Curve evolution during bracing in children with scoliosis secondary to early-onset neurofibromatosis type 1: indicators of rapid curve progression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Scoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in children aged 10°/year) were identified. The age at modulation and the AV before and after modulation were obtained. Patients with (n = 18) and without rapid curve progression (n = 10) were statistically compared.@*RESULTS@#Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 6.5 ± 1.9 years at the initial visit were reviewed. The mean Cobb angle of the main curve was 41.7° ± 2.4° at the initial visit and increased to 67.1° ± 8.6° during a mean follow-up of 44.1 ± 8.5 months. The overall AV was 6.6° ± 2.4°/year for all patients. At the last follow-up, all patients presented curve progression of >5°, and 20 (71%) patients had progressed by >20°. Rapid curve progression was observed in 18 (64%) patients and was associated with younger age at the initial visit and a higher incidence of modulation change during follow-up (t = 2.868, P = 0.008 and 10°/year is associated with younger age at the initial visit, and modulation change indicated the occurrence of the rapid curve progression phase.

International innovative health technology payment strategy and enlightenment under diagnosis-related groups payment system / 中华医院管理杂志

Under the diagnosis-related groups(DRG) prospective payment system, innovative health technologies with high costs and risks may be limited to some extent. How to balance the increase of health care cost and the development of innovative health technology is a difficult problem to be solved in the current reform. By studying the relatively mature payment systems of innovative health technologies in the world, the authors found that countries generally adopted additional payment or compensation to encourage the development of new technologies. But at the same time, a relatively perfect health technology assessment and payment management mechanism had been established to ensure the standardized operation of payment plan. These international advanced experience and practice could provide references for China′s innovative health technology payment strategy under the DRG payment system. It is suggested to establish a scientific and reasonable assessment mechanism of innovative health technology, create a special access channel for innovative health technology with limited short-term evidence, and gradually form a long-term incentive mechanism of innovative health technology in DRG payment system.

Identification and bioinformatic function analysis of p53-related differentially expressed IncRNAs in γ-rays irradiated-human bronchial epithelial HBE cells / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To identify the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in γ-rays irradiated p53 knockout HBE (HBEp53-/-) cells, and to provide more baseline information for further investigation of p53 related IncRNAs in irradiation-induced injury, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung tissue epithelial cells. METHODS: HBEp53-/-cells were established with CRISPR-cas9. Western blotting was used to detect the knockout efficacy of P53 protein, while real time RT-PCR was used to verify the selected expressions of IncRNAs. Bioinformatic analysis including GO and KEGG analysis was used to predict the IncRNA function and signaling pathway. RESULTS: Compared to the irradiated HBE cells, 239 IncRNAs were up-regulated and 289 down-regulated in irradiated HBEp53-/-cells. The top five of the up-regulated or down-regulated differentially expressed IncRNAs were further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Through bioinformatic prediction GO analysis, the targeted genes of IncRNAs with changed expressions were related to multiple biological processes and molecular functions, including β3adrenergic receptor binding, protein tyrosine kinase activity, DNA binding, zic ion transmembrane transporter activity, ubiquitin binding and syntaxin binding. KEGG analysis revealed that the functional organismal systems involved included the sensory, nervous, immune, endocrine, environmental adaption, developmental, and circulatory systems. CONCLUSION: p53-related radiation-inducible IncRNAs have been identified in HBEp53-/-cells. These identified IncRNAs may play critical roles in various biological processes and functional signaling pathways in cellular response to radiation injury.

Investigation and analysis on the usage of mobile phone sports software in CDC staffs and its impact on their health / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To study the use of mobile phone sports software by the staffs of Centers for Disease Control( CDC)and its impact on their health. METHODS: Using cluster random sampling method,291 staff members of CDC in 7 prefecture-level cities in Hunan Province were selected as research subjects. The self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the use of mobile phone sports software,and the Sub-Health Scale was used to investigate their health status.The impact of mobile phone sports software on their health was analyzed. RESULTS: The usage rate of mobile phone sports software was 28. 5%(83/291). The utilization rate of mobile phone sports software in postgraduate staffs was higher than that of undergraduates,college graduates and those with less than bachelor's degree( P < 0. 01). The usage rate of mobile exercise software of the CDC staff whose BMI was 18. 5 ~ kg/m~2 was lower than those whose BMI was 24. 0 ~ or 28. 0 ~kg/m~2(P < 0. 001). The sub-health incidence rate in those who used mobile sports software was lower than those who did not( P < 0. 05). The incidences of feeling fatigue,dizziness,lack of attention,upset,more dream,insomnia,poor memory in CDC staffs who used mobile phone sports software were lower than those who did not( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The use of mobile phone sports software has positive effect on health promotion in CDC staffs.

Anatomical feature of lumbar and S₁ pedicle in patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the correlative parameters of vertebral pedicles from L₁ to S₁ by CT scan in the patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and disc degenerative disease(DDD), and analyze their anatomical difference in order to provide the selection and placement of pedicle screw during operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 30 male AS patients (AS group) with the mean age of(35.7±9.5) years (ranged, 23 to 51) and 30 male DDD patients (DDD group) with the mean age of(52.4±8.9) years(ranged, 39 to 64) underwent surgery in our institution from March 2012 to November 2014 were analyzed. The CT scans of lumbar and sacrum were performed before surgery. The parameters of vertebral pedicle from L₁ to S₁ were measured and compared, including pedicle width (PW), pedicle screw path length (PL), pedicle height (PH), pedicle transverse angle (EA), and pedicle inclined angle (FA). Paired sample t-test was used to detect the divergence in the above-mentioned data between left and right sides. In addition, results between two groups were compared using independent sample t-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study showed that a gradual increase in the average pedicle width both AS group and DDD group from L₁ to S₁. The average PW of AS group was bigger than DDD group in L₅ and S₁(<0.05), it was(16.47±2.66) mm and (21.76±2.97)mm vs. (14.51±2.11)mm and (18.87±2.14) mm respectively;the average PL of DDD group was smaller than AS group from L₁ to S₁(<0.05); the both maximum of PL were in L₃ segment; the average EA of AS group was smaller than DDD group from L₁ to S₁; the average FA of AS group was significantly smaller than DDD group from L₃ to S₁, (<0.05), was(-2.88±10.24)°, (-7.88±10.22)°, (-7.70±10.40)°, (-5.15±10.25)° vs. (4.05±2.21)°, (7.79±4.38)°, (7.07±3.21)°, (12.62±3.21)°, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Increasing the strength of internal fixation is feasible to insert the larger and bigger pedicle screws in low lumbar and S₁ among AS patients, while the EA should be decreased properly and the direction on the sagittal plane should be adjusted.</p>

Factors Affecting Patient Satisfaction with Community Health Service under the Gatekeeper System: A Cross-sectional Study in Nanjing, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The gatekeeper policy has been implemented for approximately ten years on a pilot population in China. It is necessary to assess the satisfaction of patients utilizing community health service (CHS) under the gatekeeper system. Our study showed that the cognition of gatekeeper policy was associated with four dimensions including doctor-patient relationships, information and support, organization of care, and accessibility (P < 0.001). One or more factors such as gender and self-perceived health scores also affected their satisfaction. General practitioners must be prepared to focus on these aspects of information and support, organization of care, and accessibility as indicators of potential opportunities for improvement. Additionally, policymakers can improve patients' satisfaction with CHS by strengthening their awareness of the gatekeeper policy.

Idiopathic thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis treated with anterior correction and interbody fusion with calcium phosphate cement / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical outcome and fusion rate in patients with idiopathic thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis treated with anterior correction and interbody fusion with calcium phosphate cement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2006 to March 2008, 24 cases undergoing anterior correction and interbody fusion with calcium phosphate cement were enrolled. All of them were female, with an age ranged from 12 to 25 years. The mean Cobb angle of main curve was 46° ± 5° (range, 40° - 56°) before surgery. During operation, the most proximal and distal disc spaces were filled with rib autograft, while the remaining levels were filled with calcium phosphate cement. The interbody fusion rate, coronal correction and sagittal profile reconstruction were evaluated respectively by using χ² test and t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Interbody fusion was performed in 103 levels, including 48 levels with rib autograft and 55 levels with calcium phosphate cement. The mean follow-up period was 23.8 months (range, 12 - 33 months) in this series. At the follow-up of 6 months, fusion rate was found as 54.2% in the levels filled with rib autograft, while 50.9% in those filled with calcium phosphate cement. Solid fusion of the whole instrumented area was achieved in all cases with a minimum one-year follow-up. No instrumentation-related complications occurred. The correction rate of main curve was on an average of 76% ± 11% after surgery. A significant difference was found between preoperative and immediate postoperative value in terms of the main curve magnitude (46° ± 5° vs. 14° ± 5°, t = -26.95, P < 0.05). The correction loss of the main curve was -5.1° - 10.4° at the final follow-up. The coronal balance and lower instrumented vertebra tilting were significantly improved after operation. The thoracolumbar kyphosis was significantly reduced postoperatively (t = 3.11, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Satisfactory bone fusion and correction maintenance can be achieved in idiopathic thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis treated by anterior instrumentation combined with interbody fusion using calcium phosphate cement.</p>

Association between tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5 gene polymorphism and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the titrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5 (ACP5) gene polymorphisms were associated with the occurrence or curve severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 372 AIS patients from January 2006 to December 2008 and 239 normal controls from March 2005 to August 2006 were recruited. The Cobb angles were ≥ 10° in all AIS patients. Using the haplotype data of Han population from the Hapmap Project, two tag SNPs (rs2229531, rs2071484) were defined for ACP5 gene. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for the genotyping.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No polymorphism in rs2229531 was found in this study. The genotype and allele frequency distribution in rs2071484 were similar between AIS patients and normal controls (χ(2) = 3.336 and 1.438, P > 0.05). The mean maximum Cobb angles of different genotypes of rs2071484 in ACP5 gene were 38° ± 19° in AA, 34° ± 14° in AG and 38° ± 21° in GG, which were similar with each other among AIS patients who reached skeletal maturity or received surgery treatment (P = 0.157).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ACP5 gene is neither associated with the occurrence nor the curve severity of AIS.</p>

Proapoptotic effect of angiotensin II on renal tubular epithelial cells and protective effect of Cordyceps sinensis / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of the protective effect of Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) on the apoptosis of cultured NRK-52E induced by angiotension II (AngII).@*METHODS@#NRK-52E cells were incubated with C. sinensis (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L) and 10(-8) mol/ L AngII for 24, 48, 72 h. The optimal concentration of C. sinensis was selected. Either NRK-52E cells were incubated with different doses of AngII (0, 10(-12), 10(-10), 10(-8), and 10(-6) mol/L) for 24 h, or with 10(-8) mol/L AngII for 24, 48, and 72 h, to observe the effect of AngII on the apoptosis of NRK- 52E cells. The optimal concentration and time of AngII were selected. In another experiment cells were divided into 5 groups: a control, AngII (10(-8) mol/L), AngII (10(-8) mol/L)+ C. sinensis (40 mg/ L), Ang II (10(-8) mol/L)+ fosinopril (10(-5) mmol/L), and Ang II (10(-8) mol/L)+ fosinopril (10(-5) mol/ L)+C. sinensis (40 mg/L). MTT assay was used to test the changes in the proliferation of NRK-52E cultured with different concentration of C. sinensis for 24, 48, 72 h. The Annecxin V-FITC and PI stainings were applied to detect the apoptosis rate induced by AngII by flow cytometer (FCM) and to determine the eddects of C. sinensis. The activity of caspase-3 was assayed by spectrophotometry.@*RESULTS@#Certain concentrations of C. sinensis (10-40 mg/L) promoted the proliferation of NRK- 52E cells inhibited by AngII(P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#C. sinensis can suppress the apoptosis of NRK-52E by AngII, and the protective effect of C. sinensis may be inhibiting the activation of caspase-3 during the AngII-induced apoptosis of NRK-52E.

Comparison of the sagittal profiles between thoracic idiopathic scoliosis patients with different curve progression / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To compare the sagittal profiles between thoracic idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients with different curve progression and to determine the risk factors associated with curve progression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 83 thoracic IS patients from September 2009 to May 2010 were included in this study and were divided into 3 groups according to different curve progression. All the patients did not receive any previous treatments. There were 26 skeletally mature patients whose Risser sign were 5 degree with Cobb angle < 40° in non-curve progression group (NCP group), 29 mature patients whose Risser sign were 5 degree with Cobb angle ≥ 40° in moderate curve progression group (MCP group) and 28 immature patients whose Risser sign ≤ 3 degree with Cobb angle ≥ 40° in severe curve progression group (SCP group). Five sagittal parameters, including thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI) and pelvic tilt (PT) were measured on the lateral X-ray films. Analysis of variance was used to compare these parameters among the 3 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average thoracic Cobb angle was significantly smaller in NCP group when compared with MCP group (P < 0.01) or SCP group (P < 0.01), but not significantly different between the 2 latter groups (P = 0.619). The average TK was 19° ± 7° in NCP group, 13° ± 6° in MCP group and 8° ± 5° in SCP group. The average TK was significantly smaller in SCP group when compared with MCP group (P = 0.011) or NCP group (P < 0.01), while the average TK was significantly smaller in MCP group when compared with NCP group (P < 0.01). None of the other 4 parameters showed any significant difference between the 3 groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Thoracic hypokyphosis is strongly associated with curve progression in thoracic IS patients. Pelvic sagittal profile may not be involved in the underlying mechanism of curve progression in thoracic IS patients.</p>

Association between tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 gene polymorphism and adolescent idiopathic thoracic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) gene polymorphisms with the predisposition and disease severity of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and fifty-four female thoracic AIS patients treated from January 2007 to March 2009 and 210 healthy female who underwent health examination during March 2005 to June 2006 as normal controls were recruited in this study. One SNP-418G/C (rs8179090) in the promoter region were selected for TIMP-2 gene. PCR- RFLP was used for genotyping.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences of genotype and allele frequency distribution were found between AIS patients and normal controls (P > 0.05). In AIS patients, the frequency of C allele of the patients with the body mass index (BMI) < 17 kg/m(2) was significantly higher than those with the BMI > or = 17 kg/m(2) (P < 0.05), and the frequency of C allele of cases with the major Cobb angle > or = 40 degrees was significantly higher than that with Cobb angle < 40 degrees (P < 0.05). Among the patients who reached skeletal maturity without any interference of natural history, significantly higher average maximum Cobb angle was found in patients with GC and CC genotype compare with those with GG genotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The SNP-418G/C (rs8179090) in the promoter region of TIMP-2 gene may be associated with abnormal growth pattern and curve progression of thoracic AIS. TIMP-2 gene is a disease-modifier gene of thoracic AIS.</p>

The pulmonary dysfunction patterns in scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis type I / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pulmonary dysfunction patterns in patients of scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) and to identify factors affecting the pulmonary function in patients with scoliosis associated with NF1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Preoperative pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were evaluated in 100 patients with scoliosis [NF1 group, 36 cases; idiopathic scoliosis (IS) group, 64 cases] from January 2003 to June 2009. According to location of apical vertebra and dystrophic change in patients with NF1, the parameters of pulmonary function [vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV)] were compared between NF1 group and IS group, and between the subgroups of NF1. The correlation between pulmonary function parameters and radiographic parameters of scoliosis was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VC, FVC, FEV1, MMEF, MVV in NF1 group and IS group were of no significant difference (P > 0.05). In NF1 patients, the pulmonary dysfunction was more severe in thoracic subgroup than non-thoracic subgroup (P < 0.05), while there was no difference between dystrophic scoliosis and non-dystrophic scoliosis (P > 0.05). The location of apical vertebra and the severity of scoliosis correlated significantly with the pulmonary dysfunction in NF1 group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pattern of pulmonary dysfunction in scoliosis associated with NF1 is similar with IS. Pulmonary dysfunction is more severe in thoracic scoliosis. The location of apical vertebra and the severity of scoliosis are the risk factors influencing the pulmonary dysfunction.</p>

Effect of Cordyceps Cinensis extractant on apoptosis and expression of Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA in the ischemia-reperfusion injured NRK-52E cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective To observe the apoptosis and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4's mRNA in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat renal tubular epithelia cells (NRK-52E) in vitro, and effect of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) extractant.Methods Cultured NRK-52E cells were divided into a control group, a model group, and a CS preincubated group. All first removed media and incubated with antimycin A for 1 h, and then recovered the media to simulate the ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. We detected the apoptosis ratio of cells by flow cytometer and the mRNA expression of TLR-4, Bax, Bcl-2 gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at different time points.Results In ischemia-reperfusion injured NRK-52E, the apoptosis ratio rose as time passed (P＜0.05). We also observed increased mRNA expression of TLR-4, Bax (P＜0.05) and deceased expression of Bcl-2 (P＜0.05). Compared with the model grpup, the CS preincubated NRK-52E cells showed apparent tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury, which manifestated lower apoptosis ratio (P＜0.05), decreased expression of mRNA of TLR-4, Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2 (All Ps＜0.05). Conclusion The number of apoptosis cells and the expression of TLR-4 mRNA inceased with ischemia-reperfusion injury of NRK-52E in vitro. CS can prevent the NRK-52E cells from ischemia-reperfusion injury by downregulating TLR-4 gene.

Reversion of multidrug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma by antisense oligonucleotides and ultrasonic microbubble intensifier transfection combined with ultrasound irradiation / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study whether antisense oligonucleotides and ultrasonic microbubble intensifier transfection combined with ultrasound irradiation is an effective and directional way in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mdr1, mrp, and lrp genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasound microbubble intensifier were transfected for the human HepG2/ADM cell lines and then the cells were radiated with low intensity ultrasound. The effects of the reversion of carcinoma cells' MDR and the reduction of their malignancy and growth capability in vitro and in vivo were assessed using RT-PCR, Western blot and MTT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The treatment restrained the multiplication of the human HepG2/AMD cell lines. The levels of their mRNA and protein of cells' mdr1 and mrp genes dropped significantly. Growth of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors in the nude mice decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transfection of MDR genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasonic microbubble intensifier combined with low intensity ultrasound radiation may serve as a new treatment method for hepatocellular carcinoma.</p>