Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects between sequential therapy of external-internal fixation and internal fixation alone in the treatment of high-energy pilon fracture.Methods:A total of 61 patients with high-energy pilon fracture were enrolled by our team for this retrospective analysis who had been treated from January 2015 to July 2017. They received sequential therapy of external-internal fixation (the sequential group) or internal fixation alone (the internal group). In the sequential group of 26 cases, there were 19 males and 7 females (aged from 18 to 65 years), 4 cases of type C1, 8 cases of type C2 and 14 cases of type C3 by the OTA classification, and 7 cases of closed injury and 19 cases of open injury. In the internal group of 35 cases, there were 25 males and 10 females (aged from 19 to 64 years), 6 cases of type C1, 13 cases of type C2 and 16 cases of type C3 by the OTA classification, and 21 cases of closed injury and 14 cases of open injury. The 2 groups were compared in terms of postoperative infection, fracture reduction, fracture union time, nonunion, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles.Results:There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in gender, age, fracture type, injury cause or follow-up time ( P>0.05), but a significant difference in soft tissue injury favoring the sequential group ( P=0.010). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in postoperative infection rate [15.4% (4/26) versus 17.1% (6/35)], fracture reduction, fracture union time [(7.4±3.4) months versus (6.5±3.2) months], nonunion rate [7.7% (2/26) versus 8.6% (3/35)], AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score (71.7±29.4 versus 74.4±19.5), or SF-36 (83.1±9.9 versus 83.8±7.9) ( P>0.05). The reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles at 6 months postoperation in the sequential group (34.6°±7.2°) was significantly greater than that in the internal group (23.7°±5.1°) ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the reduced range of motion between healthy and affected ankles at 2 years postoperation (26.0°±11.1° versus 21.8°±11.3°) ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Although both sequential therapy of external-internal fixation and internal fixation alone can lead to fine clinical efficacy in the treatment of high-energy pilon fracture, the former may be more suitable for the patients with severe soft tissue injury.

Objective:To evaluate the treatment strategy of primary shortening plus secondary lengthening for Gustilo ⅢC open fractures in the lower limb.Methods:From January 2010 to January 2018, 12 patients (8 males and 4 females) with complex Gustilo ⅢC open fracture in the lower limb received emergency treatment at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital. Their ages ranged from 22 to 67 years (average, 41.2 years). All patients were complicated with bone and soft tissue defects associated with nerve and vascular injury in the lower limb. The sizes of soft tissue defects ranged from 4 cm × 2 cm to 17 cm × 12 cm; the main arteries were shortened after debridement by an average of 4.2 cm (from 1.2 cm to 8.3 cm); the broken nerves were shortened after debridement by an average of 4.0 cm (from 1.0 cm to 8.1 cm); the tibial shaft defects averaged 6.3 cm in length (from 2.0 to 9.6 cm). All cases were treated at the first stage by emergency debridement and shortening at the fracture site to directly repair the damaged bone, blood vessels and nerves before the wound was covered. After the limb survived and the wound completely healed, an Ilizarov external fixator was installed to lengthen the limb by bone transport. Recorded were speed of bone lengthening, time with external fixation and complications. The lower limb functions were evaluated at the last follow-up by Paley criteria.Results:The 12 patients were followed up for 14 to 32 months (average, 19.1 months). All the limbs survived with no serious infection. The shortening ranged from 2.0 to 8.2 cm (average, 3.6 cm); the mean speed of bone transport was 0.87 mm/day; the time with external fixation ranged from 11 to 16 months (average, 13.2 months); the bony union was achieved after 10 to 14 months (average, 11.2 months). Postoperative horseshoe inversion was reported in 7 patients, and needle tract infection below Dahl grade 3 in 2 cases. According to Paley criteria, the function of lower limb was rated as excellent in 8 cases, as good in 3 cases, and as fair in one.Conclusion:The treatment strategy of primary shortening plus secondary lengthening using Ilizarov technique has lowered the risk for limb salvage and the surgical difficulty, leading to fine clinical outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the necessary of letting the intelligent knee joint be adaptive to the road terrain and the key technology of knee moment control method. MethodsBased on data from gait analysis and the dynamic model of lower limb,the knee moments while people walking on the path of different terrain were obtained. Terrain identification method was based on the features of electromyography(EMG) signals of the thigh,and the EMG of some muscles was detected. The methods were applied to an intelligent trans-femoral prosthesis developed for tests in the laboratory.ResultsConsiderable variation of the knee moments appeared when people walking on the path of different terrain,as well as that of the features of EMG of some muscles.ConclusionIt is necessary to make the intelligent knee joint be adaptive to the road terrain,and it is possible to be achieved with satisfied motion of the leg and the trajectory of ankle joint by the intelligent transfemoral prosthesis being studied which can identify the features of EMG signals.

Sanjie Zhentong capsules were scanned by using a near infrared spectra probe with different drug mass fraction and the spectral information of capsule shells and contents in it were obtained. Then partial least squares (PLS) models were developed for the prediction of mass fraction of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Resine draconis in Sanjie Zhentong capsules. The correlation coefficient (r9c)) and root mean standard error( RMSEC) of 0.949 5, 0.958 2 and 4.742 4, 4.135 7. The models obtained correlation coefficient (r(v)) of 0.919 2, 0.936 7 and root mean square error (RMSECV) of 6.158 9, 5.037 3 respectively in the training set. The paired T test analysis of statistics showed that there were no significant difference between predictive values and measure values. The established models reflected a strong prediction performance and can meet the needs of the production.
Capsules ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Objective Pemetrexed and β-elemene can inhibit the growth of tumor cells .This study was to investigate the effect of pemetrexed combined with β-elemene on the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer HeLa cells. Methods Cervical cancer HeLa cells were treated with pemetrexed at the concentrations of 38, 76, 152, 228, and 304μg/mL, and at 24 and 48 hours of treatment subjected to MTT for detection of their proliferation .The experiment included four groups , with the cells treated with β-elemene ( 125μg/mL) , pemetrexed ( 76 μg/mL ) , β-elemene ( 125 μg/mL ) +pemetrexed (76μg/mL), and nothing (blank control) for 24 hours, followed by determination of their proliferation and apoptosis by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. Results Pemetrexed at 38, 76, 152 and 228μg/mL inhibited the proliferation of the HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with the inhibition rates of (7.24 ±3.78), (7.94 ±4.37), (11.10 ±2.86) and (15.88 ± 3.38)%at 24 hours, and (16.69 ±0.95), (22.54 ±1.53), (24.48 ±0.92) and (25.54 ±3.61)%at 48 hours, both with statis-tically significant differences between any two groups (P<0.05).Significant differences were also found in the proliferation rate of the same concentration of pemetrexed at the two time points (P<0.05).The combination of pemetrexed and β-elemene showed an inhibi-tion rate of (49.95 ±5.76)%at 24 hours, remarkably higher than (24.36 ±5.59)%in theβ-elemene group and (10.69 ±1.37)%in the pemetrexed group (P<0.01). Conclusion Pemetrexed combined with β-elemene can significantly inhibit the proliferation and synergistically accelerate the apoptosis of HeLa cells .

Bronchiolitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukotriene D4 ; analysis ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; chemistry ; microbiology ; pathology

AIMTo develop a rapid and feasible method based on micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) for the simultaneous determination of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)--phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PB), carbamazepine (CBZ), primidone (PRM) and clonazepam (CZP) in human plasma.

METHODSSeveral factors that impact the separation of AEDs with MECC were investigated, such as concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), buffer compositions, pH, organic modifier, internal diameter and temperature, and an optimized MECC running condition was obtained the running buffer consisted of 8 mmol x L(-1) phosphate, 3 mmol x L(-1) sodium tetraborate, and 50 mmol x L(-1) sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) (pH 8.0), containing acetonitrile (ACN) (18%) as organic modifier. Detection at 210 nm, run at 25 kV at 30 degrees C in a untreated fused silica capillary (50/45.5 cm length, 50 microm ID).

RESULTSThe reproducibility of both migration time and relative peak area with MECC analysis were appropriate for the intra- and inter-assay coefficients. The evaluated drugs concentration intervals of PRM 1.0-40.0 microg x mL(-1), PB 1.0-60.0 microg x mL(-1), PHT 1.0-40.0 microg x mL(-1), CBZ 1.0-40.0 microg x mL(-1), CZP 0.2-8.0 microg x mL(-1) were linear with correlation coefficients higher than 0.999 1, and coefficients of the variation of the points of the calibration curve lower than 10%. The recoveries of AEDs varied from 80.0% to 100.0%, depending on the drug, with coefficients of the variation lower than 10.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe MECC technique is showed to be rapid, simple, efficient and low cost when applied to monitoring therapeutic drugs in patient treated with a combination of PHT and other AEDs such as hepatic enzyme-inducing agents.

Anticonvulsants ; blood ; Buffers ; Carbamazepine ; blood ; Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary ; methods ; Clonazepam ; blood ; Epilepsy ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenobarbital ; blood ; Phenytoin ; blood ; Primidone ; blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

To find anti-hypertensive lead drug, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides were synthesized and their effects on inhibiting ACE activity were investigated. ACE inhibitory peptides were synthesized via Fmoc solid-phase synthesis, isolated and purified through reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and identified by mass spectrometry. A RP-HPLC analysis method was used to test ACE inhibitory activity in vitro of these ACE inhibitory peptides. Six octapeptides were successfully synthesized, and the analytical results of mass spectrum were consistent with their theoretically calculated data. Among these synthetic octapeptides, the anti-SARS (severe acute respiratory syndromes) octapeptide had the most obvious ACE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.4 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1). So octapeptide AVLQSGFR-OH (anti-SARS peptide) was found to be the strongest candidate for potential development as an anti-hypertensive drug and had the implication of further study.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antihypertensive Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Oligopeptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; drug effects ; Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques

BACKGROUNDThe association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

METHODSEighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions (identified by coronary angiography and ECG) were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups: VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) and non-VH-TCFA plaque.

RESULTSPlasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA ((1489+/-715) pg/ml vs (2163+/-1004) pg/ml). Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONSt-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake of primary lesions during PET-CT (positron emission tomography and computed tomography) examination and clinicopathological parameters such as the tumor length, depth of invasion, differentiation of the primary lesions and lymph node metastasis status in the patients with esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to November 2006, 68 operable esophageal carcinoma patients were enrolled into this study, and all had a whole body 18FDG PET-CT scan before operation. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary lesions was measured. The tumor length, depth of invasion, differentiation of the primary lesions and lymph node metastasis status were determined by postoperative pathological examination. The correlation between the standardized uptake value (SUV) of primary lesions and the above mentioned clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall length of primary lesion was positively correlated with SUVmax (r=0.512, P=0.01). Depth of invasion was also positively correlated with SUVmax (r=0.860, P=0.000). There was a statistically significant difference in SUVmax between poorly differentiated group and moderately or well differentiated group (r=0.781, P=0.000), and also between the groups with or without lymph node metastasis (r=0.852, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe tumor length, depth of invasion and differentiation of the primary lesions of the esophageal carcinoma are all positively correlated with maximum standardized uptake value of 18FDG. The more poorly differentiated lesions show a higher 18FDG maximum standardized uptake value. The lesions with lymph node metastasis have also a significantly higher 18FDG maximum standardized uptake value than those without lymph node metastases.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden