T he finite element method (FE m) is a mathematical technique using modern computer tech-nology for stress analysis, and has been gradually used in simulating human body structures in the biomechanical field, especially more widely used in the research of thoracolumbar spine traumatology. T his paper reviews the establishment of the thoracolumbar spine FE m, the verification of the FE m, and the thoracolumbar spine FE mresearch status in different fields, and discusses its prospects and values in forensic thoracolumbar traumatology.

Uninephrectomy was performed in a ll rats of this study, and diabetic model was induced in partial rats by streptozo tocin. Then these rats were divided into uninephrectomy group, diabetes group an d benazepril-treated diabetes group. After 4 weeks, renal tubulo-interstitial morphological change was observed and type Ⅳ collagen, fibronectin and transfor ming growth factor ? 1 (TGF-? 1) proteins as well as TGF-? 1 mRNA were d etermined. The results suggested that benazepril played a protective role in ren al tubulo-interstitial injury, which was associated partially with down-regula ted overexpression of TGF-? 1.

Objective To investigate effects of different dialyzed membrane on transforming growth factor(TGF-?1 ) and monocyte chemoattractant protein(MCP-1 ) plasma levels in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods The plasma concentrations of TGF-?1 and MCP-1 were measured by ELISA assay in well-matched uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis with either cuprophane (CU, n = 27 ) or polysulfone (PSU, n = 25 ). Results Compared with controls (50. 2 ? 5. 7 ng/ml), the patients on CU(82. 9 ? 9. 8 ng/ml) and PSU (65. 5 ? 6. 5 ng/ml)membranes dialysis had significantly higher mean TGF-?1 concentration (P

Objective To develop a new strategy for preparing large-area full-thickness skin grafts with donor incisions small enough to allow direct suture under low pressure.Methods A geometrical analysis was carried out to design the best strategy to obtain skin grafts with minimal donor defect.In this strategy,two semicircular donor skin grafts are subjected to a malpositioned joining to form a circle which is equal in size to the large-area skin defect.Seven patients with cutaneous malignancy were managed by this operation regimen,including three cases of basal cell carcinoma,three cases of squamous cell carcinoma,and one case of malignant melanoma.Tumors were located in the face or head in five patients,and in feet in two patients.Results The width of donor incisions was significantly reduced by this strategy,and donor defects were sutured directly with the minimal loss of donor graft.Of the five patients with malignancies of the head or face,three achieved complete survival of skin grafts,two experienced mild erosion at the margin of skin grafts.A 10％-20％ necrosis of skin graft was observed in the sole of feet in 2 patients,which healed 1-2 months after dressing changes.Conclusion Joined grafts of equal size may be an effective approach to the repair of large skin defect.