OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of the radiologic characteristics of osteoporotic Kummell's disease.

METHODSTotal 16 patients with pathologically confirmed osteoporotic Kummell's diseases were reviewed from May 2010 to May 2012, including 4 males and 12 females with the mean age of 73.4 years (ranged, 67 to 83 years old). Radiologic imagings of all patients, including X-ray, CT and MRI, were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIntravertebral linear clefts could be seen on the AP and lateral X-ray films of vertebrae. Sagittal and axial CT scans demonstrated the vacuum cleft phenomenon with liquid and air was identified within the vertebral body. Sagittal MRI showed the callapsed vertebral segment and the area of fluid signal with clear and intact border within the vertebral body. The fluid signal was low on T1-weighted images and high on T2-weighted images and stir images, which was corresponding to an intravertebral vacuum cleft.

CONCLUSIONThe radiologic characteristics of Kurmmell's diseases can provide valuable evidences for the early diagnosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteonecrosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDThe rocking and instability of a loaded complete denture (CD) during lateral excursion reduce the bearing area under the denture base, causing localized high stress concentrations. This can lead to mucosal tenderness, ulceration, and alveolar bone resorption, and the linear occlusion design was to decrease the lateral force exerted on the denture and to ensure denture stability. But it is not known how the bearing areas of linear occlusal CDs (LOCDs) and anatomic occlusal CDs (AOCDs) differ. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the distributions of the high and low vertical stress-bearing areas in the mandibular alveolar mucosa under LOCDs and AOCDs at lateral excursion.

METHODSComputerized tomography (CT) and finite element analysis were used to establish three-dimensional models of an edentulous maxilla and mandible with severe residual ridge resorption. These models were composed of maxillary and mandibular bone structure, mucosa, and the LOCD or AOCD. Lateral excursion movements of the mandible were simulated and the vertical stress-bearing areas in the mucosa under both mandibular CDs were analyzed using ANSYS 7.0.

RESULTSOn the working side, the high stress-bearing (-0.07 to -0.1 MPa) area under the LOCD during lateral excursion was smaller than that under the AOCD, while the medium stress-bearing (-0.03 to -0.07 MPa) area under the LOCD was 1.33-fold that under the AOCD. The medium stress-bearing area on the non-working side under the LOCD was 2.4-fold that under the AOCD. Therefore, the overall medium vertical stress-bearing area under the LOCD was 20% larger than that under the AOCD.

CONCLUSIONSDuring lateral excursion, the medium vertical stress-bearing area under a mandibular LOCD was larger and the high vertical stress-bearing area was smaller than that under an AOCD. Thus, the vertical stress under the LOCD was distributed more evenly and over a wider area than that under the AOCD, thereby improving denture stability.

Aged ; Computer Simulation ; Dental Occlusion ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Denture, Complete ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mandible ; physiology ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo explore the effective skills of reconstruction and balance of soft tissue in hemi-shoulder replacement for patients with four-part fracture of the proximal humerus in order to avoid postoperative complications of joint instability and great tubercle displacement.

METHODSFrom June 2002 to June 2006, 25 patients with Neer four-part fracture of the proximal humerus were adopted in the study which included 15 females and 10 males, with the mean age of 66 years (ranged from 56 years to 80 years). They were treated with humeral head replacement and should joint reparation simultaneously by modified operation approach and reconstruction and balance skills of soft tissue.

RESULTSThe mean duration of follow-up was 2.3 years (ranged from 1 to 4.5 years). No infection, nerve damage and prosthesis loosing were found in all cases. Two cases of infra-forward dislocation or subluxation occurred due to affected limb placed on abduction splint postoperatively. One case occurred prosthesis upward displacement due to early active abduction exercise but no complains. Neither joint instability nor displacement and malunion of great tubercle were found in other patients. According to Neer scoring system, 6 cases were rated as excellent, 15 as good and 5 as fair. The good and excellent rate was 84%.

CONCLUSIONIn hemi-shoulder replacement for patients with Neer four-part fracture the modified operation approach and reconstruction and balance of soft tissue skills combined with rational rehabilitation exercise can prevent postoperative shoulder joint instability and displacement and malunion of great tubercle.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; methods ; Connective Tissue ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Shoulder Fractures ; surgery ; Shoulder Joint ; surgery

Objective To analyze stress distribution in alveolar bone around implants of implant supposed overdentures(ISO)with linear occlusion and with anatomic occlusion at lateral mandibular position,and to iustify the possibility of decreased injurious force around implants in ISO with linear occlusion.Methods Computerized tomography scan and finite element analysis(FEA)were used to set up two 3-D FEA models of maxillae and mahdible with severe residual ridge resorption.The mucosa,linear and anatomic occlusal ISO with bar attachments,and two implants inserted between mandibulat foramina were also established in the models.With the condition of imitating the loading of masseter muscles,these models were loaded to simulate the stress distributious in alveolar bone around implants under ISO at lateral occlusion position.Results At lateral occlusion,the stress distributions in alveolRr bone around implants under ISO with anatomic occlusion were mairdy on the lingual and distal sides of the working side implants.However,stress distributions under ISO with linear occlusion were on the distal sides of bilateral implants.Both the stress peaks of ISOs with linear occlusion and with the anatomic one appeared in the working side.In anatomic occlusion model,σz:-6.47 MPa and 6.81 MPa,σl:-4.20 MPa and 7.20 MPa(negative value:compressive stress,positive value:tensile stress);in linear occlusion model,σz:-4.86 MPa and 3.04 MPa,σl:-3.48 MPa and 5.33 MPa.Conclusions At lateral occlusion,when comparing the ISO with two different occlusion schemes,stress peak in alveolar bone around implants in the linear occhsion model was lower than tllat in the anatomic occlusion model at equal loading situation.Stress in the alveolar bone under ISO with linear occlusion distributed more evenly than that under ISO with anatomic occlusion.

BACKGROUNDEndothelial cell damage is an important pathophysiological step of restenosis after angioplasty and stenting. Cell transplantation has great therapeutic potential for endothelial recovery. We investigated the effect of transplanting endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from human early fetal aortas in rat injured arteries.

METHODSThe carotid arterial endothelium of Sprague-Dawley rats was damaged by dilatation with a 1.5 F balloon catheter, and then EPCs derived from human early fetal aortas (<14 weeks) were injected into the lumen of the injured artery in transplanted rats, with an equal volume of normal saline injected into control rats. Rats were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment and transplanted cells were identified by immunohistochemical staining with anti-human CD31 and anti-human mitochondria antibodies. Arterial cross-sections were analyzed by pathology, immunohistochemistry, and morphometry.

RESULTSGreen fluorescence-labeled EPCs could be seen in the endovascular surface of balloon-injured vessels after transplantation. The intimal area and intimal/medial area ratio were significantly smaller in the transplanted group than in the control (P < 0.05) and the residual lumen area was larger (P < 0.05). After EPC transplantation, a complete vascular endothelial layer was formed, which was positive for human von Willebrand factor after immunohistochemical staining, and immunohistochemical staining revealed many CD31- and mitochondria-positive cells in the re-endothelialized endothelium with EPC transplantation but not control treatment.

CONCLUSIONEPCs derived from human early fetal aorta were successfully transplanted into injured vessels and might inhibit neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury.

Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; physiology ; Cell Transplantation ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neointima ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Crohn's disease is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology .In our country , the number of Crohn's disease has increased dramatically in the past 20 years due to changes in living conditions ,diet,schedule and so on.This has attrac-ted the attention of medical workers and medical researchers .In recent years ,more and more studies have been made on the etiology ,clinical characterization,diagnosis and treatment techniques,and drug therapy of Crohn's disease.These findings enrich the understanding of Crohn's disease and promote the updating of the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn 's disease.In this paper, the research progress in the diagnosis of Crohn' s disease at home and abroad in recent years has been sorted out for reference by medical and related researchers .

OBJECTIVETo analyze the pelvic stability after type I resection of iliac tumor.

METHODSSix adult cadaveric specimens were tested. The iliac subtotal resection models were established according to Ennecking's type I resection. Markers were affixed to the key region of the pelves. Axial loading from the proximal lumbar was applied by MTS load cell in the gradient of 0-500 N in the double feet standing state. Images in front view were obtained using CCD camera. Based on Image J software, displacements of the first sacral vertebrae (S1) of the resected pelves and the intact pelves were calculated using digital marker tracing method with center-of-mass algorithm.

RESULTSSerious instabilities were found in the resected pelves. S1 rotational movements around the normal side femoral head of the resected pelvis were found. The average vertical displacement of S1 of the resected pelvis was (7 +/- 3) mm under vertical load of 500 newtons, which were 8.3 times compared to the intact pelvis. The average angle of S1 rotation around the normal side femoral head of the resected pelvis was (4.0 +/- 1.8) degrees, which were 12.5 times compared to the intact pelvis.

CONCLUSIONSBiomechanical model of type I resection of iliac tumor are established. Essential pelvic reconstruction must be introduced because of the serious instability of the bone defection after tumor resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Biological ; Pelvis ; physiopathology ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms of the expression regulation of retinoic acidinduced gene G (RIG-G) by interferon alpha (IFNalpha).

METHODSRIG-G promoter region was analyzed by bioinformatics. The functional activities of RIG-G promoter with or without IFNalpha were detected by luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSRIG-G promoter region contained two well-conserved IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs). Both ISRE I and ISRE II showed their effective binding abilities with signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). In HT1080 cells, in contrast with the empty plasmid pXP2, pXP2-A reporter construct containing intact ISRE I and ISRE II showed a significant higher baseline expression (1741.2 +/- 517.5) which could be further enhanced up to three-four folds by IFNalpha (5338.7 +/- 1226.9, P < 0.05). However, the luciferase activity of pXP2-A as well as its IFNalpha inducibility could be abrogated in STAT1-deficient U3A cells (from 1741.2 +/- 517.5 to 406.1 +/- 103.2, P < 0.05), indicating that the STAT1 protein was a prerequisite for the activities of ISRE I and ISRE II.

CONCLUSIONISREs present in RIG-G promoter region are molecular basis of IFNalpha induced RIG-G expression. RIG-G is a target gene directly regulated by STAT1 protein and should play a key role in IFNalpha signaling pathways.

Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Interferons ; physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms by which IFN-alpha regulated retinoic acid-induced gene G (RIG-G) expression.

METHODSThe expression of STAT1, p-STAT1 and RIG-G in IFN-alpha-treated NB4 cells was detected by Western blot. The roles of STAT1, STAT2 and IRF-9 in IFN-alpha-induced RIG-G expression were analyzed in STAT1-null U3A cells by cell transfection, reporter gene assay, co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitaion.

RESULTSIn U3A cells, only when STAT2 and IRF-9 were co-transfected, the luciferase activities of RIG-G promoter-containing reporter gene could be highly increased about 8-fold compared with that in the control group. Moreover, in the absence of IFN-alpha, similar effects were observed in either IRF-9 co-transfected with wild type or mutant form of STAT2, whereas IFN-alpha could increase the transactivation activity of wild type STAT2 and IRF-9 by 6-fold compared with that without IFN-alpha, but had no effect on mutant STAT2. In addition, STAT2 could interact with IRF-9 and bind to the RIG-G promoter.

CONCLUSIONSTAT2 may interact with IRF-9 in a STAT1-independent manner. The complex STAT2/IRF-9 is the key factor mediating the expression of RIG-G gene regulated by IFN-alpha. This is a novel signal transduction cascade for IFN which is different from the classical JAK-STAT pathway.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Plasmids ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT2 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg (TDG) on immune functions of ICR mice.

METHODSICR mice were exposed to different doses of EAF for 15 or 30 days and then their immune functions were analyzed, including ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte transformation, SRBC-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response, serum hemolysin analysis, antibody-producing cells, peritoneal macrophage phagocytized chicken red blood cells, natural killer cell activity, and serum level of cytokines.

RESULTSEAF of extracts from TDG at different doses had various effects on immune functions of ICR mice. As compared with the controls, it increased the mouse spleen lymphocyte transformation induced by ConA, the left-hind voix pedis thickness and the number of plague forming cells (PFCs) at the dose of 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the ink clearance ability at the dose of 0.91 mg/mL, 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the phagocytosis index of mononuclear-macrophages and production of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the dose of 5.48 mg/mL; and could promote the production of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the dose of 9.12 mg/mL.

CONCLUSIONEAF of extracts from TDG can regulate mouse immune functions in vivo.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; drug effects ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Vitaceae ; chemistry