[Surgical treatment of thoracic tuberculosis with one stage posterior debridement and bone grafting fusion and internal fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and indication of one stage posterior debridement and bone grafting fusion and internal fixation for thoracic tuberculosis. METHODS: From January 2005 to May 2011,12 patients with thoracic tuberculosis were treated with one stage posterior debridement and pedicle screw fixation combined with regular anti-tuberculosis treatment before and after operation. There were 7 males and 5 females,with an average age of 45 years and average course of 15 months. Information of operative time, blood loss, bony fusion, local kyphosis and neurologic functional were evaluated. RESULTS: All infective focus were thoroughly removed and bone graft obtained fusion. The mean of operative time and blood loss were 170 min (120-210 min) and 510 ml (200-1 000 ml),respectively. Cobb angle from (28.7 +/- 9.2) degrees preoperatively decreased to (8.2 +/- 3.5) degrees postoperatively(P<0.05). No kyphosis correction loss,tubercular recurrence or failure of internal fixation was found. According to Frankel grade to evaluate neurological function, all patients arrived to grade E. CONCLUSION: One stage posterior debridement and bone grafting fusion and internal fixation is an effective method in treating thoracic tuberculosis. It has advantages such as thorough debridement, short operative time, less blood loss, more kyphosis correction and higher bony fusion rate.

[DNA extraction from bones and teeth using AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a new method in order to extract DNA from bones and teeth automatically. METHODS: Samples of 33 bones and 15 teeth were acquired by freeze-mill method and manual method, respectively. DNA materials were extracted and quantified from the triturated samples by AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system. RESULTS: DNA extraction from bones and teeth were completed in 3 hours using the AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system. There was no statistical difference between the two methods in the DNA concentration of bones. Both bones and teeth got the good STR typing by freeze-mill method, and the DNA concentration of teeth was higher than those by manual method. CONCLUSION: AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system is a new method to extract DNA from bones and teeth, which can be applied in forensic practice.