Objective To study the correlation between the level of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and induced sputum cell counts,pulmonary function and asthma control test (ACT) in order to investigate the clinical application value of serum hs-CRP for the acute exacerbation bronchial asthma patients.Methods Thirty acute exacerbation bronchial asthma patients were collected as asthma group,14 healthy people during the same period were collected as control group.The fasting serum hs-CRP was examined in control group and before and after treatment of 5-7 d in asthma group.The induced sputum was obtained by ultrasonic atomizer 4.5％ sodium chloride,and the percentage of eosinophils (EOS％),neutrophil,macrophages,lymphocytes was calculated.The pulmonary function index was determined in control group and before and after treatment in asthma group.ACT score was performed in asthma group.The correlation between the serum hs-CRP and induced sputum differential leukocyte count,the pulmonary function index and ACT score was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.The effect of the serum hs-CRP and induced sputum EOS％ on inflammatory response of acute exacerbation bronchial asthma was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results Two cases were excluded in asthma group.The serum hs-CRP before and after treatment in asthma group was higher than that in control group[4.18(2.12-11.12) and 3.40(2.02-8.91) mg/L vs.1.48(1.03-4.81) mg/L,H =18.939,P＜ 0.01].The serum hs-CRP before treatment was higher than that after treatment in asthma group (P ＜ 0.01).In asthma group,the serum hs-CRP had positive relationship with induced sputum EOS％ (r =0.849,P =0.000).There were negative correlations between the serum hs-CRP and the pulmonary function index such as one second forced expiratory volume percent predicted,one second forced expiratory volume occupied vital capacity ratio,maximum mid-expiratory flow percentage of predicted (r =-0.617,-0.559,-0.398,respectively,P =0.000,0.002,0.036,respectively).It was also found that the serum hs-CRP and ACT score had the remarkable Spearman linear correlation (r =-0.511,P =0.005).The area under the ROC curve of the serum hs-CRP was 0.713 (P =0.003).Conclusions There are significant correlations between the serum hs-CRP and induced sputum EOS％,pulmonary function,ACT score in the acute exacerbation bronchial asthma patients.It is found that hs-CRP could be considered as one of the potential marker to evaluate the systemic inflammation level of bronchial asthma.

Objective To investigate the stress characteristics of atlanto-axial bony structure under conditions of anteflexion,posterior extension,lateral flexion,and rotation after artificial atlanto-odontoid joint arthroplasty using three-dimensional finite element method and to improve the orientation of artificial atlantoodontoid joint from perspective of stress.Methods A three-dimensional finite element model of prosthetic atlanto-odontoid joint arthroplasty was created from CT images of the artificial atlantoodontoid joint and cervical vertebrae using software Mimics,Freeform,and Ansys.Stress characteristics of the model dealt with proneness,posterior extension,lateral flexion,or rotation loads were observed.Biomechanical performance of the bony structure of the model was analyzed and the orientation in improving the prosthesis was discussed.Results Anteflexion loading produced a maximum stress of 0.138 ×l08 N/m2 at the junction of lateral mass and posterior arch of the atlas,and 0.201 × 108 N/m2 at axial nail hole,contact point of plates with the axis,and posterior arch of the axis.Posterior extension loading produced a maximum stress of 0.666 × 107 N/m2 at junction of lateral mass and posterior arch of the atlas and 0.254 × 108 N/m2 at arch of the axis.Besides,stress concentration occurred at atlantoaxis nail hole.Right bending produced a maximum stress of 0.124 × 108 N/m2 at nail hole of right mass of atlas and 0.178 × 108 N/m2 at right contact point of the axis with plates.Right rotation produced a maximum stress of 0.847 × 107 N/m2 at junction of lateral mass and posterior arch of the atlas and 0.170 × 109 N/m2 at contact point of the axis with plates.The finite element model comprised 28 620 nodes and 107 441 units and provided good defining of the structural properties of artificial atlanto-odontoid joint arthroplasty.Under different loading conditions,the stress was mainly distributed in contact point of the vertebral body with plates,nail holes,junction of lateral mass and posterior arch of the atlas,and axial pedicle.Conclusions Prosthetic atlanto-odontoid joint scatters a part of the stress and alters the stress distribution of the atlas and axis from the intact condition.Finite element method can obtain complete analysis of the stress distribution of the artificial atlanto-odontoid joint arthroplasty.

To investigate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for di-agnosing low choledochal joint and its complications. MRCP results of 29 low choledochal joint patients con-firmed were analyzed retrospectively, and then compared with those by endoscopic retrograde cholaniopancreatography (ERCP). MRCP could display clearly the location of low choledochal joint, and the patients with complications involved 4 ones with cholecystolithiasis, 5 ones with cholangiolithiasis, 15 ones with cholecystolithiasis and cholangiolithi-asis, 3 ones with Mirizz syndrome, 2 ones with pancreatitis, 1 case with carcinoma of head of pancreas after cholecystec-tomy and 1 case of Vater ampullary carcinoma. Interoperative and ERCP findings proved that MRCP could be used for the diagnosis of low choledochal joint and its complications with no missed diagnosis. MRCP can be involved for the diagnosis of low choledochal joint and its complications, and thus can be used for preoperative planning and treat-ment of the complications.

Objective To analyze the relationship between baseline serum γ?glutamyltransferase (GGT) and risk of the metabolic syndrome (MS). Method A total of 4 935 adults from health checkup population in Shenzhen were enrolled into a 10?year follow?up study, of these adults 81.84%were male and 18.16% were female, the average age was 60.54 ± 10.38 years.The follow?up outcome measure was the occurrence of MS. The proportional hazards model was adopted to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95%confidence intervals (95%CI) to analyze the association of GGT with the development of MS. Reslut The mean follow up period was 5.0 ± 2.9 years, and there were 24 713 person?years of follow?up, and 1 689 subjects developed MS. During the follow?up, the cumulative incidence and incidence density of MS were 34.22%and 68.34/1 000 person?years, respectively. For both genders, the association between GGT and MS presented dose?response relationship trend (male: M?C χ2=32.78, P<0.001; female: M?C χ2=18.80, P<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high?density lipoprotein cholesterol, low?density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and fasting blood glucose in Cox regression model, the HR for MS in quartiles 3 and 4 level of GGT was 1.45 (95%CI:1.08-1.85) and 1.52 (95%CI:1.15-1.99), respectively. Conclusion The GGT level could be an important risk factor and predictor for the development of MS.

Objective To investigate the role of microRNA(miR)-567 in the proliferation,migration and cell cycle of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)through regulation of cyclin dependent kinase 8(CDK8)and its clinical relevance.Methods Tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of 40 NSCLC patients were collected,and the expressions of miR-567 and CDK8 were detected by real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR(qRT-PCR).miR-NC mimic,miR-567 mimic,oe-NC,and oe-CDK8 were transfected into A549 and H1975 cells.The ex-pressions of miR-567 and CDK8 were detected using qRT-PCR.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method,and cell migration was detected by Transwell assay.Cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytome-try.The targeting of miR-567 and CDK8 was detected by luciferase reporter gene assay.Results In the tumor tissues of NSCLC patients,the expression of miR-567 was decreased,while the expression of CDK8 was in-creased,and the two were negatively correlated(P＜0.05).In A549 and H1975 cells,miR-567 mimic group was compared with miR-NC mimic group,the expression of miR-567 was increased,the expression of CDK8 was decreased,the proliferation and migration levels of cells were decreased,the proportion of G1 phase was increased,and the proportion of S phase was decreased.The fluorescence intensity of miR-567 mimic group was lower than that of miR-NC mimic group in normal CDK8.miR-567 mimic+oe-CDK8 group was compared with miR-567 mimic+oe-NC group,the expression of CDK8 was increased,the proliferation and migration levels of cells were increased,the proportion of cells in G1 phase was decreased,and the proportion of cells in S phase was increased.Conclusion miR-567 can inhibit NSCLC proliferation and migration by targeting CDK8 expression and controlling tumor cell arrest in the S phase.

Objective To study the effects of Xihuang pills combined with sodium cantharidinate and vitamin B6 injection in the treatment of tumor-induced fever. Methods A total of 100 patients with tumor-induced fever in our hospital from March 2015 to January 2017 were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into the control group (n=50) and the treatment group (n=50) randomly. The control group were treated with aspirin-D L-Lysine injection, and the treatment group were treated with Xihuang pills combined with sodium cantharidinate and vitamin B6 injection. The two groups were treated for 2 periods. The clinical effects of the two groups after treatment were compared. The life quality of the two groups after treatment were compared. The serum TNF-α and IL-1β of the two groups before and after treatment were compared. The adverse reaction rates of the two groups during treatment were compared. Results The total efficacy rate of defervescence of the treatment group was 88.0％(44/50) significantly higher than 56.0％(28/50) of the control group (χ2=12.698, P=0.000). After treatment, the daily life score (1.10 ± 0.18 vs. 2.47 ± 0.21, t=35.025), social communication score (1.21 ± 0.13 vs. 2.53 ± 0.25, t=33.124), mental state score (1.08 ± 0.15 vs. 2.75 ± 0.21,t=45.758), appetite score (1.13 ± 0.16 vs. 2.56 ± 0.19, t=40.708), sleep score (1.22 ± 0.17 vs. 2.71 ± 0.20, t=40.139) of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum TNF-α (1.98 ± 0.07 μg/L vs. 2.86 ± 0.13 μg/L, t=42.144), IL-1β (9.20 ± 1.89 μg/L vs. 13.51 ± 2.36 μg/L, t=10.080) of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significantly differences of the adverse reaction rates of the two groups during treatment (χ2=0.211, P=0.646). Conclusions The Xihuang pills combined with sodium cantharidinate and vitamin B6 injection for patients with tumor-induced fever has a good efficacy and low incidence of adverse reactions, can improve the quality of life and reduce the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of posterior lumbar interbody fusion and internal fixation for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with redundant nerve roots (RNRs).Methods A retrospective case series study was performed on the clinical data of 23 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis with RNRs from January 2009 to December 2014.This study involved 10 males and 13 females,with an average age of 48.4 years(range,38-58 years).The course of disease averaged 28.1 months(range,2 months-7 years).There were seven patients with single segment of stenosis,12 patients with two segments of stenosis,and four patients with three segments of stenosis.RNRs diagnostic criteria:in the sagittal section of the MRIT2 image of lumbar spine,the cauda equina nerve root in the dural sac was circular,tortuous and twining.MRI information was collected and analyzed by three double-blind radiologists,respectively.RNRs were determined based on the unanimous consent of all the three doctors.All patients underwent posterior discectomy,spinal canal decompression,interbody fusion,and internal fixation after admission.The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,and postoperative complications were recorded.The visual analogue scale (VAS),Oswestry disability index (ODI),and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score were used to evaluate the back pain and leg pain before operation and 3 months after operation.Fischgrund standard was used for the overall efficacy evaluation.Results All patients were followed up for 12-30 months (mean,23.3 months).The operation time was (130.0 ± 23.2) minutes,and the intraoperative blood loss was (513.0 ± 165.0) ml.MRI was reviewed 1 week after operation,and the result showed that redundancy of cauda equina disappeared.Preoperatively,the scores of back pain VAS,leg pain VAS,ODI and JOA were (6.3± 0.8) points,(6.8 ±0.9)points,(46.7±2.5)points and (10.3 ±2.8)points,respectively.At 3 months postoperatively,the scores were (1.4 ± 0.5) points,(1.8 ± 0.7) points,(11.9 ± 2.1) points,and (25.3 ± 1.8) points,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).In terms of the efficacy,17 cases were excellent,four good,and two fair,with an excellent and good rate of 91％.At 12 months after operation,the CT scan showed no screw rupture or cage dislocation,with bony union seen between the vertebrae.Conclusion Posterior lumbar interbody fusion and internal fixation can help relieve the back and leg pain and eliminate redundant nerve roots in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with RNRs.

Objective To evaluate the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT). Methods Clinical data of 16 patients who underwent kidney transplantation were collected. Among them, 8 recipients received RAKT (RAKT group) and 8 cases underwent open kidney transplantation (OKT) with the contralateral kidney from the same donor (OKT group). Perioperative status and the recovery of renal allograft function were compared between two groups. Results All patients successfully completed the surgery. In the RAKT group, no patient was converted to open surgery. The operation time in the RAKT group was longer than that in the OKT group (P=0.015). No significant differences were observed in the serum creatinine levels before surgery and upon discharge between two groups (both P>0.05). In the OKT group, one recipient developed delayed graft function (DGF), and the remaining recipients did not experience perioperative complications. No significant difference was noted in the short-term recovery of renal allograft function between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Postoperative recovery of the recipients in the RAKT group is equivalent to that of their counterparts in the OKT group. RAKT is a safe and effective procedure for the team expertise in kidney transplantation.