Objective To investigate plasma levels of total carnitine (TC) and free camitine (FC) in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Methods 200 cases of normal group came from physical examination in this hospital,all testing cases were the in-hospital patients in the department of nephropathy.TC and FC were determined by use of an enzymatic cycle assay on Hitachi 7170 automatic biochemical analyzer.Results In 200 cases of normal group,TC level was (56.52?9.61) ?mol/L,and FC was (46.60?8.23) ?mol/L.In 37 hemodialysis patients,TC and FC levels were (41.47?13.22) ?mol/L and (24.58?8.91)?mol/L before dialysis,a statistic difference was observed against the control group (P0.05).Conclusions Carnitine deficiency was seen in most patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Furthermore,the deficiency status got worse along with the dialysis course in hemodialysis patients.Carnitine infusion can effectively improve the status of these patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of Hadeco ES-1000spm hand-held doppler during the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap harvest.

METHODSTwenty-five patients (26 sides) with ALT flaps for head and neck reconstruction between May 2005 and May 2010 received preoperative Doppler examination for the location of the cutaneous perforators of ALT flaps. The Doppler signals and body mass index (BMI) were recorded preoperatively according to ABC system. The locations of Doppler signals and of the actual cutaneous perforators at surgery were plotted and compared. The diameter of perforators was measured.

RESULTSOne to three cutaneous perforators of the ALT flap were consistently found at specific locations. They were named perforators A, B, C from proximal to distal. Perforators A, B and C were present in 15 (58%), 24 (92%) and 20 (77%) cases and the diameter (> 0.5 mm) of A, B and C were 11/15, 22 (92%) and 8 (40%) respectively. The Doppler signal was within 0.5 cm of the actual perforator location in 85% flaps. The accuracy of Doppler decreased with increase of BMI.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative assessment by hand-held Doppler is useful in predicting the perforator vessels' locations and diameter although it's accuracy is limited.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforator Flap ; Preoperative Care ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thigh ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Adolescent ; Brain ; pathology ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDImaging-guided thermal ablation using different energy sources continues to gain favor as a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic malignant tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of microwave ablation with 2450-MHz internally cooled-shaft antenna in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers.

METHODSAll studies were animal care and ethics committee approved. Microwave ablation was performed using a noncooled or cooled-shaft antenna in 23 ex vivo (92 ablations) and eight in vivo (36 ablations) porcine livers. Diameters of the coagulation zone were observed on gross specimens. The coagulation diameters achieved in different microwave ablation parameter groups were compared. Curve estimation analysis was performed to characterize the relationship between applied power and treatment duration and coagulation diameter (including short-axis and long-axis diameter).

RESULTSCoagulation zones were elliptical and an arrowed-shaped carbonization zone around the shaft was observed in all groups. But the antenna track was also coagulated in the noncooled-shaft antenna groups. In ex vivo livers, the short-axis diameter correlated with the power output in a quadratic curve fashion (R(2) = 0.95) by fixing ablation duration to 10 minutes, and correlated with the ablation duration in a logarithmic curve fashion (R(2) = 0.98) by fixing power output to 80 W. The short-axis reached a relative plateau within 25 minutes. In in vivo livers, short-axis diameter correlated with the coagulation duration in a sigmoidal curve fashion (60 W group R(2) = 0.76, 80 W group R(2) = 0.87), with a relative plateau achieved within 10 minutes for power settings of 60 W and 80 W.

CONCLUSIONSThe internally cooled microwave antenna may be advantageous to minimize collateral damage. The short-axis diameter enlargement has a plateau by fixing power output.

Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; Liver ; surgery ; Microwaves ; Swine

BACKGROUNDA novel anti-rheumatic drug, T-614, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and to improve abnormal immunological findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To assess the safety and efficacy of T-614 versus placebo in patients with active RA we conducted a 24-week clinical study in 280 Chinese patients.

METHODSIn a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 280 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 95) or T-614 at 50 mg (n = 93) or 25 mg (n = 92) daily. Active disease was defined by 4 of the following 5 criteria: >or= 5 tender joints, >or= 3 swollen joints, morning stiffness lasting for >or= 60 minutes, and Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >or= 28 mm/h, the assessment of pain at the rest by patient as moderate or severe. Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. The primary efficacy variable at week 24 was the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response rate using the intent-to-treat population.

RESULTSThe ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group compared with the placebo group within 8 weeks after the initiation of treatment. After 24 weeks, the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups and the placebo group showed 39.13%, 61.29% and 24.21% in ACR20 and 23.91%, 31.18% and 7.37% in ACR50, respectively. A time-response in ACR response was observed, with clear superiority for the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to placebo (P < 0.0001), and the 50 mg/d dose compared to the 25 mg/d dose (P < 0.05) when using the ACR response analyses after 24 weeks. ESR and c-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly different in the treatment groups after 24 weeks. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was not significantly higher with T-614 than with placebo, but upper abdominal discomfort, leucopenia, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (sALT), skin rash and/or pruritus were more common in the 50 mg and 25 mg dosage groups.

CONCLUSIONT-614, a new slow-acting drug, is effective in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is well tolerated.

Adult ; Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Benzopyrans ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sulfonamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Objective To construct a lentiviral vector for overexpression of bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP7)in mice,and the effect of BMP7 overexpression on the expression of Jagged1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells and the calcification of the co-cultured vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)were analyzed.Methods According to the target gene information Mouse-BMP7(NM_007557.3)and plasmid information pLVX-zsGreen-C1,gene sequence synthesis was carried out to construct BMP7 overexpression lentivirus.The efficiency of BMP7 overexpression lentivirus infection was detected by qPCR;the expression of Jagged1 protein in aortic endothelial cells from infected mice was detected by Western blot.The endothelial cells with lentivirus overexpressing BMP7 were co-cultured with VSMCs,and the calcification of VSMCs was observed by alizarin red staining.Results BMP7 overexpression lentiviral vector was successfully constructed and transfected into aortic endothelial cells.qPCR test results showed that the expression level of BMP7 mRNA was significantly increased in the BMP7 overexpression group than that in the normal control group(P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in the expression of BMP7 mRNA between the empty vector control group and the normal control group(P>0.05).Western blot results showed that the expression level of Jagged1 protein in endothelial cells of mouse in the BMP7 overexpression group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group(P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in the expression level of Jagged1 protein in endothelial cells between the empty vector control group and the normal control group(P>0.05).The results of alizarin red staining showed that the calcification of VSMCs was significantly increased after co-cultured with endothelial cells infected with BMP7 lentivirus.Conclusion Mouse BMP7 overexpression lentiviral vector was successfully constructed,and overexpression of BMP7 can reduce the expression of Jagged1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells and promote the calcification of co-cultured VSMCs.

BACKGROUNDThis study evaluated the clinical application of CT guided 125iodine implantation in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThe ten patients (9 males and 1 female, aged from 36 to 72 years) with portal vein tumor thrombus accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma had been treated with comprehensive therapy including surgery, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy ablation, microwave ablation or percutaneous ethanol injection. The average diameter of each tumor thrombus was 21.5 mm x 30.5 mm. Seeds of 30 MBq 125I were implanted 5 mm apart within the portal vein tumor thrombus. The follow-up after 4 months included enhanced spiral CT.

RESULTSCT screening of the tumours indicated that 4 out of 10 patients showed complete response to the therapy, 5 partial response and 1 stable disease. Adverse effects included aggravated abdominal dropsy and temporarily increased transaminase, which were controlled by medical management. Severe complications such as haemorrhage, biliary fistula, hepatic abscess, pancreatic fistula and hepatic function failure were not observed. Implanted seeds migrated to lung and left hepatic lobe in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONCT guided implantation of 125iodine seeds, can effectively treat portal vein tumor thrombus accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma with minimal damage and few complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Radiotherapy ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis ; etiology ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of glucose metabolism disorders on the short-term prognosis in neonates with asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of the neonates with asphyxia who were admitted to 52 hospitals in Hubei Province of China from January to December, 2018 and had blood glucose data within 12 hours after birth. Their blood glucose data at 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours after birth (with an allowable time error of 0.5 hour) were recorded. According to the presence or absence of brain injury and/or death during hospitalization, the neonates were divided into a poor prognosis group with 693 neonates and a good prognosis group with 779 neonates. The two groups were compared in the incidence of glucose metabolism disorders within 12 hours after birth and short-term prognosis. RESULTS: Compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group had a significantly higher proportion of neonates from secondary hospitals (48.5% vs 42.6%, CONCLUSIONS Recurrent hyperglycemia in neonates with asphyxia may suggest poor short-term prognosis, and it is necessary to strengthen the early monitoring and management of the nervous system in such neonates.
Asphyxia ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of staged surgery in treating complex closed Pilon fracture. METHODS: From June 2019 to January 2021, 29 patients with complex closed Pilon fracture were treated by staging surgery, including 18 males and 11 females, aged ranged from 31 to 68 years old with an average of (43.50±6.62) years old;7 cases were typeⅡand 22 cases were type Ⅲ according to Ruedi-Allgower classification. All patients had fresh closed fractures without talus and calcaneal fractures. The time from injury to closed reduction and external fixation, the interval between two stages of surgery, fracture healing time and complications were recorded. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) was used to assess clinical effects. Burwell-Charnley system was used to evaluate radiological reduction. RESULTS: All 29 patients were followed up from 13 to 30 months with an aver age of (15.43±5.31) months. All fractures healed well from 2 to 6 months with an average of (3.77±1.22) months. No internal fixation fracture, screw loosening, infection, internal fixation irritation, ankle stiffness occurred. The time from injury to closed reduction and cross-ankle fixation ranged from 1.22 to 7.34 h with an average of(2.31±3.52) h, the interval between two stages ranged from 5 to 9 days with an average of (5.98±2.11) days. AOFAS score was improved from 34.11±6.89 before operation to 90.10±10.11 after oepration at 12 months(P<0.05). According to AOFAS grading, 16 patients got excellent result, 9 good and 4 moderate. Fifteen patients got anatomic reduction, 12 patients were good reduction, and 2 cases were poor reduction according to Burwell-Charnley system. CONCLUSION Staged surgery for complex closed Pilon fracture has advantages of less complications, statisfied reduction, stable fixation, which could obtain good recovery of ankle joint.
Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Fractures/surgery* ; Ankle Injuries/surgery* ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of double mini-locking plates in the treatment of ulna olecranon fractures. METHODS: From March 2017 to May 2020, 19 patients with olecranon fractures were treated with double mini locking plates, including 12 males and 7 females, aged from 20 to 75 years old with an average of (40.50±7.62) years old;10 patients had the injuries on the left side and 9 patients on the right side. All the 19 patients were fresh closed fractures without ulnar coronoid process fracture, elbow dislocation and other injuries. The fracture healing time and complications were recorded, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated by Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) before operation and 12 months after operation. RESULTS: All the 19 patientswas followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 17 months with an average of (13.51±3.17) months. Postoperative follow-up showed all fractures healed. Fracture healing time ranged from 2 to 6 months, with an average of(3.77±1.24) months. There was no internal fixation fracture, screw loosening, infection, internal fixation irritation, heterotopic ossification, elbow stiffness and other complications occurred. The MEPS score of affected elbow at 12 months after operation was 91.26±3.87, which was significantly different from that before operation 56.18±9.56 ( CONCLUSION It is a reliable fixation method to treat olecranon fracture with double mini locking plate. The incision lengh is small and the fracture fixation is reliable. Elbow joint function exercise can be performed early after operation. Postoperative internal fixation has less skin irritation and satisfactory elbow joint function recovery.
Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulna Fractures ; Young Adult