Climatic conditions and the onset of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: an investigation of the influence of solar terms

To study the correlation between climatic changes and the development of primary spontaneous pneumothorax [PSP]. We retrospectively studied the relationship between 337 patients with conservatively treated PSP and meteorological conditions during a 3-year period in the urban area of Xi'an, China. The comparison was made depending on solar terms and on different aspects of atmospheric pressure, outdoor temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. Significant differences were found between PSP and non-PSP days depending on daily mean values of outdoor temperature and atmospheric pressure [p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively]. However, no obvious differences of meteorological factor variations between the 'PSP day' and the 'pre-PSP day' on days with and without PSP were found. The occurrence of PSP was associated with the solar terms Spring Equinox [p < 0.05] and End of Heat [p < 0.01]. Among the factors examined in our study, daily mean outdoor temperature and atmospheric pressure showed a strong correlation with the occurrence of PSP. The solar terms Spring Equinox and End of Heat were found to be closely related with PSP development, which shed light on a new way for PSP incidence evaluation

Effect of fractioned irradiation on HIF-1alpha and MDR1 expression in esophageal cancer cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of fractioned ionizing radiation on the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and multidrug resistance (MDR1) in human esophageal cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1alpha and MDR1 in esophageal caner EC9706 cells incubated in the presence of 150 micromol/L CoCl(2) were measured before and after the irradiation by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of the cells were analyzed by MTT assay and clone formation assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MDR1 and HIF1alpha expressions were significantly up-regulated in the cells following hypoxia or irradiation (P<0.05). The surviving cell fraction in the exclusive irradiation group was significantly lower than that irradiation+hypoxia group (P<0.05). Compared with exclusive hypoxia group, MDR1 and HIF1alpha expressions were decreased significantly in irradiation+hypoxia group (P<0.05). HIF1alpha expression showed a positive correlation to MDR1 expression (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypoxia is an important factor to induce resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Low-dose fractioned irradiation can lower MDR1 and HIF1alpha expressions in esophageal cancer cells, which should be considered when combining radiotherapy chemotherapy for esophageal cancer patients.</p>

Reconstruction and balance of soft tissue in hemi-shoulder replacement for patients with four-part fracture of the proximal humerus / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effective skills of reconstruction and balance of soft tissue in hemi-shoulder replacement for patients with four-part fracture of the proximal humerus in order to avoid postoperative complications of joint instability and great tubercle displacement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2002 to June 2006, 25 patients with Neer four-part fracture of the proximal humerus were adopted in the study which included 15 females and 10 males, with the mean age of 66 years (ranged from 56 years to 80 years). They were treated with humeral head replacement and should joint reparation simultaneously by modified operation approach and reconstruction and balance skills of soft tissue.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean duration of follow-up was 2.3 years (ranged from 1 to 4.5 years). No infection, nerve damage and prosthesis loosing were found in all cases. Two cases of infra-forward dislocation or subluxation occurred due to affected limb placed on abduction splint postoperatively. One case occurred prosthesis upward displacement due to early active abduction exercise but no complains. Neither joint instability nor displacement and malunion of great tubercle were found in other patients. According to Neer scoring system, 6 cases were rated as excellent, 15 as good and 5 as fair. The good and excellent rate was 84%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In hemi-shoulder replacement for patients with Neer four-part fracture the modified operation approach and reconstruction and balance of soft tissue skills combined with rational rehabilitation exercise can prevent postoperative shoulder joint instability and displacement and malunion of great tubercle.</p>

Apoptosis-related gene expression and its clinical significance of human osteosarcoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the prognostic markers in osteosarcoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expressions of p53, c-myc, bcl-2 and apoptosis index (AI) in 28 osteosarcoma specimens were detected by ABC immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labelling (TUNEL). The relationship between gene expression and apoptosis, and their correlations with pathologic classification and prognostic factors were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was negative correlation between the expressions of p53, c-myc, bcl-2 protein and AI, which was closely related to the long term survival of patients but was not related to pathologic types of the tumor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expressions of p53, c-myc, bcl-2 protein and AI can be used as an index for predicting the progression and prognosis of osteosarcoma.</p>