yang, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of levo-thyroxine (L-T4) and fuzi decotion. All the quantitative and qualitative changes of the protein expressions were compared among the normal group,the model group and the treatment group by proteomic techniques. RESULTS: The protein spots in the 3 groups were mainly displayed at the isoelectric point (pI) 3 approximately 10, and the molecular weights were 13.8 approximately 98.8 kD.Compared with the normal group, 6 spots of protein expression increased and 10 decreased in the model group. All the changed protein in the model group returned to normal level after PGQY treatment. Mass-spectrometer and bio-informatics indicated that these proteins were Prohibitin, Peroxiredoxin-6, histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1, protein-tyrosine-phosphatase, predicted protein, profilin-2, peroxir doxin-II, heat shock protein-27, and annexin-A1. CONCLUSION There are differences in the expression of hypothalamus proteins in the hyperthyroid rats with hyperactivity of liver-yang after the treatment with PGQY, and the 9 identified protein spots may be associated with the mechanism of PGQY.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hyperthyroidism ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Peroxiredoxin VI ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism

Telomere is a DNA-protein complex located at the end of linear chromosome of eukaryotic cells, which has the function of stabilizing chromosome. The change of telomere length is closely related to the exposure to environmental carcinogens. The repair and elongation of telomere rely on the catalysis and mediation of telomerase. Exposure to typical environmental carcinogens polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) can affect the change of telomere length by regulating the expression of telomere-related genes. Long-term exposure to PAHs can shorten the telomeres of peripheral blood leukocytes in a dose-response relationship. Telomere dysfunction is one of the important mechanisms of arsenic poisoning. The change of telomere length can be used as a biomarker of arsenic exposure. However, there are differences in the research results on the effect of arsenic exposure on telomere length, so the consistency of the effect of arsenic exposure on telomere length and the possible mechanism need to be further studied. Exposure to atmospheric fine particulate matter can attack genetic material by inducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the body, and then affect the telomere length of cells in vivo. Acute particulate matter exposure can increase telomere length in a short time(a few hours to a few days), and subsequent telomere shortening may be related to the inflammatory mechanism. Telomere length and telomerase activity can be used as biomarkers and play an important role in monitoring early carcinogenesis, diagnosis and prognosis assessment of cancers caused by environmental carcinogens.