Objective To compare the biomechanical pull-out strength (POS) of three different fixations in upper thoracic vertebras using translaminar screws (TLS), translaminar facet screws (TLFS), and transpedicle screws (TPS), respectively. Methods Nine fresh human cadaveric cervicothoracic junction spines specimens which including T1-T3 vertebras were harvested. The vertebras specimens were scanned using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry for bone mineral density. Both of screw insertion techniques at each vertebrae was randomized. All the screw insertions were based on direct observation and the CT scan on the pedicles. The peak of insertional torque (IT) was recorded and axial pull-out testing was performed to simulate intraoperative failure of fixation. Results The mean peak IT of the TFLS, TPS and TLS were (0.43±0.01), (0.40±0.01), (0.35±).01) N·m, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the TFLS and TPS, and between the TPS and TLS was same. But the TFLS generated statistically greater peak 1T in comparison with the TLS(t=-13.86, P＜0.05). The mean POS of TLFS was (771±106) N,which had no statistically significant difference in comparison with the TPS(733±65) N. And the TLS (663±86) N was same. But the TFLS generated statistically greater POS in comparison with the TLS (t=9.907, P＜0.05). The peak IT showed a strong positive correlation with POS in three screw techniques. Bone mineral density correlation with POS in all methods of fixation. Conclusion It was not a significant difference to compare POS of TLS and TLFS to that of TPS respectively. TLS and TLFS appear to be a biomechanically sound alternative in the upper thoracic spine, and appear to be a safe and effective technique for instrumenting the upper thoracic spine.

OBJECTIVETo observe the analgesic effect of triptolide (TP) of high, middle and low doses on rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA), and the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and substance P (SP) in spinal dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of corresponding sections, in order to discuss the possible mechanism for the analgesic effect of TP on rats with adjuvant arthritis.

METHODFifty SD rats were selected and randomly divided into the normal group (group A), the model group (group B), and TP low (group C), middle (group D), high (group E) dose groups. Except for the group A, all of the remaining groups were injected with 0.1 mL of Freund's complete adjuvant through their right rear toes to establish the model. At 14 d after the model establishment, rats in C, D and E groups were intraperitoneally injected with different doses of TP (0.1 mg x kg(-1) for the group C, 0.2 mg x kg(-1) for the group D, 0.4 mg x kg(-1) for the group E) once a day for 9 days. Then the 50% mechanical withdraw threshold (MWT) was determined. And the expressions of iNOS and SP in lumbar5 (L5) spinal dorsal horn and DRG were detected with the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTThe 50% MWT of rats in the group B was significantly lower than that of the group A (P < 0.01). After being treated with TP, the Thermal withdrawal latencies of groups C, D and E were significantly higher than that of the group B (P < 0.01). TP could notably increase the MWT of AA rats, with a certain dose-effect relationship. The immunohistochemical results indicated that the iNOS and SP expressions significantly increased in the group B (P < 0.01), while the positive expression levels of iNOS and SP in groups C, D and E were significantly lower than that of the group B (P < 0.01), with a certain dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONTP shows a good analgesic effect on AA, and could inhibit the iNOS and SP expressions in spinal dorsal horn and DRG in rats with adjuvant arthritis, which may be one of action mechanisms for the analgesic effect of TP.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; biosynthesis ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the distribution, clinical diagnosis and treatment methods of the extrapulmo-nary complications in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). Methods The clinical data of 1 100 patients confirmed the diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia and with the positive serum MP-IgM test were collected in this study. The distribu-tion and clinical characteristics and MP-DNA detection rates were compared between 417 patients with extrapulmonary com-plications and 683 cases without complications. The occurrence of various complications in a four-year period was analyzed. Clinical data were compared between fiberoptic bronchoscopy lavage group and non-surgical group. Results The MP-DNA detection rate and the length of hospital stay were higher in patients with pulmonary complications than those of patients without complications. The most common types of extrapulmonary complications were liver damage, skin rashes and gastrointestinal reactions , but less severe. Encephalitis, nephritis and myocarditis were rare complications, but severe and occult. The fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was also visible in patients. Bronchoscopy lavage was conducive to the recovery of the disease. Conclusion MP pneumonia showed high incidence and risks of extrapulmonary complica-tions, which required careful clinical observation and inspection, the dynamic monitoring laboratory markers and comprehen-sive treatment as well.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to assess the association between emergency-room visits for respiratory tract infection (RTI) with diurnal temperature range (DTR), a weather parameter closely associated with urbanization and global climate change.

METHODSWe conducted a semiparametric time-series analysis to estimate the percentage increase in emergency-room visits for RTI associated with changes in DTR after adjustment for daily weather conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and outdoor air pollution.

RESULTSDTR was significantly associated with daily emergency-room visits for RTI. An increase of 1 °C in the current-day (L0) and in the 2-day moving average (L01) DTR corresponded to a 0.94% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.34%-1.55%] and 2.08% (95% CI, 1.24%-2.93%) increase in emergency-room visits for RTI, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDTR was associated with increased risk of RTI. More studies are needed to understand the impact of DTR on respiratory health.

China ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo analyze the epidemiology status and risk factors of disabilities caused by injury in Guangdong province.

METHODSStratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used to identify 1530 subjects with disabilities (among them, 415 disabilities caused by injury), in the villages or districts in the four regions of Guangzhou, Qingyuan, Zhaoqing and Huizhou in 2010. Subjects were interviewed by trained staff with self-made questionnaires about the status of the disabled, then 415 disabled caused by injury were interviewed about the process of the injury causing disability. The variables in this survey included gender, regions, rural (urban) residences, occupation, age and injury style. The difference of injury were analyzed through χ(2) test, and the influencing factors were explored through classification tree model.

RESULTSThe top five causes of disability were road traffic injury, fall, work-related injury, medical accident, scald or burn, accounting for 32.53% (135/415), 21.45% (89/415), 12.77% (53/415), 8.43% (35/415) and 5.06% (21/415), respectively. The proportion of male was higher than female in all disabilities caused by injury (295 male, 117 female, 3 unknown). Female had higher proportion 8.55% (10/117) than male 3.05% (9/295) with the cause of scald or burn (χ(2) = 6.302, P = 0.012), the proportion of rural residents 38.89%(84/216)was also higher than urban residents 25.63% (51/199) in disabilities caused by traffic accident (χ(2) = 43.850, P < 0.001); and the proportion of rural residents 25.46%(55/216)was also higher than urban residents 8.55% (34/199) in disabilities caused by the fall (χ(2) = 8.257, P = 0.004). Different age groups and regions had different types of injury causing disability, 53.08% (69/130) traffic accident and 51.92% (27/52) work-injury mainly caused disability in 25 - 44 age group, 85.71% (30/35) medical accident and 76.20% (16/21) scald or burn mainly caused disability in 0 - 14 age group, the injury caused by the fall was 62.50% (5/8) in 65- age group. The proportions of fall in Qingyuan 29.09% (16/55) and Huizhou 28.23% (37/131) were significantly higher than that in Guangzhou 13.38% (21/157) and Zhaoqing 21.13% (15/71) (χ(2) = 11.904, P = 0.008). The proportions of work-injury in Guangzhou 19.11% (30/157) and Zhaoqing 19.72% (14/71) were significantly higher than that in Qingyuan 0.00% (0/55) and Huizhou 6.09% (8/131) (χ(2) = 22.309, P < 0.001). The proportions of disabled by scald or burn in Guangzhou 10.83% (17/157) and Qingyuan 0.00% (0/55) were significantly higher than that in Zhaoqing 1.41% (1/71) and Huizhou 2.27% (3/131) (χ(2) = 17.826, P < 0.001). Classification tree model revealed that the age group, occupation and urban-rural were major factors influencing intended harm, the highest proportion of the intended harm was in 25 - 44 age group (59.21%, 151/255).

CONCLUSIONThe road traffic injury, fall, work-related injury, medical accident and scald or burn were main causes of disability in Guangdong province. Gender, age, and urban-rural factors were associated with disabilities caused by injury.

Accidents ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Disabled Persons ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Recent developments in nanotechnology offer researchers opportunities to significantly transform cancer therapeutics. This technology has enabled the manipulation of the biological and physicochemical properties of nanomaterials to facilitate more efficient drug targeting and delivery. Clinical investigations suggest that therapeutic nanoparticles can enhance efficacy and reduced side effects compared with conventional cancer therapeutic drugs. Encouraged by rapid and promising progress in cancer nanotechnology, researchers continue to develop novel and efficacious nanoparticles for drug delivery. The use of therapeutic nanoparticles as unique drug delivery systems will be a significant addition to current cancer therapeutics.
Drug Delivery Systems ; Nanoparticles ; Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology

OBJECTIVETo synthesize Gal-BSA-SPIO as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent targeting asialoglycoprotein (ASG) receptors in the liver and observe its role in MRI detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

METHODSGal-BSA was synthesized by means of reductive amination and mixed with SPIO in ice bath to prepare Gal-BSA-SPIO complex. Twenty rabbits bearing VX2 liver tumor underwent MRI enhanced by SPIO (n=10) and Gal-BSA-SPIO (n=10), and the T2 values of the liver and tumor before and after the contrast imaging were measured. Fresh human normal hepatic tissues (n=3), cirrhotic tissues (n=4) and HCC tissues (n=6) were obtained and incubated with Gal-BSA-SPIO followed by Perl's Prussian blue staining to observe the distribution of ASG receptors.

RESULTSThe size of the Gal-BSA-SPIO particles was 34.4 nm. The 20 rabbits bearing VX2 tumor, with tumor size ranging from 3 mm to 12 mm, showed isointense signal in the liver and hypointense signal in the tumor on T1WI, and isointense signal in the liver and slightly hyperintense signal in the tumor on GRE T2*WI. The signal intensity of the liver decreased slightly or moderately after administration of SPIO in the rabbits, and administration Gal-BSA-SPIO resulted in obvious reduction in the signal intensity of the liver. The signal intensities of the tumors did not exhibit obvious changes after the administration of SPIO or Gal-BSA-SPIO. Histological examination revealed numerous blue iron deposits in the Kupffer cells in SPIO group and in the hepatocytes in Gal-BSA-SPIO group, but not in the tumors in either of the groups. The human liver specimens incubated with Gal-BSA-SPIO contained numerous blue iron deposits in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and cell membrane in normal liver tissue, but the deposits were reduced in the cirrhotic tissue and almost absent in the HCC tissue.

CONCLUSIONGal-BSA-SPIO can specifically bind to ASG receptors on hepatocyte membrane to improve the tumor-liver contrast-to-noise ratio.

Animals ; Asialoglycoprotein Receptor ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Contrast Media ; chemical synthesis ; Dextrans ; Female ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; chemistry ; Galactose ; chemistry ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Rabbits ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the significance and safety of flexible bronchoscopy and balloon dilatation in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in children.

METHODSA total of 438 children (236 males and 202 females) with respiratory diseases who were aged from 17 days to 15 years, were examined and/or treated by bronchoscopy (including bronchoscopic intervention) under local anesthesia.

RESULTSOf the 438 children, 311 were diagnosed with pulmonary infection, 68 with atelectasis, 36 with recurrent cough and asthma, 6 with hemoptysis of unknown origin, 6 with bronchial foreign body, 5 with congenital bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 2 with bronchiectasis, 1 with ciliary dyskinesia syndrome, 1 with lung tumor, and 2 with congenital immunodeficiency disease. After bronchoscopic examination, local flushing or bronchoalveolar lavage, and foreign body extraction, marked response was seen in 379 cases and response was seen in 46 cases. High-pressure balloon dilatation under bronchoscopy was performed in 5 cases with inflammatory stricture and achieved satisfying clinical effect. No severe complications were found in bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSIONSBronchoscopy and balloon dilatation under local anesthesia is safe and effective for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in children.

Adolescent ; Anesthesia, Local ; Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dilatation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy

In order to study the distribution of virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Hebei Province,29 virulence genes of Lm,including Listeria monocytogenes pathogenicity islands Ⅰ (LIPI-Ⅰ:prfA,plcA,plcB,hlyA,mpl and actA),10 internalins genes (inlA,inlB,inlC,inlD,inlE,inlF,inlG,inlH /C2,inlI and inlJ) and the other 13 virulence-associated genes (bsh,srtA,iap,sigB,virR,mprF,dltA,dltB,dltC,dltD,srtB,fbpA and hpt) were detected by PCR.Results showed that in the 91 Lm strains,the detection rate of 23 virulence genes were 100％.The 29 virulence genes of 26 Lm strains were all detected,and 65 Lm strains had different deletion of 6 virulence genes inlD,inlF,inlG,inlH /C2,inlJ and mpl.The deletion rate of inlG and inlF were 60.44％ and 54.95％,respectively,following by mpl gene,with a deletion rate of 19.78％.According to the absence of virulence genes,91 strains could be divided into 10 subtypes,and the dominant virulence subtypes was type Ⅰ with all 23 virulence genes.The deletion rate of virulent genes in Shijiazhuang was higher than that in northern Hebei.It is suggested that the rate of virulence gene of food-borne Lm in Hebei Province is high,and the virulence gene deletion patterns has diversity and regional differences.