OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of cannulated screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction for the treatment of Sanders II, III calcaneal fracture.

METHODSFrom January 2012 to January 2014, 19 patients with Sanders II, III calcaneal fracture were treated with cannulated screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction. There were 14 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 19 to 58 years old, with an average age of (38.3 +/- 4.1) years old. The changes of Bohler angle and Gissane angle were measured and compared preoperatively and postoperatively to observe the recovery of the articular surface. The Maryland Foot Score was used to evaluate operation outcomes.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 28 months with a mean of (22.3 +/- 5.3) months. The Bohler angle and Gissane angle were improved significantly after operation compared with those before operation (P < 0.05). The Maryland score was 83.2 +/- 8.4.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of calcaneal fractures with screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction has several advantages such as satisfactory outcome,less damage, fewer complications, quicker recovery, and shorter hospital stay,and it is one of the effective treatments for Sanders II and III calcaneal fractures.

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

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of arthroscopy in the treatment of medial meniscal cyst.

METHODSFrom June 2011 to January 2013, 7 patients with medial meniscal cyst were treated with arthroscopy. There were 3 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 27 to 63 years old,with a mean age of (43.93±2.10) years old. The cysts have been discovered for 3 to 30 months,with a mean time of (10.6±1.3) months. All the patients complained of knee pain,especially in the medial joint gap. The Pisani sign, Caklin sign and medial McMurray sign were all positive. Preoperative MRI examination confirmed the diagnosis. Lysholm score changes and clinical efficacy were observed through a six-month follow-up.

RESULTSThe postoperative Lysholm scores were all significantly higher than the preoperative scores. According to Sarimo standard, 6 patients got an excellent result, and 1 good.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic treatment of medial meniscal cyst has replaced the traditional method, which could retain the normal meniscus as much as possible and repair the meniscus injury simultaneously, as well as get a good curative effect and a good recovery of knee function. This method is worthy of clinical application.

Adult ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Cysts ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of weather conditions and occupational hygiene on SARS outbreak.

METHOD(1) Meteorological parameters around SARS outbreaks in 2003 in 9 cities (Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Toronto and Hanoi) were analyzed; (2) Causes of hospital infection were also analyzed from an occupational hygiene point of view.

RESULTS(1) The amplitude of air temperature, air pressure and diurnal temperature difference were greater around SARS outbreaks in most of the cities. Higher airborne particles concentration and lower wind speed were measured prior to SARS outbreaks in the cities with the most serious epidemic situation. The ten-day mean value of air temperature before SARS outbreaks in 9 cities was 16.6 degrees C +/- 7.6 degrees C, suggesting that coronary virus infection, which has been considered to cause SARS by now, may be most active at 9 degrees C - 24 degrees C. (2) Occupational hygiene in hospital proved to be an important socio-behavior factor for SARS outbreak. All hospital infection could be attributed to defects in the key links of occupational hygiene.

CONCLUSIONSGreater fluctuations of air temperature and higher airborne particles concentration in winter and spring, as well as poor occupational hygiene conditions are significant promoters of SARS outbreak. Warning of atmospheric conditions favorable to SARS, and improvement in occupational hygiene management is the key to prevention from SARS outbreak.

Attitude to Health ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Meteorological Concepts ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the eight- year program students retain the skills from the endoscopy simulator gastroscopy training.Methods4 trainees accepted virtual reality simulator gastroscopy training and performed a standardized VR gastroscopy scenario at the end of training,and after a median 12 months without practice ( retention ).The intensified training was done by trainees based on the differences between the training end and the retention for a median 12 months and the number of intensified training times was found.ResultsThe significant differences existed in the overinsufflation and opeirational force and time.The score at the training end was better than after retention.Through the average 5.5 times intensified trainings the original levels could be reached.ConclusionThrough Endoscopy Simulator the key skills could be retained well and through a litde training the original levels could also be reached.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with local advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed prognosis in 191 patients with advanced gastric cancer, of whom 71 were treated with NAC and 120 received surgery only between February 2007 and July 2013. Postoperative complication rate was recorded. Survival by clinicopathological features, pathological T and N stages, and histopathological tumor regression was retrospectively compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAccording to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, none of the 71 patients in the NAC followed by surgery group showed complete response, 36 showed partial response, 25 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. The chemotherapy response rate was 50.7%; the disease control rate was 85.9%. Grade 3/4 adverse events were seen in less than 20% patients, with acceptable toxicities. No difference was found in the overall postoperative complication rates between the two groups (7 versus 22 cases, P=0.18). Median survival time was significantly different, at 54 months in the NAC combined with surgery group and 25 months in the surgery-only group (P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with operable gastric adenocarcinomas, NAC can significantly improve overall survival without increasing surgical complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of implantation of multiple drug-eluting stents.

METHODSA retrospective study of 151 cases was conducted, including 34 with implantation of at least 3 drug-eluting stents in the coronary artery (MS group), 53 with implantation of two stents (TS group), and 64 with a single stent (OS group). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and restenosis was evaluated.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found between the 3 groups in the incidence of MACE or in the stent thrombosis rate 30 days after the implantation. Follow-up of the patients for 6 months still showed comparable restenosis rate and MACE incidence between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONImplantation of multiple drug-eluting stents does not increase the risk of restenosis or MACE, and has comparable safety and efficacy with implantation of single and two stents.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the evolution pattern of the Runx3 gene 5'-CpG island ~3478 bp region methylation in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SGACC).

METHODSQuantitative MSP method was used to detect the methylation status of CpG island in various regions (No.1-10) of Runx3 promoter region, and Western blot was used for detection of the expression of Runx3 protein in 41 salivary gland SGACC samples and corresponding non-neoplastic salivary gland tissues. A Logistic model was used to analyze the risk ratio between the methylation status of CpG island in Runx3 gene and development of salivary SGACC, meanwhile, the possible association among the methylation of Runx3 gene, the clinicopathological parameters of SGACCs, and Runx3 protein expression was compared.

RESULTSThe results of qMSP showed that the hypermethylation initially occurred at the most 5' region of the Runx3 CpG island and spread to the transcription start site. The methylation rate was highest in region No. 1 and No. 2 among the successive ten regions ranging from the 5' region to the transcription start site within the Runx3 CpG island, and lowest in the transcription start site both in SGACCs and normal salivary glands. Furthermore, there was no methylation in the transcription start site in nomal salivary glands tissues. Together with the results of Logistic model analysis, those results indicate that the transcription start site within the Runx3 promoter CpG island is critical for gene silencing. Western blot results revealed that the Runx3 protein level in SGACC was significantly lower than that in normal salivary glands (P < 0.01). In combination of the results of qMSP, it is presumed that the Runx3 gene methylation is one of the reason inducing the down-regulation of Runx3 in SGACCs.

CONCLUSIONSMethylation of the Runx3 CpG island spreads from the most 5'-region to the transcription start site in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, and the transcription start site may be a critical region for the methylation of Runx3. The evolution pattern of Runx3 gene methylation is related to the tumorigenesis of SGACCs.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Salivary Glands ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference of postoperative drainage and systemic trauma response between endoscopic and traditional near total thyroidectomy to provide the basis for selecting appropriate operative methods.

METHODSIn this prospective clinical controlled study, 80 patientsscheduled for near total bilateral thyroidectomy for the first time were divided equally into endoscopic surgery group (group A) and open surgery group (group B). The total drainage volume after operation, postoperative extubation time, and postoperative daily drainage volume were recorded after the operation. The contents of triglyceride (TG) and total protein (TP) were determined in the postoperative drainage fluid onthe first day. The levels of interleukin 6 (IL6), high sensitive C reactive protein (HSCRP), alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AAG), ceruloplasmin (CER) and haptoglobin (HPT) in venous blood were tested before the operation and on the first day after surgery.

RESULTSCompared with those in group B, the postoperative drainage volumein group Aincreased significantly (P=0.000) and the postoperative extubation time was significantly prolonged (P=0.000); the mean postoperative daily drainage volume was significantly larger ingroup A than in group B (P=0.000) and tended to decrease with time in both groups. There was no significant difference in the content of triglycerideortotal protein in the drainage fluid between the two groups on the first day after operation (P=0.429 and 0.324, respectively). In both groups, the contents of AAG, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin on the first postoperative day were all similar with those measurement before operation (P>0.05), but significant variations occurred in the levels of IL6 and HSCRP on the first postoperative day (P=0.000). The serum levels of IL?6 or HS?CRP did not differ significantly between the two groups on the first day after operation (P=0.054 and 0.066, respectively).

CONCLUSIONCompared with open surgery, endoscopic near total bilateral thyroidectomyis associated with an increased the volume of postoperative drainage and a prolonged time of extubationbut not an increased systemic trauma response. Therefore, endoscopic surgery can serve as one of the routine options for patients who are concerned with neckscars resulting from open surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor(b-FGF) on revascularization and bone remodeling of allogeneic mandible transplantation in repair of mandible defects in rabbits. METHODS: The mandible defects of 20 adult rabbits were created in both sides. The defects on the left side were implanted with allogeneic bone and local administration of b-FGF; the defects on the right side were only repaired with allogeneic bone as control group. At 1, 3 months after operation, the revascularization and bone remodeling were observed by ink-gelation vascular perfusion-transparency and histological examination. RESULTS: The allogeneic bone and b-FGF group had more marked vascularization and more quick and complete bone formation than control group. CONCLUSION: b-FGF can improve revascularization and bone formation after allogeneic mandible transplantation; allogeneic bone combined with b-FGF is a promising bone substitute in clinical uses.