Construction of multiple linear regression models using blood biomarkers for selecting against abdominal fat traits in broilers.

Plasma very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) can be used to select for low body fat or abdominal fat (AF) in broilers, but its correlation with AF is limited. We investigated whether any other biochemical indicator can be used in combination with VLDL for a better selective effect. Nineteen plasma biochemical indicators were measured in male chickens from the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for AF content (NEAUHLF) in the fed state at 46 and 48 d of age. The average concentration of every parameter for the 2 d was used for statistical analysis. Levels of these 19 plasma biochemical parameters were compared between the lean and fat lines. The phenotypic correlations between these plasma biochemical indicators and AF traits were analyzed. Then, multiple linear regression models were constructed to select the best model used for selecting against AF content. and the heritabilities of plasma indicators contained in the best models were estimated. The results showed that 11 plasma biochemical indicators (triglycerides, total bile acid, total protein, globulin, albumin/globulin, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, creatinine, and VLDL) differed significantly between the lean and fat lines (P < 0.01), and correlated significantly with AF traits (P < 0.05). The best multiple linear regression models based on albumin/globulin, VLDL, triglycerides, globulin, total bile acid, and uric acid, had higher R2 (0.73) than the model based only on VLDL (0.21). The plasma parameters included in the best models had moderate heritability estimates (0.21 ≤ h2 ≤ 0.43). These results indicate that these multiple linear regression models can be used to select for lean broiler chickens.

Preoperative level of serum amyloid A is superior to C-reactive protein in the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Preoperative elevations in the levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) or C-reactive protein (CRP) have been reported to be prognostic indicators in several malignancies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum levels of SAA and CRP in the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In total, 252 patients with ESCC who had undergone surgery with curative-intent were retrospectively recruited. The specificity, sensitivity, and prognostic value of SAA or CRP levels were measured as the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The clinical value of SAA and CRP levels as prognostic indicators was evaluated using Cox's proportional hazards model. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for the entire cohort of patients with ESCC were 71.0%, 61.0%, and 43.0%, respectively. The correlation between the levels of SAA and CRP was significant (r(2) = 0. 685, P < 0.001). The ROC analysis showed that the levels of CRP were associated with a significantly lower overall accuracy than were the SAA levels (AUC, 0.615 vs. 0.880; P < 0.001). For the complete cohort, the median OS was 52.0 months longer in patients with low preoperative serum levels of SAA (72.0 months) compared with patients who had high SAA levels (20.0 months, P < 0.001). The median OS among patients with low CRP levels was also longer compared with the patients who had high CRP levels (72.0 vs. 51.0 months, respectively; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that the preoperative elevated levels of SAA could find significant differences in OS for stage I, stage II, and stage III (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas the increased levels of CRP could only find a difference in OS for stage II cancers. After a multivariate analysis, preoperative elevated level of SAA was found to be an independently and significant prognostic factor (P < 0.001). Our study indicates that the preoperative levels of SAA and CRP can act as prognostic factors, and that elevated levels of these proteins are associated with negative effects on the survival of patients with ESCC. SAA showed a higher prognostic value than CRP in both cohort and subgroup analysis.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with specialized instruments.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) has been performed in 100 individuals by use of specialized surgical instruments and allogeneic preserved bone grafts from 1979 to March 1982, after the advantages of performing PLIF in 342 individuals from 1965 to 1978 were noted. No deaths occurred, nor any infections or thrombophlebitis postoperation. Eleven (11%) reoperations were required: six for proven pseudarthrosis, three for gradual bone graft extrusion (of six extrusions total), one for bone graft fracture (with manifestations of nerve root compression), and one for hematoma. Operative results were excellent in 35%, good in 39%, fair in 17%, and poor in 9%. Specialized surgical instruments used for the operation included mortising chisels with cannulated reamers, right-angled curettes, and depth-limited impactors. PLIF is technically demanding; however, it establishes a mortise-graft interbody fusion to stabilize and restore the spinal architecture.

Percutaneous repair of acute closed ruptured achilles tendon: a new technique.

The technique of percutaneous suturing repair of acute closed rupture of the Achilles tendon, as described in this article, can be performed under local anesthesia without using an arterioconstrictive tourniquet. Eighteen patients have been successfully treated with this technique, 12 having been closely followed for more than 12 months, and 8 for more than 24 months. Preliminarly, this technique for repairing acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures appears more promising than open surgical repair or short leg equinus casts alone due to tendon continuity restoration, tendon strength restoration,and minimization of postoperative complications.