Circulating Tumor DNA Dynamics as Prognostic Markers in Locally Advanced and Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly disease with frequent recurrence. There are unmet needs for prognostic biomarkers for dynamically monitoring disease progression and detecting minimal residual disease.

Objective: To examine whether circulating tumor DNA is clinically useful as a prognostic biomarker for ESCC recurrence and patient survival.

Validation of a histologic scoring system for the examination of quality of tendon graft to bone tunnel healing in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Objective: To develop and validate a histologic scoring system for the assessment of tendon graft to bone tunnel healing in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Study Design: The scoring system, tendon-bone tunnel healing (TBTH) score, comprised 5 items on graft status,fiber type and interface connectivity, evaluated on either a 5- or 6-point scale. Two observers were trained to use the scoring system, examining 15 blinded histologic slides from an ongoing study.

Inferior tendon graft to bone tunnel healing at the tibia compared to that at the femur after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Tunnel widening after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is commonly reported without a clear understanding of the mechanism. This study aimed to quantify the spatiotemporal change of the newly formed bone mass, bone tunnel diameter, and area along both bone tunnels using micro-computed tomography (microCT) and correlated the result with histology.

Methods: ACLR was performed in 24 rabbits.

The use of tibial Less Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) plate [AO-ASIF] for the treatment of paediatric supracondylar fracture of femur: a case report.

Paediatric supracondylar fractures of the femur are not common. The treatment options depend on the age of child, the site of the fracture, the pattern of injury and the surgeon's preference. We report a case of an 11-year old boy who sustained a comminuted displaced supracondylar fracture of the femur and was treated with indirect reduction and internal fixation with the Less Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) tibial plate.

A rare mode of extensor mechanism failure in total knee arthroplasty.

We reported a rare mode of extensor mechanism failure in total knee arthroplasty. The patellar tendon was elongated and thin instead of disruption at the bone-tendon junction. We also described the surgical technique for reconstruction of patellar tendon.

Chemical and biological assessment of a traditional chinese herbal decoction prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis: orthogonal array design to optimize the extraction of chemical constituents.

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is a simple decoction, having about 800 years of usage in China to treat menopausal irregularity in women, which contains two herbs: Radix Astragali (Huangqi) and Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui). Traditionally, boiling water has been used for preparing DBT; however, the optimized conditions of extraction have not yet been determined. Here, the amounts of Radix Astragali-derived astragaloside IV, calycosin, formononetin, and Radix Angelicae Sinensis-derived ferulic acid and ligustilide were determined in DBT, which were extracted according to an orthogonal array experimental design having three variable parameters: extraction time, extraction volume and number of repeats of the extraction.

Chemical assessment of roots of Panax notoginseng in China: regional and seasonal variations in its active constituents.

Root of Panax notoginseng (Radix Notoginseng, Sanqi) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and is mainly cultivated in Wenshan of Yunnan, China. The active constituents include saponin, dencichine, flavonoid, and polysaccharide; however, the levels of these components vary in different geographical regions of growth and also show a seasonal variation. By using high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry, the contents of notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside R(g1), R(b1), R(d), dencichine, flavonoid, and polysaccharide were determined and compared with Radix Notoginseng collected from different regions of growth in China, as well as from different seasons of harvest and market grades.

Phylogeny of Astragalus in China: molecular evidence from the DNA sequences of 5S rRNA spacer, ITS, and 18S rRNA.

Radix Astragali (root of Astragalus; Huangqi) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used as an immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antidiabetic, analgesic, expectorant, and sedative drug. Although the species of Radix Astragali have been defined as Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var.

A polysaccharide isolated from Cordyceps sinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine, protects PC12 cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced injury.

Cordyceps sinensis, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, possesses activities in anti-tumour, anti-oxidation and stimulating the immune system; however, the identity of active component(s) is not determined. By using anti-oxidation activity-guided fractionation, a polysaccharide of molecular weight approximately 210 kDa was isolated from cultured Cordyceps mycelia by ion-exchange and sizing chromatography. The isolated polysaccharide, having strong anti-oxidation activity, contains glucose, mannose and galactose in a ratio of 1 : 0.

Molecular genetic and chemical assessment of radix Angelica (Danggui) in China.

The roots of Angelica sinensis (Danggui), a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used for invigorating blood circulation for over 2000 years in China. Three common species of Angelica roots are found in Asia: A. sinensis from China, A.