Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of SKy bone expander system in percutaneous kyphoplasty for treat- ment of osteoporotie verterbral compression fracture.Methods:Twenty-two patients(aged 62-90 years,32 vertebrae)under- went percutaneous kyphoplasty using SKy bone expander system.The bone cement was injected into the collapsed vertebrae. The vasual analogue scale(VAS)and complications were recorded during follow up.Results:The operations were successful in all patients via unilateral or bilateral approach.The operation time ranged from 30 to 120 min.The mean volume of cement in- jected into each vertebra body was(4.8?1.1)ml,ranged from 3.1 to 6.8 ml.Extravertebral leakage of bone cement was ob- served in two vertebrae with no symptoms.All patients had their pain relieved;the VAS was 7.6?0.8 before operation,3.5?0.5 one day after operation,2.8?0.6 one week after operation,and 2.4?0.6 one month after operation,with significant difference found between preoperation and postoperation(P

Objective:To investigate the promoting effect of Ginsenoside Ro on the differentiation of THP-1-derived dendritic cells (DCs) induced by GM-CSF and IL-4.Methods: Sensitive leukemia-derived DC cell line was screened first.Then,the selected sensitive cell line THP-1 was stimulated to differentiate into DCs by cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-4) and small(5 μmol/L),middle(10 μmol/L),and large (20 μmol/L) dose of Ginsenoside Ro respectively.The expressions of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by flow cytometry.In addition,the transcription levels of CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by RT-PCR.ELISA was used to measure the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatant.Results: THP-1 was the sensitive leukemia cell line which could be induced to differentiate into DCs by cytokines.Compared with cytokine stimulation alone,the expression of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 in leukemia-derived cells was significantly increased after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).The CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ mRNA expression was significantly increased after the treatment of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in culture supernatant were significantly increased (P<0.05) after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro in combination with cytokines.Conclusion: Ginsenoside Ro can significantly promote the differentiation of leukemia-derived DCs.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and image quality of coronary artery angiography with 640-slice CT system in the pacemaker patients. Methods ECG-triggered 640-slice CT coronary angiography was performed in 16 pacemaker patients. Image quality of the fifteen coronary segments and metal-related artifact originating from pacemaker were assessed by two experienced radiologists in consensus.Image quality was assessed using a 4-point grading scale. ECG trigger information was recorded. Results The rate of available diagnostic images was 99. 07% ( Grade 1 in 83.64%, Grade 2 in 15.42%, Grade 3 in 0. 47% and Grade 4 in 0. 47% of patients, respectively). Image quality and the effect of streak artifact were similar between the high heart rate group and low heart rate group ( P ＞ 0. 05 ) and between normal pacing group and arrhythmia group ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). In coronary MSCT angiography, streak artifact of the pacemaker can render segments of the coronary artery uninterpretable, especially on S1, S2, S3, S4 and S8 segments of the coronary artery. Small shifts in the reconstruction window resulted in significance reduction of streak artifact ( x2 = 151. 818, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions 640-slice gated CT coronary angiography could provide excellent image quality for patients with pacemaker. The streak artifact induced by pacemaker on some segments of the coronary artery could be improved by small shifts in the reconstruction window.

OBJECTIVETo test whether the tumor vessel density (TVD) from the enhanced spiral CT can preoperatively predict nodal status and distant metastasis of colorectal cancer.

METHODSForty cases of colorectal cancer patients who received surgical treatment were included in this study. The three dimensional tumor vessels were reconstructed by an enhanced CT 64-slice spiral CT and its AW4.4 image processing platform. The TVD was measured by the 1000 high-resolution color graphics pathological analysis system. The TVD level was compared between different tumor size, classification, and TNM stage. The postoperative pathological staging was taken as golden standard.

RESULTSThe sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for direct prediction of lymph node metastasis by the enhanced CT 64-slice spiral CT was 74.1%(20/27), 53.8%(7/13) and 67.5%(27/40) respectively. The TVD from the reconstructed three dimensional tumor vessels in the group with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that without metastasis(0.070±0.046 vs. 0.037±0.013, P<0.05). The TVD in the distant metastasis group was significantly higher than that without distant metastasis (0.130±0.032 vs. 0.049±0.030, P<0.01). No difference of TVD was found between different tumor size, invasion depth, and differentiation type.

CONCLUSIONTVD level from the reconstructed three dimensional tumor vessels can indicate lymph node and distant metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDThere were only 3 multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines established in China. In this study, we succeeded in establishing a novel MM cell line and analyzed its biological characteristics.

METHODSMononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of a patient with advanced MM (lambda light chain type) were cultured in medium. Cell morphology was analyzed by Wright-Giemsa-staining and cytochemical staining, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis by chromosome RHG-banding technique. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) DNA.

RESULTSThe established cell line could survive and proliferate in the presence of feeder cells or conditioned medium. The cells secreted lambda light chain and were negative for EBV. The Wright-Giemsa-staining showed typical plasmablast or plasma cell morphology. The cytochemical staining of the cells showed the following reactivity patterns: positive for acid phosphatase, negative for myeloperoxidase. The immunoprofile of the cells was concordant with that of MM cells: positive for CD10, CD28, CD38, CD138, CD56, CD49d, CD44, CD54 and CD58, negative for CD19, CD40, CD95, CD95L, CD34, CD2 and CD5. The cytogenetic analysis showed complex chromosome abnormality of i (1q+), 8q+, 13q+, i (17q), i (18q) and +M. There was no difference in morphology, immunophenotype and cytogenetics between cells from PB and BM.

CONCLUSIONSAn MM cell line secreting lambda light chain named CZ-1 was established. The cells from both PB and BM have the same biological characteristics.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Transposition of simple or composite forearm island flaps with a radial vascular pedicle was performed in repairing tissue defects of the hand and reconstruction of the thumb in 16 patients. It was found to be easy to operate and no suturing of blood vessels was necessary. The postoperative swelling was less marked. The flap was good in texture and sensation after the operation. The overall result wassatisfactory. Anatomic-physiological situdy was also carried out. 16 patients have been operated on, including 2 thumb reconstructions, with satisfactoryresults.

OBJECTIVEThis research was to explore the difference between children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in the composition and antibiotic-resistance of pathogenic bacteria.

METHODS241 CAP and 116 HAP with positive sputum culture who were hospitalized from January to December in 2008 in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University were selected in this study. The bacteria were identified by traditionally manual method and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed by K-B method. The chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used for statistical test.

RESULTSIn 241 CAP, Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza accounted for (42.2%, 106/251) and (12.4%, 31/251) infection, respectively; however in 116 HAP, Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters accounted for (88.2%, 127/144). In addition, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus weren't isolated, however, its detection rate was 66.7% in HAP. The drug resistance was 1.5 times higher in HAP than that in CAP for several types of antibiotics, such as ceftazidime (37.5% (6/16) vs 75.6% (31/41)), cefepime (37.5% (6/16) vs 78.0% (32/41)), aztreonam (50.0% (8/16) vs 90.2% (37/41)), cefoperazone/sulbactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 51.2% (21/41)) and piperacillin/tazobactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 56.0% (23/41)). Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from HAP had higher drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against some antibiotics, for example, gentamicin (0 vs 63.6% (7/11)), SMZ + TMP (20.0% (1/5) vs 63.6% (7/11)) and cefoperazone/sulbactam (0 vs 54.5% (6/11)). We also found Enterobacter cloacae isolated from HAP showed high drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against imipenem (0 vs 46.7% (7/15)), aztreonam (9.1% (1/11) vs 60.0% (9/15)) and cefoperazone (18.2% (2/11) vs 80.0% (12/15)) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from HAP had higher resistance than that from CAP against gentamicin (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)), amikacin (0 vs 38.9% (7/18)), ceftazidime (0 vs 55.6% (10/18)), cefepime (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)) and cefoperazone (33.3% (2/6) vs 94.4% (17/18)). The detection rates of ESBLs for Escherichia coli were 84.6% (11/13) and 93.3% (14/15) in CAP and HAP, respectively (χ(2) = 0.553, P > 0.05); while for Klebsiella pneumoniae, they were 81.3% (13/16) and 95.1% (39/41), respectively (χ(2) = 2.767, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCAP was mainly comprised of Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza; while HAP was mainly comprised of Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters. The drug resistance of gram-negative bacilli was higher in HAP than that in CAP.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; microbiology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Haemophilus influenzae ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects of three methods of internal fixations in treating intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

METHODSFrom 2004 to 2008, the clinical data of 112 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were retrospectively analyzed. There were 63 males and 49 females, aged from 60 to 80 years with an average of 66.2 years. The patients were treated respectively with dynamic hip screws (DHS group, 40 cases), anatomic plate (anatomic plate group, 36 cases) and proximal femoral intramedullary nails (PFN group, 36 cases). The data of each group were collected for statistical analysis on the following aspects: operative time, blood loss volume, clinical healing time of fracture, postoperative complications, and hip functional score of Harris.

RESULTSAll these patients were followed up from 20 to 24 months with an average of 22.6 months. There was no significant difference in operative time, blood loss volume among three groups; there was significant difference in clinical healing time of fracture, Harris score and postoperative complications among three groups (P < 0.05). In the healing time, the PFN group was significantly less than that of other groups (P = 0.001), but there was no differences between DHS group and anatomic plate group. In the Harris score, the PFN group was significantly higher than that of other groups (P = 0.001), but there was no differences between DHS group and anatomic plate group. In the aspect of postoperation complication, there was 2 cases of coxa vara, 1 case of internal fixation loosening and 1 case of deep venous thrombosis in the DHS group; there were 2 cases of deep venous thrombosis in the PFN group; there were 2 cases of coxa vara and 1 case of internal fixation loosening in the anatomic plate group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONIn the treatment of intertronchanteric fractures, proximal femoral intramedullary nail may be the best choice, which can decrease healing time as well as complications postoperatively.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hereditary tendency of varicocele.

METHODSWe included in this study 112 varicocele patients, 117 direct male relatives of the patients, and 100 healthy men as controls. We compared the incidence of varicocele tween the direct relative group and the control group.

RESULTSThe direct male relatives of the varicocele patients had a significantly higher incidence of varicocele than the healthy controls (36.8% vs 17%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe increased incidence of varicocele in the direct male relatives of the patients indicated a hereditary tendency of the disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Varicocele ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Young Adult