Based on reservoir condition and fluid characteristics, the oil-degrading bacterial strain NX-2 was screened from Ma-2 fault block of Huabei oil field. Bacterial metabolism and the capability of improving oil property were evaluated on oxygen-deficient condition. At 87℃ which reservoir temperature is, artificial homogeneous core displacement experiment indicated the enhanced oil recovery of microbe was 7.1% higher than that of waterflooding. In experiment on individual well Ma-410, additional oil production of 669 tons was gained, and decreased water production of this trial well reached more than 3000 tons. These results demonstrated NX-2 could adapt to stratum conditions, enhance oil recovery and improve oil property as well.

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new flap for the repair of soft tissue defects in the hand.

METHODSThe distally pedicled ulnar flap is based on the ascending branch of the upper-wrist cutaneous branch of the ulnar artery. The retrograde flow is ensured by the dorsal carpal arch via the descending branch.

RESULTSFrom 2000 to 2003, the flap was used to treat 8 cases of hand defects, including 3 dorsal defects, 2 palmar defects and 3 the first web defects. All flaps survived and the appearance was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSThe reverse forearm flap pedicled with the ulnar branch of the ulnar artery provides a long vascular pedicle. The donor site scar is aesthetically acceptable.

Adult ; Female ; Forearm ; surgery ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Ulnar Artery ; surgery ; Wrist

The aim of the study is to establish a new method of quality evaluation and validate its feasibilities by the simultaneous quantitative assay of four lignanoids in Schisandra chinensis. A new quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS), was established and validated with Schisandra chinensis. Four main lignanoids, schisandrin, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin and gamma-schizandrin, were selected as analytes and schisandrin as internal reference substance to evaluate the quality. Their contents in 13 different batches of samples, collected from different bathes, were determined by both external standard method and QAMS. The method was evaluated by comparison of the quantitative results between external standard method and QAMS. No significant differences were found in the quantitative results of four lignanoids in 13 batches of S. chinensis determined by external standard method and QAMS. QAMS is feasible for determination of four lignanoids simultaneously when some authentic standard substances were unavailable, and the developed method can be used for quality control of S. chinensis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cyclooctanes ; analysis ; Dioxoles ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Lignans ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polycyclic Compounds ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess occlusal balance of normal occlusion in intercuspal position with maximal bite force.

METHODSMaximal bite force was recorded in intercuspal position by use of T-Scan II system from 123 subjects with normal intact dentitions. Occlusal balance of normal occlusion was quantitatively analyzed from center of force, percentage of bite force, and occlusal contacts.

RESULTSThe relative position of the center of bite force, the difference in bilateral force percentage, and unsymmetrical coefficient followed normal distributions. The 95% reference ranges for corresponding testing items were -6.60 to 6.68 mm, -15.50% to 12.10%, and 0.65 to 1.39. There was no statistic difference (P = 0.915) in occlusal contacts between left and right sides. The 98.4% of normal occlusion subjects had the center of bite force locating in posterior region of dentition when biting with maximal force in intercuspal position.

CONCLUSIONSOcclusal balance could be evaluated by T-Scan II system. Occlusion of normal subjects biting with maximal force was stable and bilaterally balanced in intercuspal position.

Adolescent ; Bite Force ; Dental Occlusion, Balanced ; Dental Stress Analysis ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaw Relation Record ; Male ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the prevalence, blood pressure change in prehypertensive population and associated cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODSData from a prehypertensive cohort defined with the JNC-7 prehypertension diagnostic criteria were obtained in the employees of kailuan group during the health examination between 2006 to 2007 and the same population was revisited between 2008 to 2009 to observe the change of blood pressure and the associated determinants for blood pressure change.

RESULTS(1) There were 25 474 prehypertensive during the 1(st) visit and 8361 subjects developed hypertension during the 2(nd) visit (35.3% in men and 23.3% in women, 27.2% with baseline blood pressure 120 - 129/80 - 84 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and 43.8% with baseline blood pressure 130 - 139/85 - 89 mm Hg, 34.3% with risk factors and 19.9% without risk factors). (2) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of blood pressure progression with a RR (95%CI) of 1.052 (1.048 - 1.056), 1.009 (1.006 - 1.013), 1.023 (1.021 - 1.026), 1.063 (1.052 - 1.074), 1.554 (1.442 - 1.675), 1.036 (1.029 - 1.043), 1.064 (1.037 - 1.093), 1.043 (1.024 - 1.062), 1.041 (1.021 - 1.062) and 1.035 (1.000 - 1.072), respectively.

CONCLUSIONA third (32.8%) prehypertensive population progressed into hypertension after two years, baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of predicting blood pressure progression.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prehypertension ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUNDAlemtuzumab, a humanized CD52 monoclonal antibody, with its profound lymphocyte depletion property, was expected to be a promising induction therapy agent for kidney transplantation (KTx). However, currently no consensus is available about its efficacy and safety. The aim of this meta-analysis was to make a profound review and an objective appraisal of this issue.

METHODSRelevant papers were searched, essentially in the PubMed database and the Cochrane library. After a thorough review, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the outcome of KTx using alemtuzumab induction therapy (test group) with a control group were collected according to the inclusion criteria. Data of general characteristic of studies and major outcomes of Ktx were extracted and meta-analyses were performed with RevMan 4.2 software. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence intervals (CI) was the principle measurement of effect.

RESULTSFive RCTs were included. The chi square test showed no significant between-study heterogeneity, thus fixed effect model was employed. Sub-group analysis with studies including alemtuzumab induction followed by a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen showed that the acute rejection rate (ARR) was lower relative to the control (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.34 - 1.01, P = 0.05). However, meta-analysis with all included studies revealed that neither ARR nor patient/graft survival rates differ significantly between the test and the control group, but the cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection rate was higher in the test group (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.22 - 5.12, P = 0.01). A great number of the test group recipients safely remained on a regimen that was steroid-free and with a reduced dose of conventional immunosuppressive drugs.

CONCLUSIONSAlemtuzumab induction therapy for KTx was an effective and safe protocol in the tested follow-up period. Steroid avoidance and a dose reduction of conventional immunosuppressive drugs after alemtuzumab induction therapy may have clinical importance. However, high quality RCTs with larger population and longer follow-up are needed for a more accurate and objective appraisal of this novel protocol.

Alemtuzumab ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; economics ; immunology ; methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Survival Rate

Objective: To explore the incidence and risk factors of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) for in-hospital atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Methods: A total of 303 in-hospital AF patients were studied. Based on MMSE score evaluation, the patients were divided into 2 groups: Non-VCI group, n=216 and VCI group, n=87. The incidence of VCI was assessed and different cognitive functions were studied by uni- and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Compared with Non-VCI group, the patients in VCI group had the elder age, higher proportion of CHA2DS2-VASC score ≥ 2, more with persistent/permanent AF, more combining diabetes and heart failure (HF), more had increased systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, left atrial (LA) diameter and serum creatinine; less male and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, P<0.05 and P<0.001. The occurrence rate of VCI for in-hospital patients was 40.3％, with age and CHA2DS2-VASC score increasing, the incidence of VCI was elevating and the occurrence rates in female was higher than male, the patients with persistent/permanent AF was higher than paroxysmal AF, P<0.05 and P<0.001. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (OR=-0.1135, 95％ CI -0.1708 to -0.0562, P=0.0001), female (OR=-1.2528, 95％ CI -2.2056 to -0.3000, P=0.0105), education [primary school level (OR=3.2193, 95％ CI 1.844-4.5940, P<0.0001),middle school and above level (OR=5.9104, 95％ CI 4.6055-7.2154, P<0.0001)], HF (OR=-1.9357, 95％ CI -3.5522 to-0.3192, P=0.0196), stroke (OR=-1.6349, 95％ CI -2.7517 to -0.5181, P=0.0044) and LA diameter (OR=-0.1252, 95％ CI-0.1962 to -0.0541, P=0.0006) were related to VCI occurrence in hospitalized AF patients. Conclusion: The incidence of VCI was high in hospitalized AF patients; elder age, female, lower education, HF, stroke and enlarged LA diameter were the risk factors for VCI occurrence in AF patients.

BACKGROUNDThe lateral pillar of the femoral head is an important site for disease development such as osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The femoral head consists of medial, central, and lateral pillars. This study aimed to determine the biomechanical effects of early osteonecrosis in pillars of the femoral head via a finite element (FE) analysis.

METHODSA three-dimensional FE model of the intact hip joint was constructed from the image data of a healthy control. Further, a set of six early osteonecrosis models was developed based on the three-pillar classification. The von Mises stress and surface displacements were calculated for all models.

RESULTSThe peak values of von Mises stress in the cortical and cancellous bones of normal model were 6.41 MPa and 0.49 MPa, respectively. In models with necrotic lesions in the cortical and cancellous bones, the von Mises stress and displacement of lateral pillar showed significant variability: the stress of cortical bone decreased from 6.41 MPa to 1.51 MPa (76.0% reduction), while cancellous bone showed an increase from 0.49 MPa to 1.28 MPa (159.0% increase); surface displacements of cortical and cancellous bones increased from 52.4 μm and 52.1 μm to 67.9 μm (29.5%) and 61.9 μm (18.8%), respectively. In addition, osteonecrosis affected not only pillars but also adjacent structures in terms of the von Mises stress and surface displacement levels.

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggested that the early-stage necrosis in the femoral head could increase the risk of collapse, especially in lateral pillar. On the other hand, the cortical part of lateral pillar was found to be the main biomechanical support of femoral head.

BACKGROUNDLateral compartmental osteoarthritis (LCOA), a major complication after medial mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), is highly associated with the increased stress of the lateral compartment. This study aimed to analyze the effects on the stress and load distribution of the lateral compartment induced by lower limb alignment and coronal inclination of the tibial component in UKA through a finite element analysis.

METHODSEight three-dimensional models were constructed based on a validated model for analyzing the biomechanical effects of implantation parameters on the lateral compartment after medial Oxford UKA: postoperative lower limb alignment of 3° valgus, neutral and 3° varus, and the inclination of tibial components placed in 4°, 2° valgus, square, and 2° and 4° varus. The contact stress of femoral and tibial cartilage and load distribution were calculated for all models.

RESULTSIn the 3° valgus lower limb alignment model, the contact stress of femoral (3.38 MPa) and tibial (3.50 MPa) cartilage as well as load percentage (45.78%) was highest compared to any other model, and was increased by 36.75%, 47.70%, and 27.63%, respectively when compared to 3° varus. In the condition of a neutral position, the outcome was comparable for the different tibial tray inclination models. The inclination did not greatly affect the lateral compartmental stress and load distribution.

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggested that slightly varus (undercorrection) lower limb alignment might be a way to prevent LCOA in medial mobile-bearing UKA. However, the inclination (4° varus to 4° valgus) of the tibial component in the coronal plane would not be a risk factor for LCOA in neutral position.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of modified suspension reduction method combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. METHODS: From February 2020 to October 2021, 92 patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into the observation group and the control group. The observation group was treated with modified suspension reduction and then percutaneous vertebroplasty, while the control group was treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty alone. The observation group (47 cases), including 20 males and 27 females, the age ranged from 59 to 76 years old with an average of (69.74±4.50) years old, fractured vertebral bodies:T₁₀(2 cases), T₁₁(7 cases), T₁₂(19 cases), L₁(14 cases), L₂(5 cases);the control group(45 cases), including 21 males and 24 females, the age ranged from 61 to 78 years old with an average of (71.02±3.58) years old, fractured vertebral bodies:T₁₀(3 cases), T₁₁(8 cases), T₁₂(17 cases), L₁(12 cases), L₂(5 cases);The leakage of bone cement were observed, the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry lumbar dysfunction index (ODI), anterior vertebrae height (AVH), Cobb angle of kyphosis and the amount of bone cement injected before and after operation were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: All patients were followed up, ranged from 6 to10 with an average of (8.45±1.73) months. Two patients ocurred bone cement leakage in observation group and 3 patients in control group. AVH of observation group increased (P<0.05) and Cobb angle of injured vertebrae decreased (P<0.05). Cobb angle of injured vertebrae and AVH of the control group were not significantly changed (P>0.05). Cobb angle of injured vertebrae of the observation group was lower than that of control group (P<0.05) and AVH was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the observation group, VAS before operation and 1 week, 3 and 6 months after operation respectively were(7.32±1.05) scores, (3.56±1.18) scores, (1.83±0.67) scores, (1.27±0.34) scores, and ODI were(40.12±14.69) scores, (23.76±10.19) scores, (20.15±6.39) scores, (13.45±3.46) scores. In the control group, VAS before operation and 1 week, 3 and 6 months after operation respectively were(7.11±5.26) scores, (3.82±0.68) scores, (1.94±0.88) scores, (1.36±0.52) scores, and ODI were(41.38±10.23) scores, (25.13±14.22) scores , (20.61±5.82) scores, (14.55±5.27) scores . The scores of VAS and ODI after operation were lower than those before operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Modified suspension reduction method combined with PVP surgery for osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures has achieved good clinical results, which can effectively relieve lumbar back pain, restore vertebral height, correct kyphosis, improve lumbar function and patients' quality of life.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Bone Cements/therapeutic use* ; Vertebroplasty/methods* ; Fractures, Compression/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Kyphosis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies