OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injury.

METHODSFrom December 2008 to May 2010,three-column reconstruction via posterior approach was implemented to 21 patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries. There were 13 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 23 to 54 years old(averaged,35.5 years old). Injured vertebrae: 1 patient had injury in T11, 4 patients had injuries in T12, 8 patients had injuries in L1, 5 patients had injuries in L2, 3 patients had injuries in L3. The Cobb angle was (25.34 +/- 3.42) degrees. The operation time,blood loss during operation, Cobb angle and the bony fusion were observed.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 24 to 27 years old, with an average of 25.6 months. The operation time ranged from 135 to 275 min, with a mean of 185 min. The blood loss during operation ranged from 700 to 1 650 ml (averaged, 870 ml). All the patients had complete decompression. Postoperative Cobb angle was (4.01 +/- 2.03) degrees, and (4.34 +/- 2.38) degrees at the latest follow-up. All the patients got bony fusion.

CONCLUSIONTo the patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries, three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach has both anterior approach and posterior approach advantages, which can obtain excellent clinical outcomes.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium. Methods The MICs of six fluoroquinolones(norfloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ofloxacin,levofloxacin,gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin) against 35 clinical isolates of E.faecium from eight hospitals in Tianjin were determined by agar dilution method in the absence or presence of multidrug resistance efflux pump inhibitor reserpine.The quinolone-resistance determining region(QRDR)of parC and gyrA were amplified and sequenced.Results No less than twofold decrease in MIC values of the six fluoroquinolones in the presence of reserpine was observed in 35,29,1,0,6 and 2 of the 35 strains of E.faecium respectively.One fluoro- quinolone-susceptible isolate and five fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were selected randomly to analyze the QRDR of parC and gyrA.All five fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates had single amino acid alteration in both GyrA and ParC.Ser-80 in ParC was substituted by lie(4 isolates)or Arg(1 isolates).Glu-87 in GyrA was replaced by Lys(2 isolates)or Gly(2 isolates). The other one had an Ser-83-to-Ile substitution.The one fluoroquinolone-suseeptible isolate had no alteration in the QRDR of either ParC or GyrA.Conclusions Both target alteration and active efflux are responsible for the resistance to fluoroquinolone in clinical isolates of E.faecium.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of the metabolite concentrations of the precentral gyrus in healthy Chinese adults using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).Methods 1H-MRS was carried out in 92 healthy Chinese adult volunteers. The metabolite ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho were compared and analysed.ResultsNo significant changes of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were observed between the left and right precentral gyrus, nor between the male and female. However, the precentral gyrus NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were decreased gradually with aging and Cho/Cr ratios were increased gradually with aging.ConclusionThe characteristics of the precentral gyrus metabolite concentrations in healthy Chinese adults have been obtained.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the metal-ceramic bond strength of a selective laser melting Co-Cr alloy.

METHODSTwelve Co-Cr metal bars were prepared according to the ISO 9693 standard with Vita porcelain fused onto the centre of each bar. Then the sample bars were divided into two groups of six each. The control group was made by traditional cast process (cast group), and the experimental group was processed by selective laser melting (SLM) technology (SLM group). Metal-ceramic bonding strength and fracture mode were assessed using three-point bending test. Fracture mode analysis was determined by scanning electronic microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy. Student's t-test was used to analyze the data in SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe metal-ceramic bond strength value of the cast group was (33.45 ± 2.34) MPa, and that of the SLM group was (31.62 ± 2.34) MPa (t = 0.79, P > 0.05). A mixed fracture mode on the debonding interface of all specimens was observed, while little porcelain was reserved.

CONCLUSIONSThe metal-ceramic system processed by SLM exhibited a bonding strength that satisfies the requirement of clinical application.

Chromium Alloys ; Compressive Strength ; Dental Casting Technique ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; GB virus C ; classification ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male

Objective To compare the different effects of 1% diatrizoate meglumine,2.5% mannitol and water as oral contrasts in PET/CT scan in gastrointestinal tract delineation and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake. Methods Sixty-one patients referred for PET/CT scan without gastrointestinal diseases were divided into three groups randomly ( random number method). One liter of 1% diatrizoate meglumine,2.5% mannitol,or water was orally taken by groups 1 (25 cases),2 (20 cases) and 3 ( 16 cases),respectively before scan. The scan was performed with GE Discovery LS PET/CT scanner in two-dimensional (2D) mode 50 min after 18F-FDG (5.55 MBq/kg) injection. Patients with abdominal lesions were excluded from this study. The degree of gastrointestinal filling and 18F-FDG uptake was evaluated by 3 nuclear medicine physicians using visual analysis according to a 4-grade classification method:none,mild,moderate,and high. Statistically analysis was performed by Kruskal-Wallis,Mann-Whitney and paired t tests.Results Both the differences of serum glucose and insulin levels were not significant before and after contrast taken in group 2. Group 2 had better gastrointestinal filling than that of group 1 and also better than group 3 except in rectum. The stomach,jejunum,ascending,and transverse colon were better filled in group 1 than in group 3. The degree of 18F-FDG uptake of group 3 was significantly higher than that of group 2 in stomach,jejunum and ileum (z= -3. 192,-3.290,-3.290,all P＜0.05),and was also significantly higher than that of group 1 (z = - 3. 603,P ＜ 0.05) in jejunum. The degree of 18 F-FDG uptake of group 3 was significantly lower than that of group 1 in ascending colon (z = - 2. 706,P ＜ 0. 05 ) and was significantly lower than that of group 1 and 2 in transverse and descending colon (z= - 3. 503,- 2.403,- 4.225,-4. 027,all P ＜0.05),and was also significantly lower than that of group 2 in rectum (z = -4. 128,P ＜0. 01 ). The maximum CT values in stomach,jejunum,ileum and ascending colon in group 1 were ( 132 ±23),(191 ±31),(313 ±47) and (374±53) HU,respectively,whose difference was significant (t = -7.088--1.781,all P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusion Oral iso-osmotic mannitol intake has better gastrointestinal filling and less physiological 18F-FDG uptake compared to diatrizoate meglumine and water.

Adult ; China ; Genes, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; Methadone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Opioid-Related Disorders ; virology

OBJECTIVEThe multiple levels fragmentations of five furocoumarine (psoralen, xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, and byakangelicol) in Angelica dahurica have been demonstrated using LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with high resolution and high mass accuracy to discover the possible,fragmentation regularity.

METHODDuringcollsion-induced dissociation (CID), the MS(n) data of the five compoundswhich were gained in the positive ion mode at 35ev collision energy by direct injection syrings method were analyzed using Xcalibar 2.0 Software to infer the formula of these fragmentations.

RESULTThe results indicated that the five compounds have similar fragmentation process with CO meutral lost at C5,C8-subsituents and furan ring, meanwhile the meutralloss of CO2 occurred easily at lactone group.

CONCLUSIONThis method is helpful in identifying the structures of other furocoumarinein Angelica dahuricaand their metabolites in vivo.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Chemical Phenomena ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo analysis the homology among the extended-V region of the surface proteins in different serotype Streptococcus mutans (c, f, d, g) and to find out it's significance in anti-caries vaccine.

METHODSThe DNA of the bacteria (standarded serotype c, d, f, g and partial serotype c clinicals) was extracted and the extended-V region (SrV+, 1 384-2 514 bp) was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then the products were assessed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by endonuclease Dde I. The genotypings were sequenced and analysised using the program of BLAST on NCBI Gene Bank database.

RESULTSAbout 1.13 kb fragments were produced both in serotype c and f, the serotype d and g were failed. The RFLP results showed that five different patterns(A, B, C, D, E) among the 117 PCR products were reveled by Dde I. The ration of the genotypings A and B were the most among the strains, the C was lower, the D and E respectively was 1 and 3 strains per genotype. OMZ175 (serotype f) was belong to B genotype. Selected one of the A, B, C genotypings to sequenced and blasted. Then the results of the blastn showed that the identities of the gene sequence were 92%-98% between the serotype c and serotype f, part sequence of the serotype g was homology with the SrV+ of the serotype c, the protein sequence among serotype c, d, f, g were 77%-82%.

CONCLUSIONIt is reasonable to use some putative pipetides to study the anti-caries vaccine among the extended-V regions of the surface proteins in different serotype (c, d, f, g) in S. mutans.

DNA, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Membrane Proteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Serogroup ; Streptococcus mutans

Objective To investigate the effect and related mechanism of microRNA (miR)-494 on the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6 in each group). In the sham operation group, abdominal surgery without hepatic ischemia-reperfusion was performed. In the HIRI group, partial liver ischemia was performed for 60 min, followed by 6 h perfusion. In the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group, intraperitoneal injection of agomir-miR-494 (20 μL) was daily given within preoperative 7 d. In HIRI+agomir-NC group, an equivalent quantity of agomir-NC was daily injected intraperitoneally within preoperative 7 d. The expression level of miR-494 messenger RNA(mRNA) in the liver tissues in each group was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of liver injury and oxidative stress related indexes were measured by relevant kits. The histopathological changes of the liver in each group were observed. The quantity of apoptotic cells and cytoplasmic histone-related DNA fragments in the liver tissues of rats was detected by relevant kits. The expression levels of the proteins related to the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase(AKT) signaling pathway were measured by Western blot. Results The expression level of miR-494 mRNA in the rat liver tissues in the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group was significantly higher than that in the HIRI+agomir-NC group (P < 0.01). The levels of the serum liver injury and oxidative stress related indexes in the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group were significantly lower than those in the HIRI+agomir-NC group (all P < 0.01). Compared with those in the HIRI+agomir-NC group, the quantity of cellular necrosis was significantly reduced, the cell integrity was considerably increased and the quantity of TUNELpositive cells was evidently decreased in the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group (all P < 0.05). The expression levels of poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(Caspase-3) and Bax in the HIRI+agomirmiR-494 group were significantly lower than those in the HIRI+agomir-NC group (all P < 0.05). The quantity of DNA fragments in the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group was significantly less than that in the HIRI+agomir-NC group (P < 0.01). The expression levels of p-AKT, p-mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) and p-p70S6K in the HIRI+agomir-miR-494 group were significantly higher than those in the HIRI+agomir-NC group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions miR-494 can alleviate the severity of HIRI in rats by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.