Pelvic floor function and morphological abnormalities in primiparas with postpartum symptomatic stress urinary incontinence based on the type of delivery: a 1:1 matched case-control study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) morphology and function in primiparas with postpartum symptomatic SUI after different types of delivery. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were carried out with individuals with postpartum symptomatic stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Among the women screened in our center from January 2018 to December 2019, participants were divided into elective cesarean section (eCS) and spontaneous vaginal delivery (sVD) groups, while being matched 1:1 on age (±5 years), body mass index (BMI; ±0.5 kg/m2), neonatal birth weight (±300 g), gestational age (±1 week), degree of pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) degree, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form (IIQ-7) score, and postpartum days (±10 days); all participants had no sphincter defects or levator ani muscle avulsion. The bioelectrical activity of the PFM was collected using an endovaginal electrode with the Glazer protocol. For the assessment of PFM function, PFM morphometry was evaluated with 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 78 matched pairs were recruited based on delivery mode. Regarding functional differences, both fast-twitch and slow-twitch fiber strengths in the eCS group were significantly higher than those in the sVD group, but PFMs were more hyperactive in the eCS group. Regarding morphometric differences, the retrovesical angle (RVA) and bladder neck position were not significantly different in the resting state between the two groups, nor was the RVA during the Valsalva maneuver (eCS group: 130.68 ± 17.08°, sVD group: 136.33 ± 23.93°), p > 0.05. There were differences in bladder neck descent (BND; eCS group: 16.51 ± 7.55 mm, sVD group: 23.92 ± 8.47 mm) and urethral rotation angle (URA; eCS group: 37.53 ± 26.05°, sVD group: 59.94 ± 25.87°), all p < 0.05. BND showed a negative correlation with PFM strength, p < 0.05. URAs and RVAs showed no correlation with PFM strength, p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor muscle function disorder, hyperactivity, and instability also occurred after eCS, which resulted in postpartum symptomatic SUI. The effects of sVD compared with eCS on abnormalities in the lower urinary tract were related to bladder neck and urethral hyperactivity, without an RVA increase.

Altered Long Noncoding RNA and Messenger RNA Expression in Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage - a Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Functional recovery in the chronic phase is a difficult problem in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) treatment. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are demonstrated to be involved in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the roles of lncRNAs in post-ICH injury and repair are poorly understood, especially those that may be attributed to long-term neurological deficit. The present study depicted the lncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) profile by microarray at late stage after an experimental ICH. METHODS: LncRNA and mRNA microarray was used to first identify differentially expressed genes. Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to determine bio-functions and signaling pathways, with which differentially expressed genes are most closely related. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to validate the results of microarray. Finally, the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was constructed to find the interaction of genes. RESULTS: A total of 625 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 826 expressed mRNAs were identified. Altered genes were enriched in mitochon-drial matrix, G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, and olfactory transduction, which may be associated with ICH-induced pathophysiologic changes in the long term. A co-expression network profile based on 5 validated differentially expressed lncRNAs and 205 interacted mRNAs was composed of 210 nodes and 298 connections. CONCLUSION: Mitochondrial matrix, reduced G-protein coupled receptor activity, and impaired olfactory transduction may be involved in the sequelae following ICH. Further, these dysregulated lncRNAs and mRNAs may be the promising therapeutic targets to overcome obstacles in functional recovery following ICH.

Analysis of risk factors and prognostic factors for gastrointestinal stromal tumors with gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Based on propensity score matching method.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between risk factors and prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor associated with gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODS: According to whether there was gastrointestinal bleeding, 246 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors were divided into 2 groups. The clinicopathological baseline characteristics of the 2 groups of patients were balanced by propensity score matching, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and analyze the overall survival of the 2 groups of patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to evaluate the accuracy of Modified National Institutes of Health criteria and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria in predicting the prognosis and postoperative recurrence of patients. Logistic regression analysis of risk factors affecting gastrointestinal stromal tumor with gastrointestinal bleeding before matching. Univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors after matching were performed using Cox regression models. RESULTS: Before matching, the accuracy of Modified National Institutes of Health criteria in predicting postoperative survival status and recurrence was higher than that of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria. Modified National Institutes of Health criteria and relapse were the risk factors for gastrointestinal stromal tumor with gastrointestinal bleeding independent risk factors (P < .05). After 1:1 matching, the general clinical data of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding group and nongastrointestinal bleeding group were balanced (P > .05). The results of matched survival analysis indicated that tumor location and gastrointestinal bleeding were independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (P < .05). The results of subgroup analysis according to anatomical site showed that there was no significant difference between the gastrointestinal bleeding group and the nongastrointestinal bleeding group (P > .05). Survival analysis showed that patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors with gastrointestinal bleeding had a worse prognosis, and the results were also applicable in different tumor anatomical locations and different Modified National Institutes of Health criteria. CONCLUSION: Modified National Institutes of Health criteria and relapse are independent risk factors for gastrointestinal stromal tumors with gastrointestinal bleeding; gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with poor prognosis in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors with gastrointestinal bleeding have a worse prognosis.

Diagnostic performance of IVUS-FFR analysis based on generative adversarial network and bifurcation fractal law for assessing myocardial ischemia.

Background: IVUS-based virtual FFR (IVUS-FFR) can provide additional functional assessment information to IVUS imaging for the diagnosis of coronary stenosis. IVUS image segmentation and side branch blood flow can affect the accuracy of virtual FFR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an IVUS-FFR analysis based on generative adversarial networks and bifurcation fractal law, using invasive FFR as a reference. Method: In this study, a total of 108 vessels were retrospectively collected from 87 patients who underwent IVUS and invasive FFR. IVUS-FFR was performed by analysts who were blinded to invasive FFR. We evaluated the diagnostic performance and computation time of IVUS-FFR, and compared it with that of the FFR-branch (considering side branch blood flow by manually extending the side branch from the bifurcation ostia). We also compared the effects of three bifurcation fractal laws on the accuracy of IVUS-FFR. Result: The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for IVUS-FFR to identify invasive FFR ≤ 0.80 were 90.7% (95% CI, 83.6-95.5), 89.7% (95% CI, 78.8-96.1), 92.0% (95% CI, 80.8-97.8), respectively. A good correlation and agreement between IVUS-FFR and invasive FFR were observed. And the average computation time of IVUS-FFR was shorter than that of FFR-branch. In addition to this, we also observe that the HK model is the most accurate among the three bifurcation fractal laws. Conclusion: Our proposed IVUS-FFR analysis correlates and agrees well with invasive FFR and shows good diagnostic performance. Compared with FFR-branch, IVUS-FFR has the same level of diagnostic performance with significantly lower computation time.

Modulation of thalamic network connectivity using transcranial direct current stimulation based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to improve hypoxia-induced cognitive impairments.

Hypoxic conditions at high altitudes severely affect cognitive functions such as vigilance, attention, and memory and reduce cognitive ability. Hence, there is a critical need to investigate methods and associated mechanisms for improving the cognitive ability of workers at high altitudes. This study aimed to use transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate thalamic network functional connectivity to enhance cognitive ability. We recruited 20 healthy participants that underwent hypoxia exposure in a hypoxic chamber at atmospheric pressure to simulate a hypoxic environment at 4,000 m. Participants received both sham and real stimulation. tDCS significantly improved the participants' emotional status, including depression, fatigue, and energy level. These effects were sustained for more than 6 h (P < 0.05 at the second to fifth measurements). In addition, tDCS enhanced vigilance, but this was only effective within 2 h (P < 0.05 at the second and third measurements). Central fatigue was significantly ameliorated, and cerebral blood oxygen saturation was increased within 4 h (P < 0.05 at the second, third, and fourth measurements). Furthermore, functional connectivity results using the thalamus as a seed revealed enhanced connectivity between the thalamus and hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, and amygdala after tDCS. These results indicated that tDCS increased local cerebral blood oxygen saturation and enhanced thalamic network connectivity in a hypoxic environment, thereby improving vigilance, depression, fatigue, and energy levels. These findings suggest that tDCS may partially rescue the cognitive decline caused by hypoxia within a short period. This approach affords a safe and effective cognitive enhancement method for all types of high-altitude workers with a large mental load.

Molecular and Biological Characterization of Chinese Sacbrood Virus LN Isolate.

Chinese sacbrood virus (CSBV) was purified from diseased insects, and its genome was cloned and sequenced. The genomic RNA of CSBV is 8863 nucleotides in length and contains a single large open reading frame encoding a 319.614 kDa polyprotein. The coding sequence is flanked by a 178-nucleotide 5' nontranslated leader sequence and a 142-nucleotide 3' nontranslated region, followed a poly(A) tail. Four major structural proteins, VP1,VP2, VP3 and VP4, were predicted in the N-teminal of the polyprotein. The C-terminal part of the polyprotein contains sequence motifs which is a typical and well-characterized picornavirus nonstructural proteins: an RNA helicase, a chymotrypsin-like 3C protease, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Genetic analysis shows that the CSBV-LN had a 13-amino-acid deletion at amino acid positions 710-719 and 727-729 in comparison with CSBV-GZ and SBV-UK, and the SBV-UK had a 7-amino-acid deletion at amino acid positions 2124-2132 in comparison with CSBV-GZ and CSBV-LN, and the CSBV-GZ and CSBV-LN had a 6-amino-acid deletion at amino acid positions 2143-2150 in comparison with SBV-UK. Phylogenetic analysis using RdRp of selected picorna-like viruses shows that CSBV/SBV and Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) tend to group together, which possesses an RNA of similar size and gene order.

Ferroptosis: a potential treatment scheme for glioblastoma / 肿瘤研究与临床

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a clinically common type of glioma with a very poor prognosis and complex drug resistance mechanisms, high mortality, short survival time; invasiveness and recurrence are the main obstacles to treatment. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated cell death associated with massive lipid peroxidation that is related with the development and treatment response of various types of tumors. Cancer cells rely on their strong antioxidant capacity to avoid ferroptosis, therefore, exploring ferroptosis may be an effective strategy to prevent tumor proliferation and invasion. This article mainly reviews the mechanism of ferroptosis in GBM, as well as the research status and progress of ferroptosis as a potential therapeutic target.

Effect of acupoint application combined with supine intermittent angle traction on neck biological parameters in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To explore the effect of intermittent angle traction on the supine position combined with acupoint application on the changes of cervical radiculopathy related biological parameters.Methods:Randomized controlled trial. A total of 100 patients with radiculopathy cervical spondylosis treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2019 to February 2021 were selected and randomly divided into observation group ( n=50) and control group ( n=50). Patients in the control group were given conventional treatment with western medicine, and patients in the observation group were given acupoint application combined with supine intermittent angle traction combined with treatment. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Spinal Cord Function (JOA), Cervical Disability Index (NDI), Pain Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and the changes in intervertebral foramen volume of two groups were compared before and after treatment. The difference in clinical efficacy between the two groups after treatment was observed. We took a thin spiral CT film of the patient's cervical spine, established a three-dimensional finite element model of the cervical spine, and compared the differences in related indicators between the two groups before and after treatment. Results:The total effective rate was 94.0% (47/50) in the observation group and 70.0% (35/50) in the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=9.76, P=0.002). After treatment, the JOA score in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=6.23, P<0.01), the NDI score, VAS score were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 5.17,9.13, P<0.01), the intervertebral foraminal volume [(8.45±1.27)mm 3vs. (7.18±1.38)mm 3, t=4.79] was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.01), and C 4-7 cervical vertebra flexion [(7.15±0.87)° vs.(5.64±0.78)°, t=9.14], retroflexion [(8.53±0.73)° vs. (7.15±0.68)°, t=9.78], sidebend [(6.57±0.71)° vs. (5.28±0.67)°, t=9.34], rotated [(7.89±0.52)° vs. (6.54±0.48)°, t=13.49] were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01); C 4-7 disc flexion [(1.41±0.09) kPa vs. (2.01±0.12) kPa, t=28.28], retroflexion [(1.54±0.07) kPa vs. (2.01±0.08) kPa, t=31.26], sidebend [(1.24±0.07) kPa vs. (1.89±0.13) kPa, t=31.13], rotated [(1.23±0.06)kPa vs. (1.85±0.11)kPa, t=34.99] were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The supine intermittent Angle traction combined with acupoint application in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy can relieve the neck pain, improve the neck function, restore the physiological curvature of the cervical spine, and promote the recovery of cervical biomechanics.

Is it safe and practical to use a Foley catheter as a chest tube for lung cancer patients after lobectomy? A prospective cohort study with 441 cases.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore the feasibility and safety of postoperative chest drainage with a Foley catheter for lung cancer patients undergoing a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. METHODS: Data from lung cancer patients who underwent a VATS lobectomy with insertion of a catheter (Foley catheter or 28-F chest tube) were analysed. A total of 441 patients were included preoperatively for participation, with 208 patients in the Foley catheter group and 233 in the 28-F group. RESULTS: In the Foley catheter group, a shorter mean number of days was required until chest tube removal after lobectomy (2.6 ±â€¯1.3 vs. 3.5 ±â€¯2.0 d, P < 0.001) and postoperative length of stay was shorter (3.8 ±â€¯2.5 vs. 5.2 ±â€¯4.1 d, P < 0.001); The 28-F group had a higher average VAS score than did the Foley catheter group at 6 h (P = 0.025), and 48 h (P < 0.001) after VATS lobectomy as well as at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 30 days and 90 days after chest tube removal (P < 0.001). Regarding postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and chest tube removal-related complications, the rate of PPCs was not found to be significant, and a significantly higher proportion of disordered wound healing at the drainage site was observed in the 28-F group (5.8%, 12/208 vs. 11.6%, 27/233; P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The study indicated that placement of Foley catheter vs. 28-F chest tube was associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest reduction in pain, with shorter mean days until chest tube removal after lobectomy, shorter in-hospital stay, and a smaller proportion of disordered wound healing at the drainage site. These results indicate the feasibility and safety of postoperative chest drainage with a Foley catheter for lung cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. CLINICAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800014816.

Analysis on Biomechanical Relationship Between Calcaneal Cyst Lesion Size and Pathological Fracture / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the relationship between lesion size of solitary bone cyst ( SBC) and pathological fracture of calcaneus, so as to provide references for the treatment of SBC. Methods The three dimensional (3D) finite element model of foot and ankle was established based on CT images. Four models with gradient spherical bone defects were constructed in the focal area to simulate different SBC lesion sizes, and the biomechanical characteristics of calcaneus in different gait phases were analyzed. Results With the increasement of SBC size, the kinematics of calcaneus did not change significantly, but the peak stress of calcaneus increased gradually. When the SBC size exceeded 75% of the calcaneal width, the stress in calcaneal sulcus and cortical bone below SBC increased by 1. 48 times and 7. 74 times, respectively. Conclusions The risk of pathological fracture increases when the SBC diameter exceeds 75% of the calcaneal width, and early surgical intervention should be recommended. The calcaneal sulcus and the cortex bone below SBC are stress concentration regions and can be used as important areas to evaluate pathological fractures.

Acupuncture intervening depressive disorder:research progress in its neurobiological mechanism / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Depressive disorder seriously affects people's physical and mental health.Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for depression,yet,its mechanism is unclear.Therefore,acupuncture's action mechanism in intervening depression was summarized from several perspectives,including morphology and ultrastructure of neurons in depression-related brain areas,function and structure of glial cells,brain functional and structural connectivity,and neuroelectrophysiology.It's discovered that acupuncture can repair the morphological and ultrastructural damage of neurons in the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe,mitigate the functional and structural injuries of glial cells in the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe,strengthen functional connectivity and heal structural connection,and promote neuroelectrophysiological activities,which possibly are the principal mechanisms of how acupuncture works in intervening depressive disorder.

Imaging and clinical study on the relationship between abnormal development of the proximal sacrum and precise insertion of sacroiliac screws / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted sacroiliac screw implantation in the treatment of proximal dysplasia sacral fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 191 patients admitted to the Pelvic Department of Tianjin Hospital from May 2016 to January 2021 who underwent robot assisted sacroiliac screw implantation with sacral fractures, including 105 males and 86 females, aged 38.5±6.5 years (ranging from 19 to 69 years old). Among them, there were 85 patients with dysplasia of proximal sacrum. According to the classification of proximal sacral dysplasia, the patients were divided into five groups: the steep sacral alar slope group ( n=60), the mastoid protrusion group ( n=30), the lumbar sacralization group ( n=25), the sacral foramen oval degeneration group ( n=23) and the S 1 anterior cortical depression group ( n=10). The remaining 106 patients were normal group. Iliac cortical density (ICD) line typing was recorded in the 85 patients. The the completion of sacroiliac screw implantation, the Gras score of screw position after operation, the postoperative complications, the minimum diameter of S 1 screw channel (R1), the angle ∠A between the S 1 sacroiliac screw in the coronal plane and the cephalic side, and the angle ∠B between the S 1 sacroiliac screw in the water plane and the ventral side were recorded and compared with those of normal development patients. Results:The incidence of steep sacral alar slope was the highest (31.4%, 60/191). There were 2 or more developmental abnormalities in 24 cases. In 85 cases with dysplasia of proximal sacrum, ICD line type I was found in 8 cases, type II in 12 cases and type III in 65 cases. 49 patients (58.8%, 49/85) were able to complete the implantation of S 1 sacroiliac screw, while 36 patients (35.3%, 36/85) were only able to complete the implantation of S 2 sacroiliac screw. The Gras score of postoperative screw position was 90.05% for grade I, 9.94% for grade II, and 0 for grade III. In 1 case the sacroiliac screw pierced through the anterior cortex of the sacrum, and in 1 case the screw partially threaded into the sacral foramen, and there were no symptoms of iatrogenic nerve injury. The R1 values of the preoperative steep sacral alar slope group, the mastoid protrusion group, the sacral foramen oval degeneration group, the lumbar sacralization group, the sacral foramen oval degeneration group and normal development patient group were 11.4±3.0, 11.6±3.2, 9.8±3.0, 8.8±4.2, 6.5±4.4, and 11.4±3.4 mm, respectively. The differences between the lumbar sacralization group, the sacral foramen oval degeneration group, and the S1 anterior cortical depression group with the normal development patients were statistically significant, respectively ( t=-3.05, P=0.005; t=-2.32, P=0.022; t=-3.45, P=0.006). The postoperative angle ∠A of the above six groups were 33.8°±4.2°, 20.8°±3.5°, 25.8°±2.5°, 35.5°±4.5, 27.8°±3.5° and 26.8°±5.0°, respectively. The postoperative angle ∠B of the above six groups were 27.8°±3.5°, 36.2°±3°, 26.3°±1.8°, 29.8°±2.7°, 14.8°±1.5° and 37.2±4.2°, respectively. The differences between the ∠A of the steep sacral alar slope group, the mastoid protrusion group, and tthe lumbar sacralization group with that of the normal development patients were statistically significant, respectively ( t=9.17, -7.48, 7.97, P<0.001). The differences between the ∠B of the steep sacral alar slope group, the lumbar sacralization group, the sacral foramen oval degeneration group, and the S 1 anterior cortical depression group with that of the normal development patients were statistically significant, respectively ( t=-14.68, -10.93, -19.79, -35.8, P<0.001). Conclusion:This study proposes the "absolute stenosis" of the S 1 screw channel; In the treatment of patients with abnormal proximal sacral fracture, attention should be paid to S 1 anterior cortical depression and lumbar sacralization, and robot-assisted sacroiliac screw implantation can further improve the safety and accuracy of sacroiliac screw implantation.

Treatment of transverse with posterior wall fractures of acetabulum using robot-aided percutaneous anterior column screw combined with posterior plate / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of robot-aided percutaneous anterior column screw combined with posterior plate fixtation treatment for transverse acetabular fractures with posterior wall.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 13 patients with transverse acetabular fractures and posterior wall fractures treated by robot-aided percutaneous anterior column screws combined with posterior plate in Tianjin Hospital from May 2016 to May 2021. There were 9 males and 4 females, aged 49.1±8.5 years (range, 25-65 years), 9 cases of vehicle accidents, 2 cases of falling injuries, 2 cases of impact injuries, 7 cases of combined posterior hip dislocations, and 1 case of sciatic nerve injury. Apply Kocher-Langenbeck approach for reduction and fixation of the posterior wall and the posterior column and indirect reduction of the anterior column. Use robot navigation for percutaneous anterior column screw fixation, and record the time of inserting anterior column screws, incision length, and complications. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated using Matta imaging, and the degree of ectopic ossification was evaluated using Brooker classification. The Matta modified Postel Merle D'Aobigne score was used to evaluate the function at 3, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up.Results:All 13 patients successfully completed the surgery. The insertion time of the anterior column screw was 19.4±4.0 min (range, 17-23 min), and the incision length was 8.0±1.4 mm (range, 6-10 mm). Postoperative imaging examination showed that all anterior column screws were located within the bone canal, with a screw length of 108.3±11.2 mm (range, 90-130 mm), and no complications such as nerve or vascular injury or incision infection occurred. All 13 patients were followed up for a period of 12-36 months, with an average of 18.6 months; All fractures healed, with a healing time of 2-6 months, average 3.4 months. According to the Matta imaging evaluation method, 11 of 13 patients had anatomical reduction of fractures, and 2 were evaluated as incomplete reduction due to a 1-2 mm gap in the anterior column. The anatomical reduction rate was 84%. At postoperative 3, 6 months and the last follow-up, the modified Postel Merle D'Aobigne scores were 13.4±1.1, 15.8±1.5, and 17.0±1.7, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=7.78, P=0.007). The difference between the last follow-up and postoperative 3 months was statistically significant ( P=0.002), and there was no statistically significant difference compared to postoperative 6 months ( P=0.222). At the last follow-up, 8 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 1 case was fair, with an excellent and good rate of 92%. There was no occurrence of ectopic ossification, traumatic arthritis, or necrosis of the femoral head. Conclusion:Robot-aided percutaneous anterior column screw combined with posterior plate treatment for transverse acetabular fractures with posterior wall is safe and effective, and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Expression of HLA-G in the peripheral blood and cancerous tissues of patients with papillary thyroid cancer / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To examine the expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) in the peripheral blood and cancerous tissues of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:The expression of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in the peripheral blood of 50 individuals with PTC (PTC group) , 25 patients with benign thyroid tumors (BTT group) from Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Beilun branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and 20 healthy controls (healthy control group) from physical examination center was assessed by ELISA. Immunohistochemical examination of HLA-G levels was also performed on tissue specimens from patients in the PTC and BTT groups, and their correlation with clinicopathological features of thyroid cancer was analyzed. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. The measurement data of normal distribution were tested by two independent samples t test. Chi square test was used to compare the rates between the two groups. Results:The sHLA-G expression in peripheral blood was 21.33 (±5.54) , 22.73 (±4.99) , and 18.29 (±4.43) ng/mL in the preoperative PTC, BTT, and healthy control groups, respectively. Compared to the healthy group, sHLA-G levels were considerably higher in the PTC and BTT groups, with statistically significant differences (totally P < 0.05) . There was no significant difference in statistically sHLA-G levels between the BTT and PTC groups ( P > 0.05) . The positive HLA-G expression rate in PTC tissues was 78% (39/50) . There was no evidence of HLA-G expression in common tissues adjacent to PTC. HLA-G was not expressed in benign tumors. HLA-G was linked with the PTC tumor diameter, and the rate of positive expression was considerably greater with tumor diameters >1 cm than with those ≤1 cm ( P<0.05) . The rate of HLA-G positive expression was not significantly correlated with sex, age, multiple foci, extra-glandular invasion, metastasis of lymph nodes, or the TNM stage in PTC individuals ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:HLA-G is significantly expressed at high levels in PTC tissues, is correlated with the tumor diameter, and may probably have a significant role in this disease. Peripheral blood sHLA-G may be associated with thyroid tumorigenesis, and its value in PTC requires further verification.

A monitoring aid for movement disorder rehabilitation / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To design a motor impairment rehabilitation monitoring aid for the assessment of motor impairment in patients who do not have or have difficulty walking independently.Methods:An assistive device vehicle was designed, equipped with an accelerometer and a six-dimensional force sensor. The normal walking (NW) group and abnormal walking group were set up, in which the abnormal walking group included moderate abnormal walking (MA) group, moderate abnormal walking with the aid of the assistive vehicle (MA-V) group, severe abnormal walking (SA) group, and severe abnormal walking with the aid of the assistive vehicle (SA-V) group. In the MA-V group, the range of knee movement was adjusted from 0 to 30°, and in the SA group, the knee joint was completely unbending. The gait cycles, peak and mean acceleration values of the right and left legs were evaluated by accelerometers, and changes in the upper limb forces were assessed by six-dimensional force transducers.Results:For the moderate impairment group, the difference in gait cycle between the MA and MA-V groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05), and the gait cycle in the MA-V group was slightly greater than that in the MA group. For the severe injury group, the gait cycle of the SA-V group was lower than that of the SA group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). For all abnormal groups, the mean and peak acceleration of the left leg were greater than that of the right leg, and the difference between the peak acceleration of the left leg and that of the right leg was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the abnormal walking pattern, the mean (absolute) value of the left hand force was greater than that of the right hand, especially in the Z-axis. The standard deviations of the combined forces on the left side for the NW, MA-V, and SA-V groups were 2.759, 8.297, and 13.118 N, respectively. The SA-V group had the highest dispersion in the force scatter plot, while the NW group had a better concentration. Conclusions:An assistive vehicle equipped with an accelerometer and a six-dimensional force sensor was designed to help physicians in the assessment and rehabilitation of motor disorders.

Inhibition of caspase-1-dependent apoptosis suppresses peste des petits ruminants virus replication

Background@#Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), caused by the PPR virus (PPRV), is an acute and fatal contagious disease that mainly infects goats, sheep, and other artiodactyls.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are considered the primary innate immune cells. @*Objectives@#PBMCs derived from goats were infected with PPRV and analyzed to detect the relationship between PPRV replication and apoptosis or the inflammatory response. @*Methods@#Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to identify PPRV replication and cytokines expression. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect apoptosis and the differentiation of CD4+ and CD8+T cells after PPRV infection. @*Results@#PPRV stimulated the differentiation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In addition, PPRV induced apoptosis in goat PBMCs. Furthermore, apoptosis and the inflammatory response induced by PPRV could be suppressed by Z-VAD-FMK and Z-YVAD-FMK, respectively.Moreover, the virus titer of PPRV was attenuated by inhibiting caspase-1-dependent apoptosis and inflammation. @*Conclusions@#This study showed that apoptosis and the inflammatory response play an essential role in PPR viral replication in vitro, providing a new mechanism related to the cell host response.

Robot-assisted sacroiliac screw fixation to treat fragility fractures of the sacrum in the elderly / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcome of Robot-assisted sacroiliac screw fixation in the treatment of fragility fracture of the sacrum in the elderly.Methods:From March 2016 to June 2022, a retrospective analysis was performed on 30 patients with fragility fractures of the sacrum in the elderly who accepted robot-assisted sacroiliac screw to treat fragility fractures of the sacrum in our hospital. There were 12 males and 18 females with average age 71.03±8.25 years (range, 60-89 years). According to the classification of fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) in the elderly, there were 22 patients with FFP II, 2 patients with FFP III, and 6 patients with FFP IV. Surgical planning was based on the average CT value of S 1 channel and whether there is a transsacral screw channel. Robot-assisted sacroiliac screw fixation was performed during surgery. The pain of pre-operation and post-operation was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the position of sacroiliac screws was evaluated by Gras grading, and the degree of functional recovery after surgery was evaluated using the Majeed function score. Results:All 30 patients successfully completed the operation. The mean operation time was 27.00±6.68 min (range, 18-35 min), the mean fluoroscopy times were 27.13±5.16 (range, 18-34), and the mean blood loss was 30.53±6.61 ml (range, 23-38 ml). All patients were followed up, and the mean follow-up time was 19.03±7.8 months (range, 8-25 months). The VAS was 5(5, 6), 4(3, 4), 3(2, 3), 0(0, 1) points before surgery, 1 week, 2 months and 6 months after surgery, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( H=103.26, P<0.001). After the surgery of 2 months, 6 months and the last follow-up time, the Majeed function scores were 88(83, 90), 91(87, 92), 92(90, 93) points, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( H=19.59, P<0.001). Screw position was evaluated according to Gras grading at 3 days after surgery, including 28 cases of level I, 2 cases of level II, and no screw penetrated the cortical bone or entered the sacral canal or sacral foramen. No vascular or nerve injury occured during the operation. 28 patients with FFS met the fracture healing criteria, and the healing time was 4.54±1.57 months (range, 3-7 months). Two patients had bone nonunion, one of whom underwent anterior ring plate removal due to infection of the pelvic anterior wound, and one month later, pelvic CT scan revealed loosening of the sacroiliac screw; the other one is considered to be related to too early weight bearing. Conclusion:For fragility fractures of the sacrum in elderly, Robot-assisted sacroiliac screw is an effective minimally invasive treatment, with high accuracy of screw placement, effective pain reduction, improved fracture healing rate, and achieve the satisfactory clinical efficacy.

Application of StrucGP in medical immunology: site-specific N-glycoproteomic analysis of macrophages / 医学前沿

The structure of N-glycans on specific proteins can regulate innate and adaptive immunity via sensing environmental signals. Meanwhile, the structural diversity of N-glycans poses analytical challenges that limit the exploration of specific glycosylation functions. In this work, we used THP-1-derived macrophages as examples to show the vast potential of a N-glycan structural interpretation tool StrucGP in N-glycoproteomic analysis. The intact glycopeptides of macrophages were enriched and analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycoproteomic approaches, followed by the large-scale mapping of site-specific glycan structures via StrucGP. Results revealed that bisected GlcNAc, core fucosylated, and sialylated glycans (e.g., HexNAc4Hex5Fuc1Neu5Ac1, N4H5F1S1) were increased in M1 and M2 macrophages, especially in the latter. The findings indicated that these structures may be closely related to macrophage polarization. In addition, a high level of glycosylated PD-L1 was observed in M1 macrophages, and the LacNAc moiety was detected at Asn-192 and Asn-200 of PD-L1, and Asn-200 contained Lewis epitopes. The precision structural interpretation of site-specific glycans and subsequent intervention of target glycoproteins and related glycosyltransferases are of great value for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for different diseases.

Research progress in robotics research for radiation accident response / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Nuclear energy is an environmentally friendly and powerful new clean energy source, and its related technologies and applications are rapidly developing around the world. However, nuclear safety is a very important issue in the process of safe use of nuclear energy. As an important tool in nuclear emergency response and rescue, radiation emergency robots play a very important role in helping rescuers to understand the accident site in advance and make scientific decisions. In this paper, the latest technologies and achievements in radiation accident emergency robots in recent years were described, including new shielding materials, radiation protection of camera elements, robotic communication, new nuclear emergency robots, parameter optimization of robotic arms, nuclear fuel assembly breakage and leakage monitoring robots, and quick-change devices for nuclear emergency handling robots.

Analysis of cancer mortality in drinking-water-borne endemic arsenism areas 10 to 16 years after water-improvement / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To understand all causes mortality and cancer mortality of residents in drinking-water-borne endemic arsenism areas 10 to 16 years after water-improvement, and to evaluate the effects of water-improvement on prevention and treatment of the long-term harm of arsenic poisoning.Methods:In April 2020, in drinking-water-borne endemic arsenism areas of Ying County and Shanyin County, Shanxi Province, the diseased villages where water-improvement was carried out in 2003 were selected, and the permanent residents of the survey sites were selected as arsenic-exposure group. The residents in non-diseased villages were selected as control group. All causes and cancer deaths from 2013 to 2019 of the two groups were investigated and analyzed.Results:In arsenic-exposure group, the range of arsenic concentration in drinking water before water-improvement was 0.060 to 0.345 mg/L, and that after water-improvement was 0.000 17 to 0.003 60 mg/L. During the 7 years, a total of 94 128 person years were investigated in arsenic-exposure group and 102 086 person years in control group. There were 828 deaths from all causes in arsenic-exposure group, with a crude mortality rate of all causes of 8.80‰ and a standardized mortality rate of 9.16‰. There were 637 deaths from all causes in control group, with a crude mortality rate of all causes of 6.24‰ and a standardized mortality rate of 6.91‰. The crude mortality rate of all causes in arsenic-exposure group was higher than that in control group (χ 2 = 43.20, P < 0.01). Totally 218 deaths from cancer were reported in arsenic-exposure group, with a cancer crude mortality rate of 231.60/100 000 and a standardized mortality rate of 231.67/100 000. Totally 164 deaths from cancer were reported in control group, with a cancer crude mortality rate of 160.65/100 000 and a standardized mortality rate of 175.97/100 000. The cancer crude mortality rate in arsenic-exposure group was higher than that in control group (χ 2 = 12.69, P < 0.01). The median age of cancer deaths in the two groups was 72.0 and 68.5 years, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The cancer crude mortality rate among males in arsenic-exposure group was 317.16/100 000, which was higher than that of males in control group (198.91/100 000, χ 2 = 14.21, P < 0.01), but there was no difference between females in the two groups (134.10/100 000 vs 118.03/100 000, P > 0.05). The highest cancer crude mortality rate in arsenic-exposure group and control group was lung cancer, which were 115.80/100 000 and 69.55/100 000, respectively. The crude mortality rates of lung cancer, stomach cancer and bladder cancer in arsenic-exposure group were higher than those in control group (χ 2 = 11.43, 4.33, 5.05, P < 0.01 or < 0.05), while the crude mortality rates of other cancers were not significantly different between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:Simply taking water-improvement measure can't block the long-term health burdens of arsenic exposure, especially for carcinogenic effect. Health follow-up management and disease prevention measures in arsenic-exposed areas will be needed for decades after exposure cessation.