Biodegradable and biocompatible functional polymers show high potential as novel drug carriers in disease diagnosis and therapy.Recently,protein drugs have brought about major breakthroughs in the treatment of various diseases including cancer,while the development of carrier technology is relatively delayed.This article reviews recent advances in biodegradable functional polymers as protein drug nanocarriers.Additionally,we have discussed the perspective of developing new generations of biocompatible and functional polymers.

Adult ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective To discuss the clinical significance of internal fixation through anterolaterel and posteromedial approaches in the treatment of closed sagittal Pilon fractures of Topliss classification and compare the effects of the two approaches.Methods The study involved 57 patients with closed sagittal Pilon fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation from 2007 to 2010,including 29 patients treated through anterolateral approach (Group A) and 28 through posteromedial approach (Group B).All patients were with closed fractures,and all surgery time windows were 10-19 days.The two groups were compared in aspects of gender,age,type of fractures,soft tissue graduation,injury factors,condition of combined fibula fracture,surgery time window,operation time,intra-operative blood loss,ambulation time,infection and necrosis rate of skin and soft tissue,length of stay,ankle joint function recovery after internal fixation,and intra-operative X-ray reduction.Results All patients were followed up for 12-26 months (mean,20 months) except for one patient in the Group A,with total follow-up rate of 98％.The two groups showed no significant differences regarding the gender,age,type of fractures,soft tissue graduation,injury factors,condition of combined fibula fracture,surgery time window selection,operation time,intra-operative blood loss,and ambulation time (P ＞0.05).While,the infection and necrosis incidence of skin and soft tissue,and the hospital stay we re significantly lower and shorter in the Group A than that in the Group B (P ＜ 0.05 ).Two patients in the Group A were complicated with toe extensor tendon adhesion,which was released by removing the fixation.Fifteen patients had wound infection during hospitalization,including three patients in the Group A and 12 in the Group B,but they were all cured after treatments like dressing.Fifteen patients were treated with stage Ⅰ allogeneic bone graft and 11 with autologous iliac bone graft.All the patients obtained bone union.Conclusions Topliss classification of closed sagittal Pilon fractures has clear clinical significance in surgical plan selection and operative procedures.Both of the anterolateral and posteromedial approaches can achieve good effects in the treatment of closed sagittal Pilon fractures due to high energy injury.However,the anterolateral approach is relatively a better choice,for it brings in a lower incidence of infection and necrosis of skin and soft tissue and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Objective To evaluate the correlation of ADC values on 3.0 T MR with the pathological grades in pT1b clear cell renal cell carcinoma(CCRCC).Methods Conventional MR images,ADC values and Fuhrman pathological grading of pT1b CCRCC were performed in 30 patients.Grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ were defined as low-grade group; grade Ⅲ and IV were defined as high-grade group.The differences of ADC values among four different pathologic grades were compared with a one-way analysis of variance. The comparison of ADC values of two different grade groups was performed with t test,and the ROC curve was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ADC value. Correlation between pathological gradings and ADC values was assessed with Spearman rank correlation analysis. Results ( 1 ) The mean ADC value of grading Ⅰ ( 10 patients ), Ⅱ ( 8 patients ),Ⅲ ( 7 patients ),IV ( 5 patients ) was ( 0.94 ± 0.11 ) ×10-3 mm2/s,(0.82 ±0.13) × 10-3 mm2/s,(0.68 ±0.09) × 10-3 mm2/s,(0.59 ±0.03) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.Significant differences of ADC values among the four grades were present (F =16.422,P =0.000 ).( 2 ) The mean ADC value of the low-grade group was significantly higher than that of the high-grade group(t =5.738,P =0.000).Sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing the low-grade group was 88.9％ and 83.3％ respectively.There was a negative correlation between pathological grading and ADC value ( r =-0.807,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The ADC values of pT1b CCRCC have close correlation with pathological gradings.They can be used to predict the degree of tumor malignancy preoperatively and guide surgical planning.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kindey (MTSCC-K).Methods Five cases of pathologically confirmed MTSCC-K were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent CT scanning,and 4 cases underwent conventional MR and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) scanning.MR enhancement ratio for the tumor was calculated according to MR signal intensity of pre-and post-contrast in tumor and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of tumor and normal renal cortical.Results Two case located in the right kindey,and 3 cases located in the left kindey.The maximum diameter of lesions ranged from 3.2 cm to 7.1 cm.Five cases showed nearly round shape with clear borderline.Pseudocapsule was found in 4 cases,3 cases had necrosis and cystic,and 1 case had calcification.There were no hemorrhage,fat and invasion of adjacent tissue.Isodensity or hypodense tumors were found on plain CT.Isointense or hyperintense tumors were found on plain T1WI,while isointense or mixed-signal tumors were found on plain T2WI.Slightly homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement was observed on dynamic enhanced CT or MR,and the solid component of tumors showed hyperintense on DWI and hypointense on ADC.The mean CT value of tumor at the plain,cortical and nephrographic phase was 32.6 HU,46.5 HU and 66.5 HU,respectively.The mean ADC value of tumor and normal renal cortical was 1.23 × 10-3 mm2/s and 2.31 × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.The mean MR percentage of enhancement value of tumor was 32.7％ and 104.9％,respectively.Conclusions The imaging characteristics of MTSCC-K include nearly round shape,pseudocapsule,clear borderline,necrosis,cystic and calcification.There is no invasion of adjacent tissue and seldom malignant appearances.Isodensity or hypodense can be observed on plain CT,isointense or hyperintense on plain T1WI,and a mild continuously enhancement on dynamic enhanced scanning.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the penile erectile function of hospitalized male patients with cardiovascular diseases, the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in this cohort, and the relationship of ED with cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors.

METHODSUsing a self-designed questionnaire, we conducted an investigation among the hospitalized patients in the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases of the First and Second Affiliated Hospitals of Xi'an Jiaotong University. We measured their body height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure, obtained their personal data, past history, metabolic indexes, and erectile function scores by IIEF-5, and analyzed the risk factors of ED using univariate and multivariate logistic regression and OR analyses.

RESULTSTotally, 225 valid questionnaires were included in this investigation, which showed a 66.7% incidence of ED, 15.8% mild, 27.0% mild to moderate, 17.6% moderate, and 6.3% severe. The incident rates of ED in the 18-35 yr, 36-49 yr, 50-65 yr, and > 65 yr age groups were 13.6%, 39.1%, 89.2%, and 91.2%, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis manifested that the risk factors of ED in the patients with cardiovascular diseases included age (OR = 3.122, 95% CI 2.040-4.779), smoking (OR = 1.768, 95% CI 1.209-2.584), BMI (OR = 1.261, 95% CI 1.114-1.427), total cholesterol (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.339-2.340), TC/HDL (OR =1.715, 95% CI 1.349-2.181), hypertension (OR = 1.717, 95% CI 1.110-2.658), and coronary heart disease (OR = 2.235, 95% CI 1.169-4.275), while multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the risk factors to be age (OR = 4.99, 95% CI 2.264-10.998), financial condition, (OR = 2.804, 95% CI 1.127-6.976), smoking (OR = 2.109, 95% CI 1.179-3.772), BMI (OR = 1.414, 95% CI 1.136-1.760), and TC/HDL (OR = 2.001, 95% CI 1.016-3.943).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of ED is high in hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases and rises with the increase of age. Age, smoking, financial condition, BMI, and TC/HDL are the risk factors of both ED and cardiovascular diseases, and financial condition is closely associated with ED.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Imidazoles ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrimidines ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Waist Circumference ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the changes in iNOS expression in brain injury induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.Methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats weighing 240-280 g were randomly divided into 2 groups: sham operation group (group S,n = 8) and group IB( n = 24).The hepatic IR was induced by clamping the hepatic artery and portal vein according te the method described by LONG et al.In group IR the rats were killed at 3,6 and 24 h of reperfusion after 40 min hepatic ischemia (8 rats at each time point).The rats in group S were also killed.The brains were removed for determination of NO content (by nitrate reductase assay),SOD activity (by xanthine oxidase method),MDA content(by colorimetric method),nitrotyrosine (NT) expression (by Western blot),and iNOS mRNA expression (by RT-PCR).Results Compared with group S,cerebral NO and MDA content were significantly increased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion,expression of cerebral NT and iNOS mRNA up-regulated and SOD activity decreased at 6 h of reperfusion in group IR (P < 0.05 or 0.01).Cerebral NO and MDA content were significantly higher and SOD activity lower at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion than at 3 h of reperfusion in group IR (P < 0.05).Conclusion The expression of iNOS in brain tissues is up-regulated after hepatic IR and it produces a great amount of NO inducing brain injury through peroxynitrite (ONOO-).

AlM: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment of idiopathic panuveitis.
METHODS: Totally 47 patients ( 69 eyes ) with the idiopathic panuveitis were included in this study, which were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. Twenty-four cases (33 eyes) with the method of Western medicine-glucocorticoid and mydriatic were in control group, while 23 cases (36 eyes) with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine were in treatment group. Those patients were followed up 12-36mo, the vision before and after treatment, the therapeutic effects, the complications and the side effects of glucocorticoid were recorded.
RESULTS: Both of two groups' vision after treatment were improved, but the vision of treatment group was better than the control group. The effective rate and the cure rate of the treatment group were increased significantly. Of all of the complications, the incidence rate of complicated cataract and secondary glaucoma of the treatment group were reduced significantly. Of all of the side effects of glucocorticoid, the central excitation, hypertension and central obesity of the treatment group were reduced significantly (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: Dialectical therapy of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has better therapeutic effect than simple Western medicine treatment of idiopathic panuveitis, and could better reduce the side effect of glucocorticoid long-term use. lt is worthy applying in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of histogram analysis of susceptible signal intensity in differentiating papillary (pRCC) from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma(ChRCC). Methods Thirteen cases with pRCC and 9 cases with ChRCC, who underwent susceptible-weighted imaging(SWI), MR common scanning and enhancement, were assessed retrospectively. The histogram parameters of susceptible signal intensity were measured, including maximum, minimum, mean, median, skewness and kurtosis. The independent samples t test(normal distribution) and Mann-Whitney rank sum test(skewed distribution) were used to compare the differences in SWI parameters between pRCCs and ChRCCs. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the efficiency of the whole-tumor SWI parameters in differentiating pRCCs from ChRCCs. Results The significant differences of the minimum, mean, median and skewness between pRCCs and ChRCCs were present(P<0.05), and there was no significant differences in maximum and kurtosis between between pRCCs and ChRCCs(P>0.05). In all the histogram parameters, the area of ROC curve of mean value was largest(0.80). The sensitivity of minimum value (84.62％) was the highest and and the specificity of skewness(100.00％) was the highest. Conclusion Histogram analysis of susceptible signal intensity can help differentiate pRCCs from ChRCCs.

Diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) is an efficient and noninvasive tool to investigate the characteristics and functions of white matter fiber tracts,and it can be used to study the relationship between the structure and function in the nervous system,the plasticity and damage repair of visual development,abnormalities of the white matters that relate to the visual pathways.Recently,the quantification of white matter fiber tracts from the lateral geniculate bodies to the occipital lobe visual cortex using DTI offers morphological information for the function and structure of the white matters during visual development.Some studies attempt to compare the DTI outcomes and tractography between amblyopic children and normal children so as to better display the variations of optic radiation in children with amblyopia,and to evaluate the relationship between structure and function of the white matters.DTI becomes an important supplementary research approach in these fields.This paper reviews the application of DTI in visual development and amblyopic eyes.