BACKGROUND:BioFlex system as a new pedicle screw fixation of dynamic stabilization device has less been reported concerning its biomechanics.
OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of BioFlex system fixation at different decompression ranges on disc stress at adjacent segments.
METHODS:Eight samples of fresh calf spines were used. Under physiologic axial loads (500, 900, 2 300 N), electronic universal testing machine was used to simulate the lumbar spine at three physiological states (standing, sitting and bending, standing on a portable 20 kg weight and bending). Progressive decompression modeling for each specimen and dividing into five groups:(1) complete status group;(2) complete status+BioFlex group;(3) partial laminectomy+BioFlex group;(4) 1/2 medial facetectomy+BioFlex group;(5) total facetectomy+BioFlex group. Strain gauges were used to record the stress of disc annulus. Electronic universal testing machine was used to record load-displacement curve and calculate stiffness.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The stress of the adjacent segment of the intervertebral disc increased with the expansion of the range of decompression. Compared with the complete status, stress obviously increased after BioFlex fixation, showing significant differences (P<0.05). The stress was significantly increased in the 1/2 medial facetectomy+BioFlex group compared with the partial laminectomy+BioFlex group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was detected between the partial laminectomy+BioFlex group and complete status+BioFlex group, and between total facetectomy+BioFlex group and 1/2 medial facetectomy+BioFlex group (P>0.05). (2) Axial stiffness reduced with the expansion of the range of decompression. Compared with the complete status, axial stiffness noticeably increased after BioFlex fixation. The difference was not significant among four kinds of reconstruction structures. (3) These findings confirmed that after BioFlex fixation, with the expansion of the range of decompression, the stress of adjacent segments of intervertebral disc gradual y increased, but different ranges of decompression cannot affect the stiffness of reconstruction structure.

Objective To understand the health of the electronic waste (e-waste) treatment workers and the adverse effects of e-waste on the workers engaged in e-waste dismantlement.Methods Health states were assessed by questionnaire investigation on 226 e-waste dismantlement workers and 172 non e-waste dismantlement workers (control group).Results The prevalence rates of headache/vertigo(47.7%),tetter /itch (15.0%),nausea(11.1%),insomnia(9.7%),hypomnesia (5.3%),nasal obstruction(5.3%),and conjunctiva congestion(4.8%) in e-waste dismantlement workers were significantly higher than that in the control group,and it seemed that the severity of the symptoms was strongly related to the type of work.Furthermore,there was a tendency that rate of insomnia raised with the length of service in the circuit boards dismantlement group.Conclusion E-waste dismantlement will produce adverse effects on health of the employed workers.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) combined with splenectomy for the patients with portal hypertension. Methods Thirty two cases of portal hypertension underwent EVL plus splenectomy from May 1999 to May 2002 in our department. The patients were registered and followed up in the third, sixth and twelfth months after operation respectively. Re ligations were performed in case of relapsed varices. Results Thirty one patients were followed up for ≥2 years.Of them,esophageal varices recrrented in 6.4% of patients during following-up period,but no reblecding, and no death caused by hepatic encehpalopathy or other complications.Conclusions EVL combined with splenectomy has less trauma , less postoperative complications and high eradication rate of esophageal varices, so it can be used safely in the treatment of patients with ruptured esophageal varices.

Objective To Study the effect of splenectomy plus endoscopic varices ligation (SEVL) in the treatment of portal hypertension. Methods SEVL was carried out in 38 patients with portal hypertension from January 2000 to June 2002. The authors compared hemodynamic parameters and gastric emptying time before and after the operation. The incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, the disappearance rate of esophageal varicosis, the outcomes of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and the incidence of complications were recorded at postoperative 3 weeks, 6 months, 12 and 18 months, respectively. Results Postoperatively, the free portal pressure, portal flow volume and velocity were significantly reduced in all the cases ( P 0.05). Portal thrombosis was seen in 6 cases (6/38, 15.8%). Conclusions SEVL has little influence on gastric emptying and PHG, offering a high disappearance rate of varicosis and a low incidence of complications.

AIM:To investigate the expressions of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase(MTAP)and ornithine decarboxylase(ODC)in human ovarian cancer.METHODS:60 fresh samples of ovarian cancer were collected.The expressions of MTAP mRNA and protein were analyzed by using RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.ODC activity was measured by high performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS:The expression levels of MTAP mRNA and protein in ovarian cancer were lower than those of control.In 9 of the 60 samples(15%)there were absence of detectable MTAP mRNA and protein.No significant relevance was found between the expression of MTAP and clinical pathologic features.ODC activity in ovarian cancer was(3.82?1.03)U,which was higher than that of normal ovarian tissues(1.38?0.59)U.ODC activity was related with tumor grade.In MTAP-deficiency ovarian cancer tissues ODC activity was significantly increased when compared with that of MTAP-expressing ovarian cancer samples.CONCLUSION:Down-regulated MTAP expression and up-regulated ODC activity really exist in ovarian cancer.Activation of ODC resulting from MTAP deletion may be one of the pathogenetic factors of ovarian cancer.

China ; Inventions

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; cytology ; Drug Antagonism ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Pentylenetetrazole ; pharmacology ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synaptic Transmission ; drug effects

BACKGROUND:Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cels can be induced through the co-culture to differentiate into other cels, but how to get more seed cels for tissue engineering is one of the most difficult problems. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the different concentrations of thyroxine in chondrogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cels by co-culture with rabbit chondrocytes. METHODS:Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cels were co-cultured with rabbit chondrocytes at 2:1, and stimulated by medium containing different concentrations of thyroxine (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1, 10 μmol/L). Co-cultured cels with no thyroxine served as control group. After 14 days of co-culture, the cel RNA and protein were extracted, mRNA expressions of aggrecan and colagen type II were detected by real-time PCR, and protein expression of aggrecan and colagen type II were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After intervention with 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 μmol/L thyroxine, the mRNA and protein expressions of aggrecan and colagen type II were enhanced with the increase of thyroxine concentration, which were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05). Experimental findings indicate that high levels of thyroxine can enhance the chondrogenic ability of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cels co-cultured with rabbit chondrocytes.

Objective To evaluate clinical effect of rabeprazole combined with teprenone capsules in treatment of gastric ulcer by marking targeting biopsy and leptin.Methods A total of 118 patients with active gastric ulcer confirmed by endoscopy were randomly divided into two groups.Patients in the treatment group (n=60) were given rabeprazole 10 mg,bid,and teprenone capsules 50 mg,tid.Patients in the control group (n=58) were given rabeprazole 10 mg,bid.Both groups were treated continuously for 56 days.Before and after treatment,2 groups were labeled with biopsy,the clinical efficacy and the healing rate of two groups were recorded,the quality of healing and the expression of leptin were compared.The level of leptin was tested after treatment.Results After 10 days,the difference of clinical curative effect was not statistically significant (P>0.05).After 56 days,the difference of clinical curative effect was statistically significant (P<0.05);ulcer healing rate (93.33%)in treatment group was higher than that of control group (72.41%);ulcer healing quality (93.33%) in treatment group was higher than that of control group (58.62%);leptin level of treatment group was lower than that of the control group;gastric ulcer recurrence rate (3.8%) in treatment group was lower than that of the control group (24.0%) (all P<0.05).Conclusion Rabeprazole combined with teprenone in the treatment of gastric ulcer is better than rabeprazole.Marking targeting biopsy and leptin can be used to evaluate the healing quality of gastric ulcer more accurately,which can be an evaluation index of the quality of gastric ulcer healing and used as an indicator of the quality of gastric ulcer healing.

Objective To study the effectiveness of comprehensive control measures based on systematic ecological system construction to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic regions in Sichuan Province ,so as to provide the ev?idence for adjustment of schistosomiasis prevention and control strategies. Methods A high endemic area of schistosomiasis, Panao Township of Dongpo District in Meishan City,was selected as a demonstration area. The comprehensive measures for schistosomiasis control with focus on systematic ecological management were implemented,and the income of residents,index?es of schistosomiasis control effect and so on were investigated before and after the intervention and the results were compared. Results The project based on systematic ecological system construction started in 2009 and 317.351 million Yuan was put into the construction. The construction included economic forest plant base(1 866.68 hm2,72.66%of the total farmland areas),eco?logical protection gardens(585.35 hm2)and so on. Totally 97.04% of historical areas with Oncomelania hupensis snails were comprehensively improved. In 2015,the peasants' pure income per capita increased 4 938 Yuan,with the average annual growth rate of 14.69%. All the farm cattle were replaced by the machine. The benefit rate of water improvement was increased by 52.84%and the coverage rate of harmless toilets increased by 18.30%. The positive rate of serological tests for schistosomiasis decreased from 7.69%to 3.50%,and the positive rate of parasitological tests decreased from 1.18%to 0. The area with snails was decreased from 23.33 hm2 to 0. The awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and correct behavior rate of the resi? dents increased from 85.50%and 82.60%to 95.70%and 93.90%respectively. Conclusions The comprehensive schistosomia?sis control measures based on systematic ecological management are conform to the currently actual schistosomiasis prevention and control work in hilly endemic regions,and have good ecological economic benefit and schistosomiasis control effectiveness, which provide an effectively new model of prevention and control for advancing process,consolidating the effect,finally realiz?ing goal of interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic regions.