BACKGROUND:A new type of medical titanium alloy Ti2448 (Ti-24Nb-4Zr-7.9Sn) is by far the lowest initial modulus of titanium alloy, with the initial modulus of about 40 GPa, the average Young's modulus<20 GPa, and tensile strength of about 900 MPa;human tissue biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility are excellent. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanical properties of a new low elastic modulus spinal pedicle screw fixation system and compare it with Ti6Al4V pedicle screw. METHODS:Totally 60 fresh human cadaveric thoracic vertebrae were randomly selected:on one side, pedicle new low modulus Ti2448 pedicle screws, as the experimental group;on the other side, pedicle screw Ti6Al4V, as control group. The maximum bending load and maximum load displacement, maximum torque and maximum axial pul ing force of the two groups were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There was no significant difference in the maximum bending load, maximum load displacement, maximum torque and maximum pulling force between the two groups. The results show that the maximum bending strength, the maximum torque and maximum pul out force in low elastic modulus of Ti2448 pedicle screw fixation system are consistent with the Ti6Al4V screws, which can meet the needs of internal fixation on spinal biomechanics strength.

Objective To introduce a new method for correcting prominent malar complex deformity. Methods Through an intraoral incision, the highest area of zygomatic body marked preoperatively was grinded. Then an L shape incomplete osteotomy of the zygomatic body was performed with a reciprocating saw, and a complete osteotomy just 1 cm anterior to the articular tubercle of the zygomatic arch was made. Light pressure on the posterior part of the arch produced a greenstick fracture of the anterior osteotomy site, resulting in posterior-inward repositioning of the malar complex. Internal fixation was unnecessary. Results Operative procedures for reductive malar complex plasty were performed in 650 cases, which included 60 males and 590 females whose age ranged from 19 to 39 years.Incisions of all cases healed well. One case had maxillary sinusitis 2 weeks postoperatively, and recovered after 1 week by using antibiotics and drainage. There was 1 case with skin necrosis about 1 cm in diameter in the area of zygomatic body because of local liposuction, and the wound was healed by changing dressing. The forehead wrinkle of one side had disappeared in 1 case 1 week postoperatively, but had recovered 2 weeks later. Postoperative follow-up for 2-24 months showed satisfactory results.Conclusions This modified method has many advantages, such as simplicity, without internal fixation, short operation and recovery time, and little complications. The authors conclude that this technique is an effective and safe method of reduction malarplasty.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients with capsular warning syndrome (CWS). Methods Consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) meeting the CWS clinical manifestations were col ected retrospectively. They were divided into either a cerebral infarction group or a non-cerebral infarction group according to the brain diffusion weighted imaging findings. The independent risk factors for patients with CWS were identified through the comparison of demographic and baseline clinical data. Results A total of 39 patients were enrol ed, including 25 males (64. 1%) and 14 females (35. 9%), and their mean age was 58. 9 ± 10. 3 years. There were 21 patients in the cerebral infarction group and 18 in the non-cerebral infarction group. Compared with the non-cerebral infarction group, the age of patients in the cerebral infarction group was older (62. 5 ± 9. 3 years vs. 54. 8 ± 10. 2 years;t=2. 470, P=0. 018). The constituent ratio of the patients with a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack was higher (33. 3% vs. 5. 6%; P=0. 049), the fasting blood glucose level was higher (8. 2 ± 3. 2 mmol/L vs. 6. 0 ± 1. 3 mmol/L; t=2. 748, P=0. 009), and ABCD2 score was higher (5. 2 ± 1. 1 vs. 3. 5 ± 1. 1;t=4. 734, P<0. 001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ABCD2 score was an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction in patients with CWS (odds ratio, 4. 529, 95% confidence interval 1. 233-16. 627;P=0. 023). Conclusions The higher ABCD2 score was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients with CWS. It can be used as an evaluation tool for predicting the risk of cerebral infarction in patients with CWS.

Objective To introduce inhaled inactivated-mycobacterium phlei on prevention and treatment of moderate bronchial asthma to observe the clinical effect. Method This study was a prospective and controlled study. The patients diagnosed with asthma in our out-patient from March 2009 to December 2010 were collected, who met the following conditions were included in the study: age≥ 14 years; met the criteria of moderate chronic persistent bronchial asthma in Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 2008; suspended receiving systemic corticosteroids, Montelukast, ketotifen and other anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs in one month; no significant respiratory tract infections; and other serious illnesses or abnormalities known.A total of 100 patients with asthma were selected, including 37 males and 63 females, age (32.11 ± 12.95 )years. The patients were randomly(random number) divided into two groups: A group(treatment group; 16males and 34 females, age 33.56 ± 14.23 years) and B group (control group; 21 males and 29 females,age 30.66 ± 11.50 years); 50 in each group. No significant difference was noted between the two groups on age and gender composition. The patients in A group were treated with inhaled inactivated-mycobacterium phlei F. U. 36 Injection 1.72 μg/mL × 2 that adding 3 mL normal saline, once a day for 5 days. The patients in B group were treated with salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate powder for inhalation (50/100 μg), twice daily for sustainable use. The patients in the two groups were observed for one month. During this course, the patients in the two groups could inhale the salbutamol sulphate aerosol as need to relieve symptoms. And the number of using was recorded. Pulmonary function test and asthma provocative test were carried out on the Day O, 6 and 31. ACT scores were measured before and after the treatment. Results On Day 6 and 31 after treatment, the negative conversion rates of asthma provocative test of the patients in A group were 82% and 78% respectively, B group were 84% and 90% respectively. Provocative test of the patients in the two groups were negative conversion significantly before and after treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups by chi-square test (P ＞ 0. 05 ). Completely random designed data was analyzed by analysis of variance. The analysis showed that the accumulated doses of methacholine of the patients in the two group increased significantly ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), but no difference between the two groups.There was a improvement trend on forced expiratory volume in one second( FEV1 )of the patients in A group after treatment, but no difference. FEV1 of the patients in B group increased significantly higher ( P ＜0.05), which was significantly higher than A group on the 31th day (P ＜0. 05); Peak expiratory flow (PEF) of the patients in the two group increased significantly on Day 6 and 31 after treatment (P ＜0.05 ).On Day 31, B group was significantly higher than A group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ); Scores of asthma control test (ACT)of the patients in the two group were significantly increased, and the number of using of salbutamol sulfate aerosol was significantly reduced (P ＜0.01 ). B group was obvious than group A (P ＜0.05 ). During treatment, there were only two adverse reaction cases of transient low fever; most obvious was on the third day.Conclusions Inhaled inactivated-mycobacterium phlei would inhibit the airway hyperresponsiveness of the patients with moderate bronchial asthma in short time, improve the symptoms, reduce the acute exacerbation, and reduce the use of rescue medication, which has the roles of prevention and treatment of moderate asthma in a certain period of time.

Objective To analyze how enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) protease 2A affects the anti-vi-ral interferon typeⅠ(IFN-Ⅰ) pathway in 293T cells following infection. Methods Western blot was used to detect the expression of recombinant protease 2A, IFN-α and signal transducers and activators of tran-scription 1 (STAT1) at protein level. Expression of EV-D68 viral protein (VP1) and protease 2A was ana-lyzed by immunofluorescence at different time points. Cytopathic effects were recorded to calculate 50％ cell culture infective dose ( CCID50 ) . Expression of the genes involved in the anti-viral IFN-Ⅰ pathway was measured by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Results The recombinant plasmid pCLIPf-2A was successfully constructed and the expression of recombinant protease 2A could be detected by Western blot 24 h after transfection. The recombinant protease 2A promoted the proliferation of EV-D68 at the late stage of infection and induced the production of IFN-α. Expression of the genes involved in the anti-viral IFN-Ⅰ pathway at mRNA level was up- or down-regulated to different degrees with various trends in different groups following infection. Expression of STAT1 was enhanced in all groups. Conclusions EV-D68 protease 2A promoted the activation of anti-viral IFN-Ⅰpathway in response to viral infection and enhanced the proliferation of virus at the late stage of infection.

Objective:To compare the efficacy between Kirschner wire and clavicular hook plate in the fixation of distal clavicle fractures in older children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 28 pediatric patients with distal clavicle fracture who had undergone surgical treatment at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The Second General Hospital of Fuzhou from December 2014 to December 2023. There were 20 boys and 8 girls. Age: 10.0 (9.0, 12.8) years old; 22 left sides and 6 right sides; by the Craig modified Neer classification: 22 cases of type Ⅱ, 5 cases of type Ⅳ, and 1 case of type Ⅴ. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on their internal fixation methods. The Kirschner wire group of 12 cases were treated with open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation; the hook plate group of 16 cases were treated with open reduction and clavicular hook plate fixation. Operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, incidence of complications, and scores at the final follow-up (the Constant-Murley shoulder function score, quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (quickDASH) score, and visual analog scale (VAS) for aesthetic satisfaction) were recorded and compared between the 2 groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The postoperative follow-up period for the 28 patients was (14.8±6.5) months. The operation time in the Kirschner wire group [(34.3±12.1) min] was significantly shorter than that in the hook plate group [(49.4±16.8) min] ( P<0.05), and the VAS score for aesthetic satisfaction at the final follow-up in the Kirschner wire group [(8.2±1.1) points] was significantly higher than that in the hook plate group [(6.2±2.6) points] ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of fracture healing time, hospital stay, incidence of complications, or Constant-Murley score and quickDASH score at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusions:For pediatric patients with distal clavicle fracture, both Kirschner wire fixation and clavicular hook plate fixation can achieve good functional outcomes. However, Kirschner wire fixation has advantages of shorter operation time, higher postoperative aesthetic satisfaction, and no need of a secondary surgery for implant removal.