Factors that may influence vitamin D nutritional status include latitude,season,age,sex,race,skin color,clothing,cultural practices,dietary nutrition,and living conditions.This article reviews the effects of these factors on vitamin D status and recommends that any high-risk people of vitamin D deficiency should take vitamin D supplementation.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of puerarin,berberine hydrochloride and ba-icalin in Erxieting syrup. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of Kromasil-C18 with mobile phase of methanol-0.2%Phosphoric acid solution (gradient elution) at flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,column temperature was 30 ℃,detection wavelength was 275 nm,and the volume injection was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear was 10.43-83.44 μg/ml for puerarin,10.71-85.68 μg/ml for ber-berine hydrochloride and 12.58-100.64 μg/ml for baicalin(r≥0.999 3);RSDs of precision,stability and reproduciblity tests were lower than 2%;recoveries were 98.25%-100.87%(RSD=0.92%,n=6),99.41%-101.40%(RSD=0.68%,n=6)and 98.13%-99.76%(RSD=0.57%,n=6),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,reliable,can be used for the quality control of Erxiet-ing syrup.

Recent clinical studies have shown that collagen peptides may reduce joint pain and the dependence on analgesics,and enhance sport ability in athletes.Therefore,collagen peptides may be a safe nutrient supplement for prevention and mitigation of joint pain in athletes.

Vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly,which may be an important pathogenic factor in Alzheimer's disease(AD).Vitamin D has multiple functions including immune regulation,anti-oxidation,regulation of neurotrophic factors/acetylcholine neurotransmitters,and clearance of amyloid beta peptide; meanwhile,it may be helpful to avoid hyperparathyroidism.Vitamin D supplementation among the elderly may prevent the loss of neurons and slow down the AD-related cognitive decline,and therefore may play a role in the multi-targeted therapies for AD.

[Objective]To evaluate the role of three radiographic ways in patients undergoing spinal three-dimensional correction and fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.[Method]Sixty-three cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)with 79 structural curves were studied.Preoperative X-ray of standing,gravity-suspendig traction,supine bending and fulcrum bending were compared with postoperative standing X-ray one week after surgery,Cobbs angle of all X-ray were measured and statistical significance was evaluated.[Result]In structural thoracic group and lumbar group the mean Cobbs angle were 40?and 21?in gravity-suspendig traction X-ray,41?and 23?in supine bending X-ray,35?and 19?in fulcrum bending X-ray,36?and 18?in postoperative standing X-ray respectively.In severe group and moderate group the mean Cobbs angle were 52?and 23?in gravity-suspendig traction X-ray,53?and 24?in supine bending X-ray,47?and 20?in fulcrum bending X-ray,44?and 19?in postoperative standing X-ray respectively.In rigid group and flexible group the mean Cobbs angle were 51?and 22?in gravity-suspendig traction X-ray,52?and 22?in supine bending X-ray,48?and 18?in fulcrum bending X-ray,45?and 17?in postoperative standing X-ray respectively.In anterior approach group and posterior approach group the mean Cobbs angle were 47?and 15?in gravity-suspendig traction X-ray,49?and 16?in supine bending X-ray,43?and 11?in fulcrum bending X-ray,42?and 10?in postoperative standing X-ray respectively.All above Cobbs angle were mean numerical value,the mean follow-up period was 1.5 years(range:1~3 years).[Conclusion]The fulcrum bending X-ray are more predicting of correctability of AIS patients than the gravity-suspendig traction and supine bending X-ray.It can provide reference for chosing anterior or posterior approach and chosing fusion levels.

[Objective]To explore the feasibility and safety of percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) and percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) treating osteolytic lesions of high thoracic vertebra with metastasis by one side extrapedicular approach,and to assess the clinical result of minimally invasive technique. [Methods]In March 2008,one patient(male,59 years old) with T1~3 vertebral metastases of lung cancer diagnozed 8 months ago was selected.The symptoms included extremely severe pain in upper thoracic spine and left should.The analgesic effect was limited for more than 6 months.There was no operative option.Domestic PKP and PVP tool systems were used in local anaesthesia.Under fluoroscopic guidance,T2 and T3 vertebral augmentation were separately completed by single side extrapedicular approach PKP and PVP.Clinical results were followed up and observed.[Results]The procedure was performed smoothly.T3 and T2 vertebrae were differently treated by PKP and PVP.T1 received no treatment because of patient`s intolerance.The operative time of T3 vertebral PKP was 57 minutes.The volume of injected bone cement was 1.9ml.The operative time of T2 vertebral PVP was 49 minutes.The volume of injected bone cement was 1.5ml.Extravertebral leakage of the polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) into the paravertebral itssue was found without clinical symptom,because osteolysis occurred in the left pedicle of T2 vertebra.There was no other complication.The patient was discharged 5 days after operation.The preoperative,2 days and 3 months postoperative follow-up VAS scores were 10,3 and 6.The patient's markedly pain could be controlled by analgesia.[Conclusion]One side approach percutaneous kyphoplasty is a safe and effective technique for treatment of high thoracic vertebral metastasis with markedly relief of pain.

Many diseases are associated with vitamin D deficiency.Serum 25 (OH)D levels can serve as objective indicators of the nutritional status of vitamin D.Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method may be applied for routine measurement of 25 ( OH ) D levels in clinical practice.This article reviewed the significance of detecting 25 (OH) D2 and 25 (OH) D3,compared the advantages and disadvantages of different 25 (OH) D measurement methods,and introduced the application of LC-MS method for routine detection of serum 25 (OH) D2 and 25 (OH) D3 levels following the standard by National Institute of Standards and Technology of America.

Objective To investigate the effects of GDNF-modified Schwann cells on the repair of sciatic nerve defects in rats. Methods Forty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A (nerve grafts, fabricated by extracellular gel and PLGA conduits, n=10), group B (Schwann cells and extracellular gel and PLGA conduits, n=10), group C (GDNF-modified Schwann cells and extracellular gel and PLGA conduits, n=10), and group D (autograft, n=10). Motoneuron conduction and morphology (including anatomical measures and ultrastructure) of the regenerated axons were investigated at 12 weeks postoperatively. Regeneration rate of the motoneuron in spinal cord was also evaluated by using HRP label technique. Results Higher rate of nerve regeneration or number of labeled motoneurons in spinal cord was observed using PLGA conduits seeded with GDNF enhanced expressing Schwann cells (group C) than that with PLGA conduits (group A) alone or PLGA conduits seeded with control Schwann cells (group B), but there was no significant difference as compared with that in the autograft group (group D). Conclusion These results suggest that using gene transfer techniques to increase neurotrophic factor expression in Schwann cells added to nerve grafts may be a promising method for improving nerve regeneration.

Objective To design a new lumbosacral anterior plate by statistical analysis for the numerical value of the anatomic structure in Chinese.Methods The numerical value of lumbosacral angle and height of lumbosacral vertebrae,and discus intervertebralis were measured in 350 orthotropia and lateral view X-ray pictures of lumbosacral vertebrae of adult normal individuals.According to the acquired amplitude of lumbosacral vertebrae in Chinese,we designed the modified lumbosacral anterior plate,and then tested the plate in 4 different states of working condition on 8 fresh spinal columns to assay biomechanical data,and the results were compared with those of lumbosacral anterior secure plate(PACH).Results The amplitude of lumbosacral angle were 125 to 135,the heights of anterior border L5 and S1 vertebrae were(27.06?2.30) and(22.3?2.8)mm,the height of L5S1 discus intervertebralis was(8.2?0.3)mm.The flex bias and the compression rigidity had significant deviation for the vertebral column fixed the modified plate [flexation(4.706?0.012)mm,extension(4.549?0.298)mm,lateral bending(5.412?0.384)mm,average value of rigidity in 400 N(105.8?7.6)N/mm] and PACH[flexation(5.241?0.113) mm,extension(5.662?0.246)mm,lateral bending(6.767?0.017)mm,and average value of rigidity(87.4?4.2)N/mm] respectively,with statistical significance among them(P

Objective To compare the immediate effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy with that of joint mobilization plus short wave therapy in treating scapulohumeral periarthritis, and to elucidate the mechanism of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and how it should be used. Methods Forty-seven patients diagnosed with scapulohumeral periarthritis were selected and randomized into two groups, a treatment group (n = 26) treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and a control group ( n = 21 ) treated with joint mobilization plus short wave therapy. The short form of the McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and range of motion (ROM) measurements were used to evaluate shoulder function. Results Compared with baseline, both groups improved significantly af-ter treatment, but the immediate effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group. Concln-sions As a safe, time-saving and effective therapy, extracorpnreal shock waves could be used to treat scapulo-humeral periarthritis.