Background and purpose:Postoperative sore throat (POST) is one of the common complaints of patients after radical thyroidectomy. Tracheal intubation is the main cause of POST. This study compared the effect of intubation with visual endoscopy and general laryngoscope on POST in patients undergoing radical thyroidectomy. Methods:One hundred patients (18-60 years, ASAⅠ-Ⅱ) undergoing elective radical thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups:patients in group A (n=50) were intubated with visual endoscope while patients in group B (n=50) were intubated with general laryngoscope. Endotracheal tube cuffs pressure was maintained at 20mmHg in all patients. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Bruggrmann comfort scale (BCS) were recorded at the time points of 1, 6 and 24 h after extubation. Results:Compared with group B, the incidence of POST in group A was signifcantly reduced (42%vs 64%, P=0.027). The VAS of group A was lower than that of group B (3.05±1.56 vs 4.25±1.30, 3.05±1.56 vs 4.01±1.98, 2.72±1.77 vs 3.31±1.12) (P<0.05). The BCS of group A was higher than that of group B (0.99±0.46 vs 0.69±0.30, 1.95±0.47 vs 1.51±0.58, 2.82±0.87 vs 2.31±0.72) (P<0.05). Conclusion:Using visual endoscopic intubation can reduce the incidence of the POST in patients undergoing radical thyroidectomy.

Objective To compare the pathological and serological difference of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) models in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice transplanted with synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (SCID-HuRAg mice) established either by renal capsule or subcutaneous back heterotopic transplantation. Methods RA synovium and normal human cartilage were co-implanted subcutaneously into the backs or under the renal capsule of 15 SCID mice. Engrafted tissues and serum were taken at the 4th and 8th week after transplantation. Histopathology and ELISA were performed to compare their histological and serological differences with RA. Results The morbidity and taken rate were significantly increased in the subcutaneous back of the mice group than the renal capsule group. The degree of cartilage erosion as well as the titers of serum IgM type rheumatoid factor suggested no significant difference between the two groups of SCID-HuRAg model devel oped by different engraft methods. Conclusion Back subcutaneous transplantation SCID-HuRAg model can be an ideal and stable animal model for studies on the pathogenesis and biotherapy of RA.

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of balloon dilation of pulmonary valve stenosis with 10 F domestic balloon catheter in children ≥ 10 kg. Methods From May 2009 to June 2014, eighty-three consecutive children with weight ≥ 10 kg and age of (4.5±2.8)(ranged from 1-12) years underwent percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvoloplasty(PBPV) with 10 F domestic balloon catheter. Indication for treatment, procedural details, catheterization data, complication rate, peak-to-peak systolic gradient across the valve and pulmonary insufficiency on echocardiography were respectively analyzed. Forty-four patients were followed up 6-44 months after procedure. Results All procedures were completed successfully. The peak-to-peak systolic gradient across the pulmonary valve decreased from (67.7±26.2) mmHg to (15.4±11.6) mmHg (P < 0.01) immediately after PBPV. Two patients developed reactive infundibular spasm after dilation. They were relieved at 6 months post PBPV. No patient had severe pulmonary insufficiency, tricuspid regurgitation or reintervetion. Conclusions PBPV with 10 F domestic balloon catheter in children with weight≥10 kg is a safe and effective method.

Our previous work has indicated that mycelium growth and exopolysaccharide accumulation in submerged fermentation by Pholiota squarrosa (Pers. ex Fr.) Quel. AS 5.245 are strongly affected by many internal and external factors, including medium constituents and fermentation conditions. In this study, we use an effective two-phase statistical approach to enhance exopolysaccharide production. In the first phase, Plackett-Burman design was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the twenty factors, i.e., glucose, fructose, maltose, yeast extract, tryptone, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, (NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, FeSO4, MgSO4, MnCl2, ZnCl2, FeCl3, CuSO4.5H2O, vitamin B1, initial pH, the temperature, the medium volume and the duration, to the fermentation. By regression analysis, yeast extract, tryptone, fructose, MgSO4, MnCl2, initial pH and temperature were found to be important for exopolysaccharide production, while glucose, maltose, NaNO3, ZnCl2, vitamin B1, the duration and the volume are important to the mycelium biomass. In the second phase of the optimization process, a response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the above critical internal factors, and to find out the optimal concentration levels and the relationships between these factors. Based on the results of the first phase, a five-level six-factor (yeast extract, fructose, MgSO4, maltose, ZnCl2 and initial pH) central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed. By solving the quadratic regression model equation using appropriate statistic methods, the optimal concentrations for obtaining 876.32 microg exopolysaccharide per milliliter of fermentation liquor were calculated as: 6.0g/L yeast extract, 11.5g/L fructose, 0.5g/L MgSO4, 9.6g/L maltose, 38.6mg/L ZnCl2 and with the initial pH 5.3. The experimental data under various conditions have validated the theoretical values.
Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Maltose ; metabolism ; Pholiota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo establish the computer aided design (CAD) software platform of individualized abutment for the maxilla central incisor.

METHODSThree-dimentional data of the incisor was collected by scanning and geometric transformation. Data mainly included the occlusal part of the healing abutment, the location carinae of the bedpiece, the occlusal 1/3 part of the artificial gingiva's inner surface, and so on. The all-ceramic crown designed in advanced was "virtual cutback" to get the original data of the abutment's supragingival part. The abutment's in-gum part was designed to simulate the individual natural tooth root. The functions such as "data offset", "bi-rail sweep surface" and "loft surface" were used in the process of CAD.

RESULTSThe CAD route of the individualized all-ceramic abutment was set up. The functions and application methods were decided and the complete CAD process was realized.

CONCLUSIONSThe software platform was basically set up according to the requests of the dental clinic.

Ceramics ; Computer-Aided Design ; Crowns ; Dental Implants ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the compositional variation of fibrous callus in the fracture site and the joint cavity and joint cartilage after being transplanted in the muscle pouch.

METHODSThirty 2 month old New Zealand white rabbits (weighing 1-1.5 kg) were randomly divided into two groups: a callus transplantation group (Group A, n=15) and a cartilage transplantation group (Group B, n=15). In Group A, closed radius fracture was made and the autologous fibrous callus was transplanted in the right knee joint cavity at 12 days postoperatively. In Group B, the right knee joint cartilage of the animals was transplanted in the autologous back muscle pouches under anesthesia. Then all the animals were killed by overdose anesthetic 3 weeks after transplantation. And the transplanted fibrous callus, the healed bones in the fracture sites and the transplanted joint cartilage were obtained for assessment of compositional variation.

RESULTSPure fibrous composition was found in the callus at the fracture sites in Group A at 12 days postoperatively. And for 11 out of the 15 animals, the fibrous callus was transformed into cartilaginous tissues after 3 weeks of transplantation, but the fibrous callus was absent in the other 4 animals. The fibrous calluses at the original site and the fracture locus were differentiated into bony tissues. Bony tissue transformation was found in the transplanted joint cartilages in the muscle pouch of all the animals in Group B.

CONCLUSIONSThe fracture sites or joint cavity may facilitate callus differentiation in different ways: the former is helpful for osteogenesis while the latter for the development and maintenance of cartilages, and the muscle pouch is inclined to induce the osteogenic phenotype for cartilages.

Animals ; Bony Callus ; cytology ; transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; transplantation ; Cell Differentiation ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Rabbits ; Radius Fractures ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDAntithrombotic and antiplatelet therapies have been proposed to treat non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS), yet limited information is available about their applications from a multicenter "real-world" clinical procedure, especially in China. This study was undertaken to characterize the use of antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents in relation to the risk levels of the NSTEACS patients who were enrolled in Sino-Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACEs) registry study.

METHODSWe analyzed the data from 618 Chinese NSTEACS patients stratified into low-(n = 151), intermediate-(n = 233), and high-risk groups (n = 234) based on GRACE risk scores. The baseline characteristics, clinical presentations, antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents were recorded and compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe administration rates of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) (86.08%) and thienopyridines (85.92%) were higher whereas the administration rate of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (1.78%) was much lower than those reported previously. Meanwhile, within the first 24 hours of admission, the use of heparin/LMWHs in the high-risk group was more than that in the intermediate- and low-risk groups (73.50% vs 63.09% vs 55.63%, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the combination of antithrombotic and antiplatelet medications showed no significant differences in all groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn the "real world" practice of China, the antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapies on NSTEACS are well adherent to the current guidelines except for several gaps, such as the very low use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. Moreover, these antithrombotic and antiplatelet treatments usually tend to be underused for the high-risk ones.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Aged ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Registries ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of real-time PCR-optimized oligonucleotide probe method for detection of KRAS mutations in lung and colorectal carcinomas, as compared with Sanger sequencing method.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples of 221 lung carcinomas and 131 colorectal carcinomas after tumor cell content assessment and macrodissection. Real-time PCR-optimized oligonucleotide probe method and Sanger sequencing were performed to detect KRAS gene mutations. The frequency of KRAS mutation, mutation types, and their concordance were analyzed.

RESULTSKRAS mutation was detected in 6.3% (14/221) and 4.5% (10/221) of 221 lung cancer samples by using real-time PCR-optimized oligonucleotide probe method and Sanger sequencing, respectively, while in 41.2% (54/131) and 40.5% (53/131) of 131 colorectal cancer samples, respectively. There was no significant correlation between KRAS gene mutations and patients' gender and age (P > 0.05). The positive rate of KRAS codon 12 mutation was significantly higher than that of KRAS codon 13 mutation (P < 0.05). The overall concordance between real-time PCR-optimized oligonucleotide probe method and Sanger sequencing for KRAS mutation detection was 97.4%.

CONCLUSIONReal-time PCR-optimized oligonucleotide probe method provides an alternative method with high consistency and sensitivity as compared to Sanger sequencing in gene mutation detection.

Codon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; ras Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the techniques, advantages and disadvantages, indications and cautions of a surgical approach for the resection of nasopharyngeal tumor.

METHODSTen cases with nasopharyngeal tumors were recruited in this study, of them, 3 cases with residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy, 2 cases with cavernous angioma, 2 cases with benign mixed tumor, 1 malignant mixed tumor, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 1 chordoma. All patients underwent endoscopic resection of posteroinferior quarter part of nasal septum, and then the removal of nasopharyngeal tumors through bilateral transnasal approach.

RESULTSTotal resection of the tumor was achieved for all cases without severe surgical complications. All cases with benign tumors, with following-up of 6-18 months, showed no recurrence. Of 6 cases with malignant tumors, with following-up of 12-48 months, 5 cases showed no recurrence, and 1 case was suspected to relapse one year postoperatively, but not with any lesion enlargement after another 6 month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSPosteroinferior quarter part of nasal septectomy is preferred for endoscopic resection of nasopharyngeal tumors because it can provide a panoramic view on nasopharyngeal cavity and tumors, thus, facilitating the removal of nasopharyngeal tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum ; surgery ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

AIMTo search for colchicine derivatives which have high efficacy and low toxicity.

METHODSColchicine was firstly converted into thiocolchicine, and then it was hydrolyzed to get 7-(N-deacetylthiocolchicine). At last, 7-(N-deacetylthiocolchicine) was amidated to get the target compounds. The chemical structure of these new derivatives was confirmed with 1H NMR, IR, MS, and HR-MS. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested by MTT assay. Their in vivo antitumor activity was evaluated against mice tumor H22 and U14.

RESULTSTwelve thiocolchicine derivatives are new compounds.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro antitumor activity has showed that some of these thiocolchicines possessed cytotoxic activity superior to colchicine. However, in vivo antitumor activity indicated that these derivatives have poor efficacy in mice.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Colchicine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Models, Chemical ; Molecular Structure ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Structure-Activity Relationship