Objective To explore the changes and clinical significances of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin concentrations for early detection of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers. Methods Serum VEGF and endostatin concentrations were determined in 52 elderly long-term smokers and 20 elderly non-smokers by enzyme linked immunoabsent assay (ELISA) or competitive enzyme immunoassay. The 52 elderly long-term smokers were divided into lung cancer group (n = 32) and non-lung cancer group (n = 20). Results The concentration of serum VEGF was markedly higher in lung cancer group [(15. 7±8. 0) ng/L] than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 13. 681, t= 9. 372, respectively, both P＜0. 01). And the level of serum VEGF was significantly higher in non-lung cancer group than in normal control group (t=5. 250, P＜0. 05). The level of serum endostatin was significantly higher in elderly long-term smokers with or without lung cancer than in normal control group (t=5. 332, t=3. 700, respectively, P＜0. 01 and P＜0.05). But there was no statistic difference between non-lung cancer group and lung cancer group (t = 0. 814, P＞ 0.05 ). Notably, the endostatin/VEGF ratio was lower in lung cancer group than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 6. 270, t= 7. 138, respectively, both P＜0.01), while there was no significant difference between non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 1. 022, P＞0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that the periodic detection of serum VEGF and endostatin and endostatin/VEGF ratio, especially endostatin/VEGF ratio, is of clinical importance and can be used as an early diagnostic marker of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers.

Objective To study the role of extra-anatomic arterial bypass grafting in the management of aorta-iliac occlusive disease. Methods Forty-one cases of aorta-iliac occlusive disease managed by extra-anatomic arterial bypass grafting were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical features included claudicafion 11, resting pain 12 and ulcer/gangrene 18 patients. Axillofemoral bypass was performed in 15 cases with aortic and bilateral iliac artery occlusion, femorofemoral bypass in 18 cases with unilateral iliac occlusion and femoro-cnntralateral popliteal bypass in 8 cases with iliac and ipsilateral femoral artery occlusion. Results Postoperatively, clinical features were reheved in 40 cases (97.6%). Ankle brachial index increased significandy from 0.41 ± 0.15 to 0.89 ± 0.21 perioperatively (P < 0.05 ).Thirty-five cases were followed up for 1 year to 5 years. The overall graft patency rates in this series were 93%, 86% and 80% in 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusion Extra-anatomic arterial bypass has merits as less invasive and rapid postoperative recovery, and this is one of the effective methods for the treatment of aorta-iliac occlusive disease.

Objective To analyze the clinical features of unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy caused by multiple myeloma(MM).Methods A 79-year-old female diagnosed MM for 3 years was admitted due to the disease relapse.The patient presented left oculomotor nerve palsy,bone marrow biopsy showed 4.5％ of myeloma cells,the serum level of λ light chain was up to 18 g/L,and brain CT/MRI scan revealed left parasphenoidsinus lesion.A diagnosis of relapsing intramedullary and extramedullary MM,IgGλ type,stage ⅢA was made.Ten cases were retrieved from literature since 1990,the clinical features of 11 cases were analyzed as follows.Results Among 11 cases of unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy caused by MM,7 were males and 4 females with a mean age of (60 ± 12) years (40-79 years).The sub-types of MM were IgG type (7 cases),IgA type (2 cases),biclonal of IgG and IgA type (1 case),and IgD type (1 case).Oculomotor nerve palsy was presented as the initial manifestation of MM in 9 cases,as a sign of relapse of MM in 1 case,and during MM treatment in 1 case.In 7 cases,oculomotor nerve was the only cranial nerve involved,while in other 4 cases,the Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ cranial nerves were also involved.Neuroimaging revealed parasphenoid sinus lesions in 9 cases,and myeloma meningitis in 2 cases.Most of the reviewed cases achieved significant clinical improvement after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy,except 2 cases with myeloma meningitis.The case in our department was improved significantly and rapidly after receiving chemotherapy with bortezomib.Conclusion MM should be considered when unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy is presented with or without the history of MM,the disease is sensitive to chemotherapy in most circumstances.

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of Shaoshanhuo needling method on periarthritis of shoulder.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group of 57 cases and a control group of 63 cases. The treatment group were treated with Shaoshanhuo needling method and massage combined with functional exercise of shoulder joint, and the control group were treated with warming acupuncture and moxibustion combined with massage and functional exercise of shoulder joint. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated after 2 courses.

RESULTSThe effective rate and the cured rate were 96.5% and 70.2% in the treatment group, and 88.9% and 50.8% in the control group respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups in the effective rate (P>0.05), but with a significant difference between the two groups in the cured rate (P<0.05), the treatment group being higher than the control group.

CONCLUSIONShaoshanhuo needling method has a better therapeutic effect on periarthritis of shoulder.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Periarthritis ; therapy ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint

Objective: To understand the survival status and influencing factors of HIV/AIDS patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART ) among drug users in Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang from 2005 to 2019, so as to provide references for reducing AIDS mortality. Methods : The demographic information, clinical stage, baseline CD4+T lymphocyte ( CD4 ) level and treatment status of HIV/AIDS patients with HAART in Yili Prefecture from 2005 to 2019 were collected through AIDS Antiretroviral Therapy Information System. The survival rate was calculated by the life table method. The influencing factors for survival time were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: Totally 1 935 patients were recruited, the median age receiving HAART was 37 years old and the median CD4 counts was 293/μL. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 5, 7 and 10 years were 97%, 78%, 73%, and 66%, respectively. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the patients with body mass index of 18.5-<28.0 kg/m2 ( HR: 0.391-0.656, 95%CI: 0.234-0.958 ), baseline CD4>200/μL ( HR: 0.354-0.667, 95%CI: 0.232-0.841 ) , or missed medication in the last 7 days ( HR=0.009, 95%CI: 0.001-0.061 ) had lower risk of death; the patients with WHO clinical stage of Ⅱ-Ⅳ ( HR: 1.479-2.311, 95%CI: 1.004-3.288 ) or treatment delay ≥1 years ( HR: 1.287-1.388, 95%CI: 1.029-1.826 ) had higher risk of death. Conclusions The 5-year cumulative survival rate of HIV/AIDS patients with HAART in Yili Prefecture is 78%. Body mass index, baseline CD4 level, WHO clinical stage, treatment delay and missed medication in last 7 days were the influencing factors for survival time.

Objective To investigate short-term effect of percutaneous discectomy combined with radiofrequency ablation with Disc-FXon contained lumbar disc herniation. Methods 36 patients were reviewed and followed up with Japanese Orthopaedic Association score(JOA score), the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Oswestry score for 12 months. Results The scores of JOA score, VAS and Oswestry improvedsignificantly (P<0.01) after operation. Conclusion Percutaneous discectomy combined with radiofrequency ablation with Disc-FXis effective on contained lumbar disc herniation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the degenerative mechanisms of lumbar intervertebral disc (LID) and apoptosis.MethodsThe total RNAs were isolated from human LID tissues. Both the mRNAs from the degeneration and normal LID were reversely transcribed to the cDNAs. The cDNAs were labeled with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and analyzed by computer image analysis. The apoptotic status and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in 12 cases of degenerative LID and 10 cases of normal LID were detected with TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry methods.ResultsAmong the 4096 targets, there were 10 genes related to apoptosis. The expression related to Bax protein gene was up-regulated and it was down-regulated for Bcl-2 protein. In group of normal LID, the average apoptotic index (AI) was (24.897±3.620); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (31.440±4.150)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (29.372±2.588)%, average optical density (OD) values of positive particles were (0.183± 0.010 ), ( 0.203 ±0.012) and (0.169±0.005) respectively. In group of degenerative LID, the average AI was (49.232±3.440); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (18.239±2.470)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (52.349±3.764)%; average OD values of positive particles were (0.152±0.003), (0.310±0.008) and (0.262±0.014) respectively. There were significantly differences in AI and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between normal LID and degenerative LID (P<0.05).ConclusionCell apoptosis plays an important role in the process of LID degeneration. Both Bcl-2 and Bax take part in the occurrence and progression of LID.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomy and clinical application of thoracic transverse process using as the position for thoracic pedicle screw implantation.

METHODSA total of 132 patients were subjected to thoracic pedicle screws fixation and the pedicle screws implantation position was the basis of transverse process. The data of anatomy, operation method for position and their periopereative complications were reviewed. There were 84 male and 48 female with their age ranging from 12 to 77 years, with an average of 32 +/- 9 years, of which 85 patients sufferents from thoracic vertebral fracture, 27 were thoracic degenerative disease, 12 were thoracic tuberculosis and 8 were thoracic tumor.

RESULTSA total of 788 thoracic pedicle screws were placed by free hand technique, and the most of screws were implanted in low thoracic segments (T10-T12) while the least in T1. Massive hemorrhoea, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and air leakage didn't occurre during operation. Thirteen thoracic pedicle screws were re-implanted during operation due to malposition. There are no perioperative complications expect for intercostal numbness founded in 2 patients and the symptom disappeared after 2 months therapy.

CONCLUSIONIt is a reliable technique to use the basis of transverse process as the position for pedicle screw implantation, which solve the difficulty of ascertainment the entry point of thoracic pedicle screws. Thoracic pedicle screws can be managed accurately, safely and reliably based on careful manipulation and imageology data.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of genes (CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1) involved in estrogen metabolism and susceptibility to breast cancer in Chinese women.

METHODSA case-control study was performed. PCR-base restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) assays were used to detect the polymorphism distribution of CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1 in 213 breast cancer cases and 430 matched controls. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the OR, multivariate adjusted OR and 95% CI of each and all three genes and estrogen exposure factors on the risk of breast cancer. Relationship between polymorphisms and clinic-pathological features was also assessed.

RESULTSThe frequency of A2 allele of CYP17 was 49.8% in cases and 49.1% in controls (P > 0.05). The frequency His allele of SULT1A1 in cases (13.6%) was significant higher than that of controls (9.5%) (P = 0.03). There was also significant difference in the frequencies of (TTTA)10 allele CYP19 which was 12.4% in cases and 8.2% in controls (P = 0.02). Multigenic model indicated that there was an increased risk of breast cancer with more numbers of high-risk genotypes in a dose-response effect (trend P = 0.05). Data from multivariate analysis showed that the allele of SULT1A1 His and CYP19 (TTTA)10 was positively associated with the risk of breast cancer. Other well-established risk factors as higher estrogen exposure including total years of menstrual, early menarche etc, and women with a higher BMI and WHR were all served as independent risks.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that the polymorphisms of estrogen-metabolizing genes were related to breast cancer.

Aromatase ; genetics ; Arylsulfotransferase ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; pathology ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; pathology ; Cranial Nerve Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery