Case-control study on therapeutic effects of Rigidfix cross pins combined with Intrafix pins for the reconstruction of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate therapeutic effects of Rigidfix cross pins combined with Intrafix pins for the reconstruction of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2009 to June 2010,34 patients with anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries were divided into two groups : group A and group B. There were 24 patients in group A, including 19 males and 5 females,with an average age of (31.83±9.57) years old. The patients in group A were treated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under arthroscopy; Rigidfix cross pins and Intrafix pins were used to fix femoral and tibial side respectively. Among the 10 patients in group B, 8 patients were male and 2 patients were female, with an average age of (27.20+7.59) years old. The patients in group B were treated with posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under arthroscope; Intrafix pins and Rigidifix cross pins were used to fix femoral and tibial side sepectively. The drawer test and Lachaman test were used to evaluate postoperative knee stability. All the patients were followed up at least 18 months. Lysholm and Tegner knee scores were used to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 34 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 18 to 26 months,with an average of (20.79±2.39) months. All the patients obtained good pain relief and knee stability. In group A,Lysholm scores significantly increased from 43.04±7.57 preoperatively to 85.41±4.68, 92.50±3.05, and 93.45±2.57 at 6,12, and 18 months postoperatively; Tegner scores significantly increased from 2.62±0.92 preoperatively to 7.45±1.14, 8.58±0.77, and 8.95±0.55 at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively. In group B,Lysholm scores significantly increased from 46.20±8.27 preoperatively to 86.40±5.14,90.40±2.67,and 92.00±3.85 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively ;Tegner scores significantly increased from 2.00±0.66 preoperatively to 7.10±0.99, 8.60±0.84, and 8.80±0.42 at 6,12, and 18 months postoperatively. There were no differences in Lysholm and Tegner scores between group A and B at different times during follow-up. Lysholm scores of all patients significantly increased from 43.97±7.79 preoperatively to 85.70±4.76,91.88±3.06,and 93.02±3.01 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively. Tegner scores of all patients significantly increased from 2.44±0.89 preoperatively to 7.35±1.09, 8.58±0.78, and 8.91±0.51 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively. During the follow-up period,there were no serious immunological rejection and complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reconstruction of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy with Rigidfix cross pins and Intrafix pins fixation is feasible therapy for anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries, and the fixation is rigid. The therapy restores knee stability and provides a satisfactory short-term results.</p>

Association between serum YKL-40 levels and endothelial function in hypertensive patients / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between serum YKL-40 levels and endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension (EH).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sixty EH patients [34 male, aged between 43 - 76 years, mean (59 ± 7) years] and 30 healthy subjects [17 male, mean age (57 ± 5) years] were enrolled in this study. Serum YKL-40 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Endothelial function [endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD)] was also measured. EH patients were further divided to no metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum uric acid, ET-1, hs-CRP were significantly higher while serum NO, FMD and NMD were significantly lower in EH group than in control group (all P < 0.05). YKL-40 was significantly higher in EH group than in the control group [51.7 (35.6 - 341.9) µg/L vs. 33.2 (23.3 - 167.3) µg/L, P < 0.05] and significantly higher in EH patients with metabolic syndrome than in EH patients without metabolic syndrome (152.3 µg/L vs. 94.2 µg/L, P < 0.05). In this cohort, serum YKL-40 level was positively correlated with SBP, DBP, BMI, TG and hsCRP(r = 0.360, 0.303, 0.281, 0.216, 0.530, all P < 0.05)but not correlated with FMD, ET-1 and NO (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum YKL-40 levels are increased compared to normal controls and positively correlated with blood pressure level but not with endothelial function parameters in hypertensive patients. Serum YKL-40 level might thus be used as a biomarker reflecting inflammation status other than endothelium function in hypertensive patients.</p>