Objective To compare the biomechanical properties of single-segment and two-segment fusion for Denis type B spinal fracture.Methods Two female patients with Denis type B L1 vertebral fracture were enrolled in this study.The 45-year-old patient (Frankel B) underwent posterior reduction and fixation with pedicle screw system plus anterior two-segment fusion and the 41-year-old patient (Frankel C) underwent posterior reduction and fixation with pedicle screw system plus anterior one-segment fusion.The intervertebral fusion was achieved in both patients 1 year after operation.CT data of the two patients at 1 year after surgery was collected,including data of 41-year-old patient before and after removal of pedicle screws and data of 45-year-old patient without removal of pedicle screws.These three sets of data were imported into the Mimics software to establish T11-L2 three dimensional models.After construction of the models,they were imported into ANSYS software.An axial load (260 N) and 10 Nm torque were loaded to simulate the flexion,extension,lateral bending and rotation of the spine,respectively.Meantime,under above 6 kinds of motion form,the average displacement of the spine and the average Von Mises stress of T11-12 intervertebral disc were recorded and compared.Results There was no significant difference in the average displacement of the spine between two-segment fusion patient and single-segment fusion patient without removal of pedicle screws.However,under all motion forms,the average displacement of the spine of single-segment fusion patient after removal of pedicle screws was significantly higher than that before removal of pedicle screws and that of two-segment fusion patient.The average Von Mises stress of T11-12 intervertebral discs of two-segment fusion patient was significantly higher than that of one-segment fusion patient.Moreover,the average Von Mises stress of T11-12 intervertebral discs of single-segment fusion patient before removal of pedicle screw was higher than that after removal of pedicle screw.Conclusion Under the premise of satisfactory interbody fusion,removal of pedicle screws after one-segment fusion can increase spinal motion,reduce the stress of the adjacent intervertebral discs and delay disc degeneration.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of external biplanar mini-fixator and limited internal fixation in treatment of severe midfoot fracture-dislocation.Methods Eight patients with severe midfoot fracture-dislocation were admitted from May 2009 to August 2012.They were 6 men and 2 women,28 to 57 years of age (average,35.4 years).According to the Gustilo classification,there were one type Ⅱand 7 cases of type Ⅲ.Two cases of midfoot fracture were complicated with dislocation of the transverse tarsal joint,4 with dislocation of the tarsometatarsal joint,and 2 with dislocation of both the transverse tarsal joint and the tarsometatarsal joint.The external biplanar mini-fixator was applied to stabilize and maintain lengths of the medial and lateral columns and normal geometry of the foot arch after reduction of the fracture-dislocation.K-wires were used if limited internal fixation was necessary.The external fixator was removed at 12 to 16 weeks postoperatively.The clinical treatment efficacy was assessed by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot scale and the visual analogue scale (VAS).Results The patients were followed up for an average of 13.4 months (from 10 to 24 months).Postoperative radiological films showed fine reduction of the fractures and dislocations.No reduction was lost after removal of external and internal fixations.They were able to walk independently and had good functional recovery of the injured feet without traumatic arthritis during the follow-up period.Their average AOFAS scores were 65.8 at 3 months after operation,71.3 at 6 months and 80.6 at 12 months; the average VAS scores were 7.5 at 3 months,4.3 at 6 months,and 1.2 at 12 months,respectively.Conclusion In treatment of severe midfoot fracture-dislocation,external biplanar mini-fixator combined with limited internal fixation can perfectly reconstruct and maintain the medial and lateral columns and normal geometry of the foot arch,preventing functional disability caused by foot malformation.

Laryngeal conservation surgery trys for more laryngeal function reservation in precondition of radical cure,and presently has been the main method of treating larygeal carcinoma.The article discusses the moral principle that should be followed in the course of developing conservation laryngeal surgery on the point of view of medical ethics.To get curative effect,the surgeons should possess high responsibility and masterly skill,and highly regard multi-discipline cooperation and multimodality therapies.

Objective To explore the pharmaceutical care plan of clinical pharmacist for elderly patients with coronary heart disease and renal insufficiency. Methods To develop the therapeutic schedule in cooperation with clinicians through clinical rounds, in order to offer specific pharmaceutical care and further develop individualized care plan during patient ' s hospitalization. Results Clinical pharmacists paid close attention to the indicators and adjusted administration time when the adverse reactions such as lower blood pressure, leukopenia, and deterioration of renal function occurred, and finally avoided further potential adverse reactions. Conclusion The incidence of adverse drug reactions were reduced, the safety and efficacy of drugs used were guaranteed, which can promote rational and effective use of drugs in clinic. The overall quality of healthcare was improved with pharmacist involvement.

A variety of views and approaches were found in the appraisal and judgments of the people's courts in various provinces and cities,on medical disputes involving absence of a hand or foot of newborns,which result in different or event contradictory court decisions.This study made an analysis of the characteristics,nature,and classification of such cases as well as countermeasures of medical institutions,with recommendations on rational and appropriate handling of such cases,for the purposes of legitimate rights maintenance of both doctors and patients,and promotion of mutual understanding between the two parities,and establishment of a harmonious doctor-patient relationship.

AIM:To investigate the effect of renal denervation ( RDN) by radiofrequency catheter ablation on the expression of aquaporins ( AQP) in dog kidneys .METHODS:Adult Chinese Kunming dogs ( n=12 ) were randomly divided into RDN group and control group (6 for each group).The dogs in RDN group underwent bilateral RDN using ra-diofrequency catheter ablation , and radiofrequency catheter was positioned in bilateral renal artery without ablation in con -trol group.The levels of norepinephrine (NE) and AQP1~3 in the renal tissues were detected 1 month after RDN, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed at baseline and 1 month after RDN.RESULTS: The level of NE in RDN group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).The expression of AQP1~3 in the renal cortex and medulla was lower in RDN group than that in control group .RDN also caused a substantial BP reduction (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:RDN substantially decreases the tissue levels of NE and AQP in dog kidneys , and also decreases BP sig-nificantly , which might be involved in the mechanism of BP reduction by RDN .Renal sympathetic nerve plays an excitatory role in the regulation of AQP in the kidney.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and outcome of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA).Methods Clinical data from 18 patients diagnosed as CA by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) from 1995 to 2005 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 18 patients with CA,all patients had reduced diastolic dysfunction; 12 had mitral valve early diastolic blood flow peak velocity/late diastolic blood flow peak velocity (E/A) ＞ 2.0 and ventricular diastolic early filling deceleration time (DT) ＜ 150 ms; 12 had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ＜50％ ; and 13 had New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ.The 1-year,3-year and 5-year survival rates of 18 patients with CA were 67％,44％ and 17％,respectively.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed,NYHA functional class ＞ Ⅱ,E/A ＞ 2.0 and DT ＜ 150 ms were associated with increased mortality (log-rank statistic P =0.026 and 0.001,respectively).CA patients with chemotherapy before heart failure were associated with decreased mortality and extend survival.Conclusions The mortality rate goes up and survival rate gradually descends as prolonged onset time.NYHA functional class ＞ Ⅱ and E/A ＞ 2.0 (DT ＜150 ms) are associated with mortality.

Objective To investigate the effect of isoflurane preconditioning on the expression of 5-lipoxy-genase (5-LOX) during focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Thirty-nine male adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =13 each):sham operation group (group S); focal cerebral I/R group (group I/R); isoflurane preconditioning group (group Ⅰ).Focal cerebral I/R was produced by mid-cerebral artery occlusion in anesthetized rats.The rats inhaled 2 h of 2％ isoflurane and focal cerebral I/R was produced 24 h later in group I.The neurological deficits were scored at 24 h of reperfusion.The animals were then sacrificed.The brains were immediately removed for determination of the infarct size.The expression of 5-LOX,myeloid differentiation factor88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) protein and mRNA was detected using Western blot and RT-PCR respectively.Results Compared with group S,the neurological deficit score was significantly increased,the infarct size was enlarged in groups I/R and I,the expression of 5-LOX,MyD88 and NF-κB protein and mRNA was up-regulated in group I/R,and the expression of 5-LOX mRNA and MyD88 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in group I (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group I/R,the neurological deficit score was significantly lower,the infarct size was smaller,and the expression of 5-LOX,MyD88 and NF-κB protein and mRNA was lower in group I (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Isoflurane preconditioning can reduce focal cerebral I/R injury by down-regulating the expression of 5-LOX and inhibiting MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats.

Objective:To investigate the effects of cyclic tensile stress on the function and degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells.Methods:The human primary nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured. The cyclic tensile stress (100 000 μ?, 10% tensile strain, 0.1 Hz, 8 640 cycles) was loaded on the cells for 24 h. The proliferation of the cells was examined by MTT method. The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected through flow cytometry. Gene expression profile chip was used to detect the differentially expressed genes between the tensile stress group and control group. The function of these gene was analyzed by bioinformatics. The expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β, matrix degrading enzymes and extracellular matrix molecules were examined by qRT-PCR.Results:The cyclic tensile stress significantly promoted proliferation and cell cycle of nucleus pulposus cells. The cell percentage of S phase ( t=5.336, P<0.05) and G2/M phase ( t=7.288, P<0.01) was significantly different between the tensile stress group and control group. The cyclic tensile stress inhibited apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (8.56%±0.48% vs 10.63%±0.32%, t=4.474, P<0.05). A total of 866 differentially expressed genes were detected. Gene ontology analysis showed the roles of these genes in cells including focal adhesion, extractable matrix, membrane raft, condensed chrome kinetochore, cytoskeleton, etc. The cyclic tensile stress significantly affected the mRNA expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β genes, matrix proteinase and extracellular matrix molecules. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of inflammatory related factors IL15 ( t=5.379, P<0.05), IGF1 ( t=5.454, P<0.05) and IGFBP7 ( t=13.57, P<0.01) were significantly decreased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of TGF-β genes TGFB1 ( t=6.931, P<0.05), TGFB2 ( t= 15.56, P<0.01) and TGFB3 ( t=7.744, P<0.05) were significantly increased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of matrix proteinase ADAMTS3 ( t=5.241, P<0.05) and MMP19 ( t=24.72, P<0.01) were significantly decreased, and TIMP3 ( t=8.472, P<0.01) increased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of extracellular matrix molecules COL2A1 ( t=5.871, P<0.05), FLRT2 ( t=5.216, P<0.05) and FN1 ( t=4.289, P<0.05) were significantly increased. Conclusion:The cyclic tensile stress promoted cell cycle and proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells. The cyclic tensile stress may affect the function and degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β, matrix degradation enzymes and ECM molecules.

Objective To investigate the effect of isoflurane preconditioning on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) signaling pathway in ischemic penumbra following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Fifty-four healthy male SD rats,aged 3 months,weighing 250-280 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =18 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group and isoflurane preconditioning group (group IP).Focal cerebral I/R was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion.In groups I/R and IP,a nylon thread with rounded tip was inserted into the right internal jugular vein and threaded cranially until resistance was met.The middle cerebral artery was occluded for 2 h,followed by 24 h reperfusion.In group IP,the animals inhaled 2.0％ isoflurane for 2 h,and middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed at 24 h after the end of preconditioning.Neurological deficit was scored at 24 h of reperfusion and then the rats were sacrificed.Five rats in each group were chosen and the brains removed for measurement of the cerebral infarct volume.The right cerebral ischemic penumbra was removed for detection of the expression of HSP60,TLR4,MyD88 protein and mRNA by Western blot analysis and real time-PCR.Apoptosis was detected in the ischemic penumbra in the left 3 rats in each group using TUNEL.Apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.Results Neurological deficit scores and AI were significantly increased,the cerebral infarct volume was significantly enlarged,and the expression of HSP60,TLR4,MyD88 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in groups I/R and IP as compared with group S ( P ＜ 0.05).Isoflurane preconditioning significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume and decreased neurological deficit scores and AI,and down-regulated the expression of HSP60,TLR4,MyD88 protein and mRNA (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The mechanisn by which isoflurane preconditioning protects ischenic penumbra following focal cerebral I/R may be related to inhibition of TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway.