OBJECTIVETo explore the technique and therapeutic effect of bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in young children. Methods:From June 2006 to June 2012,45 young children with femoral shaft fractures were treated by bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion,which was designed according to arch bridge mechanical principle and structure. There were 31 males and 14 females with an average age of 3.2 years old ranging from 8 months to 5.5 years old; 14 cases were upper 1/3 femoral fractures,26 cases were middle 1/3 femoral fractures,5 cases were lower 1/3 femoral fractures; 20 cases were transverse fractures, 14 cases were oblique fractures,6 cases were spiral frac- tures, and 5 cases were comminuted fractures. X-ray, follow-up imaging changes,clinical curative effect and complications were assessed.

RESULTSForty-five patients were followed up for 6 to 21 months (averaged 12 months). All fractures were reached clinical bone healing after 5 to 7 weeks (averaged 6 weeks) fixation. Seven cases appearred limb soft tissue complications, including buttocks bedsore,dorsal foot and Achilles tendon epidermal necrosis, and healed after dressing and removal of external fixation. During follow-up,the original overlap angle and lateral displacement were remodeled, and limbs were restored to the normal line of force and bone structure. According to Flynn standard, 35 cases got excellent results, 8 cases good, 2 cases fair.

CONCLUSIONThe bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion for the treatment of femoral. shaft fractures in young children (less than 6 years old) is safe,feasible, simple,and has raliable effect, which can be applied in primary hospitals.

Ankle ; surgery ; Bone Wires ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Femur ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore a way of determining the weights of variables in synthetic evaluation.

METHODSBased on the attribute synthetic evaluation system, similarity weight was used to cluster and rank the atmospheric quality on 11 large cities.

RESULTSRealized the classification and ranking for the atmospheric quality of the cities given, the results were almost comparable to that achieved by Topsis evaluation.

CONCLUSIONThe method of comprehensive assessment using similarity weight in the attribute synthetic evaluation system seemed to be objective and rational. Not only it embodied the weights of variables involved, but also exploiting the information presented by the sample.

Air Pollution ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Decision Making ; Environmental Monitoring ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVEIntegrating column switching for on-line concentration and programmed injection, a novel HPLC method is developed for simultaneous determination of high-content water-soluble components (danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B) and trace nerolidol in Xiangdan injection. The concentrations of water-soluble components in Xiangdan injection are roughly 1000 times of that of nerolidol.

METHODThe on-line concentration was performed on a Zorbax SB-C18 guard column. The separation was carried out on Lichrospher C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase of guard column was mixtures of acetonitrile and 1.0% acetic acid water, and the flow rate was 0.5 mL x min(-1). The mobile phase of the analytical column was mixtures of acetonitrile and 0.05% acetic acid water, and the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was maintained at 40 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was 280 nm at 0-40 min, 210 nm at 40-55 min. The program injection was 10 microL of sample solution 1 at 0 min, 200 microL of sample solution 2 at 15.3 min.

RESULTThe calibration curves of danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B and nerolidol showed good linear regression (R2 > 0.9990) within investigated concentration ranges. The average recoveries of the four analytes were between l00% and 102%, and the RSD values were less than 3.0%. For danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B and nerolidol, the limits of detection at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 were 17.1, 0.473, 60.2, 50.6 microg x L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is a simple, sensitive and repeatable approach. More importantly, results indicate that the present method shows promising prospect for quality control of Xiangdan injection.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors upgrading the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Gleason score using the specimens from preoperative prostatic biopsy and radical prostatectomy.

METHODSA total of 164 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by biopsy underwent radical prostatectomy. We retrospectively analyzed their age, prostate volume, preoperative PSA level, PSA density (PSAD) , the time interval between biopsy and surgery, the number of positive punctures, positive surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, lymphatic invasion, and Gleason scores from biopsy and prostatectomy. We also determined the predictors of Gleason score upgrading by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSOf the 164 cases analyzed, 95 (57.93% ) showed a consistency between the Gleason score of preoperative prostatic biopsy and that after radical prostatectomy, 55 (33.54% ) increased and 14 (8.52%) decreased after prostatectomy as compared with preoperative biopsy. The prostate volume (P < 0.01) and biopsy score (P < 0.05) were independent predictors of Gleason score upgrading. The risk of Gleason score upgrading was 27 times higher in the patients with the prostate volume ≤ 25 ml and 9 times higher in the 25-40 ml group than in the > 60 ml group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow Gleason score of biopsy (≤ 6) and small prostate volume (≤ 40 ml) may be the predictors of Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Organ Size ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; classification ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the differentiation of the implanted human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into neurons in neonatal rats following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).

METHODSHIBD model was prepared by ligation of the left common carotid artery, followed by 8% hypoxia exposure in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Three days later, the rats received implantation of hNSCs into the left cerebral ventricles. Then the survived rats were randomly divided into two groups: transplantation alone and transplantation+HBO (n=8 each). HBO treatment was administered (1.8 ATA, 1 hr once daily for 10 days) in the transplantation+HBO group 1 hr after hNSCs transplantation. Brains were removed 10 days after transplantation. Frozen coronal sections were prepared for immunofluorescence analysis to detect the neural differentiation of the transplanted cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

RESULTSDifferentiated neurons of implanted cells distributed mainly in the cortex and the hippocampus of the injured side. There was no difference in the number of neurons in the cortex between the two groups, while the number of neurons in the hippocampus significantly increased in the transplantation+HBO group compared with that in the transplantation alone group (231.4+15.1 vs 162.6+5.6; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHBO treatment may promote the differentiation of implanted hNSCs into neurons in the hippocampus of neonatal rats following HIBD.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; therapy ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) on endovascular exclusion (EVE) and its results.

METHODSFrom March 1997 to June 2007, 429 AAA patients were treated with endovascular stent-graft exclusion. According to the maximal diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the patients were divided into two groups: group A (diameter < 55 mm, n = 274) and group B (diameter > or = 55 mm, n = 155). The diameter of AAA, involvement of iliac artery, length, diameter and distortion of aneurismal neck in the two groups were recorded and compared retrospectively.

RESULTSPatients in group B were significantly older than group A (73.7 vs 71.1 years, P < 0.05). More patients in group B was complicated with coronary artery disease than those in group A (P < 0.05). The mean diameter of AAA in group A was (46.6 +/- 6.8) mm, and (66.8 +/- 11.2) mm in group B (P < 0.05). Proximal aneurysmal necks were shorter, wider and more tortuous in group B than those in group A (P < 0.05). Extraperitoneal approach, embolism of inner iliac artery and reconstruction of another inner iliac artery and stretch technique were more applied in group B. There were more endoleak during operation in group B and more stent-grafts were used. There was significant difference in morbidity rate between the two groups, while no statistic difference in mortality. And in group B, there were a high rate of endoleak and secondary intervention post operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe diameter of AAA affects EVE and its results. In small aneurysms, EVE carries better outcome than in big aneurysms.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDPancreatic β cells are susceptible to fatty acid-induced apoptosis. The 17β-estradiol (E2) protects pancreatic β cells from apoptosis, mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (ERα). The mRNA level and promoter activity of leukemia-related protein (LRP) 16 were significantly increased by E2 in ER-α and LRP16 was a co-activator of ER-α. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of LRP16 on fatty acid-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells.

METHODSCells with over-expressing LRP16 were obtained by lipidosome transfection. Insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were examined by radioimmunoassay. Western blotting was applied to detect protein expression. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry. The forkhead boxO1 (FoxO1) subcellular localization was determined by immunocytochemical analysis.

RESULTSMIN6-LRP16 cells with overexpression of LRP16 were successfully established, and protein expression of LRP16 was 2.29-fold of that of control cells (MIN6-3.1, P < 0.05). Insulin content and GSIS in MIN6-LRP16 were substantially increased compared with those in control cells. When cells were stimulated with glucose, increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and serine-threonine kinase (Akt) were observed in MIN6-LRP16. When cells were under palmitate pressure, the TUNEL-positive rate in MIN6-LRP16 was (17.0 ± 0.5)%, while it in MIN6-3.1 was (22.0 ± 0.4)%. In palmitate-treated cells, attenuated Akt phosphorylation was observed, but the attenuation in Akt activity was partially restored in MIN6-LRP16 cells. Meanwhile, nuclear localization of FoxO1 in MIN6-LRP16 was apparently reduced compared with that in control cells.

CONCLUSIONSLRP16 regulated insulin content and GSIS in MIN6 cells by ERK1/2 and Akt activated way. Meanwhile, LRP16 overexpression protected MIN6 cells from fatty acid-induced apoptosis by partially restoring Akt phosphorylation and inhibiting FoxO1 nuclear redistribution. Therefore, LRP16 played important roles not only in insulin content and GSIS but also in the antilipotoxic effect mediated by Akt/FoxO1 signaling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fatty Acids ; pharmacology ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish a set of procedure for recovery and species identification of Legionella from the surface environmental water.

METHODSForty-four water samples were collected in eight parks of Guangzhou city from August to November in 2006. The bacteriologic examination was performed by cultivation on BCYEalpha plate, and 108 presumptive Legionella colonies were picked and their homogeneous relationship was analyzed by using an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method. Species identification was carried out by latex agglutination test, biochemical characterization, analysis of cellular fatty acids composition, 16 S rRNA gene and mip gene sequencing.

RESULTSLegionella was recovered among 27 (61.36%) samples of all eight parks, and 31 different strains were identified from those 108 presumptive Legionella isolates by AFLP method, including 20 strains of L. pneumophila, five strains of L. feeleii, four strains of L. longbeachae, one strain of L. oakridgensis and one strain of L. sainthelensi, and L. pneumophila could be easily differentiated by phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, latex agglutination test or analysis of the cellular fatty acids composition . However, uncertain factors were existing in those phenotypic identification methods as compared to the sequence analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe taxonomic analysis of the Legionellae family should be dependent on the 16 S rRNA gene or mip gene.

Bacteriological Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Legionella ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and the toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and FOLFOX4 (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin combined and oxaliplatin) regimen for advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSSeventy-eight patients with cTNM stage III or IV (M0) gastric cancer were enrolled and 39 were randomized into the treatment arm (n=39, paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 regimen neoadjuvant chemotherapy every two weeks in each cycle) and control group (n=39). Clinical response was evaluated with RECIST criteria after 3 cycles. Patients in experimental group received surgery after 2-4 weeks and postoperative chemotherapy of 3 cycles of the original regimen. When disease progressed, postoperative chemotherapy regimen was changed into ECF regimen. The control group of 39 patients received surgery within 2 weeks and postoperative chemotherapy of 6 cycles of paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 regimen.

RESULTSThe clinical response rate was 66.7% in the treatment arm. The R0 resection rate (59.0%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=0.025) and the number of lymph node metastasis in the treatment arm(3.23±2.80) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.79±2.69, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative complication rate (5.1% vs. 2.6%) and the number of lymph node dissection (19.69±2.95 vs. 20.59±3.22) between the two groups (P>0.05). The median survival time and 2-year survival rate in the treatment arm [(27.10±2.32) months and 59.0%] was significantly higher than that in the control group[(18.20±1.30) months and 28.2%] (P=0.001, P=0.006). Cox regression multivariable analysis showed that tumor differentiation, R0 resection, lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors. Adverse reaction of chemotherapy, mainly hematological adverse reactions, and peripheral nerve toxicity, were tolerable. No significant differences were noted between the two groups in adverse reactions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is high. Patients tolerance and compliance are satisfactory. It can improve in patients with advanced gastric cancer the R0 resection rate, reduce lymph node metastasis and improve survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Lactamases ; chemistry ; genetics