In this experiment, a ZnO-fibre complex was prepared using the hydrothermal methods of "water solubility," "coupling agent," and "high temperature and high pressure". Binding rate, antibacterial activity, microstructure, and the infrared spectrum were measured using biomimetic digestion, bacterial proliferation tests, and ultra-fine electron microscopes. At first, ZnO-fibre complexes were prepared with different ratios of material and water. They was divided into five groups with ratios of 1:0, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, and 1:10, respectively. The ZnO-fibre complexes were prepared with different coupling agents on the basis of experiment 1. They were divided into four groups. The ratio for material and water in the control group was 1:0, and in the treatment group, was 1:4. Treatment groups 2 and 3 had 10% guar gum or 10% bamboo fibre polymer composites (BFP) added on the basis of group 1. A ZnO-fibre complex was successfully prepared by adding 10% BFP at a ratio of material:water of 1:4, at a high temperature of 120 °C and a high pressure of 0.3 MPa for 20 min. The ZnO-binding rate reached 99.05%. The zinc oxide may bind to the carbonyl group of bamboo powder and adhere to the surface of and gaps in the bamboo fibre. The growth inhibition rate of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus was double that of the common ZnO additive and Zn concentration. It is expected to be used as a slow-release ZnO additive.

Resumo Introdução: Os nuócitos desempenham um papel importante na imunidade do tipo 2. No entanto, a contribuição das interleucinas ILC2s na rinite alérgica ainda precisa ser elucidada. Objetivo: Avaliar o papel dos nuócitos de linfonodos mesentéricos nas respostas alérgicas em camundongos. Método: Após a administração intraperitoneal de interleucina (IL)-25 e IL-33 em camundongos do tipo selvagem e camundongos Il17br-/-Il1rl1-/- com deficiência dupla, os nuócitos foram purificados do tecido linfoide associado a mucosa nasal e linfonodos mesentéricos. Em seguida, avaliamos as produções de IL-5 e IL-13 em culturas de nuócitos. Finalmente, transferimos adotivamente os nuócitos derivados de linfonodos mesentéricos de camundongos do tipo selvagem e camundongos Il17br-/-Il1rl1-/- para o modelo murino de rinite alérgica para avaliar seu papel nas respostas alérgicas nasais. Resultados: Mostramos que os nuócitos nos linfonodos mesentéricos de camundongos do tipo selvagem estavam up-regulados após a aplicação de IL-25 e IL-33 e foram induzidos a produzir IL-5 e IL-13. Os espirros e friçcão nasal, bem como os eosinófilos, aumentaram após a transferência adotiva de nuócitos do tipo selvagem. As concentrações de IL-5, IL-13, IL-25 e IL-33 no líquido da lavagem nasal de camundongos alérgicos também estavam aumentadas. Entretanto, os nuócitos de camundongos Il17br-/-Il1rl1-/- não aumentaram os espirros e a friçcão nasal ou eosinofilia e up-regularam as citocinas acima no líquido de lavagem nasal. Conclusão: Os achados demonstram que os nuócitos dos linfonodos mesentéricos de camundongos selvagens promovem respostas alérgicas em um modelo de camundongo.

Abstract Introduction: Nuocytes play an important role in Type 2 immunity. However, the contribution of ILC2s to allergic rhinitis remains to be clearly elucidated. Objective: To evaluate the role of nuocytes from mesenteric lymph node on allergic responses in mice. Methods: After intraperitoneal administration of interleukin IL-25 and IL-33 to wild-type and Il17br-/-Il1rl1-/- double-deficient mice, nuocytes were purified from the the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue and mesenteric lymph nodes. Then, we assessed productions of IL-5 and IL-13 in nuocytes’ cultures. Finally, we adoptively transferred the mesenteric lymph node-derived nuocytes from wild-type and Il17br-/-Il1rl1-/- mice to the murine model of allergic rhinitis to evaluate their roles in nasal allergic responses. Results: We showed that nuocytes in the mesenteric lymph nodes of wild-type mice were upregulated after application of IL-25 and IL-33, and were induced to produce IL-5 and IL-13. Numbers of sneezing and nasal rubbing as well as eosinophils were all enhanced after the adoptive transfer of wild-type nuocytes. Concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, IL-25 and IL-33 in nasal lavage fluid of allergic mice were also increased. However, nuocytes fromIl17br-/-Il1rl1-/- mice did not increase sneezing and nasal rubbing and eosinophilia, and upregulate the above cytokines in the nasal lavage fluid. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that nuocytes from the mesenteric lymph nodes of wildtype mice promote allergic responses in a mouse model.

Parkinson's disease cannot be cured but symptoms can be improved by making use of physical therapy. The objective of the study was to compare the effect of routine exercises and Tai Chi on physical and clinical performance in elderly people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Data from interviews, physical and clinical performance, and levodopa consumption of 500 patients with confirmed Parkinson's disease (severity level I to III) were collected and analyzed. Participants who received 80 min/day Tai Chi 3 times/week for 2 months were included in the Tai Chi (TC) group (n=250) and those who received 90 min/day routine exercise 3 times/week for 2 months were included in routine exercise (RE) group (n=250). Timed up-and-go, 50-foot speed walk, and functional reach were improved by Tai Chi and routine exercise (P<0.05 for all) but intensities of Tai Chi for improvement of such parameters was higher than routine exercise. Incidence of falls was decreased by both physical therapies (P<0.05 for all) but more for the TC group (P<0.0001, q=38.512). In the TC group, at the end of follow-up, 22 (9%) patients were successful in withdrawal of levodopa treatment. Also, the dose of levodopa was decreased in patients of the TC group who had to continue levodopa. Tai Chi had the potential to slow down the progression of symptoms of Parkinson's disease and delayed the introduction of levodopa (level of evidence: III).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw augmented with polymethylmethacrylate in osteoporotic spinal surgery. METHODS: This study included 128 patients with osteoporosis (BMD T-score −3.2±1.9; range, −5.4 to -2.5) who underwent spinal decompression and instrumentation with a polymethylmethacrylate-augmented bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw. Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores and the Oswestry Disability Index were compared with preoperative values. Postoperative plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed immediately after surgery; at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months; and annually thereafter. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 42.4±13.4 months (range, 23 to 71 months). A total of 418 polymethylmethacrylate-augmented bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screws were used. Cement extravasations were detected in 27 bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screws (6.46%), mainly in cases of vertebral fracture, without any clinical sequela. The postoperative low back and lower limb Visual Analogue Scale scores were significantly reduced compared with the preoperative scores (<0.01), and similar results were noted for the Oswestry Disability Index score (p<0.01). No significant screw migration was noted at the final follow-up relative to immediately after surgery (p<0.01). All cases achieved successful bone fusion, and no case required revision. No infection or blood clots occurred after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The polymethylmethacrylate-augmented bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw is safe and effective for use in osteoporotic patients who require spinal instrumentation.

During extrusion-shear (ES) process, the surface cracks would be formed in the processed rod for AZ31 magnesium caused by nonhomogeneous metal flow and stress. To reduce the cracks defects, three-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) of ES on a wrought AZ31 magnesium alloy have been performed. ES process experiments have been also conducted to verify the simulation results under the identical conditions. It can be found that the tendency to generate the dead zone is decreased by employing the ES die with the extrusion ratio of 28 comparing to the one with the extrusion ratio of 11.6. With the extrusion ratio 28, the surface stresses of the rod at the die exit are decreased greatly so that the surface cracks are avoided. The ES die with the extrusion ratio of 28 would increase temperature on the rod surface and subsequently result in the sacrifice of the tensile strength of the AZ31 rod. Damage model has been chosen and Cockcroft–Latham damage factor has been set and incorporated into DEFORM software. The simulation results show that the larger extrusion ratio would have the smaller crack propagation. Experimental validation shows that the results of experiments are in accordance with those from computer simulation. The study indicates that FEM can be used confidently for designing ES dies and process parameters in CAE environment for DEFORM software to improve the product quality and productivity by avoiding trail runs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a new approach for the application of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screws. METHODS: Between June 2010 and February 2013, 43 patients with degenerative spinal disease and osteoporosis (T-score <-2.5) underwent lumbar fusion using cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screws. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index. Patients were given radiographic follow-up examinations after 3, 6, and 12 months and once per year thereafter. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a mean of 15.7±5.6 months (range, 6 to 35 months). The Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores showed a significant reduction in back pain (p = 0.018) and an improvement in lower extremity function (p = 0.025) in patients who underwent lumbar fusion using the novel screw. Intraoperative cement leakage occurred in four patients, but no neurological complications were observed. Radiological observation indicated no loosening or pulling out of the novel screw, and bone fusion was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The described polymethylmethacrylate augmentation technique using bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screws can reduce pain and improve spinal dysfunction in osteoporotic patients undergoing osteoporotic spine surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the microendoscopic discectomy technique and inclusion criteria for the treatment of recurrent lumbar disc herniation and to supply feasible criteria and technical notes to avoid complications and to increase the therapeutic effect. METHODS: A consecutive series of 25 patients who underwent posterior microendoscopic discectomy for recurrent lumbar disc herniation were included. The inclusion criteria were as follows: no severe pain in the lumbar region, no lumbar instability observed by flexion-extension radiography and no intervertebral discitis or endplate damage observed by magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were diagnosed by clinical manifestations and imaging examinations. RESULTS: Follow-up visits were carried out in all cases. Complications, such as nerve injuries, were not observed. The follow-up outcomes were graded using the MacNab criteria. A grade of excellent was given to 12 patients, good to 12 patients and fair to 1 patient. A grade of excellent or good occurred in 96% of cases. One patient relapsed 3 months after surgery and then underwent lumbar interbody fusion and inner fixation. The numerical rating scale of preoperative leg pain was 7.4± 1.5, whereas it decreased to 2.1±0.8 at 7 days after surgery. The preoperative Oswestry disability index of lumbar function was 57.5±10.0, whereas it was 26.0±8.5 at 7 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: In these cases, microendoscopic discectomy was able to achieve satisfactory clinical results. Furthermore, it has advantages over other methods because of its smaller incision, reduced bleeding and more efficient recovery.

Background Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important economic and oilseed crop. Long-term rainless conditions and seasonal droughts can limit peanut yields and were conducive to preharvest aflatoxin contamination. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which peanut responds and adapts to water limited conditions, we isolated and characterized several drought-induced genes from peanut roots using a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique. Results RNA was extracted from peanut roots subjected to a water stress treatment (45% field capacity) and from control plants (75% field capacity), and used to generate an SSH cDNA library. A total of 111 non-redundant sequences were obtained, with 80 unique transcripts showing homology to known genes and 31 clones with no similarity to either hypothetical or known proteins. GO and KEGG analyses of these differentially expressed ESTs indicated that drought-related responses in peanut could mainly be attributed to genes involved in cellular structure and metabolism. In addition, we examined the expression patterns of seven differentially expressed candidate genes using real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and confirmed that all were up-regulated in roots in response to drought stress, but to differing extents. Conclusions We successfully constructed an SSH cDNA library in peanut roots and identified several drought-related genes. Our results serve as a foundation for future studies into the elucidation of the drought stress response mechanisms of peanut.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with intra-canal rib head protrusion are extremely rare. Current knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment for this situation are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to share our experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatments for such unique deformities. METHODS: Six patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with rib head dislocation into the spinal canal were diagnosed at our institution. Posterior instrumentation and spinal fusion without intra-canal rib head resection via a posterior-only approach was performed for deformity correction and rib head extraction. The efficacy and outcomes of the surgery were evaluated by measurements before, immediately and 24 months after the surgery using the following parameters: coronal spinal Cobb angle, apex rotation and kyphosis of the spine and the intra-canal rib head position. Post-operative complications, surgery time and blood loss were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for at least 24 months post-operatively. The three dimensional spinal deformity was significantly improved and the intra-canal rib head was significantly extracted from the canal immediately after the surgery. At follow-up 24 months after surgery, solid fusions were achieved along the fusion segments, and the deformity corrections and rib head positions were well maintained. There were no surgery-related complications any time after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic examinations are needed to identify patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with rib head dislocation into the canal who can be treated by posterior-only spinal fusion without rib head resection.