The pedicle screw-rod system is an acceptable method of reconstructive surgery after resection of sacroiliac joint tumours.

UNLABELLED: Hemipelvic resections for primary bone tumours require reconstruction to restore weight bearing along anatomic axes. However, reconstruction of the pelvic arch remains a major surgical challenge because of the high rate of associated complications. We used the pedicle screw-rod system to reconstruct the pelvis, and the purpose of this investigation was to assess the oncology, functional outcome and complication rate following this procedure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the operative indications and technique of the pedicle screw-rod system in reconstruction of the stability of the sacroiliac joint after resection of sacroiliac joint tumours. The average MSTS (Musculoskeletal Tumour Society) score was 26.5 at either three months after surgery or at the latest follow-up. Seven patients had surgery-related complications, including wound dehiscence in one, infection in two, local necrosis in four (including infection in two), sciatic nerve palsy in one and pubic symphysis subluxation in one. There was no screw loosening or deep vein thrombosis occurring in this series. Using a pedicle screw-rod after resection of a sacroiliac joint tumour is an acceptable method of pelvic reconstruction because of its reduced risk of complications and satisfactory functional outcome, as well as its feasibility of reconstruction for type IV pelvis tumour resection without elaborate preoperative customisation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

[Electroacupuncture Combined with Clomiphene Promotes Pregnancy and Blastocyst Implantation Possibly by Up-regulating Expression of Insulin Receptor and Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 Proteins in Endometrium in Rats with PCOS].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention combined with clomiphene critate (CC) on the blastocyst implantation and pregnancy rate and expression of insulin receptor (INSR) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS 1) proteins in the endometrium in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of PCOS. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five female SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, PCOS model, medication (CC), EA and EA+CC groups (n=25 in each group, 15 for checking blastocyst implantation, and 10 for Western blot). The PCOS model was established by subcutaneous injection of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and fed with high-fat diet. Rats of the normal control group were treated by subcutaneous injection of sesame oil and fed with the normal forage. EA stimulation was applied to "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) for 30 min, 3 times a week, 5 weeks altogether. Rats of the CC and EA+CC groups were fed with CC (100 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 2 days after regular restriction (30 min, 3 times a week, 5 weeks altogether). The pregnancy was determined by vaginal smear tests and the number of blastocyst implantation determined by examination of the uterus after execution. The expression of INSR and IRS 1 proteins in the endometrium was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate and the number of blastocyst implantation were significantly lower in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05), and remarkably increased after EA and EA+CC interventions (P<0.05). The effects of EA+CC were obviously superior to those of simple EA and simple medication in raising the pregnancy rate and the number of blastocyst implantation (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the EA and CC groups in the pregnancy rate and the number of blastocyst implantation (P>0.05). The relative expression levels of both INSR and IRS 1 proteins were markedly lower in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05), and significantly higher in both EA and EA+CC groups than in the model group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the model and the CC groups and between the EA and EA+CC groups in the expression levels of INSR and IRS 1 proteins (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA intervention can improve pregnancy rate and the number of blastocyst implantation in PCOS rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the expression of INSR and IRS 1 proteins in the endometrium.

[Effects of Electroacupuncture on mRNA Expressions of Insulin-receptor Substrates 1 and 2 in the Endometrium of PCOS Rats and Insulin Sensitivity].

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on gene expressions of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) in the endometrium and insulin sensitivity (IS) of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats, thereby providing basic evidence of clinical ap- plication of EA for improving the pregnancy rate of PCOS patients and reducing the abortion rate. Methods Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was subcutaneously injected to 24-day-old female SD rats to induce P- COS model. Besides, rats were fed with high-fat diet. Rats in the normal group were subcutaneously injected with sesame oil and fed with common forage. PCOS model rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group. All rats were intervened from 80 days old. Of them, EA was started to rats in the EA group, three times per week for 5 successive weeks. Rats in the normal group and the model group were only bound every day, but with no acupuncture, three times per week for 5 successive weeks. Blood was collected from caudal vein before and after treatment. Fasting blood glucose (FPG) was detected by oxidase method. Fasting insulin (FINS) level was determined by Roche electrochemical luminescence method. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR) index was also calculated. All rats were killed by decapitation by the end of intervention, and their endometria were collected. mRNA expressions of IRS1 and IRS2 in the endometrial tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method. Results Pre-post-treatment changes of FPG level were not significantly different among the three groups (P >0. 05). Before treatment FINS level and HOMA-IR index were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group (P <0. 05). After treatment, they were significantly lower in the EA group than in the model group (P <0. 05). Compared with the normal group, mRNA expressions of IRS1 and IRS2 in the endometrial tissue were decreased in the model group (P <0. 05). Compared with the model group, mRNA expressions of IRS1 and IRS2 in the endometrial tissue were increased in the EA group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion EA could improve IS and elevate mRNA expressions of IRS1 and IRS2 in the endome- trial tissue of PCOS rats, which might be one of mechanisms for improving endometrial IS.

Expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 in rabbit radial defect site with different lengths.

BACKGROUND: It has been studied that the distribution of bone morphogenetic protein 2 is regular under bone defect situation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 in rabbit radial defect site with different lengths. METHODS: Forty-eight New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups randomly. 0.5 cm bone defect and 3.0 cm bone defect were made by wire saw at the middle part of radius bone after anaesthesia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Western blot results showed that in the 0.5 cm bone defect group, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 of the tissues in the bone defect site was increased gradually at 1, 3, 4 weeks after operation, and the expression in each defect group was increased when compared with that immediately after injury (P<0.05). In the 3.0 cm bone defect group, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 of tissues in bone defect site was increased gradually and reached to its peak at 3 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). The peak value in the 3.0 cm bone defect group was significantly higher than that in 0.5 cm bone defect group (P<0.05). The peak value was maintained in high level. The comparison of bone callus formation showed that the bone callus formation of 3.0 cm bone defect group was less than that of the 0.5 cm bone defect group at 3 and 4 weeks after operation (P<0.05). The results indicate that expression of the bone morphogenetic protein 2 in 3.0 cm bone defect site is increased significantly, but the expression level cannot make the bone defect heal itself.

Diaqua-bis-(5-carb-oxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl-ato-κN,O)iron(II).

In the title compound, [Fe(C(5)H(3)N(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], the Fe(II) ion lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated by two N and two O atoms from two 5-carb-oxy-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl-ate ligands and two water mol-ecules in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. An intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, inter-molecular N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form a three-dimensional network, which consolidates the packing.

[Effect of abdominal acupuncture therapy on the endocrine and metabolism in obesity-type polycystic ovarian syndrome patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of abdominal acupuncture on the endocrine and metabolic level in obesity-type polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: Eighty-six PCOS patients were randomly and equally divided into medication group and abdominal acupuncture group. Patients of medication group were treated with metformin (250 mg/time, t.i. d. in the 1st week, and 500 mg/time, t.i.d. thereafter) for 6 months,and those of abdominal acupuncture group were treated by abdominal acupuncture [Zhongwan (CV 12), Liangmen (ST 21), etc., once daily for 6 months]. Changes of the body height, body Mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman-Galleey score (FGS), menstrual frequency (MF) and ovarian volume (OV) were determined. Serum luteotrophic hormone (LH), free testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) contents were detected with radioimmunoassay. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FIN), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Homa insulin resistance index (IRI) were detected with chromatometry respectively. RESULTS: After the treatment, BMI, WHR, FGS and OV were reduced significantly in both medication and abdominal acupuncture groups (P < 0.05), while MF of the two groups increased evidently (P < 0.05), and the effects of abdominal acupuncture group were significantly superior to those of medication group in down-regulating BMI, WHR and upregulating MF (P < 0.05). Regarding the reproductive hormons, serum LH, LH/FSH and T levels in the two groups decreased significantly (P< 0.05), and the effect of abdominal acupuncture was superior to that of medication group in reducing serum T level (P < 0.05). Following the treatment, FBG, BG and FIN and INS contents 2 h after meal,and Homa IR in both medication and abdominal acupuncture groups all decreased considerably (P < 0.05), but without significant differences between them (P > 0.05). Regarding the blood lipid levels after the treatment, serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels of the two groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while serum HDL-C level increased remarkably (P<0.05), without significant differences between the two groups in these indexes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal acupuncture treatment can improve the endocrine and metabolic function of patients with obesity-type PCOS.

A preliminary study of neck-stomach syndrome.

AIM: To determine the expression of c-Fos, caspase-3 and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the cervical cord and stomach of rats with cervical spondylosis, to analyze their relationship, and to offer an explanation of one possible cause for functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) caused by cervical spondylosis. METHODS: The cervical spondylosis model in rats was established by destroying the stability of cervical posterior column. The cord segments C4-6 and gastric antrum were collected 3 mo and 5 mo after the operation. Rats with the sham operation were used as controls. The expressions of c-Fos, caspase-3 and IL-1beta in the cervical cord and gastric antrum were determined by immunohistochemistry and/or Western blot. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed a few c-Fos, caspase-3 and IL-1beta-positive cells in the cervical cord and antrum in the control. There was a significant increase in c-Fos, caspase-3 and IL-1beta expression in model groups compared to the control groups at 3 mo and 5 mo after operation. More importantly, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in c-Fos, caspase-3 and IL-1beta expression in the model group rats at 3 mo compared to those at 5 mo after the operation (c-Fos: 11.20 +/- 2.26 vs 27.68 +/- 4.36 in the cervical cord, 11.3 +/- 2.3 vs 29.3 +/- 4.6 in the gastric antrum; caspase-3: 33.83 +/- 3.71 vs 36.32 +/- 4.01 in the cervical cord, 13.23 +/- 3.21 vs 26.32 +/- 4.01 in the gastric antrum; IL-1beta: 42.06 +/- 2.95 vs 45.91 +/- 3.98 in the cervical cord, 26.56 +/- 2.65 vs 32.01 +/- 2.98 in the gastric antrum). Western blot analysis showed time-dependent changes of caspase-3 and IL-1beta protein in the cervical cord and gastric antrum of rats with cervical spondylosis; there was no significant expression of caspase-3 and IL-1beta protein in the control group at 3 mo and 5 mo after the sham operation, whereas there was a significant difference in caspase-3 and IL-1beta protein levels between the model group rats followed up for 3 mo and those for 5 mo (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a significant association of c-Fos, caspase-3 and IL-1beta expressions in the gastric antrum with that in the spinal cord in rats with cervical spondylosis, suggesting that the gastrointestinal function may be affected by cervical spondylosis.