Association between paraspinal muscle fat infiltration and regional kyphosis angle in thoracolumbar fracture patients: a retrospective study.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) and open pedicle screw fixation (OPSF) on the postoperative paraspinal muscle fat infiltration (FI) rate in patients with thoracolumbar fractures through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and explore the association between paraspinal muscle FI rate and regional kyphosis angle. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 35 patients who underwent either PPSF or OPSF for thoracolumbar fractures, examining data at preoperative, 1-month postoperative, and 9-months postoperative time points, which included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and regional kyphosis angle. We obtained preoperative and 9-month postoperative paraspinal muscle FI rates using T2-weighted MRI images and ImageJ software. We analyzed the correlation of FI rates with VAS, ODI, as well as the correction loss percentage of regional kyphosis angle. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between postoperative FI rate increase and correction loss percentage of regional kyphosis angle (r = 0.696, p < 0.001). The increase in paraspinal muscle FI rate was positively correlated with 9-month postoperative ODI (r = 0.763, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that an increase in postoperative paraspinal muscle FI rate may result in more significant correction loss of regional kyphosis angle and can lead to increased functional impairment in patients.

A Comparative Metabolomics Study of Flavonoids in Radish with Different Skin and Flesh Colors (Raphanus sativus L.).

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is an important worldwide vegetable with a wide variety of colors that affect its appearance and nutritional quality. However, the large-scale detection, identification, and quantification of flavonoids in multicolor radish have rarely been studied. To uncover the diversity and accession-specific flavonoids in radish, liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the metabolic profiles in the skin and flesh of six colored radish accessions: light-red Manshenhong, dark-red Touxinhong (TXH), purple Zijinling (ZJL), Xinlimei with red flesh (XLMF) and green skin, white Shizhuangbai (SZB), and black radish. In total, 133 flavonoids, including 16 dihydroflavones, 44 flavones, 14 flavonoids, 9 anthocyanins, and 28 flavonols, were characterized. The flavonoid metabolic profiles differed among the different colored radishes. Red and purple radishes contained similar anthocyanin compounds responsible for color pigmentation, including red cyanidin, callistephin, and pelargonin. Purple ZJL was most enriched with cyanidin o-syringic acid and cyanin, whereas callistephin and pelargonin were more abundant in dark-red TXH. Additionally, the black and white radishes shared similar anthocyanin and flavonoid profiles, suggesting that the color of black radishes was not caused by anthocyanin but by other metabolites. The metabolites in colored radishes that differed from SZB were mainly involved in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, such as flavonoid, flavone, flavonol, isoflavonoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This study provides new insights into the differences in metabolite profiles among radishes with different skin and flesh colors. The results will be useful for aiding the cultivation of valuable new radish varieties.

[Clinical effect of manipulation therapy for the treatment of degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of manipulation therapy in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with degenerative lumbar spine instability were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to December 2019, and treated with massage manipulation therapy. Among them, 29 patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on the myofascial chain theory (myofascial chain group), including 14 males and 15 females, aged from 40 to 69 years old with an average of (51.76±5.07) years old, the courses of disease was (3.4±1.6) years. Twenty-eight patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on TCM meridian theory (TCM meridian group), including 12 males and 16 females, aged from 42 to 70 years old with an average of(52.48±4.31) years old, the courses of disease was (3.3±1.7) years. Before treatment, after treatment, 1 and 3 months after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain degree of lumbar, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess improvement of lumbar function, and changes of lumbar muscle tension were used to evaluate clinical effect. RESULTS: VAS score, JOA score, modified ODI score and lumbar muscle tension after treatment were significantly improved than those of before treatment between two groups (P<0.05) . There were no statistical difference in VAS score, JOA score, modified ODI score and lumbar muscle tension between two groups before treatment and after treatment immediately(P> 0.05). However, VAS score, JOA score, modified ODI score and lumbar muscle tension at one and three months after treatment in myofascial chain group weresignificantly better than that of TCM meridian group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Manipulation therapyon in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory could effectively relieve low back pain symptom and improve lumbar function. It is worthy of promoting.

[Genetic diversity of 6 species in Polygonatum by SSR marker].

Polygonatum is a genus of the perennial herb family Liliaceae, with great potential in food, medicine and other field. In this study, genetic diversity and cluster structure analysis of 6 species in Polygonatum were investigated the molecular marker technique of simple sequence repeat (SSR). A total of 49 SSR makers were used to study genetic diversity and population structure within 60 germplasm resources which obtained from 38 counties and cities in 14 provinces of China. A total of 211 alleles were identified and the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 10, with an average of 4.306 1 alleles per SSR. The range of polymorphism information content (PIC) varied from 0.731 8 to 0.031 7, with the average of 0.309 6. The cluster analysis classified 60 germplasm resources into four defined groups at the genetic distance value of 0.26, among which most species with relatives were clustered into the same group. Extraordinarily, there were 6 germplasm resources clustered into other species, indicating that the classification of inter-genus and geographical distribution was crossed in Polygonatum. The genetic diversity index of the 4 geographical populations from high to low was: Western region, Central China, Southern China, Eastern China. The population structure analysis, also indicating divided the entire collection into four groups, which was similar to the assignment pattern of cluster structure analysis. These results suggested that the Polygonatum germplasm resources used in this study is rich in relatively high genetic diversity with large variation range, relatively fuzzy boundaries of species. It appeared the phenomenon that there is a difference decreases between the alternate leaf system and the rotation leaf system. The genetic diversity in the western region was higher than that in other regions, and the western region may be the origin center of the genus Polygonatum.

Embedded metal-wire nanograting for a multifunctional optical device.

In this paper, an embedded metal-wire nanograting was fabricated and used to construct a multifunctional optical device. The basic function of the nanograting is as a broadband polarizing beam splitter. On the top of the nanograting surface, a homogeneity cladding layer was deposited, and metal wires were deposited in the grating trench. This multifunctional optical device based on the artificial material is designed with a very simple structure, but with the functions of a variable optical attenuator, an optical switch, and a variable optical power splitter. The experimental result as a variable optical power splitter is presented.

Embedded metal-wire nanograting and its application in an optical polarization beam splitter/combiner.

What we believe to be a new type of embedded metal-wire nanograting is fabricated, in which the metal wires are embedded under the trenches of the substrate, and a cladding layer is deposited on the surface of the trenches to protect the metal-wire grating. The substrate of the nanograting is antireflectively coated to further increase the performance of the device. This novel embedded nanograting has a high extinction ratio, low insertion loss for optical communication wavelengths, and good wearability for practical applications. This kind of metal-wire nanograting is attractive as a polarizing beam splitter or combiner to construct various optical devices. By using this newly developed kind of nanograting, a polarization beam splitter/combiner with good performance is fabricated.