To investigate the clinical improvement of limping gait in patients with ankylotic hips and limb length discrepancy.Methods:From 1996 to 2005,12 patients with ankylotic hips and limb length discrepancy were treated by distraction osteogenesis with a mono-lateral external fixator and an intramedullary nail.The limb length discrepancy was 6.20-12.50 (median 8.45) cm.Limping gait was classified according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons/Hip Society and scored according to Harris:no limping scored 11 points,mild limping scored 8 points,moderate limping scored 5 points,while severe limping scored 0 points.Limping gait was severe in all patients pre-operatively and the total score was 0.Results:All patients were followed up for 30.00-46.00 (median 38.55) months,and all reported improvement in limping gait.The gain in length was 6.00-12.50 (median 8.20) cm,and the mean residual limb length discrepancy was 0-0.50 (median 0.20) cm.The total treatment time was 41.00-82.00 (median 61.50) weeks,the lengthening time was 14.00-38.00 (median 29.55) weeks.At the last follow-up,10patients had mild limping gait and 2 had moderate limping gait; the total score was 90.00.The median score was 7.50 (P25 was 8.00,P75 was 8.00).According to Wilcoxon signed rank test,the post-operative limping gait scores were significantly higher than pre-operative (P=0.001 ).Conclusion:Femoral lengthening can improve the limping gait significantly in ankylotic hips and limb length discrepancy.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the expression of Dishevelled2 and Vangl2 and the embryonic neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by all-trans retinoic acid (RA)in Kunming mouse. Methods Fifty pregnant mice were randomly divided into control and RA-treated groups.RA-treated mice were fed with 30mg/kg RA dissolved with peanut oil on embryo 7.75 days, while the mice of control group were administrated with an equal volume of peanut oil on the same time. Then all the embryos were sampled from pregnant mice at the 4th, 18th, 42nd, 66th and 90th hour after treatment. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining technique were used to detect the expression of Dishevelled2 and Vangl2 in embryonic neural tube. Results The two proteins both existed in the epithelial tissue of the mouse embryonic neural tube and displayed different expression modes at various developmental stages.Compared with the control group, the RA treated group showed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) at the 18th and 42nd hour and a significant increase (P≤0.05) at the 66th hour in Dishevelled2 protein after maternal treatment, and no significant difference was found at the 90th hour. Compared with the control group, the Vangl2 mRNA expression in the RA treated group displayed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) at the 4th and 18th hour and a significant increase (P≤0.05) at the 66th hour after RA treatment, and no difference was found at the 42nd hour. Compared with the control group, the expression of Vangl2 protein in the RA treated group decreased (P≤0.05) at the 18th and 42nd hour, and increased (P≤0.05) at the 90th hour after RA treatment, no difference was found at the 66th hour. Conclusion Excessive RA may interfere with the normal embryonic neural tube closure by regulating the expression of Dishevelled2 and Vangl2.

Objective To evaluate laparoscopy for insertion of peritoneal catheters in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods Twenty patients of end-stage renal disease.During laparoscopic surgery,the peritoneal catheter was advanced into the abdomen by inducing thread.Results All procedures were completed by laparoscopy successfully. There was no intraoperative complication or surgical mortality. Conclusion Laparoscopy is feasible, safe, and effective for peritoneal catheters placement.

Objective To determine the urinary polypeptide patterns of glomerulonephritis by magnetic bead separation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology. Methods Urinary samples of 29 healthy volunteers and 34 patients with glomerulonephritis, including 10 cases of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 10 cases of membranous nephropathy (MN), 9 cases of minimal change disease (MCD) and 5 cases of lupus nephritis (LN), were collected and separated by magnetic bead,and were screened for polypeptide patterns with a novel high throughput method, MALDI-TOF MS. Results Under the relative molecular weights 10 000 Da, 85 protein peaks were detected in healthy controls group and 109 protein peaks were detected in glomerulonephritis group. Six peaks of 3371.5 Da, 4026.35 Da, 4085.32 Da, 4116.96 Da, 4126.32 Da and 9527.31 Da were up-regulated,while 8 peaks of 861.28 Da, 1205.41 Da, 1642.52 Da, 1913.15 Da, 1976.52 Da, 2087.74 Da, 2193.47 Da and 3015.57 Da were down-regulated by more than 2 folds (P<0.01) in glomerulonephritis group as compared to healthy controls. Urinary polypeptide patterns in different diseases differed significantly from each other, indicating specific disease pattern of polypeptide excretion. Conclusions MALDI-TOF MS is a fast, convenient and high throughput analyzing method capable of screening some relative specific, potential biomarkers from the urine of glomerulonephritis patients thus it possesses better clinical value.

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of Skp2 in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and tissues, and explore its influence on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway and development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

METHODSThe expression levels of Skp2 and AR in different PCa cell lines were detected by Western blot. After knockdown of Skp2 in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells transfected with shRNA, the expressions of AR and P27 were determined and the activity of ARR3-Luc measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay following treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The expressions of AR and Skp2 in human naïve PCa or CRPC specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining followed by analysis of their differences and correlation.

RESULTSThe Skp2 protein expression level was significantly higher in the C4-2 or 22RV1 cells than in the LNCaP cells. DHT treatment increased the expression of Skp2 in the C4-2 cells, but knock-down of Skp2 significantly up-regulated the expression of the well-known downstream protein P27 and down-regulated that of AR. Consistently, DHT treatment increased the activity of ARR3-Luc, while knockdown of Skp2 remarkably decreased it in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher expressions of Skp2 and AR were observed in the CRPC than in the naïve specimens (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation between the two proteins (r = 0.658 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSkp2 can enhance the expression and transcription activity of the AR protein in CRPC cells or tissues and is promising to be a critical molecular therapeutic target.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dihydrotestosterone ; pharmacology ; Disease Progression ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; metabolism ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; physiology ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

0.05), but the level of albumin dropped significantly(P

BACKGROUND: Decompression-internal fixation is needed in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation accompanying with spinal compression caused by cranium-neck junction area malformation and other diseases.Different internal fixation methods are chosen according to different conditions, including anterior atlantoaxial internal fixation, posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation or occipitocervical internal fixation. Transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial plate internal fixation is a method for atlantoaxial anterior fixation. It is developed recently and used for difficult and complicated atlantoaxial dislocation induced by congenital disease, trauma or rheumatoid arthritis.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the clinical application of transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate system in the atlantoaxial dislocation caused by obsolete odontoid fracture.DESIGN: Single Sample observation SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Medical University of Chinese PLA PARTICIPANTS: Twelve patients with atlantoaxial dislocation caused by obsolete odontoid fracture were selected in the Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January 2003 to October 2005. Among them, 7 were male and 5 were female, they were aged 47 years on average ranging from 36 to 59 years. The mean injured time was 19 months ranging from 4.5 to 36 months; 6 patients were graded as C degree, 3 as D degree and 3 as E degree in Frank gradation.METHODS: Twelve obsolete odontoid fracture caused by atlantoaxial dislocation underwent transoralpharyngeal anterior decompression. Transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate system was used in reduction and fixation. Autogeneic ilium was implanted into bilateral articulatio atlantoepistrophica.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Frank gradation of patients at the 4th week after operation. ② whether the internal fixation is loose or not after operationRESULTS: ①Frank gradation at the 4th week after operation: Among the 6 patients who were primarily graded as C degree, 4 patients improved to be E degree and 2 patients D degree; Three patients who were primarily graded as D degree all improved to be E degree; Patients who were primarily graded as E degree did not changed. ② Except for one patient who suffered dislocation again for loosening of screw caused by tumble, the other patients had firm fixation, ideal fusion and satisfying spinal decompression.CONCLUSION: Transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate system finishes atlantoaxial reduction and fixation once. It avoids conducting posterior fusion fixation operation after anterior decompression. It also avoids fetal injury for spinal cord caused by extreme atlantoaxial unsteadiness in the process of movement and turning over.

Objective To discuss the value and experience of the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP)in the treatment of vertebral body compression fracture(VCF)in aged osteoperosis.Methods PVP was performed in 44 cases with VCF including 28 with single vertebral compressed fracture,12 with double compressed fracture and four with triple compressed fracture,with 67 vertebrae,for clinical and radiologieal evaluation.Results The mean follow-up was 15 months(4-23 months).There could be seen immediate relief of pain in 40 cases,out-of-bed activities at operation day in 19 and out-of-bed activ- ities at second day after operation in 25.Postoperative X-ray showed uniformly distributed bone cement in the vertebral,without leakage.Conclusion PVP is a recommendable method for VCF,for it has ad- vantages of pain relief,vertebrae stabilization,minimal invasion and minor complications.

Objective To evaluate the nutritional status of morbid obesity (MO) before and after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and the safety of LAGB.Methods LAGB was performed in 15 cases from Jun.2003 to Nov.2003.Patients′ nutritional parameters were determined before and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.Results There was a significant reduction of weight and body mass index (BMI) ( P 0.05).Conclusion No major nutritional deficiencies were found following LAGB.It is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVETo access the association of xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) Lys939Gln (A/C) and Ala499Val (C/T) polymorphisms with breast cancer risk in a Chinese Han population.

METHODS173 patients with breast cancer and 171 matched controls in terms of habitation and age (±5 years) were included in this population-based case-control study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was employed to genotyping the Lys939Gln and Ala499Val polymorphisms. Associations of genotypes of Lys939Gln and Ala499Val with breast cancer risk were evaluated using unconditional logistic regression model. Associations between XPC haplotypes and breast cancer risk were estimated by Haplo. Stats package.

RESULTNo significant associations were observed both in individual SNPs and haplotype analyses. However, there was a significant interaction between XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism and menopausal status (P=0.032).

CONCLUSIONThe XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism may modulate breast cancer susceptibility jointly with the menopausal status.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk ; Young Adult