The treatment of lower extremity chronic refractory ulcers requires a long time but with poor prognosis. Thus, many patients end up with amputations. The treatment of lower extremity chronic and recalcitrant ulcers and limb salvage has been a challenge worldwide. The Ilizarov technique based on the law of "tension-stress" brings a new hope in treating lower limb chronic and recalcitrant ulcers. The Ilizarov technique and distraction osteogenesis not only induce bone formation but also lead to angiogenesis and improved microcirculation. The Ilizarov technique consists of longitudinal distraction of long bone and tibia trans-verse transport (TTT) (proximal tibial corticotomy followed by transverse distraction). These two techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages with different indications in clinical application. Longitudinal distraction of long bone is mainly used for bone formation, such as large bone defects, osteonecrosis or bone infection (with or without soft tissue loss or ulcers). Because of only a partial osteotomy in TTT, the trauma is minor and their effects on limb instability are limited. Moreover, the procedure is simple with only a few minor complications. Thus, it is ideal in treating lower limb ischemic ulcers, such as diabetic foot ulcers, thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), ulcers caused by atherosclerotic occlusion, arterial or venous ulcers, and trauma wounds. Several studies reported that TTT achieved high healing and limb salvage rates in treating severe diabetic foot ulcer. However, TTT could achieve lower recurrent rate. Thus, it is the most successful application in treatment of chronic ulcers. TTT also improves healing and limb salvage in treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans. However, the overall effects are limited than those in treating diabetic foot ulcer. For lower limb atherosclerosis occlusion, TTT induces regeneration of microvessles and consequently leads to ulcer healing. The effects are better than other conventional treatments. A combination therapy with vascularization is emphasized to attain the optimal long-term effects. The effects of TTT on lower limb recalcitrant ulcers still need to be validated in randomized control trial with larger sample size. Further, the mechanism of treatment needs to be explored by pilot studies which could show that this may be related to the formation of pro-angiogenetic factors and a rebalance of the inflammatory microenvironment during TTT.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the levels of airway inflammatory mediators in peripheral blood in infants and young children with wheezing and to study the possible pathogenesis of wheezing from the aspects of T helper cell 1 (Th1)/T helper cell 2 (Th2) imbalance and airway inflammation. METHODS: A total of 50 children aged 1 month to 3 years with an acute wheezing episode were enrolled as the wheezing group, and 25 age-matched healthy infants were enrolled as the healthy control group. According to the number of wheezing episodes, the wheezing group was divided into a first-episode group (n=25) and a recurrent wheezing (number of episodes ≥2) group (n=25). According to the presence or absence of high-risk factors for asthma, the wheezing group was divided into a high-risk factor group (n=22) and a non-high-risk factor group (n=28). According to the results of pathogen detection, the wheezing group was divided into a positive pathogen group (n=23) and a negative pathogen group (n=27). Levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13 (IL-13), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and total IgE (TIgE) in peripheral blood were measured for each group. For children with wheezing, eosinophil (EOS) count in peripheral blood was measured, and related samples were collected for respiratory pathogen detection. RESULTS: The wheezing group had significantly higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-β1, and TIgE in peripheral blood than the healthy control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-β1, and TIgE in peripheral blood between the first-episode and recurrent wheezing groups, between the high-risk factor and non-high-risk factor groups, and between the positive pathogen and negative pathogen groups (P>0.05). The correlation analysis showed that in children with wheezing, EOS count was positively correlated with IL-4 level (P<0.01), IL-4 level was positively correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 levels (P<0.01), IL-5 level was positively correlated with IL-13 level (P<0.01), and IL-2 level was positively correlated with TGF-β1 level (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Th1/Th2 imbalance with a predominance of Th2 is observed in infants and young children with wheezing. IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-β1, and IgE are involved in the pathogenesis of wheezing in these children. Airway inflammation is also observed in these children with wheezing, but it is not associated with the number of wheezing episodes, presence or absence of high-risk factors for asthma, or results of pathogen detection.
Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation Mediators ; Interleukin-13 ; Respiratory Sounds ; Th1 Cells

OBJECTIVETo analysis the early complications of tibial fracture and its related factors, and propose a solution.

METHODSFrom December 2003 to December 2013,38 patients with early complications of tibial plateau fracture after operation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 3 females, aged from 37 to 69 years old (averaged 42.3 years). According to Schatzker classification, 3 cases were classified as type II, 2 cases as type III, 2 cases as type IV, 19 cases as type V, 12 cases as type VI. The intervals between injury and operation ranged from 9 hours to 9 days, 26 cases within 3 days. Fifteen cases were treated with internal fixation of plates and 23 were treated by plate fixation and bone transplantation. Early complications included skin necrosis in 15 cases, infection in 6 cases, osteofascial compartment syndrome in 3 cases, common peroneal nerve injury in 2 cases, the superficial peroneal nerve injury in 3 cases, popliteal artery injury in 2 cases, loss of reduction in 7 cases.

RESULTSThe wound of 14 cases healed at the first stage and 24 cases healed delay. Hospitalization days ranged from 7 to 67 days (averaged 25.6 days). All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with an average of 16.4 months. The fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months (averaged 6.9 months). According to Merchant knee function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 12, fair in 5 and poor in 2.

CONCLUSIONEarly complications of tibial fracture after operation is closely associated with the severe fracture complexity and related with preoperative preparation, surgical timing, operation incision selection and surgical technique. Early detection and timely processing reduce damage.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutical effects of crossing anastomosis of nerve on the peripheral and central nerve injuries.

METHODSTwelve kinds of central and peripheral nerve disorders and their complications were treated with 11 kinds of crossing anastomosis of nerve bundles near the innervated organs. After nerve injury and repair, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing studies were used to investigate the rabbit's nerve function and morphology.

RESULTSThe ulcers of all patients healed. Sensation, voluntary movement, and joint function recovered. Four weeks after the anastomosis of distal stump of radialis superficialis nerve and median nerve, pain sensation regained and SEPs appeared. HRP retrograde tracing studies demonstrated sensory nerve ending of medial nerve formed new connection with the body of neuron.

CONCLUSIONCrossing anastomosis of nerve is an effective method to treat peripheral and central nerve injuries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; injuries ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Trauma, Nervous System ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo emphasize early differential diagnosis from patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and to evaluate the treatment and long-term outcome of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin synthase (BH4) deficiency in Northern Chinese population.

METHODSFrom 1992 to 2005, a total of 618 patients with HPA were diagnosed and/or cared for in our outpatient clinic. Urinary pterin analysis, detection of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in blood, and then BH4 loading tests were carried out to differentiate BH4 deficiency in these patients from classical phenylketonuria. BH4 deficient patients were treated with BH4, levodopa and 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) immediately while the diagnosis was done to disease. Patientso blood phenylalanine levels, psychomotor and intelligence development were followed up.

RESULTSA total of 38 cases were diagnosed as BH4 deficiency, all of them were revealed as 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency from the extremely decreased urine biopterin, normal DHPR activities and drop down of blood phenylalanine level to normal range within 4 to 8 hours after BH4 loading. The most common manifestations were progressively psychomotor and mental retardation to patients even after taking early dietary treatment. The patients were diagnosed and treated with drugs at the ages of 2.1 months to 13 years. With 4 patients died of pneumonia, 7 patients refused to treatment, only 27 patients were under treatment and followed up. The average full scale development or intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ) of patients who were treated within and after 6 months were 86+/- 10 or 66+/- 7 respectively. Development was not even in different aspects. A significant negative correlation was observed between the level of the DQ and the age of treatment commenced (r was -0.714, P< 0.01). Eleven patients experienced the extrapyramidal movement disorders, 3 of them combined with epilepsy. The extrapyramidal disorders were controlled by administration of levodopa.

CONCLUSIONThe differential diagnosis for BH4 deficiency should be carried out in all patients with HPA. PTPS deficiency is the most common form of BH4 deficiency in Northern Chinese population. The long-term outcome of these patients benefits from diagnosis and treatment with BH4, levodopa and 5-HTP as early as possible.

5-Hydroxytryptophan ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Biopterin ; analogs & derivatives ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Dihydropteridine Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Levodopa ; therapeutic use ; Phenylalanine ; blood ; Phenylketonurias ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases ; deficiency ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo clone a novel human testis-specific gene TDRG1.

METHODSA new contig of expression sequence tags (ESTs) Hs.180197 was identified from the testis libraries using digital differential display (DDD) to screen the novel human testis-specific gene. To validate the use of bioinformatics approaches in gene discovery, the ESTs Hs.180197, which was predicted to be testis specific, was chosen for further study. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on different normal tissues to identify the expression of Hs.180197 in human testis. Using bioinformatics methods and IMAGE cloning of this contig, the full-length cDNA sequence of the noval human gene was cloned.

RESULTSThis novel gene was 1197 bp in length, located in chromosome 6p21.1-p21.2. The sequence of the open reading frame was 504-806 bp, as confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing in human testis. The cDNA encodes a novel protein of 100 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 10 000 and isoelectric point of 6.81. The sequence shares no significant homology with any known protein in the databases. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of multiple tissues further showed that the novel gene was expressed specifically in adult human testis. Considering a possible relation of this novel gene with the function of human testis, we named this new gene TDRG1 (testis development related gene 1, GenBank accession number: DQ168992).

CONCLUSIONDDD combined with laboratory validation is an efficient method for identifying new human functional genes.

Adult ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organ Specificity ; Proteins ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVECoronary arterial plaque rupture and secondary thrombosis are the major pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Metalloprotease (MMPs) secreted by monocyte/macrophage was the main predisposing factor of the plaque rupture and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is involved in a variety of inflammatory cytokine gene transcriptional regulations. We explored the possible role of PPAR-gamma in the regulation of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressed by peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from patients with ACS.

METHODSPeripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 48 patients with ACS and 28 healthy controls and stimulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (0.1 microg/ml for 24 hours) to form MDMs. MDMs were then incubated under various concentrations of rosiglitazone (0, 1, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 48 hours. The concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma, MMP-9 by RT-PCR and nuclear factor-kappaB P65 (NF-kappaB P65) expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPPAR-gamma mRNA expression was significantly lower while NF-kappaB P65 and MMP-9 expression as well as MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations in supernatant were significantly higher in ACS group than those in control group (all P < 0.05). After rosiglitazone intervention, PPAR-gamma mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in both ACS and control groups in a dose-dependent manner. Both the MMP-9 concentration in the supernatant and MMP-9 mRNA expression were reduced post intervention with rosiglitazone in both groups. The TIMP-1 mRNA expression and concentration in supernatant were not affected by rosiglitazone in both groups. Rosiglitazone induced significant downregulation of NF-kappaB P65 expression in both groups.

CONCLUSIONRosiglitazone intervention may downregulate MMP-9 expression by upregulating PPAR-gamma expression, and by downregulating NF-kappaB expression in MDMs isolated from patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the anti-inflammatory action of Heshi Yangshen Recipe on rat model of nephrotic syndrome induced by adriamycin. Methods Rat model of nephrotic syndrome was established by tail venous injection of one-dose of adriamycin. SD rats were divided into normal group(N = 10),model group(N =11), positive control group (N = 12), and high-, middle- , low-dose Chinese medicine groups (N = 12, respectively). Two weeks after modeling,rats in the normal group and model group were given gastric gavage of same volume of normal saline, rats in positive control group were given gastric gavage of benazepril aqueous solution at a dose of 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 in the former period of 15 days and at 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 in the later period of 20 days, and rats in high-,middle- ,low-dose groups were given gastric gavage of Heshi Yangshen Recipe at a dosage of 33.26, 16.63, 8.32 g·kg-1·d-1 respectively, for 30 continuous groups. During the treatment period, the general situation of rats was observed. After the completion of medication, the levels of 24-hour urinary protein, urine total proteins, urine creatinine were measured by biochemical analyzer, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)in rat renal tissue of various groups were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results The increase of body mass in all of the modeled rats was significantly slowed down (P < 0.01 as compared with the normal group). Compared with the normal group, the levels of 24-hour urinary protein, serum hs-CRP, and the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in rat renal tissue were increased in the model group (P < 0.05 or P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the level of 24-hour urinary protein in the positive control group and high-dose Chinese medicine group was decreased (P < 0.05), and the levels of serum Hs-CRP, and the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in rat renal tissue of the positive control group and high-,middle-,low-dose Chinese medicine groups were decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusion Heshi Yangshen Recipe exerts certain anti-inflammatory action, and its mechanism may be related with the decrease of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. High dosage of Heshi Yangshen Recipe has the strongest therapeutic effect.

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a common complication after lung transplantation, which is mainly caused by the immune response of T lymphocytes recognizing the major histocompatibility complex on the cellular surface of grafts. It is currently considered as the main pattern of acute rejection. ACR is not only a direct cause of death of recipients, but also a high-risk factor for chronic rejection after lung transplantation. Nevertheless, it is a challenging task to deliver the diagnosis and treatment of ACR following lung transplantation. In this article, new progresses on the risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of ACR in lung transplant recipients were summarized, aiming to improve the diagnostic and treatment efficiency of ACR and prolong the survival of recipients.

Objective:To study the clinical safety and validity of retrograde new endoscopic field of vision in miniature pigs.Methods:6 live miniature pigs were selected as study subjects,En-doscopic Retrograde New View(ERNV)was selected.The performance,image quality and intraoper-ative and postoperative complications were evaluated.To evaluate whether all the experimental ani-mals could complete the relevant endoscopy.Verify ERNV's operating performance,including whether the duodenoscope can enter the biliary tract smoothly,and made sure whether the injection,suction,and instrument channels were unobstructed.Choledochoscope image clarity,color resolu-tion,image deformation and distortion,accurate evaluation of lumen conditions and clear observation of mucosal surface conditions were analyzed.Whether there were operant injuries such as bleeding and perforation,as well as adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest.The sur-vival status and adverse reactions of all pigs were observed.Results:The choledochoscope was successfully inserted into the bile duct of 6 miniature pigs.The product had good operation perfor-mance and could enter the bile duct through the duodenoscope smoothly.The injection,suction and instrument channels were relatively smooth.In addition,the endoscopic images are clear,with better color resolution,and without image deformation and distortion,which can realize accurate evaluation of the conditions in the lumen and observe the mucosal surface conditions more clearly.No bile duct stenosis or dilatation occurred in all miniature pigs,and the bile duct mucosa was smooth,without hyperemia and edema,and no abnormal thickening or bending of mucous vessels.During the exami-nation,there were no operational injuries such as bleeding and perforation,and no adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest occurred.The vital signs of all miniature pigs tended to be stable after operation,and the survival state was good,and there were no complications such as cholangitis,bleeding and perforation.Conclusion:ERNV has good clinical safety and efficacy,ex-cellent operation performance and excellent image quality,and is worthy of clinical application.