The Effect of the Hip Flexion Angle in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Based on China-Japan Friendship Hospital Classification - A Finite Element Study.

OBJECTIVE: The alteration in the mechanical environment of the necrotic area is the primary cause of the collapse observed in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aims to evaluate the biomechanical implications of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH) classification system and hip flexion angles on the necrotic area in ONFH using finite element analysis (FEA). The goal is to provide valuable guidance for hip preservation treatments and serve as a reference for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. METHODS: Hip tomography CT scan data from a healthy volunteer was used to create a 3D model of the left hip. The model was preprocessed and imported into Solidworks 2018, based on the CJFH classification. Material parameters and boundary conditions were applied to each fractal model in ANSYS 21.0. Von Mises stresses were calculated, and maximum deformation values were obtained to evaluate the biomechanical effects of the load on the necrotic area and post-necrotic femur, as well as assess each fractal model's collapse risk. RESULTS: (1) At the same hip flexion angle, maximum deformation followed this order: M Type < C Type < L Type. The L3 type necrotic area experienced the most significant deformation at 0, 60, and 110° angles (1.121, 1.7913, and 1.8239 mm respectively). (2) Under the same CJFH classification, maximum deformation values increased with hip flexion angle (0 < 60 < 110°), suggesting a higher risk of collapse at larger angles. (3) Von Mises stress results showed that the maximum stress was not located in the necrotic area but near the inner and outer edge of the femoral neck, indicating decreased stiffness and strength of the subchondral bone after osteonecrosis. CONCLUSION: The study found that femoral head collapse risk was higher when the necrotic area was located in the lateral column under the same stress load and flexion angle. Mechanical properties of the necrotic area changed, resulting in decreased bone strength and stiffness. Large-angle hip flexion is more likely to cause excessive deformation of the necrotic area; thus, ONFH patients should reduce or avoid large-angle hip flexion during weight-bearing training in rehabilitation activities.

Titanium oxide-based optoelectronic synapses with visual memory synergistically adjusted by internal emotions and ambient illumination.

Brain-inspired neuromorphic computing has become one of the critical technologies to overcome the bottleneck of von Neumann architecture. It is a vital step to construct a brain-like neuromorphic computing system at the hardware level by utilizing artificial synaptic devices. Compared with electronic synaptic devices, optoelectronic synaptic devices have the advantages of low power consumption, low crosstalk, and high bandwidth. Artificial optoelectronic synapses, analogous to retinal structure, can directly respond to and process light signal information to mimic the neuromorphic visual system. As high-level nerve impulses, both generated and regulated, emotions affect the strength and persistence of memory. Ambient illumination can provide visual perception to distinguish the size, color, and other characteristics of objects as well as affect the nonvisual functions of individuals, such as emotional states, thereby affecting learning and memory function. Herein, an artificial optoelectronic synapse composed of ITO/TiO2-x /p-Si was proposed. A variety of biologically dependent synaptic plasticity relating to learning and memory, including short-term synaptic plasticity, long-term synaptic plasticity, and learning-forgetting-relearning multifunctional advanced synaptic activity, was successfully simulated. A 3 × 3 artificial optoelectronic synapse array based on 9 devices was constructed to mimic the functions of visual learning and memory affected by internal emotion and ambient illumination. The proposed artificial optoelectronic synapse will exhibit great potential in visual and image information perception and memory.

Identification of potential autophagy-related genes in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification.

PURPOSE: Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a refractory orthopaedic hip joint disease that occurs in young- and middle-aged people. Previous experimental studies have shown that autophagy might be involved in the pathological process of SONFH, but the pathogenesis of autophagy in SONFH remains unclear. We aimed to identify and validate the key potential autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH to further illustrate the mechanism of autophagy in SONFH through bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: The GSE123568 mRNA expression profile dataset, including 10 non-SONFH (following steroid administration) samples and 30 SONFH samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Autophagy-related genes were obtained from the Human Autophagy Database (HADb). The autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were screened by intersecting the GSE123568 dataset with the set of autophagy genes. The differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were identified with R software. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were conducted by using R software. Then, the correlations between the expression levels of the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were confirmed with R software. Moreover, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was analysed by using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING), significant gene cluster modules were identified with the MCODE Cytoscape plugin, and hub genes among the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were screened by using the CytoHubba Cytoscape plugin. Finally, the expression levels of the hub genes of the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were validated in hip articular cartilage specimens from necrotic femur heads (NFHs) by using the GSE74089 dataset and further verification by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 34 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes were identified between the peripheral blood samples of SONFH patients and non-SONFH patients based on the defined criteria, including 25 upregulated genes and 9 downregulated genes. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these 34 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were particularly enriched in death domain receptors, the FOXO signalling pathway and apoptosis. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations among the 34 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH. The PPI results demonstrated that the 34 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes interacted with each other. Ten hub genes were identified by using the MCC algorithms of CytoHubba. The GSE74089 dataset showed that TNFSF10, PTEN and CFLAR were significantly upregulated while BCL2L1 was significantly downregulated in the hip cartilage specimens, which was consistent with the GSE123568 dataset. TNFSF10, PTEN and BCL2L1 were detected with consistent expression by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-four potential autophagy-related genes involved in SONFH were identified via bioinformatics analysis. TNFSF10, PTEN and BCL2L1 might serve as potential drug targets and biomarkers because they regulate autophagy. These results expand the autophagy-related understanding of SONFH and might be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of SONFH.

Investigation on the occurrence and contamination of multi-mycotoxin in chestnut and jujube (red date).

A rapid and efficient QuEChERS-based preparation method was established for the simultaneous determination of 43 mycotoxins in chestnut and jujube (Chinese date). The contaminants were extracted using acetonitrile and subjected to dispersive solid-phase extraction for further clean-up. Central composite design was conducted to overcome the limitations of conventional optimization methods, and assess the interaction effects between variables and reach the true optimal conditions. Quantitative analysis was performed on UHPLC-MS/MS with the aid of stable isotope internal standards and matrix-matched curves, whereas qualitative identification was carried out by using high-resolution MS based on exact masses and fragmentation patterns. In addition to the mycotoxins that are routinely monitored (like aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, etc.), this study also revealed a non-negligible contamination of zearalenone (56/170), beauvericin (52/170), enniatin B (43/170), and alternariol monomethyl ether (42/170) in chestnut and jujube, especially the chestnut flour.

Threshold-Tunable, Spike-Rate-Dependent Plasticity Originating from Interfacial Proton Gating for Pattern Learning and Memory.

Recently, neuromorphic devices have been receiving increasing interest in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Realization of fundamental synaptic plasticities on hard-ware devices would endow new intensions for neuromorphic devices. Spike-rate-dependent plasticity (SRDP) is one of the most important synaptic learning mechanisms in brain cognitive behaviors. It is thus interesting to mimic the SRDP behaviors on solid-state neuromorphic devices. In the present work, nanogranular phosphorus silicate glass (PSG)-based proton conductive electrolyte-gated oxide neuromorphic transistors have been proposed. The oxide neuromorphic transistors have good transistor performances and frequency-dependent synaptic plasticity behavior. Moreover, the neuromorphic transistor exhibits SRDP activities. Interestingly, by introducing priming synaptic stimuli, the modulation of threshold frequency value distinguishing synaptic potentiation from synaptic depression is realized for the first time on an electrolyte-gated neuromorphic transistor. Such a mechanism can be well understood with interfacial proton gating effects of the nanogranular PSG-based electrolyte. Furthermore, the effects of SRDP learning rules on pattern learning and memory behaviors have been conceptually demonstrated. The proposed neuromorphic transistors have potential applications in neuromorphic engineering.

Oxide Neuromorphic Transistors Gated by Polyvinyl Alcohol Solid Electrolytes with Ultralow Power Consumption.

Neuromorphic devices and systems with ultralow power consumption are important in building artificial intelligent systems. Here, indium tin oxide (ITO)-based oxide neuromorphic transistors are fabricated using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based proton-conducting electrolytes as gate dielectrics. The electrical performances of the transistors can be modulated with the ITO channel thickness. Fundamental synaptic functions, including excitatory postsynaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, and multistore memory, are successfully emulated. Most importantly, the PVA-gated neuromorphic devices demonstrate ultralow energy consumption of ∼1.16 fJ with ultrahigh sensitivity of ∼5.4 dB, as is very important for neuromorphic engineering applications. Because of the inherent environmental-friendly characteristics of PVA, the devices possess security biocompatibility. Thus, the proposed PVA-gated oxide neuromorphic transistors may find potential applications in "green" ultrasensitive neuromorphic systems and efficient electronic biological interfaces.

A new aromatic probe - The ring stretching vibration Raman spectroscopy frequency.

A new aromatic criterion is presented to determine the aromatic degree of the high symmetric molecules. Group theory is used to explain the correlation between the aromatic degree and the value of Ring Stretching Vibration Raman Spectroscopic Frequency (RSVRSF). The calculations of the geometrical optimization, nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) and values of the Raman Spectroscopy for the aromatic molecules-LnHn (L=C, Si, Ge, n=3, 5-8) were performed using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) Method, as well as the correlations between the values of their RSVRSF and NICS values by Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS17.0). There are high positive correlations between the theoretical calculated the NICS values and the value of the RSVRSF (A1g/A1') of the LnHn (L=C, Si, Ge, n=3, 5-8). The bigger the aromatic degree, the bigger the RSVRSF is. The value of the RSVRSF is a new probe of aromaticity. Expectedly, it is predicted that the experimental determination of the aromatic degree can be achieved by the determination of the ring stretching vibration (A1g/A1') Raman spectrum frequencies for the aromatic target molecules.

[Influences of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 genetic polymorphism on the effects of dietary intervention to the blood lipids abnormalities].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) genetic polymorphism and nutrition intervention to blood lipid abnormal population. METHODS: 412 hyperlipemia residents of Han group were screened from 3 main districts in Nanjing by multistage stratified cluster random sampling, and separated into nutritional intervention and control group by simple random method. The intervention group (221 individuals) were provided with coarse good grain and health education while only health education was provided for the control group (191 individuals). Medical examinations (including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) were taken every 6 months between March 2007 and March 2008, and PPARgamma2 genetic polymorphism was also detected later. RESULTS: After intervention, TC levels of intervention group and control group were (4.90 +/- 0.86) and (5.16 +/- 0.94) mmol/L respectively; TG levels were (1.68 +/- 0.97) and (2.29 +/- 1.10) mmol/L respectively; HDL-C levels were (1.35 +/- 0.36) and (1.16 +/- 0.33) mmol/L respectively, all of the differences were significant in statistics (t values were -2.95, -6.01, 5.55 respectively, P < 0.01). The levels of BMI ((24.81 +/- 3.21) kg/m(2)), WHR (0.88 +/- 0.07), FBG ((5.40 +/- 1.17) mmol/L), TC ((4.92 +/- 0.87) mmol/L) and TG ((1.68 +/- 1.01) mmol/L) decreased significantly (t values were 19.06, 16.43, 1.98, 8.86, -14.32 respectively, P < 0.01) compared to the levels before intervention (BMI (25.39 +/- 3.30) kg/m(2), WHR (0.92 +/- 0.07), FBG (6.07 +/- 2.17) mmol/L, TC (5.28 +/- 0.94) mmol/L and TG (2.70 +/- 1.86) mmol/L), while HDL-C (1.37 +/- 0.36) mmol/L increased significantly compared to the level before intervention (1.13 +/- 0.42) mmol/L (t = -7.68, P < 0.01) in the individuals with Pro/Pro of intervention group. WHR (0.90 +/- 0.06) and TG ((1.71 +/- 0.59) mmol/L) decreased significantly compared to the levels before intervention (WHR (0.95 +/- 0.06) and TG (2.58 +/- 1.12) mmol/L) (t values were -3.53 and -8.05 respectively, P < 0.01) in the ones with Pro/Ala. Moreover, susceptibility of change for BMI in Pro/Pro genotype carriers ((-1.21 +/- 1.02) kg/m(2)) was significantly greater than that in Pro/Ala genotype carriers ((-0.58 +/- 1.85) kg/m(2), t = -6.29, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Several indices of individuals with Pro/Pro improved obviously after nutrition intervention, which showed that effects of intervention to these people were better than those with Pro/Ala and Ala/Ala.

[Clinicopathologic features of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with marked stromal fibrosis--a report of 19 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Macropathologic types of gallbladder cancer are mostly polyp type, intumescent type, and cauliflower form lump. Its histological types include well or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated cancer. This research was to explore the clinicopathologic features of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with marked stromal fibrosis. METHODS: Pathology of 19 cases of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with marked stromal fibrosis was observed using a light microscopy and SP immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathologic features of 19 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the patients had long-term history of cholecystitis gallbladder calculus. B ultrasound showed that the gallbladder wall was irregularly thickened or presented nodosity. Observed with naked eyes, gallbladder adenocarcinoma with marked stromal fibrosis did not form cancer nodule and extrude into the gallbladder lumen, the gallbladder wall showed regional thickening, a few cases showed diffuse irregular thickening. Observed under a light microscope, the adenocarcinoma cells were mostly arranged as single layers, seldom arranged as multiple layers, and formed adenoid structures with different sizes, various shapes, and irregular arrangement; the nuclei were heterogenic with haryomitosis presented in a few cases; inflammatory cells were infiltrated in hyperplastic fibrous connective tissue of some cases. According to immune phenotyping, CK (AE1/AE3), CK (AE1), CK7 (OV-TL12/30), CK8 (C51), CK18 (Dc-10), CK19 (RCK108), and EMA (Mc-5) showed strong expression, CEA (COL-1), CK20 (Ks20. 4), and MUC-5AC (CLH2) showed moderate expression, and MUC-2 (B306. 1) showed weak expression; CK17 (E3) showed focal expression. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation, macropathologic type, histological characteristics of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with stromal fibrosis are different from other types of adenocarcinoma. Its genesis may be related to chronic cholecystitis: long-term inflammation causes regional hyperplasia and heterogeneity of the gland body, lead to focal or regional thickening of the gallbladder wall, and result in gallbladder adenocarcinoma with stromal fibrosis finally.