This paper summarizes major advances in military-related life sciences in 2014 .The United States ,European Union and Japan officially launched brain science programs .The era of big data in life sciences is coming .MRC,NIH and DARPA are investing more in big data research .Studies on brain-machine interface ,brain-brain interface ,mind reading and mind control are going ahead so that brain control and reading the brain may become a reality in the near future .New technology and tools,such as genome editing , neuroimaging techniques , protein research and single molecule technology , keep emerging , which is promoting the development of military medicine research .

BACKGROUND: The aging and lesions of the intervertebral disc are closely related to the lack of nutritional blood supply to the disc. Aquaporin plays an important role in the nutritional supply to the intervertebral discs, but the specific mechanism has not been fully defined. OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Yaobishu on degenerated intervertebral disc in rabbits based on the changes of aquaporin (AQP) 1 and AQP3 protein expression. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into model group, low-dose Yaobishu group and high-dose Yaobishu group. Animal models of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse were prepared through an injection of normal saline into L4/5 and L5/6 segments. The model group was intragastrically given normal saline 5 mL/kg per day, the low-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 5 mL/kg per day, and the high-dose group was intragastrically given Yaobishu 10 mL/kg per day, twice a day, for 21 days. After 6 weeks of treatment, the intervertebral discs were taken for anatomical and histological observation using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of AQP1 and AQP3 in the nucleus pulposus at protein and mRNA levels was quantified by RT-PCR and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In all the three groups, the annulus fibrosus was destroyed, abnormal cartilage tissue appeared, and the nucleus pulposus was reduced in number. Severest degeneration of the intervertebral disc was found in the model group, followed by the low-dose Yaobishu and high-dose Yaobishu groups in turn. The expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein in the high-dose Yaobishu group and low-dose Yaobishu group increased significantly after 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), while the expression in the model group showed no significant difference before and after treatment (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the expression of AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA and protein among the three groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, Yaobishu may alleviate the degeneration of the rabbit intervertebral disc by increasing the expression of AQP1 and AQP3.

Human enhancement technology is an emerging field that aims to enhance human physical and mental power of humans with the latest developments of the life science , information science , electronic science , cognitive neuroscience and other fields .This paper provides an overview of status quo of human enhancement technology and its military applica -tions, and analyzes the factors that may adversely affect its applications .

2013 saw sustained and rapid development in the military medicine-related life sciences .New research fields, new technologies and devices continue to emerge , such as Brain Science Projects , 3D bio-printing, cognitive neuro-science, brain-computer interface and mind control , genome editing technology , neuroimaging techniques , protein research technology , Which will promote the all-round development of basic and applied research for military medicine .

Objective To study the feasibility of stem cell transplantation under mild hypothermia so as to provide a prerequisite for stem cell transplantation in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) during mild hypothermia treatment. Methods After transfecting plasmid containing temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen (tsSV40LT) into temperature-sensitive umbilical cord mes-enchymal stem cells (tsUCMSCs) , the changes of cell morphology, nuclear proliferation index (PIx) and telomerase activity were detested when the tsUCMSCs were cultured at 33℃ and 37℃. After the mouse model with tTBI treated with mild hypothermia was established, tsUCMSCs were transplanted into semi-injury area to detect survival rate, proliferation and apoptosis indices and perform neurological deficit scoring. Results When cultured at 33℃, the tsUCMSCs displayed long spindle-shaped and highly refractive, with higher proliferation index and telomerase activity than those cultured at 37℃. Compared with control group (non-temperature-sensitive UCMSCs transplantation), tsUCMSCs in semi-injury area showed much higher cell survival and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression ( P < 0.05 ) , with fewer apoptotic cells and better neurological function (P < 0.05). Conclusion The establishment of temperature-sensitive stem cell line enables stem cell transplantation during treatment of TBI with mild hypothermia, as provides us a new direction for treatment of TBI.

Objective: To evaluate sensory recovery in noninnervated radial forearm free flap after tongue reconstruction. Methods: Sixty-five cases of tongue reconstruction by using free radial forearm flaps were analyzed. Flap sensations to touch, sharp vs dull, two-point discrimination and warmth vs cold was evaluated in each of these patients at 6 months and 12 months after treatment. Results:Twenty-nine flaps (44.6%) showed good sensory recovery, thirty-two flaps (50%) recovered partly, four flaps (6.1%) was anesthetic. Conclusion: Spontaneous recovery of flap sensation can be re-established after reconstruction. Delay or failure of sensory recovery in flap reconstruction could be caused by radiation therapy.

Objective To explore the curative effect of oral cancer radical surgery plus free anterolateral thigh flap repair and analyze the influence factors of skin flap necrosis.Methods The data of 98 patients who underwent oral cancer radical surgery with concurrent free anterolateral thigh flap repair in our hospital from January 2010 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The complete survival rate of skin flaps and incidence of complications in all patients were statistically analyzed.The age,diabetes,infection in implanted skin flap area,smoking and mental status,etc.of patients with survived or necrotic skin flaps were compared between patients with survival flaps and patients with flap necrosis,and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed.Results Among the 98 cases,86 cases of flaps survived completely and the survival rate was 87.8%.Fifteen cases with the skin flap necrosis,the incidence of complications was 15.3%,including 7 cases of surgi-cal site infection and 5 cases of skin flap necrosis with massive hemorrhage.The donor site incisions of all patients were primary healing and the patients were satisfied with the postoperative appearance.Among the patients with flap necrosis,the incidence rates of ≥60 years old,with diabetes,infection in flap implanted area,smoking and poor mental state (41.7%,41.7%,58.3%,75.0%,83.3%)were higher than those corresponding proportions in the patients with with survival flaps(P <0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,diabe-tes,infection in implanted skin flap area,smoking and poor mental status were the influencing factors for flap necrosis.Conclusion Oral cancer radical surgery with concurrent free anterolateral thigh flap repair has good curative effects.The age,combined with diabetes,smoking,infec-tion in flap implanted area and poor mental state are the risk factors for flap necrosis in patients with oral cancer after flap repair,which should be given intervention to improve the survival rate of skin flap in clinic.

Objective To investigate the bettertherapeutic method and clinical efficacy of discoid meniscus injury under arthroscope.Methods Forty-one patients with discoid meniscus injury were selected as our subjects from Nov.2011 to Feb.2013,who were treated by arthroscopic surgery and performed with meniscus plasty.Thirt-eight patients were received ultra Fast-fix meniscal repair system.Joint function exercises were performed on bed within 1 month after operation.Incomplete weight bearing were performed after 1 month postoperation.After 3 month postoperation,they were permitted for full weight bearing.Results All patients were treated successfully with surgery and no postoperative complications occurred.The patients were followed up from 3.0 to 18.0 months and average was 10.5 months.The preoperative Lysholm scores were(68.28 ±8.04)) lower than that at the postoperation (88.17 ± 7.49)) and the difference were significant (t =11.59,P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,according to Ikeuchi criterion,the outcomes were 28 cases with excellent,10 cases with good and 3 cases with general rank.Conclusion Discoid meniscus plasty and suture under arthroscope is proved to be a better approach with less trauma,recovery quickly and fewer complications.It should be a preferred method for discoid meniscus injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of vaginal dilators by 567 adverse event reports, and to provide a reference for the reasonable use.

METHODSWith retrospective case study, analyzed 567 reports induced by vaginal dilators by National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Center in 2012.

RESULTSExpected treatment of disease might be relevant with severity of adverse events, while age was not the related factor; the influencing factor of consequences of grading was the classification of the cause of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONMonitoring should be strengthen in order to reduce or avoid the vaginal dilator adverse events.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; Dilatation ; adverse effects ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vagina ; pathology

Objective:To explore the surgical techniques in posterolateral mini-incision total hip arthroplasty and clinical effcacy.
Methods:A total of 94 patients (98 hips) had posterolateral mini-incision total hip arthroplasty, from December 2006 to December 2008, and were randomly divided into a posterolateral mini-incision total hip arthroplasty group (Group A) and a conventional group of posterolateral incision for total hip arthroplasty (Group B). Forty-nine patients (50 hips) in Group A had posterolateral small incision total hip arthroplasty [26 males, 23 females, between 37.0 and 95.0 years (average 68.9 years), body mass index (BMI) between 20.3 and 29.7 (average BMI 25.4)]. Forty-ifve patients (48 hips) in Group B had the conventional posterolateral incision [27 males, 18 females, between 45.0 and 92.0 years (average 69.7 years), BMI between 18.7 and 34.1 (average BMI 26.9)]. The incision length, blood loss, drainage, operation time, and postoperative Harris scores were compared between the 2 groups.
Results:The incision length was 6.0~10.5 (average length 7.4) cm, average blood loss was 387.6 (140.0~1000.0) mL, average drainage was 143.1 (63.0~375.0) mL, average blood transfusion was 77.6 (0~400.0) mL, average operation time was 84.6 (63.0~130.0) min, and vitalock abduction angle imaging after the operation was 41.6° (averagely 38.0°~57.0°) in Group A. The incision length was 15.0~23.0 (average length 20.0) cm, average blood loss was 513.1 (210.0~1350.0) mL, average drainage was 152.3 (70.0~520.0) mL, average blood transfusion was 142.2 (0~800.0) mL, average operation time was 84.0 (71.0~115.0) min, and postoperative radiographic acetabular cup abduction angle was 42.3° (37.0°~54.0°) in Group B. The follow-up showed that the prosthesis of the 2 groups was in a good position, Harris score was significantly improved with no complications after total hip arthroplasty in the 2 groups.
Conclusion:With the correct selection of indications and adept operation skills and other circumstances, posterolateral mini-incision total hip arthroplasty may do little damage to the soft tissue with a small scar on the skin. The imaging evaluation after the operation and the Harris score show no difference between the 2 groups. Patients are satisfied with their joint function and postoperative recovery.