ObjectiveTo explore the effects of astragalin （AST） on autophagy and apoptosis of astrocytes in the L_4-5 dorsal horn of the spinal cord in mice with inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant （CFA）. MethodsTwenty-four male C57BL/6 mice， aged six months， were randomly assigned to four groups： control group， saline group， CFA model group， and CFA+AST group， six mice in each group. The inflammatory pain model was established by injection of 10 µL CFA into the right lateral malleolus fossa. The saline group were injected with an equal amount of normal saline at the same site. The inflammatory pain mice in CFA+AST group were further treated with AST （60 mg/kg） intraperitoneally once a day for 21 consecutive days. Multiplex immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the coexpression of autophagy-related factors including ATG 12 and Beclin-1， apoptosis-related factors including Cleaved-Caspase3 and Caspase9， and the astrocyte marker such as GFAP in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of the mice in each group. Western blot was used to examine the protein expression levels of autophagy-related proteins（ATG12， Beclin-1） and apoptosis-related proteins（Caspase 3， Caspase 9） in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of mice. ResultsImmunofluorescent staining showed that in the L_4-5 dorsal horn of the spinal cord， the fluorescence intensity of ATG12 （P<0.000 1） and Beclin-1 （P<0.000 1） was significantly increased， while that of Cleaved-Caspase 3 （P<0.001） and Caspase 9 （P<0.000 1） was decreased in the CFA+AST group when compared to the CFA model group. Furthermore， AST could inhibit the activation of astrocytes. Western blot further confirmed that AST significantly upregulated the expression of ATG12 （P<0.000 1） and Beclin-1 （P<0.000 1） in the L_4-5 spinal cord of CFA mice， and downregulated the expression of Caspase 3 （P<0.01） and Caspase 9 （P<0.001）. ConclusionsAST promotes autophagy of astrocytes and inhibits their apoptosis in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of CFA mice.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang on cardiac function and myocardial histopathological changes in rats with ischemic myocardial injury， and to observe the effect of myocardial microvascular density （MVD）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha （HIF-1α）， and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathways on myocardial microangiogenesis. MethodSeventy male SD rats were randomly selected， with six rats in the normal group. The remaining rats were fed a high-fat diet and injected with isoproterenol hydrochloride （ISO，80 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， 2 d） to induce a hyperlipidemia-based ischemic heart disease model. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， high， medium， and low dose groups of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang， and the metoprolol group. The high， medium， and low dose groups of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang were given Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang at 10.42， 5.21， 2.61 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively， while the metoprolol group was given metoprolol at 2.6 mg·kg^-1·d^-1. Both the normal and model groups were given an equivalent volume of physiological saline for 28 days. After the intervention， relevant tests were conducted， and serum was collected to measure heart function-related indicators. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining were performed on ventricular tissue to observe pathological changes under a light microscope. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was used to detect the positive expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule （CD31）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and VEGF. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PI3K/mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly increased serum levels of LDH， CK， CK-MB， NT-proBNP， and VEGF （P<0.01）， significantly increased collagen volume fraction （CVF） （P<0.01）， significantly decreased MVD （P<0.01）， and elevated protein expression levels of PI3K， mTOR， HIF-1α， and VEGF （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the metoprolol group had significantly lower serum levels of LDH， CK， CK-MB， and NT-proBNP （P<0.01）， significantly higher VEGF levels （P<0.01）， significantly decreased CVF （P<0.01）， significantly increased MVD （P<0.01）， and significantly increased protein expression levels of PI3K， mTOR， and VEGF （P<0.01）， with no statistically significant change in HIF-1α protein expression. Compared with the model group， the high and medium dose groups of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang had decreased serum levels of LDH， CK， CK-MB， and NT-proBNP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased VEGF levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly reduced CVF （P<0.01）， increased MVD （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and significantly increased protein levels of PI3K， mTOR， HIF-1α， and VEGF （P<0.01）. In the low dose group of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang， compared with the model group， serum levels of LDH and NT-proBNP were decreased （P<0.05）， VEGF was increased （P<0.05）. Moreover， CVF was decreased （P<0.05）， and the protein expression levels of PI3K， mTOR， HIF-1α， and VEGF were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionGualou Xiebai Banxiatang can improve cardiac function， reduce myocardial pathological damage， enhance endothelial cell function， promote myocardial microvascular formation， and upregulate the expression of PI3K， mTOR， HIF-1α， and VEGF proteins in myocardial tissue in rats with ischemic myocardial injury.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness for the treatment of totally robotic fundoplication.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 21 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who underwent unassisted totally robotic fundoplication at the Second Department of General Surgery, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University from Aug 2023 to Jan 2024. The postoperative outcomes were evaluated using SF-36, GERD-Q, and NRS scoring indicators.Results:All 21 patients successfully underwent the surgery. The robotic surgery time was (99±41) minutes, with precise intraoperative anatomy and insignificant blood loss of (1.7±1.4) ml. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and no conversions to open surgery . Postoperative recovery of bowel function was rapid (11.71±3.33) hours, with minimal postoperative pain (NRS score of 1.67±0.48).The postoperative hospital stay was short (3.86±2.90) days, and patient satisfaction was high, SF-36 score of (80.90±1.14);The symptoms of reflux after surgery was significantly reduced.Postoperative GERD-Q score of (4.38±1.69) significantly lower than the preoperative score of (13.90±2.07).Conclusion:Totally robotic fundoplication provides clear view of intraoperative anatomical structures, rapid postoperative recovery, minimal pain, and effective anti-reflux outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a snail control approach for spraying chemicals with drones against Oncomelania hupensis in complex snail habitats in hilly regions, and to evaluate its molluscicidal effect. METHODS: The protocol for evaluating the activity of spraying chemical molluscicides with drones against O. hupensis snails was formulated based on expert consultation and literature review. In August 2022, a pretest was conducted in a hillside field environment (12 000 m²) north of Dafengji Village, Dacang Township, Weishan County, Yunnan Province, which was assigned into four groups, of no less than 3 000 m² in each group. In Group A, environmental cleaning was not conducted and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules were sprayed with drones at a dose of 40 g/m², and in Group B, environmental cleaning was performed, followed by 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules sprayed with drones at a dose of 40 g/m², while in Group C, environmental cleaning was not conducted and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules were sprayed with knapsack sprayers at a dose of 40 g/m², and in Group D, environmental cleaning was performed, followed by 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules sprayed with knapsack sprayers at a dose of 40 g/m². Then, each group was equally divided into six sections according to land area, with Section 1 for baseline surveys and sections 2 to 6 for snail surveys after chemical treatment. Snail surveys were conducted prior to chemical treatment and 1, 3, 5, 7 days post-treatment, and the mortality and corrected mortality of snails, density of living snails and costs of molluscicidal treatment were calculated in each group. RESULTS: The mortality and corrected mortality of snails were 69.49%, 69.09%, 53.57% and 83.48%, and 68.58%, 68.17%, 52.19% and 82.99% in groups A, B, C and D 14 days post-treatment, and the density of living snails reduced by 58.40%, 63.94%, 68.91% and 83.25% 14 days post-treatment relative to pre-treatment in four groups, respectively. The median concentrations of chemical molluscicides were 37.08, 35.42, 42.50 g/m² and 56.25 g/m² in groups A, B, C and D, and the gross costs of chemical treatment were 0.93, 1.50, 0.46 Yuan per m² and 1.03 Yuan per m² in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The molluscicidal effect of spraying 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules with drones against O. hupensis snails is superior to manual chemical treatment without environmental cleaning, and chemical treatment with drones and manual chemical treatment show comparable molluscicidal effects following environmental cleaning in hilly regions. The cost of chemical treatment with drones is slightly higher than manual chemical treatment regardless of environmental cleaning. Spraying 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granules with drones is recommended in complex settings with difficulty in environmental cleaning to improve the molluscicidal activity and efficiency against O. hupensis snails.
Niclosamide/pharmacology* ; Ethanolamine/pharmacology* ; Unmanned Aerial Devices ; China ; Molluscacides/pharmacology* ; Ethanolamines

Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a common strain disease in adolescents, which is more common in youth sports enthusiasts, athletes and soldiers. The clinical manifestations of OSD are typical, and the diagnosis can be made based on the medical history, physical examination and knee X-ray examination, but it needs to be differentiated from other diseases that may cause anterior knee pain. The risk factors of OSD development include males, 12-15 years of age in males and 8-12 years of age in females, high body mass index, skeletal-muscular anatomical variants, and large amount of exercise, etc. OSD is a self-limited disorder that gradually resolves as the skeleton maturates. Most patients do not need treatment or can also be treated with conservative methods such as exercise therapy, medications and physical therapy, but may be left with sequelae that affect motor function and quality of life. Clinical attention should be paid to it adequately. If the conservative treatment is ineffective, active operation should be performed. The principle of operation is to remove bone fragments and reconstruct tibial tuberosity. Common surgical procedures include traditional open surgery and arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery, with its advantages of minimally invasive and rapid recovery, is currently advocated as the best surgical procedure, but the mid- and long-term efficacy is unclear.

Objective:To investigate the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) and the necessity to perform LLIF plus posterior direct decompression in the treatment of severe degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS).Methods:In this prospective randomized, controlled trial, we assigned 71 patients, who were 50 to 80 years old, and diagnosed with severe DLSS (Schizas Classification grade C on magnetic resonance imaging), in a 1∶1 ratio to undergo either one-stage LLIF plus posterior internal fixation (treatment group) or CLIF plus posterior internal fixation with laminectomy (control group). Demographic and perioperative data were collected and compared. The clinical outcome measures included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ) score as well as visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients were followed up for at least 1 year.Results:The treatment group included 36 patients with 46 surgical levels, while the control group included 35 patients with 46 surgical levels. The baseline demographic data of the 2 groups were equivalent in preoperative central canal areas, spinal canal anteroposterior diameter, disc height, ODI, ZCQ score for symptom severity and physical function, as well as VAS scores for back and leg pain. The mean operative time, blood loss, drainage volume and hospital stay of the treatment group are significantly less than the control group (157.2±29.1 min vs. 180.6±26.8 min, 75.6±39.1 ml vs. 108.6±43.3 ml, 136.9±73.9 ml vs. 220.5±121.3 ml, 5.3±1.1 d vs. 6.6±2.3 d). There were 2 cases with dura tear and 1 case with wound infection in control group. Thus, the surgical trauma and complications of the control group were more than the treatment group. At 1-year follow-up, the mean ODI score of treatment group improved from 42.24%±10.70% preoperatively to 18.21%±11.49%, the mean ZCQ symptom severity from 2.89±0.38 to 1.61±0.41, the mean ZCQ physical function from 2.31±0.45 to 1.50±0.37, the mean VAS for back from 5.56±1.19 to 1.97±1.13 and the mean VAS for leg from 4.44±1.81 to 0.94±1.26. At 1-year follow-up, the mean ODI score of the control group improved from 43.65%±14.93% preoperatively to 17.36%±12.15%, the mean ZCQ symptom severity from 2.92±0.52 to 1.65±0.39, the mean ZCQ physical function from 2.37±0.52 to 1.55±0.39, the mean VAS for back from 5.63±1.40 to 2.34±1.47, and the mean VAS for leg from 4.37±2.14 to 0.83±1.20. The ZCQ satisfactory score of both groups were not significant different (1.25±0.45 vs. 1.26±0.43, t=0.07, P=0.944). The mean improvement rate of both groups for ODI, ZCQ symptom severity, ZCQ physical function, VAS back and VAS leg at 1-year follow-up were not significant different (55.43%±27.74% vs. 58.36%±25.06%, 43.07%±17.22% vs. 42.66%±12.95%, 32.25%±23.65% vs. 31.71%±23.24%, 62.65%±21.25% vs. 58.37%±22.44%, 78.94%±26.41% vs. 85.45%±20.53%). One adjacent segment disease was found in each group at 1 year follow-up. Conclusion:CLIF+ posterior internal fixation in the treatment of Schizas Grade C DLSS has satisfactory clinical outcome at 1-year follow-up. Laminectomy increases surgical trauma, but does not significantly improve the clinical outcome at 1-year follow-up.

Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius is a kind of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacteria. The fast growth rate under high temperature and less susceptibility to microbial contamination enable G. thermoglucosidasius to be a desirable producer of biofuels and high-value-added chemicals for the next-generation industrial biotechnology. However, compared with the classical model strain Escherichia coli, the applications of G. thermoglucosidasius are hampered by its low transformation efficiency. This study aimed at obtaining competent cells with high transformation efficiency through inactivating restriction enzymes, adding cell membrane inhibitors and cell wall weakening agents. The results showed that the electro-transformation efficiency achieved 1.2×10⁴ CFU/(μg DNA) by knocking out four genes encoding restriction enzymes. Adding a certain amount of tween 80, dl-threonine and glycine further increased the competent efficiency about 22.5, 44, and 334 times, respectively. The electro-transformation efficiency was enhanced to 4.6×10⁶ CFU/(μg DNA) under the optimized conditions, laying a foundation for genetic manipulation and metabolic engineering of G. thermoglucosidasius.
Electroporation ; Electroporation Therapies ; Bacillaceae ; Cell Membrane ; Escherichia coli/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the effect of enteral nutrition on hematological complications in children with malignant solid tumors during chemotherapy.Methods:A total of 103 children with malignant solid tumor admitted to our hospital from March 2020 to December 2020 were enrolled in the study. The children were randomly divided into enteral nutrition group ( n=51) and control group ( n=52). Children in enteral nutrition group were given enteral nutrition support on the basis of routine diet, while children in control group were only given routine diet. The levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, hemoglobin and platelets in peripheral blood of children during chemotherapy were analyzed. The incidence of infection and the transfusion of red blood cells and platelets after chemotherapy were documented and compared between two groups. Results:The levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, hemoglobin and platelets before chemotherapy were significantly higher than those after chemotherapy both in enteral nutrition group ( Z=-5.91, -5.59, -5.54, -5.66, all P<0.05) and in control group ( Z=-6.14, -5.84, -5.75, -4.75, all P<0.05). The overall hemoglobin levels in enteral nutrition group before and after chemotherapy was significantly higher than those in control group ( t=5.68, 5.62, P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in the levels of white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets between the two groups before chemotherapy ( Z=-0.71, -0.12, -1.29, all P>0.05) and after chemotherapy ( Z=-0.39, -0.86, -0.94, all P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the degree of anemia during chemotherapy was significantly improved in enteral nutrition group (χ2=10.45,6.12, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the reduction degree of white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets between the two groups (before chemotherapy: χ2=1.17, 0.10, 0.49; after chemotherapy: χ2=0.18, 1.10, 0.97, all P>0.05). The number of children receiving red blood cell transfusion in enteral nutrition group was significantly lower than that in control group (χ2=14.06, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the number of children with infection and platelet transfusion between the two groups (χ2=1.20, 0.29, all P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the duration of neutrophil deficiency between enteral nutrition group and control group ( t=-1.75, P>0.05). Conclusion:Enteral nutrition support can significantly improve the hemoglobin level in children during chemotherapy, effectively alleviate the severity of anemia, and reduce the incidence of red blood cell transfusion after chemotherapy, which has high clinical application value.

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of the application of intraoperative psoas major intramuscular block therapy on the complications related to the approach after multi-segmental crenel lumbar interbody fusion (CLIF).Methods:All of 68 degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients who had received multi-segmental crenel lumbar interbody fusion during January 2020 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the psoas major muscle was treated with block therapy during the operation. The psoas muscle inblock group were filled with gel sponge infiltrated with a mixture of Betamethasone and lidocaine for local block therapy before closing the incision while that in the control group were not filled with gel sponge. There were 33 patients in the control group, 7 males and 26 females with an average of 65.8±7.1 years old (range: 54-81 years old); 35 cases in the block group, 9 males and 26 females with an average of 68.0±6.5 years old (range: 54-85 years old). The complications related to the approach (mainly includes pain, numbness in the front of the thigh, as well as psoas major, quadriceps muscle strength) were recorded respectively 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after surgery. The main indicators of outcome including visual analog scale (VAS) of pain, the visual analog scale (VAS) of numbness, muscle strength of psoas major and quadriceps femoris, and the incidence of complications related to the approach were compared between the two groups of patients at different time points after surgery. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI), VAS for low back pain. The radiological outcome was evaluated with Cobb angles and sagittal balance parameters (sagittal vertical axis, SVA).Results:There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), number of fusion segments, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups. The incidence of approach-related complications was 17.1% in the block group and 39.4% in the control group, with statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=4.177, P=0.041). The incidence of postoperative pain, numbness in the front of the thighs, and muscle strength of psoas major in the block group (11.4%, 14.3%) were lower than those in the control group (33.3%, 36.4%) ( χ2=4.740, P=0.029; χ2=4.416, P=0.036). And for numbness in the front of thigh, the block group (14.3) was lower than control group (21.2%), but no significant difference was shown between two groups ( χ2=0.561, P=0.454). However, there was no quadriceps weakness in either group. The VAS scores of painof the block group were lower than those of the control group at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.220, P=0.031; t=2.235, P=0.031; t=2.086, P=0.044). The difference at 3 months was not statistically significant ( t=0.385, P=0.701). The muscle strength of psoas major of the block group, meanwhile, was higher than those of the control group on the 1day and 1 week after surgery, the difference was statistically significant as well ( t=2.208, P=0.032; t=2.171, P=0.034). The difference at 1 and 3 months was not statistically significant ( t=0.923, P=0.359; t=1.437, P=0.160). No statistically significant differences were found in VAS scores of numbness at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. Postoperative low back pain and lumbar spine function were significantly improved in both groups, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. Coronal Cobb angle and sagittal balance were significantly improved in both groups after surgery, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. Conclusion:Psoas major intramuscular block therapy can reduce the incidence of early postoperative complications of multi-segmental CLIF. Furthermore, it was found to be effective to alleviate anterior thigh pain within 1 month, and improve psoas major muscle weakness within 1 week.