[Characteristics, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in the Yellow River Floodplain of Yinchuan City].

In order to study the status and sources of heavy metal pollution in Yinchuan Yellow River floodplain soils, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the presence of eight heavy metals in 92 soil samples from the Yinchuan Yellow River floodplain and used enrichment factors, geological accumulation index, and potential ecological risk index to analyze and evaluate the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in the study area. Combined correlation analysis, absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression model (APCS-MLR), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and geostatistics were used to analyze the sources of soil heavy metals. The results showed that the content of eight heavy metals in the surface soil of the Yellow River floodplain in Yinchuan City were lower than the screening value of soil pollution risk in agricultural land; Cu and Pb contents were lower than the background value of Yinchuan City soil, and the contents of the remaining six elements were higher than the background value. The coefficients of variation of Zn and Cd were large and in the medium variation level and were influenced by anthropogenic activities. The heavy metal content varied between different land types and generally showed that wasteland > abandoned farmland > woodland > cultivated land. The average content of Cu and Pb in forest and arable soils was lower than the regional background value, whereas the rest of the heavy metals in different land types were higher than the soil background value. The analysis of enrichment factors showed that Zn and Cd were slightly enriched in the study area, and the cumulative index method and the evaluation of the potential risk of single heavy metals indicated that more than 60% of the sites in the study area were contaminated with Cd at a medium or higher potential ecological hazard. The comprehensive evaluation results of potential ecological risk showed that the overall ecological risk level of the study area was mild. From the distribution of heavy metal ecological risk comprehensive index sample points, only one point was in moderate ecological hazard, and the pollution point showed very few. Comprehensive correlation analysis, APCS-MLR model, PMF model, and geostatistical analysis results confirmed that Zn and Cd in the study area were mainly derived from human activities such as agricultural activities and transportation, and the remaining heavy metals were derived from soil parent materials. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the ecological protection and sustainable development of the Yellow River in Yinchuan City.

Clinical Efficacy of Posterior Percutaneous Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy with Bilateral Decompression for Symptomatic Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of posterior percutaneous endoscopic unilateral laminotomy (PPEUL) and anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) in the treatment of single-segment spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: This is a retrospective research, from January 2017 to December 2019, 30 cases were included in the PPEUL group and 32 cases were included in the ACDF group. The operative duration, blood loss, length of stay, complications, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, MacNab classification and imaging data were collected preoperatively, postoperative 1-week, final follow-up and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The surgery was completed successfully on all patients, and there were no serious complications, such as nerve or spinal cord injury or infection. In the PPEUL and ACDF groups, the operative duration were 56.63 ± 1.40 and 65.21 ± 2.45 min, the intraoperative blood loss were 51.69 ± 3.23 and 50.51 ± 5.48 mL, and the hospitalization duration was 5.75 ± 1.43 and 6.38 ± 2.16 days. The follow-up period in the PPEUL and ACDF groups was 24.96 ± 1.12 months and 25.65 ± 1.45 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups, but the hospitalization and operative durations in the PPEUL group were significantly shorter than those in the ACDF group (P < 0.05). The VAS scores at postoperative 1 week and final follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before surgery. The JOA scores at postoperative 1 week and final follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before surgery, but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the last follow-up. The intervertebral disc height of the adjacent segment at the last follow-up was significantly lower in the ACDF group than in the PPEUL group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in the intervertebral disc height of the surgical segment (P > 0.05). The rate of excellent and good results was 90.0% and 87.5%, respectively. Postoperative cervical CT and MRI showed that the spinal canal was fully decompressed and spinal cord compression was relieved. CONCLUSION: PPEUL has the advantages of reduced trauma, rapid recovery and remarkable curative efficacy, so it is a new choice for the treatment of CSM.

Oreocharisguangwushanensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Sichuan Province, China.

A new species of Oreocharis, O.guangwushanensis from the Sichuan Province of south-western China, is described and illustrated here. This new species has a pink corolla that is different from other species of Oreocharis in southwest China and, although it is morphologically similar to O.ronganensis and O.reticuliflora, it has significant differences in the colour and shape of the corolla, the apex of the corolla limb, shape and indumentum of the filaments and a shorter pistil. A detailed description, colour photographs, distribution and habitat, as well as the IUCN conservation status, are also provided.

[Effects of potassium-solubilizing bacteria promoting the growth of Lycium barbarum seedlings under salt stress.] / 盐胁迫下解钾菌对枸杞幼苗的促生效应.

We investigated the effects of potassium-releasing bacteria on physiological and bioche-mical characteristics of Lycium barbarum (Cultivar Ningqi 1) under salt stress, with an experiment with treatments following randomized block design. The treatments included control (CK), 100 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress (NaCl), 100 mmol·L-1NaCl stress+KSBGY01 bacteria (NaCl-M1), 100 mmol·L-1NaCl stress+KSBGY02 bacteria (NaCl-M2), and 100 mmol·L-1NaCl stress+KSBGY01+KSBGY02 (NaCl-M3). We measued chlorophyll content, polyphenol content, superoxide anion (O2-·) content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, soluble sugar content, antioxidant enzyme activity and sucrose metabolic enzyme activity of Lycium barbarum seedlings. Results showed that the presence of potassium bacteria increased the values of flavonoids (FLAV), fluorescence excitation than anthocyanins relative index (FERARI), anthocyanins (ANTH-RB), nitrogen balance index (NBI-G), decreased the contents of O2-· and H2O2, and improved soluble sugar content, catalase (CAT) activity, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, sucrose synthase (SS) activity and invertase (INV) activity of leaves in Lycium barbarum seedlings under salt stress. Among all the treatments, the highest values of ANTH-RB and NBI-G, soluble sugar content, and activities of CAT, SPS, SS, and INV presented in NaCl-M2 treatment, the highest values of SPAD, FLAV, and FERARI presented in NaCl-M3 treatment, the highest activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) presented in NaCl-M1 treatment, the highest activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) presented in NaCl treatment, and the highest peroxisome (POD) activity presented in CK. The 14 significant physiological and biochemical indicators in the leaves of L. barbarum seedling were analyzed by grey system correlation degree method. Our results suggested that the weighted correlation degree of phy-siological and biochemical indices of L. barbarum inoculated potassium-solubilizing bacteria was higher than that under CK and NaCl treatments. The highest weighted correlation was observed in NaCl-M2 treatment. Therefore, adding KSBGY02 potassium-solubilizing bacteria could alleviate the salt stress for L. barbarum seedlings.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy and Bilateral Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

To introduce a new surgery, percutaneous endoscopic unilateral laminotomy and bilateral decompression (Endo-ULBD) using visual trepan, and investigate its efficacy and safety in elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. In our retrospective study, a total of 69 patients were enrolled between March 2018 and September 2018; 31 patients were treated with Endo-ULBD and 38 patients were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery (PLIF). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization duration were compared between the two groups. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the degree of pain. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) were used to evaluate lumbar function and quality of life, respectively. Lumbar X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed postoperatively at different time points. MacNab's outcome assessment and perioperative complications were also documented. The surgeon completed all surgeries successfully, and all 69 patients were followed up. The operative time of the Endo-ULBD group was 60.68 ± 0.47 min, while that of the PLIF group was 120.23 ± 10.24 min. The operative time of the Endo-ULBD group was shorter than that of the PLIF group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The volume of intraoperative blood loss was 47.25 ± 0.43 mL in the Endo-ULBD group and 256.90 ± 20.83 mL in the PILF group (P < 0.001). The length of hospital stay in the Endo-ULBD group was 5.12 ± 1.60 days and that in the PILF group was 10.54 ± 1.82 days (P < 0.001). The VAS scores at postoperative 1 day, 3 months, 6 months, final follow-up (Endo-ULBD: 6.58 ± 0.65, 4.55 ± 0.54, 2.78 ± 0.24, 1.31 ± 0.78; PLIF: 7.19 ± 1.14, 4.80 ± 0.13, 2.71 ± 0.83, 1.29 ± 0.56) were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (Endo-ULBD: 8.63 ± 0.37; PLIF: 8.31 ± 1.34). The ODI and EQ-5D scores of lumbar function and quality of life at each time point after surgery (Endo-ULBD ODI: 30.29% ± 0.47%, 23.35% ± 0.95%, 19.45% ± 0.81%, 10.84% ± 0.36%; EQ-5D: 0.38 ± 0.15, 0.45 ± 0.17, 0.63 ± 0.14, 0.71 ± 0.20; PLIF ODI: 33.56% ± 1.58%, 25.69% ± 2.69%, 20.01% ± 1.49%, 10.72% ± 0.29%; EQ-5D: 0.33 ± 0.03, 0.39 ± 0.05, 0.62 ± 0.07, 0.72 ± 0.10) were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (Endo-ULBD: 44.56 ± 1.32, 0.33 ± 0.07; PLIF: 43.79 ± 1.91, 0.31 ± 0.09, respectively), with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups at the last follow-up (P > 0.05). At the last follow-up, the excellent and good efficacy rate was 90.3% (28/31) in the Endo-ULBD group and 89.4% (34/38) in the PILF group (χ2 = 0.089, P = 0.993). No mortality, irreversible nerve injury, or even paralysis occurred in either group. Endo-ULBD for lumbar spinal stenosis has the advantages of less trauma, a shortened operation time, and rapid recovery and is an effective alternative for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Strict surgical indications, reasonable surgical plans, and experienced surgeons are important factors to ensure safety and satisfactory postoperative efficacy.

Early Clinical Evaluation of Percutaneous Full-endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Pedicle Screw Insertion for Treating Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of percutaneous full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF) with percutaneous pedicle screws (PPSs) performed by using a visualization system with that of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). METHODS: From June 2017 to May 2018, the data of a total of 78 patients who met the selection criteria were retrospectively reviewed and were divided into the Endo-TLIF group (40 cases) and the MIS-TLIF group (38 cases) according to the surgical method used. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale were administered preoperatively and at the 1-week, 3-month, and 1-2-year follow-ups. The fusion rate and major complications, including revision, were also recorded. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 24 to 34 months, with an average follow-up of 30.7 months. The intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay for the Endo-TLIF group (60.56 ± 0.36 mL, 8.12 ± 0.92 days, respectively) were statistically significantly lower than those for the MIS-TLIF group (65.47 ± 0.91 mL, 9.66 ± 1.34 days, respectively) (P < 0.05). The VAS and JOA scores of the patients in the two groups at postoperative 1 week, 3 months, 1 year, 2 years (Endo-TLIF VAS: 4.16 ± 0.92, 3.72 ± 1.54, 1.32 ± 0.45, 1.29 ± 0.34; JOA:16.71 ± 0.99, 19.86 ± 0.24, 24.91 ± 0.97, 25.88 ± 0.52; MIS-TLIF VAS: 4.17 ± 1.41, 2.98 ± 0.91, 1.54 ± 0.32, 1.33 ± 0.18; JOA: 16.67 ± 0.67, 19.58 ± 0.65, 25.33 ± 0.73, 25.69 ± 0.33) were statistically significantly improved from the preoperative scores (Endo-TLIF: 8.45 ± 1.44, 14.36 ± 0.56; MIS-TLIF: 8.11 ± 0.93, 14.45 ± 0.34, respectively) (P < 0.01). The VAS and JOA scores of the Endo-TLIF group were statistically significantly better than those of the MIS-TLIF group at 3 months and 1 year after surgery (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the scores between the two groups at any of the other time points (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the intervertebral altitude between the two groups at the 3-month (11.36 ± 0.23, 11.21 ± 0.42, respectively) or final follow-up (10.88 ± 0.64, 10.81 ± 0.39, respectively) (P > 0.05). Dural tears, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, infection, and neurologic injury did not occur. Both groups showed good intervertebral fusion at the last follow-up. The intervertebral fusion rate was 97.5% (39/40) in the Endo-TLIF group and 94.7% (36/38) in the MIS-TLIF group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 0.118, P = 0.731). At the final follow-up, the modified MacNab's criteria were 92.5% and 89.5% between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Endo-TLIF with percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) performed by using a visualization system for lumbar degenerative disease may be regarded as an efficient alternative surgery for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. It is a safe and minimally invasive way to perform this surgery and has shown satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Percutaneous full endoscopic posterior decompression of thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum.

PURPOSE: Ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) is the leading cause of progressive thoracic myelopathy (TM) in East Asian countries. Surgical decompression is the general treatment for TM. This study investigated the application of percutaneous full endoscopic posterior decompression (PEPD) for the treatment of thoracic OLF. METHODS: Eighteen patients with TM were treated by PEPD under local anaesthesia. Patients had an average age of 59.1 years and single-level lesions mostly at the lower thoracic vertebrae. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to classify the OLF. The pre- and postoperative neurological statuses were evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) sensory and motor score, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and Frankel grade. RESULTS: OLF for all patients was classed as lateral, extended, and enlarged types without comma and tram track signs. Decompression was completed, and a dome-shaped laminotomy was performed through limited laminectomy and flavectomy. Dural tears in 2 patients were the only observed complication. The average score of ASIA sensory and motor, mJOA, as well as the Frankel grade improved significantly after surgery at an average follow-up time of 17.4 months. The average recovery rate (RR) was 47.5% as calculated from the mJOA scores. According to RR, 10 cases were classified as good, 4 cases fair, and 4 cases unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with thoracic OLF at a single level and lateral, extended, and enlarged types without comma and tram track signs, it is safe and reliable to perform PEPD, which has satisfactory clinical results. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Effect of mixing intensity on hydrolysis and acidification of sewage sludge in two-stage anaerobic digestion: Characteristics of dissolved organic matter and the key microorganisms.

Mixing should be optimized in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems to achieve excellent biomaterials production in the sewage sludge (SS) management in wastewater treatment plant. AD depends on the coordinated activity of hydrolysis, acidification and methanogenesis. However, the effect of mixing intensity on characteristics of hydrolysis and acidification in AD of SS is still poorly understood. This study focused on the mixing intensity (30, 60, 90 and 120 rpm) effect on the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the key microorganisms in the hydrolysis and acidification of SS. Results showed that enhanced hydrolysis and acidification efficiency was obtained at mixing of 90 and 120 rpm (p < 0.05), while the maximum acetic acid (388 ±â€¯21 mg/L) was produced at 90 rpm. Mixing at 90 rpm enhanced the release of protein and polysaccharide as well as humic acid. Further analyses of DOM molecular features revealed that 90 rpm led to the highest molecular diversity and easily biodegradable molecules (lipid and proteins/amino sugars), which contributed to the maximum hydrolysis and acidification efficiency. Firmicutes and Actinobacteria significantly increased with mixing intensity (p<0.05), and Chloroflexi and Fusobacteria were enriched at mixing of 90 rpm, which favored the hydrolysis of SS. The enrichment of Clostridium XI and Clostridium sensu stricto contributed to the acidification of DOM at 90 and 120 rpm. The results of this study can advance our knowledge about mixing intensity effects on the AD systems of SS. This research also showed how increasing mixing intensity to a relatively high speed can enhance the hydrolysis and acidification efficiency of SS.

Cell membrane characteristics and microbial population distribution of MBBR and IFAS with different dissolved oxygen concentration.

This paper investigated the influences of different dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (0.71-1.32, 2.13-3.02 and 4.31-5.16 mg/L) on cell membrane characteristics and microbial population distribution of moving biofilm reactors. Two representative reactors, i.e., moving bed biofilm reactors and integrated fixed-film activated sludge were operated. Results indicated that both DO concentration of 0.71-1.32 mg/L and 4.31-5.16 mg/L could increase membrane lipid mobile fraction (49.4%-67.4%) of the microbes, however, through prompting the synthesis of branched fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, respectively. For the biofilms, the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased and Actinobacteria increased with the increase of DO levels. The lowest EfOM content and the highest microbial diversities (1.14-1.52) was observed at DO of 2.13-3.02 mg/L. Redundancy analysis showed that changes of DO levels could alter cell membrane properties and bacterial community structures, and subsequently significantly influenced effluent organic matter composition of moving biofilm reactors.

Polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen B*27 on clinical phenotype of spondyloarthritis in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, an ever-increasing number of alleles of human leukocyte antigen B*27 (HLA-B*27) have been identified. This study aimed to establish an updated method for HLA-B*27 subtyping, and to investigate the impact of HLA-B*27 polymorphisms on the clinical phenotype of spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: Overall, 184 SpA patients were recruited for analyzing diversity of HLA-B*27 via an updated high-resolution polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). RESULTS: The prevalence of HLA-B*27 was 94.0%, and four subtypes were identified including HLA-B*2704 (77.5%), B*2705 (20.2%), B*2707 (1.7%), and B*2724 (0.6%). There was an obvious male predominance (P=.05) and markedly elevated C-reaction protein (CRP) in B*27 positive SpA (P<.01). In multivariate linear regression analysis, the elevated CRP was positively associated with HLA-B*27 positivity (regression coefficient B=46.1, P=.0003), grade of sacroiliitis (B=47.5, P=.0032), and male gender (B=20.4, P=.0041). Notably, a male predilection was also found in B*2705 positive SpA while B*2707 was associated with older age, higher positive family history, and higher prevalence of extra-articular features (all P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, an updated PCR-SSP technique to identify increasing alleles of HLA-B*27 was developed and their different effects on clinical manifestations of SpA were demonstrated. Genotyping of HLA-B*27 would shed light on our understanding of the pathogenesis of SpA.

El polimorfismo TNF-alfa-308 determina las manifestaciones clínicas y la respuesta al tratamiento de la espondilitis anquilosante en la etnia china Han / TNF-alpha-308 polymorphism determines clinical manifestations and therapeutic response of ankylosing spondylitis in Han Chinese

Antecedentes y objetivo: Existe un debate creciente acerca de si el factor de necrosis tumoral alfa (TNF-α)-308 está asociado a la espondilitis anquilosante (EA). El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar si el TNF-α-308 está implicado en la susceptibilidad genética, así como las características clínicas y la respuesta terapéutica de EA en la etnia china de Han. Métodos: Se incluyó en el presente estudio a 260 pacientes de EA, y a 260 donantes de sangre sanos y étnicamente equiparables. Se identificó el polimorfismo del promotor de TNF-α-308 mediante amplificación de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, con prueba de polimorfismo de longitud de fragmentos de restricción. Resultados: El análisis genético de la población reflejó que la prevalencia del alelo A y el genotipo G/A fue igualmente infrecuente tanto en los pacientes de EA (3,85% y 7,69%) como en los sujetos sanos (4,23% y 8,46%). En comparación con los portadores del genotipo G/G, se observó una tasa de sedimentación eritrocítica y de proteína C reactiva sérica marcadamente elevadas en los pacientes de EA con la variante G/A (87,06±49,4 vs. 55,53±42,99mm/h, p=0,0126; 54,95±27,77 vs. 34,36±36,13mg/dl, p=0,0116, respectivamente), presentándose siempre con dolor vertebral inflamatorio (70 vs. 43,33%, p=0,0214) y sacroilitis relativamente leve (65 vs. 41,67%; p=0,0431). El alelo G y el fenotipo G/G fueron más frecuentes en los pacientes que respondieron bien al tratamiento anti-TNF-α (96,55 vs. 73,53%, p=0,0032; 93,1 vs. 47,06%, p=0,0015), mientras que no se produjo una superioridad obvia de ambos en la predicción de la respuesta terapéutica de las medicaciones convencionales para EA. Conclusiones: Nuestros datos indican que el polimorfismo TNF-α puede influir más en las características clínicas que en la susceptibilidad a EA, en la etnia china de Han (AU)

Background and objective: There is ongoing debate as to whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-308 is associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to determine whether TNF-α-308 is involved into genetic susceptibility, clinical features and therapeutic response of AS in Han Chinese. Methods: Two hundred and sixty AS patients with 260 ethnically matched healthy blood donors were enrolled into the present study. TNF-α-308 promoter polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction amplification with restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Results: Population genetic analysis showed that the prevalence of allele A and G/A genotype was equally infrequent in both AS patients (3.85% and 7.69%) and healthy subjects (4.23% and 8.46%). Compared with the carriers of G/G genotype, remarkably elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein were observed in AS patients with G/A variant (87.06±49.40 vs. 55.53±42.99mm/h, P=.0126; 54.95±27.77 vs. 34.36±36.13mg/dl, P=.0116, respectively), and they always presented with inflammatory spinal pain (70.00% vs. 43.33%, P=0.0214) and suffered relatively mild sacroiliitis (65.00% vs. 41.67%, P=0.0431). The allele G and G/G genotype were more frequent in good responders to anti-TNF-α treatment (96.55% vs. 73.53%, P=.0032; 93.10% vs. 47.06%, P=.0015), whereas there was no obvious superiority of them in predicting therapeutic response of conventional medications for AS. Conclusions: Our data suggest that TNF-α-308 polymorphism may influence the clinical features rather than susceptibility to AS in our Han Chinese (AU)

TNF-α-308 polymorphism determines clinical manifestations and therapeutic response of ankylosing spondylitis in Han Chinese. / El polimorfismo TNF-α-308 determina las manifestaciones clínicas y la respuesta al tratamiento de la espondilitis anquilosante en la etnia china Han.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is ongoing debate as to whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-308 is associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to determine whether TNF-α-308 is involved into genetic susceptibility, clinical features and therapeutic response of AS in Han Chinese. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty AS patients with 260 ethnically matched healthy blood donors were enrolled into the present study. TNF-α-308 promoter polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction amplification with restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: Population genetic analysis showed that the prevalence of allele A and G/A genotype was equally infrequent in both AS patients (3.85% and 7.69%) and healthy subjects (4.23% and 8.46%). Compared with the carriers of G/G genotype, remarkably elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein were observed in AS patients with G/A variant (87.06±49.40 vs. 55.53±42.99mm/h, P=.0126; 54.95±27.77 vs. 34.36±36.13mg/dl, P=.0116, respectively), and they always presented with inflammatory spinal pain (70.00% vs. 43.33%, P=0.0214) and suffered relatively mild sacroiliitis (65.00% vs. 41.67%, P=0.0431). The allele G and G/G genotype were more frequent in good responders to anti-TNF-α treatment (96.55% vs. 73.53%, P=.0032; 93.10% vs. 47.06%, P=.0015), whereas there was no obvious superiority of them in predicting therapeutic response of conventional medications for AS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that TNF-α-308 polymorphism may influence the clinical features rather than susceptibility to AS in our Han Chinese.

Quadruple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

AIM: To investigate quadruple therapy with rabeprazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin and furazolidone for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. METHODS: A total of 147 patients were divided into the experimental treatment group (n = 78) and the standard triple treatment group (n = 69). The experimental treatment group received rabeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1.0 g, levofloxacin 0.2 g and furazolidone 0.1 g, twice daily. The standard triple treatment group received omeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1.0 g and clarithromycin 0.5 g, twice daily. RESULTS: One month after treatment, the (13)C urea breath test was carried out to detect H. pylori. The eradication rate using per-protocol analysis was 94.3% in the experimental treatment group and 73% in the standard triple treatment group (P < 0.05), and using intention to test analysis, these figures were 86% and 67% in the two groups, respectively. Side effects were observed in 34 patients, and included mild dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and increased bowel movement. Eleven of the 34 patients needed no treatment for their side effects. CONCLUSION: Rabeprazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin and furazolidone quadruple therapy is a safe method for the eradication of H. pylori with high efficacy and good tolerability.

Different clinical features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from southern and northern China.

AIMS: To describe clinical features of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) from southern and northern China, and investigate the effects of onset age, gender and regional differences on disease phenotype. METHODS: Totally 113 AS patients from southern China and 121 AS patients from northern China were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In southern and northern groups, low back pain was more frequent among initial symptoms (54.9% vs. 7.7%; 52.4% vs. 11.4%), while peripheral arthritis (15.7% vs. 35.9%; 22.2% vs. 68.6%) was less common in male adult AS (AAS) than in male juvenile AS (JAS) patients, respectively. Compared to those in the northern group, diagnostic delay was longer (7.3 vs. 3.5 years) and the prevalence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 was higher in the southern group (96.5% vs. 83.5%). Sacroiliitis grade 2 was more frequent (51.3% vs. 36.4%), while sacroiliitis grade 3 (32.7% vs. 53.7%), buttock pain (5.3% vs. 13.2%), knee (20.4% vs. 33.1%) and ankle (3.5% vs. 11.6%) arthritis were less frequent in the southern group. Diagnostic delay of southern JAS was longer than that of northern JAS regardless of gender. Both sacroiliitis grade 3 and peripheral arthritis were less frequent in southern male JAS than in northern male JAS. Diagnostic delay was longer, sacroiliitis grade 2 was more frequent, while sacroiliitis grade 3 was less frequent in southern male AAS than those in northern male AAS. CONCLUSION: Significant diagnostic delay and higher prevalence of HLA-B27 were found in southern AS patients. The prevalence of buttock pain and peripheral arthritis at disease onset in northern AS was more frequent than in southern AS patients.

[Systematic review of gastrointestinal injury caused by magnetic foreign body ingestions in children and adolescence].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal injury caused by magnetic foreign body ingestions in children. METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify all the studies related to gastrointestinal tract injury caused by ingesting magnetic foreign body using databases including Google, Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, Ovid, Wanfang data, VIP, CNKI, degree dissertation, meeting abstracts, and request for document delivery. Language was limited to English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Parameters studies were age at diagnosis, gender, country, regional distribution, number of magnetic foreign bodies, source of magnetic foreign bodies, clinical features, diagnosis, and method for foreign body removal. RESULTS: A total of 98 cases of magnet ingestion were identified from 17 countries and regions. There were 94 patients under the age of 18, with most children younger than 5 years old(62.2%,61/98). The age at peak incidence was 3 years old (16.3%, 16/98). Magnetic foreign bodies ingested included toys(74.5%), medical apparatus(8.2%), accessories(4.1%), and others(6.2%). The number of bodies ranged from 2 to 100. Eleven (11.2%) patients were complicated with allotriophagia or autism. Delay diagnosis and treatment existed in all the patients to varying extents, of whom one died from severe infection. Exploratory laparotomy showed a wide range of bowel damage from the esophagus to the colon, including perforation and intestinal fistula. Intestinal damage was the most common injury (51.0%), followed by intestine-colon fistula (15.3%). All the patients required bowel resection with anastomosis or fistula repair except for 2 children who were managed by endoscopic removal of the foreign bodies. CONCLUSION: Ingesting more than one magnet will lead to severe gastrointestinal injury. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are important. More precautious measures should be taken for children aged younger than 5 years old.

N-(4-Cyano-benz-yl)benzamide.

The title compound, C(15)H(12)N(2)O, is a derivative of 4-(amino-meth-yl)benzonitrile, an important pestcide inter-mediate. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked via inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming infinite chains.