BACKGROUND:In recent years, the spinal internal fixation technology has made rapid development based on biomechanics and material sciences.
OBJECTIVE: To review the biomechanical characteristics of the lumbosacral spine and the application of various internal fixation materials in the reconstruction of spinal stability after lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis.
METHODS:A computer-based search of Medline and Chinese Journal Ful-Text Database was performed for relevant articles using the keyword of “lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis, biomaterials materials, fixation” in English and Chinese, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Rigid internal fixation is a conventional treatment for lumbosacral tuberculosis, which improves the spinal alignment and stability during the spinal reconstruction. Metalic materials such as stainless steel, titanium and titanium aloys have been widely used in rigid internal fixation, but metal sedimentation, non-transparency, stress shielding and osteoporosis after internal fixation impact the fusion effects and imaging observation. Absorbable materials as newly-developing materials have good biocompatibility and biodegradability in orthopedic internal fixation. To select the appropriate material for internal fixation, the biomechanical properties of internal fixation materials wil be investigated according to the degree of vertebral damage and lumbosacral stability.

Objective:To analyze the situation of immunosuppressants utilization of renal transplantation inpa- tients in our hospital.Method:The records and relevant data of 98 case of renal transplant inpatients during 2005 were col- lected,and analyzed according to drug cost and defined daily dose(DDDs)ranking.Result:The average age was(42.50?10.56)a,the average drug cost was(18745.36?7603.86)yuan,the average inmunosuppressant cost was 13456.58 yuan,and all the drug utilization indicators(DUI)were≤1.Conclusion:The analysis shows that the inmunosuppressant utilization rate was high and the inmunosuppressant utilization by renal transplant inpatients was basically rational.

Objective To investigate the relationship between CIDE-B change and apoptosis by detecting expression of CIDE-B gene and protein under various injuring conditions(firearm injury and in- cision injury)and comparing neuronal apoptosis.Methods A total of 108 New Zealand rabbits were randomized into firearm injury group,incision injury group and control group.Samples were harvested at different time points after injury for measuring CIDE-B mRNA expression level by RT-PCR,demonstrating morphological distribution of CIDE-B mRNA by in situ hybridization and determining CIDE-B protein level by Western blot.Results Following nerve injury,CIDE-B mRNA expression in spinal cord was en- hanced markedly in the firearm injury group,increased from at day 1,reached peak at day 7,lasted for two weeks and declined after four weeks.CIDE-B mRNA expression was increased late,with small range in the incision injury group.The changes in CIDE-B protein level accorded with those in CIDE-B mRNA level.There was slight CIDE-B mRNA expression,distributing in spinal cord neuronal cytoplasma,in spinal cord tissues in the control group.Conclusions Following peripheral nerve injury,expressions of CIDE-B mRNA and protein are enhanced in spinal cord neurons and distributed in the grey matter of spi- nal cord.Such enhancement is more marked after firearm injury than incision injury.

Objective The aim of the study is to approach the clinical significance of the change of ST segments after di- rect percutaneous transcoronary angioplasty(PTCA) combined with Lipo-PGE_1 in treating Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI).Methods The change of the ST segments on EKG of 76 patients with AMI are observed in 30 minutes after un- derwent direct PICA combined with Lipo-PGE_1,and the relations are analyzed that are prospectively to their therapy effect,the degree of injured cardiac muscle,the cardial functions,and the prognosis.Results The patients who treated with the PCTA combined with Lipo-PGE_1 ST segments on EKG 30 minutes after operations reduced significantly,cardiac muscle is injured lowly,their cardial functions are better.Conclusion The change of ST segments after direct percutane- ous transcoronary angioplasty (PTCA) combined with Lipo-PGE_1 in treating acute myocardial infarction is one of the guide line to estimate the perfnsion of cardiac muscle,and to estimate prognosis farther.

Objective To observe the effects of lower limb motion control training using virtual games combined with core stability training (CST) on the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.Methods Sixty hemiplegic stroke patients were divided into an observation group and a control group (n =30 in each) using a random number table.The control group was given conventional treatment and CST,while the observation group received lower limb motion control training using virtual games in addition to conventional treatment and CST.All of the patients were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer lower limb assessment (FMA),the Berg balance scale (BBS),the modified Barthel index (MBI),10 metre maximum walking speed (MWS) and functional ambulation categorization (FAC)before and after 8 weeks of treatment.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements.After the treatment,however,the average FMA,BBS,MBI,MWS and FAC in the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and those in the control group.Conclusions Lower limb motion control training using virtual games combined with core stability training can improve effectively the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.Such a combination is worth applying in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the correlation between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene 3 '-untranslated region rs4846049 G/T polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese Han population. Methods A total of 396 patients with ischemic stroke and 378 healthy subjects (control group ) were selected using a case-control study design. Large artery atherosclerosis and small artery occlusion in the case group were 268 and 128 cases, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and the direct sequencing method were used to detect MTHFR gene rs4846049 G/T polymorphism. Results As compared to the GG genotype, the TT genotype significantly increased the risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 2. 87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1. 43-5. 76;P=0. 003). Compared with G allele, T allele significantly increased the risk of the disease (OR 1. 62, 95% OR 1. 28-2. 06; P< 0. 001 ). Subgroup analyses showed that the rs4846049 G/T polymorphism could significantly increase the onset risks of LAA and SAO subtype stroke (all P<0.05). Conclusions MTHFR gene rs4846049 G/T polymorphism may be associated with the increased susceptibility to ischemic stroke in the Chinese Han population. The T allele may be a genetic risk factor for ischemic stroke in the Chinese Han population.

The peptidyl-prolyl imide bond cis/trans isomerization of Xaa-Pro motif in the peptide and protein plays an important role to influence their conformation and function. Here, a series of model peptides including phosphorylated and its unphosphorylated counterparts were designed and synthesized. Preliminary 1H NMR experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were used to analyze the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans imide bond isomerization. The data indicated that the side-chain O-phosphorylation of the Xaa residues preceding proline affected evidently the isomerization and thereby regulated the peptides conformations. The charges of the phosphate moiety as well as their steric effects might be the driving force for the conformational changes of these phosphopeptides.Moreover, the obtained most stable multiple configurations and their statistic cis/trans concentration distribution in MD simulation were basically consistent with the NMR experiments, which demonstrated that phosphorylation increased the cis conformation of the peptide and the maximum cis ratio is given while the phosphate group has no negative charge.

It has been 4 years since Natural Health Products Regulations(NHPRs)was enforced by Health Canada in January of 2004.In the past time,how will it affect the marketed Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCM) in Canadian market? Recently,The two TCM products Carditionic Pill (Fufang Danshen Diwan)and Chaihu Pill from Tasly have been newly certificated by Health Canada recently.Taking them as examples,this article introduces the current status.opportunities and challenges for the regulation of TCM in Canada.and suggests that the domestic TCM corporations push the product registration as soon as possible.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for clinical pharmacists to carry out drug-interaction - related pharmaceutical care.METHODS:Taking the pharmaceutical care encountered by our full - time clinical pharmacists in clinical practice as example to discuss the approach for clinical pharmacists to carry out drug - interaction - related pharmaceutical care so as to avoid the adverse effects induced by drug interactions.RESULTS & CONCLUSION:Only through participating in the clinical work and familiarizing the actual medication and the problems existed can clinical pharmacists achieve advantage compensation with medical staff,make full play of their expertise and provide pharmaceutical care of high added value.

Objective To investigate the correlation between R219K (rs2230806 G/A) polymorphism in the ATP binding cassette transporter (ABC) A1 gene and ischemic stroke in a Chinese Han population. Methods A total of 360 patients with ischemic stroke and 358 healthy subjects were selected using a case-control study design. The patients with ischemic stroke were redivided into either a large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) group or a smal artery occlusion (SAO) group according to the TOAST criteria. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing method were used to detect R219K (rs2230806 G/A) polymorphism in the ABCA1 gene. Results Using GG genotype as a reference, the AA genotype reduced the risk of ischemic stroke by 65% (odds ratio [OR] 0. 35, 95%confidence interval [CI] 0. 23 - 0. 55; P < 0. 001) and the onset risk of LAA by 77% (OR 0. 23, 95% CI 0. 13 - 0. 40; P < 0. 001), but it did not have significant correlation with SAO. The interaction of rs2230806 G/A polymorphisms with smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes had no significant effect on the on-set risk of ischemic stroke (al P > 0. 05). AA genotype was enable to increase the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of the patient group (OR 0. 35, 95% CI 0. 28 - 0. 42; P < 0. 001) and the control group (OR 0. 19, 95% CI 0. 14 - 0. 23; P < 0. 001) significantly, while it did not have significant correlation with the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. Conclusions R219K (rs2230806 G/A) polymorphism in the ABCA1 gene may be associated with the reduced predisposition of ischemic stroke in a Chinese Han population, especialy LAA. The A alele may be a hereditary protective factor; its mechanism may be associated with the increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.