OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects and related factors of combined anterior and posterior surgeries in treatment of double column acetabular fracture.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to July 2009, 19 patients with double column acetabular fracture were treated. There were 13 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 39.6 years (ranged, 27 to 52 years). Among the patients, upper double column fracture was in 11 cases, lower double column fracture was in 8 cases and double column fracture involved sacroiliac joint in 1 case. The mean time from injury to operation was 5.8 days (ranged, 4 to 10 days). All patients were received combined anterior and posterior surgeries, reconstructed plate and fixed by screw.

RESULTSOne patient was death, other patients were followed up from 12 to 18 months (with a mean time of 13.6 months). According to Harris standard, 9 cases got excellent results, 7 good cases and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONCombined anterior and posterior surgeries for double column acetabular fracture can get satisfactory effects.

Acetabulum ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypocholesterolemic activity of red yeast rice (RYR) and its underlying mechanism.

METHODSThree groups of hamsters were fed either the control diet or one of the two experimental diets containing by weight 0.1% RYR (0.1RYR) or 0.3% RYR (0.3RYR). Blood (0.5 mL) was collected from the retro-orbital sinus into a heparinized capillary tube at the end of week 0, 3, and 6. Plasma lipoproteins were measured using enzymatic kits, while fecal neutral and acidic sterols were quantified using a gas-liquid chromatography.

RESULTSPlasma total cholesterol was reduced by 12% in 0.1RYR group and by 18% in 0.3RYR group compared with the control value. Similarly, plasma triacylglycerol was decreased by 11% in 0.1RYR group and by 24% in 0.3RYR group. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that RYR had no effect on sterol regulatory element binding protein 2, liver X receptor, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-CoA reductase, LDL receptor, and cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase. HPLC analysis confirmed that RYR contained 0.88% monacolin K. It was recently found that RYR supplementation increased excretion of fecal acidic sterols by 3-4 folds compared with the control value.

CONCLUSIONHypocholesterolemic activity of RYR is mediated at least partially by enhancement of acidic sterol excretion.

Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; secretion ; Biological Products ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; metabolism ; Cricetinae ; Dietary Supplements ; Feces ; chemistry ; Feeding Behavior ; drug effects ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Liver ; enzymology ; Liver X Receptors ; Naphthalenes ; analysis ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; metabolism ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Weight Gain ; drug effects

Rapid advancement of physiology education has occurred since the twentieth century due to the emergence of new pedagogies and collaborative effort of physiologists worldwide. Physiological organizations and institutions contribute to the teaching of physiology through international congresses, education symposia, teaching workshops, exchange programs, and journal publications. The Internet and information technologies play a crucial role in the promotion and improvement of computer-based physiology education across different countries. Interactive teaching practices and problem-based learning have also become globally applied strategies to enhance students' motivation and facilitate learning effectiveness. In this article, we review the global development and implementation of pedagogical approaches to the teaching of physiology, as well as the emerging trends and practices for physiology education in the future.
Humans ; Learning ; Motivation ; Physiology

The capability of the central vestibular system in utilizing cues arising from the inner ear determines the ability of animals to acquire the sense of head orientations in the three-dimensional space and to shape postural movements. During development, neurons in the vestibular nucleus (VN) show significant changes in their electrophysiological properties. An age-dependent enhancement of membrane excitability is accompanied by a progressive increase in firing rate and discharge regularity. The coding of horizontal and vertical linear motions also exhibits developmental refinement in VN neurons. Further, modification of cell surface receptors, such as glutamate receptors, of developing VN neurons are well-orchestrated in the course of maturation, thereby regulating synaptic efficacy and spatial coding capacity of these neurons in local circuits. Taken together, these characteristic features of VN neurons contribute to developmental establishment of space-centered coordinates within the brain.
Animals ; Ear, Inner ; physiology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Movement ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; physiology ; Vestibular Nuclei ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of dietary calcium on plasma lipoprotein profile in castrated and ovariectomized hamsters.

METHODSMale, castrated, female and ovariectomized hamsters (n=36 each group) were randomly divided into three sub-groups (n=12) and fed one of the three diets containing 0, 2, and 8 g calcium per kg diet for a period of six weeks. Changes in plasma lipoprotein profile were monitored at the end of week 0, 3 and 6.

RESULTSPlasma total cholesterol (TC), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triacylglycerols (TG) and TC/HDL-C were decreased only in intact female and ovariectomized hamsters. In contrast, three levels of dietary calcium had no effect on lipoprotein profiles in both intact male and castrated hamsters.

CONCLUSIONBeneficial modification of lipoprotein profile by dietary calcium was gender-dependent at least in hamsters.

Animals ; Calcium, Dietary ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; adverse effects ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Male ; Triglycerides ; blood