OBJECTIVETo study the effectiveness of pie-crusting technique in improving the stiff knee.

METHODSFrom February 2012 to December 2013, 13 patients with stiff knee were reviewed retrospectively. There were 6 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 39 to 70 years old (averaged, 55.6 years old). Of the 13 cases, 8 patients had stiffness following fracture (comminuted tibial plateau fracture in 4, femoral supracondylar fracture in 3 and patellar fracture in 1), 5 patients had TKA-related stiffness.

RESULTSA follow-up lasted 8 to 12 months (mean 10 months)in 13 cases. The mean maximum flexion increased from (37 ± 6)° preoperatively to (52 ± 7)° after arthrolysis, and (108 ± 7)° after pie-crusting. At the final follow-up, mean maximum flexion was (105 ± 6)°. According to Judet evaluation system, 10 patients got an excellent result and 3 good. No major complications, such as extensor lag, skin necrosis, deep infection, dislocation of the patella or recurrent stiffness were found.

CONCLUSIONThe percutaneous technique of pie-crusting is a simple, minimally invasive and effective treatment for knee stiffness.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the predictivevalue of Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1) level on long-term outcome of acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods The study in accordance with the inclusion criteria were collected by computer retrieving PubMed,ScienceDirect,EBSCO,Web of Science,CNKI,VIP and Wan Fang database.The retrieval time was from inception to March 2015,the two researchers according to the inclusion and exclusion independently selected studies and extracted the data and assessed the quality,then Revman 5.2 was used for Meta analysis.Results There were 11 relevant published articles were included with 1497 case patients.Meta analysis showed that High expression of WT1 gene was a negative factor for overall survival rate (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) in patients with AML (HR =1.34,95％CI 1.14-1.58,P ＜ 0.01;HR =1.35,95％CI 1.11-1.64,P =0.003).For cytogenetically normal AML patients,the high expression of WT1 gene was still the unfavorable factor of OS (HR =1.41,95％ CI 1.01-1.99,P =0.05).Conclusion WT1 expression level could be an useful prognosis long-term outcome marker for AML patients.

Objective To explore the role of white matter injuries in the schizophrenia induced by the NMDA re-ceptor antagonist. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice (8 week old) were equally divided into four groups. One group was sub-chronically treated with saline solution, and the other three groups were intraperitoneally treated with MK-801 at dose of 0.025 mg/mL (M1), 0.050 mg/mL (M2) and 0.100 mg/mL (M3) in a volume 10 ml per kilogram body weight. All ani-mals were tested using Morris water maze at the 9th-15th day and using the Hole Board exploration as well as Rota Rod performance tests on the 16th day. The myelin basic protein (MBP) and the ultrastructure of the myelin sheaths in the cor-pus callosum were then examined using immunohistochemical methods, transmission electron microscope technique and stereological methods. Results The repeated sub-chronic MK-801 treatment did not induce impairment of spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze. The MK-801 treatment at 0.25 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg but not at 0.50 mg/kg resulted in less exploration to a new environment. The myelin staining with anti-MBP antibody was less intense in all three schizo-phrenic groups when compared to saline control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, MK-801 treatment caused pathological al-terations of the myelin sheaths including segmental demyelination of myelinated fibers and splitting of myelin sheath lamel- lae in schizophrenic groups. The ratio of the injured myelinated nerve fibers in the corpus callosum of MK-801 treated mice [M3 group, (22.42 ± 4.24)%] was significantly higher when compared to the control mice [(3.84 ± 1.35)%,P<0.01)]. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the white matter damages, mainly low MBP expression and segmental demye-lization in the corpus callosum in the mice sub-chronic treated with MK-801, indicating that the white matter changes might be involved in the schizophrenia induced by NMDA antagonist.

Phylogenetic methods have been widely used to detect the evolution of influenza viruses.However, previous phylogenetic studies of influenza viruses do not make full use of the genetic information at the protein level and therefore cannot distinguish the subtle differences among viral genes. Proteotyping is a new approach to study influenza virus evolution. It aimed at mining the potential genetic information of the viral gene at the protein level by visualizing unique amino acid signatures (proteotypes). Neuraminidase gene fragments of some H5N1 avian influenza viruses were used as an example to illustrate how the proteotyping method worked. Bayesian analysis confirmed that the NA gene tree was mainly divided into three lineages. The NA proteotype analysis further suggested there might be multiple proteotypes within these three lineages and even within single genotypes. At the same time, some proteotypes might even involve more than one genotype. In particular, it also discovered some amino acids of viruses of some genotypes might co-reassort. All these results proved this approach could provide additional information in contrast to results from standard phylogenetic tree analysis.

Objective To summarize and analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Omicron variant cases in makeshift hospital, and the influence of age, sex and vaccination status on the disease duration, so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases admitted to makeshift hospital of National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) from April 9 to May 31, 2022 were retrospectively described and analyzed, and further cohort analysis was conducted to determine the influence of age, sex and vaccination status on the disease duration of COVID-19 cases in the author's branch hospital. Results Among the 174 466 COVID-19 cases in makeshift hospital, most of them were male, accounting for 59.38%. The infected cases were mainly young and middle-aged people aged 18-59 years old, accounting for 83.50%, followed by 12.30% of the elderly group over 60 years old; the average hospital stay was 7.40 days; the proportion of patients with fever was less than 27.79%; 15.37% (26 817/174 466) of the patients complicated with underlying diseases, and the top three were hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The proportion of people who received COVID-19 vaccine accounted for 79.56% (13 799/17 956), of which the highest proportion of three doses was 44.09%. The disease duration of 17 956 COVID-19 cases in the author's branch of makeshift hospital was 10.18 (7.34, 13.05) days. The disease duration in the elderly group was the longest with 11.34 (8.35, 14.37) days, followed by 11.17 (9.07, 14.33) days in the preschool group, 10.37 (8.14, 13.34)· days in the middle-aged group, 10.07 (7.37, 12.37) days in the school-age group, and 9.34 (7.05, 12.16) days in the young group. There was significant difference in the overall distribution of disease duration among the five groups (H=550.479 P<0.01). The disease duration in each age group basically showed a V-shaped distribution. The disease duration was 10.27 (7.34, 12.57) days in males and 10.10 (7.25, 13.09) days in females, and there was no significant difference (Z=-1.505 P>0.05). The disease duration of vaccinated patients was 10.24 (7.35, 13.05) days, and that of unvaccinated patients was 9.47 (7.09, 12.47) days. There was significant difference between the two groups (Z=-4.338 P<0.01). Conclusions COVID-19 Omicron variant cases have a high proportion of males, mainly young and middle-aged, and the proportion of fever patients is less than 30%. The disease duration is significantly lower than that of the original strain in Wuhan, and shows "V" distribution with each age group. Sex had no effect on the disease duration. COVID-19 vaccination did not have a clinical effect on the disease duration.

BACKGROUND:Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation,neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis,and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function. DESIGN:A non-randomized self-control study. SETTING:Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province. PARTICIPANTS:Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis,who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years,admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study.The involved patients,including 21 males and 11 females,were aged 5-48 years.Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise.Meanwhile,various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left.Among the patients,18 suffered from acute viral myelitis,8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis.After onset,they were all given large doses of radiosonde, dexamethasone,anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs.Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury.Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient.The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital.Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo,which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives. METHODS:Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs,cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days,and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension.Under the surgical miscroscope,the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site.Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively,neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)Scoring Standard formulated in 2000,and was compared to pre-operation function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:①Sensory function change.②Motor function change. RESULTS:Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation,the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved(motor function:55.72?10.50 vs.51.53?13.41;light touch:69.53?11.68 vs. 63.06?15.98;pain sense:69.50?12.20 vs.64.03?15.0,all P

BACKGROUND:Progressive fracture of the cartilage is considered the characteristic lesion in later osteoarthritis, the expression of osteoarthritis-related factors such as hyaluronic acid, osteopontin and CD44 in osteoarthritic cartilage is increased.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of hyaluronic acid on the expression of osteopontin mRNA and CD44 mRNA of chondrocytes in the in vitro cultured chondrocytes of patients with knee osteoarthritis.
METHODThe cartilage samples obtained from osteoarthritic patients were cultured and purified into acquire chondrocytes in vitro, and the cells were divided into three groupblank control group, hyaluronic acid (100 mg/mL) group and hyaluronidase (200 mg/mL) group. After 48 hours of cellculture, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the expression of CD44 mRNA and osteopontin mRNA. The difference of the expression levels before and after the intervention of hyaluronic acid was compared and analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank control group, hyaluronic acid (100 mg/mL) upregulated osteopontin mRNA expression in the chondrocytes, hyaluronidase (200 mg/mL) also reduced osteopontin mRNA expression in the chondrocytes. The CD44 mRNA expression in the chondrocytes of hyaluronic acid (100 mg/mL) group and hyaluronidase (200 mg/mL) group was lower than that in the blank control group. Hyaluronic acid can upregulate the expression of the osteopontin mRNA expression in the osteoarthritic chondrocytes;the biphasic effects of hyaluronic acid on CD44 mRNA expression in osteoarthritic chondrocytes might be associated with the molecule weight of hyaluronic acid.

BACKGROUND: Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation, neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis, and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function.DESIGN: A non-randomized self-control study.SETTING: Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis, who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years, admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study. The involved patients, including 21 males and 11 females, were aged 5-48 years. Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise. Meanwhile, various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left. Among the patients, 18 suffered from acute viral myelitis, 8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis. After onset, they were all given large doses of radiosonde,dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs. Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury. Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient. The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo, which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives.METHODS: Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs, cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days, and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension. Under the surgical miscroscope, the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site. Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively, neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scoring Standard formulated in 2000, and was compared to pre-operation function.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Sensory function change. ②Motor function change.RESULTS: Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved (motor function: 55.72±10.50 vs. 51.53±13.41; light touch:69.53±11.68 vs.63.06±15.98; pain sense: 69.50±12.20 vs. 64.03±15.0, all P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can help to promote the neurological function recovery of patients with the sequel of myelitis. However, its long-term curative effect needs to be further investigated.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology