[Efficacy analysis of OLIF combined with posterior percutaneous internal fixation in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with or without redundant nerve roots].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of oblique lumbar interbody fusion(OLIF) combined with posterior percutaneous internal fixation in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with or without redundant nerve roots(RNRs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 92 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated by oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion combined with posterior percutaneous internal fixation from June 2019 to June 2022 was performed. There were 32 males and 60 females, aged from 44 to 82 years old with an average of (63.67±9.93) years old. All patients were divided into RNRs positive group and RNRs negative group according to redundancy or not before operation. There were 38 patients in RNRs positive group, including 15 males and 23 females. The age ranged from 45 to 82 years old with an average of (65.45±10.37) years old. The disease duration was 24.00(12.00, 72.00) months. There were 54 patients in RNRs negative group, including 17 males and 37 females. The age ranged from 44 to 77 years old with an average of (62.42±9.51) years old. The disease duration was 13.50(9.00, 36.00) months. The general data of patients were recorded, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complications. The imaging parameters before and after operation were observed, including the number of stenosis segments, intervertebral space height, lumbar lordosis angle and dural sac area. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the back and lower extremity pain, and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate the activities of daily living. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 8 to 18 months with an average of (11.04±3.61) months, and no complications were found during the follow-up period.The number of stenosis segments in RNRs positive group (1.71±0.46) was more than that in RNRs negative group(1.17±0.38). In RNRs positive group, intervertebral space height, dural sac area, low back pain VAS, lower extremity pain VAS, ODI score were (1.11±0.19) cm, (0.46±0.17) cm2, (5.39±1.00) scores, (5.05±1.01) points, (55.74±4.05) points, respectively. RNRs negative groups respectively (0.97±0.23) cm, (0.69±0.26) cm2, (4.50±0.77) scores, (4.00±0.58) scores, (47.33±3.43) %. In RNRs positive group, intervertebral space height, dural sac area, low back pain VAS, leg pain VAS, ODI score were (1.60±0.19) cm, (0.74±0.36) cm2, (3.39±0.72) scores, (3.05±1.01) scores, (46.74±4.82) scores, respectively. RNRs negative groups respectively (1.48±0.25) cm, (1.12±0.35) cm2, (3.00±0.82) scores, (3.00±0.82) scores, (37.67±3.58) %. The postoperative intervertebral space height, dural sac area, low back pain VAS score, lower extremity pain VAS and ODI score of the patients in the RNRs positive group and the negative group were significantly improved compared with those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the number of stenosed segments, preoperative intervertebral space height, dural sac area, low back pain VAS, lower extremity pain VAS, and ODI between the two groups(P<0.05). There were significant differences in postoperative intervertebral space height and postoperative ODI between the two groups(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in intervertebral space height before and after operation and ODI score before and after operation(P>0.05). There were significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative dural sac area, difference of dural sac area before and after operation, postoperative low back pain VAS, difference of low back pain VAS score before and after operation, difference of lower extremity pain VAS before and after operation between the two groups(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: OLIF combined with posterior percutaneous internal fixation has a good effect on patients with or without RNRs. Multi-segmental lumbar spinal stenosis and decreased dural sac area may lead to the occurrence of RNRs, and LSS patients with RNRs have more severe symptoms. LSS patients with RNRs have worse surgical outcomes than those without RNRs.

[Assessment of the current invasive situation of alien plants in semi-arid area of Northeast China]. / ä¸œåŒ—åŠå¹²æ—±åŒºå¤–æ¥æ¤ç‰©å ¥ä¾µçŽ°çŠ¶è¯„ä¼°.

Alien invasive plants have been found in the semi-arid region of Northeast China for a long time, but the overall invasion situation is rarely reported. In this study, we established a database of alien invasive plants in the semi-arid area of Northeast China through field investigation, specimen collection, research of specimen online information platform and literature. The results showed that there were 34 species of alien invasive plants belonging to 26 genera and 10 families in the semi-arid area of Northeast China, among which the Composite family had the largest number of richness, with 9 genera (34.6%) and 11 species (32.4%). There were 15 species (44.1%) in 11 genera (42.3%) of Legumes, Solanaceae and Gramineae. In all the alien invasive plants, 33 species were herbaceous plants, being overwhelmingly dominant (97.1%). There were both 7 species of countrywide invasive plants with invasive grade 1 and 2, each accounting for 20.6% of the total. The number of species with invasive grade 4 was the largest, 17 species, accounting for 50% of the total. The invasive plants originated in North America and Europe was the most, accounting for 64.7%, while those from South America, Asia and Africa accounted for 35.3%. Totally, 44.1% of all the invasive alien plants were intentionally introduced, while 55.9% were unintentionally introduced. In the semi-arid area of Northeast China, 81.3% of the counties (cities) had the distribution of alien invasive plants, and the invasion situation was very serious.

Hepatitis C virus infection:surveillance report from China Healthcare-as-sociated Infection Surveillance System in 2020 / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To investigate the infection status and changing trend of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection in hospitalized patients in medical institutions,and provide reference for formulating HCV infection prevention and control strategies.Methods HCV infection surveillance results from cross-sectional survey data reported to China Healthcare-associated Infection(HAI)Surveillance System in 2020 were summarized and analyzed,HCV positive was serum anti-HCV positive or HCV RNA positive,survey result was compared with the survey results from 2003.Results In 2020,1 071 368 inpatients in 1 573 hospitals were surveyed,738 535 of whom underwent HCV test,4 014 patients were infected with HCV,with a detection rate of 68.93％and a HCV positive rate of 0.54％.The positive rate of HCV in male and female patients were 0.60％and 0.48％,respectively,with a statistically sig-nificant difference(x2=47.18,P＜0.001).The HCV positive rate in the 50-＜60 age group was the highest(0.76％),followed by the 40-＜50 age group(0.71％).Difference among all age groups was statistically signifi-cant(x2=696.74,P＜0.001).In 2003,91 113 inpatients were surveyed.35 145 of whom underwent HCV test,resulting in a detection rate of 38.57％;775 patients were infected with HCV,with a positive rate of 2.21％.In 2020,HCV positive rates in hospitals of different scales were 0.46％-0.63％,with the highest in hospital with bed numbers ranging 600-899.Patients'HCV positive rates in hospitals of different scales was statistically signifi-cant(X2=35.34,P＜0.001).In 2020,12 provinces/municipalities had over 10 000 patients underwent HCV-rela-ted test,and HCV positive rates ranged 0.19％-0.81％,with the highest rate from Hainan Province.HCV posi-tive rates in different departments were 0.06％-0.82％,with the lowest positive rate in the department of pedia-trics and the highest in the department of internal medicine.In 2003 and 2020,HCV positive rates in the depart-ment of infectious diseases were the highest,being 7.95％and 3.48％,respectively.Followed by departments of orthopedics(7.72％),gastroenterology(3.77％),nephrology(3.57％)and general intensive care unit(ICU,3.10％)in 2003,as well as departments of gastroenterology(1.35％),nephrology(1.18％),endocrinology(0.91％),and general intensive care unit(ICU,0.79％)in 2020.Conclusion Compared with 2003,HCV positive rate decreased significantly in 2020.HCV infected patients were mainly from the department of infectious diseases,followed by departments of gastroenterology,nephrology and general ICU.HCV infection positive rate varies with gender,age,and region.

[Clinical significance and risk factors of redundant nerve root in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance and screen the risk factors of redundant nerve roots(RNRs) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 196 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in the department of Spinal Surgery, Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College from April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into RNRs positive group and RNRs negative group according to the presence of RNRs. The differences in general clinical data, imaging parameters, visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), and other indicators between the two groups were compared. The risk factors which are highly correlated with RNRs were screened by binary Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There were 59 cases in the RNRs positive group, with an occurrence rate of 29.95% (59/137), and 137 cases in the RNRs negative group. The incidence rate of RNRs in 196 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis was 30.10% (59/196). VAS and ODI scores of patients in the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05), and clinical symptoms of patients in the RNRs positive group were more severe than those in the RNRs negative group. There were significant differences in age, number of stenosis segments, average area of lumbar dural sac, area of the narrowest segment and the narrowest segment(P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the number of stenosis segments, the average median sagittal diameter of spinal canal, and the average area of dural sac in lumbar intervertebral space were correlated with the generation of RNRs (P<0.05). The regression coefficient of the number of stenosis segments was -1.115, the regression coefficient of the median sagittal diameter of the spinal canal was -1.707, and the regression coefficient of the mean dural sac area of the lumbar intervertebral space was 7.556. CONCLUSION: The clinical symptoms of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis accompanied by RNRs are more severe than those without them. The number of narrow segments, median sagittal diameter of the spinal canal, and the area of the lumbar intervertebral dural sac are the high-risk factors for RNRs, with the area of the lumbar intervertebral dural sac has the highest correlation.

Clinical significance and risk factors of redundant nerve root in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical significance and screen the risk factors of redundant nerve roots(RNRs) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 196 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in the department of Spinal Surgery, Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College from April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into RNRs positive group and RNRs negative group according to the presence of RNRs. The differences in general clinical data, imaging parameters, visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), and other indicators between the two groups were compared. The risk factors which are highly correlated with RNRs were screened by binary Logistic regression analysis.@*RESULTS@#There were 59 cases in the RNRs positive group, with an occurrence rate of 29.95% (59/137), and 137 cases in the RNRs negative group. The incidence rate of RNRs in 196 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis was 30.10% (59/196). VAS and ODI scores of patients in the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05), and clinical symptoms of patients in the RNRs positive group were more severe than those in the RNRs negative group. There were significant differences in age, number of stenosis segments, average area of lumbar dural sac, area of the narrowest segment and the narrowest segment(P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the number of stenosis segments, the average median sagittal diameter of spinal canal, and the average area of dural sac in lumbar intervertebral space were correlated with the generation of RNRs (P<0.05). The regression coefficient of the number of stenosis segments was -1.115, the regression coefficient of the median sagittal diameter of the spinal canal was -1.707, and the regression coefficient of the mean dural sac area of the lumbar intervertebral space was 7.556.@*CONCLUSION@#The clinical symptoms of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis accompanied by RNRs are more severe than those without them. The number of narrow segments, median sagittal diameter of the spinal canal, and the area of the lumbar intervertebral dural sac are the high-risk factors for RNRs, with the area of the lumbar intervertebral dural sac has the highest correlation.

Full-endoscopic spine surgery treatment of lumbar foraminal stenosis after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Few reports have described lumbar foraminal stenosis-induced radiculopathy after treatment by full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with vertebral compression fractures. We herein report such a case, including the patient's treatment process and doctor's surgical experience. CASE SUMMARY: A 79-year-old man presented with symptoms of radiculopathy after sustaining L4 vertebral compression fractures. Imaging and physical examination revealed L4 vertebral compression fractures combined with L3/4 Lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS). The patient's symptoms were low back pain with pain in the lateral left leg. Although many reports have described radiculopathy induced by osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, the use of FESS combined with PVP has rarely been reported. This case report indicates that the combination of FESS and PVP is a safe and effective approach for the treatment of LFS-induced radiculopathy after vertebral compression fractures. This minimally invasive technique has great potential to replace traditional lumbar fixation and decompression surgery. Thus, we suggest the continued accumulation of similar cases to discuss the wider application of FESS. CONCLUSION: For patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and LFS, PVP and FESS can be used to restore the vertebral height and reduce the pressure around the intervertebral foramen. Additionally, the combination of FESS and PVP can treat the pain or numbness of the low back and lower limbs and allow for recovery in a short time with excellent postoperative effects. In general, FESS is a good treatment for radiculopathy caused by foraminal stenosis after OVCF.

Chinese Medicine Involving Triple Rehabilitation Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in 696 Outpatients: A Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).@*METHODS@#A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally, using a cluster randomization design. Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA (electro-acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing, and traditional exercises) was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy (physical factor therapy, joint movement training, and muscle strength training) was administered in the control group. Patients with a visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≽4 were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets (7.5 mg, once daily). The Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, range of motion (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, knee joint circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints (before treatment, at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period, at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment), and adverse reactions were observed also.@*RESULTS@#A total of 696 patients completed the entire process, with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group. At all treatment checkpoints, the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores, effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores, VAS scores, lower limb muscle strength, knee circumference, quantitative scores of KOA symptoms, and SF-36 scores as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse reactions were encountered in this study.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling, improve lower limb muscle strength, promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA. It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002538).

[Relationship between alterations of spine-pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical outcomes after oblique lumbar interbody fusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between spine-pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical efficacy before and after oblique lumbar interbody fusion(OLIF). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 65 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases treated with OLIF were performed from July 2017 to July 2018. There were 26 males and 39 females aged from 33 to 79 years old with an average of (62.72±10.23) years old. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and at the latest follow up were evaluated. Disc height (DH) and spine- pelvic sagittal parameters of the surgical segment were measured before and at the latest follow- up, including pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS) and lumbar lordosis (LL). According to the difference of PI-LL, it was judged whether PI and LL match and the patients were grouped, PI-LL ranged from -9° to 9° was set as matching group, and PI-LL less than -9° or larger than 9° was set as mismatching group. The spine-pelvic sagittal parameters were analyzed before and at the latest follow-up of OLIF in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases, and the correlation between changes and clinical efficacy was compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 8 to 20 months with an average of (14.20±3.68) months. Operation time was (91.54±25.97) min, intraoperative blood loss was (48.15±10.14) ml, and the hospitalization time ranged from 6 to 19 days with an average of (9.28± 2.50) days. Totally 84 surgical levels, 46 patients were single segment and 19 patients were double segments. VAS and ODI score were improved from (4.88±0.99) point, (67.60±13.73) % preoperatively to (2.85±1.30) points, (30.57±6.48) % at the latest follow-up. There were significant differences in VAS and ODI scores between before and at the latest follow-up. The sagittal parameters of LL, PT, SS, PI, PI -LL and the surgical level DH were (42.80 ±16.35)° , (23.22 ±10.91)° , (26.95 ± 13.30)°, (50.22±14.51)°, (7.53±16.13) °, (0.91±0.29) cm preoperatively and improved to the latest follow-up (49.95± 12.82) °, (17.94±9.24) °, (33.71±12.66) °, (51.65±10.26) °, (1.68±17.00) °, (1.20±0.40) cm;there were statistical differences in LL, PT, SS, PI-LL, DH before operation and at the latest follow up, while no difference in PI. LL of preoperative PI-LL in matched group was (48.76±11.09)° , and (38.00±18.37)° in PI-LL mismatch group, there was difference between two groups. There were no differences in VAS, ODI, PT, SS, PI and DH between two groups. At the latest follow-up, ODI between PI-LL matched group and PI-LL mismatched group were (29.40±5.93)% and (32.86±7.02)% respectively, and had difference in ODI between two groups;while there were no significant differences in VAS, LL, PT, SS, PI, and DH. Pearson correlation analysis showed preoperative PT-LL was positively correlated with VAS;PT was positively correlated with ODI at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSION: OLIF has a good surgical effect on lumbar degenerative diseases, and could change spine-pelvic sagittal parameters of patient to a certain extent, and further restoring the balance of the sagittal plane of lumbar spine.

Relationship between alterations of spine-pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical outcomes after oblique lumbar interbody fusion / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship between spine-pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical efficacy before and after oblique lumbar interbody fusion(OLIF).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 65 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases treated with OLIF were performed from July 2017 to July 2018. There were 26 males and 39 females aged from 33 to 79 years old with an average of (62.72±10.23) years old. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and at the latest follow up were evaluated. Disc height (DH) and spine- pelvic sagittal parameters of the surgical segment were measured before and at the latest follow- up, including pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS) and lumbar lordosis (LL). According to the difference of PI-LL, it was judged whether PI and LL match and the patients were grouped, PI-LL ranged from -9° to 9° was set as matching group, and PI-LL less than -9° or larger than 9° was set as mismatching group. The spine-pelvic sagittal parameters were analyzed before and at the latest follow-up of OLIF in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases, and the correlation between changes and clinical efficacy was compared.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up from 8 to 20 months with an average of (14.20±3.68) months. Operation time was (91.54±25.97) min, intraoperative blood loss was (48.15±10.14) ml, and the hospitalization time ranged from 6 to 19 days with an average of (9.28± 2.50) days. Totally 84 surgical levels, 46 patients were single segment and 19 patients were double segments. VAS and ODI score were improved from (4.88±0.99) point, (67.60±13.73) % preoperatively to (2.85±1.30) points, (30.57±6.48) % at the latest follow-up. There were significant differences in VAS and ODI scores between before and at the latest follow-up. The sagittal parameters of LL, PT, SS, PI, PI -LL and the surgical level DH were (42.80 ±16.35)° , (23.22 ±10.91)° , (26.95 ± 13.30)°, (50.22±14.51)°, (7.53±16.13) °, (0.91±0.29) cm preoperatively and improved to the latest follow-up (49.95± 12.82) °, (17.94±9.24) °, (33.71±12.66) °, (51.65±10.26) °, (1.68±17.00) °, (1.20±0.40) cm;there were statistical differences in LL, PT, SS, PI-LL, DH before operation and at the latest follow up, while no difference in PI. LL of preoperative PI-LL in matched group was (48.76±11.09)° , and (38.00±18.37)° in PI-LL mismatch group, there was difference between two groups. There were no differences in VAS, ODI, PT, SS, PI and DH between two groups. At the latest follow-up, ODI between PI-LL matched group and PI-LL mismatched group were (29.40±5.93)% and (32.86±7.02)% respectively, and had difference in ODI between two groups;while there were no significant differences in VAS, LL, PT, SS, PI, and DH. Pearson correlation analysis showed preoperative PT-LL was positively correlated with VAS;PT was positively correlated with ODI at the latest follow-up.@*CONCLUSION@#OLIF has a good surgical effect on lumbar degenerative diseases, and could change spine-pelvic sagittal parameters of patient to a certain extent, and further restoring the balance of the sagittal plane of lumbar spine.

Pathogen infection distribution and drug resistance analysis of patients with severe liver disease / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the infection distribution and drug resistance of pathogens in patients with severe liver disease,and provide reference for clinical medication.Methods Retrospective analysis of the microbiological specimens from patients with severe liver disease in Department of Infection of our hospital from August 2014 to November 2016 and the drug susceptibility testing were carried out by means of K-B disc diffusion method after bacterial culturing,and the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens were analyzed.Results Totally 17 of 73 patients with severe liver disease developed hospital infection (23.3％).104 strains of bacteria were isolated and 78 strains out of them were multidrug-resistant bacteria (75.0％).Among them,28(26.9％) strains were gram-positive coccus,mainly consisting of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis,and 58(55.8％) were gram-negative coccus,mainly composed of Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia and Acinetobacter baumannii,and 18(17.3％) strains fungi.S.aureus and enterococci were resistant to penicillin,erythromycin and levofloxacin,the resistance rates were above 80.0％,but had low resistance rates to vancomycin,teicoplanin and tigecycline.The resistance rates of E.coli and K.pneumoniae to piperacillin,cefazolin and cefuroxime sodium were above 85.0％,but they had lower resistance rates to tigecycline and amikacin.Acinetobacter baumannii was 100％ resistant to piperacillin and tazobactam,ceftazidime,imipenem and amikacin,but had low resistance to tigecycline and minocycline.Conclusions Multi-drug resistant bacteria are the main bacterial pathogens in patients with severe liver disease and have a high resistance rate to commonly used antibiotics,empirical treatment in the population at high risk of multidrug-resistant bacteria infections requires the use of broad-spectrum or high-grade antibiotics (e.g.carbapenems or tigecycline) and drugs against specific pathogenic bacteria (glycopeptides,linezolid,and amikacin etc).Early de-escalation policies are recommended to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in cirrhosis.

Expression and significance of Wnt-5a gene in a model of intervertebral disc degeneration / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Important extracellular matrixes are reduced with the prolongation of duration of cyclic pressure in the endplate of the intervertebral disc. Meanwhile, the expression of Wnt-5a gene is significantly decreased. There is an important relationship between Wnt-5a gene and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Wnt-5a gene under cyclic pressure in a rabbit model of IDD and to explore its role in IDD progress. METHODS: Lumbar intervertebral discs were removed from the 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits to prepare IDD models and were then randomly divided into experimental (cyclic pressure ) and control (no intervention) groups. The morphological changes of intervertebral discs were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and safranin O-fast green staining. The mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ, and Wnt-5a were detected by real-time PCR. The protein expression level of Wnt-5a was detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The morphology of intervertebral discs cultured for 7 days in the experimental and control groups showed a certain change, but was still intact; expression levels of aggrecan, type Ⅱ collagen, Wnt-5a showed differences from the intervertebral discs cultured for 0 day. On day 14, the damage to the histomorphology was severer in the experimental group than the 0-day control group. The mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ, and Wnt-5a were decreased in both groups, especially the experimental group, at 7 and14 days. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt-5a revealed the same change trend with time. To conclude, regulation of Wnt-5a expression may alter the process of endplate cartilage degeneration, and thus providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of IDD.

[Spatial Variability and Distribution Pattern of Soil Organic Matter in a Mollisol Watershed of China].

Spatial variability of soil organic matter and its distribution pattern are the hot issues of soil scientific research. Selecting Haigouhe watershed as the study area, this paper mainly focused on the spatial variability, distribution pattern and its impact factors of SOM in the surface soil by classical statistics, Geo-statistics and "3S" technology. The results showed that: compared with the other black soil areas, the SOM content in Haigouhe watershed was a little lower, there was a spatial autocorrelation, and a moderate variability. Random factors, such as human activities, cultivation measures and so on, had little impact on the spatial variation, while the structural factors had a dominant function, and there was a remarkable spatial anisotropy of SOM. The SOM content reduced gradually from east to west with the familiar changes of height, so the co-kriging interpolation, selecting elevation as the co-variate, was employed to improve the accuracy. The spatial variability of SOM and its distribution pattern in Haigouhe watershed were greatly affected by topography and land use but weakly influenced by traffic, villages and other social factors. The surrounding environment of the samples would increase the uncertainty of spatial variability and interpolation of SOM and it cannot be ignored in future studies. In summary, it was a significant scientific research to analyze the spatial variability, distribution pattern of SOM and its main impact factors in a mollisol hilly watershed of China.

Application value of focused assessment with sonography for trauma in treatment of emergency thoracic and abdominal closed injury / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To evaluate the application value of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in treatment of emergency thoracic and abdominal closed injury.Methods FAST examination was performed in 85 patients with thoracic and abdominal closed injury,to determine whether the thoracic and abdominal cavity,pericardial free effusion and abdominal parenchyma organ injury,and the results were compared with conventional ultrasonography,CT scan and operation results.Results FAST was (2.85 ± 1.15) min,conventional ultrasonography was (15.48 ±5.17) min,there was statistically significant difference (t =21.99,P ＜ 0.05).In 85 patients,10 cases were FAST positive,5 cases of abdominal cavity in that amount or a large number of free effusion,underwent emergency operation,postoperative intra abdominal parenchymal organs were confirmed as rupture and hemoperitoneum; 2 cases of renal rupture with perirenal hematoma,confirmed by the whole abdominal CT examination; 2 cases of thoracic free pneumatosis,effusion,confirmed by thoracic CT examination or closed thoracic drainage; 1 case of prompt hemopericardium,confirmed by the pericardium puncture.Conventional ultrasonography was positive in 11 patients,no statistically significant difference between them (P ＞ 0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy rate of FAST screening thoracic and abdominal closed injury was 10/12,100.0％ (73/73),97.6％ (83/85).Conclusions FAST has high sensitivity and specificity for thoracic and abdominal cavity,pericardial free effusion,check with short time,low environmental requirements,without moving the trauma patients,and may be out of sync with the fluid resuscitation and other emergency measures.For large quantities of trauma patients and patients with severe multiple trauma,FAST can quickly,accurately determine the existence of thoracic and abdominal closed injury,and provide guidance for clinical treatment,which has good application value.

[Autophagy expression and its significance in chondrocytes from a degenerate model of human cervical endplate].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the autophagy expression and examine its significance in chondrocytes in a degenerate model of human cervical vertebrae endplate. METHODS: Cartilage endplates were obtained from 48 hospitalized patients with cervical vertebral fracture or dislocation at our hospital between February 2012 to August 2012. They were divided into cervical spondylosis group with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (n = 31) and control group (n = 17).Endplate chondrocytes were isolated by enzyme digestion and cultured in vitro. The cells were stained with toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin; laser scanning confocal microscope and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) were used to observe autophagy in endplate chondrocytes; reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of typeIIcollagen and aggrecan and Western blot for the protein of LC3. RESULTS: A degenerative cell model of human cervical endplate chondrocytes was established successfully in vitro. Compared with the common group, the cellular morphologies of degenerative group showed spindle changes. Autophagic body was stained with MDC.Intracellular and perinuclear LC3 protein was detected by laser confocal microscopy. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expressions of aggrecan (0.715 ± 0.194) and typeII collagen (0.628 ± 0.254) markedly decreased (0.845 ± 0.186,0.913 ± 0.254, P < 0.05) and LC3-II/LC3-I declined in cervical spondylosis group. CONCLUSION: Autophagy plays an important pathogenic role in the process of human cervical disc degeneration. And regulating its expression may improve disc degeneration in endplate cartilage cells.

Reject water treatment by improvement of whole cell anammox entrapment using polyvinyl alcohol/alginate gel.

Reject water treatment performance was investigated by whole cell anammox sludge entrapped polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate gel in the stirred tank reactor (STR). The whole experiment was conducted through Phase 1 and Phase 2 in which synthetic wastewater and modified reject water were used as feeding medium, respectively. The anammox reactor demonstrated quick start-up after 22 days as well as stable and relatively high nitrogen removal rate of more than 8.0 kg-N m(-3) day(-1) during the two both phases even under moderately low temperature of 25 ± 0.5°C during the last 2 months of Phase 2. The matured brownish red PVA beads had good characteristics with buoyant density of 1.10 g cm(-3), settling velocity of 141 m h(-1) and diameter of 4 mm. The bacterial community was identified by 16S rDNA analysis revealing the concurrent existence of KSU-1 and new kind anammox bacterium Kumadai-I after changing influent from synthetic wastewater to reject water. It was speculated that Kumadai-I might play a role as "promotion" factor together with KSU-1 on high nitrogen removal rate. These results demonstrate the potential application of whole cell anammox entrapment by PVA/alginate gel for achieving stable and high-rate nitrogen removal from high ammonium with low C/N ratio contained wastewaters, such as reject water, digester liquor or landfill leachate.

MRI image analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane chronic toxic encephalopath / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the MRI features of 1,2-dichloroethane Chronic Toxic Encephalopathy of 10 cases.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>10 cases were examined by MRI, slice thickness 8 mm, layer from 2 mm, axial and coronal line scan, T1WI, T2WI, FLAIR imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>10 cases show varying degrees of abnormal signal of white matters, low signal intensity on T1WI, high signal intensity on T2WI and FLAIR. MRI could also show extensive abnormal signal in cerebral white matter although the toxic manifestation is mild to moderate. Therefore the symptoms and the shows of MRI could be inconsistent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined with a history of exposure, the show of varying degrees of abnormal signal of white matter in 1,2-dichloroethane Chronic Toxic Encephalopathy cases are characteristic.</p>

Giant cell tumor of temporal bone and mandibular condyle: a case report / 华西口腔医学杂志

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) seldom occurs in the head or face. This article reported a case that GCTB occurred simultaneously in the temporal bone and mandibular condyle, and analyzed their clinical and pathological features.

Innovative treatment system for digester liquor using anammox process.

This study demonstrated that partial nitritation using nitrifying activated sludge entrapped in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel carrier, as a pretreatment to anammox process, could be successfully applied to digester liquor of biogas plant at a nitrogen loading rate of 3.0 kg-N/m(3)/d. The nitritation process produced an effluent with a NO(2)-N/NH(4)-N ratio between 1.0 and 1.4, which was found to be suitable for the subsequent anammox process. A high SS concentration (2000-3000 mg/l) in the digester liquor did not affect partial nitritation treatment performances. Effluent from this partial nitritation reactor was successfully treated in the anammox reactor using anammox sludge entrapped in the PEG gel carrier with T-N removal rates of greater than 4.0 kg-N/m(3)/d. Influent BOD and SS contents did not inhibit anammox activity of the anammox gel carrier. The combination of partial nitritation and anammox reactors using PEG entrapped nitrifying and anammox bacteria was shown to be effective for the removal of high concentration ammonium in the digester liquor of a biogas plant.

Effects of nociceptin/orphanin FQ on rats with cathartic colon.

AIM: To demonstrate the change and effect of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the colon of rats with cathartic colon. METHODS: The cathartic colon model was established by feeding rats rhubarb for 3 mo, the changes of colonic electromyography were investigated by both suspension muscle strips test and serosal recordings of colonic myoelectrical activity. Immunohistochemical staining (S-P methods) and image analysis were used to determine the changes of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the proximal colon and distal colon of rats with cathartic colon. RESULTS: Suspension muscle strips test in vitro showed OFQ (10(-9)-10(-6) mol/L) concentration dependently caused an immediate tonic contraction in the isolated colon. But the increase of tension in cathartic colon was less than control groups (P < 0.01). Intravenous administration of OFQ (1 microg/kg) caused phasic contractions in the proximal colon, while the amplitude of phasic contractions caused by OFQ in cathartic colon was much lower than that in the control groups (2.58 +/- 0.41 vs 4.16 +/- 0.53, t = -2.6, P = 0.012). OFQ was highly expressed in the myenteric plexus of the rat colon but not in the muscle cells. The immunoreactivity of OFQ in the proximal colon in cathartic colon rats decreased significantly compared with the control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Colonic smooth muscle of cathartic colon showed low sensitivity to the stimulation of OFQ, suggesting that it might be caused by the abnormal distribution of OFQ or the abnormalities of receptors, leading to the disorganization of dynamic and incoordinated contractions.

Infection of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus and morphology of the infected spermatogenic cells in infertile men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the infection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-I) and the morphological characteristics of the infected spermatogenic cells in the semen of infertile men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We washed and concentrated the spermatogenic cells obtained from 83 semen samples of infertile men, extracted DNA and then screened HCMV and HSV-II by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to detect the expression of correlative virus antigens of the positive semen cells, and the cytology smear was employed to observe the morphological changes of the spermatogenic cells under the microscope after cytology staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of all the semen samples, 8 were HCMV positive, 4 HSV-II positive, but none were both HCMV and HSV-II positive. HCMV late antigens were positively and HCMV early antigens negatively expressed in the spermatogenic cells of the 8 HCMV positive cases. In the 4 HSV-II positive cases, 3 were positively and 1 weakly positively expressed. In the semen of the 12 positive cases were found large numbers of immature spermatogenic cells, with different manifestations of apoptosis, such as chromatin pycnosis, vacuoles, damaged nuclear membrane, and apoptotic bodies, but without virus infection-induced specific morphological alteration. Sperm concentration of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative (P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Spermatogenic cells infected by HCMV and HSV-II may cause pathologic lesions and affect spermatogenesis. Morphologically, the infected spermatogenic cells may undergo some pathologic alteration, such as apoptosis. The rate of HCMV infection is higher among infertile males with pathologic cells in the semen.</p>