[Association between matrilin-1 gene polymorphism and bracing effectiveness in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis girls].

Objectives: To investigate the association between matrilin-1 gene polymorphism and bracing effectiveness in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis girls.

Methods: In a prospective study, AIS girls treated with standard bracing from January 2005 to December 2008 were included and followed up. All subjects of the study met the following criteria: female; skeletally immature (Risser sign grade 0 - 3); before menarche or < 1.

Characterization of a para-nitrophenol catabolic cluster in Pseudomonas sp. strain NyZ402 and construction of an engineered strain capable of simultaneously mineralizing both para- and ortho-nitrophenols.

Pseudomonas sp. strain NyZ402 was isolated for its ability to grow on para-nitrophenol (PNP) as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy, and was shown to degrade PNP via an oxidization pathway. This strain was also capable of growing on hydroquinone or catechol.

[Effect of acupoint-catgut implantation on the physical agility of professional athletes].

Objectives: To observe the impact of acupoint-catgut implantation on physical agility of athletes and to probe into its underlying mechanism.

Methods: A total of 68 volunteer athletes were recruited in the present study. Sixteen rowers of China National Women's Racing Boat Team (CNWRBT) underwent comparative observation between pre- and post-treatment with acupoint-catgut implantation.

Novel side branch ostial stent (BIGUARD): first-in-man study.

Background: Stenting a bifurcation lesion is technically challenging. No study has reported the clinical outcome of a dedicated bifurcation stent in China. We aimed to analyze the safety and clinical outcome of a novel side branch ostial stent (BIGUARD) stent in treating coronary bifurcation lesions.

Mechanisms and clinical significance of quality of final kissing balloon inflation in patients with true bifurcation lesions treated by crush stenting technique.

Background: The mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of a kissing unsatisfied (KUS) result after classical crush stenting remain unclear. The present study aimed at analyzing the mechanisms and clinical significance of KUS.

Methods: Two hundred and thirteen patients with true bifurcation lesions treated with classical crush stenting and final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) were assigned to upper, middle, and lower groups according to the position of the side branch re-wiring assessed by visual estimation, quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Different edge effects of paclitaxel- and sirolimus-eluting stents on proximal and distal edges in patients with unstable angina: serial intravascular ultrasound analysis.

Background: It is unclear whether edge segments have different responses to paclitaxel eluting stent (PES) and sirolimus eluting stent (SES) implantation in patients with unstable angina. This study aimed to compare the different vascular edge responses in patients with unstable angina and single de novo coronary lesion treated with SES and PES.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five patients with unstable angina and single de novo lesion were randomly assigned to PES and SES groups.

[Treatment of infected nonunion with large skeletal defects].

Objective: To investigate the curative effect of managing infected nonunion with large skeletal defects utilizing debridement and granulated cancellous bone grafting.

Methods: Nineteen patients (20 sites) of infected nonunion with large skeletal defects in tibiae (n = 18) or ulna/radii (n = 2), 18 males and 1 female aged 31.3 (8 - 51), were treated with debridement, external fixation, and granulated cancellous bone grafting, 14 patients (15 sites) by cancellous bone autografting and 5 patients (5 sites) by cancellous bone allografting.

Effect of coronary bifurcation angle on clinical outcomes in Chinese patients treated with crush stenting: a subgroup analysis from DKCRUSH-1 bifurcation study.

Background: Bifurcation angles may have an impact on the clinical outcomes of crush stenting. We sought to compare high (> or = 60 degrees ) with low (< 60 degrees ) bifurcation angle in patients who underwent either classical or double kissing (DK) crush stenting for bifurcation lesions from the DKCRUSH-1 data base.

Methods: There were 212 patients with 220 lesions, some with low-angle (n = 138) and some with high-angle (n = 74).

A transposable class I composite transposon carrying mph (methyl parathion hydrolase) from Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3.

Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 utilizes methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-p-nitrophenol phosphorothioate) or para-nitrophenol as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. A gene encoding methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH) had been characterized previously and found to be located on a typical class I composite transposon that comprised IS6100 (Tnmph).

Identification and characterization of catabolic para-nitrophenol 4-monooxygenase and para-benzoquinone reductase from Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3.

Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 utilizes para-nitrophenol (PNP) as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. In order to identify the genes involved in this utilization, we cloned and sequenced a 12.

Bioaugmentation of a 4-chloronitrobenzene contaminated soil with Pseudomonas putida ZWL73.

The strain Pseudomonas putida ZWL73, which metabolizes 4-chloronitrobenzene (4CNB) by a partial-reductive pathway, was inoculated into lab-scale 4CNB-contaminated soil for bioaugmentation purposes in this study. The degradation of 4CNB was clearly stimulated, as indicated with the gradual accumulation of ammonium and chloride. Simultaneously, the diversity and quantity of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria decreased due to 4CNB contamination, while the quantity of 4CNB-resistant bacteria increased.

[Causes and countermeasure of complications in operative management of intra - articular fracture of calcaneus].

Objective: To discuss the probable causes of the post-surgery complications with the intra-artcular fracture of calcaneus, the proper steps for prevention and solution.

Methods: Seventy-one patients (76 injured feet) included 49 males and 22 females aged from 19 to 56 years old (mean 35.6 years).

[Comparison of DK crush with classical crush technique with drug-eluting stents for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions from DKCRUSH-1 study].

Objective: To determine independent factors correlated with clinical effects of DK crush and classical crush technique with drug-eluting stents on bifurcation lesions.

Methods: 311 patients with bifurcation lesions were randomized to classical (C, n = 156) or double kissing (DK) crush (n = 155) stent implantation group. The primary endpoints included major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

[Soluble expression, purification and bioactivity of recombinant human Era protein].

Aim: To prepare a soluble human Era(hEra) protein and to measure its bioactivity.

Methods: Human era cDNA gene from pUC19 plasmid was subcloned into the expression plasmid pMAL-p2x. pMAL-hEra was transducted to E.

Crush stenting in treating coronary bifurcate lesions: paclitaxel eluting stents versus sirolimus eluting stents.

Background: Because no data regarding the comparison of crush stenting with paclitaxel (PES) or sirolimus eluting stents (SES) for coronary bifurcate lesions have been reported, we compared the clinical outcomes of these two types of stents.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty patients with 242 bifurcate lesions were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized trial. Primary endpoints included myocardial infarction, cardiac death and target vessel revascularization at 8 months.

Molecular characterization of a novel ortho-nitrophenol catabolic gene cluster in Alcaligenes sp. strain NyZ215.

Alcaligenes sp. strain NyZ215 was isolated for its ability to grow on ortho-nitrophenol (ONP) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy and was shown to degrade ONP via a catechol ortho-cleavage pathway. A 10,152-bp DNA fragment extending from a conserved region of the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase gene was obtained by genome walking.

Starch accumulation and activities of key enzymes involved in starch synthesis in the grains of maize inbred lines with different starch contents.

Amylose, amylopectin and starch dynamic accumulation and key enzymes activities in the grains of 4 maize inbred lines (two high-starch ones and two low-starch ones) were studied. The amounts of amylose, amylopectin and starch in the grains of 4 maize inbred lines increased as sigmoid curves during grain filling period. The changes in amylose, amylopectin and starch accumulation rates followed single-peaked curves, and reached their peaks in the 25-30 days after pollination (DAP).

Left ventricular endocardial pacing predicts the reduction of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient immediately after percutaneous transseptal myocardial ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to medication.

Background: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) carries an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. No data regarding the percutaneous transseptal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) and epicardial left ventricular pacing (LVP) were reported.

Methods: Seven patients with recurrent symptoms and increased resting left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOTG) after PTSMA and another 14 patients with HOCM without history of PTSMA were studied.

Effect of berberine on hepatocyte proliferation, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, cytochrome P450 2E1 and 1A2 activities in diethylnitrosamine- and phenobarbital-treated rats.

This study investigated the effect of berberine on the early phase of hepatocarcinogenesis stimulated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 150 mg/kg, 4 weeks) plus phenobarbital (PB, 75 mg/kg, 7 days) in rats. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The activities of CYP isoenzymes were analyzed using different probe drugs including chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1) and phenacetin (CYP1A2) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in vivo or in vitro.

[Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion with preserved posterior vertebral wall for multi-level cervical spondylosis: a prospective random study of 84 cases].

Objective: To compare the results of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion with preserved posterior vertebral wall (PWCF) with the classical anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACF).

Methods: Eighty-four patients with multi-level cervical spondylosis were randomized to ACF (n = 42) or PWCF (n = 42). Postoperative JOA score were evaluated by an independent observer.

[Ocular pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of 0.2% ganciclovir in-situ gelling eye drops].

Objective: To compared the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of 0.2% ganciclovir (GCV) in-situ gelling eye drops (GCV-ISG) with common GCV eye drops (GCV-ED) in rabbits.

Methods: Forty-eight healthy albino rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups, each group included 24 rabbits and 3 rabbits (6 eyes) were used at each time points.