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To investigate the changes in cell autophagy and the molecular mechanism of rapamycin affecting the fracture healing.Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish the right femoral shaft fracture models, and then underwent immunofluorescence assay to detect the autophagy level in bone tissues. After model establishment, SD rats were divided into two groups, the control group and the rapamycin group (1 mg/kg/d). Respectively, at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th week, rats were randomly selected from each group for X-ray and Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) examinations to determine callus growth, immunofluorescence assay to detect the protein expression of light chain 3 II (LC3 II), immunohistochemistry to evaluate the autophagy level through detecting the expression of Beclin1 in rats, Western blotting assay to detect cell apoptosis in tissues, hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE staining) to evaluate the osteoblastic activity through count of osteoblast in bone tissue at the end of fracture, and measure the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF).Significant increases were seen in protein expression of cells in bone tissues at the end of fracture. In rapamycin group, callus formation and calcification level in rats were all higher than those in control group; compared with control group, for rats in rapamycin group, cell autophagy was significantly elevated in bone tissues, while cell apoptosis at the end of fracture was reduced with a significant increase in osteoblastic activity. The expression of VEGF in rapamycin group was higher than that in control group.Rapamycin can facilitate fracture healing through inducing cell apoptosis and suppressing cell apoptosis in bone tissues.

To correlate the injury of vascular endothelial cells during various pathological conditions with the change of vWF (von Willebrand Factor) in different VEC lines.Flow cytometer(FCM) were used to defect the immunoflourescent stained vWF in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) of pig and aortic endothelial cells(AEC) of rats.The positive rates of vWF in PAEC of pigs is similar with that in AEC of rats under normal condition, but it decreased differently after hypoxic or cold injury. It was very interesting that the mean fluorescence intensity of positive PAEC or AEC exposed to hypoxia or cold elevated significantly compared with those of control.The change of vWF in VEC can be used to evaluate the function of VEC under different stress.

Until recently, China had been isolated from Western countries for almost 30 years. Surgeons of Western countries, perhaps, are interested to know what is happening in surgery in China. This communication reviews the current interests in Chinese surgery. It is by no means complete, nor is that the intention. The intention is to introduce to our foreign colleagues a general overview of some highlights in Chinese surgery.

The findings from dissections, injection studies, and angiograms of 180 specimens of the anterior portion of left and right iliac crests taken from 90 cadavers are reported. These findings suggested that the deep circumflex iliac vessels were suitable for use as a nutritive pedicle in microvascular free transfer of iliac bone. Therefore, the technique of microvascular free transfer of iliac bone based on these vessels was developed and applied clinically in 2 cases with good results. The advantages and disadvantages of using the superficial circumflex iliac vessels or the deep circumflex iliac vessels as the vascular pedicle for iliac grafts also are discussed.

The findings from dissection, injection studies, corrosion specimens, and angiograms in 300 specimens of the iliogluteal region taken from 150 cadavers are reported. These findings suggest that the deep superior branches of the superior gluteal vessels may serve a nutritive pedicle in microvascular free transfer of iliac bone. Therefore, the operative technique has been developed and applied clinically with good results. The selection of different vessels as a nutritive pedicle for the free transfer of iliac bone is discussed.