Objective To asses the effects of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard (dynamic hip screw) in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures. Methods A meta analysis of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. We included randomized and quasi randomized controlled trials in patients with proximal femoral fracture to compare Gamma nail and DHS/Richard. Results First we identified 88 papers on comparison of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures published from 1969 to 2003. 7 trials involving 1256 patients were identified as meeting all the eligibility criteria. 3 investigators independently graded study quality and abstracted relevant data, including information on mortality rates, wound infection, function, revision in patients with a proximal femoral fracture. 4 trials, which included a total of 621 patients, provided detailed information on mortality rates over the first 6 postoperative months. We found there was no significant difference in the relative risk of death in the first 6 months postoperative between treatments of Gamma nail and those of compression hip screw (relative risk 1.17;P=0.51). 6 trials that included a total of 1083 patients provided data on operative complications. The risk of operative complications from Gamma nail fixation appeared to be higher than that from compression screw and side plate fixation but not higher than that from compression hip screw (relative risk 1.41; P=0.02). We also found an obvious increase in the relative risk of fracture of femoral shaft between Gamma nail and compression hip screw (relative risk 6.99; P=0.00). Patients treated with Gamma nail had a higher rate of revision compared with those with compression hip screw, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (relative risk 1.85; P=0.20). In addition, wound infection, operative blood loss and functional recovery were similar between the tow groups(relative risk 0.98 for wound infection and 1.02 for function). Operating time for Gamma nail patients was significantly less than that for DHS/Richard ones (P

Animals ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

AIM:To investigate the surgical method and extent of reoperation in the concomitant strabismus patients with surgical under-correction and over-correction.
METHODS: Ninety - six concomitant strabismus patients with surgical under - correction and over -correction were recruited in this study, which included 41 males and 55 females, aged 21. 90±14. 70. All individuals underwent routine eye examinations for strabismus before the surgery. Among the cases with concomitant esotropia, there were over-correction in 23 cases, under-correction in 15 cases. Among the cases with concomitant exotropia, there were over-correction in 28 cases, under - correction in 30 cases. The method of reoperation were based on angle of deviation, the method of original operation and acute visual acuity of patients.
RESULTS:In over - correction cases with concomitant esotropia, medial rectus muscle of 9 cases were advanced, the corrective extent was (5. 51±2. 63) ? / mm;9 cases were performed advance of medial rectus muscle and recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 25±1. 59) ? / mm; 3 cases were performed resection of medial rectus muscle and recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 26±1. 04) ? /mm; only 2 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 21±1. 91) ? /mm. In under - correction cases with concomitant esotropia, 6 cases were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 03±0. 98) ? /mm; 6 cases were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle and recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 86 ± 1. 32) ? / mm; 3 cases were performed recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was ( 4. 33 ± 0. 29 ) ? / mm. In over -correction cases with concomitant exotropia, 16 cases were performed advance of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (5. 37 ± 1. 56) ? / mm; 6 cases were performed recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 29 ± 3. 68) ? / mm; 5 cases were performed advance of lateral rectus muscle and recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (5. 46±1. 78) ? / mm; 1 case were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was 5. 00? / mm. In under - correction cases with concomitant exotropia, 12 cases were performed resection of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 47 ± 0. 54) ? / mm; 16 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle and resection of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was ( 5. 11 ± 0. 75 ) ? / mm; 2 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (2. 65±0. 42) ? / mm.
CONCLUSION: In reoperation of concomitant strabismus patients with over-correction, weakening or/and strengthening the horizontal muscle which were performed surgery before has a greater and more unstable surgical corrective extent. While In reoperation of concomitant strabismuspatients with under -correction, weakening or/ and strengthening the horizontal muscle which were not performed surgery has a normal corrective extent as usual.

AIM: To investigate whether cirrhosis affects the expression of hepatic glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms and its clinical significance. METHODS: Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern hybridization were used to determine the mRNA levels of five UGT isoforms in hepatic tissues. RESULTS: Compared to control group, UGT2B15 and UGT1A6 mRNA level in cirrhosis group increased by 227% and 166%, respectively. Compared to 0 fibrotic grade group, UGT2B15 mRNA levels of 1, 2, 4 fibrotic grade patients were 172%, 208% and 243%, respectively. UGT2B7 mRNA levels of 1, 2, 3 fibrotic grade patients were 156%, 208% and 192%, respectively. Inflammation grade showed no obvious effect on mRNA expression of most UGT isoforms. CONCLUSION: Cirrhosis affectes individual UGT isoform mRNA level. Degree of fibrosis has a significant effect on UGT mRNA expression.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Blindness ; rehabilitation ; Bonding, Human-Pet ; Culture ; Dogs ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Singapore

Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To observe the effects of triptolide on drebrin and cofilin expression in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheim-er's disease (AD). Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into control group, model group and triptolide-treated group with 20 cases in each group. The AD model was established with unilateral injection of beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1- 40) into hippocampus in rats. The control group was established with unilateral injection of normal saline with the same volume into hippocampus in rats. The triptolide-treated group was administered triptolide intraperi-toneally, 0.4 mg/kg, once a day, for 15 days after modeling. Spine density of hippocampal neurons was assayed by Golgi staining. Drebrin and cofilin expression of hippocampal neurons was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The spine density of hippocampal neurons was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05). The average optical density of drebrin was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the the model group (P<0.01), while the cell number and average optical density of cofilin were lower (P<0.05). The drebrin mRNA expression was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05), and the cofilin mRNA expression was lower (P<0.01). Conclusion Triptolide may delay the degeneration of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons of AD rats by regulating the expression of drebrin and cofilin.

INTRODUCTIONThe treatment of aortic valve stenosis (AS) is seeing renewed interest mainly due to the availability of transcatheter therapies. However, the number of epidemiological studies of this disease in Singapore is limited. We aimed to describe the aetiology and clinical presentation of AS in Singapore, as well as patients' attitudes toward it. Our findings may facilitate the future planning and utilisation of resources to better manage these patients.

METHODS249 consecutive patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (from April 1999 to April 2008) and diagnosed with severe AS were assessed. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and patients' decisions on surgery were determined.

RESULTSThe mean patient age was 71 (range 23-98) years. 50.2% of patients were male. The commonest presenting symptom was dyspnoea, and 40 (16.0%) patients had coexistent atrial fibrillation. The aetiology of AS was degenerative in 216 (86.7%), rheumatic in 11 (4.4%) and related to a bicuspid valve in 22 (8.9%) patients. The average peak velocity across the aortic valve was 4.2 ± 0.8 m/s and the mean aortic valve area was 0.76 ± 0.13 cm2. The overall mean logistic EuroSCORE was 10.7 ± 12.3. 105 (42.2%) patients who were offered surgery refused. 87 (35%) deaths were seen during the follow-up period (mean duration 14.5 months), which also saw 68 (27%) patients undergo surgery and 86 (34%) patients hospitalised for heart failure.

CONCLUSIONDegenerative AS was the commonest aetiology in this contemporary cohort of patients. Despite the known benefits of surgery, the refusal rate for surgery remained high.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Valve ; pathology ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; diagnosis ; Cohort Studies ; Dyspnea ; complications ; diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Singapore

Objective: To understand prevalence and transmission of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin from 2014 to 2017. Methods: A total of 225 blood samples were collected from HIV infected MSM in Tianjin from 2014 to 2017. Pol gene fragments were obtained by viral RNA extraction and nested PCR amplification. Phylogenetic and drug resistance analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 205 samples were successfully sequenced and analyzed. Based on pol sequences, 53.2% (109/205), 28.8% (59/205), 10.2% (21/205), 4.9% (10/205) and 2.9% (6/205) of the samples were positive for HIV subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, B, CRF55_01B and unique recombinant forms (URFs). Twenty transmission clusters, including 75 sequences, were identified and 62.5% (10/16) of sequences with TDR were in 5 clusters. The prevalence of TDR was 7.8% between 2014 and 2017. The annual prevalence rate increased from 3.9% (2/51) in 2014, 5.7% (3/53) in 2015, 9.6% (5/52) in 2016 to 12.2%(6/49) in 2017, the difference was not significant (χ(2)=2.504, P=0.127). CRF01_AE and B strains had high TDR prevalence (3.4%, 7/205) and (2.9%, 6/205), respectively. The TDR mutation was mainly NNRTIs, the TDR prevalence was 6.3% (13/205). In contract, the TDR prevalence of NRTIs and PIs were 1.5% (3/205) and 1.0% (2/205) respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study suggested that the prevalence of HIV-1 TDR strains in MSM was serious in Tianjin. It is necessary to take effective prevention and control measures.
China ; Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics* ; Genes, pol ; Genotype ; HIV Infections/transmission* ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase/genetics* ; HIV Seropositivity/genetics* ; HIV-1/isolation & purification* ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new IPS-Empress 2 dental glass-ceramic.

METHODSAFM, SEM and XRD were used to analyze the microstructure and crystal phase of IPS-Empress 2 glass-ceramic. The flexural strength and fracture toughness were tested using 3-point bending method and indentation method respectively.

RESULTSIPS-Empress 2 glass-ceramic mainly consisted of lithium disilicate crystal, lithium phosphate and glass matrix, which formed a continuous interlocking structure. The crystal phases were not changed before and after hot-pressed treatment. AFM showed nucleating agent particles of different sizes distributed on the highly polished ceramic surface. The strength and fracture toughness were 300 MPa and 3.1 MPam(1/2).

CONCLUSIONThe high strength and fracture toughness of IPS-Empress 2 glass ceramic are attributed to the fine lithium disilicate crystalline, interlocking microstructure and crack deflection.

Aluminum Silicates ; chemistry ; Compressive Strength ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Tensile Strength ; X-Ray Diffraction