Objective To observe the cell apoptosis, oxidative stress reaction and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in kid?ney of dietary zinc deficiency mice during growth period, and discuss the mechanism of renal cell apoptosis induced by zinc deficiency. Methods Thirty weaning male mice were randomly divided into zinc-deficient group and zinc-adequate group, and 15 mice for each group. Zinc-deficient group was fed with zinc deficiency diet (0.85 mg/kg), while zinc-adequate group was fed with enough zinc diet (30 mg/kg). The TUNEL method was applied to observe the cell apoptosis, and the apoptotic in?dex was measured. The content of SOD and MDA were detected to observe the oxidative stress reaction in kidney. The ex?pression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected by Western blot assay. Results Compared with zinc-adequate group, the cell apoptosis and oxidative stress reaction were increased in zinc-deficient group. The expression of Bcl-2 de?creased, and the expression of Bax increased. The ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax declined in kidney of zinc deficiency mice. Conclu?sion Diet zinc deficiency in growth period may result in the decreased antioxidase, the increased oxidative stress reaction, and the changed Bcl-2 and Bax expression, which promote the occurrence of cell apoptosis in kidney.

Objective To investigate the expressions of GDNF and GFRα1 in childhood nephroblastoma, and therefore its clinical significance. Methods The expression levels of GDNF and GFRα1 were examined by immunohistochemistry of 30 parrafin samples from nephroblastoma section as well as 16 parrafin samples of peritumor renal tissue. Results The pos?itive expression rate of GDNF and GFRα1 in nephroblastoma were higher than those in normal renal tissue(66.7%vs 6.3%;63.3%vs 6.3%). GDNF and GFRα1 were strongly expressed in epithelium and embryo bud, but weakly expressed in lobus intermedius of nephroblastoma. There was no correlation between the expressions of GDNF and GFRα1 with histological types, clinical stage and metastasis of nephroblastoma of patients. Conclusion High expression of GDNF and GFRα1 in childhood nephroblastoma might indicate its role in tumor development.

Objective To discuss the selection of short- or long-segment posterior fixation for treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures. Methods A total 134 patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated with pedicle instrument fixation from January 2005 to December 2008 were studied retrospectively. According to AO fracture classification, there were 70 patients with type A fractures, 37 with type B and 27 with type C. The patients were divided into two groups according to the number of instrumented levels; short-segment posterior fixation (SSPF) group (four screws; one vertebral body above or below the fractured vertebrae) and long-segment posterior fixation (LSPF) group (eight screws; two vertebral bodies above or below the fractured vertebrae). Clinical outcomes and radiological parameters (superior-inferior endplate angle, vertebral body angle, displacement of vertebral body) were compared according to AO fracture classification. Results All type A fractures were treated with SSPF, mean superior-inferior endplate angle changed from preoperative 21.3° to postoperative 8.5° and 11.1° at final follow up. There was no statistical difference in the correction of Cobb angle for type B fractures in SSPF group (26 patients) and LSPF group (11 patients), while the correction loss of vertebral body angle was 3. 64° in SSPF group and 1.09° in LSPF group, with statistical difference (P < 0. 05). There was no statistical difference in the correction of Cobb angle for type C fractures in SSPF group (7 patients) and in LSPF group (20 patients), but the correction loss of vertebral body angle was 3.6° in SSPF group and 0. 8° in LSPF group, with statistical difference (P < 0. 05). There was no statistical difference in vertebral displacement correction. Conclusions Most types A and Bl fractures should be treated with SSPF; most types B2, B3 and C fractures should be treated with LSPF.

Objective To discuss the selections of surgical treatment for lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation and the treatment outcome.Methods Clinical data of 50 cases of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation were analyzed retrospectively.There were 37 males and 13 females at mean age of 41 years (range,20-80 years).Forty-four cases underwent anterior fusion,but 4 with ankylosing spondylitis and 2 with extremely unstable cervical spine were treated with combined posterior fusion.Two cases sustaining ankylosing spondylitis and being unable to be operated via the anterior approach due to the maximum neck flexion limits were treated with posterior decompression and fusion.Two cases developed delayed fracture and underwent posterior release prior to the anterior fixation and fusion.Two cases underwent a second surgery with the posterior release,anterior fusion and posterior fusion performed successively.Neurological performance was evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)scale.Results All the patients were followed up for mean 28 months (range,12-48 months).Implant loosening and redislocation occurred in one ankylosing spondylitis case 2 months after anterior fusion.Other 49 cases achieved bony fusion in 6 months.Neurological function showed no recovery in complete spinal cord injury cases,but improved for average ASIA 1-2 grades for incomplete spinal cord injury cases.Conclusions Anterior surgery provides good reduction and neurological improvement in treatment of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation.For extremely unstable cases or difficult anterior reduction cases,posterior surgery or combined anterior/posterior surgery should be considered.

Aim To investigate the effect of artesunate on the invasion of human colon cancer Lovo cells and the possible mechanisms. Methods After Lovo cells were treated with different doses of artesunate(20,80, 160 μmol·L - 1 ), the soft agar colony formation test was adopted to observe the anchorage-independent pro-liferation of Lovo cells. Transwell assay was used to determine the effect of artesunate on the invasion abili-ty of Lovo cells. And the protein expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 were investigated by western blot. Results Artesunate could significantly inhibit both proliferation and invasion ability of Lovo cells in a dose-dependent manner(P < 0. 01). The experimental group treated with artesunate significantly down-regula-ted the protein expressions of HMGB1 and MMP-2 compared with control group(P < 0. 05). Conclusion Artesunate could inhibit the invasion of human colon cancer Lovo cells by down-regulating HMGB1 and MMP-2 expressions.

Objective:Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to chemotherapy. Our study aimed to investigate the stem cell-like proper-ties of doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cell line 143B and its correlation with Notch signaling. Methods:We generated doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells by treating them with 2μm doxorubicin. Stem cell-like properties such as morphology change, Stro-1/CD117 double positive ratio, stem cell-related gene expression, sphere formation efficiency, and EMT character were assessed on day 5 after doxorubicin withdrawal. Notch receptor and its target genes were examined using qPCR and Western blot analysis. The stem cell-like properties of doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells were assessed when pretreated with Notch inhibitor or vehicle. The an-ti-tumor effect of Notch inhibitor was tested using a xenograft model. Results:Doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells were enriched in Stro-1+/CD117+cells, which showed obvious increased expression of stem cell-related genes, and exhibited enhanced spheroid for-mation and evident mesenchymal characteristics unlike doxorubicin-sensitive cells. qPCR and Western blot assays showed that Notch intracellular domain 1 (NICD1) and target genes Hes1 and Hey1 were upregulated in doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma stem cells compared with those in vehicle cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to prevent Notch signaling en-hanced chemo-sensitivity and inhibited doxorubicin-enriched osteosarcoma stem cell activity in vitro. Finally, the Notch inhibitor pre-vented tumor growth in mice xenograft models. Conclusion: Doxorubicin induced the enrichment of osteosarcoma stem-like cells through Notch signaling, and inactivation of Notch could be useful for overcoming drug resistance and eliminating osteosarcoma.

Objective To explore the potential role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in the assessment of patients with connective tissuediseases(CTD) associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods Thirty patients with CTD associated PAH were evaluated by WHO function, echocardiography, right heart catheterization and blood biomarkers. All the clinical data was analyzed statistically. Results All patients [age (39.5 ± 11.6) yr]were female. Both NT-proBNP and BNP were significantly increased and significantly correlated ( all P ＜0. 05 ) respectively with mean pulmonary arterial pressure ( r = 0. 53 and r = 0. 40 ), right arterial pressure ( r = 0. 55 and r = 0. 42 ), pulmonary vascular resistance ( r = 0. 69 and r = 0. 61 ), cardiac index ( r = - 0. 58and r = - 0. 46), mixed venous blood oxygen saturation ( r = - 0. 62 and r = - 0. 54 ), pericardial effusion ( r = 0. 46 and r = 0. 43 ), right atrial sizes ( r = 0. 40 and 0. 53, and r = 0. 39 and 0. 45 ) and right ventricular size ( r = 0. 55 and r = 0. 37 ). Furthmore, NT-proBNP, but not BNP, significantly correlated with WHO function class ( r = 0. 55 ). Conclusion Blood NT-proBNP and BNP were elevated in patients with CTD associated PAH and paralleled the extent of function class, pulmonary hemodynamic changes and right ventricular remodeling.

Objective To explore the safety, efficacy and 1-year follow-up outcome of radiofrequency ablation combined with magnetic navigation assistance system in elderly patients with atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods Forty cases of patients with AVNRT identified by the electrophysiological test were enrolled in the study. Twenty cases were ablated with magnetic navigation system. The other 20 cases underwent the conventional catheters operation. With the cardiodrive, the 8 Frablation magnetic Helios I (Stereotaxis Inc, USA) was advanced to the Koch triangle area from the inferior caval vein (IVC). With the assistance of magnetic navigation (AXIOM Artis, Siemens, Germany), the direction of tip and the advancement or retraction of the catheters were regulated. The success rate, the time of procedure, the fluoroscopy time and the 1-year follow-up outcome were analyzed, and the complications of procedure were recorded. Results Forty cases with AVNRT underwent radiofrequency ablation successfully. In magnetic navigation group, 19/20 cases underwent magnetic catheter operation. The cases who failed to finish magnetic catheter operation underwent successfully conventional catheter operation. There was no perforation complication and no significant statistic difference in the success rate between two groups. No recurring case was found in the two groups 1 year later. The total of fluoroscopy time in magnetic navigation group was more than that in standard ablation group [(16.4±2.7) min vs. (11.1±1.0)rain, P<0.01], but the decreasing trend of fluoroscopy time in magnetic navigation group was showed. The operator's fluoroscopy time in magnetic navigation group was obviously less than that in standard ablation group [(4.5±0.6) min vs. (11.1±1.0) min, P<0.01]. Conclusions The radiofrequeney ablation combining with magnetic navigation system has the similar safety and efficacy to the conventional ablation in elderly patients with AVNRT, but the operator's fluoroscopy time was significantly decreased.

AIM:To explore relationship between the normal strehl ratio ( SR ) values of total aberrations/SR values of total higher-order aberrations and modulation transfer function ( MTF ) at total corneal at different pupil diameters in normal population.
METHODS: To exam the SR values of total aberrations and SR values of total higher-order aberrations of total corneals in 200 people ( 400 eyes ) using SIRIUS 3D topography system and analysis the corresponding root-mean-square ( RMS) .
RESULTS: The subjects with different pupil diameters (3. 0, 5. 0, 6. 0, 7. 0mm)'s exam results of total corneal were as following:SR value of total aberrations 100’(0. 45±0. 12), (0. 25±0. 06), (0. 17±0. 05), (0. 13±0. 04); SR value of total higher order ab cerrations 100’(0. 69±0. 14), (0. 34±0. 07), (0. 24±0. 05), (0. 16±0. 04);SR value of total aberrations 200’(0. 45±0. 12), (0. 24±0. 06), (0. 20±0. 04), (0. 16±0. 03); SR value of total higher order aberrations 200’(0.70±0. 13), (0. 35±0. 07), (0. 27±0. 06), (0. 20±0.04 ) . The SR values of each group decreases with the increases of pupil diameters. The SR values of total aberrations and SR values of total higher - order aberrations at total corneals are negatively correlated with corresponding RMS value. When the pupil diameter is small, the SR value of total aberrations is more related to higher frequency region of MTF. When the pupil diameter is big, the SR value of total aberrations is more related to lower frequency region of MTF.
CONCLUSION: The visual performance of normal people can be well reflected by SR values of total aberrations and SR values of total higher - order aberrations at total corneal.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between 3 different instruments,SF-36 Health Survey,Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and Rasmussen Score,for measurement of surgical outcomes of tibial plateau fractures,and their clinical significances as well.Methods Included in this study were 94 patients with tibial plateau fracture who had been consecutively treated and followed up from January 2009 through February 2015 at our department.Their surgical outcomes were measured by SF-36 Health Survey,HSS-knee score and Rasmussen Score respectively for health-related quality of life (HRQL),knee function,and reduction of fracture.Pearson correlation test was used to determine the correlation between the 3 measurement instruments.Results 94 cases eventually finished their following-ups.The mean follow-up was 41.2 months (range,from 12 to 75 months).The Rasmussen scores for their first postoperative X-ray films averaged 14.7 ± 2.1 points,their HSS-knee scores at the final follow-up averaged 81.0 ± 13.7 points,and their SF-36 scores at the final follow-up averaged 85.5 ± 10.0 points.Statistical analysis showed that the HSS-knee score was positively related to the SF-36 score and Rasmussen score (P ＜ 0.05) but not to the Rasmussen score (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Fine reduction may be the basis for good functional recovery of the knee and good functional recovery may benefit the HRQL of the patients,but merely good fracture reduction does not promise a high HRQL for patients with tibial plateau fracture.In the treatment of tibial plateau fractures,it is not enough to take care of fracture reduction and functional recovery,and the HRQL of patients should be taken into consideration.More attention should be paid to other important factors influencing the HRQL of patients.