经伤椎椎弓根复位植骨内固定术治疗胸腰椎陈旧性骨折

目的  探讨经伤椎椎弓根复位植骨结合后路内固定术治疗胸腰椎陈旧性骨折的临床疗效。方法  选择2013年1月-2014年6月河北省唐山市第二医院脊柱外科28例胸腰椎陈旧性骨折患者（伤后3～5周）。采用经伤椎椎弓根复位加椎体内植骨并后路椎弓根钉内固定治疗。观察术前、术后1周和术后3个月椎体高度压缩率、伤椎Cobb角、ODI评分及椎管侵占率等,并进行比较分析。结果  28例患者均成功实施手术并获随访,时间6～18（10.6±4.8）个月。伤椎高度矫正率约93%,椎体高度压缩率、伤椎Cobb角、ODI评分及椎管侵占率较术前均有明显改善。术前与术后1周及术后3个月比较差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）;除ODI评分外,术后1个周与术后3个月比较差异无统计学意义（P >0.05）。无内固定松动、断裂及神经损伤等并发症发生,植骨未吸收。结论  经伤椎椎弓根复位加椎体内植骨并后路椎弓根钉内固定对于治疗胸腰椎陈旧性骨折,可增加前柱支撑,减少椎体高度丢失,疗效满意。

     

二尖瓣机械瓣置换术中闭塞左心耳预防风湿性心房颤动患者脑栓塞的临床研究

目的  探讨在二尖瓣机械瓣置换术中采用丝线结扎闭塞左心耳的安全性,并评价其预防风湿性心房颤动（AF）患者脑栓塞的有效性。方法  2012年4月-2014年3月,258例风湿性AF患者在该院接受二尖瓣机械瓣置换术治疗,129例术中采用双十号丝线从心外结扎闭塞左心耳（结扎组）,129例未行左心耳结扎术（对照组）,通过观察两组手术相关指标、术后并发症以及随访期内脑栓塞发生率,并进行分析。结果  两组手术时间、体外循环时间、阻断时间、ICU入住时间、术后住院时间,以及术后再次开胸止血、低心排血量综合征、急性肾功能衰竭、肺部感染、胸骨切口裂开发生率比较,差异无统计学意义;结扎组死亡2例,而对照组死亡3例,差异无统计学意义。结扎组127例随访（23.6±11.3）个月,无一例发生脑栓塞,而对照组126例随访（22.9±12.1）个月,5例发生脑栓塞,差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。结论  二尖瓣机械瓣置换术中采用丝线结扎闭塞左心耳,简单安全,可降低风湿性AF患者脑栓塞的发生率。

     

Endothelin-1 expression correlates with atypical histological features in mammary phyllodes tumours

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endothelin-1 expression is increased in infiltrating duct carcinoma and is associated with larger tumour size, higher histological grade and lymphovascular permeation. This has not been evaluated in phyllodes tumours, which are uncommon fibroepithelial lesions with potential for local recurrences or distant metastasis. While the grading of phyllodes tumours depends on a combination of histological parameters, prediction of their behaviour remains difficult. METHOD: A large series of 461 phyllodes tumours (291 benign, 115 borderline malignant and 55 frankly malignant) were evaluated for endothelin-1 expression in both the epithelial cells and stromal cells by immunohistochemistry; results were correlated with the tumour grade. RESULTS: For benign phyllodes tumours, the epithelial staining of endothelin was negative, weak, moderate and strong in 6%, 26%, 15% and 53% of cases respectively; results were 4%, 18%, 19% and 59% respectively for borderline and 6%, 18%, 6% and 70% respectively for frankly malignant tumours. For the stromal staining, the negative, weak, moderate and strong staining was 32%, 19%, 18% and 31% respectively for benign phyllodes, 24%, 13%, 10% and 53% respectively for borderline and 8%, 16%, 17% and 59% respectively for frankly malignant tumours. There was correlation between epithelial and stromal staining, and the stromal staining correlated with histological features of stromal cellularity, stromal cell nuclear pleomorphism, margin status and stromal overgrowth. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest a close relationship between the epithelial and stromal elements in phyllodes tumours; endothelin may play a significant role in the malignant progression of phyllodes tumours.     

E2F1 is not essential for apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in cerebellar granule neurons

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) undergo apoptosis when deprived of depolarizing concentration of potassium. A key regulator of cell cycle, E2F1, was believed to play a role in CGN apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation. However, here we demonstrated that although E2F1 was upregulated in wild type CGNs following potassium deprivation, CGNs that derived from E2F1 knockout mice underwent apoptosis at a similar rate as the wild type. Analysis of the apoptotic neurons revealed no difference in the activation of caspase-3 in E2F1 null and wild type CGNs. Furthermore, knockdown of E2F1 expression by RNA interference failed to attenuate the apoptosis of CGNs induced by potassium deprivation. Taken together, our results suggested that E2F1 is not essential for apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in CGNs.     

Molecular identification of coxsackievirus A24 variant,isolated from an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Singapore in 2005

Summary An outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) was reported in Singapore military camps in the year 2005. A total of 103 conjunctival swab specimens were collected from military personnel diagnosed clinically with AHC. PCR testing on these conjunctival specimens revealed the presence of an enterovirus, and this was confirmed by virus isolation. Molecular typing using a partial VP1 gene confirmed a variant of coxsackievirus A24 (CA24v) as the most likely etiological agent for the outbreak. Full-length genome sequencing was carried out on 2 selected virus strains, DSO-26SIN05 and DSO-52SIN05. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses of the VP4, VP1 and 3Cpro gene regions were performed, clustering the Singapore CA24v strains with viruses originating from Asia in the post-2000 era. In addition, we report evolution rates of 4.2 × 10⁻³ and 1.0 × 10⁻³ nucleotide/year, respectively, for the VP4 capsid and 3Cpro gene regions. Our result shows a focal evolutionary point around 1965–1966, suggesting that the CA24v virus has been evolving constantly since its emergence in Singapore, nearly 40 years ago.     

Tinnitus behavior and hearing function correlate with the reciprocal expression patterns of BDNF and Arg3.1/arc in auditory neurons following acoustic trauma

The molecular changes following sensory trauma and the subsequent response of the CNS are poorly understood. We focused on finding a molecular tool for monitoring the features of excitability which occur following acoustic trauma to the auditory system. Of particular interest are genes that alter their expression pattern during activity-induced changes in synaptic efficacy and plasticity. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the activity-dependent cytoskeletal protein (Arg3.1/arc), and the immediate early gene c-Fos were monitored in the peripheral and central auditory system hours and days following a traumatic acoustic stimulus that induced not only hearing loss but also phantom auditory perception (tinnitus), as shown in rodent animal behavior models. A reciprocal responsiveness of activity-dependent genes became evident between the periphery and the primary auditory cortex (AI): as c-Fos and BDNF exon IV expression was increased in spiral ganglion neurons, Arg3.1/arc and (later on) BDNF exon IV expression was reduced in AI. In line with studies indicating increased spontaneous spike activity at the level of the inferior colliculus (IC), an increase in BDNF and GABA-positive neurons was seen in the IC. The data clearly indicate the usefulness of Arg3.1/arc and BDNF for monitoring trauma-induced activity changes and the associated putative plasticity responses in the auditory system.     

An evaluation of the effects of renal artery stenting in renovascular hypertension

Renal artery stenosis is a common cause (1-6%) of secondary hypertension. Renal artery stenting has recently been employed as an adjunct to antihypertensive medication. We evaluated 92 patients who underwent renal angiography of whom 30 were stented. There was a reduction (p < 0.01) in blood pressure immediately post renal artery stenting--systolic BP from 157 +/- 20 to 140 +/- 21 mmHg and diastolic BP from 81 +/- 13 to 72 +/- 12 mmHg was sustained at 6 months follow up (148 +/- 20/76 +/- 12 mmHg) in the outpatients' clinic. The amount of antihypertensive medication did not differ post stenting--2.7 +/- 1.2 pre vs 2.7 +/- 1.2 drugs post procedure. Renal artery stenting did not provide a 'cure' for any patient with atherosclerotic renovascular hypertension and until the results of randomized studies are known we believe use should be restricted.     

The diagnostic effectiveness of an initial transvaginal scan in detecting ectopic pregnancy

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of an initial transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) in the detection of ectopic pregnancy in consecutive women attending an early pregnancy unit (EPU). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Unselected women attending a dedicated EPU underwent a TVS. Women were classified as having an intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location (PUL). Women with a PUL were followed up until the final location of the pregnancy was determined. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the initial TVS in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy were calculated. RESULTS: During a one-year study period, 5318 consecutive women attended the EPU. Outcome data were available for 5240 (98.5%) women. Of these, the initial TVS showed an IUP in 4693 (89.6%) cases and an ectopic pregnancy in 91 (1.7%) cases. The remaining 456 (8.7%) women were classified as PUL, and of these 31 (6.8%) were subsequently found to have ectopic pregnancies. The overall sensitivity of the initial TVS in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was 73.9% (95% CI: 65.1-81.6) with a specificity of 99.9% (95% CI: 99.8-100), a PPV of 96.7% (95% CI: 90.7-99.3) and an NPV of 99.4% (95% CI: 99.2-99.6). CONCLUSIONS: In unselected women attending an EPU, pregnancy location can be diagnosed accurately in over 90% of all pregnancies and in 73.9% of ectopic pregnancies with a single TVS.