Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant human type Ⅲ collagen / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To express and purify recombinant human collagen type Ⅲ and evaluate its properties.Methods:The recombinant genetic engineering strain pET30a(+)-1880/pACYCDuet-hy726/bL21(DE3) was constructed to stably co-express recombinant human type Ⅲ collagen (rhCol) and prolyl hydroxylase. rhCol was prepared and purified by E. coli high-density fermentation, salting out and column chromatography protein purification technology. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to determine the purity of rhCol. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of rhCol were determined by automatic protein polypeptide sequencing instrument. The hydroxyproline content of rhCol was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The cellular compatibility of rhCol was evaluated by MTT assay. Results:The final wet weight of high-density fermentation was about 200 g/L. The expression level was about 3 g/L. The purity of rhCol by affinity chromatography was over 95%. The results showed that the hydroxyproline content of rhCol was 11.44%, and the rhCol products have good water solubility and cell compatibility.Conclusions:RhCol can be widely applied to the field of skin care and biomedicine as an excellent biological material.

Endoscopic lateral neck dissection via the breast and transoral approaches for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a report of 10 cases / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of endoscopic lateral neck dissection via the breast and transoral approaches (ELNDBTOA) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: From February 2015 to April 2019, 10 patients with PTC (cN1b) including 1 male and 9 females aged from 22 to 53 years old received ELNDBTOA in the General Surgery Department of Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University. Total thyroidectomy, the central lymph node dissection and the selective neck dissection (levels Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ) were performed endoscopically via the breast approach, and then the residual lymph nodes were dissected via transoral approach. The medical records, operation time, blood loss, complications and postoperative follow-up outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. SPSS 22.0 software package was used for statistical processing of clinical data of patients. Results: All cases were successfully treated with ELNDBTOA without transfer to open surgery. The average operative time was (362.5±79.7) min, the blood loss was (23.0±14.9) ml, and the postoperative hospital stay was (5.1±1.3) days. The mean number of harvested cervical lymph nodes were (34.2±25.8), and the mean number of positive lymph nodes were (6.5±4.9). Lymph nodes were dissected by the further dissection via oral approach in 6 patients and a total of 9 lateral lymph nodes were havested from 2 of the 6 patients, with 3 positive lymph nodes. Two patients had transient skin numbness in the mandibular area and recovered within two weeks. One patient developed transient hypoparathyroidism and recovered within two months. No secondary bleeding, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, chylous leakage, neck infection, permanent hypoparathyroidism or other complications were observed. The follow-up time was from 16 to 66 months with a median of 42.5 months, no tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred, and also no obvious deformity, abnormal sensation or movement in the chest, neck and mouth was observed. Conclusions: ELNBTOA is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic outcome.

Effects of femtosecond laser treatment on surface characteristics and flexural strength of zirconia / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effects of femtosecond laser treated microgrooved surface on microscopic topography, phase transformation, and three-points flexural strength of zirconia, and to provide reference for surface microstructure optimization of zirconia implant.@*METHODS@#According to different surface treatment methods, 57 computer aided design/computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) zirconia bars (20.0 mm×4.0 mm×1.4 mm) were evenly divided into three groups: sintered group, no treatment after sintering, taken as control; sandblasted group, sandblasted with 110 μm aluminium oxide (Al2O3) after sintering; microgrooved group, femtosecond laser fabricated microgrooves with 50 μm width, 30 μm depth, and 100 μm pitch. Surface microscopic topography was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 3D laser microscope. Further, surface roughness in each group and microgroove size were measured. Crystal phase was analyzed with X-ray diffraction. Specimens were subjected to three- points flexural strength test, and Weibull distribution was used to analyze their strength characteristics.@*RESULTS@#SEM showed that sintered surface was flat with clear grain structure; sandblasted surface exihibited bumps and holes with sharp margins and irregular shape; microgrooves were regularly aligned without evident defect, and nano-scale particles were observed on the surface inside of the microgrooves. Ra value of microgrooved group [(9.42±0.28)] μm was significantly higher than that of sandblasted group [(1.04±0.03) μm] and sintered group [(0.60±0.04) μm], and there was statistical difference between sandblasted group and sintered group (P < 0.001). The microgroove size was precise with (49.75±1.24) μm width, (30.85±1.02) μm depth, and (100.58±1.94) μm pitch. Crystal phase analysis showed that monoclinic volume fraction of sandblasted group (18.17%) was much higher than that of sintered group (1.55%), while microgrooved group (2.21%) was similar with sintered group. The flexural strength of sandblasted group (986.22±163.25) MPa had no statistical difference with that of sintered group (946.46±134.15) MPa (P=0.847), but the strength in microgrooved group (547.92±30.89) MPa dropped significantly compared with the other two groups (P < 0.001). Weibull modulus of sintered, sandblasted, microgrooved groups were 7.89, 6.98, and 23.46, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Femtosecond laser was able to form micro/nanostructured microgrooves on zirconia surface, which deleteriously affected the flexural strength of zirconia.

A retrospective study on risk factors associated with postoperative delirium in elderly patients with spinal operation / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the incidence and risk factors of delirium after spinal surgery in elderly patients.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on 436 patients with spinal surgery from January 2016 to November 2018. According to delirium occurrancy after the operation, 436 cases were divided into two groups:delirium group and non-delirium group. Body mass index(BMI), history of diabetes, history of coronary heart disease, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), preoperative white blood cell count, preoperative erythrocyte volume, preoperative hemoglobin level, operation mode, operation time, anesthesia time, American Association of Anesthesiologists(ANA)(ASA) score, cardiac function grading(NYHA), intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, intraoperative fentanyl, propofol and Dizocine dosage, postoperative white blood cell count, postoperative erythrocyte volume, postoperative hemoglobin level, postoperative electrolytes (sodium, potassium) and univariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors. The independent risk factors were further investigated by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.@*RESULTS@#Among 436 cases, 112 elderly patients had postoperative delirium, the incidence of delirium was about 25.68%. The age, preoperative leukocyte count, erythrocyte specific volume, postoperative hemoglobin level in delirium group and non-delirium group were measured. There were significant differences in the postoperative sodium concentration, anesthesia time, ASA score, cardiac function grading, blood loss during operation, postoperative use of Dizocine, history of diabetes, history of coronary heart disease and history of COPD (2, the use of Dizocine analgesic and the patients with COPD are the independent risk factors of postoperative delirium.

Three-dimensional analysis of the early correction of anterior crossbite using eruption guidance appliance / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical effect of eruption guidance appliance in the treatment of anterior cross bite in mixed-dentition children.@*METHODS@#In the study,10 mixed-dentition children with anterior cross bite, totally 12 incisors, were selected. Alginate was used to take upper and lower dentition impression and make a hard plaster model,which served as the eruption guidance appliance for treatment. The pre- and post-operative dental casts were digitized with SmartOptics Activity 880 scanner,and the three-dimensional overlapping models were obtained by reverse engineering software,Geomagic Studio 2012,then the three-dimensional movements of the upper and lower incisors were analyzed using Imageware 13.2 software. The overbite and overjet were analyzed using the same methods. Measurement with copper wire was used to analyze the upper and lower arch length. Space analysis was the result by the sum of crown width minus the arch length. The crown width of unerupted permanent teeth was according to X-ray method to predict. The SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the pre- and post-operative measurements of the same child. The normality test of the measured data showed that it conformed to the normal distribution. Therefore,the t test and double side test were used,and the significance level was 0.05.@*RESULTS@#The course of treatment was (5.6±2.7) months. During orthodontic treatment, the upper incisors moved mainly labially (P<0.001) in three-dimensional displacement, and the lower incisors moved mainly the same direction (P=0.025). During the treatment of eruption guidance appliance,the average overbite decreased (1.01±0.9) mm (t=-3.531, P=0.006), and the difference was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-operative average overjet (t=0.771, P=0.460). The severity of crowding in upper arch decreased (1.9±0.99) mm (t=-6.042, P<0.001),and that in lower arch decreased (1.9±0.74) mm (t=-8.143, P<0.001), both of the differences were statistically significant.@*CONCLUSION@#The anterior cross bite in mixed dentition could be corrected by eruption guidance appliance, and at the same time, the normal overjet and overbite were established, and the teeth were aligned.

Chinese medicinal compound CFF-1 induces the apoptosis and cycle-arrest of prostate cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To explore the apoptosis-inducing effect of the Chinese medicinal compound CFF-1 on prostate cancer cells and its related molecular mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Normal prostate WPMY-1 cells and prostate cancer LNCaP, CWR22Rv1, PC3 and DU145 cells were treated in dehydrated alcohol with CFF-1 at 0, 2, 5, or 10 mg/ml for 24 hours. Then the viability of the prostate cells was detected by morphological observation, MTT and CCK-8 assay, nuclear condensation and disruption measured by DAPI staining, the cell cycle and apoptosis calculated by flow cytometry, the activity of the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway and the expressions of its downstream apoptosis- and cycle-related proteins determined by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#CFF-1 significantly arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase, decreased the cell viability and increased the nuclear condensation and disruption in a dose-dependent manner, and elevated the apoptosis rate of prostate cancer cells. At the molecular level, CFF-1 dose-dependently reduced the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and phosphorylation of the FOXO1 protein, increased the transcription activity of FOXO1, and eventually regulated the expressions of cell apoptosis- and cycle-related genes.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The Chinese medicinal compound CFF-1 can significantly inhibit the growth, arrest the cycle, and induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by decreasing the activity of the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway, which suggests its potential clinical application value in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Total hip arthroplasty for post-traumatic arthritis after internal fixation of acetabular fracture / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical outcome of total hip arthroplasty(THA) for traumatic arthritis after acetabular fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2010 to June 2014, 33 hips in 33 patients with traumatic arthritis after acetabular fracture were retrospective analyzed including 21 males and 12 females with a mean age of 44.6 years old. All the patients received THA with bio-prostheses. Harris score was used to evaluate the hip function of patients before and after operation, the X-ray was adopted for radiographic evaluation of the hip prosthesis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 7 to 38 months with an average of 21.6 months. The Harris score increased from preoperative 53.6±2.4 to 94.0±3.0 at the final follow-up, the difference was statistically significant(=55.37,<0.05). The X-ray evaluation showed the prosthesis was in good position, no loosening of the prosthesis, dislocation and periprosthetic osteolysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>THA is an effective treatment for the traumatic arthritis after acetabular fracture;internal fixation of acetabular fractures could not be removed if it shows difficult but does not affect the prosthesis placement.</p>

Professor Xu Fu-song's traditional Chinese medicine protocols for male diseases: A descriptive analysis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the efficacy and medication principles of Professor Xu Fu-songs traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) protocols for male diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We reviewed and descriptively analyzed the unpublished complete medical records of 100 male cases treated by Professor Xu Fu-song with his TCM protocols from 1978 to 1992.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 100 cases involved 32 male diseases, most of which were difficult and complicated cases. The drug compliance was 95%. Each prescription was made up of 14 traditional Chinese drugs on average. The cure rate was 32% , and the effective rate was 85%. Professor Xu Fu-song advanced and proved some new theories and therapeutic methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Professor Xu Fu-song's TCM protocols can be applied to a wide range of male diseases, mostly complicated, and are characterized by accurate differentiation of symptoms and signs, high drug compliance, and excellent therapeutic efficacy.</p>

Formaldehyde induces the bone marrow toxicity in mice by regulating the expression of Prx3 protein / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous toxic organic compound, and it has been regarded as a leukemogen. However, the mechanisms by which FA induces bone marrow toxicity remain unclear. The present study was aimed to examine the bone marrow toxicity caused by FA and the mechanism involving the expression changes of peroxiredoxin3 (Prx3) in this process. The mice were divided into four groups with 6 mice per group. Animals in the control group were exposed to ambient air and those in the FA groups to different concentrations of FA (20, 40, 80 mg/m(3)) for 15 days in the separate inhalation chambers, 2 h a day. At the end of the 15-day experimental period, all mice were killed. Bone marrow cells were obtained. The level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the apoptosis rate, and the activities and protein expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were determined by biochemical assay, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively; DNA damage and Prx3 expression levels were measured by single cell gel eletrophoresis immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the H2O2 level and cell apoptosis rate were significantly increased in FA groups relative to the control group. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and their protein expression levels were markedly increased as well. Additionally, FA also increased the rate of DNA damage and the expression level of Prx3 compared with control group. Our study suggested that a certain concentration of FA causes the bone marrow toxicity by regulating the expression of Prx3.

Late cardioprotection of exercise preconditioning against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulatation of connexin 43 expression in rat hearts

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of myocardium connexin 43 (Cx43) in late exercise preconditioning (LEP) cardioprotection.@*METHODS@#Eight-week-old adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8). Myocardial injury was judged in accordance with serum levels of cTnⅠ and NT-proBNP as well as hematoxylin basicfuchsin picric acid staining of myocardium. Cx43 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization and qualified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Cx43 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry and its expression level was determined by western blotting.@*RESULTS@#The LEP obviously attenuated the myocardial ischemia/hypoxia injury caused by exhaustive exercise. There was no significant difference of Cx43 mRNA level between the four groups. Cx43 protein level was decreased significantly in group EE (P < 0.05). However, LEP produced a significant increase in Cx43 protein level (P < 0.05), and the decreased Cx43 protein level in exhaustive exercise was significantly up-regulated by LEP (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#LEP protects rat heart against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulating the expression of myocardial Cx43.

Formaldehyde induces the bone marrow toxicity in mice by regulating the expression of Prx3 protein / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous toxic organic compound, and it has been regarded as a leukemogen. However, the mechanisms by which FA induces bone marrow toxicity remain unclear. The present study was aimed to examine the bone marrow toxicity caused by FA and the mechanism involving the expression changes of peroxiredoxin3 (Prx3) in this process. The mice were divided into four groups with 6 mice per group. Animals in the control group were exposed to ambient air and those in the FA groups to different concentrations of FA (20, 40, 80 mg/m(3)) for 15 days in the separate inhalation chambers, 2 h a day. At the end of the 15-day experimental period, all mice were killed. Bone marrow cells were obtained. The level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the apoptosis rate, and the activities and protein expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were determined by biochemical assay, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively; DNA damage and Prx3 expression levels were measured by single cell gel eletrophoresis immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the H2O2 level and cell apoptosis rate were significantly increased in FA groups relative to the control group. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and their protein expression levels were markedly increased as well. Additionally, FA also increased the rate of DNA damage and the expression level of Prx3 compared with control group. Our study suggested that a certain concentration of FA causes the bone marrow toxicity by regulating the expression of Prx3.

Late cardioprotection of exercise preconditioning against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulatation of connexin 43 expression in rat hearts

Objective: To investigate the expression of myocardium connexin 43 (Cx43) in late exercise preconditioning (LEP) cardioprotection. Methods: Eight-week-old adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8). Myocardial injury was judged in accordance with serum levels of cTn[U+2160] and NT-proBNP as well as hematoxylin basicfuchsin picric acid staining of myocardium. Cx43 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization and qualified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Cx43 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry and its expression level was determined by western blotting. Results: The LEP obviously attenuated the myocardial ischemia/hypoxia injury caused by exhaustive exercise. There was no significant difference of Cx43 mRNA level between the four groups. Cx43 protein level was decreased significantly in group EE (P < 0.05). However, LEP produced a significant increase in Cx43 protein level (P < 0.05), and the decreased Cx43 protein level in exhaustive exercise was significantly up-regulated by LEP (P < 0.05). Conclusions: LEP protects rat heart against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulating the expression of myocardial Cx43.

Analysis of 163 rib fractures by imaging examination / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the applications of imaging examination on rib fracture sites in forensic identification.@*METHODS@#Features including the sites, numbers of the processed imaging examination and the first radiological technology at diagnosis in 56 cases of rib fractures from 163 injuries were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The detection rate of the rib fractures within 14 days was 65.6%. The initial detection rate of anterior rib fracture proceeded by X-ray was 76.2%, then 90.5% detected at a second time X-ray, while the detection rate of CT was 66.7% and 80.0%, respectively. The initial detec- tion rate of rib fracture in axillary section proceeded by X-ray was 27.6%, then 58.6% detected at a second time X-ray, while the detection rate of CT was 54.3% and 80.4%, respectively. The initial detection rate of posterior rib fracture proceeded by X-ray was 63.6%, then 81.8% detected at a second time X-ray, while the detection rate of CT was 50.0% and 70.0%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#It is important to pay attention to the use of combined imaging examinations and the follow-up results. In the cases of suspicious for rib fracture in axillary section, CT examination is suggested in such false X-ray negative cases.

Analysis of the reason of secondary fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the reasons of secondary fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and discuss the measure of prevention and cure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2011 to January 2013, the clinical data of 180 patients with primary OVCFs treated by PVP were retrospectively analyzed. There were 75 males and 105 females, aged from 68 to 95 years old with an average of (79.50 ± 5.45) years. The involved vertebrae were identified according to the clinical symptoms and imaging data. PVP were performed in 362 vertebrae and the patients were followed up with an average of 12 months. Subsequent vertebral fractures were found through the pain's reappearance and MRI or bone scan. The patients were divided into secondary fracture group and no-secondary fracture group according to the subsequent fractures or no. Secondary fracture group was divided into two groups according to gender, and the patients with secondary fracture were also categorized into the original surgical vertebral fractures, adjacent vertebral fracture and remote vertebral fractures. The age, gender, the cement volume, the cement leakage, secondary fracture site, the incidence and type of secondary fracture were observed and compared among different groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 362 vertebrae of PVP, there were 109 vertebrae in male and 253 vertebrae in female. And 27 vertebrae (10 in male and 17 in female) of 22 cases (9 males and 13 females) occurred secondary fracture. The second PVP were performed in 13 cases (16 vertebrae) and the third PVP in 2 cases (4 vertebrae); 7 cases (7 vertebrae) were treated with conservative therapy. There was no statistically significant difference on age, gender, cement volume and leakage between secondary fracture group and no-secondary fracture group (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference on the incidence and type of secondary fracture between male and female (P > 0.05). No significant difference was found on the adjacent and remote vertebral fractures (P > 0.05). Most of secondary fracture occurred in 6 months, and whether the single and double side injection, cement leakage had no obvious relation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is no significant difference in the subsequent fracture after PVP for the OVCFs different gender and fractured site, and also no significant difference in the adjacent and remote vertebral fractures. The report didn't support the biomechanical viewpoint that vertebral body stiffness increasing after PVP would lead to adjacent vertebral stress increasing and result easily in adjacent vertebral fracture. Secondary fracture occurs always in 6 months after operation, which is the natural course of osteoporosis.</p>

Inhibitory effect of Akt inhibitor deguelin on the growth of PC-3 prostate cancer cells / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the inhibitory effect of Akt inhibitor deguelin on PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PC-3 human prostate cancer cells were cultured in deguelin at the concentrations of 10, 100, 500 and 1 000 nmol/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Then the inhibitory effect of deguelin on the proliferation of the PC-3 cells was determined by MTT assay and that on the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of MDM2 and GSK3beta mRNA were measured by RT-PCR and those of MDM2 and GSK3beta proteins by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 24, 48 and 72 hours, the inhibition rates of deguelin on the proliferation of the PC-3 prostate cancer cells were (91.10 +/- 3.75), (86.39 +/- 1.16) and (79.51 +/- 2.63)% at 10 nmol/L, (82.46 +/- 3.65), (76.84 +/- 0.97) and (69.69 +/- 2.30) % at 100 nmol/L, (81.46 +/- 0.41), (75.56 +/- 1.12) and (54.07 +/- 3.21)% at 500 nmol/L, and (66.77 +/- 2.82), (58.22 +/- 0.35) and (39.34 +/- 2.40)% at 1000 nmol/L, all with statistically significant differences from the control group (P < 0.01). Deguelin at 10, 100, 500 and 1 000 nmol/L increased the cell cycles blocked in the G0/G1 phase ([62.4 +/- 2.2], [63.6 +/- 1.1 ], [65.0 +/- 0.3] and [66.5 +/- 1.9]%, P < 0.01) and reduced the percentage of the S-phase cells ([14.7 +/- 2.4], [11.1 +/- 5.2], [5.8 +/- 1.1] and [7.0 +/- 0.6]%, P < 0.01). RT-PCR and Western blot showed markedly up-regulated expressions of GSK3 P3 a3beta down-regulated expressions of MDM2 mRNA and proteins in the PC-3 cells treated with deguelin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Akt inhibitor deguelin can inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells by affecting the down-stream signal molecules GSK3P3 and betaDM2 in the Akt pathway.</p>

Accuracy evaluation of a new three-dimensional reproduction method of edentulous dental casts, and wax occlusion rims with jaw relation / 国际口腔科学杂志·英文版

The article introduces a new method for three-dimensional reproduction of edentulous dental casts, and wax occlusion rims with jaw relation by using a commercial high-speed line laser scanner and reverse engineering software and evaluates the method's accuracy in vitro. The method comprises three main steps: (i) acquisition of the three-dimensional stereolithography data of maxillary and mandibular edentulous dental casts and wax occlusion rims; (ii) acquisition of the three-dimensional stereolithography data of jaw relations; and (iii) registration of these data with the reverse engineering software and completing reconstruction. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, dental casts and wax occlusion rims of 10 edentulous patients were used. The lengths of eight lines between common anatomic landmarks were measured directly on the casts and occlusion rims by using a vernier caliper and on the three-dimensional computerized images by using the software measurement tool. The direct data were considered as the true values. The paired-samples t-test was used for statistical analysis. The mean differences between the direct and the computerized measurements were mostly less than 0.04 mm and were not significant (P>0.05). Statistical significance among 10 patients was assessed using one-way analysis of variance (P<0.05). The result showed that the 10 patients were considered statistically no significant. Therefore, accurate three-dimensional reproduction of the edentulous dental casts, wax occlusion rims, and jaw relations was achieved. The proposed method enables the visualization of occlusion from different views and would help to meet the demand for the computer-aided design of removable complete dentures.

The clinical analysis of a step-up approach for severe acute pancreatitis: report of 121 cases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of the step-up approach for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 121 SAP patients admitted between January 2002 and December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-eight patients (37 males and 21 females, aged from 20 to 72 years, mean 47.6 years) in the group of direct open necrosectomy from January 2002 to December 2006 were performed laparotomy through removal of all necrotic tissue. Sixty-three patients (42 males and 21 females, aged from 19 to 78 years, mean 46.2 years) of step-up approach from January 2007 to December 2011 underwent percutaneous catheter drainage through retroperitoneum or omental bursa guided by B-type ultrasonography for the first therapy, and then, according to the pathogenetic condition, if necessary, followed by a small incisional necrosectomy along the drainage tube. The two groups were compared for the rates of postoperative complications, death, transfusion and length of stay, medical costs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of total postoperative complications, organ dysfunction, alimentary tract fistula and incisional hernia in step-up approach group were significantly lower than those of direct open necrosectomy group (31.7% vs. 62.1%, 14.3% vs. 37.5%, 6.3% vs. 19.0%, 9.5% vs. 29.3%; χ(2) = 4.43 to 11.17, P = 0.001 to 0.035). The other complications had no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Patients in step-up approach group had a lower rates of transfusion (44.4% vs. 70.7%, χ(2) = 8.488, P = 0.004), fewer medical costs of transfusion and hospital stay, compared with those in direct open necrosectomy group ((2525 ± 4573) yuan vs. (4770 ± 6867) yuan, t = 2.131, P = 0.035; (171 213 ± 50 917) yuan vs. (237 874 ± 67 832) yuan, t = 2.496, P = 0.014). There were no significant differences of length of stay and mortality between two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Step-up approach for SAP which can reduce the rates of postoperative complications, transfusion and medical costs has significant feasibility and great clinical value.</p>

Accuracy of different registration methods for laser-scanned dental cast data and maxillofacial cone-bean CT data / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the accuracy of four dominant methods of three-dimensional multisource data registration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Laser-scanned dental model and maxillofacial cone-bean CT rebuilt model were collected for one orthodontic patient before treatment. Registration process was done based on locating spheres' center, anatomic landmarks, partial characteristic region and global data separately. The registration errors were detected by the function of Geomagic Studio 12.0 software. A comparison of the registration accuracy among these four methods was done by analyzing mean error and standard deviation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean errors and standard deviations of methods of locating spheres' center, anatomic landmarks, partial characteristic region and global data were -(0.082 ± 0.221), -(0.104 ± 0.218), -(0.047 ± 0.138) and -(0.025 ± 0.129) mm respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ICP registration methods had better reliability than landmark methods. The global registration was more accurate than partial characteristic region registration and the locating spheres' center method was better than anatomic landmarks method.</p>

Application of sacral rod fixation for the treatment of lumbosacral segment tuberculosis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical outcomes of primary anterior radical debridement, bone autograft, and sacral rod fixation for the treatment of tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2004 to November 2008,11 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segments received antituberculosis medications for 2 to 3 weeks before anterior radical debridement, autologous iliac bone grafting, and internal sacral rod fixation. Among the patients, 5 patients were male and 6 patients were female, with an average age of (44.45 +/- 8.50) years (ranged from 29 to 56 years). The average time from stage of onset to operation was 11 months (ranged from 8 to 15 months). All the patients presented with various degrees of lower back pain; one patient experienced preoperative lower extremity radicular pain, while 2 patients experienced saddle area anaesthesia. However, only 6 patients exhibited mild to moderate tuberculous toxic reactions. All the patients were evaluated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made with reference to clinical and radiological findings. Surgery was performed when the toxic symptoms of tuberculosis were controlled and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) decreased to (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h (25 to 54 mm/h). Lumbosacral angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, ESR, and neurological performance were assessed before and after surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All surgical procedures were performed successfully without intra or postoperative complications. There were no instances of spinal tuberculosis recurrence. Patients were followed up for a mean of (19.64 +/- 5.43) months. The mean lumbosacral angle significantly increased from the preoperative mean (12.9 +/- 5.0) degrees to postoperative (21.5 +/- 6.1) degrees and at final follow-up (20.1 +/- 5.2) degrees (P < 0.001). The mean VAS scores and ESR significantly decreased from preoperative (7.3 +/- 1.2) score and (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h respectively to final follow-up (0.6 +/- 0.5) score and (10.5 +/- 2.3) mm/h respectively (P < 0.001). Bone fusion occurred in all patients at a mean of (9.0 +/- 1.9) months (ranged 6 to 12 months) after surgery. Three patients who had impaired neurological performance before surgery had normal neurological performance after surgery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings suggest that anterior radical debridement, interbody fusion, and sacral rod fixation can be an effective treatment option for lumbosacral segment tuberculosis.</p>

Yangjing capsule plus low-dose tadalafil for functional anejaculation / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for functional anejaculation (AE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five AE patients were randomized into a treatment group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 25), the former treated with Yangjing Capsule (once 5 pills, tid) and low-dose tadalafil (5 mg, qd alt, 1 h before bedtime), while the latter with oral ephedrine (25 mg before bedtime). Meanwhile, the patients were advised to expose themselves to sexual stimulation, reduce the frequency of sexual intercourses and quit masturbation. The medication lasted 1-3 months, followed by observation of the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effectiveness rate was 83.34% in the treatment group, 11 cases cured, 8 obviously improved, 6 improved and 5 unimproved, significantly higher than 40.00% in the control group, 4 cases cured, 3 obviously improved, 3 improved and 15 unimproved (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yangiing Capsule plus low-dose tadalafil is safe and effective for the treatment of functional anejaculation.</p>