Objective To evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of the long U-shaped hollow pedicle screw system for percutaneous fixation of thoracolumbar fractures.Methods Models of vertebral compression fracture were created by flexion in 8 fresh cadaveric samples of thoracolumbar spine.The models were divided into 2 equal groups according to the fixation system applied.In group A conventional pedicle screws were used while in group B long U-shaped hollow pedicle screws were used.The yield compressive strength,axial compression stiffness,bending stiffness,torque and torsional stiffness of all the fixated spines in the 2 groups were tested by the bio-mechanical electrical measurement and compared as well.Results The conventional pedicle screws and long U-shaped hollow pedicle screws showed no significant differences regarding yield compressive strength (3450.02 ± 110.03 MPa vs.3430.04 ± 102.12 MPa),axial compressionstiffness (407.52 ± 33.02 N/mm vs.395.04 ± 26.46 N/mm),bending stiffness (305.14 ± 26.53 N · cm/Degvs.295.12±23.80 N · cm/Deg),torque (6.45±0.25 N · m vs.6.25±0.21 N · m) or torsional stiffness (0.54±0.04N·cm/Degvs.0.52±0.03N·cm/Deg) (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion The long U-shaped hollow pedicle screw system can satisfy the biomechanical requirements for fixation of thoracolumbar fractures and can function as well as the conventional pedicle screw system.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of isometric neck strength training for the treatment of neck-type cervical syndrome.Methods The qualified patients with neck-type cervical syndrome were divided into two groups by stratified randomization: the treatment group(N=55)received isometric neck strength training,and the control group(N=40) received manipulation treatment.Two weeks constituted one treatmeat course.Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Vernon Cervical Disability Index(VCDI) were used to evaluate the efficacy,and the safety was also monitored.Results All of the 95 enrolled patients were followed up for 3~11.4 months.No aggravation was found in the treatment group,but in the control group one patient developed into cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and one patient developed into sympathetic cervical spondylosis.The frequency of serious neck pain attack within 3 months was 6.65?2.62 times in the control group and 2.27?1.50 times in the treatment group,the difference being significant(P0.05);the result of follow-up on the 3rd month after treatment showed that the difference of VCDI score was significant between the two groups(P

BACKGROUND:Current research has shown that many cellgrowth factors can promote the proliferation and differentiation of epiphysis stem cells, and this regulation is closely related to Sox-9.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of smal interfering RNA-induced specific silence of Sox-9 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of epiphysis stem cells.
METHODS:Epiphysis stem cells were isolated from the ring of La Croix with enzyme digestion and purified with magnetic activated cellsorting, identified by immunocytochemistry assay. The cells in good conditions were selected to be transfected by Sox-9 silenced by smal interfering RNA with fluorescent marker, and then were observed under the fluorescent microscope to check the transfection efficiency. Next step, epiphysis stem cells were divided into 2 groups:group one was cultured normal y as control group;group two was transfected by Sox-9 silenced by smal interfering RNA through LipofectamineTM 2000 as experimental group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The primary epiphysis stem cells were separated and purified, which were of stable growth and tightly attachment. The results of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed the epiphysis stem cells expressed cel-specific markers, fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. After transfection, reverse transcription-PCR results showed that Sox-9 gene expression in epiphysis stem cellwas inhibited specifical y;3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide results showed that cellproliferation in experimental group decreased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.05), and the cellapoptosis detected by flow cytometry showed that the experimental group increased as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Sox-9 gene plays an important role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of rat epiphysis stem cells.

Background Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a primary cause of blurred vision after extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE),and there is a higher incidence of PCO in the patients with diabetes mellitus.Echistatin (Ecs) can suppress the proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and thereby inhibit the formation of PCO.However,its mechanism and safe dose deserve to study.Objective The aim of this study was to observe the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of Ecs on LECs proliferation in the early stage of PCO in diabetic rabbits and explore the safe dose of Ecs.Methods Diabetic mellitus was induced by injection of 90 mg/kg alloxan via ear vein in 15 New Zealand white rabbis.ECCE was performed in the right eyes of the rabbits.The rabbits were randomized to the control group and 5.0,7.5,10.0 and 15.0 μg/ml Ecs group according to randomized number table method.Ecs of 0.2 ml in above doses was injected into the anterior chamber after ECCE in different concentrations of Ecs groups,and 0.2 ml distilled water was used in the same way in the only diabetic rabbits as the control group.Postopeartive response of ocular anterior segment was observed and PCO was graded under the slit lamp microscope.The corneal and retinal specimens were prepared 10 days after operation for the assay of preliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in LECs by immunochemistry to evaluate the effective dose of Ecs.Regular histopathological examination was performed,and apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells and retinal cells was detected by TUNEL method to assess the safe concentration of Ecs.Results Different degrees of corneal edema and exudation in anterior chamber were seen in the eyes of different groups.The inflammatory response disappeared 3-5 days in the control group and 5.0 μg/ml Ecs group and 7 days in the ≥7.5 μg/ml Ecs groups.PCO was 1-2 grade in the control group and 5.0 μg/ml Ecs group and 0 grade in the ≥ 7.5 μg/ml Ecs groups.The difference in the positive expression level (absorbance,A) for PCNA in LECs was significantly different among the control group and various Ecs groups (F=18.006,P=0.001),and the positive expression level of PCNA in the ≥ 7.5 μg/ml Ecs groups was markedly reduced in comparison with that in the control group (P =0.010,0.001).Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed an normal morphology and order arrangement in corneal endothelial cells and intact structure in retinal internal limiting membrane in the groups.TUNEL assay revealed that the apoptosis values (mean A value) of corneal endothelial ceils and retinal cells in the ≤ 10.0 μg/ml Ecs groups were not significantly changed in comparison with the control group (all at P＞0.05),but the apoptosis values in the 15.0 μg/ml Ecs group were markedly higher than those in the control group (P=0.004,0.018).Conclusions Ecs can inhibit the early PCO in diabetic rabbits and show the optimal effect at the concentrations of 7.5 and 10.0 μg/ml without visible eytotoxicity to eye other tissues.Therefore,these two doses of Ees might be used for the study of long-term therapeutic effectiveness.

Objective To investigate the efficacy, technical tip, safety and complication prevention of combining Neuroform stents and Guglielmi detachable coils for treating acute ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms. Methods Among 10 cases who were diagnosed with giant intracranial aneurysms,Neuroform stents were released for supporting the neck of aneurysms, then micro-catheters were inserted into aneurysms through lumina of stents and coils were implanted. Results All the operations were completed successfully. There was no complication in these cases. The aneurysms were packed totally in 9 cases and partly in 1 case.Eight postoperative cases were followed up by 6 to 17 months. Neither bleeding nor thrombus was found, and all the patients recovered well. Conclusion Combining Neuroform stents and Guglielmi detachable coils for treating acute ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms is a safe and effective method.

Objective To observe the effect of contortrostafin on human glioma xengoraft model and explore its mechanism.Method Animal models were established on BALB/c nude mice with subcutaneously transplanted neoplasma of U87 glioma.The nude mice bearing withU87 slioma were devided randomly into two groups,which were treated without drugs or with doses of 40 μg/d.The dimension of xenografts was measured and the living state of nude mice with U87 glioma was observed.The protein expression of microvesel density(MVD),bFGF in each paraff in imbedded xenograft of nude mice bearing with U87 glioma were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Result Contortrostafin inhibited the growth of xenografts in nude mice with U87 glioma(P＜0.05),and the tumor volume was reduced by 50%.Meanwhile the control group highly expressed bFGF at the level of protein,coupling with increase of MVD.Compared with the dissolvent control group,contortrostatin treated group showed lower expression of bFGF,(P＜0.01)and more decrease in MVD(P＜0.01).Conclusion Contortrostatin diffusa has significant inhibitive effect on human glioma xenograft.

Objective To investigate the effects of acute oxidative stress induced by H2O2 on expression of senescence marker protein30 (SMP30) and morphology,survival rate of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs).Methods HLECs were treated with H2O2(0 μmol · L-1,100 μmol · L-1,200 μmol · L-1,300 μmol · L-1) for 24 hours,the acute oxidative stress models were established,the changes of cell morphology was observed,and MTT was used to analyze the cells state,the expressions of SMP30 were measured by Western blot.Results The cell density decreased,morphological changed and viability of cells significant decreased in 100 μmol · L-1 and 200 μmol ·L-1 treated group,the large and round cells appeared,the cell body stretched with unclear boundary.With the H2O2 concentration increased,the viability of cells were gradually decreased in treated group,there were statistical differences compared with 0 μmol · L-1 treated group (all P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression of SMP30 in control group and 100 μmol · L-1 and 200 μmol · L-1 treated group were 0.273 ±0.055,0.464 ± 0.058,0.442 ± 0.050,respectively.There were significant differences between 100 μmol · L-1,200 μmol · L-1 treated group and control group (all P ＜ 0.05),and there was no statistical difference between 100 μmol · L-1 and 200 μmol · L-1 treated group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion SMP30 is up-regulated in HLECs under acute oxidative stress induced by H2O2,the cell morphology is changed,the viability of cells is decreased,and SMP30 may be involved in the process of acute oxidative stress in HLECs.

Objective To compare the effect of Solitaire AB and Enterprise stent-assisted endovascular embolization of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms. Methods The clinical data 218 patients with intracranial aneurysm treated with Solitaire AB stent or Enterprise stent in Guangdong General Hospital from January 2012 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Seventy patients were treated with Solitaire AB stents and 148 were treated with Enterprise stents. They were followed up after procedure (2 months to 2 years). The Raymond grade and the modified Rankin scale (mRS)scores were used to compare the efficacy of the 2 kinds of stents. Results There were no significant differences in patients before procedure in the Hunt-Hess grade (Z = 1. 550,P = 0. 121),Fisher grade (Z =1. 537,P =0. 124),aneurysm size (Z =0. 192,P =0. 848),and position (χ2 = 0. 337,P = 0. 736)between the 2 stent groups,while there were no significant differences in patients after procedure in the instant Raymond grade (Z = 0. 682,P = 0. 495), follow-up Raymond grade (Z = 0. 206,P =0. 837),and mRS score (P =0. 662)between the 2 stent groups. Further multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the stent type (Solitaire AB stent or Enterprise stent),Raymond grade follow-up grade (OR,0. 029 ,95% CI 0. 126 - 0. 199,P = 0. 661 ),and postoperative mRS score (OR,2. 000,95% CI 0. 204 - 19. 603,P = 0. 552)had no influence on the
prognosis. Conclusions In the assisted embolization of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms using the Solitaire AB and Enterprise stents,the effects of both stents are good in the assisted embolization of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms.

Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of viral hepatitis E in Fujian Province from 2012-2021, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of hepatitis E in the future. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze hepatitis E cases in Fujian Province from 2012 to 2021. Results From 2012 to 2021, a total of 8 877 cases of hepatitis E were reported in Fujian Province from 2012-2021. The overall incidence rate showed a decreasing trend (χ2trend =458.14, P<0.001), with the lowest incidence rate of 1.32/100 000 in 2020 and an annual average incidence rate of 2.29/100 000 per year. The incidence was higher in winter and spring, with the months of March and April having the highest number of reported cases (2 146, 24.17%) and the fewest cases were reported in September (571, 6.43%). The difference in reported incidence rates between cities was statistically significant (χ2=1 877.75, P<0.01). The comprehensive experimental zone of Pingtan had the highest average reported incidence rate of 6.03/100 000, while Zhangzhou had the lowest at 0.94/100 000. The number of male cases was higher than the number of female cases, with a male to female ratio of 2.04∶1. The disease was most prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals, with the age group of 40-<65 years having the highest number of reported cases, accounting for 57.44% (5 099/8 877) of all cases. The age group of 50-<55 years had the highest reported incidence, with the number of reported cases increasing with age below 50 years, but decreasing with age over 50 years. As for occupational distribution, peasants had the highest proportion of the disease, accounting for 34.49% (3 062 cases) of the total cases. Conclusions The reported incidence rate of hepatitis E in Fujian showed a downward from 2012 to 2021. Due to the impact of COVID-19, incidence of the lowest was 2020, but it did not reflect the true situation of the disease, which may have affected trend of hepatitis E. In order to control and reduce the incidence of hepatitis E, efforts should be made to increase publicity and education on health knowledge and vaccination among key areas and populations, strengthen monitoring and diagnostic capability, and implement comprehensive prevention and control measures.

Objective To explore the predictive value of plasma cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) for prognosis in patients with sepsis. Methods 105 patients with sepsis admitted to department of emergency of the First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from June 2015 to June 2017 were enrolled. Patients were divided into sepsis group (n = 50) and severe sepsis group (n = 55). At the same time, 50 cases of physical examination center in our hospital were randomly selected as the healthy control group. The differences of cf-DNA, procalcitonin (PCT) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) score among the three groups were compared. The correlation between cf-DNA and PCT or APACHEⅡ were analyzed by Bivarite method. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent predictors of sepsis. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was made to evaluate cf-DNA, PCT, APACHEⅡ alone or combined ability to predict the prognosis of sepsis. Results The PCT, APACHE Ⅱ and cf-DNA in the sepsis group and severe sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group [PCT (μg/L):5.80 (3.28, 8.85), 17.53 (8.40, 29.61) vs. 0.02 (0.01, 0.03); APACHEⅡ: 13.04±3.03, 23.29±8.02 vs. 2.10±1.05;cf-DNA (μg/L): 1 438.0 (1 154.0, 1 576.0), 2 595.0 (2 162.0, 5 198.0) vs. 17.0 (13.0, 20.5); all P﹤0.05], and the indicators in the severe sepsis group were further higher than the sepsis group (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that cf-DNA was significantly positive correlated with PCT [r = 0.675, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.575-0.766, P < 0.001] and APACHEⅡ (r = 0.911, 95%CI = 0.874-0.939, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under ROC curve (AUC) of PCT, APACHEⅡ, cf-DNA, PCT+APACHEⅡ, cf-DNA+PCT, cf-DNA+APACHEⅡ, cf-DNA+PCT+APACHEⅡ to predict the prognosis of sepsis patients were 0.898, 0.905, 0.961, 0.941, 0.974, 0.976 and 0.982, respectively. It was shown that when predicted alone with PCT, APACHEⅡ and cf-DNA, the AUC of cf-DNA was the largest (0.961), the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 81.43%; the combined prediction of cf-DNA with PCT or APACHEⅡ could further increase AUC, and the combined prediction of cf-DNA, PCT and APACHEⅡhad the highest AUC (0.982), the sensitivity was 94.29%, the specificity was 98.57%. Conclusions cf-DNA, PCT and APACHEⅡ have certain predictive value for the prognosis of sepsis. The value of cf-DNA was the highest when predicted alone, but the predictive ability of cf-DNA combined with PCT and APACHEⅡ was the best.