Extremely sensitive multi-order mode refractive index sensor using TiO2 nanograss film and weakly bounded waveguide modes.

An extremely sensitive multi-order mode refractive index (RI) sensor was fabricated by coupling titanium dioxide nanograss film coated FTO conductive glass with Kretschmann prism. Both calculation and experimental studies were carried out. Theoretical analysis by employing resonant waveguide modes indicated that the maximum sensitivity could be achieved when the mode worked at the weakly-bounded condition. The experimental results showed that for p-polarized and s-polarized light, the sensor exhibited a maximum RI sensitivity of 2938.21 nm/RI unit (RIU) and 1484.39 nm/RIU in the 1st order mode, respectively. Its maximum figure of merit was as high as 77.77. The proposed sensor is promising to be applied in environmental monitoring, immune analysis, nucleic acid test, etc.

TRAF3 promotes ROS production and pyroptosis by targeting ULK1 ubiquitination in macrophages.

Disrupted mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation cause cellular damage and oxidative stress-induced macrophage inflammatory cell death. It remains unclear how mitochondrial dysfunction relates to inflammasome activation and pyroptotic cell death. In this study, we demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) regulates mitochondrial ROS production and promotes TLR agonist LPS plus nigericin (LPS/Ng)-induced inflammasome and pyroptosis in mouse primary macrophages and human monocyte THP-1 cells. Co-IP assays confirmed that TRAF3 forms a complex with TRAF2 and cIAP1 and mediates ubiquitin and degradation of Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1). Moreover, knockdown of ULK1 in THP-1 cells significantly promoted LPS/Ng-induced inflammasome by activating caspase 1 and mature IL-1ß. Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation from mitochondrial to nuclear was observed in ULK1-deficient THP-1 cells under LPS/Ng stimulation, which mediates LPS/Ng-induced cell death in ULK1 deficient macrophages. In conclusion, this study identified a novel role of TRAF3 in regulation of ULK1 ubiquitination and inflammasome signaling and provided molecular mechanisms by which ubiquitination of ULK1 controls mitochondrial ROS production, inflammasome activity, and AIF-dependent pyroptosis.

Prognostic Significance of Pretreatment Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have investigated the pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a prognostic factor in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, the results remained inconsistent. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of PNI in patients with NPC through conducting meta-analysis. Methods: Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for low PNI of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), loco-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results: Totally, eight studies involving 4299 patients were included in this meta-analysis. A low pretreatment PNI was associated with poor OS (HR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.55-2.33, P < 0.001), DMFS (HR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.69-2.44, P < 0.001), PFS (HR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.31-1.90, P < 0.001), and CSS (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.54-3.42, P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis showed that low PNI remained a significant factor for poor OS, DMFS, and PFS irrespective of treatment, country, and cutoff value of PNI. In addition, low PNI was correlated to female gender (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.12-1.62, P = 0.002), older age (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.17-2.62, P = 0.007), and T3-T4 stage (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.06-1.53, P = 0.011). Conclusions: A low PNI was associated with poor survival outcomes in patients with NPC. Moreover, PNI could serve as an index to help guide clinical management for older patients.

Adjunctive antidepressant use in schizophrenia in China: A national survey (2002-2012).

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the pattern of adjunctive antidepressant use in schizophrenia patients and its demographic and clinical correlates in a nationwide survey in China. METHODS: Fourteen thousand and thirteen patients in 45 Chinese psychiatric hospitals or centers were interviewed (4,486 in 2002, 5,288 in 2006, and 4,239 in 2012). Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. Chi-square test, independent-samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used in data analyses. RESULTS: Antidepressant use was found in 5.2% of the study population with 4.6% in 2002, 4.3% in 2006, and 6.9% in 2012, respectively. A significant increase in use from 2006 to 2012 was found (p < .001). Multiple logistic regression analyses in the whole population revealed that patients receiving adjunctive antidepressants were more likely to be outpatients in tertiary referral centers (level-III hospitals) and who had an earlier age of onset, less severe global illness, but more depressive symptoms. They were less likely to receive first-generation antipsychotics but more likely to receive benzodiazepines (R2  = 0.255, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increasing trend, the frequency of antidepressant use in schizophrenia in China was considerably lower than in Western countries. The benefits and risks associated with concomitant use of antidepressants in schizophrenia need to be studied further.

Highly sensitive refractive index sensor based on a TiO2 nanowire array.

We propose a novel, highly sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor by means of combining the Kretschmann prism with a TiO2 nanowire array and do not use a metallic layer in the Kretschmann configuration. Its RI sensing performance was investigated through measuring different concentrations of sodium chloride solution. Experimental results showed that, with increasing RI of liquid, the resonant wavelength in the reflectance spectrum redshifted gradually in the visible light range. There was a very good linear relationship between resonant wavelength and RI in the range of 1.3330 to 1.3546. More importantly, in contrast to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, the interferometric sensors showed higher sensitivity to the external RI. In the case of the transverse magnetic mode, the RI sensitivity is up to 320,700.93 a.u./RIU (refractive index unit) by expression of light intensity, which is 9.55 times that of the SPR sensor. As for the transverse electric mode, it achieves 4371.76 nm/RIU by expression of the resonant wavelength, which is increased by a factor of 1.4 in comparison with the SPR sensor. Moreover, the experimental results have favorable repeatability. A TiO2 nanowire array sensor has also other advantages, such as easy manufacturing, low cost, and in situ determination, etc. To our knowledge, this fact is reported for the first time. It has great potential applications in the field of biological and chemical sensing.

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Schizophrenia in China: A National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) use in the treatment of schizophrenia in China. This study examined the frequency of ECT use, its trend between 2006 and 2012, and its independent demographic and clinical correlates in a nationwide survey in China. METHODS: A total of 5162 inpatients in 45 Chinese psychiatric hospitals/centers were interviewed (2696 in 2006 and 2466 in 2012). Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. RESULTS: Electroconvulsive therapy was used in 6.1% of the whole sample; 4.7% in 2006 and 7.7% in 2012 (P < 0.001) with wide interprovince variations. Multiple logistic regression analyses of the whole sample revealed that patients receiving ECT were more likely to be women, receive second-generation antipsychotics, treated in tertiary referral centers (level III hospitals), had a shorter illness duration, and more positive and depressive symptoms (R = 0.181; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia has increased between 2006 and 2012 in China. Its percentage was higher than the figures reported in most other countries. Reasons for the substantial variations in the frequency of ECT across different provinces in China require further investigations.

An Ultrasensitive Long-Period Fiber Grating-Based Refractive Index Sensor with Long Wavelengths.

The response of a novel long-period fiber grating (LPFG) with a period of 180 µm to a surrounding refractive index (RI) was investigated. The results displayed that, with the increase in RI of the surrounding media of cladding glass in the grating region, the resonant peak located at 1336.4 nm in the transmission spectrum gradually shifts towards a shorter wavelength, while the resonant peak located at 1618 nm gradually shifted towards a longer wavelength. Moreover, the resonant peak at 1618 nm is much more sensitive to the surrounding RI than that of the one at 1336.4 nm. Compared with the conventional LPFG and other types of wavelength-interrogated RI sensors, such as ring resonators, surface plasmon resonance sensors, and Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors, this novel LPFG possesses a higher sensitivity, which achieved 10,792.45 nm/RIU (RI unit) over a RI range of 1.4436-1.4489.

Antipsychotic polypharmacy in schizophrenia patients in China and its association with treatment satisfaction and quality of life: findings of the third national survey on use of psychotropic medications in China.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the use, demographic and clinical correlates of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) and its associations with treatment satisfaction and quality of life (QOL) in schizophrenia patients in China. METHOD: A total of 4239 patients in 45 nationwide Chinese psychiatric hospitals/centers were interviewed in 2012 in the third cross-sectional study, with the first two having been conducted in 2002 and 2006. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, including psychopathology, side effects, satisfaction with treatment and QOL, were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. RESULTS: The proportion of APP prescriptions in 2012 was 34.2%, which was significantly higher than the frequency of APP in 2002 (26.1%) and 2006 (26.4%) (p<0.001). Of patients on APP, 91.1% received two antipsychotics, 8.6% received three and 0.3% received four or more antipsychotics. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that compared to those on antipsychotic monotherapy, patients on APP and their families had lower satisfaction with treatment, had higher QOL in the mental domain, younger age of onset, more side effects, higher doses of antipsychotics and were more likely to receive first-generation antipsychotics and less likely to receive benzodiazepines (total R (2)=0.31, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: APP was found in about one in three schizophrenia patients. The prevalence of APP seems to have been increasing since 2002. Considering the increased frequency of drug-induced side effects and the patients' and their relatives' dissatisfaction with antipsychotic treatment, further examination of the rationale and appropriateness of APP and its alternatives is warranted.

The prognostic value of Smad4 mRNA in patients with prostate cancer.

The tumor suppressor gene Smad4 has been localized to chromosome 18q21.1 and is a member of the Smad family that mediates the transforming growth factor ß signaling pathway suppressing epithelial cell growth. However, variable expression of Smad4 messenger RNA (mRNA) has been reported, with a loss in some cancers and increased expression in others. The aim of the present study was to investigate the Smad4 mRNA expression in prostate cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues and its potential relevance to clinicopathological variables and prognosis. The expression change of Smad4 mRNA was detected by using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The data showed that the Smad4 mRNA expression level in prostate cancer tissues was significantly lower than those in noncancerous tissues. The results indicated that the low expression of Smad4 mRNA in prostate cancer was associated with lymph node metastasis, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and Gleason score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high Smad4 mRNA expression have longer biochemical recurrence-free survival time compared to patients with low Smad4 mRNA expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that Smad4 mRNA expression was an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival. Our results emphasize that Smad4 mRNA can be used as a predictive biomarker.

Efficacy and safety of prolonged-release trazodone in major depressive disorder: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and clinical benefit of prolonged-release trazodone (Trittico) in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: In this study, 363 Chinese patients with MDD were randomized 1:1 to receive either prolonged-release trazodone (150-450 mg) or placebo treatment for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy measurement was the change of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total score from baseline to the end of the study. The secondary efficacy measurements were the response and remission rates, the Clinical Global Impression - Improvement of Illness (CGI-I) score at the end of the study, and the change of the HAMD-14 total score and quality of sleep [evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale] during the study period. RESULTS: The mean maximum daily dose was 273.11 mg for the trazodone group and 290.92 mg for the placebo group. At the end of the study, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the HAMD-17 change score (trazodone vs. placebo: -11.07 vs. -8.29, p < 0.001). Trazodone showed advantages at 1 week of treatment, and the effect lasted until the end of the study (week 6). The response and remission rates of the trazodone group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group (response rate: 59.6 vs. 37.2%, p < 0.001; remission rate: 35.5 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.005). The majority of the adverse reactions of trazodone were mild to moderate, and the most frequent adverse reactions (≥5%) were dizziness, dry mouth, somnolence, and nausea. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged-release trazodone was more effective than placebo in MDD and was well tolerated.

Adaptation of muscles of the lumbar spine to sudden imbalance in patients with lower back pain caused by military training.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of sudden load changes (expected and unexpected imbalance) on the activity of muscles of the lumbar spine and their central motor control strategy in military personnel with or without chronic low back pain (LBP). DESIGN: Bilateral sudden imbalance was examined (2 × 2 factorial design). SETTING: The 117th PLA Hospital, Hangzhou, China PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one male subjects with lower back pain and 21 male healthy control subjects were active members of the Nanjing Military Region land forces. OUTCOME MEASURES: Independent variables: LBP vs. healthy controls and imbalance anticipation (expected and unexpected imbalance). DEPENDENT VARIABLES: rapid reaction time (RRT) and intensity of rapid reaction (IRR) of bilateral lumbar (L3-L4) erector spinae (ES), lumbar (L5-S1) multifidus (MF), and abdominal external oblique muscles. Results Under expected or unexpected sudden imbalance conditions, subjects with LBP demonstrated significantly greater IRR than healthy controls in ipsilateral and contralateral ES and MF, respectively (P < 0.05 for all). IRR of contralateral ES was significantly larger than that of the ipsilateral ES. A significant group effect of RRT of both ipsilateral and contralateral ES muscles and a significant time expectation effect on RRT of contralateral MF muscles were also observed. RRT of the contralateral ES muscles was significantly lower than that of the ipsilateral ES muscles (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sudden imbalance prolonged RRT of selected trunk muscles in patients with chronic LBP. The activation amplitude increased. The results may provide a theoretical basis for a study on the pathogenesis of chronic LBP.

Invasive cancers are not necessarily from preformed in situ tumours - an alternative way of carcinogenesis from misplaced stem cells.

Cancers are thought to be the result of accumulated gene mutations in cells. Carcinomas, which are cancers arising from epithelial tissues usually go through several stages of development: atypical hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ and then invasive carcinoma, which might further metastasize. However, we think that the present pathological data are enough to prove that there might be an alternative way of carcinogenesis. We propose that majority of invasive cancers arise in the connective tissue stroma de novo, from the misplaced epithelial stem cells which come to the wrong land of connective tissue stroma by accident. The in situ carcinomas, which are mostly curable, should not be considered genuine cancer, but rather as quasi-cancer. We design this new theory of carcinogenesis as the stem cell misplacement theory (SCMT). Our SCMT theory chains together other carcinogenesis theories such as the inflammation-cancer chain, the stem cell theory and the tissue organization field theory. However, we deny the pathway of somatic mutation theory as the major pathway of carcinogenesis.

Silence of ezrin modifies migration and actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and enhances chemosensitivity of lung cancer cells in vitro.

Ezrin, primarily acts as a linker between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, is involved in many cellular functions, including regulation of actin cytoskeleton, control of cell shape, adhesion, motility, and modulation of signaling pathways. Although ezrin is now recognized as a key component in tumor metastasis, its roles and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we chose highly metastatic human lung carcinoma 95D cells, which highly express the ezrin proteins, as a model to examine the functional roles of ezrin in tumor suppression. An ezrin-silenced 95D cell line was established using lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA method. CCK-8 assay and soft agar assay analysis showed that downregulation of ezrin significantly suppressed the tumorigenicity and proliferation of 95D cells in vitro. cell migration and invasion studies showed that ezrin-specific deficiency in the cells caused the substantial reduction of the cell migration and invasion. In parallel, it also induced rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. Flow cytometry assay showed that changes in the ezrin protein level significantly affected the cell cycle distribution and eventual apoptosis. Furthermore, further studies showed that ezrin regulated the expression level of E-cadherin and CD44, which are key molecules involved in cell growth, migration, and invasion. Meanwhile, the suppression of ezrin expression also sensitized cells to antitumor drugs. Altogether, our results demonstrated that ezrin played an important role in the tumorigenicity and metastasis of lung cancer cells, which will benefit the development of therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

Transdifferentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into urothelial cells: potential for urinary tract tissue engineering.

Autologous urothelial cells (UCs) provide a cell source for urinary tissue engineering because they can be used safely due to their lack of immunogenicity. However, these cells cannot be harvested under the following circumstances: malignancy, infection and organ loss, etc. Human adipose-derived stem cells (HADSCs) possess the traits of high differentiation potential and ease of isolation, representing a promising resource for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, HADSCs have been poorly investigated in urology and the optimal approaches to induce HADSCs into urothelium are still under investigation. In this study, we hypothesized that the change of microenvironment by a conditioned medium was essential for the transdifferentiation of HADSCs into UCs. We then used a conditioned medium derived from urothelium to alternate the microenvironment of HADSCs. After 14 days of culture in a conditioned medium, about 25-50% HADSCs changed their morphology into polygonal epithelium-like shapes. In addition, these cells expressed up-regulating of urothelial lineage-specific markers (uroplakin 2and cytokeratin-18) and down-regulating of mesenchymal marker (vimentin) in RNA and protein level, respectively, which confirmed that HADSCs were induced into urothelial lineage cells. We also measured the growth factors in the conditioned medium in order to analyze the molecular mechanisms regulating transdifferentiation. We observed that the expression levels of PDGF-BB and VEGF were significantly higher than those of the control group after 14 days induction, suggesting they were abundantly secreted into the medium during the culturing period. In conclusion, HADSCs showed in vitro the upregulation of markers for differentiation towards urothelial cells by culturing in an urothelial-conditioned medium, which provides an alternative cell source for potential use in urinary tract tissue engineering.

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization is involved in curcumin-induced apoptosis of A549 lung carcinoma cells.

We previously reported that curcumin inhibited lung cancer A549 cells growth and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. In this study, we further examined the apoptosis-related parameters, including lysosomal damage and cathepsin activation, in A549 cells exposed to curcumin. We found that curcumin caused lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and cytosolic relocation of cathepsin B (cath B) and cathepsin D (cath D). However, only Z-FA-fmk (a cath B inhibitor) but not pepstatin A (a cath D inhibitor) inhibited curcumin-induced cell apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, and cytochrome c release. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and glutathione attenuated LMP, suggesting that lysosomal destabilization was dependent on the elevation of reactive oxygen species and which precedes mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings indicated a novel pathway for curcumin regulation of ROS-lysosomal-mitochondrial pathway and provided the key mechanism of regulation of LMP in cell apoptosis, which may be exploited for cancer treatment.

Unwanted pregnancy among Chinese renal transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence of unwanted pregnancies among renal transplant recipients and to identify major contributing factors. METHODS: A total of 647 women of childbearing age who had received a renal transplant at one of the five participating hospitals in China were enrolled in the study and administered a questionnaire that collected information on their reproductive health, pregnancies, and awareness and use of contraceptive methods. RESULTS: Of the 647 eligible patients, 98 (15%) reported 133 unwanted pregnancies post-transplantation. In this group (n = 98), despite an awareness of the available contraceptive measures, 56% had not applied any method of contraception, while 20% had relied on the rhythm method, and in only 12% of the cases male condoms had been used. The most common reason for not using contraception was a failure to realise that their reproductive function had been restored to normal soon after transplantation (19%). CONCLUSION In female renal transplant recipients, unprotected sex combined with incorrect judgment about their own reproductive potential post-transplantation were the major causes of unwanted pregnancies. The latter could be avoided through counselling about the risk pregnancy entails and the implementation of appropriate contraceptive measures.

Influence of distal tibiofibular synostosis on ankle function.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of distal tibiofibular synostosis on ankle function. METHODS: From October 1998 to October 2004, a total of 281 consecutive patients underwent operations because of ankle fractures or distal fractures of the tibia and fibula. Distal tibiofibular synostosis occurred after operation in 8 patients. The duration of follow-up averaged 20.6 months (14-44 months). The ankle function was assessed on the basis of functional rating system described by Mazur.(1) RESULTS: According to Mazur's ankle evaluation system, 4 patients achieved an excellent result, 2 a good result and 2 a fair result. The dorsiflexion of the synostosis ankle reduced by 8.26 degrees as compared with that of the contralateral ankle, and there was little influence on the plantar flexion. All the patients had a normal gait. CONCLUSION: The distal tibiofibular synostosis after the operation of ankle fractures or distal fractures of the tibia and fibula usually gives rise to few symptoms and needs no specific treatment.

Triphenylethylene-Coumarin Hybrid TCH-5c Suppresses Tumorigenic Progression in Breast Cancer Mainly Through the Inhibition of Angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Coumarins are a wide group of naturally occurring compounds which exhibit a wide range of biological properties such as anti-cancer activities. Here, we characterized the biological functions of three Triphenylethylene-Coumarin Hybrids (TCHs) both in cell culture and nude mouse model. METHODS: Cell proliferation assay was performed in the cell cultures of both EA.hy926 endothelial cell and breast cancer cell lines treated with different concentrations of compound TCH-10b, TCH-5a and TCH-5c. Flowcytometry assay and Western blotting were used to further investigate the effect and mechanism of TCH-5c on EA.hy926 cell proliferation and cell cycle. The effects of TCH-5c on endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis were determined using cytoskeleton staining, migration assay and tube formation assay. Inhibition of breast cancer cell line derived VEGF by TCH-5c was shown through ELISA and the use of conditioned media. SK-BR-3 xenograft mouse model was established to further study the anti-tumorigenic role of compound TCH-5c in vivo. RESULTS: We found that compound TCH-5c has inhibitory effects on both vascular endothelial cells and breast cancer cell lines. Compound TCH-5c inhibited proliferation, resulted in cell death, increased p21 protein expression to induce G0/G1 arrest and changed endothelial cell cytoskeleton organization and migration in EA.hy926 endothelial cells. Compound TCH-5c also inhibited breast cancer cell line derived VEGF secretion, decreased breast cancer cell-induced endothelial cell tube formation in vitro and suppressed SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell-initiated tumor formation in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that the coumarin derivative TCH-5c exerts its anti-cancer effects by 1. inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation, migration. 2. suppressing tube formation and angiogenesis induced by breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results have potential implications in developing new approaches against breast cancer.

[Effects of light intensities after anthesis on the photosynthetic characteristics and chloroplast ultrastructure in mesophyll cell of summer maize (Zea mays L. )]. / èŠ±ç²’æœŸå ‰ç §å¯¹å¤çŽ‰ç±³å ‰åˆç‰¹æ€§å’Œå¶ç»¿ä½“è¶ å¾®ç»“æž„çš„å½±å“.

We examined the changes of photosynthetic characteristics and chloroplast ultrastructure in mesophyll cell of summer maize in response to different light intensities in the field, with the summer maize hybrid Denghai 605 as experimental material. Two treatments of both shading (S) and increasing light (L) from flowering to physiological maturity stage were designed, with the ambient sunlight treatment as control (CK). Under shading treatment, poorly developed thylakoid structure, blurry lamellar structure, loose granum, large gap between slices and warping granum were the major characteristics in chloroplast. Meanwhile, photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and actual photo-chemical efficiency (ΦPSII) decreased, whereas the maximal photochemical efficiency and non-photochemical quenching increased, which resulted in decreases in grain yield under shading treatment. However, a better development was observed in chloroplasts for L treatment, with the number of grana and lamellae increased and lamellae arranged compactly. In addition, Pn and ΦPSII increased under L treatment, which increased grain yield. The chloroplast arrangement dispersed in mesophyll cells and chloroplast ultrastructure was destroyed after shading, and then chlorophyll synthesis per unit leaf area and photosynthetic capacity decreased. In contrast, the number of grana and lamellae increased and lamellae arranged compactly after increasing light, which are beneficial for corn yield.

Treatment of displaced radial head fractures by internal fixation with absorbable pins.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of internal fixation with absorbable pins on treatment of displaced radial head fractures. METHODS: From May 1999 to May 2004, 16 patients with displaced radial head fractures (Mason types II and III) were treated with internal fixation by absorbable pins. The duration of follow-up averaged 22.6 months (12-58 months). The outcome was assessed on the basis of elbow motion, radiographic findings and the functional rating score delineated by Broberg and Morrey. RESULTS: All fractures healed within 10 months without avascular necrosis of radial head. The mean elbow flexion loss was 15 degrees (0 degrees-35 degrees), and pronation and supination decreased by 10 degrees (0 degrees-30 degrees) on average compared with those of the contralateral elbow. Five patients had an excellent result, 6 a good result, and 3 a fair result according to the criteria of Borberg and Morrey. CONCLUSIONS: Internal fixation with absorbable pins is an effective method in treating displaced radial head fractures. It can maintain the biomechanical stability of forearm, improve the elbow function and avoid second operation.