Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of cervical vertebral reconstruction using titanium mesh and nano-hydroxyapatite and polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) mesh as two different kinds of artificial vertebrae. Methods From January 2008 to June 2009 had surgically treated 37 cases of cervical spondylosis with anterior corpectomy for decompression, and artificial vertebrae implanted combined platescrews fixation for cervical reconstruction and fusion. As a vertebral substitution, titanium mesh were implanted in 25 cases ( group A ), and the others (12 cases, group B) were implanted with n-HA/PA66 mesh. The height of fusion space immediately postoperatively and the implanted condition were observed. The fusion rate and the JOA score were recorded to compare the clinical outcomes. Results Two groups received 6-20 ( 15.4 ±4.2 )months follow-up. When follow-up to the end grafts were already fusion. The preoperative JOA score in group A,B [(8.40 ±0.96) scores vs. (8.33 ±1.07) scores(P ＞ 0.05)] were increased to (14.36 ±0.86)scores and (14.83 ±0.71) scores after postoperatively (P＞ 0.05),but there were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative each group (P＜0.05). There were 6 cases artificial vertebrae in group A and 1 case in group B subsided asymptomaticly with 100% choiceness rate. Conclusion These two kinds of artificial vertebrae could show similar outcomes in cervical vertebral reconstruction, but the n-HA/PA66 mesh has a lower subsidence rate.

Objective To screen B and T cell antigen epitopes on Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein 33×103-36×103 (OMP33-36).Methods B and T cell epitopes on OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were predicted by bioinformatics methods and synthesized.Recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a-OMP33-36 was cloned and used to express OMP33-36 in a prokaryotic expression system.The expressed OMP33-36 was used to immunize BALB/c mice after purification.Serum sample was collected from each mouse in immunization and negative control groups, and then analyzed by indirect ELISA with synthesized peptides to identify B cell epitopes.Splenocytes were separated from every mouse and then cultured with each of the synthesized peptides, respectively.Double sandwich ELISA was performed to detect IFN-γ secretion in the supernatant of cell cultures for screening of T cell epitopes.Results Candidates of B and T cell epitopes were constructed, which were PB1, PB2, PB3, PT1, PT2 and PT3.Results of the indirect ELISA showed that peptides PB1 and PB2 reacted with the serum samples collected from immunized mice and A450 values of the immunization group were significant higher than those of the negative control group.Compared with the negative control group, enhanced secretion of IFN-γ following peptide PT3 stimulation was observed in the immunization group as indicated by the double sandwich ELISA.Conclusion Two B cell epitopes PB1 and PB2, and one T cell epitope PT3 on the OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were successfully constructed and screened out.

BACKGROUND: Vertebrae axial rotation is a basic deformity of scoliosis, the rotational degree of which is hard to measure due to the field limitation of posterior spinal instrumentation. Currently, vertebrae rotational degree is measured according to preoperative X-ray film or CT, while no reports concerning measuring vertebrae rotational degree during operation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of measurement of vertebrae rotational degree with the entry point of pedicle screws.METHODS: Design of the path of pedicle screws on CT scans before surgery, a line bisection and perpendicular to another connecting bilateral entry point of pedicle screws, and the angle of vertebral rotation (EPPsag) was taken as the angle between this line and the saggital plane. The difference among vertebrae rotational degrees measured by conimeter, Ho's method and EPPsag was compared by Wilcoxon signed rank test. The intra-observer and inter-observer difference was analyzed with One-WayANOVA. Conimeter was used to measure vertebrae rotational degree of each vertebra in 9 lumbar specimens, and the results was compared to EPPsag.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference among EPPsag, actual rotational degree and measuring results of Ho's method (P>0.05). The One-Way ANOVA showed that the differences between intra-observer analysis and inter-observer analysis (P>0.05). The results demonstrated that EPPsag can exhibit vertebrae rotational degree accurately and repeatability. This anger can be obtained accurately with the instrument if the vertebrae rotational degree not exceeding 30°.

Objective To explore the relationship between Nestin expression level and prognosis in osteosarcoma,and to provide a new idea for treatment.Methods Thirty patient with osteosarcoma who had received treatment were included this study according to the criteria.HE staining was applied to evaluate the response to chemotherapy,meanwhile immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate Nestin expression levels before and after chemotherapy.Kaplan Meier survival curve was drawn to analyze the outcomes.Results The response of chemotherapy was good in 17 patients and poor in 13.24 cases were strongly positive in Nestin staining,five were weakly positive,and one was negative.The expression level of Nestin in osteosarcona was correlated to the chemotherapy response and prognosis (P ＜ 0.05),while higher level of Nestin expression referred to poorer response of chemotherapy and lower overall survival rate.Conclusions The expression level of Nestin in osteosarcoma tissue is associated with the effect of chemotherapy and prognosis;higher expression level of Nestin indicates poorer prognosis and efficacy of chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the effect of shRNA-mediated down-regulation of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) gene on the chemotherapeutic sensitivities in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.Methods The shRNA recombinant plasmid targeting to human RACK1 gene was designed and transferred into A549 cells by lipofectin technique.The protein level of RACK1 was measured by Western blot to confirm the function of shRNA plasmid.Drug sensitivities of A549 cells to cisplatin,gemcitabine,pemetrexed and paclitaxel were analyzed by MTT assay.The protein expression of LRP and MRP were detected by Western blot.Results After 24 hours transfection,the relative expression quantity of RACK1 protein in RACK1-shRNA group was 0.267± 0.470,which was significantly lower than that in vector-shRNA group (0.821±0.109) and control group (0.842±0.060) (F =54.438,P ＜ 0.05).The results of MTT showed that the growth of A549 cells in the RACK1-shRNA group was markedly inhibited.The sensitivities of A549 cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel were significantly enhanced compared with that in the vector-shRNA group and control group (P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression quantity of LRP and MRP protein in RACK1-shRNA group were 0.163±0.056 and 0.246±0.050,which were lower than that in vector-shRNA group and control group (F LRP =19.430,F MRP =61.548,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Targeted gene silencing of RACK1 improves the sensitivity of A549 cells to the ascisplatin and paclitaxel medicines,which might be achieved through down-regulation of the expression of LRP and MRP.

Background: and Purpose Collateral circulation is considered an important factor affecting the risk of stroke, but the factors that affect collateral circulation remain unclear. This study was performed to identify the factors associated with collateral circulation, especially blood lipids. Methods: The study involved patients who had undergone digital subtraction angiography and were confirmed as having severe unilateral stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). We classified the collateral circulation status of each patient as good (Grade 3 or 4) or poor (Grade 0, 1, or 2) according to the grading system of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/American Society of Interventional Radiology. We collected data on patients’ characteristics and identified the factors that affect collateral circulation. Results: This study included 212 patients. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and a complete anterior half of the circle of Willis were independent protective factors for good collateral circulation, whereas elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and serum creatinine concentrations were independent risk factors for good collateral circulation. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.76) for HDL-C and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62–0.76) for Lp(a). A binary logistic regression model analysis of the joint factor of HDL-C and Lp(a) yielded an AUC of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71–0.84). Conclusions In patients with severe unilateral ICA stenosis or occlusion, the combination of HDL-C and Lp(a) is a useful predictor of collateral circulation.

Objective:To establish a mouse model of breast cancer lung metastasis with miR-155 knockout(miR155-/-)mice,and to compare the difference of peripheral blood immune cell typing between miR155-/-mice and C57BL/6J wide-type(WT)mice.Methods:Bioinformatics analysis was used to explore the expression level of miR-155 in breast cancer tissues and peripheral serum,and its relationship with prognosis.Mouse model of lung metastasis of breast cancer was established by tail vein injection;peripheral blood was collected for flow cytometry,and the immune cell typing was analyzed;the lung tissues were collected for immunohisto-chemical detection to observe the tumor metastasis.Results:Percentage of T lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood of miR155-/-mice was significantly decreased compared with WT mice(P<0.05),percentage of myeloid inhibitory cells(MDSCs)was increased significantly(P<0.05),in which the proportion of monocyte subsets(M-MDSC)was significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the proportion of granulocyte subsets(G-MDSC)was significantly increased(P<0.05).In lung metastasis model of breast can-cer,percentage of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of miR155-/-mice was significantly higher compared with WT mice,while per-centage of NK cells was decreased significantly(P<0.05),percentage of neutrophil was significantly decreased(P<0.001),propor-tion of Th cells in T lymphocytes was significantly decreased(P<0.05),proportion of M-MDSCs was significantly decreased(P<0.01),while proportion of G-MDSCs was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:Deletion of miR-155 gene leads to significant differences in peripheral immune cell typing,making mice more susceptible to lung metastasis of breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the effect of virtual reality (VR) on sleep quality, sleep structure and neuropsychological characteristics of patients with chronic insomnia.Methods:Fifty one patients with chronic insomnia enrolled from Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from October 2021 to April 2022 were chosen; according to their wills, they were divided into VR combined drug treatment group ( n=26) and drug treatment group ( n=25). Patients in drug treatment group accepted non-benzodiazepine combined with melatonin receptor agonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor; in patients of VR combined drug treatment group, VR was added 30 min/d for 5 d/week on basis of above drug therapy. Subjective sleep quality was assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Insomnia Severity Scale (ISI). Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used to assess anxiety and depression. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Digital Span Test (DST), Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Color Word Test A/B/C, Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLO), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) were used to assess the overall and individual cognitive functions. Portable sleep monitor (PSM)-100A based on cardiopulmonary coupling technology was used to evaluate the sleep structure. Differences of subjective sleep quality, sleep structure, and neuropsychological characteristics were compared between the 2 groups before and after treatment and in VR combined drug treatment group before and after treatment. Results:(1) After 6 weeks of treatment, compared with the drug treatment group, the VR combined with drug treatment group had significantly decreased scores of PSQI, ISI, HAMD and HAMA, increased total scores of AVLT immediate memory, scores of AVLT short delay recall, long delay recall and recognition, higher SDMT scores, increased correct times of DST reciting in reverse order, shorter time in TMT-A and TMT-B, higher proportion of high frequency coupled sleep (HF, stable sleep), lower proportion of low frequency coupled sleep (LF, unstable sleep), and decreased LF/HF ( P<0.05). (2) The VR combined with drug treatment group after VR treatment had significantly decreased PSQI, ISI, HAMD and HAMA scores, higher total scores of AVLT immediate memory, higher scores of AVLT short delay recall, long delay recall and recognition, shorter time in TMT-A and TMT-B, increased correct times of DST reciting in order and reciting in reverse order, and higher scores of JLO, Stroop Color Word Test A/B/C and SDMT, higher proportion of HF sleep, lower LF sleep, decreased LF/HF, and decreased arousal frequency compared with that before VR treatment ( P<0.05). Conclusion:VR combined with drug treatment can effectively improve the subjective sleep quality and sleep structure, reduce depression and anxiety, and improve memory and attention of patients with chronic insomnia.

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of Xihuang Pill on H