OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical results of percutaneous reduction and hollow screw internal fixation for the treatment of calcaneal fractures, and to compare therapeutic effects between close reduction hollow screw internal fixation and open reduction plate internal fixation.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to May 2010, 53 patients with calcaneal fractures were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into two groups, 25 patients in group A (PR group) treated with percutaneous reduction and hollow screw internal fixation, including 17 males and 8 females, with an average age of (39.4 +/- 9.9) years. While 28 patients in group B (OR group) treated with open reduction and plate internal fixation, including 18 males and 10 females, with an average age of (38.6 +/- 10.2) years. According to Sanders classification, there were 18 patients with type II fractures, 29 patients with type III and 6 type IV. In both groups, operative time, blood loss, postoperative complications and radiology were recorded. Functional recovery was evaluated by Maryland score.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from nine months to thirty-five months (averaged 20.4 months). There were no significant differences in sex, age, fracture type, fracture classification, initial Böhler angle, or late complications between the two groups. But significant difference can be seen between operative time, blood loss, and skin complications (in group A no nonunion and skin complications occurred, but subtalar posttraumatic arthritis occurred in 1 case; in group B, 3 patients had complications of skin necrosis, 1 patient suffered from a delayed union due to large defect filled with artificial bone, and 1 patient got subtalar posttraumatic arthritis). No difference were found in the latest X-ray film. According to Maryland score, in group A, 8 got an excellent result and 12 good. In group B, 10 got an excellent and 14 good. There were no significant differences between the two groups in Margland score.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggest that in comparison with open reduction, percutaneous reduction and hollow screw internal fixation minimizes complications and achieves good results. Further study of this technique is needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Calcaneus ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of advanced glycation end-products(AGEPs)on the function of normal keratinocytes in vitro so as to explore the role of AGEPs in impaired wound healing. Methods Normal rat keratinocytes were incubated with different concentrations of AGEPs.After 48 hours of culturing,the cell proliferation rates were measured by MTT colorimetric determination.The cell cycle distributions and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry,and the migration was investigated by 24-well fluorimetric cell migration assay kit by exposing to 100?g/ml AGEPs.Nuclear extracts from these cells were examined for binding of nucleotides containing NF-?B consensus by immunocytochemistry and EMSA in vitro.Results The proliferations of normal keratinocytes were significantly arrested and many cells were induced to early apoptosis compared with control ones(P＜0.05)by exposing to AGEPs for 48 hours. Meanwhile AGEPs also irritated keratinocytes migration compared with control ones(P＜0.05).Inhibiting the activation of NF-?B could partly recover the proliferation of keratinocytes,reverse apoptosis and attenu- ate migration.Conclusion AGEPs are correlated with the migration,proliferation and apoptosis of kera- tinocytes by NF-?B.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of polymorphisms of metabolic and DNA repair enzyme genes and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes in coke-oven workers.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four coke-oven workers and 50 controls were recruited in this study. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) levels were measured as the internal dose of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure. DNA damage was detected by alkaline comet assay, and the value of 1.74 was used as the cut-off value to determine whether the individual's DNA damage was positive. The genotypes of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTP1, NQO1, mEH and XRCC1 were determined by PCR-based methods. With adjustment for urinary 1-OHP, age, sex, multiple analysis of covariance was used to study the association between genotypes and the ln-transformed olive TM and multiple logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted OR and the 95% CI for the risk of DNA damage.

RESULTSIn 144 coke-oven workers, with adjustment for urinary 1-OHP, coking history and sex, the olive TM was significantly higher with XRCC1 280His allele than those with Arg allele (5.6 vs. 2.8, P < 0.01). The subjects with XRCC1 280His allele also have significantly higher risk for DNA damage than subjects with Arg allele (adjusted OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.00-7.14, P = 0.05) and the subjects with GSTP1 104Val allele have higher risk for DNA damage than subjects with Ile allele (adjusted OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 0.94-3.85, P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONXRCC1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms might influence the susceptibility of DNA damage in occupational PAH-exposed coke-oven workers.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Coke ; poisoning ; Comet Assay ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; DNA Ligase ATP ; DNA Ligases ; genetics ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Polymorphism, Genetic

China still has more than 30,000 patients of advanced schistosomiasis while new cases being reported consistently. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product. As ascites being the dominating symptom in advanced schistosomiasis, the present study aimed to explore a prediction model of ascites with D-dimer and other clinical easy-achievable indicators. A case-control study nested in a prospective cohort was conducted in schistosomiasis-endemic area of southern China. A total of 291 patients of advanced schistosomiasis were first investigated in 2013 and further followed in 2014. Information on clinical history, physical examination, and abdominal ultrasonography, including the symptom of ascites was repeatedly collected. Result showed 44 patients having ascites. Most of the patients' ascites were confined in the kidney area with median area of 20 mm². The level of plasma D-dimer and pertinent liver function indicators were measured at the initial investigation in 2013. Compared with those without ascites, cases with ascites had significantly higher levels of D-dimer (0.71±2.44 μg/L vs 0.48±2.12 μg/L, P=0.005), as well ALB (44.5 vs 46.2, g/L) and Type IV collagen (50.04 vs 44.50 μg/L). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated a moderate predictive value of D-dimer by its own area under curve (AUC) of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.54–0.73) and the cutoff value as 0.81 μg/L. Dichotomized by the cutoff level, D-dimer along with other categorical variables generated a prediction model with AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68–0.89). Risks of patients with specific characteristics in the prediction model were summarized. Our study suggests that the plasma D-dimer level is a reliable predictor for incident ascites in advanced schistosomiasis japonica patients.
Area Under Curve ; Ascites* ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen Type IV ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Physical Examination ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies* ; ROC Curve ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica* ; Schistosomiasis* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of CACNA1C that encoded the a1c subunit of the L-type calcium channel and the efficacy of calcium channel blocker (CCB, Nifedipine extended release tablet/20 mg/d) in essential hypertension (EH) patients of Han Chinese in Wenzhou.

METHODSFor the enrolled 103 EH patients, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (Multi-PCR) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight MS (MLDI-TOF MS) were performed to detect their genotypes (rs216008, rs1051375, rs2299661, rs10848683, rs215976), blood pressure (BP) after CCB monotherapy was compared among patients with different genotypes.

RESULTS(1) Blood pressure was significantly reduced in all patients post CCB (P < 0.05 vs. pre-CCB). (2) Diastolic blood pressure reduction was more significant in subjects with rs2299661 C/C genotype (wild genotype) than in subjects with rs2299661C/G and rs2299661G/G genotype (mutational genotype) [(12.46 ± 7.91) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (7.22 ± 8.01) mm Hg and (5.93 ± 9.77) mm Hg, P < 0.05]. (3) Systolic blood pressure reduction was more significant in subjects with rs216008 C/C genotype (wild genotype) than in subjects with rs216008 C/T genotype (mutational genotype) [(20.60 ± 12.35) mm Hg vs. (13.62 ± 10.21) mm Hg, P < 0.05]. (4) Blood pressure reduction was similar between subjects with genotype of rs1051375, rs10848683 and rs215976.

CONCLUSIONEH patients with wild genotype of rs2299661 and rs216008 in CACNA1C are more likely to be responders of CCB monotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

IL-15 and IL-15 receptors (IL-15R) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), multiple myeloma and inflammatory autoimmune diseases. To develop a novel therapeutic agent capable of eliminating IL-15R-over-expressing abnormal cells, the gene coding for human IL-15 antagonist (IL-15M) was fused with a DNA fragment coding for the mutated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin, PEdelta293. The resulting gene fusion was cloned into pET16b under the control of T7 promoter, giving rise to the expression plasmid pET-IL15M-PEdelta293. Using Ni2+ -NTA affinity chromatography, IL15M-PEdelta293 was purified from E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS transformed with pET-IL15M-PEdelta293. The fusion toxin showed cytotoxicity to IL-15R-bearing myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 and K562-derived multidrug resistant cell line K562/AO2. However, IL-15R negative cell line Jurkat was insensitive to IL15M-PEdelta293. In addition, the toxic effect of IL15M-PEdelta293 on K562 was completely blocked by excessive amount of recombinant human IL-15. These results demonstrated that the selective cytotoxicity of IL15M-PEdelta293 correlated with the appropriate IL-15R expression on target cells. The present data suggest that the chimeric toxin constructed in this report may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of diseases associated with abnormal expression of IL-15/IL-15R, even in the treatment of chemotherapy refractory tumors.
Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Exotoxins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-15 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; K562 Cells ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Interleukin-15 ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the amplification rate and the lowestlower detection limit of an in-house HIV-1 Drug resistant (HIVDR) genotyping test.

METHODSA total of 30 plasma samples were selected, which covered all major HIV-1 subtypes predominating prevailing in China (B', CRF07_BC, CRF01 _AE). The viral loads of the 30 selected samples were detected in triplicate by Easy Q method and the average values were taken as the viral loads of the samples. Each sample was diluted to the concentration of > 1000 copies/ml, 401-1000 copies/ml, 101-400 copies/ml, 50-100 copies/ml and < 50 copies/ml with HIV-negative plasma. After extraction of nucleic acids, RT-PCR and nested PCR amplification were performed, the efficiency of amplification of each subtype and the minimum detection limit were determined statistically based on the PCR results.

RESULTSThe viral loads of the selected samples ranged from 2.03 x 10(2)-5.92 x 10(4) copies/ml. The sample of 50-1000 copies/ml have a high amplification rate (86%).

CONCLUSIONThe In-house method for HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping has a high sensitivity with a high successful amplification rate, especially in the samples with low viral load. This method can be used to the detection of drug-resistant virus and to provide scientific data to treatment options for patients.

China ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Genotype ; HIV-1 ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Load

0.05 ). After once injection both observers considered the number of clearly recognized endocardial border segments increased significantly. The number evaluated by observers A increased from 2.68 ? 0.95 to 5.99 ? 0.10 while from 2.82 ? 1.03 to 5.99 ? 0.11 by observers B( P 0.05 ). The average contrast enhancement rate of LV endocardial border was 99.7 %. Perfluoropropane-albumin microsphere injection had no significant effection on vital signs such as blood prssure, heart rate and respiration. Electrocardiogram didn′t change markedly and the variance of the laboratory findings like blood and urine routine examination, hepatic and renal function was in normal range. Only one case( 0.33 %) had slight side-effects who suffered from mild nausea and diarrhea, which suggested the clinical safety of this contrast agent. Conclusions Perfluoropropane-albumin microsphere injection could enhance the resolution of LV endocardial borders and make the judgement of regional myocardial movement easier. It has little side-effects and will be appropriate for clinical use.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Notch signal on hypoxic induction factor (HIF-1α) and autophagy-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I, LC3II in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced myocardial cell injury. METHODS: The OGD model was established using hypoxic culture box and hypoglycemic DMEM medium. The cells were divided into normal control group, OGD group, OGD + NC siRNA group, OGD + Notch1 siRNA group and OGD + HIF-1α siRNA group. Western blot was used to detect the interference effects of HIF-1α siRNA and Notch1 siRNA. The effects of Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA on the activity of myocardial cells in OGD model were detected by the CCK-8 assay. The effects of Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA on autophage-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I and LC3II expression were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The results of Western blot showed that HIF-1α siRNA could effectively knock down the expression of HIF-1α in myocardial cells in OGD model, and Notch1 siRNA could effectively knock down the expression of Notch1 and HIF-1α in myocardial cells in OGD model. The result of CCK-8 assay showed that Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA reduced the activity of myocardial cells in OGD model, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Western blot results showed that Notch1 siRNA and HIF-1α siRNA could reduce the expressions of the autophagy-associated genes Beclin1, LC3I and LC3II, and reduce the ratio of LC3II to LC3I at mRNA level. CONCLUSION Notch1 plays a role in myocardial protection by regulating the expression of HIF-1α to regulate the autophagy in OGD model cells.
Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; pathology ; Oxygen ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo design ABC damage variable and positioning system for acetabular fracture and explore the feasibility and clinical practical value of the system through the multi-center analysis of 1122 acetabular fractures.

METHODSAccording to acetabular three-column conception, and pelvic ring lesions damage direction caused by acetabular fracture domino effect and injury degree of proximal femur joint, it defined class A as any column acetabular fracture; class B as any two-column acetabular fracture; class C as front, dome and posterior mixture acetabular fracture. Lower case English letters a, m, p represented front, dome, posterior fracture, respectively. Acetabular damage variables: 1 was simple displaced fractures; 2 was comminuted fractures; 3 was compression fractures. Pelvic ring lesions damage variables: alpha was sacroiliac joints or sacroiliac fracture horizontal separation deflection; beta was sacroiliac joints or sacroiliac fracture vertical separation deflection; gamma was pubic symphysis separation/superior and inferior ramus of pubis fracture deflection; alpha beta gamma delta was compound floating damage. Proximal humerus joint damage variables: I was femoral head fracture; II was femoral neck fracture; II was intertrochanteric fractures of femur; IV was I to III compound fracture. The ABC damage variable positioning system for acetabular fracture was made up by the above-mentioned variables. The statistics from March 1997 to February 2010 showed 1122 cases acetabular fractures with 18 cases of double side acetabular fracture and 1140 cases of acetabular fractures. The pelvics anterior-posterior view, ilium and obturator oblique view, and 2/3D-CT materials were analyzed and researched.

RESULTSEach damage variables distribution situation in 1140 cases of acetabular fracture involved A in 237 cases (20.8%), B in 605 cases (53.1%), C in 298 cases (26.1%);front column fracture in 808 cases(70.9%), dome fracture in 507 cases (44.5%), posterior fracture in 1026 cases (90%). Acetabular variables: variabe 1 in 203 cases of simple displaced fracture (17.8%); variabe 2 in 516 cases of comminuted fracture(45.3%); variabe 3 in 421 cases of compression fracture (36.9%); 249 cases of pelvic ring lesions damage (21.8%), 75 cases femoral head fracture (6.6%); 18 cases of double side acetabular fracture and relative pelvic ring and proximal humerus joint variables (1.58%). Key part and curative effect elements of 1140 cases acetabular fracture: 507 cases of dome or posterior acetabular fracture (44.5%); 421 cases of compression fracture (36.9%); 249 cases of pelvic ring variables (21.8%); 75 cases of proximal humerus joint variables (6.6%); 486 cases of simple Aa/pl/2,Bapl/2 acetabular fracture (42.6% ).

CONCLUSIONCompression fracture, especially defected compression fracture, takes important part in acetabular damage variables, and also presents that acetabular fracture with pelvic ring and proximal femoral damage variables are not rare at all. The relationship of the acetabular fracture damage variables, and its percentage shows the key points and elements in clinical treatment: weight-bearing to dome accounts for 44.5%; compression to defects account for 36.9%, pelvic ring to float accounts for 21.8%; dome fracture to double side fracture account for 6.6%. The system has significant guiding effects on clinic in terms of evaluation of injury severity, anatomic localization, difficulty index, alternative strategy, operative approach, effect of treatment,and prognosis. And the most important thing is that the system creates the comparison of damage variables in same type of fracture and the communication of homo-language and explores a new method.

Acetabulum ; injuries ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; classification ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Informatics ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult