OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical outcomes of fixation for the treatment of radial head fracture with collapse of anterior articular surface.

METHODSFrom March 2006 to January 2013,17 patients with radial head fractures with collapse of anterior articular surface were analysed. According to the Mason classification, there were 12 cases with Mason type II fractures and 5 cases with Mason type III fractures. All the patients were treated with open reduction through posterolateral entrance of elbow joint and Herbert or titanium cannulated screw internal fixation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 18 months, with a mean of 11.3 months. According to the Broberg and Morrey score system, 2 patients got an excellent result, 12 good and 3 fair. There were no complications such as infection of elbow joint, nerve injury, non-union, traumatic osteoarthritis, heterotopic ossification and elbow instability. However, the postoperative activity range of elbow in the injuried side was less than that in the normal side.

CONCLUSIONRadial head fracture with collapse of anterior articular surface is easily misdiagnosed, and it can be treated with open reduction and internal fixation through posterolateral entrance.

Adult ; Aged ; Elbow Joint ; physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular

Muscular dystrophies (MD) comprise a heterogeneous group of hereditary myopathic diseases. In this group, myotonic MD is associated with an increased cancer risk. However, the cancer risk in other types of MD is unclear. To address this gap in knowledge, we assessed data obtained from the Taiwan Health Insurance Program database. A total of 1,272 patients with MD diagnosed between 1997 and 2009 were enrolled. They were followed up for cancer during the same period by record linkage with the cancer certification in Taiwan. Age- and sex-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of overall and site-specific cancers were calculated. For congenital and progressive hereditary MD, there were 685 and 505 cases (males: 69.5% and 80.6%), the median ages at diagnosis were 16 and 13 years, and the mean follow-up durations were 7.12 and 5.06 years, respectively. In addition, cancers were developed in 10 patients with congenital MD and 3 patients with progressive hereditary MD. Female MD patients exhibited an increased cancer risk, yielding an SIR of 3.37 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38-8.25] in congenital MD and 2.95 (95% CI = 0.95-9.19) in hereditary progressive MD. Site-specific cancer SIRs were not powered to be significantly different. In conclusion, genetic defects in hereditary MD may increase cancer risks in females and a sex difference should be further investigated.
Aged ; Confidence Intervals ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVESTo construct small interfering (siRNA) Sox9 expression plasmid and transfer it into human chondrosarcoma cells HTB-94, and to check the mRNA and protein expression of Sox9 and cell growth and apoptosis of HTB-94 human chondrosarcoma cells.

METHODSsiRNA(Sox9) expression plasmid was designed and synthesized. And it was transferred into HTB-94 human chondrosarcoma cells. Then the expression of the mRNA and protein of Sox9, cell growth and apoptosis in transferred HTB-94 human chondrosarcoma cells were checked.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid was confirmed by enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. The expression of the mRNA and protein expression of Sox9 in transferred HTB-94 were significantly reduced. The cell growth of HTB-94 was inhibited, and the apoptosis of HTB-94 was remarkably increased.

CONCLUSIONsiRNA (Sox9) expression plasmid could be transferred into HTB-94 human chondrosarcoma cells. And it can reduce the mRNA and protein expression of the HTB-94, inhibit the cell growth and cause the apoptosis of the tumor cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Chondrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression levels of telomere repeat binding factor 1(TRF1) protein in normal kidney tissue and kidney cancer.

METHODSSpecimens of kidney cancer and pericancerous tissues were collected from 32 cases of renal carcinoma. A quantitative Western blotting technique was developed using TRF1 monoclonal antibody to determine the expression level of TRF1 protein in total protein extracts from tissue specimens.

RESULTSThe expression level of TRF1 protein was higher in normal kidney tissues (3.611 +/-1.922 microg/microl) than that of cancer tissues (2.428 +/-1.352 microg/microl) (t=5.776, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of TRF1 protein is significantly reduced in kidney cancer and the level is negatively correlated with malignant degree of the cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; etiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; Spinal Diseases ; pathology ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; etiology ; Transplants ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo provide scientific basis for natural cultivation of Fritillaria cirrhosa.

METHODThe cluster analysis to the Bray--Curtis distance coefficient of community plot was carried out to divide the community types of F. cirrhosa.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe community of F. cirrhosa's natural cultivation can be divided into six types: Sibiraea angustata community, Rhododendron litangense community, Salix sclerophylla community, Dasiphora fruticosa + Spiraea alpina + S. myrtilloides community, Sabina pingii var. wilsonii community, Polygonum viviparum + P. sphaerostachyum community, and the ecological characteristics such as the composition of community and ecological distribution have been showed.

Altitude ; China ; Climate ; Cluster Analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Fritillaria ; growth & development ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Temperature

Objective To determine the status of false-positive report of congenital syphilis (CS),to analyze the possible causes of mis-diagnosis.Methods Basic information on CS in Shanghai in the past five years was collected.We identified infants diagnosed with CS and followed up the sero- logical reactivity of those patients and their mothers.The serological reactivity[rapid plasmin reagin (RPR)and treponema palidum hemagglutination assay(TPPA)]of infants was followed-up for up to 24 months,or until both antibodies turned to negative.The medical history of the mothers was col- lected,and their sera were examined for syphilitic antibodies.Results Total 99 infants diagnosed with CS were recruited. The major diagnostic method was treponemal antibody detection.Only 31.3% of the 99 infants exhibited clinical symptoms or syphilis-like symptoms at delivery.The cumu- lative RPR loss rates of the infants were 44.2%,64.0%,72.7%,83.9% and 87.1% at 1-3,3-6,6- 12,12-18 and 18-24 months after birth,respectively.The cumulative TPPA loss rates were 1.1%, 18.6%,44.6%,66.7% and 74.4% for 1-3,3-6,6-12,12-18 and 18-24 months after birth,respec- tively.TPPA remained positive in all mothers with syphilis.Conclusion The diagnosis of congenital syphilis determined solely by the positive tests of RPR and TPPA is unreliable and can be misdiagno- sis.The diagnosis and management of congenital syphilis should be urgently improved,and that the profes- sional health institutions should perform and closely monitor the quality controls in the diagnosis of CS and standardize the intervention strategy of maternal syphilis.

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) have been reported to improve wound healing. However, type I collagen secreted by ADMSCs will contribute to scar formation. Therefore, inhibiting type I collagen secretion from ADMSCs will strengthen its clinical application. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3on secretion of type I collagen by ADMSCs and its mechanism. METHODS: Human ADMSCs were isolated by collagenase digestion, and identified by flow cytometry. ADMSCs at passage 4 were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3(10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10and 0 mol/L) respectively for 4 days. Then, the concentration of type I collagen in cell supernatant was measured by ELISA. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of Smad3 at mRNA and protein levels and phosphorylated protein Smad3 level in ADMSCs cultured with and without 1,25(OH)2D3. To analyze the contribution of Smad3 to the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3, Smad3 inhibitor was added to culture medium 30 minutes before adding 1,25(OH)2D3, and type I collagen in cell supernatant was detected by ELISA at 4 days after addition of SMAD3 inhibitor. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1,25(OH)2D3inhibited the secretion of type I collagen by ADMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. The results of real-time PCR and western blot showed that the expression of Smad3 was upregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3, and the results of western blot showed that the phosphorylated Smad3 protein level in ADMSCs was significantly increased by 1,25(OH)2D3. Moreover, the inhibition of type I collagen secretion by 1,25(OH)2D3could be blocked by Smad3 inhibitor. These results indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3can inhibit the secretion of type I collagen from ADMSCs by up-regulating the expression of Smad3.

BACKGROUND: At present, finite element analysis can be used to judge intertrochanteric fractures, but mostly limited in the distribution of stress. Finite element model of various intertrochanteric fractures has not been reported in detail.OBJECTIVE: To build various types of intertrochanteric fracture models with Hypermesh 14.0 and LS-DYNA software to simulate the falling-induced external force on proximal femur, and to evaluate the effect of models, and to analyze the biomechanical mechanism of intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: Normal side CT image data of one case of elderly intertrochanteric fracture were collected and imported into Mimics software to establish the proximal femur geometric models, were then analyzed and operated by LZ-DYNA solver after imported into Geomagic studio 2013 and Hypermesh 14.0 for smoothing and meshing. Before analysis, the material parameters were set, the boundary conditions were confirmed, and given the loading parameters. The operating results were checked in Hyper View. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The distribution of stress of proximal femur exactly matched to the previous study. EvansⅠtype intertrochanteric fracture model was obtained under continuous shear stresses, and six types of fractures were obtained by adjusting the load. (2) These results manifest that based on the Hypermesh 14.0 and LS-DYNA software, the finite element can well simulate the intertrochanteric fractures, and shear stress plays an important role in intertrochanteric fractures, which can provide experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

OBJECTIVETo explore how to determine painful vertebrae treated by kyphoplasty in multiple-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and clinical outcome.

METHODSFrom October 2002 to June 2005, 51 consecutive procedures with kyphoplasty were performed on 35 patients with multiple-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. There were 51 painful vertebrae among 120 vertebral compression fractures. The painful vertebra was determined by the signal intensity changes in MR images, combined with radiography and local percussion pain before operation. Only painful vertebrae were treated by kyphoplasty. Preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up visual analog scale (VAS) and radiographic findings such as vertebral height and Cobb angle were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients tolerated the procedure well with immediate relief of their back pain after kyphoplasty and they can walk at 1-3 days after the procedure. There were 3 vertebrae (3/51) occurred asymptomatic extravasation of cement. 31 cases were followed up for mean 16.2 months (range 6-44 months). VAS reduced from preoperative 8.7 to final follow-up 2.1 (P <0. 01). At final follow-up the vertebral height had a recovery rate of 59.17%, and the mean Cobb angle was improved 10.1 degrees. There was a significant improvement between preoperative and final follow-up values (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe painful vertebra can be determined by signal intensity changes in MR series images in multiple-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Selecting painful vertebrae to be treated by kyphoplasty can make patients with multiple-level VCFs gain an excellent result.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty ; methods