[Clinical, imaging and pathological and molecular characteristics of simple bone cyst].

Objective: To investigate the radiologic, pathologic, and molecular features of simple bone cysts (SBC), and their differential diagnoses. Methods: Fourteen cases of SBC were collected at the Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2017 to 2022, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed for retrospective analysis. Results: There were 14 patients, including 7 females and 7 males, with age range of 7 to 45 (median 29) years. The most common complaint was pain, including 4 cases with pathological fracture and 5 with history of previous trauma. The tumor size ranged from 3.4 to 13.5 (median 5.6) cm. The lesion involved the femur (n=4), humerus (n=5) and iliac bone (n=5). Radiologic diagnoses included SBC, aneurysmal bone cyst, and giant cell tumor of the bone or its combination with aneurysmal bone cyst-like region and fibrous dysplasia. Histologically, the cyst walls of the lesions were composed of fibrous tissue, fibrin-like collagen deposits, bone-like matrix and occasional woven bone. The lesional cells were spindled to ovoid, with scattered osteoclast-like giant cells, foamy histiocytes, hemosiderin deposits and cholesterol clefts. In 6 cases there were nodular fasciitis-like areas. Immunohistochemically, the spindled to ovoid cells were positive for SMA, EMA and SATB2 in varying degrees. FISH detection was performed in all 14 cases and EWSR1/FUS rearrangement were found in 9 cases. One case of FUS::NFATC2 fusion was detected by next-generation sequencing. Nine cases of SBC with the rearrangement were more cellular, and there were more mitotic figures in the recurrent FUS::NFATC2 fusion tumor. Clinical follow-up was obtained in all 14 cases with the time ranging from 5 to 105 (mean 46) months. Amongst them, the tumor with FUS::NFATC2 rearrangement had local recurrence twice after the first local excision, but had no more recurrence or metastasis 34 months after the subsequent segmental resection. The other 13 cases had no recurrence. Conclusions: EWSR1 or FUS rearrangement is most commonly identified in SBC, suggesting that SBC might be a neoplastic disease. In cases where the radiologic appearance and histomorphology are difficult to differentiate from aneurysmal bone cyst, FISH detection can aid in the definitive diagnosis.

[Effect of exercise intervention on musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of exercise intervention on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in nursing staff. Methods: In september 2021, we searched the articles on exercise intervention for nurses with musculoskeletal diseases in Embase, PubMed, ClinicalTrails, Wanfang, CNKI and other databases in September 2021, and the search period was from database creation to August 2021. The quality of article was evaluated by Cochrane bias risk assessment tool and MINORS. The systematic review method with narrative synthesis was used to analyze the research results. Results: A total of 7 studies were included, including 6 randomized controlled trials and 1 quasi-experiment. The sample size of the experimental group was 276, and the control group was 273. Depending on the type of exercise intervention, muscle strength training, muscle strength training+stretch/flexibility training, Back School program can reduce the local pain of nursing staff. Among them, muscle strength training can improve the nursing staff's muscle function and quality of life, muscle strength training+stretching/flexibility training can increase muscle strength, range of physical activity and self-efficacy, the Back School program is effective for improving poor posture. Conclusion: Exercise intervention is effective on controlling musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in nursing staff, managers can develop exercise strategies for different MSD symptoms.

[Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of non-criteria obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome].

Objective: To study clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes under anti-coagulation therapy of non-criteria obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome. Methods: Patients suspected of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome(OAPS) were recruited through Chinese Rheumatism Data Center from 2015 to 2019 consecutively. Patients fulfilling 2006 Sydney revised antiphospholipid syndrome criteria were classified as OAPS. Patients fulfilling definition of non-criteria OAPS(NCOAPS) by expert consensus on diagnosis and management of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome of China were classified as NCOAPS. Clinical characteristics and laboratory results of two groups were compared. Live birth rates and pregnancy outcomes under anti-coagulation therapy were studied. Results: A total of 88 patients were enrolled, including 56 patients (63.6%) as OAPS, 32(36.4%) as NCOAPS. Live births were only reached in 16.1% (9/56) in OAPS patients and 12.5%(4/32) in NCOAPS. Fetal losses after 10 weeks of gestation and pre-eclampsia before 34 weeks were more common in OAPS group compared to NCOAPS group [78.6%(44/56) vs. 18.8%(6/32), P<0.001; 25.0%(14/56) vs. 3.1%(1/32), P=0.020, respectively]. After enrollment, 15 pregnancies were recorded in OAPS, 10 in NCOAPS, all of whom were treated with low-dose aspirin (LDA) combined with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Live birth rates saw dramatic improvements compared to baseline levels in OAPS [16.1% (9/56) vs. 11/15] along with NCOAPS [12.5% (4/32) vs. 7/10]. Conclusion: Though NCOAPS and OAPS patients differ in antiphospholipid antibody spectrum and pattern of pregnancy morbidities, both groups benefit from LDA combined with LWMH treatment, as live birth rates improve. Non-criteria OAPS patients are recommended to receive anti-coagulation therapy during pregnancy.

[Effect of continuous femoral nerve block combined with periarticular local infiltration analgesia on early operative functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized double-blind controlled study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of early rehabilitation training after total knee arthroplasty surgery by continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) with or without periarticular local infiltration analgesia (PLIA). METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, controlled study, 100 patients under-going primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. All the patients received CFNB for postoperative analgesia before combined spinal epidural anesthesia. They were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=50 each): CFNB group, CFNB combined with PLIA group (PLIA group). Group PLIA received periarticular local infiltration analgesia with 20 mL ropivacaine (5 g/L), while the equal volume of normal saline was used instead of ropivacaine in group CFNB. Postoperative pain during rest and passive exercises including front and rear portions of knees, the time of ability to perform an active straight leg raise, the time of ability to reach 90° knee flexion, and preoperative and postoperative hospital for special surgery knee score (HSS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with group CFNB, the visual analogue scores (VAS) of front of knees at rest time in group PLIA had no significant difference (P>0.05); there were significant differences at 4, 8, 12, 24 h postoperation in portions of knees at rest time (P<0.05); the VAS had significant differences at 24 h in passive exercises of knees (P<0.05); the VAS had significant differences at 12, 24 h in portions of knees at passive exercises of the knees (P<0.05); the time of ability to perform an active straight leg raise had significant differences in the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with CFNB postoperative analgesia alone, CFNB with PLIA could relieve rest pain and pain during passive movement after total knee arthroplasty. CFNB with PLIA could shorten the time to perform an active straight leg raise and the time of ability to reach 90° knee flexion. And so some patients could improve postoperative rehabilitation training.

Tumor vasculogenic mimicry predicts poor prognosis in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the formation of vascular channels by tumor cells or tumor cell-derived, trans-differentiated cells in highly aggressive, solid tumors. However, the disease features and prognostic value of VM for overall survival of cancer patients remain controversial. METHOD: To systematically investigate the roles of VM in cancer progression and its prognostic values, we performed a meta-analysis based on 36 studies (33 eligible articles) including 3609 patients. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were used to assess the relationship between VM and overall survival in cancer patients. RESULTS: Vasculogenic mimicry was significantly associated with cancer differentiation, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM stage. The prognostic value of VM was significant in overall survival (HR 2.16; 95 % CI 1.98-2.38; P < 0.001). Analyses stratified by confounders, such as cancer type, ethnicity, VM detection methods, sample size, and Newcastle-Ottawa quality score, found similar significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of VM predicts poorer survival outcomes in cancer patients.

Distribution of common pathogens in patients with pyogenic liver abscess in China: a meta-analysis.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a potentially life-threatening disease in many parts of the world, especially in Asia. The aim of this study was to quantify the proportion of common pathogens in patients with PLA in China, using a meta-analysis method based on systematic review of published studies. Several electronic databases were searched to identify the studies reporting the pathogens of PLA. We performed a meta-analysis to calculate the pooled proportion of pathogens and subgroup analysis among the included studies using R 3.1.1 software. In total, 183 studies were included in our final analysis, Klebsiella spp (54 %), Escherichia spp (29 %), Enterobacter spp (9 %), Proteus spp (6 %) and Pseudomonas spp (5 %) comprised the major gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria mainly included Staphylococcus spp (13 %), Streptococcus spp (8 %) and Enterococcus spp (7 %). The distribution of pathogens in PLA patients were different in different economic regions in China. The proportion of Klebsiella spp had an upward tendency in recent years compared to other pathogens. In addition, the proportion of common pathogens in PLA patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were carried out indicating that the dominant pathogens were Klebsiella spp (66 %), Escherichia spp (21 %) and Enterobacter spp (11 %). This meta-analysis showed that the main pathogens of PLA were Klebsiella spp, Escherichia spp, Staphylococcus spp, and Enterobacter spp in China. To ensure a precise estimate of the epidemiology of the pathogens, further large-scale or even a population-based study is needed.

Validation of associations between ESR1 variants and breast cancer risk in Chinese cohorts.

Estrogen receptor-a (ER) protein plays a key role in breast carcinogenesis, and common genetic variants in the corresponding gene locus have been associated with breast cancer risk in different populations. Here, we analyzed estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) associations in two hospital-based studies of patients from the south of China. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs3757318, rs2046210, and rs3734805) in ESR1 were selected from previous genome-wide association study results and were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY® iPLEX System in 845 breast cancer patients and 882 healthy controls. Association analysis based on unconditional logistic regression was carried out to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for each SNP. Stratified analyses according to the status of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) were also performed. Of the three SNPs, rs3757318 did not pass the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test and was excluded from the subsequent analysis. The other two SNPs (rs2046210 and rs3734805) were strongly associated with susceptibility to breast cancer. Allele T of rs2046210 and allele C of rs3734805 were risk alleles and the adjusted ORs were 1.348 (95%CI = 1.172-1.550, P = 0.0001) and 1.319 (95%CI = 1.144-1.522, P = 0.0001), respectively. Furthermore, the risk allele of rs2046210 gave negative results for ER and PR expression in an immunohistochemical test, with ORs of 0.602 (95%CI = 0.384-0.944, P = 0.027) and 0.532 (95%CI = 0.338-0.837, P = 0.006), respectively. Our study further supports associations between rs2046210 and rs3734805 and breast cancer risk in Chinese women.

Improving diet recipe and cooking methods attenuates hyperphosphatemia in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hyperphosphatemia is an independent predictor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary intervention on reducing serum phosphate concentration in hyperphosphatemic PD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this single-center clinical trial, 97 prevalent PD patients with serum phosphate concentration ≥ 1.6 mmol/l were allocated to the intervention (n = 48) or control (n = 49) group and followed up for 1 year. In addition to phosphate binder (calcium carbonate) therapy, patients in the intervention group were intensively educated to reduce phosphate-rich food intake and improve cooking methods. While stable in the control group (1.97 ± 0.20 to 1.94 ± 0.35 mmol/l, p > 0.05), the serum phosphate concentration decreased significantly in the intervention group (1.98 ± 0.28 to 1.65 ± 0.33 mmol/l, p = 0.015) concurrently with the drop in dietary phosphate intake (13.03 ± 3.39 to 10.82 ± 3.00 mg/kg ideal body weight/day, p = 0.001). Moreover, after 6 months of intervention, fewer patients needed to use calcium carbonate (from 64.6% to 41.5%, p = 0.029) and the medicine dose reduced significantly (from 2.25 (0, 3.94) to 0 (0, 1.50) g/day, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that intensive dietary intervention of reducing phosphate-rich food intake and improving cooking methods attenuated hyperphosphatemia in PD patients. It suggests that regular assessment of dietary phosphate intake and modification of diet recipe and cooking methods are essential for hyperphosphatemia treatment in PD patients in addition to phosphate binder therapy.

Short Communication: Genetic linkage map of Cucurbita maxima with molecular and morphological markers.

Cucurbita maxima is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables in China and exhibits distinct morphological characteristics. In this study, genetic linkage analysis with 57 simple-sequence repeats, 21 amplified fragment length polymorphisms, 3 random-amplified polymorphic DNA, and one morphological marker revealed 20 genetic linkage groups of C. maxima covering a genetic distance of 991.5 cM with an average of 12.1 cM between adjacent markers. Genetic linkage analysis identified the simple-sequence repeat marker 'PU078072' 5.9 cM away from the locus 'Rc', which controls rind color. The genetic map in the present study will be useful for better mapping, tagging, and cloning of quantitative trait loci/gene(s) affecting economically important traits and for breeding new varieties of C. maxima through marker-assisted selection.

Associations between INSR and MTOR polymorphisms in type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy in a Northeast Chinese Han population.

We explored the associations of INSR and mTOR, 2 key genes in the insulin signaling pathway, and the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1799817, rs1051690, and rs2059806) in INSR and 3 SNPs (rs7211818, rs7212142, and rs9674559) in mTOR were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform in 89 type 2 diabetes patients without diabetic nephropathy, 134 type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic nephropathy, and 120 healthy control subjects. Statistical analysis based on unconditional logistic regression was carried out to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for each SNP. Combination analyses between rs2059806 and rs7212142 were also performed using the X(2) test and logistic regression. Among these 6 SNPs, 4 (rs1799817, rs1051690, rs7211818, and rs9674559) showed no association with type 2 diabetes mellitus or diabetic nephropathy. However, rs2059806 in INSR was associated with both type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.033) and type 2 diabetic nephropathy (P = 0.018). The rs7212142 polymorphism in mTOR was associated with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (P = 0.010, OR = 0.501, 95%CI = 0.288- 0.871), but showed no relationship with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Combination analysis revealed that rs2059806 and rs7212142 had a combined effect on susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. Our results suggest that both INSR and mTOR play a role in the predisposition of the Han Chinese population to type 2 diabetic nephropathy, but the genetic predisposition may show some differences.

Quantitative trait locus analysis of grape weight and soluble solid content.

A grapevine hybrid population was derived from a crossing of the early-maturing female parent cultivar '87-1' and the late-maturing male parent cultivar '9-22'. A total of 149 plants were selected from the hybrid population as the mapping population, and after sequence-related amplified polymorphism and simple-sequence repeat marker analysis were conducted we constructed molecular genetic maps of the parents. The molecular linkage map of '87-1' had 19 linkage groups that contained 188 markers, with an average interval of 5.7 cM and a total distance of 1074.5 cM; the '9-22' map had 19 linkage groups that contained 175 markers, with an average interval of 7.8 cM and a total distance of 1100.2 cM. The molecular linkage map of both parents had 19 linkage groups that contained 251 markers, with an average interval of 5.0 cM and a total distance of 1264.2 cM. We used the interval mapping method to conduct a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of grape weight and soluble solid content of the mapping population. Six QTLs were related to grape weight, and the average contribution to the phenotypic variance was between 11.3 and 33.0%. Seven QTLs were related to soluble solid content, and the average contribution to the phenotypic variance was between 15.7 and 55.8%.

A linewidth-narrowed and frequency-stabilized dye laser for application in laser cooling of molecules.

We demonstrate a robust and versatile solution for locking the continuous-wave dye laser for applications in laser cooling of molecules which need linewidth-narrowed and frequency-stabilized lasers. The dye laser is first stabilized with respect to a reference cavity by Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique which results in a single frequency with the linewidth 200 kHz and short-term stabilization, by stabilizing the length of the reference cavity to a stabilized helium-neon laser we simultaneously transfer the ± 2 MHz absolute frequency stability of the helium-neon laser to the dye laser with long-term stabilization. This allows the dye laser to be frequency chirped with the maximum 60 GHz scan range while its frequency remains locked. It also offers the advantages of locking at arbitrary dye laser frequencies, having a larger locking capture range and frequency scanning range to be implemented via software. This laser has been developed for the purpose of laser cooling a molecular magnesium fluoride beam.

Association analysis of colorectal cancer susceptibility variants with gastric cancer in a Chinese Han population.

Evidence suggests that some genetic variants are risk factors for both colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC). Thus, we selected 12 reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome-wide association studies of CRC and conducted this case-control study to assess the associations between these SNPs and the risk for GC in a southern Chinese population. All SNPs were genotyped in 249 individuals with GC and 292 healthy population-matched subjects using the Sequenom MassArray iPLEX System. Association analyses based on the c2 test and binary logistic regression were performed to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for each SNP. A stratified analysis by gender was also performed. Borderline significant associations were observed for rs4444235 (P = 0.070) and rs10411210 (P = 0.084), both fitting the overdominant model. The rs4444235 CT genotype showed a protective effect (OR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.50-1.03), while the rs10411210 CT genotype was a risk factor (OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 0.96-2.05) as compared with the CC+TT genotype. In the female subgroup, the rs6983267 GT genotype (compared with TT, OR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.07-4.99) and the rs10505477 CT genotype (compared with TT, OR = 2.36, 95%CI = 1.09-5.11) significantly increased the risk for GC. No significant association was detected for the other SNPs. These results provide evidence that known genetic variants associated with CRC risk may also confer risk for GC.

Cell-penetrating peptide delivery of biologically active oct4 protein into cultured Takifugu rubripes spermary cells.

Continuous cell culture of a puffer fish Takifugu rubripes has been established for efficient delivery of exogenous genes or proteins to cultured fish cells. Transcription factor oct4 was chosen for transduction into cultured fish cells because of its conserved structure and function between fish and mammals. In this work, the T. rubripes oct4 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombinant protein by introducing cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) poly-arginine (11R) and 6His-tag at the C-terminus. After purification, recombinant proteins were added to the growth medium and incubated with T. rubripes spermary cells. Recombinant proteins that crossed the cell membrane were detected in the cytoplasm and nucleus by western blot and immunofluorescent observation. The function of transduced oct4 as a transcription factor in fish cells was confirmed by driving green fluorescent protein expression in the pEGFP-1 reporter construct with the conserved specific oct4-binding sequence from mouse Mus musculus. Taken together, 11R can be an efficient CPP in delivering fusion proteins to cultured fish cells.

[Brief introduction on compilation and editions of Yang ke xuan cui].

Yang ke xuan cui («¼) is a surgical work compiled by Chen Wenzhi () of the Ming Dynasty. There are few of research on the completion and author of the book. Based on the evidences in the local chronicles, the prefaces and postscripts of the book, it has been verified that the book was originally completed no later than 1591, and Chen Wenzhi passed away no later than 1623. After investigating the 6 editions collected by 8 institutions, a collection of 11 books in total, by comparing the characteristics and circulation relationship of each edition, two systems of circulation were sorted out: block-printed edition of Xu Xi () and review edition of Xu Dachun ().

Genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in a Han Chinese population.

A genome-wide study has shown an association between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma. Such associations have been identified in several populations, but little is known about the Han Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study in a Han Chinese population to investigate the relationship between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma; 241 asthmatic patients and 212 healthy controls were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Province, southern China. We genotyped six SNPs (rs8067378, rs8069176, rs2305480, rs4795400, rs12603332, and rs11650680) located on 17q21 with the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform. For two of these six loci (rs2305480 and rs8067378), there was evidence of association with asthma, and there was a weak association of asthma with rs8069176. We confirm that genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in the Han Chinese population.