Objective To investigate the effect of arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy in treatment of moderate or severe meniscus injury combined with knee osteoarthritis in early or middle stage. Methods 156 cases diagnosed with moderate or severe meniscus injury combined with knee osteoarthritis in early or middle stage were collected from October 2011 to October 2014. Lysholm knee score and preoperative examinations such as anteroposterior, lateral, axial radiographs, the standing full leg length X-ray film and MRI scan of the knee were recommended to definitively understand the osteoarthritis staging and meniscus injury grading. All patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy. After operation, physical rehabilitation exercises and regular clinical follow-up were carried out as planned. The Lysholm knee score data from preoperation and terminal follow-up was statistical analyzed. Results No patient experienced any perioperative and postoperative complications. Statistical analysis showed that the Lysholm knee score of postoperation was significantly higher than that of preoperation [(87.3 ± 7.9) vs (67.5 ± 4.9), P < 0.05). Conclusion Arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy in treatment of moderate or severe meniscus injury combined with knee osteoarthritis in early or middle stage, gains beneficial effects for its minimal invasion and quick recovery.

Objective To investigate the expression of CD127 (interleukin-7 receptor α, IL-7Rα)and its association with apoptosis of CD8 + T lymphocytes in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection. Methods The expression of CD127 on T lymphocytes and spontaneous apoptosis of CD8+ T lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry in peripheral blood from 24 patients with chronic HIV-1 infections and 12 healthy subjects. The associations of CD127 expression with CD4 +T lymphocytes counts, HIV RNA loads and cell apoptosis were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare between the groups, and Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. Results The expression of CD127 on CD8 + T lymphocytes was significantly down-regulated in HIV-1 infected subjects (Z = -4.796, P ＜ 0. 01 ), which was positively correlated with CD4 + T lymphocytes (r = 0.817, P ＜ 0.01 ) and negatively correlated with HIV RNA load and CD8+T lymphocytes apoptosis (r= -0.442 and -0.688,P＜0.05 and ＜0.01). Conclusion CD127 down-regulation may play an important role in the descended ability of receiving survival signals and ascended apoptosis of CD8 + T lymphocytes during chronic HIV-1 infection, which indicates that IL-7 might be a novel strategy in treatment of HIV infection.

BACKGROUNDEarly onset severe preeclampsia is a specific type of severe preeclampsia, which causes high morbidity and mortality of both mothers and fetus. This study aimed to investigate the clinical definition, features, treatment, outcome and risk factors of early onset severe preeclampsia in Chinese women.

METHODSFour hundred and thirteen women with severe preeclampsia from June 2006 to June 2009 were divided into three groups according to the gestational age at the onset of preeclampsia as follows: group A (less than 32 weeks, 73 cases), group B (between 32 and 34 weeks, 71 cases), and group C (greater than 34 weeks, 269 cases). The demographic characteristics of the subjects, complications, delivery modes and outcome of pregnancy were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe systolic blood pressure at admission and the incidence of severe complications were significantly lower in group C than those in groups A and B, prolonged gestational weeks and days of hospitalization were significantly shorter in group C than those in groups A and B. Liver and kidney dysfunction, pleural and peritoneal effusion, placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage were more likely to occur in group A compared with the other two groups. Twenty-four-hour urine protein levels at admission, intrauterine fetal death and days of hospitalization were risk factors that affected complications of severe preeclampsia. Gestational week at admission and delivery week were also risk factors that affected perinatal outcome.

CONCLUSIONSEarly onset severe preeclampsia should be defined as occurring before 34 weeks, and it is featured by more maternal complications and a worse perinatal prognosis compared with that defined as occurring after 34 weeks. Independent risk factors should be used to tailor the optimized individual treatment plan, to balance both maternal and neonatal safety.

Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pre-Eclampsia ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Risk Factors

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bcl-2 siRNA on bcl-2 gene expression and apoptosis of lymphoma cell line CA46. A siRNA was designed and synthesized. Then siRNA was transfected into CA46 cells by cationic liposome. At 48 hours after transfection, apoptosis and mitochondria transmembrane potential of CA46 cells were detected by flow cytometry, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and BCL-2 protein in CA46 cells were detected by RT-PCR and flow cytometry respectively. The results showed that at 48 hours after transfection, apoptosis of CA46 cells occurred, mitochondria transmembrane potential changed. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA and BCL-2 protein in CA46 cells decreased significantly. In conclusion, bcl-2 siRNA depresses the expression of bcl-2 gene in CA46 cells specifically, then changes the mitochondria transmembrane potential, resulting in apoptosis of CA46 cells.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and refraction parameters in myopia. METHODS: Two thousand two hundred and seventy-four patients (4245 eyes) with different degrees of myopia were collected. Their BCVA, diopter of spherical (DS), diopter of cylinder (DC), astigmatism axis, axial length (AL) and corneal thickness were detected. The influence of those parameters on BCVA was studied and the mathematical model of the relationship between BCVA and other parameters including the age and gender of patients was established. RESULTS: The logistic regression analysis showed that there were correlations between the BCVA (y) and DS (x1), DC (x2), gender (x3), AL (x4), corneal thickness (x5), astigmatism axis (x6) and age (x7) (P<0.05): y=0.580 6-0.034 0 x1-0.046 8 x2+0.056 5 x3+0.016 5 x4+ 0.0007 x5+0.000 2 x6-0.005 8 x7. CONCLUSION For people with myopia, age, gender and corneal thickness have small effect on BCVA, while the DS, DC, AL and astigmatism axis have significant effect on BCVA. The BCVA would decline following the extension of DS, DC and AL. It is helpful to assess the vision of myopia by analyzing the refraction parameters comprehensively.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cornea/pathology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Theoretical ; Myopia/physiopathology* ; Refraction, Ocular/physiology* ; Refractometry ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields/physiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo measure the cutting forces applied by clinicians during preparing full crown and to provide basic data for the training of dentistry in a virtual reality.

METHODSEach of six prosthodontists and six dental students prepared three extracted maxillary premolars. The cutting forces were measured with a three-dimensional transducer unit. Differences in cutting time and forces between groups were analyzed with independent-samples t-test.

RESULTSThe cutting forces varied in the range from 0.10 N to 4.90 N. The average cutting force (1.71 N) of four axial surfaces was higher than that (0.45 N) of occlusal surface (including functional cusp inclines) (P < 0.01). The cutting time by prosthodontists was shorter than that by the students (P < 0.05). Moreover, the vertical component of the cutting force was higher than the horizontal one (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe magnitude of cutting forces could be greatly influenced by the motion direction and tendency of the handpiece. The data on cutting forces might serve as the foundation of cutting simulation algorithm for training in a virtual reality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Crowns ; Dentists ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Stress, Mechanical ; Students, Dental ; Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic ; instrumentation ; methods ; Transducers ; Young Adult

As a powerful global optimization approach, genetic algorithms (GA) can solve a variety of optimization problems in which the objective function is discontinuous, non-differentiable, or highly non-linear, to produce high convergence speed and vast search space. In this thesis, GA is used to optimize the beam weights of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) inverse planning, and 2D and 3D isodose contour as well as dose volume histogram (DVH) are used to evaluate the treatment plan. Also presented in this thesis are the results of calculation with discussions.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVETo study the morphological features of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in adult and the implications for transcatheter closure.

METHODSTranscatheter closure using Amplatzer duct occluder was performed in 272 adult patients with ASD from September 1997 to December 2005. The morphological features were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The size, length and thickness of rims, occluder diameter, the complete closure rate, residual shunt rate and complications were compared in patients with deficient and/or thin rims (Group A, n = 135) and patients with well-developed rims (Group B, n = 137).

RESULTSThe complete closure rate was 97.8% (132/135) in group A and 99.3% (136/137) in group B. There were 74 cases with deficient rims, 39 cases with thin rims and 22 cases with both deficient and thin rims in group A. Gender distribution, age, operation successful rate, residual shunt rate and complication rate were similar between the 2 groups. The defect diameters measured by TTE (18.9 +/- 5.5 mm vs. 16.5 +/- 4.8 mm, P < 0.01), TEE (22.7 +/- 5.0 mm vs. 20.0 +/- 5.5 mm, P < 0.01) and occluder diameters used (29.1 +/- 5.7 mm vs. 26.0 +/- 5.9 mm, P < 0.01) were significantly larger in groups A than that in group B. The systolic pulmonary artery pressure was also significantly higher in groups A than that in groups B (36.9 +/- 11.9 mm Hg vs. 32.6 +/- 9.1 mm Hg, P < 0.01). There are significant correlations between occluder diameters and defects measured by either TTE or TEE in both groups (group A, TTE: r = 0.709, TEE: r = 0.850; group B, TTE: r = 0.716, TEE: r = 0.915, P all < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPoor residual rims were found in around 50% of adult patients with ASD. Transcatheter closure of these defects could be successfully performed with larger occluders. The defect diameters measured by TTE and TEE, especially the latter, could guide the occluder selection.

Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDBecause of the lack of brain death laws in China, the proportion of cadaveric organ donation is low. Many patients with end-stage liver disease die waiting for a suitable donor. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) would reduce the current discrepancy between the number of patients on the transplant waiting list and the number of available organ donors. We describe the early experience of LDLT in the mainland of China based on data from five liver transplant centers.

METHODSBetween January 2001 and October 2003, 45 patients with end-stage liver disease received LDLT at five centers in China. The indication and timing, surgical techniques and complications, nonsurgical issues including rejection, infection, and advantages of LDLT in the series were reviewed. Actuarial patient and graft survival rates were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate. Statistical analysis was completed by using SPSS 10.0.

RESULTSAll LDLT recipients were cirrhotic patients, except for one man with fulminant hepatic failure. Among the 45 cases of LDLT, 35 (77.8%) were performed in one center (the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University). The overall 1 and 3 year survival rate of the recipients was 93.1% and 92.0%, respectively. Of the 45 LDLT donors, there were 3 cases of biliary leakage, 2 subphrenic collections, 1 fat liquefaction around the incision and 1 biliary peritonitis after T tube removal. All donors recovered completely.

CONCLUSIONSLDLT provides an excellent approach to addressing the problem of donor shortage in China even though the operation is complicated, uncompromising and difficult with respect to the safety of the donors and receptors. Despite early technical hurdles having been overcome, perfection of technique is still necessarily. At present, LDLT is a good choice for the patients with irreversible liver disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Living Donors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of transrectal 125 I seeds implantation brachytherapy (BT) combined with intermittent hormonal therapy (IHT) in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer.

METHODSWe treated 27 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer by transrectal 125I seeds implantation BT combined with IHT, and dynamically observed the changes in the PSA level, prostate volume, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS).

RESULTSAll the implantation procedures were completed smoothly, lasting 20 to 35 minutes, with 40 to 58 seeds implanted. At 6 months after implantation, the PSA level was < 0.2 microg/L in all the patients (< 0.1 microg/L in 19 cases), the prostate volume was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and Qmax and IPSS remarkably improved (P < 0.05). At 3 years after implantation, 19 cases were in the first cycle and the other 8 in the third cycle of IHT, of which 2 progressed to androgen-independent prostate cancer, and another 2 developed early bone metastasis. The rates of 3-year biochemically and clinically progression-free survival were 70.3% and 85.2%, respectively, and the rate of therapeutic effectiveness was 92.6%. No severe complications occurred in any of the cases.

CONCLUSIONTransrectal 125I seeds implantation BT combined with IHT is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for locally advanced prostate cancer, which can effectively retard its clinical progression with no such complications as severe urethral, rectal or erectile dysfunction.

Aged ; Brachytherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome