BACKGROUNDDouble plate osteosynthesis is the standard treatment for intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus. However, there is still controversy concerning dual plate positions in terms of providing optimal stability. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical outcomes in patients with type C intra-articular distal humeral fractures using perpendicular and parallel plating methods.

METHODSBetween March 2008 and June 2011, a total of 45 patients with type C distal humerus fractures were treated using two different dual plating methods. Of them, 24 patients were treated by perpendicular plating (group I) and 21 patients were treated by parallel plating (group II). The surgical time, blood loss, and union time were compared between the two groups. The flexion-extension arc, the total range of flexion and extension at the end of follow-up were compared between the two groups. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was used to determine the elbow functional results.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up. The mean duration of follow-up was 16 months (range 12 - 25 months) in group I and 15.5 months in group II (range 12 - 25 months). There were no significant differences in the surgical time, blood loss, and the bone union time between the two groups. In group I, the mean elbow flexion-extension arc was 101° and the mean MEPS was 85 points. The rate of excellent and good results was 87.5%. In group II, the mean flexion-extension arc was 100° and the mean MEPS was 86.1 points. The rate of excellent and good results was 90.5%. There were no significant differences in the MEPS, flexion-extension arc, and the total range of flexion and extension between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSPerpendicular and parallel plate configurations with the appropriate surgical techniques can provide anatomical reconstruction and stable fixation of type C intra-articular distal humeral fractures and allow early mobilization of the elbow after an operation. The occurrence of post-operative elbow stiffness can be reduced and good outcomes can be obtained.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of enalapril maleate (Enalaprilat) (E) on myocardial damage in early stage after burns.

METHODSA total of 60 SD rats were subjected to 30% TBSA III degree scald injury, and randomly divided into scald group (with conventional fluid transfusion after scald) and ENA group (with intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg Enalaprilat after scald). Normal control consisted of 6 rats. Plasma levels of cTnI and CK-MB were determined in all the groups at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 post-scald hours (PSH) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological changes in myocardium were observed at the same time-points.

RESULTS(1) The serum level of cTnI and CK-MB in scald group were significantly higher than that of normal controls at each time-point (P < 0.01). The serum level of cTnI and CK-MB in ENA group were (1.32 +/- 0.12 microg/L to 2.47 +/- 0.22 microg/L) and (438 +/- 68 U/L to 5569 +/- 322 U/L), respectively, which were obviously lower than those in B group (6.42 +/- 0.96 microg/L to 15.10 +/- 3.69 microg/L) and (2556 +/- 74 U/L to 8047 +/- 574 U/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) at different time-points. (2) Compared with normal controls, cloudy swelling, stromal blood vessel dilatation and congestion inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in scald group, but these pathological changes were less marked in ENA group.

CONCLUSIONSevere myocardial damage in rat occurred early after burns. Enalaprilat injection can markedly alleviate myocardial damage.

Animals ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Enalapril ; therapeutic use ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood

This study was purposed to establish a convenient and efficient method for isolating and culturing mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The femurs and tibias of mouse were taken under sterile condition. MSC were isolated and cultured with flushing- out bone marrow or collagenase-digested bone fragment or bone marrow plus bone fragment. MSC colony number and size were compared. Immunophenotype and differentiation ability were tested to identify MSC. The results showed that colonies from bone marrow plus bone fragment group came out earliest and the colony number was 20 ± 4 at day 4; there were 11.5 ± 2.5 colonies in collagenase-digested bone fragment group and 9.5 ± 1.5 in flushing- out bone marrow group. The total cell yields of MSC after passaging showed best in bone marrow plus bone fragment group. Flow cytometry data showed the cultured cells expressed Sca-1, CD44 and CD29, not expressed pan-leukocyte surface marker CD45 and endothelial cell marker CD31. The isolated and cultured MSC could differentiate into osteoblast at the osteogenic differentiation condition, or adipocyte at adipogenic differentiation condition. It is concluded that the method of bone marrow plus bone fragment is convenient and efficient for isolating and culturing MSC.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

To study 48 h processing time of Polygoni Multiflori Radix on its contents and changes of chemical components. HPLC was used to determine the contents of various components in 22 Polygoni Multiflori Radix samples with different processing time, and then the fingerprint similarity analysis and clustering analysis were used for characteristics analysis. Results showed that the similarity was between 0.9-1.0, with good correlation between the samples. In the clustering analysis, the 22 Polygoni Multiflori Radix and processed Polygoni Multiflori Radix samples were classified into 4 types according to the composition changes. The results demonstrated that 4-5 h was the best processing time, providing references for quality control and further study of Polygoni Multiflori Radix.