[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules with different size.METHODSThe clinical data of 122 thyroid nodules of 109 cases referred to FNAC for diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. The final operating histological results of 122 nodules were considered gold standard. RESULTSNon-diagnostic FNAC results occurred in 17 nodules (13.9%). FNAC achieved a sensitivity of 78.6%, a specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value of 93.6%, a negative predictive value of 78.3%, and a total accuracy of 85.7%. There was no significant difference between the diameter of the nodule≤1 cm group and>1 cm group, except negative predictive value. The non-diagnostic results rate was no significant difference between groups of different nodule size, benign or malignant nodules, and different operators. CONCLUSIONFNAC is a sensitive, specific and accurate method for differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

AIM:To clarify the impact of heart shock factor 4b (Hsf4b) K65R mutation on the regulation of downstream protein expression .METHODS:Non-functional Lys mutant plasmid pWZL-blast-HA-Hsf4b/K65R was genera-ted by replacing single , homologous amino acids using KOD-Plus-Mutagenesis-Kit.Mouse lens epithelial mLEC stable cell lines expressing Hsf4b or Hsf4b/K65R were constructed by lentivirus infection .The expression of Hsf4b in the mutant and the wildtype mLEC cells was confirmed by Western blotting .The expression of Hsf4b downstream proteins such as heat shock protein ( Hsp)70, Hsp90, Hsp27 and CryAB was examined by Western blotting and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The results of PCR and DNA sequencing confirmed the successful construction of mLEC Hsf 4b/K65R mutant.The K65R mutation didn’t influence Hsf4b expression in the mLEC cells.After K65R mutation in Hsf4b, the expression levels of Hsp27 and CryAB were down-regulated and the expression of Hsp 70i and Hsp90a upregulated.CONCLUSION: pWZL-blast-HA-Hsf4b/K65R can be used to construct a stable cell line by infecting with lentivirus .Hsf4b/K65R mutation influ-ences the regulation of downstream heat shock proteins .

Objective To understand the application of drug eluting stent (DES) in renal functional insufficient patients, and to assess its safety and effectiveness, especially the occurrence of stent thrombosis(ST) after DES implantation and its related factors. Methods The subjects were all the patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as well as at least one DES admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital consecutively from July 2003 to June 2005. All patients were divided into 2 groups: Group Ⅰ with normal or mild renal insufficiency (Ccr≥60 ml/min),and Group Ⅱ with moderate to severe renal functional insufficiency (Ccr ＜ 60 ml/min). All of the clinical, angiography and intervention data were recorded. ST was adjudicated by the definition of ARC Dublin. The rates of MACCE in hospital and during the follow-up between the 2 groups were compared. Results There were 2377 patients enrolled in the study, of which 2020 ( 85.0% ) patients presented Ccr ≥ 60 ml/min, and 357( 15.0% ) presented Ccr ＜ 60ml/min. The case fatality during follow-up in group Ⅰ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅱ (4. 5% vs. 1.2%, P ＜ 0. 001 ). However, the incidences of ST were not significantly different between each stage of disease( P ＞0. 05 ). The results from Cox regression showed that renal functional insufficiency was not a risk factor of death,whereas multivessel coronary artery disease [OR = 1. 929(95% CI: 1. 178 -3. 157),P =0. 009] ,diabetes [OR = 1. 914(95% CI:1. 055 -3. 470) ,P =0. 033] and age [OR = 1. 051 (95% CI:1. 005 -1. 099 ) ,P = 0. 030] were independent risk factor of death after DES implantation in patients with moderate to severe renal functional insufficiency. Conclusions Compared with normal renal function or mild renal patients, the longterm case fatality is higher in moderate and severe renal functional insufficiency patients. However, the higher case fatality does not due to the increase of ST.

The basic stress pathway above the acetabular dome is important for the maintenance of implant stability in acetabular reconstruction of total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to describe the basic stress pathway to provide evidence for clinical acetabular reconstruction guidance of THA. A subject-specific finite element (FE) model was developed from CT data to generate 3 normal hip models and a convergence study was conducted to determine the number of pelvic trabecular bone material properties using 5 material assignment plans. In addition, in the range of 0 to 20 mm above the acetabular dome, the models were sectioned and the stress pathway was defined as two parts, i.e., 3D, trabecular bone stress distribution and quantified cortical bone stress level. The results showed that using 100 materials to define the material property of pelvic trabecular bone could assure both the accuracy and efficiency of the FE model. Under the same body weight condition, the 3D trabecular bone stress distributions above the acetabular dome were consistent, and especially the quantified cortical bone stress levels were all above 20 MPa and showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Therefore, defining the basic stress pathway above the acetabular dome under certain body weight condition contributes to design accurate preoperative plan for acetabular reconstruction, thus helping restore the normal hip biomechanics and preserve the stability of the implants.
Acetabulum ; anatomy & histology ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Finite Element Analysis ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients greatly affects prognosis of liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to prevent tumor recurrence has aroused increasing attention. Arsenious acid chemotherapy is considered effective on treating moderate or advanced liver cancer, but its utilization following liver transplantation remains few. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of arsenious acid on tumor recurrence in liver transplant patients with primary HCC extending Milan criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were routinely followed up for 3-32 months. Thirty recipients were presented with tumor recurrence, 16 in the chemotherapy group and 14 in the non-chemotherapy group. Tumor recurred in lung, liver graft and bones in most cases. The total recurrence rate was similar in these two groups, but chemotherapy could delay recurrence after transplantation (P=0.026). There was no significance in 6-month, 1-year survival rate between two groups, but the 2-year survival in the chemotherapy group was higher (P=0.037); 6-month tumor-free survival rates in the two groups had no significance, 1-year and 2-year tumor-free in the chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the non-chemotherapy group (P=0.030, 0.023). Intravenous arsenious acid chemotherapy can delay tumor recurrence and prolong survival in liver transplant patients with HCC extending Milan criteria.

Objective To explore the effect of different cold ischemia (CI)times on the patterns of intra-graft T cell activation gene-3 (TCA-3) expression early after isogeneic half liver transplantation (PLT)in mice. Methods The models of C57BL/6 full-size(FS) and PLT were established.The CI time was 1,4 and 8 h.Specimen were collected at 4 and 24 h post-reperfusion.Ribonuclease protection assays (RPA)was used to evaluate serial mRNA expression of the TCA-3 chemokine in all mice.Histopathology was used to examine cold ischemia injury in the liver grafts. Results A total of 45 control and 30 PLTs were performed.The survival rate at 7 day after control and PLT was 100％.Quantitative analysis demonstrated the levels of TCA-3 mRNA expression were low at 4 h after reperfusion in control group with 1,4,8 h CI.The levels of TCA-3 significandy increased at 4 h after reperfusion in PLT group with CI of 1,4,8 h and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( F =7.41,P ＜ 0.05 ). TCA-3 mRNA expression significantly decreased at 24 h after reperfusion in two groups. But the difference was not statistically significant ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Histopathology showed severer cold ischemia injury in PLT grafts compared with control grafts. Conclusions The expression of TCA-3 significandy increased early after PLT and played an important role in cold ischemia injury.TCA-3 could be used as the early therapeutic target for reducing ischemia injury in PLT grafts.

In order to better match the teaching hours of clinical anesthesiology with the teaching content of modem anesthesia, the teachers must take full advantage of various supplementary teaching methods in the limited teaching hours to help enhance the students' enthusiasm in active learning, help the students concentrate on the crucial points and apply their knowledge and ultimately improve the teaching quality.

Objective To observe the effects of exogenous interleukin (IL)-6 on survival time and regeneration of liver grafts in an orthotopic liver transplantation model in IL-6 knockout (KO) mice.Methods A model of liver transplantation in C57BL/6 wild type (WT) and IL-6 KO mice with C57BL/6 background was established. Grafts were preserved at 4 ℃ in UW solution before transplantation.Study was divided into 4 groups:IL-6 KO→IL-6 KO control group,IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT group,IL-6 KO→IL-6 KO+ rIL-6 group,and IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT+ rIL-6 group.Recipient animals were injected subcutaneously with human recombinant IL-6 (1 mg/kg body weight) 1 h before transplantation.Survival of liver grafts after transplantation was followed up.Hepatocyte replication with BrdU uptake after liver transplantation was examined by irnmunohistochemistry.Results A total of 48 liver transplantations were performed.Cold ischemic time was 50 min.The survival time of liver grafts in the control group was 2.2 days,and that was 1.9 days,＞17.6 days and ＞20.4 days in IL-6 KO→C57BL/6 WT group,IL-6 KO+ rIL-6 group and C57BL/6 WT+ rIL-6 group respectively with the the difference being statistically significant among the latter three groups (P＜0.01 ).The liver grafts transplanted in control group recipients showed patchy areas of necrosis and hepatocyte ballooning.Slight increase in BrdU uptake was found at 48 h post-transplantation.Minimal injury and no necrosis were observed in IL-6 treated groups.Mild increase of BrdU uptake was demonstrated at 48 h after liver transplantation. Conclusion Exogenous recombinant IL-6 appears to significantly prolong the survival time of IL-6 KO liver grafts after liver transplantation and enhance the regenerative response after liver transplantation in IL-6 KO mice.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effects of endoscopic surgical treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation associated with veitebral osteochondrosis.Methods From June 2008 to December 2015,276 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation associated with vertebral osteochondrosis were treated with endoscopic surgery,including 185 men and 91 women,with an average 39.2 years old (range,16-65 years old).The involved level included L2.3 in 2 cases,L3.4 in 9 cases,L4,5 in 126 cases and L5S1 in 139 cases.On preoperative axial CT,the diameter of ossification was more than half of the transverse or sagittal diameter of the spinal canal in 89 cases,and no more than half of the transverse and sagittal diameter of the spinal canal in 187 cases.All patients were operated on the side with serious symptom,181 cases were operated with mobile microendoscopic discectomy (MMED),and 95 cases were operated with percutaneous endoscopic surgery,including percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) in 61 cases and the percutaneous interlaminar endoscopic discectomy (PIED) in 34 cases.The operation and complications were analyzed.Results The soft herniation,broken disc material and the periphery of compressing ossification were removed under the endoscope in all cases,until the nerve was well decompressed.However,the ossification was not complete resected.Dural sac tear occurred in 3 cases of MMED.In the early stage of PTED,2 cases converted to MMED because of intraoperative pain and difficulty,and one case had exiting nerve root injury.At the final follow-up of 12-60 months (average,20.6 months),visual analogue scale decreased from preoperative 8.5±1.2 to 1.0±0.9,Oswestry disability index decreased from preoperative 40.2±8.6 to 3.1±3.0.According to Macnab scale,the results were excellent in 89,good in 154 cases,moderate in 33 cases.Conclusion For most lumbar intervertebral disc herniation associated with vertebral osteochondrosis,good results can be achieve by removal of herniated and broken intervertebral disc and decompression of nerve with endoscope.Therefore,we speculate that the soft disc herniation and spinal stenosis are main pathogenic factors,and that the complete resection of ossification is not needed.

Objective To construct a spatial genetic database of Oncomelania hupensis and a managing system for spatial distribution and population studies based on landscape genetics theory. Methods The uninfected Oncomelania snails were collected from the field. Collected sites database, specimen database and genetic information database were set up by using Microsoft SQL 2000, and the managing system was set up by using Visual Basic 6.0. Results The Oncomelania snails were collected from the field. The database were consummated with 676 specimens, 73 collected sites from 10 provinces, and the database could be used as a series of celerity tools with appending, querying, deleting, statistics and export functions. Conclusion The spatial genetic database and managing system of Oncomelania hupensis can be used to manage snail specimens for different studies with a clear interface and simple operation. It is worthy to renew the database for further spatial genetic studies.