The development and in vivo validation of an external fixation device with standardized micromotion for accelerating fracture healing.

Micromotion can accelerate fracture healing, with critical parameters being range of motion, frequency of motion, duration of motion, as well as initial timing of the motion. However, these parameters of micromotion have not been optimized. It is because in previous studies large animals were used. The displacement among fracture fragments caused by animal activity brings a considerable systemic error to experimental data. Also, the sample size is limited by time and cost. Thus, the rat with femur fracture can be a good animal model in investigating this problem as its advantages on high consistency of experimental results, short convalescence, and low maintenance cost. The challenge in using a small animal model in the micromotion study include 1) highly specific stiffness of the fixator; 2) lightweight fixator to bring less interference to animal's activity; 3) high accuracy on measurement method. This study aims to solve this problem by integrating 1) an aluminum fixator with a solid construction; 2) a modularized experimental device with dismountable parts; 3) a non-contact measurement model based on video identification technology. Our preliminary validation results confirmed the reliability and reproducibility of the external fixation device used in the investigation on the effect of applied micromotion on bone healing.

Microbial ingress and in vitro degradation enhanced by glucose on bioabsorbable Mg-Li-Ca alloy.

Biodegradable magnesium alloys are challenging to be implanted in patients with hyperglycemia and diabetes. A hypothesis is suggested that glucose accelerates microbial ingress and in vitro degradation of Mg-Li-Ca implants. Corrosion resistance and mechanical properties was demonstrated using electrochemical, hydrogen evolution and tensile tests. The bacteria from Hank's solution were isolated via 16S rRNA gene analysis. The results revealed that Mg-1Li-1Ca alloy exhibited different responses to Hank's solution with and without glucose. The solution acidity was ascribed to Microbacterium hominis and Enterobacter xiangfangensis, indicating that glucose promoted microbial activity and degradation and deterioration in mechanical property of Mg-1Li-1Ca alloy.

[Study on GLI values of Polygonatum odoratum base on multi-temporal of unmanned aerial vehicle remote sensing].

Unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) remote sensing and vegetation index have great potential in the field of Chinese herbal medicine planting. In this study, the visible light image of Polygonatum odoratum planting area in Changyi district of Jilin province were acquired by UAV, and the real-time monitoring of P. odoratum planting area was realized. The green leaf index(GLI) was established, and GLI values of P. odoratum were collected used the spatial sampling points. To compare the GLI values in different periods, it was found that the GLI values of P. odoratum have three stages changing rule of rising-gentle-falling related to the germination, vigorous growth and withered of P. odoratum growth. Meanwhile, the GLI values were compared with four biomass data of P. odoratum, including plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content in leaves, and it was found that the GLI value was related to the growth potential of P. odoratum. The GLI value with a rapid increase in rising stage or at a high level in the gentle stage means the P. odoratum was in a better growth potential. GLI value has a same change trend with plant height, and has certain correlation with plant height and leaf area. However, there is no obvious relationship between chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in leaves and GLI value. The study clarified the change rule of GLI value of P. odoratum, explained the reason for the change of GLI value, and expanded the application range of GLI. The research shows that UAV and vegetation index can be applied to monitoring the Chinese herbal medicines planting, and provides a new idea for exploring more effective information extraction methods of Chinese herbal medicines.

Monitoring results of soil-transmitted nematodiasis in national surveillance site of Huaiyang County in Henan Province,2006-2015 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the epidemic situation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis in the national surveillance site in Henan Province. Methods Over 1000 fecal samples from inhabitants in Huaiyang County of Henan Province,which was a national surveillance site,were collected each year from 2006 to 2015,the eggs of soil-transmitted nematodes and other intesti-nal helminths were examined by Kato-Kats technique. The cellophane swab method was used to detect Enterobius vermicularis eggs in children aged 3 to 12 years. In addition,the soil samples were collected from vegetable fields,lavatories,courtyards and kitchens of 10 families randomly selected in each year to examine Ascaris eggs by a modified saturated sodium nitrate floatation method. Results From 2006 to 2015,10419 persons were investigated,and the eggs of five species of intestinal helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides,Trichuris trichiura,hookworm,E. vermicularis,and Trichostrongylus orientalis,were detected,The aver-age infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes in residents in Huaiyang County was 3.69%. The intensity of infection was mild and a family clustering was obvious. Both the infection rates of E. vermicularis in children and soil-transmitted nematodes in vil-lagers had no significant differences between different genders (both P>0.05). The infection rates of soil-transmitted nema-todes,A. lumbricoides and E. vermicularis all reached the highest in the age group of 1-10 years. For different education back-ground,the people with primary school education had the highest infection rate,and the infection rate showed a decreasing trend with the increase of the educational level. The infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes in the national surveillance site in Henan Province showed a decreasing trend from 2006 to 2015. Unfertilized and fertilized A. lumbricoides eggs were detected in the soil samples,but the positive rate was very low. Conclusions In the recent 10 years,the infection rate of soil-transmit-ted nematodes in the national surveillance site in Henan Province shows a decreasing trend and maintains at a low level. The in-fection shows a family clustering. The children,especially those aged 3-9 years are the main infected population,and E. vermic-ularis infection is the key point of prevention and control.

Survey and analysis of epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in eco-logical region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province in 2015 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in the ecological region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province. Methods According to the scheme of The 3rd National Survey of Principal Human Parasites made by National Institute of Parasitic Diseases,the survey was performed based on the ecological regions. The stratified cluster sampling was made combined with the economic and geographical conditions. The infections of intestinal helminths and protozoans in per-manent residents were respectively detected by Kato-Kats technique and iodine solution. Trichuris trichiura infection was detect-ed by the cellophane swab method in children aged 3 to 6 years. Results Totally 6710 residents in 26 survey spots from 9 coun-ties were detected,in which 528 children aged 3 to 6 years were detected for T. trichiura infection. Eleven kinds of parasites were found in this survey,including 5 species of helminthes and 6 species of protozoans. The infection rates of overall parasites, helminthes and protozoans were respectively 1.65%,1.07%and 0.61%. The infection rate of T. trichiura in the children aged 3 to 6 years was 3.79%. Only 0.10 percent of the infections were co-infection,and all were infected by 2 kinds of parasites. The principal parasites in this district were Ascaris lumbricoides(0.31%),Blastocystis hominis(0.28%)and hookworm(0.27%). The T. trichiura infection rate among children was 3.79% by the cellophane swab method. The infections of protozoans were found in all age groups. In the group aged 9 years and below,the maximum kinds of parasites were found. Conclusion The in-fection rates of principal human parasites in Huaiyang hilly ecological region of Henan have decreased sharply ,but more efforts still should be paid on the prevention and control of parasitosis in children.

In vitro corrosion of pure magnesium and AZ91 alloy-the influence of thin electrolyte layer thickness.

In vivo degradation predication faces a huge challenge via in vitro corrosion test due to the difficulty for mimicking the complicated microenvironment with various influencing factors. A thin electrolyte layer (TEL) cell for in vitro corrosion of pure magnesium and AZ91 alloy was presented to stimulate the in vivo corrosion in the micro-environment built by the interface of the implant and its neighboring tissue. The results demonstrated that the in vivo corrosion of pure Mg and the AZ91 alloy was suppressed under TEL condition. The AZ91 alloy was more sensitive than pure Mg to the inhibition of corrosion under a TEL thickness of less than 200 µm. The TEL thickness limited the distribution of current, and thus localized corrosion was more preferred to occur under TEL condition than in bulk solution. The TEL cell might be an appropriate approach to simulating the in vivo degradation of magnesium and its alloys.

[Molecular structure and alternative splicing analysis of heat shock factors of Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To clone and identify the heat shock factors (HSFs) of Schistosoma japonicum and analyze its molecular structure and alternative splicing pattern. METHODS: The New Zealand rabbits were infected with the cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum and were killed and dissected 42 days post-infection, and the adult worms of S. japonicum and the livers of the rabbits were harvested. Then, the total RNA was extracted by using Trizol reagent. The Sj-hsf open reading frame (ORF) and the alternative splicing fragments were amplified by RT-PCR from the female, male and egg samples, then cloned and verified by enzyme digestion and sequencing. DNAMAN 8.0, InterPro, Mega 6 combined with the Internet databases were utilized to clarify the gene structure, functional domains, alternative splicing pattern, and the homology and phylogenetic tree of HSFs. RESULTS: Sj-hsf ORF and the alternative splicing fragments were amplified from the female, male and egg samples of S. japonicum by RT-PCR. After cloning, the positive recombinant plasmids pBSjHSFf-F, pBSjHSFf-M, pBSjHSFf-E containing Sj-hsf ORF, pBSjHSFs-F, pBSjHSFs-M, pBSjHSFs-E with Sj-hsf alternative splicing fragments were identified by enzyme digestion and sequencing. Three alternative splicing Sj-hsf isoforms were observed through sequence analysis: Sj-hsf-isoform1 (2 050 bp), Sj-hsf -isoform2 (2 086 bp) and Sj - hsf -isoform3 (2 111 bp); the GenBank accession numbers were KU954546, KX119143 and KX119144, respectively. All the three isoforms located in the same Contig SJC_S000780 of S. japonicum genome and all expressed at female, male and egg stages, but Sj-hsf-isoform1 with a high-level expression. Sj-HSF-isoform1 (671 aa) and Sj-HSF-isoform2 (683 aa) had DBD (DNA binding domain), HR-A/B and HR-C domains, while Sj-HSF-isoform3 (282 aa) stopped in advance without HR-C domain. Phylogenetic tree analysis of HSFs illustrated that Sj - HSFs belonged to HSF1 family, with a close phylogenetic relationship to Sm-HSFs. CONCLUSIONS: There are three alternative splicing isoforms of Sj-HSF existing in the female, male and egg stages of S. japonicum, but Sj-HSF-isoform1 expresses in a high-level. This study lays the foundation for further study on molecular mechanisms of Sj-HSFs in regulating the heat shock response system.

Clinical research on the correlations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal clear cell carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between renal clear cell carcinoma and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundreds and sixty-four patients with renal clear cell carcinoma and four hundred controls who suffered from non-urinary system, non-neoplastic or non-hormone-related disorders, were enrolled from January 2008 to December 2012. The incidence of diabetes between the 2 groups and the relationship between renal clear cell carcinoma and duration of diabetes were compared, moreover, renal clear cell carcinoma patients with DM were compared with patients without DM for their clinical features, laboratory examinations and histological characteristics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The comparison of renal clear cell carcinoma group and control group: the incidence of DM in the two groups were 19.7% and 12.8% respectively, and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 5.86, P < 0.05, OR = 1.68). In the renal clear cell carcinoma group, the proportion of patients with DM diagnosed within 2-4 years was 4.92%, which were significant higher than those in the control group 1.70% (χ(2) = 5.49, P < 0.05, OR = 2.91). And men with diabetes had high occurrence risk 86% of renal clear cell carcinoma (OR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.09-3.15). The comparison of diabetes patients subgroup and non-diabetic patients subgroup in renal clear cell carcinoma group: in respect of clinical features, greatest tumor diameter in the two subgroups were (4.9 ± 2.3) cm and (4.2 ± 2.1) cm respectively, and the difference was significant (t = 1.96, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in terms of age, gender and cancer location between the two subgroups (P > 0.05). In respect of laboratory examinations, serum creatinine in the two subgroups were (72 ± 20) µmol/L and (65 ± 17) µmol/L, and the difference was significant (t = 2.34, P < 0.05); serum urea nitrogen in the 2 subgroups were (7.1 ± 2.1) mmol/L and (6.0 ± 1.5) mmol/L respectively, and the difference was significant too (t = 1.47, P < 0.05). In respect of histological characteristics, the proportion of well differentiated clear cell carcinoma were 80.8% and 81.1% respectively, and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 4.23, P < 0.05). The proportion of stage II were 25.0% and 27.8% respectively and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 4.08, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DM is closely related with renal clear cell carcinoma and DM may be a possible risk factor for the tumor. And for elderly patients with diabetes who appear waist discomfort or hematuria, a careful examination of kidney is important to make early diagnosis, give timely treatment and improve survival prognosis.</p>