Motion analysis of single-level cervical total disc arthroplasty: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this review was to investigate whether cervical total disc arthroplasty (CTDA) preserves motion of the treated level and what its effect is on adjacent segments.

Methods: Relevant published reports were collected from PubMed, Medline and Cochrane library. The original studies were considered eligible only if the range of motion (ROM) of the index or adjacent level had been investigated.

Identification and characterization of a small inhibitory peptide that can target DNA-PKcs autophosphorylation and increase tumor radiosensitivity.

Purpose: The DNA protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is one of the critical elements involved in the DNA damage repair process. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs results in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR); therefore, this approach has been explored to develop molecular targeted radiosensitizers. Here, we aimed to develop small inhibitory peptides that could specifically target DNA-PKcs autophosphorylation, a critical step for the enzymatic activation of the kinase in response to IR.

Spontaneous epidural hematoma of thoracic spine presenting as Brown-Séquard syndrome: report of a case with review of the literature.

Background: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon clinical entity. It produces a severe neurological deficit and prompt decompression is usually the first choice of treatment. Brown-Séquard syndrome is commonly seen in the setting of spinal trauma or an extramedullary spinal neoplasm, but rarely caused by SSEH.

Prognostic impact of vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression in resected gallbladder carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) expression and other confirmed prognostic factors in predicting clinical outcomes after the resection of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Between January 1999 and January 2006, a total of 84 consecutive and non-selected patients who underwent resection for GBC were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 84 patients studied, 45 cases (53.

Meta-analysis of instrumented posterior interbody fusion versus instrumented posterolateral fusion in the lumbar spine.

Object: The authors compared the effectiveness of instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion (iPLIF) and instrumented posterolateral fusion (iPLF) for the treatment of low-back pain (LBP) due to degenerative lumbar disease.

Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies through December 2009 were identified using a retrieval strategy of sensitive and specific searches. The study design, participant characteristics, interventions, follow-up rate and period, and outcomes were abstracted after the assessment of methodological quality of the trials.

An unusual case of pancreatic and gastric neoplasms (2010: 12b). Malignant GISTs originating from the pancreas and stomach.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract and are believed to originate from the neoplastic transformation of the interstitial cells of Cajal from their precursors. GIST can occur anywhere but mainly affects the stomach (60%), jejunum and ileum (30%), duodenum (4-5%), rectum (4%), colon, appendix and esophagus. Primary GISTs of the pancreas are very rare, with only five previous cases reported.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for gallbladder cancer: a dosimetric comparison of conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and compare with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Methods: Between November 2003 and January 2010, 20 patients with gallbladder cancer were treated with CRT with or without chemotherapy after surgical resection. Preliminary survival data were collected and examined using both Kaplan-Meier and actuarial analysis.

Routinely using prophylactic antibiotic may not effectively prevent intervertebral disc infection: a new strategy to preventing postoperative intervertebral disc infection.

After spine surgery, intervertebral disc infection is a less common but disastrous complication. Since invasive techniques and procedures are increasingly used in the diagnosis and treatment of human disc diseases, the possibility of disc infection also increases. Today a large proportion of spinal operation is contributed to degenerative disc diseases (DDDs) in the elderly.

Nontraumatic acute paraplegia associated with cervical disk herniation.

Background: Acute paraplegia is a true emergency. It is often the result of trauma but is rarely reported in association with cervical disk herniation in patients without antecedent injury.

Methods: Case report.

[New developments for endoscopic management of Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia].

Barrett's esophagus is now clearly recognized as a preneoplasic condition. Progression of metaplasia through dysplasia to adenocarcinoma is a widely accepted theory for esophageal carcinogenesis. That high grade dysplasia is frequently found in association with esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Depression in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of depression in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: One hundred newly diagnosed (4 - 12 weeks) T2DM participants were evaluated for depressive symptoms by using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Blood glucose (HBA1C), urinary albumin, BMI, and blood pressure were measured.

Small intestinal lipomas: diagnostic value of multi-slice CT enterography.

Aim: To analyze the clinical and imaging features of the small intestinal lipomas and to evaluate the diagnostic value of multi-slice computed tomography (CT) enterography.

Methods: Fourteen cases (one had two intestinal lesions) of surgically confirmed lipomas of the small intestine were retrospectively analyzed. The location, size, clinical and radiological aspects were discussed.

110 infants with unrepaired unilateral cleft lip: An anthropometric analysis of the lip and nasal deformities.

The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate the width of the cleft lip with the severity of the nasal deformity in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients before primary lip repair. Preoperative impression casts were made. Measurements were taken of the width of the cleft lip (CW), nose (NW), and nasal floor (NFW), alar base height (ABH), columella length (CL), nasal length (NL) and nasal tip protrusion (NTP).

[Changes of nucleus pulposus after culture of whole intervertebral discs].

Objective: To explore a practical method of culturing discs organ system by observing the changes of the nucleus pulposus after the whole intervertebral discs (including cartilage end-plate, nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrous) were cultivated.

Methods: A total of 335 intervertebral discs were taken out completely from 60 healthy SD rats (about 150 g) aged 5-6 weeks of clear grade and rinsed by high osmotic saline solution containing heparin, then put to the culture plate after being divided into 5 groups randomly. The whole intervertebral discs were cultured with high osmotic (410 mOsmol/kg) culture medium and changed the medium once every day, then the cell viability (n=15), HE staining (n=15), Safranin O staining (n=15), and immunohistochemistry staining (n=2) were observed at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days; RT-PCR result (n=5) was observed at 0, 3, 7, and 14 days.

[Perioperative intervention to prevent lower extremity deep venous thrombosis after gynecologic surgery].

Objective: To investigate the preventative effect of perioperative intervention to lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after gynecologic surgery.

Methods: The 1062 patients,who received gynecologic surgery during 2007 June to 2008 June, were divided into intervention and nonintervention groups randomizely. According to the risk factors of DVT, the patients in intervention group were divided into 4 subgroups: low, mid, high and extremely high risk.

Central lymph node metastasis: is it a reliable indicator of lateral node involvement in papillary thyroid carcinoma?

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of central lymph node metastases in predicting lateral node involvement in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: This retrospective study consists of 121 patients with PTC who underwent ipsilateral selective neck dissection. The quantitative relationship between central and lateral lymph node metastases (LNM) was analyzed.

[Targeted epidural blood patch: an effective treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension].

Objective: To report the authors' own experience in the treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) with targeted epidural blood patch after locating the CSF leaks with CT myelography (CTM) and to discuss the mechanism and value of this method.

Methods: Six patients with SIH (3 males and 3 females aged 33-66 years) were included. All patients met the diagnostic criteria of 2nd edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders (2004).

A latent form of essential thrombocythemia presenting as portal cavernoma.

Essential thrombocythemia is frequently associated with abdominal thrombotic complications including portal cavernoma as a consequence of chronic portal vein thrombosis. Essential thrombocythemia in a latent form is difficult to identify at onset due to the absence of an overt disease phenotype. In the presented case report, the diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia was initially missed because the typical disease phenotype was masked by bleeding and hypersplenism.

[Chemoprevention of Barrett's esophagus by celecoxib in rats].

Objective: To examine the chemopreventive effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib for Barrett's esophagus in rats.

Methods: Fifty 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats underwent esophagojejunostomy to induce Barrett's esophagus model. Four weeks after operation the animals were given celecoxib 10 mg/(kg*d(-1))(celecoxib group), or saline 1 ml (control group).

Early detection of pulmonary vein reconnection after isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a comparison of ATP-induction and reassessment at 30 minutes postisolation.

Introduction: Catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF (PAF) is limited by an unacceptable recurrence rate, mainly due to pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection. Strategies to minimize reconnection include adenosine infusion and also a waiting period of 30 minutes after PV isolation. The aim of the present study was to assess whether these two strategies revealed the same conduction gap.

[Establishment of reflux esophagitis models in rats].

Objective: To establish animal models of reflux esophagitis in rats.

Methods: Seventy male Sprague Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups: in Group A (n=20) esophagojejunostomy was performed to induce a gastro-jejuno-esophageal reflux; in Group B (n=20) esophagoduodenostomy was performed to induce a gastro-duodeno-esophageal reflux; in Group C (n=20) total gastrectomy plus esophagojejunostomy was performed to induce a jejuno-esophageal reflux; in Group D (n=10) only was performed sham operation (control).

Result: Among 70 rats, 6 died in Group A, 7 died in Group B, 6 died in Group C, and 72.

Change in plasma S100B level after acute spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage.

S100B has been described as a marker of brain injury. However, not much is known regarding change in plasma S100B and its relation with mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Thus, we sought to investigate change in plasma S100B level after ICH and to evaluate its relation with disease outcome.

Surgical site marking will not affect sterility of the surgical field.

Surgical site marking has been recommended to prevent wrong site surgery (WSS). According to the Universal Protocol promulgated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the mark must be made using an indelible marker that is sufficiently permanent to remain visible after completion of the skin preparation. However, in clinical practice, one skin marker always is non-sterile and used on several patients.

[Mechanism and re-ablation strategy for postablation atrial tachyarrhythmia in atrial fibrillation patients].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism and re-ablation strategy of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) following circumferential ablation of pulmonary veins (PV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Fifteen patients with recurrent ATA following first AF ablation procedure were included in this study. Under CARTO guidance, PVs were remapped and ablated subsequently for relapse of left atrium to PV conduction.