Effects of Various Nectar and Pollen Plants on the Survival, Reproduction, and Predation of Neoseiulus bicaudus.

Neoseiulus bicaudus is a predatory mite species that could potentially be used for the biological control of spider mites and thrips. Floral resources can provide excellent habitats and abundant nutrients for natural enemies. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of eight floral resources on the longevity, fecundity, and predation ability of N. bicaudus. Among the considered plants, Cnidium monnieri led to the highest longevity (24 days) and fecundity (13.8 eggs) of N. bicaudus, while Tagetes erecta resulted in the lowest longevity (7 days) and fecundity (0.1 eggs) observed in the predatory mites. By comparing the effects of three nectar and pollen plants on the predation of predatory mites, it was observed that N. bicaudus still exhibited a type II functional response to Tetranychus turkestani. In the presence of pollen, the predation efficacy (a/Th) of N. bicaudus exhibited a lower value, compared to that in the absence of pollen (Control: a/Th = 24.00). When pollen was supplied, the maximum consumption (1/Th) of predatory mites was higher than in its absence (Control: 1/Th = 9.90 d-1), with the highest value obtained in the presence of B. officinalis pollen (B. officinalis: 1/Th = 17.86 d-1). The influence coefficient of predation of N. bicaudus on T. turkestani in the presence of pollen was compared in the presence of three nectar and pollen plants: Cnidium monnieri, Centaurea cyanus, and Borago officinalis. At low prey densities, the influence coefficient of C. cyanus exceeded that of B. officinalis, and the overall influence coefficient values were negative (i.e., the presence of pollen reduced predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani). They exhibited similar values at high prey densities, and all of the influence coefficient values were close to 0 (i.e., the presence of pollen had no effect on predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani). The findings revealed that diverse plant species exert differential impacts on N. bicaudus, with some influencing its lifespan and others affecting its reproductive capabilities. Furthermore, the presence of nectar and pollen plants had a significant impact on predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani at low prey densities; however, this effect diminished as the prey density increased. Therefore, we recommend planting C. monnieri, C. cyanus, and B. officinalis in the field to ensure an ample population of predatory mites. The obtained results hold significant implications for the utilization of nectar and pollen plants in eco-friendly pest management strategies within agricultural contexts.

Extending on-surface synthesis from 2D to 3D by cycloaddition with C60.

As an efficient molecular engineering approach, on-surface synthesis (OSS) defines a special opportunity to investigate intermolecular coupling at the sub-molecular level and has delivered many appealing polymers. So far, all OSS is based on the lateral covalent bonding of molecular precursors within a single molecular layer; extending OSS from two to three dimensions is yet to be realized. Herein, we address this challenge by cycloaddition between C60 and an aromatic compound. The C60 layer is assembled on the well-defined molecular network, allowing appropriate molecular orbital hybridization. Upon thermal activation, covalent coupling perpendicular to the surface via [4 + 2] cycloaddition between C60 and the phenyl ring of the molecule is realized; the resultant adduct shows frozen orientation and distinct sub-molecular feature at room temperature and further enables lateral covalent bonding via [2 + 2] cycloaddition. This work unlocks an unconventional route for bottom-up precise synthesis of three-dimensional covalently-bonded organic architectures/devices on surfaces.

An optimal medicinal and edible Chinese herbal formula attenuates particulate matter-induced lung injury through its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities.

Objective: Identifying novel strategies to prevent particulate matter (PM)-induced lung injury is crucial for the reduction of the morbidity of chronic respiratory diseases. The combined intervention represented by herbal formulae for simultaneously targeting multiple pathological processes can provide a more beneficial effect than the single intervention. The aim of this paper is therefore to design a safe and effective medicinal and edible Chinese herbs (MECHs) formula against PM-induced lung injury. Methods: PM-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptosis A549 cell model were used to screen anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic MECHs, respectively. A network pharmacology method was utilized to rationally design a novel herbal formula. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was utilized to assess the quality control of MECHs formula. The excretion of magnetic iron oxide nanospheres of the MECHs formula was estimated in zebrafish. The MECH formula against PM-induced lung injury was investigated with mice experiments. Results: Five selected herbs were rationally designed to form a new MECH formula, including Citri Exocarpium Rubrum (Juhong), Lablab Semen Album (Baibiandou), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), Mori Folium (Sangye) and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma (Yuzhu). The formula effectively promoted the magnetic iron oxide nanospheres excretion in zebrafish. The mid/high dose formula significantly prevented PM-induced lung damage in mice by enhancing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, reducing the MDA and ROS level and attenuating the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß and TNF-α), down regulating the protein expression of NF-κB, STAT3 and Caspase-3. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the effective MECHs formula will become a novel strategy for preventing PM-induced lung injury and provide a paradigm for the development of functional foods using MECHs.

Atomic-Scale Observation of Sequential Oxidation Process on Co(0001).

Oxygen dissociation and activation on surfaces play a crucial role in heterogeneous catalysis and oxidation processes. In this study, we have conducted a series of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments combined with density functional theory calculation to investigate the oxidation process in a single crystal Co(0001) surface. For the first time, we show a comprehensive in situ STM study of the oxidation process of Co(0001) from an atomic point of view. With low O2 exposure at 90 K, chemisorbed oxygen pairs are observed showing a dumbbell-like STM feature. At a relatively higher temperature range of 160-250 K, a large-scale p(2 × 2)-O adlayer forms and the O adatoms show surprisingly high mobility. With the temperature of Co(0001) kept at ≥300 K, adsorption of oxygen leads to fast oxidation of the surface to amorphous cotton-like protrusions, which occur initially at the step/edge sites and interstitial defect sites.

Closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for recurrent patellar dislocation with genu valgum.

BACKGROUND: Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) is a well-established procedure for addressing recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) in young patients. However, despite being a promising procedure for RPD with genu valgum, there is a scarcity of reports on simultaneous MPFLR and closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy (CWDFO). The purpose of the present study was to observe and analyse the clinical and imaging findings of CWDFO combined with MPFLR for RPD with genu valgum. METHODS: From May 2015 to April 2018, 25 patients with RPD and genu valgum were surgically treated in our department. Anteroposterior long-leg, weight-bearing, lower-extremity radiographs, lateral radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans of the patellofemoral joint were obtained, and the anatomical femorotibial angle (aFTA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), weight-bearing line rate (WBLR), patellar height, patellar lateral shift (PLS) and tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance were analysed. Validated knee scores, such as the Kujala, Lysholm, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Tegner socres, were evaluated preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: 25 patients, with an average age of 19.8 years (14-27), were evaluated. During the 2-year follow-up period, all patients were able to achieve a better sports level without any problems, with no recurrence of patellar instability. Compared with preoperation, the aFTA, mLDFA, WBLR and PLS showed statistically significant improvement following the procedure (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, no significant differences in the Insall index and TT-TG distance were found. The mean Kujala score, average Lysholm score, VAS score and Tegner socres showed significant postoperative improvement. CONCLUSIONS: CWDFO combined with MPFLR is a suitable treatment for RPD with genu valgum, and can lead to significant improvement in the clinical and imaging findings of the knee in the short term.

Subsurface-Carbon-Induced Local Charge of Copper for an On-Surface Displacement Reaction.

Transition-metal carbides have sparked unprecedented enthusiasm as high-performance catalysts in recent years. Still, the catalytic properties of copper carbide remain unexplored. By introducing subsurface carbon to Cu(111), a displacement reaction of a proton in a carboxyl acid group with a single Cu atom is demonstrated at the atomic scale and room temperature. Its occurrence is attributed to the C-doping-induced local charge of surface Cu atoms (up to +0.30 e/atom), which accelerates the rate of on-surface deprotonation via reduction of the corresponding energy barrier, thus enabling the instant displacement of a proton with a Cu atom when the molecules adsorb on the surface. This well-defined and robust Cuδ+ surface based on subsurface-carbon doping offers a novel catalytic platform for on-surface synthesis.

On-Surface Decarboxylation Coupling Facilitated by Lock-to-Unlock Variation of Molecules upon the Reaction.

On-surface synthesis (OSS) involving relatively high energy barriers remains challenging due to a typical dilemma: firm molecular anchor is required to prevent molecular desorption upon the reaction, whereas sufficient lateral mobility is crucial for subsequent coupling and assembly. By locking the molecular precursors on the substrate then unlocking them during the reaction, we present a strategy to address this challenge. High-yield synthesis based on well-defined decarboxylation, intermediate transition, and hexamerization is demonstrated, resulting in an extended and ordered network exclusively composed of the newly synthesized macrocyclic compound. Thanks to the steric hindrance of its maleimide group, we attain a preferential selection of the coupling. This work unlocks a promising path to enrich the reaction types and improve the coupling selectivity hence the structual homogeneity of the final product for OSS.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Fieberiella septentrionalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Fieberiella septentrionalis was annotated for the first time in the present study. The mitogenome was found to have circular shape, with 16,175 bp in size, containing 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer-RNA genes, 2 ribosomal-RNA genes, and 1 non-coding region. The nucleotide composition biases toward A and T is 77.9% of the entirety, which is a typical structure of Cicadellidae. All PCGs have ATN as the start codon, TAA and single T as the stop codon. The resulting phylogenetic tree confirms that the F. septentrionalis belongs to the subfamily of Deltocephalinae and Fieberiellini as sister to the remaining tribes of this subfamily.

Influence of Trap Color, Type, and Placement on Capture Efficacy for Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

In recent years, Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis has gradually become an important pest of several crops including grape (Vitis vinifera L.) and peach (Amygdalus persica L.) in Xinjiang, China. Toward improving trapping efficacy as part of a management program, various colors, types, and placement of traps and the use of an attractant were evaluated in field and laboratory studies. Laboratory color-choice tests and field tests indicated that P. brevitarsis adults preferred red. In trap placement tests, more adults were captured on traps placed 1 or 1.5 m above the ground and on top of the horizontal grape canopy. Before grape ripening, more adults were captured in traps placed in a 0.5-m border around the outside edge of the vineyard; during grape ripening, more were caught within the vineyard. Newly designed traps that were red, with a triangular baffle and a landing plate, were more efficient than traditional bucket-shaped traps. When P. brevitarsis adults were trapped and killed from June to July 2018, the population of P. brevitarsis adults in August to early September 2018 was significantly lower than in August to early September 2017, when adults had not been trapped and killed in the prior 2 mo.

Long-range ordered and atomic-scale control of graphene hybridization by photocycloaddition.

Chemical reactions that convert sp2 to sp3 hybridization have been demonstrated to be a fascinating yet challenging route to functionalize graphene. So far it has not been possible to precisely control the reaction sites nor their lateral order at the atomic/molecular scale. The application prospects have been limited for reactions that require long soaking, heating, electric pulses or probe-tip press. Here we demonstrate a spatially selective photocycloaddition reaction of a two-dimensional molecular network with defect-free basal plane of single-layer graphene. Directly visualized at the submolecular level, the cycloaddition is triggered by ultraviolet irradiation in ultrahigh vacuum, requiring no aid of the graphene Moiré pattern. The reaction involves both [2+2] and [2+4] cycloadditions, with the reaction sites aligned into a two-dimensional extended and well-ordered array, inducing a bandgap for the reacted graphene layer. This work provides a solid base for designing and engineering graphene-based optoelectronic and microelectronic devices.

Automatic Segmentation and Measurement on Knee Computerized Tomography Images for Patellar Dislocation Diagnosis.

Traditionally, for diagnosing patellar dislocation, clinicians make manual geometric measurements on computerized tomography (CT) images taken in the knee area, which is often complex and error-prone. Therefore, we develop a prototype CAD system for automatic measurement and diagnosis. We firstly segment the patella and the femur regions on the CT images and then measure two geometric quantities, patellar tilt angle (PTA), and patellar lateral shift (PLS) automatically on the segmentation results, which are finally used to assist in diagnoses. The proposed quantities are proved valid and the proposed algorithms are proved effective by experiments.

Second-look arthroscopic findings after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy combined with all-inside repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears.

PURPOSE: To examine the results of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) combined with all-inside repair focusing on medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT) by second-look arthroscopy and determine the clinical relevance of the findings. METHODS: From June 2015 to June 2017, 27 consecutive patients underwent MOWHTO and meniscal treatment for MMPRT using all-inside repair. All were available for second-look arthroscopy evaluation at the time of plate removal. Cartilage regeneration in the medial condyles and healing status of the MMPRT were assessed at the time of second-look arthroscopy. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores and the Lysholm score scale. The potential factors affecting the healing of MMPRT, including age, body mass index (BMI), weight-bearing line rate (WBLR) and femorotibial angle (FTA) were discussed. RESULTS: There were 11 (41%) cases with complete healing (group A) and 16 (59%) cases with lax healing (group B). A complete cartilage coverage of chondral lesions was observed at second-look arthroscopy. Improvements of HSS in both groups were 41.25 ± 6.18 and 38.82 ± 5.43, while improvements in Lysholm score seen in both groups were 30.40 ± 4.84 and 32.65 ± 4.11. There was no significant difference in the postoperative clinical results between the two groups. In group A, the age (months), BMI, WBLR, and FTA are 54.61 ± 2.53, 23.58 ± 2.39, 66.10 ± 2.86% and 169.00 ± 2.62°, respectively, while in group B, they are 55.16 ± 4.92, 29.58 ± 3.91, 57.51 ± 5.49% and 175.21 ± 2.87°, respectively. A significant difference has been identified between two groups except for age. CONCLUSION: As seen in this retrospective study, a higher healing rate of MMPRT using all-inside repair and regeneration of degenerated articular cartilage in the medial condyles after MOWHTO can be expected. Healing of the MMPRT was not related to a better clinical outcome. Moreover, it can be inferred that BMI, WBLR and FTA may affect the healing status of MMPRT.

[Clinical efficacy of arthroscopic simultaneous treatment for anterior cruciate ligament injury combined with meniscus bucket-handle tear].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic simultaneous both anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and suture of the meniscus bucket-handle tear (BHT). Methods: Between January 2013 and April 2014, 22 patients (22 knees) with ACL injury and BHT, who accorded with the inclusion criteria, were studied. There were 14 males and 8 females with a mean age of 30.68 years (range, 15-44 years). The left side was involved in 10 cases and the right side in 12 cases. Injury located at the medial meniscus in 14 patients, and at the lateral meniscus in 8 patients. The median of interval from injury to operation was 40 days (range, 9 hours to 4 years). BHT was sutured, and then single bundle reconstruction of ACL was performed under arthroscopy. Results: All incisions healed by first intention, and there were no serious complications such as infection, vascular injury, and nerve injury. The patients were followed up for 26.7 months on average (range, 12-42 months). At 6 weeks after operation, one patient had limited motion of the knee, the function was recovered after release under anesthesia; and one patient had joint space tenderness, which was relieved after conservative treatment. The total effective rate was 90.9% (20/22). At last follow-up, the anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and McMurray test were negative in all the cases. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner activity level score, and Lysholm score were significantly improved at 12 months after operation when compared with preoperative scores ( P<0.05). At 6-12 months after operation, complete healing was obtained in 7 cases, and partial healing in 11 cases, and nonunion in 4 cases based on MRI evaluation criteria by Crues et al. There was no rupture of reconstruc-tive ligament during follow-up. Conclusion: Arthroscopic simultaneous both ACL reconstruction and suture of BHT can improve the symptoms, reduce the risk of re-tear of sutured meniscus effectively, delay degeneration of articular cartilage, and maintain the stability of the knee joint.

Apoptosis-Promoting Effects of Hematoporphyrin Monomethyl Ether-Sonodynamic Therapy (HMME-SDT) on Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the apoptosis-promoting effects and mechanisms of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME)-sonodynamic therapy (SDT) on endometrial cancer cells in vitro. METHODS: Endometrial cancer cell samples were divided into four groups: 1) untreated control group, 2) HMME group, 3) pure ultrasound group, and 4) HMME combined with ultrasound, i.e. SDT group. CCK-8 method was utilized to assess the inhibiting effect of SDT on the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. Optical microscope and field emission transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology changes of the cancer cells induced by the treatments. Apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were examined by flow cytometer. Fluorescence intensity measured by laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to explore the variation of intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration. Apoptosis-related proteins involved in both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis signallings were analyzed by western blot. RESULTS: SDT can effectively induce the apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells. Compared with ultrasound which is known as an effective anti-tumor method, SDT leads to a significant improvement on suppression of cell viability and induction of apoptosis, together with more remarkable modifications on the morphology and substructure in both ultrasound sensitive and resistant endometrial cancer cells. Further studies reveals that SDT promotes ROS production, induces loss of MMP and increases intracellular Ca2+ concentration more efficiently than HMME or ultrasound alone. SDT groups also show a rather high expression of apoptosis-promoting proteins, including Bax, Fas and Fas-L, and a significant low expression of apoptosis-suspending proteins including Bcl-2 and Survivin. Meanwhile, both cleaved caspse-3 and caspase-8 are dramatically enhanced in SDT groups. Multiple pathways has been proposed in the process, including the intrinsic activation by excessive ROS and overloaded Ca2+, silencing survivin gene, and the extrinsic pathway mediated by the death receptor. CONCLUSION: Given its considerable effectivity in both ultrasound sensitive and resistant cells, SDT may therefore be a promising therapeutic method for treating endometrial cancers.

Expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen in lung cancer cells and tumor neovasculature endothelial cells and its clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been found in tumor neovasculature endothelial cells (NECs) of non-prostate cancers and may become the most promising target for anti-tumor therapy. To study the value of PSMA as a potential new target for lung cancer treatment, PSMA expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tissues and its relationship with clinicopathology were investigated in the current study. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect PSMA expression in a total of 150 lung specimens of patients with lung cancer. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: The percentages of NSCLC patients who had PSMA (+) tumor cells and PSMA (+) NECs were 54.02% and 85.06%, respectively. The percentage of patients younger than 60 years old who had PSMA (+) tumor cells was 69.05%, which was significantly greater than the percentage of patients aged 60 years or older (40.00%, p<0.05). A significant difference was observed in the percentage of NSCLC patients with PMSA (+) NECs and stage I or II cancer (92.98%) and those patients with stage III or IV cancer (76.77%). In the SCLC tissues, NEC PSMA expression (70.00%) did not differ significantly from NSCLC. SCLC tumor cells and normal lung tissues cells were all negative. There was no significant correlation between the presence of PSMA (+) NECs in SCLC patients and the observed clinicopathological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: PSMA is expressed not only in NECs of NSCLC and SCLC but also in tumor cells of most NSCLC patients. The presence of PSMA (+) tumor cells and PSMA (+) NECs in NSCLC was negatively correlated with age and the clinicopathological stage of the patients, respectively.

[Treatment of osteochondritis lesion in the knee with reduction and fixation under arthroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To study clinical results of reduction and fixation under arthroscopy for the treatment of osteochondrotical lesion in the knee. METHODS: From December 2012 to December 2013, 4 patients with the knee joint osteochondritis lesion and free bone fragments were treated with arthroscopy to detect the stripped cartilage, and then the cartilages were reduced with small incision and fixed by cartilage nail. There were 3 males and 1 female, with age of 15, 15, 20 and 27 years old. The durations of the disease were 1 d, 5 d, 1 month and 1 year. All the patients had swelling and effusion in the knee joint, and the floating patellar test was positive. CT examination showed bone defects and loose bodies. The Lysholm, VAS, and Tegner scale were used to evaluate the knee joint functions before and after operation. RESULTS: All the patients underwent successful surgery. Postoperative CT showed good location of the cartilage without loss of reduced bone and cartilage. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 10 to 13 months, with a mean of 12 months. In one patient, arthroscopy examination was conducted for a second time to examine the connection of the fracture part to the surrounding cartilage, and it showed that the internal fixator was not absorbed. The Lysholm, VAS and Tegner scale of all patients were better than those before operation. CONCLUSION: Treatment of osteochondritis lesion with the fixation of absorbable cartilage nails may reconstruct the integrity of articular surface and recover the stability of joints, and it is an effective treatment method.

Effectiveness and safety of endoscopy for treatment of surgical site infection: A randomized control trial.

The aim of this randomized control study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopy for the treatment of surgical site infection (SSI), compared with conventional therapy. One hundred and six patients who were diagnosed with severe SSI were included in the study, performed from May 2005 to July 2012 at Tianjin Binhai New Area Dagang Hospital, China. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: 57 patients in group A treated by endoscopy and 49 patients in group B treated by conventional therapy for SSI. The primary outcome was the healing period of the wound; the secondary outcomes were the blood loss following surgery, visual analog scale (VAS) measurement, volume of irrigation saline during surgery, rate of skin transplantation, length of hospital stay and other complications. The mean wound healing time was significantly less in group A (10.0±2.5 days) than in group B (19.4±5.2 days). The mean VAS score 7 days after surgery in group A was significantly less compared with group B. The intra-operative blood loss, intra-operative volume of irrigation saline and length of the hospital stay were significantly reduced in group A compared with group B. No significant differences between the groups were revealed in terms of the duration of surgery and the clinical complications. This study demonstrated that the endoscopy procedure for the treatment of SSI reduces the wound healing time compared with that of traditional surgery, without increasing any risk of clinical events. The present study showed that endoscopy was not only effective but also safe in the therapy of serious SSI. However, a further randomized control trial is necessary to testify our conclusions.

[AO clavicular hook plate for the treatment of fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation in 28 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical results of AO clavicular hook plate for the treatment of fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation. METHODS: From December 2006 to December 2008, 28 patients with fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation were treated with AO clavicular hook plates. There were 23 males and 5 females. The average age at surgery were 46.4 years (ranged, 22 to 68 years). The average time from suffering injuries to the operation was 3.9 days(ranged, 1 to 21 days). And the average time from the operation to plate removal was 9.4 months(ranged, 6 to 22 months). RESULTS: All the patients were followed up, the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months, with an average of 15 months. There was 1 patient with traumatic arthritis, 1 patient with plate fracture. And the others had good results without fracture and re-dislocation after operation. According to Karlsson standards, 21 patients got an excellent result, 6 good and 1 poor. Eight patients had pain and restricted activities in shoulder joints before the plate removal, and all the symptoms were catabatic after removing the clavicular hook plates. After exercise, the function of the shoulder joints achieved normal level. CONCLUSION: Clavicular hook plate used for the fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation has advantages such as simple operation, little wound, less blood loss and early exercises.

Production of extracellular superoxide by human lymphoblast cell lines: comparison of electron spin resonance techniques and cytochrome C reduction assay.

Superoxide production by NADPH oxidases plays an important role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, measurement of superoxide (O(2)(-)), a marker of oxidative stress, remains a challenging task in clinical and translational studies. In this study we analyzed O(2)(-) production in cultured human lymphoblast cell lines by three different methods: (a) superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable cytochrome C reduction, (b) spin trapping of superoxide with 5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (EMPO) and 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO), and (c) using electron spin resonance (ESR) with the cell-permeable spin probe 1-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine (CMH). Lymphocytes were isolated and immortalized by an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-transformation procedure. Superoxide was measured in cultured lymphoblast cell lines at baseline and upon stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Cytochrome C and the spin traps EMPO and DEPMPO detected two to five times less superoxide compared to CMH. Thus, CMH provided the most quantitative measurement of superoxide generation in human lymphoblast cell lines. Superoxide detection with CMH was linear dependent on cell concentration and was inhibited by SOD but not by catalase. Both cell-permeable polyethylene glycol (PEG)-SOD and extracellular Cu,Zn-SOD inhibited O(2)(-) detection by 90% in PMA-stimulated cells, suggesting a predominantly extracellular O(2)(-) generation in human lymphoblasts. Our study describes a new technique for O(2)(-) measurement in cultured human lymphoblasts using ESR and CMH. A highly sensitive in vitro measurement of O(2)(-) in human cell lines would allow investigators to study genotype/phenotype interactions in translational studies.

Circulating Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA and advanced coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) has been linked to atherosclerosis. Detection of this pathogen in peripheral blood cells may be valuable in the diagnosis of disease state. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of circulating C. pneumoniae DNA and its relationship with severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Blood samples from 269 patients undergoing coronary angiography were collected. The presence of circulating C. pneumoniae DNA was determined by real-time PCR assay. Data regarding coronary risk factors and severity and extent of CAD were collected. Severity and extent of CAD was defined by the number of major epicardial coronary arteries with >50% stenosis and by the Duke jeopardy score. RESULTS: Sixteen of 269 specimens (5.9%) from the study cohort were positive for C. pneumoniae DNA. Thirteen specimens among 149 samples from patients with multi-vessel disease (8.7%) were positive for C. pneumoniae DNA compared with 3 of 120 (2.5%) among patients without multi-vessel CAD. The prevalence of circulating C. pneumoniae DNA was significantly associated with multi-vessel disease. The odds ratio was 5.1 (P=0.02) after adjustment for conventional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of circulating C. pneumoniae DNA is associated with advanced CAD, suggesting C. pneumoniae infection as a contributing factor to progression of coronary atherosclerosis.