BACKGROUND:Lumbar fusion is a conventional effective measure to treat spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis or with deformity. Bilateral pedicle screw fixation is recognized as the standard treatment for various spinal disorders, and has biomechanical and clinical advantages. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of bilateral pedicle screw fixation in the repair of lumbar disc herniation to restore disc height from the angle of imaging. METHODS: Clinical data of 42 patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively analyzed. They al received bilateral pedicle screw fixation. Pain was evaluated before implantation, immediately and 1 month after implantation using Japanese Orthopaedic Association score of lower back pain and visual analog scale score. X-ray including anteriorposterior and lateral films of lumbar spine and MRI were used. CT was utilized to verify screw placement conditions and complications. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 42 patients were folowed up for 3-6 months. Compared with pre-implantation, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and visual analog scale score were significantly improved immediately after implantation (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in Japanese Orthopaedic Association score between 1 month and immediately after implantation (P > 0.05). The height of intervertebral discs was significantly higher immediately and 1 month after implantation than pre-implantation (P < 0.01). The symptoms were lessened after fixation in al cases, and their qualities of life elevated. At 1 month, X-ray films and CT images revealed that no screw loosening, breakage or displacement occurred. The height of intervertebral discs was perfectly restored. No adverse events appeared in patients. These data indicate that bilateral pedicle screw fixation for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation can effectively restore the height of intervertebral discs, improve clinical symptoms and have biological and clinical superiority.

Objective To investigate indications,technique,prognosis and complications of anterior flap hemipelvectomy (hemipelvectomy using a quadriceps femoris muscle flap with superficial femoral artery)in the treatment of pelvic tumors.Methods From April 2009 to October 2010,10 patients with pelvic tumors underwent anterior flap hemipelvectomy in our department.There were 9 males and 1 female,aged from 30 to 62 years (average,46 years).There were 7 cases of chondrosarcoma,1 case of epithelioid sarcoma,1 case of pleomorphic liposarcoma and 1 case of spindle cell sarcoma.Results Nine patients were followed up for 12 to 30 months (average,21.5 months).Superficial skin necrosis occurred in 1 patient,while there was no wound infection.Local recurrence (33.3％) occurred in 3 patients,including 2 cases of chondrosarcoma and 1 case of epithelioid sarcoma.Three patients died at last,including 2 patients with local recurrence and 1 with pulmonary metastasis from liposarcoma.Two patients survived with pulmonary metastasis,and remaining 3 patients survived without recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion Anterior flap hemipelvectomy is indicated for:(1) patients with extensive soft tissue sarcoma in the buttock,and the tumor or reaction zone involve the subcutaneous tissue; (2) patients with recurrent pelvic tumors,and the conventional posterior flap can't be used due to contamination by the original incision; (3) patients whose posterior flap has poor blood supply due to radiotherapy or other factors.The prerequisite of the surgery is that the blood stream between external iliac artery and femoral artery is unobstructed; moreover the blood vessels are not in the tumor reaction zone.Compared with conventional posterior flap,the anterior flap hemipelvectomy is an easier procedure,which not only can easily cover surgical defect and obtain better surgical margin,but also has less complications.

Objective To investigate the effects of Th17 cells and Treg cells on immune evasion in patients with hepatic hydatid disease. Methods From August 2008 to September 2009, 54 patients with hepatic hydatid disease who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and 20 healthy people (control group) were enrolled in this study. Of the 54 patients, 21 had liver cystic enchinococcosis (CE)(CE group), 15 had recurrent cystic echinococcosis (RCE) (RCE group) and 18 had liver alveolar echinococcosis(AE) (AE group). The serum concentrations of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-23, transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance, LSD-t test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results Serum IL-17 levels were significantlylower in the AE group [(11±3)ng/L], CE group [(13±4) ng/L] and RCE group [(13 ±5) ng/L]compared with those in the control group [(16±5) ng/L] ( F = 6.53, P ＜ 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in serum IL-17 levels between the CE and RCE groups (t =0.22, P ＞0.05). Serum levels of IL-23were also lower in the AE group [(72±27) ng/L], CE group [( 106±53) ng/L] and RCE group [( 107±48 ) ng/L] compared with those in the control group [( 139±50) ngg/L] ( F = 6.74, P ＜ 0.05 ), while there was no significant difference between the CE and RCE groups (t =0.02, P＞0.05). The serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the AE group [(5.5±2.2) ng/L], CE group [(4.3±2.0) ng/L] and RCE group [(4.2 ± 1.4) ng/L] compared with those in the control group [(3.1 ± 0.8 ) ng/L] ( F = 9.78, P ＜ 0.05 ),with no significant differences between the CE and RCE groups ( t = 0.14, P ＞ 0.05 ). TGF-β1 levels were significantly higher in the AE group [(38±7) μg/L], CE group [(37±7) μg/L] and RCE group [(33±9) μg/L]compared with those in the control group [( 26±7) μg,/L] ( F = 6.73, P＜ 0.05 ), with no significant difference among the AE, CE and RCE groups ( t = 0.56, 1.81, P ＞ 0.05 ). The Th17/Treg (IL-17/IL-10) ratio was significantly decreased in the AE group ( 2.1 ± 0.7 ), CE group ( 3.6 ± 1.5 ) and RCE group ( 3.4 ± 1.9)compared with that in the control group (5.7 ± 2.6) ( F = 13.76, P ＜ 0.05 ), while no significant difference was found between the CE and RCE groups (t = 0.23, P ＞ 0.05). The serum concentrations of IL-17 were negatively correlated with TGF-β1 ( r = - 0.23, P ＜ 0.05 ) and positively correlated with IL-23 ( r = 0.70, P ＜ 0.05 ).Serum concentrations of IL-10 were positively correlated with TGF-β1 ( r = 0.46, P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion The overwhelming expression of Treg related cytokines disrupts the Th17/Treg balance in patients with AE or CE,which may have a potential role in immune evasion in the progress of hydatid disease.

Objective:To investigate serum high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal diseases,and to explore the relationship between serum high sensitive C-reactive protein levels and periodontal diseases in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods:The study included 20 type 2 diabetic patients with moderate or severe periodontal diseases,20 type 2 diabetic patients without periodontal diseases and 20 normal as control.Serum hs-CRP,HbA1c and other biochemical parameters were detected.Results:Compared with normal control and type 2 diabetic subjects without periodontal diseases,serum hs-CRP levels in type 2 diabetic patients with moderate or severe periodontal diseases were significantly increased.Serum hs-CRP levels were significantly elevated in type 2 diabetic patients without periodontal diseases compared with normal control subjects(P

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of programmed death receptor ligand 1 ( PD-L1 ) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with hepatic cystic echincccccosis (HCE) and its relation with interferon-γ.MethodsThe clinical data of 63 patients with HCE who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2010 to February 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into HCE active group (38 patients) and HCE non-active group (25 patients) according to the system established by the World Health Organization's Informal Working Group on Echinocoecosis.Twenty patients with hepatic hemangioma or healthy individuals were recruited in normal control group.The positive rate of PD-L1 expression was detected by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry.The expression of interferon-γ was detected by enzyme-linked immtmosorbent assay (ELISA).All data were analyzed by the t test,one-way analysis of variance,LSD test and chi-square test.The relationship between the expression of interferon-γ and positive rate of PD-L1 expression was analyzed by the Pearson test.ResultsThe results of flow cytometry showed that the positive rates of PD-L1 expression in the HCE active group,HCE non-active group and normal control group were 12.1％±3.8％,10.9％ ± 2.5％ and 9.1％ ±2.5％,respectively.There was a significant difference in the positive rate of PD-L1 expression between the HCE active group and normal control group (t =3.327,P ＜ 0.05 ).The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive rates of PD-LI expression in the HCE active group,HCE non-active group and normal control group were 11.9％ ± 3.4％,i0.6％ ± 2.9％ and 9.5％ ± 3.6％,respectively.There was a significant difference in the positive rate of PD-L1 expression between the HCE active group and normal control group (t =2.470,P ＜ 0.05 ).The expressions of intefferon-γ in the HCE active group,HCE non-active group and normal control group were ( 141 ± 38 ) μμg/L,( 124 ± 32 ) μg/L and ( 105 ± 42 ) μg/L.There wasasignificant difference in the expression of interferon-γ between the HCE active group and normal control group ( t =3.280,P ＜ 0.05).The results of flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry revealed that the positive rate of PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of interferon-γ( r =0.59,0.61,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion With the help of interferon-γ,PD-L1 may play an important role in promoting the immune.evasion of echinococcus.

Objective To investigate the change of serum Nogo-A protein in patients with acute closed brain injury, and explore its relationship with the severity of neuronal damage and prognosis. Methods Thirty-one patients with acute closed brain injury were enrolled. Venous blood samples (2 mL) were obtained 1, 3 and 5 d after injury. Serum concentrations of Nogo-A protein were determined by ELISA. Patients were divided into mild (n =7), moderate (n = 10) and severe (n = 14) injury groups according to Glasgow coma score (GCS), and were divided into favorable prognosis (n = 23) and poor prognosis (n = 8) groups according to Glasgow outcome score (GOS). Another 20 healthy adults were served as controls. Results The mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein in mild, moderate and severe injury groups 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01), and the mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein in moderate and severe injury groups 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher than those in mild injury group (P <0.05, P <0.01). The mass concentrations of serum Nogo-A protein 1, 3, 5 d after injury were significantly higher in poor prognosis group than those in favourable prognosis group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Serum Nogo-A protein level significantly increases after brain injury, and is related to the degree of injury and prognosis.

Objective To study the association between transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han population of Shanghai. Methods In this case-control study , 1 234 cases of T2DM patients were recruited and 1 272 healthy individuals were selected as control. Five ml of blood sample was collected from each subject ,from which the whole genomic DNA was extracted.The polymorphism was detected by the Taqman technology. Result Significant association was observed in TGF-β1 T896C genotypes and alleles with T2DM (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.004, OR = 1.18 [1.05 ~ 1.33], respectively). Conclusion The polymorphism of T896C in TGF-β1 gene may be associated with T2DM in Han population from Shanghai.

Objective Via targeted inhibition of oncogene Bmi-1 expression by RNAi interfering technology in vitro, to observe its effect on the proliferation and cell cycle of gallbladder cancer cells. Methods Four miRNABmi-1 recombinant plasmids were constructed according to different Bmi-1 sites. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to mRNA and protein expression of Bmi-1 in gallbladder cancer cells were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. mRNA and protein expression of Bmi-1 in gallbladder cancer cells. The most effective interfering plasmids in the miRNABmi-1 groups were transfected into GBC-SD cells. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed 48 h after transfection by BrdU and flow cytometry. Results Bmi-1mRNA expression in miRNAbmi1-1,-3 and-4 was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05);and Bmi-1 protein expression in miRNAbmi1-2,-3 and-4 was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). The recombinant plasmid in miRNAbmi1-4, with the strongest inhibitive effect of Bmi-1mRNA and protein expression, was transfected into GBC-SD cells,then the cell proliferation rate (46.63 ± 5.31) was significantly lower in mRNABmi1-4 group than the control groups (P<0.05);G0/G1 phase cells increased (72.20 ± 1.71) and G2/M and S phase cells decreased (18.30 ± 7.21, 9.50 ± 6.01) in miRNABmi1-4 group. Both were significantly different from the control groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Targeting and silencing Bmi-1 expression can effectively inhibit the proliferation of GBC-SD cells and restrain the cell cycle atin G0/G1 phase. Bmi-1 gene may be a novel target for geneic therapy of gallbladder carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate cause,treatment and prevention of esophageal fistula caused by anterior cervical spine surgery.Methods Between January 2004 and December 2011,2348 patients underwent anterior cervical spine surgery.Among them,5 patients suffered from esophageal fistula owing to operation,including 3 males and 2 females,with an average age of 34 years (range,14 to 48 years).The diagnosis of these patients included 3 cases of cervi(c)al injury,1 case of cervical spondylosis and 1 case of cervical tuberculosis.There was 1 patient whose esophageal injury was founded during the surgery,and that was directly repaired.For another 4 patients,esophageal fistulas were founded after operation; one case underwent debridement and orificium fistulae repair; one case only underwent debridement; one case underwent debridement and second-stage removal of hardware; and one case underwent debridement and second-stage removal of hardware and esophageal repair with sternocleidomastoid flap.Postoperative treatment included esophageal rest,enteral nutrition,wound drainage,and antibiotic administration.Methylene blue was used to evaluate status of orificium fistulae.Results All patients with esophageal fistula were cured 9 to 61 weeks after treatment,and oral intake was achieved.They were followed up for 6-48 months.There was no recurrence of esophageal fistula,cervical instability and infectious spondylitis in any ease.All patients were satisfied with swallowing function and outcome of cervical spine diseases.The Frankel grade was improved averagely one grade in patients with cervical injury,and the JOA score was improved from preoperative 9 points to postoperative 15 points in patients with cervical spondylosis.Conclusion Successful management of esophageal fistula caused by anterior cervical spinal surgery depends on primary closure of the perforation with or without muscle flaps,surgical drainage,esophageal rest and nutrition support,and removal of hardware if necessary.Prevention consists of the careful operation and gentle tissue handling.

Objective To explore clinical characteristics of alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) and prognosis factors related to surgical treatment.Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 29 ASPS consecutive cases between Sep.1982 to Sep.2010,including 18 males and 11 females,with average 24.4 and median 21 years old (ranging 9 to 58).26 patients with surgery were enrolled in this study,with 23 cases primarily ocurred in soft tissue and 3 cases in bone.There were 17 cases with painless mass (65.4％,17/26) and 9 cases with pain (36.4％,9/26).Demographics,tumor size,stage,surgical margin,adjuvant chemotherapy provided,local recurrence,metastatic rate and overall survival probability were evaluated.We used multivariate analysis of logistic regression and Cox regression for local recurrence and survival rate respectively,and univariate analysis for tumor size,surgical margin,adjuvant chemotherapy and local recurrence.Results According to the Enneking classification,we distinguished stage Ⅱ 14 cases and stage Ⅲ 12 cases.Marginal excision was obtained in 9 cases as well as wide resection in 17 patients.The average and median follow-up time was 45.9 and 31 months (ranging 5 to 226) respectively,12 cases eventually survived (46.2％).The 5-year survival rates for stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ cases were 79.5％ and 23.4％ respectively.We found significant difference for local recurrence with surgical margin.However,there was no significant difference for prevention of metastatic progression with or without adjuvant chemotherapy.For tumor size,5-year survival rate of ＞ 5 cm and ＜ 5 cm group were 40.7％ and 80.0％ respectively.Multivariate analysis of logistic regression showed the surgical marginal was the only significant risk factor for local recurrence,while Cox regression showed both stage and tumor size were independent prognostic indicators for survival.Conclusion Although presenting as a slowly growing and painless mass,ASPS is an aggressive tumor with high risk of metastasis.Prognosis of ASPS is basically related to the characteristics of tumor size,surgical stage and quality of surgery.With limited improvement of adjuvant chemotherapy for metastasis control and survival,new agents are eagerly needed to complement surgery to eradicate this disease.