Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects ; Surgical Wound Infection ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate feasibility and effectiveness of pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation in lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization of aged people. METHODS: The statistical significance of the distance between the anterior edge of vertebral body and the anterior major blood vessels at the level of pediculus arcus vertebrae by CT scan at random were measured and analyzed. 82 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization, aged 65 years (range 51 to 75 years), including 35 males and 47 females, were treated pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation, with the anterior edge of the vertebral body penetrated by one screw thread. The function was evaluated by Macnab backleg pain scale standards. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the distance of the anterior edge and the major vessels between the old and the young (P< 0.05). All the 82 cases were operated successfully, and the mean time was 145 minutes and the mean amount of bleeding was 530 mL. The 43 cases including 15 males and 28 females were followed up for 18 months (range 3 to 53 months). There was one case of rupture of the spinal dura mater with no sequela after the suture. There were 3 cases of transient paralysis and pain of lower limbs, which were alleviated after 2 months' treatment. No complications of nerve root or vessel injuries were found. All incisions healed well at the primary stage. The lumbocrural pain of all 43 cases was alleviated to a certain content. There were 31 cases of excellent, 10 of good, and 2 of fair; the excellent and good rate was 97%. CONCLUSION: It is feasible and safe to treat the lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization in the old with the pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation.

Objective To investigate the effect of radiation on the expressions of RANKL and OPG in osteoblasts in order to disclose the molecular mechanism of bone injury induced by ionizing radiation.Methods The osteoblasts were differentiated from MC3T3-E1 cells.After 2 or 4 Gy137 Cs γ-irradiation,the mRNA and protein expression levels of RANKL and OPG of osteoblast precursor and osteoblast were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.Results The expressions of RANKL mRNA (t=5.41,P＜0.05)and protein(t=68.37,P＜0.01)were up-regulated after 4 Gy irradiation,while the expressions of OPG mRNA(t=5.20,7.02,P＜0.05)and protein(t=7.78,9.45,P＜0.05)were down-regulated after 2 and 4 Gy irradiation.Conclusions 2 and 4 Gy ionizing radiation alters RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway in osteoblasts,which may promote the osteoclast differentiation and maturation and hence promote bone resorption of osteoclasts.

ObjectiveNotch signaling is highly conservative in evolution and plays an important role in cell's proliferation and differentiation.Construction of tentiviral vector containing Notch intracellular domain (NICD) would lay the foundation for the study of Notch signaling.MethodsTotal RNA was extracted from the myeloid tissue of C57BL/6 mice.cDNA was composed via reverse transcription.NICD sequence was obtained by PCR and recombined into lentiviral vector.Lentiviral vector with NICD was infected into target HEK293T cell.Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to examine NICD expression in HEK293T cell.ResultsNICD expression increased in HEK293T cells.ConclusionThe successful construction of lentiviral vector involving mice NICD expression provides the foundation for the future study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the time trends of cancer mortality among residents in Kaifeng county, Henan province.

METHODSData on cancer mortality from the vital registration system in Kaifeng county from 1988 to 2005 was analyzed. A total of 9543 death records (5974 males and 3567 females) due to malignant tumors were studied. A two-year-period age-specified standardized mortality rates were directly adjusted by the world standard population, and the annual percentage change (APC) of mortality were estimated by a linear logarithm regression.

RESULTSThe crude cancer death rate for male was 95.09/100,000 and its age-standardized death rate was 117.41/100,000. While, the crude cancer death rate for female was 59.13/100,000 and the age-standardized death rate was 57.15/100,000. There was a significant growth tread for lung cancer (APC: 6.54%), liver cancer (5.07%) in males and breast cancer (7.04%) in females in the groups aged over 18. On the contrary, the decreasing treads for esophageal cancer in both of sexes (-7.09%, -13.53%) were also observed in this study. Meanwhile, there was no other significant changes in the trend, either in the tumor sites or mortality, was observed.

CONCLUSIONIn the past two decades, there has been a significant increasing trend for cancer mortality in Kaifeng county, of Henan Province. Hence, it is necessary to enhance epidemiological survey to identify risk factors at the earlier stages.

China ; epidemiology ; Death Certificates ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; trends ; Neoplasms ; mortality ; Rural Population

ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)elastography in the characterization of solid liver tumors.MethodsForty-three patients with 56 liver tumors were evaluated with ARFI,which included 21 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),8 patients with metastase,5 patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCC),and 9 patients with hemangioma.The shear wave velocity of the tumor and background liver parenchyma were calculated,and results were compared with 30 healthy subjects.Statistical analysis was performed on the shear wave velocity for differentiation of normal liver,background liver parenchyma,and tumors.ResultsHCC and CCC had greater stiffness than metastase (P ＜0.05),there were no statistical differences between HCC and CCC (P = 0.179).Malignant liver tumors had significantly greater stiffness than hemangioma and normal liver (P = 0.000).34.5% (9/26) HCC and 33.3% (4/12) hemangioma appeared softer than the background liver.With a cut-off value of 1.5 m/s for the shear wave velocity,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for malignancies were 79.5%,83.3%,94.5% and 52.6%,respectively.ConclusionsARFI elastography quantification is a promising noninvasive technique for assessing solid liver tumors.Use of ARFI elastography quantification may lead to new quantitative tissue characterization parameters for differentiating hemangioma and malignant liver tumors.

OBJECTIVETo study the association between the functional polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS147 COPD patients and 120 healthy smoking controls were selected. Spirometry and chest X-rays had been taken. Questionnaires including sex, age, smoking history, occupational exposure were completed. MMP-9 (-1562 C/T), MMP-1(-1607 1G/2G), MMP-12 (-82 A/G), MMP-12(-357 Asn/ Ser) alleles were determined using PCR-RFLP method. Independent samples T test analysis was carried out to compare patients' age, smoking index, FEV1 /FVC, FEV1 % pred with that of healthy controlled group. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles between groups were analyzed by chi-square tests and multilogistic regression.

RESULTSMMP12 Asn/Asn, CT/AsnAsn were risk factors for smoking-induced COPD. The ORs were 2.361 (95% CI: 1.369-4.017) and 2.433(95% CI: 1.159-5.342) respectively while CC/1G1G/ SerSer seemed to be a protective factor for smoking-induced COPD, with OR as 0.457 and 95% CI as 0.231-0.911.

CONCLUSIONAsn/Asn, CT/AsnAsn might be susceptible genotypes while CC/GG/SerSer might serve as protective genotype.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; genetics

Objective:To study the expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in simple and radiation-combined wound healing and their effects on the healing process and tissue remodeling. Methods: A rat model of radiation-combined wound healing was used. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed which enabled the detection of MMP1 and TIMP1 expression in the healing process. Ultrastructural changes were observed with transmission EM. Results: The wound healing process was impaired and delayed. In rats receiving 25 Gy of gamma ray locally the irradiated wounds healed 6 days later than non-irradiated controls. The following changes in MMP1 and TIMP1 expression were found: (1) In the early inflammatory phase and in the period of granulation tissue formation, MMP1 expression in the newly-formed epidermis of irradiated wounds approximated that in the controls. Later, the epidermal expression of MMP1 in radiation wounds was comparatively increased with the delay of the healing process.On days 3 to 14 after wounding, TIMP1 was weakly positive in the proliferating keratinocytes of control wounds and became negative after epidermal covering, whereas no or only slight epidermal expression was detected in radiation wounds before epidermal covering.(2)MMP1 and TIMP　1 expression in radiation wounds was markedlydecreased in fibroblasts　, endotheliocytes and macrophages as compared with the controls. The expression phase was prolonged due to the delay of the healing process.Conclusions:The reduced expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in granulation tissue retards such important processes as cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus retarding the healing process. The expression of MMP1 in the newly-formed epidermis may help the process of reepithelialization,but in the late healing period, overexpression of MMP1 and decreased expression of TIMP1 in the epidermis may hinder the establishment of basal membrane and the formation of granulation tissue, and thus affect the matrix remodeling process.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of the frog shape four-step pulling method for the treatment of sacroiliac joint subluxation, and to explore the rationality of the method.

METHODSAmong 92 patients diagnosed as sacroiliac joint subluxation, 19 patients were male and 73 patients were female,ranging in age from 14 to 61 years, with an average of 38.7 years. The course of disease ranged from 1 month to 96 months,with an average of 18.4 months. All the patients were treated with the frog shape four-step pulling method. The therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSThe treatment times ranged from 1 to 10 (averaged 4.3 times). According to evaluation standard of sacroiliac joint subluxation, 71 patients got an excellent result, 19 good, 1 fair and 1 bad.

CONCLUSIONThe frog shape four-step pulling method had many advantages such as simplicity of operation, targeted, high rate of success, not easy rebound and less pain for patients and so on.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; therapy ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Sacroiliac Joint ; injuries

AIMTo investigate the expression and role of inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) in acute lung injury following limb ischemia/reperfusion (4h/4h).

METHODSWistar rats were randomized into four groups: control group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, L-Arginine (L-Arg) pretreatment group, Aminoguanidine (AG) pretreatment group. The lung tissue of each group was subjected to assay of content of MDA, MPO, W/D and NO2-/NO3-. The expression of iNOS and eNOS was examined with immunohistological staining. The pulmonary morphologic changes were observed under microscope respectively.

RESULTSThe acute lung injury existed after limb ischemia/reperfusion. The eNOS downregulation and iNOS upregulation among I/R, L-Arg and AG groups were observed contrasted to the control group. There was no expressional and statistical difference of iNOS between I/R group and L-Arg group. The expression of eNOS was similar between IR and AG but iNOS expression was downregulated in AG. The parameters of MDA, MPO, W/D and NO2-/NO3- in pulmonary tissue were significantly increased in I/R groups compared with those of the control group. The parameters of L-Arg and AG pretreatment groups in comparison with those of the I/R group showed significantly difference. Based on the results of pulmonary pathology, the congestion and infiltration of inflammatory cells existed obviously in IR group. L-Arg played definite role in militating lung injury and AG might make lung injury aggravated.

CONCLUSIONThe NO definite production from iNOS is possible to play a competitivly protective role in acute lung injury following limb ischemia/reperfusion and antagonist of iNOS may aggravate the lung injury.

Acute Lung Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism