Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture in the treatment of type ⅡA acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (ASOTLF) with dense bone bands.Methods:From March 2017 to March 2018, 65 patients (65 vertebrae) with type ⅡA ASOTLF with dense bone bands were treated at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Qingdao Central Hospital. They were 25 males and 40 females, with an age of (71.6±8.4) years. The time from injury to operation was (3.5±0.7) d. They were divided into 2 groups according to different treatments. In the observation group of 31 cases (31 vertebrae), PVP was conducted by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture; in the control group of 34 cases (34 vertebrae), PVP was conducted by percutaneous single-level bilateral puncture. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, volume of polymethyl methacrylate injected, incidence of bone cement leakage, incidence of vertebral refracture, diffusive distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) at postoperative 1 day and 6 months.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). Operations were completed uneventfully in all the 65 patients. All the 65 patients were followed up for (8.2±1.2) months. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in operation time, incidence of bone cement leakage or incidence of vertebral refracture for each vertebral body injured ( P>0.05). The volume of polymethyl methacrylate injected [(6.64±0.93) mL] and the excellent and good rate of diffusive distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body [87.1% (27/31)] in the observation group were significantly larger than those in the control group [(4.36±0.79) mL and 64.7% (22/34)] ( P<0.05). The VAS scores at postoperative 1 day and 6 months [2 (1, 2) and 1 (1, 2)] and ODIs at postoperative 1 day and 6 months (23.7%±1.6% and 18.8%±1.4%) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [2 (2, 3) and 2 (2, 2); 26.9%±4.2% and 22.1%±3.3%] ( P<0.05). The VAS scores and ODIs at postoperative 1 day and 6 months in all patients were significantly lower than those before operation ( P<0.05). Compression symptoms of the spinal cord and nerve root were observed in none of the patients. Conclusion:In the treatment of type ⅡA ASOTLF with dense bone bands, PVP by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture is more effective than the traditional PVP by percutaneous single-level bilateral puncture, and will not increase bone cement leakage or vertebral refracture.

Objective:To investigate the effects of microRNA(miR)-133b on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EM)of human small airway epithelial cells induced by cigarette smoke extracts(CSE)and its regulatory mechanisms.Methods:The miR-expression profiles with microarray in airway epithelial cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database, and the differentially expressed miRs were searched and verified by a real-time fluorescence quantitative method(qRT-PCR). Human small airway epithelial cells(HSAEpiC)were divided into the control group, the CSE group, the CSE+ miR-133b inhibitor transfection group(inhibitor group)and the CSE+ miR-133b inhibitor negative control transfection group(inhibitor control group)according to different intervention methods.Levels of miR-133b and mRNA levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1, Smad2, E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by RT-PCR; Protein levels of E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA)and Western blotting.Results:Nine differentially expressed miRs were found in GSE53519, with miR-133b showing the most significant differential in thee HSAEpiC cell model after verification.CSE induced morphological changes in HSAEpiC cells, and miR-133b inhibitors could partially reverse the morphological changes in cell mode.mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin were decreased and expression of Vimentin mRNA and protein were increared in CSE induced HSAEpiC cells( F=9.09、12.35、7.57、101.87, P=0.015、0.007、0.023、0.000); miR-133b inhibitors partally reversed the mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin and Vimentin( F=40.59、27.74、15.87、20.42, P=0.000、0.001、0.004、0.002). CSE induced incresed expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad mRNA in HSAEpiC cells, and miR-133b inhibitors partially reversed the changes in TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad mRNA( F=17.25、64.15, P=0.003、0.000). Conclusions:miR-133b may regulate CSE-related HSAEpiC cell EMT through the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.

Objective To explore the feasibility of smart-planes fetal heart ( S-planes FH ) in the display of the fetal ventricular outflow views ,and to compare diameters of fetal aorta ( AO) and pulmonary artery (PA) measured using two-dimensional echocardiography(2DE) and S-planes FH . Methods One hundred and eighty-five fetuses with gestational age of 17 - 36 weeks were enrolled . Each fetus had undergone conventional 2DE examination and the three-dimensional fetal cardiac volume datasets were obtained . The volume datasets were analyzed offline using S-planes FH . The diameters of AO and PA were measured by 2DE and S-planes FH ,respectively . Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the two methods for measuring the diameters of AO and PA . The consistency of the two methods was verified by Bland-Altman analysis . Results Fetal ventricular outflow views were successfully obtained using S-planes FH in 173 ( 93 .5％ ) cases of 185 fetuses whose ventricular outflow views were satisfactorily obtained by fetal 2DE . There were close correlations between the two methods in measuring the diameters of AO and PA ( r = 0 .84 , P = 0 .04; r = 0 .81 , P = 0 .00 ) . Bland-Altman analysis showed a close consistency between the two methods ,and their 95％ confidence intervals were ( -1 .17 ,1 .00) and ( -1 .79 ,1 .02) ,respectively . Conclusions There is a close consistency between S-planes FH and 2DE in measuring fetal AO and PA . S-planes FH may have potential for the evaluation of fetal ventricular outflow .

Objective To compare and observe the clinical effects of different oxygen-breathing methods coupled with drugs in the treatment of sudden hearing loss (SHL),so as to explore new approaches for the treatment of the illness.Methods In accordance with the set criteria,101 cases of sudden hearing loss admitted into the center from Feb.2011 to Aug.2013 were selected for our study.All the patients received injections of dexamethasone sodium phosphate,ginkgo leave extract injection and other drug treatment.Then,the patients were randomly allocated to groups A,B and C in accordance with different methods of oxygenbreathing.Group A (37 cases) received drug treatment coupled with 0.20 MPa hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy; Group B (also 37 cases) received the same drug treatment coupled with 0.16 MPa HBO therapy; and Group C (27 cases) received the same drug treatment coupled with 0.10 MPa (normal pressure) oxygen maskbreathing.During HBO therapy,the feeling of ear stuffiness in 3 patients from group A and 6 patients from group B was worsened and "C curve" of tympanic acoustic impedance was shown,and these 9 cases changed to receive low pressure oxygen breathing at 0.07 MPa,and were assigned as group D.The remaining 34 patients in group A and 31 patients in group B were then respectively assigned as group A1 and group B1.Pure tone audiometry and tympanic acoustic impedance detection were performed in all the patients both before treatment and at d 14 after treatment.Results Total effective rates for groups A1,B1,C and D were 82.4％,83.9％,59.3％ and 77.8％ respectively.Pure tone average (PTA) were respectively increased by (43.7 ± 17.4) dB,(46.3±21.2)dB,(28.1 ± 12.3)dB and (41.9 ± 19.8)dB.When compared with the control group,statistical difference could be seen in total effective rates for groups A1 and B1 (x2 =6.218,P ＜ 0.05).PTA values of groups A1 and B1 were higher than that of group C (P ＜ 0.05),and the feeling of ear stuffiness in patients of group D was obviously lighter following treatment.Conclusions HBO therapy combined with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and ginkgo leave extract injection was an effective method for the treatment of SHL.HBO therapy at 0.16 MPa could achieve quite satisfactory results,and was economical as well.For patients with an obvious feeling of ear stuffiness could receive oxygen breathing at a pressure of 0.07 MPa.

Objective To investigate the relationship between hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and stress through observation on rats behavior and stress-related indicators.Methods Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the HBO group and the control group.The HBO group was exposed to HBO at a pressure of 0.20 MPa once a day,for a succession of 21 days,and the control group was left there without HBO treatment.After one week of adaptive training,elevated plus maze test was conducted at days 1,7,14 and 21 to observe openarm (OA) time.The contents of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH),glucocorticoids (GCS),nitric oxide synthase (NOS),nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) in serum of the animals in each group were detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results HBO treatment could significantly increase the level of GCS in peripheral blood (P ＞ 0.05),but with no obvious effect on open-arm time (anxiety degree) and the expression levels of nitric oxide and TNF-α.Conclusions HBO treatment was in conformity with the general characteristics of chronic stress,but would not bring about damage to the body,suggesting that one of the mechanisms of HBO might lie in the increased tolerance of the involved tissues to stressors.

Objective To compare and observe the clinical effects of different oxygen-breathing methods coupled with drugs in the treatment of sudden hearing loss (SHL),so as to explore new approaches for the treatment of the illness.Methods In accordance with the set criteria,101 cases of sudden hearing loss admitted into the center from Feb.2011 to Aug.2013 were selected for our study.All the patients received injections of dexamethasone sodium phosphate,ginkgo leave extract injection and other drug treatment.Then,the patients were randomly allocated to groups A,B and C in accordance with different methods of oxygenbreathing.Group A (37 cases) received drug treatment coupled with 0.20 MPa hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy; Group B (also 37 cases) received the same drug treatment coupled with 0.16 MPa HBO therapy; and Group C (27 cases) received the same drug treatment coupled with 0.10 MPa (normal pressure) oxygen maskbreathing.During HBO therapy,the feeling of ear stuffiness in 3 patients from group A and 6 patients from group B was worsened and "C curve" of tympanic acoustic impedance was shown,and these 9 cases changed to receive low pressure oxygen breathing at 0.07 MPa,and were assigned as group D.The remaining 34 patients in group A and 31 patients in group B were then respectively assigned as group A1 and group B1.Pure tone audiometry and tympanic acoustic impedance detection were performed in all the patients both before treatment and at d 14 after treatment.Results Total effective rates for groups A1,B1,C and D were 82.4％,83.9％,59.3％ and 77.8％ respectively.Pure tone average (PTA) were respectively increased by (43.7 ± 17.4) dB,(46.3±21.2)dB,(28.1 ± 12.3)dB and (41.9 ± 19.8)dB.When compared with the control group,statistical difference could be seen in total effective rates for groups A1 and B1 (x2 =6.218,P ＜ 0.05).PTA values of groups A1 and B1 were higher than that of group C (P ＜ 0.05),and the feeling of ear stuffiness in patients of group D was obviously lighter following treatment.Conclusions HBO therapy combined with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and ginkgo leave extract injection was an effective method for the treatment of SHL.HBO therapy at 0.16 MPa could achieve quite satisfactory results,and was economical as well.For patients with an obvious feeling of ear stuffiness could receive oxygen breathing at a pressure of 0.07 MPa.

Objective To investigate the relationship between hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and stress through observation on rats behavior and stress-related indicators.Methods Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the HBO group and the control group.The HBO group was exposed to HBO at a pressure of 0.20 MPa once a day,for a succession of 21 days,and the control group was left there without HBO treatment.After one week of adaptive training,elevated plus maze test was conducted at days 1,7,14 and 21 to observe openarm (OA) time.The contents of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH),glucocorticoids (GCS),nitric oxide synthase (NOS),nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) in serum of the animals in each group were detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results HBO treatment could significantly increase the level of GCS in peripheral blood (P ＞ 0.05),but with no obvious effect on open-arm time (anxiety degree) and the expression levels of nitric oxide and TNF-α.Conclusions HBO treatment was in conformity with the general characteristics of chronic stress,but would not bring about damage to the body,suggesting that one of the mechanisms of HBO might lie in the increased tolerance of the involved tissues to stressors.