Ilizarov technology in China: a historic review of thirty-one years.

PURPOSE: To summarize the evolution of Ilizarov technology in China, highlight important milestones, introduce the atmosphere of the era concerning the first uses and development of this technology, and share Chinese modification and experience in this field. METHOD: A thorough interview with senior ASAMI members of China and literature search and physical books in libraries was undertaken to summarize the history of Ilizarov technology in China. RESULTS: The formal development of Ilizarov technology began when professor Ilizarov himself came to Beijing (1991) and gave a speech. In the following 31 years, his technology was rapidly developed through China, with many symposiums held and associations established including ASAMI China (2003) and ILLRS China (2015). Today, Ilizarov technology has become the main treatment of complex fractures, defects, nonunion, infections, deformities, and chronic ischemic ulcers of the limbs. In those years, Chinese scholars also developed some special treatment methods and made many modifications to Ilizarov external fixators. CONCLUSION: Ilizarov technology has developed in China for 31 years. It revolutionized the treatment of complex limb traumas, deformities, and diseases. In the treatment of millions of patients, Chinese scholars had many unique experiences and made modifications to this technology which is worthy to share with the world.

[Emergency operation for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the emergency therapeutic effects of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed. From March 2006 to March 2012, 254 patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated in Mianyang Central Hospital were reviewed. The patients with old fractures, pathological fractures, multiple trauma and severe medical comorbidities of admission were excluded. So 127 patients with intertrochanteric fractures over 70 years old were included in the study, including 38 males and 89 females, and the patients were divided into 2 groups: 56 patients underwent emergency operation within 24 h after injury (emergency operation group), 71 patients underwent an operation more than 24 h after injury (not emergency operation group). The following data were collected retrospectively for all patients: (1) in-hospitalcomplications, including electrolyte disturbance, hidden blood loss, delirium, deep vein thrombosis, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, pulmonary infection, urinary tract infection, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, bedsore. (2) prognosis, ineluding in-hospital mortality, mortality in the 1st year, length of hospital stay, fracture healing times, hip score. Comparisons between the two groups were made using SPSS13.0. The quantitative data and categorical data were analyzed by t test and chi2 test, respectively. RESULTS: The main medical complications in emergency operation group were hidden blood loss, delirium, pulmonary infection, electrolyte disturbances, urinary tract infections, and in not emergency operation group followed respectively by hidden blood loss, lung infection, electrolyte disturbances, delirium, and pulmonary infection. In-hospital mortality was zero, and 1 in the 1st year in emergency operation group; while in not emergency operation group were 4 and 7 respectively. An average length of hospital stay with (9 +/- 3) d in emergency operation group was lower than (17 +/- 8) d in not emergency operation group. Fracture healing time was (12 +/- 2) weeks in both groups. The significant variables with P < 0.05 between the two groups were electrolyte disorders, delirium, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary infection, urinary tract infection, bedsore, in-hospital mortality, mortality in the 1st year, and length of hospital stay. The differences of hidden blood loss, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, fracture healing times, hip score between the two groups had no significant differences (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The emergency surgery (within 24 h after injury) reduces length of hospital stay, and may also reduce complications and mortality.

Isolation and antitumor activities of acidic polysaccharide from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino.

Two acidic polysaccharides (GP-B1 and GP-C1) were obtained from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. The molecular weights (Mw) of the two fractions were 79 kDa for GP-B1 and 126 kDa for GP-C1. GP-B1 was composed of Gal, Ara, Man, Rha, Xyl, Glc, GalA and GlcA in a molar ration of 3.5:3.2:0.6:0.9:0.3:0.5:0.6:0.4. GP-C1 consisted of Gal, Ara, Man, Rha, Glc, and GlcA in the proportions of 2.1:1.0:0.3:0.5:0.4:0.9. Among them, GP-B1 treatment had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of melanoma B16 in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile GP-B1 could increase the relative spleen weight and stimulate the splenocyte proliferation alone or combined with ConA. Moreover, GP-B1 treatment induced an evident increase in the level of serum TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12 and a reduction for IL-10 production. These results indicate that the antitumor effects of GP-B1 are associated with immunostimulation.

Purification of a polysaccharide from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino and its therapeutic advantages for psoriasis.

In current study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (GP-I), with a molecular mass of 33 kDa, was purified from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis suggested that it was composed of Glc, Gal, Man, Rha and Ara with a ratio of 5.3: 4.2: 3.0: 0.7: 0.8. The GP-I (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml) was found to have significant anti-proliferative effects on HaCat cells in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by MTT assay. On the contrary, Trypan blue exclusion experiment indicated that GP-I had no cytotoxicity to HaCat cells. Moreover, the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in GP-I treated cells was also observed, indicating apoptosis in HaCat cells. Besides, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a vital pro-inflammatory cytokine in psoriasis, in the supernatant of HaCat cells was dramatically reduced by GP-I. Collectively, these findings suggested that GP-I was a promising agent to be developed for psoriasis treatment in clinical therapy.