OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of the axial load mechanical testing for removing external fixator. METHODS: Between January 2014 and August 2015, 27 patients with tibia and fibula fractures caused by trauma underwent an external fixation. Of 27 patients, 21 were male and 6 were female with the average age of 45 years (range, 19-63 years), including 7 cases of closed fracture and 20 cases of open fracture. X-ray film results showed spiral unstable fracture in 4 cases and comminuted unstable fracture in 23 cases. All patients underwent an external fixation. Bone nonunion occurred in 3 cases because of infection, and bone nonunion combined with bone defect occurred in 1 case, who received tibial osteotomy lengthening surgery. When X-ray film showed continuity high density callus formation at fracture site, axial load mechanical test was performed. If the axial load ratio of external fixator was less than 10%, the external fixator was removed. RESULTS: At 21-85 weeks after external fixation (mean, 44 weeks), axial load mechanical test was performed. The results showed that the axial load ratio of external fixation was less than 10% in 26 cases, and the external fixator was removed; at 6 weeks after removal of external fixator, the patients could endure full load and return to work, without re-fracture. The axial load ratio was 14% in 1 case at 85 weeks, and the X-ray film result showed that fracture did not completely heal with angular deformity; re-fracture occurred after removing external fixator, and intramedullary fixation was used. CONCLUSIONS: External fixator axial load mechanical testing may objectively reveal and quantitatively evaluate fracture healing, so it is safe and reliable to use for guiding the external fixator removal.

Objective To investigate the relative percentage of normal cognitive function (NCF),age associated memory impairment (AAMI),mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the elderly,and the correlation between cognitive function and ApoE genotypes.Methods A total of 2666 elderly people aged ≥65 years (2132 males and 534 females)were divided into 3 groups according age:65-74-year age group (925 cases),75-84 year age group (1054 cases) and 85-100-year age group (687 cases).ApoE genotypes were determined in the controls and patients with AAMI and MCI.The degrees of fundus arteriosclerosis were detected in all subjects except for patients with AD.Results There were 867 cases with NCF,860 cases with AAMI and 782 cases with MCI.The incidence of AAMI was higher in 65-74-year age group than in the other two groups (42.0％ vs.31.1,20.96).The incidences of MCI and AD were higher in 85-100-year age group than in the other groups (42.5％,13.3％).The major degrees of fundus arteriosclerosis were Ⅰ+,Ⅰ-Ⅱ°,Ⅱ in subjects with AAMI (34.7％,x2=10.02,P＜0.01) and were Ⅱ °/ Ⅱ + / Ⅲ° in subjects with MCI (34.9 ％,x2 =23.39,P＜0.001).The APOEε4 allele frequency was significantly higher in patients with MCI than in the controls (x2=8.31,P＜0.05).However,no significant differences in APOEε4 allele frequency were found between patients with AAMI and the controls.Conclusions The incidence of AAMI is highest in 65-74-year age group,while the incidences of MCI and AD are highest in 85-100-year age group.Compared to patients with AAMI,the more serious fundus arteriosclerosis and higher allele frequency of APOEε4 appear in patients with MCI.

Objective To explore the prevalence of self reposed mania/hypomania symptoms of depressive disorders and the difference between the two self-rating symptoms questionnaires in setting of psychiatric clinic of a general hospital.Methods 102 outpatients who were diagnosed with depressive disorders by ICD-10 in department of psychiatry of Tongji Hospital of Tongji University were continuously investigated and fulfilled the Chinese Version mood disorder questionnaire(CV-MDQ)and the Chinese Version 32 items hypomania check list(CVHCL-32).The positive mania symptoms were elevated with at least seven positive mania items reported by the CVMDQ.The positive hypomania symptoms were elevated with at least fourteen positive hypomania items reported by the CV-HCL-32.Results The internal consistency(Cronbach alpha)of the CV-MDQ was 0.808(95% CI=0.767～0.845,P<0.01).The internal consistency(Cmnbach alpha) of the CV-HCL-32 was 0.916(95% CI=0.898～0.930,P<0.01).11 patients(10.8%) reported positive mania symptoms by the CV-MDQ.14 patients (13.7%)had been reported positive hypomania symptoms through the CV-HCL-32.The ability of discriminating mania or hypomania between the two scales was significantly different(Kappa=0.227,P<0.05).Compared to the patients who were reported negative hypomania symptoms by the CV-HCL-32.the 11 patients with positive hypomania symptoms by the CV-HCL-32 had much earlier age in first episode(35.0 vs 50.5,z=-2.065,P<0.05),much longer months in total disease course(60.0 vs 22.0,z=-2.102,P<0.05)and present episode (12.0 vs 6.0,z=-2.180,P<0.05),and much higher frequency of relapse(2.5 vs 1.0,z=-2.168,P<0.05),but no significant differences at age,gender and education.No significant differences appeared between CV-MDQ positive and negative group.Conclusion Mania or hypomania symptoms may be screened by CV-MDQ and CV-HCL-32 from the outpatients with depressive disorders who are diagnosed by ICD-10 in general hospital.whether CV-HCL-32 is superior to CV-MDQ when screening bipolar Ⅱ disorder is worthly further study.

Objective To evaluate the role of plasma IL-37 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Plasma biomarkers IL-37, CRP and NT-proBNP levels were measured in 40 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA group), 65 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UA group), 47 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI group) and 60 control patients. Results The plasma IL-37, CRP and NT-proBNP levels were significantly increased in patients with ACS patients. A correlation analysis showed that the plasma IL-37 levels were positively correlated with the levels of CRP and NT-proBNP, and negatively correlated with LVEF. Conclusions The results indicated that the plasma IL-37 levels are associated with the onset of ACS symptoms.

Objective: To study the dynamic changes of type Th22 cell immunological response during atherosclerosis process in experimental mice in order to provide a new theoretical basis for atherosclerosis therapy. Methods: 8 weeks C57BL/6J mice were divided into 2 groups: Experiment group,n=24 ApoE-/- mice and Control group, n=24 normal mice. All animals received high fat diet and the following indexes were compared between 2 groups at 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks after treatment: aortic atherosclerotic lesions were deifned by Oil red O staining, dynamic changes of Th22 cells in spleen were measured by lfow cytometry, mRNA expressions of interleukin-22 (IL-22), IL-22R1, AhR and T-bet in aorta were examined by RT-PCR, blood levels of IL-22 was detected by ELISA. Results: Compared with Control group, Experiment group had the increased area of aortic atherosclerosis (the ratio of plaque area/lumen area) and Th22 cell (CD4+ IL-22+/CD4+T cell) amount, elevated mRNA expressions of IL-22, IL-22R1, AHR, T-bet in aorta and higher blood levels of IL-22 at all time points, the differences between each time point (except 0 week) had the statistic meaning,P<0.05. In Experiment group, the differences between 2 adjacent time points, for the area of aortic atherosclerosis and mRNA expressions of AHR, T-bet: 4 weeks vs 0 week, 8 weeks vs 4 weeks, 12 weeks vs 8 weeks all had statistic meaning; for Th22 cell amount: 4 weeks vs 0 week, 8 weeks vs 4 weeks had statistic meaning and 12 weeks vs 8 weeks had no real distinction; for mRNA expressions of IL-22, IL-22R1 and blood levels of IL-22: 4 weeks vs 0 week had statistic meaning and 8 weeks vs 4 weeks, 12 weeks vs 8 weeks had no real distinctions. Conclusion: Hyperactive immunological response of Th22 cells might be involved in atherosclerosis process, the relevant mechanism should be further studied.

Objective To investigate the value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and liver-type fatty acid-binding proteins (L-FABP) in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation. Methods During 2007-2008, 25 liver transplant recipients were recruited. Blood and urinary samples were collected before operation and at 2, 4, 6,12, 24, 48, 72, 120 h after portal vein opening, and used to determine serum creatinine (Scr), as well as urinary NGAL and L-FABP, which were normalized to urinary creatinine. According to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria of AKI, all the patients were divided into AKI and non-AKI groups. Standard statistics were used along with ROC analysis to evaluate the diagnose value of selected markers. Results There were no significant differences in clinical parameters between non-AKI (n=14) and AKI (n=11) groups. Both groups had a transient rise in Scr 2-12 hours after surgery, but the rise lasted longer in AKI patients (2-24 hours). While urinary L-FABP rose transiently in both groups 2-120 hours following surgery, urinary NGAL was only slightly elevated at 2 h in the non-AKI group, but rose and stayed high from 2 to 6 h in the AKI group.ROC analysis revealed that NGAL (cut-off 43.02, 26.97 and 17.19 ng/mgCr, AUC 0.766, 0.773 and 0.773 at 2, 4 and 6 h, respectively) was better than L-FABP (cut-off 3451.75 ng/mgCr, AUC 0.760 at 4 h). Conclusion Urinary NGAL appears to be a sensitive and specific marker of AKI in liver transplant recipients, but these data need to be validated in larger prospective studies.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of vaginal color Doppler flow parameters in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer in different FIGO staging.Methods:178 patients with ovarian tumors who were treated by surgery in Dingzhou People’s Hospital from Jul. 2016 to Jul. 2022 were selected, and they were divided into ovarian cancer group (65 cases) and ovarian cyst group (113 cases) according to the results of postoperative pathological diagnosis. According to FIGO staging standards, ovarian cancer was divided into FIGO stage I (18 cases) , FIGO stage II (16 cases) , FIGO stage III (16 cases) and FIGO stage IV (15 cases) . The blood flow parameters of vaginal color Doppler ultrasound were measured, including arterial pulsatility index (PI) , end diastolic flow velocity (EDV) , resistance index (RI) , peak flow velocity (PSV) , serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and human epididymal epithelial secretory protein 4 (HE4) . The levels of PI, EDV, RI, PSV, VEGF and HE4 were compared between the two groups and patients with different FIGO stages, and the value of ROC analysis of vaginal color Doppler flow parameters in predicting the occurrence of ovarian cancer was analyzed. The correlation between FIGO stage and vaginal color Doppler flow parameters and serum VEGF and HE4 levels was analyzed by person coefficient.Results:PI and RI levels in ovarian cancer group were (0.79 ± 0.15) , and (0.39 ± 0.12) , lower than those in ovarian cyst group (1.51 ± 0.17) , (0.72 ± 0.16) ; EDV, PSV, HE4, VEGF levels were (13.88 ± 4.18) cm/s, (25.61 ± 4.53) cm/s, (283.92 ± 28.97) pmol/L, and (372.55 ± 38.96) ng/mL, higher than those in ovarian cyst group ( P<0.05) . According to ROC analysis, the best cutoff values of transvaginal color Doppler blood flow parameters for predicting the occurrence of ovarian cancer were PI<1.235, EDV≥10.985 cm/s, RI<0.580, PSV≥22.975cm/s, all P<0.05. The levels of PI and RI in patients with different FIGO stages showed a decreasing trend with the increase of the severity of the disease, while the levels of EDV, HE4 and VEGF showed an increasing trend ( P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in PSV levels between patients with different FIGO stages ( P>0.05) . The correlation analysis showed that FIGO stage was positively correlated with the blood flow parameters EDV and the levels of serum HE4 and VEGF. FIGO stage was negatively correlated with PI and RI ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:There were significant differences in the levels of PI, RI and EDV in patients with ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer at different FIGO stages. The levels of PI, RI and EDV are closely related to the malignant degree of ovarian cancer.

Objective To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double-marker test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Methods This prospective national multi-centered study used alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin( free β-hCG)as the serum markers. From May 2004 to September 2006, 11 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free β-hCG between 14 and 20+6 weeks of pregnancy. The screening results were calculated using the standard algorithm based on the standard database provided with the analytic software. Patients with an increased risk of Down's syndrome pregnancy (≥1/270) were offered genetic anmiocentesis. Outcomes of all pregnancies were obtained.Results A total of 66 132 singleton pregnancies were included in the study. The median maternal age was 27 years. At a cut-eft of 1 in 270, the detection rate (DR) based on a Caucasian database was 72% corresponding to a false positive rate (FPR) of 5%, and the DR based on the Chinese database was raised to 76% corresponding to an FPR of 5%. Conclusion The double-marker test using AFP and free β-hCG is an effective screen strategy for second-trimester detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Ethnic variance exists between the Caucasian and Chinese populations. The accuracy of screening is increased by the use of race-specific medians.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy, safety and risk factors of endoscopic treatment for patients with early gastric cancer. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in a single center and data was collected from 186 early gastric cancers in 168 pathologically confirmed patients who received endoscopic treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2006 to December 2015. The cases were divided into different groups according to indications of endoscopic treatment. The curative resection rate and complication rate were analyzed. Post-resection outcomes were evaluated by long-term surveillance. Results The curative resection rate was 86. 9%( 73/84) in the group with absolute indications, 61. 7%(50/81)in the group with expanded indications, and 33. 3%(7/21) in the group beyond indications (P＜0. 01). Multivariate analysis revealed that the significant independent predictors for curative resection included lower third location of stomach, no ulceration,≤2 cm at diameter, no adhesion, and well-differentiation in histopathology. In the expanded indications group, discordance of differentiation type and deeper invasion mainly resulted in non-curative resection in en bloc lesions. The rate of bleeding and perforation was 4. 8%( 9/186) and 3. 8%( 7/186), respectively. The perforation rate was significantly lower in the lesions located in the lower third of stomach, without adhesion or performed by en bloc resection. During a median follow-up period of 22. 3 months, 154 patients were followed successfully. The incidence of synchronous and metachronous gastric cancers in curative resected lesions was 7. 5%( 8/106) and 0. 9%(1/106), respectively. Conclusion Endoscopic resection is an optimal treatment with high curative resection rate for early gastric cancer patients with absolute indications. Patients with expanded indications should take precise preoperative evaluation to avoid higher risk of non-curative resection endoscopically. Close follow-up is necessary for synchronous and metachronous gastric cancers after endoscopic resection.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and mutation spectrum of monogenic diseases in Chinese population through a large-scale,multicenter carrier screening.Methods This study was conducted among a total of 33 104 participants(16 610 females)from 12 clinical centers across China.Carrier status for 223 genes was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and different PCR methods.Results The overall combined carrier frequency was 55.58%for 197 autosomal genes and 1.84%for 26 X-linked genes in these participants.Among the 16 669 families,874 at-risk couples(5.24%)were identified.Specifically,584 couples(3.50%)were at risk for autosomal genes,306(1.84%)for X-linked genes,and 16 for both autosomal and X-linked genes.The most frequently detected autosomal at-risk genes included GJB2(autosomal recessive deafness type 1A,393 couples),HBA1/HBA2(α-thalassemia,36 couples),PAH(phenylketonuria,14 couples),and SMN1(spinal muscular atrophy,14 couples).The most frequently detected X-linked at-risk genes were G6PD(G6PD deficiency,236 couples),DMD(Duchenne muscular dystrophy,23 couples),and FMR1(fragile X syndrome,17 couples).After excluding GJB2 c.109G>A,the detection rate of at-risk couples was 3.91%(651/16 669),which was lowered to 1.72%(287/16 669)after further excluding G6PD.The theoretical incidence rate of severe monogenic birth defects was approximately 4.35‰(72.5/16 669).Screening for a battery of the top 22 most frequent genes in the at-risk couples could detect over 95%of at-risk couples,while screening for the top 54 genes further increased the detection rate to over 99%.Conclusion This study reveals the carrier frequencies of 223 monogenic genetic disorders in the Chinese population and provides evidence for carrier screening strategy development and panel design tailored to the Chinese population.In carrier testing,genetic counseling for specific genes or gene variants can be challenging,and the couples need to be informed of these difficulties before testing and provided with options for not screening these genes or gene variants.