Objective To explore the effect of anterior decompression plus posterior intradural release in treatment of old thoracolumbar fractures with paraparesis. Methods A total of 22 patients with old thoracolumbar fractures with paraparesis were admitted to our hospital since January 2004 to Jan-uary 2008. Before admission, all patients were treated with decompression and internal fixation with pos-terior pedicle system, with bony compression to the spinal cord found through CT scanning and intact spi-nal cord found by MRI but without obvious neurofunction recovery. Of all, 20 patients were kept with the original posterior fixation except for two patients that were fixed with Z-plate after removal of posterior hardware. Autologous bone grafts from iliac were utilized in all patients. Intradural release was done 3-6 months after anterior decompression. Results Of all, 19 patients were followed up for 17-49 months (average 28 months). Twenty patients obtained varied recovery of neurofunction after anterior decompres-sion, with ASIA motor scores increasing from average 59.4 points before decompression to 71.3 after de-compression. The followed-up patients won further recovery after secondary posterior intradural release, with ASIA motor scores further increasing to average 80.6 points. Conclusion For patients with old thoracolumbar fractures combined with paraparesis, the release of intradural sear and fibrocompression is also important besides anterior decompression.

Objective To analyze the retrieval of master and doctorial dissertations entitledsystematic review/meta analysis in domestic universities of traditional Chinese medicine. Methods Master and doctorial dissertations entitledsystematic review/meta analysis in domestic universities of traditional Chinese medicine retrieved from China Dissertation Full-text Database were analyzed using Excel and SPSS 17. 0,respectively. Results Of the 423 master and doctorial dissertations included in this study,71. 9% were retrieved from both Chinese and English databases, 27. 7% were retrieved from Chinese databases,82. 8% were retrieved from two or more Chinese databases,54. 1% were retrieved from two or more English databases. The most frequently retrieved Chinese database was CKNI, followed by VIP, CBM and Wanfang. The most frequently retrieved English database was PubMed, followed by Cochrane Library, EMBASE and OVID. Conclusion The low use of traditional Chinese medicine databases is the main prob-lem in retrieval of master and doctorial dissertations entitledsystematic review/meta analysis in domestic univer-sities of traditional Chinese medicine. No significant difference is found in retrieved doctorial dissertations and mas-ter dissertations between 211and non-211 universities of traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND:For the treatment of distal tibial fractures, open reduction and plate fixation, minimal y invasive percutaneous plate fixation and intramedul ary nail fixation are effective, but each has advantages and disadvantages. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of intramedul ary nail combined with blocking screws versus minimal y invasive percutaneous plate fixation in treating distal tibial fractures. METHODS:Fifty-one cases of distal tibial fractures were divided into two groups. The blocking screw group (23 cases) was treated with closed reduction and internal fixation with interlocking nail combined with blocking screws. The plate fixation group (28 cases) was treated with minimal y invasive percutaneous plate fixation. Fracture healing time, recovery of tibial function and complication occurrence were observed during fol ow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were fol owed up for 8 to 32 months. (1) Except one patient in the plate fixation group, the other patients had bony union. The healing time was (4.6±1.7) months in the blocking screw group and (6.9±2.3) months in the plate fixation group. Significant differences in healing time were detected between the two groups (P<0.05). (2) The excel ent and good rate of tibial function recovery was significantly higher in the blocking screw group (100%) than in the plate fixation group (82%) (P<0.05). (3) No significant difference in the incidence of adverse events was determined between the blocking screw group (13%) and plate fixation group (18%) (P>0.05). (4) Results suggested that interlocking intramedul ary nail combined with blocking screw fixation in the treatment of distal tibial fractures can promote fracture healing and joint function recovery.

Objective To investigate whether rosuvastatin has the effects of anti-oxidative stress and attenuates vascular endothelial adhesiveness on the vessel wall in apolipoprotein E(apoE)knockedout mice. Methods Eighty 8-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and twenty 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice,were fed a normal chow diet for 12 weeks,and were divided into 2 weeks treatment group and 6 weeks treatment group.apoE knocked-out mice were subcutaneously injected with rosuvastatin at a dose of 1, 5, or 20 mg/kg daily for 2 or 6 weeks prior to sacrifice.Blood sample was taken by cardiopuncture and the aorta was obtained at the end of the 2th or 6th weeks. Results Total cholesterol level was significantly decreased after 2 or 6 weeks of 5,or 20 mg/kg rosuvastatin treatment[2 weeks:(480.7±35.3)mmol/L,(371.5±27.1)mmol/L;6 weeks:(400.1±37.6)mmol/L,(305.0±19.3)mmol/L],compared with 0 mg/kg group(20 weeks:(675.0±42.0)mmol/L;6weeks:(660.0±44.3)mmol/L](P＜0.05 or 0.01).But the changes of triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein were not like the above.The endothelial adhesiveness for monocytes was significantly attenuated after 2 weeks in 20 mg/kg group versus 0 mg/kg group[(2.24±0.72)%vs.(3.76 ±2.53)%](P＜0.05),and even more significantly after 6 weeks in 5,20 mg/kg groups[(1.94±0.40)%,(3.95±2.61)%](P＜0.01).In addition,rosuvastatin inhibited vascular expression of p22phox and superoxide production[0 mg/kg for 6 weeks group:(3.22±1.53)%,(4.75±2.62)μg/L;20 mg/kg for 6 weeks group:(1.41±0.72)%,(2.72±0.88)μg/L](all P＜0.05). Conclusions Rosuvastatin has a role of anti-oxidative stress and attenuates vascular endothelial adhesiveness on the vessel wall.

Objective To explore the incidence of tibial plateau fracture with ligament injuries and the early diagnosis and management of the condition. Methods Fifty seven cases of tibial plateau fractures which had been treated operatively from Jan. 2001 to Jun.2003 and had satisfactory reduction of the articular surface were reviewed. The stability of their knee joints was analyzed. Results The follow up lasted 6 to 30 months with an average of 15 months. The incidence of knee unstability was low. The four potential reasons for the postoperative knee stability were found to be: 1) the low prevalence of ligament injury with displaced fractures of tibial plateau; 2) incomplete ligament disruption or mild ligament injury; 3) anatomic reduction and rigid internal fixation; 4) fine and detailed plan for immobilization and functional exercise. Conclusion The prevalence of complete ligament disruption is low, and nonoperative management can result in satisfactory outcomes for tibial plateau fracture with incomplete ligament injury.

Objective To analyze the causes of postoperative step off of the tibial plateau fracture and to suggest strategies to cope with them. Methods 57 cases of tibial plateau fracture who had been treated operatively in our department from January 2001 to June 2003 with satisfactory reduction of the articular surface were reviewed. Their radiograms were analyzed. Results The follow ups lasted 6 to 30 months (average 15 months). Postoperative step off rate was 28.1%in all the cases according to radiological step off criteria. (A depression of the articular surface more than 3 millimeters or malalignment of the extremity more than 5 degrees is considered as step off.). Six causes of loss of reduction were: 1) more than sixty years of age, 2) severe osteoporosis, 3) preoperative displacement and fracture fragmentation, 4) poor anti shearing strength of screw and plate, 5) loose bonegraft, and 6) premature weight bearing. Conclusions The key points to enhance the outcome include precise judgment of the type of fracture, sufficient amount of bonegraft, rigid internal fixation after anatomic reduction and an appropriate plan for performing early, loadless, functional exercise. The traumatic osteoarthritis may be avoided or deferred if the above mentioned six causes can be taken into full consideration or preventive measures can be taken.

Objective·To observe the effects of gingipain extract on the biological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell HN6.Methods·The HN6 cell line was selected,cultivated,and divided into different groups based on the protein concentration of gingipain extract from Porphyromonas gingivalis:control group,3.125 μg/mL group,6.25 μg/mL group,12.5 μg/mL group,25 μg/mL group,50 μg/mL group,and 100 μg/mL group.After 24 and 48 h of cultivation,CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effects of gingipain extract on HN6 cell proliferation activity.Subsequent experiments were divided into control group,25 μg/mL group and 50 μg/mL group.Flow cytometry was used to examine the effects of gingipain extract on cell cycle.Scratch assay and Transwell assay were performed to evaluate cell migration and invasion ability.Real-time PCR(RT-PCR)and Western blotting were used to measure the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins and genes in cells.Results·Stimulated with gingipain extract for 24 h,the HN6 cells showed significantly increased proliferation activity in the 25 μg/mL(P=0.025),50 μg/mL(P=0.000),and 100 μg/mL(P=0.049)groups compared to the control group.After 48 h,proliferation activity was significantly higher in the 6.25 μg/mL(P=0.024),12.5 μg/mL(P=0.006),25 μg/mL(P=0.000),50 μg/mL(P=0.000),and 100 μg/mL(P=0.000)groups compared to the control group.Cell cycle analysis revealed that,after 24 h of gingipain stimulation,the proportion of HN6 cells in the G1 phase decreased,while the proportion in the S+G2 phase significantly increased compared to the control group(25 μg/mL group:P=0.024;50 μg/mL group:P=0.001).Compared to the control group,the scratch assay demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage of scratch closure as the concentration of gingipain extract increased(P=0.001).Compared to the control group,the Transwell invasion assay showed a significant increase in the number of cells passing through the bottom of the chamber as the concentration of gingipain extract increased.RT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that as the concentration of gingipain extract increased,the expression levels of N-cadherin mRNA and protein in HN6 cells significantly increased,while the expression levels of E-cadherin mRNA and protein significantly decreased compared to the control group.Conclusion·Gingipain extract could promote proliferation,migration,and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma HN6 cells.