BCAS2 is essential for Drosophila viability and functions in pre-mRNA splicing.

Here, we show that dBCAS2 (CG4980, human Breast Carcinoma Amplified Sequence 2 ortholog) is essential for the viability of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that ubiquitous or tissue-specific depletion of dBCAS2 leads to larval lethality, wing deformities, impaired splicing, and apoptosis. More importantly, overexpression of hBCAS2 rescues these defects.

A retrospective study of echocardiographic cardiac function and structure in adolescents with congenital scoliosis.

Background: Patients with congenital scoliosis often also have intraspinal abnormalities and other organ defects, and few studies of the effects of congenital scoliosis on cardiac function and structure have been published.

Methods: A total of 215 adolescent patients with congenital scoliosis (average age, 13.58 years) underwent preoperative echocardiography and were then assigned to subgroups according to apex vertebral rotation, side of convexity, curvature severity in the coronal and sagittal planes, type of deformity, and sex.

[Orthopedic effects of internal fixation of cervical pedicle screw on cervical spondylotic myelopathy with cervical kyphosis].

Objective: To evaluate the orthopedic effects of internal fixation of cervical pedicle screw on cervical spondylotic myelopathy with cervical kyphosis.

Methods: Seventeen patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy with cervical kyphosis with the Cobb's angle >10 degrees underwent internal fixation of cervical pedicle screw. The patients were followed up for 13.

Comparison of reliability between the PUMC and Lenke classification systems for classifying adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: Comparison of 2 radiographic scoliosis classification systems by multiple surgeons.

Objective: Compare the reliability of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) and Lenke scoliosis classification systems and analyze their differences.

Summary Of Background Data: The PUMC classification is a newly reported system based on radiographic measurements with recent popularity, while the Lenke classification is widely accepted worldwide in surgical design.

Anterior spinal fusion versus posterior spinal fusion for moderate lumbar/thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a prospective study.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: Comparison study of radiologic and clinical outcomes, efficiency, and cost between anterior spinal fusion (ASF) and posterior spine fusion (PSF) in surgical treatment of moderate lumbar/thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary Of Background Data: ASF and PSF indicated for lumbar and thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgical treatment have respective advantages and disadvantages.

An innovative broken pedicle screw retrieval instrument.

Objective: To introduce a new broken pedicle screw fragment retrieval instrument, and evaluate its clinical viability and effectiveness.

Methods: Following basic retrieval contrivance of broken pedicle screws described in literature, a new retrieval instrument was designed and developed; introducing its mechanism, technical components, and use. This innovative apparatus proved successful not only in saw bone and cadaver trials but in 10 clinical cases as well.

Utilization of water clarifier sludge for copper removal in a liquid fluidized-bed reactor.

A method was used to investigate the potential for using water clarifier sludge to remove copper in a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR). This study was conducted to evaluate the removal of copper in an aquatic system without prior treatment. Chemical analyses of water clarifier sludge through inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry indicated that silicon, aluminum and iron oxides made up more than 84% of this average composition, similar to the composition of clay.

Removal of copper (II) by manganese-coated sand in a liquid fluidized-bed reactor.

This study was performed in a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) filled with manganese-coated sand (MCS) to treat copper-contaminated wastewater. The adsorption characteristics of MCS, the adsorption equilibrium of MCS, and the copper removal capacity by MCS in FBR were investigated. In terms of the adsorption characteristics of MCS, the surface of MCS was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution in a fluidized-bed reactor.

In this study, a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) was employed to treat copper-containing wastewater by mean of copper precipitation on the surface of sand grains. The conditions for optimum copper removal efficiency were also investigated. This technology was controlled so as to keep supersaturation low to induce the nucleated precipitation of copper coating on the sand surface in an FBR.

Diagnosis and treatment of malignant pancreatic endocrine tumour.

Objective: To summarize our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pancreatic endocrine tumour.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 36 cases of malignant pancreatic endocrine tumours in our hospital from July 1987 to April 2002, and summarized its clinical features.

Results: Liver metastasis was the main malignant manifestation of malignant pancreatic endocrine tumours (incidence rate 72.