To investigate the role of Fas/FasL system in pathogenesis of hemodialysis(HD) and its correlation with clinical status, plasma levels of sFas/sFasL and the expression of Fas antigen on peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBL) membrane were assayed by ELISA and flow cytometry respectively. The CD3 + Fas + of PBL cells was singnificantly higher( P

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine ( Fuchunsan ) on the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar.

METHODSSixty-three patients with hyperplastic scar after burn injury hospitalized from February 2012 to June 2014 in our department were treated with lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan). Patients were divided into early stage group (E, n = 35), middle stage group (M, n = 25), and late stage group ( L, n = 3) according to the formation time of scar, which was respectively 3 weeks to 3 months, longer than 3 months and less than or equal to 6 months, and 3 to 15 years in groups E, M, and L. The number of times of laser treatment of patients in each group was recorded. The degree of scar pain in patients of the three groups was assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 2, and 3 times. The scar condition of patients in groups E and M was assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before treatment and after treatment for 1, 3, and 5 times. Patients in group L did not receive VSS assessment but were evaluated by clinical observation only. Photos of scar in treating area were taken before treatment and after treatment for 3 and 5 times to evaluate the clinical effect. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTSPatients in groups E and M were treated with laser for (4.8 ± 1.1) and (7.7 ± 2.1) times respectively. In group L, the treatment was stopped in 2 patients after laser treatment for 5 times, and 1 patient received laser treatment for 12 times. The degree of pain in patients of groups E and M was alleviated significantly after treatment for one time, and the number of patients scoring 1-4 point(s) in NRS increased from 5 cases to 38 cases. After treatment for 2 and 3 times, the increase in the number of patients scoring 1-4 point (s) in NRS was on a small scale. Before treatment and after treatment for 1 time, VSS scores of patients in groups E and M were similar (with values respectively 0.641 and 0. 082, P values above 0. 05). After treatment for 3 and 5 times, VSS scores of patients in group E were respectively (9.2 ± 0.8) and (7.0 ± 1.1) points, which were significantly lower than those in group M [ (9.7 ± 1.0) and (8.2 ± 1.0) points, with values respectively -1.993 and -4.433 , P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. After treatment for 3 times, the rate of improvement in appearance was respectively 88.6% (31/35) and 72.0% (18/25) in groups E and M, and it was respectively 100.0% (35/35) and 96.0% (24/25) after treatment for 5 times. No significant effect in appearance was found in the 3 patients in group L.

CONCLUSIONSEarly application of lattice ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser combined with traditional Chinese medicine (Fuchunsan) for the treatment of postburn hyperplastic scar is effective.

Burns ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the biomechanical change of the craniovertebral junction in conditions of atlas assimilation.

METHODSMimics software was used to process CT data of the craniovertebral junction in a health adult to obtain the three-dimensional reconstruction and the cloudy points of C1, C2 and part of the occipital bone. Then the cloudy points were imported into the Abaqus 6. 8 software to establish the occipito-atlantoaxial finite element model in normal structure. According to the established model in normal structure, the model in conditions of atlas assimilation was set by changing the model parameters. Both models of normal structure and atlas assimilation were loaded with 1. 5 N . m static moment to simulate four motions of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation respectively. The movement characteristics,joint stress force and ligament deformation was analyzed.

RESULTSUnder 1. 5 N . m moment, in model of atlas assimilation the C1-C2 range of movement decreased from 13. 55° to 11.88° in flexion,increased from 13. 22° to 15. 24° in extension and from 4. 05° to 4. 23° in lateral bending and remained unchanged in axial rotation when compared with the normal model. In flexion movement, the contact force of the atlanto-dental joint increased from 1. 59 MPa to 3. 28 MPa and the deflection of apical ligament, tectorial membrane and alar ligament increased 129. 1%, 157. 6% and 75. 1% respectively when compared with the normal model.

CONCLUSIONSThe normal C1-C2 motion mode is destructed in conditions of atlas assimilation, leading to the changes of the range of movement,joint stress force and the ligament deformation at C1 C2 junction. The atlantoaxial instability will likely occur in flexion motion.

Atlanto-Axial Joint ; physiology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Atlas ; physiology ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Joint Instability ; Ligaments, Articular ; Occipital Bone ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotation

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Heart ; Mice

Animals ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of composite material of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and PLGA/TCP in repair of peri-porous-titanium bone defects in adult rabbits.Meth- otis The composite of PLGA/TCP scaffold with bovine BMP was made and implanted in distal bone de- fects peri-porous-titanium in femur of adult rabbits.The effect of BMP with PLGA/TCP on peri-prosthesis was evaluated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM),energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and biomechanics.Results BMP with PLGA/TCP showed obvious peak of Ca and P of EDX in the pores of titanium in experiment group six weeks after operation and higher than that in control group (P＜0.05).Push-out test demonstrated that the bonding strength between the composite of HA coating/ porous titanium and bone was increased significantly with time (P＜0.05).In experiment group,at 6 and 12 weeks,peri-porous-titanium had higher shearing force compared with control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion BMP loaded with PLGA/TCP is a promising bone graft for bone defects in revision arthro- plasty,as indicates that bone induction of BMP plays an important role in biological stabilizaiton.

AIM: To investigate the changes of expression of SR-BI in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) differentiated U937 cells.METHODS: U937 cells were cultured with 100 nmol/L PMA in order to differentiate the cells to macrophages.Immunocytochemical method,Western blotting analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were used to detect SR-BI protein and mRNA during differentiation.RESULTS: Immunocytochemistry showed that after exposure of U937 cells to PMA for 24,48,72 hours,the values of SR-BI protein expression in U937 cells were 15.94?3.56,27.86?4.39 and 9.08?2.37,with the first two higher than that in undifferentiated cells(7.76?1.74,P0.05) increment in the expression of SR-BI protein compared with U937 monocytes.RT-PCR showed that relative SR-BI mRNA expression in different group was 0.112?0.006,0.235?0.014,0.344?0.140 and 0.138?0.010,respectively.CONCLUSION: SR-BI protein and mRNA were increased after differentiation,reached a peak at 48 hours,and decreased at 72 hours.High expression levels of SR-BI in U937 macrophages following PMA differentiation may be correlated with foam cell formation.

Objective To evaluate the value of positive 99Tcm-MIBI tumor imaging for thyroid cancer diagnosis. Methods Fifty four suspected thyroid cancer patients underwent 99Tcm-O4 and 99Tcm-MIBI combined imaging procedure. The imaging data were confirmed by pathological findings. Results All the 54 cases had single throid nodules, and 25 of which were pathologically malignant. Fifty two cases of nodules were detected by the 99Tcm O4 thyroid static imaging, including 2 hot nodules,4 warm nodules, 10 cool nodules and 36 cold nodules;2 cases were negative by the imaging. Of the 25 malignant thyroid nodules, 16 nodules were visible by 99Tcm-MIBI uptake and were cold nodules;29 exhibited benign thyroid nodules,of which 15 could be seen by 99Tcm-MIBI uptake,including 1 warm nodules,2 cool nodules and 12 cold nodules. The sensitivity, specificity of the combined imaging of 99Tcm O4 and 99Tcm-MIBI were 64. 00% ( 16/25 ) and 48. 28% (14/29). No significant difference was found for the positivity between benign nodules and malignancy nodules by 99Tcm-MIBI tumor imaging ( χ2 = 0. 83, P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI tumor imaging is not specific for the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Metal implants have been extensively applied in joint arthoplasty, but the stress shielding effect caused by its high elastic modulus results in a series of complications, such as bone resorption, bone atrophy and prosthesis loosening. Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) composites are anisotropic and exhibit more advantages used for prosthesis due to its low elastic modulus and high intensity.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the blood compatibility of CF-PEEK composites, and compare the biomechanical properties after arthroplasty between CF-PEEK composites and Co-Cr-Mo used for femoral head prosthesis. METHODS: (1) The blood compatibility of CF-PEEK composites was evaluated through hemolysis test. (2) Femoral samples from eight fresh cadavers were collected and randomly divided into two groups, followed by subjected to CF-PEEK and Co-Cr-Mo prosthesis replacement, respectively. The displacement between the prosthesis and bone was measured under loading 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 N, and the torsional strength after arthroplasty was detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The hemolysis rate of the CF-PEEK composites was 3.23% < 5%, which was in line with the national standards for biological evaluation of medical devices. (2) The micromovement in distal prosthesis was significantly less than that of proximal prosthesis under different loads in both two groups (P < 0.05). (3) The torsion angle under different loads in the CF-PEEK group was significantly less than that in the Co-Cr-Mo group (P < 0.05), and the torsion stiffness in the CF-PEEK group was significantly higher than that in the Co-Cr-Mo group (P < 0.05). (4) To conclude,the CF-PEEK composites possess good blood compatibility and stability, which can be used as a prosthesis material.

Objective To apply the optical coherence tomography(OCT) to detect the characteristics of coronary artery plaque and to investigate its correlation with levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase 7(MMP 7),MMP9 and MMP12.Methods The patients undergoing coronary arterial angiography for diagnosing coronary arterial lesions in the cardiology department of our hospital from October 2014 to March 2016 were collected and included into the research subjects.The subjects were divided into the stable plaque group and unstable plaque group based on the results of OCT scanning.The neovascularization characteristics such as the fibrous cap thickness of plaque,angle of lipid pool,macrophage infiltration and plaque cracks were detected by using OCT.ELISA was used to measure serum MMP7,MMP9 and MMP12 levels.Results (1) The fibrous cap thickness in the stable plaque group was more than that in the unstable plaque group(P＜0.01);the lipid pool angle,microphage infiltration,intima erosion and plaque cracks in the unstable plaque group were more than those in the stable plaque group(P＜0.05).(2) The MMP7 and MMP9 levels in the unstable plaque group were higher than those in the stable plaque group and control group(P＜0.05).(3) The fibrous cap thickness had significantly negative correlation with serum MMP9 level(r=-0.336,P=0.034);the MMP7 and MMP9 levels in the microphage infiltration group were higher than those in the non-microphage infiltration group(P＜0.05);the MMP9 level in the intima erosion group was higher than that in the non-intima erosion group(P＜0.01).Conclusion OCT can detect and find unstable plaque and the serum levels of MMP7 and MMP9 are significantly elevated in the patients with unstable plaque,which can be used as an important basis for predicting unstable plaque and guiding the treatment decisions.