OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of half circle external fixation for the treatment of open tibial fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to March 2011, 94 patients with open tibiofibula fractures were treated by closed manipulative or Kirschner-wire poking reduction with half circle groove external fixation including 63 males and 31 females with an average age of 39 years old ranging from 17 to 65 years old. Among these patients, 5 cases were cross shaped fractures, 19 were oblique form and spiral fractures, 70 cases were comminuted fractures. According to the fracture Gustilo classification, 49 cases were type IIIA, 45 were type IIIB. The incidence of wound infection, fracture healing time were observed. The function was evaluated according to the Johner-Wruhs standard.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 14 to 63 months (averaged 29 months). The wound healing time was from 16 to 39 weeks (means 21.4 weeks). No fracture nonunion, osteomyelitis and calf compartment syndrome occurred. The wounds of 81 cases were healed at the first period,deep wound infection occurred in 2 cases. According to the function Johner-Wruhs evaluation criteria:the result was excellent in 52 cases, good in 37 cases, fair in 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONClosed manipulative or Kirschner-wire poking reduction and half circle groove external fixation can reduce the infection rate of open tibiofibula fractures. For open tibiofibula comminuted fractures, after the half circle groove external fixation for 3 to 6 weeks, a middle Kirschner-wire was removed according to fracture end healing situation to make fixation dynamic and promote fracture healing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Wires ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the tear film function of patients with type 2 diabetes and to investigate the risk factors of dry eye in these patients.

METHODSTotally 111 patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 age- and sex-matched control subjects were studied. Tear film function was evaluated by dry eye syndrome, tear breaking up time (BUT), corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer I test (SIt), and tear film lipid layer observation with tear scope. Dye eye score was calculated with the results of these tests.

RESULTSWhen compared with the controls, patients with type 2 diabetes showed higher dry eye score (diabetics 3.28 +/- 1.56, control 2.31 +/- 1.50, P < 0.01) and faster BUT [diabetics (6.50 +/- 4.84) s, control (12.26 +/- 7.16) s, P < 0.01], but similar SIt [diabetics (10.61 +/- 6.86) s, control (10.92 +/- 7.05) s, P > 0.05]. More diabetic patients were diagnosed as dry eye(diabetics 19.8%, control 8.0%, P < 0.05). According to their retinopathy, the diabetic patients were divided into three groups: without diabetic retinopathy (DR), with background DR, and with proliferative DR. For these three groups, the dry eye scores were 2.95 +/- 1.50, 3.38 +/- 1.48 and 4.11 +/- 1.60, respectively (P < 0.01); the SIt were (10.95 +/- 6.89) mm, (11.71 +/- 7.30) mm and (7.63 +/- 5.20) mm, respectively (P > 0.05); the BUT were (7.53 +/- 5.23) s, (5.88 +/- 4.10) s and (4.47 +/- 4.17) s (P < 0.05). Patients with DR were then devided into two groups: with photocoagulation and without photocoagulation. For these two groups, the dry eye scores were 4.71 +/- 1.14 and 3.26 +/- 1.15, respectively (P < 0.01); the BUT were (2.93 +/- 2.06) s and (6.26 +/- 4.36) s, respectively (P < 0.01); the SIt were (7.21 +/- 6.51) mm and (11.33 +/- 6.73) mm, respectively (P < 0.05); the rates of corneal fluorescein staining were 50.0% and 17.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). Dry eye score had a good correlation with diabetic retinopathy and photocoagulation (P < 0.01), but was poorly correlaed with age, gender, insulin, duration of diabetes mellitus, and metabolic control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with type 2 diabetes tend to develop tear film dysfunction. The disorders of tear film quantity and quality seem relevant to the stage of diabetic retinopathy and photocoagulation.

Adult ; Aged ; Cornea ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; complications ; physiopathology ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tears ; secretion

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to summarize the role of DNA methylation in the development and metastasis of uveal melanoma (UM).

Data SourcesThe relevant studies in MEDLINE were searched.

Study SelectionIn this review, we performed a comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE using "uveal melanoma" AND ("DNA methylation" OR "epigenetics") for original research/review articles published before February 2018 on the relationship between DNA methylation and UM. References of the retrieved studies were also examined to search for potentially relevant papers.

ResultsPrevious studies on the relationship between DNA methylation and UM covered many genes including tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), cyclin-dependent kinase genes, and other genes. Among them, the TSG genes such as RASSF1A and p16INK4a, which encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, are relatively well-studied genes. Specifically, a high percentage of promoter methylation of RASSF1A was observed in UM cell lines and/or patients with UM. Promoter methylation of RASSF1A was also associated with the development of metastasis. Similarly, a high percentage of promoter hypermethylation of p16INK4a was found in UM cell lines. DNA promoter methylation can control the expression of p16INK4a, which affect cell growth, migration, and invasion in UM. Many other genes might also be involved in the pathogenesis of UM such as the Ras and EF-hand domain containing (RASEF) gene, RAB31, hTERT, embryonal fyn-associated substrate, and deleted in split-hand/split-foot 1.

ConclusionsOur review reveals the complex mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis of UM and highlights the great needs of future studies to discover more genes/5'-C-phosphate-G-3' sites contributing to the development/metastasis of UM and explore the mechanisms through which epigenetic changes exert their function in UM.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; genetics ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Uveal Neoplasms ; genetics

Cell Hypoxia ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Prospective Studies ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; metabolism

The aim of this study was to investigated the biological diversity, antibacterial activites and the plant growth-promoting traits of endophytic fungi of sandal (Santalum album), and to assess their potential in the development of antibacterial substances and rapid cultivation of sandal. The results of isolation and taxa analysis of endophytic fungi from sandal showed that 325 strains of endophytic fungi belonging to 16 genera of endophytic fungi were isolated from sandal (of which 86 from roots, 105 from stems and 134 from leaves). The isolation rate and colonization rate of endophytic fungi in different sandal parts showed the same pattern of change: leave>stems>roots. The diversity index of endophytic fungi in sandal roots was significantly higher than that of stems and leaves. The dominant endophytic fungi of sandal roots, stems and leaves showed significant differences. The dominant endophytic fungi of roots were Fusarium (50.00%) and Alternaria (10.47%), Alternaria (58.11%) and Acremonium (20.00%) for stems, and Pantoea (74.63%) for leaves. The antibacterial activity of 40 representative strains of sandal endophytic fungi were analyzed and the results showed that 90% of endophytic fungi exhibited inhibitory activity against at least one of the tested bacteria strains, and the strains with inhibitory activity to Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis accounted for 45.0%, 30%, 47.5%, 55%, 72.5%, and 62.5%, respectively. The sandal fungal endophytes with plant growth-promoting characteristics were screened, and 5 strains of endophytic fungi with phosphorus-solubilizing activity, 8 strains of endophytic fungi producing IAA, and 4 strains of endophytic fungi producing siderophores were found. Among them, endophytic fungus Monilia sp TXRF45 clould produced IAA and siderophores, and also show phosphate-solubilizing activity. The results indicated that the endophytic fungi of Sandal were rich in species diversity and their distribution had a certain tissue specificity. Some strains showed good antibacterial activity and growth-promoting properties, which could potentially applicable for the development of antibacterial substances and rapid cultivation of sandal.