BACKGROUND:Since the meniscal blood supply is only in the red zone, the synovial fluid becomes the main nutrition source of the meniscus. As its poor self-healing ability, the meniscus is almost impossible to heal in non-blood supply regions. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression and characteristics of transforming growth factor-β3 in the rat meniscus during postnatal development. METHODS:Meniscus tissues of Wistar rats with different ages (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 days) were adopted, and immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods were performed to detect the location and expression pattern of transforming growth factor-β3 within the meniscus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry results revealed that the expression of transforming growth factor-β3 started from the joint capsule, and gradualy extended to the red zone, gray zone, and white area;RT-PCR results showed the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β3 in the rat meniscus at different ages, and during development process gradualy increased until adult stage (rat weight > 100 g), which remained relatively stable.

Objective To explore the initial clinical experiences of preoperative endovascular embolization of huge retroperitoneal neurogenic tumor.Methods 5 cases with retroperitoneal neurogenic tumor underwent endovascular embolization before operative resection since Aug.2006~May.2007.Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) was performed during processes in all cases and main tumor's vessels were embolized.Results The processes of endovascular embolization in 5 cases were successfully completed.0~400 ml blood were transfused in these cases.The tumors were excised completely in 4 cases and partly in 1 case.Conclusion Blood loss can be decreased by preoperative endovascular embolization for huge retroperitoneal neurogenic tumors.The extent of embolization should be performed according to individualization.

Objective To explore the prevalence and risk factors of knee osteoarthritis (OA) among the elderly in Tianjin. Methods Totally 2038 elderly in Tianjin were investigated from January 2010 to June 2011 according to protocol of APLA-COPCORD Core Questionnaire to identification of risk factors for knee OA. Results The prevalence rates of knee pain and knee OA were 23.1％ and 21.7％,respectively. Knee OA appeared much frequently in women than men (27.6 ％ vs.16.1 ％,x2 =46.893,P＜0.001 ) in the trend of increase with aging(x2 =764.34,P＜0.001).BMI in knee OA group [(25.4±3.3) kg/m2]was significantly higher than in non-knee OA group [(23.8± 2.9) kg/m2],(t =7.944,P＜0.001).Menopause age in female knee OA group was younger than in female non-knee OA group [(50.2±3.7) years vs.(52.8±4.1) years,t=7.665,P＜0.001].Binary logistic regression revealed that age,sex,BMI and age of menopause were risk factors of knee OA,and eating vegetable might prevent from osteoarthritis,whereas there were no significantly association between knee OA and the other factors such as smoking and drinking.Conclusions Age,female and overweight are identified as risk factors of knee OA.

Cardiovascular Diseases ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases

ObjectiveToevaluatelaparoscopiccholecystectomy(LC)versusopen cholecystectomy (OC) in compensated cirrhotics and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP)classification in predicting perioperative morbidity.MethodsBetween January 1998 and June 2011,128 cirrhotic patients of symptomatic innocuous gallbladder disease at CPT class A or B liver function were prospectively and randomly divided into LC group (64 patients) and OC group (64 patients ). Data were analyzed by T test, Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson x2 test.ResultsThere was no statistical differences in operation time between the two groups ( t =1.761,P =0.081 ).The intraoperative blood loss ＞ 200 ml occurred in 15 ( 26％ ) LC patients and 35 ( 55％ ) OC patients ( x2 =4.467,P =0.035 ).LC patients had earlier up and about,earlier oral intake,short hospital stay ( t =5.424,t =8.573,t =15.634; P =0.000,respectively) and lower complication rate [ CTP:24％ (14/58) vs 38％ (24/64),x2 =4.582,P =0.032; MELD scores 21％ (12/58) vs 34％ (22/64),x2 =4.238,P =0.040] compared with OC patients.LC patients' VAS- fatigue and VAS-pain scores on first 3 days were lower than OC according to the VAS (visual analogue scale) (Mann-Whitney U =473.0,MannWhitney =6.0,Mann-Whitney =22.5,Mann-Whitney =24.0,Mann-Whitney =46.0; P =0.000,respectively),and the VRS-cosmetic score was higher in LC group than in the OC group according to the VRS ( verbal rating scale) ( Mann-Whitney =145.0,P =0.000).MELD score ＞ 14 predicted higher blood loss and complication rate regardless of LC or OC,while CPT classification did not seem to predict intraoperative bleeding volume and morbidity.ConclusionsLC can be performed safely in cirrhotic patients with CPT class A and B.LC has less,blood loss lower postoperative complication rate,and quicker postoperative recovery.MELD score system is more valuable than CPT classification system in predicting blood loss and postoperative complication rate in cirrhotics undergoing cholecystectomy.

Acetates ; Chemical Industry ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) on monocyte chemotactic protein1 (MCP-1) in rejection of cardiac allograft and its mechanisms.Methods Heterotopic cervical heart transplantation was performed by cuff-technique.The SD rat recipients were randomly divided into 3 groups:AR group (Acute rejection,n =12),both the recipients and donors were without any treatment.CsA group(n =12),the recipients were treated with 10 mg/kg cyclosporine A after transplantation.PDTC group(n =12),the recipients were treated with 100 mg/kg PDTC after transplantation.All the cardiac allografts were harvested at different time post transplantation according to requirements.We studied allograft myocardial fibrosis wih the help of Masson stain,immuno-histo-chemistry and western blot also were used to detect the expression of MCP-1.Results The survival time of the cardiac allografts was significantly longer in PDTC group than in acute rejection group and CsA group(P ＜ 0.01),and myocardial fibrosis of cardiac allografts in PDTC group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).The IOD in PDTC group was markedly lower than in CsA group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion As the inhibitor of NF-κB,PDTC can significantly relieve rejection of cardiac allograft by inhibiting the expression of MCp-1.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of pancreatic cancer in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis (CP). Methods Three hundred and ninty-seven patients with painful CP were recruited between Jan. 1997 to July 2007. A life-table method was used to estimate the cumulative probability of the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Cox proportional-hazards model was used for multivariate analysis of the variables including age, sex, drinking and smoking habits, etiological factor, presence of pancreatic masses, pancreatic calcifications, measure of intervention, diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, weight loss and degree of pain. Results Of 397 patients,346 (87.2%) were follow-up for (34.3±27.1)months with 244 males and 102 females(2.4 :1). The mean age of the patients were (47.7 ±13. 7) years and alcoholic origin accounted for 22. 2%. The incidence of the pancreatic cancer was 8.1 % (28/346). There was a high incidence of cancers during the 4 years after the episodes of abdominal pain. The cumulative risks of pancreatic cancer 1, 5 and 10 years after the episodes of pain were 5 %, 5.6% and 11.6% respectively. Cox proportional-hazards model selected age at onset (≥51 years) [hazard rate(HR) = 3. 1], pancreatic calcifications ( HR = 4.1) ,pancreatic masses ( HR = 7. 1 )], no improvement of abdominal pain ( HR = 3. 8), increased frequency of pain (HR= 6.8), no diarrhea (HR= 15.3) as variables identified with pancreatic cancer in painful CP patients. Conclusions Pancreatic cancer should be suspected in patients with CP. The risk factors of pancreatic cancer are age at onset (≥ 51 years), pancreatic calcifications, pancreatic masses, no improvement of abdominal pain, increased frequency of pain and no diarrhea.

Objective To analyze the diagnosis and prognosis value of abdominal CT scans in patients with acute pancreatitis complications.Methods 151 cases with acute pancreatitis were selected.The relationship between abdominal CT performances and the common complications and death in patients was analyzed.The prognosis of patients with different Balthazar CT severity index (CTSI) grade was compared.Results The complication rate of patients with CT signs of fatty liver, pleural effusion, liver gap effusion, adrenal gland involvement (AGI), penirenal space involvement (PSI) and gastric bare area involvement (GBAI) was significantly higher than that of patients with negative CT findings above (P<0.05).With CTSI grading increasing, the patient''s fasting time, heating time, hospital stay, recovery time of blood amylase were extended, and the incidence of pseudo cyst, transit surgery, organ failure and death was gradually increasing (P<0.05).Conclusion Severe fatty liver, AGI, GBAI, PSI and liver gap effusion are risk factors for acute complications and death in patients with pancreatitis.

AIM:To analyze the characteristics of optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) in diabetic optic neuropathy ( DON ) retrospectively.
●METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 175 cases of type ll diabetes with fundus lesions from Dec. 2013 to Dec. 2015 were selected and the clinical information was collected. These cases were diagnosed by consultation between Departments of Ophthalmology and Endocrinology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiao Tong University. The results of body examination were recorded and cases were examined by color fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography ( FFA) and OCT. All these data were analyzed.
●RESULTS: A total of 49 cases ( 90 eyes, 25. 7%) were diagnosed DON through FFA which manifested abnormal fluorescence in optic papilla. Results of OCT showed:among 90 eyes of DON patients, 15 eyes ( 16. 7%) had normal optic nerve form; 20 eyes(22. 2%) of excavation of optic disc became smaller or disappeared, with prelaminar tissue and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) swelling;26 eyes (28. 9%) manifested optic cup deep and cup/disc ratio increasing;18 eyes (20. 0%) had tissue hyperplasia in the hollow or on the surface of optic disc; 11 eyes(12. 3%) had symptoms including vitreous traction optic papilla and optic disc rim rising. DON eyes which had similar fluorescence features could manifest different tissue morph by OCT.
●CONCLUSION: FFA defines DON by change of blood circulation in optic nerve. However, OCT can show differences of tissue morph of optic nerve that FFA fails to do. So OCT can manifest the causes and sites of optic neuropathy more clearly and also provide basis for treatment. The advantages of OCT are conducive to reviews and curative effect tracking among DON patients and these advantages including noninvasive, convenient, inexpensive and repeatable.