Hedgehog(HH),a vital endodermal signal,plays a critical role in the embryonic development of the GI system.During mammalian embryonic development,deficiency of HH signaling leads to gastrointestinal malformations.Nevertheless,normal presence of HH family is also found in the adult gut,and HH signaling now may be important for homeostasis of the gut in such a case.However,many researches revealed that the HH signal's involved in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and its role is altered in various tumors due to various mechanisms.This review focused on the progress of HH signal pathway in gastrointestinal tumors.

Objective To investigate the effect of sustentaculum tali screw placement on outcomes following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of intraarticular calcaneal fractures.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on 139 patients with intraarticular calcaneal fractures treated by ORIF from April 2008 to January 2012.According to Sanders classification,there were 9 patients with type Ⅱ fractures,87 with type Ⅲ fractures and 43 with type Ⅳ fractures.Fracture reduction followed by placement of calcaneal anatomic plate or anatomic locking plate was performed via calcaneal lateral L-shape incision.All the patients received X-rays and CT scans within postoperative 2 weeks.Placement of screws in sustentaculum tail was detected by CT volume rendering to visualize implants combined with multiplanar reconstruction imaging (MPR).Patients were divided into accurate fixation group (Group A,n =28),marginal fixation group (Group B,n =58),and non-fixation group (Group C,n =53) based on radiological results.Intra-and peri-operative parameters,time to partial weight-bearing,time to full weight-bearing,fracture healing time,and clinical outcome were compared among groups.Functional outcome was assessed using American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle Hindfoot Scale.Results Postoperative X-rays indicated accurate fixation of sustentaculum tail in 64 patients,marginal fixation in 22,and non-fixation in 53,but CT images manifested accurate fixation in 28 patients,marginal fixation in 58,and non-fixation in 53.Group A had operation duration of (93 ±11) min and intraoperative blood loss of (252 ± 27) ml,longer or higher than those in Group B [(85 ±8) min,(194±16) ml] and Group C [(57±6) min,(136 ±13) ml] (P＜O.05).There was no significant difference in mean hospital stay among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Ninety-two patients were followed-up for 12-38 months (mean 18.5 months) and 85 patients completed foot and ankle exercise as planned.Moreover,no significant differences were observed among groups concerning time to partial and full weight-bearing,fracture healing time and AOFAS score at the final follow-up (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Sustentaculum tali screw placement has no apparent effect on the short-term outcome of surgical treatment for calcaneal fractures.

Objective To explore the factors associated with delayed defecation in long-term ventilated patients in intensivecare unit (ICU) and their potential effect on prognosis.Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. The patients admitted to general ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from October 1st in 2013 to September 30th in 2015 who underwent mechanical ventilation (MV) for ≥6 days were enrolled, and they were divided into early defecation group (< 6 days) and late defecation group (≥6 days). At admission, clinical nutritional support were given as usual, and gender, age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score, admission reasons, MV reasons, the usage of morphine and epinephrine/norepinephrine, the highest positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), the lowest oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) and the lowest systolic blood pressure were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of the first defecation time. ICU mortality, the length of ICU stay, central venous catheter (CVC) indwelling time, duration of MV, ICU acquired bacterial infection rate, and the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) were compared between early defecation group and late defecation group. Logisticorgan dysfunction system (LOD) scores and gastric residual volume per day were recorded at the different time of MV.Results Totally 189 patients were enrolled, 39 patients did not satisfied the inclusion criteria and 13 patients gave up treatment or referrals were excluded. Finally 137 patients were enrolled in the analysis, 83 patients in late defecation group and 54 in early defecation group. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics such as gender, age, APACHE Ⅱ score, LOD score at 1 day of MV, admission reasons, MV reasons, disgorging and gastric residual volume per day during the first 5 days of MV, enteral nutrition, lactulose treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy during the first 5 days of MV, and blood purification treatment between the two groups (allP > 0.05). Compared with the early defecation group, late defecation group had less patients with loose stools or watery stool at first time [15.7% (13/83) vs. 33.3% (18/54)], more patients using morphine and the usage of epinephrine/norepinephrine more than 24 hours [48.2% (40/83) vs. 40.7% (22/54), 42.2%(35/83) vs. 29.6% (16/54)], higher the maximum PEEP level [cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa): 7.9±3.7 vs. 6.7±3.5], lower the minimal systolic blood pressure [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 74.8±28.1 vs. 88.9±30.2] and more severe of hypoxemia [PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg, 54.2% (5/83) vs. 44.4% (24/53)], all of which had significant differences (allP < 0.05). Factors found statistical significances by single factor analysis were enrolled in the multiple regression analysis, which showed that PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg and systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg were independently associated with a delay in defecation in patients undergoing long-term MV [PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg: adjusted hazard rate: 1.415, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.061-1.590,P = 0.026; systolic blood pressure 70-89 mmHg:HR = 1.461, 95%CI = 1.164-1.788, P = 0.002; systolic blood pressure ≤ 69 mmHg: adjusted hazard rate= 1.273, 95%CI = 1.010-1.587,P = 0.034). ICU mortality, the length of ICU stay, CVC indwelling time, duration of MV, ICU acquired bacterial infection rate, and the incidence of VAP at 7 days of MV in late defecation group were significantly higher than those of early defecation group [ICU mortality rate: 15.7% (13/83) vs. 7.4% (4/54), the length of ICU stay (day): 17.0 (14.0, 23.0) vs. 15.0 (13.8, 20.0), CVC indwelling time (days): 12.0 (10.0, 14.0) vs. 10.0 (9.0, 11.3), duration of MV (days): 14.0 (10.0, 20.0) vs. 11.0 (9.8, 15.3), ICU acquired bacterial infections rate: 60.2% (50/83) vs. 14.8% (8/54), the incidence of VAP: 32.5% (27/83) vs. 14.8% (8/54); allP < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in LOD score between both groups. The LOD scores at 4 days and 9 days of MV in late defecation group were significantly higher than those of early defecation group (6.41±4.37 vs. 5.21±3.12, 4.33±2.20 vs. 3.50±2.90, bothP < 0.01).Conclusions PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg and systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg during the first 5 days of MV were independently associated with a delay in defecation in patients undergoing long-term MV. The results suggest that constipation is associated with adverse outcomes in long-term ventilated patients.

Objective To make a comparison between noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) and invasive blood pressure (IBP). Method Totally 450 patients undergoing selective surgery received radial artery or dorsalispedis artery puncture and catheter under local anesthesia to figure out the difference between NIBP and IBP. Results The systolic blood pressure difference of IBP from different positions and NIBP were as follows:left radial artery group (18.20 ± 0.67, 15.27 ± 0.62) mmHg, right radial artery group (18.54 ± 0.79, 14.68 ± 0.77) mmHg, left foot dorsal artery group (41.98 ± 2.26, 40.54 ± 1.77) mmHg and right foot dorsal artery group (37.57 ± 0.01, 37.93 ± 2.90) mmHg. The noninvasive systolic blood pressure difference between left and right arms was (2.84 ± 0.45) mmHg, the noninvasive diastolic blood pressure difference (3.19 ± 0.34) mmHg, and the noninvasive mean blood pressure difference (2.85 ± 0.35) mmHg. The NIBP of right arm was higher than that of left arm. Conclusions IBP is higher than NIBP, and the invasive artery systolic blood pressure is about 20mmHg higher than noninvasive systolic blood pressure. Meanwhile we confirm that systolic blood pressure gradually rises over 30 years old, and diastolic blood pressure increases while gradually declines after 50.

Molecular methods and fluoroscopic techniques suggest that rich microbial diversity exist in the marine environment, but less than 1% of these microbes can be cultured in the laboratory conditions, and that the cultivable dominant species were even less. This limitation has long been a barrier to the development of environmental microbiology and the utilization of marine resources. In the past decade, novel methods for culture and detection of these uncultured marine microbes have successfully applied to obtain several conventionally-uncultured microbes including those from extreme environments. Those progresses have inspired researchers greatly. Developments in the research of marine microbial resources are an important basis for the study of the micro-world and deserve increasing scientific attention.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Paternal Exposure ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical method and its clinical effects of minimally invasive osteosynthesis on the treatment of complex ankle fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2007 to December 2011, 53 patients with complex ankle fractures were treated with minimally invasive osteosynthesis. There were 31 males and 22 females, with an average age of 38.2 years old (ranged, 18 to 65). According to the system of Lauge-Hansen, 32 fractures were supination external rotation injury (grade WV), 13 fractures were pronation external rotation (grade III or IV), 5 fractures were pronation abduction (grade III); and 3 fractures can not be classified due to serious comminution fracture of fibula. According to the system of Denis-Weber, there were 4 cases with type A, 34 cases with type B and 15 cases with type C. Seven cases were open fractures. The duration from injuries to operation ranged from 2 hours to 14 days with an average of 5 days. The sequence of reduction and fixation of ankle fractures was firstly posterior malleolus, then medial malleolus and lateral malleolus, and inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis lastly. The fractures of posterior malleolus were reduced and fixed through anterior ankle approaches; the fractures of medial and lateral malleolus were percutaneously fixed with bolts or blade plate or tensile force band; and inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis were firmly fixed if necessary. Baird-Jackson scoring system was used to evaluate clinical effects.

RESULTSForty-eight patients were followed up from 10 to 36 months with an average of 13 months. The fractures got healing with an average time of 12 weeks (ranged, 10 to 18). According to the Baird-Jackson scoring system, the mean score of ankle function was 94.7 +/- 4.2, and 28 cases obtained excellent results, 15 good, 3 fair and 2 poor. One case experienced superficial infections and was cured by changing dressings, 2 cases experienced fixed syndesmosis screw breakage.

CONCLUSIONThe surgical method of minimally invasive osteosynthesis can ensure the anatomical join restoration, protect the blood supply of fracture end, rebuild the function of ankle joint, obtain satisfactory clinical results in treating complex ankle fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

Thioesterase catalyzes the hydrolysis of acyl-ACP and saturated fatty acyl chain. It plays a key role in the accumulation of medium chain fatty acids in vivo. In this study, to construct an engineering strain to produce MCFAs, the Arabidopsis acyl-ACP thioesterase gene AtFatA was amplified by PCR from cDNA of arabidopsis and double digested by EcoR I/Xba I, then linked to the plasmid digested with same enzymes to get the recombinant plasmid pPICZaA-AtFatA. We transformed the gene into Pichia pastoris GS115 by electroporation and screened positive colonies by YPD medium with Zeocin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) results showed that the recombinant enzyme had a molecular of 45 kDa band which was consistent with the predicted molecular mass and we constructed the expression system of gene AtFatA in fungus for the first time. Under shake-flask conditions, Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer-computer results indicated that recombinant strain produced 51% more extracellular free MCFAs than the wild and its yield reached 28.7% of all extracellular fatty acids. This figure is 10% higher than the control group. The result provides a new way to produce MCFAs.
Arabidopsis ; genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins ; biosynthesis ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Electroporation ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Thiolester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; Transformation, Genetic

AIM: To investigate the significance of signal transducers and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) in proliferation of rat intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell (BEC) induced by LPS. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control, endotoxemia (LPS) group and rapamycin (RPM) group. Plasma LPS was detected by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after injury. IL-6 secretion in liver homogenate was determined by ELISA. P-STAT3 expression in BEC was analyzed by laser scan confocal microscopy. Proliferation of BEC was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Plasm LPS level was maximum at 6 h [(318?115) EU/L] after injury and descended closely to control level at 48 h [(29?11) EU/L]. IL-6 expression peaked at 12 h (653.4 ng/g?168.8 ng/g protein) and closed to control level at 72 h (0.013 ng/g?0.006 ng/g protein). In LPS group, significant direct correlation between p-STAT3 expression in BEC and IL-6 level in liver homogenate was found. BEC proliferation was induced by LPS at 12 h (5.2?0.5) and reached the maximum level at 24 h, which was higher than the control level even at 72 h, while RPM abrogated STAT3 activation and BEC proliferation induced by LPS. CONCLUSION: LPS induces liver IL-6 expression, which might activate BEC proliferation through STAT3 pathway.

Objective To evaluate the treatment effects of middle and proximal phalangeal fractures with lateral fixation of mini-titanium plate.Methods From December 2011 to April 2015,56 patients (64 phalanges) suffered from closed middle and proximal phalangeal fractures were treated with lateral fixation of mini-titanium plate.There were 48 males and 8 females,aged from 17 to 65 years (average,36.3 years).Fractures included 25 cases of middle phalangeal fracture and 39 cases of proximal phalangeal fracture.According to site of fracture,12 cases were middle phalangeal condyle fractur,7 cases were middle phalangeal shaft fracture,6 cases were middle phalangeal base fracture,10 cases were proximal phalangeal condyle fracture,22 cases were proximal phalangeaal shaft fracture and 7 cases were proximal phalangeal base fracture.According to the type of fracture,13 cases were transverse,9 cases were short oblique,11 cases were long oblique,6 cases were spiral and 25 cases were comminuted fracture.All phalangeal fractures were exposed by lateral approach,in which the lateral band and oblique fibers of proximal phalanx were excised to fully expose proximal phalangeal fracture.After the reduction,the fractures were fixed with mini-titanium plate laterally.The Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder and Hand (DASH)and the bilateral fingers total active motion (TAM) were employed to evaluate the functions.All patients took X ray during follow-up.Results All 56 patients were followed up from 9 to 47 months,average (14 ± 6) months.Phalangeal fractures were healed from 7 to 14 weeks,average (8.8 ± 2.4) weeks without loss of fixation or malunion.At final follow-up,DASH score were from 1.7 to 7.5,with an average of 4.8 ± 2.2.TAM of the fingers was excellent (＞ 90％ TAM of the contralateral side) in 33/64 (51.5％) cases,good (75％-90％ TAM of the contralateral side) in 30/64 (46.9％) cas es,fair (50％-75％ TAM of the contralateral side) 1/64 (1.6％) cases.Conclusion Lateral approach fully exposes middle and proximal phalangeal fractures and less interferes with the extensor mechanism.Lateral fixation with mini-titanium plate could provide stability and allow early motion.This technique may be an optional choice in clinical practice.