Measurement of lumbar isthmus parameters for novel starting points for cortical bone trajectory screws using computed radiography.

The current study aims to measure distance parameters in lumbar isthmus to develop new references for lumbar pedicle screw insertion. Using computed radiography, the distance between the median pedicle tangent and the isthmus lateral tangent (D1) and the isometric distance between the isthmus lateral tangent and the inferior border of transverse process (D2) were measured on 120 spine X-ray images. A derived distance D3 (equal to D2 minus 1 mm) was calculated.

microRNA-338-3p inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in osteosarcoma cells by targeting activator of 90 kDa heat shock protein ATPase homolog 1.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare, malignant bone tumor that primarily affects adolescents and has a high degree of malignancy and high incidence of recurrence and metastasis. Our study aimed to explore the role of miR-338-3p in OS cells.

Methods: qRT-qPCR was performed to quantify miR-338-3p expression levels in OS tissue samples and in three common OS cell lines.

Comparison of intra-articular hyaluronic acid and methylprednisolone for pain management in knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the efficacy and safety of intra-articular methylprednisolone and hyaluronic acid (HA) in term of pain reduction and improvements of knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Materials And Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for literature up to January 2018. RCTs involving HA and methylprednisolone in knee OA were included.

Comparison of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for the Treatment of Lower Calyceal Calculi of 2-3 cm in Patients With Solitary Kidney.

Objective: To compare percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of lower calyceal calculi with diameter of 2-3 cm in patients with solitary kidney.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 76 cases of calculi in solitary kidney from 3 medical centers in China between April 2013 and October 2016. Among them, 42 cases underwent PCNL, and 34 cases underwent RIRS.

Chinese herbal medicine compound Yi-Zhi-Hao pellet inhibits replication of influenza virus infection through activation of heme oxygenase-1.

As a leading cause of respiratory disease, influenza A virus (IAV) presents a pandemic threat in annual seasonal outbreaks. Given the limitation of existing anti-influenza therapies, there remains to be a requirement for new drugs. Compound Yi-Zhi-Hao pellet (CYZH) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used in the clinic, whose formula has been recorded in to treat common cold.

Recurrent multiple-organ involvement of disseminated alveolar echinococcosis in 3 patients: Case report.

Rationale: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare but highly malignant form of echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. There have been very few reports on multiple-organ AE, especially AE in bones. Here we report 3 rare cases of disseminated multiple-organ AE from western China and its neighboring areas.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography for osseous and soft tissue sarcomas: A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.

In order to elucidate the value of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of osseous and soft tissue malignancies, two authors independently searched the PubMed, Medline, Elsevier, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for literature published between January 2003 and February 2016, using the key words 'PET/CT', 'positron emission tomography/computed tomography', 'osseous sarcoma', 'bone tumor', 'soft tissue sarcoma' and 'neoadjuvant', to identify prospective and retrospective studies on the applicability of PET/CT on the clinical diagnosis of bone and soft tissue lesions, and evaluation of their response to neoadjuvant therapies. Data were independently extracted by the two authors and any disagreements were resolved by a third author when necessary. Extracted data were analyzed by Meta-Disc 1.

Effect of zoledronic acid on reducing femoral bone mineral density loss following total hip arthroplasty: A meta-analysis from randomized controlled trails.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficiency of intravenous administration of zoledronic acid on reducing femoral periprosthetic bone mineral density loss in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: A systematic search was performed in Medline (1966-2017.07.

Relationship between Occupational Stress, 5-HT2A Receptor Polymorphisms and Mental Health in Petroleum Workers in the Xinjiang Arid Desert: A Cross-Sectional Study.

At present, there is growing interest in research examining the relationship between occupational stress and mental health. Owing to the socioeconomic impact of occupational stress and the unique environment of petroleum workers in Xinjiang, a cross-sectional study was carried out between April and December 2015 to investigate the relationship between occupational stress, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR2A) genotype, and mental health. A total of 1485 workers were selected.

Establishment of a three-dimensional finite element model of severe kyphotic deformity secondary to ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective To establish a three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) kyphosis that is a digital platform for further studies. Methods A 30-year-old man with AS kyphosis underwent computed tomography transverse scanning from T1 to the sacrococcyx. The images were imported into Mimics® 17.

Serum C-reactive protein predicts early mortality in hospitalized patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis.

The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether CRP could serve as a potential surrogate marker for 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DeCi).This was a retrospective cohort study that included 140 patients with HBV-DeCi.

Improved Oral Bioavailability of Total Flavonoids of via Composite Phospholipid Liposomes: Preparation, Drug Release and Pharmacokinetics in Rats.

Background: L is a traditional Uygur medicine for centuries, total flavonoids extracted from are the major active ingredients of herbs, which possesses significant medicinal values to treat coronart disease and hypertension, due to the glycosyl group on the ring, total flavonoids of has low hydrophilic and poorly absorbed after oral administration, so one way is the formulation of poorly water soluble and permeabledrugs with lipids containing formulations such as Composite phospholipid liposomes to improve the absorption profile of drug.

Objectives: To prepare composite phospholipid liposome (CPL) encapsulatetotal flavonoids extract from (TFDM), determine its physicochemical properties, investigate its release and evaluate the pharmacokinetics in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to increase the bioavailability of TFDM-CPL.

Material And Methods: The TFDMCPL was prepared by the method of ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients.

Facile synthesis of MnO-rGO hybrid materials for the high-performance electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen.

In this study, a highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst (MG-15) of MnO nanoparticles (NPs) supported by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been fabricated through one-step microwave-assisted synthetic route. Upon microwave-assisted synthesis, the formation of MnO NPs and the reduction of GO occurs simultaneously. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) profile reveals that MnO NPs are uniformly distributed evenly on the winkled rGO sheets.

Lymphocyte-monocyte ratio at admission predicts possible outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: The lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in the peripheral blood is suggested to be a potential biomarker for predicting the clinical outcomes of several diseases. We aimed to evaluate the relative efficiency of LMR for predicting 3-month mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF).

Patients And Methods: In this study, 74 chronic hepatitis B patients, 90 AoCLF patients, and 70 healthy controls were followed up for 4 months.

A Comparative Animal Study of Tendon Grafts Healing After Remnant-Preserving Versus Conventional Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine if anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by remnant preservation promotes cell proliferation, vascularization, proprioception recovery, and improved biomechanical properties of the tendon grafts. MATERIAL AND METHODS 75 New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into the control group (group A), conventional ACL reconstruction group (group B), ACL reconstruction using remnant preservation and graft through remnant sleeve technique group (group C), and ACL reconstruction using remnant preservation and remnant tensioning technique group (group D). The remnant and healing of tendon grafts in groups C and D were observed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery, and the mRNA expression levels of VEGF, NT-3 and GAP-43 in ACL (group A) or tendon graft samples (groups B, C, and D) were determined by real-time PCR.

Serum Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Level Is a Potential Biomarker Indicating Cirrhosis during Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

Background. Serum immunoglobulins (Igs) are frequently elevated in patients with chronic liver disease, but currently there is a lack of sufficient data on serum Igs in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection. This study aimed to evaluate serum IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and to analyze, if altered, immunoglobulin levels that were associated with cirrhosis progress.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Early Mortality in Patients with HBV-Related Decompensated Cirrhosis.

Background. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammation index that has been shown to independently predict poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical value of NLR in the prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DeCi).

AST to Platelet Ratio Index Predicts Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Hepatitis B-Related Decompensated Cirrhosis.

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) has originally been considered as a noninvasive marker for detecting hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. APRI has been used for predicting liver-related mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection or alcoholic liver disease. However, whether APRI could be useful for predicting mortality in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unevaluated.

Sulforaphane inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway.

Sulforaphane is recognized as a safe antitumor agent derived from various cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli. It has been demonstrated that sulforaphase is a potent antitumor agent in diverse cancers. However, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma remains largely unknown.

Optimization of the process variables of tilianin-loaded composite phospholipid liposomes based on response surface-central composite design and pharmacokinetic study.

Tilianin is attracting considerable attention because of its antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic and anticonvulsive efficacy. However, tilianin has poor oral bioavailability. Thus, to improve the oral bioavailability of tilianin, composite phospholipid liposomes were adopted in this work as a novel nanoformulation.

Morphological changes and expression of MMPs and TIMPs in rabbit degenerated lateral meniscus after PCL-transection.

Introduction: Whether the expression level of MMP-1, MMP-13 and TIMP-1 has association with the degeneration of lateral meniscus after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) fracture is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of PCL fracture on lateral meniscus, including morphological changes, histological changes and roles of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression level in the secondary injury.

Materials And Methods: Sixty male rabbits were used as PCL transection models and randomized into the PCL-transection side, which underwent PCL transection surgery, and the control side, which underwent PCL exposure without transection.

A New Method for Xenogeneic Bone Graft Deproteinization: Comparative Study of Radius Defects in a Rabbit Model.

Background And Objectives: Deproteinization is an indispensable process for the elimination of antigenicity in xenograft bones. However, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) deproteinized xenograft, which is commonly used to repair bone defect, exhibits limited osteoinduction activity. The present study was designed to develop a new method for deproteinization and compare the osteogenic capacities of new pepsin deproteinized xenograft bones with those of conventional H2O2 deproteinized ones.