Objective To determine whether concentrations of plasma homocysteine and status of folate and vitamin B12 were altered in patients with heroin dependence compared with control subjects. Methods We recruited 20 patients with heroin addiction. Twenty age-and sex-matched healthy volunteers as the control group were enrolled. Blood concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 were measured in a fasted status. Results Mean homocysteine level was higher in the heroindependence group than in the control group [18.3 ± 4.5 (Q1 = 14.7, Q2 = 17.6, Q3 = 19.2) vs. 8.4 ± 2.7 (Q1 = 5.9, Q2 = 8.5, Q3 = 10.5) μmol/L, P < 0.001]. Patients in heroinaddictiongroup had signi cantly lower folate levels compared with the control group [6.6 ± 2.6 (Q1=4.6, Q2=6.4, Q3=8.1) vs. 12.7 ± 2.5 (Q1 = 11.1, Q2 = 13.0, Q3 = 17.5) ng/mL, P < 0.001]. There was significant difference on plasma B12 concentrations between heroin users and controls [384.1 ± 228.8 (Q1=312.0, Q2=348.5, Q3=374.5) vs. 399.4 ± 45.1 (Q1=358.0, Q2=394.5, Q3=428.3) Pg/mL, P < 0.001]. Heroin users group demonstrated a negative correlation of homocysteine with folate , which was statistically significant in heroin users groups (r = - 0.614; P = 0.004), there was a trend towards a negative correlation of homocysteine with B12 in heroin users (r = -0.605; P = 0.005), respectively. Conclusions We conclude that patients with heroin dependence are prone to high concentration of plasma homocysteine.

This paper summarizes and analyzes the needling sequences in clinical practice. It is concluded that between the cardinal acupoints and adjunct acupoints, the former ones are first needled; in the emergency conditions, the branch (biao) acupoints are first needled; in the chronic diseases, the root (ben) are first needled; as to several diseases, the first-happened disease is first treated; furthermore, the needling sequence also depends upon the treatment method, and the acupoints of special functions are first needled.

0.05). Conclusion Acellular nerve allograft may be a substitute to autograft repairing facial nerve defects.

Objective:To evaluate the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of transcription factor PAX5 in promoting cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells.Methods:a PAX5 knockdown cell line was established by stable transfection of vector-based PAX5-siRNA into multiple myeloma IM9 cells.The expressing level of PAX5,p53,XBP-1 and c-Myc was examined by either or both Western blot and RT-PCR for the targets.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assayed by MTT and flow cytometry,respectively.Results:PAX5 was expressed selectively in IM9 cells,but neither in another common used multiple myeloma KAS6 cells nor in the prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC3.Knockdown PAX5 led to a significant up-regulation of p53 and XBP1,but decreased c-Myc expressions in IM9 cells that were correlated with the increased sensitivity of drug-induced apoptosis and decreased proliferation rates when compared to the control cells.Conclusion:PAX5 is specifically expressed in IM9 cells,which promotes cell proliferation and anti drug-induced apoptosis.In addition to inhibiting the expression of p53 and XBP-1,PAX5 is found to induce expression of oncogene c-Myc in IM9 cells,and this finding indicates an undiscovered signal pathway that may contributes to the malignancy of Multiple Myeloma cells.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficiency of partial splenic embolization on portal hypertension patients of hepatocellulocarcinoma(HCC).Methods 110 patients of hepatocellulocarcinoma with portohypertension were treated with 1-3 times of TACE, and partial splenic embolization, with PVA of 355～500 ?m injecting into the arteries of inferior splenic pole. In order to control the area of splenic embolization, multi-embolizations were done according to the various conditions. Results 172 times of embolization were performed in 110 patients involving 134 times of fever lasting for 3-30 days and 126 times of bellyache with 27 times appealing for morphine. Treatable hydrothorax appeared in six, and no serious complications occurred. The area of embolization covered 30%～60%. WBC and BPC counts were increased after the 24 hour (P

Objective To discuss the clinical value of preoperative embolization of vertebral tumors. Methods Data of 54 patients were retrospectively studied. Thirteen lesions were in the cervical, 17 in the thoracic, 15 in the lumber and 9 in the sacral regions. The vertebral tumors were embolized prior to operation with gelatin sponge particles, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles or coils. Surgical operations were performed within 1-7 days after the embolization. Results Totally 79 vessels of 43 patients were embolized, which included ascending cervical artery,1;vertebral artery,1;intercostal artery,39; lumber artery,19;internal iliac artery,15 and median sacral artery,4. Intraoperative hemorrhage showed a mean value of 1312 ml with range of 300-3000 ml in patients after embolization, and a mean value of 2375 ml with range of 1500-5000ml in patients without embolization at the same period(P

Objective To search for a better way than DSA to display the bronchial arterial (BA) supply of spinal cord, esophagus, trachea, etc., and for further evaluation of BA supply to the above structures, along with reducing the complications of trans-BA infusion and/or embolization. Methods Multislice CT angiography of BA (BA-MSCTA) was performed on 19 patients suffering from lung cancer or hemoptysis due to bronchiectasis after undergoing digital subtraction angiography BA (BA-DSA). Totally 10ml of 45% contrast medium was injected into BA (1～2 ml/s), BA-MSCTA was started 5 s after the injection, scanning from low cervical region to the bottom of lung (collimation: 5 mm; no overlapping reconstruction ). The intra-spinal canal, esophagus, trachea, etc. were enhanced. Results On BA-DSA, except one case in which a bronchial artery was faintly displayed, no spinal artery, intra-spinal canal, esophagus or trachea enhancement could be demonstrated. While on BA-MSCTA, intra-spinal canal associated with an intercostobronchial trunk enhancement due to truncus formation were observed in seven cases, including five cases of spinal enhancement (5/19,26.3%). 15 cases of esophageal enhancement and 18 cases of tracheal enhancement were also observed. Conclusion BA-CTA is superior to BA-DSA in displaying the BA supply of spinal cord, esophagus, trachea, etc.. Spinal arteries are more likely to appear in intercostobronchial truncus cases.

Objective To analyze the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting. Methods The average time duration from transplantation to the on set symptom of TRAS was 6.9 months (3 - 18 months) in 35 TRAS patients. BP and creatinine level were recorded before and after the procedure. PTA was performed through contralateral femoral or left brachial approach with ordinary balloon (5 F, length 20 ～ 30 mm) and / or small balloon catheters (2. 6 F, length 36 mm) in all patients, and stents were embedded in 11 of them. Results A total of 46 PTA were successfully performed (1 time, 20 cases; 2 times, 12 cases, and 3 times, 3 cases) via contralateral femoral approach (26) and left brachial approach (15). Stenosis were significantly decreased from 75% ～ 98% pre-PTA to 10% ～ 30% post-PTA.Systolic pressure decreased from 170 mmHg (150 ～ 210 mmHg) pre-PTA to 135 mmHg (100 - 190 mmHg) post-PTA and diastolic pressure decreased from 120 mmHg (90 - 145 mmHg) to 85 mmHg (80 - 125 mmHg) respectively. Restenosis rates were 39% after first PTA and 15% after the second time. All 46 times of PTA used 26 ordinary balloon catheters and 20 microballoon catheters. 8 self-expandable stents (Wallstent) and 3 balloon-dilatation stents (Palmaz) were released in 11 cases. There were healed case (n = 11) , melioration (n = 15), improvement (n = 7), and inefficiency (n = 2) after follow - up of 23 months (3 - 60 month). No complication occured except puncture site hematoma via the brachial artery approach in 1 case. Conclusions PTA is safe and effective in the treatment of TRAS and high rate of procedure success may be achieved with the help of brachial approach and micro-balloon catheter.Reasonable use of stents is beneficial in decreasing the restenosis.

BACKGROUND:Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) plays an important role in cellgrowth, proliferation and differentiation. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), as the main binding protein of IGF1, is involved in the regulation of IGF1.
OBJECTIVE:To attempt to analyze the relation of IGFBP-3 and various diseases, and to explore the potential values of IGFBP-3 in disease diagnosis and risk assessment.
METHODDatabases of PubMed, Science Direct and Wanfang database were retrieved with key words of“insulin-like growth factors 1;IGFBP-3;cancer;growth hormone deficiency;diabetes;osteoporosis”in English and Chinese, respectively, by screening titles and abstracts to search papers related to IGFBP-3 structure and function as wel as relationship of IGFBP-3 with cancer, growth hormone deficiency, diabetes, osteoporosis. Final y, 43 articles were summarized according to inclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In recent years, the relationship between gene of IGFBP-3 and risk of cancer is becoming a hot research topic. The results show that IGFBP-3 is a protective agent of cancer risk, and it is an important factor in evaluating the risk of cancer, exhibiting a potential application value. IGFBP-3 is also associated with growth hormone deficiency and diabetes. In addition, IGFBP-3 can assist IGF-1 to play the regulatory role in bone growth and differentiation, which is closely linked with osteoporosis. Therefore, IGFBP-3 can be a potential predictor for osteoporosis.

Objective To study the clinical effects of different surgical treatments for laryngotracheal steno-sis .Methods The clinical data of 56 patients with laryngotracheal stenosis from July 2006 to July 2014 were ana-lyzed .Of all 56 cases ,7 cases were children ,49 cases were aducts ;9 cases underwent CO2 laser resection ,5 cases underwent temperature controlled radiofrequency ablation and 5 cases received laryngeal mold under self -retaining laryngoscope ,6 cases received Keel placement after laryngofissure ,23 cases received T -shape tube implantation af-ter laryngoplasty or tracheoplasty and 8 cases underwent end-to -end tracheal anastomosis after cervical tracheoto-my .Results All the patients had been followed up for 6 months to 2 years postoperatively .Thirty nine cases of 56 were cured after single-operation ,and 10 of 56 were cured after repeated operations .No one suffered from laryn-gotracheal stenosis again .Five cases failed and survived with tracheal tube .2 cases lost to follow -up .No people die or had complications .Among all cases ,5 cases with laryngeal mold and 8 cases with tracheal anastomosis were cured after single-operation .Among 9 cases with lasere scar removal surgery ,5 cases were cured after an operation ,3 cases were cured after two operations ,1 case failed because of laryngeal cancer recurrence .Among 5 case with tem-perature controlled radiofrequency ablation ,3 cases were cured afrter an operation ,1 case was cured after two opera-tions ,1 case had no effect .Among 6 cases with keel place -ment ,4 cases were cured after one operation ,1 case was cured after two operations ,1 case had no effect .Among 23 cases with T -shape tube implantation ,14 cases were cured after an operstion ,5 cases were cured after two and more operations ,2 cases had no effects and 2 cases were lost .Conclusion In order to improve the therapeutic effects of laryngotracheal stenosis ,the treatment strategy should be personalized according to the degree of stenosis ,the position of stemtis ,and the impairment of laryngotra-cheal framework .