Objective To estimate the effect of pedicle screw fixation of thoracolumbar fractures via paraspinal approach and compare it with the conventional posterior midline approach.Methods Forty-two cases of thoracolumbar monosegmental fractures subjected to single posterior pedicle screw fixation and reduction from December 2008 to May 2010 were included in the study.Among the patients,19 cases were operated through paraspinal muscular-sparing approach (paraspinal approach group) and 23 cases through posterior midline surgical approach (conventional approach group).Surgical incision length,operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative drainage volume,postoperative hospital stay,pre-and post-operative VAS and other perioperative indices as well as fracture reduction outcome were compared between the two groups.Oswestry disability index (ODI) was assessed after operation.Results There were no statistical differences between the two groups in aspects of surgical incision length,operation time,postoperative hospital stay,height restoration of fractured vertebra (P ＞ 0.05),but intraoperative blood loss (148.5 ± 26.5) ml,postoperative draining loss (72.9 ± 17.3) ml,postoperative VAS (1.1 ± 0.3) points and ODI (13.4 ± 2.7) points in paraspinal approach group showed statistical differences from those in conventional approach group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Paraspinal muscle-sparing approach is characterized by minor trauma,less bleeding,slight pain and quick recovery as compared with conventional posterior midline approach and hence may be the preferred choice for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture without spinal canal decompression.

Objective To investigate the apoptotic effect of petasin on myeloma RPMI 8226 cells and the mechanisms.Methods The inhibition of petasin on the proliferation of myeloma RPMI 8226 cells was tested by trypan blue assay.Apoptosis of RPMI 8226 cells was measured by terminal-deoxynueleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)assay and Hoechst 33258 staining assay.Effects of petasin on caspase-3,8 and 9 expressions,phosphorylation of ERK1/2,MEK(p-ERK1/2 ;p-MEK)and p38MAPK(p-p38MAPK)protein were analyzed by Western blot.Results Incubation by petasin for 24 h,48 h or 72 h could significantly inhibit the pro-liferation of myeloma RPMI 8226 cells (P <0.01,P <0.01,P <0.01).Petasin induced the apoptosis of myeloma RPMI 8226 cells in time-and concentration-dependent manners (P <0.05,P <0.05).Caspase inhibitor pretreat-ment could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of myeloma cells.After cultured with petasin for 72 h,the expressions of caspase-3,8 and 9 were obviously enhanced (P <0.05,P <0.01,P <0.05)and phosphorylation of p-p38MAPK of RPMI8226 cells was significantly increased (P <0.01).However,phosphorylation of p-ERK1/2 and p-MEK was decreased significantly (P <0.01,P <0.05).Conclusion Petasin can inhibit the proliferation of myeloma RPMI 8226 cells and induce apoptosis.The mechanism may be related to the activation of caspase-3,8 and 9 proteins and the changes in phosphorylation of p38MAPK,ERK1/2 and MEK.

Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich HC-A solution,the self-made kidney preservation solution,on renal cold ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Twenty-four healthy male Wistar rats,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =8 each):control group (H1 group),common kidney preservation solution group (H2 group) and hydrogen-rich HC-A kidney preservation solution group (H3 group).In H1 group,only the right kidney was removed.In H2 group,the left kidney was perfused with and cold stored in 4 ℃ common HC-A kidney preservation solution.In H3 group,the left kidney was perfused with and cold stored in a container filled with 4 ℃ common HC-A kidney preservation solution.Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava at 24 h of reperfusion to detect the levels of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN),creatinine (Cr),TNF-α and IL-6.Left kidneys were removed for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents and for examination of the pathological changes in renal tissues (by light microscopy).Results The levels of serum BUN,Cr,TNF-α and IL-6 and contents of MDA and 8-OHdG were significantly higher in H2 and H3 groups than in H1 group,and lower in H3 group than in H2 group (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant pathological changes in renal tissues in H1 group,the damage to renal tubules was obvious in H2 group and the damage to renal tubules was significantly ameliorated in H3 group as compared with H2 group.Conclusion Hydrogen-rich kidney preservation solution can attenuate renal cold I/R injury in rats.

Objective:To establish the reference interval of serum triglyceride (TG) for 4 hours after meal in healthy middle and old people of Beijing community, and to provide the diagnostic basis for the judgment of dyslipidemia after meal.Methods:Selected 369 elderly people from January to October 2018 in the health examination of Guang′anmen Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The subjects collected fasting venous blood samples in the morning the next day after fasting for 12 hours, then ate a standard breakfast that conformed to the local dietary habits, and collected venous blood samples again 4 hours after eating. Serum TG levels were measured 4 h after meal using AU5822 fully automatic biochemical analyzer and matching reagents. The comparison of postprandial TG between different age and sex groups was statistically significant using the nonparametric test of two independent samples, and the comparison between postprandial and fasting TG using the nonparametric test of two paired samples with P<0.05 as the difference. The 95% confidence interval was calculated using a nonparametric method according to the relevant requirements of the CLSI EP28-A3c file, and the reference interval was expressed as P2.5, P97.5. Results:The median 4-hour post-prandial TG of the middle-aged and elderly aged 45-59 years and those aged ≥ 60 years at health checkups were 1.65 (1.25, 2.13) mmol/L and 1.58 (1.25, 2.00) mmol/L, there was no significant difference between the two groups ( Z=-1.040, P>0.05). There was no statistical difference between males 1.69 (1.22, 2.31) mmol/L and females 1.63 (1.26, 2.12) mmol/L at 4 hours postprandial TG levels in the 45-59 year-old group ( Z=-0.179, P>0.05),there was also no statistical difference between 1.64 (1.22, 2.06) mmol/L for men and 1.53 (1.28, 1.99) mmol/L for women aged 60 years or older ( Z=-0.256, P>0.05).Compared with the median fasting TG of 1.05 (0.87, 1.29) mmol/L, the median serum TG of 1.61 (1.25, 2.09) mmol/L at 4 hours after meal was significantly increased ( Z=-16.449, P<0.01). The difference between postprandial and fasting was 0.52 (0.30, 0.85) mmol/L.The reference range of serum TG at 4 hours after meal was 0.82 to 3.02 mmol/L. Conclusion:In this study, the reference range of serum triglycerides for 4 hours after meal was established in some healthy elderly population groups in Beijing.

Objective To analyze the differences in immune system between Npc1 gene mutant (Npc1-/ -) and wild-type (Npc1+/ +) mice for better understanding the pathogenesis of Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) from an immunological perspective and providing reference for NPC1 treatment in clinic.Methods Body, thymus and spleen weight of Npc1-/ -and Npc1+/ + mice aged (14±2) days, (42±2) days and (63±2) days (Day14±2 , Day42±2 and Day63±2 ) were recorded and the associated organ index were calcu-lated. White blood cell count in peripheral blood of mice aged Day42±2 was examined by routine blood test. Expression of cytokines at mRNA level in mouse peripheral blood was detected by qPCR. Percentages of CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood and spleen of mice aged Day42±2 were measured by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and senescence of spleen in mice aged Day63±2 were examined by immunofluores-cence and β-galactosidase staining. Results Compared with Npc1+/ + mice, there was no significant differ-ence in the weight of spleen and thymus in Npc1-/ - mice aged Day14±2; the weight of spleen in Npc1-/ - mice aged Day42±2 significantly increased, but the weight of thymus showed a significant decrease; furthermore, both the weight of spleen and thymus in Npc1-/ - mice aged Day63±2 significantly decreased; and the body weight of Npc1-/ - mice of each age group significantly decreased. Moreover, compared with Npc1+/ + mice, the absolute number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of Npc1-/ - mice aged Day42±2 showed no signifi-cant difference, but the percentage in whole white blood cells significantly decreased due to the significantly increased neutrophils. Expression of cytokines ( IL-1, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, granzyme A and granzyme B) at mRNA level in the peripheral blood leukocytes of Npc1-/ - mice aged Day42±2 was abnormal as compared with that in Npc1+/ + mice. The number of T (CD4+ and CD8+) lymphocytes in Npc1-/ - mice aged Day42±2 significantly decreased, while the number of B (CD19+) lymphocytes increased significantly as com-pared with those in the Npc1+/ + mice. Compared with Npc1+/ + mice, apoptosis and senescence of the spleen in Npc1-/ - mice aged Day63±2 aggravated significantly. Conclusion The abnormal lipid metabolism triggered by Npc1 gene mutation causes severe immune dysfunction in Npc1-/ - mice. Therefore, immune dysfunction should be taken into full consideration when treating patients with NPC1, which might help improve the life quality and prolong the survival time.

ObjectiveTo study the inhibitory effect of polyphyllin Ⅰ （PPI） on the growth of colorectal cancer cells and its molecular mechanism. MethodRKO cells were cultured and divided into a blank group and PPI treatment groups with concentrations of 0.6， 0.8， 1.0 μmol·L^-1， respectively. HRT18 cells were cultured and divided into a blank group and PPI treatment groups with concentrations of 1.2， 1.4， 1.6 μmol·L^-1， respectively. The effects of PPI on the proliferation and morphology of colorectal cancer were detected by cell proliferation toxicity assay， trypan blue exclusion assay， plate clone formation assay， and confocal high-intension cell imaging analysis system. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of colorectal cancer cells. The pQCXIP-GFP-LC3 plasmid transfection assay was used to detect the formation of autophagosomes in colorectal cancer cells after PPI treatment. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3， Caspase-8， and poly ADP ribose polymerase （PARP）， the expression of autophagy related protein LC3Ⅱ， and the expression and phosphorylation of Hippo signaling pathway proteins LATS1 and YAP. In the plvx-Flag-YAP plasmid transfection assay， YAP was overexpressed and treated with PPI， and the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells was detected by cytotoxicity assay. The expression of LC3Ⅱ and PARP in colorectal cancer cells was detected by Western blot. SwissADME predicted pharmacokinetic parameters of PPI. ResultAs compared with the blank group， the survival rate and clone formation ability of colorectal cancer cells in the PPI group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， the cell area of colorectal cancer cells in the PPI group was significantly decreased， and the roundness of colorectal cancer cells was significantly increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the blank group， the apoptosis rate of colorectal cancer cells in PPI treatment groupw was significantly increased （P<0.01）， the expression of apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 protein precursor in PPI treatment groups was decreased， and the cleavage of PARP was increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the blank group， the expression level of autophagy-related protein LC3Ⅱ in colorectal cancer cells in PPI treatment groups was significantly increased， and the formation of autophagosomes was promoted （P<0.01）. As compared with the blank group， the expression of YAP protein in colorectal cancer cells in PPI treatment groups was significantly decreased， and the expressions of phosphorylated LATS1 and YAP were significantly increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the blank group， overexpression of YAP could significantly antagonize the effect of PPI on apoptosis， autophagy activation， and proliferation inhibition of colorectal cancer cells. SwissADME simulation results showed that PPI had good drug like activity. ConclusionPPI can induce apoptosis and autophagy of colorectal cancer cells through targeted activation of Hippo signaling pathway， thereby inhibiting their proliferation.