OBJECTIVETo compare the long-term influence of vertebral fixation through or across the affected vertebra on vertebral morphology.

METHODSClinical data of 48 patients with simple thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures who were admitted between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them 36 cases (28 males and 8 females) were fixed through the injured vertebra (group A) and 12 cases (8 males and 4 females) were fixed across the injured vertebra (group B). All patients were followed up for 6-36 months (mean 11.5 months). The vertebral body height, endplate angle and neurofunction were compared between the two groups before surgery, a week after surgery and at the end of the follow-up period.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference in vertebral body height,endplate angle and neurofunction before operation between group A and B (P > 0.05). Vertebral body height and endplate angle improved in both groups a week after operation and at the end of the follow-up period as compared with those before operation (P < 0.05), and the efficacy in group B was significantly better than that in group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in neurofunction between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe fixation method through the injured vertebra had a better reduction effect, more stable fixation, and a better long-term effect on vertebral morphology than that across the injured vertebra in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the implications of erythroblasts periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) dyserythropoiesis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

METHODSPAS stain of bone marrow (BM) erythroblasts in 406 MDS patients, 207 non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA), 144 immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), 67 megaloblastic anemia (MegA), 76 iron deficiency anemia (IDA), 50 paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and 50 acute erythroid leukemia (AEL) as well as some related laboratory parameters in MDS patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSPAS-positive detection rate was significantly higher in MDS (53.0%) than in NSAA (14.5%), ITP (27.1%) and PNH (16.0%), but was significantly lower in MDS than in AEL (84.0%) (all P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in PAS-positive detection between MDS and MegA (46.3%), or MDS and IDA (40.8%) (P = 0.310, 0.052, respectively). Erythroblasts PAS-positive rate (Median, M = 1%) and PAS-positive scores (M' = 2) was significantly lower in MDS than in AEL (M = 8%; M' = 17), and significantly higher than in NSAA (M = 0%; M' = 0), ITP (M = 0%; M' = 0), PNH (M = 0%; M' = 0), MegA (M = 0%; M' = 0), and IDA (M = 0%; M' = 0) (all P < 0.05). The cut-off value of PAS-positive rate and score for distinguishing MDS from the other groups except AEL were 0.5% and 0.5, with a sensitivity and specificity of 60.8% and 74.4%, respectively. For MDS patients, the percentage of BM erythroid cells was significantly higher in PAS-positive group than in PAS-negative group (P < 0.05), and so were megakaryocyte count, lymphocyte-like micromegakaryocytes count and percentage of micromegakaryocyte (P = 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). HGB, MCV, MCH and MCHC were significantly lower in PAS-positive group (all P < 0.05), and so was the neutrophil alkaling phosphatase (NALP) (P = 0.000). PAS-positive detection rate, positive rate and score were higher in MDS patients with abnormal karyotype than with normal karyotype, and were also higher in IPSS high/intermediate-risk 2 group than in low/intermidiate-risk 1 group.

CONCLUSIONThe positive reaction of erythroblasts PAS stain is an indicator of dyserythropoiesis. It is helpful to the diagnosis of MDS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythroblasts ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staining and Labeling ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo detect the sexual hormone level in semen of patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia, and further analyze the relationship between sexual hormone and idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia.

METHODS50 male patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 50 in idiopathic oligospermia and 50 male controls with normal sperm density were selected. The sperm density and sexual hormone in semen were detected respectively by routine semen analysis and chemical luminescence technique.

RESULTSThe values of LH were (5.19 +/- 0.67) IU/L and (4.77 +/- 0.68) IU/L, and those of FSH were (1.90 +/- 0.79) IU/L and (2.27 +/- 0.25) IU/L in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of LH and FSH were (2.19 +/- 0.22) IU/L and (1.61 +/- 0.14) IU/L in normal control group respectively. There were significant differences in the values of LH and FSH between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The values of PRL were (6.25 +/- 0.51) ng/ml and (6.33 +/- 0.34) ng/ml, and those of T were (1.51 +/- 0.12) ng/ml and (1.68 +/- 0.71) ng/ml in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of PRL and T were (6.36 +/- 0.32) ng/ml and (1.83 +/- 0.09) ng/ml in normal control group respectively. There were no significant difference in the values of PRL between idiopathic azoospermia, oligospermia and normal control group, but there were significant differences of T between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control. Compared with 0.84 +/- 0.20 in normal control, the values of T/LH were 0.35 +/- 0.09 and 0.29 +/- 0.04 in idiopathic oligospermia and azoospermia respectively and there were significant differences(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe changes of LH, FSH and T values may be one of the reasons that cause the dysfunction of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation in patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia. The study of semen hormone may lead to new strategies in the treatment to azoospermia and oligospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; analysis ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Testosterone ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo culture and study the osteogenic characteristics of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs).

METHODShBMMSCs were separated and cultured from human iliac crest marrow. Growth kinetics of hBMMSCs was studied by growth curve. Under the osteoinductive culture, osteogenic differentiation of hBMMSCs was tested by alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Osteogenic functions of hBMMSCs in vitro and in vivo were also respectively detected by von Kossa stain and by transplanting hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate ceramics (HA/TCP) with hBMMSCs.

RESULTShBMMSCs were cultured successfully. The growth curve of the second passage of BMMSCs indicated that the time of population doublings was about 3.5 days. The results of ALP stain were evident by the significant increase in ALP activity after hBMMSCs cultured in osteoinductive medium. Some mineralized nodules were detected by von Kossa stain at nineteenth day of osteoinductive culture. In vivo assay, histological evalution showed bone formation in 3 months after grafts of HA/TCP with hBMMSCs.

CONCLUSIONSOsteoinductive solution can induce hBMMSCs to differentiate osteogenetic cell lines. Mineralized nodules and bone formation were found in vitro and in vivo assay. The results demonstrate that hBMMSCs have the potential for osteogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Osteogenesis

BACKGROUNDTherapeutic angiogenesis has been shown to promote blood vessel growth and improve tissue perfusion. Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been reported to play an important role in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NGF on angiogenesis and skeletal muscle fiber remodeling in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia and study the relationship between NGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis.

METHODSTwenty-four mice were randomly allocated to normal control group (n = 6), blank control group (n = 6), VEGF gene transfection group (n = 6), and NGF gene transfection group (n = 6). The model of left hindlimb ischemia model was established by ligating the femoral artery. VEGF165plasmid (125 μg) and NGF plasmid (125 μg) was injected into the ischemic gastrocnemius of mice from VEGF group and NGF group, respectively. Left hindlimb function and ischemic damage were assessed with terminal points at 21th day postischemia induction. The gastrocnemius of four groups was tested by hematoxylin-eosin staining, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and CD34 immunohistochemistry staining, and myosin ATPase staining. NGF and VEGF protein expression was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSOn the 21th day after surgery, the functional assessment score and skeletal muscle atrophy degree of VEGF group and NGF group were significantly lower than those of normal control group and blank control group. The endothelial cell proliferation index and the capillary density of VEGF group and NGF group were significantly increased compared with normal control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The NGF and VEGF protein expression of NGF group showed a significant rise when compared with blank control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the VEGF protein expression of VEGF group was significantly higher than that of blank control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference of the NGF protein expression between VEGF group and blank control group (P > 0.05). The type I skeletal muscle fiber proportion in gastrocnemius of NGF group and VEGF group was significantly higher than that of blank control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNGF transfection can promote NGF and VEGF protein expression which not only can induce angiogenesis but also induce type I muscle fiber expression in ischemic limbs.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Female ; Hindlimb ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; genetics ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVES: To establish a mathematical model of stature estimation for Sichuan Han females on the basis of the relationship between lower limbs and individual height, thus to provide evidence for forensic identification. METHODS: Samples were collected from 171 Sichuan Han females. Large flat panel multi-function digital photography system was used to take the full-body X-ray films of the lower limbs. Indexes of long bones and stature of the subjects were measured, respectively. A linear regression analysis was carried out on the correlation between them, and a mathematical model of the stature calculation was established. Then the mathematical model was used to calculate the stature of another 29 Sichuan Han females to test its accuracy. RESULTS: The maximum length of femur （x₁） had the highest correlation with stature. A total of 13 linear regression equations were established （P<0.05）, with the correlation coefficient （R） 0.821-0.897 and the standard error of the estimation （SEE） 2.994-3.812 cm. The backtesting showed that the equation y=41.604+1.205 x₁+1.318 x₆+2.444 x₁₂+1.852 x₁₃-2.388 x₁₄ had the smallest mean absolute deviation （2.485 years old） and the highest accuracy of ±2SEE （92.9%）, and that the equation y=48.783+2.568 x₁ had the highest accuracy of ±1SEE （60.7%）. CONCLUSIONS The stature estimation is high by using the long bones of the lower limbs has high accuracy.
Asian People ; Body Height ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Photography ; Regression Analysis ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvianolate in elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). METHODS: A prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled multicenter trial in elderly patients with UAP from 13 third-grade class-A hospitals in China was performed. A total of 318 patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental group (160 patients) and a control group (158 patients). The experimental group was treated with salvianolate for 14 days on the basis of conventional medicine, and the control group was given a placebo for 14 days with the same criteria. Follow-up was lasted 28 days in both groups. The primary endpoint was biweekly frequency of angina pectoris attacks. The secondary endpoints included biweekly dosage of nitroglycerin, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, angina pectoris severity and duration, myocardial injury markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), as well as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Safety was assessed according to adverse events and serious adverse events. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Compared with those in the control group, the frequency of biweekly angina attacks (2.92 vs . 4.08, P=0.025), the biweekly dosage of nitroglycerin, as well as the severity and duration of angina attacks (P<0.01) were reduced by salvianolate. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire score was also significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the incidence of MACEs. Salvianolate was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS Salvianolate appear to have efficacy and well tolerated for elderly patients with UAP. [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03037047].