Calcific aortic valve disease(CAVD) is the most common valvular disorder.There is no medical treatment to prevent and/or reverse the progression of CAVD and the etiology still requires further study.CAVD has long been described as a degenerative disease related to aging.In the past few years,our comprehension of the etiology and mechanisms leading to CAVD has progressed at a fast pace.In this article,we review the latest discoveries of CAVD,from aspects of lipid retention,inflammation,calcification,osteogenic transition and their basic molecular processes.

Objective To compare the mortality,valve-related morbidity and reoperation rate between mechanical prostheses and bioprostheses in patients aged 60 to 70 years.Methods The pre-operative characteristics of 119 patients who received mechanical prostheses and 181 those with bioprosthesis implantation in our department between January 2006 and December 2014 were analyzed,and their mortality,valve-related morbidity and reoperation rate were compared.Results Followup revealed mechanical prostheses had a lower all-cause mortality after mitral valve replacement than bioprostheses at 6 years after the operation (P=0.033),but there was no statistical difference in valve-related mortality (P=0.277).The complications after mechanical prosthesis replacement had embolism (8.4％) and bleeding (5.0％),bioprosthesis' those consisted of structural valvular deterioration (2.2％),nonstructural dysfunction (1.1％),thrombosis (2.8％),embolism (5.0％),bleeding (0.6％) and operated valvular endocarditis (1.1％).There was no statistically significant difference in total complication rate between the two groups (P=0.318).Biological group had 3 patients receiving reoperation in 8 years,while there was no reoperation in the mechanical group,but without statistical group difference.Conclusion Patients aged 60-70 years old could have a similar valve-related mortality,morbidity and reoperation rate after mitral valve replacement between mechanical and biological valves.

AIM: To study the expression of mic2/CD99 protein and their correlation with Eber-1/LMP-1 in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining, in situ hybrization and tissue microarry technique were used to detect the expressions of mic2/CD99 and Eber-1/LMP-1 of H/RS cells in 43 cases of cHL and 16 cases of NHL. RESULTS: The positive rate of CD99 protein expression in 43 cases of cHL was 2.3% (1/43) , mic2 was 55.8% (24/43), LMP1 was 58.1% (25/43) and Eber-1 was 53.5% (23/43). The expressions of CD99 and mic2 in the NHL group were higher than those in cHL group (P0.05). There was a negative correlation between the expression of CD99 protein and LMP1 in H/RS cells (P0.05). There was a significant correlation between the high expression of LMP1 and a low expression of CD99 in the young patients (P0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a negative correlation between the expression of LMP1 and CD99 in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the materials used in clinical practice to repair cruciate ligament of knee joint contain auto-graft bone- mid 1/3 patella tendon-bone (B-T-B), auto-semitendinous muscle, gracilis muscle and allogenic tissue graft. All of them are limited to a certain degree in clinical application. Therefore, people hope to consistently develop artificial ligaments to take the place of auto- and allografts. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility to construct artificial biological ligament (ABL) by applying a novel biochemical technique using porcine tendon as the raw material. DESIGN: Research of new biological material. SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. MATERIALS: Adult pigs of either gender were provided by the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University. Scanning electron microscope (SEM, S-520) was provided by Hitachi, Japan, and micro-controlled electron tension-testing device (Model LWK-10B) by Guangzhou Experimental Devices Factory. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2004 to June 2005. ABL was established by means of treating porcine tendon with epoxy cross-linking fixation, diversified antigen minimization process, mechanic enhancement modification and surface activating process. Under aseptic condition, a 6-month-old goat's bone marrow was abstracted, and then the bone marrow matrix stem cells were cultured in ABL stent for 3 weeks. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe structure and compatibility of artificial ligament, and mechanics test was used to analyze biomechanics characteristics of ABL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Structural features, cell compatibility and biomechanics characteristics of ABL.RESULTS: ① Structural features of ABL: The appearance of ABL was similar to that of the normal human ligament. Histological examination showed that the ABL was collagen fibers with no cells. Electron microscope examination revealed that the ABL was composed of hair-looking and fiber-like objects running uniformly in a certain direction and closely parallel-arranged. ② Cell compatibility: Three weeks after xenogenic marrow matrix cells were cultured on the surface of the ABL, it was noted that cells adhered and the matrix secreted by the cells precipitated around the cells. There were no cells found inside the ABL. ③ Mechanical strength of the ligament: The average diameter of ABL was 5 mm and the mechanical test at a speed of 100 mm/min showed that its averaged tensile limit was 927.19 N and the tension-resistant strength was 47.22 N/mm those were close to the corresponding parameters of the normal goat's ACL. The normal goat's ACL was 5 mm. The greatest tensile load was 807.50 N and the tension-resistant strength was 41.13 N/mm.CONCLUSION:As we used the unique biochemical technique and minimized the xenogenic protein immunogenicity of the porcine tendon, ABL has acceptable biomechanical properties and superior biocompatibility. As a substitute of the ligament in the reconstruction of the ACL, ABL has a promising prospect in clinical applications.

Objective To study the relationship between plasma neurodegenerative protein level and non-motor symptoms(NMS)in PD patients.Methods Eighty-four PD patients served as a PD group and 54age-matched persons undergoing physical examination served as a control group. The NMS of PD patients were assessed according to the HAMD scale.The plasma levels of tau,p-tau181,Aβ-42andα-syn were measured by ELISA and analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis respectively.Results The FSS score and plasmaα-syn level were significantly higher while the plasma Aβ-42level was significantly lower in PD group than in control group(3.22±1.68 vs 1.89±1.16,P=0.000;320.00±64.91ng/L vs 277.78±52.75ng/L,P=0.000;267.61±77.75ng/L vs 321.80±49.41ng/L,P=0.001).No significant difference was detected in plasma tau and p-tau181levels between the two groups(P＞0.05).The plasmaα-syn level was positively related with the FSS score(r=0.237,P=0.030)and was an influencing factor of FSS(OR=1.019,95％CI:1.006-1.032,P=0.004).Conclusion Plasma neurodegenerative protein level is related with NMS and plasmaα-syn level is a peripheral biomarker for fatigue in PD patients.

Objective To summarize the experiences of diagnosis and treatment for blunt tracheobronchial injuries ( BTI) . Methods From January 1993 to December 2013, 15 patients were diagnosed with BTI and underwent surgical treatment at our hospital.Mean age of the 15 patients (11 men and 4 women) was 26.4 ±4.5 years.All the patients had a history of trauma, which included crushing injury in 8 cases, deceleration injury in 4, fall injury in 2, and traction-type injury in 1.BTI loca-tion: right main bronchus in eight cases, left main bronchus in four cases, upper trachea in one case, lower trachea with the right main bronchus in one case, and cervico-thoracic trachea with left main bronchus in one case .Thoracic computerized tomo-graphy was performed in 15 patients, which showed pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum or falling lung sign of Kumpe.Preoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopy examination was performed in 15 cases, which included bronchial atresia in 9 cases, bronchial transection in 3 cases, laceration of trachea in 2 cases, and tracheal transection in 1 case.An e-lective surgical procedure after BTI was performed in 10 cases, and emergency surgery was performed in 5 cases.Tracheo-bron-chial laceration repair were performed in 2 cases, tracheal end-to-end reanastomosis in 1 case, and bronchial end-to-end re-anastomosis in 12 cases.Results There was no operative death, and one case was complicated with anastomotic stenosis.The average operation time was 205.7 ±41.3 minutes, and the average blood loss was 268.4 ±109 ml.The postoperative hospi-tal stay was 11.6 ±3.7 days on average.Follow-up was completed in 15 patients (mean, 29.3 months), and 15 patients were all symptomatic improvement .Conclusion The most common site of BTI was the right main bronchus near Carina parts .Al-though the diagnosis and treatment are often delayed , our findings indicate that chest CT and endoscopic findings could be used for the diagnosis of BTI.Surgical resection and reconstruction are effective methods to repair BTI successfully even many months after they occur.Often they do not require the resection of pulmonary parenchyma .

Background::Joint dislocations significantly impact public health. However, a comprehensive study on the incidence, distribution, and risk factors for joint dislocations in China is lacking. We conducted the China National Joint Dislocation Study, which is a part of the China National Fracture Study conducted to obtain the national incidence and risk factors for traumatic fractures, and to investigate the incidence and risk factors for joint dislocations.Methods::For this national retrospective epidemiological study, 512,187 participants were recruited using stratified random sampling and probability-proportional-to-size method from January 19 to May 16, 2015. Participants who sustained joint dislocations of the trunk, arms, or legs (skull, sternum, and ribs being excluded) in 2014 were personally interviewed to obtain data on age, educational background, ethnic origin, occupation, geographic region, and urbanization degree. The joint-dislocation incidence was calculated based on age, sex, body site, and demographic factors. The risk factors for different groups were examined using multiple logistic regression.Results::One hundred and nineteen participants sustained 121 joint dislocations in 2014. The population-weighted incidence rate of joint dislocations of the trunk, arms, or legs was 0.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.27) per 1000 population in 2014 (men, 0.27 [0.20, 0.34]; women, 0.16 [0.10, 0.23]). For all ages, previous dislocation history (male: OR 42.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.03–148.90; female: OR 54.43, 95% CI: 17.37–170.50) and alcohol consumption (male: OR 3.50, 95% CI: 1.49–8.22; female: OR 2.65, 95% CI: 1.08–6.50) were risk factors for joint dislocation. Sleeping less than 7 h/day was a risk factor for men. Compared with children, women aged ≥15 years (female 15–64 years: OR 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04–0.61; female ≥65 years: OR 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.41) were less likely to sustain joint dislocations. Women with more than three children were at higher dislocation risk than women without children (OR 6.92, 95% CI: 1.18–40.78).Conclusions::The up-to-date data on joint dislocation incidence, distribution, and risk factors can be used as a reference for national healthcare, prevention, and management in China. Specific strategies for decreasing alcohol consumption and encouraging adequate sleeping hours should be developed to prevent or reduce dislocation incidents.Trial Registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-EPR-15005878.

Objective To investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes(PRP-Exos)on the proliferation and migration of tendon stem/progenitor cell(TSPC).Methods PRP-Exos were extracted through the combination of polymer-based precipitation and ultracentrifugation.The morphology,concentration,and particle size of PRP-Exos were identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis.The expression levels of surface marker proteins on PRP-Exos and platelet membrane glycoproteins were deter-mined by Western blot analysis.Rat TSPC was extracted and cultured,and the expression of surface marker mol-ecules on TSPC was detected using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining.The proliferation of TSPC in-fluenced by PRP-Exos was evaluated using CCK-8 assay and EdU assay.The effect of PRP-Exos on the migration of TSPC was evaluated by cell scratch assay and Transwell assay.Results The extracted PRP-Exos exhibit typi-cal saucer-like structures,with a concentration of 4.9 ×1011 particles/mL,an average particle size of(132.2±56.8)nm,and surface expression of CD9,CD63 and CD41.The extracted TSPC expressed the CD44 pro-tein.PRP-Exos can be taken up by TSPC,and after co-cultured for 48 h,concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL of PRP-Exos significantly promoted the proliferation of TSPC(both P＜0.001),with no statistical difference be-tween the two concentrations(P=0.283).Additionally,after co-cultured for 24 h,50 μg/mL of PRP-Exos significantly promoted the migration of TSPC(P＜0.001).Conclusion Under in vitro culture conditions,PRP-Exos significantly promote the proliferation and migration of rat TSPC.

Objective:A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to determine the enzymatic activity of CD38 in blood, which was the major enzyme responsible for consuming nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Additionally, the study aimed to detect the differences in CD38 enzymatic activity among individuals of varying ages and health statuses.Methods:A 50 μl whole blood matrix and enzyme reaction substrate of 150 μl β-NAD at a concentration of 500 μmol/L were selected for the analysis. To eliminate the impact of endogenous β-NAD, the whole blood sample was pre-incubated at 37 ℃ for 20 minutes before adding the substrate. The reaction was terminated by perchloric acid (PCA) after incubation at 37 ℃ for 40 min. The change in product nicotinamide (NAM) before and after the enzymatic reaction was measured by HPLC to calculate the CD38 activity. The linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, and stability of the method were evaluated. The CD38 enzymatic activities in 60 healthy volunteers and 30 colorectal cancer patients in blood were determined by the developed method.Results:Pre-incubation at 37 ℃ for 20 minutes eliminated the effect of endogenous β-NAD. The correlation coefficient of NAM was 0.999 in the concentration range of 0.1-3.2 μmol/L, with limit of detection of 0.5 nmol/L and limit of quantification of 2.1 nmol/L. The average within-run imprecision ( CV) and total CV were 3.22%-4.03% and 2.91%-4.70%, respectively. The recovery rate ranged from 94.82% to 96.81%. The CD38 activity of whole blood was stable by storage at 4 ℃ for 48 hours, storage at room temperature for 8 hours, thawing of frozen whole blood at room temperature for 2 hours, or repeated freeze-thawing three times. NAM, NAD standards, and pre-treatment samples were stable after 48 hours at 4 ℃ and 8 hours at room temperature. CD38 activity gradually decreased with increasing concentration of the added CD38 inhibitor 4-aminoquinoline derivative (78c). Measurement of 60 healthy physical examination population samples showed significantly higher CD38 enzyme activity in the elderly group than that in the young group ( t=-2.776, P=0.007) and measurement of 30 colorectal cancer patients showed significantly higher CD38 enzyme activity than that in healthy people ( t=-2.572, P=0.012). Conclusion:The established HPLC method for determining CD38 enzymatic activity is characterized by its simplicity, efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility. This technique serves as a valuable tool for investigating aging and aging-related diseases.

Objective: To study the therapeutic value of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided hepaticogastrostomy(EUS-HG) for patients with high malignant biliary obstructive jaundice. Methods: A total of 56 patients with high malignant obstructive jaundice hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2014 to December 2017 were included in the study. There were 29 males and 27 females with median age of 72 (60-82) years. Patients were randomized into two groups according to the random number table, the EUS-HG group (n=20) treated with EUS-HG and the percuteneous transhepatic cholangiodrainge(PTCD) group (n=36) treated with PTCD. The operative success rate, curative effect, complications and operation cost were compared between the two groups, and the median unblock period of plastic double pig tail stent was observed. Results: (1)The success rates were 100% in both groups. (2) Preoperative and one-month postoperative levels of the following were tested and compared. Levels of total bilirubin were 362.15±138.27 μmol/L, 56.85±28.57 μmol/L in the EUS-HG group and 356.47±130.69 μmol/L, 60.93±25.79 μmol/L in the PTCD group, respectively. Levels of alkaline phosphatase were 896.57±357.29 U/L, 146.59±48.63 U/L in the EUS-HG group and 883.65±364.32 U/L, 151.57±49.73 U/L in the PTCD group, respectively. Levels of alanine aminotransferase were 252.36±38.77 U/L, 60.29±31.57 U/L in the EUS-HG group and 246.26±32.57 U/L, 62.56±32.87 U/L in the PTCD group. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase were 259.37±30.64 U/L, 62.28±26.58 U/L in the EUS-HG group and 242.37±29.52 U/L, 60.28±29.57 U/L in the PTCD group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0. 05). CRP levels were 52.57±31.95 mg/L, 16.95±8.77 mg/L in the EUS-HG group and 53.42±35.79 mg/L, 25.13±14.77 mg/L in the PTCD group (P<0.05). (3)There was significant difference in remission rate of anorexia and abdominal distension between the two groups [80.0%(16/20) VS 52.8%(19/36), P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in symptom relief of jaundice, pruritus or abdominal pain between the two groups [90.0%(18 /20)VS 91.7%(33/36), P>0.05]. (4) The incidence of total complications in the EUS-HG group (20.0%, 4/20) was significantly lower than that in the PTCD group (47.2%, 17/36, P<0.05). (5)The cost of operation in the EUS-HG group (22 685.26±2 356.16 yuan) was slightly higher than that in the PTCD group (20 529.57±4 135.63 yuan, P>0.05). (6) The median unblock period of double pig tail plastic stents in EUS-HG group patients was 102 days. Conclusion EUS-HG is a safe and effective method for the treatment of high malignant biliary obstructive jaundice. It can be used as the first choice for treatment after failure of conventional ERCP.