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.

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.

Objective: To investigate the effect of mitoxantrone (MIT) on calreticulin (CRT) expression in B16 cells, and to observe the immune effect of B16-membrane antigen vaccine highly expressing CRT on B16 tumor-bearing mice. Methods: The expression of CRT on membrane of B16 cells was detected by immunofluorescence after treatment with different concentrations of MIT. B16-implanted mouse model was established, and the growth of B16-implanted tumors and CRT expression in B16-implanted tumor tissues were observed after treatment with different concentrations of MIT. Membrane antigen vaccines from both normal B16 cells and MIT-treated B16 cells were prepared, and mice were immunized before B16 cell implantation. The infiltration of immune cells into B16 tumor tissues and the ratios of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T cells in the spleen of B16 tumor-bearing mice were examined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: Flow cytometry results showed that MIT dose-dependently increased CRT expression on B16 cell membrane, with CRT expression in control and high dosage MIT groups being (29.40±3.57)% and (72.20±2.94)% (P<0.05), respectively. MIT also increased CRT expression in B16 tumor tissues, with those in the control and high dosage MIT groups being 3.21±1.37 and 9.17±1.06 (P<0.05), respectively. MIT effectively inhibited the growth of B16 tumors (P<0.05). Compared with normal B16 cell membrane antigen vaccine, the vaccine highly expressing CRT increased the numbers of DCs and T cells in B16 tumors tissues and the ratios of CD4~+ and CD8(+) T cells in the spleen (P<0.05). Conclusion: MIT can increase CRT expression on membrane of B16 cells. B16-membrane antigen vaccine highly expressing CRT can enhance the infiltration of DCs and T cells in melanoma, thus improving the immune effect of B16-membrane antigen vaccine.

Infectious clone is a useful tool in exploring viral replication and pathogenesis. In order to prevent linear PCV2 cyclization, PCR mutagenesis was used to construct the first molecular clone (pSK-2PCV2) by ligating two copies of the complete PCV2 genome with the pBluescript SK (pSK) vector. In addition, pSK-PCV2 and ds-PCV2 were constructed. PK-15 cells were transfected with above three infectious clones. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed that the virus antigen mainly localized in infected cell nucleolus and cytoplasm. PCV2 specific nucleotide fragment in cell culture was amplified by RT-PCR. Typical porcine circovirus particles with diameter about 17 nm were also observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) in the infected cells. The rescued virus sequences from the cultures had 100% homology with the inserting PCV2 genome. The rescued virus shared similar properties with that of the parental virus. The study establishes a platform for further research on the virus molecular biology and pathogenicity.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Circoviridae Infections ; virology ; Circovirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; physiology ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Swine ; Transfection ; Virulence ; Virus Replication

2,3,5,4'-tetra-hydroxystilbene-2-O-glucoside (THSG), the water-soluble active components extracted from dried tuber root of Polygonum multiflorum (Polygonaceae), can promote the release of nitric oxide (NO) from vascular endothelial cells and has strong antioxidation. The postconditioning's protection of THSG on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury and the mechanism were investigated. After reperfusion for 3 h following occlusion of rat left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min, SαT recovery speed, arrhythmia and cardiac infarct size were observed.The ischemic size and infarct size was identified by using Evans blue and TTC staining methods respectively. The results showed that the infarct size in THSG 7. 5 mg/kg postconditioning group was significantly decreased from 43.6 %±9.1 % in mode group to 16.5 %±6.5 % (P＜0.01).SαT recovery was quicker and the incidence of arrhythmia (55.6 % vs 100 %, P＜0.05) was significantly lower than in control group. The infarct size in THSG+glybenclamide group was greater than in THSG group, but equivalent to that in control group (46.8 %±9.8 % vs 43.6 %±9. 1 %, P ＞0. 05), SαT recovery speed slower and the incidence of arrhythmia also lower (33. 3 % vs 100 %, P＜0. 01), suggesting that glybenclamide could abolish the effects of THSG postconditioning reducing the cardiac infart size. It was concluded that THSG administration before reperfusion could effectively alleviate the cardiac reperfusion injury and possessed the postconditioning effects of reducing cardiac infarct size, which might be related with the KATP channel opening.

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of VP1-VP4 genes carried by cox-sackievirus A6 (CVA6) strains isolated from severe cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shenzhen during 2012 to 2015. -ethods The VP1-VP4 genes of CVA6 strains isolated from severe HFMD cases in Shenzhen during 2012 to 2015 were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to analyze the VP1-VP4 genes of CVA6 isolates and sequences downloaded from GenBank by using DNASTAR6. 0 and MEGA6. 02 software packages. Results Four cases of severe HFMD were caused by CVA6 in Shenzhen during 2012 to 2015. All of the patients had the symptom of fever, skin rash and aseptic encephalitis. The CVA6 strain causing severe HFMD in 2013 shared 98. 8％-98. 9％ homology in nucleotide sequences and 99. 3％-99. 8％ in amino acid sequences with the strains isolated in 2012. Two amino acid mutations were found in the CVA6 strain isolated in 2013, which were G73E in VP2 region and S13G in VP1 region. However, the CVA6 strain isolated in 2015 only shared 95. 0％ homology in nucleotide sequences and 99. 3％ homology in amino acid sequences with the strain isolated in 2013. Six amino acid mutations were identified including E73G in VP2 region and T5A, S27N, A30V, N137S and V242I in VP1 region. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the four CVA6 strains belong to D3 sub-genotype. The CVA6 strains causing severe cases in 2012 had the nearest genetic relationship with the strain isolated in Changsha in 2012 (KJ156349). The CVA6 strain isolated in Shenzhen in 2013 had the nearest genetic relationship with the strain isolated in Shanghai in 2013 (KJ612513). The Shenzhen CVA6 isolate in 2015 showed high similarity to Weifang CVA6 isolate in 2014 (KX752785). Conclusions All CVA6 strains causing severe HFMD ca-ses in Shenzhen during 2012 to 2015 belongs to D3 sub-genotype. Mutations of S27N and A30V in the VP1 region of the CVA6 isolate in 2015 are located in the B cell epitopes. In addition, the VP1-V242I mutation in the CVA6 strain isolated in 2015 is located in the binding site of PSGL-1 receptor. These mutations may affect the binding of CVA6 strains to the cellular receptors and their infectivity to people.

Objective: To investigate the imaging characteristics and the cause for the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of epidermoid cyst in intrapancreatic accessory spleen (ECIPAS) in order to improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 8 patients with ECIPAS confirmed by pathology in Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital between June 2008 and February 2018 were collected. The reason for doctor visit included CA19-9 elevation (n=1) and pancreatic occupying mass (n=9) during physical examination and no obvious symptoms were reported. CT and MRI imaging features, diagnosis and treatment were analyzed. Results: The lesions in 8 cases of ECIPAS were all located in the tail of the pancreas and were cystic and solid. The lesions in 3 cases were mainly cystic and the cystic wall was linear, whose CT density, MRI signal and enhancement pattern cannot be compared with those of the spleen. Solid components can be seen in 5 cases, and the CT density or MR signal of the solid part was similar to that of the spleen. After enhancement, the solid part at the artery stage was uniformly enhanced and the enhancement degree was higher than that of the pancreas. Similar to the spleen, it was uniformly enhanced at the portal vein stage and the enhancement degree of the spleen was consistent. All 8 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic neoplastic lesions before surgery, and 1 patient had pancreatic fistula and peripancreatic necrosis after surgery. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of ECIPAS. Conclusions Improving the radiologists and clinicians′ cognition of the imaging manifestations of ECIPAS can improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgery due to misdiagnosis.

Objectiveto investigate the differential expression of intestinal flora and serum metabolites and potential biomarkers in patients with pre-diabetic sputum syndrome. MethodA total of 34 patients with pre-diabetic sputum syndrome were included as the phlegm syndrome group，and 37 healthy people were selected as the normal group. Serum and fecal samples of the two groups were collected，and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS） non-targeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology were used to detect serum metabolites and different intestinal flora of the two groups and explore the relationship among pre-diabetic sputum syndrome，serum metabolites，and intestinal flora. ResultIn the distribution of disease syndrome elements in the phlegm syndrome group，the first five disease syndrome elements in terms of frequency and proportion were dampness （73.53%），Qi stagnation （58.82%），Yin deficiency （50.00%），blood stasis （41.18%），and heat （35.29%）. According to the frequency and proportion of disease location syndrome elements，the first three main disease location syndrome elements were spleen （100.00%），liver （41.18%），and kidney （23.53%）. The results of 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing showed that there were 44 different intestinal flora between the two groups. In order genus，there were significant differences in Bifidobacterium，Veillonococcus，and Roseococcus between the two groups （P<0.05）. The diversity，abundance，and evenness of intestinal flora in the phlegm syndrome group were lower than those in the normal group，with the difference not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the community structure between two groups. The results of serum metabolomics showed that there were 13 differential metabolites in the two groups，which were mainly concentrated in amino acid metabolism，bile secretion，bile acid biosynthesis，and lipid metabolism （P<0.05）. The correlation among differential metabolites，intestinal flora，and syndrome elements was analyzed，and the results showed that ① lysine was positively correlated with spleen，Yin deficiency，and blood stasis，while taurocholic acid was positively correlated with liver，kidney，blood stasis，and dampness，and there was a positive correlation between taurocholic acid and yin deficiency and heat. The taurochenodeoxycholic acid was positively correlated with liver and dampness，and there was a negative correlation between arachidonic acid and dampness，as well as a positive correlation between glucose and spleen and blood stasis. ② Clostridium was positively correlated with spleen，kidney，Yin deficiency，and Qi stagnation. Rosepiella was negatively correlated with spleen，and Sutterella was negatively correlated with dampness. Bacteroides was negatively correlated with the spleen and kidney，and Bifidobacterium was negatively correlated with the spleen and dampness. ③ Bifidobacterium was positively correlated with glycine，threonine，lysine，and deoxycholic acid significantly，negatively correlated with cholic acid significantly，and positively correlated with taurochenodeoxycholic acid and pyruvic acid. Clostridium was positively correlated with glycine significantly and positively correlated with threonine and lysine. Lachnospira was negatively correlated with glycine，threonine，and pyruvic acid. Lysine was also negatively correlated with Faecalibacterium and Eubacterium ventriosum and positively correlated with Megamonas. There was a positive correlation between taurocholic acid and glycine bile acid and Campylobacter，between taurochenodeoxycholic acid and Veillonococcus，and between glucose and Rosepiella and Eubacterium ventriosum. There was a negative correlation between pyruvic acid and Escheria-Shigella and between taurochenodeoxycholic acid and Prevotella. Conclusionthere are differences in intestinal flora and serum metabolites between patients with pre-diabetic sputum syndrome and healthy people. The intestinal flora and metabolites have been disturbed in the stage of pre-diabetes，Bifidobacterium，Clostridium，Lachnospira，glycine，threonine，and lysine may be the breakthrough to explore the development of pre-diabetic sputum syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the number of dissected lymph nodes and the incidence of injury to parathyroid glands during surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in young patients.

METHODSThis study collected clinicopathological data of 51 young patients with PTC. Of the 51 patients, 18 patients were classified into carbon nanoparticles group (CNP group) and 33 patients into traditional surgical group (TS group). The number of dissected lymph nodes and the incidence of injury to parathyroid glands were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square test.

RESULTSThere were 16 males and 35 females, with a male/female ratio of 1: 2.19. The age ranged from 14 to 29 (25 ± 3.9) years. There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, T-classification, TNM stage and surgical procedures between two groups (P > 0.05). The total number of dissected lymph nodes in CNP group was higher than that in TS group (Z = -2.258, P < 0.05) . However, significant difference in the total number of metastatic lymph nodes between the two groups was not found (Z = -0.396, P > 0.05). In level VI, the detected lymph node number of group CNP was higher than that of TS group (Z = -2.461, P < 0.05) but there was no significant difference in the detected number of metastatic lymph nodes (Z = -1.396, P > 0.05) . The rates of injury to parathyroid gland were 5.5% in CNP group and 18.2% in TS group, respectively (χ(2) = 1.568, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCarbon nanoparticles could be an effective lymph nodes tracer applying to PTC operation in young patients.

Carbon ; Carcinoma ; therapy ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Parathyroid Glands ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; therapy

OBJECTIVEA Dengue outbreak was reported in Dongfen town Jianou county, Fujian province on September 19, 2014. The goal of this project was to explore the role of syndromic surveillance program in the practice of early detection on disease outbreak through the case mentioned above.

METHODSThe authors retrospectively collected data related to Outpatient log and Pharmacy drug use in Dongfen township hospital through the electronic information system of the hospital from August to November, 2014. All the abnormal events were recorded, according to related data on fever and drug use. Description of fever, syndromic characteristics, correlation and Linear regression analyses were conducted, using the surveillance data on fever syndrome and drug use from the pharmacy.

RESULTSA total of 1 102 cases with fever and 2 437 fever-related clinic visits were reported which showing an increased number of 19.6, 10.2 times respectively, when compared to the same period of the previous year in which men accounted for 45.3% (499/1 102) and female accounted for 54.7% (603/1 102). Age groups presented an atypical type " M" type. 5 and 10 year olds groups formed the largest proportion, accounted for 11.5% (127/1 102) of the total number os the patients. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.85 to 0.97 (P<0.05). Data from the syndromic surveillance program showed an " outbreak" was occured in August 23, 2014.

CONCLUSIONSCompared to routine surveillance program, the syndromic surveillance program could detect the appearence of an outbreak, a month or even more earlier. The role of syndromic surveillance program needs to be further explored.

Data Collection ; Dengue ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Drug Prescriptions ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Utilization ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Health Information Systems ; Humans ; Male ; Pharmacy Service, Hospital ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Retrospective Studies