Research progress on the epigenetic mechanisms of inverse relationship between Alzheimer's disease and cancer onset / 生理学报

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the aging population. It is characterized by massive deposition of extracellular β-amyloid peptide and formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Cancer is also an age-related disease. Some epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between AD and the onset of various types of cancers, that is, the risk of cancer in patients with AD is reduced, and vice versa. Epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the development of AD and cancer. In this article, we will review the recent research advances on the epigenetic mechanisms of AD and cancer onset, and provide new ideas for rethinking the relevance of AD and cancer with a "holistic concept".

Development and Standardization of a New Cognitive Assessment Test Battery for Chinese Aphasic Patients: A Preliminary Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Nonlinguistic cognitive impairment has become an important issue for aphasic patients, but currently there are few neuropsychological cognitive assessment tests for it. To get more information on cognitive impairment of aphasic patients, this study aimed to develop a new cognitive assessment test battery for aphasic patients, the Non-language-based Cognitive Assessment (NLCA), and evaluate its utility in Chinese-speaking patients with aphasia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The NLCA consists of five nonverbal tests, which could assess five nonlinguistic cognitive domains such as visuospatial functions, attention test, memory, reasoning, and executive functions of aphasic patients. All tests are modified from the nonverbal items of the current existed tests with some changes to the characteristics of Chinese culture. The NLCA was tested in 157 participants (including 57 aphasic patients, 50 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 50 normal controls), and was compared with other well-established relative neuropsychological tests on the reliability, validity, and utility.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NLCA was fully applicable in the MCI patients and the normal controls, almost working in the aphasic patients (57/62 patients, 91.9%). The NLCA scores were 66.70 ± 6.30, 48.67 ± 15.04, and 77.58 ± 2.56 for the MCI group, the aphasic group, and the control group, respectively , and a significant difference was found among three groups (F = 118.446, P < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha of the NLCA as an index of internal consistency was 0.805, and the test-retest and interrater reliability was adequate (r=0.977 and r= 0.970, respectively). The correlations of the cognitive subtests and their validation instruments were between 0.540 and 0.670 (all P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that the coefficient of internal consistency of each subtest itself was higher than other subtests. When choosing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of <26 as the diagnostic criteria of cognitive impairment, the area under the curve for all participants in the control and MCI groups was 0.942 (95% confidence interval: 0.895-0.989), and an optimal cutoff point of 75.00 seemed to provide the best balance between sensitivity and specificity. Age (r = -0.406, P < 0.001) was the main influence factor for the NLCA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The NLCA could efficiently differentiate the cognitive impairment patients from the normal controls and is a reliable and valid cognitive assessment test battery to specially find nonlinguistic cognitive function for aphasic patients.</p>

Dynesys dynamic stabilization system for the lumbar degenerative disease: a preliminary report from China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Dynesys dynamic stabilization system was first implanted in patients in 1994, and introduced to China in 2007. Therefore, it was a new technique for Chinese orthopedics and hence necessary to collect clinical data about Dynesys in China. The objective of this study was to report the preliminary results of Dynesys for the lumbar degenerative disease in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-seven patients were treated with the Dynesys between July 2007 and January 2009. The diagnosis included degenerative spondylolisthesis (12 cases), degenerative spinal stenosis (nine cases), and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (six cases). Back pain and leg pain were evaluated using 100-mm visual analog scales (VAS). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate the patients' function. The intervertebral disc height and range of motion at the operative level were taken on radiographs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed-up, with an average of (22.40 ± 4.23) months (range 15-32 months). VAS of back pain and leg pain were improved significantly (P < 0.05) at follow-up. The ODI scores were reduced from (62.58 ± 12.01)% preoperatively to (15.01 ± 5.71)% at follow-up (P < 0.05). The preoperative mean height of the intervertebral disc was (11.21 ± 1.58) mm (range 8.5-13.8 mm) and mean was (10.10 ± 1.78) mm (range 7.0-13.4 mm) at follow-up (P < 0.05). The mean range of motion of the implanted segment was (6.00 ± 1.79)° (range 2.5-9.3°) preoperatively and (5.47 ± 1.27)° (range 2.9-7.8°) at follow-up (P = 0.11).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The preliminary results of Dynesys for the lumbar degenerative disease in China are similar to the published results of other countries. It can significantly improve the clinic symptoms and preserved motion at the level of implantation. However, the long-term follow-up data need to be collected.</p>

Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament with a suture-tie technique of patellar side fixation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is the preferred operative treatment for recurrent patellar dislocation. The purpose of this study was to report a novel suture-tie technique of patellar side fixation in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for recurrent patellar dislocation, and to evaluate the intermediate-term results.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively reviewed the results of 22 MPFL reconstructions in 21 patients (6 male and 15 female) with a suture-tie technique performed by a single surgeon between March 2004 and July 2009. All patients had been diagnosed with recurrent patellar dislocation. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively by physical and radiographic examination as well as with Kujala and Lysholm scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the mean follow-up month 37.5 (range: 24 - 56 months), there was no graft failure. Primary healing was achieved in all cases. At the final follow-up, the mean Kujala score improved from 53.9 (range: 46 - 62 points) to 84.1 (range: 78 - 90 points) postoperatively (P < 0.05), and the mean Lysholm score improved from 47.2 points (range: 37 - 57 points) to 82.8 points (range: 76 - 89 points) postoperatively (P < 0.05). To date, no patients have reported redislocation or subluxation; however, there is one patient with a positive apprehension test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A suture-tie technique in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction can restore patella stability without significant complication.</p>

Effects of vertebral height restoration of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebra compression fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of vertebral height restoration of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebra compression fractures (VCFs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2004 to June 2007, a total of 37 patients with 40 VCFs were treated by vertebroplasty. There were 12 males and 25 females with a mean age of (72.4 +/- 12.7) years (ranged, 48 to 87). Pain easement state was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) before and after operation, as well as in followed-up. Preoperative and postoperative vertebral height, kyphosis angle at fractured levels were measured on X-rays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of patients were followed-up for 12 to 47 months (averaged, 35.8 +/- 9.6). The VAS score was 8.4 +/- 1.6 before operative, 2.1 +/- 1.2 at the 2nd day after operative, there were significant difference between pre-and postoperative (P < 0.05); the average follow-up VAS was 1.6 +/- 0.9, there were significant difference as compared with the preoperative (P < 0.05). Lateral X-ray showed that the preoperative degree of vertebral height in the of anterior and middle vertebral were (72.0 +/- 10.6)% and (68.0 +/- 15.6)%, and postoperative were (76.0 +/- 8.6)% and (73.0 +/-6.1)%, respectively. There were no significant difference in vertebral height between preoperative and postoperative. The vertebral kyphosis angle was corrected from preoperative (7.8 +/- 2.7) degree to postoperative (8.1 +/- 2.3) degree.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vertebroplasty is a safe and effective method for treatment of osteoporotic VCFs, it can relieve the pain effectively. Failure to restore vertebaral height does not seem to interfere with the excellent pain management.</p>

Analysis of the characteristics of articular cartilage lesions under knee arthroscopy in different age groups / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide reliable data on articular cartilage lesions in different age group of patients with symptomatic knees requiring arthroscopy, and to analyze the characteristics of articular cartilage lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From November 2004 to September 2005, 568 patients were under arthroscopy in orthopaedics of Chinese PLA General Hospital. There were 242 males and 326 females, with a mean age of (43.0 +/- 11.2) years (ranged, 12 to 80 years). Surgery information including causes of injury, onset of symptoms, meniscus lesions, cruciate ligament pathology, articular cartilage lesions were collected by a special Data Management software. All the patients were divided into two groups : youth group and middle-aged group. The data of articular cartilage lesions of patients in the two groups were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 923 articular cartilage lesions in 389 patients, and 13 lesions were iatrogenic. In youth group, 212 lesions were found in 121 patients, and the main cause of lesions was menisci menisci injury (57/121 cases). In middle-aged group, 711 lesions were found in 268 patients,and the main cause of lesions was osteoarthritis (218/268 cases). The articular cartilage lesions located majorly in the lateral femoral condyle, medial femoral condyle and patellae in patients of the two groups. The major depth of the lesion was grade IV (330 lesions) in middle-aged group and grade III (71 lesions) in youth group,respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Articular cartilage lesions are common in patients under arthroscopy, and articular cartilage lesions of different age group of patients are different, so the best treatment method should be chosen regarding to age factors of patients.</p>