Subscapularis Transthoracic Versus Posterolateral Approaches in the Surgical Management of Upper Thoracic Tuberculosis: A Prospective,Randomized Controlled Study

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes of a subscapularis transthoracic surgical approach and a posterolateral surgical approach with debridement, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation for the treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis.There is currently debate over the best surgical approach for the treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis. Traditionally, the subscapularis transthoracic approach has been preferred; however, the posterolateral approach has gained popularity in the past few years.A prospective, consecutive cohort of 43 upper thoracic tuberculosis patients with a mean age of 39 years (range: 20–52 years) was followed up for a minimum of 12 months (range: 12–60 months). Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A (n = 21) was treated by the subscapularis transthoracic approach and group B (n = 22) was treated by the posterolateral approach. All cases were evaluated for clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes. Intraoperative blood loss, operative duration, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, the cure rate, fusion time, and the Frankel scale were used for clinical and functional evaluation, whereas the kyphosis angle was used for radiological evaluation.Grafted bones were fused by 10 months in all cases. There was no statistically significant difference between groups before surgery in terms of gender, age, segmental tuberculosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Frankel scale, or Cobb''s angle (P > 0.05). The average operative duration for Group B was lower than that of Group A. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, grafted bone fusion time, or cure rate between groups (P > 0.05). The Cobb''s angle correction rate for group B (68.5%) was significantly better than that of group A (30.9%). The neurological score showed significant postoperative improvement in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups.The subscapularis transthoracic approach and the posterolateral approach with debridement, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation are both sufficient and satisfactory for the surgical treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis. However, the posterolateral approach is superior to the subscapularis transthoracic approach in terms of surgical trauma, operative time, and kyphosis correction.     

Outcomes of Early Decompressive Craniectomy Versus Conventional Medical Management After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examined whether early decompressive craniectomy (DC) can improve control of intracranial pressure (ICP) and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until May 14, 2015, using the following terms: traumatic brain injury, refractory intracranial hypertension, high intracranial pressure, craniectomy, standard care, and medical management. Randomized controlled trials in which patients with TBI received DC and non-DC medical treatments were included.Of the 84 articles identified, 8 studies were selected for review, with 3 randomized controlled trials s having a total of 256 patients (123 DCs, 133 non-DCs) included in the meta-analysis. Patients receiving DC had a significantly greater reduction of ICP and shorter hospital stay. They also seemed to have lower odds of death than patients receiving only medical management, but the P value did not reach significance (pooled odds ratio 0.531, 95% confidence interval 0.209–1.350, Z = 1.95, P = 0.183) with respect to the effect on overall mortality; a separate analysis of 3 retrospective studies yielded a similar result.Whereas DC might effectively reduce ICP and shorten hospital stay in patients with TBI, its effect in decreasing mortality has not reached statistical significance.     

Genetic toxicity assessment using liver cell models: past,present, and future

ABSTRACT

Genotoxic compounds may be detoxified to non-genotoxic metabolites while many pro-carcinogens require metabolic activation to exert their genotoxicity in vivo. Standard genotoxicity assays were developed and utilized for risk assessment for over 40 years. Most of these assays are conducted in metabolically incompetent rodent or human cell lines. Deficient in normal metabolism and relying on exogenous metabolic activation systems, the current in vitro genotoxicity assays often have yielded high false positive rates, which trigger unnecessary and costly in vivo studies. Metabolically active cells such as hepatocytes have been recognized as a promising cell model in predicting genotoxicity of carcinogens in vivo. In recent years, significant advances in tissue culture and biological technologies provided new opportunities for using hepatocytes in genetic toxicology. This review encompasses published studies (both in vitro and in vivo) using hepatocytes for genotoxicity assessment. Findings from both standard and newly developed genotoxicity assays are summarized. Various liver cell models used for genotoxicity assessment are described, including the potential application of advanced liver cell models such as 3D spheroids, organoids, and engineered hepatocytes. An integrated strategy, that includes the use of human-based cells with enhanced biological relevance and throughput, and applying the quantitative analysis of data, may provide an approach for future genotoxicity risk assessment.     

The Relationship between College Graduate’s Dual Self-Consciousness and Job Search Clarity: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between college graduates’ dual self-consciousness, job search clarity and perceived stress, and reveal the mediating role of perceived stress between dual self-consciousness and job search clarity. In this study, 467 college graduates were investigated using the Dual Self-Consciousness Scale, Job Search Clarity Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. After controlling for gender, age, and region, the results revealed that: (1) private self-consciousness has a significant positive predictive effect on job search clarity; (2) perceived stress has a significant negative predictive effect on job search clarity; (3) perceived stress plays partial mediation effects between private self-consciousness and job search clarity; (4) perceived stress plays complete mediation effects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity; (5) perceived stress has suppressing effects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity.     

(加味)柴芍承气汤对重症急性胰腺炎及其并发症的作用

目的探讨(加味)柴芍承气汤对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)及其并发症的防治作用。方法65例SAP患者分为中药组35例,对照组30例。2组的内科治疗相同,中药组一经确诊即予柴芍承气汤加味银杏叶治疗,每剂煎成100~150m l,自鼻胃管内注入或口服,每日2~3次,直至患者腹痛缓解、腹胀基本消失、肠鸣恢复。分别观察2组患者治疗72 h后的PaO2、SaO2肾功能、脑病、局部并发症情况、腹痛缓解时间、肠鸣恢复时间、病死率,以及血清中血小板活化因子(PAF)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、白介素-1(IL-1)水平变化。结果治疗72 h后中药组与对照组低氧血症的发生率分别为45.71%、73.73%,P<0.05;肾损害、脑病、局部并发症发生率以及病死率均低于对照组,但无统计学差异;腹痛缓解时间、肠鸣恢复时间均优于对照组(P<0.05);中药组血清中PAF、TNF-α、IL-1水平显著降低(P<0.01),而对照组则无明显变化。结论该汤剂对SAP及其并发症有较好的防治作用。抑制细胞因子或炎症介质可能是该汤剂治疗SAP的重要机制。     

人Uroplakin Ⅱ启动子用于靶向性基因治疗膀胱癌的实验研究

目的探讨利用人UroplakinⅡ(hUPⅡ)启动子进行靶向性基因治疗膀胱癌的可能性。方法将hUPⅡ启动子和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)克隆到腺病毒载体Ad5中,构建重组体pAd-hUPⅡ-TNF。转染细胞293后产生复制缺陷型的重组腺病毒,感染膀胱癌细胞系BIU-87,检测TNF-α对BIU-87细胞体外生物学行为及体内成瘤性的影响。结果成功构建pAd-hUPⅡ-TNF重组腺病毒载体,转染细胞293获得复制缺陷型重组腺病毒。BIU-87细胞经重组腺病毒感染后可产生高浓度的TNF-α,并降低BIU-87的生长速度。感染腺病毒的BIU-87培养液可抑制L929细胞的生长。裸鼠原位膀胱肿瘤动物模型实验结果表明膀胱灌注重组腺病毒48h后,裸鼠尿液含高浓度的TNF-α,4周后腺病毒组膀胱重量和体积明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。结论hUPⅡ启动子TNF-α为治疗基因的重组腺病毒可特异性使膀胱癌细胞系BIU-87产生高浓度的TNF-α,并降低BIU-87和L929细胞的生长速度。重组腺病毒可使裸鼠尿内含高浓度的TNF-α,并可抑制裸鼠原位膀胱肿瘤动物模型膀胱癌细胞的成瘤性。     

衰老对大鼠阴茎组织NO-cGMP通路及端粒酶活性的影响研究

目的探讨衰老对大鼠阴茎组织结构、NO(nitric oxide)-cGMP(cvclic Guanosine Monophosphate)通路及端粒酶活性的影响作用。方法本课题以不同月龄大鼠阴茎组织及培养的平滑肌细胞为研究对象,检测不同月龄大鼠阴茎组织中NO量、NOS(Nitric Oxide Synthase)活性、cGMP量、端粒酶活性及海绵体结构的变化,并比较大鼠、人阴茎组织及大鼠原代海绵体平滑肌细胞的端粒酶活性。结果(1)大鼠阴茎组织中NO量、NOS活性均先升高后降低,各月龄组间有显著差异。阴茎组织cGMP含量逐渐降低,各月龄组间差别显著；(2)随龄增加,平滑肌纤维逐渐减少,胶原纤维增多,粗大成团,窦状隙变少、变窄：(3)大鼠阴茎组织端粒酶活性以2月龄活性最高,随龄增加逐渐下降。人阴茎组织中无端粒酶活性。结论(1)衰老对大鼠阴茎组织结构、NO．cGMP通路及端粒酶活性有显著影响,提示衰老与ED关系密切；(2)大鼠阴茎组织有端粒酶活性,可作为研究细胞衰老与ED关系有关端粒酶的模型。