Cast versus Kirschner wire fixation in type II paediatric phalangeal neck fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of type II pediatric phalangeal neck fractures (PPNFs) treated with closed reduction and cast immobilization (CRCI) versus closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP), and evaluated the clinical efficacy of conservative versus surgical treatment of type II PPNFs via meta-analysis. METHODS: Patients aged ≤ 14 years with type II PPNFs were divided into conservative (CRCI) and operative (CRPP) groups. Radiographs measured angulation and translation; hand function was assessed with total active range of motion (TAM) and Quick-DASH. Complication rates were also compared between the groups. A meta-analysis of conservative versus operative treatment confirmed the clinical results. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and R studio 3.0 with two-tailed, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney U or t-tests, P < 0.05. Meta-analysis used fixed or random effects models, calculating mean differences and odds ratios for outcomes, and assessing heterogeneity with I2 and Q tests. RESULTS: Final angulation (3.4° ± 3.7° and 4.9° ± 5.4° vs. 3.6° ± 3.7° and 4.2° ± 4.3°) and displacement (6.3% ± 5.8% and 5.7% ± 4.7% vs. 5.8% ± 5.5% and 3.2% ± 4.2%) in the coronal and sagittal planes were not different statistically between the conservative and surgical groups (P > 0.05), but improved significantly compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05). Although Quick-DASH scores were comparable in both groups (P = 0.105), conservatively treated patients had a significantly better TAM at the last follow-up visit (P = 0.005). The complication rates were 24.2% and 41.7% in the surgical and conservatively treated groups respectively (P = 0.162). However, the latter primarily experienced imaging-related complications, whereas the former experienced functional complications (P = 0.046). Our meta-analysis (n = 181 patients) also showed comparable functional (P = 0.49) and radiographic (P = 0.59) outcomes and complication rates (P = 0.21) between the surgical (94 patients) and conservative (87 patients) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative and surgical treatments are both reliable and safe approaches for managing type II PPNF in children. However, conservatively treated patients generally experience similar radiographic outcomes, lower complication rates, and better functional outcomes than surgically treated ones.

Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition of osteoblasts induced by Fam20c knockout.

BACKGROUND: Fam20c is intimately related to tissue development and diseases. At present, it has been reported that Fam20c regulates the mineralization of osteoblasts, but there are few reports on other effects. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Fam20c on osteoblasts by knocking out the Fam20c gene. METHODS: Fam20c knockout osteoblasts were constructed by transfecting mouse osteoblasts with lentivirus. The proliferation, migration and mineralization of Fam20c knockout cells were detected by CCK-8, scratch test and alizarin red staining assays. The subcellular structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RT-PCR was used to detect the differential expression of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET)-related marker genes and core transcription factors. The differential expression of MET-related proteins was detected by immunofluorescence or Western blot. Transcriptome analysis of Fam20c knockout osteoblasts was performed, and real-time PCR was used to verify transcriptome analysis related to MET. RESULTS: The proliferation ability of osteoblasts was not significantly changed after Fam20c deletion, but the migration ability and mineralization ability were significantly weakened. There were tight junctions between Fam20c knockout cells. The expression of mesenchymal cell marker genes and core transcription factors was significantly decreased, and the expression of epithelial cell marker genes was significantly increased. The expression of mesenchymal cell marker proteins was significantly decreased, and the expression of epithelial cell marker proteins was significantly increased. Multiple signalling molecules and pathways involved in MET have changed. CONCLUSIONS: Knockdown of Fam20c resulted in MET. Fam20c affects the transcription of key factors in osteoblast MET.

Association Between Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Level and Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore whether a higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (sLDH) level on admission is associated with hematoma expansion (HE) in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: This single-center prospective observational study of patients with primary ICH aged 19 years or older was conducted at the Dehua County Hospital from January 2018 to May 2021. Clinical data and demographic information and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The association between increased sLDH levels and HE was assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses. Propensity-score matching (PSM) analysis was implemented to reduce baseline differences between the groups. RESULTS: Of 609 patients with ICH screened, 360 who met all eligibility criteria were enrolled in the study (mean age, 59.83 ± 12.64 years; 60.28% female patients), of whom 69 (19.17%) developed early HE. sLDH levels were statistically higher in the HE group compared with the non-HE group (236.0 [222.30-275.50] U/L vs. 209.6 [179.30-253.8] U/L; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that higher sLDH levels were still statistically associated with HE (odds ratio [OR], 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.210; P < 0.001). After PSM, the matched HE group had a significantly higher sLDH level than did the matched non-HE group (236.0 [222.0-279.10] vs. 216.30 [173.0-278.7] U/L; P = 0.003). The area under the curve of 0.704 (95% confidence interval, 0.654-0.751; P < 0.0001) (sensitivity, 92.75%; specificity, 52.58%), and the optimal cutoff value for sLDH level as a predictor for HE in patients with primary ICH was determined as 211.0U/L. The area under the curve of the logistic regression model based on these predictors (the TsL (time from onset to initial computed tomography,sLDH) modelbased on these predictors: sLDH, time from onset to initial computed tomography) was 0.817, with a sensitivity of 84.06% and specificity of 72.51% for HE. The TsL model produced the best ability to predict HE compared with single sLDH. sLDH levels were statistically correlated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The current PSM analysis study shows that increased serum LDH level is statistically associated with HE. Our findings indicate that the TsL model constructed by sLDH and time from onset to initial computed tomography markedly enhances the prediction of HE after ICH.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Facilitates the Expression of Resistin-like Molecule Beta in Gastric Carcinoma and Precursor Lesions.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was reported to be associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Resistin-like molecule beta (RELMß), a recently described goblet cell-specific protein, was demonstrated to aberrantly express in gastric cancer and correlated with its clinicopathological features. This study aimed to examine the association between H. pylori and RELMß expression in gastric carcinoma and precursor lesions. H. pylori infection and RELMß expression were immunohistochemically evaluated in gastric biopsies from 230 patients. The biopsies consisted of normal gastric mucosa (n=20), mucosa with chronic gastritis (n=41), intestinal metaplasia (n=42), dysplasia (n=31), intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (n=56), and diffuse-type adenocarcinoma (n=40). RELMß expression was measured in gastric biopsies after H. pylori eradication therapy in a subgroup of 32 patients. Cultured gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was infected with H. pylori strains, and RELMß expression was detected by reverse transcription PCR, real-time PCR and Western blotting. Higher RELMß immunoreactivity was observed in H. pylori-positive intestinal metaplasia (P=0.003), dysplasia (P=0.032), intestinal-type (P=0.037) and diffuse-type adenocarcinomas (P=0.001) than in H. pylori-negative specimens. Expression rates of RELMß in dysplasia (P=0.005), intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (P<0.001), and diffuse-type adenocarcinoma (P=0.001) were significantly correlated with the grade of H. pylori density. In addition, H. pylori eradication reduced the RELMß intensity in intestinal metaplasia (P=0.001). Infection of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells with cag pathogenicity island (PAI)-positive H. pylori TN2, but not with its PAI totally deleted mutant (TN2-ΔPAI) for 4-8 h, resulted in enhanced protein and transcript levels of RELMß (P<0.05). In summary, our study suggested that H. pylori infection facilitated the expression of RELMß in gastric garcinoma and precursor lesions.

Admission Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Rebleeding Following Aneurismal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the occurrence of rebleeding in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate the association between NLR on admission and rebleeding following aSAH. METHODS: Clinical and laboratorial data from patients with aSAH were retrospectively collected, including leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and NLR. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess for the association of NLR with rebleeding. We performed propensity-score matching analyses to correct imbalances in patient characteristics between the rebleeding group and nonrebleeding group. RESULTS: Rebleeding occurred in 30 of 716 (4.19%) patients with aSAH in this cohort. Patients with rebleeding had significantly higher NLR comparing with patients without rebleeding (11.27 vs. 5.5; P < 0.05) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, NLR was considered as a risk factor of rebleeding (odds ratio, 0.283; 95% confidence interval, 0.130-0.620; P = 0.002), as well as Fisher grade (odds ratio, 0.353, 95% confidence interval, 0.151-0.824; P = 0.016). The area under the curve of the NLR and combined NLR-Fisher grade model was 0.702 and 0.744 (sensitivity was 39.94%, and specificity was 100%) for predicting rebleeding, respectively. After propensity-score matching, the optimal cutoff value for NLR as a predictor for rebleeding following aSAH was determined as 5.4 (sensitivity was 83.33%, and the specificity was 63.33%). CONCLUSIONS: Higher NLR predicts the occurrence of rebleeding and poor outcome, and NLR combined with Fisher grade significantly improves the prediction of rebleeding following aSAH.

Lower Ionized Calcium Predicts Hematoma Expansion and Poor Outcome in Patients with Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that ionized calcium levels at admission are associated with early hematoma expansion and functional outcome in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH). METHODS: Patients presenting with HICH were enrolled in the observational cohort study that prospectively collected age, sex, blood pressure, history of diabetes and smoking, time from symptom onset to initial computed tomography (CT), admission ionized calcium (iCa) and total calcium (tCa), coagulation function, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and postoperative modified Rankin Scale score. Hematoma reconstruction on CT was performed to measure hematoma volumes. Hematoma expansion (HE) was defined as an increase of more than 30% or 6 mL in HICH volume. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to assess for association of iCa level with early HE and functional outcome. RESULTS: We included 111 patients with HICH for analysis. Admission serum iCa was 1.10 mmol/L in patients with HE and 1.17 in patients without HE. Univariate analysis indicated significant difference of GCS, initial HICH volume, iCa, and tCa between the HE and non-HE groups (P < 0.05). Lower admission iCa (less than 1.12 mmol/L) was associated with HE (odds ratio [OR] 0.300, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.095-0.951, P = 0.041) after adjustment for age, blood pressure, GCS score, time to initial CT scan, baseline HICH volume, prothrombin time, and tCa. Furthermore, predictive factors of poor outcome included iCa (OR 0.192, 95% CI 0.067-0.554, P = 0.002) and GCS score (OR 0.832, 95% CI 0.722-0.959, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that lower ionized calcium is associated with early hematoma expansion and poor outcome in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

Submerged macrophytes modify bacterial community composition in sediments in a large, shallow, freshwater lake.

Submerged aquatic macrophytes are an important part of the lacustrine ecosystem. In this study, the bacterial community compositions in the rhizosphere sediments from three kinds of submerged macrophytes (Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton crispus, and Vallisneria natans) were investigated to determine whether submerged macrophytes could drive the variation of bacterial community in the eutrophic Taihu Lake, China. Molecular techniques, including terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene and clone libraries, were employed to analyze the bacterial community compositions. Remarkable differences of the T-RFLP patterns were observed among the different samples, and the results of LIBSHUFF analysis also confirmed that the bacterial community compositions in the rhizosphere sediments of three kinds of submerged macrophytes were statistically different from that of the unvegetated sediment. Acidobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups in the rhizosphere sediments of Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton crispus, and Vallisneria natans, respectively, accounting for 15.38%, 29.03%, and 18.00% of the total bacterial abundances. Our study demonstrated that submerged macrophytes could influence the bacterial community compositions in their rhizosphere sediments, suggesting that macrophytes have an effect on the cycling and transportation of nutrients in the freshwater lake ecosystem.