OBJECTIVETo discuss the reasons and the treatments for the femoral refracture.

METHODSFrom 2004 to 2008, 10 cases of femoral refracture after plate removal were selected and treated with open reduction and bone nail internal fixation, included 4 males and 6 females ranging from 19 to 48 years with an average age of 33 years old. According to Müller classification, there were 4 cases of type A, 3 of B, 3 of C. The skeletal tissues were taken for pathological analysis.

RESULTSTen patients were followed-up for 10 to 18 months (averaged 14 months). All wound healed at one stage,there were no complications. The fuction of lower limbs walking and weight loading werer recovered. Pathological section showed that part of the lamellar bone tissues were necrotic. The bone architectures were chaotic, micrangium blocked, Haversian canals were atrophy, new vessels and Haversian canals growed in necrotic bone. The tunnel in rigid bone and new Haversian system were formed. The structure was cutting cone. It was the process of new bone substitutting necrotic bone in bony remodeling.

CONCLUSIONThe internal fixation using ordinary plates overwhelmingly destroy blood circulation of bone and cause necrosis of bone. It can also effect bone remodeling and descent mechanical property. Refracture can readily happen after the plate removal. Treatment of open reduction and bone nail internal fixation can achieve excellent and good effect.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; pathology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanisms of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on p38 MAPK signaling pathway in rats with cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: a normal group, a model group, a model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group, a model plus electroacupuncture group, ten rats in each group. The model rats were established by subcutaneous injection 3 mg/(kg x d) of Isoprenaline Hydrochloride; model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group were injected 0.3 mg/(kg x d) of specific inhibitor SB 203580; model plus electroacupuncture group was treated by electroacupuncture at "Neiguan"(PC 6) with continuous-wave, 2 Hz and 1 mA for 20 minutes, once a day for 14 days. There was no treatment in other two groups. The contents of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in heart tissue were detected by radioimmunoassay and the p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK by western blot.

RESULTSCompared with normal group, the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK were significantly increased in model group (all P < 0.01). The contents of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK were significantly decreased in model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group and model plus electroacupuncture group, compared with model group, all P < 0.05; compared with normal group, P < 0.05, P < 0.01; but no significant difference between model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group and model plus electroacupuncture group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) can prevent the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK of myocardial hypertrophy, and the mechanism maybe adjust p38 MAPK signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism