Objective Turn the CT sectional image into three-dimensional imaging based on VTK, in or-der to make better treatment programs for patients with liver cancer. Methods Establish visualization toolkit (VTK) visualization development environment based on VC6.0, obtain patient's CT images in DICOM format, use VTK filter and Laplacian sharpening template for pre-treatment of the images, and then use Ray-Casting algo-rithm for three-dimensional reconstruction. Results We can get three-dimensional images with higher resolu-tion and faster imaging speed through this method, which can also be cut, rotated and zoomed. Conclusion Ray-Casting algorithm based on VTK can be used for the three-dimensional imaging of human liver. With the as-sistance of three-dimensional images, doctors can detect the location of diseased tissue more easily and observe the shapes of diseased tissue intuitively.

AIM:To investigate the influence of free hemoglobin on the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and the role of CD163 in this process.METHODS:Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group(group C),atherosclerosis group(group A),atherosclerosis and hemolysis group(group P).The hemolysis and atherosclerosis animal model was established.The free hemoglobin(FHb)and MDA levels in plasma,(RAAPIs)and intima area/midmembrane area(I/M)of each group were measured.The expressions of CD163 and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in atherosclerosis plaques in group A and P were detected and measured by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with group C,the FHb,MDA,CD163 and HO-1 in group A and group P increased significantly(P0.05).The FHb level in plasma and the expressions of CD163 and HO-1 in atherosclerotic plaques correlated with each other(r=0.526,r=0.498,r=0.653;P

BACKGROUND:Pedicle screw fixation is the mainstream type of spine operation currently. The key point of the fixation is to make the screw pass through the center of pedicle. The angle of pedicle screw implantation is a key factor for repair quality. In previous literatures, angle of pedicle screw is determined according to the patient body, and is easily disturbed by factors such as position of the body. OBJECTIVE:To determine the inserting angle of pedicle screw of lower lumbar spine taking local anatomic landmark as a reference using digital technology. METHODS:3D-CT data of 100 patients were selected. The fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae received three-dimensional reconstruction, and the operation was simulated using digital technology to achieve optimal placement. After simulation, the angle of pedicle screw was measured. The angle of the planes of the midline of the screw and the midline of the spine served as coronal angle. The angle of the planes of the midline of the screw and the upper surface of the vertebral body served as sagittal angle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Measure results suggest that each angle was bigger than the angle in previous studies, which might be induced by different reference markers. Standard deviation of each angle was also big. These findings verify that the anatomical differences of pedicles were apparent. Thus, we should insert the pedicle screws individual y. Method of locating reference using anatomic landmarks of a single vertebral body can maximize to avoid interference posture. The combination with preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction is more in line with the requirements of pedicle screw, and can effectively improve the accuracy of pedicle screws.

BACKGROUND:Posterior lumbar fusion using pedicle screw-rod system fixation is the main surgical method for various lumbar diseases, and the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion is the key to success. Spinous processes are superficial in position, which serve as a anatomical landmark providing significant reference. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the anatomical classification of spinous process tilt of adult in northeast China, and to discussthe feasibility of it as the reference of anatomical landmark in pedicle screw fixation.METHODS: The tilt angle of spinous processes of 97 adults in northeast China was measured, and spinous processes of lumbar vertebrae were then classified. All subjects underwent simulative operation to determine the optimal insertion angle,measure the angle between pedicle screw and the spinous process, or standard sagittal plane for comparative analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The results were as follows: the distribution of type I was 75.1%, and 20.9% of typeII, 2.3% of type III, 1.7% of type IV. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the angle between pedicle screwand the spinous process, or standard sagittal plane. (3) These findings suggest that lumbar spine angle varies in different individuals, which shouldbe defined through relative examinations. Additionally, spinous process can be a reference inpedicle screw inserting operation.

Objective To study the presence of drug resistant mutations of protease and reverse transcriptase among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 strains isolated from treatment naive HIV/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in Heilongjiang Province of China and to provide the baseline data for starting antiretroviral therapy in this area. Methods The protease and reverse transcriptase gene sequences were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced. The results were compared to the subtype B consensus amino acid sequence and analyzed with Stanford HIV-db drug resistance sequence interpretation. Results The results showed that HIV strains from 49 patients were classified as subtype B'. No primary mutations associated with protease inhibitor were detected. Some secondary mutations associated with protease inhibitor were detected, which included V77I(91.5%), L63P(76.6%), I93L(74.5%), E35D(61.7%), R57K (19.1%), R41K(10.6%), A71V(8.5%), M36I(8.5%), L10I(6.4%), D60E(6.4%), L89M (4.2%) and G16E(2. 1%). Only one case had a primary mutation M184I that was associated with resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors. However, many secondary mutations associated with resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found, including I135L/T/R/V(81.8%), V106I(22.7%), V179D/E(11.4%), R211K(9.1%), L214F(4.5%), V189I(4.5%) and V108I(2. 3%).Conclusions The prevalence of genotypic anti-HIV drug resistance is very low in treatment naive HIV/AIDS patients in Heilongjiang Province. However, closely monitoring on drug resistance mutation is very important for preventing the development and prevalence of multi-drug resistant or cross drug resistant HIV.

Objective To explore the correlation between the amount of residual undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in embryoid bodies and its tumorigenicity.Methods Mouse R1 ESCs were cultured in suspension to form embryoid bodies (EBs).Ten days later,EBs were digested into single cells and then re-plated in standard ESCs culture condition.The residual undifferentiated embryonic stem cells surface maker SSEA-1 was examined by flow cytometry in EBs.The morphology of residual undifferentiated cells in EBs were observed,meanwhile the surface marker SSEA-1 was examined by immunofluorescent staining.EBs were digested into single cells and grouped into 104,105,106,2×106,and then injected into limb muscle of nude mice.The correlation of the amount of cells and its tumorigenicity was observed.Results Residual undifferentiated ESCs were observed after EBs differentiated for 10 days,which displayed clonal morphology and expressed undifferentiated ceil markers of ESCs,such as SSEA-1.The expression rate of undifferentiated cells surface marker SSEA-1 was (13.5±0.75)％ in EBs differentiated for 10 days.Only two millions single cells harvested from EBs were able to form teratoma after being injected into muscle of nude mice for 6 weeks.Mature endoderm,mesoderm and ectoderm tissues could be found in teratoma.No teratoma formed in other groups.Conclusion A certain amount residual undifferentiated ESCs still exist after differentiation of ESCs into EBs.About 2.7× 105 undifferentiated cells are able to form teratoma by iniecting into muscle of nude mice.

BACKGROUND: Pedicle screws are widely used in spinal internal fixation, while complications related to screw mistaken placement can be found occasionally. Conventional imaging examination cannot provide the accurate situation of the nail, and the nail path can be directly revealed on CT.OBJECTIVE: To discuss the application of CT scanning in the preoperative planning of lumbar spine surgery using digital technology.METHODS: 136 patients were enrolled, and digital technology was used to determine the best nailing track on planar CT images. Then the length of the pedicle screws, width of the pedicle, angle between pedicle screws and standard sagittal plane, and angle between pedicle screw and spinous process as well as sagittal plane were measured. The difference in measured values on each side was compared. Also, the difference in angle between pedicle screw and sagittal plane and spinous process was compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There was no significant difference in the length of pedicle screw in both sides (P > 0.05). (2) There was significant difference in the width of pedicle screw at L1 and L4 of two sides (P < 0.05). (3) The angle between pedicle screw and standard sagittal plane at each level bilaterally did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). (4) The angle between pedicle screw and spinous process at each level bilaterally did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). (5) To conclude, pedicle CT scanning can accurately reflect patients' pedicle anatomic situation, which can help surgeons to design an appropriate scheme. Moreover, the anatomical variations of lumbar spine are remarkable, so pedicle screw insertion should be planned individuality.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to analyze the screened miRNAs related to the chemosensitivity for the TPF regimen of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma by miRNA array, and provide a set of miRNAs that may be useful for the development of novel diagnostic markers and more effective therapeutic strategies from the screened miRNAs.METHODSA total number of 21 patients who underwent TPF induction chemotherapy for primary hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were recruited for miRNA array analysis. 12 patients are sensitive to chemotherapy, and 9 patients are not. Moreover, the selected putative regulated miRNAs were also validated by RT-PCR in another 24 patients (14 patients are sensitive to chemotherapy, and others are not).RESULTSThere were 24 miRNA significantly differencial to the sensitivity to chemotherapy, and 6 miRNAs were up-regulated in the TPF group while 18 miRNA were down-regulated (P<0.05). To identify typical miRNA, mirfocus 3.0 database selected four miRNAs hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-4253, hsa-miR-4443, and hsa-miR-193b-3p, which were significant down-regulated in TPF-sensitive group. QRT-PCR further validated that only three miRNA (hsa-miR-4253、hsa-miR-4443、hsa-miR-193b-3p) were under-expressed in TPF-sensitive group of another 24 tissue samples (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONMiRNA hsa-miR-193b-3p, hsa-miR-4253, hsa-miR-4443 were identified in TPF-sensitive tissues by microarrays, and further validated by RT-PCR. These down-regulated miRNAs may act as novel biomarkers to classify TPF sensitivity of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients and will contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the chemosensitivity in the disease.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and proximal femoral nail antirotation-Ⅱ (PFNA-Ⅱ) in the internal fixation of femoral intertrochanteric fracture.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 54 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture who had been treated at our department from May 2009 through July 2014.During May 2009 and November 2011,27 of them were treated with PFNA;during December 2011 and July 2014,the other 27 of them were treated with PFNA-Ⅱ.The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time,intraoperative blood loss volume,hidden blood loss volume,intraoperative and postoperative complications,fracture healing time and Harris hip score at the last follow-up.Results In the PFNA group,27 patients were followed up for an average time of 22.6 ± 4.8 months.In the PFNA-Ⅱ group,27 patients were followed up for an average time of 19.5 ± 4.6 months.The PFNA group had significantly more intraoperative blood loss volume (130.1 ± 74.3 mL),and significantly higher rates of intraoperative lateral wall fracture of the proximal femur (18.5％,5/27),postoperative lateral thigh soft tissue irritation (22.2％,6/27) and postoperative thigh pain (22.2％,6/27) than the PFNA-Ⅱ group [46.3 ± 23.1 mL,0,3.7％ (1/27),3.7％ (1/27),respectively] (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in operation time,hidden blood loss,postoperative complications of internal diseases,fracture healing time,or Harris hip score of last follow-up (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with PFNA,PFNA-Ⅱ may lead to a smaller volume of intraoperative blood loss and a lower incidence of complications related to internal fixation.

Objective To conduct the comparative comprehensive evaluation on the actual healthy effects and safety of two kinds of healthy foods capsule A and B made of Chinese medicinal herbs on sale through the low-nutritional sub-health mice model com-bined with the benefit-damage index-general score(BDI-GS) approach ,and to perform the discussion on the relevant problems a-round healthy foods .Methods The experimental healthy ICR male mice during growth period were fed with maize low-nutritional feed and the mixed feed with 3 doses of 0 .25% ,0 .5% ,0 .75% healthy foods for 12 d and the mice body masses were recorded .Af-ter dissection ,9 items of the organ index and their BDI ,GS and serum biochemical indicators were performed the statistics .Results In the capsule A ,the medium and high dose groups manifested certain health-promoting effect ,while the slight negative effect exis-ted in the low dose group ,which was expressed in the GS values ;but in the capsule B ,3 doses all caused the damage to main internal organs in different degrees ,which was expressed in BDI<1 .0 and GS<9 .0 .Conclusion At present ,despite of possessing similar ingredients ,Chinese medicinal healthy foods in market are of greater differences in intrinsic qualities ,and even partial products have some adverse effect ,the healthy functions and safety are not enough to be fully ensured .Through the systematic evaluation of the BDI-GS system ,the criteria of marketing threshold for healthy foods will be increased so as to enhance their effects and safety level .