OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of unilateral pedicle screw fixation in treating thoracolumbar fractures through paraspinal approach.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to January 2009,21 patients with single level thoracolumbar fracture without neurological symptoms were treated with unilateral pedicle screw fixation through paraspinal approach. There were 14 males and 7 females,aged from 21 to 65 years old with a mean of 36.4 years. The duration from injury to operation ranged from 6 h to 5 d with an average of 3 d. According to the classification of Denis fracture, compression fractures happedned in 12 cases and burst fractures happened in 9 cases,including 1 case with T5 fracture, 2 cases with T7 fracture, 2 cases with T10 fracture, 3 cases with T11 fracture, 8 cases with T12 fracture, and 5 cases with L1 fracture. Based on the Flankel grade, all patients were classified as grade E. Anterior vertebral body height ratio, sagittal Cobb angle, condition of internal fixation failure, visual analogue score (VAS) were evaluated.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months with an average of 20.5 months. No internal fixation failure was found. Anterior vertebral body height ratios at preoperative 3 days after operation and last follow-up were 54.3 +/- 2.8, 92.9 +/- 1.5, 93.8 +/- 1.7, respectively;sagittal Cobb angle at the three timepoints were (27.8 +/- 2.5) degrees, (5.3 +/- 0.8) degrees, (6.3 +/- 1.4) degrees, respectively; the difference was statistical significant (P < 0.05). VAS was (1.2 +/- 0.4) points at last follow-up and had obviously improved (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of thoracolumbar fractures with unilateral pedicle screw fixation through paraspinal approach is safe with the advantages of micro-trauma and less blood loss,which can not only completely retain the posterior spinal complex structure, reinforce the spinal stability, raise the reductional quality, but also improve the strength of fixation and the distribution of stress force.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To research the relationship between plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG) level and endothelium-dependent arterial dilation (EDAD) in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods The subjects included 40 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and 46 healthy subjects.Insulin therapy were then given to all diabetic patients for 6 months.Plasma OPG was measured by a sandwich ELISA method,and brachial artery diameter was determined by high resolution ultrasound at rest after reactive hyperemia and after sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN).Results Plasma OPG level in diabetic patients before treatment was (3.44?0.52) ng/L,which was significantly higher than that in control (2.38?0.25 ) ng/L (P

PCR/ASO probes were applied to analyse the T-786C polymorphisms in 5′-flanking region of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)gene in type 2 diabetic patients with or without nephropatby and healthy individuals.The results showed that the T-786C polymorphisms of eNOS gene seemed to be related to diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical result and assess clinical value of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty with a novel cerclage cable technique for treatment of unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in senile patients.

METHODSForty-eight consecutive patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures were treated in our hospital from March 2001 to March 2006 (Evans type III in 11 cases, Evans type IV in 25 cases and Evans type V in 22 cases). All the cases were evaluated by Zuckerman functional recovery score (FRS) and operative risk assessment software 1 (ORAS1), which were based on the patients' physical and laboratory examinations preoperatively. Seventeen cases (19 hips) were treated with cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty. There were 5 male cases (5 hips) and 12 female cases (14 hips, including 2 patients who suffered from additional slight injuries and resulted in contralateral hip fracture and were treated with the same procedure 3 months after the first operation). The average age was 85 years (78-95 years). All the operations were carried out under general anesthesia, through Southern incision and lateral approach by the same orthopaedic surgeon. All prostheses consisted of Link SPII femoral stem and bipolar femoral head. All patients were followed up for more than 30 days.

RESULTSThe operative risks of all the 17 cases (19 hips) were calculated by ORAS1 preoperatively. The average preoperative FRS was 81.7 (80.7-82.7). The average predictive value of operative morbidity was 10% (7%-15%). The average predictive value of mortality was 2.97% (2.1%-3.2%). The average operation time was 1.5 hours. The average blood transfusion was 400 ml. There were no operative or anesthetic complications and no deaths within 30 days after operation. Sitting up was permitted 3 to 4 days after operation, and partial weight bearing was permitted 5 to 7 days after operation. Patients were allowed to walk with a walker 10 days after operation. The average FRS was 78.7 at 30 days postoperatively. No patient died during at least one year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the value of the technique of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric hip fracture is not widely recognized, we have consistently achieved satisfactory results with strict preoperative risk assessment, strict indication selection and systematic postoperative rehabilitation.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the role of human estrogen receptor-related receptor(ERR) ?,a submember of orphan receptors,in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer.Methods Plasmid of pSG-ERR? was transfected into endometrial cancer cell lines HEC-1A,HEC-1B,and Ishikawa.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of ERR? in endometrial cancer cell.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cellular growth.Results Expressions of the ERR? were significantly increased in the endometrial cancer cells transfected with pSG-ERR? plasmid; expression of the ERR? mRNA in HEC-1A cell was 9644.4 copies/ng,HEC-1B:9835.3 copies/ng,and Ishikawa:8008.6 copies/ng(P

Male sterility affects human reproduction seriously. Modern medicine has not yet fully understood the reasons for abnormal sperm, so clinical treatment is mainly based on experience, but the effect is inaccurate. According to "kidney controls reproduction" and "chronic illness causes blood stasis" theory, Professor JIN Bao-fang treats abnormol speerm sterility by tonifying kidney and activating blood circulation to remove obstruction with modified Yangjing Decoction, which has achieved good efficacy.

ObjectiveTo construct geographic information database of drinking water type of endemic arsenism at village level with Google Earth and provide scientific basis for prevention and management of endemic arsenism.MethodsDrinking water samples were collected in the field of Shilegetu village,Tuoketuo county,Inner Mongolia in 2008.Arsenic concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Global positioning system(GPS) was performed to obtain the geographic information of the water sources.Google Earth was applied to establish the geographic information database.Results There were 5 drinking water resources in this village.They were located between 40°29′09″ N and 40°29′36″ Nlatitude and 111°28′00″ E and 111°29′02″ E longitude,with the altitude between 1010 m and 1021 m.For all drinking water resources,four water arsenic concentrations was beyond 0.05 mg/L and one below 0.05 mg/L.In addition,one water source had been abandoned and the remaining four were providing daily drinking water for residents of the villages.ConclusionsThe geographic information database,established by Google Earth,can intuitively reflect the real situation of the endemic village.It can provide more useful information for field epidemiological research.It is an effectively tool in control and management of endemic arsenism.

OBJECTIVETo extract tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) from MKN-45 gastric cancer which is similar to "muddy phlegm" in Chinese medicine and observe influences of MKN-45 tumor interstitial fluid (MKN-45 TIF) intervention on metastasis of gastric cancer and on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain containing receptor (KDR), epithelial-cadherin (E-cad), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and telomerase genes and proteins in primary tumor tissue.

METHODSAn MKN-45 tumor-bearing model was established in 50 nude mice. The modeled animals were equally randomized to 5 groups: the simple tumor-bearing group (model group), the normal saline (NS) via tail vein injection (i.v.) group (NS i.v. group), MKN-45 TIF i.v. group (TIF i.v. group), NS intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group (NS i.p. group), and MKN-45 TIF i.p. group (TIF i.p. group). The TIF and NS intervention groups received injection (i.p. or i.v.) of MKN-45 TIF or NS twice a week, 0.2 mL at a time. After 8 weeks, the primary tumors were removed, weighed and HE stained to observe tumor metastasis. The primary tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR to detect expressions of VEGF, KDR, E-cad, COX-2, ICAM-1, and telomerase genes and proteins in different groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in tumor weight between TIF intervention groups and the model and NS intervention groups. Tumor metastasis was observed in all 5 groups, but the tumor metastasis rate in TIF intervention groups was significantly higher than those in the model and NS intervention groups. The gene and protein expressions of gastric cancer-related factors VEGF, KDR, COX-2, ICAM-1 and telomerase were unregulated while the gene and protein expressions of E-cad were downregulated in TIF intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONSTIF promotes tumor growth, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. These findings provide preliminary experimental clues for verifying the hypothesis of "tumor-phlegm microenvironment".

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Fluid ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESThe investigation of the testicular volume, the penis length and the T, FSH, LH, PRL levels in serum were taken in 289 adolescent males to provide the valuable data for andrology.

METHODSThe adolescent males were grouped according to their age. The testicular volume was measured with testicular model and the T, FSH, LH, PRL levels in serum were determined by immunoenzymetric assay.

RESULTSThe male sexual development was rapid from age 11 to 16 and close to that of adult at age 18. Serum PRL of adolescent males was higher than that of adult males.

CONCLUSIONSThe age 11 to 16 is a period of rapid growth in sexual maturation. PRL may play an important role in sexual maturation.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical outcome of anterolateral minimally invasive approach versus conventional posterior approach for total hip replacement against femoral neck fractures in elderly patients.

METHODSThe retrospective study was carried out on 42 patients who suffered from displaced femoral neck fractures (19 cases of Garden type III, 23 cases of Garden type IV) treated by total hip replacement via anterolateral minimally invasive approach or conventional posterior approach by the same experienced surgeon. The average age of the patients was 78.1 years (range: 65-89 years). They were divided into anterolateral mini-invasive group (22 cases) and posterior group (20 cases). The mean time of follow-up was 13 months (range: 6-36 months). The anterolateral approach described by Hardinge goes through between anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the gluteus medius muscle, reaching the femoral neck from anterior capsule. The traditional posterior approach described by Moore (Southern incision) goes through the insertions of short external rotation muscles, reaching the femoral neck from posterior capsule. The related variables under observation were length of incision, operation time, postoperative limp, length of hospital stay and bed stay and dislolcation rate.

RESULTSThe length of the skin incision varied between 7 cm and 12 cm with the anterolateral minimally invasive technique, compared to 15-22 cm in the conventional procedure. It took less time (average 15 minutes) to complete the anterolateral minimally invasive approach (72 min+/-15 min), compared with the conventional approach (87 min+/-10 min). The average Harris hip score was 91.23+/-10.20 in anterolateral approach, 90.03+/-11.05 in the posterior approach. The average length of hospital stay for patients with the anterolateral approach was (6.4+/-2.2) days (range: 4-9 days), while that in posterior approach was (9.2+/-3.1) days (range: 6-13 days). The average length of bed stay was (3.4+/-1.1) days (range: 2-5 days) in anterolateral group and (6.2+/-2.8) days (range: 3-10 days) in posterior group. No patients in anterolateral group experienced dislocation. One (5%) hip in posterior approach had dislocation.

CONCLUSIONSAnterolateral mini-invasive approach can decrease trauma, operation time, length of hospital stay and bed stay and rehabilitation time. The stability and minimal muscular damage permit the acceleration of postoperative rehabilitation, which can subsequently reduce the perioperative risk in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in the elderly undergoing total hip replacement.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures