BACKGROUND: With the understanding of pathology of cervical diseases, cervical curvature has become one of
the important indexes of long-term clinical outcome. To restore and maintain cervical curvature has a profound impact on cervical long-term stabilization and cervical biomechanical environment.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term influence of selective consecutive three-level appliance of intervertebral Solis cage on cervical curvature for spondylotic myelopathy.
METHODS: From June 2008 to December 2010, 22 spondylotic myelopathy patients were treated with
consecutive three-level anterior cervical Solis fusion. There were 14 males, 8 females, with an average age of
45.1 years (ranged from 26-73 years). There were two cases of C2/3/4/5, seven cases of C3/4/5/6, 12 cases of C4/5/6/7, and one case of C5/6/7/T1 , total y 66 intervertebral spaces. Al cases were fol owed up for 2 years.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Average blood loss amount was 40 mL (20-80 mL). Average operation time was 121 minutes (100-175 minutes). After fol ow-up for 30.7 months, al segments were fused. There was no implant migration or vertebral body col apse. Pre-operative JOA score was 11.94±3.61, 15.56±1.13 at 6 months post-operation, and 15.21±1.85 at 2 years after implantation. Pre-operative cervical curvature was (1.86±3.24) mm,(4.83±1.78) mm at 6 months post-operation, and (4.44±3.36) mm at 2 years after implantation. There were significant differences between pre-operative and at 6 months post-operation, pre-operative and at 2 years post-operation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between 6-month and 2-year post-operation (P > 0.05). Results indicated that selective consecutive three-level appliance of intervertebral cage for spondylotic myelopathy could improve cervical curvature and have long-term favorable clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the asymmetry of measurements in facial asymmetry patients with skull positioning posterior-anterior radiographs after orthodontic-orthognathic treatment.

METHODSPosterior-anterior cephalometric radiography and cephalometric analysis were performed in forty-five patients with different degrees of facial asymmetry. A single sample t-test was conducted to compare the asymmetry of measurements before treatment and individual normal occlusion. The measurement and reference values in facial asymmetry patients who underwent orthodontic-orthognathic treatment were summated by analyzing the correlation coefficient. The paired t-test was employed to compare the difference between the two groups before and after the treatment.

RESULTSFourteen measurements were significantly different before the treatment and individual normal occlusion (P < 0.05). Me[X] exhibited a higher correlation index of Ag[X] in forty-five cases. Twenty-eight patients showed the main asymmetry in the mandibular body, whereas fifteen patients in the ramus. Two patients showed the main asymmetry in both mandibular body and ramus. Fifteen measurements were significantly different before and after the treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFacial asymmetry is mainly concentrated in one-third of the surface, primarily manifested in the mandibular body. Orthodontic-orthognathic treatment is preferred when Ag[X] is greater than the minimum reference value of 11.31%, Go[X] is greater than 9.79%, and Me[X] is greater than 5.2 mm.

Dental Porcelain ; classification ; Humans

Objective To review the clinical features and diagnosis of syphilitic aortic aneurysm .Methods A case of syphilitic aortic aneurysm was reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed .Results The patient showed progressive hoarse and heart murmurs and was diagnosed by computed tomographic angiography of aorta and syphilis serology test .In the era of antibiotics ,syphilitic aortic aneurysm is a very rare and dangerous case with covert onset ,various manifestations and high mortality .Conclusions The prevalence of late cardiovascular syphilis is increasing with the increase of early-onset syphilis and HIV epidemic .Syphilis serologic test should be available for the young patients with aortic aneurysm even though the risk factors of coronary heart disease are not present .Medical and surgical treatments for syphilis should be provided for the patients who are clinically suspected of syphilitic aortic aneurysm .

AIM: To establish the quality standard of Agui Yangxue Tablets (Radix Angelicae sinensis, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae, etc.) METHODS: Radix Astragali, Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae and Radix Rehmanniae praeparata were identified by TLC. The content of ferulic acid and paeoniflorin was determined by HPLC. The HPLC condition of ferulic acid was as follows: column was Diamonsil~ TM C_ 18 (4.6 mm?200 mm,5 ?m), the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile -0.085% phosphoric acid (22 ∶ 78), the UV detection wavelength was at 322 nm, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min with column temperature at 35 ?C . The HPLC condition of paeoniflorin was as follows: column was Diamonsil~ TM C_ 18 (4.6 mm?200 mm,5 ?m), the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile -0.1% phosphoric acid (15 ∶ 85), the UV detection wavelength was at 229 nm, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min with column temperature at 25 ?C . RESULTS: The developed TLC spots were quite clear. The calibration curve of ferulic acid was linear with 0.012 9-0.154 8 ?g(r=0.999 7). The average recovery was 99.32% with RSD of 1.74% (n=9). The calibration curve of paeoniflorin was linear with 0.106 8-1.602 0 ?g(r= 0.999 9). The average recovery was 98.68% with RSD of 0.98 (n=9). CONCLUSION: The established TLC and HPLC methods are exclusive, reproducible and suitable for the quality control of Agui Yangxue Tables.

BACKGROUND:Dialysis membrane is the most important part of a dialyzer, which directly affects the therapeutic efficacy of hemodialysis.
OBJECTIVE:To study the permeability, adsorbability and biocompatibility of high- and low-flux hemodialysis membrane in maintenance hemodialysis process.
METHODS:Forty-six hemodialysis patients due to chronic renal failure were selected, including 24 males and 22 females, aged 26-78 years. These patients were randomized into two groups: FX8 and FX60 groups. Dialog+ dialyzer and bicarbonate dialysate (Braun, Germany) were used in the two groups, and polysulfone membranes FX8 and FX60 were respectively used in the two group. Al the patients received hemodialysis three times per week, 4 hours once. After 4 months of dialysis, blood levels of toxins and inflammatory cytokines were detected in the two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After dialysis, there were no differences in the blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, blood phosphorus levels between the two groups. The clearance rates of β2-microglobulin and parathyrin were significantly higher in the FX60 group than the FX8 group (P < 0.05); the plasma levels of albumin and hemoglobin were significantly higher in the FX60 group than the FX8 group (P < 0.05); but the serum levels of interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-a were lower in the FX60 group than the FX8 group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that high-flux polysulfone membrane FX60 is superior to low-flux polysulfone membrane FX8 in the clearance of macromolecule toxins and biocompatibility.

Objective To explore the differential expression of low molecular weight proteins in serum of ischemic stroke patients.Methods Serum samples obtained from ischemic stroke patients (n=33) and normal controls (n=39) were analyzed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The severity of stroke was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results 55 peaks were significantly different between ischemic stroke patients and the controls (P<0.05). There were 7 peaks between 1000~2000 Da, 4 increased peaks and 3 induced peaks in serum of ischemic stroke patients. One induced peak at 1864(m/z) had highest peak intensity in controls and induced significantly in ischemic stroke patients. While induce degree of this peak didn't correlate with the NIHSS, mRS, stroke risk factors and laboratory data. Conclusion The application of this potential biomarker is not restricted to certain subgroups of ischemic stroke patients,so it may serve as one reverse direction biomarker and provide support for early diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Objective To study the relationship between the medial artery calcification and expression of core-binding factor alpha 1 (Cbf α-1) and collagen Ⅱ (Col Ⅱ) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients.Methods Pieces of radial arteries were taken from 40 patients with CKD stage 5 during internal arteriovenous fistula operation.Ten patients with subtotal gastrectomy and normal renal function were chosen as control.The vessels were examined for calcification by von Kossa stain and for the presence of Cbfα-1 and Col Ⅱ by immunohistochemistry.According to von Kossa stain,CKD stage 5 patients were divided into no calcification group,mild-moderate calcification group and severe calcification group.Other related factors including serum calcium,phosphate,intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH),C-reactive protein (CRP),triglyceride(TG),cholesterol(TC) and lowdensity lipoproteins(LDL) were also detected.Results Seventeen (42.5％) of CKD Stage 5 patients showed vascular calcification,while calcification was not found in controls.Most calcification occurred in medial layer.Positive immunohistochemical staining of core-binding factor and Col Ⅱ was found in the smooth muscular cell plasma of medial layer in the vessels with calcification.However,above positive staining was also observed in 78.3％ of no calcification group.But there was little staining in control group.Positive staining score of Cbfα-1 and Col Ⅱ in severe calcification group was significantly higher than that in no calcification group.Same findings were obtained in mild-moderate calcification group,but the difference between them was not statistically significant.CRP and Ca × P were positively correlated with staining score of Cbfα-1 and Col Ⅱ.Serum phosphate was positively correlated with Cbfα-1 (r=0.786,P＜0.01) and Col Ⅱ (r=0.785,P＜0.01) respectively.Conclusions 42.5％ of CKD stage 5 patients in our group shows vascular calcification,which occurrs mainly in medial layer.High expression of Cbfα-1 and Col Ⅱ can be observed in vascular calcification of radial arteries,which is earlier than vascular histological changes.Cbfα-1 and Col Ⅱ may be involved in the development of vascular calcification.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of mild moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to explore the role of mild moxibustion in relieving pain,reducing stiffness and improving joint dysfunction in patients with KOA.Methods:Eighty patients with KOA were randomly allocated into either a moxibustion group or a medication group by the random number table,with 40 cases in each group.The moxibustion group used mild moxibustion at Neixiyan (EX-LE 5),Dubi (ST 35),Xuehai (SP 10) and Liangqiu (ST 34),30 min each time,3 times a week;the medication group was given celecoxib capsule (celebrex),0.2 g each time,once a day.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.The visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC)scores were evaluated before and after treatment.The efficacy of the two groups was compared after treatment.Results:After treatment,the overall efficacy of the moxibustion group was significantly different from that of the medication group (P＜0.05).The VAS and WOMAC scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (both P＜0.01).The changes in the VAS and WOMAC scores after treatment in the moxibustion group were significantly different from those in the medication group (both P＜0.05).After treatment,in single item of WOMAC,the changes in pain and joint dysfunction in the moxibustion group were more statistically significant than those in the medication group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion:Mild moxibustion and oral celebrex can reduce the VAS and WOMAC scores of patients with KOA.Mild moxibustion is superior to oral celebrex in relieving pain and improving joint function.

Objective To investigate whether the hyper-reactivity of monocytes from the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) to LPS and Poly I ∶ C was associated with miR-146a.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PBC patients and healthy controls were stimulated with 10 μg/ml of LPS or Poly I ∶ C.The levels of IL-1 β,IL-6,TNF-α and IFN-α in the culture medium were detected by ELISA.The relative expressions of miR-146a,miR-21,let-7e,miR-155 and miR-125b were detected by RT-PCR.The regulatory role of miR-146a on the production of inflammatory factors in LPS or Poly I ∶ C stimulated THP-1 cells was studied by gain-and-loss function assay.Results The up-regulation of miR146a,which was induced by both LPS or Poly I ∶ C,was impaired in the monocytes from PBC patients.The production of LPS or Poly I ∶ C induced inflammatory factor,could be enhanced by miR-146a down-regulation.Conclusion The hyper-reactivity of monocytes from PBC patients to LPS and Poly I ∶ C was associated with miR-146a.