Differences and causes of myopia among students in different stages in the same region in Xi'an / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To gather baseline data on visual acuity by screening students from different stages in the same administrative district of Xi'an, as well as to analyze and investigate disparities in myopia rates among students from different stages in this area.METHODS: A total of 13 707 students from 21 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 general high schools and 1 vocational high school were randomly selected for uncorrected distance visual acuity and computerized refraction testing in 28 schools with a random sampling approach.RESULTS: The detection rate of myopia in elementary, middle, high and vocational high schools in the same region of Xi'an were 32.27%, 72.07%, 81.22% and 65.12%, respectively; The total myopia rate of students was 47.81%; The myopia rate of girls was higher than that of boys in all grades; The myopia rates of elementary and middle schools increased with the growth of grades; The percentage of high myopia increased from 2.40% in elementary schools to 16.51% in high schools with the growth of grades.CONCLUSION: The myopia rate in different stages of the same region is different, and it tends to rise with the gronth of grades; Girls have a higher myopia rate than boys; Compared to the results of the national survey on myopia in different grades of children and adolescents in 2018, the myopia rate in the same region has decreased significantly in 2021 of the elementary school level, although myopia rate of middle school and high school stage do not rise, the decline is not obvious.

Prognostic value of ECOG performance status and Gleason score in the survival of castration-resistant prostate cancer: a systematic review / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and Gleason score are commonly investigated factors for overall survival (OS) in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, there is a lack of consistency regarding their prognostic or predictive value for OS. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to assess the associations of ECOG performance status and Gleason score with OS in CRPC patients and compare the two markers in patients under different treatment regimens or with different chemotherapy histories. A systematic literature review of monotherapy studies in CRPC patients was conducted in the PubMed database until May 2019. The data from 8247 patients in 34 studies, including clinical trials and real-world data, were included in our meta-analysis. Of these, twenty studies reported multivariate results and were included in our main analysis. CRPC patients with higher ECOG performance statuses (≥ 2) had a significantly increased mortality risk than those with lower ECOG performance statuses (<2), hazard ratio (HR): 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68-2.62, and P < 0.001. The synthesized HR of OS stratified by Gleason score was 1.01, with a 95% CI of 0.62-1.67 (Gleason score ≥ 8 vs <8). Subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in pooled HRs for patients administered taxane chemotherapy (docetaxel and cabazitaxel) and androgen-targeting therapy (abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide) or for patients with different chemotherapy histories. ECOG performance status was identified as a significant prognostic factor in CRPC patients, while Gleason score showed a weak prognostic value for OS based on the available data in our meta-analysis.

Relationship between the intake of salt and salted food and the infection of Helicobacter pylori in 40-69 years old local residents in a county with high gastric cancer risk in Anhui Province / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the intake of salt and salted food and the infection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) among 40-69 years old local residents in a county with high gastric cancer risk in Anhui province. Methods From July 2015 to August 2018, we conducted a questionnaire and a serological test for Hp among 40-69 years old local residents in Lujiang county, Anhui province. The questionnaire focused on the consumptions of salt and salted food. The relationship between Hp infection and risk factors was analyzed by gender. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relevant influencing factors. Results The Hp infection rate of total local residents was 50.07%. Among male subjects, age, body mass index(BMI), marital status, educational level, job, labor intensity and income had no link to Hp infection (all P>0.05). But among female subjects, BMI was associated with Hp infection ( 2=13.454,P=0.001). Besides, alcohol consumption was a risk factor for Hp infection in male subjects(OR=1.789，95% CI:1.188-2.694，P=0.003). But, high intake of salt and salted food had no effect on Hp infection after adjustment for alcohol consumption variable in men using multivariate analysis (all P>0.05). After adjusted for BMI variable among female individuals, high salt intake (≥9 g/day) (OR=1.462，95% CI:1.060-2.015，P=0.021) and the high salted food intake (≥1 times /day) were risk factors for Hp infection in women(OR=1.560，95% CI:1.021-2.383，P=0.040). Conclusions In one county with high gastric cancer risk in Anhui province, high salt intake (≥9 g/day) and high salted food intake (≥1 times/day) are risk factors for Hp infection among 40-69 years old female local residents.

Effect of continuous light on reproductive rhythm of rats and intervention effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 医学研究生学报

Objective Light acts as an important zeitgeber and regulates the body's circadian rhythm.Excessive lighting at night leads to light pollution,which interferes with the circadian rhythm and thus adversely affects the body.To observe the adverse effect of continuous light on female reproductive endocrinology and explore effective treatment,the animal experiment was carried out.Methods 185 sexual maturity female SD rats in the age of 2 months with normal estrous cycle were enrolled.60 rats were selected randomly and enrolled into control group.Normal illumination conditions were given.The remaining rats were given 300±20lux light intensity for 24h/d last for 50 days to get reproductive rhythm disorder model.The model rats (100) were randomly divided into models group (n =50) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) group (n =50).Traditional Chinese Medicine group was treated with sequential TCM.At last we get 50 rats enrolled into model group and herbal group respectively.The TCM group rats were given therapy of nourishing yin and tonifying yang sequential TCM,while the two other groups were gavaged the same volume of physiological saline.The estrous cycle was observed in all groups.20 days later,blood were collected dynamically and E2 (estradiol),P (progesterone),LH (Luteinizing Hormone),FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)and melatonin were compared to evaluate the therapeutic effect of TCM.Finally,try to explain the mechanism of TCM's effect from the perspective of melatonin.Results At the first day,E2 was lower in TCM group and models group than control group (P＜ 0.05).At the second day,E2 was higher in traditional Chinese Medicine group than control group (9＜0.05).At the third day,E2 was higher in TCM group and models group than that in control group (P＜ 0.05).Progesterone in control group showed low level in pre-estrous and estrous period and elevated in the late stage of estrous.Progesterone showed no obvious change during the estrous cycle in TCM group and models group.At the third and fourth day,Progesterone was significantly lower in models group than TCM group and control group.At the first day,LH in models group [(249.8±50.2)mIU/mL] and TCM group [(83.4±37.3)mIU/mL] were significantly lower than control group [(430.0± 100.4)mIU/mL] (P＜0.05).At the first day,FSH in models group and TCM group were significantly lower than control group (P＜0.05).At the fourth day,FSH in TCM group was significantly lower than control group and models group (P＜0.05).Compared the melatonin among three groups,the circadian rhythm was high at night but low in the day in control group.The highest level was nearly 5 times higher than the lowest level.Neither the models group nor the TCM group had obvious recent rhythm changes.Conclusion Continuous light can induce disordered estrous cycle and loss of rhythm.Traditional Chinese Medicine can somehow induce circulation reconstruction.Continuous light can induce disordered endocrine,E2,FSH,LH surge abnormal,ovulation failure,luteal phase defect.TCM can induce ovulation and luteal support.Continuous light can destroy melatonin circadian rhythm and TCM can increase melatonin,which could be the mechanism of TCM's effect.

Efficacy and safety of pre-hospital use of hemagglutinin in patients with craniocerebral trauma and scalp laceration / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To discuss the efficacy and safety of pre-hospital use of hemagglutinin in patients with craniocerebral trauma and scalp laceration.Methods Totally 100 patients with craniocerebral trauma and scalp laceration who were admitted into our hospital from De -cember 2014 to December 2017 were selected as the object of study.These patients were divided into the hemagglutinin group and the control group with 50 cases in each group according to the random number table method.The control group was given conventional first aid treatment, while the hemagglutinin group was given pre-hospital use of hemagglutinin on the basis of conventional first aid treatment.Then,the efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared.Results The hemoglobin(Hb),hematocrit(HCT),platelet aggregation rate(PAR)of the he-magglutinin group were significantly higher than those of the control group after treatment,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),fibrinogen(FIB)levels and embolism complication rates of the hemagglutinin group and the control group were basically the same after treatment,and the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The hypotension rate and poor prognosis of Glasgow outcome score(GOS)of the hemagglutinin group were significantly lower than those of the control group with statistically significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion Pre-hospital use of hemagglutinin can effectively improve the hemostatic effect in patients with traumatic brain injury and scalp laceration,and it is beneficial to improve the hypotension and prognosis of patients with high safety.

Mechanisms of Lung Cancer Caused By Cooking Fumes Exposure: A Minor Review / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Cooking fumes (CFs) are mixtures of many toxic components, such as aldehydes, heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fat aerosols and particulate matters. CFs exposure has been proven to be associated with many diseases. Lung cancer takes the leading place among the diseases being reported caused by CFs exposure. Molecular and biochemical studies have found that CFs exposure may lead to lung cancer by gene damage, formation of reactive oxygen species, blockage of related proteins' function, and even cell death. However, reviews about the mechanisms of how CFs exposure leads to lung cancer are still lacking. Elucidation of the mechanisms of lung cancer caused by CFs exposure may provide a new insight into the prevention of lung cancer caused by CFs exposure, as well as laying the foundation for the toxicity study of CFs. In this minor review, the mechanisms of how CFs exposure leads to lung cancer were summarized and discussed.

Efficacy and safety of Wanfeile in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: Report of 100 cases and review of the literature / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical effect and safety of Wanfeile in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).@*METHODS@#Totally 100 ED patients received oral Wanfeile at 100 mg, once every 3 days, for a course of 3 months. We compared the IIEF-5 scores of the patients before and after medication and among the patients with different degrees of ED. We evaluated the total clinical effectiveness of Wanfeile and analyzed adverse reactions.@*RESULTS@#The total effectiveness rate of Wanfeile was 95.6%. All the patients showed significant improvement in the IIEF-5 scores after treatment as compared with the baseline (P <0.05). Adverse reactions were observed in 5 cases (5.50%), all mild and transient.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Wanfeile is safe and efficacious for the treatment of ED.

Population pharmacokinetics and its application in new drug research / 药学学报

Population pharmacokinetics is an emerging discipline developed from the combination of classical pharmacokinetic compartment model and statistics principles, which has been received more and more attention in recent years. Population pharmacokinetics plays important roles in all stages of new drug research. In the early preclinical phase, population pharmacokinetic analysis can help to achieve the preliminary prediction of parameters from animal to human, optimize clinical trial designs, and shorten the time required for new drugs from laboratory to clinical trials. In clinical trials and applications stage, population pharmacokinetic research can help researchers investigate the related covariates that affecting pharmacokinetic behavior of patients comprehensively, and find potential drug-drug interactions in clinical. In addition, population pharmacokinetics has a unique advantage in pediatric drug development due to its strong analysis ability of sparse data. This paper provides a summary on the history and methods of population pharmacokinetics, and the application in new drug discovery and development.

Renal protection of Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule on membranous nephropathy rats and effects on expression of Bcl-2 and Bad in renal tissue / 中草药

Objective: To observe the effects of Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule on blood biochemical indexes and expression of Bcl-2 and Bad in membranous nephropathy (MN) rats, explore the renal protective effects and possible mechanism of Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule on MN rats. Methods: Total 60 SD rats were randomly selected, 10 for normal group, the other 50 for MN model establishment, then randomly divided into model group, Benazepril group, and Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule group (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), each group was treated according to the corresponding dose. The 24 h urinary protein quantitative (UTP), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr) in rats in the 4th weekend were tested; The renal pathological morphology changes were observed by electron microscope and immunofluorescence technique, and detecting the expression of Bcl-2, Bad by immunohistochemical and real-time PCR methods. Results: Compared with the model group, UTP, TC, and TG in the treatment groups were lower (P 0.05), and the effect was better than Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule 25 mg/kg group (P 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA significantly raised (P 0.05), and the effect was better than that in Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule 25mg/kg group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The renal protection of Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule on MN rats may be related to the function of raising the expression of Bcl-2, downgrading the expression of Bad, inhibiting the sertoli cell apoptosis, and repairing the damaged cells.

The influence of interfered circadian rhythm on pregnancy and neonatal rats / 生理学报

The aim of this study was to observe the influence of interfered circadian rhythm on pregnancy of rats and growth of neonatal rats, and to explore the relationship between the interfered circadian rhythm and the changes of melatonin and progesterone. Continuous light was used to inhibit melatonin secretion and therefore the interfered circadian rhythm animal model was obtained. The influence of interfered circadian rhythm on delivery of pregnant rats was observed. Serum was collected from rats during different stages of pregnancy to measure the concentrations of melatonin and progesterone. In order to observe the embryo resorption rate, half of pregnant rats were randomly selected to undergo a laparotomy, and the remainder was used to observe delivery and assess the growth of neonatal rats after delivery. The results showed that the interfered circadian rhythm induced adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, including an increase of embryo resorption rate and a decrease in the number of live births; inhibited the secretion of melatonin along with decreased serum progesterone level; prolonged the stage of labor, but not the duration of pregnancy; and disturbed the fetal intrauterine growth and the growth of neonatal rats. The results suggest that interfered circadian rhythm condition made by continuous light could make adverse effects on both pregnant rats and neonatal rats. The results of our study may provide a way to modulate pregnant women's circadian rhythm and a possibility of application of melatonin on pregnant women.

Relevant studies on effect of Fuzheng Sanjie recipe in regulating immune microenvironment remodeling of TAMs in Lewis lung cancer mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Fuzheng Sanjie recipe in regulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in Lewis lung cancer mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Efforts were made to establish the Lewis lung cancer mouse model, weigh tumors and calculate the anti-tumor rate. The immunohistochemical method was used to examine the infiltration degree of CD68 + in tumor tissues in each group. ELISA was used to examine the content of IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-4, IL-13, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α in mice serum.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the tumor-bearing model group, all of the other groups showed higher tumor inhibition rates, i. e. 50.28% for the DDP group, 34.37% for the TCM-preventing group and 66.76% for the Chinese and western medicine group, with statistical difference (P < 0.05), but without statistical difference in the infiltration degree of CD68+. The expressions of the IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12 in tumor-bearing groups were lower than that in the blank control group, but with higher contents of IL-4, IL-13, TGF-β. Intervened with different drugs, there were significant differences in content among some relevant cytokines (P < 0.05), as well as statistical differences among the TCM prevention group, the Chinese and western medicine group and the tumor-bearing control group (P <0. 05) , but without statistical difference in TNF-α and IL-10 content from the tumor-bearing control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fuzheng Sanjie recipe could reverse the immune remodeling effect and control the tumor growth by down-regulating the expressions of IL-4, IL-13, TGF-α in lung cancer immune microenvironment and up-regulating the expression of IFN-γ.</p>

Towards prenatal biomonitoring in Nanjing, China: lead and cadmium levels in the duration of pregnancy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Prenatal lead and cadmium exposure will not only influence the mother' organ systems, but also will provide an environment that may influence the fetus and neonate in a harmful way.In the present study, we detected the blood lead levels (BLLS) and cadmium levels for the duration of pregnancy and 6-12 weeks after delivery and to analyze the influencing factors of BLLs in healthy pregnant women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cohort study survey was carried out. We recruited 174 healthy pregnant women without pregnancy or obstetric complications or abnormal pregnancy outcomes as the gravida group, and 120 healthy non-pregnant women as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lead concentrations in the three pregnancy trimesters and in the postpartum period were: (5.98 ± 2.43), (5.54 ± 2.01), (5.59 ± 1.97), and (6.76 ± 1.74) µg/dl; and (6.75 ± 2.13) µg/dl in the control group. The cadmium concentrations in the three pregnancy trimesters and postpartum period were 1.61 ± 0.45, 1.63 ± 0.46, 1.64 ± 0.49, and 1.67 ± 0.57. We found that the BLLs in the gravida group were lower than in the control group during all three trimesters. Occupations, supplement nutritional elements (dietary supplements and nutritional (food) elements), and the time of house painting could affect BLLs in pregnant women. Lead-related occupations, using cosmetics, and living in a house painted more recently than one year previously are risk factors of high BLLs among pregnant women, while calcium, iron, zinc, and milk supplements are protective factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These findings may help people, especially pregnant women, to reduce lead exposure via supplements of calcium, iron, zinc, and milk or avoiding contacting risk factors.</p>

Advances in the study of mincle, a new C-type lectin receptor / 中华实验眼科杂志

Macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (mincle receptor) is a novel unclassical C-type lectin receptor member,which is mainly expressed on the surface of antigen presenting cells.Under the stimulation of fungus,mycobacterium tuberculosis and necrotic cells,mincle receptor plays anatural immune effect in host body by binding to relevant ligand and activate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway,which promotes the expression of many inflammatory factors.Up to now,the laboratory and clinical studies on mincle receptor and infected diseases is being a hot topic.However,these study is lack in ophthalmology.Understanding the association of mincle receptor to infected eye diseases will offer a new approach to the immunotherapy.The basic concept,acting mechanism,its relationship to inflammatory eye diseases and outlook in ophthalmology of mincle receptor were reviewed in this paper.

Prognostic effect of postoperative resection-margin status for intraoperative positive resection margins in patients with advanced gastric cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate prognostic effect of postoperative resection-margin status for intraoperatively positive resection margin in advanced gastric cancer and discuss the treatment choice for intraoperatively positive resection margins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was investigated in 64 advanced gastric cancer patients with positive resection margin after potentially curative resection. The survival between 50 patients who was re-excised to a negative resection margin (NR group) and 14 patients who were left with positive resection margin (PR group) was compared. Prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median survival in the PR group was 17.0 months (95%CI: 11.6 - 22.4) as compared with 23.0 months (95%CI: 20.5 - 25.5) in the NR group (P = 0.045). However, resection-margin status lost significance on multivariate analysis. In the subgroup of D2 lymphadenectomy, the median survival in the PR group and NR group were 17.0 months (95%CI: 12.0 - 22.0) and 24.0 months (95%CI: 19.8 - 28.1) respectively; multivariate analysis further identified resection margin status as an independent prognostic factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Re-excision for intraoperatively positive margin to negative margin improves the prognosis of the patients with advanced gastric cancer, and re-excision is the first choice when intraoperative frozen section detects a positive margin. Routine frozen section of resection margin should be mandatory in all advanced gastric cancer undergoing potentially curative surgery.</p>

Early outcome of one-stage posterior transpedicular hemi-vertebra resection in the treatment of children with congenital scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the early outcomes of children with congenital scoliosis treated by one-stage transpedicular hemi-vertebra resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July 2005 to June 2006, 27 consecutive cases of congenital scoliosis managed by one-stage transpedicular hemi-vertebra resection with instrumentation were investigated retrospectively. There were 11 girls and 16 boys, with a mean age of 5.5 years at surgery (range 1.3 - 10.0 years). Location of the hemi-vertebra was in the thoracic spine in 12 cases and in the lumbar spine in 15 cases. Radiographic evaluations were performed on the preoperative, postoperative, and latest follow-up standing posteroanterior and lateral radiographs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average operation time was 4 hours (range 3-6 hours), and the mean blood loss during operation was 750 ml (range 300 - 2200 ml). The mean fusion level was 2 to 7 segments, average 4.4 segments. The average follow-up period was 16 months (range 12 - 34 months). Mean Cobb angle of the total main curve was 40.0° before surgery, 12.6° after surgery, and 15.2° at latest follow-up. Mean Cobb angle of the segmental main curve was 35.6° before surgery, 11.6° after surgery, and 12.1° at latest follow-up. The trunk shift was improved from 16.5 mm before operation to that of 7.5 mm after the operation and 7.6 mm at the latest follow-up. Compensatory cranial curve improved from 19.4° before surgery to 8.9° after surgery, and compensatory caudal curve improved from 26.3° to 12.8°. The angle of segmental kyphosis was 26.4° before surgery and 14.6° after surgery in cases with thoracic hemivertebrae, and averaged 11.2° before surgery and 3.9° after surgery in cases with lumbar hemivertebrae. Peri-operative complications included two pedicle screws malpositioning and one case with pelvic tilt. There was no neurological complication.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One-stage transpedicular hemi-vertebra resection with instrumentation has a good capability of correcting deformity on the frontal and sagittal planes, which is available in children with middle or lower thoracic or lumbar hemivertebrae.</p>

The anatomic study and clinical significance of the modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To put some improvements to the traditional transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and discuss its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Completed the traditional posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and TLIF procedure in 12 fresh cadavers, dissect further to expose the surrounding anatomical structures, and put the modified TLIF surgery according to the anatomical findings. And simulated the operation in 12 fresh cadavers, analyzed its feasibility and potential advantages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The early anatomical study found that the related nerve root was in a state of high tension and certain risk of injury when completed the traditional PLIF and TLIF surgery, and found certain operational area between the superior articular process and the midline structures of the spinous processes and interspinous ligaments. Put the modified TLIF surgical approach according to the anatomical findings, which the operating area is located in PLIF outside and TLIF inside. As the following words: Take a posterior-middle incision, preserve the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, and the spinous processes, dissect the bilateral paravertebral muscle, expose lamina and facet joints, not including transverse process, and remove unilateral inferior two third lamina, inferior articular process and expose the articular surface of the superior articular process, then dispose the intervertebral space for interbody fusion obliquely in the unilateral approach. Successfully completed the modified TLIF procedure in 12 fresh cadavers, the results showed that the technique has the following advantages. (1) Only remove unilateral inferior two third lamina and inferior articular process, preserve the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, and the spinous processes, not expose the transverse process. (2) Both central canal, and lateral recess and nerve root canal of the operative side can be decompressed effectively simultaneously. (3) Avoid excessive traction to the thecal sac and traversing nerve roots and decrease the injury rate due to the reservation of the midline structures and the oblique manipulation, and less injury rate of the exiting nerve root, because of not necessary to expose it routinely.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The modified TLIF is safe and feasible, could effectively reduce the nerve roots injuries. Maybe it's a better choice for most of the Chinese patients at present.</p>

Misplacement patterns of the pedicle screws in surgical correction of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate and analyze the misplacement patterns of the pedicle screws in surgical correction of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>For this study, 70 consecutive cases of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by posterior instrumented spinal fusion with pedicle screws were investigated from July 2008 to September 2008. Postoperative CT scans were performed in all cases. The patients included 58 girls and 12 boys, with a mean age of 14.5 +/- 2.7 years at surgery (range 12 - 19 years). Pedicle screws were inserted using anatomic landmark with free hand technique. A number of parameters were measured using PacsClient software (PACS) on workstation, which included distances of the penetration of medial, lateral pedicle cortex and anterior vertebral cortex. The distance between edge of aorta and tip of screw should be measured if left pedicle screw penetrated lateral pedicle cortex or anterior vertebral cortex. Misplacement screws with > 2 mm of either pedicular cortex perforation and grievous screws with >4 mm of medial pedicle perforation or contour of aorta were defined. The influencing factors for misplacement screws were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1030 pedicle screws were inserted, 773 in thoracic pedicle and 257 in lumbar pedicle. There were 108 (10.5%) misplacement screws, 35 of which penetrated lateral pedicle cortex, 56 of which penetrated medial pedicle cortex, 33 of which penetrated vertebral anterior cortex. Misplacement screw rate of apical vertebra, 5 segments above apical vertebra (AV-5s) and 4 segments below apical vertebra (AV + 4s) were higher than other levels. Most of grievous screws were placed in apical vertebra region.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The risk factors for misplacement screws included Cobb angle > 90 degrees and vertebrae rotation extent up to III-IV. Care should be exercised during pedicle screw instrumentation in the apical region of the main thoracic curve, AV-5s region and AV + 4s region.</p>

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms: no association with low bone mineral density in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis girls / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms with low bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) girls.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were obtained from 146 AIS girls and 146 healthy girls. Anthropometric parameters of AIS group including age, body height, weight and Cobb angle were all recorded. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to detect and analyze VDR gene distributions of AIS group and control group. BMD of the lumbar spine (L(1)-L(4)) and proximal femur were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in AIS group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of Bb genotype was significantly higher in patients than that in controls (P < 0.05). There was no distinction among the lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD of each genotype in AIS group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VDR gene polymorphisms have no association with the low spine lumbar and proximal femur BMD in AIS girls.</p>

Association analysis of the parkin gene in patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease from a Han population of Sichuan province / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether there are any associations between the -258T/G polymorphism of the promoter and the IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism in parkin gene and Parkinson's disease (PD) from a Han population in Sichuan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(dHPLC) and sequence analysis were used to determine the genotype of each subject. The -258T/G polymorphism and IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism were analysed in 198 patients with sporadic PD and 187 healthy controls, matched for age and gender.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in allele frequency of the -258T/G polymorphism between PD patients and controls, with the G allele more common in cases than controls (52.5% vs 43.3%; chi square is 6.17, P< 0.025, OR is 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-1.86). There were also significant differences in G allele frequency between PD patients with onset age over 50 years old and controls(chi square is 9.048, P< 0.01, OR is 1.57, 95% CI:1.08-2.06). The frequency of TG+GG genotype was significantly higher in PD patients than in controls (78.79% vs 69.51%; chi square is 3.854, P< 0.05, OR is 1.63, 95% CI:0.88-2.38). In addition, there were significant differences in age of onset between PD patients with different genotypes (P< 0.05). The average age of onset in group of GG genotype was later about 5 years compared with the group of TT or TG genotype. The frequency of CC genotype in IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism was much higher than that of TC genotype. No TT genotype was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study suggests that the parkin promoter -258T/G polymorphism might be a risk factor for late onset PD in Sichuan. CC genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is common in Sichuan Han population. No TT genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is found in Sichuan Han population.</p>

The effect of acupuncture at the acupoint Sanyinjiao on brain function as revealed by the functional magnetic resonance imaging / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at Sanyinjiao with functional magnetic reso- nance imaging(fMRI),analyse the regulating effect of the acupoint Sanyinjiao on various brain areas,explore the mechanisms of Sanyinjiao(SP.6) acupuncture in treating diseases.Methods Eight right-handed healthy volun- teers were scanned at 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner while they were aeupunctured at the right Sany- injiao acupoint.Image data were co-registered to correct head motion,spatial normalization and deconverlution analy- sis were conducted.Functional activation maps were generated.Results There observed certain activation in both sides of medial frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus,left inferior frontal gyrus,both sides of paracentral lobule, precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus,left inferior parietal lobule,both sides of preeuneus,right middle temporal gy- rus,right cingulated gyrus,posterior cingulated gyrus,both sides of superior temporal gyrus,transverse temporal gy- rus,insula and thalamus.Conclusion Acupuncturing the Sanyinjiao can lead to the functional changes in parietal lobe,frontal lobe,temporal lobe and insula,precuneus,cingulated gyrus,thalamus,which are closely related to the therapeutical effects of Sanyinjiao.The phenomenon that needling Sanyinjiao can activate certain brain areas proved the correlation between acupoint and corresponding brain cortices.