Objective To analyze the relationship of the lateral angulation with the incision level after anterior approach operation for thoracolumbar fractures by evaluating the Cobb' s angle at different approach levels.Methods A retrospective study was done on 154 patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated consecutively with anterior operation from May 2004 to January 2008.The preoperative,postoperative and follow-up angle of coronal Cobb and the postoperative angle between screws and endplates on the anteroposterior radiograph were measured.According to the relationship between the injury vertebrae and the incision level,the patients were divided into two groups,ie,incision level ≥2 vertebrae group and incision level ≤ 1 vertebra group.Results All patients were followed up for 6-47 months(mean 37 months),which showed significant postoperative lateral angulation(P ＜ 0.01)especially at follow-up (P ＞ 0.05).The coronal Cobb' s angle showed insignificant difference before operation between two groups but it was increased after operation and during the follow-up(P ＜0.01).The screws A or B were more parallel to the endplate in two groups(P ＜ 0.01),while the parallel of the screws C or D to the endplate showed no statistical difference(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Compared with the operation with incision level ≥2 vertebrae,the operation with incision level ≤ 1 vertebra can more easily induce postoperative lateral angulation and exert a significant impact on implantation orientation of the vertebral screws A and B,which may indirectly lead to postoperative lateral angulation.

Objective To evaluate cause,treatment and prevention of esophageal fistula caused by anterior cervical spine surgery.Methods Between January 2004 and December 2011,2348 patients underwent anterior cervical spine surgery.Among them,5 patients suffered from esophageal fistula owing to operation,including 3 males and 2 females,with an average age of 34 years (range,14 to 48 years).The diagnosis of these patients included 3 cases of cervi(c)al injury,1 case of cervical spondylosis and 1 case of cervical tuberculosis.There was 1 patient whose esophageal injury was founded during the surgery,and that was directly repaired.For another 4 patients,esophageal fistulas were founded after operation; one case underwent debridement and orificium fistulae repair; one case only underwent debridement; one case underwent debridement and second-stage removal of hardware; and one case underwent debridement and second-stage removal of hardware and esophageal repair with sternocleidomastoid flap.Postoperative treatment included esophageal rest,enteral nutrition,wound drainage,and antibiotic administration.Methylene blue was used to evaluate status of orificium fistulae.Results All patients with esophageal fistula were cured 9 to 61 weeks after treatment,and oral intake was achieved.They were followed up for 6-48 months.There was no recurrence of esophageal fistula,cervical instability and infectious spondylitis in any ease.All patients were satisfied with swallowing function and outcome of cervical spine diseases.The Frankel grade was improved averagely one grade in patients with cervical injury,and the JOA score was improved from preoperative 9 points to postoperative 15 points in patients with cervical spondylosis.Conclusion Successful management of esophageal fistula caused by anterior cervical spinal surgery depends on primary closure of the perforation with or without muscle flaps,surgical drainage,esophageal rest and nutrition support,and removal of hardware if necessary.Prevention consists of the careful operation and gentle tissue handling.

Objective To investigate the potential values of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)for evaluating the brain tumor consistency in vivo.Methods Fourteen patients with known solid brain tumor(5 male,9 female;age range:16-63 years)underwent brain MRE studies.Informed consent was obtained from all patients.A dedicated external force actuator for brain MRE study Was developed.The actuator was fixed to the head coil.During scan.one side of the actuator was attached to the patients'head.Low frequency oscillation Was produced by the actuator and caused shear waves propagating into brain tissue.The pulse sequence used in the study Writs phase-contrast gradient-echo sequence.Phase images of the brain were obtained and the shear waves within the brain were directly imaged.Phase images were processed with local frequency estimation (LFE) technique to obtain the elasticity image.Consistency of brain tumors Was evaluated at surgery and Was classified as soft,intermediate,or hard with comparison to the white matter of the brain.Correspondence of MRE evaluation with operative results was studied.Results The elastic modulus of the tumor Was lower than that of white matter in 1 patient,higher inll patients,and similar in 2 patients.At surgery,the tumor manifested a soft consistency in I patient,hard consistency in 11 patients,intermediate consistency in 2 patients.The elasticity of tumors in 14 patients evaluated by MRE was correlated with the tumor consistency on the operation.Conclusion MRE Can noninvasively display the elasticity of brain tumors in vivo,and evaluate the brain tumor consistency before operation.

Objective To evaluate the value of echocardiography on the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC),and to improve the diagnositic accuracy of ARVC by echocardiography.Methods According to the 2010 European Heart Association guideline,twenty-one patients with ARVC were diagnosed from September 2003 to June 2014.The patients were divided into four groups (confirmed,suspiciously diagnosis,miss diagonisis,misdiagnosis) and the echocardiographic features were retrospectively analyzed including the right ventricular (RV) movement,the diameter of RV outflow tract (RVOTd),fractional area change of RV (RVFAC),the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and peak pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP).Results Of 21 patients,15 (71.4％) were confirmed by echocardiography,which had the typical ARVC echocardiographic features including the hypokinetic,akinetic or aneurysm of RV,dilation of RVOTd [mean RVOTd (40 ± 3)mm],and RV FAC＜33 ％ [mean (21 ± 7)％].TR were noticed in all the 15 patients but the PASP were normal [mean (27 ± 9)mmHg,1 mmHg =0.133 kPa].Three (14.3％) were suspiciously diagnosed which had the RV wall hypoakinetic,1 with pure RVOTd dilation and 2 with RV and RVOTd dilation,all 3 patients had mild TR,33％＜RVFAC ≤40％ and PASP were in normal range.Two patients had normal echocardiography which was miss diagnosed,one patient was misdiagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy.Conclusions The different stages of ARVC patients had different echocardiographic features,the patients were easily diagnosed when the ARVC patients in RV failure stage.But for the early and late stage,the diagnosis should combine the clinical manifestation and other imaging facilities to avoid miss diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Objective:To evaluate the heart hemodynamics in fetuses with premature ductus arteriosus constriction or closure using fetal heart quantification (FHQ).Methods:The clinical data of 50 singleton fetuses with ductus arteriosus constriction ( n=35) or ductus arteriosus closure ( n=15) who underwent echocardiography in Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, from May 2013 to January 2020. Fifty healthy singleton fetuses were randomly selected as the control group. The ductus arteriosus diameter (DA), pulsatility index (PI), diameter of the left atrium(LA) and right atrium(RA), diameter of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV), tricuspid regurgitation/right atrium area ratio (TR/RA Ratio), pressure gradient of tricuspid regurgitation (PG of TR), and heart/chest ratio were measured using conventional fetal echocardiography; the correlations among the parameters were analyzed. Speckle-tracking analysis was used to analysis and compute the LV and RV global spherical index (GSI), fractional area change (FAC) and global strain (GS), the LV ejection fraction(EF) and stroke volume (SV). These variables and their correlations were compared and analyzed. Results:Compared with the control group, the GS and FAC of the LV and RV in the ductus arteriosus constriction or closure groups were lower ( P<0.05) while the LV-SV was higher ( P<0.05). The FAC, GS, and EF values of the LV were higher in the premature ductus arteriosus closure group than in the ductus arteriosus constriction group ( P<0.05), while the RV-FAC was lower ( P<0.05), the RV-GS and LV-SV showed no significant changes ( P>0.05). Correlation analyse showed that the PI was positively correlated with DA( r=0.364, P<0.05); the PG of TR was negatively correlated with DA( r=-0.414, P<0.05); the TR/RA Ratio was negatively linearly correlated with PI( r=-0.388, P<0.05), and positively correlated with RV/LV Ratio ( r=0.369, P<0.05); the other parameters were not significantly correlated with the DA or PI ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Fetal heart hemodynamics in the premature ductus arteriosus constriction or closure groups change significantly, FHQ can provide valuable information for the evaluation of the fetal heart with ductus arteriosus constriction or closure.

Objective To explore the ischemic myocardial perfusion and viability.Methods Ten successful pigs with myocardial infarction model underwent MRI first-pass myocardial perfusion examinations preoperatively and 24 hours,72 hours and one week postoperation.After MRI examinations,the experimental pigs were executed and the samples underwent TTC staining and pathological examination.Results The preoperative myocardial perfusion in the all of the 10 pigs was nomal,but there were myocardial perfusion decrease and defects in 8 experimental pigs after operation,the perfusion curves in the area with perfusion defects had no obvious peak,but there was gradual increase in the end of the performance.The perfusion peak of the area with perfusion decrease was lower than that of normal inferior and lateral myocardial wall(P＜0.05) and the peak perfusion time was delayed compared with that of normal inferior and lateral myocardial wall (P＜0.05).There was myocardial necrosis in the perfusion defects areas that was certified by TTC staining and pathological examination.The intersititial edema and myocardial degeneration could be seen in the perfusion reduced areas.Conclusion MRI fist-pass myocardial perfusion imaging combined with perfusion curve analysis can evaluate the perfusion changes of the regional myocardial microcirculation.

LysinB (LysB) in mycobacteriophage D29 was cloned and expressed and its enzymatic properties were analysed. The lysB gene was amplified by PCR from mycobacteriophage D29 genomic DNA and inserted into pET22b vector. The constructed recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) to express fusion protein, which was purified by Ni-NTA column and enzymatic activity detected. The results showed that expression plasmid pET22b-lysB was constructed successfully. Highly purified recombination protein (His-LysB) was obtained 33.2 mg from 1 L LB culture medium. A screening for His-LysB activity on esterase and lipase substrates confirmed the lipolytic activity. With p-nitrophenyl butyrate as substrate, the thermal stability of the enzyme was poor when the temperature was above 30 degrees C. The enzyme exhibited higher stability at pH 5.0-9.5. The optimum temperature and pH for the lipolytic activity of His-LysB were 23 degrees C and 7.5 respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the specific activity of His-LysB was 1.3 U/mg. Zn2+, CU2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and phenylmethane sulfonyl fruoride severely inhibited the lipolytic activity of His-LysB. The result provides a new option for tuberculosis drug research and development.
Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme Stability ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mycobacteriophages ; enzymology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To investigate the expression and aberrant methylation of Ptchl gene in hedgehog signal pathway in carcinogenesis of human gastric cancer.Methods The total RNA and genomic DNA were extracted from 10 human gastric carcinoma tissues,adjacent tissues(＞3 cm from cancerous tissue)and gastric cancer eell line AGS.Ptchl mRNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR.The pattern of CpG island in Ptchl gene 5'regulation sequence was analyzed by software and its methylation extent was tested by bisulfite sequencing PCR.Results The analysis of CpG island(starting-3950 bases upstream of the Ptchl mRNAla transcription start site and ending 2050 bases downstream)revealed that there were two CpG islands in Ptchl gene 5' regulation sequence(first CpG:-1139 bp～+860 bp;second CpG:+875 bp～+1692 bp).Bisulfite sequencing PCR analysis of 19 CpG sites included in the first CpG island(-870 bp～+229 bp)showed that there was methylation present in all cell lines and the average extent of the methylation of these CpG sites was significantly higher in cancerous tissues(64%±32%,ranged 16%～100%)than that in adjacent tissues(13%±14%,ranged 0%～42%,P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation of the Ptchl methylation with its expression.Conclusion The high methylation of Ptchl gene that involves in the carcinogenesis of human gastric carcer will be a new biomarker for gastric carcer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of anterior single segmental decompression and instrumentation through Endoring self-support retractor-assisted minimally invasive small incision approach in the treatment of Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods A retrospective case series study was made on 26 cases (14 males and 12 females,mean age of 48.5 years) of Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fractures treated by anterior single segmental decompression and instrumentation through Endoring self-support retractor-assisted minimally invasive small incision approach from January 2007 to June 2009.Age was 18-68 years (mean,48.5 years).The fractured vertebrae included T1 in three cases,L1 in 18 and L2 in five.The neurological status was Grade C in eight cases,Grade D in 12 cases and Grade E in six cases according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification.The operation duration,blood loss and incision length were recorded.The neurological function,lower back pain were evaluated by visual analogue score (VAS),correction of kyphosis and restoration of the fractured vertebral body height followed and documented at 3,6 and 9 months and annually after surgery.The healing of the graft was assessed using Brantigan method based on 3-dimensional computed tomography at final follow-up.Results All patients were successfully managed with this approach.The operation duration was (214.6 ± 30.5)min,and the intraoperative blood loss was (389.7 ± 57.1) ml.The length of incision was (8.5 ± 1.3) cm.All patients were followed up for (6.3 ± 0.4) years.At final follow-up,the neurological functions of all patients with incomplete neurological deficit were improved for at least one grade.The VAS of lower back pain was improved from preoperative (7.8-± 1.6) points to (2.1 ± 0.8) points at final follow-up (P ＜ 0.05).The height of the intervertebral body was restored from preoperative (29.8 ± 5.3) mm to (35.2 ± 2.4) mm at final follow-up (P ＜ 0.05).The kyphosis was corrected from preoperative (20.4 ± 11.7) ° to (11.3 ± 5.5) ° at final follow-up (P ＜ 0.05).Bone fusion was achieved in all patients,with no looseness,breakage or displacement of internal fixation at follow-up.Conclusions Anterior single segmental decompression and instrumentation through Endoring self-support retractor-assisted minimally invasive small incision approach can reduce the surgical trauma,achieve complete spinal canal decompression,adjust kyphosis,fix segment,obtain high rate of bone graft fusion and hence is a safe and effective method with minimal invasion for Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Objective:To construct and validate prognostic nomograms predicting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used in this report. Screened 2382 late-stage HCC patients obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010—2015), were randomly classified into the training cohort and the internal validation cohort by using the function in R software according to the ratio of 1∶1. Chi-square test was applied to verify the comparability of data between two groups. The external validation cohort ( n=62) were collected from the Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University. Based on univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses in the training cohort, this study constructed nomograms for 6- and 12- month OS and CSS. Concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were applied to measure the performance of nomograms in the training cohort and to validate nomograms in two validation cohorts. The clinical utility was measured by decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:Two nomograms were constructed. The identified risk factors included sex, Edmondson-Steiner grade, T stage, N stage, M stage, tumor size, bone metastasis, Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), surgery of primary site, radiation and chemotherapy. The C-index for OS in the training and two validation cohorts was 0.729(95% CI: 0.711-0.747), 0.721(95% CI: 0.705-0.737) and 0.860(95 CI: 0.831-0.889), respectively. The C-index for CSS in the training and two validation cohorts was 0.732(95% CI: 0.714-0.750), 0.725(95% CI: 0.707-0.743) and 0.862(95% CI: 0.829-0.895), respectively. Afterwards, for nomograms in the training and two validation cohorts, C-index and calibration plots expressed great predictive accuracy and concordance. ROC curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated good prognostic ability. Furthermore, nomograms performed superior to other models. DCA showed substantial clinical utility. Conclusion:This study has developed and validated nomograms predicting 6- and 12- month OS and CSS of patients with late-stage HCC, which may be useful to develop the individualized treatment.