Objective To evaluate the appearances of osteochondral fracture of the knee on X-ray and MR imaging. Methods Twelve patients with knee acute injury were examined with X-ray and MRI. The findings of MRI and X-ray were analyzed and reviewed, and the results of each patient were confirmed by arthroscopy and operation. Results Thirteen areas of osteochondral fracture including 9 loose bodies in 12 patients were diagnosed by MRI. Seven locations were found by MRI in the distal lateral femoral condyle, and 6 in patellar. MRI could clearly show the location, the size, and the depth of each osteochondral fracture, and MRI could also differentiate the articular cartilage and the subchondral of the loose body. T 2WI, STIR, and FFE-T 2WI were the best sequences to demonstrate the osteochondral fracture. X-ray showed 5 loose bodies in the knee joint, but could not detect where they came from. Conclusion MRI can accurately reveal and diagnose the osteochondral fracture of knee after trauma, which improves the diagnostic certainty and is very helpful for arthroscopy and operation. X-ray is still the initial modality in detecting the osteochondral fracture of knee and should be combined with MRI to confirm the diagnosis.

Ten dimeric phthalide racemates (1-10) were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Angelica sinensis root head (Guitou) by separation techniques of column chromatography over macroporous adsorbent resin, MCI resin, silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20, together with preparative thin-layer chromatography and reversed phase HPLC. The racemates were further separated into (+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-10 with chiral HPLC. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data, combined with electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and NMR calculations as well as single crystal X-ray diffractions. Compounds (+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-10 are either new structure or new natural product, named (+)-/(-)-angelidipthalidic acids A-H [(+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-8] and (+)-/(-)-angelidipthalidols A and B [(+)-/(-)-9 and (+)-/(-)-10], respectively. Meanwhile, dimeric phthalide mono- and bis-lactone derivatives with 3.3′a,8.6′- and 3.6′,8.3′a-coupling patterns as well as determination of their relative configurations are discussed.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of penile ventral Z-shaped cross flap and penile dorsal pedicled transfer flap in penoplasty for concealed penis.Methods:From January 2017 to June 2019, the data of 151 patients with concealed penis admitted to our hospital was retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the surgical method. 69 cases were treated with penis ventral Z-shaped cross flap to form penis and 82 cases were treated with dorsal penis pedicled flaps to form the penis. In Z-shaped flap group, the penis length of 33 patients with tight scrotum was (3.06±0.25)cm before surgery and the penis length of 36 patients with relaxed scrotum was (2.99±0.28) cm before surgery. In flap with transfer group, the penis length of 39 patients with tight scrotum was (3.04±0.30)cm before surgery and the penis of 43 patients with relaxed scrotum was (3.04±0.24)cm before surgery. The length of the penis after surgery and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between Z-shaped flap group and flap with transfer group. Common complications included penile body retraction, foreskin edema, foreskin stenosis and penile wound splitting.Results:151 patients were followed up for 6-12 months, and all patients were satisfied with penis appearance. There was no penile necrosis or urinary fistula. In Z-shaped flap cross group, the penis length of 33 patients with tight scrotum extended (2.47±0.22)cm after surgery.The penis length of 36 patients with scrotum relaxation extended (2.61±0.27)cm after surgery, 39 patients was adopted the penile dorsal pedicled transfer flap with scrotum tight had extended penis (2.90± 0.16)cm, which significantly different from the Z-shaped flap group( P<0.05). In flap with transfer group, 43 patients with relaxed scrotum extended (2.79±0.18)cm after surgery, which was significantly different from the Z-shaped flap group ( P<0.05). In Z-shaped flap group, 33 patients with scrotum tight, there were 2 cases of penile retraction, 1 case of stenosis of the foreskin, 2 cases of foreskin edema, 2 cases of penile wound rupture. In transfer flap group, of 39 patients with scrotum tight, there was 1 case of foreskin edema. The incidence of complications that adopted the penile dorsal pedicled transfer flap with scrotum tight was lower than those adopted penile ventral Z-shaped cross flap [2.56%(1/39) vs. 21.21%(7/33), P=0.033]. In transfer flap group, of the 43 patients with scrotum relaxation, there were 3 cases of penile retraction, 3 cases of foreskin stenosis, 2 cases of penile ventral foreskin edema, and 1 case of penile wound rupture. Z-shaped flap group: 36 patients was scrotum relaxation was 1 case of foreskin edema. The incidence of complications that adopted the penile dorsal pedicled transfer flap was higer than those adopted penile ventral Z-shaped flap [20.93%(9/43) vs. 2.78%(1/36), P =0.038]. Conclusions:In terms of children with tight scrotum or loose scrotum, the effect of the transfer flap method to extend the penis is better than that of the Z-shaped flap method. However, the transfer flap method has a low complication rate for children with tight scrotum, while the Z-shaped flap method has a low complication rate for children with loose scrotum.

Objective: To study the correlation between the contents of gastrodin and polysaccharides with the variety of commercial specifications, grades, and cultivated areas of Gastrodia Tuber (Tianma), the tuber of Gastrodia elata, and then to choose the suitable chemical marker to assess the quality of Tianma raw materials. Methods: Gastrodin and polysaccharides were quantified in 35 Tianma samples including Winter Tianma which was harvested in winter, Spring Tianma which was harvested in spring with their different grades and cultivation areas by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. Combined with the morphological characteristics, the correlation between the various Tianma samples with the amounts of gastrodin and polysaccharides was studied. Results: The content of polysaccharides in Winter Tianma (26.05%, n = 24) was higher than that in Spring Tianma (20.21%, n = 10). In contrast, the amount of gastrodin in Winter Tianma (0.49%, n = 24) was lower than that in Spring Tianma (0.68%, n = 10). Among Tianma samples with different grades, the content of polysaccharides in the first grade (32.65%, n = 6) and second grade (32.89%, n = 6) was higher than that in the third grade (21.71%, n = 8) and fourth grade samples (14.57%, n = 4). But, the amounts of gastrodin in the Tianma samples of the four grades were similar, which were 0.46% (n = 6), 0.65% (n = 6), 0.43% (n = 8), and 0.44% (n = 4) in the first, second, third, and fourth grade Tianma, respectively. Moreover, the contents of gastrodin and polysaccharides in Tianma samples collected from the famous cultivation regions such as Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Yunnan provinces of China were higher than those from others areas. Conclusion: The developed HPLC and spectrophotometry methods are accurate and reliable to assay the amounts of gastrodin and polysaccharides in Tianma. The amount of polysaccharides is related to the quality of Tianma samples authenticated by the commercial specifications, grades, and traditional experience, and therefore is a better marker to assess the quality of Tianma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of Notch signaling pathway in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODSExpression plasmids of pEFBOS-NIC-MYC and pEFBOS-neo were transfected into NCI-H446 cells. Stably transfected cell lines were selected and their growth rates were examined by MTT method. Expression of downstream genes along the Notch signaling pathway were studied by RT-PCR. Protein expression of euroendocrine markers of CgA and NSE were detected by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of HES1 was increased in the pEFBOS-NIC-MYC group, but the expression of hASH in the pEFBOS-NIC-MYC group was decreased significantly. The transfected cells with pEFBOS-NIC-MYC plasmid showed a significantly slower growth rate compared with that of two control groups (P < 0.05, Student's t-test). Immunocytochemistry of NSE showed that PUs in the NIC transfected group, sham group and negative control group were 7.21 ± 0.59, 28.25 ± 1.46, 30.57 ± 1.31 respectively, the former one was smaller than the values of the latter two significantly (P < 0.01). Western blot analysis showed the grave scales of CgA in NIC transfected group and sham group to be 0.54 ± 0.03 and 0.99 ± 0.05 respectively (grave scales of the negative control was set as 1.00), the former one significantly smaller than that of the other two groups (P < 0.01). The grave scales of NSE in the NIC transfected group and sham group were 0.43 ± 0.02 and 1.07 ± 0.09 respectively (grave scales of the negative control was set as 1.00) and the former one was significantly smaller than the other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNotch signaling pathway regulates SCLC cells through its inhibitory effect on hASH1 transcription via HES1 along with an expression inhibition of neuroendocrine markers in SCLC.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factor HES-1 ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potentiality of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase transduced endothelial progenitor cells (EPC-TK) as angiogenesis-targeting vector in the glioma treatment in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSEPC-TK were mixed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), U87 or U251 cells at various ratios for ganciclovir (GCV) treatment. The bystander effect was observed by counting the survival cells using MTT assay, and the apoptotic cells were determined by annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. EPC-TK, EPCs, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were injected into the nude mice model of glioma xenograft by tail vein, for the EPC-TK group, EPC group, and PBS group, respectively. And then the changes of tumor volume and tumor vasculature were observed.

RESULTSGCV killed most EPC-TK and reduced the number of other viable cells in a cell:cell ratio-dependent and time-dependent manner. EPC-TK obviously inhibited tumor growth. The tumor volumes on day 21 were 1741.20+/- 576.10 mm(3), 3275.52 +/- 710.86 mm(3) and 3033.09+/-1134.86 mm(3) in the EPC-TK, EPC and PBS group, respectively. EPC-TK also displayed a significant effect on the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONEPC-TK can exert a potent antiglioma effect via inhibiting angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Bystander Effect ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; physiology ; Endothelial Cells ; virology ; Endothelium ; Genetic Vectors ; Glioma ; therapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Transduction, Genetic ; Transfection ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To explore the clinical effect of complete transposition of arteriovenous in free flap artery crisis. Methods From October, 2009 to April, 2017, 13 cases of extremities tissue defect were repaired with free flaps.The intractable arterial crisis appeared after transplantation.Repeated anastomosis vessels were adapted but it was not relieved. Then the complete transposition of arteriovenous was adapted in the flaps. Namely the vein of the flap was anastomosed with the arterial in the recipient site to reconstruct the blood supply, and the arterial of the flap was anastomosed with the vein in the recipient site to reconstruct recirculation.Ten cases of hand defect and 3 cases of crus defect were repaired by 5 low abdominal flaps and 8 anterolateral thigh flaps. The tissue defect area was 16 cm× 7 cm-6 cm×4 cm and the flap area was 18 cm×8 cm-7 cm×4 cm. Results Ten flaps survived completely, the other 3 flaps almost survived that scab healed in 1 case and skin grafted in 2 cases. The flap for skin color was from purple red to dark red, and finally close to normal, and skin flap edge would have different degrees of ecchymosis; the bleed-ing from the incision of the skin flap was from dark red to bright red; the swelling of the flap was obvious in the early stage and the later swelling subsided. All cases were followed-up from 6 months to 32 months with an average of 16 months.The wounds healed well.The flaps had a clear boundary and soft texture. Conclusion Complete transposi-tion of the arteriovenous system can be used as an alternative in the presence of intractable arterial crisis after free flap transplantation, to save the flap and to reduce the trauma to the patient.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of surgery and chemotherapy on the development of Chinese medical syndrome types on patients with gastric cancer (GC), thus providing the evidence for treating GC by Chinese medical syndrome differentiation and treatment by stages.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out in 500 GC patients according to before and after surgery, the surgical ways, before and after chemotherapy to observe the dynamic development of Chinese medical syndrome types of GC.

RESULTSPi deficiency syndrome dominated in GC patients of single syndrome or two syndromes before and after surgery. After surgery (after radical resection or palliative resection) Pi deficiency syndrome and blood deficiency syndrome significantly increased. There was statistical difference in syndrome type changes before and after chemotherapy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDeficiency syndrome mainly dominated in GC patients. They should be treated by stages when Chinese medicine and pharmacy took part in its treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Young Adult

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely malignant disease, which has an extremely low survival rate of <9% in the United States. As a new hallmark of cancer, metabolism reprogramming exerts crucial impacts on PDAC development and progression. Notably, arginine metabolism is altered in PDAC cells and participates in vital signaling pathways. In addition, arginine and its metabolites including polyamine, creatine, agmatine, and nitric oxide regulate the proliferation, growth, autophagy, apoptosis, and metastasis of cancer cells. Due to the loss of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression, the key enzyme in arginine biosynthesis, arginine deprivation is regarded as a potential strategy for PDAC therapy. However, drug resistance develops during arginine depletion treatment, along with the re-expression of ASS1, metabolic dysfunction, and the appearance of anti-drug antibody. Additionally, arginase 1 exerts crucial roles in myeloid-derived suppressor cells, indicating its potential targeting by cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we introduce arginine metabolism and its impacts on PDAC cells. Also, we discuss the role of arginine metabolism in arginine deprivation therapy and immunotherapy for cancer.
Arginine/metabolism* ; Argininosuccinate Synthase ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy*