BACKGROUND: In degenerative cervical spondylosis associated with cervical curvature straightening or segmental instability, ossification of the nuchal ligament caused by chronic injury of the nuchal ligament is very common. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between ossification of the nuchal ligament and cervical curvature and segmental stability of the cervical spine. METHODS: Data of 109 patients with degenerative cervical spondylosis, who were treated in Department of Spinal Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 61 male patients and 48 female patients, who aged 30 to 81 years old at a mean age of (55. 8±11. 1) years. All patients signed the informed consent. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The patients underwent the X-ray examinations of cervical spine. The imaging observation included the distribution and degree of ossification of the nuchal ligament and the change of cervical physiological curvature and segment stability. The patients were divided into ossification group and non-ossification group according to whether or not the patients had ossification of the nuchal ligament. Gender, age, cervical curvature and lower cervical stability were compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to compare the relationship between the degree of ossification of the nuchal ligament and cervical curvature and cervical stability. Binary Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the significant risk factors for the development of ossification of the nuchal ligament. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Of 109 patients with degenerative cervical spondylosis, 56 patients with ossification of the nuchal ligament and ossification involved 83 cervical segments in ossification of the nuchal ligament patients, most of which were C4-5 (39. 8%) and Cm (42. 2%). (2) There was significant difference in age, C2-C7 Cobb angle, Jackson physiological stress curve, parameter angular displacement and horizontal displacement between the ossification group and non-ossification group (P < 0. 05). The degree of ossification of the nuchal ligament was positively correlated with angular displacement (f=0. 486, P < 0. 05). (3) The incidence of ossification of the nuchal ligament was significantly higher in patients with lower cervical instability (P < 0. 05). Age and lower cervical instability parameter angular displacement were significant risk factors for the development of ossification of the nuchal ligament. (4) Patients with ossification of the nuchal ligament are more likely to have cervical curvature straightening and lower cervical instability, especially in the segment instability. In the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative cervical spondylosis, the existence of ossification of the nuchal ligament causes corresponding attention.

Objective: The present study is to clarificate Decoction of Xiaoerxishi Syrup Prescription. Methods: Two processes including chitosan flocculation and ethanol precipitation were appraised by comparison of extract percent, liquid clarity and hesperitin content, which was determined by HPLC, after the conditions of each process were optimized with respect to the volume ratio of ethanol to the decoction for ethanol precipitation and processing temperature, the concentration and amount of chitosan for chitosan flocculation. Results: The process of ethanol precipitation is better than that of chitosan flocculation.

BACKGROUND: The tissue engineered corneal epithelium can be constructed with limbal stem cells of healthy rabbit cornea cultured in vitro, and its transplantation may promote the repair and healing of corneal alkaline burn.OBJECTIVE: To probe the effect and opportunity of treating corneal alkaline bum by tissue-engineered corneal epithelium transplantation.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Controlled observational animal experiment was performed in the Department of Experimental Animal at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2007 and June 2008.MATERIALS: Twenty-one New Zealand female white rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, were divided into control group (n=8, 16 eyes) and transplantation group (n=13, 26 eyes) at random. The transplantation group was further assigned into early transplantation group at 1 day (n=2, 4 eyes), 3 days (n=3, 6 eyes), 6 days (n=6, 12 eyes), and 9 days (n=9, 18 eyes); and mataphase transplantation group at 14 days (n=3, 6 eyes).METHODS: The tissue-engineered corneal epithelium was prepared on 21 rabbits with limbal stem cells cultured in vitro, and reforming comeel alkaline burn models of double eyes were induced by 1 mollL NaOH. The autotogous or allogenic tissue-engineered comeal epithelium transplantation was conducted on early time points (1, 3, 6, 9 days) or metaphase (14 days) after alkaline burning. In the control group, the burns were observed for 4 consecutive weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ocular surface integrity and histopathology in the transplantation group and control group were observed on several time points within 4 weeks.RESULTS: At 1 weak after corneal alkaline burning, large corneal epithelial dasquamation occurred, 72% incidence of epithelial desquamation or corneal ulcer at 2 weeks, and continued to 4 weeks, while only 25% were observed at 4 weeks in transplantation group, most gained ocular surface integrity; cell infiltration and vascularization of corneal stroma had not bean suppressed in metaphase transplantation group, while they were suppressed obviously in the deep comeal stroma in early transplantation groups; Within 4 weeks, immunological rejection induced by allogenic transplantation was not greater than that of autologous transplantation.CONCLUSION: Cultivated autologous or allogenic tissue-engineered corneal epithelium transplantation could recover ocular surface integrity as soon as possible, and the effect of early transplantation surpasses that of mstaphase.

BACKGROUND:The relationship between the occurrence time and clinical symptoms of bone marrow edema in nontraumatic femoral head necrosis is stil controversial. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the relationship of bone marrow edema in nontraumatic femoral head necrosis with Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging and pain grading. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with nontraumatic femoral head necrosis (58 hips) were confirmed to have bone marrow edema on MRI T1 weighted images and T2 fat suppression images. Then, the patients were graded according to the MRI Classification Method reported by Zhao Pei-rong, the ARCO Staging System and Harris hip score for pain grading. We analyzed the correlation of bone marrow edema with ARCO staging and pain grading. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The incidence rate of bone marrow edema in ARCO I-III was increased in sequence, and the difference was statisticaly significant (χ2=27.69,P=0.001); the average rank of bone marrow edema in ARCO I-III was increased significantly (χ2=19.947,P=0.000). The incidence rate of bone marrow edema also increased among different pain grading, and the difference was statisticaly significant (χ2=57.0, P=0.000); the average rank of bone marrow edema among different pain grading was increased significantly (χ2=174.0,P=0.000). The presence and aggravation of bone marrow edema indicate the enlargement of necrosis area and the aggravation of symptoms in patients with nontraumatic femoral head necrosis, which can be used as an auxiliary index for the appraisal of disease progression.

Background:Detection and removal of colorectal polyp by colonoscopy is of great importance for prevention of colorectal carcinoma. Aims:To investigate whether the clinical symptoms of patients undergoing colonoscopy may hint colorectal polyp and carcinoma,and provide reference for candidate selection in colonoscopic screening. Methods:A total of 2 366 patients undergoing colonoscopy were recruited and the history information such as symptoms at outpatient visits, site and nature of the lesions was collected for analyzing the detection rates of colorectal polyp and carcinoma and the correlations of clinical symptoms with the risk and site of the disease. Results:The overall detection rates of colorectal polyp and carcinoma were 20. 5% and 5. 4% ,respectively,in 2 366 patients. The detection rates were significantly higher in symptomatic patients than those in asymptomatic patients(24. 2% vs. 4. 5% for polyp and 6. 4% vs. 0. 9% for carcinoma,P all = 0. 000). Moreover,when patients were classified by major symptoms,the detection rate of colorectal polyp was significantly increased in patients with diarrhea(OR = 1. 213),hematochezia(OR = 2. 076),and changing of stool consistency(OR = 1. 503)(P all < 0. 05),and the detection rate of colorectal carcinoma was significantly increased in patients with abdominal pain( OR = 1. 568),hematochezia( OR = 2. 837),changing of stool consistency( OR =2. 206),and tenesmus( OR = 1. 735)( P all < 0. 05). The major symptoms being hematochezia,changing of stool consistency and tenesmus were associated with lesions locating at rectum or left hemicolon(P all < 0. 05). Conclusions:Diarrhea, hematochezia and changing of stool consistency hints risk for colorectal polyp, while abdominal pain, hematochezia,changing of stool consistency and tenesmus hints risk for colorectal carcinoma. Colonoscopy is strongly recommended for patients with these symptoms.

Background:Screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal adenoma (CRA), the precursor of CRC, is crucial for CRC prevention.It is believed that opportunistic screening of CRC in high risk population would narrow down the screening scope and save the health resources, and is suitable for the present status in China.Aims:To analyze the performance of high risk factors in predicting CRC/CRA, for exploring the feasibility of opportunistic screening for CRC in high risk population.Methods:A total of 1 862 outpatients and health examination subjects undergoing colonoscopy from Feb.2015 to Aug.2016 at the PLA 281 Hospital were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire of high risk factors for CRC and CRA before colonoscopy.The questionnaire was designed based on the updated consensus on the screening and management of early colorectal cancer and precancerous lesion in China.Using the results of colonoscopy as gold standard, the predictive performance of high risk factors for CRC/CRA was analyzed.Results:Four hundred and sixty-eight (25.1%) individuals with high risk factors for CRC/CRA were screened out by the questionnaire.The detection rate of CRC in individuals with high risk factors was significantly higher than those without (17.5% vs.0.9%, P=0.000).The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of high risk factors in predicting CRC were 87.2%, 78.2%, 17.5% and 99.1%, respectively, and the missed diagnosis rate was 12.8%.For CRC/CRA, the corresponding figures were 83.2%, 87.0%, 57.3%, 96.1% and 16.8%, respectively.The risk ratios (RR) of high risk factors for CRC and CRC/CRA were 20.35 and 14.78, respectively.Conclusions:Opportunistic screening of CRC in high risk population is feasible and applicable in China under present condition.

Objective To study the expression of fascin, an actin bundling protein associated with cell motility, and the relationship with ER negative breast carcinoma.Methods Comparasion of the expression of fascin, estrogen receptor (ER) and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) determined by immunohistological method was made on 84 specimens of primary breast carcinomas. Results The diffuse staining of fascin in cancerous cell cytoplasm was noted. Only 3 of 53 breast carcinomas with ER positive showed fascin positive expression (5.67%); in contrast, 21 of 31 carcinomas with ER-negative showed positive expression(67.7 %) (P

Objective To investigate the effects of aggressive dosing of atorvastatin on the expression of SOCS1 in CD4 + Tlymphocytes from patients with unstable angina pectoris during peri-operative period of PCI.Methods A cohort of 50 patients with unstable angina pectoris were randomized (random number) to give pretreatment with either an aggressive dose (80 mg/d,n =25) or a routine dose (20 mg/d,n =25)of atorvastatin.Circulating CD4 +T cells were subsequently obtained prior to PCI,and also 18 h to 24 hours after PCI,using a magnetic cell sorting system (MACS).Fluorescence-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure expressions of SOCSI mRNA in the isolated CD4 + Tlymphocytes,and western blot analysis was used to detect levels of SOCS1 protein.Serum levels of IFN-γwere quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).Results Compared with routine dose group,the expressions of SOCS1 mRNA and protein levels were dramatically increased and those were higher in aggressive dose group following PCI (P ＜ 0.05).In contrast,serum levels of IFN-γsignificantly increased following PCI in both groups,but it was higher in routine dose group than in aggressive dose group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Treatment with aggressive dosing of atorvastatin reduced the post-PCI myocardial inflammatory response in patients with unstable angina pectoris,possibly modulating by up-regulating SOCS1 expression in CD4 + Tlymphocytes.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of rapamycin (RAPA) on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute autoimmune hepatitis in a mouse model and to analyze the possible mechanism.Methods Thirty eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups including control group,ConA model group and ConA + RAPA treatment group.The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum samples were measured after injection of mice with ConA for 24 hours for assessing the liver function.Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the hepatic pathological changes in mice.Splenocytes were harvested 24 h after ConA injection for the detection of the percentages of splenic DCs,CD4+T,CD8+T and CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells as well as the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD40,CD80 and CD86) on DCs by using flow cytometry.Results The levels of ALT and AST in mice from the RAPA treatment group were significantly lower than those of the ConA model group.Results of the HE staining assay showed that the liver damages in RAPA treated mice were less severe than those in mice from the ConA model group.Compared with mice form the ConA model group,those treated with RAPA showed decreased percentages of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells,inhibited expression of CD80 and CD86 on splenic DCs,but increased percentages of splenic CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells.No statistically significant differences in the percentages of splenic DCs and the expression of CD40 were observed between the RAPA treatment group and the ConA model group.Conclusion The immunosuppressive effects of RAPA on mice with ConA-induced hepatitis might be achieved through the regulation of immune cells including DCs and T cells in spleen tissues.This study might pave the way for further investigation on the prevention and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MSCT in tumors of intra-abdominal cryptorchidism in children.Methods MSCT findings of 8 children with tumors of intra-abdominal cryptorchidism confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Six tumors located in the right,2 (1 tumor of left cryptorchidism turned to the right abdominal) in the left.Eight children showed ovoid soft tissue tumor in abdomen.Three children displayed the long axis of the tumors consistent with regular descending course of embryonic testes.Six teratomas manifested as the cystic and solid mass with fat,calcification (ossification) insidey.Two yolk sac tumors manifested as the large cystic and solid mass with irregular necrosis and abundant tumor vessels.Conclusion The pathologic types of tumors for intra-abdominal cryptorchidism in children are different from adult.Most of them are teratomas or yolk sac tumors,and have some characteristics in MSCT.MSCT is helpful in diagnosis of tumor for intra-abdominal cryptorchidism with medical history.