Effect of Scarf and Chevron combined with Akin on postoperative balance in patients with moderate to severe foot bunion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of Scarf and Chevron combined with Akin on a postoperative balance of patients with moderate to severe foot bunion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred (100 feet) patients with moderate to severe bunion cysts treated at our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively selected as subjects and divided into 2 groups according to their surgical procedure. The control group received Scarf combined with Akin, and the study group received Chevron combined with Akin. Oxidative stress mediators [late oxidized protein product (AOPP), lipid peroxide (LPO)], inflammatory factors [interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), procalcitonin (PCT)], Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal joint angle (DMAA) Angle, ankle-hind foot American Orthotic Foot and Ankle Association (AOFAS) score, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score and balance Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score were compared between the two groups before and after surgery. The effectiveness and safety of the operation were compared. RESULTS: The levels of AOPP and LPO in the study group decreased most significantly, t=1.081 and 10.850, p=0.001; the levels of IL-1ß and PCT in the study group increased most significantly, t=16.970 and 12.260, p=0.001; the indexes of HVA, IMA, and DMAA in the study group increased significantly, t=11.890, 11.550, and 12.670, p=0.001; the AOFAS and BBS scores in the study group increased significantly, while the VAS score in the study group decreased significantly, t=14.760, 13.580, 5.994, p=0.001; the total effective rate of treatment in the study group was the highest, χ²=6.960, p=0.00; the total incidence of complications in the study group was the lowest, χ²=1.834, p=0.175. CONCLUSIONS: Chevron combined with Akin is more effective than Scarf combined with Akin in treating moderate to severe foot bunion, the former is more minimally invasive and has a better effect in promoting postoperative balance recovery.

[Inhibition connexin 43 by mimetic peptide Gap27 mediates protective effects on 6-hydroxydopamine induced Parkinson's disease mouse model].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the using of mimetic peptide Gap27, a selective inhibitor of connexin 43 (Cx43), could block the death of dopamine neurons and influence the expression of Cx43 in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse models. METHODS: Eighteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, 6-OHDA group and 6-OHDA+Gap27 group, with 6 mice in each group. Bilateral substantia nigra stereotactic injection was performed. The control group was injected with ascorbate solution, 6-OHDA group was injected with 6-OHDA solution, and 6-OHDA+Gap27 group was injected with 6-OHDA and Gap27 mixed solution. Immuno-histochemical staining was used to detect the number of dopamine neurons, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of Cx43 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), immuno-fluorescence staining was used to detect the distribution of Cx43 protein, the contents of Cx43 protein and Cx43 phosphorylation at serine 368 (Cx43-ps368) in mouse midbrain were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After injection of 6-OHDA, numerous dopamine neurons in substantia nigra died as Cx43 content increased, Cx43-ps368 content decreased. Mixing Gap27 while injecting 6-OHDA could reduce the number of death dopamine neurons and weaken the changes of Cx43 and Cx43-ps368 content caused by 6-OHDA. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive positive neurons in 6-OHDA group decreased to 27.7% ± 0.02% of the control group (P < 0.01); The number of TH immunoreactive positive neurons in 6-OHDA+Gap27 group was (1.64±0.16) times higher than that in 6-OHDA group (P < 0.05); The content of total Cx43 protein in 6-OHDA group was (1.44±0.07) times higher than that in 6-OHDA+Gap27 group (P < 0.05) while (1.68±0.07) times higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). In 6-OHDA group, the content of Cx43-ps368 protein and its proportion in total Cx43 protein were significantly lower than that in 6-OHDA+Gap27 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In 6-OHDA mouse models, mimetic peptide Gap27 played a protective role in reducing the damage to substantia nigra dopamine neurons, which was induced by 6-OHDA. The overexpression of Cx43 protein might have neurotoxicity to dopamine neuron. Meanwhile, decreasing Cx43 protein level and keeping Cx43-ps368 protein level may be the protective mechanisms of Gap27.

[Effect of benzo(a)pyrene on dopaminergic neurons and α-synuclein in brain and its mechanism involved].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of benzopyrene on the decrease of dopaminergic neurons, and the increase and aggregation of α-synuclein, which are the pathological features of Parkinson's disease, and to explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Eight-month-old transgenic mice with human SNCA gene were randomly divided into a BaP-exposed group and a control group. BaP and solvent corn oil were injected intraperitoneally to BaP-exposed group and control group respectively, once a day for 60 days. The motor dysfunction of mice was tested by rotarod test. The effects of BaP on the decrease of dopaminergic neurons and increase and aggregation of α-synuclein were observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot experiments respectively, and the expression of related mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Twenty genes were tested in the study, mainly related to neurotransmitter transporter (2 genes), neurotransmitter receptor function (10 genes), cellular autophagy (5 genes), and α-synuclein aggregation and degradation (3 genes). RESULTS: After BaP exposure, the movement time of the mice in the rotarod test was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The substantia nigra dopami-nergic neurons in the mice were significantly reduced, which was 62% of the control group (P<0.05), and the expression of α-synuclein in the midbrain increased, which was 1.36 times that of the control group (P<0.05). After BaP exposure, mRNA expressions of 14 genes in the midbrain of the mice were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). Alpha-synuclein degradation and cell autophagy (5 genes), neuron transporters (2 genes), and neurotransmitter receptor functions (5 genes) were involved. The expression of one gene, Synphilin-1, was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01), which was related to α-synuclein aggregation. CONCLUSION: BaP exposure not only inhibited function of neurotransmitter receptor and dopamine transporter, but also interfered cell autophagy, thereby hindering the degradation of α-synuclein, which could lead to decrease of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and increase and aggregation of α-synuclein in midbrain, as the significant pathology of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, BaP exposure may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease.

[The spatial distribution and epidemic trend of silicosis in Guangdong province].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics, temporal trend of silicosis, and provide basis for risk assessment and precise prevention and control of occupational diseases. Methods: Using descriptive statistics to analyze the reported cases of silicosis by SPSS 20.0 software. Reported silicosis cases, the constituent ratio, the incidence age and the working age at onset were analyzed by a linear trend test. Analyzing the variation trends of regional, industry, economic type and enterprise scale distributions by the chi-square trend test. Moreover, using Moran's I method for spatial autocorrelation analysis and trend-surface analysis. Results: (1) During 2006 to 2015, Guangdong province had reported 1, 428 cases of silicosis, mainly gathered in Foshan, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, which included 1391 male cases accounting for 97.41%. And the average incidence age was 45 (39, 51) . The average working age of onset was 9 (5.5, 15) . In economic type distribution, the private economy took the main part, accounting for 59.1%. In enterprise scale distribution, it was dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) , accounting for 32.4% and 37.3% respectively. In industry distribution, most cases were gathered in materials and mining industry, accounting for 32.1% and 22.9% respectively. (2) The number of silicosis cases, the incidence age and the working age of onset showed a rising trend (P<0.01) . Meanwhile, the constituent ratios of medium-sized enterprises and building materials industry were increasing (P<0.05) . The annual variation trends of regional, economic type and age distributions were not statistically significant (P> 0.05) . (3) The spatial distribution trend showed an inverted U type, which was firstly raised and then declined from south to north and from east to west. The distribution characteristic demonstrated some high-high cluster areas, including Chancheng, Nanhai, Shunde, Panyu, Dongguan, Pengjiang, and Zhongshan. While Wuhua showed a high-low outlier form (P<0.01) . Conclusion: Silicosis cases, age and working age of onset were on the rise, as well as the industry and enterprise scale distributions of occupational diseases presented a certain trend in Guangdong province from 2006 to 2015. There were high-high cluster and high-low outlier phenomena in spatial distribution with spatial correlation. Therefore, our work of silicosis epidemic trend and distribution may provide some bases for the occupational disease risk assessment and control.

[Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on expressions of insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin in neuroglia cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on expressions of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and neprilysin (NEP) which have the ability to degrade ß-amyloid (Aß) in neuroglia cells. METHODS: Primary mix-neuroglia cells were cultured from newborn SD rats. After exposure to BaP, Aß1-42 oligomer or Aß1-42 fiber individually or jointly for 24 h, the cell survival rate was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Afterwards, the primary mix-neuroglia cells were divided randomly into six groups: Control group, BaP group (2.00 µmol/L), Aß1-42 oligomer group (20.00 mg/L), BaP plus Aß1-42 oligomer group, Aß1-42 fiber group (20.00 mg/L) and BaP plus Aß1-42 fiber group, of which BaP was pretreated for 12 h followed by cotreatment with different aggregated Aß1-42. The expressions of IDE and NEP were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for mRNA level and Western blotting for protein level. RESULTS: The cell survival rate showed no significant differences after treatment with BaP (≤20.00 µmol/L), Aß1-42 oligomer (20.00, 40.00 mg/L), Aß1-42 fiber (20.00, 40.00 mg/L) or cotreatment with BaP and Aß1-42 oligomer or BaP and Aß1-42 fiber. Compared with the control group, expressions of IDE and NEP in BaP-treated alone group had no obvious change; however, exposure to Aß1-42 oligomer alone significantly increased the mRNA and protein level of IDE (P<0.05), and the BaP pretreatment could significantly inhibit the up-regulated expressions of IDE by Aß1-42 oligomer (P<0.05); on the other hand, exposure either to Aß1-42 fiber alone or under the BaP pretreatment did not change the mRNA and protein level of IDE and NEP obviously. CONCLUSION: On the premise of no significant change of cell survival rate, BaP pretreatment inhibited the up-regulated expressions of IDE in primary mixed neuroglia cells under cotreatment with Aß oligomer, indicating that BaP may disturb degradation of Aß oligomer and cause deposition of ß-amyloid and further induce cognitive decline and acceleration of Alzheimer.

[Research advances in application of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation in proteomics of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Due to the features of strong heterogeneity, difficult early diagnosis, poor prognosis, and high fatality rate, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become an important disease which threatens the health of the Chinese population. Accurate early diagnosis is crucial to improving the success rate of liver cancer resection and reducing postoperative recurrence and metastasis, and its core is the screening and validation of biomarkers for early diagnosis. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture are important parts of proteomics technology, and iTRAQ has become the most important technique in quantitative proteomics technology due to its advantages of high throughput, high quantitative accuracy, and no limitation by sample source. This article reviews the research advances in molecular mechanism of the development and progression of HCC and screening of markers, in order to establish a theoretical foundation for in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the development and progression of HCC and the development of new biomarkers.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning in southern China.

The rapidly expanding mariculture and commercial region along the southern coast of China has experienced sporadic outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning for nearly 30 years, yet virtually nothing is known of the nature of that toxicity or of the causative organisms. This study presents the first direct comparisons of the high performance liquid chromatography toxin composition profiles of shellfish implicated in paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in Daya Bay with Alexandrium tamarense cultures established from those waters. The three cultures that were analyzed produced an unusually high proportion of the low potency N-sulfocarbamoyl toxins C1 and C2 (nearly 90% of the total), and only trace quantities of the other saxitoxin derivatives. Total toxicity was thus very low with mild acid extraction, ranging between 7.2 and 12.7 fmole cell-1, or 0.7-0.9 pg saxitoxin equiv. cell-1. Following acid hydrolysis using the standard AOAC extraction method, the dominant toxins in the cultures were gonyautoxins 2 and 3 and decarbamoyl gonyautoxins 2 and 3. Total potency increased fourfold to 2.6-3.4 pg saxitoxin equiv. cell-1 following acid hydrolysis. These cultures are thus at the low end of the range of toxicities recorded for members of the A. tamarense species complex. Two scallop samples and one mussel sample collected from Daya Bay during paralytic shellfish poisoning episodes in 1990 and 1991 were also analyzed following the AOAC extraction procedure. The toxin profiles were similar for the three shellfish samples, in that the same suite of toxins were present in each, but the relative proportion of those toxins varied. The dominant toxins were gonyautoxins 2 and 3 and toxins C1-C4. Total toxicity was 336 and 654 micrograms saxitoxin per 100 g meat for the scallop samples, and 723 for the mussels. Toxins C3,4 were present in the shellfish at up to 22 mole%, but were not detected in cultures, even when mild acid was used for extraction. Despite the otherwise similar nature of the culture versus the shellfish toxin signatures, the presence of C3,4 indicates that another strain or species of Alexandrium, or possibly a paralytic shellfish poisoning-producing species of another genus was responsible for the 1990 and 1991 paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in Daya Bay. Since the cultures analyzed were of low intrinsic toxicity, A. tamarense may be more widespread along the south coast of China than is suggested by the sporadic pattern of past paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks. Blooms with high cell density are required to generate sufficient toxin to be dangerous. The alarming increase in algal blooms in Chinese waters due to persistent and growing pollution may make these low toxicity populations more problematic in the future.