Nowadays,the study of tumor stem cells has become the heatpoint in cancer research.Many experiments have successfully demonstrated the existence of tumor stem cells,which have been isolated from some solid tumors.As the research on the origin of tumor stem cell is developing,the knowledge of the occurrence and development of tumor has become more clear,which will influence the diagnosis and treatment for tumor significantly.Moreover it will bring benefit to the following-up after surgical operation and giving hopes to cancer sufferers.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of thyroid carcinoma in young females,in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Methods The clinical data of 74 consecutive young female patients with thyroid carcinoma treated in our hospital in the recent ten years were analysed.In most of the cases,there was no firm texture or fixation of the thyroid nodules to surrounding structures on physical examination before operation.Ultrasonography was performed in all patients and multiple thyroid nodules were found in 61 cases(82.43%).Thyroid scintiscans were performed in 43 cases,and thyroid nodules were found in 41 cases.The cold,cool and warm nodules were found in 14,18 and 9 cases,respectively,by scintiscans.Fine needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) was performed in 11 cases,and in 2 cases were negative,1 case showed abnormal cell,3 cases were suspicious of carcinoma,and 5 cases were confirmed papillary carcinoma.Results Papillary carcinoma was found in 70 cases,follicular carcinoma in 3 cases and medullary carcinoma in 1 case by histological examination,and benign disease was also accompanied in most cases.Lymph node metastases was found in 28 cases(37.84%),and the rate of metastases was significantly different than that of older female patients(16.46%) at the same time.There were 2 cases who died 3 years after operation because of metastases.Conclusions The lymph node metastases were prevalent in young female patients with thyroid carcinoma.The texture and mobility of the nodules cannot be used to differentiate benign from malignant nodules.We should carefully analyze every nodule found on ultrasonography.For the solid nodules with diameter larger than 1.0cm,we suggest operation;for the non-solid nodules with diameter larger than 2.0cm,we prefer scintiscans and FNAB for diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of three antithrombotic agents on venous thromboembolism (VTE) after unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom November 2011 to March 2014, 149 patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis were reviewed. Among them, there were 66 males and 83 females, ranging in age from 48 to 76 years old. All the cases were randomly divided into three groups including Aspirin group, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) group, and rivaroxaban group, according to antithrombotic agents. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and bleeding complication (including wound ecchymosis, hematoma and other local complications, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, urinary hemorrhage and other major bleeding events) of antithrombotic agents were observed and analyzed statistically at the 6 week, 8 week, and 12 week after operation.

RESULTSAmong patients who received Aspirin (48 cases), 4 patients had DVT, in 1 patient had PE, and 2 patients had bleeding complication. Among 54 patients in low-molecular-weight heparin group, 3 patients had DVT, 1 patient had PE, and 3 patients had bleeding complication. While among those patients received the rivaroxaban (47 cases), 3 patients had DVT, 0 patient had PE, and 11 patients had bleeding complication. There were no statistically differences among three groups on DVT, and PE (P>0.05). The incidence of bleeding complication in rivaroxaban group was higher than the other two antithrombotic agents, and the difference among the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and rivaroxaban could effectively reduce the incidence of VTE after total knee arthroplasty, and their efficacy was similar. Rivaroxaban has a higher incidence of bleeding complication and further clinical trials are required to be conducted to assess the safety of rivaroxaban in clinical.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rivaroxaban ; therapeutic use ; Venous Thromboembolism ; prevention & control

Objective To study the effect of Pinus yunnanensis on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats and explore its mechanism. Methods A model of acute alcoholic liver injury in mice was prepared by alcohol. The mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, positive control group, Pinus yunnanensis low-, medium-and high-dose groups. Mice in the medicine group were given the corresponding medicine by gavage once a day for 7 days. After the last three hours of intragastric administration, the liver and spleen index, ALT, AST and GSH in serum, SOD, MDA and NO in liver homogenates were measured. Histopathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining. Results Compared with model group, Pinecone of Pinus unnanensis high-, medium- and low-dose groups could significantly reduce the liver index in mice (P<0.01), and high dose groups could significantly reduce the number of spleen (P<0.01); The contents of AST in the medium- and high-dose groups significantly decreased (P<0.01) and the GSH activity significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum ALT level, SOD activity, GSH activity and NO content in the liver tissues of Pinus yunnanensis groups (P>0.05). HE staining results showed that, the damage of liver tissue in mice of Pinus yunnanensis was significantly improved compared with the model group. Conclusion Pinus yunnanensis has protective effects on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Chromatography, Gas ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; chemistry ; Phosphines ; analysis ; blood ; poisoning

OBJECTIVERadial corrective osteotomy is an established but challenging treatment for distal radial malunion. There is an ongoing discussion about whether an opening or closing-wedge osteotomy between should employed. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively compare the clinical and radio graphic results between conventional opening-wedge osteotomy and closing-wedge technique.

METHODSFrom January 2004 and December 2012,42 patients with extra-articular distal radial malunion were managed with corrective osteotomy and were followed for a minimum of one year. Twenty-two patients (5 males and 17 females, ranging in age from 25 to 75 years old) were managed with radial opening-wedge osteotomy and implanting of interpositional bone graft or bone-graft substitute, and twenty patients (4 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 19 to 79 years) were managed with simultaneous radial closing-wedge and ulnar shortening osteotomy without bone graft. The selection of the surgical procedure was determined by the surgeon. Each patient was evaluated on the basis of objective radio graphic measurements, and functional outcomes were determined on the basis of clinical examinations, including range of wrist motion, grip strength, pain-rating score, Mayo wrist score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score.

RESULTSThe mean duration of follow-up was 36 months (ranged, 12 to 101 months) for the opening-wedge cohort and 28 months (ranged, 12 to 87 months) for the closing-wedge cohort. The two techniques were comparable in terms of complications. Post-operative volar tilt and ulnar variance were improved significantly in each cohort. The ulnar variance was more frequently restored to within defined criteria (22.5 to 0.5 mm) in the closing-wedge cohort than that in the opening-wedge cohort. The post-operative mean extension-flexion are of the wrist and Mayo wrist score were significantly better in the closing-wedge cohort. Differences in the pronation-supination arc, grip strength, pain-rating score, and DASH scores between these two cohorts were not significant.

CONCLUSIONThe closing wedge osteotomy technique is an effective reconstructive procedure for the treatment of extra-articular distal radial malunion. It is significantly better than the opening-wedge osteotomy technique in terms of the restoration of ulnar variance, the extension-flexion arc of wrist motion, and the Mayo wrist score.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Nails ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Wrist Joint ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIt has been known that the intrahepatic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a key role in the fibrogenesis in livers. Aldosterone (Aldo), the principal effector molecule of the RAAS, exerts local effects on cell growth and fibrogenesis. However, the signal transduction mechanisms underlying the effects of Aldo on hepatic fibrogenesis remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the signal transduction mechanism underlying the effects of Aldo on the signal passageway of active protein-1 (AP-1).

METHODSIn vitro, HSCs-T6 cell line was treated with Aldo for 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and 180 min, and protein expression of Phospho-P42/44 was detected by Western blot. In addition, HSCs-T6 cell line was preincubated for 60 min or not with U0126 (an inhibitor of the MAPK/ERK kinase), and also with antioxidant-N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prior to exposure to Aldo for the indicated times. Protein expression of Phospho-P42/44 was measured by Western blot. DNA biding activity of AP-1 was analyzed by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA). By means of RT-PCR, expression of alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA was detected.

RESULTSAldo stimulated HSC via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. Time course experiments showed that Aldo induced Phospho-P42/44 expression, which was abrogated by U0126, reaching a maximum at 10 minutes, and then declined progressively. NAC inhibited the Phospho-P42/44 expression. EMSA showed that stimulation of HSC by Aldo markedly increased AP-1 DNA binding activity. U0126 markedly reduced AP-1 DNA binding activity induced by Aldo; NAC partly decreased AP-1 activity induced by Aldo. Aldo up-regulated expression of alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA, which was attenuated by U0126 and NAC.

CONCLUSIONStimulation of HSC by Aldo results in activation of AP-1 via ERK1/2 pathway, leading to up-regulation of AP-1 target gene alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA expression.

Aldosterone ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:The rabbit model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) has been successfully established by glucocorticoid combined with lipopolysaccharide.OBJECTIVE:To observe the dynamic changes of bone mass in the early steroid-induced ON FH.METHODS:Twenty-four adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=12 per group).Rabbits in the experimental group were injected with lipopolysaccharide and glucocorticoid to establish the model of ONFH,while those in the control group given the same volume of normal saline.The changes in the femoral head structure,morphology and distribution of the trabecular bone at 5,1 0,15 and 20 days after modeling were observed through multi-slice spiral CT,micro-CT and hematoxylin-eosin staining;the bone mineral density and rate of empty lacunae were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The imaging examinations showed that the rabbit femoral head was intact and smooth in both groups;on days 15 and 20,in the experimental group,the cortical bone became thinner,the trabecular bone became sparse and discontinuous,and the bone mineral density,tissue mineral density and bone volume/total volume were significantly lower than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.01).The histological observation indicated that there were more empty lacunae and adipocytes,as well as less osteocytes and hematopoietic cells in the experimental group;the rate of empty lacunae in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group on days 15 and 20 (P ＜ 0.01).These findings suggest that in the early stage of ONFH,necrotic osteocytes increase in number,accompanied by trabecular micro-fractures,which leads to a decrease in bone mineral density,eventually resulting in bone remodeling disturbance.

Objective To explore the relationship between social participation and needs for rehabilitation of the disabled in Guangdong Province and to make a proposal for developing the rehabilitation strategies. Meth-ods The data of the Second National Sample Survey of Disabled Persons in Guangdong Province was used in this study. Ranked data analysis was made with the sub-items of the social participation assessment and the main needs of the disabled individuals. Results Significantly statistical differences were revealed with regard to the constitu-ent ratio of needs for rehabilitation services among people with different degrees of difficulties in social participation caused by hearing and visual impairments as well as physical and mental disabilities. No significant difference was found in terms of the constituent ratio of rehabilitation needs among those with difficulties in speech and those with psychiatric diseases. The major rehabilitation needs focused on medical service, assistive apparatus support and functional trainings. Conclusions The rehabilitation needs were different among different categories of disabled persons. Rehabilitation services should be provided accordingly.

Objective To evaluate the early diagnostic value of circulating microRNA-1 (miR-1) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted. The patients with chest pain admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Wuxi from November 2012 to June 2015 were enrolled. According to AMI diagnostic criteria, the patients were divided into AMI group and non-AMI group, and healthy individuals during the same period were served as heath controls. The venous samples of the onset patients were collected within 3 hours after admission. The plasma miR-1 was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the levels of plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) were measured by electrochemiluminescence. The correlation between plasma miR-1 and cTnI as well as CK-MB was performed by Spearman analysis. The early diagnostic performance of plasma miR-1, cTnI, and CK-MB for AMI was estimated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results There were 127 patients in AMI group, and 107 in non-AMI group, including 82 patients with angina pectoris, 2 with pulmonary embolism, 3 with aortic dissection, 2 with acute pericarditis, 3 with myocarditis, 13 with acute heart failure, and 2 with peptic ulcer. Ninety volunteers were served as healthy controls. There was no difference in clinical characteristics including gender and hyperlipidemia between AMI group and non-AMI group. The expressions of plasma miR-1, cTnI and CK-MB were significantly increased in AMI patients as compared with those of the healthy controls [miR-1 (2-ΔΔCt): 4.32±2.60 vs. 1.44±0.75 and 0.98±0.18, cTnI (μg/L): 3.23 (0.63, 10.70) vs. 0.02 (0.00, 0.17) and 0.00 (0.00, 0.00), CK-MB (U/L): 32.40 (14.20, 95.40) vs. 14.40 (11.20, 17.10) and 8.90 (8.28, 9.50), all P < 0.01]. The expression of plasma miR-1 had a significantly positive correlation with cTnI and CK-MB in AMI patients (r1 = 0.395, r2 = 0.490, both P < 0.000). It was demonstrated by ROC curve analysis that the area under ROC curve (AUC) for the diagnostic value of miR-1 on AMI was 0.905 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.860-0.950, P = 0.000], the sensitivity was 86.6%, and the specificity was 95.4%; the AUC for cTnI was 0.908 (95%CI = 0.870-0.946, P = 0.000), the sensitivity was 81.9%, and the specificity was 95.9%; the AUC for CK-MB was 0.795 (95%CI = 0.736-0.854, P = 0.000), the sensitivity was 63.0%, and the specificity was 92.9%. Conclusions Plasma miR-1 has the capacity in early diagnosis of AMI, superior to CK-MB, and equal to cTnI. It can provide additional diagnostic information beyond cTnI. The diagnostic accuracy for early AMI can be improved with the combination of plasma miR-1 and cTnI.