OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of the locking internal fixator (LIF), which includes the locking compression plate (LCP) and the less invasive stable system (LISS), in the proximal and distal tibial fractures.

METHODSWe did a retrospective study on a total of 98 patients with either proximal or distal tibial fractures from January 2003 to January 2007, who had received the operation with LIF by the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique. The data consisted of 43 proximal tibial fractures (type AO41C3) and 55 distal tibial fractures (type AO43C3).

RESULTSNo complications were observed in all patients after operation. The mean healing time was 8.4 months (range 5-14 months). Only two cases of delayed union occurred at postoperative 10 months. No infections were reported after the definitive surgery even in the cases of open fractures. All patients reached a full range of motion at postoperative 6 to 9 months and regained the normal functions of knee and ankle joints.

CONCLUSIONUsing LIF in MIPO technique is a reliable approach towards the proximal and distal tibial fractures that are not suitable for intramedullary nailing.

Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective To study the the causes, management and preventive measures for complications of holmium laser ureterolithotripsy. Methods Three hundred and seven cases of uteteral calculi from Jan. 2006 to Jan. 2010 were reported (203 men and 104 women, age ranged from 18-83 years,mean age 51.6 years). One hundred thirty-three patients had calculi in the lower ureter,94 in the middle part and 80in the upper ureter. Results The overall comminution rate was 89.9% (276/307 cases). sixteen cases (5.2%) were followed by ESWL due to the shift of the stones to the renal pelvis. The operation failed in 9 cases(2.9%), 3 cases(1%) had perforation,and recoveried after open operation. Deep infection was found in 3(1%)cases,which recoveried after anti-infective therapy. Conclusions Holmium laser ureterolithotripsy is an effective method for treating ureteral calculi, with advantage of high efficiacy,safety and minimal invasion. To master the operating induction, to raise operating technique and to take correct measure could reduce complications effectually.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the plasma levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis and to explore their significance.

METHODSThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid,vitamin E and lipoperoxides in patients with liver cirrhosis were measured, and the results were compared with those of sex-and age-matched healthy subjects.

RESULTThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and lipoperoxides in the patients group were (42.94 +/-6.99)micromol/L, (17.99 +/-3.51)micromol/L and (14.09 +/-1.28)micromol/L, respectively, while those in the control group were (53.30 +/-9.45)micromol/L (t=9.50, P=0.000), (24.59 +/-7.22)micromol/L (t=7.94, P=0.000) and (12.11 +/-1.20)micromol/L (t=17.21, P=0.000), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis decrease significantly,which may indicates the disturbance of balance between oxidation and antioxidation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitamin E ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" in improving ischemic stroke.

METHODSEighty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, a model group, an acupoint sticking group, an acupuncture group, a Nimodipine group and a normal group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used for preparation of focal cerebral ischemic rat model. After modeling, any treatment was not given to the model group; for the acupoint sticking group, "Hua yutie" was applied at "Dazhui" (GV 14) ,"Qihai" (CV 6) and "Mingmen" (GV 4); for the acupuncture group, acupuncture was given at the same acupoints as those in the acupoint sticking group; the Nimodipine group received intragastric administration of Nimodipine. And the normal group did not receive any treatment. Their infarction volume, the cerebral water content, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the protein level were observed.

RESULTSThe infarction volume coincided with the dominative scope of the middle cerebral artery of the electric coagulation. There were significant differences in the cerebral water content as the various treatment groups compared with that of the model group (all P<0.05). The VEGF positive cell number and the protein level around the infarction area in the acupoint sticking group were increased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.01), with no significant difference as compared with the Nimodipine group and the acupuncture group (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" alleviates the cerebral damage after ischemia possibly through enhancing the expression and protein level of VEGF.

Acupuncture Points ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the association between drug resistance and the risk of latent tuberculosis infection and disease among household contacts of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and to explore whether the compensatory mutation of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis will enhance its pathogenicity or transmission ability. Methods　The English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, web of science, EMBASE, Cochrane library database, CNKI and Wanfang database, were searched by computer from the time of establishment of the database to January 2022. Cohort studies on the risk of infection and disease among household contacts of patients with drug-resistant and sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis were searched and screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were extracted and evaluated by NOS scale, using stata16.0 software meta-analysis to calculate the combined effect of tuberculosis infection and disease risk of family contacts, and carry out heterogeneity test, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. Results　A total of 7 cohort studies involving 9653 TB index cases and 29, 734 house contacts were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, the risk of tuberculosis infection in house contacts of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients was increased (OR=1.56, 95%CI=1.25-1.96, P<0.001), but there was no difference in the risk of incidence (RR=1.06, 95%CI=0.80-1.41, P=0.67>0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that the risk of latent tuberculosis infection in house contacts was affected by the study area, and the size of family contacts had an impact on the risk of TB . Sensitivity analysis showed that the results of meta-analysis were robust. Conclusion　Compared with drug sensitive TB patients, household contacts with drug-resistant TB patients had a higher risk of tuberculosis, but there was no difference in the risk of TB among the two groups.

Aim of this study was to develop the detection method of soluble human leukocyte antigens I (sHLA-I) and to explore sHLA-I level alteration in storage blood and its significance. sHLA-I level in sera of 60 Guangdong normal individuals and sHLA-I concentration in blood components from 20 donors quantitatively were detected by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that sensitivity of this assay was 2.84 ng/ml. Coefficients of variation were 5.80% within assays and 9.00% between assays respectively. The recovery rate was >/= 98.57%. The sHLA-I level of normal individuals in Guangdong was (699.54 +/- 360.10) ng/ml. sHLA-I in red blood cells stored for 28 days and in random-donor platelets were significantly higher than that in other blood components and their amount was proportionate to the number of residual donor leukocytes and to the length of storage. In conclusion, sandwich ELISA assay for detection of sHLA-I is a sensitive, specific and stable technique. Blood components with different concentration of sHLA-I may be chosen for clinical transfusion.
Apoptosis ; Blood Preservation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology

Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tetraspanin 24

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effect of Chinese drugs for activating blood circulation (ABC) and for activating blood circulation and detoxifying (ABCD) on indices of thrombosis, inflammatory reaction, and tissue damage in a rabbit model of toxin-heat and blood stasis syndrome.

METHODSFifty-four rabbits were randomized into the normal control group, model group, simvastatin group (simvastatin, 0.93 mg/kg per day), ABC group [Xiongshao Capsule, 0.07 g/kg per day], and ABCD group [Xiongshao Capsule, 0.07 g/kg per day, and Huanglian Capsule, 0.14 g/kg per day]. All except the normal control group received a single injection of bovine serum albumin and were fed with high-fat diets for 6 weeks. At the end of week 4 of giving high-fat diets, a dose of endoxitin was given by ear vein injection, and a randomized 2-week treatment was initiated. At the end of treatment, blood lipids, circulating endothelial cells, and the pathological changes of the aortic arch were assessed. The serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9), tissue inhibitors to metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, ABCD group showed decreased serum triglyceride (TG) level, improvement in the pathological change in the aortic arch, and reduction in the number of circulating endothelial cells (4.00 ± 1.41 per 0.9 μL for ABCD group vs 7.83 ± 1.72 per 0.9 μL for the model group). In addition, the levels of serum GMP-140, PAI-1, and IL-6 in ABCD group were also significantly reduced [0.79 ± 0.20 ng/mL, 5.23 ± 1.39 ng/mL, 40.64 ± 10.11 pg/mL for ABCD group vs 1.08 ± 0.31 ng/mL, 7.28 ± 2.01 ng/mL, 54.44 ± 13.56 pg/mL for the model group, respectively, P < 0.05]. A trend showing improvement in the indices of thrombosis, inflammatory reaction, and tissue damage was observed in the ABC group when compared to the model group, but the changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChinese drugs for activating blood circulation and detoxifying have beneficial effects on regulating indices of thrombosis (GMP-140 and PAI-1) and inflammatory reaction (IL-6) in rabbit model with toxic-heat and blood stasis. The effect of the activating blood circulation and detoxifying drugs in regulating the levels of serum GMP-140, PAI-1, and IL-6 was superior to that of the activating blood circulation drugs.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Simvastatin ; administration & dosage ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on obesity in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men.Methods From 2002 to 2006,a population-based cohort study of 61,491 Chinese men aged from 40 to 74 in urban Shanghai were conducted by the Shanghai Men's Health Study(SMHS).Information on smoking status and body weight change was collected using a structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview.Measurements of body weight,height and circumferences of waist and hip were taken by medical professionals.Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the associations of smoking habit with body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)and adult body weight gain after adjusting for potential confounding factors.Results The current smokers had a lower BMI(23.4±3.1)and body weight gain in adulthood(11.6±9.7)kg than non-smokers[24.0±2.9 and(12.7±8.9)kg,respectively].The adjusted differences between these two groups were 0.60(95%CI:-0.67--0.54)for BMI and 1.46 kg (95%CI:-1.65--1.27)for body weight gain,respectively.Smokers,both former and current,showed a higher WHR than non-smokers with an adjusted average difference of 0.006 08(95%CI:0.005 08-0.007 09).Among current smokers,the WHR increased with the early age starting smoking,number of cigarettes smoked per day,years of smoking and pack-years of smoking in a dose-response manner.Further analysis showed that,although the ex-smokers showed a higher body weight and weigh gain than non-smokers in succedent several years of smoking cessation,they were comparable to non-smokers in body size after 5 years of quitting smoking.Conclusion Cigarette smoking may be inversely associated with body weight and weight gain but positively related to central fat deposition which is more detrimental to health than general obesity.The initial wain in weight after smoking cessation is temporary.

Objective To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on obesity in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men.Methods From 2002 to 2006,a population-based cohort study of 61,491 Chinese men aged from 40 to 74 in urban Shanghai were conducted by the Shanghai Men's Health Study(SMHS).Information on smoking status and body weight change was collected using a structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview.Measurements of body weight,height and circumferences of waist and hip were taken by medical professionals.Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the associations of smoking habit with body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)and adult body weight gain after adjusting for potential confounding factors.Results The current smokers had a lower BMI(23.4±3.1)and body weight gain in adulthood(11.6±9.7)kg than non-smokers[24.0±2.9 and(12.7±8.9)kg,respectively].The adjusted differences between these two groups were 0.60(95%CI:-0.67--0.54)for BMI and 1.46 kg (95%CI:-1.65--1.27)for body weight gain,respectively.Smokers,both former and current,showed a higher WHR than non-smokers with an adjusted average difference of 0.006 08(95%CI:0.005 08-0.007 09).Among current smokers,the WHR increased with the early age starting smoking,number of cigarettes smoked per day,years of smoking and pack-years of smoking in a dose-response manner.Further analysis showed that,although the ex-smokers showed a higher body weight and weigh gain than non-smokers in succedent several years of smoking cessation,they were comparable to non-smokers in body size after 5 years of quitting smoking.Conclusion Cigarette smoking may be inversely associated with body weight and weight gain but positively related to central fat deposition which is more detrimental to health than general obesity.The initial wain in weight after smoking cessation is temporary.