BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is a kind of commonly seen spinal deformity, and as a recommended therapy,autologous bone graft has obtained satisfactory outcomes, but there are still some limitations.OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of allogeneic bone and autologous iliac bone graft for scoliosis.METHODS: Ninety-two patients with scoliosis received posterior pedicle screw fixation and selective spinal fusion:46 cases for autologous bone transplantation (control group), and the others for allogeneic bone transplantation (observation group). The clinical indexes, Cobb angle loss rate, bone graft fusion and adverse reactions in the two groups were evaluated postoperatively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The recovery time of the initial body temperature, white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate returned to normal as well as drainage time in the control group were significantly shorter than those in the observation group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle loss rate between groups at 3,9 and 15 months postoperatively (P > 0.05). The bone graft fusion rate showed no significant difference at 3, 6, 13 and 24 months postoperatively (P > 0.05). The screw loosening, ruptured and broken robs occurred neither in control group nor in the observation group. The incidences of pain and infection in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that both allogeneic bone and autologous iliac bone graft can achieve satisfactory efficacy in the treatment of scoliosis.

Objective To observe the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPU) in repair of the articular cartilage injury in rabbits. Methods Osteochondral defects in the cartilage surfaces of femoral intercondylar fossae were made in 33 healthy adult New Zealand White rabbits, of which the knee lesions of the left hind legs were treated with LIPU (LIPU group) while that of the right ones used as control group. All animals in two groups were sacrificed respectively at the 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks postoperatively for gross appearance observation and histological examination. Results The ultrasound-treated tissues became more mature with in advance repair or regeneration. The repaired tissues in the LIPU group were near to normal hyaline cartilage tissues at the 8th week postoperatively, while the repaired tissues in the control group were weak, near to fibrocartilaginous tissues. Conclusion LIPU can promote repair of articular cartilage injury in rabbits.

Objective To discuss the effects of relying on social groups,membership and health education on the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods 110 patients with type 2 diabetes as social group members were randomly selected as the intervention group,meanwhile,113 cases of nonsocial group members were set as the control group.Quality of Life Scale(SF-36) was adopted to assess the survival quality.All patients were given follow-up after six months to score again.Results There was no significant difference in each dimension score between the two groups before the intervention.After six months follow-up,the control group in each dimension score showed no obvious difference compared with half a year ago.While in the intervention group,the difference was statistically significant in dimension of general health,vitality,emotional functions,mental health and social function compared with half a year ago.Conclusions The quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes can be improved by the establishment of social organizations and health education.

The most effective sequence of small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing STAT3 of psoriatic keratinocytes (KCs) was screened out,and the effects of the most effective siRNA combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles on the expression of STAT3 of KCs and the dose-and time-response were investigated.Three chemically-synthetic siRNAs targeting STAT3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 were transfected into KCs,and the effects on STAT3 expression were detected,then the most effective siRNA was selected for the subsequent experiments.The negative controls of siRNA (siRNA-NC) labeled with Cy3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles were transfected into KCs,then the optimal parameters of ultrasonic irradiation were determined.The most effective siRNA carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation at the optimal parameters and SonoVue microbubbles was transfected into KCs,and the dose-and time-response of RNA interference was determined.The effect of RNA interference by the most effective siRNA at the optimal time and dose carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles (LUS group) was compared with that only carried by Lipofectamine 3000 (L group).The results showed that siRNA-3 achieved the highest silencing efficacy.0.5 W/cm2 and 30 s were selected as the parameters of ultrasonic irradiation.The siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue mierobubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression at mRNA and protein levels in dose-and time-dependent manners determined at 100 nmol/L with maximum downregulation on mRNA at 48 h,and on protein at 72 h after transfection.The LUS group achieved the highest silencing efficacy.It was concluded that siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression in psoriatic KCs,and the optimized transfection condition and the sequence of siRNA-3 could serve for further research on gene therapy of psoriasis.

Health Personnel ; psychology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Professional Competence ; statistics & numerical data ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology

Background Ultraviolet irradiation promotes cellular apoptosis by affecting the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,including human lens epithelial cells (LECs).Gene associated with retinoid-interferoninduced mortality-19 (GRIM-19),a cell death regulatory protein,is essential for the assembly and function of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ.However,whether LECs apoptosis induced by ultraviolet irradiation is related to GRIM-19 is still unclear.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of human LECs caused by ultraviolet with GRIM-19 expression in vitro.Methods Human LEC line(SRA01/04)was cultured in α-MEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were exposed to ultraviolet ray at doses of 0,30,60,90,120 or 150 mJ/cm2 when cell growth reached the logarithmic phase and 80％ confluency.The rate of apoptosis of the cells was assayed using flow cytometry,and the level of expression and relative amount of GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) were detected by Western blot.The relationship between apoptosis and the GRIM-19/β-actin value among the different treatment groups was compared using One-way ANOVA,and the correlation of LECs apoptosis rate and GRIM-19 expression level was assessed by Pearson linear analysis.Results A significant difference was found in the apoptosis rate among the different treatment groups(F=149.32,P＜0.01).Compared with the 0 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation group,the apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly increased in the 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups (q =17.02,-25.20,-29.41,-8.61,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of the GRIM-19 protein in the LECs suspension was enhanced by ultraviolet irradiation at 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2.The relative expression of the GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) was significantly different among the various groups (F=6.87,P＜0.05),and the GRIM-19/β-actin values in the 60,90,120,150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups were elevated in comparison with the un-irradiated group(2.01±0.76,2.98± 1.80,3.97± 1.61,2.42± 1.28 vs.0.56±0.23),which showed statistically significant differences (q =4.12,-5.04,-7.09,-3.85,P ＜ 0.01).In addition,a positive correlation was seen between the rate of apoptosis and the expression of the GRIM-19 protein(r=0.71,P＜0.01).Conclusions GRIM-19 is expressed in normal human LECs.The apoptosis of human LECs accompanies the up-regulation of GRIM-19.The expression of GRIM-19 in LECs increases with ultraviolet irradiation in a doseindependent manner.

Background Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) is the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification(PCO).Seeking an effective drug capable of inhibiting this process is important for the prevention and treatment of PCO.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)on the proliferation of human LECs and TGF-β2-induced EMT.Methods Human LEC strain(SRA01/04)was cultured in DMEM with high glucose and 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were consequently cultured in serumfree DMEM with 5 mg/L TGF-β2,TGF-β2+10 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA or TGF-β2 +10 000 mg/L RAPA for 72 hours,and SRA01/04 cultured in serum-free DMEM were used as control.The proliferation rate(A490)of SRA01/04 in the different groups was detected using the MTT assay and the rate of inhibition of RAPA was calculated.The expressions of the α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and E-cadherin(E-cad)mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,respectively.The changes in the expression of α-SMA and E-cad in SRA01/04 were evaluated by Western blot 24,48 and 72 hours after TGF-β2 +400 mg/L RAPA treatment.Results The A490 value of SRA01/04 was 0.680±0.020,0.550±0.013,0.480±0.014,0.400±0.011 and 0.200±0.019 in the control group,TGF-β2 group,TGF-β2 + 10 mg/LRAPA group,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA group,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA and TGF-β2 + 10 000 mg/L RAPA group,respectively,showing a gradually declining trend in SRA01/04 rate of proliferation with increasing RAPA concentrations (F =101.920,P =0.000).RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA (α-SMA mRNA/β-actin mRNA)and protein (α-SMA/β-actin)in the cells were significantly increased in the TGF-β2 treatment group.However,with exposure to RAPA,the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly lowered with increasing RAPA concentrations,but the expression levels of E-cad mRNA and protein were raised (α-SMA mRNA:F =294.660,P =0.000 ; α-SMA protein:F =346.950,P =0.000 ; E-cad mRNA:F =264.250,P =0.000 ; E-cad protein:F =317.327,P =0.000).In addition,after exposure to 400 mg/L RAPA,the expression levels of α-SMA protein gradually reduced and those of E-cad protein gradually increased with increasing treatment durations,showing significant differences among the different time points (α-SMA:F =693.864,P =0.000 ;E-cad:F=369.286,P =0.000).Conclusions RAPA can inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 in vitro and arrest EMT of SRA01/04 induced by TGF-β2 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

AlM: To investigate expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer ( EMMPRlN) in retinoblastoma (Rb) and the relationships between MMP-2, EMMPRlN and tumor development.METHODS:lmmunohistochemical technique was used to detect expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in 39 cases of paraffin embedded Rb samples. Quantitative analysis of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were assessed by measuring the mean gray scale of Rb tissue with LElCA lM50 Color Pathologic Analysis System. The differences of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in each clinical and pathological stage were statistically analyzed, and the same step was also undertaken to study the relationship between Rb with MMP-2 positive expression and that with EMMPRlN positive expression.RESULTS:The positive expression rate of MMP-2 was 90% (Gray value: 109. 64 ± 14. 52; 35/39), and that of EMMPRlN was 85% (Gray value:108. 01±13. 60;33/39). The expressions of MMP - 2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors of glaucomatous stage (Gray value:108. 21±11. 47 and 107. 56±14. 32) than those in intraocular stage ( Gray value: 121. 13 ± 11. 32 and 119. 34 ± 12. 66; P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). And the same conclusion can be concluded between those in extraocular stage (Gray value: 91. 03 ± 11. 71 and 92. 26 ± 12. 93) with those in glaucomatous stage (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). The expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion (Gray value:103. 89±13. 39 and 105. 23±14. 00) than those without optic nerve invasion ( Gray value: 118. 39 ± 15. 11 and 117. 53±16. 13) (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON:The positive expression levels of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN may correlate with tumor infiltration and metastasis.

The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the surgical techniques selected has been extensively reported.However,no consistent results were obtained.In the present study,a meta-analysis was conducted by searching the electronic databases PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and Cochrane to identify the association of post-CABG AF with on-pump (conventional CABG,cCABG) or off-pump CABG (OPCABG).Outcomes from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching (PSM) trials were pooled by using the fixed-effect or the random-effect modeling method,and verified by the quality-effect modeling method.There were 35 studies with 36 independent reports that met the inclusion criteria and were eventually included in our meta-analysis.The total odds ratio (OR) of the incidence of post-CABG AF between OPCABG and cCABG was 0.80 (95％ CI 0.71-0.91).The 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) had an OR of 0.69 (95％ CI 0.56-0.86),while the OR of the 11 PSM trials was 0.88 (95％ CI 0.77-1.00).Twenty-six studies involving the patients at a mean age no more than 65 years showed an OR of 0.76 (95％ CI 0.64-0.90),whereas 10 studies with patients greater than 65 years old showed an OR of 0.90 (95％ CI 0.78-1.05).The results of this meta-analysis suggest that OPCAB surgery may reduce the incidence of post-CABG AF when compared to cCABG and that younger patients may benefit more from OPCAB and have a lower incidence ofpost-CABG AF.

Objective To evaluate the preliminary outcome of stable vitiligo treatment with ReCell(R )technique.Methods Six patients with stable vitiligo were treated with ReCell(R ) technique.In each patient,a thin razor-thickness cutaneous biopsy was harvested from uninvolved area near the vitiligo patches.It was then processed through the ReCell(R ) system and 1 ml autologous epidermal cell suspension was obtained.The lesion area was dermabraded using a diamond fraise wheel to the dermoepidermal junction.The cell suspension was then sprayed on the wound and covered with non-adhering dressings.Results The patients were followed up for 6 months.5 patients presented with repigmentaion in the treated area.There was no significant response in one patient who was diagnosed as systematic vitiligo.Conclusions The ReCell(R ) technique is an alternative treatment for stable vitiligo patients.The clinical outcome will be satisfactory when appropriate patients are selected.