The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a central important role during embryo development of vertebrate,which participates in regulation of multiple basic life processes including cell proliferation,differentiation and tissue patterning.In normal adult physiology,the pathway is implicated in stem cell maintenance,tissue repair and regeneration.By now,more and more researches have been indicated that the Hh signaling pathway is related to the tumor growth promoting and survival capabilities.

Objective:To investigate the expression of estrogen receptor ? and ?(ER? and ER?) in temporomandibular joints(TMJs) of Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods:The expression of ER? and ER? in TMJs was examined by SABC technique of immunocytochemistry, meanwhile the co-expression of them was detected by double-staining technique of immunocytochemistry.Results:①Intense ER? and ER? immunoreactivity was localized in the hypertrophic layer of condyle cartilage,and some immunoreactivity was found in osteocytes of mandible and temporal bone. ②The immunoreactivity of ER? and ER? was found in both nuclei and cytoplasms. Most of immunoreactivity of ER? was localized in nuclei, while ER? was distrubuted more evenly. ③The expression of ER? was wider than that of ER?.Conclusions:TMJ is one of target organs of estrogen.The expression of ER? is different from that of ER?,which suggests there may be different mechanisms directed by ERs.

OBJECTIVETo effectively screen p16 protein expression of different clinical stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by constructing and applying high-throughput tissue microarray/tissue chip.

METHODSA series of tissue chips were prepared by using tissue arrayer with samples from different clinical stage NPC tumors and noncancerous nasopharynx tissue. Specimens from 259 cases of nasopharyngeal lesions were detected immunohistochemically on a tissue chip for p16 protein expression and the correlation of p16 protein expression to clinical stage of NPC was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSp16 protein expression was detected in all 18 histologically normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. No p16 protein was detected in 3 of 3 (100%) stage I NPC, 38 of 44 (86.3%) stage II NPC, 59 of 68 (86.8%) stage III NPC, 23 of 28 (82.1%) stage IV NPC, 87 of 98 (88.8%) unclear stage NPC. The efficiency of p16 protein expression in NPC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal nasopharyngeal epithelia (chi(2) = 82.58, P < 0.001), and there was no apparent relationship between p16 protein expression and clinical stages (chi(2) = 0.09, P = 0.769).

CONCLUSIONSThe frequent deletion of p16 protein in NPC suggests that p16 gene has an important role in the development and progression of NPC. The consistency of p16 protein deletion in different stages of NPC suggests that the deletion of p16 protein is an early event in the development of NPC, and it is feasible to utilize tissue microarray for a rapid, economic and accurate screening of clinical tissue specimens on a large scale.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging

Objective To compare the biomechanical characteristics of new assembly of locking compression plate (NALCP) and locking compression plate (LCP) in internal fixation of femoral shaft comminuted fractures.Methods The preparation of a femoral shaft wedge fracture model (AO type 32-C2.1),six pairs of (12) femoral specimens were collected and divided into two groups randomly,with six in each group.The Group A was made up of the new assembly of locking compression plate fixation model (NALCP),and Group B the locking compression plate fixation model (LCP).The biomechanical properties of steel plates in two groups were tested by axial loading and torsional loading tests.The relative maximum displacement of fracture blocks in two groups on the X,Y and Z axes (the coronal axis was set as X axis,through the medial and lateral femur;the transverse axis was set as Z axis,through the femoral intercondylar fossa,perpendicular to the X axis;the sagittal axis was set as Y axis,perpendicular to the X and Z axis),the maximum strain,and the average strain of the steel plate were recorded.Strain distribution nephogram was produced,and the axial loading fatigue test results of Group A were recorded.Results Axial loading test:the relative maximum displacement of fracture in Group A on X,Y and Z axis were smaller than those in Group B (P ＜0.05 or 0.01);the main strain of Group A was greater than that of Group B (P ＜0.01);there was no significant difference in the average strain between Group A and Group B (P ＞ 0.05).Torsional loading test:The relative maximum displacement of fracture in Group A on X and Z axis was smaller than that of Group B (P ＜ 0.01);there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups on the Y axis (P ＞ 0.05);the main strain of plate in Group A was greater than that in Group B (P ＜ 0.01);there was no statistically significant difference in the average strain between Group A and Group B (P ＞ 0.05).There was no obvious difference in strain distribution between the two groups.In Group A,the fatigue test of axial cyclic loading was performed for 1 million times,and the NALCP was intact without deformation,loosening,or rupture.Conclusion NALCP can provide strong mechanical stability for comminuted femoral fracture.The design of bridge steel plate is reasonable,which can effectively avoid stress concentration,reduce the stress shielding of steel plate,and facilitate bone healing.

Objective To clarify the applied anatomy of Chinese female breasts,to improve the breast reduction mammoplasty,and to compare the quality of life in women with symptomatic macromastia before and after reduction mammoplasty with the modified round block technique.Methods The blood supply and innervation of the nipple-areolar complex were dissected in 6 Chinese adult females (12 breast specimens).Special attention was paid to the Würinger horizontal septum and the medial and lateral ligaments.The specific beneficial effects of reduction mammoplasty were evaluated with the modified round block technique,and a general questionnaire the Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was used in this study,which has good reliability and validity.The scores of the patients before and after the surgery were collected respectively.Results In 12 breast specimens,there existed Würinger horizontal septum and the medial and lateral ligaments.The blood supply and nerve innervation of nipple-areolar complex went along Würinger horizontal septum.In all the patients enrolled,SF-36 showed significant higher quality of life after the operation with regard to 7 of 8 investigated domains.Role of emotion increased most significantly.Increased self-esteem and increased personal and public self-consciousness after surgery were observed.Conclusions The incidence of postoperative complications is reduced after using the modified round block technique.Patients have a higher degree of satisfaction overall.These data are further evidence that breast hypertrophy is not solely an esthetic problem.The reduction mammoplasty with the modified round block technique is an ideal technique.

Objective　To investigate the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of the diseases with the imaging characteristics of pachymeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging （MRI），in order to improve the understanding of the diseases with pachymeningeal enhancement on MRI. Methods　The clinical data and auxiliary examination results of 5 patients with pachymeningeal enhancement on MRI from February 2017 to October 2019 were analyzed retrospectively，and the characteristics of each patient were analyzed. Results　MRI was similar in all five patients. All of them showed pachymeningeal enhancement，but the clinical diagnosis was different：1 case was idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis；1 case was IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis；1 case was intracranial hypotension syndrome；1 case was cerebral venous sinus thrombosis；1 case was meningoma. Conclusions　The etiology，treatment and prognosis of diseases with pachymeningeal enhancement on MRI are complex，history and other auxiliary examination should be combined carefully to identify the diagnosis，avoiding misdiagnosis.

Objective To compare the stress and its distribution between our self-designed new assembly of locking compression plate (NALCP) of low elastic modulus versus conventional locking compression plate (LCP) in fixation of femoral comminuted fractures.Methods Six pairs of cadaveric femur were used to create models of middle femoral comminuted fracture.The femoral fracture models were fixated respectively by NALCP of Ti2448 with low elastic modulus (E =30 Gpa) (NALCP group) and conventional LCP of Ti-6Al-4V with high elastic modulus (E =110 Gpa) (LCP group).Axial and torsion loads were applied on the models in the 2 groups to simulate those on one leg when a person slowly walks.The relative maximum displacements on the X,Y and Z axes of fracture fragments,and the maximum and average strains of the plate were recorded in the 2 groups.Nephograms of strain distribution were made for the 2 groups.The results of fatigue test under axial loads were recorded for NALCP group.Results Both the axial and torsion loading tests showed significantly larger principal and average strains in NACLP group than in LCP group (P ＜ 0.05).However,there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the relative maximum displacements of fracture fragments on X,Y or Z axis (P ＞ 0.05).The plate strain nephograms for the 2 groups showed consistent strain distributions.The plates in NALCP group survived 1,000,000 fatigue tests under axial loads,without any deformation,loosening or breakage.Conclusion As our NALCP of low elastic modulus may be better in stress transmission and distribution,it can effectively reduce the effect of stress-shielding and promote bone healing.

Objective To investigate the association between serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods A total of 599 patients with T2DM who were hospitalized in Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, from July 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled as subjects. According to the presence or absence of NAFLD, the patients were divided into NAFLD group with 286 patients and non-NAFLD group with 313 patients, and according to the results of abdominal ultrasound, the patients with NAFLD were divided into mild group with 111 patients, moderate group with 105 patients, and severe group with 70 patients. General clinical data were compared between groups. The independent samples t - test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and an analysis of variance was used for comparison between three groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between three groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to investigate the correlation between ALP and clinical indices, and a logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for NAFLD. Results Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the NAFLD group had significantly higher proportion of patients with history of hypertension ( χ 2 =7.864, P < 0.05), systolic blood pressure ( t =-2.226, P < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure ( t =-3.800, P < 0.05), body mass index (BMI) ( t =-11.842, P < 0.05), waist circumference (WC) ( t =-9.150, P < 0.05), fasting insulin (FINS) ( Z =-6.173, P < 0.05), fasting C-peptide ( t =-5.419, P < 0.05), serum uric acid ( t =-4.957, P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( t =-2.702, P < 0.05), triglyceride ( Z =-9.376, P < 0.05), total cholesterol (TC) ( t =-3.016, P < 0.05), Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) ( Z =-5.794, P < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( Z =-6.737, P < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ( Z =-4.389, P < 0.05), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) ( Z =-7.764, P < 0.05), and ALP ( t =-2.833, P < 0.05), as well as significantly lower age ( t =2.184, P < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( Z =-5.273, P < 0.05). The severity of NAFLD (mild, moderate or severe) was positively correlated with age ( r s =0.140, P < 0.05), BMI ( r s =0.239, P < 0.05), WC ( r s =0.222, P < 0.05), FINS ( r s =0.191, P < 0.05), HOMA-IR ( r s =0.218, P < 0.05), ALT ( r s =0.188, P < 0.05), AST ( r s =0.279, P < 0.05), GGT ( r s =0.202, P < 0.05), and ALP ( r s =0.361, P < 0.05). In the patients with T2DM and NAFLD, ALP was positively correlated with HbAlc ( r =0.149, P < 0.05), fasting plasma glucose ( r =0.146, P < 0.05), HOMA-IR ( r s =0.132, P < 0.05), TC ( r =0.151, P < 0.05), ALT ( r s =0.210, P < 0.05), AST ( r s =0.192, P < 0.05), and GGT ( r s =0.297, P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that ALP was an influencing factor for NAFLD in patients with T2DM (odds ratio=1.013, 95% confidence interval: 1.004-1.023, P < 0.05). Conclusion Elevated serum ALP is a risk factor for T2DM with NAFLD and is closely associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hyperlipemia, and ALP may play a role in the development and progression of T2DM and NAFLD.