Objective To analyze the distribution of tophus in ankle and tarsal joints by multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT)and to explore the pathogenesis of gout.Methods 34 patients with a documented diagnosis of gout underwent CT examina-tion of bilateral ankle and tarsal joints,and 55 ankle and tarsal joints were observed tophus.The sites of tophus deposition were cate-gorized into groups of ligament,tendon and joint in order to record and analyze.Results The tophus were showed at the anterior talofibular ligament (n=38),the medial ligament (the site of talus and calcaneus)(n=30)and the interosseous talocalcaneal liga-ment (n=29)(P <0.05)in the group of ligament;at achilles tendon (n= 18),followed by tibialis posterior tendon (n= 7)(P <0.05)in the group of tendon;at articulations intercuneiformes (n=1 5)and inferior tibiofibular articulation (n= 10)(P <0.05 )in the group of joint.Conclusion In ankle and tarsal joints,tophus is commonly deposited at the anterior talofibular ligament,at the achilles tendon and the articulationes intercuneiformes.

Objective To analyze the mammographic findings of triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC,which is estrogen receptor (ER) negative,progesterone receptor (PR) negative,and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 ( HER2 ) negative ] and triple-positive breast cancer ( TPBC,which is ER positive,PR positive,and HER2 positive ),and to evaluate the relationship of immunohistochemologic receptor status and mammographic findings.MethodsThe immunohistochemistry results of 631 cases with breast cancers were reviewed,including 117 cases of TNBC and 44 cases of TPBC.All of the patients took mammography at initial diagnosis.We retrospectively evaluated the visibility,morphology,distribution and size of the lesion (masses and calcifications) and breast density on mammography of TNBC,and compared them with those of TPBC.The age onset and tumor sizes of TNBC and TPBC were compared by using Chi-square test and t test.ResultsThe visibility rate of TNBC and TPBC on mammography were 88.0％(103/117) and 90.9％ (40/44),and the difference between them was insignificant ( x2 =0.055,P ＞0.05).TNBC was more frequently associated with merely a mass (56/103) than TPBC (12/40) (x2 =6.860,P＜0.01 ),and the mean diameter of the mass of TNBC [ ( 2.6 ± 1.4 ) cm ] was larger than that of TPBC [(2.0 ± 0.6) cm](t =2.087,P ＜ 0.05). TNBC were less frequently associated with microcalcifications (37/103) than TPBC ( 24/40 ) ( x2 =7.423,P ＜ 0.01 ).Mammographic density and lesion visibility were similar between the two different immunophenotypes of breast cancers.The mean age of TNBC (52±9) was more than that of TPBC (48 ±8) (t =2.759,P ＜0.01).Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the main pathologic type of both groups.Basal-like breast cancer accounted for 49％ (57/117 ) of TNBC while none happened in TPBC.ConclusionsTNBC shows merely a mass with indistinct margins,lager size and is less associated with microcalcifications.These mammographic features might be useful in diagnosing triple negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND:In recent years, tissue engineering technology as a new model for tissue regeneration has provided new ideas and methods for the repair of periodontal tissue defects. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of human periodontal ligament cels-polyglycolic acid scaffold complex for repair of periodontal tissue defects. METHODS:Passage 4 human periodontal ligament cels at a density of 1.5×109/L were seeded onto the polyglycolic acid scaffold to prepare cel-scaffold complex. Then mongrel dogs were selected to make animal models of periodontal tissue defects and then randomly assigned into experimental group subjected to cel-scaffold complex implantation or control group subjected to direct coronal reset and suture of the gingival flap. Colagen content, new blood capilaries, new cementum, new alveolar bone and new periodontal ligament were detected within 4 weeks after operation; hematoxylin-eosin staining of periodontal tissue defects was done at 8 weeks after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the experimental group, the colagen content, number of newborn capilaries, amount of new cementum, new alveolar bone and new periodontal ligament tissues were significantly higher than those in the control group at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks (P< 0.05). At 8 weeks after operation, in the experimental group, there were more vessels arranging on the connective tissue surface of new alveolar bone, the alveolar bone showed a sawtooth-like interlinking with the periodontal tissues in the presence of a thin layer of cementum; in the control group, only new alveolar bone and cementum formed below the incisure. These findings indicate that human periodontal ligament cels-polyglycolic acid scaffold complex can promote periodontal tissue regeneration.

Objective To make a comparison between the plain radiograph, CT, and MR findings of gouty arthritis and to analyse the relationship between clinical data and imaging findings. Methods Fifty-four joints of 33 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of gouty arthritis were included in this study. In the morning, the blood uric acid level of patients was tested before meal. In the afternoon, their clinical data were recorded and joints were examinated by plain radiography, CT, and MRI. The imaging findings were evaluated by tophi, bone erosion, soft tissue swelling, hydrarthrosis, synovial thickness, and bone oedema. The data was analyzed by Chi-square test, indepentdent-samples t test, and logistic regression. Results The Chi-square test was utilized to evaluate number of joints with tophi(CT>plain radiography, MR>plain radiography, P<0. 01), soft tissue swelling (MR>CT>plain radiography, P<0. 01), hydrarthrosis(MR>CT, P<0. 01). In addition, 35 joints had bone oedema and 50 joints had synovial thickness. The course of disease(tophi positive group vs tophi negative group, P<0. 01) was analyzed by indepentdent-samples t test. The tophi's causative agents including bone erosion and course of disease were analysed by logistic regression(P<0. 01). Conclusions MRI is superior to CT and plain radiography on the early diagnosis of gout. Tophi and bone erosion may not affect the blood uric acid level. With the progression of disease, the probability of tophi formation increases. The relationship between the formation of tophi and bone erosion may be interpromotied.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ethylbenzene on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) intrarenal tissues.

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally allocated to control group, low-dose exposure group, moderate-dose exposure group, and high-dose exposure group to inhale different doses of ethylbenzene (0, 433.5 mg/m(3) (100 ppm), 4335.0 mg/m(3) (1000 ppm), and 6500.0 mg/m(3) (1500 ppm)) for 6 h per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. After the rat model of subchronic ethylbenzene exposure was established, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in renal tissues were measured, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of HO-1 in renal tissues were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, all exposure groups showed significantly decreased activities of GSH-Px and CAT in renal tissues and the moderate- and high-dose exposure groups showed significantly decreased activity of SOD in renal tissues (P < 0.05). All exposure groups showed significantly higher expression of HO-1 than the control group (P < 0.05). The high-dose exposure group showed significantly higher expression of HO-1 than the low- and moderate-dose exposure group (P < 0.05), and the moderate- and high-dose exposure group had significantly higher expression of HO-1 than the control group and low-dose exposure group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONA certain dose of ethylbenzene can induce elevated expression of HO-1 and decreased antioxidant levels in rat renal tissues, thus leading to oxidative stress damage.

Animals ; Benzene Derivatives ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Inhalation Exposure ; Kidney ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the relationship of changes in bone mineral density and bone me-tabolism indicators with osteoporosis in elderly patients with hemiplegia after cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 197 elderly patients suffering post-stroke hemiplegia admitted to our hospital were enrolled between February 2018 and February 2021.Their bone mineral density and bone metabolism indicators were analyzed based on gender,disease course and hemiplegia severity.According to disease severity,they were divided into mild group(112 cases),moderate group(62 cases)and severe group(32 cases).Results Among the 197 elderly patients,83(42.13％)had osteoporosis.The males had significantly higher bone mineral density of proximal femur and levels of bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP)and osteocalcin,and lower levels of serum type Ⅰ collagen(CICP)and C-terminal telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(CTXI)than the females(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Compared with the patients with hemiplegia course for 3-6 months,bone mineral density values of greater trochanter and total hip,and levels of BALP and osteocalcin were obviously de-creased,while levels of CICP and CTXI were notably increased in those with the course of 7-12 months and 13-24 months(P＜0.05).Compared with the mild group,bone mineral density val-ues of greater trochanter and total hip,and levels of BALP and osteocalcin were significantly de-creased,while levels of CICP and CTXI were significantly increased in moderate group and severe group(P＜0.05).Compared with the moderate group,bone mineral density values of greater tro-chanter,intertrochanteric site and total hip were significantly decreased in the severe group(P＜0.05).The bone mineral density of above parts was negatively correlated with CICP levels(r=-0.458,r=-0.403,r=-0.355,r=-0.482,P＜0.01)and CTXI levels(r=-0.305,r=-0.291,r=-0.273,r=-0.384,P＜0.05,P＜0.01),while positively correlated with BGP level(r=0.476,r=0.428,r=0.386,r=0.518,P＜0.01).Conclusion The incidence of osteoporosis is quite higher in the elderly patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.There exist bone mineral density decline and abnormal bone metabolism,and their changes are related to gender,course and severi-ty of hemiplegia.

BACKGROUND:Anterior subtotal corpectomy,decompression and fusion is a conventional method to treat cervical degenerative diseases.A titanium cage is an important implant to maintain the stability of the cervical spine after subtotal corpectomy.In recent years,many patients have complications such as titanium cage sinking,which are highly controversial. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the internal biomechanical relationship between the tilt angle of the titanium cage and postoperative titanium cage subsidence after anterior subtotal cervical corpectomy,decompression and fusion. METHODS:A three-dimensional finite element model of the C4-C6 segment was established by CT images of a normal human cervical spine,in which the anterior subtotal resection,decompression and fusion of the C5 vertebral body were simulated,and titanium cages with different tilt angles(-6° to-1° negative angle,that is,the front edge of titanium cage is shorter than the rear edge of titanium cage;1° to 6° positive angle,that is,the front edge of titanium cage is longer than the rear edge of titanium cage)were placed.After setting the boundary conditions,preloads of 50,100 and 150 N were applied respectively on the C4 vertebral body.The stress value of each contact point between the titanium cage and C4 lower-end plate and C6 lower-end plate(seven stress contact points on the contact surface of titanium mesh)was recorded and statistical analysis was conducted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The tilt angles of the titanium cage of the positive angle group and negative angle group under 50,100 and 150 N stress respectively were found by Mann Whitn test,with P<0.05,which was statistically significant.The dispersion coefficients of the positive angle group were smaller than those of the negative angle group under 50,100 and 150 N stress conditions.(2)Under 50,100 and 150 N stress conditions,the Wilcoxon sign rank test in the positive angle group of titanium cage tilt angle found that when the angle was set to 1° to 5°,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).However,when the tilt angle of the titanium cage was set to 6°,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)Under 50,100 and 150 N stress conditions,the Wilcoxon sign rank test in the negative angle group of titanium cage tilt angle found that when the tilt angle was set to-1° to-6°,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(4)It is concluded that in the sagittal position,the titanium cage with a positive tilt angle is more stable than with a negative tilt angle,which is more suitable for clinical use.The tilt angle of the titanium cage is relatively stable in the range of 1° to 5°.When the tilt angle is 6°,the stability starts to decline,which is easy to cause complications of titanium cage sinking after surgery.It is more suitable to select the titanium cage with a tilt angle of 1° to 5° according to the clinical situation during surgery to improve the efficacy.

【Objective】 To detect the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in blood donors in Guangzhou, so as to provide laboratory data support for the collection and clinical use of convalescent plasma. 【Methods】 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured by ELISA in qualified donors. Among them, 326 donors who gave blood in February 2023 were tested for IgG antibodies, 444 donors were tested for neutralizing antibodies. In July 2023, 398 donors were tested for IgG and IgM. 【Results】 399 of 724 blood samples diluted with normal saline (1∶160) were IgG reactive, with a reactive rate of 55.11%. Chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference in the reactive rate of IgG among samples collected at different times (25.46% in February vs 79.40% in July, χ²=210.74, P<0.01, 95%CI: 7.97, 15.98), but there was no significant difference in the reactive rate between different genders and different age groups. IgM was detected in 5 of 398 blood samples, with a reactive rate of 1.26%. The IgG test results of these five blood donors were all reactive, whereas the nucleic acid test results were negative. Neutralizing antibody was detected in 440 of 444 blood samples, with a reactive rate of 99.10%, and 71.59% of the reactive donors had a neutralizing antibody level of 10 μg/mL or more. 【Conclusion】 Blood donors in Guangzhou have a high level of SARS-CoV-2 antibody, which is sufficient to provide convalescent plasma for clinical treatment.