A sarcopenia screening test predicts mortality among hospitalized cancer patients.

This study investigated the ability of a sarcopenia screening test to predict mortality among cancer inpatients. We conducted a prospective study of patients admitted to the oncology ward of a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Over a 5-month period, 82 patients were enrolled for evaluation and were followed for 3 years. All participants received a comprehensive assessment at the time of admission, including Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, cognitive ability, nutrition index, body mass index, and short physical performance battery (SPPB). Age, ECOG performance status, dementia, SPPB score, and albumin level were associated with sarcopenia. Of the enrolled participants, 53 (64.6%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia were associated with worse overall survival (OS) than patients without sarcopenia (28.8% vs. 82%, p = 0.01). Metastasis (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.166; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.358-19.656) and albumin level (HR: 4.346; 95% CI: 1.493-12.654) were independent and significant predictors of OS for the whole study population. Age was a predictor of 2-year all-cause mortality among patients aged ≥65 years but not among those aged <65 years (OS: 25.6% vs. 100%, p = 0.04). To summarize, the sarcopenia screening results were found to predict OS and all-cause mortality and may be helpful for patient stratification during in-hospital care.

White-light activatable organic NIR-II luminescence nanomaterials for imaging-guided surgery.

While second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging is a promising tool for real-time surveillance of surgical operations, the previously reported organic NIR-II luminescent materials for in vivo imaging are predominantly activated by expensive lasers or X-ray with high power and poor illumination homogeneity, which significantly limits their clinical applications. Here we report a white-light activatable NIR-II organic imaging agent by taking advantages of the strong intramolecular/intermolecular D-A interactions of conjugated Y6CT molecules in nanoparticles (Y6CT-NPs), with the brightness of as high as 13315.1, which is over two times that of the brightest laser-activated NIR-II organic contrast agents reported thus far. Upon white-light activation, Y6CT-NPs can achieve not only in vivo imaging of hepatic ischemia reperfusion, but also real-time monitoring of kidney transplantation surgery. During the surgery, identification of the renal vasculature, post-reconstruction assessment of renal allograft vascular integrity, and blood supply analysis of the ureter can be vividly depicted by using Y6CT-NPs with high signal-to-noise ratios upon clinical laparoscopic LED white-light activation. Our work provides efficient molecular design guidelines towards white-light activatable imaging agent and highlights an opportunity for precision imaging theranostics.

Sarcopenia and survival in colorectal cancer without distant metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Despite prior attempts to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia on survival among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the results of these studies have not been consistent. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between sarcopenia and survival among patients having CRC without distant metastasis by aggregating multiple studies. METHODS: We performed a literature search using computerized databases and identified additional studies from among the bibliographies of retrieved articles. The quality of each study was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and meta-analyses were performed to evaluate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Thirteen studies with up to 6600 participants were included in the meta-analyses, with a mean age of 63.6 years (range: 18-93 years). We found that preoperative sarcopenia was associated with worse OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-1.88) and worse DFS (HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.10-2.24). Compared with patients without sarcopenia after tumor resection, those with postoperative sarcopenia had worse OS (HR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.47-2.10) and DFS (HR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.46-2.20). CONCLUSION: These meta-analyses suggest that sarcopenia, no matter observed before or after tumor resection, is associated with worse OS and DFS in patients with CRC who have no distant metastasis.

Spiky tubular nanoparticles with low protein corona can realize efficient and non-destructive penetration through endothelial barrier.

Upon intravascular applications, i.e., cancer treatment, nanoparticles (NPs) are required to deliver through blood circulation, sustain serum protein interactions, before they penetrate the blood vessels and reach targeted sites for payload drug release. For a delivery process as such, it is elusive and difficult to comprehend the morphological change of NP surface and evaluate associated effects on its targeted delivery. Herein, we used silica NPs with different surface modifications to demonstrate the morphological impact of NPs during the application of the NP-blood protein interaction, vascular endothelial cell penetration, subsequent targeted delivery and photodynamic therapy efficacy, and pursue high drug-load NPs with surface designs. Compared to solid and mesoporous NPs, we found the spiky tubular NPs reserved the NPs' antifouling properties (or shedding of "protein corona"), promoted better endothelial penetration and less destruction in vitro and in vivo. Such effects could be attributed to their spiky surface structures, which can limit the NP-protein interaction area and promote the NP-protein steric hindrance. Further in molecular simulations, we determined that the spiky tubular morphological modification on NPs enhanced the interaction free energy and lowered the amino acids number and the subsequent frequency in contacting with VE-cadherin of vascular endothelia. As a result, the spiky tubular NPs demonstrated its advantages in mitigating damages to VE-cadherin stability and endothelial cell integrity. Exploiting such spiky tubular surface modification, we can improve the NP delivery efficiency and prohibit the leakiness of vascular endothelia, helping address challenges faced by tumor migration in nanomedicine applications for cancer therapy.

Experiences and preferences of truth-telling in families of children with cancer: A phenomenological study.

Objective: The delivery of bad news is an unpleasant but necessary medical procedure. However, few studies have addressed the experiences and preferences of the families of school-aged children with cancer when they are informed of the children's condition. This study aimed to explore families of school-age children with cancer for their preferences and experiences of truth-telling. Methods: This descriptive phenomenological qualitative research was conducted using focus group interviews and semistructured interview guidelines were adopted for in-depth interviews. Fifteen families participated in the study. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi's analysis. Data were collected from August 2019 to May 2020. Results: The study identified two major themes: "caught in a dilemma" and "kind and comprehensive team support." The first major theme focused on families' experiences with cancer truth-telling. Three sub-themes emerged: (1) cultural aspects of cancer disclosure, (2) decision-making regarding informing pediatric patients about their illness, and (3) content of disclosure after weighing the pros and cons. The second major theme, which revealed families' preferences for delivering bad news, was classified into three sub-themes: (1) have integrity, (2) be realistic, and (3) be supportive. Conclusions: This study underscores the dilemma encountered by the families of children with cancer after disclosure and their inclination toward receiving comprehensive information and continuous support. Health care personnel must improve their truth-telling ability in order to better address the needs of such families and to provide continuous support throughout the truth-telling process.

Berberine alleviates ovarian tissue damage in mice with hepatolenticular degeneration by suppressing ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) is an autosomal recessive disorder that manifests as multiorgan damage due to impaired copper (Cu) metabolism. Female patients with HLD often experience reproductive impairments. This study investigated the protective effect of berberine against ovarian damage in toxic-milk (TX) mice, a murine model for HLD. METHODS: Mice were categorized into control group, HLD TX group (HLD group), penicillamine (Cu chelator)-treated TX group and berberine-treated TX group. Body weight, ovary weight and the number of ovulated eggs were recorded. Follicular morphology and cellular ultrastructure were examined. Total iron, ferrous iron (Fe2+) and trivalent iron (Fe3+) levels, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), were measured in the ovaries. Western blot analysis was used to analyze the expression of proteins related to ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. RESULTS: Ovarian tissue damage was evident in the HLD group, with a significant increase in ferroptosis and ER stress compared to the control group. This damage was inhibited by treatment with penicillamine, a Cu chelator. Compared with the HLD group, berberine increased the number of ovulations, and improved ovarian morphology and ultrastructure. Further, we found that berberine reduced total iron, Fe2+, MDA and GSSG levels, elevated GSH levels, decreased the expression of the ferroptosis marker protein prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and increased glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression. Furthermore, berberine inhibited the expression of ER stress-associated proteins mediated by the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) pathway. CONCLUSION: Ferroptosis and ER stress are involved in Cu-induced ovarian damage in TX mice. Berberine ameliorates ovarian damage in HLD TX mice by inhibiting ferroptosis and ER stress. Please cite this article as: Liu QZ, Han H, Fang XR, Wang LY, Zhao D, Yin MZ, Zhang N, Jiang PY, Ji ZH, Wu LM. Berberine alleviates ovarian tissue damage in mice with hepatolenticular degeneration by suppressing ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(4): 494-503.

Maillard Reaction Inspired Microexplosion toward Fast Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Mesoporous Tin Oxides for Efficient Chemiresistive Gas Sensing.

Two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous transition metal oxides are highly desired in various applications, but their fast and low-cost synthesis remains a great challenge. Herein, a Maillard reaction inspired microexplosion approach is applied to rapidly synthesize ultrathin 2D mesoporous tin oxide (mSnO2). During the microexplosion between granular ammonia nitrate with melanoidin at high temperature, the organic species can be carbonized and expanded rapidly due to the instantaneous release of gases, thus producing ultrathin carbonaceous templates with rich functional groups to effectively anchor SnO2 nanoparticles on the surface. The subsequent removal of carbonaceous templates via calcination in air results in the formation of 2D mSnO2 due to the confinement effect of the templates. Pd nanoparticles are controllably deposited on the surface of 2D mSnO2 via in situ reduction, forming ultrathin 2D Pd/mSnO2 nanocomposites with thicknesses of 6-8 nm. Owing to the unique 2D mesoporous structure with rich oxygen defects and highly exposed metal-metal oxide interfaces, 2D Pd/mSnO2 exhibits excellent sensing performance toward acetone with high sensitivity, a short response time, and good selectivity under low working temperature (100 °C). This fast and convenient microexplosion synthesis strategy opens up the possibility of constructing 2D porous functional materials for various applications including high-performance gas sensors.

The Negative Impacts of Sarcopenia on Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty under the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia, as an emerging public health concern, has been associated with postoperative adverse outcomes in various surgical procedures. However, the evidence regarding the impacts of sarcopenia on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remained limited. This study aimed to assess the impacts of sarcopenia on primary TKA based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. METHODS: This retrospective study included 291 patients who received unilateral TKA from October 2017 to May 2018 in our institution. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the algorithm of Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. The handgrip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer and the muscle mass was estimated by a previously validated anthropometric equation. Patients were classified into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group. The outcomes included complications, postoperative length of stay (LOS), total hospitalization cost, operative time, total estimated blood loss, blood transfusion rate, and the 12-item forgotten joint score (FJS-12) at the follow-up. The propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust confounding factors. We compared continuous variables using Student's t-test and the Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney U test for normal and non-normal distributions, respectively, and categorical variables with chi-square tests. RESULTS: Of the 291 patients, 58 (19.9%) patients were identified as having sarcopenia. After PSM, each group matched 42 patients. All matched patients were followed-up at least 5 years. Patients with sarcopenia had higher rates of surgical complications compared to the non-sarcopenia group (p = 0.019), and no significant difference was observed in 30-day readmission, and periprosthetic joint infection. The sarcopenia group had significantly longer LOS (p = 0.038), higher total hospitalization (p = 0.015) than the non-sarcopenia group. For the FJS-12 scores at follow-up, patients with sarcopenia had significantly higher scores than the non-sarcopenia group (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated sarcopenia may be a risk factor for postoperative complications, prolonged LOS, increased hospitalization cost and reduced patient satisfaction.

Regulated Dual Defects of Bridging Organic and Terminal Inorganic Ligands in Iron-based Metal-Organic Framework Nodes for Efficient Photocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis.

Engineering advantageous defects to construct well-defined active sites in catalysts is promising but challenging to achieve efficient photocatalytic NH3 synthesis from N2 and H2O due to the chemical inertness of N2 molecule. Here, we report defective Fe-based metal-organic framework (MOF) photocatalysts via a non-thermal plasma-assisted synthesis strategy, where their NH3 production capability is synergistically regulated by two types of defects, namely, bridging organic ligands and terminal inorganic ligands (OH- and H2O). Specially, the optimized MIL-100(Fe) catalysts, where there are only terminal inorganic ligand defects and coexistence of dual defects, exhibit the respective 1.7- and 7.7-fold activity enhancement comparable to the pristine catalyst under visible light irradiation. As revealed by experimental and theoretical calculation results, the dual defects in the catalyst induce the formation of abundant and highly accessible coordinatively unsaturated Fe active sites and synergistically optimize their geometric and electronic structures, which favors the injection of more d-orbital electrons in Fe sites into the N2 π* antibonding orbital to achieve N2 activation and the formation of a key intermediate *NNH in the reaction. This work provides a guidance on the rational design and accurate construction of porous catalysts with precise defective structures for high-performance activation of catalytic molecules.

Nano-induced endothelial leakiness-reversing nanoparticles for targeting, penetration and restoration of endothelial cell barrier.

Nano-induced endothelial leakiness (NanoEL) can improve the ability of nanoparticles (NPs) to enter the tumor environment, nevertheless, it can inadvertently trigger adverse effects such as tumor metastasis. To overcome these concerns, it becomes important to develop a NPs design strategy that capitalizes on the NanoEL effect while averting unwanted side effects during the drug delivery process. Herein, we introduce the PLGA-ICG-PEI-Ang1@M NP which has a core comprising poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and the inner shell with a highly positively charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) and the anti-permeability growth factor Angiopoietin 1 (Ang1), while the outer shell is camouflaged with a Jurkat cell membrane. During the drug delivery process, our NPs exhibit their capability to selectively target and penetrate endothelial cell layers. Once the NPs penetrate the endothelial layer, the proton sponge effect triggered by PEI in the acidic environment surrounding the tumor site can rupture the cell membrane on the NPs' surface. This rupture, in turn, enables the positively charged Ang1 to be released due to the electrostatic repulsion from PEI and the disrupted endothelial layer can be restored. Consequently, the designed NPs can penetrate endothelial layers, promote the cell layer recovery, restrict the tumor metastasis, and facilitate efficient cancer therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.

Assessing the Casual Association between Sex Hormone Levels and Fracture Risk: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

OBJECTIVE: Prior observational studies have reported that levels of sex hormones constitute a risk factor for the fracture. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there is a causal relationship between the levels of sex hormones and the risk of fracture through Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with two indicators of sex hormone levels, circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and bioavailable testosterone levels, as exposures were selected from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) from UK Biobank. The summary statistics for 11 different types of fracture as outcomes from the FinnGen consortium. This study employed the two-sample MR approach. For the main analysis, the inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method was utilized. To assess the heterogeneity of MR results, the IVW method and MR-Egger method were utilized. To evaluate potential pleiotropy, MR-Egger regression was conducted. Additionally, a leave-one-SNP-out test was performed to assess the robustness of MR results to the exclusion of any individual SNP. RESULTS: The MR analyses demonstrated a conspicuous impact of SHBG on the risk of pathological fracture with osteoporosis (OP). We found that an increase of one standard deviation (SD) in SHBG correspondingly increased the risk of pathological fracture with OP [odds ratio (OR) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.52-3.85; p = 1.93 × 10-4 ]. The bioavailable testosterone showed the negative casual genetic associations with fractures of foot and forearm. An increase of one SD in the genetically predetermined bioavailable testosterone was associated with a reduction of 37% in the risk of fracture of foot (OR 0.63, 95% Cl 0.49 to 0.81; p = 3.37 × 10-4 ), as well as a 39% decrease in the risk of fracture of forearm (OR 0.61, 95% Cl 0.50 to 0.76; p = 5.40 × 10-6 ). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that individuals experiencing elevated SHBG concentrations showed a major causal effect on pathological fracture with OP. High bioavailable testosterone levels play an important role in preventing the fractures of foot and forearm. Although increasing bioavailable testosterone and decreasing SHBG levels had no casual effect on most fractures in the general population, they are likely to have the most clinically relevant effect on certain fracture risk reduction.

The Genetic Causal Association between Educational Attainment and Risk of 12 Common Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization.

OBJECTIVE: In numerous observational studies, there has been an indication that educational attainment (EA) can impact the intensity of pain and disability resulting from chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Nonetheless, the association observed in these studies is not entirely conclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic causal relationship between educational attainment and 12 musculoskeletal disorders using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: The meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 3952 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with educational attainment (EA) from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium (SSGAC). Genetic data for 12 musculoskeletal disorders, including osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, low back pain, gout, spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, meniscus derangement, rotator cuff syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, cervicobrachial syndrome, and lateral epicondylitis, were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to examine the causal effect of EA on the risk of these musculoskeletal disorders using the TwoSampleMR package in R. RESULTS: Based on the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, we found that a genetically predicted per standard deviation (SD) increase in EA was inversely associated with low back pain [odds ratio (OR) 0.46, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.51-0.61, p < 0.001], spinal stenosis (OR 0.62, 95% Cl 0.54-0.71, p < 0.001), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 0.65, 95% Cl 0.55-0.76, p < 0.001), meniscus derangement (OR 0.73, 95% Cl 0.65-0.82, p < 0.001), rotator cuff syndrome (OR 0.55, 95% Cl 0.49-0.61, p < 0.001), cervicobrachial syndrome (OR 0.50, 95% Cl 0.42-0.60, p < 0.001), and lateral epicondylitis (OR 0.30, 95% Cl 0.24-0.37, p < 0.001). There was no causal association between EA and osteonecrosis (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.76-1.72, p = 0.60), osteoporosis (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.65-1.27, p = 0.59), or osteomyelitis (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.75-1.01, p = 0.22). Genetic predisposition to EA had a suggestive causal association with gout (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.95, p = 0.01) and ankylosing spondylitis (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.91, p = 0.01) after Bonferroni correction. None of the analyses revealed any horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: In our investigation, we have uncovered evidence supporting a causal relationship between low level of EA and the incidence of certain musculoskeletal disorders. In the future, it is imperative to ascertain risk factors such as lifestyle patterns linked with EA to uncover the underlying causal relationship and offer informed interventions for individuals.

Age as a modifier of the effects of sarcopenia on survival among colon cancer patients after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Studies have been conducted to evaluate whether sarcopenia is a predictor for survival in patients with colon cancer postsurgery, but findings have been inconsistent, and effects of age were seldom evaluated. METHODS: We recruited 133 patients with resectable colon cancer who underwent surgery between January 2014 and December 2017 at a teaching hospital to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia on survival, after adjusting for age and other potential predictors, including visceral adiposity (VA). RESULTS: Preoperative sarcopenia was associated with worse overall survival (OS: 62.3% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.04) and longer hospital stay (20.6 vs. 14.9 days, p < 0.01) while VA was not. Cox proportional hazards regressions showed that sarcopenia was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-7.86) after adjustment for other independent risk factors, but was not associated with disease free survival. In stratified analyses, we found that sarcopenia was an independent factor for worse OS (adjusted HR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.11-3.38) among patients >70 years, but not among patients ≤70 years (HR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.55-4.55). CONCLUSIONS: Age appeared to be a modifier of the effects of sarcopenia on OS among colon cancer patients postsurgery.

Construction of Magnetic Core-Large Mesoporous Satellite Immunosensor for Long-Lasting Chemiluminescence and Highly Sensitive Tumor Marker Determination.

Chemiluminescence immunoassay exhibits high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, thus attracting great attention in the early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of diseases. However, the collection of conventional flash-type chemiluminescence signal (<5 s) relies heavily on automatic sampling and reading instrument. Herein, a novel core-satellite multifunctional chemiluminescence immunosensor is designed for the efficient enrichment and highly sensitive determination of cancer biomarker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with enhanced and long-lasting output signal that can be conveniently recorded by a simple microplate plate reading instrument. Anti-CEA monoclonal antibody 2 (Ab2) modified Fe3 O4 @SiO2 microspheres (Fe3 O4 @SiO2 -Ab2, 370 nm in diameter) are synthesized as the core for selectively capturing and enriching target CEA in solution, and anti-human CEA monoclonal antibody 1 (Ab1) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) co-immobilized dendritic large-mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs-HRP/Ab1, 80 nm in diameter, pore size: 17 nm) are synthesized as the satellite for efficient immunological recognition and signal amplification. The as-designed core-satellite magnetic chemiluminescence immunosensors exhibit a broad linear range of 0.01-20 ng mL-1 and a low detection limit of 3.0 pg mL-1 for the convenient, highly specific, and sensitive determination of CEA in human serum. Such core-satellite chemiluminescence immunosensors are expected to act as a powerful tool for in vitro detection of various biomarkers, overcome the defect of conventional chemiluminescence relying heavily on expensive and bulky automatic instruments and popularize chemiluminescence analysis to primary medical institutions and remote areas.

Evolution of cytosolic and organellar invertases empowered the colonization and thriving of land plants.

The molecular innovation underpinning efficient carbon and energy metabolism during evolution of land plants remains largely unknown. Invertase-mediated sucrose cleavage into hexoses is central to fuel growth. Why some cytoplasmic invertases (CINs) function in the cytosol, whereas others operate in chloroplasts and mitochondria, is puzzling. We attempted to shed light on this question from an evolutionary perspective. Our analyses indicated that plant CINs originated from a putatively orthologous ancestral gene in cyanobacteria and formed the plastidic CIN (α1 clade) through endosymbiotic gene transfer, while its duplication in algae with a loss of its signal peptide produced the ß clade CINs in the cytosol. The mitochondrial CINs (α2) were derived from duplication of the plastidic CINs and coevolved with vascular plants. Importantly, the copy number of mitochondrial and plastidic CINs increased upon the emergence of seed plants, corresponding with the rise of respiratory, photosynthetic, and growth rates. The cytosolic CIN (ß subfamily) kept expanding from algae to gymnosperm, indicating its role in supporting the increase in carbon use efficiency during evolution. Affinity purification mass spectrometry identified a cohort of proteins interacting with α1 and 2 CINs, which points to their roles in plastid and mitochondrial glycolysis, oxidative stress tolerance, and the maintenance of subcellular sugar homeostasis. Collectively, the findings indicate evolutionary roles of α1 and α2 CINs in chloroplasts and mitochondria for achieving high photosynthetic and respiratory rates, respectively, which, together with the expanding of cytosolic CINs, likely underpin the colonization of land plants through fueling rapid growth and biomass production.

[Comparison of filling ratio, alignment, and stability between ABG â ¡ short-stem and Corail long-stem in total hip arthroplasty for Dorr type C femur].

Objective: Using the mono-energy reconstruction images and X-ray films to investigate whether the ABG Ⅱ short-stem could improve the filling ratio, stability, and alignment in the Dorr type C femur, compared with the Corail long-stem. Methods: Among patients who were with Dorr type C femurs and treated with total hip arthroplasty between January 2006 and March 2012, 20 patients with a Corail long-stem (Corail group) and 20 patients with an ABG Ⅱ short-stem (ABG Ⅱ group) were randomly selected. The differences in gender, age, body mass index, and preoperative diagnoses between the two groups were not significant ( P>0.05). The ABG Ⅱ group was with a mean follow-up of 142 months (range, 102-156 months), and the Corail group was with a mean follow-up of 107 months (range, 91-127 months). There was no significant difference in the Harris score and subjective satisfaction score between the two groups at last follow-up ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, dual-energy CT scans with mono-energy image reconstruction were used to calculate the prosthetic filling ratio and to measure the alignment of the prosthesis in the coronal and sagittal positions. Stability assessment was performed based on X-ray films, and the subsidence distance was measured using EBRA-FCA software. Results: X-ray film observation showed that the prostheses in the two groups were stable and no signs of loosening was found. The incidence of pedestal sign was significantly lower in the ABGⅡ group than in the Corail group ( P<0.05), and the incidence of heterotopic ossification was significantly higher in the ABGⅡ group than in the Corail group ( P<0.05). The subsidence distance of femoral stem in ABG Ⅱ group was significantly greater than that in Corail group ( P<0.05), and the subsidence speed of femoral stem in ABG Ⅱ group was also greater than that in Corail group, but the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The overall prosthesis filling ratio was significantly higher in the ABG Ⅱ group than in the Corail group ( P<0.05), while the coronal filling ratio at the lesser trochanter, 2 cm below the lesser trochanter, and 7 cm below the lesser trochanter were not significant ( P>0.05). The results of prosthesis alignment showed that there was no significant difference in the sagittal alignment error value and the incidence of coronal and sagittal alignment error >3° between the two groups ( P>0.05), while the coronal alignment error value in the ABG Ⅱ group was significantly greater than that in the Corail group ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Although the ABG Ⅱ short-stem avoids the distal-proximal mismatch of the Corail long-stem in the Dorr type C femur and thus achieves a higher filling ratio, it does not appear to achieve better alignment or stability.

[Research progress of optic atrophy 1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics in skeletal system diseases].

Objective: To review the research progress of mitochondrial dynamics mediated by optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) in skeletal system diseases. Methods: The literatures about OPA1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics in recent years were reviewed, and the bioactive ingredients and drugs for the treatment of skeletal system diseases were summarized, which provided a new idea for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Results: OPA1 is a key factor involved in mitochondrial dynamics and energetics and in maintaining the stability of the mitochondrial genome. Accumulating evidence indicates that OPA1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics plays an important role in the regulation of skeletal system diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and osteosarcoma. Conclusion: OPA1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics provides an important theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of skeletal system diseases.

[Research progress on the role of chondrocyte mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis].

Objective: To summarize the role of chondrocyte mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze its application prospects. Methods: The recent literature at home and abroad was reviewed to summarize the mechanism of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance, the relationship between mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance and the pathogenesis of OA, and the application prospect in the treatment of OA. Results: Recent studies have shown that mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance, which is caused by abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis, the imbalance of mitochondrial redox, the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and damaged mitochondrial autophagy of chondrocytes, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OA. Abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis can accelerate the catabolic reaction of OA chondrocytes and aggravate cartilage damage. The imbalance of mitochondrial redox can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit the synthesis of extracellular matrix, induce ferroptosis and eventually leads to cartilage degradation. The imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics can lead to mitochondrial DNA mutation, decreased adenosine triphosphate production, ROS accumulation, and accelerated apoptosis of chondrocytes. When mitochondrial autophagy is damaged, dysfunctional mitochondria cannot be cleared in time, leading to ROS accumulation, which leads to chondrocyte apoptosis. It has been found that substances such as puerarin, safflower yellow, and astaxanthin can inhibit the development of OA by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, which proves the potential to be used in the treatment of OA. Conclusion: The mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in chondrocytes is one of the most important pathogeneses of OA, and further exploration of the mechanisms of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of OA.

Safety of early cumulus cell removal combined with early rescue ICSI in the prevention of fertilization failure.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the clinical outcomes and safety implications of early cumulus cell removal after short-term insemination combined with early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in preventing fertilization failure? DESIGN: In this retrospective study, a total of 14,360 cycles were divided into four groups based on insemination method and fertilization ability: conventional IVF group (n = 5519); early cumulus cell removal group (n = 4107); conventional ICSI group (n = 4215); and early rescue ICSI group (where failed or low fertilization was predicted, n = 519). Fertilization outcomes, pregnancy outcomes, neonatal outcomes and birth defects were analysed by comparing the early cumulus cell removal group with the conventional IVF group, and the early rescue ICSI group with the conventional ICSI group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the outcomes of fertilization, pregnancy, neonates or birth defects between the conventional IVF group and the early cumulus cell removal group (P > 0.05). When compared with the conventional ICSI group, the early rescue ICSI group had similar rates of two pronuclei (2PN) at fertilization, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, live birth, sex, mean gestational age, very low birthweight, macrosomia and birth defects (P > 0.05) but a higher polyploidy rate, lower high-quality embryo rate (both P < 0.001), lower twin pregnancy rate (P < 0.01), lower rate of low birthweight, and a higher rate of normal birthweight (both P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Early cumulus cell removal combined with early rescue ICSI led to good pregnancy and neonatal outcomes without an increase in birth defects. This approach could therefore be an effective and safe method for patients with fertilization failure in conventional IVF.

The Interval of Two-Stage Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty under Enhanced Recovery Affects Perioperative Complications and Cost of Hospitalization: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols can improve the quality of healthcare and reduce hospitalization for patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). The interval of staged bilateral THA under ERAS is still unclear. We attempt to ascertain the optimal interval of staged bilateral THA for reducing the perioperative complications and the cost of hospitalization. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who received staged bilateral THA under ERAS performed at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2018 to 2021. The staged time was divided into two groups using four different cutoff points: (1) ≤3 months versus >3 months, (2) ≤4 months versus >4 months, (3) ≤5 months versus >5 months and (4) ≤6 months versus >6 months. Primary outcomes included the rate of perioperative complications and the cost of hospitalization. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay (LOS), the rates of transfusion and albumin (Alb) administration, hemoglobin (Hb) decrease and serum Alb decrease. The categorical variables were compared using chi-squared and/or two-tailed Fisher's exact tests, whereas continuous variables were compared using two-tailed independent t-tests, the continuous variables which were asymmetrical distributions used a Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: With the application of ERAS, the rate of perioperative complications in the >5 months group was significantly lower than that in the ≤5 months group (13/195 vs. 45/307, p < 0.05). Concerning the cost of hospitalization, the >5 monthly intervals spent significantly less than the ≤5 monthly intervals ($ 8695.91 vs. $ 8919.71, p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found for secondary outcomes such as the rate of transfusions and Alb administrations or decreases of Hb and Alb in the 5 months threshold. CONCLUSIONS: More than 5 months maybe a reasonable period to perform the first contralateral THA under ERAS regarding the rate of perioperative complications and the cost of hospitalization. However, more high-quality research will include a larger sample size in the future to validate the appropriate time of staged bilateral THA.