By establishing a series of Dynamic Cervical Implants (DCI) within C5-C6 cervical spinal segments, the biomechanical finite element analysis for DCI with different width and thickness were carried out to investigate the influence of the width and thickness of DCI's curved section on its equivalent stress and range of motion (ROM), so as to provide some theoretical basis for the optimization of DCI's design. The results show that the width of DCI's curved section has more obvious influence on the ROM of lateral bending and torsion, in comparison with the thickness of DCI's curved section. By appropriate reduction in width, the ROMs of lateral bending and torsion increase obviously, i.e. the overall movement function of patients is improved. Furthermore, the increase of equivalent stress could be counteracted by corresponding increase of thickness.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Movement ; Neck ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Design ; Range of Motion, Articular

In recent years there have been more widely and deeply studies in investigating melamine toxicity. Generally, it is believed that the main target of melamine is the urinary system. However, previous studies revealed that it also had additional biological actions. Obviously, the toxicity mechanisms of melamine have not been fully clarified. It is well known that fetus and infant periods play the most fundamental role in the brain development. And melamine can pass through the placental and blood-brain barrier, and then exerts toxic effects on the central nervous system. This article reviewed the reports about the topic in recent years, for better understanding the dangers of melamine to infants and providing experimental data for further study.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; Brain ; growth & development ; Central Nervous System ; drug effects ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Triazines ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity

Since the biological characteristics of esophageal gastric junction (EGJ) cancer are different from those of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer, the choice of initial treatment is particularly important. This article introduces a case of locally advanced EGJ can-cer with single metastasis factor treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy in the Beijing Cancer Hospital. Through the multidisci-plinary team, we aim to achieve a better prognosis for this patient and propose new treatment practices for EGJ cancer.

Objective To investigate the roles of a epoprostenol(PGI2) analog (Iloprost) in regulating the differentiation of CD4+ T cells to Treg cells and the possible mechanism.Methods Naǐve CD4+ T cells were isolated from human peripheral blood samples by using the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then cultured under Treg-polarizing condition.The percentages of Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level were respectively measured by using flow cytometry and RT-PCR for evaluation the effects of Iloprost on the differentiation of CD4+ T cells to Treg cells.The cAMP accumulation assay was used to detect the level of intracellular cAMP.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5).Results lloprost decreased the percentage of Treg cells and inhibited the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level in a dose dependent manner (P＜0.05).However,the inhibitory effects of Iloprost were weakened when IP receptors were blocked by IP antagonist (CAY10449).A six-fold increase in the levels of intracellular cAMP in Treg cells was induced by Iloprost (P＜0.05) and a similar effect could be achieved by using a cAMP agonist,db-cAMP (P＞0.05).H-89,a protein kinase A inhibitor,inhibited the Iloprost-induced expression of cAMP in Treg cells.Moreover,Iloprost inhibited the IL-2 mediated phosphorylation of STAT5 (P＜0.05) and a similar effect could be achieved by using db-cAMP (P＞0.05).The Iloprost-mediated down-regulation of pSTAT5 was blocked by using H-89.Conclusion PGI2 could activate the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway by binding to the IP receptor,resulting in inhibited phosphorylation of STAT5 and suppressed differentiation of naǐve CD4+ T cells to Treg cells.

Objective:To study the effects of sulforaphane(SFN)on the proliferation and apoptosis of salivary adenoid cystic carci-noma ACC-Mcells in vitro.Methods:ACC-Mcells were treated with SFN at the doses(μmol/L)of 5,10,20,30,40,60,80 and 100 for 24,48 and 72 hours,respectively.The growth inhibition was examined with MTT assay and typan blue exclusion assay.Morpholo-gy of ACC-M cells was observed with phase contrast microscope,giemsa staining and transmission electron microscope.Flow cytome-try with Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining was used to detect the apoptosis of ACC-M cells.Results:SFN inhibited the prolifera-tion of ACC-Mcells,the IC50 values(μmol/L)after 24,48 and 72 h treatment were 75.6,21.3 and 16.5 respectively.The highest inhibition rate was 89.2%.The growth inhibition rate of SFN on ACC-Mcells was positively correlated with concentrations of SFN and treatment time.SFN induced the apoptosis of ACC-Mcells in a dose and time dependent manner(P<0.01).Conclusion:SFN can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma ACC-M cells time and dose-dependently.

Objective To design simulated pulmonary air embolism demonstration model,so as to solve the problem of pathological anatomy of pulmonary air embolism in experiment teaching. Methods According to the principle of the disturbance of local blood circulation and air embolism, we designed a pulmonary air embolism model. We took 223 school nursing students as the object of this study,and randomly divided them into 2 groups:animal experiment teaching group and model control group,then we compared the teaching effect between the two groups. Result The test scores of students in the animal experiment teaching group were higher than control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion The use of simulated pulmonary air embolism demonstration model teaching can improve the students’experimental test scores,and can be repeatedly used,stimulate students' study interest,reduce the cost of teaching,and improve the teaching quality.

Objective: To explore the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and its association with behavioral problems in Chinese preschool children, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of behavioral problems of children. Methods: A total of 7 634 children aged 3-6 years were chosen from kindergartens in 3 cities (Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Zhenjiang) in the lower reaches of Yangtze River using method of cluster sampling during October to November in 2017. Parental or guardian questionnaires were used to obtain information regarding child consumption of SSBs. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess children s emotional and behavioral problems. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between different SSBs intake frequency and children s behavioral problems. Results: A total of 5 509(72.2%) consumed SSBs less than once a day, 830(10.9%) reported SSBs consumption once a day, and 1 295(16.9%) had 2 times or more intake of sugar sweetened beverages per day. After adjusting for confounding factors including age, sex, BMI, family financial status, parental education, screen time, sleep duration, and physical activities duration, multiple Logistic regression model revealed that intake of SSBs once a day was associated with an increased risk of hyperactivity disorder ( OR =1.26, 95% CI =1.01-1.57) and SDQ total difficulties ( OR =1.44, 95% CI =1.14-1.82) in boys and with an increased risk of emotional symptoms ( OR=1.34, 95%CI =1.02-1.76), conduct problems ( OR=1.53, 95%CI =1.18-2.00), hyperactivity disorder ( OR=1.79, 95%CI =1.42-2.27) and prosocial behavior ( OR=1.48, 95%CI =1.14-1.91) in girls. Intake of SSBs≥2 times per day was associated with an increased risk of emotional symptoms ( OR=1.28, 95%CI =1.02-1.59) and SDQ difficulties ( OR=1.30, 95%CI =1.07-1.58) in boys and not with behavioral problems in girls. Conclusion Sex differences are observed with respect to the association between SSBs intake and behavioral problems in preschoolers, but no significant dose response relationship was observed. More longitudinal studies are needed to further explore the association between SSBs intake and behavioral problems in preschool children as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms in future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of MRI follow-up in pediatric patients with spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom February 2004 to April 2013, MRI imaging data in 21 children with spinal tuberculosis by pathologically and clinically proven were retrospectively analysed. There were 11 males and 10 males, with an average age of 9.4 years old ranging from 2 to 14 years old. Eighteen patients were received conservative treatment, 3 patients were treated by surgical operation. The course of disease ranged from 2 months to 3 years. All cases underwent two or more MRI examinations for follow-up. MRI findings of the first and second examination were comparatively analyzed,including signal changes of vertebral body and intervertebral, paraspinal abscess and the change of kyphosis angle.

RESULTSIn the 21 cases with tuberculosis, 85 vertebral bodies were affected in total, including 10.6%(9/85), 49.4%(42/85) and 40%(34/85) vertebral bodies separately in the cervical,thoracic, lumbosacral spine. Follow-up MRI showed vertebral body shape and signal had no obvious change during or after treatment, 15 cases with vertebral bodies changed flat or cuneate, 10 cases with disc involvement,and intervertebral space became narrowing at different level. Among 13 patients with kyphosis angle greater than 0°, 7 were located on thoracic, 2, 3, 1 were on thoracolumbar, lumbar and cervical spine, respectively. Among 18 cases with conservative treatment,kyphosis angle were 0° on the first and the follow up MRI of 8 patients. One case of mild (<10°) kyphosis,follow-up MRI during therapy showed the angle slightly increased; 5 cases with moderate (10° to 30°), follow-up MRI during therapy showed no obvious change; 4 cases with severe (>30°), follow-up MRI during and after therapy showed kyphosis increased in varying degrees.

CONCLUSIONFollow-up MRI can make a big difference in the spinal tuberculosis of children; it can clearly show the change of the vertebral body and intervertebral space, paraspinal abscess and the kyphosis angle after the treatment,which can provide reference for clinical treatment and estimating prognosis.

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Monitoring ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; surgery

Objective To investigate the value of electronic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of children respiratory diseases. Methods The electronic bronchoscopy results in 400 children with respiratory disease were retrospectively analyzed. Results In 400 children, there were 246 cases with simple endobronchial inflammation, 67 cases with bronchial malacia, 38 cases with bronchial stenosis, 23 cases with bronchial foreign , 4 cases with tracheal bronchus, 4 cases with epiglottic cyst, 3 cases with bronchiectasis, 3 cases with endobronchial granulation, 3 cases with laryngomalacia, 2 cases with vascular ring compression of the trachea, 2 cases with laryngeal web, 1 case with subglottic cyst, 1 case with subglottic neoplasm, 1 case with tracheoesophageal fistula, 1 case with bronchial atresia (left) and 1 case with trachea cyst. All the children had no serious complications. Conclusions Electronic bronchoscopy can effectively improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of children' s respiratory system disease, and it is worth of clinical promotion.

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical outcomes between two suturing methods using non absorbable materials through drilling the bone and suturing anchors for the treatment of complete rupture of the deltoid ligament.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to January 2013, 58 hospitalized patients with ankle fracture combined with complete rupture of the deltoid ligament were treated with suturing using non absorbable materials through drilling the bone or suturing anchors. There were 29 patients who received suturing treatments using non absorbable materials through drilling the bone (Group A), including 18 males and 11 females, with an average age of (39.76 +/- 11.81) years old. According to the Lauge-Hansen classification, 12 patients had supination external rotation (SER) injuries with IV degree, 5 patients had pronation external rotation (PER) injuries with III degree, 10 patients had PER injuries with IV degrss, and 2 patients had pronation abduction injuries with III degree. There were 29 patients who received treatments with suturing using anchors (Group B), including 14 males and 15 females, with an average age of (41.79 +/- 13.28) years old. According to the Lauge-Hansen classification,9 patients had SER injuries with IV degree, 6 patients had PER injuries with III degree,13 patients had PER injuries with IV degree, and 1 patient had pronation abduction injuries with III degree. All the patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation, as well as reconstruction of deltoid ligaments to restore the stability of the medial ankle structures. The clinical examination, imaging evaluation, American society for ankle surgery (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the clinical results after operation, and the results of the two groups were compared and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe follow-up duration of the 58 patients ranged from 23 to 40 months,with an average of 27.3 months. All the patients had fracture union, and the mean healing time was 12.3 weeks (ranged, 10 to 17 weeks). There were no incision complications and ankle instability. There were no significant differences between two groups in AOFAS (P=0.666) and the VAS (P=0.905).

CONCLUSIONTreatments of complete rupture of the deltiod ligaments with the two suturing methods get similar good clinical effects, but the suturing using non absorbable materials through drilling the bone has several advantages such as reducing the financial burden of patients, saving social medical resources and avoiding the shortcoming in difficult removal of anchor suture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle Fractures ; surgery ; Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult