Objective To evaluate the biomechanical effect of cortical screw support technique in fixation of the femoral neck fractures. Methods The models of subcapital femoral neck fracture were made in eight matched pairs of embamled cadaver femurs and decided into experiment group and control group (four pairs per group). The side of experiment group was fixed using three cannulated compression screws with cortical screw support and that of control group with conventional screw placement. The speci-mens in two groups were tested in aspects of torsion and axial loading. Results In axial load test at load of 600 N and 800 N, the displacements in cortical screw support group were (0.677±0.135) mm and (0.907±0.132) mm respectively, while those of femoral head in conventional screw placement group were (0.899±0.160) mm and (1.202±0.152) nun respectively (P <0.05). There was signifi-cant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The maximal vertical loading for failure of the fixa-tion was (2 782±228) N in cortical screw support group and (1 950±281) N in conventional screw placement group (P < 0.01). In torsibility test at 4° and 6° torsibility, the torque-moments of cortical screw support group were (10.406±1.515) Nm and (15.328 ±1.471) Nm respectively and those of conventional screw placement group (6.628±1.163) Nm and (9.072±1.570) Nm respectively, with statistical difference between two groups (P <0.01). The maximal torque-moment for failure of the fixa-tion was (25.437±5.213) Nm in cortical screw support group and (13.235±3.012) Nm in conven-tional screw placement group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Fixation of femoral neck fractures by using cortical screw support can significantly enhance anti-torsion and anti-compression of internal fixation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of natural killer T cells (NKT) in the pathogenesis and staging of endometriosis (EMT).

METHODSSixty EMT cases of stages I to IV were enrolled as the observation group, and 20 healthy volunteers served as the control group. NKT percentages in the peripheral blood and peritoneal effusions were detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were examined using ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, EMT group showed significantly lowered NKT percentages and IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in both the peripheral blood and peritoneal effusions (P<0.05). In EMT patients, NKT percentages, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels all increased significantly with the stage of EMT in the order of I>II>III>IV (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that NKT, IFN-γ and IL-4 were all inversely correlated with the stage of EMT (r>0.06, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs a protective factor against EMT, NKT, together with its cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4, play an important role in EMT and is closely correlated with EMT staging.

Case-Control Studies ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; metabolism

PURPOSE: Hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures still represent a challenge to trauma surgeons and have a very high mortality. This study was designed to explore the effect of the interventions of direct preperitoneal pelvic packing for the hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 67 cases of severe pelvic fractures with unstable hemodynamics from October 2011 to December 2019. All patients presented in our emergency center and received preperitoneal pelvic packing were included in this study. The indication was persistent systolic blood pressure ≤90 mmHg during initial resuscitation and after transfusion of two units of red blood cells. Patients with hemodynamic stability who need no preperitoneal pelvic packing to control bleeding were excluded. Their demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory results, therapeutic interventions, adverse events, and prognostic outcomes were collected from digital information system of electronic medical records. Statistics were described as mean ± standard deviation or medium and analyzed using pair sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The patients' average age was 41.6 years, ranging from 10 to 88 years. Among them, 45 cases were male (67.2%) and 22 cases were female (32.8%). Significant difference was found regarding the systolic blood pressure (mmHg) in the emergency department (78.4 ± 13.9) and after preperitoneal pelvic packing in the surgery intensive care unit (100.1 ± 17.6) (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the arterial base deficit (mmol/L) were significantly lower in the surgery intensive care unit (median -6, interquartile range -8 to -2) than in the emergency department (median -10, interquartile range -14 to -8) (p < 0.05). After preperitoneal pelvic packing, 15 patients (22.4%) underwent pelvic angiography for persistent hypotension or suspected ongoing haemorrhage. The overall mortality rate was 29.5% (20 of 67). CONCLUSIONS Preperitoneal pelvic packing, as a useful surgical technique, is less invasive and can be very efficient in early intra-pelvic bleed control.