Redescription of a Hymenostome Ciliate, Tetrahymena setosa (Protozoa, Ciliophora) Notes on its Molecular Phylogeny.

In recent years, Tetrahymena species have been used as model organisms for research in a wide range of fields, highlighting the need for a fuller understanding of the taxonomy of this group. It is in this context that this paper uses living observation and silver staining methods to investigate the morphology and infraciliature of one Tetrahymena species, T. setosa (Schewiakoff 1892 Verh. Naturh. Med. Ver. Heidelb., 4:544) McCoy (1975) Acta Protozool., 14:253; the senior subjective synonym of T. setifera Holz and Corliss (1956) J. Protozool., 3:112; isolated from a freshwater pond in Harbin, north-eastern China. This organism can be distinguished from other described Tetrahymena species mainly by its single caudal cilium, which is about twice the length of the somatic ciliature. While the Harbin isolate appears similar to the population described by Holz and Corliss (1956) J. Protozool., 3:112, an improved diagnosis for T. setosa is given based on the previous descriptions and the Harbin population. In summary, this species can be recognized mainly by the combination of the following characters: body in vivo approximately 40 µm × 25 µm, 21-26 somatic kineties, one to four contractile vacuole pores associated with meridians 6-11 and a single caudal cilium. The small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA gene and the cox1 gene sequences of Harbin population are also characterized in order to corroborate that the isolated species branches in phylogenetic trees as a T. setosa species. The phylogenetic analysis also indicated that sequences of populations of Tetrahymena species should be published with detailed morphological identifications.

Global Trends in Research of Gouty Arthritis Over Past Decade: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Gouty arthritis (GA), as a multifactorial disease, is characterised by intense pain, active inflammation symptoms, and swollen joints. It has utterly complex pathogenesis, of which the amount of research publications on GA has increased during the last few decades. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to investigate the trends, frontiers, and hot spots in global scientific output in GA research over the last decade. We retrieved the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for publications and recorded information published from 2012 to 2021. we carried out the bibliometric analysis and visualisation analysis of the overall distribution of annual outputs, leading countries, active institutions, journals, authors, co-cited references, and keywords with the VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The impact and quality of papers were assessed using a global citation score (GCS). We retrieved 2052 articles and reviews in total. The annual number of publications (Np) related to GA research has increased during the latest decade. China published the most papers, and the USA achieved the highest H-index and number of citations (Nc). The League of European Research Universities (LERU) and Clinical Rheumatology (Clin Rheumatol) are the most productive institutions and periodicals. The total GCS of the paper written by Kottgen, A. in 2013 was 479, ranking the first. The most common keywords were "Gout," "hyperuricemia," and "gouty arthritis." This research revealed that though there was a slight fluctuation in publications related to GA, the Np raised on the whole. China was an enormous creator, and the USA was an influential nation in this domain. The top three contributor authors were Dalbeth, N., Singh, JA., and Choi, HK. There were few investigations on the treatment of GA by Chinese medicine monomer, and the "mechanism," "pathway", "nf- kappa-b", "injury", "receptor", and "animal model" were growing research hotspots. Our research illustrated the hotspots of research and development trends in the research field of GA during the last decade. Recognition of the most critical indicators (researchers, countries, institutes, and journals for the release of GA research), hotspots in the research field of GA can be helpful for countries, scholars, and policymakers in this field to understand GA better make decisions.

[The first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with lateral toe rotation Weil osteotomy for hallux valgus with severe metatarsal adduction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effect of the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with lateral toe rotation Weil osteotomy in treating hallux valgus with severe metatarsal adduction. METHODS: From March 2017 to August 2021, 37 patients ( 69 feet ) with severe plantar adductor hallux valgus were treated with the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with rotational Weil osteotomy were retrospectively analyzed, including 8 males(11 feet) and 29 females (58 feet), aged from 67 to 83 years old with an average of (70.03±2.87) years old;3 cases on the left side, 2 cases on the right side and 32 cases on both sides. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate degree of pain relief before operation, 6 weeks after operation and at the final follow-up. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery (AOFAS) forefoot score was used to evaluate function of the affected foot before operation and final follow-up. Hallux valgus angle(HVA) and intermetatarsal angle(IMA) were measured before operation and at the final follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients(69 feet) were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of(22.8±0.6) months. Bone healing was achieved at the first metatarsophalangeal joint from 7 to 10 weeks with an average of (8.00±1.21) weeks after operation, without delay and nonunion. HVA was increased from (44.30±2.84)° before operation to (15.20±2.13) °at the final follow-up, and had statistical difference(t=65.781, P<0.05);while no difference in IMA before and after operation(P>0.05). VAS was decreased from (6.73±1.48) points to (2.78±0.71) points at 6 months after operation(t=3.279, P<0.05), and had difference compared with the latest follow-up(1.16±1.12)(t=4.859, P<0.05). AOFAS forefoot score increased from (52.14±5.78) preoperatively to (86.70±4.86) at the fonal follow-up, and 25 feet got excellent results, 40 feet good and 4 feet fair. CONCLUSION: The first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with lateral toe rotation Weil osteotomy in treating severe plantar adduction hallux valgus could significantly relieve pain and appearance of forefoot, stabilize the first sequence, and significantly improve walking function.

Worldwide Research Trends on Diabetic Foot Ulcers (2004-2020): Suggestions for Researchers.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the devastating complications of diabetes. It has high mortality and disability rates. The number of research articles on DFUs has increased. This study was designed to explore the global trends and research hotspots of DFUs to benefit researchers in shaping future research directions. METHODS: Literatures relating to DFU from 2004 to 2020 were retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-expanded) of Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The current status of DFU research (including publications, journals, the performances of relevant countries, institutions, and authors and the research trends and hotspots of DFU) was analyzed with the WoSCC. VOSviewer v1.6.10.0 was utilised for cocitation, coauthorship, cooccurrence analyses, and bibliographic coupling. RESULTS: A total of 5869 publications on DFUs were retrieved. We performed a longitudinal review of publications over 17 years: 4500 articles and 865 review articles on DFUs published from 2004 to 2020 were analyzed. The total citation was 107,296. The USA (n = 1866), England (n = 606), and China (n = 599) were the three largest contributors. The University of Washington had the greatest number of publications within this time period (n = 103), and it had the most cooperative units and was in the core position in all research institutions, followed by the University of Manchester (n = 94) and the University of Miami (n = 92). Armstrong DG (91/1.69%) and Lavery LA (55/1.19%) should be regarded as scholars who have made outstanding contributions. The top journal with the greatest total link strength was Diabetes Care. Analysis showed that the global research hotspots of DFU focused on lower limb amputation, diabetic foot infection, and treatment and management of DFU. Studies on osteomyelitis, wound therapy and management, multidisciplinary integration and mechanism of DFUs, and its related diseases are the research fronts that should be closely watched in the future. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the current research status and hotspots in the domain of DFU over the past 17 years, which can help researchers to further pinpoint potential perspectives on hot topics and research frontiers.

Combined metabolomics and network pharmacology to elucidate the mechanisms of Dracorhodin Perchlorate in treating diabetic foot ulcer rats.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a severe chronic complication of diabetes, that can result in disability or death. Dracorhodin Perchlorate (DP) is effective for treating DFU, but the potential mechanisms need to be investigated. We aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the acceleration of wound healing in DFU by the topical application of DP through the combination of metabolomics and network pharmacology. Methods: A DFU rat model was established, and the rate of ulcer wound healing was assessed. Different metabolites were found in the skin tissues of each group, and MetaboAnalyst was performed to analyse metabolic pathways. The candidate targets of DP in the treatment of DFU were screened using network pharmacology. Cytoscape was applied to construct an integrated network of metabolomics and network pharmacology. Moreover, the obtained hub targets were validated using molecular docking. After the topical application of DP, blood glucose, the rate of wound healing and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed. Results: The levels of IL-1, hs-CRP and TNF-α of the Adm group were significantly downregulated. A total of 114 metabolites were identified. These could be important to the therapeutic effects of DP in the treatment of DFU. Based on the network pharmacology, seven hub genes were found, which were partially consistent with the metabolomics results. We focused on four hub targets by further integrated analysis, namely, PAH, GSTM1, DHFR and CAT, and the crucial metabolites and pathways. Molecular docking results demonstrated that DP was well combined with the hub targets. Conclusion: Our research based on metabolomics and network pharmacology demonstrated that DP improves wound healing in DFU through multiple targets and pathways, and it can potentially be used for DFU treatment.

Advances in Experimental and Clinical Research of the Gouty Arthritis Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a multifactorial disease whose pathogenesis is utterly complex, and the current clinical treatment methods cannot wholly prevent GA development. Western medicine is the primary treatment strategy for gouty arthritis, but it owns an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of GA are essential. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been adopted for GA prevention and treatment for thousands of years. Gout patients are usually treated with TCM according to their different conditions, and long-term results can be achieved by improving their physical condition. And TCM has been proved to be an effective method to treat gout in modern China. Nevertheless, the pharmacological mechanism of TCM for gout is still unclear, which limits its spread. The theory of prevention and treatment of gout with TCM is more well acknowledged in China than in abroad. In this article, Chinese herbs and ancient formula for gout were summarized first. A total of more than 570 studies published from 2004 to June 2021 in PubMed, Medline, CNKI, VIP, Web of Science databases and Chinese Pharmacopoeia and traditional Chinese books were searched; the current status of TCM in the treatment of GA was summarized from the following aspects: articular chondrocyte apoptosis inhibition, antioxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine levels regulation, uric acid excretion promotion, immune function regulation, uric acid reduction, and intestinal flora improvement in subjects with gout. The literature review concluded that TCM has a specific curative effect on the prevention and treatment of GA, particularly when combined with modern medical approaches. However, lacking a uniform definition of GA syndrome differentiation and the support of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice have provoked considerable concern in previous studies, which needs to be addressed in future research.

Needle knife therapy plus sodium hyaluronate injection for knee osteoarthritis: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a worldwide disease and more and more people are suffered from it. With the increasing number of patients, it brings a huge burden on social economy and security system. There are varieties of methods to cure KOA, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and surgery. Needle knife therapy plus Sodium hyaluronate Injection is one of the prevalent treatments for KOA. Therefore, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence for the treatment of needle knife therapy plus sodium hyaluronate Injection. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials will be used to compare the effect of needle knife therapy plus sodium hyaluronate injection with needle knife alone for KOA patients. Six studies will be included in this meta-analysis, and the relative risk and weight mean difference with 95% CI for the Lysholm knee score, visual analogue scale, and effective rate will be evaluated by using RevMan 5.3 software. Besides, the bias assessment of the included studies will be evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment Development, and Evaluation system will be applied to assess the overall quality of the evidence. RESULTS: From the study we will assess the effectiveness, safety of needle knife therapy plus sodium hyaluronate injection on joint pain relief and functional improvement in patients with KOA. CONCLUSION: The study will provide a new evidence to confirm the effect of needle knife therapy plus sodium hyaluronate injection on KOA, which can further guide the selection of therapy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020169602.

Acupuncture for the treatment of ankle sprain: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in our daily life, which may lead to chronic ankle instability, reducing the quality of patients' life and imposing a heavy burden on social medical security system. There are many kinds of methods treating ankle sprain, which can be divided into the conservative treatments and surgical intervention. Acupuncture is one of the conservative treatments for ankle sprain, especially in China. Therefore, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence for acupuncture's effectiveness, safety and cost benefits for the treatment. METHODS: For the acquisition of required data of eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), literature search will be undertaken from the following database: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, and Wanfang database. Quality assessment of the included studies will be independently performed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool by 2 investigators and the level of evidence for results will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method. Statistical analysis will be conducted with Revman 5.3. RESULTS: From the study we will assess the effectiveness, safety and cost benefit of acupuncture on pain relief and functional improvement in patients with ankle sprain. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to ensure the effectiveness, safety and cost benefits of acupuncture on ankle sprain, which can further guide the selection of appropriate interventions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018116829.

[Lapidus operation combined with bone setting manipulation in treatment of hallux valgus in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of Lapidus operation combined with bone setting manipulation of traditional Chinese medicine in treating hallux valgus in elderly patients. METHODS: From March 2013 to October 2017, 53 elderly patients (87 feet) with hallux valgus were treated with Lapidus operation combined with bone-setting manipulation of traditional Chinese medicine, including 12 males (18 feet) and 41 females (69 feet), ranging in age from 65 to 92 years old, with an average of (76.3±4.8) years old. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate the degree of relief of foot pain before and 26 months after operation. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) was used to evaluate the function of foot pain. The changes of hallux valgus angle(HVA angle), interphalangeal angle (IMA angle) and metatarsal wedge angle(MCA angle) were compared on X-ray films. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 42 months, with an average of(26.0±2.7) months. In all patients, the first metatarsal joint reached bone fusion within 6 to 8 months, with an average of 4.7 months. The preoperative VAS score was 8.06±1.44, which was significantly different from 2.14±1.98 at 26 months(P<0.05). The preoperative AOFAS score was 53.90±7.89, which was significantly different from 92.80±2.78 at 26 months(P<0.05). The HVA, IMA and MCA were significantly improved from preoperative(38.60±2.72)°, (21.90±1.91)° and(20.90±2.20)° to the latest follow-up(17.80±1.94)°, (9.70±2.56)° and(11.70±0.48)°(P<0.05). According AOFAS score, 74 feet got an excellent result, 11 good and 2 fair. CONCLUSIONS: Lapidus operation combined with bone-setting manipulation of traditional Chinese medicine on the treatment of hallux valgus foot in elderly patients has satisfactory clinical effects, shortens the time of osteotomy and fixation, protects the soft tissue around the osteotomy end and promotes the bone fusion on the most satisfactory position.