Objective To find the plantar pressure readings which best indicate foot inversion during the stance phase of walking among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods Twenty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors who were able to walk without extra aid were recruited as the experimental group, while 17 healthy elderly men of similar age and body weight were selected as the control group.Those in both groups were asked to walk at their preferred speed over a Footscan device which measured medio-lateral pressure ratios, maximum plantar pressures and the contact areas of both feet.The Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI) was used to evaluate the affected feet.Results The average medial forefoot pressure of the affected side in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, but their average mesopodium and heel pressure was significantly higher.The average pressure applied by the great toe on the uninjured side in the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control group, but the average mesopodium and heel pressure of both feet among the hemiplegics were significantly higher than those of the control group.Among the experimental group, the average medial forefoot pressure of the affected foot was significantly greater than that of the healthy foot.The average contact area of the great toe on the affected side was significantly bigger than was observed in the control group.That of the medial forefoot was, however, significantly smaller than in the control group.There was no significant difference in the contact area between the healthy and affected feet in the experimental group, though the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of their full feet and forefeet on the affected side were significantly lower than those in the healthy group.No significant differences in the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the heel were observed between the two groups, nor of the full feet, forefeet and heels of the affected and unaffected sides in the experimental group.The patients demonstrated consistently reduced joint mobility on both sides during the stance phase, coinciding with increased inversion.A significant negative correlation was found between the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the full foot and the maximum pressure of the lateral part of forefoot in the experimental group, but there was no significant correlation with contact area or CSI.Conclusions Plantar pressure data can be used to describe the amount of foot inversion in the stance phase of walking with hemiplegic patients after stroke.The maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios can effectively reflect their foot inversion.

Undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-?2 (PPAR-?2) mRNA expression and adiponectin secretion in cultured cells were measured.The results showed that TNF-?suppressed PPAR-?2 mRNA expression and adiponeetin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (P

OBJECTIVEQuantitative determination was made of ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate in Dracaena cochinchinensis extracted with two technologies.

METHODThe sample was resolved with methanol and isolated by TLC, purged with methanol. Tge sample solution was chroma to graphed on a C18 column with acetonitrile-1% acetic acid (31:69) as mobile phase, detecting at 257 nm and content was calculated with external standard method.

RESULTThe standard curves of ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate were linear in the range of 0.206-4.12 ng, r = 0.9998. The average recovery was 97.2% and RSD was 1.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe content of ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate in D. cochinchinensis extracted with heating-tree technongy is higher than that with traditional technology.

Dracaena ; chemistry ; Parabens ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVEto evaluate the corrosion resistance of a new titanium alloy for dental restoration in artificial saliva.

METHODSin simulated oral environment, the electrochemical behavior of a new titanium alloy (Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn) for dental restoration based on the d-electron alloy design method with high elastic modulus, high mechanical and good biological safety properties was investigated together with that of Ti-6Al-4V and TA2 as control groups. The anodic polarization curve and polarization resistance of these alloys were analyzed and the element release of Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn and Ti-6Al-4V alloy after immersion in artificial saliva for 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 15 d were measured.

RESULTSpolarization curve indicated that Ti-6Al-4V alloy had lower breakdown potential (0.8 V) than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy did (> 2.5 V). Ti-6Al-4V alloy showed higher passivation current density (1.45 × 10(-4) - 1.09 × 10(-3) A/cm(2)) than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy (3.32 × 10(-6) - 3.46 × 10(-5) A/cm(2)) and TA2(5.03 × 10(-6) - 2.65 × 10(-5) A/cm(2)) did. Polarization resistance results showed that polarization resistance volume of TA2, Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy and Ti-6Al-4V alloy were 371.0, 252.0, and 60.1 kΩ×cm(2) respectively. With the increasing of dipping time in artificial saliva, the ion release of Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy and Ti-6Al-4V alloy increased to different degrees. Ti-6Al-4V alloy always showed more ion release than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy did in the experiment.

CONCLUSIONSdata from this study indicated that Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy, as a dental restoration material, had good corrosion resistance in artificial saliva.

Alloys ; Corrosion ; Dental Materials ; Electrochemistry ; Materials Testing ; Saliva, Artificial ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

Adult ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hamartoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Thymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology ; Thymus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe minor allele T of rs113420705 (C/T) in caspase-3 gene (CASP3) has been found to significantly increase the risk of Kawasaki disease (KD) and complicate coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Japanese children. In this study, we have explored association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CASP3 gene and clinic phenotypes of KD.

METHODSA total of 238 unrelated KD patients and 364 healthy controls with matched age, gender and ethnic origins were recruited. Genotypes of the 3 SNPs were determined with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. Allelic, genotypic and haplotypic frequencies were compared between patients and controls, patients with and without CALs, and patients resistant to and responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.

RESULTSThe T allele and T carriers of rs113420705 were significantly more common in KD patients than controls. A significant difference was also detected in haplotype distribution between patients and controls, where two haplotypes involving the T allele of rs113420705 showed higher frequencies in the patient group. Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the 3 SNPs were similar between patients with and without CALs and those resistant to and responsive to IVIG treatment.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that CASP3 probably plays an important role in KD. The T allele of rs113420705 may provide a useful marker for KD susceptibility, although no association between this SNP and clinical prognosis and treatment effect of KD has been found among the selected Chinese children patients.

Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of the number of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) >5 in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) with clinical lymph node negative (cN0) .Methods:A total of 1567 cases of unilateral cN0 PTMC patients undergoing surgery at Endocrine and Breast Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 405 cases of male and 1162 cases of female among them. According to the CLNM, they were divided into 0-5 and ≥5 groups. Clinicopathological characteristics of two groups were compared with Chi-square test and χ 2 test, et al. Results:The case of CLNM>5 involved was 4.1% (65/1567) .Univariate analysis showed that male, age ≤50 years old, tumor diameter> 8 mm, multifocal cancer all were related to CLNM>5 involved ( P<0.05) , multivariate logistic regression analysis found that male ( OR=1.886, P=0.017) , age ≤50 years ( OR=3.778, P=0.002) , tumor diameter>8 mm ( OR=2.483, P<0.001) and multifocal cancer ( OR=2.362, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for CLNM>5. Subgroup analysis showed that the number of Delphian lymph nodes metastasis≥1 ( OR=13.475, P<0.001) , pretracheal lymph nodes metastasis≥2 ( OR=41.695, P<0.001) , and Delphian+pretracheal lymph nodes metastasis≥2 ( OR=28.750, P<0.001) were also independent risk factors for CLNM>5. Conclusions:Unilateral PTMC patients who are male and age ≤50 years old with tumor diameter>8 mm, multifocal cancer have higher risk of central lymph nodes more than 5 involved, surgical treatment and prophylactic central neck dissection are recommended to such patients instead of long-term follow-up observation.Total thyroidectomy should be selected appropriately according to the intraoperative situation.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:The clinicopathological data of 1025 PTC patients who underwent surgery therapy in Department of Endocrine and Breast surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. BMI was calculated according to height and weight, and patients were divided into normal weight group (BMI<24 kg/m 2) and overweight and obese group (BMI≥24 kg/m 2) . The differences in clinicopathological characteristics of PTC patients in different BMI groups were compared, and the correlation between BMI and clinicopathological characteristics of PTC patients was studied. In addition, 342 PTC patients who underwent BRAF V600E and TERT gene tests were compared with different BMI groups to explore the relationship between BMI and BRAF V600E and TERT gene mutations. Results:In this research, there were 591 (57.66%) patients in the normal weight group and 434 (42.34%) patients in the overweight and obese group. Univariate analysis showed that BMI was associated with gender, age and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. There were more male gender ( P<0.001) , and age≥55 years ( P<0.001) in overweight and obese groups, and less with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis ( P=0.045) in overweight and obese groups. There was no correlation between BMI and the clinicopathological features of PTC, such as bilaterality, multiformity, tumor size, etc. Otherwise, BMI was a weak protective factor for numbers of lymph node metastasis>5 of PTC ( OR=0.947, CI95%=0.9900-0.997, P=0.037) , and it was not correlated with extra thyroidal extension. There were no significant correlation between BMI and the clinicopathological characteristics of PTC patients of different genders, such as tumor size, bilaterality, extra thyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, etc. A significant relationship was found between BMI and BRAF V600E mutation in PTC patients ( P=0.044) , while it was not correlated between BMI and TERT mutation ( P=0.516) . Conclusions:Our study suggests that BMI is associated with age, gender, hashimoto’s thyroiditis and BRAF V600E mutation in PTC patients, while there was no significant correlation with the aggressiveness in PTC. More radical treatment for PTC patients who were overweight or obese is not recommended.

Accurately predicting the risk of mediastinal lymph node metastasis before surgery is of great significance for tumor staging, treatment plan decision, and prognosis evaluation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Traditional imaging methods such as CT, MRI and PET/CT are currently the most commonly used clinical methods in clinical evaluation of lymph node status. However, it is subjective to judge lymph node metastasis only by the change of image morphological characteristics, and inflammatory lymphadenopathy will also lead to a high false positive rate. The clinicopathological characteristics obtained by analyzing the clinical data of patients with NSCLC can improve the accuracy of lymph node metastasis prediction to a certain extent. The clinical prediction model based on medical images combined with the clinical characteristics of patients can provide more intuitive and rational information for doctors and patients, but the performance and applicability of the model will inevitably decrease due to changes in disease risk factors and treatment measures. In recent years, with the significant improvement of image analysis technology and computing ability, radiomics models based on medical images can deeply dig into the data in radiological images for quantitative analysis, providing new ideas for predicting mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients, which has attracted extensive attention at home and abroad. This article reviews the progress and makes prospects of the above methods in the prediction of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC.

[ Abstract ] Objective To explore the effect of 3D print-based navigation module assisted placement of thoracolumbar pedicle screws. Methods From January 2019 to May 2021, we received 70 thoracic and lumbar fracture patients, divided into 3D technical group and conventional method group according to the surgical method, with 35 patients in each group. In the 3D technology group, pedicle screws were placed under the sight of the navigation module, while in the conventional group, pedicle screws were placed under the conventional C-arm fluoroscopy. The amount of intraoperative bleeding and time of C arm were counted in each patient. According to the different number of pedicle screw implantation in each patient, the average amount of blood loss, time and C-arm fluoroscopy times of each screw implantation were compared between the two groups. Ideal screw angles were designed for patients in both groups before surgery. Compared with the preoperative design, the difference between preoperative and postoperative screw angle and head angle was calculated and set as the deviation value. Two sets of data were compared. Visual analogue score(VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry disability index(ODI), vertebral height recovery ratio and Cobb’ s angle were compared between the two groups. Results The amount of blood loss, required time and exposure times of C-arm in 3D screw implantation group were significantly lower than those in conventional screw implantation group(P<0. 05); After operation, the deviation of ininclination and head angle in the conventional method group was higher than that in the 3D technique group, and the difference was significant(P<0. 05); The VAS, JOA score, ODI, vertebral height recovery ratio and Cobb’s angle were significantly improved compared with the preoperative groups(P<0. 05); Three months after surgery, the VAS, JOA score, and ODI were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0. 05); In terms of Cobb’s angle and vertebral height recovery ratio, the 3D technique group was better than the conventional method group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The 3D printed navigation module can assist the precise placement of thoracolumbar pedicle screws, shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative bleeding and c-arm exposure times, facilitate the recovery of the injured vertebral height, improve the efficacy.