ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of radiographic parameters and health-related quality of life(HRQOL) instruments before and after thoracolumbar kyphosis correction in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) kyphosis.MethodsThirty-eight AS patients with fixed thoracolumbar kyphosis were treated with pedicle subtraction osteotomies(PSO) in our hospital from January 2004 to March 2010.Pre- and post-operative radiological parameters,Cobb T1-S1,pelvic incidence(PI),pelvic tilt (PT),sacral slope (SS),and sagittal vertical axis(SVA) were measured.The Oswestry disability index(ODI) and scoliosis research society-22(SRS-22) questionnaire were used to evaluate the clinical results.Statistical correlation analysis was made to determine correlation between radiographic parameters and overall or partial specific scores of HRQOL instruments.ResultsThe life quality and related radiological spino-pelvic parameters were improved significantly after operation.Preoperatively,Cobb T1-S1,PT,SS,and SVA had partial correlation with ODI walking score and ODI standing score; postoperatively,only PT and SS had partial correlation with ODI.ConclusionPelvic positional parameters are the key parameters for upright activities,and making pelvis in a neutral position is the ultimate goal of surgery.

Objective To evaluate the correlations of emphysema and airway wall thickness to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) of airflow limitation by quantitative CT.Methods 40 COPD patients and other 40 normal controls underwent pulmonary function tests and following MSCT exams with inspiration.The square root of wall area of an airway with an internal area of 8 mm2 (Ai8) and the percentage of low attenuation volume(LAV%) of the whole lung and each lobes at the threshold of-950 HU were measured by a software of Thoracic VCAR.The Ai8 between the observation group and the control one was compared using SPSS2.2.The contributions of LAV% and Ai8 to predictions of FEV1/FVC and FEV1% were also evaluated.Results There was a significantly statistical difference in the Ai8 between the observation group and the control one.There were correlations between airflow limitation markers and all of LAV% as well as Ai8 (P<0.05 for all standardized coefficients).Only the Ai8 of right inferior lobar made a significant contribution to airflow limitation in the whole lung bronchus, and the LAV% of each lobes made a stronger contribution to airflow limitation than the Ai8 of right inferior lobe.Conclusion There is a significantly statistical difference in the Ai8 between the observation group and the control one.The LAV% may make a greater contribution to airflow limitation than Ai8 in COPD group.The influential factors of airflow limitation in order were LAV%, Ai8 of right inferior lobe and Ai8 of the other lobes.

Flammulin, an anti-tumor protein, was purified from the aqueous extract of basidiomes of Flammulina Velutipes. Purified flammulin emulsified with Freund's adjuvant was injected subcutaneously into New Zealand white rabbits. After several immune enhancements, these animals were bled and sera were separated. Antiserum against flammulin in Western blots were applied to determine if flammulin be present in the liquid state culture or fruiting body. The result showed that anti-flammulin serum could recognize the aqueous extract of fruiting body in SDS-PAGE gels under the reducing conditions, no flammulin was detected in mycelia of Flammulina Velutipes.

AIM: To compare the measurement of anterior chamber depth(ACD) inclusive of corneal thickness using intrao-cular lens(IOL) master and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and evaluate the repeatability of each method.METHODS: Two consecutive measurements of ACD were prospectively performed using IOL master and UBM in 60 eyes in 60 individuals. Mean values were compared using the paired t test. For each individual, ACD measure-ments was performed 5 times to estimate the repeatability of each method by a coefficient of variation(CV).RESULTS: The mean ACD was 2.95±0.25mm with the IOL master and 2.96±0.22mm with the UBM. This diffe-rence was not statistically significant (P=0.631).The coefficient of variation (CV) was 0.56%±0.26% and 0.65%± 0.36% in IOL master and UBM, respectively.CONCLUSION: The mean ACD of IOL master was the same as UBM. The repeatability of IOL master is better than UBM.

Objective To explore the impact of the ratio between pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS) on the life quality of patients with ankylosing spndylitis (AS) after kyphosis correction. Methods From November 2008 to May 2011, 33 AS pa?tients were reviewed, including 31 males and 2 females, aged from 19 to 58 years old (average, 36 years old). The thoracolumbar kyphosis angle was 35.23° ± 13.98° (range, 15.12°-74.37° ) and the lumbar lordosis angle was 8.68° ± 18.27° (range,-23.70°-62.15°). The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)?22 questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate the condition of pain. The pelvic incidence (PI), PT, SS, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and osteoto?my angle were obtained from standing lateral full?spine radiographs. The correlations were analyzed from the subjective grading and the sagittal parameters in AS patients. Results The osteotomy site was in L1 (5 cases, 21.00°-54.59° , average 32.59° ± 13.44° ), L2 (19 cases, 28.63°-66.24° , average 37.89° ± 9.26° ), L3 (9 cases, 31.78°-60.90° , average 47.05° ± 9.20° ), respectively. The range of osteotomy angle was 39.59°±10.82° (range, 21.00°-66.24°). The subjective grading and spino?pelvic parameters were improved significantly after operation except PI, only postoperative PT/SS (0.93±0.65) and ODI standing (0.60±0.75)(r=0.681, P<0.05), osteotomy angle (39.59°±10.82°) and satisfaction of management (3.33±0.49)(r=0.478, P<0.05)had correlation with the subjective grading. Conclusion Compared with the change of PT, SS and SVA, the change of PT/SS is more closely related to the quality of life after operation in AS patients with kyphosis, which should be pay attention to by surgeon when designing operative schemes.

A new and efficient reaction system has been set up, in which the MseⅠ primers were fluorescent labeled for auto-sequencer. PCR reagents and primers and adapters of MseⅠ and EcoRⅠ, which were synthesized, the AFLP protocol has been modified, and reaction and electrophoresis conditions were optimized, the results obtained can be comparable to that of AFLP fluorescent labeled AFLP kits with less cost.

Objective To observe the influence of oleanolic acid on the ethology of 9-month-old mice,the completeness of synapsis structure and the expression of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in cortex and hippocampus.Methods Thirty 9-month-old healthy male SMAP8 mice were randomly divided into model group,oleanolic acid group and aricept group,and with 10 rats in each group,while 10 healthy male mice of the same age and species as normal group.Oleanolic acid group and aricept group were given intragastric administration with corresponding drugs,while the normal group and model group were given the same amount of physiological saline.4 weeks later,the ethology changes were observed by Morris water maze and morphology changes of hippocampus neurons were viewed by electron microscope and the expression of CREB was detected by Western Blot.Results (1)Morris water maze results suggested that compared with the normal group,the latency time in the model group mice was longer,which were ((83.33±4.96) s,(75.13±6.01) s,(71.75±7.77) s,(63.40± 8.93) s,(60.97±8.38) s),while compared with the model group,the latency time in the oleanolic acid group and the aricept group was remarkably shorter (P＜ 0.05),which were (75.97± 4.49) s,(64.98± 4.93) s,(64.16± 6.23) s,(53.47±5.99) s,(47.91±7.64) s and (71.30±7.65) s,(63.32±7.57) s,(59.82±4.69) s,(52.28±5.90) s,(46.22±7.27) s respectively.In the spatial probe trial,compared with tbe normal group,the crossing times of the model was less,while compared with the model one,the crossing times of the oleanolic acid group and the aricept group was more(P＜0.05).(2)Compared with the normal group,the number of synapses in the model group was smaller,in which the synaptic cleft was mixed with the front of synapses severely swollen,uninform synaptic vesicles and few clear outlines of mitochondrias.While the oleanolic acid group and the aricept group had clear synapses outlines with the front of synapses slightly swollen,intensive and uniform synaptic vesicles and clear mitochondrias with their cristae not easy to be seen.(3) The Western Blot showed that compared with the normal group,there was a decline in the CREB expression both in the cortex and hippocampus in the model group,while compared with the model group,there was a rise in the oleanolic acid group as well as the aricept group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Oleanolic acid can improve the learning and memorizing of model rats,which is possibly related to the increased expression of CREB protein to protect the synapses structure of model mice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on neuropathic pain in rats.Methods One hundred and twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S group); hydrogen-rich saline group (H group); chronic constrictive injury (CCI) group; CCI + hydrogen-rich saline group (CH group).Neuropathic pain was induced by CCI.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 300 mg/kg.The left sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals.In H and CH groups,hydrogen-rich saline 10 ml/kg was injected intraperitoneally twice a day for 3 consecutive days starting from 1 day after CCI.The paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation with yon Frey filament (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency to thermal stimulation (PWL) were measured on the day before CCI (T0) and on 3,5 and 7 days after CCI (T1-3).The rats were sacrificed after the last measurement of pain threshold at T4.The left lumbar segments (L4-6) of the spinal cord were removed for determination of the contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),interleukin-1β (IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) (by ELISA),and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities (using visible spectrophotometer).Results Compared with S group,PWT was significantly decreased,PWL was shortened,the contents of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,HMGB1 and MDA were increased,and the activities of SOD and CAT were decreased at each time point after CCI in CCI and CH groups.Compared with CCI group,PWT was significantly increased,PWL was prolonged,the contents of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,HMGB1 and MDA were decreased,and the activities of SOD and CAT were increased at all the time points after CCI in group CH.Conclusion Hydrogen-rich saline can alleviate neuropathic pain in rats via reducing the inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation response.

Background Studies show that regulatory T cells (Treg) are a kind of T cell subsets to negatively regulate immune response,and play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis and immune tolerance.Autoimmune uveitis is an autoimmune disease,the regulation of Treg cells in pathogenesis and progression of autoimmune uveitis is not fully unelucidated.Objective This study was to observe the dynamic changes of Treg in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) rats and explore the role of Treg cells in the pathological process of EAUrats.Methods Eighty four 6-8 week-old SPF Lewis rats were randomly divided into model group and control group.The mixed emulsifier of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP)1177-1191,tuberculin (TB),complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) and PBS (300 μl) was subcutaneously injected in double rear foot pad,abdominal side and back,and only equal amount of TB,CFA and PBS emulsifier was used in the same way in the control group.Ocular inflammation symptoms was examined at 9,13,18,23,28,35 and 48 days after modeling and scored based on the severity of the inflammatory.Six rats of each group were sacrificed in above time points respectively for the histopathological examination of iris,ciliary body and retinas by haematoxylin-eosin staining.The lymphocytes were isolated and cultured from rat spleens,and the proportion of Foxp3-labelled cells,a specific marker of Treg cells,was assayed by flow cytometry.The relative expression level of Foxp3 mRNA in the lymphocytes detected by using realtime quantitative PCR (RT-PCR).The use and care of the rats complied with the ARVO Statement.Results Eye inflammatory response appeared at 8 days after immunization,showing vasodilation and hyperemia of rat iris in the model group,and the response peaked at 13 days,with exudation and hypopyon in the anterior chamber.The highest inflammatory scores were 3.75±0.42 at day 13,and the ocular inflammation reaction was gradually relieved after that and disappeared at 23 days after immunity.A significant difference in ocular inflammatory scores of model rats was found among different time points (F =81.709,P ＜ 0.001);while no inflammatory symptom was observed in the control group.Histopathology examination showed obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the iris,ciliary body and retinas in model rats,including neutrophils,lymphocytes and mononuclear cells.The proportion of Foxp3-labelled cells in spleen lymphocytes was (5.50 ± 0.64)％,(13.36 ± 0.98)％,(10.34 ± 0.79)％,(9.58 ± 1.02)％,(6.73 ±0.81)％ and (5.58 ± 0.47) ％ in the model group on day 13,18,23,28,35,48 respectively,with statistically significant differences in comparison with (2.80 ± 0.38) ％,(3.36 ± 0.53) ％,(3.65 ± 0.57) ％,(3.37 ± 0.43) ％,(3.33±0.50)％ and (3.13±0.61)％ in the control group (t=-6.272,-15.556,-11.910,-9.753,-6.154,-5.491,all at P＜0.01).The change trend of Foxp3 mRNA expression was consistent to the dynamic change of the proportion of Foxp3-labelled cells.Conclusions The pathogenesis and development is closely associated with the dynamic changes of CD4+ CD25 + Foxp3+ Treg cells in EAU rats.

Objective To compare the differences of surgical site infection (SSI) between laparoscopic distal gas-trectomy (LDG) and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for gastric cancer. Methods We set up strict inclusion and ex-clusion criteria. All the randomized controlled trials (RCT) on LDG and ODG for gastric cancer were collected. Meta-analysis was performed according to the recommendation by the Cochrane handbook. Results Six RCTs in-cluding 767 patients were analyzed, who were divided into LDG group (n =394) and ODG group ( n=373). Postop-erative wound infection and SSI were significantly lower in LDG than in ODG [RR=0.32, 95 %Cl (0.11, 0.91).P =0.03; RR= 0.28, 95 %Cl (0.12, 0.70),P =0.006]. There was no significant difference in intra-abdominal abscess between the two groups [RR=0.35, 95 % Cl (0.09, 1.31), P=0.12]. Conclusions LDG was associated with a lower incidence of SSI, especially wound infection, as compared with ODG in the meta-analysis.