BACKGROUND:Many present studies have reported the early clinical therapeutic effects of short-segment non-fusion fixation for the repair of thoracolumbar burst fracture. The results are satisfactory. However, the mid-and long-term fol ow-up results of this scheme for treating thoracolumbar burst fracture are seldom reported. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the mid-term results of short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture. ＜br> METHODS:Data of 12 patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures undergoing short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion were retrospectively analyzed. Al patients experienced severe intraspinal occupying and neurological dysfunction, and al of them affected single segment thoracolumbar injuries. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 2 days and screw fixations at one level above, one level below and at the fractured level itself. The patients underwent removal of implants at 12 months after the initial operation. Imaging and clinical findings, including canal encroachment, percentage of vertebral body height loss, Cobb angle, American Spinal Injury Association motor score, Frankel grade and adjacent segment degenemtion, were evaluated. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were fol owed up for at least 5 years. Significant differences in canal encroachment, percentage of vertebral body height loss and Cobb angle were detectable between post-fixation and pre-fixation (P＜0.05). Evaluation results were significantly better after fixation than that before fixation, but no significant difference in evaluation results after fixation was detected (P>0.05). After implantation and removal of fixator, none cases affected aggravated symptoms of neurological impairment. American Spinal Injury Association motor score was 34.2±6.3 before fixation, and 47.7±9.5 during the final fol ow-up, showing significant differences (t=-4.103, P=0.000). During the final fol ow-up, adjacent segments in damage levels did not suffer from degeneration in al patients. Neurological function showed the recovery of Frankel grades 1 or 2. These data indicated that a good mid-term result of short segment pedicle screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture with neurological deficit can be achieved. The improved saggital alignment was effectively constructed and maintained. Adjacent segment degeneration was not found at the injury level.

Objective To observe the effects of genistein(GEN)on oleic acid(OA)induced lipid accumulationin in H4 ⅡE cells and to discuss the possible mechanism of GEN in the pointof AMPK.Methods H4ⅡE cells were cultured in vitro.The control group(NOR),OA treatment group(MOD group)and GEN treatment group were established according to the experimental requirements.The effects of GEN on the proliferation of H4 Ⅱ E cells were measured with MTT assay.The intraeellular TG mass was quantified spectrophotometrically using TG test kit.Cell protein was determined by DCTM Protein Assay kit.The intracellular TG concentration which was used to evaluate lipid accumulation was corrected using protein content as an internal standard.Western blotting was applied to determine the expression of AMPK and P-AMPK (Thr172).Accordingly the phosphorylation levels of AMPK was by means of P-AMPK(Thr172)/AMPK.Results OA treatment can induce lipid accumulation in H4 Ⅱ E cells while GEN treatment can decrease the intracellular TG concentration through up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of AMPK,though the effect was blocked by Compound C that is the inhibitor of AMPK.Conclusion GEN has anti-accumulation of lipid effect in H4ⅡE cell.The mechanism of GEN protective effect is partially due to AMPK.

BACKGROUND:The growth of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro in different conditioned media is different evidently. So it is necessary to choose a more suitable medium. OBJECTIVE:To contrast and observe the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in three kinds of media and to check the immunophenotype and differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were col ected by explant method in sterile conditions. After subculturing by T75 incubation bottles, the third generation of mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/Ham’s nutrient mixture F-12 medium containing 5%fetal bovine serum, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/Ham’s nutrient mixture F-12 containing 10%fetal bovine serum and Mesen PRO RSTM medium. After 1, 3, 5, 7 days of culture, the cells were counted to draw a growth curve. Immunophenotype of the third generation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were determined by flow cytometry and the ability of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was also detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The third generation of cells cultured highly expressed CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, but did not express CD29, CD31, CD34, HLA-DR. The oil red O staining showed a lot of little red lipid drops after adipogenic induction;alizarin red staining showed osteoblast-like cells after osteogenic induction, indicating umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro have the potential of multi-directional differentiation. After observation and counting, the colony and shape of cells cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/Ham’s nutrient mixture F-12 containing 10%fetal bovine serum were superior to those cultured in the other two media. Therefore, it is concluded that Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/Ham’s nutrient mixture F-12 containing 10%fetal bovine serum is preferred for cellsubculture.

Objective To explore the indications and attention points in one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection for thyroid carcinoma.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 68 thyroid carcinoma patients treated with one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection from Jan 1990 to Dec 2005 were reviewed retrospectively.Results There was no operative death in this series.Of the 68 patients,60 had bilateral and 4 had unilateral positive lymph nodes;4 had negative lymph nodes.The metastatic rate of patients who had unilateral thyroid cancer with contralateral cervical enlarged lymph nodes,bilateral thyroid cancer with unilateral cervical lymph nodes and isthmus cancer with lymph nodes was 100%(7/7),90%(9/10) and 66.67%(4/6) respectively.Postoperative complications include 7 cases of facial and flap edema,2 headache,5 postoperative hoarseness,7 temporary hypoparathyroidism,1 permanent hypoparathyroidism,1 left chylus fistula,and 3 unilateral accessory nerve injury.Conclusions The patients with unilateral thyroid cancer and enlarged contralateral neck lymph nodes,with bilateral thyroid cancer and unilateral cervical lymph nodes,and with isthmus cancer and enlarged lymph nodes are high-risk patient of bilateral neck metastasis,and should be treated with one stage thyroidectomy and bilateral cervical lymph node dissection.The procedure is safe,no serious postoperative complications occurred,and the survival rate and life quality can be improved.

Objective To measure the level of diamine oxidase (DAO), and observe the intestinal motor and mucosal barrier injury after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods A total of 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into SCI group (group A, n=15), sham group (group B, n=15) and control group (group C, n=15). SCI model was established with Allen's strike mode (10 g × 25 mm) by striking T10 spinal segment in rats. One day, three days and seven days after SCI, hind limb motor function was assessed with Basso-Beat-tie-Bresnahan (BBB) Scale in each group, the myoelectric slow wave and ileum smooth muscle contractility were measured in rats, ileum tis-sues were tested with HE staining, and the DAO content of serum was tested with ELISA kit. Results One day, three days and seven days af-ter SCI, the BBB score was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.001). One day, three days after SCI, the frequency and amplitude of both slow wave and contractility were lower in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.05);seven days after SCI, there was no significant difference among three groups (P>0.05). Group A showed ileal mucosal edema, lodging, inflammatory cell infiltration, and submucosal gap increase. The Chiu's score of intestinal mucosal injury was higher in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.05), as well as the serum DAO content one day and three days after SCI (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found in the serum DAO content among three groups seven days after SCI (P>0.05). Conclusion Serum DAO content may respond to the intestinal motor function and mu-cosal injury after acute SCI in rats.

Two pedigrees are reported here including two siblings and a boy who were diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 3 (AGS3) caused by compound heterozygous variation of RNASEH2C gene. Prenatal gene diagnosis was performed when their mothers were pregnant again. All three cases presented with epilepsy, microcephaly, muscular hypertonia and severe language, motor and mental retardation. In pedigree 1, genetic analysis showed compound heterozygous variants of c.194G>A (p.Gly65Asp) and c.434G>T (p.Arg145Leu) in the RNASEH2C gene of proband 1 and her younger brother, which were inherited from their mother and father respectively. While in pedigree 2, c.194G>A(p.Gly65Asp) and c.227C>T(p.Pro76Leu) compound heterozygous variants in the RNASEH2C gene were found in proband 2, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Diagnosis of AGS3 was confirmed in these three cases based on their medical history and the testing results. The mothers from the two families underwent prenatal diagnosis in their subsequent pregnancy, and the variation only inherited from the mothers was detected, suggesting that the two fetuses are carriers. Both families chose to continue the pregnancy and delivered at full-term. No growth or development abnormalities were reported in the children during a one-year follow-up.

This article was aimed to study the effect ofQiwei granules on the podocyte in KK-Ay mice kidney. The 28 8-week-old male KK-Ay mice were randomly divided into the model group, low-dosage, middle-dosage and high-dosageQiwei granule group. Eight C57BL/6J mice were used as the normal control. The general conditions, blood glucose and 24 h albuminuria were recorded in the experiment. After 10-week treatment, renal indexes including serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were measured. The kidneys of mice were collected and measured. The hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson’s Trichrome, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were used on renal tissues of mice. The immunohistochemical staining for WT-1 was made. Software analysis was combined in the calculation of renal podocyte amount. Western blot was used in the detection of nephrin protein expressions in the kidney of mice. RT-PCR was used in the detection of nephrin mRNA expression. The results showed that compared with the model group, the body weight, blood glucose, 24 h albuminuria and the serum creatinine were obviously decreased after 10-week treatment ofQiwei granules. It can effectively improve the glomerular mesangial proliferation and preserve the podocyte number. Meanwhile, after the treatment ofQiwei granules, the nephrin protein expression and mRNA expression were obviously higher than the model group. It was concluded thatQiwei granules probably managed nephrin expression to improve the podocyte injury in the diabetic nephropathy of KK-Ay mice.

Objective To observe the effect of reversed circadian rhythms on wound healing of mouse corneal epithelium.Methods Ninety male C57BL/6 mice were divided into LD group (12 hours light/12 hours dark) and DL group (12 hours dark/12 hours light) by random number table,and then were placed in circadian rhythm box for 12 days.The circular area was scarped and marked as 2 mm diameter area in the center of the mouse's cornea with a golf-like knife.The dynamics of epithelial healing in the wound area were observed under microscope by fluorescein staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Besides,being marked antibodies of anti-Ly6G-FITC,anti-γδT-PE and DAPl,dynamic changes of the dividing cells,neutrophils and γδT cells were also investigated for every 6 hours until 42 hours.All mice were treated in accordance with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmology and Vision Research and the guidelines of the Animal Experimental Committee at Jinan University (JN-A-2002-01).Results In LD group,percentage of corneal epithelial defective area were (100.000 ± 0.000) ％,(37.677 ± 5.243) ％,(14.959 ± 1.739) ％ and (0.000 ± 0.000) ％ after wounding 0 hour,6,12,18 and 24 hours.In DL group,percentage of the corneal epithelial defective area were (100.000±0.000) ％,(10.967 ± 1.065 ％) ％,(1.985 ±0.106) ％ and (0.000±0.000) ％ after wounding 0 hour,6,12,18 and 24 hours.The healing rate in DL group was higher than that in LD group,with a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).As with the uninjured corneal,thickness of corneal epithelium was (33.983 ± 1.074)μm in DL group and (33.993±0.904)μm LD group,with no statistically significant difference between them (P＞0.05).After 24 hours,thickness of corneal epithelium in DL group was (19.473 ±0.856) μm,and was more than that in LD group [(17.485±0.718)μm],with a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).Paraffin section of wounded corneal epithelium after 24 hours by hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that corneal epithelium cells arranged loosely and disorderly and were in irregular shape in both groups.The epithelium were mainly basal cells in LD group,while epithelium included basal cell and a few pinacocytes in DL group.After corneal epithelium wounded,the number of cell division,neutrophils and corneal limbus γδT cells in two groups were statistically significant difference,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusions Reversed circadian rhythms can significantly regulate the wound healing of corneal epithelium.

Sepsis can cause life-threatening organ dysfunction and is one of the leading causes of death in critically ill patients. Early diagnosis and correct treatment of sepsis are the key to reducing the fatality, however, there is no golden standard for diagnosis at present. The ideal sepsis biomarker can be used for early diagnosis and predicting poor prognosis with good sensitivity and specificity. There are many candidate biomarkers for sepsis. This article reviews the latest developments on acute phase proteins, soluble receptors, non-coding RNAs and other candidate biomarkers of sepsis that attracted more recent attention.

To investigate the in situ intestinal absorption characteristics and pharmacokinetic behavior of metformin-resveratrol compound water-in-oil nanoemulsion (MRCE) in rats, the in situ intestinal perfusion model was constructed in rats to study the intestinal absorption characteristics of MRCE in different intestinal segments. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. After intragastric administration of metformin and MRCE, blood was taken at a preset time point. The content of metformin in intestinal perfusion samples and blood samples at various time points was determined by HPLC. Plasma concentration-time profiles of free metformin and MRCE were calculated, and the main pharmacokinetic data were processed and analyzed by DAS 2.1.1 software. The absorption rate constant (Ka), the effective permeability (Peff) and the percentage of absorption (PA) of MRCE in each intestinal segment were significantly higher than those of metformin (P < 0.05). The area under the drug-time curve (AUC0-72 h), the half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT0-72 h) of MRCE were 1.68, 11.25 and 6.97 times of metformin, respectively (P < 0.01).The relative bioavailability of MRCE was 167.6%. The 90% confidence interval of AUC0-72 h was 156.9%-187.4%, which was not within the standard interval of bioequivalence. The intestinal absorption of MRCE was significantly better than that of free metformin; MRCE improved the oral bioavailability of metformin and was not bioequivalent to metformin.