Objective To establish L4 vertebrae burst fractures and take a biomechanical test of different internal fixations so as to discuss the significance of internal fixation using short-segment plus Index-level screws in treatment of low lumbar burst fractures.Methods Ten fresh human lumbosacral vertebrae specimens were used to establish models of L4 vertebrae burst fractures by corpectomy and partial removal of ligament.Thereafter,the biomechanical test was performed in order as below:longsegment fixation,short-segment fixation and short-segment construction plus Index-level screw fixation.Differences of range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar after three different internal fixations were compared.Results Compared with short-segment fixation,short-segment plus Index-level screw fixation showed that ROM of the lumbar was decreased in front flexion,axial rotation and lateral bending (P ＜ 0.05),but stability was improved and ROM of lumbar was decreased by 32.7％ in back extension (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Compared with short-segment fixation,the short-segment plus Index-level screw fixation can increase initial lumbar stability by average 32.5％ in treatment of low lumbar burst fractures.In the meantime,short-segment plus Index-level screw fixation provides larger ROM of the lumbar than the long-segment fixation.

Objective To screen and validate differentially expressed microRNAs in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and to predict their target genes,and to investigate the role of JNK pathway in degenerative intervertebral disc disease.Methods Eight degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues were harvested from 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) with lumbar degenerative disease,and three normal nucleus pulposus tissues were harvested from 3 patients (3 males) with lumbar fracture,intraoperatively.Differentially expressed microRNAs were screened by microRNA microarray analysis and validated by real-time qPCR.Target genes of highly expressed microRNAs were predicted by analyzing information from data bases:MicroCosm v5,TargetScan 5.1 and microRNA.org.Signal pathways associated with the target genes were analyzed,and qPCR was used to validate the screening results.Results Twenty differentially expressed microRNAs were identified.The microRNA-513a-5p and microRNA-494 were highly expressed in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissue,which was corresponding to the verification results,and the ratio was 2.222 2 and 2.948 5,respectively.Target genes of microRNA-513a-5p and microRNA-494 were MKK4 and JunD,respectively.MKK4 and JunD were both involved in JNK signaling pathway and located in upstream and downstream of this pathway,respectively.Conclusion In human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells,microRNA-513a-5p and microRNA-494 are highly expressed microRNAs,whose target genes are MKK4 and JunD,respectively.Both MKK4 and JunD are involved in JNK signaling pathway.These results indicate that JNK pathway may play important role in the pathogenesis of degenerative intervertebral disc disease.

Objective To use a simple bedside technique to verify the pathophysiological mechanism of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in different races. Method The Valsalva maneuver (VM) was performed in patients referred to a specialty PH clinic. The blood pressure response of patients to VM was in different fashions. The blood pressure (BP) was measured by using cuff and stethoscope. When the cuff was inflated to 15 mmHg above the systolic pressure, sound could be heard by auscultation during VM and when the cuff was deflated the sound disappeared over 3 heart beats which was considered as abnormal BP response, and less than 3 heart beats defined as normal BP response. The right heart catheterization in patients with PH as a part of the standard evaluation. Results This study included 84 patients with a mean age of (63 ± 16) years. Those with abnormal BP response to VM had higher pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) [(22.5±6.6) vs. (11.9±4.3) mmHg, P ＜0.0001] and lower pulmonary vascular resistance [(5.8 ± 4.0) vs. (8.1 ± 4.6 ) WU, P = 0.01]. Blood pressure response to VM did not correlate with mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure [(46.2 ± 9.9) vs. (43.4 ±10.4) mmHg, P =0.20] or cardiac index (both 2.4 ± 0.6 L/min/m2). The abnormal BP response to VM had high sensitivity (89.4%), specificity (86.1%) and accuracy (86.9%) for determining PAWP＞ 15 mmHg.Conclusions BP response to Valsalva maneuver provides important information about left heart filling pressures in patients with PH.

Objective To explore the effects of intervention of rehabilitation at different opportunities on recovery of hand function andactivities of daily living (ADL) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods A retrospective study was conducted. 108 patientswith ICH admitted to rehabilitation ward between June 2005 and June 2011 were divided into 4 groups according to the time of rehabilitationintervention. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The hand function and ADL were evaluated with Brunnstrom assessmentand modified Barthel Index (MBI) at admission and before discharge. Results The hand function of patients in early and intermediate stagessignificantly improved (P<0.01) while the patients in later and sequelae stages did not improve (P>0.05). The MBI of all groups increasedafter rehabilitation intervention (P<0.05). The earlier rehabilitation intervention was applied, the greater the improvement of Brunnstrom assessmentand MBI were. Conclusion Rehabilitation intervention can facilitate the recovery of hand function and ADL of patients with ICHin different stages. Early intervention is more effective.

Objective To investigate the effect of δ-opioid receptor agonist D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) on the celluar immune function in septic rats. Methods One hundred and fifty healthy male SD rats weighing 154-198 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 50 each):group Ⅰ sham operation (group S);group Ⅱ sepsis (group SEP) and group Ⅲ DADLE. Sepsis was induced by cecum ligation and punture (CLP) in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ. In group Ⅲ 0.5 rmg/kg DADLE 10 ml/kg was injected intraperitoneally (IP) immediately after CLP operation. Seven day survival rate was calculated. Blood samples were collected from 10 animals at 4, 8 and 12 h after operation (T1-3) respectively in each group for determination of serum TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations by ELISA and changes in T-cell subsets by flow cytometry. Results CLP significantly increased serum TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations and TNF-α/IL-10 ratio at T1-3 and decreased CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio and increased CD8+ at T3 in group Ⅱ as compared with group S (group Ⅰ). DADLE treatment significantly attenuated the CLP-induced above changes. Seven-day survival rate was significantly higher in DADLE group than in CLP group.Conclusion δ-opioid receptor agonist DADLE can improve the celluar immune function of rats with sepsis and increase the survival rate.

Objective To observe the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice, and to evaluate its application value in clinic. Methods A total of 82 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who received PTBD from January 2017 to January 2019 in Taiyuan Central Hospital were collected. The patients were divided into the experimental group who received TACE (41 cases) and the control group who could not receive TACE (41 cases) after PTBD. Clinical symptoms, liver function, tumor markers, drainage tube patency rate and survival time of the two groups were compared before and after the treatment. T-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis, and Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Results A total of 93 drainage tubes were placed in 82 patients, and 109 TACE treatments were performed in the experimental group. PTBD and TACE both had successful results. After PTBD, 72 patients felt jaundiceand obvious alleviation of other clinical symptoms. There were no serious complications after PTBD and TACE. Postoperative follow-up results showed that compared with the total bilirubin (TBIL) [(269±113)μmol/L], the direct bilirubin (DBIL) [(159 ±74) μmol/L], alanine transaminase (ALT) [(118 ±40) U/L] and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) [(111±55) U/L] before the operation, the TBIL [(46±11)μmol/L], DBIL [(28±10)μmol/L], ALT [(35±12) U/L] and AST [(33±12) U/L] in the experimental group were decreased significantly 3 months after the operation, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). TBIL [(48±9)μmol/L], DBIL [(25±10) μmol/L], ALT [(32±9) U/L] and AST [(30±12) U/L] in the control group were decreased significantly compared with TBIL [(291±114)μmol/L, DBIL [(171±66)μmol/L], ALT [(129±54) U/L] and AST [(114±43) U/L] before the operation, and the differences were statistically significant (all P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in liver function between the two groups before the operation and 3 months after the operation (both P>0.05). The level of carbohydrate antigen-199 in the experimental group at 6 months after PTBD was lower than that in the control group [(426 ±136) U/ml vs. (569 ±204) U/ml; t = 19.457, P < 0.05]. There were statistical differences in the patency rate of the both groups at 6, 9 and 12 months after PTBD (all P< 0.05). The median survival time in the experimental group was longer than that in the control group (310.4 d vs. 234.5 d; χ2= 12.678, P< 0.05). Conclusion The effect of PTBD in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice is obvious. The combination with TACE after PTBD can prolong the survival of patients and it is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the application value of the modified Overlap method in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 50 patients with gastric cancer who underwent TLTG with Overlap anastomosis between January 2016 and December 2016 in the Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University were collected.Twenty-six patients using classic Overlap method and 24 patients using modified Overlap method were respectively allocated into the classic Overlap group and modified Overlap group.All the patients underwent D2 lymph node dissection.Patients in the classic Overlap group underwent totally laparoscopic catastalsis side-to-side esophagojejunostomy.During digestive tract reconstruction in the modified Overlap group,there was no esophageal transection before anastomosis,and gastric fundus traction fully exposed to the lower esophagus.Esophagus was spun anticlockwise,and a hole was opened at the left posterior esophageal wall.Transection of jejunum was 25 cm away from Treitz ligment,and opening a hole at mesenteric margin was 6 cm away from distal jejunum to transected end of jejunum.Esophagus-distal jejunum side-to-side anastomosis was done using 60 mm linear stapler,and then laterally closing openings and transecting esophagus.Observation indicators:(1) intra-and post-operative recovery:total operation time,time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph node dissected,time to anal exsufflation,cases with complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay;(2) follow-up and survival.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative tumor-free survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to March 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s and comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent-sample t test.Comparison of count data was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Results (1) Intra-and post-operative recovery:all the 50 patients underwent successful TLTG using Overlap method,without conversion to open surgery.Total operation time and time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis were respectively (278.6± 14.9) minutes,(46.5 ± 4.4) minutes in the classic Overlap group and (253.3 ± 12.8) minutes,(20.4 ± 2.3) minutes in the modified Overlap group,with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (t =5.459,22.482,P＜0.05).Volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph node dissected,time to anal exsufflation,cases with complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively (73±25) mL,34±6,(2.7± 1.0) days,2,(9.7± 1.6) days in the classic Overlap group and (71 ± 22) mL,35± 5,(2.6± 1.3) days,2,(9.8± 1.5) days in the modified Overlap group,with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (t =0.175,-0.616,0.293,-0.217,P＞ 0.05).Two patients in the classic Overlap group were respectively complicated with esophagus-jejunum anastomotic fistula and pancreatic leakage,2 patients in the modified Overlap group were respectively complicated with pulmonary infection and subcutaneous emphysema,and they were improved by symptomatic treatment.(2) Follow-up and survival:41 of 50 patients were followed up for 3-15 months,with a median time of 7 months,including 20 in the classic Overlap group and 21 in the modified Overlap group.During follow-up,patients had tumor-free survival,without tumor recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion Compared with classic Overlap method,the modified Overlap method can simplify the anastomotic procedures,shorten operation time and achieve similar efficacy,and it is also a simple and effective method for digestive tract reconstruction after TLTG.

Objective To investigate whether simple visual assessment of FVERVOT(the right ventricular outflow tract Doppler flow velocity envelop) graphs aids in hemodynamic differentiation. Method The hemodynamics, echocardiography, and clinical data of 88 patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) were reviewed. The FVERVOTgraphs were categorized into normal pattern (no notch; NN), late systolic notch pattern (LSN) or mid-systolic notch pattern (MSN). Results The pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was highest in the MSN pattern (9.2±3.5 WU; P＜0. 001), in comparison with LSN (5,7 ±3. 1 WU) and NN (3.3±2.4 WU) patterns. The ratio of stroke volume to pulse pressure (compliance) also varied with different patterns of FVERVOr graph (MSN = 1.2 ± 0. 5; LSN = 1.7 ± 0.8; NN = 2.6 ± 1. 7, P = 0.001 and 0.04 respectively compared with NN). The specificity and sensitivity of MSN were 96% and 71%, respectively in case of a PVR ＞ 5 WU (PPV 98%). In the patients with PH, any notching pattern of FVERVOT graph was highly associated with PVR ＞ 3 WU (OR = 22.3, 95 % CI: 5.2 ～ 96.4), whereas the NN pattern predicted a PVR ≤3 WU and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) ＞ 15 mmHg (OR =30.2, 95%CI: 6.3 ～ 144.9). Conclusions Visual inspection of the shape of the FVERVOT graphs provides insight into the hemodynamic status of patients with PH.

Gastrointestinal tract is one of the most sensitive organs exposed to ionizing radiation .Radiation enteropathy is a hot topic in radiobiological field .Cumulative evidences demonstrated that cyclooxygenases (COXs) might contribute sub-stantially to attenuating intestinal damage provoked by irradiation .The role of cyclooxygenases in radiation-induced intestinal damage was reviewed in this paper .

Objective To investigate the prognostic factors of postoperative single metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer after treatment.Methods The clinical data of patients with single lesion metastasis from 2002 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.Demographic and clinicopathologic data were reviewed.Predictors of PRS after definitive therapy for isolated EC recurrence were determined by the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.Results Of the 1 016 curative esophagectomies,383 patients(37.7％) experienced recurrences(median followup 53 months).114 (11.2％) received definitive treatment of isolated EC recurrence(63 were treated surgically with or without chemotherapy-radiotherapy[CTRT] and 51 received definitive CTRT alone).Median time to recurrence(TTR) was 18 months.The 1-year and 3-year PRSs were 78.9％ and 38.6％ (median survival 28 months).On multivariable analysis;TTR was the only significant independent predictor for survival after recurrence (HR =0.982,95 ％ CI:0.95-1.03,P =0.036).No pronounced difference was found in disease-free survival or in PRS between recurrent patients treated with operation with or without CTRT and patients who received definitive CTRT.Conclusion A select subgroup of patients with isolated EC recurrence can be treated with curative intent.TTR was the best predictor for PRS.