BACKGROUND: The anterior thoracolumbar internal fixation devices can be divided into two main categories: the stick system such as kaneda,and the plate system such as Z-plate. Both categories have satisfactory biomechanical properties, but the devices of these types are all imported and so expensive that they exceed the affordability of domestic patients:Based on various anterior throacolumbar internal fixation devices and the spinal characteristics of the Chinese people, the author designed a new brand of anterior thoracolumbar internal fixation device for Chinese people:New Ti-plate (NTP).OBJECTIVE: Biomechanical properties of three anterior thoracolumbar internal fixation devices were compared in an attempt to provide a scientific and theoretical basis for clinical applications.DESIGN: A sampling investigation.SETTING: The Department of Orthopaedics of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Department of Radiology of Nantong Hongqiao Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: This study was carried out at the Biomechanical Engineering Research Institute of Shanghai University between May and August 2003. Fifteen fresh spinal samples from the healthy adults (T12-S1) were used in this study.METHODS: Fifteen spinal (T12-S1) specimens were obtained from fresh bodies to induce injuries to anterior and middle columns, which were fixed with Dunn Ⅲ, NTP and Z-plate respectively to compare the strength, rigidity, and the stability of the spine.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of load-straining and loaddisplacement of the three groups of specimens under the conditions of axial decompression, anteflection, post-extention, and lateral flexion.RESULTS: Fifteen fresh adult spinal specimens were involved in this study and all entered the stage of result analysis. Under the maximal load of 500 N,the average straining for Z-plate, NTP and Dunn Ⅲ was 410 uε,430 uε, 477 uε respectively. The average longitude displacement for the above three devices was 2.23 mm, 2.38 mm and 2.85 mm respectively.The thoracolumbar fracture was fixed with three anterior internal fixation devices and it was proved that Z-plate and NTP fixations were better than fixation with Dunn Ⅲ in respect of spinal strength, rigidity and stability (P ＜ 0.05), but the difference between Z-plate and NTP had no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: NTP and Z-plate devices are conformed to the spinal biomechanical principles and were capable of reconstructing spinal biomechanical stability effectively, and it is a preferable anterior spinal internal fixation device.

Objective To investigate the association between glutamate receptor-6 (GIuR6/GRIK2) gene polymorphism and domestic violence in Xinjiang Uygur population on alcoholics.Methods The methods of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing technique were conducted to detect rs6922753 and rs2227283 single nucleotide polymorphism of GLUR6 gene in a 104 domestic violence perpetrators on alcoholics and 80 non-domestic violence perpetrators on alcoholics.The association between the polymorphisms and violent behavior was analyzed with SPSS 17.0.Results The frequency of allele (x2 =4.935) and genotype (x2 =7.622) of rs6922753 polymorphisms in the domestic violence group were statistically different from those in the non-domestic violence group (P ＜ 0.05),there was no significant difference between two groups in allele frequencies and genotype in rs2227283 site (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions GIuR6 gene polymorphism may be associated with domestic violence in Xinjiang Uygur population on alcoholics.

Objective To investigate the effects of the interaction between environmental factors and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene polymorphism in Han and Uygur on alcoholics in Xinjiang. Methods The data of childhood abuse and domestic aggressive behaviors were collected from 284 patients with alcohol dependence from Xinjiang using self-made questionnaires, Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) and Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11). The meth?ods of PCR and DNA sequencing technique were conducted to detect rs1137070 single nucleotide polymorphism loci of MAOA gene. Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for interaction effects of gene and childhood abuse on domestic violence. Results The scale evaluation identified 143 patients with and 138 patients without domestic violence. Childhood abuse and gene were both risk factors in domestic violence. The interaction effect of childhood abuse with rs1137070 was significant. the relative excess risk, the interaction attribution ratio and the interaction index were 1.00,0.14 and 1.20, respectively. Conclusions The interactions between genes and environmental risk factors may contribute to the domestic violence in Han and Uygur on alcoholics in Xinjiang.

Objective To analyze the differences of hospitalization mortality of coronary stenting in patients with coronary heart disease between the elderly (≥65 years old ) and non elderly. Methods Totally 3252 patients who underwent coronary stenting in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital were studied retrospectively. They were divided into elderly group (≥65 years old, n=1344) and non elderly group (

Objective To investigate the distribution and severity of cerebral artery stenosis and the prognosis in elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Methods The 432 elderly patients with acute cerebral ischemia infarction underwent DSA,and they were divided into two groups: elderly group (n= 320) and non-elderly group (n= 112). The characteristics of distribution and severity of cerebral artery stenosis, the relationship between artery stenosis and relative risk factors, and the prognosis of acute cerebral infarction were analyzed.Results In elderly group, 270 cases (84.3%) had intra- and extra- cranial artery stenosis, of which 98 patients (30.6%) with pure extracranial arterial stenosis, 132 patients (41.3%) with combined extra- and intra-cranial artery stenosis. They were both significantly higher than the corresponding data in non-elderly group [23 cases (20.5%) and 28 cases (25%), P＜0.05 and 0.01]. The prevalences of moderate and severe cerebral artery stenosises were higher in elderly group than in nonelderly group [224 locations (52.1%) vs. 51 locations (40.8%), P＜0. 05]. The number of patients with previous history of cerebrovascular disease was much more and the prognosis was much worse in elderly group than in non-elderly group (both P＜0.05), Conclusions The elderly patients with cerebral infarction have severer cerebral artery stenosis, increased proportion of multivessel disease and poor prognosis. So it is very important to take aggressive treatment as soon as possible, and to make secondary prevention and effective rehabilitation so as to improve their prognosis.

Objective:This study aims to explore recent developments in DEA-based hospital efficiency studies in China, so as to provide reference for further research in DEA-based hospital efficiency. Methods:In this study, a 30-year retrospective systematic review is conducted for the classification of 85 hospital efficiency studies that have been published in China with DEA. The characteristics are summarized and compared with those of international liter-ature according to the selection of input and output indicators to evaluate the normalization of studies in China. Re-sults:The classification reveals several problems existing in DEA-based hospital efficiency studies in China, such as too few studies on hospital allocation efficiency, the application of simple classical models, imprecise selection of in-put-output indicators, inappropriate application of monetary variables as output indicators, etc. Conclusions and sug-gestions:The normalization and rationality of DEA methods applied in China’s hospital efficiency research need to be improved, so as to shorten the gap between China and the international world. Chinese researchers should pay more attention to studying the latest international research findings, so as to scientifically select input and output indicators. In depth analysis of methods and application conditions should be conducted so as to improve the normalization and science of China’s hospital efficiency research.

Objective To investigate the content and changes of fluoride in corn and pepper, to evaluate the effect of prevention and control measures, and to provide a basis for adjusting the prevention and control strategy. Methods In 2013, according to the different directions of east, west, south, north and center, 5 townships were selected from each coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis areas in all 23 counties (cities, districts), and 3 villages was randomly selected from each township. Household samples of corn and dried pepper in 10 households were collected to detect fluorine content. The results of 14 counties were compared with the 2007 survey data. Results A total of 884 and 3379 samples of corn and pepper were collected, and the median fluorine content was 1.26 and 9.15 mg/kg, the range was 0.50~254.59 mg/kg and 0.50~3701.88 mg/kg, respectively. Compared with the survey data of 2007, the median fluoride content of corn of 14 counties decreased by nearly 50%, and the median amount of pepper was reduced by more than 80%. The differences were statistically significant (mg/kg:corn 1.36 vs 2.63, dried pepper 9.70 vs 55.31, Z = 3.28, 9.13, P<0.05). Conclusion The fluoride content of corn and pepper in Guizhou Province is significantly lower, but it is still relatively high in some coal-burning-borne fluorosis counties (cities, districts).

The effect of morphine and naloxone on release of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) of spinal astrocytes induced by TNF-α was studied. Astrocytes were purified from 2- to 3-day old SD rats and divided into 8 groups: group 1 (without any stimulatants); group 2 (10 ng/ml TNF-α);group3 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+0.5 μmol/L morphine); group 4 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+1. 0 μmol/L morphine); group 5 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+ 2. 0 μmol/L morphine) ; group 6 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+ 0. 5 μmol/L naloxone); group 7 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+ 1.0 μmol/L naloxone) ; group 8 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+2.0 μmol/L naloxone). In group 2, 3, 4 and 5, 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 μmol/Lmorphine was added to the cells cultured with serum-free Neurobasal/B27 medium containing 10 ng/ml TNF-α respec-tively, while in group 6, 7 and 8, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 μmol/Lnaloxone was added respectively to the cells cultured with serum-free Neurobasal/B27 medium containing 10 ng/ml TNF-α. After 30 min incubation, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the levels of EAAs in all cultured cells. The results showed the level of EAAs in group 2 was significant higher than in group 1 (P＜0.01). As compared with group 2, the levels of EAAs in group 3, 4 and 5 were decreased with the difference being significant between group 5 and group 2 (P＜0.01) or between group 4 and group 2 (P＜0.05). The levels of EAAs in group 6, 7 and group 8 was significantly lower than in group 2 (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). It was concluded that TNF-α could promote the release of glutamate and aspartate from astrocytes, and morphine and naloxone might reduce the release of EAAs in cultured spinal astrocytes induced by TNF-α.

Along with the rapid progress in the field of human genomics, genome-wide association studies have successfully identified numerous risk loci for complex diseases. Polygenic risk scores can predict disease risk by integrating the effects of multiple susceptibility loci, and begin to show good performance for improving risk prediction, screening strategy and precision prevention. This paper briefly reviews the recent progress of polygenic risk scores in disease prevention, and summarizes the opportunities and challenges of its application.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children aged 8-12 in coalburning-borne endemic fluorosis areas in 23 counties in Guizhou Province,and to evaluate the effects of prevention and control measures.Methods In 2014,five towns were selected according to their location of the east,the south,the west,the north and the center of the 23 counties,one primary school in each town was chosen.All the students aged 8-12 in each school were selected,according to the Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis (WS/T 208-2011),dental fluorosis was examined.At the same time,the detection rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 was investigated in 23 counties in 2000 and 2007.Analysis and comparison of the data in 2000,2007 and 2014 were done.Results The total detectable rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 was 32.31％ (5 803/17 962).The detection rate of 3 counties was lower than 15％,12 counties ranged from 15％ to 30％ and 8 counties more than 30％.Very light,mild,moderate,and severe cases of dental fluorosis cases accounted for 48.39％ (2 808/5 803),30.43％ (1 766/5 803),15.16％ (880/5 803) and 6.01％ (349/5 803).Male and female children's overall detection rate was 33.05％ (3 083/9 329) and 31.51％ (2 720/8 633),the difference was statistically significant (x2=4.86,P ＜ 0.05).The detection rates of dental fluorosis of children aged 8,9,10,11 and 12 were 17.79％ (224/1 259),26.02％ (871/3 348),30.28％ (1 255/4 144),34.07％ (1 595/4 682) and 41.02％ (1 858/4 529),indicating that the detection rate increased with age (x2 =345.78,P ＜ 0.01).After longitudinal comparison of the detection rates of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 in 2000,2007 and 2014,we found that 17 counties were gradually decreased (all P ＜ 0.05) except Xiuwen,Weining,Qianxi,Qingzhen,Liuzhi and Xixiu (x2 =0.84,4.19,3.67,5.03,1.98,2.37,all P ＞ 0.05).The ratio of dental fluorosis detection rate ＜ 15％,15％-30％ and ＞ 30％ was accounted for 21.74％ (25/115),32.17％ (37/115) and 46.09％ (53/115),respectively,in the 115 villages.Conclusion The detection rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 in coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis areas is significantly dropped,and the comprehensive prevention and control effect is gradually apparent.