Objective To compare the characteristics of food and nutrition intake in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationship between diets/C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT). Methods Sixty patients with T2DM were enrolled and divided into two groups based on C-IMT: group A (C-IMT ＜ 1 mm, n=30) and group B (C-IMT≥1 mm, n=30). All subjects were investigated with questionnaires including 3-day food recall They all took somatometric measurement. Blood and urine samples were collected in all subjects to examine the levels of high sensitive-CRP,C-peptide, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, renal function, urine microalbumin, and other indicators. Results The intakes of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products were significantly higher in group A than in group B ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The intake of vitamin C in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P ＜0. 05 ). The levels of CRP in group B was significant higher than that in group A (P = 0. 000). Positive correlation was found between CRP level and C-IMT in T2DM patients ( r = 0. 36, P = 0. 004). Furthermore, CRP was negatively correlated with the intakes of vegetables and fruits ( r = - 0. 334, P = 0. 01 ), aquatic products ( r = -0. 315, P = 0. 016), and vitamin C ( r = - 0. 2786, P = 0. 038 ), respectively. The intake of fruits was negatively correlated with C-IMT (r, = -0. 33, P = 0. 01 ). Conclusions T2DM patients without carotid atherosclerosis intake more vegetables, fruits, aquatic products and vitamin C than those with atherosclerosis. Vegetables, fruits,sea foods and vitamin C may be the protective factors against atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. CRP is associated with the development of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the quality standard for Cangbai qutong capsule. METHODS:TLC was conducted to iden-tify the Rhizoma atractylodis,Asarum sieboldii,Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Cortex phellodendri;RP-HPLC was conducted to deter-mine the content of berberine hydrochloride. The column was Waters Symmetry-C18 with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phos-phoric acid (gradient elution) at flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 265 nm,column temperature was 30 ℃, and the injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:TLC showed R. atractylodis,A. sieboldii,Paeoniae Radix Rubra and C. phelloden-dri had clear spots and good separation. The linear range of berberine hydrochloride was 21.12-84.48 μg/ml(r=0.999 6);RSDs of pre-cision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 3%;recovery was 96.439%-100.950%(RSD=1.34%,n=9). CONCLU-SIONS:The method is simple and reproducible,and can be used for the quality standards of Cangbai qutong capsule.

In this study, the effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharide (HDO) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and the related signal transduction mechanisms were investigated. MTT assays were used to measure VSMCs proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The level of key regulatory proteins in PKC, MAPK and Akt/PI3K pathways were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical methods. Meanwhile, mRNA expressions of some proto-oncogenes were assayed by RT-PCR method. Our data showed that HDO (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol · L(-1)) inhibited 30 ng · mL(-1) PDGF-induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, blocked the G1/S transition and inhibited the level of key regulatory proteins and some proto-oncogenes (P < 0.05). The results showed that HDO may decrease the key regulatory proteins expression, hence suppress the transcription of proto-oncogene and G1/S transition, finally inhibiting VSMCs proliferation.

BACKGROUND:Once lumbar degenerative diseases merge with lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar instability and degenerative scoliosis, surgical therapy is required for corresponding clinical symptoms, and the usage of internal fixators cannot be inevitable. Osteoporosis is rather common in the elderly. Therefore, how to implant stable pedicle screw fixation system in serious osteoporosis patients wil be a big difficulty. In recent years, some studies have proven the biomechanical stability of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw in the vertebral body, so it becomes very hot in the spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of the use of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients with lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis from Jun 2008 to Jan 2013 were selected, including 11 males and 20 females with an average age of 73.5 years (range, 65-86 years). There were 14 cases of lumbar degenerative stenosis, 9 of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation combined with segmental instability, 6 of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, and 2 of lumbar degenerative scoliosis. The patients were treated with lumbar canal decompression, fusion and polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation according to their clinical features and imaging data. Visual analog scale for pain evaluation was used before and after fixation, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale was used for assessment of neurological function and life skils before internal fixation and during folow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al cases were folowed up for 40 months (range, 36-48months). No screw breakage, rod breakage, screw extraction, loosening, pseudoarticulation formation, or incision infection was found. The postoperative visual analog scale score and the JOA score was remarkably improved (P < 0.05). For patients suffering from lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis, polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation is helpful for increasing the stabilization of screw and preventing from loosening and dislocation of the screws, and thereby beneficial for improvement and maintenance of clinical efficacy.

BACKGROUND:It is notable to treat cervical spondylosis using the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, but there are such complications as cervical instability and low fusion rate. Titanium plate with cage can solve those defects, while anterior unfamiliar matter and dysphagia appear. A new anterior cervical interbody fusionZero-Pwith support and fixation function has been widely used in clinic.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze early stability in repairing cervical spondylosis using a newZero-Pinterbody fixation and fusion system, and compare with a titanium plate with cage interbody fixation andfusion system.
METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical date of 31 patients with cervical spondylosis who underwent the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University between August 2010 and August 2014. Fifteen patients were treated with aZero-P implant (Zero-Pgroup) and sixteen patients with a titanium plate with cage (cage group). We recorded operation time, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, postoperative incidence of dysphagia and degeneration rate of adjacent joint.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Postoperative symptoms were apparently improved, without severe complications in both groups. (2) Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were better in theZero-P group than in the cage group (P< 0.05). (3) Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores were significantly improved in both groups (P< 0.05). The recovery rate of Japanese Orthopedic Association scores was similar between the two groups (81%, 81%;P> 0.05). (4) Mild dysphagia was experienced by one case (7%) in theZero-Pgroup, but nine cases (44%) in the cage group. Significant difference in the incidence of dysphagia was detected between the two groups after treatment (P=0.037). However, no significant difference in degeneration rate was detectable between the two groups (P=0.48). (5) These findings verify that in the anteriorcervical discectomy and fusion, the new Zero-Pand titanium plate with cage interbody fixation and fusion system are effective choices for cervical spondylosis. However, theZero-Pinterbody fixation and fusion system showed a low incidence of postoperative dysphagia and better stability.