Objective To analyze the characteristics, surgical timing and treatment of middle super thoracic fractures. Methods 35 cases of middle super thoracic fractures (T1 10) were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 25 cases were complete injury of the spinal cord and 10 cases were neurologically incomplete injury. The bleeding in operations at different times, the ASIA grades and the sensorimotor scores were analyzed. Results The follow up showed that the ASIA grade increased by 1 to 2 degrees in 10 cases of incomplete spinal cord injury, while in complete spinal cord injury the ASIA grades hardly increased but the sense and motion scores could be improved by about 20. Conclusions Middle super thoracic fractures often involve multi vertebra body, and the spinal cord is injured severely. Decompression, fusion, internal fixation from posterior approach can obtain a satisfactory result. Neurologically incomplete injury should be treated as soon as possible, while complete injury of the spinal cord should be treated around 2 weeks after the injury.

Objective To investigate the role of calreticulin (CRT) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by analyzing its expression in the sera,synovial fluid and synovial membrane in patients with RA.Methods Levels of CRT in the sera from patients with RA,osteoarthritis (OA),systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),other autoimmune diseases and health control (HC) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western bloting.CRT levels in synovial fluid from RA and OA patients were measured by ELISA.Pathological methods were employed to analyze the expression and localization of CRT in synovial membrane.ANVOA,SNK-q test were used for statistical analysis.Results CRT was found to be significantly up-regulated in sera from RA [(4.8±2.4) ng/ml] than that from in OA [(3.6±0.9)ng/ml],SLE [(4.0±1.5) ng/ml],other autoimmune diseases [(3.9±0.8) ng/ml] and HC [(3.7±0.6) ng/ml].Only the monomer form of CRT in the serum could be detected.Pathological results showed that in RA synovium,CRT was mainly expressed in the lining and sublining layers,endothelial cells and perivascular areas； while in OA,only few CRT staining was seen in perivascular areas and the synovial lines.Conclusion In RA,increased levels of CRT are detected in the sera.In addition,high expression of CRT is observed in synovium and its distribution are different from OA.Our results suggest that CRT may be involved in RA joint inflammation and pannus formation.CRT may become a potential serological marker in the diagnosis of RA.

Objective To evaluate the effect of malaria surveillance and control of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2013,and explore the suited surveillance and management of imported malaria cases,so as to provide the evidence for formulat?ing the scientific control measures of imported malaria. Methods The endemic data and control measures of malaria in Guangxi in 2013 were collected and analyzed statistically. Results A total of 1 251 malaria cases were found in Guangxi in 2013,with 88.25%(1 104 cases)of falciparum malaria,8.63%(108 cases)of vivax malaria,0.64%(8 cases)of quartan malaria,1.52%(19 cases)of ovale malaria,and 0.96%(12 cases)of mixed infection;93.21%(1 166 cases)were off?farm workers;96.56%(1 208 cases)were imported from Africa and mainly consisted of falciparum malaria cases;3.44%(43 cases)were imported from southeast Asia and mainly consisted of vivax malaria cases. The cases of imported malaria were increasing and the infection rate in 2013 was increased by 464%compared with that in 2012. Conclusion The imported malaria cases in Guangxi mainly come from Africa at present. Promoting the health education and professional skill of malaria control and treatment ,as well as the diagnosis and treatment of the patients in early time are important measures to control the imported malaria.

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of the imported malaria cases in Guangxi Zhuang Autono?mous Region in 2014,so as to assess the transmission risk and explore the prevention and control strategy. Methods The data of the malaria epidemic situation in the network direct report system of Guangxi in 2014 and the annual report of malaria epidem?ic situation in 14 cities were collected. The epidemiological information of the imported malaria cases was analyzed. Results A total of 184 malaria patients were reported in Guangxi in 2014,with a descent rate of 85.29%when compared to that in 2013 (1 251 cases),and the incidence rate was 0.35/100 000. All the cases were imported from abroad,and four species of Plasmodi?um were found in their blood samples. The number of falciparum malaria cases was the most(49.46%),followed by the ovale malaria cases(32.07%). All the cases were distributed in 32 counties(districts)of 11 cities ,and 65.76%of them were distrib?uted in Shanglin County. Most of the cases were male(98.37%),and those aged in 20-49 years accounted for 87.50%. The im?ported cases came from 14 countries of Africa(86.41%)and 2 countries of Southeast Asia(13.59%),in which,48.37%of the cases were imported from Garner. The main occupation of the cases in abroad was gold mining work(86.96%). The cases were reported all the year around,with no obvious seasonality. The interval time of back home to attack of the patients with tertian ma?laria and ovale malaria was longer. Conclusion Africa and Southeast Asia is the main source of imported malaria cases in Guangxi,and the migrant workers returning home may have the risk of malaria recurrence,which should be paid enough atten?tion to.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) modulating the inflammatory response during the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), especially the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which will provide new theoretical and experimental basis of MODS in clinic. Methods BMSC of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat (female, 4 weeks) was extracted and cultivated, and the 4th passage were used in experimental study. According to the random number table, 60 female SD rats were divided into three groups (n = 20 per group): sham group, MODS group, BMSC group. MODS model in rats was induced by lipopolysaccaride (LPS, 1 mg/kg) via femoral vein injection. Sham group was injected with the sterile phosphate buffer saline (PBS) in the same volume. BMSC group, in which BMSC infusion was started at 2 hours after 0.5 mL LPS stimulation (1×106/cells) through the tail vein. The survival rate was observed after 72 hours in each group. Abdominal aortic blood was collected for routine blood and biochemical examination at 72 hours after operation. Protein microarray was used to detect the related 34 inflammatory cytokines. Signal ratio was defined as the differentially expressed factors when it was more than 2.0 or less than 0.5. And enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was be applied to validate the significant inflammation factor. Meanwhile, the heart, kidney, intestine tissue was harvested, then their pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining.Results 20, 12, 16 rats lived in sham group, MODS group and BMSC group respectively at 72 hours after operation. Compared with the sham group, the indicators (routine blood, liver and kidney function, myocardial enzyme) were apparently unusual, and the heart, kidney, intestine tissue were injured obviously in the MODS group. After BMSC administration, the organ function was improved and tissue damaged was alleviated significantly. Protein microarray showed that interleukin-4 (IL-4) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were significantly different in 34 goal cytokines. The signal ratio change of IL-4 was 0.397, 1.124, 2.826 respectively, and the signal ratio of RAGE was 6.197, 1.552, 0.250, respectively in MODS/sham group, BMSC/sham group, BMSC/MODS group. ELISA validated the result that the expression level of IL-4 decreased significantly (ng/L:3.59±1.21 vs. 29.10±5.78) and the expression level of RAGE increased significantly (ng/L: 1.09±0.04 vs. 0.11±0.03) in MODS group as compared with sham group (bothP < 0.05). Compared with the MODS group, the level of IL-4 was obviously higher than that in BMSC group (ng/L: 9.59±2.21 vs. 3.59±1.21,P < 0.01), and RAGE decreased significantly (ng/L: 0.29±0.07 vs. 1.09±0.04,P < 0.05).Conclusions BMSC administration can regulate the expression of IL-4 and RAGE in the rats subjected to MODS. Moreover, BMSC can promote the restoration of tissue and organ function, thus improve the survival rate. BMSC may be the target in cell therapy for the inflammatory disease.

Previous studies have shown that chronic hyperglycemia exacerbates skeletal muscle insulin resistance and worsens β-cell function. However, the effect of sustained physiologic hyperglycemia on hepatic insulin sensitivity stays unclear. This paper is the Chinese translation of " Mild physiologic hyperglycemia induces hepatic insulin resistance in healthy normal glucose-tolerant participants" ,published on " Journal of Clinical Endocr inology&Metabolism" [Tripathy D, Merovci A, Basu R, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2019,104( 7):2842-2850] after obtaining the copyright of the original journal. This study examined the effect of sustained physiologic hyperglycemia on endogenous glucose production ( EGP ) in 16 healthy individuals with three-step hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. The results showed that sustained physiologic hyperglycemia for only 48 hours increased the rate of basal hepatic glucose production and induced hepatic insulin resistance in healthy persons with normal glucose tolerance, indicating the role of glucotoxicity in the increase of hepatic glucose production in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine on asthenospermia with epididymal knob.

METHODSThirty-five patients aged 25-39 years with asthenospermia with epididymal knob were received at our clinic of andrology from May 2003 to July 2004, and given oral L-carnitine 2 g/d for 3 months. The sperm parameters of the patients were analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analysis system before and after L-carnitine treatment.

RESULTSOf the 32 patients who accomplished the 3-month L-carnitine therapy, only 4 remained unimproved in sperm parameters, while the other 28 were significantly improved in sperm concentration, forward sperm motility, total sperm motility, straight line velocity, curvilinear velocity and average path velocity. Four of the patients wives were pregnant and one patient fathered a child.

CONCLUSIONOral L-carnitine therapy is efficacious for asthenospermia with epididymal knob.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genital Diseases, Male ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin B Complex ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate effects of extremely high hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) on the prognosis of endoscopic therapy in secondary prophylaxis for patients with gastroesophageal varices.Methods This was a single center prospective cohort study.From April 1st,2013 to May 31st,2015,patients with gastroesophageal varices and treated for secondary prophylaxis were enrolled and divided into extremely high HVPG group (HVPG≥20 mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and non-extremely high HVPG group (HVPG＜ 20 mmHg).After combination of endoscopic ligation and tissue glue treatment,one-year,two-year and threeyear rebleeding rates and survival statuses were compared.Cox regression was performed for further analysis of prognosis factors related with rebleeding and survive.Results Eventually,126 patients were enrolled and divided into extremely high HVPG group (32 cases) and non-extremely high HVPG group (94 cases).The one-year rebleeding rates of extremely high HVPG group and non-extremely high HVPG group were 37.9 ℃ (11/29) and 27.6 ％ (24/87),respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant (x2 =1.105,P =0.293).The two-year rebleeding rate of extremely high HVPG group was significantly higher than non-extremely high HVPG group 51.7％ (15/29) vs 29.9％ (26/87),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.539,P=0.033).And so was the three-year rebleeding rate,51.7％ (15/29) vs 29.9％ (24/87),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.539,P=0.033).The one-year,two-year and three-year survival rates of extremely high HVPG group and non-extremely high HVPG group were 92.6％ (25/27) vs 94.0％ (78/83),85.2％ (23/ 27) vs 94.0 ％ (78/83),and 85.2％ (23/27) vs 94.0％ (78/83),and the differences between two groups were not statistically significant (all P＞0.05).Single factor analysis showed that portal vein thrombosis was associated with rebleeding (hazard ratio (HR)=1.883,95％ confidence interval (CI) 1.015 to 3.492,P=0.045).No prognosis factors associated with survival were found.Conclusions Medium and long term rebleeding rate of the extremely high HVPG group is higher than that of the non-extremely high HVPG group.Extremely high HVPG does not affect the one-year prognosis of endoscopic therapy in secondary prophylaxis for patients with gastroesophageal varices.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage is a common complication of portal hypertension. Endoscopic therapy is currently recommended for preventing gastroesophageal variceal rebleed. However, the rate of variceal rebleed and its associated mortality remain concerning. This study is aimed at differentiating patient response to endoscopic therapy based on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) findings. METHODS: One-hundred seventy patients previously treated with repeat endoscopic therapy for secondary prophylaxis were enrolled and classified into two groups based on treatment response. Prior to consolidation therapy, all patients received an EUS examination to observe for extraluminal phenomena. All available follow-up endoscopic examination records were retrieved to validate study results. RESULTS: Of the 170 subjects, 106 were poor responders, while 64 were good responders. The presence of para-gastric, gastric perforating, and esophageal perforating veins was associated with poor patient response (p < 0.001). The odds ratio for para-gastric veins was 5.374. Follow-up endoscopic findings for poor responders with incomplete variceal obliteration was closely correlated with the presence of para-gastric veins (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of para-gastric veins is a characteristic of poor response to endoscopic therapy for treating gastroesophageal varices. Early identification of this subgroup necessitates a change in course of treatment to improve overall patient outcome.
Cyanoacrylates ; Endosonography ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Assessment ; Ultrasonography* ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

Objective To investigate the efficacy and value of intra-operative neuromonitoring (IONM) in preventing,identifying and repairing recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLNI) during thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.Methods Data were collected from a series (n =351) of patients operated in our department between Jan 2015 and Dec 2017.Results With IONM navigation a total of 460 recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified during surgery.Anatomic variations were found in 6 cases,3 were non-recurrent laryngeal nerve.Others were morphological branching variation.There were 4 cases of temporary RLNI,all were unilateral.Total temporary RLNI rate was 1.1％.All 4 cases recovered completely in 3 months after surgery.Complete transection injury of RLN were found in 2 cases,one underwent immediate nerve anastomosis,with the voice significantly improved in 6 months.The total permanent RLNI rate was 0.5％.There was no hoarseness after operation in patients with normal IONM signal.The incidence of vocal cord paralysis was 57.14％ in patients with loss of IONM signal but normal appearance of RLN.Use of IONM did not increase operation time.Conclusions IONM had significant advantages in recognition of RLN,repair of intraoperative RLNI and prediction of postoperative voice condition,which could improve the safety of surgery.