Objective To explore the feasibility and a dv antages of video-assisted minimally invasive thyroidectomy by using the ultrason ic scalpel. Methods A total of 14 patients underwent cervical mini-incision video-assisted minimally invasive partial or subtotal thyroidectom y by using the ultrasonic scalpel. Results All the operations were successfully completed, without conversions to open surgery. The operation time was 30~70 min (mean, 45 min). Postoperative pathological findings showed no dular goiter. All the patients recovered uneventfully, without wound infection o r subcutaneous effusion. The cervical incision was 2.5 cm or so in length. Follo w-up for 3~17 months revealed barely visible scars in the 14 patients. Conclusions Miccoli thyroidectomy is simple to perform and offers excel lent cosmetic results.

While the medicine pattern of biomedicine turn to biological-psychology-society, the medical trouble communication becomes more and more important in the medical service. Good medical trouble communication ability is the essential condition of doctor. As oral cavity clinicians, only by gasping the principle of communication can we appropriately utilize some skills of communication exchange,establish the good medical trouble relations with the patient and achieve the good treatment result finally.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history, unique system and perfect technology, which has been used to prevent or treat a variety of diseases in the form of compound medicine. Recently, some of the active ingredients from Chinese medicine were found to have self-assembly properties, mainly through non-covalent interactions, including π-π stacking, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond and coordination interactions, etc. Carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine could not only improve the solubility of insoluble active ingredients, but also the bioavailability. As nanocarriers, the natural active ingredients could exert synergistic therapeutic effects. The strategy of self-assembly without carrier is safer and almost non-toxic compared to the commonly used nanocarriers. In addition, some ingredients from Chinese medicine could coordinate with metal ions to form stable nanoparticles, which could be applied to photothermal therapy. In this paper, we summarized and analyzed the recent achievements of carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine, and briefly outlined the future development of this kind of nanomedicine.

Objective To investigate the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to establish the correlation between the isokinetic strength and function in patients with KOA. Methods 23 patients with bilateral KOA and 14 matched normal controls finished the isokinetic test of knee extensors and flexors, the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), Gait analysis, and Balance test. The KOA patients were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Results It was less of the peak torque, average peak torque, average power, max rep total work, total work of knee extensors and flexors in the mainly involved limbs than the contralateral limbs (P<0.05), and more of the hamstring/quadriceps peak torque (H/Q) percentage (P<0.05) in the patients. It was less of all the observed indicators of knee extensors and average power of knee flexors in the patients than in the normal controls (P<0.05), and was more of the H/Q percentage (P<0.05). The peak torque of knee extensors correlated with the results of FTSST, walking speed, walking distance, falling index, VAS, and WOMAC-pain (P<0.05), but the peak torque of knee flexors did not (P>0.05). Conclusion It is weak of the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with KOA in the mainly involved limb, as well as the isokinetic strength of knee extensors compared with the normal controls. The changes in the extensors and flexors are not equivalent. The peak torque of knee extensors significantly correlated with the pain and functions of the knee.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate Beijing college students' concern and preference for maxillary anterior tooth esthetic factors.

METHODSSeveral images about lip and tooth were made through computer. A questionnaire was sent out to students in ten colleges and then collected. There were five factors to be evaluated: relationship of maxillary incisors and lower lip, numbers of tooth exposed, shape of centric incisor, crown width-length ratio, gingival margin. Concern of the beauty of anterior tooth, ie. tooth shape, tooth arrangement, shape of gingiva and so on, were then analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 408 responses collected, and 47.5% (194/408) of them preferred light contact between upper incisors and lower lip; 49.5% (202/408) preferred 8 tooth exposed when smile; 69.1% (282/408) preferred oval crown shape; 52.5% (214/408) preferred 0.85 as a crown width-length ratio; 49.5% (202/408)of responses chose the curve of gingiva runs horizontal. The average score of concern for male was 52.6% (100/190), for female was 59.6% (130/218).

CONCLUSIONSMost results from this study accord with the classical principles of tooth esthetics. Sex affects the concern and preferences of maxillary anterior tooth esthetics factors.

Adult ; China ; Esthetics, Dental ; Female ; Gingiva ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Incisor ; anatomy & histology ; Lip ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Maxilla ; anatomy & histology ; Odontometry ; methods ; Patient Preference ; Sex Factors ; Smiling ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth Crown ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Talus ; injuries ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In this study, we explored the mechanism of Huganning tablet (HGNP) in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on network pharmacology and computer-aided drug design. Firstly, the potential ingredients and targets of HGNP were identified from TCMSP database, Swiss Target Prediction database, Chinese pharmacopoeia (2015) and literatures, and then the targets of HGNP intersected with NAFLD disease targets that obtained in GeneCards database to acquired potential targets. The bioconductor bioinformatics package of R software was used for gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The network of “potential ingredient-key target-pathway” was formed in Cytoscape software to study the interactions between potential ingredients of HGNP, key targets, pathways and NAFLD. Based on the results of network pharmacology, the molecular docking analysis of the key targets and potential active ingredients in HGNP tablets with top degree in the network was conducted using Discovery Studio 2020 software, followed by molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculation, drug-likeness properties analysis and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) properties prediction. In vitro, HepG2 cells were used to establish steatosis model, and the effects of five key compounds on hepatocyte steatosis were analyzed by oil red O staining and triglyceride (TG) content determination. The results showed that 141 ingredients and 151 potential targets were obtained. A total of 2 526 items and 151 pathways were identified by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The molecular docking suggested that five components, isorhamnetin, salvianolic acid B, emodin, resveratrol and rhein, exhibited strong binding ability with key targets [retinoic acid receptor RXR-alpha (RXRA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3B), serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (AKT1)]. It was further verified that isorhamnetin and salvianolic acid B bind to key targets with good structural stability and binding affinity based on molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. The drug-likeness properties, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity of five key compounds were more comprehensively analyzed through drug-likeness properties analysis and ADMET properties prediction. In vitro, all five compounds, isorhamnetin, salvianolic acid B, emodin, resveratrol, and rhein, improved hepatocyte steatosis of HepG2 cells, confirming the reliability of the present study. In conclusion, based on network pharmacology, computer-aided drug design and in vitro validation, this study investigated the mechanism of HGNP for the treatment of NAFLD at multiple levels and provided a basis for its clinical application.

Objective The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) could be obtained by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure (BP). This method is associated with various technical drawbacks. We evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of CAVI measured by ultrasound via detecting the aortic and ankle flow directly by ultrasonic probe. Methods CAVI was determined in 96 subjects [64 male, mean age (41.2±8. 9) years] who took part in the annual check up program in our department by means of the professional equipment ( BP-203RPE Ⅱ , VP-1000, Japan, CAVIp), the M-mode (CAVIm) and color Doppler flow imaging (CAVId). Measurement reproducibility on was obtained by repeat the measurements in 20 subjects choose randomly from the 96 subjects. Carotid ultrasound (CU) was performed to obtain intima- media thickness (IMT) and β index in all subjects. Results CAVI obtained by various methods were similar and comparable ( CAVIm 7.74±1. 62, CAVId 7. 77±1.59, CAVIp 8. 74±1.57, all P 0. 05). Inter-group and inter-observer variance was negligible ( r1 = 0. 98, r2 = 0. 97). There were also significant correlations between CAVIm and IMT, CAVIm and β (r1 =0. 824, r2 =0. 812, all P <0. 01 ), and between CAVId and IMT, CAVId and β (r1 =0.815, r2 =0.813, all P<0.01). Conclusions CAVI could be correctly measured by ultrasound technique.

Objective To evaluate whether ultrasonic microbubble destruction (US/MB) could enhance the therapeutic effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene transfer for acute myocardial infarction (MI).Methods MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation in male SD rats.Two to 4 hours thereafter,MI rats were randomly treated with tail vein infusing pc-DNA3.1-HGF plasmid mixed with microbubbles (US/MB-HGF group,n=18);tail vein infusing pc-DNA3.1-HGF plasmid mixed with saline (US-HGF group,n=18);tail vein infusing empty plasmid mixed with micrnhubbles (US/MB-Pgroup,n=18).All rats were exposed to ultrasound treatment thereafter till contrast imaging disappeared in cardiac region.Rats were sacrificed at 24 hours,7 days or 14 days,respectively (n=6 each) and myocardial protein expression of bcl-2 and HGF as well as microvascular density (MVD) were determined.Results The myocardial protein expressions of bcl-2 and HGF in US/MB-HGF group were significantly higher than those in US-HGF and US/MB-P groups at 7 days post MI (all P＜0.01) and MVD was significantly higher in US/MB-HGF group (367.6 ±17.6) than that in US-HGF (268.9±0.8) and US/MB-P (186.8±11.8) groups (all P＜0.05) at 14 days post MI.Conclusions Ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction could enhance systemic HGF administration induced myocardial angiogenesis and reduce systemic HGF administration induced myocardial apoptosis in rats with acute MI.

BACKGROUNDContrast media administration can result in severe nephrotoxicity under pathological conditions such as diabetic nephropathy, congestive heart failure, dehydration, et al. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary hypercholesterolemia on contrast media-induced changes in renal function, blood flow, and histopathology.

METHODSRats were fed either on a normal rodent diet (group N) or a high-cholesterol supplemented diet (group H; 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid) for 8 weeks. Half of the animals (n = 6) from each diet group were then given a tail vein injection of 60% diatrizoate (6 ml/kg; group NC and group HC) and the other half were administered saline. Total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, fractional excretion of sodium and potassium, and cortical nitric oxide production were determined one day following contrast media administration. Renal blood flow was determined by color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed-mode Doppler. Renal histopathology was observed by light microscopy.

RESULTSTotal serum cholesterol and resistance indices of renal blood vessels increased significantly, while creatinine clearance rate and production of nitric oxide in the renal cortex decreased markedly in group HC and group H when compared to group N and group NC. The creatinine clearance rate decreased significantly in group HC compared to group H. Serum creatinine levels and fractional excretion of sodium and potassium in group HC were significantly higher than those in the other three groups. Severe tubular degeneration and necrosis, protein cast accumulation, and medullary congestion were found in group HC.

CONCLUSIONHypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for contrast media-induced nephropathy. Hypercholesterolemia aggravates contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity through the reduced production of nitric oxide.

Animals ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; toxicity ; Contrast Media ; toxicity ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Renal Circulation