ObjectiveTo discuss the correlation of BRAFV600E mutation with clinicopathologic characteristics or thyroglobulin (Tg) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its clinical significance. MethodsThe BRAFV600E mutations of 55 patients with PTC were detected by nested PCR. The relations between BRAFV600E mutation and the clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results①The BRAFV600E mutations happened in 29 patients with PTC, the mutation rate was 52.7% (29/55).②The BRAFV600E mutation rate was related with extracapsular spread, multiple lesions, regional lymph node metastasis or average Tg value > 1.0μg/L during 2 years after standardized treatment (P value was 0.01, 0.02, 0.02, 0.03, respectively), but which not related with the gender, age, tumor diameter, or TNM stage (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe BRAFV600E mutation in PTC might lead to increased tumor aggressiveness and it might be related with increased Tg value after standardized treatment.
An automatic control system was designed to suppress pathological tremor on wrist joint with two degrees of freedom (DoF) using functional electrical stimulation (FES). The tremor occurring in the wrist flexion-extension and adduction-abduction was expected to be suppressed. A musculoskeletal model of wrist joint was developed to serve as the control plant, which covered four main muscles (extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris). A second-order mechanical impedance model was used to describe the wrist skeletal dynamics. The core work was to design the controller and a hybrid control strategy was proposed, which combined inverse model based on feed forward control and linear quadratic regulator (LQR) optimal control. Performance of the system was tested under different input conditions (step signal, sinusoidal signal, and real data of a patient). The results indicated that the proposed hybrid controller could attenuate over 94% of the tremor amplitude on multi-DoF wrist joint.
We present the binding ability of a new peptide (-CMPQVMPMC-) with dental enamel after being evaluated in the present study. Under a standard procedure, the recovery of M13 filamentous phage was greatly enhanced by displaying the peptide in phage coat protein pⅢ. Then the cyclic peptide was synthesized using a solid method. The effect of the cyclic peptide in vitro biomineralization was tested in a single-diffusion microtiter plate gel system. Absorbance at 405 nm of each sample was recorded for 24 h at every 6 h intervals. The relatively increased values of each sample were expressed as percentages relative to the blank group (100%). The cyclic peptide resulted in a concentration-dependent delayed nucleation. In addition, the overall values of peptide groups at the end of 24 h were lower than those in the control group but much higher than those in the BSA control group.
ObjectiveTo discuss the CT imaging differences between mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and poorly-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodThe clinical and CT data of 28 patients with mass-forming ICC (mass-forming ICC group) and 27 patients with poorly-differentiated HCC (poorly-differentiated HCC group), who were confirmed by pathological diagnosis in the West China Hospital from February 2014 to August 2014, were collected and analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe contour, margin, enhancement patterns in the arterial phase and portal vein phase of the tumor had significant differences between the mass-forming ICC group and poorlydifferentiated HCC group (P < 0.05), in other words, the lobulated shape (15/28, 53.6%), indistinct margin (17/28, 60.7%), peripheral enhancement in the arterial phase (21/28, 75.0%) and prolonged enhancement in the portal vein phase (14/28, 50.0%) were more often seen in the mass-forming ICC group, while the poorly-differentiated HCC group were mainly the round shape (17/27, 63.0%), partially well-defined margin (18/27, 66.7%), diffuse heterogeneous enhancement in arterial phase (20/27, 74.1%) and wash out in the portal vein phase (18/27, 66.7%). The presence of bile duct dilatation in the the mass-forming ICC group was significantly higher than that in the poorly-differentiated HCC group﹝57.1% (16/28) versus 14.8% (4/27), P=0.001﹞. The size and enhancement degree of lymph node in the mass-forming ICC group were significantly bigger or higher than those in the poorly-differentiated HCC group (average lymph node size: 1.7 cm versus 1.3 cm, P=0.009; average enhancement degree of lymph node: 62.6 HU versus 51.8 HU, P=0.031). ConclusionCT features, such as tumor contour, margin, enhancement characteristics, the presence of bile duct dilatation, and the size and enhancement degree of lymph node, might help for differentiating mass-forming ICC from poorly-differentiated HCC, so that more timely selection of appropriate treatment strategies would be made.
ObjectiveTo classify and analyze medical audit chargeback of a hospital and to propose management strategies. MethodsWe classified the project audit chargeback of a grade-three class-A comprehensive hospital in Chengdu from June to December 2013, and analyzed the underlying causes of the chargeback. ResultsThe total chargeback of the hospital from June to December 2013 was more than 30 000 items and the general amount involved was about 3 million yuan. The project number of recurring charges, excessive charges, unreasonable charges, anchored fees, inconsistent charges with doctors' advices, non-indications, disproportionate fees and charges over restriction accounts occupied respectively 42.99%, 39.71%, 9.15%, 5.73%, 0.35%, 0.17%, 1.44% and 0.46%; and the amount of money involved for those projects occupied respectively 8.84%, 52.55%, 14.44%, 10.70%, 2.54%, 1.15%, 8.91% and 0.88%. ConclusionThe reasons for project audit chargeback are complicated. By strengthening information technology, management of price and building negotiation mechanism with Medical Insurance and Pricing Management Institutes, we can reduce the amount of chargeback, protect the right of patients and enhance the efficient use of the health insurance fund, so that the hospital, medical insurance and patients can all get benefits.
ObjectiveTo identify the clinical significance of epileptic eye movement for localization of posterior epileptic seizures. MethodsThere were 12 posterior epileptic patients, who were undertaken the detailed presurgical evaluation and ictal SEEG recording, and the epileptogenic zone of whom was confirmed restricted within posterior cortex through the boarder of epileptic cortical resection and the result of epileptic surgery, included in the research. ResultsThe cluster analysis of posterior cortical area of interest showed that parieto-occipital sulcus (POS) with the adjacent cortical areas belonged to the Medial Group; intraparietal sulcus (IPS) with the adjacent areas belonged to the Intermediate Group; and the Lateral Group included anterior occipital sulcus (AOS) and posterior temporal cortex. Eyes forced stare had the significant correlation with IPS, POS and related cortical group. Contraversive eye deviation had no significant correlation with cortical eye field with the related cortical areas. ConclusionsForced eye stare was significant eye movement in posterior epilepsy, and had significant correlation with IPS and POS. Ipsiversive eye deviation and convergence binocular movement were rare semiology in posterior epilepsy, and AOS had significant correlation with the two type of epileptic eyes movement.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effect of three different ways of annulus fibrosus incision on the biomechanical strength of intervertebral disc. MethodsA total of 30 goats underwent intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus extraction at L3, 4 and L4, 5 by the working channel in group A (n=10), by circular incision in group B (n=10), and by square incision in group C (n=10). The body weight, male and female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time were recorded and compared among 3 groups. The survival rate and wound healing situation were observed after operation. At 24 weeks after operation, the goats were sacrificed, MRI images were taken to observe the signal intensity of nucleus pulposus. The disc height of L3, 4 and L4, 5 was measured to calculate the loss of disc height; biomechanical test was used to assess the strength of the disc and anulus. Histological staining was also conducted to observe the repair effect at L4, 5. ResultsThere was no significant difference in body weight, male to female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time among groups (P>0.05). All goats survived to the end of the experiment. MRI examination showed decreased signal intensity in 3 groups, indicating intervertebral disc degeneration. According to modified Thompson classification method, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P>0.05). Difference was not significant in intervertebral space height before operation among 3 groups (P>0.05). But after 24 weeks, the intervertebral space height in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), and the intervertebral space height loss in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). The biomechanical strength in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group B and group C (P>0.05). HE and Masson staining showed good continuity of annulus fibrosus and clear layers in group A; poor continuity of annulus fibrosus and obvious scar tissues were observed in groups B and C. ConclusionApplication of working channel may have less destruction of annulus fibrosus, it plays a positive role in the maintenance of biomechanical strength and repair of annulus fibrosus.
ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of HLA-B27 for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Chinese population. MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 8, 2015), CNKI, and WanFang data from inception to August 2015, to collect diagnostic studies about HLA-B27 for AS in Chinese population. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed by using Stata12.0 software. ResultsA total of 16 studies involving 3137 AS and 5617 suspect patients were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the pooled Sen, Spe, +LR, -LR and DOR were 0.91(95%CI 0.89 to 0.93), 0.94(95%CI 0.91 to 0.96), 14.90(95%CI 9.60 to 23.10), 0.09(95%CI 0.08 to 0.12) and 157.00(95%CI 90.00 to 275.00), respectively. The AUC of SROC was 0.98(95%CI 0.93 to 0.97). ConclusionsHLA-B27 detection is of great diagnostic value for AS in Chinese population. However, due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more long-term follow-up prospective studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To investigate the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by high glucose treatment in human lung epithelial A549 cells. Methods The effect of high glucose on the expression of HO-1 in A549 cells was investigated with Western blot and reverse transcription PCR. HO-1 enzymic activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were investigated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent test. Results Treatment with 25 mmol/L high glucose for 0, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and in concentrations of 5 mmol/L, 10 mmol/L, 25 mmol/L, 40 mmol/L for 48 h induced increased expression on protein and mRNA level of HO-1 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in A549 cells. High glucose treatment increased production of ROS and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in A549 cells, which thus mediated HO-1 expression. Following the increase in HO-1 expression, the enzymatic activity of HO-1 also increased in high glucose-treated cells. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and PI3K/Akt inhibitors attenuated the high glucose-induced increased HO-1 expression. Conclusions High glucose increases ROS and TGF-β1 production in A549 cells, which mediates HO-1 expression and increases HO-1 enzymic activity.
ObjectiveTo investigate the reasons and managements of implant-related complications after hinge knee replacement for tumors around the knee. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 96 patients undergoing hinge knee replacement between January 2000 and December 2012. There were 64 males and 32 females with the mean age of 31.0 years (range, 15-72 years). The most common tumor type was osteosarcoma (72 cases), and the second was giant cell tumor (15 cases). The tumor located at the distal femurs in 52 cases and at the proximal tibias in 44 cases. Fifteen hinge and 81 rotating hinge prostheses were used. The recurrence, metastasis, and survival were recorded. The implant-related complications were observed. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 43.5 months (range, 10-156 months). Complications were observed in 21 patients (25 implant-related complications);13 complications located at the femur and 12 complications at the tibia. The complications included aseptic loosening (8 cases), deep infection (7 cases), prosthetic breakage (4 cases), peri-prosthetic fracture (2 cases), and dislocation (4 cases). Most deep infection occurred within 12 months after operation (6/7), and most aseptic loosening after 40 months of operation (6/8). The rate of limb salvage was 90.6% (87/96) and the amputation rate was 9.4% (9/96). The overall survival rate of the prosthesis was 76.7% (5-year) and 47.2% (10-year). The 5-year survival rate was 82.9% for femoral prosthesis and 71.0% for tibial prosthesis, showing no significant difference (P=0.954). ConclusionHinge knee prosthesis still has a high rate of complications. Deep infection is main reason to decrease short-term prosthetic survival rate, and aseptic loosening shortens the long-short prosthetic survival time.