OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical effects of short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting in treating thoracolumbar burst fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to March 2013, 62 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with short-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting. Including 40 males and 22 females, the age from 17 to 65 years old with an average of 38 years. According to AO classification, 34 cases were type A3.1, 7 cases were type A3.2 and 21 cases were type A3.3. Load-sharing scores were from 4 to 6 points with an average of 5.4 points. According to ASIA grade, 2 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D and 55 cases were grade E. Preoperative, postoperative at 3 d and final follow-up, the Cobb angle, the relative height of anterior vertebral body and the encroachment rate of spinal canal were measured by X-ray films and computed tomography (CT) scan, meanwhile, the information of bone healing and spinal nerves recovery were observed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 11 to 14 months with an average of 12.2 months. The duration of removing internal fixation were from 9 to 13 months (averaged, 11.5 months). One suffered from infection and was cured by debridement. Two cases had mild pain of back. At 6 months after operation, according to ASIA grade to evaluate never function, 1 case was grade C, 3 cases were grade D and 58 cases were grade E. X-ray and CT showed the fractures obtained good union at final follow-up. The Cobb angle, the relative height of anterior vertebral body and the encroachment rate of spinal canal had obviously improved at 3 days after operation (P<0.05); but there was no significant differences between postoperative at 3 d and final follow-up (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONShort-segment posterior pedicle screw combined with transpedicle vertebral bone grafting is an effective method to treat thoracolumbar burst fractures. It can reduce the loss of postoperative correction and prevent the internal fixation failure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective · To compare the prevalence of tobacco advertisement before and after implementation of the new edition of Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China and evaluate the effects of implementation of the new Advertising Law. Methods · Tobacco sales places, public places, and streets in Shanghai were randomly selected to observe tobacco advertisement and complete the survey. The survey was carried out in 10 districts of Shanghai in June 2015 with 10 tobacco sales places selected in each district, and in 4 districts of Shanghai in June 2016 with 25 tobacco sales places selected in each district. Sales places included convenient stores, tobacco stores, supermarkets, and kiosks. In addition, public transport waiting points, public transport vehicles, hospitals, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, and Internet cafes were selected into survey in 2016. Results · In 2016, the proportion of tobacco sales places having tobacco advertisement was lower than that in 2015, but the proportion of tobacco promotion behaviors was higher. In 2016, 128 public places and streets were investigated and only 1 had outdoor tobacco advertisement. Conclusion · The new edition of Advertising Law has significant effect on controlling tobacco advertisement, but tobacco sales places still have tobacco advertisement with various disguised promotion forms. Tobacco sales places have diversified business styles and minors often enter these places. It is recommended that a clear definition of disguised forms of tobacco advertisement should be made, tobacco advertisement at tobacco sales places needs to be supervised, the release of tobacco advertisement should be strictly reviewed, and existing tobacco advertisement should be severely punished, so as to prevent minors from exposing to tobacco advertisement and information luring smoking.

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.

Objective: To study the factors and preventive method of post-operative complications of spinal implant operation. Methods: The post-operative complication of 451 cases who had undergone spinal implant operation were analysed retrospectively. The relative factors of complications were analyzed. Results: Infection, thrombosis of deep vein and failed fusion were the most common complications. Among the factors, the age, operation time and blood lose during operation were closely related with the complication. Using antibiotic was effective to reduce the infection. Conclusion: It is effective to reduce the post-operative complication of spinal implant operation by proper pre-operative evaluation. Using antibiotic to control other diseases is also effective.

Activation of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor plays an important role in neuronal apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The present study examined the neuroprotection of three chloride blockers in an in vitro cell model of cerebral ischemia established by treatment of cultured rat hippocampal neurons with NMDA. Hoechst 33258 staining and MTT assay were used to detect neuronal apoptosis and cell viability, respectively. The neuroprotective effects of chloride channel blockers on the cell viability and neuronal apoptosis were only observed when the blockers were applied before NMDA exposure. In comparison with DIDS, SITS showed more potent protective effect in a dose-dependent manner, whereas NPPB showed no significant neuroprotective effect. The results demonstrate that pretreatment with both SITS and DIDS have protective effect against neuronal apoptosis, which is achieved by blocking both NMDA receptor and chloride channel.
4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid ; pharmacology ; 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bisbenzimidazole ; chemistry ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; N-Methylaspartate ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of DADLE, a δ-opioid receptor agonist, on the proliferation of human liver cancer HepG2 cells and explore the mechanism involving PKC pathway.

METHODSHepG2 cells were treated with DADLE at different doses (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 µmol/L). Cell viability was determined using methyl thiazolyl terazolium (MTT) assay. The expression of PKC mRNA and p-PKC protein were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. After treated separately with DADLE plusing NAL or PMA, the cell cycle of HepG2 cells was analyzed by flow cytometer. MTT was used to detect their proliferation capacity and Western blot was used to examine the p-PKC expression. The growth inhibitory rate of HepG2 cells treated with DADLE and cis-diammine dichloridoplatinum (CDDP) was analyzed.

RESULTSDADLE at different concentrations showed an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cells though inhibiting the expression of PKC mRNA and p-PKC protein. The results of flow cytometry showed that compared with the control group, the percentage of S + G(2)/M cells in DADLE-treated group was lowered by 3.94% (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, after treated with NAL and PMA, the percentage was elevated by 3.22% and 3.63%, respectively (P < 0.01). The MTT and Western blot assays showed that compared with the control group, the values of A570 and p-PKC protein levels in the HepG2 cells of DADLE-treated group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). After treatment with NAL and PMA, the values of A570 and p-PKC protein levels were elevated significantly (P < 0.01). The growth inhibitory rate of DADLE + CDDP group was 79.9%, significantly lower than 25.2% and 43.2% of the DADLE and CDDP groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of δ-opioid receptor by DADLE inhibits the apoptosis of human liver cancer HepG2 cells. The underlying mechanism may be correlated with PKC pathway. DADLE can enhance the chemosensitivity of HepG2 cells to CDDP.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Naltrexone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Opioid, delta ; agonists ; Signal Transduction ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the transcriptional expression of enamelin in developing postnatal rat first mandibular molar germs, for further studies of functions of enamelin in enamel development and mineralization.

METHODSTissue slices of first mandibular molar germ of rat 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 days after birth were prepared. The enamelin mRNA expression was identified by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSEnamelin mRNA was observed in both ameloblast and odontoblast in 1-10 day old rat postnatal first mandibular molar germs. Enamelin mRNA appeared very weakly at 1st day, and increased through 3rd day, reached the maximum at 7th day, and reduced at 10th day and became negative at 14th day postnatally; while the expression of enamelin mRNA in odontoblast maintained lower from 1st to 10th day and negative at 14th day postnatally.

CONCLUSIONEnamelin gene transcriptional expression lasts from preameloblast to maturation ameloblast, which suggests that enamelin may participate in the development of enamel and mantle dentin.

Ameloblasts ; metabolism ; Animals ; Dental Enamel Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; In Situ Hybridization ; Molar ; embryology ; Odontoblasts ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Tooth Germ ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sulfated tyrosine in regulating the activity of tyrosylprotein sulfotransferases (TPST) 1 and TPST2.

METHODSConstructs of TPST 1 and TPST2 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then fused into immunoglobulin G1 Fc region. All the variants in which sulfated tyrosines were mutated to phenylalanine were made by the PCR-based Quick Change method and confirmed by sequencing the entire reading frame. Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs-targeting nucleotides 259-275 of TPST1 and nucleotides 73-94 of TPST2 were generated and subcloned into pBluescript. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells were transfected with these plasmids. One day later, cells were split: one part was labeled with 35S-cysteine and methionine or 35S-Na2SO3 overnight, the second part was used for 125I labeled binding experiment, and the third part was retained for binding and flow cytometry.

RESULTSTyrosines at position 326 of TPST1 and position 325 of TPST2 were sulfated posttranslationally. Tyrosine sulfation of TPSTs was effectively inhibited by sulfation inhibitors, including specific shRNAs and non-specific NaCIO3. shRNAs reduced the sulfation of C3a receptor and C5a receptor, and partially blocked the binding of these two receptors to their respective ligands.

CONCLUSIONSThe activities of TPSTs were regulated by tyrosine sulfation. Inhibition of sulfotyrosine decreases the binding ability of C3a receptor and C5a receptor to their respective ligands.

Cell Line ; Complement C3a ; metabolism ; Complement C5a ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement ; metabolism ; Sulfotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S vertebral bodies on pelvic inlet imaging in the pelvic midline sagittal plane.

METHODSTotally 58 axial pelvic CT scans were chosen as study objects including 43 males and 15 females,with an average age of 40.7 years old (ranged,18 to 68 years old). The angles between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1, vertebral bodies and the horizontal plane on midline sagittal CT reconstruction were measured to simulate the optimal S2 and S1 inlet angles. The included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies was calculated by subtrocting the S1,inlet angle from the S2 inlet angle defined as a base number. Then, the impact of the calculated included angles on the pelvic inlet imaging was analyzed. Results:The S2 inlet angles averaged (30.5±6.5) degrees; the S inlet angles averaged (25.7±5.9) degrees. The difference between them was significant (t=3.35, P=0.001). Ten patients had zero angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies; 14 patients had negative angle, averaged-(8.9±8.1) degrees; 34 patients had positive angle,averaged (11.8+6.4) degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies leads to the difference between S1 inlet view and S2 inlet view in most cases, complicating the pelvic inlet imaging,and affecting the reliability of the application of pelvic inlet view. Utilizing the angles measured on the preoperative midlihe sagittal CT reconstruction to obatin the patient-customized S1 and S2 inlet views could accurately guide the S1 and S2 iliosacral screw insertion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Suanzao nacute hepatic failure in mice.

METHODAcute liver failure was induced in male Kunming strain mice by enterocoelia injecting the animals with D-Gal-N and LPS. The mice in treatment groups were given corresponding drug 2 h before administration of D-Ga1-N and LPS, and the mice in control group were given the same dose of distilled water. The 24 h survival rate, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were compared. Serum the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 and the levels of SOD, MDA, GR, GSH, NO and NOS in the liver were determined.

RESULTTreatment with suanzaoren decoction could increase the survival rate and improve the liver histological feather. Suanzaoren decoction inhibited the serum the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-alpha and IL-1, and reduced the levels of MDA, NO and NOS and increased the levels of GR and SOD in the liver.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with Suanzaoren decoction can suppress the D-Gal-N/LPS-induced acute hepatic failure. It may be the mechanism that Suanzaoren decocotion regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines and free radicals.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Galactosamine ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism